IMPROVED GOLF CLUB CARRIER

Abstract: A golf club carrier arranged to transport and store golf clubs comprising frames (1-2) hinged at (12) having means (10-11-14-15-18) to independently hold the clubs in selected positions, and means (19) to adjust the frames (1-2) between a compacted storage position and an extended position.

Description: i . "IMPROVED GOLF CLUB CARRIER" This invention relates to an improved golf club carrier. It is customary to use a golf bag to carry the clubs and in turn to carry the golf bag on a golf buggy. 5. Golf bags generally simply comprise an elongated bag through the mouth of which the clubs are inserted generally in a random manner and this form of support allows the heads of the clubs to move about with con¬ sequent possible wear and some damage. Golf buggies are 10« designed to carry a golf bag and to provide further auxil¬ iary carrying surfaces and usually are of a foldable nature so that they can readily be stowed. The object of this invention is to provide improved means for carrying the golf clubs and this is achieved 15. according to this invention by replacing both the golf bag and the golf buggy by a single unit which may serve both purposes. The invention comprises a golf club carrier arranged to transport and store golf clubs having a wheeled trans- 20. portable frame and means to carry the golf clubs charac¬ terised by means to independently hold the clubs in sel¬ ected positions, and means to adjust the holding means between a compacted storage position and an extended position. 25. The means to hold the clubs conveniently comprise two frame members hinged together at an upper part and arranged to deploy from a relatively parallel compacted position to a position where one frame is at an angle to the other frame, the means which engage the clubs com- 30. prising cups at a part remote from the hinge means and means on the frame adjacent the hinge means to releasably engage the shafts of the golf clubs. In a preferred form the invention consists of a golf club carrier comprising a pair of frames held to- 5. gether by hinge means and generally downwardly coexten¬ sive from the hinge means when in use but variable in angle the one to the other, there being means to hold the frames in a folded generally parallel position or extended to a generally inverted "Vee" shaped configur- 10. ation, the frames carrying a series of cups or other holding members remote from the hinge means which are adapted to locate one end of the clubs, preferably the handles of golf clubs, the frames also having a series of holding members such as guides adjacent the hinge means 15. which are adapted to engage the shafts of the golf clubs, means such as magnets being provided to releasably hold the shafts of the clubs in the guides, the holding means on one frame being staggered in relation to those on the other frame, at least one of the frames having ground 20. support means. By means of this arrangement, when the frames are folded, golf clubs carried thereby are held in two relatively parallel planes but when the frames are extended, the golf clubs carried by one frame are in a plane which may cross the plane of the golf clubs in the 25. other frame. The actual construction of the device can be substan¬ tially varied but to enable the invention to be fully appreciated an embodiment of a preferred construction will now be described with reference to the accompanying 30. drawings in which:— Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the carrier in the extended position as when in use as a golf buggy to carry a set of clubs, Fig. 2 is a similar isometric view showing the car- 35. rier in its folded position, . Fig. ' 3 is a side elevation of the carrier in folded position, Fig. 4 shows an alternative clip, Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but is a computer- 5. produced see-through view showing details, Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the carrier in folded position as shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a bag for use with the carrier. 10. The improved carrier comprises a pair of frames 1 and 2, each having side members, the side members of the frame 1 being designated 3 and the side members of the frame 2 being designated 4. The frame 1 has transverse joining members 5 and 6 15. arranged so that these members 5 and 6 can engage and hold golf clubs, the frame 2 having transverse joining members 7 and 8 also arranged to hold the golf clubs. Each of these frames so formed have along a bottom portion a series of cups, the cups of the frame 1 being 20. designated 10 and the cups of the other frame 2 being designated 11, the cups 10 and 11 being disposed in the lower joining members 5 and 7 respectively, and engage the ends of the handle of the golf clubs, and the frames 1 and 2 have, near the top adjacent hinge means 12, 25. guides 14 and 15 into which the clubs can be engaged to hold the clubs on each side in selected planes. The guides 14 and 15 being formed in the upper joining mem¬ bers 6 and 8 respectively. The cups 10 and 11 and guides 14 and 15 are stag- 30. gered so that the clubs supported by one frame project through between the clubs on the other frame. Magnetic or other holding members 17 and 18 are arranged in the guides 14 and 15 respectively and are arranged to retain the clubs in position but the clubs can be readily released by breaking the magnetic hold 5- when they are to be withdrawn from the club carrier. The frames 1 and 2 are held in their deployed posi¬ tion by an articulated tray 19 comprising two sections 20 and 21 hinged together at a medial line 22, the section 20 being hinged at 23 to the transverse joining member 5 10.. having the cups 10 formed therein, while the section 21 is hinged at 24 to the transverse joining member 6 having the cups 11 formed therein, the two sections having sides 25 which interengage to prevent the tray 19 from moving down further than a relatively horizontal position, but 15. when the tray centre is pushed upwardly the action is to move the lower ends of the frames 1 and 2 toward each other, changing the planes in which the clubs are held from where they cross over adjacent to the hinging means to a storage or folded position where the two planes are 20. approximately parallel. Thus, when in normal use the frame 1 is extended outwards relative to the frame 2 so that the two side members 1 and 2 slope outwardly at the bottom relative to each other to carry the clubs in a crossed position, the 25.= planes of the club positions being shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by chain lines designated A and B. While the clubs are preferably retained in cups or similar locating means at the lower part of the said carrier as described according to the illustrated embodi- 30. ment, magnets could be used to simply engage the clubs or their shafts in two spaced-apart places, and it will be realised that while herein the description has been made to the golf clubs being supported in an inverted position OMPI ^ "WIPO .$> " with the handles engaged in cups at the lower ends of the frames 1 and 2, the clubs could be positioned the other way up with the heads engaged in cups or held by magnets at the lower part of the frame members 1 and 2. 5. The use of magnets in either arrangement serves the purpose of firmly holding the clubs in position and re¬ strains the clubs against release and rotational movement and thus serves to protect the clubs against damage by moving against each other or generally becoming displaced. 10. Each of the side members 4 of the frame 2 have a wheel 27 on an axle 28 carried on a sleeve 29 encircling the relevant side members 4 so that the device serves as a golf buggy, and a handle 30 is provided whereby the buggy can be drawn around by the player, the clubs at 15. that stage being spaced for ready selection and removal so that the device forms an ideal buggy which holds the golf clubs in selected positions. The carrier could however have means other than wheels as its ground support means, such as sleds, or 20. could be carried on an independent wheeled frame applied when required. The sleeves 29 can be rotational on the side members 4 to allow the wheels to be positioned relatively paral¬ lel to the frame 2 for storage, pins 31 being used to 25. lock the sleeve against rotation about the sleeve axis when the wheel position has been selected. Means other than pins can be used to effect the locking. While it is preferred to use a tray as shown, other means can be used such as a lower platform which is remov- 30. able or can be swung out of position when folding, the lower member in this case being either attachable or being hinged to one of the side members so that it can be "BTJ £^ _QMPI swung up when the device is to be folded to lie between the then relatively parallel side frames, but when it is swung down it can engage members which hold the buggy in the position where it is transportable on the wheels. 5. The handle 30 is itself of a foldable nature and has its lower end 32 connected by a transverse hinge to the transverse frame members 7 and extends upwardly therefrom and has an upper- part 33 which is telescopic in the lower part 34 and can be locked by a pin or clamp in an ex- 10. tended or a telescoped position and also it can be turned to have the grip 35 arranged as a hook by means of which the device can be hung on a suitable support when folded. Locking of the part 33 to the part 34 can be by means of a wedge control 36 or by other means and the 15. spacer 37 between the handle 30 and the upper transverse frame member is adjustable in that the spacer is slidable through the sleeve 38 which is connected by hinge 39 to the transverse member 8 and locking means in the form of a pin 40 or the like and may be used to hold the handle 20. In this operative position but when unlocked the handle can be pushed towards the frame 2 and the spacer 37 will swing downwardly into the plane of the frames 1 and 2 because the bracket 41 which pivotally connects the