Golf wallet for yardage books, scorecards, and personal items

Abstract

A golf organizer or golf wallet includes means of holding all known varieties of golf scorecards and golf yardage books. A combination of vertical and horizontal pockets, outer flaps and slits secure both top folding and side folding scorecards and yardage books. Multiple holding elements allow the wallet to be used on and off the golf course as a practical but svelte means of holding checkbooks, currency, credit cards and notebooks. The inside center of the wallet may contain a tube for receiving a writing implement. Exterior portions of the wallet may be reserved for the display of logos, insignia, emblems, trademarks, or other information. Interior portions of the wallet feature nylon backing or lining in every compartment to provide moisture protection to the contents of the wallet.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a division of application Ser. No. 29/250,190 filed on Nov. 6, 2006, now pending.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The invention relates to generally to devices for holding golf related items. More particularly, the invention relates to wallets or organizers intended to hold golf yardage books, scorecards and personal items.

(2) Description of the Related Art

Several organizers or wallets for golf items are known in the related art. However, the related art fails to provide the advantages of the present invention.

U.S. Pat. D283175 to Larue discloses a golf card wallet without means of accepting a golf yardage book or personal items such as credit cards or currency.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,911 to Freer discloses a golf accessory organizer that fits on a belt and acts as an enlarged pocket. The Freer organizer holds golf balls, tees, and other bulky items not typically carried in a back pocket or vest pocket. The Freer organizer does not provide means of holding a golf yardage book, and is not well designed to fit into a pocket.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,573 to Gribovsky uses a clip to secure paper items such as a golf card to a golf accessory organizer and lacks vertical pockets to securely hold golf scorecards or golf yardage books. Gribovsky's '573 golf accessory organizer fails to secure combinations of side and vertical folding scorecards and yardage books and fails to provide means of keeping scorecards or yardage books dry. Gribovsky's use of a metal clip does nothing to keep moisture away from a golf card. Gribovsky's use of an interior clip to secure a golf card between the first and second interior halves requires that the writing implement be secured on the exterior of the organizer or as shown in the '573 patent, secured beneath the centerfold of the golf card within the interior of the wallet. Securing a pencil on the exterior of an organizer presents a risk of loss of the pencil at best and a lead poisoning hazard at worst. An exteriorly attached writing implement will snag upon entry into pockets.

Gribovsky's '573 patent presents unwieldy bulk at the spine area by use of an exterior tube formed by spine support stitching extending parallel to and spaced from the fold line. The Gribovsky spine is relatively weak and subject to premature failure due to the use of support stitching to the exterior tube and spine. The protruding Gribovsky spine assembly consumes space outside of the interior storage area and results in a reduction of internal capacity.

Gribovsky's '573 patent securing of a writing implement within the interior halves and above the lower clip may result in the golf card being placed on top of the writing implement. This configuration results in access to the writing implement being obstructed by the golf card.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,199,562 to Seitz discloses a multi-pocket wallet with two interior and two exterior pockets. Seitz fails to accommodate any golf related items, lacks means horizontal attachment, any outer flap, means of keeping paper articles dry, means of securing any writing implement, and means of securing combinations of golf scorecards and golf yardage books

U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,439 to Gribovsky discloses a billfold for currency, checkbooks, and credit cards but is without means of holding combinations of modern golf scorecards or golf yardage books that may have vertical or horizontal folds or configurations. As in the other related art, the '439 patent fails to provide moisture protection to scorecards and yardage books that are often made of paper, fails to provide an outer flap with both vertical and horizontal entry points, and fails to provide a practical golf wallet that is useful both on and off the golf course.

Thus, there is a need in the art for a golf wallet or golf organizer that holds the various configurations of golf scorecards, golf yardage books as well as credit cards, currency, checkbooks and other personal items.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes shortfalls in the related art by providing a new and unique configuration of vertical and horizontal pockets, outer flaps, and slits suitable to hold and secure a wide variety of modern golf scorecards and yardage books. Modern golf yardage books and scorecards may be top folding or side folding and are thus incompatible with the related art that fails to provide means of simultaneously holding any combination of a modern scorecard and yardage book.

In recent times, golf scorecards and golf yardage books (sometimes referred to herein after as “golf documents”) have become more detailed, often contain marketing material, and are presented to the golfer as a side folding or top folding booklet. Some golf documents require multiple folds, but are always used as either top folding or side folding documents. Golf documents are typically made of paper and are thus susceptible to moisture damage arising from inclement weather, humidity and/or perspiration. Golf documents are pone to crumpling and tearing if they are simply stuffed in and out of a golfer's pocket or golf bag at each hole. Both golf scorecards and golf yardage books are typically reviewed by a golfer at each hole. Golf yardage books are often consulted before each stroke.

