Patent Publication Number: US-2023158380-A1

Title: Tee peg holder

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a tee peg holder configured to store tee pegs to be used for tee shots of golf and configured to be attached, for example, to a club head cover. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     When a golfer do first shots in a golf course, the golfer adjusts the height of the ball position appropriately by using a tee peg and putting a ball on it. 
     The golfer uses the tee peg only for the first shots and keeps it, for example, in a pocket of a golf bag from the second shots on. The tee peg may be lost in some cases while the golfer plays around the course. 
     Since different tee pegs are used for long and short holes, the golfer normally brings multiple tee pegs including spare ones. 
     The golfer may use a tee holder for keeping tee pegs while playing around. A type of tee holder, for example, is configured to be attached to a golf cap or golf wear (see PTL 1). This tee holder includes a base member having a tubular body and a connection member mounted on the base member. For example, the connection member is a safety pin. When a user uses this tee holder, the user fixes the base member to an appropriate part of a golf cap or golf wear using the safety pin and inserts a tee peg into an opening of the tubular body. 
     Another type of tee holder has a base member having an appropriate elasticity (flexibility) and fitting holes formed therethrough and a nipping member, such as a clip, disposed on the base member (see PTL 2). 
     The base member of this tee holder is shaped like a fan and has multiple fitting holes formed from the top surface of the base member toward the bottom surface thereof. When a tee peg is inserted in a fitting hole, the fitting hole is formed so as to come into close contact with the tee peg and hold the tee peg elastically, thereby preventing the tee peg from coming off accidentally. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     [PTL 1] Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 3171188 
     [PTL 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-40875 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The known tee peg holders described above are formed such that the portion (such as a clip) to be fixed to golf wear or a golf bag is not easily separated from the portion that holds tee pegs. 
     In addition, these tee peg holders are configured to hold tee pegs inserted into the tubular members or the fitting holes. During the use of such a tee peg holder, a user repeats insertion and removal of tee pegs, which may damage the portion that holds the tee pegs. 
     Accordingly, such a tee peg holder needs to be replaced entirely with a new one even if only part of it is damaged. 
     The present disclosure provides a tee peg holder for holding tee pegs that can be fixed to a fixation object and that enables a portion for holding tee pegs to be easily replaced with another one. 
     Solution to Problem 
     A tee peg holder according to the present disclosure includes a clip that fixes the tee peg holder to a fixation object and a holder plate that is supported by the clip and has a holder hole to hold a tee peg. The clip has a nipping portion disposed at a tip end of the clip and configured to nip part of the fixation object. The clip also has a plate support portion disposed at a position behind the nipping portion and configured to support the holder plate. The holder plate is flexible and has one support notch and another support notch formed at respective opposite sides of the holder plate. The one support notch is formed from one side of the holder plate toward a center portion thereof, and the other support notch is formed from the other side of the holder plate toward the center portion thereof. The one support notch and the other support notch are arranged so as to oppose each other across the center portion. The plate support portion has a plate insertion hole through which the holder plate is inserted while the holder plate is bent. When the holder plate inserted in the plate insertion hole is unbent, support end portions of the plate support portion positioned at both ends of the plate insertion hole are inserted respectively in the one support notch and the other support notch and thereby position and support the holder plate. 
     A tee peg holder according to the present disclosure includes a clip that fixes the tee peg holder to a fixation object and a holder plate that is supported by the clip and has a holder hole to hold a tee peg. The clip has a nipping portion disposed at a tip end of the clip and configured to nip part of the fixation object. The clip also has a plate support portion disposed at a position behind the nipping portion and configured to support the holder plate. The holder plate has one support notch and another support notch formed at respective opposite sides of the holder plate. The one support notch is formed from one side of the holder plate toward a center portion thereof, and the other support notch is formed from the other side of the holder plate toward the center portion thereof. The one support notch and the other support notch are arranged so as to oppose each other across the center portion and so as not to have the holder hole formed therebetween. The plate support portion has a longitudinally extending support member at a rear end of the plate support portion in such a manner that the support member is openable at one longitudinal end thereof. When the support member is closed, an elongated plate insertion hole through which the holder plate is inserted is formed. After the holder plate is inserted in between the support member and the rear end of the plate support portion while the support member is open and subsequently the support member is closed, support end portions of the plate support portion, or two longitudinal end portions of the support member, that are positioned at both longitudinal ends of the plate insertion hole are inserted respectively in the one support notch and the other support notch and thereby position and support the holder plate. 
     In the tee peg holder, the holder plate may be made of hard silicone rubber, hard synthetic rubber, or hard resin. 
