CIGAR HOLDER ADAPTED FOR USE WITH GOLF ACCESSORY HOLDERS

Abstract

A cigar holder is adapted to engage with a golf accessory holder provided in the dashboard, or other portion, of a golf cart. The golf accessory holder can take the form or a golf ball holder or a golf tee holder. In general the cigar holder includes an interfacing portion that is configured to engage the golf accessory holder, taking the place of the golf accessory for which the golf accessory holder is configured. There is also a wind shield portion extending upward from the lower interfacing portion, and a cigar holder portion that extends laterally from the wind shield portion.

Claims

1. A cigar holder for use with a golf ball holder, comprising: a lower interfacing portion configured to interface with a golf accessory holder; a wind shield extending upward from the lower interfacing portion, wherein the wind shield and lower interfacing portion define a contiguous space inside the wind shield and the lower interfacing portion; and a holder portion extending laterally from the wind shield portion and having a U-shaped cross section configured to hold a cigar horizontally.

2. The cigar holder of claim 1, wherein the lower interfacing portion comprises a stem configured to interface with a golf tee holder, and a rest portion configured to interface with a surface around the golf tee holder, the rest portion having a height and a diameter.

3. The cigar holder of claim 2, wherein the stem has a lower portion having a diameter that is tapered, and an upper portion having a diameter that is not tapered.

4. The cigar holder of claim 2, wherein the windshield is a ball portion having a semi-spherical shape extending upward from the rest.

5. The cigar holder of claim 1, wherein golf accessory holder is a golf ball holder, the lower interfacing portion is a ball portion that is configured to interface with the golf ball holder.

6. The cigar holder of claim 5, further comprising a spacing extension on a side of the ball portion under the holder portion that runs along an outside curve of the ball portion to the spacing member, wherein the spacing member is formed of a compliant material which extend vertically to the holder portion, and wherein a rest is formed under the holder portion and is configured to interface with a surface around the golf ball holder.

7. The cigar holder of claim 6, wherein the spacing extension is flat in a horizontal direction which is perpendicular to a direction in which the holder portion extends from the wind shield.

8. The cigar holder of claim 6, wherein the compliant material of the spacing member is overmolded onto the cigar holder and is captured by a horizontal dovetail retaining feature formed at a top of the spacing extension.

9. The cigar holder of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped cross section of the holder portion is a semi-circular cross section.

10. The cigar holder of claim 1, wherein the holder portion include at least one pair of opposing cutouts, with one each an opposing wall of the holder portion.

11. The cigar holder of claim 10, wherein the at least one pair of cutouts are located at a midpoint of the holder portion between the wind shield and an end of the holder portion.

12. The cigar holder of claim 1, wherein the holder portion comprises a plurality of lateral ridge on a floor of the holder portion at a distal end of the holder portion.

13. The cigar holder of claim 12, wherein the lateral ridges are sized to form a slope across the lateral ridges.

14. The cigar holder of claim 12, wherein the lateral ridge have a surface that is textured.

15. A cigar holder configured to be used in a golf cart, comprising: a lower interfacing portion configured to interface with one of either a golf ball holder or a tee holder, wherein the golf ball holder and tee holder are formed in a portion of the golf cart; a wind shield extending upward from the lower interfacing portion, wherein the wind shield and lower interfacing portion define a contiguous space inside the wind shield and the lower interfacing portion; and a cigar holder portion extending laterally from the wind shield portion that is configured to hold a cigar horizontally on a support surface of the cigar holder portion; wherein the contiguous space inside the wind shield and lower interfacing portions extends below the support surface of the cigar holder portion.

16. The cigar holder of claim 15, wherein the lower interfacing portion comprises a stem configured to interface with a golf tee holder, and a rest portion configured to interface with a surface around the golf tee holder, the rest portion having a height and a diameter.

17. The cigar holder of claim 16, wherein the cigar holder portion includes a vertical wall at a distal end of the cigar holder portion.

18. The cigar holder of claim 15, wherein golf accessory holder is a golf ball holder, the lower interfacing portion is a ball portion that is configured to interface with the golf ball holder.

