Abstract:
A golf ball dispenser which attaches to the exterior surface of a golf bag that is upright, rectangular, and capable of holding a plurality of golf balls, is herein disclosed. The dispenser is made of a durable yet flexible plastic material. Stored balls are added through the top of the dispenser through an upper opening. The balls can either be inserted one (1) at a time or in “as-purchased” quantities. In use, to remove a golf ball, the lowest ball is forced upward through a flexible retaining tab, thus releasing the ball through a bottom aperture. The dispenser is attachable to a golf bag with a fastening means.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/125,511, filed Apr. 28, 2008, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an accessory for a golf bag, and more specifically, to a golf ball dispenser that is attachable to a golf bag. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The game of golf has become one (1) of the most popular sports in the world. Golfers of all skill levels are constantly looking for ways to improve their games and make a day on the course more enjoyable and thus, golf accessory manufacturers are always looking for ways to satisfy this desire. One (1) of the most common and important golf accessories is the golf ball. During a regular game of golf, balls are easily lost or damaged and regularly need to be replaced. 
     For many casual golfers, a good day on the course is directly related to how many golf balls they loose or find. Additionally, many golfers prefer to use cheaper balls when teeing off, around water hazards, or for other shots where the likely hood of loosing the golf ball is increased; keeping the better golf balls for situations where precision and accuracy is of the utmost importance, such as chip shots and putting. This practice usually requires a golfer to fumble through a golf bag searching for the ball of choice or keeping multiple balls in their pockets during the game, which is inconvenient and uncomfortable. 
     A variety of attempts have been made to overcome these disadvantages and provide a means to contain and dispense a plurality of golf balls in a convenient and efficient manner. These attempts include various tubular golf ball holders where the golf balls are vertically stacked and dispensed one at a time from a golf ball holder housing during game play, practice, or the like when a ball needs to be replaced. The attempts typically encounter various disadvantages including: inconvenient and restrictive methods of mounting or carrying the holder, cumbersome mechanisms used to retain and dispense the balls, dispensing mechanisms that oppose the force being exerted by the stacking of balls within the holder often causing the dispensing means to malfunction, the inability to determine how many if any balls are actually stored within the holder, or multiple components that require a user to assembly the holder to manipulate parts when a golf ball is to be inserted or removed. Among the typical relevant attempts are several U.S. Patents. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,754,495, issued in the name of Anderson, describes a golf ball holder comprising an elongated hollow container suited to carry a plurality of golf balls, an open end, an open end closure cap, and a carrying strap. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,829,093, issued in the name of Hollins, describes a golf bag and attachment therefore comprising an elongated tubular pocket that is attachable to an inside portion of golf bag beside the club storage space that holds a column of golf balls. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,281,013, issued in the name of Motard, describes a golf ball dispenser comprising a hollow tubular magazine suitably sized to receive a golf ball that is open on both ends having a dispensing unit at one (1) of the open ends. The dispensing unit comprises two (2) offset arcuate gate members that positioned such that when the dispensing unit is engaged one (1) gate member leaves the lower end of the tubular magazine open thus dispensing the lower ball while the other gate member obstructs the path of the superjacent ball. When the dispensing unit is disengaged a spring returns it to the original position allowing the remaining balls within the magazine to be displaced into a lowered dispensing position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,209, issued in the name of Sanders, describes a golf ball holder comprising a cylindrical housing having an upper retaining chamber and lower dispensing chamber, a dispensing opening on the lower end of the housing suitably sized to allow a golf ball to pass through, and a retaining finger that prevents the golf balls from fully dropping into the dispensing chamber. Golf balls are laterally moved within the chamber to a lower and dispensing position when the retaining finger is depressed. 
