US20130098787A1

US20130098787A1 - Structure of golf club storage case

Info

Publication number: US20130098787A1
Application number: US13/278,149
Authority: US
Inventors: Wen-Ming Sung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-10-20
Filing date: 2011-10-20
Publication date: 2013-04-25

Abstract

A structure of golf club storage case includes first and second case portions that are openable/closable with respect to each other. The first and second case portions both form a receiving space, and comprise at least one rack and a plurality of receptacle seats arranged inside the receiving space. The rack forms a plurality of notches corresponding to the receptacle seats. Each receptacle seat forms an insertion space, which receives and retains therein at least two resilient clamp plates that oppose each other. To stow a golf club, a head of the golf club is inserted into the insertion space of one of the receptacle seats to be clamped and positioned by the two resilient clamp plates, while a shaft of the golf club is received in the respective notch of the rack so that the golf club is securely stowed in the first and second case portions.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a structure of golf club storage case, and more particularly to a structure of golf club storage case that allows a plurality of golf clubs to be securely stowed in first and second case portions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

To play a golf game, each player must carry a number of golf clubs that are of different characteristics. All these golf clubs are often collected in a golf club bag for easy conveyance and storage. As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,763, a known structure of golf club bag is generally constituted by a hollow cylindrical open bag body. Further, separation boards may be additionally arranged inside the hollow cylindrical bag body to separate the golf clubs stowed therein.
Golf clubs stowed in the known golf club bag are placed into the golf club bag by inserting the grip of each club into the golf club bag in an inverse manner and the golf club is partially exposed outside the golf club bag, whereby dust and humidity contained in the atmosphere may easily attach to the golf club, causing staining and rusting of the golf club. Further, the interior spaces of the golf club bag that are separated by the separation boards are often very large in size, making it possible for the golf clubs to vibrate inside the golf club bag, whereby in moving the golf club bag, the golf clubs placed in the bag may collide and hit each other, leading to undesired damages of the shafts and the heads of the golf clubs. Further, the known golf club bag is an open bag and external dusts may get accumulated in or attaching to the interior and bottom of the golf club bag. Further, the known golf club bag is generally not detachable, making it possible to easily cause contamination in the interior and bottom of the golf club bag.
Manufacturers developed a protection cover to be fit to the club head of a golf club, so that with the protection cover fit to each golf club at the site of the club head, cushioning can be realized against mutual collision between the club heads of the golf clubs and thus keeping the club heads of the golf clubs from being damaged. However, the protection cover of golf club is provided for covering the club head of golf club, rather than enclosing the shaft of golf club, so that it is not possible to serve as means for keeping the golf clubs from shaking and vibration. Thus, the shafts of the golf clubs are still easily subjected to staining and rusting and due to being easy to shake and collide each other, the shafts of the golf clubs are still easy to get damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a structure of golf club storage case, comprising a first case portion and a second case portion that are openable/closable with respect to each other. The first case portion and the second case portion each form an open receiving space, in which at least one rack and a plurality of receptacle seats are formed. The rack forms a plurality of notches, the notches corresponding to the receptacle seats. Each of the receptacle seats forms an insertion space, and the insertion space receives and retains therein at least two resilient clamp plates therein. As such, in stowing a golf club, the golf club can be placed into the receiving space of the first case portion or the second case portion in a regular orientation to have a club head of the golf club inserted in to the insertion space of the corresponding receptacle seat and securely clamped and positioned by the two resilient clamp plates, while a shaft of the golf club is positioned in the respective notch of the rack, so that each golf club can be securely stowed in the first case portion or the second case portion to protect the golf club from damages caused by mutually abrading each other due to shaking and also preventing the golf club from exposing to the atmosphere that leads to staining and rusting of the golf club.
The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf clubs storage case according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a first application embodiment of the golf club storage case according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a second application embodiment of the golf club storage case according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a third application embodiment of the golf club storage case according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a fourth application embodiment of the golf club storage case according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a fifth application embodiment of the golf club storage case according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a sixth application embodiment of the golf club storage case according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a golf club storage case according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the golf club storage case of said another embodiment of the present invention in a use condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the present invention provides a structure of golf club storage case, which comprises a first case portion 1 and a second case portion 2. The first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 are openable/closable with respect to each other.
