GOLF CLUB RECEPTACLE

Abstract: A golf club receptacle comprises a top segment (50) typically fabricated from a resilient material such as rubber. Situated below the top segment (50) are several lower segments (51), each identical in design. The top segment (50) comprises an upper face (14) and a plurality of apertures (15) having associated therewith a corresponding plurality of V-shaped pockets (16). The receptacle may comprise a platform (50) adapted to reside at an upper region of a golf bag and having a plurality of apertures (15) therethrough, and a corresponding plurality of tubes (13) depending from each aperture and adapted to reside within the golf bag, each tube being adapted to receive a shaft of a golf club. When placed within a golf bag, the receptacle receives golf clubs to secure them individually against clatter and possible damage. The head of some of the clubs reside within the respective pockets (16) and the shafts extend into the apertures (15).

Description: GOLF CLUB RECEPTACLE Field of the Invention The following invention relates to a golf club receptacle. More particularly, though not exclusively, the invention relates to a receptacle to receive and protect golf clubs in a golf bag. When inserting or removing golf clubs in a golf bag, the shafts and heads of the clubs often collide with one another causing damage thereto in the form of scratches and dents. Furthermore, when carrying a golf bag full of loose clubs, or when transferring the bag across a golf course upon a buggy, the clubs often clatter against one another irritating the golfer and perhaps other golfers on the course. Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to provide a golt club receptacle which fits at the opening of a golf bag and provides discrete receptacles for each golf club. Disclosure of - ιe Invention There is disclosed herein a golf club receptacle comprising: a platform adapted to reside at an upper region of _ golf bag "id having a plurality of apertures therethrough, and a corresponding plurality of tubes depending from each apertuii and adapted to reside witiiin the golf bag, each tube being adapted to receive a shaft of a golf club. Preferably, some of said apertures open to a club head receiving pocket. Preferably, each receiving pocket comprises a substantially V-shaped recess adapted to engage d e striking face of a golf club head so as to suspend the golf club therefrom. Preferably, some of said tubes extend above the platform. Preferably, at least one of said tubes extending above the platform comprises a recessed ledge adapted to support the head of a putter, for example. Preferably, at least one of said tubes extending above the platform comprises a V-shaped recess to receive irons. Preferably, said receptacle is coated wit a soft, non-abrasive mat-rial such as felt. Preferably, the inside surfaces of the tucss are covered with a SOΪI., non-abrasive material such as felt. Preferably, said V-shaped recess on at r ;ast one of the tubes extending above the platform has a soft, non-abrasive material coat ch as felt. Preferably, depending from the peripherv f the platform is a skirt adapted to surround the upper opening of a golf bag. Preferably, a strap extends around d e skirt and is adapted to tighten d e same about the golf bag. Preferably, the receptacle is formed as a plastics moulding. Ttitre is further disclosed herein a golf club receptacle comr<;*-»ing: a top segment having a platform adapted to reside at an upper region of a golf bag and having a plurality of apertures thered-rough, and a plurality of lower segments each adapted to reside widiin a golf bag, one lower segment stacked upon anotiier, the upper one of which is adapted to engage widi said top segment, each lower segment having a plurality of apertures t-heredirough aligned widi one another and aligned wid the apertures in die top segment. Preferably, the top segment is molded in a resilient material such as rubber. Preferably, said lower segments are molded in plastics material. Preferably, some of the apertures in said top segment open to a club head receiving pocket. Preferably, each receiving pocket comprises a substantially V-shaped recess adapted to engage the striking face of a golf club head so as to suspend die golf club dierefrom. Preferably, said top segment further comprises a vertical extension by which a plurality of longer golf clubs may be suspended. Definition As used herein the term "golf club" is intended to encompass woods, irons, putters, drivers, wedges, etc used in the game of golf. Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic exploded cross sectional elevational view of a golf club receptacle upon a golf bag, Fig. 2 is a schematic cross sectional elevational view of a single tube forming part of die receptacle of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of die receptacle, Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of me receptacle of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a segmented golf club receptacle, Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the top segment forming part of the assembly of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a schematic elevational view of the top segment of Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective view of one of me lower segments of me assembly of Fig. 5, and Fig. 9 is a schematic elevational view of me lower segment of Fig. 8. Description of the Preferred Embodiments In Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings diere is schematically depicted a golf club receptacle 10 adapted to be received at d e opening of a golf bag 24. Golf club receptacle 10 may be a molded plastics material or any other material capable of being formed into d e desired shape. The receptacle 10 comprises an upper platform 14 having a plurality of apertures 15 extending therethrough. In the preferred embodiment, apertures 15 are adapted to receive irons. However, any golf club may be received tiirough apertures 15. Each aperture 15 corresponds with a depending tube 13. Tube 13 may be integrally molded widi the platform 14 or may be affixed diereto by adhesive or any odier means. Extending from each aperture 15 and opening to die platform 14 is a pocket 16. Each pocket 16 comprises a V-shaped recess into which at least part of the head 12 of an iron is receivable. As the ball striking face of different irons is angled differently, each V-shaped pocket 16 may be of a corresponding angle. That is, each pocket 16 may be provided with a V-shaped recess of a different angle corresponding to the range of irons. As shown in Fig. 1, four tubes 17 extend above die platform 14. These tubes are adapted to receive the woods 11. The woods 11 are generally longer in the shaft than d e irons 12 and hence the provision of tubular extensions 17. In the preferred embodiment, two of the tubes 17 comprise a V-shaped recess 27 such that those tubes may receive an iron instead of a wood. Each recess 17 may be coated with a soft, non-abrasive material such as felt. A putter may be placed in die putter tube 18, which tube comprises a cut-out as shown leaving a pair of abutments 25 to prevent rotation of the putter. The upper surface of platform 14, the inner surfaces of each tube 13 and die inner surfaces of each pocket 16 may be lined widi a soft, non-abrasive material such as felt 21. Furthermore, die upper edges of die tubes 17 and 18 may be provided with a similar coating. This coating is adapted to ensure that the golf clubs and heads are not scratched by die receptacle. Extending about die periphery of the receptacle 10 is a skirt 19 adapted to surround the upper portion about the opening of die golf bag 24. To secure die skirt 19 about the golf bag, a strap 20 is provided. Strap 20 may include a velcro strip or the like adapted to cooperate widi a strip 22 provided about the bag 24. As shown in Fig. 1, die tubes need not extend right to die bottom of me golf bag 24. In use, and wid die receptacle 10 in place upon a golf bag, each iron may be passed through its respective aperture 15 such that at least die lower portion of die head of die iron resides widiin the respective pocket 16. The engagement of die head widi the pocket 16 at die appropriately angled surface acts to suspend die club from me receptacle. The woods would be suspended by interengagement of the heads with die upper felt coated surface 21 of the tubes 17. Similarly, the putter would be suspended from the surface 26 of putter tube 18. Apart from preventing rattiing and scratching of d e golf clubs, an advantage of die above disclosed invention is diat each club has its own defined space improving access to the clubs and preventing possible confusion between the clubs. In Figs. 5 to 9 of d e accompanying drawings diere is schematically depicted an alternative golf club receptacle. This receptacle comprises a top segment 50, typically fabricated from a resilient material such as rubber or any other material non-abrasive to golf club heads. Situated below the top segment 50 are three lower segments 51, each identical in design. As an alternative to providing a plurality of lower segments 51, a single molding may be provided. Widi reference to Fig. 6, the top segment 50 comprises an upper face 14 and a plurality of apertures 15 having associated dierewidi a corresponding plurality of V-shaped pockets 16. These parts are similar to those depicted in Figs. 2 and 3. However, since the top segment 50 is fabricated from a soft material such as rubber, a felt coating is not necessary, though may be an optional feature. Rather than providing a plurality of upwardly extending tubes 17, a single molding 17 replaces diese parts. The molding comprises a wall 53 to physically separate me driver heads passing through each of the apertures in molding 17 from the remaining golf clubs. With reference to Fig. 7, the lower part of the top segment 50 comprises a skirt 52 which is adapted to surround die outer wall of the uppermost lower segment 51, once assembled. To firmly locate the top segment 50 with respect to die uppermost lower segment 51, an annular recess 56 is provided. Widi reference to Fig. 8, the upper portion of die lower segment 51 comprises a lip 54 adapted to be received within the annular recess 56 of the top segment 50, or, in die case of one of die lower most lower segments 51, is adapted to cooperate with