Abstract:
A secure storage locker for temporarily storing golf bags having clubs. The locker includes a base having a recess for receiving the bottom end of a golf bag having the heads of the golf clubs extending above the top end of the bag. A bonnet is slidingly and/or hingedly connected to the base and has a cavity for covering the club heads. Locking means are provided for locking the bonnet to the base.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/097,145 filed Aug. 19, 1998. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to storage lockers and more specifically to lockers suitable for temporarily storing golf bags containing clubs and other golf related equipment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Golf is one of the fastest growing sports. People who regularly golf usually invest in expensive equipment such as golf clubs, golf bags, and other related equipment such as shoes, gloves and golf clothing. 
     Golf is a sport in which delays are common. For example, if the golf course is crowded, the golfer must wait for a starting time which can be for more than an hour. He stays with his equipment or leaves the equipment in an open rack or returns it to his automobile which can be parked far away. Many golfers stop for lunch or a beverage after finishing the front nine holes and starting the back nine hole of a course or after finishing a round of 18 holes. Again, the equipment remains unattended and is many times stolen. 
     Private golf clubs have lockers for its members and their guests. It is not always convenient to use the lockers and the lockers are usually sized to store clothing—not golf clubs. Many courses have stands to store a bag of clubs while the golfer is eating, drinking, practicing putting or driving. 
     However, there is usually no security provided and anyone could walk away with the stored clubs. Ski resorts provide locking stands for skis but there is no equivalent product for golf clubs in a bag. Furthermore, the bag with golf clubs having different lengths extending from the top of the bag is not as easy to secure as a set of skis. 
     STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a secure device for temporarily storing golf bags. Each device includes a locker which may be single standing or several lockers may be attached to one another in series, back to back, or some other pattern. For security reasons, the locker is preferably secured to a hardened surface such as cement, concrete or metal strips by the use of bolts or other conventional means of attachment. 
     The locker of the invention includes: a base having a topside recessed surface area sized to receive the bottom of a golf bag; a bonnet having side walls and a top wall forming a bottom side recess for enclosing the portions of golf clubs extending from a golf bag. A vertical support member connects the base at one end to the bonnet at the other end. Preferably, the bonnet is hinged to the support member or at least one vertical wall of the bonnet is hinged to permit it to be either in an open or closed/locked position. Alternatively, the vertical support member may be slightly longer than in the hinged embodiment which permits the bonnet to travel upwardly along an upper portion of the vertical member so that the bonnet can be temporarily moved upwards into an open position above the head of the longest golf club and then downwards into a closed/locked position. 
     Preferably, the vertical support member also incorporates a locking mechanism such as a hasp which receives a lock. Preferably, the locking mechanism is a conventional coin-operated locking mechanism similar to those used at airports and bus stations in which a coin is inserted into a slot in the mechanism to permit a key to be removed from the locker face and used to subsequently open the locker or at ski resorts where a coin-operated latch gives access to a ski-storage rack. 
     The locker is preferably constructed of durable, substantially rigid material to prevent theft. Preferably, the bonnet and base are constructed of molded resin or fiber reinforced resin such as epoxy-fiberglass to minimize damage to the clubs and the golf bag which can occur from scratches or scraping metal edges or surfaces. Fiberglass reinforced resin materials are strong and smooth, yet are much lighter then metal and weather better outside. Although the vertical support member may also be made of either rigid plastic or fiberglass reinforced resin, it is preferably made from a durable, smooth metal such as steel or high strength aluminum. 
     A golfer wishing to store his bag and clubs in the locker of the invention would insert the required currency into the slot in the coin-operated locking mechanism. The bonnet would release from its locked position and become moveable upon the post or about its hinge into an open position where the bonnet becomes perpendicular with the ground level or displaced from over the base. The golfer then places his golf bag in the cavity in the base so that the bottom of the bag rests within the recessed area of the base. Next, the golfer lowers the bonnet or rotates it about its hinge into the closed, position being careful to direct the club heads into the recessed area of the bonnet so that the side walls of the bonnet will extended over the top of the golf bag in close proximity to the golf bag, yet the club heads extending from the golf bag will be disposed within the bonnet recess. Once in the closed position, the bonnet locks. The golfer removes a key from a keyhole on the locker. The minimum distance between the base and bonnet when in the closed position is such that a golf bag and clubs cannot be removed. The bonnet recess is deep enough to store the extension of the longest club within the recess. 
     When the golfer desires to remove the bag and clubs from the locker, he inserts the key and rotates it until the locking mechanism releases the bonnet from the locked position. The bonnet can thereafter be lifted or rotated about its hinge allowing the golf bag and clubs to be removed. The key thereafter remains secured in position in the keyhole until another patron inserts a coin to use the device. 
     In an alternative embodiment, a keyless locking mechanism could be utilized having a keypad and microchip. A patron would insert a coin, position his golf bag as described above, lower the bonnet and thereafter receive a password or number, either by temporary screen display or printout. When wishing to remove his clubs, the patron would enter the number or password onto the keypad attached to the locker. The microchip could provide randomly different numbers or passwords for each subsequent use thereby reducing the risk of theft from a previous user. In a third embodiment, the bonnet and base include a hasp for receiving a mechanical lock opened by a key or a number combination. 
     The invention provides a golf club storage locker with a simple yet pleasing appearance, suitable for installation at various locations around the clubhouse, restaurant, practice greens, pro shop, etc. A relatively large number of golf bags can be stored in a small area. The lockers are easily operated by coins and therefore accessible for any golfers to use. The locker is formed of materials resistant to sun and rain and sun and can be located outside without the need for shelter. 