19. The cigar holder of claim 18, further comprising a spacing extension on a side of the ball portion under the holder portion that runs along an outside curve of the ball portion to the spacing member, wherein the spacing member is formed of a compliant material which extend vertically to the holder portion, and wherein a rest is formed under the holder portion and is configured to interface with a surface around the golf ball holder.

20. The cigar holder of claim 18, wherein the compliant material of the spacing member is overmolded onto the cigar holder and is captured by a horizontal dovetail retaining feature formed at a top of the spacing extension.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a cigar holder for use in a golf ball holder, in accordance with some embodiments;

[0033] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a cigar holder for use in a golf ball holder, in accordance with some embodiments;

[0034] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of a cigar holder for use in a golf ball holder, in accordance with some embodiments;

[0035] FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of a cigar holder for use in a golf ball holder, in accordance with some embodiments;

[0036] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a cigar holder for use in a golf ball holder, in accordance with some embodiments;

[0037] FIG. 6 is a side cut-away view of a cigar holder for use in a golf ball holder, in accordance with some embodiments;

[0038] FIG. 7 shows a cigar holder in a cut-away golf ball holder, in accordance with some embodiments;

[0039] FIG. 8 shows a side elevational view of a cigar holder adapted for use in a tee holder, in accordance with some embodiments;

[0040] FIG. 9 shows a front elevational view of a cigar holder adapted for use in a tee holder, in accordance with some embodiments;

[0041] FIG. 10 shows a rear elevational view of a cigar holder adapted for use in a tee holder, in accordance with some embodiments;

[0042] FIG. 11 shows a top plan view of a cigar holder adapted for use in a tee holder, in accordance with some embodiments; and

[0043] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view from a top side position of a cigar holder adapted for use in a golf cart, in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.

[0045] The inventive disclosure provides a novel cigar holder adapted for use in a golf accessory holder (e.g. golf ball or golf tee holder), and provides both a wind screen and ashtray feature in an engaging portion that interfaces with the golf accessory holder. A cigar holder portion extends laterally from the engaging portion and includes side walls that extend upward from a floor along the sides of the cigar holder portion that are configured to prevent a cigar disposed in the cigar holder portion from rolling off the cigar holder portion.

[0046] In FIGS. 1-5 some embodiments of the inventive disclosure are represented in various views of an exemplary cigar holder that is adapted particularly to be used with a golf ball holder, such as those commonly found in golf carts, and there are shown several advantageous features of the inventive disclosure. As will be described below, the inventive disclosure can be provided in a variety of shapes, sizes, combinations of features and components, and varying numbers and functions of the components. Reference numerals for the identified features are used throughout FIGS. 1-5 to refer to the same feature(s). FIG. 1 shows an elevational side view 100 of a cigar holder for use with a golf ball holder, in accordance with some embodiments. FIGS. 2-5 show, respectively, a top plan view 200, a bottom plan view 300, a rear elevational view 400, and a front elevational view 500 of a cigar holder for use in a gold ball holder, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0047] The cigar holder of FIGS. 1-5 includes a ball portion 102 that is a generally spherical portion having a diameter 106 that is similar to a standard golf ball (1.62-1.68 inches) or slightly smaller. Above the center, as represented by the line for the diameter 106, there is a cylindrical wall portion 104 extending upward from the ball portion 102, from about three quarters of the way up from the bottom 122 of the ball portion 102. The cylindrical wall portion 104 can have an outside diameter that is larger than the width of the portion of the ball portion 102 where the cylindrical wall portion 104 starts. At the circumferential point where the ball portion 102 and the cylindrical wall portion 104 meet there can be formed an indent 108 as the width of the ball portion 102 at that point is less than the outside diameter of the cylindrical wall portion 104. The cylindrical wall portion 104 can act as a windscreen to prevent or reduce wind from blowing directly on the burning end of a cigar being held in the holder portion 110. The cylindrical wall portion 104 is a portion of a cylinder that is vertically oriented, and extending upward from the ball portion. The holder portion 110 can extend at substantially a right angle to the cylindrical wall portion 104, horizontally (when in use).

