SECURITY ASSEMBLY FOR GOLF CLUBS

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to golf clubs and, more particularly, to a security assembly that prevents unauthorized removal of displayed golf clubs, as at point of purchase. 1

Background Art

Golf clubs, and particularly drivers, are becoming increasingly more sophisticated and expensive.

It is common to display drivers on stands in stores by supporting the driver by the head thereof on an elevated rack with the club shaft in a depending relationship. The racks commonly have a series of receptacles, each of which allows the driver shaft to be advanced therethrough in a direction orthogonal to the shaft length and thereafter lowered, which seats the head in a complementary cradle that is at the top of the receptacle and maintains a consistent angular orientation of the driver around the shaft length. Removal of the displayed club is easily effected by slightly raising the club and drawing the shaft away from the display.

It is common to see elevated racks with ten or more like drivers displayed in a line or in a grid pattern. A prospective purchaser is allowed to separate and handle any of the displayed drivers.

When golf supply stores are crowded, many prospective purchasers are commonly handling golf clubs at the same time with minimal oversight from store personnel. In the absence of providing some additional security, loss due to theft is inevitable and may be substantial.

It is known to attach to each golf club a structure that can be secured to a support. One exemplary form is shown in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022/0307292 (Gulick, Jr. et al). While structures as in Gulick, Jr. et al. afford a higher level of security, they generally make the shopping experience less enjoyable. While a club might be separated and handled, the feel of the club is compromised by having the security structure fixed thereon.

Alternatively, in each case, the purchaser has to engage a salesperson who has the authority to release the club from the secured displays. When many prospective purchasers are requiring assistance, this exercise may be inconvenient and time consuming.

Ideally, and particularly in the case of golf drivers, the drivers can be displayed conventionally in rows where a number of persons might simultaneously take a close look at the clubs. At the same time, the store owner would have a level of security that minimizes threat of theft while not interfering with the normal inspection of golf clubs by prospective purchasers.

It is always a requirement that the investment in security systems be justified in terms of the estimated amount of theft that it will prevent.

The industry continues to seek alternative forms of systems that are financially feasible, afford reliable security, and do not appreciably interfere with club inspection by a prospective purchaser.

• • 1

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one form, the invention is directed to the combination of at least a first golf club and a security assembly. The at least first golf club has: an elongate shaft with a free end; and a head on the elongate shaft, spaced from the free end of the elongate shaft, and configured to strike a golf ball. The security assembly consists of: a frame having at least a first opening; and a blocking assembly changeable between: i) a loading state; and ii) a blocking state. The first golf club and security assembly are configured so that: a) with the blocking assembly in the loading state and the first golf club initially fully separated from the security assembly, the first golf club can be moved so that at least a part of the elongate shaft on the first golf club is directed into the first opening and the first golf club is supported in a display position; and b) with the first golf club in the display position and the blocking assembly changed from the loading state into the blocking state, the blocking assembly prevents separation of the first golf club from the security assembly.

In one form, the first golf club and security assembly are configured so that the head on the first golf club supports the first golf club in the display position.

In one form, the first golf club and security assembly are configured so that with the blocking assembly in the loading state the first golf club is moved from a starting position fully separated from the security assembly into the display position by directing the free end of the elongate shaft on the first club into, and in a first direction through, the first opening.

In one form, the first golf club and security assembly are configured so that the first golf club is moved in a substantially straight path in the first direction in moving from the starting position into the display position.

In one form, the straight path is substantially parallel to the length of the elongate shaft on the first golf club.

In one form, the security assembly has a cradle for engaging a part of the first golf club. The cradle is configured to releasably maintain the first golf club in a predetermined relationship with the security assembly with the first golf club in the display position.

In one form, the head of the first golf club nests in the cradle with the first golf club in the display position. The blocking assembly in the blocking state blocks the head of the first golf club in the cradle with the first golf club in the display position.