     In addition, in the tee peg holder, the one support notch and the other support notch formed in the holder plate may be separated such that when the two support end portions are inserted respectively in the one support notch and the other support notch and thereby position and support the holder plate, the one support notch and the other support notch press the two support end portions. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the present disclosure, the tee peg holder holding tee pegs can be attached to a personal item, and a portion for holding tee pegs can be easily replaced with another one when the portion is damaged. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a tee peg holder according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram illustrating configurations of parts when a clip and a holder plate of  FIG.  1    are separated from each other. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram illustrating a state in which the tee peg holder of  FIG.  1    is attached to a club head cover. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating another configuration of the holder plate to be positioned and supported by the clip. 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a clip of a tee peg holder according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Now, embodiments of the present invention will be described. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a tee peg holder  1  according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The tee peg holder  1  includes a clip  10  and a holder plate  20 . The clip  10  detachably fixes the tee peg holder  1  to, for example, any part of a club head cover for a driver (golf club) or of a golf bag (hereinafter referred to as a “fixation object”). The holder plate  20  is positioned and supported by the clip  10  and serves to hold multiple tee pegs. 
     For example, the clip  10  is formed of a hard resin member not easily deformed and bent. 
     The holder plate  20  is made of a flexible material, for example, a sheet having an approximate thickness of 2 to 3 [mm] and being made of silicone rubber, synthetic rubber, or soft resin. 
       FIG.  2    is a diagram illustrating configurations of parts when the clip  10  and the holder plate  20  of  FIG.  1    are separated from each other. 
     For example, the clip  10  includes a nipping portion  11  at a front portion thereof and a clip body  12  that supports the base end portion of the nipping portion  11 . 
     For example, the base end portion of the nipping portion  11  is connected to (supported by) the clip body  12  using a shaft member (not illustrated) so that tip ends of the nipping portion  11  can open and close like scissors in the up-down direction in  FIG.  1   . 
     Urging portions  11   a  are disposed at the base end portion of the nipping portion  11 . The urging portions  11   a  are configured, for example, such that when a user manipulates the clip body  12  in a way, the urging portions  11   a  urge the tip ends of the nipping portion  11  to close, and when the user manipulates the clip body  12  in another way, the tip ends of the nipping portion  11  assumes the opening position. 
     Alternatively, the urging portions  11   a  may be configured such that when a user manipulates the clip body  12  in a way, the urging portions  11   a  urge the tip ends of the nipping portion  11  to close, and when the user manipulates the clip body  12  in another way, the urging portions  11   a  cease to urge the nipping portion  11  so that the tip ends of the nipping portion  11  is allowed to open freely. 
     The urging portions  11   a  and the nipping portion  11  are formed at the end of the clip body  12  positioned near the tip end of the clip  10 . The clip body  12  has a plate support portion  13  disposed at a rear end thereof behind the nipping portion  11  and the urging portions  11   a.    
     For example, the clip body  12  includes a manipulation mechanism (not illustrated) that can switch the nipping portion  11  between the closing position and the opening position (or non-closing position) by pressing part of the clip body  12 . 
     The plate support portion  13  has a plate insertion hole  14  through which the holder plate  20  is inserted. 
     The plate insertion hole  14  is an elongated hole formed in the plate support portion  13  at a position distant from the nipping portion  11 . The elongated hole is formed so as to extend for a length W 1  parallel to the width direction of the nipping portion  11 . 
     The plate insertion hole  14  has a width equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the holder plate  20 . 
     As described above, the holder plate  20  is made of a flexible material such as silicone rubber, and the illustrated example has six holder holes  21 . 
     For example, in the holder plate  20 , three holder holes  21  are arranged in each of two rows, and support notches  22  are formed between the two rows of the holder holes  21 . In  FIG.  2   , the lateral length of the holder plate  20  is larger than that of the clip  10 . 
     Each holder hole  21  is a through hole having a diameter substantially equal to that of a tee peg. More specifically, the holder hole  21  is formed such that when a tee peg is inserted, the holder plate  20  made of the flexible material can hold the tee peg tight appropriately. 
     The holder hole  21  may be formed, for example, like a tapered shape so as to have a small diameter portion slightly narrower than the tee peg. 
     The support notches  22  are formed respectively at one side and the other side of the holder plate  20  that oppose each other. The support notches  22  are disposed so as to oppose each other. Each support notch  22  is cut from the corresponding side of the holder plate  20  toward the center thereof. 