Golfers typically use a paper scorecard to record the number of strokes taken to hit a ball into each hole. The traditional rules of golf and good golf etiquette require a golfer to record the score for each hole immediately after the ball enters the hole. It is difficult to write upon a golf scorecard without a rigid surface beneath the scorecard. Golf scorecards are typically folded, thus only one half of the scorecard needs to be exposed at any particular time.

The disclosed outer flaps, full pockets, slits and slit compartments are symmetrically placed on either interior side of the disclosed wallet and are well suited for securing one half of a golf score card, with the other half of the scorecard being folded over, exposed and supported by the wallet. After recording scores on one half of the scorecard, the scorecard may be moved to the other side of the wallet, exposing the unused portion of the scorecard. The symmetrical nature of the two interior sides of the wallet facilitate a seamless transfer of the scorecard from one side of the wallet to the other.

Golfers typically use a golf yardage book to know the characteristics of a particular golf course. A yardage book may contain the layout, slope, playing yardage, actual yardage, club recommendations, and other information of interest to the typical golfer. Like a golf scorecard, a yardage book needs to be easily accessible at each hole. Each hole of a golf course may be described on one or two pages of a golf yardage book. A golfer will typically review the yardage book before teeing off at each hole, and frequently during the playing of the hole.

A yardage book may be secured on either side of the disclosed wallet while allowing room for the securing and display of a scorecard. Each side of the wallet has three main areas for securing items such as scorecards, yardage books, currency, checkbooks, credit cards and other items typically carried in a wallet.

By use of a horizontal silt, slit compartment, vertical full pocket and outer flap compartment on each side of the wallet, a total of three main storage areas and four main storage entry points are contained on each side of the wallet. Each outer flap features both vertical and horizontal entry points. Unlike the related art, the disclosed wallet will accommodate any combination of top folding and side folding scorecards and yardage books so as to allow the easy turning of pages and backing support for either document while providing moisture protection for the contents of the wallet

Optional credit card holders may be attached to the exterior of the outer flaps and an optional pencil holder may be added to the interior base surface. The optional credit card holders allow a golfer to safely secure a golf handicap card and credit card, the later being needed for clubhouse purchases. An optional logo area may be added to the exterior front half of the wallet. In one embodiment of the invention, three main storage layers of material are used to secure golf documents and the interior of each storage layer is lined with a moisture resistant or moisture proof lining. Thus, the disclosed wallet is relatively thin and well suited for use as a traditional wallet both on and off the golf course and in all weather conditions.

The disclosed wallet provides means of securing both the scorecard and yardage book in a form and bulk that is similar to that of a traditional wallet which fits easily into the pants pocket or vest pocket of a golfer.

The invention achieves unexpected results by securing both yardage books and golf score cards, a feature not found in the related art. The invention also achieves unexpected results by its ability to keep moisture away from golf documents. The disclosed configuration of full pockets, vertical pockets, horizontal pockets, outer flaps, linings and other features is a unique, unobvious, and unanticipated departure from the related art.

These and other objectives and advantages will be made apparent when considering the following detailed specification when taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a golf wallet configured in accordance with the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the two interior sides of the wallet.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the two interior sides of the wallet.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the two interior sides of the wallet with a yardage book secured within the right side and a scorecard secured within the left side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The description, which follows, and the embodiments described therein, are provided by way of illustration of an example, or examples of particular embodiments of the principles of the present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes of explanation, and not of limitation, of those principles of the invention. In the description, which follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and the drawings with the same respective reference numerals. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated in order to more clearly depict certain features of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 the disclosed golf wallet or golf organizer is shown generally as 100. Optional indicia area 110 may provide information and identification for the wallet. Exterior section 110 may contain trademarks, trade names, logos, emblems, patches, insignia and/or other markings or writing. The exterior front cover 111 contains the logo area 110. When the exterior front cover 111 is opened, as in FIG. 2, the two inner halves or two interior sides 200 and 300 are accessible. The invention may be made of any material, including but not limited to leather, nylon, ballistic nylon, water resistant material, waterproof material, or any combination thereof. In the preferred embodiment, the wallet is made of supple leather with interior lining of all storage compartments being made of nylon In an alternative embodiment, the outside surfaces of the wallet are composed of leather while the inside surfaces or interior halves, 200 and 300 are composed of ballistic nylon and the interior of all storage compartments is lined with nylon so as to protect the contents of the wallet

Referring to FIG. 3, outer flap 206, full pocket 207 and horizontal slit 202 of the left interior side 200 may be configured to be symmetrical to the components of the interior right side 300. FIG. 3 is a plan view of interior sides 200 and 300. Unless otherwise noted, all items on the left side 200 are also on the right side 300.

