Abstract:
A device and method for restraining the motion of a stored golf club. The golf club may be inserted shaft-first into a tube with a restraining element at the upper portion of the tube. The restraining element may be, for example, a flexible snap-in housing for the golf club head, or a flexible membrane which fits snugly around the golf club hosel in combination with a magnet for attachment to the golf club head. The magnet may be designed to swivel to conform to many different golf club head surface designs, formed to mitigate damage to the golf club head, and include a magnet release mechanism for ease of disengagement. Embodiments without the tube are also contemplated, as well as methods for engagement and disengagement of a golf club with the device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable 
       STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    1. Technical Field 
         [0004]    The present disclosure relates generally to the storage of golf clubs. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a device and method for securely storing golf clubs in a fashion that mitigates wear and damage while retaining easy accessibility during play. 
         [0005]    2. Related Art 
         [0006]    For many, the sport of golf is a favored pastime, and one of the most significant investments a golfer makes is in their golf clubs. Typically, a golfer will store their golf clubs in a specially designed golf club bag, both on and off the course. 
         [0007]    Generally, while in a golf club bag, golf clubs are loose and frequently jostle with each other. Because golf clubs represent a significant investment, and the physical integrity of a golf club head can have a direct impact on a golfer&#39;s play, numerous measures have been undertaken in order to protect golf club heads from being damaged. 
         [0008]    For example, it is common for many golfers to cover the heads of their stored golf clubs with golf club headcovers made of a protective, usually padded material. However, headcovers suffer from various deficiencies, including the requirement that the headcover must be removed to use the golf club during play, and as such may be misplaced or lost. 
         [0009]    Many golfers have also experienced an accidentally upturned golf club bag resulting in numerous clubs clattering to the ground, perhaps resulting in embarrassment and damage to the golfer&#39;s clubs. 
         [0010]    Consequently, there is a need for an improved device and method for storage of golf clubs. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0011]    To solve these and other problems, a device and method for improved storage of a golf club is contemplated wherein a golf club shaft may be placed in a protective tube and the golf club head may be held by a restraining element. The restraining element may be, for example, a resiliently flexible snap-in holder for the golf club head, or a resiliently flexible membrane configured to fit snugly around the golf club hosel in combination with a magnet for restraining the golf club head. In such a way, it may be seen that when a golf club shaft is inserted within the tube and attached to the restraining elements, the golf club may be restrained and substantially prevented from jostling or rotating when stored. 
         [0012]    The device for restraining translational and rotational motion of a golf club may have a tube with upper and lower end portions. The tube may have a substantially axial, or linear opening therethrough, extending between the upper and lower end portions. The tube may be sized and configured to receive through the opening a golf club shaft. The upper end portion of the tube may be coupled with a golf club restraining element. Such a restraining element may be selectively engagable with a golf club, and may be configured to substantially restrain translational and rotational motion of the golf club relative to the tube when the golf club is engaged with the restraining element. 
         [0013]    The golf club restraining element may be, in one embodiment, a resiliently flexible housing with a housing opening of a size and configuration suitable for accepting the placement of a golf club head. The housing may be configured to substantially circumnavigate at least a portion of the golf club head, and to retain the golf club head and prevent translational and rotational motion of the golf club through a frictional engagement. Such a resiliently flexible housing may have, for example, two resiliently flexible opposed flanges configured to substantially circumnavigate and frictionally engage a club head. 
         [0014]    The tube may be configured with a cap member attached to the tube&#39;s lower end portion. In such a way, it may be seen that a cap would provide radial support to the tube. Such a cap member may be configured with one or more apertures. A benefit of the cap member being configured with apertures may be to allow drainage of accumulated rainwater within the tube. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment, the restraining element may comprise a resilient body for frictionally engaging with a golf club, and a magnet for magnetically engaging with the golf club. The resilient body and the magnet may cooperate to substantially restrain the translational and rotation motion of the golf club. The magnet may be disposed in a magnet housing. The magnet housing may be sized, formed, and configured to mitigate damage which may occur during magnetic engagement of the magnet to the golf club head. The magnet may also be coupled to a magnet release mechanism for disengaging the golf club head from the magnet. Such a magnet release mechanism may include, for example, a lever. The magnet may be positioned proximal to the upper end portion of the tube and may be operatively connected to the resilient body. It is contemplated that the operative connection of the magnet to the resilient body may include a ball-and-socket joint, which may offer the advantage of allowing the magnet to be repositioned to accommodate a variety of club head surface configurations. 