     As described herein by way of example, each support notch  22  has a notch opening  23  that opens so as to become wider toward the side of the holder plate  20 , which enables a user to insert the holder plate  20  easily into the plate insertion hole  14 . 
     Note that the two support notches  22  are formed without having any holder hole  21  interposed therebetween. 
     When the holder plate  20  is positioned and supported by the clip body  12  (by the plate support portion  13 ), the portion of the holder plate  20  between the two support notches  22  abuts the plate support portion  13 , which will be described later. Accordingly, the holder holes  21  are formed at positions outside the portion between the two support notches  22  so that a user can insert tee pegs  101  into the holder holes  21  in the state of the holder plate  20  being positioned and held by the clip body  12 . 
     The width of each support notch  22  (length in the up-down direction in  FIG.  2   ) is substantially equal to the depth of the plate insertion hole  14 . 
     In addition, the support notch  22  has a notch bottom  24  at the bottom of the support notch  22 , in other words, at the end of the support notch  22  near the center of the holder plate  20 . The notch bottom  24  is formed like a circular hole slightly larger than the notch width, thereby preventing cracks from occurring at the support notch  22 . 
     The plate support portion  13  has support end portions  13   a  near respective lateral ends thereof. 
     The support end portions  13   a  are disposed at respective longitudinal ends of the plate insertion hole  14 . The two support end portions  13   a  are disposed at a distance W 1  therebetween. 
     The holder plate  20  has the two support notches  22  formed at a distance W 2  therebetween so as to enable the two notch bottoms  24  to abut respective support end portions  13   a  when the holder plate  20  is inserted into the plate insertion hole  14 . 
     The distance W 2  is substantially equal to the length W 1  of the plate insertion hole  14 . Note that the distance between the two notch bottoms  24  (distance between the support notches  22 ) is such that the support notches  22  can abut respective support end portions  13   a  (i.e., abut hole walls at the longitudinal ends of the plate insertion hole  14 ) when the holder plate  20  is inserted into the plate insertion hole  14 . 
     In other words, the holder plate  20  is formed such that the side edges of the support notches  22  can abut the plate support portion  13 . 
     In addition, the holder plate  20  is formed such that portions having the holder holes  21  are longer than the plate insertion hole  14 . Accordingly, the portions having the holder holes  21  cannot pass easily through the plate insertion hole  14  compared with the portion between the two support notches  22 . 
     Next, a procedure to attach the holder plate  20  to the clip  10  will be described. 
     When the holder plate  20  is inserted into the plate insertion hole  14  of  FIG.  2   , a user first inserts, for example, one of the corner portions of the holder plate  20  into the plate insertion hole  14 . 
     Here, the user inserts the holder plate  20  into the plate insertion hole  14  in such a manner that one of the support end portions  13   a  is inserted into one of the notch openings  23  and subsequently moved to one of the notch bottoms  24 . 
     Next, the user bends the holder plate  20  (for example, bends the holder plate  20  so as to compress the portion between the two support notches  22 ) and thereby inserts the other support end portion  13   a  into the other notch opening  23 . 
     Subsequently, the user inserts the holder plate  20  further into the plate insertion hole  14  in such a manner that the other support end portion  13   a  inserted in the other notch opening  23  is moved to the other notch bottom  24 . When the user moves the other support end portion  13   a  to the other notch bottom  24 , the user inserts the holder plate  20  further into the plate insertion hole  14  so as to unbend the holder plate  20 , which causes the plate support portion  13  to position and support the portion between the two support notches  22  of the holder plate  20 . 
     When the holder plate  20  is held by the plate support portion  13 , the support notches  22  of the holder plate  20  appropriately press respective ones of the two support end portions  13   a  positioned at both longitudinal ends of the plate support portion  13 . 
     The pressure generated here stabilizes the holder plate  20  relative to the clip body  12  so as to prevent displacement when, for example, the user mounts tee pegs onto the holder plate  20  or removes them. In other words, the distance between the two support notches  22  is set so as to generate such pressure when the holder plate  20  is positioned and held by the clip body  12 . 
     Note that when the user removes the holder plate  20  from the plate support portion  13 , the user simply reverses the above procedure. 
       FIG.  3    is a diagram illustrating a state in which the tee peg holder  1  of  FIG.  1    is attached to a club head cover  102 . In this example, the holder plate  20  holds multiple tee pegs  101  and the clip  10  is fixed to a club head cover  102  for a driver. 
     When a user fixes the tee peg holder  1  to the head cover  102 , for example, the user manipulates the clip body  12  in the above-described way and closes the nipping portion  11  to nip an appropriate portion of the head cover  102 . The user can insert an appropriate number of tee pegs  101  into the holder plate  20  of the tee peg holder  1 . 