In one form, with the blocking assembly in the blocking state and the first golf club in the display position, the blocking assembly prevents the free end of the elongate shaft on the first golf club from moving oppositely to the first direction and from the first opening.

In one form, with the security assembly in an operative position, at least a part of the frame with the first opening is spaced above a subjacent surface.

In one form, with the security assembly in an operative position, at least a part of the frame with the first opening is cantilever mounted to a support to be spaced above a subjacent surface.

In one form, the frame extends around a volume with an entryway. The first golf club and security assembly are configured so that with the blocking assembly in the loading state the free end of the elongate shaft on the first golf club is directed through the entryway and the frame volume and into and through the first frame opening into the display position, wherein the head of the first golf club resides in the frame volume.

In one form, with the first golf club in the display position, the head of the first golf club is blocked in the frame volume by the blocking assembly as an incident of changing the blocking assembly from the loading state into the blocking state.

In one form, the blocking assembly has a lid that is pivotably connected to the frame and movable pivotably between a first position, wherein the blocking assembly is in the loading state, and a second position, wherein the blocking assembly is in the blocking state.

In one form, the lid in the second position blocks at least a part of the volume entryway.

In one form, the security assembly has a locking assembly with locked and unlocked states. The locking assembly in the locked state maintains the blocking assembly in the blocking state. The locking assembly in the unlocked state permits the blocking assembly to be changed between the loading and blocking states.

In one form, the security assembly has a locking assembly with locked and unlocked states. The locking assembly in the locked state maintains the lid in the second position. The locking assembly in the unlocked state permits the lid to be changed between the first and second positions.

In one form, the at least first frame opening consists of a plurality of frame openings each in communication with the frame volume such that at least one additional golf club with an elongate shaft and head can be placed in a display position wherein the head of the at least one additional golf club is in the frame volume.

In one form, with the first golf club in the display position, a weight of the first golf club is supported by the head of the first golf club, with the elongate shaft of the first golf club depending from the head of the first golf club.

In one form, the frame defines a cradle against which a head of another golf club with an elongate shaft can be supported to thereby maintain the another golf club in a display position with the head of the another golf club outside of the frame volume and the elongate shaft of the another golf club depending from the head of the another golf club.

In one form, the first golf club is a “wood” golf club.

In one form, the locking assembly has first and second holding components that engage holding components on the lid at spaced locations with the locking assembly in the locked state.

In one form, the at least first opening is a fully surrounded opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a security assembly, according to the present invention, and shown in relationship to a golf club, which can be displayed and secured using the inventive security assembly;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation showing additional detail of a frame, on the security assembly in FIG. 1, that cooperates with the golf club;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the frame in FIGS. 1 and 2 and showing a mounting part thereon through which the security assembly can be operatively positioned;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of additional mount details relative to the structure in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, end, elevation view of one form of security assembly, as depicted schematically in FIG. 1, and showing one golf club in a display position and another golf club, in dotted lines, being directed into the display position;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the security assembly in FIG. 5 and with a plurality of golf clubs in a display position and a blocking assembly on the security assembly in a blocking state;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the components in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the components in FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a housing on the security assembly in FIGS. 5-8, with the blocking assembly in a loading state in dotted lines, and in a blocking state in solid lines;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the housing and blocking assembly in FIG. 9, with the blocking assembly in the blocking state;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the components in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a portion of the components taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is an end elevation view of the components in FIGS. 10 and 11;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a slide bar making up part of a locking assembly, as shown schematically in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is an underside perspective view of a lid making up part of the blocking assembly, as shown schematically in FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the housing on the inventive security assembly with the slide bar of FIG. 14 mounted thereto;

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the components in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the components taken along lines 18-18 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a side elevation view of the housing and lid with the blocking assembly in the blocking state; and

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the components taken along line 20-20 of FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A security assembly, according to the present invention, is shown schematically at 10 in FIG. 1. The security assembly 10 is intended for use with at least one golf club 12 to secure the same in a display position, as at a point-of-purchase display in a retail business selling golf equipment.

