Golf cart mounted golf glove holder

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a golf glove holder adapted to be mounted to a golf cart frame member. The golf glove holder includes a main body and an attachment member affixed to the main body for attachment of the golf glove holder to the golf cart body frame member. The main body of the golf glove holder is preferably cylindrical and includes a golf glove holder at one end of the main body. The golf glove holder is configured to releasably hold an interior wrist sweat band of a golf glove along at least a portion of an outer circumference of the main body such that air flowing through the main body is directed into the glove. Preferably, the golf glove holder comprises a strip of nylon hook material adhesively affixed to an outer circumference of one end of the main body. The nylon hook material strip is adapted to releasably hold the golf glove wrist sweat band. The main body is preferably a length of PVC plastic pipe having a outer diameter of 2⅜ inches and a length of 2½ inches. The attachment member is affixed to the main body and includes a clamp portion for attachment to a tubular frame portion of the golf car. Preferably the clamp portion is C-shaped in cross section with flexible extending arms adapted to wrap around a portion of the frame. An adjustable strap extends between the extending arms to force the arms against the frame thereby securing the golf glove holder to the golf cart frame.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is directed to a golf glove holder adapted to be mounted to the frame of a golf cart, the holder configured to direct air though the glove thereby drying the glove when not in use.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Golf gloves are widely used by golfers to facilitate gripping golf clubs except during putting and possibly chipping. Unfortunately, because golf gloves are typically made of leather or a cloth and leather combination, a golf glove can quickly became wet from a golfer's perspiring hand during warm, humid weather. When the golf glove gripping area is saturated with perspiration, its gripping ability is markedly decreased. Therefore, golfers have devised various methods of drying their golf gloves during the course of play, including blowing into the glove, hanging the glove over the head of a club in their golf bag and tying the glove to the golf cart when the glove is not in use. Some golfers use multiple gloves, switching between gloves as the gloves become wet with perspiration. This strategy requires the golfer to purchase additional gloves. Furthermore, if a golfer tosses the wet gloves into his or her golf bag or stuffs the wet gloves into his or her pockets, the wet gloves may became mildewed because of lack of air circulation. Even if such gloves do eventually dry, the leather stiffens upon drying causing the gloves to be stiffen into a contorted, rolled up or out of shape condition. This is detrimental to the leather and makes the glove difficult for the golfer to put on for the next round of golf.

[0003] What is needed is a simple, economical device for allowing a golf glove to dry during the course of play during periods when the glove is not being used by the golfer. What is also needed is a device that provides a handy place for a golfer to store his or her glove during a round of golf when the glove is not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is directed to a golf glove holder that is adapted to be mounted to a golf cart body frame member. The golf glove holder is configured to direct air into a golf glove releasably affixed to the holder. As the golf cart is driven, a flow of air is directed into an interior of the golf glove by the holder to aid in drying the glove when the glove is not in use. Even when the cart is not moving, normal breezes cause air to be directed into the glove interior by the holder thereby drying the glove without movement of the cart.

[0005] The golf glove holder includes a main body and an attachment member affixed thereto for attachment of the holder to a golf cart body frame member. The golf cart body frame member that the holder is attached to is typically a ¾ inch or 1 inch square tubular steel member extending vertically between the golf cart body and the roof portion of the golf cart body.

[0006] The main body of the golf glove holder is preferably cylindrical and includes a golf glove holder at one end of the main body. The golf glove holder is configured to releasably hold a wrist portion of a golf glove along at least a portion of an outer circumference of the main body such that air flowing through the main body is directed into the glove. Preferably, the golf glove holder comprises a strip of nylon material with small hooks (e.g., a male or hook strip of VELCRO® brand nylon hook and eye material) adhesively affixed to an outer circumference of one end of the main body. The nylon hook material strip is adapted to releasably hold a cotton wrist sweat band typically sewn along an inward facing wrist portion of a golf glove. The main body is preferably a length of PVC plastic pipe having a outer diameter of 2⅜ inches and a length of 2½ inches.