     If the tee peg holder  1  is attached to the head cover  102  of a driver as described above, the user can find a tee peg easily when the driver is used and also can reduce the likelihood of losing tee pegs. 
     In addition to the head cover  102 , the tee peg holder  1  can be attached to any item, such as an edge of a golfer&#39;s cap or a pocket, a belt, or a golf bag (or other golfer&#39;s items). 
       FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a holder plate  20   a  to be positioned and supported by the clip  10 . In place of the holder plate  20 , the tee peg holder  1  may use a holder plate  20   a  to be fixed to the clip  10 . 
     For example, the holder plate  20   a  is made of a flexible material such as silicone rubber as is the holder plate  20 . The example illustrated in  FIG.  4    has four holder holes  21 . Note that the holder holes  21  formed in the holder plate  20   a  have the same size and shape as those formed in the holder plate  20 . 
     In the holder plate  20   a,  two holder holes  21  are arranged in each of two rows, and support notches  22  are formed between the two rows of the holder holes  21 . 
     The support notches  22  are disposed in the holder plate  20   a  at a distance W 2  therebetween as is the case for the holder plate  20 . Accordingly, the portion of the holder plate  20   a  between the two support notches  22  can be inserted into the plate insertion hole  14  of the clip body  12 , and the holder plate  20   a  is thereby positioned and supported by the plate support portion  13  as is the case for the holder plate  20 . 
     The holder plate  20   a  is formed so as to have a lateral length smaller than that of the holder plate  20 . Two holder holes  21  are arranged side by side in the lateral direction in the upper row and also in the lower row. 
     As described, the support notches  22  are disposed in the holder plate  20   a  at a distance W 2  therebetween. The holder plate  20   a  has a smaller lateral width, and the support notches  22  are formed without the notch openings  23  and the notch bottoms  24 . The support notches  22  are shaped semicircularly, in other words, depressed semicircularly from side edges of the holder plate  20   a  toward the center thereof. 
     The tee peg holder  1  equipped with the holder plate  20   a  is convenient for holding a smaller number of tee pegs  101 . 
     The holder plate  20   a  has a lateral width smaller than that of the holder plate  20 , which facilitates mounting and removal of the holder plate  20   a  onto and from the plate support portion  13  of the clip  10 . 
     The holder plate of the tee peg holder  1  is not limited to the holder plate  20  having six holder holes  21  nor to the holder plate  20   a  having four holder holes  21 , but may be another holder plate having a different number of holder holes  21 . 
     Note that even in the case of the holder plate  20  of the tee peg holder  1  having any number of holder holes  21 , the holder plate  20  has the above-described support notches  22  and is configured to be inserted into the plate insertion hole  14  and thereby positioned and supported by the plate support portion  13 . 
     Second Embodiment 
       FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a clip  10   a  of a tee peg holder la according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The tee peg holder la of the second embodiment has the clip  10   a  as illustrated in  FIG.  5    and a holder plate, such as the holder plate  20  illustrated in  FIG.  2    or the holder plate  20   a  illustrated in  FIG.  4   . The holder plate is to be attached to the clip  10   a.  The holder plate  20  and the holder plate  20   a  are already described in the first embodiment, and duplicated descriptions of elements similar to those already described will be omitted. 
     The tee peg holder la has the nipping portion  11  and the urging portions  11   a  or the like disposed in a front portion of a clip body  12   a  (a portion near the tip end of the clip  10   a ). The nipping portion  11  and the urging portions  11   a  are configured similarly to those of the tee peg holder  1 . 
     As is the case for the clip body  12 , the clip body  12   a  includes, for example, the manipulation mechanism (not illustrated) that can switch the nipping portion  11  between the closing position and the opening position (or non-closing position) by pressing part of the clip body  12   a.    
     The clip body  12   a  has a plate support portion  30  at a rear end of the clip body  12   a  (as a rear portion behind the nipping portion  11  and others). For example, the plate support portion  30  opens at one of the side ends (a first side end) of the clip body  12   a.  The plate support portion  30  is formed of a support member  31  and also of a rear portion of the clip body  12   a.    
     As illustrated in the left figure of  FIG.  5   , the support member  31  and the rear portion of the clip body  12   a  are shaped so as form the plate insertion hole  14  when the support member  31  is closed, in other words, when the support member  31  is fixed to the rear portion of the clip body  12   a.  This plate insertion hole  14  has the same shape and size as that of the plate insertion hole  14  described in the first embodiment. 
