Abstract:
A golf travel case includes first and second housings each having a club mounting wall surrounded at its periphery by a side wall and including an open side through which golf club retainers are accessible. A spacer is pivotally connected along opposite edges to the first and second housings to permit movement to a closed position with the open sides facing one another, the free edges of the sides walls interlocking and the spacer abutting the side walls. In the closed position of the case, the clubs are protected during travel and storage. Each of the housings can be independently pivoted relative to the spacer through an arc of more than 180° to an open position of the case for playing golf.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a golf club carrying case designed for travelling. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club case that functions as both a golf bag and a travel case. 
     A golfer&#39;s clubs often represent a significant investment in money and time. Modem clubs are expensive. In addition, since many golfers are likely to have a favorite putter, favorite wedges, favorite drivers, etc. that have been acquired separately, a golfer&#39;s clubs represent a unique and irreplaceable set. Finally, golfers spend countless hours becoming familiar with their own clubs. With these factors in mind, it&#39;s no wonder that every golfer prefers to use his own clubs. In fact, most golfers keep their clubs in the car, always available for the unexpected opportunity to play a few holes or just hit some balls. 
     Business and vacation travel, however, present a dilemma: the average golf bag is open, heavy, and cumbersome, which makes it difficult to check as airline baggage or include in a fully loaded vehicle. On business trips, clothing, documents, samples, a laptop computer, etc. all take priority over a golf bag. And while the golf bag may be given greater priority for vacation travel, the overall bulk of the bag frequently means it gets left at home because using rental clubs is often much more convenient. 
     A number of inadequate solutions to this problem can be found in the marketplace. Most standard circular golf bags come with covers that can be snapped or zipped on over the exposed club heads. While such covers keep the clubs in the bag, they do little to protect the heads of the clubs. If the bag is dropped, thrown, or has other luggage or cargo packed on top of it, the club head, shafts, and the bag itself feel almost the full force of the impact. Further, covers offer little or no security, accessory pockets remain readily accessible and even if locked on, covers can easily be slit. 
     A slight improvement over a cover for the club heads are full-length bag covers made of heavy-duty fabric. Full covers have the advantage of protecting the outside of the bag from moisture and dirt and a locking zipper may provide some security. However, while perfect for the car, such covers provide insufficient protection against the abuse that checked luggage undergoes. 
     Offering slightly better security are cases that are readily available in discount sporting goods stores. Such cases are typically configured as a clamshell or a pair of telescoping tubes. These cases are sized to hold a standard golf bag, and usually permit the addition of a padlock to prevent a casual thief from searching for desirable items. While these bags provide some protection during travel, the heads of the club are typically not protected unless the user takes the time to wrap them individually. 
     A cross between soft covers and hard-shell cases are the cases described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,001 to Kim and U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,185 to Schurman. These patents both describe hard-shell conventionally shaped cases that have auxiliary covers to protect the club heads. However, both bags are extremely bulky and the club heads are free to move. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,906 to Lombardo, et al. describes a bag configured for use on motorized carts having a padded hinged cover that holds the club heads in place. While offering improved protection for the clubs, the described bag is large, conventionally shaped, and appears best suited for semi-permanent attachment to a powered golf cart. 
     Because a standard golf bag permits the club heads and shafts to move around it is difficult for any case or protective device designed for use with a standard bag to really secure the clubs. In addition, such cases and protective devices add to the significant bulk and weight of standard bags. 
     Cases configured for travel are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,761 to Fumia, U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,992 to Bowdy, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,290 to McCuaig, et al. Unfortunately, all of these cases are poor substitutes for a standard golf bag. The manner in which these cases are configured results in an awkward presentation of the clubs for play, requires that they be mounted on a cart or carried, and dictates that in many situations the cases must be closed after a club has been selected in order to permit the case to be moved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention concerns a golf travel case that is light and slim and holds each of the clubs individually to protect them from damage during travel. The case can be securely closed to discourage casual theft and make it easy to transport. When open, the case gives easy access to all the clubs during play. 