The first case portion 1 forms an open receiving space 10. The first case portion 1 has one side forming a connection portion 11 and an opposite side forming a mating portion 12. The receiving space 10 comprises at least one rack 13 and a plurality of receptacle seats 14 formed therein. The rack 13 forms a plurality of notches 131, and the notches 131 correspond to the receptacle seats 14. Each receptacle seat 14 forms an insertion space 140, and at least two resilient clamp plates 141 are arranged in the insertion space 140 to oppose each other. Further, the first case portion 1 comprises a removable top cover 15. The top cover 15 comprises a first coupling section 151 and the first case portion 1 comprises a second coupling section 16, whereby the second coupling section 16 of the first case portion 1 and the first coupling section 151 of the top cover 15 are combinable with each other and the first coupling section 151 and the second coupling section 16 can be fixed together through fitting, adhesives, or locking. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first coupling section 151 of the top cover 15 comprises a recess, while the second coupling section 16 of the first case portion 1 comprises a projection, whereby the first coupling section 151 and the second coupling section 16 may be combined together through fitting. Further, the first case portion 1 forms at least one first storage space 17 in the top cover 15 and the storage space 17 has an opening to which a lid 171 (see FIG. 7) is attached.
The second case portion 2 is openable/closable with respect to the first case portion 1 and forms an open receiving space 20. The second case portion 2 has one side forming a connection portion 21 and an opposite side forming a mating portion 22, whereby the connection portion 21 of the second case portion 2 is connected to the connection portion 11 of the first case portion 1 and the mating portion 22 of the second case portion 2 is mateable and engageable with the mating portion 12 of the first case portion 1. Further, the second case portion 2 comprises at least one rack 23 and a plurality of receptacle seats 24 formed in the receiving space 20 with the receptacle seats 24 being arranged to alternate the receptacle seats 11 of the first case portion 1. The rack 23 forms a plurality of notches 231, and the notches 231 correspond to the receptacle seats 24. Each receptacle seat 24 forms an insertion space 240, and at least two resilient clamp plates 241 are arranged in the insertion space 240 to oppose each other. The second case portion 2 comprises a removable top cover 25. The top cover 25 comprises a first coupling section 251 and the second case portion 2 comprises a second coupling section 26, whereby the second coupling section 26 of the second case portion 2 and the first coupling section 251 of the top cover 25 are combinable with each other and the first coupling section 251 and the second coupling section 26 can be fixed together through fitting, adhesives, and locking. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first coupling section 251 of the top cover 25 comprises a recess, while the second coupling section 26 of the second case portion 2 comprises a projection, whereby the first coupling section 251 and the second coupling section 26 may be combined together through fitting. Further, the second case portion 2 forms at least one second storage space 27 in the receiving space 20 and the storage space 27 has an opening to which a lid 271 is attached.
The lids 171, 271 of the first storage space 17 and the second storage space 27 comprise an opening/closing mechanism. In an embodiment of the present invention (see FIG. 7), the lids 171, 271 of the first storage space 17 and the second storage space 27 can realize the opening/closing mechanism through a zipper, so that a user can place golf balls, golf shoes, gloves, and the likes in the first storage space 17 and the second storage space 27.
The sides of the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 that are adjacent to the mating portions 12, 22 are provided with at least two locking members 3, so that the mating portions 12, 22 of the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 can be securely jointed. In an embodiment of the present invention, the locking member 3 comprises at least two female buckling elements 31 and at least three male buckling elements 32, wherein one female buckling element 31 is arranged at one side of the mating portion 12 of the first case portion 1 and located to correspond to the joint seam between the first coupling section 15 and the second coupling section 16, another female buckling element 31 is arranged on the side of the mating portion 12 of the first case portion 1 and is distant from the second coupling section 16. Two of the male buckling elements 32 are arranged at one side of the mating portion 22 of the second case portion 2 and respectively located at opposite sides of the joint seam between the first coupling section 251 and the second coupling section 26 and the remaining male buckling element 32 is arranged at the side of the mating portion 22 of the second case portion 2 and is distant from the second coupling section 26. As such, with the female buckling elements 31 arranged on the first case portion 1 being engageable with the male buckling elements 32 arranged on the second case portion 2, the mating portions 12, 22 of the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 are securely jointed and closed and the top covers 15, 25 of the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 are kept from undesired separation.
At least two cavities 28 are defined in an outside surface of the second case portion 2 and located adjacent to a bottom thereof. The cavities 28 receive therein casters 4, and the casters 4 comprise swiveling mechanisms. The casters 4, when not in use, can be stowed in the cavities 28. When the casters 4 are used, the casters 4 are swiveled outside the cavities 28 to allow a user to easily tow and move the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2. Further, bottoms of the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 are respectively provided with a plurality of blocks 5, which are in the form of posts and hemispheres, whereby when the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 are positioned in an upright manner, the blocks 5 may serve as a buffer for keeping the bottoms of the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 from abrading or hitting the ground to induce damage.