GOLFING ACCESSORY HOLDER

Abstract

A holder for golf accessories. The holder has a mounting platform with front and back surfaces, two side edges and top and bottom edges and a platform that is detachably attachable to a golf shoe. The top edge defines an opening for receiving a divot repair tool. A bottom edge defines an attachment region to which a ball marker can be detachably secured. The front face supports multiple tees and a ball marker. The back face is secured to a support surface, such as a shoe, a belt, or a waistband.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of a U.S. provisional patent application filed on May 23, 2011, U.S. Ser. No. 61/519,403.

TECHNICAL FIELD

(1) Background Art

This invention relates to a golfing accessory holder that can be mounted on a golf shoe, a golfer's belt, or on the waist band of shorts or slacks. In one embodiment, the holder attaches to the laces of golf shoes and provides storage for golf tees, a divot repair tool and/or golf ball markers.

One aspect of the invention is related to a golfing accessory holder.

(2) Prior Art

A problem with golf shoes is that they do not provide any storage for golfing accessories, such as golf tees, a divot repair tool and/or golf ball markers.

Therefore, a need exists for an accessory that provides storage for golf tees and/or golf ball markers that can be mounted on a golf shoe, a golfer's belt, or on the waist band of shorts or slacks.

The relevant prior art includes the following references: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,662,677; 3,556,364; 3,674,189; 5,433,436; U.S. Design Pat. No. D645242 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2011/0203141.

SUMMARY

One aspect of this disclosure relates to a golf accessory holder that can be supported. for example, by the laces of a golf shoe, although the invention is not so limited.

In one embodiment, the holder has a mounting platform with front and back surfaces, two side edges and top and bottom edges and a platform that is detachably attachable to a golf shoe.

The platform has a back face that lies adjacent to the shoe; a front face that opposes the back face; a top edge that partially defines an opening in a pocket for receiving an object such as a divot repair tool or a spike cleaner; and a bottom edge that partially defines an attachment region to which a ball marker can be detachably secured.

The front face supports a stretchable strip that is affixed to the front surface by lateral seams between which one or more channels are formed into and out of which tees can be slidably inserted and removed; and a mounting member to which a ball marker may be detachably attached.

The back face includes an elongated portion with one tethered end region that is attached to the back face proximate the bottom edge and an adhesive free end that loops under a shoe lace and adheres to the tethered end region; and an elastic fastener with two loops attached to the back surface parallel to the top edge for receiving shoe laces, the elongated portion and the elastic fastener thereby affixing the holder to the shoe or a belt or to the waist band of shorts or slacks.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a holder with golfing accessories according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view thereof, taken from the right front;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view thereof, taken from the right rear; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. 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.

One aspect of this disclosure relates to holder 10 that can be used for example to accommodate golf accessories, although the invention is not so limited. The holder 10 can be mounted on a golf shoe, a belt, or a waistband.

In one embodiment, the holder 10 has a mounting platform 12 with front and back faces 14, 16, two side edges 18,20 and top and bottom edges 22,24 the platform 12 being detachably attachable to a golf shoe. The edges 18, 20, 22, 24 may be scalloped or straight.

The back face 16 lies adjacent to the shoe, while the front face 14 opposes the back face 16. The top edge 22 partially defines an opening in a pocket 26 for receiving an object 28 such as a divot repair tool or a spike cleaner. The bottom edge 24 defines an attachment region 30 to which a ball marker 32 can be detachably secured.

The front face 14 supports a stretchable strip 34 that is affixed to the front face 14 by lateral seams 36 between which one or more channels 38 are formed into and out of which tees 40 can be slidably inserted and removed. Also supported by the front face 14 is a mounting member 42 to which a ball marker 32 may be detachably attached.

The back face 16 includes an elongated portion 44 with one tethered end region 46 that is attached to the back face 16 proximate the bottom edge 24 and an adhesive free end 48 that loops under a shoe lace or a belt or behind a waistband and adheres to the tethered end region 46. Also supported by the back face 16 is an elastic fastener 50 with two loops 52,54 attached to the back surface 16 proximate the top edge 22 for receiving shoe laces, the elongated portion 44 and the elastic fastener 50 thereby affixing the holder 10 to the shoe.

In one embodiment, the holder 10 has three channels 38. In another, the holder has five lateral seams 36.

Optionally, the mounting member 42 includes means for mounting, the means for mounting being selected from the group consisting of a press-stud and a magnetic material. If desired, the ball marker 32 may include a magnet, personalizing indicia, or both.

Preferably, the front face 14 includes an overlapping tongue 58 that defines an area to which indicia 60 can be applied.

In most embodiments, the edges 18,20,22,24 form a wave-like or scalloped fringe for decorative purposes that may resemble an antique-look.

One aspect of this disclosure related to an assembly that has the holder as described above, a ball marker, a tee for each channel, and a divot repair tool.

In practice, one method of using the accessory involves the steps of: threading one or more laces of a shoe through the loops; and attaching the tethered end region of the elongated portion to a shoe lace.

Additionally, if desired, before or after attaching the holder to the shoe, the user may mount the ball marker to the mounting surface, insert a tee into each channel; and/or place a divot repair tool within the pocket.

While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A holder for golf accessories, the holder comprising

a mounting platform with front and back surfaces, two side edges and top and bottom edges, the platform being detachably attachable to a support surface selected from the group consisting of a golf shoe, a belt and a waistband, the platform having

a back face that lies adjacent to the support surface;

a front face that opposes the back surface;

a top edge that partially defines an opening in a pocket for receiving an object, the object being selected from the group consisting of a divot repair tool and a spike cleaner; and

a bottom edge that partially defines an attachment region to which a ball marker can be detachably secured;

the front face including: a stretchable strip that is affixed to the front surface by lateral seams between which one or more channels are formed into and out of which tees can be slidably inserted and removed; and a mounting member to which a ball marker may be detachably attached the back face including: an elongated portion with one tethered end region that is attached to the back face proximate the bottom edge and an adhesive free end that loops under a shoe lace and adheres to the tethered end region; and an elastic fastener with two loops attached to the back surface parallel to the top edge for engaging the one or more support surfaces, the elongated portion and the elastic fastener thereby affixing the holder to the support surface.

2. The holder of claim 1, wherein the one or more channels include three channels.

3. The holder of claim 2 wherein there are five lateral seams.

4. The holder of claim 1 wherein the mounting member includes a means for mounting, the means for mounting being selected from the group consisting of a press-stud and a magnetic material.

5. The holder of claim 4, further including a ball marker wherein the ball marker includes a magnet.

6. The holder of claim 5 wherein said ball marker includes personalizing indicia.

7. The holder of claim 1 wherein the front face includes an overlapping tongue that defines an area to which indicia can be applied.

8. The holder of claim 1, wherein the edges form a wave-like fringe.

9. An assembly comprising:

the holder of claim 1;

a ball marker;

a tee for each channel; and

a divot repair tool.

10. A method of using the holder of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

threading one or more laces of a shoe through at least one of the one or more loops; and

attaching the tethered end region of the elongated portion to a shoe lace.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

attaching a ball marker to the mounting surface;

inserting a tee into each channel; and

placing a divot repair tool within the pocket.