[0007] The attachment member is affixed to the main body and includes a clamp portion for attachment to a tubular frame portion of the golf car. Preferably the clamp portion is C-shaped in cross section with flexible extending arms adapted to wrap around a portion of the frame. An adjustable strap extends between the extending arms to force the arms against the frame thereby securing the attachment member and thereby the golf glove holder on the golf cart frame. Preferably, the strap is comprised of a hook material strip and the extending arms have pile or “eye” material strips on their respective outer surfaces adapted to be releasably engaged by the hook material of the strap (e.g., the strap and extending arm strips comprise mating hook and eye VELCRO® strips). The clamp portion advantageously is fabricated of a flexible material such as rubber and is securable to both ¾ inch and 1 inch square cross section tubular frame members. These are the two sizes of square shaped tubular members which are utilized by the vast majority of golf cart manufacturers for golf cart body support members.

[0008] In one exemplary embodiment, the clamp portion is oriented perpendicularly to the main body. This would be used where the clamp portion is to be attached to a vertically oriented golf cart body frame member. In such an embodiment, a longitudinal axis of the main body portion is oriented generally parallel to a path of travel of the golf cart, i.e., the parallel to the ground, such that, as the golf cart moves forward, air is funneled through the main body and forced into the golf glove cause it to “balloon open” from air flow into the glove interior.

[0009] If it is desired to mount the holder onto a horizontally oriented golf cart body, the clamp portion would be oriented parallel to the main body. In such an embodiment, the longitudinal axis of the main body portion is again oriented generally parallel to the path of travel of the golf cart so that movement of the golf cart in a forward direction causes air to be funneled though the main body and into the golf glove interior.

[0010] These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become better understood from a detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention which is described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf cart having a first preferred embodiment of a golf glove holder of the present invention mounted thereto for drying a golf glove;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the golf glove holder of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a view, partly in top plan and partly in section of the golf glove holder of FIG. 1; and

[0014] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the golf glove holder of FIG. 1; and

[0015] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of a second preferred embodiment of the golf glove holder of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] First Preferred Embodiment

[0017] Turning to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 show a first embodiment of a golf glove holder of the present invention generally at 10. The holder 10 is releasably mounted to a vertical tubular frame member 12 of a body 14 of a typical gas or electric engine golf cart 16. The tubular frame member 12 is typically square in cross section and extends generally vertically between the golf cart body 14 and a roof portion 18 of the golf cart 16. The tubular frame member is typically ¾ inch or 1 inch in outer width. The golf glove holder 10 releasably holds a golf glove 20 and, as will be described below, aids in drying the glove 20 when the glove 20 is not in use by a golfer.

[0018] While the holder 10 is shown in FIG. 1 mounted to a frame member 12 at a front of the cart 16 thereby making it convenient for a golfer driving the cart to attach and remove his or her glove 20 form the holder 10, it should also be appreciated that the holder 10 may be advantageously affixed to any generally vertically oriented frame member of the golf cart body 14, e.g., 22, 24, 26.

[0019] The golf glove holder 10 includes a main body 30 and an attachment member 50 affixed thereto for attachment of the holder 10 to the golf cart frame member 12. The main body 30 of the golf glove holder 10 is preferably cylindrical in shape, although oval shapes and other non circular cross sectional shapes could alternatively be used). The main body 30 is preferable a lightweight, high impact, durable material. One preferred material for the main body 30 is inexpensive and readily available PVC pipe material. Typical dimensions of the main body 30 would be 2 ⅜ inch in outer diameter by 2½ inches in length with a wall thickness of approximately ⅛ inch.

[0020] A wall 34 of the main body 30 includes an outer peripheral surface 34 to which a strip of material 32 is affixed. The material strip 32 is affixed adjacent a second end 36 of the main body 30. The material strip 32 is affixed to the outer peripheral surface with a layer of waterproof adhesive such as LOCTITE® brand super glue. The material strip 32 is adapted to releasably hold the golf glove 20 by adhering to a cotton wrist sweat band 70 that is sewn inside the golf glove adjacent a wrist end 72. The material strip 32 preferably is a ¾ inch wide strip of nylon material with a plurality of small J-shaped nylon hooks extending a base of the material strip 32. Suitable nylon material is a male or hook strip of VELCRO® brand nylon hook and eye material (VELCRO® brand hook material). The cotton wrist sweat band 70 is generally a soft pile material which functions as the “eye” material which is hooked by the hooks of the material strip 32 to secure the glove 20 to the main body 30 via a “hook and eye” attachment. The golf glove 20 normally includes a V-shaped or U-shaped slit 74 extending longitudinally through the wrist end 72 of the glove 20 and an adjustment strap 76 to make it facilitate putting on and taking off of the glove.