[0048] The holder portion 110 extends laterally from the cylindrical wall portion 104 to an end 114, and can have a length, from the cylindrical wall portion 104 to the end 114 of the holder, of about three to five inches in some embodiments. The holder portion 110 forms a support surface on which a cigar can be rested, and walls on either side of the support surface to prevent a cigar from rolling off the support surface. The cylindrical portion 104 and ball portion 102 can be hollow to hold ashes that fall off the cigar, having a bottom that is below that of the support surface of the holder portion 110. In other words, the ball portion 102 acts as an ashtray and the cylindrical portion 104 acts as a wind screen to help prevent breeze from removing ashes from the interior of the ball portion 102, as well as to prevent acceleration of the combustion of a cigar being held in the holder portion 110. In some embodiments the holder portion can have a semicircular profile. The holder portion 110 can have cutouts 112, 116 that facilitate gripping the cigar to remove it from the holder portion 110. The cutouts 112 can be located approximately halfway between the cylindrical wall portion and the end 114 of the holder portion 110. The cutouts 112 can have a length along the holder portion 110, at the top of the holder portion 110, of about one to one and one half inches, and a depth from the top of the holder portion 110 of about half an inch, in some embodiments.

[0049] Below the holder portion 110, where the holder portion 110 meets the cylindrical wall portion 104, are several fitment features to engage the walls of a ball holder, such as those commonly provided in golf carts. In fact, while golf balls are standardized in diameter (e.g. 1.62 in Europe, 1.68 in the US) there is no standardized golf ball holder size or shape and the fitment features provided on the cigar holder 100 allow the cigar holder 100 be a universal cigar holder for use in a variety of different golf ball holders with a range of tolerance in size. The fitment features can include a spacing extension 118 on the outside of the ball portion 102, under the holder portion 110. The spacing extension 118 fills in space between the ball portion 102 and the wall of a golf ball holder, making contact with the wall of the golf ball holder and forcing the opposite side of the ball portion 102 into contact with the wall of the golf ball holder. The spacing extension 118 can start from a point 126 that is about halfway up the side of the ball portion 102, and extend about one millimeter outward at that point, extending further away from the ball portion in the downward direction along an outside wall 124, but still following the curve of the ball portion 102 to a point nearly equal to the bottom 122 of the ball portion 102, where the spacing extension traverses horizontally to the wall of the ball portion at a bottom 120 of the spacing section. The spacing extension 118 can be flat in the horizontal direction (i.e. into and out of the page as shown), and have a width of five to twelve millimeters, and tapering from top to bottom from a wider to narrower. By making the spacing member flat, the outer edges, in the horizontal direction, are farther from the center of the ball portion than the middle of the spacing extension.

[0050] Above the spacing extension 118 is a compliant spacing member 128 that that is made of a compliant/resilient material that can be slightly compressed. In other words, the material can be compressed, but it resists being compressed, and returns to its uncompressed shape/dimensions when the compressing force is removed. The spacing member 128 starts at the top of the spacing extension 118, protrudes outward from the spacing extension by, for example, one to two millimeters, and has an outside surface that extends upward substantially vertically, with the body of the spacing member 128 filling in the space between its outside wall and the ball portion 102 and the cylindrical wall 104. In some embodiments the spacing member 128 can be overmolded onto the cigar holder 100, into a dovetail retaining feature 129 formed in the cigar holder 100 at the top of the spacing extension 118. The spacing member 128, can be formed of a rubber material that provides friction to hold the cigar holder 100 in the golf ball holder by frictionally engaging the wall of the golf ball holder.

[0051] Located above the spacing member 128 can be a rest 132 which extends horizontally under the holder portion 110, at about the level where the ball portion 102 and the cylindrical wall portion 104 meet. The bottom 130 of the rest 132 is flat, and configured to rest on the top of a golf ball holder to stabilize the cigar holder and prevent rocking or tilting of the cigar holder 100. The flat bottom 130 of the rest 132 allows the bottom of the holder portion 110 to be rounded. The bottom 130 can extend two to ten millimeters beyond the spacing member 128 in some embodiments, more or less in other embodiments.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a top plan view 200 of the cigar holder 100, in accordance with some embodiments. In this view it can be seen that the cylindrical wall portion 104 and the ball portion 102 are hollow, forming an empty space in which ashes from a cigar can be caught. The holder portion 110 meets the empty space at an edge 202 that traverses up along the cylindrical wall portion 104. The top of the cylindrical wall portion 104 can have a diameter 204 that is substantially equal to that of a standard golf ball. The holder portion 110 can have an inside width 208, and an outside width 206, at the top of the walls of the holder portion 110, that is less than the width of the ball portion 102 and the cylindrical wall portion 104, as cigars are generally narrower than the diameter of a golf ball. As seen in FIG. 4, the holder portion 110 can have a semi-circular lateral profile.