At the top of the left interior side 200 is a margin of material 201 that is between the upper edge 210 and horizontal slit 202, and connects with flap backing material 203 In the preferred embodiment, upper margin 201 and flap backing material 203 are made of the same sheet of leather with slit 202 being cut through the single sheet of leather. Golf scorecards, golf yardage books, and other items may be secured within the horizontal slit 202 of the left side or within the horizontal slit 302 of the right side. FIG. 4 shows a spiral type golf yardage book 501 with pages inserted behind the horizontal edge 304 of right hand outer flap 306 and exposed pages supported by the right interior side 300.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment where a vertical full backing piece 250 extends all of the way to the bottom 211 of the wallet. On the right hand side 300, vertical full backing piece 350 extends down to the bottom portion 311 of the wallet. In this alternative embodiment, partial backing pieces 251 and 351 extend to bottom portions 211 and 311 respectively. Golf documents and other articles may be placed between the full backing pieces 250 and 350 and the partial backing pieces 251 and 351. Articles placed between full backing piece 250 and partial backing piece 251 will enter though upper opening 252. Articles placed between full backing piece 350 and partial backing piece 351 will enter though upper opening 352. The upper horizontal pockets below upper openings 252 and 352 are lined with nylon and are considered horizontal openings, suitable for either top folding scorecards and yardage books or for other articles such as currency, notebooks and checkbooks

Referring to FIG. 3, below slit 202 is flap backing material 203 that is attached to upper margin material 201 and extends down to bottom edge 211. Flap backing material 203 is beneath outer flap 206. Outer flap 206 is on top of the flap backing material 203 and is attached at outer edges 212 and 211. Outer flap 206 is unattached at horizontal edge 204 and vertical edge 205 allowing articles to be secured in a horizontal or vertical manner.

Outer flaps 206 and 306 are especially well suited for securing folded golf scorecards and providing writing support. Battens may be added to the outer flaps for additional rigidity. In an alternative embodiment, the outer flaps may open outwardly such that edges 305 and 311 would be secured to the wallet and edges 304 and 312 would open to accept vertical or horizontally folding golf documents or other articles.

For a vertically folding golf scorecard a vertical edge of the card may be inserted at vertical opening 305 under outer flap 306. The exposed side of the score card may be folded such that side 300 provides writing support. A vertically folding score card could also be tucked into full vertical pocket 313 through opening 307. The scorecard could then be folded so as to allow side 300 to provide writing support.

In an alternative method, the right hand side of a vertically folding or side folding scorecard may be secured under right hand outer flap 306, with the interior left hand surface 200 used as support to write upon the left side of the scorecard. A typical scorecard would fit under vertical edge 305 of outer flap 306. After nine or so holes of golf have been played, the left hand side of the scorecard may be transferred behind outer flap 206 and will typically fit behind vertical edge 205. The right hand side of the scorecard would then be exposed over the right hand side of the wallet which would provide writing support.

Golf documents or other item(s) may also be secured within the left full pocket 213 through vertical edge 207 or within full right pocket 313 through vertical edge 307. FIG. 4 shows scorecard 502 folded around vertical edge 207 and entering left full pocket 213. In this example, interior left hand side 200 is used for support to write upon scorecard 502. Scorecard 502 may also be folded around the vertical edge 205 of outer flap 206.

A top folding golf yardage book 501, such as the one shown on FIG. 4, may be secured by behind horizontal outer flap edges 204 or 304. The horizontal openings of 252 and 352 shown in FIG. 2 could also accept a top folding item.

A side folding item such as the scorecard 502 shown on FIG. 4 may be secured within FIG. 3 full pocket 313 through vertical edge 307 or within full pocket 213 through vertical edge 207. Side folding items may also be secured behind outer flap 206 by entry under vertical edge 205 or secured behind outer flap 306 by entry under vertical edge 305.