     An opening/closing support  32  is formed at a second side end of the clip body  12   a  in the rear end portion of the clip body  12   a  (at the right end of the plate support portion  30  in  FIG.  5   ). The opening/closing support  32  pivotally supports a second side end of the support member  31  so as to enable the support member  31  to move rotatably. 
     A support member fixation portion  33  is formed at a first side end of the support member  31  and also at a first side end of the clip body  12   a  in the rear end portion of the clip body  12   a  (at the left end of the plate support portion  30  in  FIG.  5   ). 
     The support member fixation portion  33  is shaped so as to enable the first side end of the support member  31  to be latched on (engaged with) the second side end of the clip body  12   a  in the rear end portion thereof. Accordingly, a user can unlatch the support member fixation portion  33 , for example, by bending the support member  31  by finger. 
     For example, when the holder plate  20  is positioned and held by the clip  10   a,  a user opens the support member  31  as illustrated in the right figure of  FIG.  5    (in the state of the support member fixation portion  33  being unlatched) and inserts the holder plate  20  from the opening. 
     Here, the user inserts the holder plate  20  in between the support member  31  and the rear end portion of the clip body  12   a  in such a manner that the two support notches  22  of the holder plate  20  abut respective support end portions  30   a  positioned at opposite longitudinal ends of the support member  31  (opposite end portions of the plate support portion  30  in the longitudinal direction thereof). 
     After the holder plate  20  is inserted, the user closes the support member  31  by latching the support member fixation portion  33  as illustrated in the left figure of  FIG.  5   . 
     When the support member  31  is closed, the support member  31  maintains the state of the holder plate  20  being accommodated in the plate insertion hole  14  and positioned and supported relative to the clip body  12   a.    
     When the holder plate  20  is held by the plate support portion  30 , the support notches  22  of the holder plate  20  appropriately press respective ones of the two support end portions  30   a  of the support member  31  positioned at both longitudinal ends thereof (both ends of the plate support portion  30  in the longitudinal direction). 
     The pressure generated stabilizes the holder plate  20  so as to prevent displacement of the holder plate  20  relative to the clip body  12   a  when, for example, the user mounts tee pegs  101  or the like onto the holder plate  20  or removes them. 
     In other words, the distance between the two support notches  22  is set so as to generate such pressure when the holder plate  20  (holder plate  20   a ) is positioned and held by the clip body  12   a.    
     When the holder plate  20  is detached from the clip body  12   a,  for example, a user unlatches the support member fixation portion  33  and opens the support member  31  and takes out the holder plate  20  from the plate insertion hole  14 . 
     Note that the clip body  12   a  is configured such that a user can mount and remove the holder plate  20   a  of  FIG.  4    in the same manner as the holder plate  20 . 
     In the tee peg holder la, when a user attaches or detaches the holder plate  20  or  20   a  to and from the clip body  12   a,  the support member  31  can open, which eliminates the necessity of bending the holder plate  20  largely. 
     The holder plate  20  or  20   a  of the tee peg holder la may be made of not only a flexible material but also a material harder than this. In other words, the tee peg holder la can use a holder plate  20  or  20   a  made of a silicone rubber, a synthetic rubber, or a resin that are harder than those for the holder plate  20  or  20   a  in the first embodiment. 
     Note that even if the holder plate  20  or  20   a  of the tee peg holder la is made of the above-described hard material, the holder plate  20  or  20   a  has the holder holes  21  configured to hold tee pegs  101  as described in the first embodiment. More specifically, in order to hold the tee peg  101  tightly, each holder hole  21  of the holder plate  20  or  20   a  is formed, for example, like a tapered hole in which the hole-edge portion becomes thinner so as to impart flexibility (elasticity) to the hole-edge portion. 
     As described above, the tee peg holder  1  or  1   a  of the present disclosure enables a user to attach and detach the holder plate  20  or  20   a  for holding tee pegs  101  to and from the clip  10  or  10   a  appropriately. Consequently, the holder plate can be replaced according to the number of tee pegs to be used or replaced with a new one when the holder plate is damaged. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1 ,  1   a  tee peg holder 
       10 ,  10   a  clip 
       11  nipping portion 
       11   a  urging portion 
       12 ,  12   a  clip body 
       13 ,  30  plate support portion 
       13   a,    30   a  support end portion 
       14  plate insertion hole 
       20 ,  20   a  holder plate 
       21  holder hole 
       22  support notch 
       23  notch opening 
       24  notch bottom 
       31  support member 
       32  opening/closing support 
       33  support member fixation portion 
       101  tee peg 
       102  head cover