Golf scorecard holder

Abstract

The present invention is a flexible golf scorecard holder that includes a center foldline to separate the scorecard holder into similarly sized front and back panels, with the front panel completely covering the back panel. The back panel has an interior transparent sleeve allowing access from two opposite ends at all times. The sleeve is adapted to hold one half of a golf scorecard while allowing the other half to be folded on top of the transparent sleeve, providing access to the exposed portion of the golf scorecard for scorekeeping. Therefore, one-half of the golf scorecard is protected by the transparent sleeve, with the exposed half of the scorecard protected when the front panel of the holder is folded over the back panel.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority from pending provisional application No. 60/227,828, filed Aug. 25, 2000, entitled “A Golf Scorecard Holder”.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a document or card holder, and more particularly to a flexible golf scorecard holder adapted to protect a golf scorecard during and after participation in a golfing event.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In the sport of golf, the desirability of protecting one's scorecard from the elements, keeping it dry and intact, is known, and various devices exist for this purpose. However, many existing devices are complicated, or include unnecessary accessories. Others are cumbersome, require use in conjunction with a golf cart, or are just too expensive for the purpose served. For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a simple, flexible, inexpensive golf scorecard holder that protects a scorecard during and after participation in a golfing event.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is a flexible scorecard holder, protecting a golf scorecard during and after a game of golf. The scorecard holder of the present invention can be used with a typical golf cart by placing a small portion of the scorecard holder under a standard spring clip of a golf cart steering wheel. The scorecard holder can also be placed into a pocket of the golfer's pants or shirt, in the same manner as a standard golf scorecard, protecting the scorecard from perspiration or inclement weather. In one of its aspects, the golf scorecard of the present invention can be designed of various folding configurations and of various sizes, pertaining to the specific configurations of a desired scorecard.

[0005] In one aspect of the present invention, the scorecard holder has a single foldline, creating a similarly sized front and back panel allowing the front panel to completely cover the back panel when the scorecard holder is folded.

[0006] In another of its aspects, the back panel has a transparent sleeve attached to the interior portion of the back panel which serves as the holding device for a golf scorecard. The sleeve can be attached to the back panel by heat seal, or similar fashion, providing the necessary durable construction and flexible usage of this scorecard holder. Two opposite sides of the sleeve can be sealed to the back panel, providing access below the sleeve from the other two opposite ends of the sleeve.

[0007] In another of its aspects, the sleeve holds one half of a folded golf scorecard between the sleeve and the back panel. The golf scorecard is folded, one-half of the scorecard is placed between the sleeve and back panel and the other half of the scorecard is folded over the top of the sleeve. The transparent material of the sleeve allows the golfer to see the portion of the scorecard secured under the sleeve. The portion folded over the sleeve is accessible for scorekeeping when the front panel of the scorecard holder is in the open position.

[0008] Folding the scorecard in this manner provides the golfer access to the front nine or the back nine scoring blocks at one particular time. The portion of the scorecard not in use is placed into the transparent sleeve. This provides the user easy access to only the necessary portion of the scorecard, which is folded over the sleeve to allow access to the writing surface. Free access will be gained by lifting the front panel and writing on the exposed surface of the golf scorecard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a closed, folded scorecard holder in accordance with the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of a open, unfolded scorecard holder having a transparent sleeve in accordance with the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a side elevation view of the scorecard holder in accordance with the present invention, with a front panel in a partially open position; and

[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a partially (almost fully) open scorecard holder, with a typical golf scorecard being placed into the transparent sleeve, in accordance with the general use of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 an illustration of a scorecard holder 1 in a closed position. The scorecard holder 1 is constructed of any type of flexible water repellent material, such as vinyl, capable of withstanding wind, rain, perspiration and handling during and after a game of golf. The scorecard holder 1 can include a customized logo 2 printed on the exterior front panel (or anywhere on the scorecard holder) displaying a logo of a golf course, a company, or the like. The logo 2 may be done in the form of a screenprint, a foil stamp, or the like.

[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates the interior of the scorecard holder 1 in an open, unfolded position. The scorecard holder 1 is separated into a front panel 3 and a back panel 4 by a single foldline 5. The scorecard holder 1 can be separated into two similar sized rectangular panels, so that the front panel 3 when in the closed position will completely cover the back panel 4 (as shown in FIG. 1). It will be understood that the sizes of the front panel 3 and the back panel 4 are based on the size of the scorecard 8 being used with the scorecard holder 1.