Referring to FIG. 3, center interior surface 401 is flexible, allowing for opening and closing of the two halves of the wallet. Center interior surface 401 may be considered a living hinge. Surface 401 may extend to outer edges 210, 310, 312, 311, 211, and 212. Surface 401 may form the back surface for full pockets 213 and 313. The upper surface for full pocket 213 may be formed by surface 201 and 203. The upper surface for full pocket 313 may be formed by surface 301 and 303. In the preferred embodiment, exposed center interior surface 401 is leather, while 401 surfaces on either side of vertical edges 207 and 307 are nylon.

Horizontal slits 202 and 302 may open to surface 401 or may open to a separate surface (not shown) such as nylon located within the slit compartments. Slits or openings 202 and 302 are entry points into interior slit compartments (not shown).

Separate foam and cardboard backing material may be placed between outer surfaces, such as front outer surface 111 on FIG. 1 and interior base surface 401 on FIG. 3.

A tubular writing implement holder 400 may be secured upon surface 401 between the two halves of the wallet. Optional credit card holders/horizontal pockets 209 and 309 may be secured at the lower portions of either outer flap 206 and/or 306. Credit cards or similar items may enter horizontal pockets 209 or 309 behind horizontal pocket edges 208 and 308. Like all other interior pocket surfaces, the credit card holding pockets are lined with nylon. FIG. 2 shows credit card 500 secured within horizontal pocket 309.

Claims

1. A wallet for securing golf scorecards and golf yardage books (“golf documents”) wherein the golf documents may have any combination of vertical or horizontal folds, the wallet having two symmetrical interior halves attached together with a living vertical hinge, with each interior half comprising:

a) an outer flap with a horizontal entry point and a vertical entry point;

b) the outer flap being secured to the wallet at the bottom and outer side portions, allowing the top and inner side portions of the outer flaps to open and to accept golf documents.

2. The wallet of claim 1 with:

a) a full pocket on each interior half of the wallet, with each full pocket having a vertical opening near the center of the wallet; and

b) a horizontal slit and horizontal slit compartment.

3. The wallet of claim 2 with lining in the interior of all pocket compartments.

4. The wallet of claim 3 wherein the outer flaps at the bottom and center portions are secured to the wallet and the upper and inner portions of the outer flaps are open and accept golf documents.

5. The wallet of claim 3 with means of securing a writing implement between the two interior halves of the wallet.

6. The wallet of claim 5 wherein the outer flap is on top of the horizontal slit compartment and the horizontal slit compartment is on top of the full vertical pocket.

7. The wallet of claim 6 with a base surface below the full pocket pivotally connecting the two halves of the wallet.

8. The wallet of claim 7 with a front exterior half reserved for a logo or other insignia and with means of securing one or more credit cards within the interior halves of wallet.

9. A wallet comprising:

a) a rectangular exterior base surface attached to;

b) a rectangular interior base surface comprising two symmetrical halves;

c) each interior symmetrical half comprising:

i. a vertical full pocket with a vertical entry edge extending from the top to the bottom of the wallet;

ii. a horizontal slit compartment located on top of the vertical full pocket; and

iii. an outer flap compartment located on top of the slit compartment and having a horizontal and vertical entry point.

10. The wallet of claim 9 with one horizontal credit card pocket located on top of one of the outer flaps.

11. The wallet of claim 10 with two horizontal credit card pockets located on top of either outer flap and where the interior of all pockets and outer flaps are lined with means to repel moisture.

12. The wallet of claim 11 with means to secure a writing implement between the interior halves of the wallet.

13. The wallet of claim 12 wherein an area upon the rectangular exterior base surface is reserved for the display of a logo, writing, or other insignia.

14. The wallet of claim 13 made of leather.

15. The wallet of claim 12 wherein the rectangular exterior base surface is made of leather and the interior base surface and components of the symmetrical interior halves are made of ballistic nylon.

16. A method of securing golf score cards and golf yardage books comprising the steps of:

a) securing one half of a folded golf scorecard within a vertically opening pocket of a golf wallet, such as the wallet of claim 1;

b) folding the golf scorecard and using an interior surface of the wallet as support to write upon the scorecard; and

c) using a vertical or horizontal opening within the wallet to secure a golf yardage book.

17. The method of claim 16 including the step of moving the scorecard from one pocket of the wallet to an analogous pocket on the other side of the wallet.

18. The method of claim 17 including the step of moving the golf yardage book from one side of the wallet to an analogous pocket on the other side of the wallet.

19. The method of claim 18 including the step of using the wallet to keep moisture away from golf documents secured within the wallet.

20. The method of claim 19 including the step of using the wallet to retain a writing implement.