Patent Abstract:
A clip used to attach a towel to a golf club, (e.g., a putter). The clip has an opening to attach to the golf club, and an opening to attach to the towel. The clip may be mechanically attached to the club, or may use magnets. The towel may be permanently attached to the clip or may be removable. Methods for attaching a towel to a golf club and manufacturing the clip are also provided.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to golf accessories and, more particularly, to a clip for attaching a towel to a golf club. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Golf is played outdoors in various weather and environmental conditions. Golf equipment and golf balls generally get dirty from grass, dirt, mud, sand, and other environmental agents. 
     Many golfers carry a towel that is removably secured to a golf bag to wipe golf balls and clubs from time to time, as well as their hands in the event they become muddy or wet from perspiration. Over time, carrying a towel may become burdensome and golfers therefore tend to leave towels fastened to their bags, golf carts and the like. 
     As is known, golf carts and other wheeled devices are forbidden to travel on the greens of most, if not all, golf courses. As a result, any golfer who is not carrying a towel on his or her person is likely to leave the towel in the cart on a nearby cart path, or in his/her golf bag, and then walk onto the green before realizing that he or she needs to wipe the ball. Examples of conditions making it important to clean the ball are wet greens, wet sand in traps, fertilizer on the greens, and other conditions as listed above. As is also known, when the ball is on the putting green it is permissible to use a ball marker to spot where the ball lies, lift the ball, and then proceed to wipe the ball before putting. It is important to clean the ball before putting for, if the golf ball is not clean, the trajectory of the ball may be affected. If the towel has been left on the cart, however, any convenient item of clothing or even putting the ball to the mouth becomes the means by which most golfers proceed to clean their balls, for to return to the cart or golf bag for the towel would require extra effort and delay the game. In some situations, golfers may even lick the ball or stick the ball in their mouth or spit on the ball, then wipe the ball on their shirt or pants to clean the ball. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention addresses the foregoing problems by providing a clip to attach a towel to a golf club. As a result, golfers using a clip in accordance to the present invention are able to clean balls with the attached towel before putting. The clip has an aperture to receive the golf club and another aperture to receive a towel. The clip may also utilize a fastener for fastening the towel to the clip. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1A-D provide sketch views of a clip, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, where the aperture for the towel is approximately perpendicular to the axis of the aperture which receives the golf club. 
     FIGS. 2A-D provide sketch views of a clip, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, in which the aperture adapted to receive the towel is approximately parallel to the aperture adapted to receive the golf club. 
     FIGS. 3A-D provide sketch views of a clip, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, wherein the aperture adapted to receive the towel is approximately perpendicular to the aperture adapted to receive the golf club. 
     FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of a clip, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, wherein the towel is attached to the clip with a fastener. 
     FIG. 5 shows a clip, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, wherein the towel is attached with a rivet. 
     FIG. 6 shows a clip, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, in which a magnet is used. 
     FIGS. 7A-D are flow diagrams of methods to attach a clip to a golf club, and to manufacture a clip for attaching a towel to a golf club, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1A, a clip  100  is shown in perspective. In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1A-D, clip  100  is designed such that the axis of interior chamber  101  is approximately perpendicular to the plane of aperture  105 . Clip  100  has an integral structure and is made of a reasonably tough, resilient elastomeric material. In some embodiments, clip  100  may be made of plastic, metal, ceramic, or other materials. Clip  100  has sufficient rigidity to maintain its shape but sufficient resiliency to flex enough for its intended function, as detailed below. Clip  100  has two arms  102  and  103  joined together at one end and spaced apart at the other end to define an opening  104 . Together arms  102  and  103  enclose an interior chamber  101 . Clip  100  is designed to receive and hold in place in chamber  101  a member (not shown). The member may be cylindrical. A variety of members could be used in accordance to the principles of the invention. The member may be, for example, a solid rod or the shaft of a golf club. 
     The body of clip  100  may be molded or otherwise formed or manufactured to define an interior chamber  101 , shaped substantially as shown in FIG.  1 A. In some embodiments, clip Lit.  100  may be machined or may be injection molded. The dimensions of various portions of chamber  101  will be determined by the diameter of the members for which they are intended. The diameter of the cylindrical members desired to be held by clip  100  in any given embodiment is selected to fit that particular diameter. In some embodiments, clip  100  may be designed such that it holds the member snugly so as not to slide along the member. In some embodiments, the taper of the club shaft will prevent clip  100  from sliding along the shaft. 
