GB2236255A

GB2236255A - Golf accessories holder

Info

Publication number: GB2236255A
Application number: GB8921909A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick George Mcdonald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-09-29
Filing date: 1989-09-29
Publication date: 1991-04-03
Also published as: GB8921909D0

Abstract

An umbrella-mountable golfing accessories holder comprises a frame (3) having a U-shaped clip (2) adapted to be detachably mounted to an umbrella adjustment collet (1). A scorecard clipboard (15) is detachably fastenable to the frame (3). The frame (3) extends longitudinally of an umbrella shaft (4) to which it is mounted or mountable and is curved or angled laterally around the shaft so as to facilitate unobstructed closure of the umbrella. A clipboard (15) may be fastenable to the frame (3) by engagement of one or more press studs (11) provided at one end of the clipboard (15) with corresponding sockets (10) provided at a lower, in use, end of the frame (3). <IMAGE>

Description

GOLFING ACCESSORIES HOLDER The present invention relates to a golfing accessories holder, and more particularly to such a holder which is mountable to an umbrella shaft, or the like.

As used herein, the term "golfing accessories" applies to scorecards, tee pegs, ball markers, pitch mark repairers and like small, dedicated golfing accessories, in addition to pencils, pens, towels and gloves.

Existing holders for golfing accessories are designed primarily to fit to a golf-bag in which the golfer or his servant transports golf clubs. In GB-A-702744 a foldiny scorecard holder is described which is screwclamped to the handle shaft of a golf-bag carrying-caddycar. In GB-A-928963 a holder for a scorecard, tee-peg and pencil is described to be detachably affixed to the handle shaft of a caddy-car by a spring clip. GB-A-2153303 describes a golfing accessories holder comprising a socketed block for storage of tees, ball-markers a pitch mark repairer and a pen or pencil. The block is also connected to a board for mounting a scorecard, with a clip provided for holding a scorecard to the board. The holder is designed to be mounted to a golf-bag, to a caddy-car or to the clothes of the golfer by means of a single-tongued clip projecting from the rear of the board.

Although the above holders may provide satisfactory storage of golfing accessories when used on a golf course of golf links during fine weather, rain will greatly reduce their value to the golfer. During continuance of play under rainfall, holders such as described above would either be pocketed, or, as in the case of the folding scorecard holder of GB-A-702744, sealed against the elements. Clearly neither of these protective measures will provide convenient access to the golfing accessories mounted in or to the holder. A particular problem associated with pocketing an accessories holder is that any water run-off from the sleeve of the golfer may drip into the pocket when inserting or removing the holder or accessories thereon. It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an umbrella-mountable golfing accessories holder which comprises: a frame means having a U-shaped clip adapted to be detachably mounted to an umbrella adjustment collet; and a scorecard clipboard means which is detachably fastenable to same frame means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided, in combination, an umbrella with an adjustment collet, said collet having a frame means detachably mounted thereto; and a scorecard clipboard means which is detachably fastenable to said frame means.

Preferably the frame means extends longitudinally of an umbrella shaft to which it is mounted or mountable and is curved laterally around said shaft so as to facilitate unobstructed closure of the umbrella.

The clipboard means is preferably fastenable to the frame means by engagement of one or more press studs provided at one end of the clipboard means with corresponding sockets provided at a lower, in use, end of the frame means.

Preferably the press-studs are provided on an extension of the clipboard means which extension is curved in a corresponding manner to the frame means.

It is also preferred that the frame means is provided with one or more sockets to accommodate accessories. The frame means may be provided with sockets for, for example, tees, ball-markers, a pen or pencil and a pitch-mark repairer.

The frame means may also comprise hook means for carrying a towel or gloves, or the like.

The scorecard clipboard means may comprise a board having lateral spring clips thereon.

Preferably the board is of plastics material and the clips are integrally formed thereon.

To enable the scorecard clipboard means to be hung on a golf caddy-car or golf-bag when not mounted to an umbrella via the frame means a hook may be provided at one end of the clipboard means.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a schematic front elevation view of a frame means embodying the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the frame means of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a schematic front elevation view of a clipboard embodied in the present invention; and FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the scorecard clipboard of Figure 3.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a frame means 3 extends longitudinally of and curves laterally around an umbrella handle shaft 4 to which it may be fitted. A Ushaped clip 2 projecting from the top rear, in use, of the frame means 3 detachably affixes the frame means 3 to an umbrella adjustment collet 1 on the umbrella handle shaft 4. The adjustment collet is defined as that part of the umbrella which may slide alony a shaft of the umbrella to elevate or retract the spokes of the umbrella and thereby to open or close the umbrella.

