Abstract:
The current disclosure describes a golf club stand used for elevating a golf club handle above the ground. The golf club stand may include, but is not limited to, a leg housing, a coupling apparatus configured to attach the leg housing to a golf club, and a leg, wherein the leg housing is configured for substantially enclosing the leg within the leg housing, the coupling apparatus is coupled to the leg housing, and the leg is connected at a first end to the leg housing in a manner that allows the leg to rotate with respect to the leg housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/401,411, filed Aug. 13, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to the field of golf club accessories, and more particularly to a golf club stand. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many golfers now use motorized carts to navigate a golf course, but many golf course owners discourage or prohibit golfers from driving motorized carts to the immediate location of the golfer&#39;s ball after a shot. This is especially true if the golf course grass has become saturated with water. Driving motorized carts on saturated grass can cause damage. Therefore many golf courses require golfers to keep the motorized vehicles upon designated cart paths. At times, this requires the golfer to walk a moderate distance to get to their ball. 
     Often, when a golfer begins the walk from the cart to the ball, the golfer may be unsure as to which of many golf clubs will be needed for the next golf shot. As a result, the golfer is forced to bring more than one club along as the golfer walks to the golf ball to take the next shot. Often, golfers are forced to bring more than one club with them if their ball is near a “green” but not yet on the green. (A “green” is a section of very short grass where the target hole is located). In this case, the golfer will usually bring a putting club and a chipping club. This is true even though the golfer probably knows exactly which club(s) will be used for all of the remaining shots. This is because motorized golf carts are generally disallowed within a short distance of the green regardless of the condition of the grass. 
     As a golfer approaches the ball with more than one golf club, the golfer is forced to choose which golf club to use to swing at the ball for the next shot. Because the golfer is away from the location of the golf club bag, the golfer must place the unselected golf club(s) upon the ground while taking the next swing at the golf ball with the selected club. The placement of the unselected club(s) upon the ground often causes dirt, gravel, sand, water and other debris to accumulate on the handle or “grip” portion of the golf club. This is especially true in the morning when dew readily accumulates upon surfaces that touch the ground. Many golfers dislike debris or moisture upon the grip of their golf clubs. 
     SUMMARY 
     The current disclosure describes a golf club stand used for elevating a golf club handle above the ground. The golf club stand may include, but is not limited to, a leg housing, a coupling apparatus for attaching the leg housing to a golf club, and a leg, wherein the leg housing is configured for substantially enclosing the leg within the leg housing, wherein the coupling apparatus for attaching the leg housing to a golf club is attached to the leg housing, wherein the leg is connected at a first end to the leg housing in a manner that allows the leg to rotate with respect to the leg housing. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not necessarily restrictive of the present disclosure. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate subject matter of the disclosure. Together, the descriptions and the drawings serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The numerous advantages of the disclosure may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a golf club stand holding a golf club handle above the ground. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a close up view of a golf club stand attached to a golf club shaft. 
         FIG. 3  depicts an exploded view of a golf club stand. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a golf club stand attached to a golf club shaft demonstrating the freedom of movement of the retractable leg. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a close up view of the area where the leg couples with the leg housing. 
         FIG. 6  depicts the leg of the golf club stand and a leg retraction mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  shows a golf club stand in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Stand  500  may include a leg housing  550  and a leg  520 . Leg  520  may be coupled to one end of leg housing  550  in a manner that allows leg  520  to rotate with respect to leg housing  550 . The vertex of the angle of rotation may be located at the point where leg  520  is coupled to leg housing  550 . Stand  500  may include a coupling apparatus for attaching stand  500  to a golf club  100 . Coupling apparatus may attach leg housing  550  to club shaft  110 , and may include all types of apparatus including clips, magnets, adhesives, fasteners such as hook and loop fasteners and the like. Coupling apparatus may be a tool-less coupling apparatus. Tool-less coupling apparatus may attach the leg housing  550  to club shaft  110  with any use of additional tools such as a screw driver, allen wrench or the like. 
     Stand  500  may be attached to a golf club  100  using clips  510  found at either end of leg housing  550 . Stand  500  may be attached to club shaft  110  in a manner that elevates club handle  120  above the ground when leg  520  is in the extended position and club head  130  and leg  520  are resting on the ground. When in an attached position, clips  510  may provide enough grip tension against club shaft  110  so that removing the stand  500  from the club or changing the position or orientation of attachment may require a force greater than the weight of stand  500  or the golf club  100 . Clips  510  may be configured to attach stand  500  to golf clubs  100  of varying club shaft diameter without the use of a separate tool such as a screwdriver or an allen wrench. 