     The golf bag locker of the invention can temporarily secure a golf bag full of clubs eliminating the risk of theft. The golf bag locker of the invention can be manufactured economically and sold or leased at relatively low cost. The golf bag locker can be installed at a variety of locations with minimal installation cost. 
     These and many other features and attendant advantages of the invention will become apparent as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a golf bag locker according to the invention with the bonnet shown in lower position; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the locker of FIG. 1 shown with the support member elevated to position the bonnet above the club heads; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the locker of FIG. 1 shown containing a golf club bag with the bonnet in locked position; 
     FIG. 4 is a view in section taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a view in section taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a locker of the invention shown in closed position; and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the locker of FIG. 6 shown in open position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, a first embodiment of a golf bag locker  10  is illustrated. The locker  10  is formed of a base  12 , vertical support member  20  and a bonnet  30 . The base  12  has vertical perimeter walls  14  forming a recessed cavity  16  for receiving the bottom portion  13  of a golf bag  11  as shown in FIG.  2 . The base  12  can contain at least one bottom flange  17  having a mounting hole  18  for receiving screws or bolts (not shown) for securing locker  10  to a hardened surface (not shown). 
     The vertical support member  20  is fixedly connected to a corner  19  of the base  20  and the moveable bonnet  30  can be rotatably connected to an inner post  31  slidingly received in the support member  20 . The bonnet  30  has a closed top wall  32 , side walls  34  and a hinge means  25  received in a corner extension  33  of the bonnet  30  for permitting the bonnet  30  to be rotatably connected to the post  31  slidingly received within the support member  20 . The hinge means  25  further permits bonnet  30  to rotate from a horizontal, closed position over the base  12  to an open position displaced from the base as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the hinge means  25  has two plates  35 ,  38  joined by a pin  39 . The first plate  35  is secured to the inner wall  41  of the post  31  by means of fasteners such as rivets  37 . The second plate  38  is secured to the wall portion  44  of the extension  33  of the bonnet  30  by means of fasteners such as rivets  45 . When the bonnet  30  is rotated to the open position, the bonnet  30  will rotate 90° in a horizontal plane until the plates  35 ,  38  are engaged. 
     The bonnet  30  can also be moved vertically by pulling the telescoping post  31  out of the support member  20 . The pin  50  mounted through the slot  52  prevents the post  31  from being pulled out of the support member  20 . The pin  54  mounted on the post  31  acts as a lower stop for the post  31  and bonnet  30 . 
     A coin operated locking mechanism  22  is mounted on support member  20 . The coin operated locking mechanism  22  includes a slot  24  for inserting a coin, and a keyhole  26  for inserting and removing a key  28 . As shown in FIG. 5, when a coin is placed into the slot  26 , the tongue  60  is released from the groove  62  and the key  28  is released from the keyhole  26 . When the key  28  is removed from the keyhole  26 , the tongue  60  enters the groove  62  which prevents upward movement of the post  31 . 
     A patron would utilize the locker  10  invention by initially inserting the required currency into coin slot  24  of mechanism  22  located on the support member  20 . The key  28  can now be removed from the keyhole  26 . The locking mechanism  22  releases the post  31  from its horizontal position allowing the patron to raise the bonnet  30  upward and rotate it sideways. The patron next lifts his golf bag  11  into the recess  16  in the base  12 . The patron then rotates and lowers the bonnet  30  back into the down position so that the club heads extending from the top of the golf bag are disposed within the recess of the bonnet  30  and are surrounded by top wall  32  and side walls  34 . Once back in the position, the post  31  locks and can not be released until the key  28  is inserted back into the keyhole  26  to release the locking means. Once the locking means is released, bonnet  30  can be raised and rotated to expose the club heads and the patron&#39;s golf bag and clubs can be removed from the locker  10 . Also, once the locking means is released, the key is not removable from the keyhole  26  until currency is again inserted into the coin slot  24 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, a second embodiment of a golf bag locker  100  is formed of a base  112 , bonnet  130  jointed together by a vertical support member  120 . The bottom end  121  of the support member  120  is fixedly mounted in a slot  113  in one of the perimeter walls  115  of the base  112 . The top end  123  of the support member  120  is secured to the back wall  117  of the bonnet by fasteners  118 . The bonnet  130  is split into 2 L-shaped sections,  132 ,  134 . The first fixed section  132  comprises a side wall  136  and the back wall  117 . The second section  134  includes the other side wall  146  and the front wall  138 . The top wall can be connected to either of the sections  132 ,  134 . It is preferably connected to the second movable section  134 . The sections  132  and  134  are joined along their mating edges  143 ,  145  by a plate hinge  150  having plates  152 ,  154  secured to the edges  143 ,  145  by fasteners  147  such as rivets. The stationary section  132  has horizontal lips  149 ,  151  across the top of the walls  136 ,  117 . Top wall  140  has vertical lips  153 ,  155  which rest on the lips  149 ,  151  when the bonnet  130  is closed. 
     The front wall  138  has a flange  159  on which is mounted a hasp  161 . When the bonnet  130  is closed the aperture  163  in the hasp engages a spring mounted latch, not shown, projecting from the coin operated mechanism  170  mounted on the side wall  136  of the fixed section  132  of the bonnet  130 . 
     As discussed above, the locking mechanism can be mechanical or electromechanical. The bonnet can be slidingly mounted on one or more posts and be raised and lowered vertically to accept and store clubs. 
     The lockers would be used at golf courses near practice greens, restaurants, pro shop, etc. by patrons to increase the level of prevention of theft when the patron leaves his golf bag unattended. 
     It is to be realized that only preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and that numerous substitutions, modifications and alterations are permissible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.