Scorecard holder

Abstract

A cardholder includes a backing having a top and a bottom. A pocket is formed proximate to the bottom of the backing having a closed end and an open end. A cover is provided having a proximate end and a distal end. The proximate end is foldably secured to the top of the backing. The distal end is insertable within the open end of the pocket.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/602,941 filed Aug. 19, 2004, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a cardholder and, more specifically, is designed for holding a golf scorecard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A golf scorecard is typically hand carried or, if motorized golf carts are utilized, attached to a flat writing surface at a hub of a steering wheel of the golf cart or, if a pull card is utilized, attached below the handle of the pull cart. The scorecard bears typical score blocks for maintaining score and indicia listing yards, par, and handicap for each hole. Typically, the indicia appear on one side for the first nine holes of the golf course and on a reverse side for the last nine holes.

The scorecard is accessed after each hole to record the scores of each player. When not being accessed, the scorecard typically remains attached to the golf cart or in the pocket of one of the golfers. In the event of rain or drizzle, the scorecard becomes damp or wet. A wet scorecard is difficult to write on and may become ripped or torn as it is inserted and removed from a pocket after each hole. The wetness of the card may also make the scores illegible by the end of a round of golf, making it impossible to accurately determine the score for each player. A device is needed that can keep the scorecard dry in bad weather while allowing the scorecard to be accessed after each hole.

Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for providing a cardholder.

Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. A cardholder includes a backing having a top and a bottom. A pocket is formed proximate to the bottom of the backing having a closed end and an open end. A cover is provided having a proximate end and a distal end. The proximate end is foldably secured to the top of the backing. The distal end of the cover is insertable within the open end of the pocket.

Other systems, methods, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of the present cardholder shown holding a golf scorecard.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the first exemplary embodiment of the present cardholder, in accordance with FIG. 1, shown with a cover in an open position.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the first exemplary embodiment of the present cardholder, in accordance with FIG. 1, shown with the cover in a closed position.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the first exemplary embodiment of the present cardholder, in accordance with FIG. 1, shown with the cover in the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of the present cardholder 10 shown holding a golf scorecard 12. The cardholder 10 includes a backing 14 having a top 16 and a bottom 18. A pocket 20 is formed proximate to the bottom 18 of the backing 14 having a closed end 22 and an open end 24. A cover 26 is provided having a proximate end 28 (FIG. 2) and a distal end 30 (FIG. 2). FIG. 2 is a front view of the first exemplary embodiment of the cardholder 10 shown with the cover 26 in an open position. The proximate end 28 of the cover 26 is foldably secured to the top 16 of the backing 14. The distal end 30 is insertable within the open end 24 of the pocket 20.

In operation, the golf scorecard 12 is stored within the pocket 20, as is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a front view of the first exemplary embodiment of the cardholder 10 shown with the cover 26 in a closed position. The cover 26 is held over the scorecard 12 and the distal end 30 of the cover 26 is inserted within the open end 24 of the pocket 20. In this closed position, the golf scorecard 12 may be protected from precipitation. FIG. 4 is a side view of the first exemplary embodiment of the cardholder 10, in accordance with FIG. 1, shown with the cover 26 in the open position. As shown in FIG. 4, the cardholder 10 is shallow enough to be stored comfortably in a pocket of one of the players, if the backing 14 is appropriately sized. During play, the golf scorecard 12 remains in the pocket 20 of the cardholder 10. The cover 26 is moved to the open position to record scores on the golf scorecard 12 and then returned to the closed position.

The backing 14, the pocket 20, and the cover 26 are preferably constructed from a transparent and/or translucent, waterproof material that will protect the golf scorecard 12 from rain while allowing scores to be viewed through the cover 26. The material may, for instance, be some type of transparent or translucent plastic or vinyl. The cardholder 10 may be constructed from a single piece of material, folded and joined where appropriate, or it may be constructed from a plurality of pieces of material. The cardholder 10 may be constructed such that the cover 26 is a light, flexible material, and the backing 14 is a heavier, flexible material. The cover 26 may be joined to the backing 14 by a single hinge connection at the top 14 of the backing 16 and the proximate end 28 of the cover 26.

In one embodiment, the backing 14, the cover 26, and the pocket 20 may be made of a similar material of various thicknesses. The backing 14 may be made of an approximately 15 mil to approximately 30 mil material, the pocket 20 may be made of an approximately 10 mil to approximately 15 mil material, and the cover 26 may be made of an approximately 8 mil to approximately 10 mil material. The cardholder 10 may further be designed to fit within a pocket of clothing by sizing the backing 14 to be approximately between four and five inches wide and approximately between six and seven inches long.

Returning to FIG. 2, the backing 14 may further include a first side 32 and a second side 34 opposite the first side 32. The first side 32 and the second side 34 may be formed as substantially straight sides (not shown). Optionally, the first side 32 and the second side 34 may each include an indentation 36 for accessing and manipulating the cover or gripping the scorecard 10.

Returning to the first exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the cover 26 may be slightly narrower than the backing 14. Making the cover 26 narrower than the backing 14 may allow the cardholder 10 to be held more easily.

Other variations and modifications may be made to the above-described first side 32 and second side 34 of the scorecard 10 to improve a grip of the scorecard 10 without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. The distal end 30 of the cover 26 may have beveled or rounded edges 38 to allow the distal end 30 of the cover 26 to fit into the open end 24 of the pocket 20 more easily. A pencil sleeve (not shown) may also be provided attached to a portion of the cardholder 10 for retaining a writing utensil used to keep score.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.

Claims

1. A cardholder, comprising:

a backing having a top and a bottom;

a pocket formed proximate to the bottom of the backing having a closed end and an open end; and

a cover having a proximate end and a distal end, wherein the proximate end of the cover is foldably secured to the top of the backing and the distal end of the cover is insertable within the open end of the pocket.

2. The cardholder of claim 1, wherein the backing, the pocket, and the cover are constructed from a material that is transparent and waterproof.

3. The cardholder of claim 1, wherein the backing, the pocket, and the cover are constructed from a material that is transparent and vinyl.

4. The cardholder of claim 1, wherein the backing further comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the first side and the second side are substantially straight.

5. The cardholder of claim 1, wherein the backing further comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the first side and the second side comprise indentations, thereby allowing a user to comfortably grip the cover.

6. The cardholder of claim 1, wherein the backing, the pocket, and the cover are constructed from a single piece of material.

7. The cardholder of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the cover is beveled.

8. The cardholder of claim 1, further comprising a pencil sleeve joined to one of the backing, the cover, and the pocket.

9. The cardholder of claim 1, wherein the backing is constructed from a material that is heavy and flexible and the cover is constructed from a material that is lighter than the backing material and flexible.

10. The cardholder of claim 1, wherein the backing is approximately between four and five inches wide and approximately between six and seven inches long, thereby facilitating storage within a clothing pocket.