[0021] Advantageously, when the adjustment strap 76 is loosened to allow a golfer to remove the glove 20, the V-shaped slit in the wrist end 72 of the glove makes it easy to attach the glove 20 to the glove holder 20. The sweat band 70 is be affixed to the material strip 32 by grabbing the wrist end 72 of the glove near one end 78 of the sweat band 70, positioning the end 78 of the sweat band 70 and pushing it against the material strip 32 to affix the end 78 to the material strip 32. Once the end 78 of the sweat band 70 is affixed to the material strip 32, the golfer continues sliding his or her fingers around the outside of the wrist end 72 thereby pushing the sweat band 70 against the material strip 32 until an opposite end 80 of the sweat band 70 is reached. At that point, the entire sweat band 70 is affixed to the material strip 32 and the glove 20 is thereby firmly secured to the main body 30.

[0022] To remove or release the glove 20 from the main body 20, the golfer simply grabs the wrist end 78 of the glove adjacent either of the two sweat band ends 78, 80 and pulls the sweat band end away from the material strip 32. Once one end of the sweat band 70 has been pulled away from the material strip 32, the golfer continues pulling thereby “peeling” the sweat band 70 from the material strip 32 until the golf glove 20 detached from the material strip 32.

[0023] The circumference of the material strip 32 is slightly greater than the circumference of the sweat band 70 to make it easier to affix and release the glove from the main body 30. A typical golf glove has about a 7.5 inch sweat band length, while the circumference of the material strip 32 is C=&pgr;×D (where D is approximately 2.5 inches) or C=3.1415×2.5 inches=7.86 inches. The VELCRO® hook material strip 32 does not damage the cotton sweat band 70 and, therefore, the golf glove 20 may be attached and removed from the material strip 32 over and over with no harm to the glove or loss of firm adhesion between the material strip 32 and sweat band 70.

[0024] A large central longitudinal opening or passage 40 extends between an opening defined by a first end 42 of the main body 30 and an opening defined by the second end 36 of the main body 30. The longitudinal opening 40 is defined by an inner surface 44 of the main body 30 directs and funnels air into an interior region 82 of the glove 20. The first end 42 of the main body 30 faces forward on the golf cart 16, that is, it faces in the direction the cart moves when going forward. The air funneling effect of the main body 30 is dramatic with forward movement of the golf cart 16. When the golf cart 16 is moving forward, the glove 20 “balloons” open as a result of air rushing into the glove interior region 82.

[0025] Golf gloves are typically fabricated of a combination of supple leather for the fingers and palm areas which define a gripping area for contacting a golf club grip and soft cotton and/or leather for the remainder of the glove. The leather is perforated with many small holes for ventilation and facilitating drying. The air funneled into the glove interior region 82 by the main body 30 escapes though the leather perforations and though any cotton material thereby rapidly drying the glove 20 as the golf cart is driven forward. However, even when the golf cart 16 is not moving, ambient wind is funneled through the main body passage 40 and aids in drying the glove 20. A label 43 may be adhesively applied to an outer surface of the main body for identification and/or advertising purposes.

[0026] The attachment member 50 is affixed to the main body 40 and includes a clamp portion 52 for attachment to the tubular frame member 12. Preferably, the clamp portion 52 is fabricated of a flexible, waterproof and durable rubber material about 1 inch in width and is C-shaped in cross section. As can best be seen in FIG. 3, the clamp portion 52 includes a flat base 54 and has a pair of L-shaped flexible extending arms 56, 58 extending perpendicularly from the base 54. The extending arms 56, 58 include respective distal portions 60, 62 which are perpendicular to the general extent of the extending arms 56, 58.

