PORTABLE GOLF CLUB AND ACCESSORY STAND

Abstract

A golf club rest including a cradle for securing a smoking implement, such as a cigar, is disclosed. The rest includes an anchor portion permitting it to be removably and temporarily fixed to and supported by the ground. The anchor portion is coupled to a vertically extending shaft portion, which is coupled to a cradle. The cradle defines an upwardly open trough into which a cigar may be placed. The cradle also includes laterally extending flange portions, which define laterally opening cutouts into which a golf club handle may be leaned to support a golf club.

Claims

1. A rest for a hand-held sporting implement, the rest comprising: a vertically extending shaft; an anchor portion at a first, lower end of the shaft, the anchor portion operable to engage the ground and support the shaft vertically above the ground such that the shaft resists deflection; a cradle portion at a second, upper end of the shaft, the cradle portion defining an upwardly opening trough running transverse to the shaft, the trough sized to accept and support a smoking implement, wherein, the cradle portion comprises one or more flange portions laterally extending from an upper end of the trough in a plane perpendicular to the vertically extending shaft, and wherein at least one of the flange portions defines a laterally opening, concave-out cutout sized to accept a shaft or grip of the hand held sporting implement.

2. The rest of the claim 1, wherein the trough is sized to accept and support a cigar.

3. The rest of claim 1, wherein the trough is sized to accept and support a cigarette.

4. The rest of claim 1, wherein a portion of the cradle portion defining the trough has a semicircular cross section.

5. The rest of claim 1, wherein a portion of the cradle portion defining the trough has a cross section including a smooth, continuous curve.

6. The rest of claim 1, wherein a portion of the cradle portion defining the trough comprises flat planes arranged to define an open polygonal shape.

7. The rest of claim 6, wherein the portion of the cradle portion defining the trough comprises three flat planar surfaces arranged in a square u-shape.

8. The rest of claim 6, wherein the portion of the cradle portion defining the trough comprises two flat planar surfaces arranged in a vee shape, having a vertex angle of between 10 and 80 degrees.

9. The rest of claim 1, wherein the anchor portion comprises a spike configured for being pushed into turf.

10. The rest of claim 1, wherein the anchor portion comprises one or more legs terminating in feet.

11. The rest of claim 10, wherein one more of the legs is folding.

12. The rest of claim 10, wherein one or more of the feet comprises a non-slip coating or material.

13. The rest of claim 1, wherein at least one of the flange portions includes a through hole sized to receive narrow portion of a golf tee and to resist passage of a wide portion of the golf tee.

14. The rest of claim 1, wherein the cradle has two flange portions, each having a laterally opening, concave-out cutout sized to accept the shaft or grip of a golf club, and wherein a first cutout is located on a first side of a centerline of the cradle, and a second cutout is located on a second side of the centerline of the cradle.

15. The rest of claim 14, wherein the first cutout is located a first distance from the centerline, and the second cutout is located a second distance from the centerline.

16. The rest of claim 1, wherein the cradle further includes, in a flange portion, a slot capable of receiving and engaging a portion of a mobile phone and securing the mobile phone.

17. The rest of claim 1, wherein at least one of the flange portions includes a through hole sized to receive one or a hook or hook-and-loop fastener for a towel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The drawings described herein constitute part of this specification and includes example embodiments of the present invention which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances, various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. Therefore, drawings may not be to scale.

[0012] FIG. 1 is an oblique perspective view of a cigar holder.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a front view of a cigar holder;

[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a shaft and anchor portions of a cigar holder;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a magnified view of an upper portion of the shaft portion of the cigar holder of FIG. 3;

[0016] FIG. 5 is an oblique perspective view of a cradle portion of a cigar holder;

[0017] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of a cradle portion of a cigar holder;

[0018] FIG. 7 is lower perspective view of a cradle portion of a cigar holder;

[0019] FIG. 8 is a top view of a cradle portion of a cigar holder;

[0020] FIG. 9 is a bottom view of a cradle portion of a cigar holder;

[0021] FIG. 10 is a first side view of a cradle portion of a cigar holder;

[0022] FIG. 11 is a second, orthogonal side view of a cradle portion of a cigar holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The described features, advantages, and characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments.