spacer 37 to the part 34 of the handle 30 is positioned 25. to be higher than the sleeve 40 and its pivoting means 39 and therefore changes the angle of the spacer as the handle is pushed forward to bring the spacer more in the plane on the handle. A seat can be provided on one or both of the side 30. frames if this is required but this is not shown in the drawings. From the foregoing it will be realised that an im¬ proved device is provided which serves as a golf club carrier and replaces both the normal golf bag and the usual type of golf buggy, and because of its folding 5. nature the clubs can, during play, be positioned in two crossing planes for ready selection of the clubs but when the carrier is to be stored the clubs are brought into substantially one plane or generally parallel planes to take minimum space, as is also the club carrier, and the 10. device is then readily transportable in a vehicle or can be stored when not required. A cover is preferably provid¬ ed to go over the folded club carrier to provide a neat and effective device, which cover can have carry handles along for instance one side to enable easy carrying of 15. the unit between the periods of use on a golf course and the transport period in between. The magnetic lock for the golf clubs can of course be replaced by other means and could comprise a bar ex¬ tending along the sides to be movable away from the clubs 20. when they are to be released to allow one of the clubs selected to be removed, or independent mechanical means could be used for each club to provide an interlock to ensure that the club shafts are firmly held. With this arrangement clubs are not liable to move out of position 25. excepting when the release means are actuated when a selected club is to be withdrawn, and as the clubs are held with the striking head ends separated, unwanted rubbing or contacting of one head with another can be avoided or minimised. A clip is shown in Fig. 4 and is 30. designated 45. The bag 47 shown in Fig. 7 has a base 49 adapted to engage the tray 19 when the carrier is extended and has sloping sides 48 to fit between the frames 1 and 2 the bag having handles 50 whereby it may be carried 5. when not supported on the tray 19. The device thus comprises a simple unit which can be constructed mainly of rods of relatively light weight and will hold the, clubs securely in selected position and thus giving a great advantage over the normal golf 10. bag and also of the buggy which is in use at the present time. 1 * 4 _O OMMPPII . ';* • *

Claims: THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:- 1. A golf club carrier arranged to transport and store golf clubs having transportable frame means with means to carry golf clubs, characterised by means to indepen¬ dently hold the clubs in selected positions, and means 5. to adjust the holding means between a compacted storage position and an extended position. 2. A golf club carrier according to claim 1 character¬ ised in that the said frame means comprise two frames hinged together and each adapted to carry golf clubs, said frames being arranged to deploy from a relatively 5. parallel compacted position to a position where one frame is at an angle to the other said frame. 3. A golf club carrier according to claim 2 character¬ ised by a first series of holding means on each said frame to locate one end portion of the golf clubs, and a second series of holding means on each said frame re- • mote from the said first series and arranged to releas¬ ably engage the shafts of the said golf clubs. 4. A golf club carrier according to claim 3 character¬ ised in that at least one said series of holding means on the said frames includes magnets to releasably hold the shafts of golf clubs. 5. A golf club carrier according to claim 2 or 3 charac¬ terised in that the said frames are arranged to be posi- tionable during transport to depend at least downwards from the said hinge means, and by ground wheels on a « lower part of at least one said frame. 6. A golf club carrier according to claim 1 character¬ ised by extendible handle means on one said frame. 7. A golf club carrier comprising in combination: (a) a pair of frames held together by hinge means and generally coextensive but variable in angle the one to the other, 5. (b) means to hold the said frames in a folded gen¬ erally parallel position or extended to a generally Vee shaped position, (c) a first series of holding members on each said frame remote ' from the said hinge means each adapted 10. to engage an end part of a golf club, (d) a second series of holding means on the said frames adjacent the said hinge means each adapted to engage the shaft of a said golf club, (e) means to releasably hold the said shafts in 15. at least one series of the said holding means, and, (f) ground support means on at least one of said frames, whereby when the said frames are folded, golf clubs car¬ ried thereby are held in relatively parallel planes but 20. when the said frames are extended, the golf clubs carried by one said frame are in planes inclined one to the other. 