[0027] The configuration of the clamp portion 52 is such that the base 54 and the extending arms 56, 58 fully contact three sides 12a, 12b, 12c of the four sides 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d of the frame member 12 and the distal portions 60, 62 contact a portion of the fourth side 12d to provide large surface area of contact between the attachment member 50 and the frame member 12. The clamp portion 52 is releasably affixed to the frame member 12 by a strap 64 fabricated of a strip of J-hook material (e.g., VELCRO® hook material) which, when tightened, forces an inner surface 54a of the base 54 against the frame member side 12a, forces respective inner surfaces 56a, 56b of the extending arms 56, 58 against the frame member sides 12b, 12c, and forces respective inner surfaces 60a, 62a of the extending arm distal portions 60, 62 against the frame member side 12d, thereby causing a frictional force clamping attachment between the clamp portion 52 and the frame member 12.

[0028] The strap 64 extends between strips of pile material 66, 68 (e.g., VELCRO® eye material) which are adhesively attached by a layer of adhesive to the respective outer surfaces 56b, 58b of the extending arms 56, 58 and respective outer surfaces 60b, 2b of the distal portions 60, 62. Additionally, the strip 66 extends around and is adhesively attached to an outer surface 69a of a leg 69 of attachment member 50. To affix the clamp portion 52 to the frame member 12, a first end portion 64a of the VELCRO® hook material strap 64 is affixed to the eye material strip 66 and then an opposite second end portion 64b of the strap 64 pulled tight and pushed against the eye material strip 68 to tighten and clamp the clamp portion 52 against the frame member 12 as explained above. To release the clamping attachment, the second end portion 64b of the strap 64 is simply pulled away from the eye material strip 68. The release of the second end portion 64b of the strap 64 from the eye material strip 68 loosens the clamp portion extending arms 56, 58 and distal portions 60, 62 and allows the golf glove holder 10 to be pulled away from frame member 12.

[0029] It should be noted that, alternately, the end portion 64a of the strap may be permanently affixed to the extending arm 56 via adhesive, riveting, stapling or another mechanical fastening means thereby eliminating the need for the VELCRO eye material strip 66. Of course, one skilled in the art will recognize that there are various other mechanical attachment structures that could be employed in place of the described VELCRO hook and eye connection structure to mechanically couple the extending arms 56, 58 together to frictionally engage the clamp portion 52 and the frame member 12, for example, a strap and buckle structure, a spring and hook structure or an elastic strap structure could alternately be used. It is the intent of the inventor that all such structures be considered within the scope of the present invention.

[0030] The attachment member 50 is adhesively attached to the main body 30. As can best be seen in FIG. 3, a portion 46 of the side wall 34 of the main body 30 fits into a slot 49 defined by an outward facing surface 54b of the clamp portion base 54 and a facing surface 69b of the leg 69 extending from the base 54. A layer of waterproof adhesive extending along the surfaces 54b, 69b firmly secures the attachment member 50 to the main body 30. One skilled in the art would appreciate that there are many alternate mechanical fastening structures that could be employed to secure the attachment member 50 to the main body 30 such as rivets, screws, etc.

[0031] While the clamp portion 52 is advantageously is fabricated of a flexible material such as rubber and is securable to both ¾ inch and 1 inch square cross section tubular frame members which are utilized by most golf cart manufacturers for golf cart body support members, it should be understood that the clamp portion 52 of the present invention could easily be modified to be securable to frame members with circular cross sections for golf carts having such frame members by simply “rounding out” the interior surfaces 60a, 56a, 54a, 58a, 62a to form a generally circular cross section instead of the C-shaped cross section shown in FIG. 3. Basically, the attachment member 50 may be easily fabricated to fit any shape and any size frame members and it is the intent of this application to cover all such modifications.

[0032] Second Preferred Embodiment

[0033] In the first preferred embodiment of the golf glove holder 10, the clamp portion 52 was configured to clamp to a structural member 12 that was generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A of the main body 30. This embodiment would be utilized where the clamp portion 52 is to be attached to a generally vertically oriented structural member 12. In such an embodiment, the longitudinal axis A-A of the main body portion 30 is oriented generally parallel to a path of travel of the golf cart 16 such that, as the golf cart 14 moves forward, air is funneled through the main body opening and directed into the golf glove 20 causing it to “balloon open” from air flow into the glove interior region 82.