[0053] Near the end 114 of the holder portion 110 there can be raised features for frictionally engaging a cigar that has been placed into the holder portion 110. As further seen in FIG. 6, which shows a side cut-away view of a cigar holder in accordance with some embodiments, the raised features can include lateral ridges 210 on the floor 600 of the holder portion that extend upward from the floor 600 of the holder portion 110. The lateral ridges 210 can be textured to aid in creating friction and grip against a cigar. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the lateral ridges 210 can have differing heights, such that the highest ridge is closest to the end 114, and the heights of the other ridges decrease successively to create a slope 602 that roughly corresponds to the shape of the end of a cigar. Other raised features can include lettering 212 or similar features showing a logo, phrase, word, or similar information.

[0054] FIG. 7 shows a cigar holder 100 placed in a golf ball holder 700, in accordance with some embodiments, and where the material forming the golf ball holder 700 is cut away to show the ball portion 102 of the cigar holder 100 in the golf ball holder 700. Essentially, the golf ball holder is a cylindrical hole which can have a rounded or flat bottom. The ball holder 700 can have a diameter that is slightly larger than a standard golf ball. The ball portion 102 of the cigar holder 100 therefore fits into the ball holder 700. Spacing extension 118 and spacing member 128 ensure a snug fit, with the spacing member 128 being in frictional engagement with the wall 704 of the ball holder 700. The bottom 130 of the rest 132 is in contact with the upper surface 702 around the golf ball holder 700, which can be a rim, or other surface. As a result, due to the frictional engagement of the spacing member 128, and the contact between the bottom 130 of the rest 132 and the upper surface around the ball holder 700, the cigar holder 100 is stabilized, and does not move around, which could otherwise allow a cigar to fall out of the cigar holder when, for example, the gold ball holder 700 is formed in a front dash portion of a golf cart, and the golf cart is moving.

[0055] FIGS. 8-11 show a cigar holder configured to couple to a golf tee holder. FIG. 8 shows a side elevational view of a cigar holder; FIG. 9 shows a front elevational view of a cigar holder, FIG. 10 shows a rear elevational view of a cigar holder, and FIG. 11 show a top plan view of a cigar holder, in accordance with some embodiments, that is adapted to couple to a golf tee holder. A golf tee comprises a stem portion that is driven into the ground, and a cup portion on top of the stem which allows a golf ball to rest on top of the cup, without rolling off the cup, so that a golfer can swing at the ball with a golf club. Typically, golf carts and golf club carriers have tee holders, which are essentially a hole sized to accept the stem portion of a golf tee. Accordingly, the cigar holder 800 uses a stem 802 sized to fit into a golf tee holder. The stem 802 can have a lower portion 803 that slightly tapers, getting narrower toward the bottom of the stem 802, to facilitate insertion into the tee holder. The upper portion 805 can have a uniform diameter that is sized to cause a frictional interference with the golf tee holder or help stabilize the cigar holder 800. The stem 802 is connected to a rest portion 804 that is designed to contact the surface around the golf tee holder at the bottom 807 of the rest portion. The rest portion can have a height, from the bottom 807, of about one eighth to one quarter of an inch in some embodiments, and a diameter of about three quarters of an inch to one inch. In some embodiments the rest portion may be sized outside of these dimensional ranges. On top of the rest 804 is a cup portion 806. The cup portion 806 provides substantially the same function as the cylindrical wall portion 104 of FIGS. 1-7, which is to provide some protection from wind, as well as to capture fallen ashes. As shown here, the cup portion is shaped like a portion of a golf ball, but the cup portion could also be shaped as a cylindrical wall portion. Extending from the cup portion 806 is a holder portion 808. The holder portion 808 is sized and shaped to hold a cigar horizontally, and provides a floor and opposing sides, which, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7, can have a semi-circular cross section. The holder portion 808 can have a length of three to five inches in some embodiments, and include cutout portions 810, 812 at the midpoint, and end 814, respectively. Once the stem 802 is inserted into a tee holder, with the rest bottom 807 against the surface around the tee holder, the cigar holder will be stable and capable of holding a cigar.

