Modular golf club display

A display for supporting and displaying golf clubs is configured to support the golf clubs by their heads such that the club shaft is oriented downwardly. The display includes a support member and at least one cradle mounted to the support member. The cradle has first and second upwardly curving arcuate support arms separated from one another by a trough. Each of the support arms defines an uppermost portion with the trough between the support arms. The cradle is configured such that the support arms uppermost portions are non-linear relative to one another through the trough. The golf club is positioned in the cradle resting one the support arms and with the shaft extending downwardly from about the trough.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a display for golf clubs. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a modular golf club display that cradles a golf club at its head to support the club, and can support a plurality of such clubs in a consistent direction and orientation.

Many different types of golf club displays are known. These displays range from a simple wall or surface against which the clubs' grips (the handle end of the club) are leaned, to displays that support the clubs in an upside-down orientation for viewing the base of the head.

Head supporting type displays (i.e., displays in which the club is supported upside-down for readily viewing the base of the head) are advantageous in that a consumer can quickly determine the type of club (e.g., a wood or a titanium driver), the club number (e.g., a 1-wood, 3-wood, 5-wood), and ordinarily, the club manufacturer. Moreover, in a typical display of this type, the clubs are securely held and as such there is less likelihood that the clubs will fall.

One known type of head supporting display includes an elongated slot in which a plurality of clubs are inserted. In such a display, however, it can be difficult to get to the first such inserted club if the slot is too narrow to merely pull the club upward. That is, if the grip is larger than the slot (and the club cannot be pulled upward), the subsequently inserted or displayed clubs must be removed to get to an earlier inserted or displayed club. As such, consumers may be more inclined to merely lay aside the clubs rather than putting the clubs back into the display.

In those instances where the slots are sufficiently large to permit the grip to be pulled through, the slots may be so large that the clubs “roll” around in the display. This can result in a sloppy and disorganized club display.

Other known head support type displays include smaller slots for individual clubs. Such slots can include a frictional material (e.g., rubber) insert to provide increased hold for the clubs. However, like the larger-lost type noted above, in such displays, the clubs often “roll” resulting in a sloppy and chaotic display of clubs. Moreover, the rubber (or other resilient material) can break or become damaged which can render the display non-functional.

Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved head support type golf club display. Desirably, such a display supports the clubs in a neat and organized manner. More desirably, the display is modular in that the individual club supporting elements can be readily replaced or changed with minimal effort.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A display for supporting and displaying golf clubs supports the head of a golf club such that the shaft is oriented downwardly. The display supports the clubs in a neat and organized manner with the downwardly oriented shafts straight and parallel to one another. Such a display is modular in that the individual club supporting elements can be readily replaced or changed with minimal effort, and can support both left-handed and right-handed clubs.

The display includes a support member, such as a support arm and at least one (and preferably multiple) cradles mounted to the display support arm. The cradle has first and second upwardly curving arcuate club support arms separated from one another by a trough. Each of the arms defines an uppermost portion with the trough between the support arms. The cradle is configured such that the support arm uppermost portions are non-linear relative to one another through the trough. In a present cradle, an angle between the uppermost portions (at the trough) is formed between about 90 degrees and about 120 degrees.

The club is positioned in the cradle resting against the support arms and with the shaft extending downwardly from about the trough. In a preferred display, the cradle is reversible and is formed having mirror image first and second support arms and a mirror image trough on an opposing side of the cradle. This permits use of a single cradle (design) for supporting both right-handed clubs and left-handed clubs. In one display the cradle is movable about the support member for switching the cradle from the right-handed club support to the left-handed club support.

In a preferred cradle, a peak is defined between the first and second upwardly curving arcuate support arms in the trough (at a rear corner of the cradle) such that when a club is positioned in the cradle, the club rests on the peak and against the support arms. In this manner, gravity assists in orienting the club shaft straight downwardly.

In a present cradle the arms are formed as a plurality of ribs extending from a spine. The ribs are formed generally transverse to the spine. An arm supporting portion of the cradle includes a bore and the display support member includes a rod received in the bore. In this arrangement, the cradle is pivotable about the rod for pivoting the rod between the left-handed club supporting position and the right-handed club supporting position.