         [0016]    The resilient body of the embodiment may have a body opening with a shaft portion and a hosel portion. In such a way, a golf club shaft may be inserted through the resilient body through the shaft opening, and then repositioned to the hosel portion of the resilient body for retaining the hosel. It is contemplated that the shaft portion and the hosel portion may be interconnected to allow for such repositioning. 
         [0017]    Other embodiments may omit the tube for containing the golf club shaft. Such embodiments may only include a member for insertion of the golf club, and golf club restraining elements, so long as the translational and rotational motions of the golf club are substantially restrained relative to the member when the golf club is inserted through the member and engaged with the golf club restraining elements. 
         [0018]    Further, a method of using the device is contemplated, in which a device according to one of the embodiments is provided, and a golf club is received therein and interfaced with a golf club restraining element so that the translational and rotational motion of the club is substantially restrained relative to the member. For embodiments in which a golf club restraining element includes a magnet and a magnet release mechanism, the method additionally contemplates releasing the golf club from the magnet by actuating the magnet release mechanism. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a restraining device disposed in a golf club bag and engaged with a golf club, the restraining element being of the resiliently flexible housing type; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the restraining device depicted in  FIG. 1 , showing the golf club attached to the restraining element; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of  FIG. 1 , showing the golf club, an embodiment of the device of the present invention of the flexible housing type, and the golf bag; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention of the resiliently flexible housing type restraining the golf club; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the device, showing the cap member; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a golf club restrained by a second embodiment of a restraining element including a resilient body and a magnet; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the restraining element of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a top view of one embodiment of a resilient body; 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  is a top view of a second embodiment of a resilient body; 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  is a top view of a magnet and a magnet release mechanism in an engaged configuration with the magnet being engaged with a golf club head; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  is a top view of the magnet release mechanism being actuated to move the magnet towards a disengaged configuration. 
       
    
    
       [0032]    Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and the detailed description to indicate the same elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    According to various aspects of the present invention, a device and method for improved storage of a golf club is contemplated which has a tube for receiving within it a golf club shaft, and a restraining element for restraining a golf club, preventing the golf club from substantially translating or rotating. In such a way, a golf club may be stored in a fashion that prevents the golf club from contacting other golf clubs or falling, which is a common cause of damage to a golf club. 
         [0034]    Referring now to the figures, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , a device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The embodiment may comprise a tube  20  with an upper end portion  22  and a lower end portion  24 . The upper end portion  22  and the lower end portion  24  may be opposed to one another on the tube  20 , and extending between the two may be a substantially axial tube opening  26 . A golf club restraining element  28  may be coupled to the upper end portion  22 . 
         [0035]    The tube opening  26  may be sized and configured to allow passage therethrough of a typical golf club shaft  30 , with a sufficient axial nature and interior width to accommodate the typical golf club shaft  30 . The distance between the upper end portion  22  and the lower end portion  24  of the tube  20  may be long enough to accommodate a typical golf club shaft  30 . It may be preferable that the tube  20  be longer than a typical golf club shaft  30 , and be configurable by the user to be a certain length. Such configuration may occur through, for example but without limitation, cutting the material of the tube, or through the employment of a telescopic or segmented tube configuration. The interior or exterior cross-sectional surface of the tube  20  transverse to axial path of the tube opening  26  may be, for example but without limitation, spherical, oval, square, rectangular, hexagonal, or octagonal. The tube  20  may be formed of any suitable material for storage of golf clubs, for example but without limitation, a plastic or a metal. It may be preferable that the tube  20  be formed of a transparent plastic, so that a golfer may examine the condition of a golf club without removing it from storage, or may more prominently display the features of their golf club, such as the color or design of a golf club shaft  30 . 
         [0036]    A typical golf club may include a golf club shaft  30  and a golf club head  32 . A golf club head may  32  may include a toe  34 , a crown  36 , a heel  38 , and a sole  40 . A golf club may also have a hosel  42  at the junction between the golf club shaft  30  and the golf club head  32 . Golf clubs traditionally are stored in a golf club bag  44 . 
         [0037]    The golf club restraining element  28  of the present invention may be functionally coupled to the upper end portion  22  of the tube  20 , and may be configured to substantially restrain translational and rotational motion of golf club received within the tube opening  26 . To substantially restrain motion in this case means mitigating perceptible motion of the golf club independent of the restraining element  28  during the conditions expected to be faced while playing the sport of golf or in a golfer&#39;s regular transportation of a golf club. It may be seen that during less expected conditions, such as during sudden shocks or impacts to the device or club, perceptible motion may have a likelihood of not being restrained. 