     A golf travel case according to the present invention includes a first housing having a first mounting wall surrounded at its periphery by a first side wall, the first housing being elongated and generally cup shaped with an open side at a free edge of the first side wall. A means for retaining “irons” in a heads up position is attached to an interior surface of the first housing and includes a club head retainer being divided into a plurality of compartments formed between adjacent dividers angled with respect to vertical to correspond with an angle of an associated club head relative to the shaft to which it is attached. The case also includes a mating second housing having a mounting wall surrounded at its periphery by a second side wall, the second housing being elongated and generally cup shaped with an open side at a free edge of the second side wall, the free edge of the first side wall mating with the free edge of the second side wall when the open sides are facing each other. A means for retaining “woods” in a heads down position is attached to an interior surface of the second housing. An elongated spacer is pivotally connected along one edge to a longer portion of the first side wall and pivotally connected along another edge to a longer portion of the second side wall whereby when the free edges of the first and second side walls are engaged, the golf travel case is in a closed position and the spacer abuts outer surfaces of the first and second side walls, and wherein the first and second housings are individually pivotable relative to the spacer to open the golf travel case, each of the first and second housings being pivotable through an arc greater than 180° to a fully open position of the golf travel case wherein exterior surfaces of the first and mounting walls abut. 
     One object of the present invention is to provide a golf travel case that is configured to be easily transported by car or as checked airline luggage. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf travel case that protects the clubs during travel and can be fixed in an open configuration to permit the clubs to be played directly out of the case. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a golf travel case according to the present invention in a closed position for travel or storage; 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the case shown in the FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the case shown in the FIG. 1 in an intermediate open position; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the case in the intermediate open position as shown in the FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the case shown in the FIG. 1 in a fully open position for playing golf; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the case shown in the FIG. 5 mounted on a golf hand cart; and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the case shown in the FIG. 5 mounted on a motorized golf cart. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     There is shown in the FIGS. 1-5 a golf travel case  10  according to the present invention. The case  10  is formed by a pair of generally cup-shaped elongated housings including a first housing  11  and a second housing  12  attached to one another by hinge means. The housings  11  and  12  are generally rectangular in shape with rounded corners and an open side. The open sides of the housings  11  and  12  face one another in a closed position as shown in the FIG. 1 to form a closed container of a size sufficient to hold a set of golf clubs. As explained below, the first housing  11  is adapted to retain “irons” type golf clubs and the second housing  12  is adapted to retain “woods” type golf clubs. The housings  11  and  12  are pivotally connected to each other with the hinge means in the form of a backplate or spacer  13  that permits the housings to be rotated from the closed position to a fully open position as shown in the FIG.  5 . 
     The first housing  11  and the second housing  12  each have a generally planar mounting wall,  14  and  15  respectively, each surrounded at its periphery by a raised side wall,  16  and  17  respectively. The raised side walls  16  and  17  include generally parallel shorter portions connecting generally parallel longer portions and have facing free edges,  18  and  19  respectively, that are configured to interlock with each other when the case  10  is closed. At least one latch mechanism for securing the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  in the closed position shown in the FIGS. 1 and 2 is also provided. This latch mechanism can be, for example, a pair of conventional manually actuated clasps or snap locks  20  spaced apart with cooperating parts mounted on one of the longer portions of the side walls  16  and  17  adjacent the free edges  18  and  19 . If desired, the snap locks  20  can include a key operated lock mechanism (not shown) for additional security. 
     A carrying handle  21  is provided for the case  10  and extends outwardly from one or both of the side walls  16  and  17  on the longer portions carrying the snap locks  20 . The handle is positioned adjacent the free edges  18  and  19  approximately midway between the shorter portions of the side walls  16  and  17 . The handle  21  is shown as being longitudinally split having a half portion attached to each of the housings  11  and  12 , but the entire handle could be attached to either one of the housings. When split between the two housings, the carrying handle  21  can include a lock mechanism  22  for securing the case  10  in the closed position. The lock mechanism  22  can be in addition to or instead of a lock mechanism in the snap locks  20 . 