[0024] Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment, an embodiment, or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrase in one embodiment, in an embodiment, and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

[0025] For purposes of description herein, the terms upper, lower, right, left, rear, front, vertical, horizontal,, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the embodiment of the invention as oriented in FIG. 2. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the following specification are simply exemplary examples of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions, materials and other physical characteristics relating to the examples disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

[0026] As required, detailed examples of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed examples are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to a detailed design and some schematics may be exaggerated or minimized to more clearly show function. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

[0027] In this document, relational terms, such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like, are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms comprises, comprising,, includes, including or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by comprises . . . a does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

[0028] As used herein, the term and/or, when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if any assembly or composition is described as containing components A, B, and/or C, the assembly or composition can contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.

[0029] The following disclosure describes an accessory stand for holding smoking implements and other objects such as golf clubs, and the use thereof. While the described embodiments are configured to be especially adapted to hold cigars, the personal ordinary skill will appreciate that the devices described herein may just as easily be used in combination with a cigarette, vape pen, or any other object that a user may want to temporarily secure. Additionally, while the described embodiments are configured especially for golf, and their use is described in connection with golf play, inventive devices described herein may also be used in other contexts where temporarily securing a smoking implement or the like is advantageous.

[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a stand including a cigar holder according to one embodiment. The stand 100 includes three portions: a cradle portion 105, a shaft portion 110 and an anchor portion 115. The shaft portion 110 is preferably a solid shaft having a closed perimeter cross section. In other embodiments, the shaft is tubular, still having a closed perimeter cross section, but also having a hollow interior. In one embodiment, the shaft is steel, but other materials such as aluminum, graphite, titanium, fiberglass, carbon fiber, and polymeric materials like polycarbonate, acrylic, PVC and the like are also acceptable. In certain embodiments the shaft 110 has a circular cross section, but oblong or elliptical or polygonal cross sections are also acceptable. In certain embodiments, the shaft 110 is of uniform lateral extent (e.g., having a circular diameter that is uniform) all along its length. In a preferred embodiment, the shaft has a unform circular cross section having a diameter of 0.5, but shafts having a diameter of anywhere from 0.25 to 1 and beyond are usable and within the scope of the invention. In other embodiments, the shaft tapers from a first lateral dimension at the cradle portion 105 to a second lateral dimension at the anchor portion 115, where the first dimension is greater than the second, or vice versa. The length of the shaft portion 110 may be within the range of between 18 and 50 inches. Preferably, the length of the shaft portion is selected to place the cradle portion 105 roughly waist high on a golfer when the anchor portion is engaged with the ground (e.g., in the pictured embodiment, when the anchor portion 115's spike is driven into the ground). This occurs when the shaft portion's length is about 30, with a preferred length of 33, which places the cradle portion 105 at about 30 inches from the ground. At this height, a cigar may be comfortably placed on the cradle portion 105, and golf clubs, which have a typical overall length of between 30 and 45 inches, may be leaned against the cradle portion 105 and captured by and received into laterally opening notches in the cradle portion 105, as will be described below.

[0031] At a lower end of the cigar stand 100, and coupled to the shaft portion 110, is an anchor portion 115. In the illustrated embodiment, the anchor portion 115 is a spike, several inches in length, having a diameter that tapers from the diameter of the proximate part of the shaft portion 110 to an effective point (which may be approximated by a curved lower end having a very short radius, e.g., on the order of 0.1-10 millimeters). The length of the anchor portion 115 may be chosen within a range sufficient to enable the stand 100 to be pushed into the ground such that the device is held securely in the ground and resists deflection. In certain embodiments, the length of the spike of anchor portion 115 is between 0.5 and 12 inches, which a preferred length of 2 inches.