         [0038]    It may be seen that the device may be configured with a fastener  46  for attachment to an external surface. The external surface may be, as illustrated, the interior of a golf club bag  44 . In such a way, it may be appreciated that the device may be configured in such a way that the golf club may not only restrained with respect to the device, but may also be restrained with respect to another object. The fastener  46  may be any apparatus or material suitable for fastening, including but not limited to hook and loop fasteners, screws, tape, or adhesive. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a preferred embodiment of the golf club restraining element  28  may be a resiliently flexible housing  48  having a housing opening portion  50 . The resiliently flexible housing  48  may be sized and configured to accept a golf club head  32  and to substantially circumnavigate and frictionally engage at least a portion of the golf club head  32 . Such a resiliently flexible housing  48  may be formed of any resiliently flexible material capable of flexing to accept placement of a golf club head  32 , and capable of resiliency so as to bias towards returning to the pre-flexing configuration following flexing. In such a way, it may be seen that when a golf club head  32  is inserted into a resiliently flexible housing  48 , causing the resiliently flexible housing  48  to flex by such insertion to conform to the dimensions of the golf club head  32 , the force of the resiliently flexible housing  48  biasing towards returning to its original configuration may cause a frictional engagement between the resiliently flexible housing  48  and the golf club head  32 . One embodiment of a resiliently flexible housing  48  may be configured to have a portion which substantially circumnavigates a portion of a golf club head  32 , such substantial circumnavigation in combination with the biasing force of the resiliently flexible housing  48  resulting in a frictional engagement with the golf club head  32 . It may be seen that such a frictional engagement may result in the lateral and rotational movement of the golf club being substantially restrained. 
         [0040]    The housing opening portion  50  may be sized and configured to accept the golf club shaft  30  therethrough. The housing opening portion  50  may also be sized and configured to be substantially aligned with the axial path of the tube opening  26  to allow the golf club shaft  30  to enter into the tube  20  following insertion through the resiliently flexible housing  48 . 
         [0041]    The resiliently flexible housing  48  may also have a head opening portion  52  for frictionally engaging a golf club head  32 . Such a head opening portion  52  may define the substantial circumnavigation of a portion of a golf club head  32  by, for example, the head opening portion  52  being at least partially defined by two opposing flanges  54  forming a portion of the resiliently flexible housing  48 . Opposing flanges  54  may substantially circumnavigate a portion of the golf club head  32 , and may resiliently flex to allow gripping a golf club head  32  in a frictional engagement. The head opening portion  52  may also allow for protrusion of bulkier portions of a golf club head  32 , such as a golf club toe  34  and sole  40 , so as to allow the placement and retention of golf clubs having golf club heads  30  of many different sizes, dimension, and configurations, such as but not limited to drivers, putters, irons, wedges, or hybrid clubs. It may be seen, however, that the head opening portion  52  may be configured in a multitude of ways which result in frictional engagement with an inserted golf club head  32 . 
         [0042]    The resiliently flexible housing  48  and its constitutive portions, such as the opposed flanges  54  in one particular embodiment, may be formed of a resiliently flexible material, including but not limited to, a plastic such as polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyethylene or polypropylene, or a metal such as aluminum, steel or titanium. It may also be appreciated that the resilient flexibility may not be entirely a result of the resiliently flexible housing  48  being formed of a resiliently flexible material, but rather may be in some respects a result of components or combinations of components allowing the resiliently flexible housing  48  to resiliently flex, such as but not limited to hinges, springs or elastics. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the tube  20  may have proximal to the lower end portion  24  a cap member  56 . The cap member  56  may be formed of the same material as the tube  20 , or a different material. The cap member  56  may provide radial support to the tube  20 . It may be seen that such radial support would allow a tube  20  formed of a lighter and more flexible material to resist being crushed, compressed or bent during use or transit, such crushing, compressing, or bending potentially allowing damage to occur to a club stored within the tube  20 , such as a golf club shaft  30  becoming bent or otherwise deformed. 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 4  and the exploded view  FIG. 5 , a connection of the upper end portion  22  to the golf club retaining element  28  may be achieved by interlocking radial segments having common midpoints but different diameters. The connection of the cap member  56  to the lower end portion  24  may be made in the same fashion, for example, by having the cap member  56  fit inside the lower end portion  24 . It may be seen that such connections between the components of the device may be achieved through different components being placed in interlocking configurations on the inside or outside of each other. The connections between components may be achieved through a variety of other means and forms of engagement known in the art, and as such should not be limited by the presently described embodiments or illustrations. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the cap member  56  may be configured with one or more apertures  58 . Such a configuration may allow pooled water inside the tube  20  to drain through the apertures  58 . This may occur, for example, when a golfer&#39;s clubs get wet as a result of rain, golf course irrigation, or water obstacles. This may also provide the additional advantage of allowing greater airflow around a stored golf club, which may, for example, allow a stored golf club which has become slick with moisture from use on a golf course to dry more quickly, allowing a golfer to have a more secure grip on their club. 