     In addition to the carrying handle  21  for hand carrying the case  10 , a wheel means can be provided for pulling the case along. For example, the wheel means can be a pair of wheels  23  rotatably mounted at opposite lower corners of the housing  11  in the orientation of the case  10  as shown in the FIG.  1 . The wheels  23  can be mounted on individual stub axles (as shown) or on opposite ends of a single axle (not shown) that extends through the interior of the housing  11 . A second handle  24 , shown in phantom in the FIG. 1, can be provided on the upper side of the case  10  to assist in pulling the case along on the wheels  23 . The handle  24  can be permanently attached or detachable, and can take other forms such as a tab or strap to provide a convenient handhold. The wheels  23  and the handle means  24  are useful for pulling the case  10  through airports and hotels especially when burdened with luggage, a briefcase, a portable computer, etc. Alternatively, the wheels  23  could be mounted on the second housing  12 . 
     The spacer  13  joins the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  together along substantially the entire length of one of the longer portions of the side walls  16  and  17  as best shown in the FIG.  3 . The spacer  13  may be pivotally fixed at any convenient point along the side walls  16  and  17  that permits the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  to be closed together as shown in the FIG. 1, and then opened so that each housing rotates in excess of 180° relative to the spacer. When the case  10  is closed, the spacer  13  lies substantially flat against the outer surfaces of the side walls  16  and  17 . As shown in the FIG. 4, the housings  11  and  12  each can be rotated approximately 90° from the closed position to an intermediate position that is useful if it is desired to rest the case  10  flat on a surface such as a floor or lean the case against a wall. In the position shown in the FIG. 4, the entire interior of the case is exposed in a single plane for conveniently examining the contents or packing and unpacking. As shown in the FIG. 5, the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  can be rotated to a fully open position wherein the outer surfaces of the mounting walls  14  and  15  are positioned facing each other and actually touch adjacent the handle  21 . In the fully open position, the case  10  displays the entire contents and is in a compact configuration that fits on a golf cart in a manner similar to a conventional golf bag. 
     The spacer  13  is provided with a pair of hinges  25  and  26  each similar to a typical piano hinge. For example, the hinge  25  has a first elongated portion attached to the spacer  13  and a second elongated portion attached to the first housing  11  on an exterior surface of the side wall  16 . The elongated portions of the hinge  25  each have a plurality of spaced apart tubular portions that cooperate to form an aligned tube in which a hinge pin or rod is received to form a swinging joint. The hinge  26  is similar in construction to the hinge  25  and the hinges function independent of one another. 
     The housings  11  and  12  can be made of any suitable material that is strong enough to stand up to the rigors of travel and use as a golf bag. For example, a metal material such as aluminum or a high impact plastic material. Preferably, the housings  11  and  12  are molded from a suitable plastic material such as an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. The free edges  18  and  19  can be formed as a complementary tongue and groove to provide a positive mating and a seal. The tongue and groove can be molded on the side walls  16  and  17  or attached in the form of separate pieces such as an aluminum, or other metal, extrusion as is typically utilized on hard sided luggage. The spacer  13  can be formed from the same material as the housings  11  and  12 , while the hinges  25  and  26  are typically fabricated from a metal material such as chrome plated stainless steel. 
     The mounting walls  14  and  15  each have an interior generally planar surface against which golf clubs will be retained. It is preferable that the interior mounting surfaces have a soft facing of a suitable material such as a thermoplastic elastomer available under the brand name Sanoprene®. As best shown in the FIG. 3, the irons are retained in the first housing  11  of the travel case  10  with the grip or handle of each club adjacent a lower end where the wheels  23  are attached and a head at the top of the case. The head of each iron rests in its own corresponding compartment formed in a club head retainer  27  mounted in the first housing  11  near the upper end thereof and extending between the longer portions of the side wall  16 . The compartments are formed between adjacent pairs of dividers  28  angled with respect to vertical to correspond to the angle of the associated club head relative to the shaft to which it is attached. From left to right the compartments retain the “5” through “9” irons, the pitching wedge and the sand wedge. The club head retainer can be a separate part attached to the first housing  11  or molded integral therewith. 
     Positioned below the club head retainer  27  in the first housing  11  is a multiple club retainer  29  that extends between the longer portions of the side walls  16  and  17 . The retainer  29  has a plurality of clips  30  either attached thereto or molded integral therewith for retaining a lower section of the shaft of each corresponding club. Positioned adjacent the bottom of the housing  11  is a club handle retainer plate  31  spaced from the interior surface of the mounting wall  14  for holding the grip or handle portion of the irons. The retainer plate  31  extends between the side walls  16  and  17  at an angle corresponding generally to the relative lengths of the club shafts. 