In an arrangement in which the support member is configured for receiving a plurality of cradles mounted thereto in alignment with one another, each of the cradles is pivotable about the rod independent of each other cradle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures and in particular toFIG. 1, there is shown a modular golf club display10embodying the principles of the present invention. The display10is shown with a plurality of clubs C supported by the display10in an opposing or facing manner. The display10includes, generally, a plurality of cradles12, one or more support arms14and a support bracket or stand16. An array of cradles12is associated with each arm14.

As seen inFIGS. 2–5, in one embodiment, each cradle12includes a cradling portion, indicated generally at18, and a support arm attachment region20. The cradle12defines a rear corner22having arms24,26extending therefrom. The arms24,26terminate at upwardly curving arcuate surfaces28,30that essentially define two peaks32,34with a trough or valley36between the peaks32,34. Viewed another way, the shape is akin to a skewed or bent saddle shape. That is, the peaks32,34and trough36are oriented or positioned such that a line through them (i.e., a peak32-trough36-peak34line, as indicated at A12) is not a straight line. Rather, the peaks32,34are at an angle α relative to one another through the trough36. In a present cradle12, the angle α between the peaks32,34through the trough36, when viewed from above the cradle12, is about 90 degrees to about 120 degrees; other angles will, of course, function well. When viewed in terms of a solid object, the cradle is formed as the outer surface of about ⅛ of a sphere, with a central portion (as indicated at38) of the surface removed.

The cradle12is configured so that the shaft S of a club C is positioned in the removed portion38of the surface (e.g., a circumferential notch) such that the upwardly arcuately extending surfaces28,30cup the top of the club head H. In this manner, a capture region40is defined by the cradle12and the club C is securely held in the cradle capture region40with the “top” of the head H (that is, that portion of the head H at the head H/shaft S juncture) residing in the trough36and the depending or lower portions of the head H resting on the surfaces28,30that extend from the trough36to the peaks32,34. It is also seen fromFIG. 1, that the striking surface T of the club C is positioned against one of the surfaces28while the heel L of the club C is positioned against the other surface30. With the club C so positioned in the cradle12, it is readily removed from the cradle12by slightly lifting the club C to pass the head H over the peaks32,34.

As will be understood fromFIGS. 1 and 2, the cradle12can be configured to support both right-handed clubs CRHand left-handed clubs CLH. A preferred cradle12is formed as a reversible support element having a mirror image shape on an opposing side (as shown in the figures, the underside). In such a configuration, the “mirror image” is defined relative to a plane P20through the support arm attachment region20. In this manner, only a single cradle need be fabricated to support both left- and right-hand clubs.

An alternate embodiment of the cradle112is shown inFIGS. 8–9. This embodiment is similar to that ofFIGS. 1–7, having a skewed or bent saddle shape and including a cradling portion, indicated generally at118, defined by first and second upwardly curving arcuate surfaces128,130that form two peaks132,134with a trough or valley136between the peaks132,134. The cradle112includes a support arm attachment region120. The peaks132,134and trough136are oriented or positioned such that a line (i.e., the peak132-trough136-peak134line, as indicated at A112) is not straight. Rather, the peaks132,134are at an angle α relative to one another through the trough136. In a present cradle112, the angle α between the peaks132,134through the trough136, when viewed from above the cradle112, is about 90 degrees to about 120 degrees; other angles will, of course, function well.

