Patent Publication Number: US-2022233926-A1

Title: Golf club holiday tree display apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to a display apparatus and in particular to a display apparatus for forming a plurality of sports striking instruments, such as golf clubs, into a simulated holiday tree. 
     Artificial Christmas and/or holiday trees are well known as an alternative to using a natural cut tree that is normally discarded after the holiday season is over. Artificial trees are normally saved and allow multiple years of use in subsequent years but require space for storage after the holiday season is over. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The display apparatus of the present invention includes components to make a simulated holiday or Christmas tree using a plurality of golf clubs or other similar sport implements such as hockey or lacrosse sticks where the sports implements form the frame of the holiday tree that can be decorated with a wide variety of decorations in accordance with the preference of the user. 
     More particularly, the display apparatus allows the sports implements to be connected and arranged upright in a generally conical orientation that when decorated with garland, decorations and lights, simulates an artificial holiday tree. The display apparatus is a simple yet novel design that can easily be stored in a box, drawer of similar location in the same place as the other holiday decorations. 
     The display apparatus includes a lower two-piece base, and an upper bracket that vertically support the sports implements used to make the tree. The base and upper bracket each include slots to locate and support the shafts of the implements in an upright position. The holiday tree is completed with the addition of decorations such as garland, decorations and lights that are wrapped around the sports implements. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the sports implements are golf clubs thus enabling the holiday tree to be customized for golfers. It will be appreciated that the apparatus may be modified for use with other sports implements such as lacrosse or hockey sticks. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a display apparatus to enable a user to position preferred sports implements in a configuration that, when decorated, simulates an artificial holiday tree. 
     This object will become apparent with reference to the following drawings and accompanying detailed description. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of the display apparatus of the invention supporting a plurality of golf clubs in an upright position. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of  FIG. 1   
         FIGS. 4 and 5  are views of a detail of a lower section of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are views of a detail of an upper section of  FIG. 1   
         FIG. 8  is an elevation view of the display apparatus supporting a plurality of golf clubs and decorations attached thereto. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, a display apparatus  100  includes a lower support base  102  and an upper support bracket  104  that supports a plurality of golf clubs  106  and  108  in an upright position. In a preferable embodiment, the display apparatus  100  supports six of the golf clubs  106  around the peripheral edge of the lower support base  102  and upper support bracket  104  and supports a centrally located, single golf club  108  that is attached at the center of the support base  102  and upper support bracket  104  as described hereinbelow. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5  are detailed views of the lower support base  102 . Preferably, the lower support base  102  is formed of two semi-circular members  110  and  112  that are designed to be connected using interlocking tabs  114 . The outer periphery of the lower support base is provided with six rounded slots  116  that are designed to receive and locate the rounded cross-sectional shape of the shafts of the golf clubs  106 . The lower support base  102  includes an upper and lower retaining disc  118  and  120  that maintains the two semi-circular members  110  and  112  together when the support base  102  is assembled using a bolt and wing nut connector  122 . The support base  102  is completed with a pair of gripping inserts  124  each formed in a semi-circular, cup shape having a half round gripping slot  126  sized to be attached to and hold a shaft of the single golf club  108 , see  FIG. 4 , such that when the inserts  124  are positioned into the lower support base  102 , see  FIG. 5 , the single golf club  108  is positioned in an upright position. 
     The display apparatus  100  includes a top support bracket  128  having a circular outer periphery with a plurality of six larger slots  130  sized to receive the rounded cross-sectional shape of the upper grip portion of each of the six golf clubs  106 . The top support bracket  128  includes a central opening  132  that positions two additional inserts  124  of the type described above and these inserts  124  grip an upper portion of the shaft of the golf club  108 , see  FIG. 6  and are positioned in the central opening, see  FIG. 7 . 
     To create a holiday tree in accordance with the present invention, the following steps are made using the above-described display apparatus  100 . Assemble the bottom support  102  by connecting the two members  110  and  112  by interconnecting the tabs and securing the upper and lower retaining discs  118  and  120  using a bolt and nut fastener. 
     Next place the top support bracket  128  onto an upper shaft portion of the central golf club  108  approximately 7-8 inches from the striking head of the golf club  108 . Secure the shaft of the golf club to the top support bracket  128  using two halves of a gripping insert  124  around the shaft and friction fit into the central opening  132  of the top support bracket  128  to tighten the connection around the shaft. 
     The lower support base  102  is placed around a lower part of the shaft of the central golf club  108  closer to the grip end of the golf club  108 . A pair of gripping inserts  124  around the shaft are fit into the central opening  132 . 
     A plurality of golf clubs  106  are attached to the lower support base  102  by inserting the shafts of the clubs  106  into the slots  116  around the periphery of the lower support base  102 . The upper grip portion of the clubs  106  are then inserted into the six larger slots  130  to maintain the clubs  106  in a generally conical configuration. The striking heads at the bottom of the clubs  106  engage the ground surface along with the upper butt portion of the single, centrally supported club  108  forming a stable arrangement. 
     When the clubs  106  and  108  are attached to the lower support base  102  and the top support bracket  128 , various decorations may be wrapped or otherwise attached to form the holiday tree configuration as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     It will be appreciated that more or less numbers of clubs or other game striking implements, such as hockey or lacrosse sticks, may be used in keeping with the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.