8. A golf club carrier according to claim 7 character¬ ised in that the pair of frames each comprise side mem¬ bers hinged together at one end, said side members of each frame being connected together by joining members 5. which carry the said series of holding members. 9. A golf club carrier according to claim 7 or 8 charac¬ terised in that at least one series of holding means on the said frames includes magnets whereby the golf clubs are releasably held by the said magnets to be con- 5• strained in movement whereby to protect the golf clubs while in the said club carrier. 10. A golf club carrier according to claim 7 or 8 where¬ in the first series of holding members of each said frame remote from the said hinge means are cups adapted to each receive the end of a golf club. 11. A golf club carrier according to claim 7 wherein the said second series of holding means on the said fram¬ es adjacent to the said hinge means comprise guides to locate the said golf clubs, said guides extending outward- 5. ly to engage the shafts of the said clubs. 12. A golf club carrier according to claim 3 or 7 charac¬ terised in that the said holding means on one said frame are staggered in relation to the holding means of the other said frame. 13. A golf club carrier according to claim 11 character¬ ised in that the means to releasably hold the shafts in the said guides comprise magnets positioned on the said frame members to engage the said shafts of the 5. clubs. 14. A golf club carrier according to claim 7 character¬ ised by guides on the said frames which extend outward¬ ly to engage the sides of the shafts of the clubs to locate the said clubs said guides being adapted to grip 5. the said shafts to releasably hold the said shafts. 15. A golf club carrier according to claim 7 or 8 charac¬ terised by ground wheels on the side bars on at least one of the said frame. 16. A golf club carrier according to claim 7 or 8 charac¬ terised by ground wheels on the side bars on at least one of the said frames, the axles of the said wheels being positionable about the said side members of the 5- said frame to have the axis of the axles co-extensive with the plane of the said side member for transit or normal thereto for folding. 17. A golf club carrier according to claim 7 character¬ ised by means to hold the frames in a folded generally parallel position or extended to a generally Vee shaped position, said means connecting at one end to the one 5. said frame and at the other end to the other said frame and having intermediate articulating means to allow the said means to be swung upwardly to fold the said frames. 18. Means according to claim 17 characterised in that the said means are in the form of a tray with sides ar¬ ranged to hold the two parts of the said tray in co- planar position allowing the two parts of the tray to be 5. folded upwardly to fold the said frames. 19. A golf club carrier according to claim 7 or 8 charac¬ terised by a handle which is telescopic and lockable and hingedly connected to the lower joining member of one of the said frames and connected to the upper joining 5. member of that said frame by means of a spacer slidable through but lockable in a sleeve hingedly connected to the said upper joining member, with the hinged connection between the said handle and the said spacer at a distance greater than the distance between the hinged connection 10. between the lower end of the handle and the hinged connec¬ tion of the sleeve, whereby when the handle is folded inwards the said spacer is positioned substantially para¬ llel to the said frame member which carries the said handle. 20. A golf club carrier comprising: a pair of frames held together by hinge means and generally coextensive but variable in angle the one to the other, means between the said frames remote from the said hinge means to hold 5. the said frames in a folded generally parallel position or extended to a generally inverted Vee shaped position, a series of cups on the said frame remote from the said hinge means adapted to engage the handles of golf clubs, a series of guides on the said frames adjacent the said 10. hinge means adapted to engage the shafts of the said golf clubs, magnets on the said frames to releasably hold the said shafts in the said guides, said cups and said guides and said magnets on one said frame being staggered in relation to those on the other said frame, 15. ground support means on at least one of the said frames, and handle means on at least one of said frames hinged to the said frame to be foldable against the said frame, whereby when the said frames are folded, golf clubs car¬ ried thereby are held in relatively parallel planes. 21. A golf club carrier constructed and operating sub¬ stantially as described and illustrated in the accompany¬ ing drawings.

Inventors: DAW DONALD GEORGE, DAW, DONALD, GEORGE
Applicants: DAW DONALD GEORGE, DAW, DONALD, GEORGE
Application year: 1984
Main classification: A63B55
IPC codes: B62B1