Golf bag drink holder apparatus and method

A drink holder apparatus is disclosed which may be connected to a golf bag. This apparatus holds a typical sports bottle and pivots about its connection point on the golf bag to keep the sports bottle in a substantially upright position when the golf bag is tipped and/or transported, thereby avoiding spillage of the drink.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention generally relates to golf apparatus, and more specifically 
relates to a drink holder apparatus and method for holding a typical 
plastic sports bottle, which can be attached to a typical golf bag in such 
a way as to keep the sports bottle in a substantially upright position, 
even when the golf bag is tipped, carried, or otherwise transported. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
Golfing is a sport that can take several hours to play. In hot weather it 
is therefore desirable to take along a cold drink to refresh the golfer's 
thirst from time to time. Transporting drinks on a motorized golf cart is 
easy, but is much more difficult when the golfer carries the golf bag or 
rolls it on a wheeled cart. Most golf bags are not designed or built to 
accommodate the storage of sports bottles containing drinks. Due to the 
effort required to carry or roll the golf bag, it is very awkward for the 
golfer to attempt to carry a sports bottle while transporting the golf 
bag. 
Therefore, there existed a need to provide a golf bag drink holder 
apparatus and method which is attached to the golf bag, thereby not 
requiring an additional hand to carry it, which carries a typical sports 
bottle, and is mounted to the golf bag in such a way as to pivot under the 
force of gravity to keep the sports bottle in a substantially upright 
position while transporting the golf bag, thereby avoiding spillage of the 
drink contained within the sports bottle. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to provide a golf bag drink holder 
apparatus and method which attaches to a golf bag in such a way as to keep 
the enclosed sports bottle in a substantially upright position using the 
natural force of gravity. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a golf bag drink holder 
apparatus and method having a strap to secure the enclosed sports bottle 
within the holder apparatus. 
According to the present invention, a golf bag drink holder apparatus is 
disclosed. This apparatus is open at the top allowing a typical sports 
bottle to be placed therein. The apparatus typically has a velcro strap 
which may be tightened and secured around the sports bottle to secure the 
sports bottle within the apparatus. The apparatus has attached thereto a 
strap, loop, or other connection device which attaches to the golf bag in 
a position such that the drink holder apparatus can swivel or pivot by the 
force of gravity as the golf bag changes position to keep the enclosed 
sports bottle in a substantially upright position, thereby avoiding 
spillage. 
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent 
from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the 
invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 2, a golf bag drink holder apparatus or compartment means 
10 is disclosed which holds a typical sports bottle 20, which typically 
has a lid and straw as shown. As shown in FIG. la, the drink holder 
apparatus 10 is connected to a golf bag 12 which typically contains the 
golf clubs used in playing golf. The drink holder apparatus 10 has one or 
more straps 14 made of a material or flexible material means such as 
fabric which allows the drink holder apparatus 10 to pivot in response to 
gravity to keep the sports bottle 20 within the drink holder apparatus 10 
in a substantially upright position, thereby avoiding spillage. In 
addition, the drink holder apparatus 10 has a strap 16 used to secure the 
sports bottle 20 within the drink holder apparatus 10. FIG. 3 shows the 
strap means or strap 16 in detail. One end 22 of strap 16 is fixedly 
attached to the outer wall 26 of drink holder apparatus 10, while the 
other end 24 of strap 16 has attached to it one half of a hook-and-loop 
fastener 18 typically known as velcro which attaches the loose end 24 of 
strap 16 to the other half of hook-and-loop fastener 18, which is attached 
to the outer wall 26 of drink holder apparatus 10. In a typical 
application, the loose end 24 of strap 16 is unfastened from drink holder 
apparatus 10, a sports bottle 20 is placed in drink holder apparatus 10, 
and strap 16 is then tightened around sports bottle 20 and secured to 
drink holder apparatus 10 using fastener 18. The strap 16 therefore serves 
to hold the sports bottle 20 firmly within the drink holder apparatus 10. 
FIG. la illustrates how the drink holder apparatus 10 is connected to golf 
bag 12, which in this figure is equipped with a carrying strap 28 for 
carrying the golf bag 12. FIG. 1b shows the drink holder apparatus 10 when 
used with a qolf bag 12 that is mounted on a wheeled cart 30. This figure 
illustrates well how the connection means connection between drink holder 
apparatus 10 and golf bag 12 allows the drink holder apparatus 10 to pivot 
with gravity to keep the sports bottle 20 contained in drink holder 
apparatus 10 in a substantially upright position. 
FIG. 4 shows the preferred configuration of straps 14 being two straps at 
slight angles as shown to provide reliable mounting of the drink holder 
apparatus lo while allowing the required pivoting action. 
While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiment, it is 
to be understood that the words which have been used are words of 
description rather than limitation, and that changes may be made within 
the purview of the appended claims without departing from the true scope 
and spirit of the invention in its broader aspects. For example, the 
mounting specifically illustrated shows the apparatus 10 coupled to a ring 
means or metal ring, which is attached to a metal loop on the golf bag. 
Any type of connection using a variety of materials is anticipated within 
the scope of this invention. In addition it is obvious that the apparatus 
of the present invention could be modified to accommodate drinks in cans, 
bottles, or boxes as well as those contained in sports bottles.