     Stand  500  may be mostly made of plastic materials and a metal spring that may pull leg  520  to rotate inside of leg housing  550  when leg  520  is not being used. The stand  500  may be easily attachable and detachable to a golf club  100  by way of clips  510  located at both of ends of leg housing  550 . In addition to or in the alternative to clips  510 , the stand may utilize a magnet  530  for purposes of attaching stand  500  to club shaft  110 . Said magnet  530  may be located upon the top of the leg housing  550 , touching the shaft of the golf club when stand  500  is attached. When in an attached position, magnet  530  may provide enough attractive force so that removing the stand  500  from the club shaft  110  or changing the position or orientation of attachment may require a force greater than the weight of stand  500  or the golf club  100 . Magnet  530  may be configured to attach stand  500  to golf clubs  100  of varying club shaft diameter without the use of a separate tool such as a screwdriver or an allen wrench. 
       FIG. 2  displays an angled underside view of an embodiment of the invention attached to a club shaft  110 . Stand  500  may be attached to club shaft  110  so that connecting stub  590  is positioned on the handle side of club  100  as opposed to the club head side of club  100 . Stand  500  may be in a closed position (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) when stand  500  is not being used to support golf club  100 . In the closed position, leg  520  of the invention is substantially enclosed within leg housing  550 . Leg housing  550  may have a 3 dimensional U-shape as shown in  FIG. 2 . This closed position may allow the invention to be securely attached to club shaft  110 , with minimal protrusions, preventing leg  520  from accidentally contacting surroundings and distracting the golfer during use of the club  100 . 
       FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention. The leg housing  550  may have two receiving holes  560  that receive connecting stubs  590  of leg  520  to allow for rotational motion of leg  520 . Leg  520  may have at least one locking tab  580  that is capable of coupling with a receiving notch  570  contained within the leg housing  550 . Coupling of locking tab  580  and receiving notch  570  may secure leg  520  at a certain angle of rotation. The most common angle of choice may be approximately 90 degrees. The leg  520  may taper in width as distance from connecting stub  590  increases. 
       FIG. 4  shows stand  500  attached to club shaft  110  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Leg  520  may be capable of rotation with respect to leg housing  550 . 
       FIG. 5  shows means for connecting leg  520  to leg housing  550 . Connecting stubs  590  may be positioned flush or recessed with respect to receiving holes  560 . These connections may allow for the rotation of leg  520  with respect to leg housing  550 . 
       FIG. 6  displays additional features of an embodiment of the invention. The stand may include a leg retraction mechanism which includes a spring, a spring housing, and spring tabs. Spring  610  may be used for automatically retracting leg  520  into leg housing  550  when leg  520  is not in use. Leg  520  may include spring housing  600  which may be a short cylindrical protrusion atop leg  520 . Spring  610  may be placed around spring leg housing  600  and between leg housing  550  and leg  520 . Spring  610  may be secured to leg  520  and leg housing  550  via at least one spring tab  620 . Spring tabs  620  may be inserted into spring holes  630  found on leg  520  and leg housing  550 . 
     Conventional tools for preventing debris or moisture accumulation on the grips of golf clubs include towels and golf club stands. However, use of a towel fails to properly remove excess water and forces the golfer to bring a towel with them as they walk to their ball. Many golfers attach towels to their golf bags. However, when the golfer is standing near the ball the golfer is often not near the golf cart, golf bag, or towel. 
     Conventional golf club stands can be used to prevent debris from accumulating on a club handle by elevating the handle off of the ground. However, many currently available golf club stands are large, cumbersome, two legged devices that are not easily attachable to a golf club, nor easily detachable. Furthermore, current attachable stands are heavy and can interfere with a golfer&#39;s swing by affecting the weight distribution of the club. Existing attachable stands are also not easily attachable to a golf club. This forces the golfer to carry an additional item or items along with the golf clubs, detracting from the enjoyment of the game. 
     The golf club stand of the present disclosure is a lightweight and inexpensively produced product which may remain attached to the golf clubs during a round of golf without detracting from the ability of the golfer to swing the club. Use of the golf club stand allows easier retrieval of the club because the user is not forced to bend and reach all the way to the ground, place their hands in the grass, which may be wet and/or muddy, and easily access the club. 
     It is believed that the present disclosure and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components without departing from the disclosed subject matter or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form described is merely explanatory, and it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.