     In some embodiments, the width of opening  104  when clip  100  is in an unflexed state is selected to be smaller than the diameter of the member to be held. In order to allow the member to enter chamber  101 , arms  102  and  103  flex outwardly. The elasticity of the material of the clip resists this localized flexing. In some embodiments, a magnet may be embedded in clip  100  proximate to chamber  101  such that the magnet attaches the clip to magnetic members placed in chamber  101 . 
     In addition, clip  100  has an aperture  105 . In some embodiments, the plane of aperture  105  is approximately perpendicular to the axis of opening  101 . Aperture  105  has an opening  106 , which may receive substantially planar items such as a towel (not shown). The planar item, such as a towel, may be inserted into opening  106  with or without the flexure of arms  107  and  108 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2A-D, clip  200  is designed such that the axis of interior chamber  201  is approximately parallel to the plane of aperture  205 . In some embodiments, the width of opening  204  when clip  200  is in an unflexed state is selected to be smaller than the diameter of the member to be held. In order to allow the member to enter chamber  201 , arms  202  and  203  flex outwardly. The elasticity of the material of the clip resists this localized flexing. In other embodiments, a magnet may be embedded in clip  200  proximate to chamber  201  such that the magnet attaches the clip to magnetic members placed in chamber  201 . 
     Clip  200  has an aperture  205 . In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2C, the plane of aperture  205  is approximately parallel to the axis of opening  201 . Aperture  205  has an opening  206 , which may receive substantially planar items such as a towel (not shown). The planar item, such as a towel, may be inserted into opening  206  with or without the flexure of arms  207  and  208 . The towel may be attached to clip  200  using a fastener. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, aperture  305  is a through hole. Aperture  305  could be of any number of cross-sectional shapes. Clip  300  has two arms  302  and  303  joined together at one end and spaced apart at the other end to define an opening  304 . Together arms  302  and  303  enclose an interior chamber  301 . Clip  300  is designed to receive and hold in place a member (not shown) in chamber  301 . In some embodiments, aperture  305  may receive an item such as a towel. In some embodiments, aperture  305  may receive a fastener which is used to attach an item such as a towel to clip  300 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, towel  402  is attached to clip  400  with a fastener  401 . Clip  400 , in turn, is attached to a club shaft  403 . Fastener  401  is inserted through opening  404  and protrudes at least partially into aperture  405 . In some embodiments, fastener  401  may be a pop rivet, a threaded member, a strap, or other type of fastener. In some embodiments, fastener  401  is removably fastened. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, towel  502  is attached to clip  500  with a rivet  501 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, clip  600  contains a magnet  606 . Magnet  606  is located proximate to an interior chamber  601 . Magnet  606  may attach clip  600  to a metallic member. 
     As shown in FIG. 7A, a method  710  of attaching a towel to a golf club, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, comprises spreading bendable tongs (step  711 ) and inserting the golf club into the aperture (step  712 ). 
     As shown in FIG. 7C, a method  700  of manufacturing a clip in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. Method  700  includes step  701 , manufacturing an aperture to receive a portion of a golf club, and step  702 , manufacturing a second aperture to allow for attachment of a towel. The clip may be manufactured by machining, plastic injection molding or other techniques known in the art. A towel is attached using a fastener thorough the second aperture (step  703 ). 
     A method  705  of manufacturing a clip in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, shown in FIG.  7 D. Method  705  includes step  706 , manufacturing an aperture to receive a portion of a golf club, and step  707 , manufacturing a second aperture to allow for attachment of a towel. A towel is inserted into the second aperture (step  708 ), and the towel is fastened with a fastener inserted at least partially through the second aperture (step  709 ). 
     A method  720  of attaching a towel to a golf club consisting of attaching the clip body to the golf club (step  721 ), as shown in FIG.  7 B. 
     Embodiments described above illustrate, but do not limit the invention. In particular, the invention is not limited to any specific material or dimensions used for the clip. In addition, clips may be constructed by any processes known in the art, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Other embodiments and varieties are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8