In this embodiment of the cradle112, the arms124,126are formed having rear walls146,148, with the surfaces128,130of the arms124,126being formed by a plurality of ribs150upstanding from a central spine152. The central spine152is formed perpendicular to the rear walls146,148of the arms124,126(in the case of the arm124, perpendicular to the support arm attachment region120), with the ribs150extending upwardly and downwardly from the spine152. In this manner, the ribs150define slots154between adjacent ribs150. It has been found that this arrangement provides the necessary structural integrity or support for holding the clubs, with sufficient rigidity to retain the overall shape of the cradle112. At the same time, the ribbed150configuration combines cost savings in that less material is used (the slots154between the ribs150are devoid of material), and ease of manufacture in that, for example, known injection molding techniques can be used. Of course, other manufacturing methods may also be used to make either embodiment of the cradle12,112.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that golf clubs are not all alike. That is the shape or profile of the top surface of a club head H is likely to be different from any or each other club. This is particularly true among different manufacturers and even among different clubs of each manufacturer. It was found that, in certain instances, when a club C was resting in the cradle with the top of the club head H resting on the arms, the club may not sit straight in the cradle such that the shaft of the club hung straight down. It is believed that this was due to the friction developed at the juncture of the club head and the arms.

To this end, referring toFIGS. 8 and 9, it can be seen that the rear corner122of the cradle112is elevated relative to the arms124,126between the rear corner122and the peaks132,134. That is, the arms surfaces128,130curve downwardly (or dip) between the corner122and the peaks132,134. This configuration defines a point, as indicated at156, at the rear corner122, rather than resting surfaces, on which the club head H rests. In this arrangement, the club head H essentially rests on a point contact156(at the rear corner122) and against the peaks132,134.

It was found that this rear point156contact, rather than surface contact of the head H, permits the club shaft S to “hang” with the shaft S oriented straight or nearly straight down. This has increased aesthetic appeal in that multiple club shafts S in the display all hang straight down (and parallel to one another), rather than each being askew and appearing to hang in a disorganized and sloppy manner.

Referring toFIG. 7, the present display10includes a unique arrangement for attaching the cradles12,112to the support arm14. The support arm14is formed as a pair of spaced apart depending legs70having an arcuate or rolled upper portion72. Along the upper portion72, sections (as indicated at74) are removed such that a series of windows76and discrete connecting sections78are formed. The legs70are spaced from one another (or, viewed another way, the arcuate or rolled portion72is formed having a diameter of) a predetermined distance or size. A rod80is configured for insertion between the legs70at the upper connecting portion78. As seen inFIG. 7, the rod80shows through the windows76(or spaces) in the arm14.

Alternately, although not shown, the arm can be formed having a single depending flange with a tubular sleeve extending along an upper end of the flange. Such a sleeve is formed as a series of discrete sleeve sections spaced from one another along the flange and having an inner diameter, that is configured for receiving the rod.

The support arm attachment region20,120of each cradle12,112is formed as a central fin82,182having a bore84,184extending therethrough. As set forth above, the plane P20, P120through the attachment region20,120also bisects the fin82,182and bore84,184, and establishes the mirror image reference plane of the cradle12,112. The bore84,184in the fin82,182has a diameter that is about the same the distance between the support arm legs70. In this manner, as seen inFIG. 8, the cradles12,112are positioned in the support arm windows76(or between the sleeve portions) and the rod80is inserted through the arm14and the bore84,184of each cradle12,112to secure the individual cradles12,112to the support arm14.

Advantageously, the cradle12,112and arm14are configured so that to change the cradle12,112from a right-handed club CRHsupport to a left-handed club CLHsupport (or vice-versa), the cradle12,112is merely pivoted about the rod80(as indicated generally by the arrow at86inFIG. 2), to the opposing side of the arm14. As such, any configuration of all right- or left-handed or a combination of right- and left-handed cradles12,112(and clubs C) can be accommodated in the display10. As seen inFIG. 2, the rear of the opposing (i.e., the lower or non-used) peak defining surface forms a stop88that rests against the support arm14to prevent over-pivoting of the cradle12,112and to maintain the position of the cradle12,112so that it properly supports the club C in an upright orientation.

Any number of configurations can be used to secure the support arm14to, for example, a fixture. In the illustrated embodiment, the arm14is shown mounted to the bracket16by an L-shaped flange90. The flange90is configured for insertion into the bracket16so that multiple arms14can be affixed to a single bracket16. The bracket16can be mounted to a wall, a rack or any other structural member (not shown), by, for example, the hook arrangement92illustrated.

All patents referred to herein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure.

From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover all such modifications as fall within the scope of the disclosed, exemplary embodiments.