an annular recess 57 (Fig. 9) in die bottom thereof. Each lower segment 51 is molded from plastics material and comprises a plurality of apertures 13 corresponding in position to die position of die apertures 1 in the top segment 50. To reduce the overall weight of each lower segment 51, a pair of hollows 55 is provided. A tab 58 is provided in die lower part of die top segment 50 and also in the lower part of the lower segments 51. Tabs 58 are adapted to cooperate widi corresponding recesses 59 in the components situated dierebelow. Alignment of the tab 58 in the recess insures that die apertures 13 and 14 remain aligned. Aldiough not depicted, a skirt similar to skirt 19 of Fig. 3 can surround the top segment 50 to extend about d e upper portion of die golf bag. To secure die skirt about the golf bag, a strap similar to strap 20 can be provided. Strap 20 may include a velcro strip or die like adapted to cooperate with a strip provided about the bag. In use, die top segment 50 and me lower segments 51 are stacked one upon die other and rotated into position until the tab 58 falls into the corresponding recess 59. Once assembled, die structure may be lowered into a golf bag for use. It should be appreciated diat modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in die art are not to be considered as beyond die scope of die present invention. For example, a golf bag may be provided widi the receptacle integrally formed dierewidi, radier dian providing die receptacle as an add on attachment.

Claims: Claims: 1. A golf club receptacle comprising: a platform adapted to reside at an upper region of a golf bag and having a plurality of apertures therethrough, and 5 a corresponding plurality of tubes depending from each aperture and adapted to reside widiin die golf bag, each tube being adapted to receive a shaft of a golf club. 2. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein some of said apertures open to a club head receiving pocket. 3. The receptacle of claim 2 wherein each receiving pocket comprises a substantially o V-shaped recess adapted to engage die striking face of a golf club head so as to suspend die golf club dierefrom. 4. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein some of said tubes extend above die platform. 5. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein at least one of said tubes extending above die platform comprises a recessed ledge adapted to support die head of a putter, for example. 5 6. The receptacle of claim 5 wherein at least one of said tubes extending above die platform comprises a V-shaped recess to receive irons. 7. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein being coated with said receptacle is coated with a soft, non-abrasive material such as felt. 8. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein the inside surfaces of the tubes are covered widi 0 a soft, non-abrasive material such as felt. 9. The receptacle of claim 3 wherein said V-shaped recess on at least one of the tubes extending above die platform has a soft, non-abrasive material coating such as felt. 10. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein depending from the periphery of the platform is a skirt adapted to surround die upper opening of a golf bag. 5 11. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein a strap extends around die skirt and is adapted to tighten die same about die golf bag. 12. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein the receptacle is formed as a plastics moulding. 13. A golf club receptacle comprising: a top segment having a platform adapted to reside at an upper region of a golf bag and 0 having a plurality of apertures theredirough, and a plurality of lower segments each adapted to reside widiin a golf bag, one lower segment stacked upon anodier, the upper one of which is adapted to engage widi said top segment, each lower segment having a plurality of apertures therethrough aligned wid one anodier and aligned widi die apertures in die top segment. 5 14. The receptacle of claim 13 wherein the top segment is molded in a resilient material such as rubber. 15. The receptacle of claim 13 wherein said lower segments are molded in plastics material. 16. The receptacle of claim 13 wherein some of the apertures in said top segment open to a club head receiving pocket. 17. The receptacle of claim 16 wherein each receiving pocket comprises a substantially V-shaped recess adapted to engage the striking face of a golf club head so as to suspend die golf club dierefrom. 18. The receptacle of claim 13 wherein said top segment further comprises a vertical extension by which a plurality of longer golf clubs may be suspended. 19. A golf club receptacle comprising: a platform adapted to reside at an upper region of a golf bag and having a plurality of apertures therethrough, and a corresponding plurality of further apertures depending from each aperture in the platform and adapted to reside within die golf bag, each further aperture being adapted to receive a shaft of a golf club.

Inventors: STEWART DENNIS, STEWART, DENNIS
Applicants: STEWART DENNIS, STEWART, DENNIS
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A63B55
IPC codes: A63B55