         [0046]    The device of the currently described embodiment having a resiliently flexible housing  48  may be used by the insertion of a golf club shaft  30  through the housing opening portion  50 . The golf club shaft may then be inserted into the upper end portion  22  of the tube  20 , and through the tube opening  26  until the golf club shaft  30  is fully or near-fully disposed within the tube  20 . At this point, the golf club head  32 , and particularly the crown  36 , may be disposed proximal to the resiliently flexible housing  48 . The golf club head  32  may then be rotated to align with the resiliently flexible housing  48  and pressed into the resiliently flexible housing  48 , causing the resiliently flexible housing  48  to flex to receive the golf club head  32 , and then bias to the original unflexed configuration, substantially circumnavigating and frictionally engaging the golf club head  32 . In one embodiment, the head opening portion  52  of the resiliently flexible housing  48  may be the portion of the resiliently flexible housing  48  which flexes and biases. In a more particular embodiment, opposed flanges  54  defining a portion of the head opening portion  52  may flex and bias to substantially circumnavigate and frictionally engage the golf club head  32 . In such a way, the golf club may have its transverse and rotational motion independent of the device restrained. 
         [0047]    Referring now specifically to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a second embodiment of the golf club restraining element  128  which includes a resiliently flexible body  60  and a magnet  62 . The magnet  62  is disposed in a magnet housing  64  and is operatively coupled to a magnet release mechanism  66 . The magnet  62  is positionable proximally to the upper end portion  22  of the tube  20  and is operatively connected to the resiliently flexible body  60 . 
         [0048]    The resiliently flexible body  60  may be, for example, a membranous layer portion  68  disposed in a plane transverse to an axis substantially parallel to the tube opening  26 . The resiliently flexible body  60  may also have a collar portion  70  for attachment to the upper end portion  22 . The membranous layer portion  68  may be configured to receive a golf club shaft  30  through a shaft portion  72 . The shaft portion  72  may be positioned at or near the center of the membranous layer portion  68 , and may be configured to accept the passage of a golf club shaft  30  therethrough until the hosel  42  is substantially surrounded by the material defining the perimeter of shaft portion  72 . The resiliently flexible body  60  may partially retain the golf club and at least partially prevent substantial motion when the hosel  42  is surrounded in such a fashion. It is also contemplated that membranous layer portion  68  may also have a hosel portion  74  for subsequent placement of a golf club hosel  42  following insertion of a golf club shaft  30  through a shaft portion  72 . The hosel portion  74  may have a smaller dimension than the shaft portion  72 , or a larger dimension. The hosel portion  74  may be positioned proximal to the external perimeter of the membranous layer portion  68 . The hosel portion  74  may be interconnected with the shaft portion  72  so that an inserted golf club may be shifted from a shaft portion  72  to a hosel portion  74  to permit restraining of the golf club. The shaft portion  72  may have one or more slits  76  externally radiating outward from the shaft portion  72  and defining openings in the membranous layer portion  68  to allow for greater flexibility of the shaft portion  72 , to permit the insertion of golf club shafts  30  having variable sizes and dimensions therethrough. An interconnection of the shaft portion  72  to the hosel portion  74  may be defined by one such slit  76 . In such a way, it may be seen that an inserted golf club may be grasped by the user and transitioned from a shaft portion  72  to a hosel portion  74  by traversing through a slit  76  which is interconnected with both the shaft portion  72  and a hosel portion  74 . This may have the additional advantage of, in some embodiments, allowing multiple golf clubs to be at least partially retained by one resiliently flexible body  60  through the employment of multiple interconnected hosel portions  74 . 
         [0049]    The resiliently flexible body  60  may be formed of a resiliently flexible material, including but not limited to, rubber, a plastic such as polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyethylene or polypropylene, or a metal such as aluminum, steel or titanium. It may also be appreciated that the resiliently flexible nature of resiliently flexible body  60  may not be a result of being formed of a resiliently flexible material, but rather may be a result of components or combinations of components allowing the resiliently flexible body  60  to resiliently flex, such as but not limited to hinges, springs or elastics. 