     Additionally, ornamental designs for golf ball holders and dispensers exist, particularly, U.S. Pat. Nos. D 277,709; D 300,447; D 321,921; D 353,180 and D 362,037. However, none of these designs are similar to the present invention. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffers from one (1) or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. Accordingly, to satisfy the equipment needs of the golfing public, manufacturers are constantly looking for new and improved golf equipment designed to not only improve one&#39;s score but the enjoyment of the game as a whole. The development of the invention herein described substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and observed that there is a need for a means to store, transport, and dispense golf balls during a game of golf in a manner that is easy and effective and thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages. 
     To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf ball dispenser for a golf bag that provides a removable compartment to arrange and dispense a plurality of golf balls in an orderly fashion. 
     Another object of the golf ball dispenser is to provide a device comprising a front panel, a front opening, a pair of side panels, a rear panel, a top opening, a bottom panel, and a clip. The device retains a capacity of approximately six (6) golf balls and is simply attached to a golf bag, a belt, or the like via a clip. The device is fabricated from a durable plastic material and may be introduced in a variety of colors, patterns, and textures to suit a user&#39;s preference or to match a user&#39;s golf bag color. 
     Yet still another object of the golf ball dispenser is to provide a front panel comprising an integral viewing window that provides a simple visual display indicating the number of golf balls that are present within the device. 
     Yet still another object of the golf ball dispenser is to provide a front panel comprising a ball dispensing front opening along a lower area that provides a means for a controlled extraction of golf balls. The front opening comprises a flexible retaining tab along a bottom edge of the front opening that provides a mechanical retaining barrier that retains the golf balls inside the device until needed. When needed, a golf ball is manually forced over the retaining tab. 
     Yet still another object of the golf ball dispenser is to provide a retaining tab that physically distorts frontwardly when a golf ball is removed and returns to an original vertical position to immediately retain the remaining stacked golf balls due to its flexible composition. 
     Yet still another object of the golf ball dispenser is to provide a top opening for easy loading of golf balls and an interior shape suited to confine a plurality of stacked golf balls in a vertical manner upon a bottom panel. The top opening further comprises a pair of flexible retaining strips that assist in securely holding the golf balls contained within the device. 
     Yet another object of the golf ball dispenser is to provide retaining strips comprising horizontal elements affixed to and extending between the top edges of the side panels. 
     Yet still another object of the golf ball dispenser is to provide a method of utilizing the device which provides increased functionality and ease of play for all golfers in a manner which is quick, easy, and effective. 
     Further objects and advantages of the golf ball dispenser will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a golf ball dispenser for a golf bag  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the golf ball dispenser for a golf bag  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the golf ball dispenser for a golf bag  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the golf ball dispenser for a golf bag  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a first side view of the golf ball dispenser for a golf bag  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a second side view of the golf ball dispenser for a golf bag  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the golf ball dispenser for a golf bag  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the golf ball dispenser for a golf bag  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
            