As used herein, the terms "detachably affixed" or "detachably affixable" should be read as meaning that the fixture of the clip 2 to the collet 1 is secure throughout opening and closure of the umbrella but may be released voluntarily upon application of sufficient appropriately directed force.

The frame means 3 is provided with a pair of hooks 5 on which may be hung a towel or gloves, and with numerous sockets each to accommodate a golfing accessory a socket 6 is provided to hold a pen or pencil, a pair of sockets 9 are provided to hold a pitch mark repairer, sockets 7a are provided to accommodate tees 7b, and sockets 8a are provided to accommodate ball-markers 8b.

An additional pair of sockets 10 are defined in the lower, in use, end of the frame means 3 to receive a corresponding pair of press-studs 11 on a scorecard clipboard 15 (illustrated in Figure 3). The sockets 10 and press-studs 11 enable the clipboard 15 to be fastened to the umbrella attached frame means 3. As shown in Figure 3, the press-studs 11 project rearwardly, in use, from a longitudinal extension 12 of an end of the clipboard 15.

As can be seen from Figure 4, the extension 12 is curved in a manner corresponding to the frame means 3 to facilitate engagement of the press-studs 11 with the sockets 10.

The lateral curvature of the frame means 3 and the nature of its mounting to the umbrella enables unobstructed closure of the umbrella when the frame means 3 is fitted thereto. Because the frame means 3 is mounted to the umbrella adjustment collet 1 which slides up the umbrella handle shaft 4 when the umbrella is opened and down the shaft 4 when the umbrella is closed, the frame means 3 will correspondingly descend the shaft 4 when the umbrella is closed. This descent along the shaft 4 by the frame means 3 maintains the frame means 3 distant from an apex region of the umbrella where the spokes of the umbrella are fixed hingedly to the apex and collet, thereby avoiding obstructing the continuing constriction of the umbrella spokes during closure of the umbrella.

When the umbrella is opened, because the frame means 3 is attached to the adjustment collet 1 the frame means 3 will be displaced to the top end, in use, of the handle shaft 4 at a position immediately below the apex of the umbrella and thus be optimally sheltered from rain, sleet or snow.

The scorecard clipboard 15 comprises a board 15a preferably of plastics material to which one or more scorecard sheets may be fitted, and held by a pair of integral lateral spring clips 13.

At an opposite end of the clipboard 15 to the extension 12 is provided a hook 14 by which the clipboard 15 may be hung on, for example, a golf bag or the bag of a caddy-car. This facility is of use when rainfall ceases and the umbrella is to be closed.

Furthermore, because the scorecard clipboard 15 is a bulky item its detachment from the collet mounted frame means 3 prior to closure of the umbrella is necessary to facilitate unobstructed closure of the umbrella. Such detachment also avoids exposure of scorecards attached to the clipboard means to rain run-off from the rim of the umbrella, in the event that the scorecard remains attached.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An umbrella-mountable golfing accessories holder which comprises a frame means having a U-shaped clip adapted to be detachably mounted to an umbrella adjustment collet.

2. An umbrella-mountable golfing accessories holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame means extends longitudinally of an umbrella shaft to which it is mounted or mountable and is curved or angled laterally around said shaft so as to facilitate unobstructed closure of the umbrella.

3. A holder as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising scorecard clipboard means which is detachably fastenable to said frame means.

4. A holder as claimed in either claim 3, wherein the clipboard means is fastenable to the frame means by engagement of one or more press studs provided at one end of the clipboard means with corresponding sockets provided at a lower, in use, end of the frame means.

5. A holder as claimed in claim 4, wherein the press-studs are provided on an extension of the clipboard means which extension is curved or angled in a corresponding manner to the frame means.

6. A holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame means is provided with one or more sockets to accommodate accessories, for example, tees, ball-markers, a pen or pencil and a pitch-mark repairer.

7. A holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame means comprises hook means for carrying a towel or gloves, or the like.

8. A holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the scorecard clipboard means comprises a board having lateral spring clips thereon.

9. A holder as claimed in claim 8, wherein the board is of plastics material and the clips are integrally formed thereon.

10. An umbrella mountable golfing accessories holder substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. In combination, an umbrella with an adjustment collet, said collet having a frame means detachably mounted thereto; and a scorecard clipboard means which is detachably fastenable to said frame means.