[0032] While the anchor portion 115 of the stand 100 depicted, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 2, is a spike, this is not a limiting requirement. Any structure or combination of structures capable of releasably holding the stand 100 in a substantially vertical, upright position in a stable manner is acceptable. In one alternative embodiment, the anchor portion includes two or more spikes, e.g., in a mutually parallel, fork-like arrangement. In another embodiment, the anchor portion 115 comprises foldable legs having a folded position in which they are parallel to and proximate to the shaft 110 and a deployed position where the legs extend down and away from the shaft at an angle, and where the legs terminate in feet. In these embodiments, the feet may be arranged around the shaft in a tripod arrangement. In another embodiment, the anchor portion 115 may include fixed or foldable legs that terminate in feet (e.g., 3, 4, 5, or 6 feet) that are arranged around the shaft in a symmetrical arrangement. An example of such an arrangement of legs and feet may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,085,763, entitled Quad Cane, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. In the embodiments previously described, the feet may include non-slip materials (such as rubber-like materials) and/or non-slip structures (such as grooves or ridges) on the ground-contacting surface of the feet. In alternative embodiments, the feet may be replaced with wheels or casters, enabling the holder to be slid along the ground. In yet other embodiments, anchor portion 115 terminates in a lower portion having a laterally extending platform, which may be circular, oblong, or polygonal, having sufficient lateral extent to hold the holder 100 upright when it is placed on relatively flat ground. The bottom of the platform may have a non-slip material and/or features, such as rubberized material or grooves or ridges, as set forth above. In alternative embodiments, the platform may contain spikes, studs, cleats or other downwardly extending projections to enhance traction.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, anchor portion 115 includes single, centrally arranged spike or sharply tapered portion as discussed above and pictured in the figures. The spike is preferred, in part, because it is sleek and has a low-profile enabling the stand 100 to slipped into and carried in a player's golf bag. In this way, the device may be stowed and carried in a player's golf bag along with and alongside their golf clubs, with the cradle portion 105 protruding above the bag like the head of a golf club. In such embodiments, a cap or cover may be supplied with the stand 100, which is used to cover the spike of the anchor portion 115 described above to prevent it from damaging the interior of the golf bag.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1-2, and 5-11 the stand 100 also includes a cradle portion 105. The cradle portion 105 is arranged on an upper end of the shaft 100 proximate to the user's hands and waist when the holder 100 is in an upright, vertical, or deployed position. The cradle portion 105 preferably defines a central trough 125, which is preferably an elongated, concave-up space shaped like a half cylinder, having a long extent along a long dimension (155 in FIG. 8), a short extent along a first orthogonal short dimension (150 in FIG. 10) and a depth along a second orthogonal short dimension (160 in FIG. 10). In the illustrated embodiments, the upward facing surface of the trough is smooth and continuous, apart from optional through-hole 145 and similarly situated through-holes shown in FIG. 1 and may be defined by translating a cord-cut segment of a circle (i.e., a half circle or less) along a long axis of the cradle. The long axis of the cradle is parallel to the plane of FIGS. 8-9 and the orthogonal short axis is parallel to the plane of FIG. 10.