[0034] A second preferred embodiment of the hold glove holder of the present invention is shown generally at 100 in FIG. 5. The structure and function of the main body and the adhesive attachment of the attachment member to the main body are the same as set forth in the first embodiment and will not be repeated. The second embodiment of the golf glove holder 100 contemplates modification of an attachment member 150 (similar in function to the attachment member 50 of the first embodiment) to permit mounting the golf glove holder 100 onto a generally horizontally oriented golf cart frame member 112. A clamp portion 152 of the attachment member 150 would be essentially rotated 90 degrees with respect to the main body 130 (as the clamp portion 50 and the main body 20 were disclosed in the first embodiment). Essentially, the extending arms 156, 158 are rotated 90 degrees from the orientation the extending arms 56, 58 disclosed in the first embodiment.

[0035] In the first embodiment of the holder 10, the inner surfaces 56a, 56b of the extending arms 56, 58, which contact the frame member sides 12b, 12c respectively, are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A of the main body 30, while in the second embodiment of the holder 100, the inner surfaces 156a, 158a of the extending arms 156, 158, which contact the frame member sides 112b, 112c respectively, are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis A′-A′ of the main body 130. In the second embodiment of the holder 100, like the first embodiment of the holder 10, the longitudinal axis A′-A′ of the main body portion 130 is advantageously oriented generally parallel to the path of travel of the golf cart 16 so that movement of the golf cart 16 in a forward direction causes air to be funneled though the main body 130 and into an interior region 182 of the golf glove 120.

[0036] A strap 164 of J-hook VELCRO® material extends between strips of pile material 66, 68 (e.g., VELCRO® eye material) which are adhesively attached by a layer of adhesive to the respective outer surfaces of the extending arms 156, 158 and respective outer surfaces of distal portions 160, 162 of the extending arms 156, 158.

[0037] While the present invention has been described with a degree of particularity, it is the intent that the invention include all modifications and alterations from the disclosed embodiments falling within the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A golf glove holder adapted to be mounted to a frame member of a golf cart and releasably holding a golf glove such that air is directed into an interior region of the golf glove for drying the golf glove as the golf cart is driven forward, the golf glove holder comprising:

a) a main body including a wall having a first end defining a first opening and a spaced apart second end defining a second opening and a central opening extending between the first and second openings, a strip affixed to an outer peripheral surface of the wall adjacent the second end of the wall, the strip comprising a plurality of hooks disposed along an extent of the strip adapted to releasably engage a band of absorbent pile material affixed adjacent a wrist end of the golf glove such that the band of material extends around at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the main body wall and the central opening of the main body is in fluid communication with the interior region of the glove; and

b) an attachment member affixed to the main body, the attachment member including a clamping portion for releasably clamping the golf glove holder to the golf cart frame member such that a first end of the wall is disposed in a forward facing position with respect to the golf cart such that, as the golf cart is driven forward, air enters first end opening and is directed through the central opening and into the interior region of the golf glove.

2. The golf glove holder of claim 1 wherein the main body is cylindrical and the central opening is a central longitudinal opening extending between the first end opening and the second end opening.

3. The golf glove holder of claim 2 wherein the main body is a section of plastic pipe having a outer diameter of at least 2 inches.

4. The golf glove holder of claim 1 wherein the hooked strip includes a plurality of J-shaped hooks.

5. The golf glove holder of claim 4 wherein the hooked strip is a strip of VELCRO® hook material and the hooked strip encircles an entirety of the outer peripheral surface of the wall adjacent the second end of the wall.

5. The golf glove holder of claim 1 wherein the attachment member is fabricated of flexible rubber and is adhesively attached to the main body.

6. The golf glove holder of claim 5 wherein the attachment member defines a slot, a portion of the main body wall adjacent the first end of the main body fits into the slot and is adhesively attached to the attachment member.

