Patent ID: 6179256
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
A golf club carrier comprising:a) an inverted U-shaped handle member having first and second parallel legs and a base portion extending between and perpendicular to said legs;b) an upright U-shaped actuator member having first and second parallel legs and a base portion extending between and perpendicular to its legs;c) a first set of telescoping elements operatively interconnecting each of said first legs and a second set of telescoping elements operatively interconnecting each of said second legs, said telescoping elements enabling limited range lateral movement of the base portions of said handle member and said actuator member in unison toward and away from each other;d) a hinge joint on each leg of said handle member intermediate its base portion and the telescoping elements thereof;e) a pair of U-shaped club support members on opposite sides of said handle member and actuator member, each of which club support members has equal length parallel first and second legs spaced apart generally the same width as the handle member legs, with the distal ends of the first legs of both said club support members being pivotally connected to the handle member first leg hinge joint and the distal ends of the second legs of both said club support members being pivotally connected to the handle member second hinge joint;f) a plurality of sets of shaft support members on each of the club support member legs for supporting golf clubs in a fashion spanning said club support member legs and generally parallel to the base of the handle member;g) a hinge joint on each leg of said actuator member intermediate its base portion and its associated portion of the telescoping element thereof;h) a hinge joint on each leg of both club support members, said club support member hinge joints being spaced from the base portions thereof a greater distance than the distance between the actuator member hinge joint and the base portion thereof;i) a first pair of spreader links freely interconnecting the hinge joint of the actuator member first leg with a hinge joint of each first leg of both club support members; andj) a second pair of spreader links freely interconnecting the hinge joint of the actuator second leg with a hinge joint of each second leg of both club support members; said spreader links all being of the same length, whereby, while said handle member is being hand carried by means of its base portion, said actuator member telescopes downwardly of its own weight and the weight of golf clubs being carried on the club support members and thereby causes said spreader links and said club support members to collapse inwardly toward each other and further whereby, when the handle member is lowered into contact with a supporting surface, the actuator member causes the links to spread the base portions of the club support members apart a distance sufficient to enable the carrier to become essential vertically free standing feet on the supporting surface.