[0035] The trough of the cradle 105 of the Figures has a constant semi-circular cross section, but in other embodiments, the trough may be tapered, or otherwise variable in cross section throughout its length. Additionally, the cross section of the trough need not have a semicircular cross-section. In other embodiments, the trough may have a minor arc cross section (i.e., a circular portion less than a semicircle). The cross section of the surface of the trough 125 is preferably a portion of a circle (preferably a semicircle or less), but this is not a requirement. In alternative embodiments, the cross section of the surface of the trough is a portion of an ellipse, a parabola, a hyperbola or some other continuous, smooth arc. Additionally, the trough illustrated in the Figures has a substantially smooth, continuous surface (apart from the through-holes pictured), where the cross section of the surface of the trough is a smooth arc, this is not a requirement. In other embodiments, the trough has a polygonal cross section throughout, or along at least some portions of its length. For example, in certain embodiments, the trough has a rectangular cross section, it's surface being defined by three planes of the cradle at right angles to one another, in the shape of a square-U. In other embodiments the trough has a triangular cross section, being defined by two planes of the cradle in a vee arrangement, meeting at an angle less then 90 degrees (e.g., some angle between 10 and 80 degrees, such as 45 degrees). Other polygonal forms are possible. In other embodiments, the cross section of the trough may change and vary among the various shapes described above, along the length of the trough.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiments, the upwardly facing surface of the trough is substantially smooth and continuous, interrupted only by the illustrated through-holes, but this is not a requirement. The only requirement for the trough is that it be capable of supporting a cigar, or other similarly shaped object, when the cigar or other object is placed within the trough such that the cigar or other object's long axis is parallel to the long axis of the trough. This does not require that the cigar or other object be supported by contact with the trough along its entire length. For example, in some embodiments, the upwardly facing surface of the trough may define cut-outs along its length, while still having enough surface area remaining to support the cigar or other object. For example, a trough may be defined by a series of mutually parallel strips of material, or even wires, that run along the trough's short axis, and are mutually spaced apart, each of which is arranged in a smooth, concave-up arc.

[0037] The dimensions of the illustrated trough 125 may vary within the scope of the invention. The trough should be sufficiently long, along its long axis (155 in FIG. 8) to fully support an elongated (e.g., cigar-shaped) object when the object is placed in the trough with its long axis aligned with the long axis of the trough. Cradles 105 having troughs ranging from 2 to 10 inches are within the scope of the invention (e.g., to accommodate cigarettes which may be as short as 2.5 inches all the way up to larger cigars which may be as long as 8 inches). In a preferred embodiment, the trough, and optionally the cradle, is between 2 and 6 inches long, with a preferred example being 2.5 inches long. The width of the trough (150 in FIG. 10) may also vary, but is chosen to prevent large degree of side-to-side movement of an elongated (e.g., cigar-shaped) object placed in the trough. Troughs having widths of between 0.25 and 3 inches are within the scope of the invention, with a preferred width being 1 inch at the upper side of the trough where the trough transitions to the flange or wing portions 130a, b of the cradle. The depth of the trough (160 in FIG. 10, where the depth is measured with respect an upwardly facing planar surface defined by flange or wing portions 130a,b) is chosen, again, to prevent side to side movement and to capture an elongated object placed in the trough. Depths ranging between and 2 inches are within the scope of the invention, with a preferred depth being .

[0038] Cradle 105 may be constructed of any suitable material, such as steel, aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber, graphite, fiberglass, polymeric materials, etc. The material of cradle 105 may be the same as that of shaft 110, but this is not a requirement. In the illustrate embodiment, cradle 105 is constructed of a single piece of steel that has been bent to define both trough 125 and the flanges 130a,b.

[0039] Cradle 105 may optionally include one or more wing portions or flanges 130a, b. These flanges extend laterally away from the top of the trough portion 125, preferably in opposite first and second horizontal directions. Together, flanges 130a,b define an upwardly facing planar surface (165 in FIG. 10) of the cradle. One or more of the one or more flange portions 130a,b may define one or more laterally opening, concave-out notches or cutouts 135a, b. These openings may be semi-circular, oblong, hyperbolic, parabolic, or polygonal in cross section. In the illustrated embodiment, the laterally and outwardly facing cutouts defined by the cradle are substantially parabolic in profile. The one or more cutouts 135a,b are sized to accept the shaft or grip of a golf club, which may be leaned against the holder 100 when the holder 100 has been secured to the ground by staking the anchor portion 115. In this way, a golfer has a convenient place to temporarily place clubs during play, which can be easily retrieved without needing to stoop and pick up clubs off the ground. To accomplish this, the wide, laterally facing opening of each cutout 135a,b ranges from between 0.5 and 3, with a preferred opening size of 1.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiments the notches or cutouts 135a,b are arranged in a offset arrangement (i.e., the vertex of a first cutout 135a is located a first distance in a first direction from a centerline of the cradle, and the vertex of the second cutout 135b is located at the first distance but in a second, opposite direction from the centerline of the cradle.