[0016] FIG. 2 also illustrates a transparent sleeve 7, serving as primary holding device for the scorecard holder 1. The sleeve 7 can be attached to the scorecard holder 1 by a heat seal 6, or the like, on opposite longitudinal sides of the interior portion of the back panel 4. Attaching the sleeve 7 on opposite longitudinal sides allows access through the sleeve 7 from either of the two ends of the sleeve 7. The area of access for the scorecard 8 occurs between the sleeve 7 and the back panel 4.

[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates a side elevation view of the flexible scorecard holder 1 with the front panel 3 in a partially open position. The sleeve 7 allows access from two opposite ends for insertion of a golf scorecard 8 between the sleeve 7 and the back panel 4.

[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates a partially (almost fully) open scorecard holder 1 with a scorecard partially inserted into the sleeve 7. The scorecard 8 is folded in half, with an unused portion 8b inserted under the sleeve 7 of the scorecard holder 1 and an exposed (or in use) portion 8a of the scorecard 8 folded over the sleeve 7. It is understood that a typical golf scorecard 8 is folded in a particular fashion to display a set of scoring blocks on one side and another set of scoring blocks on an opposite side. Only one side of a golf scorecard 8 is needed at one time for scorekeeping. Therefore, the unused portion 8b of the golf scorecard 8 is placed into or under the sleeve 7 to secure the golf scorecard 8 within the scorecard holder 1. By placing only the unused portion 8b into the sleeve 7, the exposed (or in use) portion 8a is folded over the top of the sleeve 7, allowing easy access for scorekeeping. The front panel 3 can be folded over the top of the back panel 4 (completely covering both the golf scorecard 8 and the back panel 4) to also provide protection for the exposed portion 8a of the scorecard 8.

[0019] The scorecard holder 1 provides protection in any weather, assisting the golfer in keeping a golf scorecard 8 intact and dry. The scorecard holder 1 also keeps the scorecard 8 free from perspiration, a problem typically encountered when a golfer places a unprotected scorecard 8 into his pocket. The scorecard holder 1 can also protect the golf scorecard 8 for safekeeping after the game is played, where the scorecard holder 1 becomes a storage device. Both halves 8a, 8b of the scorecard 8 could also be inserted under the sleeve 7.

[0020] These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing specification. Accordingly, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It should therefore be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A scorecard holder, comprising:

a. a front and a back panel of flexible water repellent material having an exterior and interior surface and connected by a foldline; and

b. a sleeve of flexible water repellent material attached to the interior surface of the back panel.

2. The scorecard holder of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is transparent.

3. The scorecard holder of claim 1, wherein the sleeve serves to retain a scorecard.

4. The scorecard holder of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is attached to the interior surface of the back panel by heat seal, providing durable construction and complete flexibility of use for the scorecard holder.

5. The scorecard holder of claim 1, wherein the heat seal attaches two opposite sides of the sleeve to the back panel, the other two opposite sides of the sleeve are open, providing access between the sleeve and the back panel.

6. The scorecard holder of claim 1, wherein the foldline separates the scorecard holder so that the front panel and the back panel is similarly sized and the front panel entirely covers the back panel when the scorecard holder is folded.

7. The scorecard holder of claim 1, wherein the flexible water repellant material is vinyl.

8. The scorecard holder of claim 1, wherein the scorecard holder and the sleeve are adapted so that an area between the sleeve and the back panel is sized no larger than one-half of a size of a scorecard, requiring that one portion of the scorecard be inserted between the sleeve and the back panel and the other portion of the scorecard be folded over the top of the sleeve for scorekeeping.

9. The scorecard holder of claim 1, further comprising a logo.

10. A scorecard holder, comprising:

a. a front and a back panel of flexible water repellent material having an exterior and interior surface and connected by a foldline, the foldline separating the front panel and the back panel into similar sizes so that the front panel entirely covers the back panel when the scorecard holder is folded; and

b. a sleeve of transparent flexible water repellent material attached on two opposite sides by heat seal to the interior surface of the back panel, the sleeve adapted to define an area between the sleeve and the back panel no larger than one-half that of a scorecard, requiring that one portion of the scorecard be inserted between the sleeve and the back panel and the other portion of the scorecard be folded over the top of the sleeve for scorekeeping.