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, to stow golf clubs 30, the golf clubs 30 are positioned into the receiving space 10, 20 of the first case portion 1 or the second case portion 2 in a normal orientation, so that club heads of the golf clubs 30 are positionable into the insertion spaces 140 of the receptacle seats 14. The club heads of the golf clubs 30 received in the insertion spaces 140 are each clamped by two resilient clamp plates 141 thereby properly positioned. Shafts of the golf clubs 30 are then fit into the corresponding notches 131 of the rack 13 for positioning, whereby each golf club 30 can be securely stowed in the first case portion 1 or the second case portion 2, protecting the golf clubs 30 from damages caused by mutually abrading each other due to shaking. The first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 may then be closed to each other to have the golf clubs 30 housed in the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 (see FIG. 2), keeping the golf clubs 30 from exposing to the atmosphere that leads to staining and rusting of the golf clubs 30. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the top covers 15, 25 of the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 can be removed to allow a user to efficiently retrieve and change a golf club 30 of different type in playing a golf game.
Referring to FIG. 6, the present invention further comprises a handle 6 that is mounted to an outside surface of the second case portion 2 or one side of the mating portion 22 of the second case portion 2 to allow a user to tow the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 in an upright manner or to hand carry in a horizontal fashion. Further, the side of the mating portion 22 of the first case portion 1 may additionally be provided with at least two coupling loops 8 and may further be pivotally coupled to rings 9. The coupling loops 8 functions to mount a carrying strap 40 that allows a user to shoulder carry the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 for transportation. The rings 9 are provided with swiveling mechanisms that allows a user to fit an umbrella 50 into the rings 9 for stowing the umbrella 50 outside the first case portion 1.
Referring to FIG. 7, the present invention is further structured to form a slot 18 in an outside surface of the first case portion 1 and a support bar 7 is pivotally mounted inside the slot 18, whereby when the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 are positioned in an upright fashion, the support bar 7 can be expanded for support, thereby preventing the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 from being accidentally tipped over.
Referring to FIGS. 3, 8, and 9, the structure of golf club storage case according to the present invention further comprise a shade 80. The first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 have top ends that form openings, so that the receiving spaces 10, 20 of the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 are exposed. The first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 each comprise at least one extension rail 60 arranged in a longitudinal direction at a bottom of the receiving space 10, 20 thereof. The extension rail 60 is coupled to a shielding plate 70, whereby the shielding plates 70 received in the receiving spaces 10, 20 of the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 are movable up and down in the longitudinal direction. Thus, by pulling upward and fixing the shielding plates 70 that are received in the receiving spaces 10, 20 of the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2, the shielding plates 70 are moved upward and get outside the receiving spaces 10, 20 of the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2. The shade 80 is then set to enclose the two shielding plates 70, thereby covering the openings formed in the top ends of the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 and thus making the golf clubs 30 housed and stowed in the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 (see FIG. 9) to keep the golf clubs 30 from being exposed to the atmosphere that leads to staining and rusting of the golf clubs 30. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first case portion 1 comprises at least one hook 19 arranged on an outer side of the connection portion 11 and the mating portion 12. The second case portion 2 comprises at least one hook 29 arranged on an outer side of the connection portion 21 and the mating portion 22. Further, the shade 80 is combined with a storage device 90 and the storage device 90 comprises, in the interior space thereof, a reel with returning mechanism that is coupled to the shade 80, whereby the shade 80 is received in the storage device 90 in an extendible and retractable manner. An end of the shade 80 is provided with at least one coupling ring 801, and the storage device 90 is provided with coupling rings 901. The coupling rings 901 of the storage device 90 are set to engage and thus be fixed to the hooks 19, 29 of the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 at one side, and then, the shade 80 is extended to enclose the two shielding plates 70 with the coupling rings 801 of the shade 80 engaging and being fixed to the hooks 19, 29 of the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 at an opposite side. Thus, the shade 80 covers the openings formed in the top ends of the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2, allowing the golf clubs 30 to be housed and stowed inside the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2.
In summary, the technical features of the present invention comprise first case portion 1 and second case portion 2 that are openable/closable with respect to each other, and the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 have open receiving spaces 10, 20 with at least one rack 13, 23 and a plurality of receptacle seats 14, 24 arranged in the receiving spaces 10, 20 to allow club heads golf clubs 30 to be inserted into the receptacle seats 14, 24 for positioning and shafts of the golf clubs 30 received in the racks 13,23 for positioning, thereby making each golf club 30 securely stowed in the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2, keeping the golf clubs 30 from abrading and damaging each other due to shaking, and keeping the stowed golf clubs 30 from exposing to the atmosphere that leads to staining and rusting of the golf clubs 30, and also allowing a user not to purchase protection covers for the golf clubs 30 that leads to an increase of expense.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A golf club storage case, which is adapted to receive and stow therein a plurality of golf clubs, the golf club storage case comprising:

a first case portion, which forms an open receiving space, the first case portion having one side forming a connection portion and an opposite side forming a mating portion, the first case portion comprising a plurality of receptacle seats formed inside the receiving space, each of the receptacle seats forming an insertion space; and

a second case portion, which is openable/closable with respect to the first case portion, the second case portion forming an open receiving space, the second case portion having one side forming a connection portion and an opposite side forming a mating portion, the connection portion of the second case portion and the connection portion of the first case portion being connected to each other, the mating portion of the second case portion and the mating portion of the first case portion being mateable and engageable with each other.

2. The golf club storage case according to claim 1, wherein the second case portion comprising a plurality of receptacle seats formed inside the receiving space thereof, each of the receptacle seats forming an insertion space, the receptacle seats of the second case portion and the receptacle seats of the first case portion being arranged to alternate each other, the first case portion and the second case portion each comprising at least one rack formed inside the receiving space thereof, the rack forming a plurality of notches.

3. The golf club storage case according to claim 2, wherein the first case portion and the second case portion each comprise at least two resilient clamp plates that are arranged in the insertion space of each of the receptacle seats, the two resilient clamp plates being arranged to oppose each other.

4. The golf club storage case according to claim 1, wherein the first case portion and the second case portion each comprise a removable top cover, the top cover comprising a first coupling section, the first case portion and the second case portion each comprising a second coupling section, the second coupling section of the first case portion and the first coupling section of the top cover associated therewith being combinable with each other, the second coupling section of the second case portion and the first coupling section of the top cover associated therewith being combinable with each other, the first case portion forming at least one first storage space in the top cover thereof and the storage space having an opening to which a lid is attached.

5. The golf club storage case according to claim 1, wherein the first case portion and the second case portion having sides adjacent to the mating portions and being provided with at least two locking members, the first case portion and the second case portion having bottoms to which a plurality of blocks is mounted.

6. The golf club storage case according to claim 1, wherein the second case portion has an outside surface forming at least two cavities at locations adjacent to a bottom thereof, the cavities receiving therein casters, the casters comprising swiveling mechanisms.

7. The golf club storage case according to claim 1, wherein the first case portion is provided with at least two coupling loops on a side of the mating portion to which rings pivotally coupled, a handle being mounted to an outside surface of the second case portion or one side of the mating portion of the second case portion.

8. The golf club storage case according to claim 1, wherein the first case portion has an outside surface forming a slot and a support bar is pivotally mounted inside the slot.

9. The golf club storage case according to claim 1 further comprising a shade, the first case portion and the second case portion having top ends that form openings, the first case portion and the second case portion each comprising at least one extension rail arranged at a bottom of the receiving space, the extension rail being coupled to a shielding plate, the shielding plate being movable up and down in a longitudinal direction inside the receiving space of the first case portion and the second case portion; the shielding plate being movable upwards to get outside the receiving spaces of the first case portion and the second case portion, the shade being then set to enclose the two shielding plates and thus covering the openings formed in the top ends of the first case portion and the second case portion.