Abstract:
A series of angled, collinear stitches or adhesive lines create parallel rows of slots which join a length of elastic material to a backing material, thus providing readily accessible storage for standard golf tees, in addition to housing a ring accessory assembly which is attached to a male coupling on the lower back side of the device which may be utilized for storage of any number of available accessories which would otherwise attach to a ring or a loop provided on a golf bag.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/497,053, filed Jun. 14, 2011 
     
    
       [0002]    A golf tee and accessory holder designed to snap onto any golf bag equipped with a male snap near and around the upper portion of the standard golf bag. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    “Not Applicable” 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
       [0004]    “Not Applicable” 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0005]    The present invention relates to carriers, and more specifically relates to holders for conveniently and securely carrying a supply of golf tees and other accessories around a golf course. 
         [0006]    Over time, many golf accessories have been developed that may be secured to a golf bag, for example by attachment to a ring or a loop or disposed within the bag. Any device that may be attached to a ring which is centrally located on the back side of most golf bags will require additional steps and motion in order to access that device. Most golf bags do not supply rings on both sides of the bag for attachments and many have no rings or loops on the side of the bag. In other words, as a golfer exits a golf cart in order to prepare to hit a shot the golfer should only require a minimal turn of the body from the side of the golf cart in order to reach the desired golf club and a golf tee in a single motion, thus increasing ergonomic functionality and minimal distraction from the game of golf itself. The problem of ease of accessibility to a storage ring on the golf bag regardless of bag location or seat placement in a golf cart is thereby solved by the ability to utilize any one of four male snap couplings located on the four corners of a golf bag by which to attach the proposed golf tee holder and accessory ring. Another problem with creating devices that attach to an existing ring or loop is that there is limited space for what may include multiple items which can become either clustered together or tangled and difficult to sort through. Accordingly, what is needed are new designs that provide ease of use and functional support for a golfer and that will increase external storage options. These and other problems are addressed by the disclosed technology. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention includes a golf tee and accessory holder that may be attached to the outside of a golf bag utilizing existing male snaps in an optimum location for ready use. The tee and accessory holder consists of material which has been sewn or otherwise attached in such a manner as to create angled and parallel elastic slots along a flat, longitudinal base in which to insert and access standard width golf tees of any desired length. A male coupling on the lower back side of the device is utilized for an accessory ring made of any favorable material such as zinc, brass or plastic. The accessory ring is sewn into a section of matching or otherwise acceptable material to the tee holder in a somewhat square shape with a female coupling mounted on the upper back side. This accessory ring is mated to the male coupling on the lower back side of the tee holder, thereby providing additional storage on the golf bag for any device that would normally attach to a ring or a loop on a golf bag. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a golf tee holder and accessory ring that will utilize one of the existing male snaps located in four places on the golf bag in order to maximize convenience. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the invention to insure that the material and styling will give the appearance that the tee holder is an integral component of the original golf bag. 
         [0010]    It is also another object of the invention to insure that golf tees are secured by two methods—one, by inserting tees into elastic slots that will provide a firm grip around the body of the tee and two, utilizing the principal of gravity by installing tees at a downward angle with the tapered end of the tee downward and the oversized head of the tee, or top portion of the tee resting above the slot where gravity will also insure security even during the most turbulent activity produced by driving a golf cart over uneven terrain or other golf-related activities. 
         [0011]    It is another object of the invention to lie “flat” against the golf bag, thereby eliminating a potential obstruction for golfers navigating around the golf bag as they replace clubs or search for other items in the pockets. 
         [0012]    Another object of the invention is to provide additional storage by attaching an accessory holder ring to the bottom of the unit. The ring may be utilized for any devices intended for attachment to the ring normally located on the rear of the bag. The ring is equipped with a female coupling which may be releasably attached. 
         [0013]    It is a further object of the invention to provide storage for golf tees and accessories on the side of the bag rather than the back of the bag where the storage ring and handle are normally found. This object eliminates another few steps around the side of the bag in order to access any tee holder or accessory located on the rear of the golf bag. In other words a golfer should be able to exit the cart, turn and pull a golf club and a golf tee in a single, flowing motion, solving another ergonomic problem with other tee holders. 
         [0014]    A further object of the invention is to provide a prominent location for “branding” which may be utilized by resorts, corporations, non-profit associations or any other entity having an interest in branding or promoting their name, logo or both. The longitudinal shape and flatness of the tee holder allows for ease of attachment of any decorative banner that may be embroidered, printed or any other means of creating a display. 
         [0015]    Another object of the invention is to create a model that will endure the test of time, in other words, a tee holder and accessory made of similar, if not, the same material as the golf bag, thereby insuring that if the device should last as long as the golf bag itself, creating a long-lasting value of the product. 