             
                 
                   10 
                   golf ball dispenser for a golf bag 
                 
                 
                   20 
                   front panel 
                 
                 
                   25 
                   window 
                 
                 
                   27 
                   front opening 
                 
                 
                   30 
                   first side panel 
                 
                 
                   35 
                   second side panel 
                 
                 
                   40 
                   rear panel 
                 
                 
                   41 
                   top opening 
                 
                 
                   45 
                   retaining strips 
                 
                 
                   50 
                   bottom panel 
                 
                 
                   55 
                   tab 
                 
                 
                   60 
                   clip 
                 
                 
                   65 
                   fastener 
                 
                 
                   100 
                   golf ball 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 8 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a golf ball dispenser for a golf bag (herein described as the “device”)  10 , thereby providing a compartment thereto arrange and distribute golf balls  100  in an orderly fashion. Said device  10  comprises a front panel  20 , a front opening  27 , a pair of side panels  30 ,  35 , a rear panel  40 , a top opening  41 , a bottom panel  50 , a clip  60 , and a plurality of golf balls  100 . Said device  10  retains a capacity of approximately six (6) golf balls  100  and is attached thereto a golfing bag. The device  10  is fabricated from a durable plastic material and may be introduced in a variety of colors, patterns, and textures to suit a user&#39;s preference or to match a user&#39;s golf bag color. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a front perspective view of the device  10  and  FIGS. 3 through 8 , front, rear, sides, top and bottom views of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The device  10  comprises a molded plastic assembly forming a rectangular enclosure approximately twelve (12) inches high and two (2) inches square in cross-section. The device  10  further comprises a front panel  20 , a window  25 , a first side panel  30 , a second side panel  35 , a rear panel  40 , and a bottom panel  50 . The device  10  is purchased pre-loaded with new golf balls  100  and subsequently loaded with additional golf balls  100  either one (1) at a time or in “as-purchased” quantities, of which there are typically three (3) golf balls  100 . 
     The device  10  comprises a front panel  20  further comprising an integral window  25 , thereby providing a visual display thereto a present amount of golf balls  100  therein the device  10  to a user. Said window  25  comprises a transparent plastic strip extending vertically the height of the front panel  20  and being centrally located thereto. The window  25  is approximately one (1) inch wide and affixed thereto said front panel  20  using a common plastic welding process. 
     The front panel  20  also comprises a ball dispensing front opening  27  along a lower area, thereby providing a controlled extraction of golf balls  100  therefrom. Said front opening  27  comprises a flexible retaining tab  55  along a bottom edge region of the front opening  27  which provides a mechanical retaining barrier approximately one (1) inch wide and one-half (½) inch high, thereby retaining golf balls  100  therein the device  10  until needed. When needed for play, a golf ball  100  is manually forced over said tab  55  which is distorts frontwardly and returns to its original shape and vertical position due to its flexible plastic composition, thereby retaining remaining golf balls  100  therewithin the device  10 . 
     The device  10  provides a top opening  41  for easy loading of golf balls  100  and an interior shape so as to confine and provide a stacking of the golf balls  100  in a vertical manner thereupon a bottom panel  50 , thereby providing a convenient counting means when said golf balls  100  are viewed through the window  25  of the front panel  20 . Said top opening  41  also provides a pair of flexible retaining strips  45  to aid in holding golf balls  100  contained therewithin during use. Said retaining strips  45  are horizontal elements approximately one-half (½) inch wide affixed thereto top edges of the first  30  and second  35  side panels and extending therebetween and being affixed thereto the front  20  and rear  40  panels. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a rear perspective view of the device  10  and  FIGS. 3 through 8 , front, rear, first side, second side, top and bottom views of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The device  10  comprises a golf bag attaching clip  60  providing removable attachment thereto an exterior surface of a golf bag using a spring-type clip  60  or other attachment means. Said clip  60  would be provided as either original equipment or aftermarket equipment for common golf bags. Said clip  60  takes the form of a metal fixture in an inverted “U”-shape and affixed thereto the rear panel  40  via a fastening means such as rivets, screws, or the like. The clip  60  is made using chrome-plated spring steel or other equivalent corrosion resistant materials. Although depicted here as a top-hooking fixture, the clip  60  may be provided in various forms such as, but not limited to: a clamping device, spring-loaded latch, strap/buckle device, or the like without deviating from the concept and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the device  10 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be provided as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
     The method of utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: purchasing the device  10  pre-loaded and packaged with up to six (6) new golf balls  100 ; attaching the device  10  securely thereto a convenient golf bag feature such as a top edge, a side pocket, or another upward directed edge thereupon therewith the clip  50 ; dispensing golf balls  100  as needed therefrom the front opening  27 , thereby grasping and forcing a single golf ball  100  past the tab  55  as needed; visually observing a current amount of golf balls  100  stored by said device  10  therethrough the window  25 ; repeating a dispensing of golf balls  100  until the device  10  is exhausted of balls  100 ; loading additional golf balls  100  therein the device  10  therethrough the top opening  41  by forcing said balls  100  through the retaining strips  45  one at a time or in “as-purchased” quantities, as desired; and, benefiting from increased convenience while obtaining a new golf ball  100  for play using the present invention  10 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.