7. The golf glove holder of claim 1 wherein the attachment member clamping portion includes a base and spaced apart first and second arms extending from the base and a strap affixed to the first arm and releasably affixed to the second arm, the base and the first and second arms configured to contact and encircle a portion of the golf cart frame member and the strap, when pulled and affixed to the second arm, forcing the first and second arms and the base against the frame member thereby causing a frictional force clamping attachment between the clamp portion and the frame member.

8. The golf glove holder of claim 7 wherein the clamping portion is C-shaped in cross section and the first and second arms extend perpendicularly from the base for clamping to a frame member that is generally square in cross section.

9. The golf glove holder of claim 8 wherein the first and second arms include respective first and second distal portions which extend perpendicularly to a general extent of the first and second arms whereby the base, the first and second arms and the first and second distal portions taken together contact at least portions of all four sides of the square cross section frame member.

10. The golf glove holder of claim 7 wherein the strap includes a portion having a plurality of hooks adapted to releasably engage a strip of pile material adhesively attached to an outer surface of the second arm.

11. The golf glove holder of claim 1 wherein the attachment member clamping portion is configured to releasably clamp to a golf cart frame member extending generally vertically with respect to a ground surface that the golf cart is disposed upon.

12. The golf glove holder of claim 1 wherein the attachment member clamping portion is configured to releasably clamp to a golf cart frame member extending generally horizontally with respect to a ground surface that the golf cart is disposed upon.

13. A golf glove holder in combination with a golf glove, the golf glove holder adapted to be mounted to a frame member of a golf cart and releasably holding the golf glove such that air is directed into an interior region of the golf glove for drying the golf glove as the golf cart is driven forward, the golf glove holder and golf glove comprising:

a) the golf glove including an inner surface defining an interior region adapted to receive a golfer's hand and further including a band of absorbent material affixed to the inner surface of the glove within the interior region adjacent a wrist end of the golf glove; and

b) the golf glove holder including:

1) a main body including a wall having a first end defining a first opening and a spaced apart second end defining a second opening and a central opening extending between the first and second openings, a strip affixed to an outer peripheral surface of the wall adjacent the second end of the wall, the strip comprising a plurality of hooks disposed along an extent of the strip adapted to releasably engage the golf glove band of material such that the band of material extends around at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the main body wall and the central opening of the main body is in fluid communication with the interior region of the glove; and

2) an attachment member affixed to the main body, the attachment member including a clamping portion for releasably clamping the golf glove holder to the golf cart frame member such that a first end of the wall is disposed in a forward facing position with respect to the golf cart such that, as the golf cart is driven forward, air enters first end opening and is directed through the central opening and into the interior region of the golf glove.

14. The golf glove holder and golf glove of claim 13 wherein the golf glove holder main body is cylindrical and the central opening is a central longitudinal opening extending between the first end opening and the second end opening.

15. The golf glove holder and golf glove of claim 14 wherein the golf glove holder main body is a section of plastic pipe having a outer diameter of at least 2 inches.

16. The golf glove holder and golf glove of claim 13 wherein the golf glove holder hooked strip includes a plurality of J-shaped hooks.

17. The golf glove holder and golf glove of claim 13 wherein the golf glove holder attachment member is fabricated of flexible rubber and is adhesively attached to the main body.

18 The golf glove holder and golf glove of claim 13 wherein the golf glove holder a ttachment member clamping portion includes a base and spaced apart first and second arms extending from the base and a strap affixed to the first arm and releasably affixed to the second arm, the base and the first and second arms configured to contact and encircle a portion of the golf cart frame member and the strap, when pulled and affixed to the second arm, forcing the first and second arms and the base against the frame member thereby causing a frictional force clamping attachment between the clamp portion and the frame member.

19. The golf glove holder and golf glove of claim 13 wherein the golf glove holder attachment member clamping portion is configured to releasably clamp to a golf cart frame member extending generally vertically with respect to a ground surface that the golf cart is disposed upon.

20. The golf glove holder and golf glove of claim 13 wherein the golf glove holder attachment member clamping portion is configured to releasably clamp to a golf cart frame member extending generally horizontally with respect to a ground surface that the golf cart is disposed upon.