         [0050]    The magnet  62  may be any material or component capable of magnetically attracting a golf club or being magnetically coupled to a golf club. Such a material or component may include, for example but without limitation, a ferrous magnet, a rare earth magnet, or an electromagnet operatively connected to a power source. 
         [0051]    The magnet housing  64  may be formed of any material configured to house a magnet  62 . Preferably, the magnet housing  64  may be formed of a material configured and dimensioned to interpose between the magnet  62  and a magnetically attracted golf club head  32 , and to mitigate cosmetic or performance-affecting damage to the golf club which may result from magnetic attraction to the magnet  62  and a collision resulting therefrom. The magnet housing  64  may be formed of, for example but without limitation, rubber or plastic, and may encapsulate the magnet  62 . 
         [0052]    The magnet  62  may be operatively connected to the resiliently flexible body  60  through a ball and socket joint. Such an operative connection may permit the magnet  62  to reposition or be repositioned to interface with a golf club head  32  having a variety of angles, sizes, and surface features. For example, a putter may have a substantially linear and flat head, whereas a driver may have a very rounded head. A ball and socket joint may allow the magnet  62  to magnetically attract and interface effectively with both types of clubs, as well as many others. 
         [0053]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the golf club restraining element  28  may be independent of the tube  20  and still act to restrain a stored golf club. For example, a restraining element  28  of the resilient body and magnet type may perform this function. It is contemplated that such a golf club restraining element  28  may be positioned with an existing golf club storage device to provide additional restraining ability for a stored golf club. For example, a golf club restraining element  28  may be positioned and fixed with a golf club bag  44  to restrain a golf club without requiring the presence of a tube  20 . 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the slits  76  in the membranous layer portion  68  of the resiliently flexible body  60  may be arranged such that each slit  76  is at a ninety degree angle from two other slits, and any one slit  76  may be in an axial relation to another slit  76 . For example, slit  76 ( a ) in  FIG. 9  may be seen to be in an axial relationship to slit  76 ( d ), and may be seen to be at ninety degree angles to slits  76 ( b ) and  76 ( c ). 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , slits  76  in the membranous layer portion  68  of the resiliently flexible body  60  may also be arranged in such a way that that each slit  76  is at a ninety degree angle from two other slits, but no slit is in an axial relation with to another slit. For example, slit  76 ( e ) in  FIG. 10  may be seen to not be axial to any other slit, and may be seen to be at a ninety degree angle to slits  76 ( g ) and  76 ( f ). 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , the magnet  62  may be operatively connected to a magnet release mechanism  66 , which may be actuated by a user to aid in removing an attached golf club. In one embodiment, the magnet release mechanism  66  may have a lever  78  and pivot point  80  disposed between the magnet  62  and the lever  78 . It may thus be seen that when a user applies force to the lever  78  along the arrow  82 , the magnet  62  may be caused to pivot about the pivot point  80  and may then consequently disengage from its magnetic engagement with the attached golf club head  32 . In other embodiments, the pivot point  80  may be on an opposite side of the magnet  62  to the lever  78 , and the actuation of the magnet release mechanism  66  may be accomplished by pulling on the lever  78 . It is contemplated, however, that the magnet release mechanism  66  may be any mechanism suitable for releasing an attached magnet  62  from a golf club head  32 . 
         [0057]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , the operation of a magnet release mechanism  66  according to an embodiment of the present invention may be performed by a user. When the magnet  62  is magnetically attached to the golf club head  32 , with pivot point  80  placed in contact with the golf club head  32 , preferably adjacent the face of the golf club head  32 , the application of force along arrow  82  to the lever  78  may cause the lever  78  to depress and result in a pivoting action about the pivot point  80  braced against golf club head  32 . The pivoting action may transmit force to the magnet  62  in a direction at least partially opposing the direction of magnetic force attaching the magnet  62  to the golf club head  32 . Such an application of an opposing force may cause the magnet  62  to disengage from the golf club head  32 , at least partially releasing the golf club from its restrained state. A golf club no longer retained by a magnet but still retained by a membranous layer portion  68  may be then removed by grasping of the golf club and pulling the club out through a shaft portion  72  of the membranous layer portion  68  in a direction substantially opposite the direction in which the golf club had been previously inserted. 
         [0058]    The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including various ways of sizing or configuring the golf club restraining element  28 . Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.