         [0016]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specifications and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a golf tee holder according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a view of the front of a golf accessory holder according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a view of the back of the golf accessory holder according to the present invention 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the golf tee holder according to the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a back view of the golf tee holder according to the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a back view of the golf tee and accessory holder according to the present invention illustrating how the accessory ring will attach to the golf tee holder. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is an environmental view illustrating how the golf tee and accessory holder attaches to a golf bag. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , an exemplary golf tee and accessory holder  25  is shown. The holder includes a first piece  10  as shown in  FIG. 4 , on which a second piece  11 , shown in  FIG. 2 , is secured. The first piece may be made of a rigid, semi-rigid or flexible material. For example, the first piece may be made of a woven fabric material. The second piece  11 , a ring assembly accessory holder, may be made of any acceptable metal or other material ring  13  that contains at least one straight side that is secured to the first material  22 , shown in  FIG. 5 . The securing may be performed in many ways, and can include two snap features  19 A and  19 B that position and secure the ends of the flexible material  13  with the first material  22 . The second material  17  may additionally include a plurality of additional censuring features  24  that create cavities  23  along the second material in between two securing features  16 A and  16 B. The cavities  23 , shown in  FIG. 4 , may be used to secure objects, and may be used to secure golf tees  12 , as illustrated. The ends of the device, shown in  FIG. 5  may be secured with binding tape  21 A and  21 B, which may be folded over either end of the tee holder  10  and may be fastened by heating and melting the glue contained within according to standard industry processes. In  FIG. 6 , the female coupling located on the back of the ring assembly accessory holder  11  on reverse side of snap assembly  19  is shown to connect with a male coupling  16 B on the back of the first piece  10  of the golf tee and accessory holder.  FIG. 7  displays the complete golf tee and accessory holder  25  as it should be attached  27  to any existing standard male coupling  26  on the golf bag  20 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  displays a phantom view of a golf tee  12  inserted in the golf tee and accessory holder  25 . The tees  12  are of standard size width and may be of any length and tees may be included as part of the device. In other words tees may also comprise a portion of the sum of all components listed as part of the device as a whole. The width of the cavities, or slots  23  may be narrowed or widened for special plastic or other tees as are readily available or may be made available in the future. The number of slots  23  made available for insertion of tees may vary, from 3 up to as many as 18 or more, depending on demand. 
         [0026]    The width of the elastic piece  17  may vary depending on many factors, including sizing for branding requirements. A banner, or a longitudinal piece of material may be sewn or otherwise attached to the exterior of the elastic piece  17 , the primary backing  14 , beneath the couplings  15 A and  16 A, or to any or all of the above components by any known, acceptable means of fastening and may include such methods as glue, couplings, Velcro material or stitching. In such cases the elastic piece must be visible and readily available to conveniently locate and facilitate insertion of golf tees. This may require that the elastic piece extend beyond the width of the banner in order to easily identify slotted channels and load or reload golf tees into the device without interference. 
         [0027]    Other versions of the Golf tee and accessory holder  25  may include replacement of the elastic band  17  with holders, pouches, receptacles or storage units for various other items and accessories that may be utilized during a round of golf or other activities where the golf bag may be present. These units for storage or attachment may be attached by any known means including stitching, glue or Velcro and made readily available on holders, in pouches, or any other known fastener to the primary backing material  14 . Such items may include: wallets, cell phones, global positioning devices, cigars or cigarettes, golf balls, scorecards, divot repair tools, sunscreen, first aid kits, towels, ponchos, gloves, hats or other golf apparel, food or beverage items or any number of things that may be beneficial or desirable to a golfer. Other activities may include practicing the game of golf on a driving range, putting green or a chipping facility. In these instances devices utilized for improving the method of practicing the game of golf may also be inserted, attached, or included as described. 
         [0028]    Another version of the holder may include the attachment of a section of stretchable fabric or elastic material by means of fitted couplings in order to attach and display the holder horizontally between any two of the supplied four male couplings on most golf bags. In order to achieve this, the accessory ring assembly  11  would be omitted and replaced with a piece of stretchable fabric or elastic material equipped with an opposing female coupling at either end, one coupling would mate with the lower male coupling  16 B as shown in  FIG. 5 , and the opposing female coupling located on the other side of the piece would mate with a secondary male coupling (not shown) on the golf bag. This additional piece will allow the device to be displayed horizontally, thus allowing for additional branding opportunity and or optimum capability to include other accessories on the device, including a series of rings, pouches, pockets, or holders, etc. or any combination thereof. The section of stretchable fabric may also be integrally incorporated as part of the tee holder  10  by adding material to the original tee holder  10  through any acceptable means of attachment that may include stitching or glue. 
         [0029]    The tubular, square or otherwise shaped accessory ring  13  may be included in any shape or size that will accommodate a folded piece of fabric or other material looped and attached over one long somewhat straight side of the ring. Other devices or means of attachment may also be substituted for the ring including fabric or otherwise loops, chains, or any other device that may be attached to the piece  22 .