     The woods are retained in the second housing  12  with the heads at the lower end and the grips at the upper end. Attached to the interior surface of the mounting wall  15  of the second housing  12  is a plurality of single club retainers or clips  32  for holding the woods. Five of the clips  32  are mounted above the handle  21  in two horizontal rows for holding upper sections of the clubs shafts. From left to right, the three clips  32  in the upper row hold the upper ends of the “1” through “3” woods and the two clips in the lower row hold the upper ends of a spare club and the putter. Positioned below the handle  21  in the second housing  12  are two of the clips  32  for holding the lower ends of the spare club and the putter. Positioned adjacent the bottom of the second housing  12  is a row of three of the clips  32  for holding the lower ends of the “1” through “3” woods. The multiple club retainer  29 , the club handle retainer plate  31 , and the single club retainers  32  can be molded from the same material as the housings  11  and  12 . The clips  30  and  32  are generally C-shaped with a resilient pair of opposed legs that can be forced apart to slide a club shaft into and out of. 
     The ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene from which the case  10  components are preferably formed is presently used by the U.S. military because it is so durable. In fact, embodiments of the invention described herein when manufactured using ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, exceed the Airline Transportation Association (ATA) specifications 300, category 1. This means that such a golf travel case will easily withstand more than 100 trips by air. 
     A golf travel case  10  of the present invention can be fabricated to hold any number of clubs. The configuration shown in the drawings holds fourteen clubs including oversized 46″ drivers. A smaller, more compact configuration can hold six clubs. The fourteen club configuration encloses about  2400  cubic inches and weighs about twenty-two pounds including the clubs. Compact cases that hold only six clubs are particularly convenient for international travel. 
     The case  10  can be used in the same manner as a typical golf bag to play golf. A strap retainer clip  33  is attached to an interior surface of the spacer  13  for releasably retaining a carrying strap  34 . The strap  34  permits a golfer or a caddy to carry the case  10  supported from a shoulder. The case  10  also can be mounted on a typical hand cart  35  as shown in the FIG.  6 . The strap  34  shown in the FIG. 5 could be used to secure the case  10  to the hand cart  35 . As an alternative, the hand cart  35  could be formed as a collapsible carriage that attaches to the case  10  via the wheels  23 , the clip  33  and/or the handle  21 . 
     The case  10  also can be used with a typical riding type motorized golf cart  36  as shown in the FIG.  7 . The cart  36  has bag golf bag carrying area at the rear typically terminated by an upstanding rear bumper  37  or lip. In addition, a pair of bag straps  38  is located behind and near the top of the seat backs. The bag strap  38  can engage the strap retainer clip  33  shown in the FIG. 5 to secure the case  10  in the cart  36 . If the bag strap  38  is not available, or if additional support is required, a generally inverted W-shaped bracket  39  can be provided. One leg of the bracket  39  fits over the lip  37  and the other leg engages the case  10  in any suitable manner such as cooperating with the snap lock  20  or a similar latching means (not shown). 
     In addition to carrying golf clubs, the case  10  can be provided with accessory storage pockets for carrying accessories such as shoes, golf balls, tees, etc. For example, an accessory storage pocket  40  shown in the FIG. 3 can take the form of a removable closable bag. The bag  40  is shown as being positioned between the side wall  17  and the clip  32  for the “1” wood and similar bags can be located where space permits. It is preferred that such bags be zippered or provided with another type of closure such as a hook and loop pair and that they are removably secured inside the first housing  11  and/or the second housing  12  using fasteners. 
     To protect the outer surface of the case  10  from scrapes and scratches, the mounting walls  14  and  15  (FIGS. 1 and 3) and the bottom shorter portions of the side walls  16  and  17  (FIG. 2) can be provided with ribs  41  that are raised from the exterior surfaces. The ribs  41  on the mounting walls  14  and  15  are formed as spaced generally parallel flanges extending between the shorter portions of the side walls  16  and  17 . The ribs  41  on the bottom of the case  10  are formed as spaced generally parallel flanges extending transverse from the free edges  18  and  19 . 
     In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.