[0041] In certain optional embodiments, the cradle 105 includes through holes or other apertures, e.g., 140a,b. These through holes are sized to accept and secure golf tees for temporary storage. Accordingly, the diameter of these holes is chosen to accept passage of the narrow lower portion of a golf tee, but to interfere with passage of the upper flared portion of a golf tee.

[0042] Golf tee holding apertures 140a,b are particularly advantageous when a player does not have pockets in which to store and carry golf tee. Additionally apertures in the cradle may be advantageously used to hook a towel to the device (via a hook or strap-and-snap arrangement attached to a towel) thereby keeping it off the ground and away from contact with the grass.

[0043] In the illustrated embodiments, the trough 125 runs the entire long dimension of the cradle 105, but this is not a requirement. Alternatively, the trough may arranged within a top surface of the cradle, and planar, flange portions may extend beyond the perimeter of the trough to the edge of the cradle on all sides of the trough. That is to say, planar flange portions of the cradle may extend from one or both edges of the trough in the direction of the long dimension of the trough such that the trough is surrounded on all sides by planar flange portions.

[0044] Cradle 105 may be secured to shaft 110 in any suitable manner that results in cradle 105 being held to shaft 110 in a rigid and unmovable manner. In one embodiment, shaft 110 includes, on its upper or proximal end, a post 120, which is received within cradle through hole 145 and then welded (i.e., plug welded) to cradle 125. In other embodiments, post 120 is threaded and its threads engage with corresponding threads in through hole 145 such that cradle 105 threads onto to shaft 110.

[0045] In use, the holder 100 of the invention will typically be stowed in a golf player's golf bag, alongside his golf clubs. When a player is going to take a shot, they retrieve the holder from the bag, along with one or more clubs that may be used for the shot. When preparing to take the shot, the player may anchor the holder in the playing surface by pushing the holder downward so that the spike penetrates the playing surface holding the holder vertical and upright, such that it resists deflection. The player may then temporarily remove a cigar, cigarette, etc., from their mouth, and place it securely on the cradle of the holder. After taking the shot, the cigar is retrieved, the holder is removed from the ground, and it may be returned to the player's bag along with their clubs. While it is staked, the holder may also serve as a convenient resting place for additional clubs or tees.

[0046] While the disclosure thus far has been primarily directed to a removably secure stand for a golf club, the invention is not so limited. In other embodiments, the stand may be sized and the cradle/platform portion and laterally opening flanges may be configured to hold other implements, such as bats, rackets, baseball and softball bats, fishing poles, etc. In a fishing pole cradle embodiment, through holes such as those described above may be sized to hold fishing lures or hooks. In certain embodiments, one or more of the flange portions of the cradle defines a square or rectangular upwardly facing u-shaped channel having a depth sufficient to engage a portion of a mobile device such as a mobile phone. The channel may have a length that is between two and six inches long, a depth that is between 0.5 and 3 inches, and a width that is between 0.25 and 1 inch. Such a channel may be used to engage and secure a mobile phone, for example, if a player wants to take video of himself or herself taking a shot. In yet other embodiments, an insert having a channel capable of engaging a portion of a mobile phone is provide, which insert is received into the trough of the cradle to convert it to a phone holder.

[0047] It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described invention and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary examples of the invention disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials unless described otherwise herein.

[0048] For purposes of this disclosure, the term coupled (in all of its forms: couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.

[0049] It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the invention as shown in the examples are illustrative only. Although only a few examples of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connectors or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system might be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary examples without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.

[0050] The exemplary structures disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting. In addition, variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures without departing from the concepts of the present invention and such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

[0051] Attached hereto as an Appendix are drawings A-KK, which illustrate further design features of inventive embodiments.