[0056] In. FIG. 11, from a top view, it can be seen that the rest and cup portion 806 can be hollow to hold fallen ash from a lit cigar, but also to provide a volume space 1100 where the lit end of the cigar can rest without being in contact with any portion of the cigar holder 800. Thus when a user places a lit cigar into the cigar holder 800, the user can position the cigar so that the lit end is in the space 1100. As in cigar holder 100, embodiments such as those consistent with cigar holder 800 can include ridges 1102 near the end 814 of the holder portion 808. Ridges 1102 can be sized to provide a slope, as shown in FIG. 6 with lateral ridges 210. The bottom or floor of the holder portion 808 can also include raised lettering 1104 or other features to form a logo, text, or other artwork or texturing.

[0057] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view from a top side position of a cigar holder 1200 adapted for use in a golf cart, in accordance with some embodiments. The cigar holder 1200 can be substantially similar to those shown in FIGS. 1-11, and includes a cup portion 1201 that is shaped like a partial sphere to resemble a golf ball as is specifically similar to cigar holders disclosed herein that are adapted for use with a tee holder. A cigar holder portion 1202 extends from the cup portion 1201. Previously described cigar holders herein have an open ended cigar holder portion. For example, in FIGS. 1-4 cigar holder has end 114 that is open. However, cigar holder 1200 includes a vertical wall 1204 that closes off the distal end of the cigar holder portion 1202. The vertical wall 1204 traverses the holder portion 1202 along a plane that is generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the holder portion 1202. The height of the vertical wall 1204 can be, from the bottom of the holder portion 1202, one quarter inch or more, in some embodiments. The vertical wall 1204 acts to retain a cigar in the holder portion 1202.

[0058] Accordingly, and cigar holder has been disclosed that is adapted to interface with a golf accessory holder. The golf accessory holder can include a golf ball holder or a golf tee holder. Thus, the cigar holder include a lower interfacing portion that interfaces with the golf accessory holder. The lower interfacing portion can be a ball portion sized to interface with a golf ball holder, or a stem to interface with a golf tee holder. A lower interfacing portion designed to interface with a golf ball holder can include a spacing extension and a spacing member, along with a rest, that work to frictionally engage surfaces inside the golf ball holder and around the golf ball holder to stabilize the cigar holder. Likewise, when the lower interfacing portion is configured to interface with a golf tee holder, the lower interfacing portion can include a stem and a rest above the stem, where the stem is configured to be placed into the golf tee holder while the rest is configured to engage or mate with a surface around the golf tee holder to stabilize the cigar holder. The cigar holder can further include a wind shield that extends upwards from the lower interfacing portion that is configured to partially shield the lit end of a cigar placed in the cigar holder from wind. in some embodiments the wind shield can be configured as a cylindrical portion portion or a cup portion. The cylindrical wall portion 104 of FIG. 1 could equally be used to replace the cup portion 806, and vice versa. The wind shield and the lower interfacing portion are hollow and define a space in which the lit end of a cigar can be placed so that the lit end does not come into direct contact with any portion of the cigar holder. A holder portion extends laterally from the wind shield and is configured to receive the body of a cigar. The holder portion includes a floor and opposing sides on either side of the floor, forming a U cross sectional shape. The holder portion can include one or more cutouts to facilitate a user gripping a cigar in the holder with their fingers to place the cigar in, or remove the cigar from the holder portion. The disclosed cigar holder provides an easy to use cigar holder that interfaces with the more common golf accessory holders found in golf carts. The cigar holder is configured to be stable while the golf cart is moving, and to prevent the cigar holder from de-coupling from (i.e. falling out of) the golf accessory holder. Furthermore, the cigar holder both shields the cigar from wind, and captured fallen ash, while providing an easy means for grasping the cigar.