The golf club 12 has an elongate shaft 14 with a free end 16. A head 18 is mounted on the elongate shaft 14 at a distance spaced from the free end 16 and is configured to strike a golf ball.

The schematic depiction of the golf club 12 is intended to encompass virtually any known or developed golf club used to strike and advance a golf ball. The invention herein will be focused on a golf driver, which is considered to be in the category of golf club “woods”. The invention can be used with any golf club and is particularly adaptable to “woods”, which generally have heads with a larger volume configuration compared to a conventional “blade”/“iron” club head.

The security assembly 10 has a frame 20 with at least one opening 22. The security assembly 10 further has a blocking assembly 24 changeable between: a) a loading state; and b) a blocking state.

The golf club 12 and security assembly 10 are configured so that: a) with the blocking assembly 24 in the loading state and the golf club 12 initially fully separated from the security assembly 10, the golf club 12 can be moved so that at least a part of the elongate shaft 14 is directed into the opening 22 and the golf club 12 is supported in a display position; and b) with the golf club 12 in the display position and the blocking assembly 24 changed from the loading state into the blocking state, the blocking assembly 24 prevents separation of the golf club 12 from the security assembly.

The schematic depiction of the security assembly is intended to encompass virtually an unlimited number of different forms of the schematically depicted components and their interactions.

Exemplary forms of the invention, as described hereinbelow, should not be viewed as limiting. As but one example, the golf club 12 in the display position may be supported entirely by the head 18 or the elongate shaft 14. Alternatively, the golf club 12 may be supported in the display position by both the head 18 and the elongate shaft 14.

As shown schematically in FIG. 2, the frame 20 may have a cradle 26 for engaging a part of the golf club 12. The cradle 26 is configured to maintain the golf club 12 in a predetermined relationship with the security assembly 10 with the golf club 12 in the display position. This may have value in terms of improving the stability of the support as well as allowing consistent alignment of the golf clubs 12 in an aesthetically desired manner.

In one form, and without limitation, the cradle 26 cooperates with the head 18, as with the golf club 12 maintained in the display position, by being supported by the head 18, which nests in the cradle 26.

As shown schematically in FIG. 3, at least a part 28 of the frame 20 with the opening 22 is spaced above a subjacent surface 30 with the security assembly 10 in its operative position.

As shown in FIG. 4, a mount 32 may connect between the part 28 and a support 34. The support 34 may be on the surface 30 or may be another structure, as wherein the mount 32 is a cantilever type mount for the part 28. For example, in the former case, the mount 32 may be in the form of a stand, whereas in the latter case the mount 32 may be attached to a vertical wall, or the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-20, exemplary forms of the invention, as shown schematically in FIGS. 1-4, will be described. It should be emphasized that the specific forms are exemplary in nature only, with multiple variations thereof contemplated within the schematic showings of FIGS. 1-4.

As shown partially schematically in FIG. 5, the golf club 12, in this case the exemplary driver in FIGS. 5-8, has a grip 36 that overlies the elongate shaft 14 at the free end 16 thereof. For purposes of simplicity, the grip 36 will be considered to be one and the same with the elongate shaft 14 and to define the free end 16 thereof.

As depicted in the exemplary form, the frame 20 has a main portion 38, corresponding to the part 28 in FIG. 4, that has the mount 32 that, in this case, as seen clearly in FIGS. 6 and 8, is a conventional fitting that is press connected to an elongate rail, as on an upright surface.

The frame 20 additionally includes a square housing 40 with a length L, a width W, and a height H. The housing 40 has a bottom wall 42 that is fixedly attached to the main part 38. With the housing 40 attached to the main part 38, the main part 38 may also effectively define part of the bottom wall 42.

The height H, width W, and length L of the housing 40 are selected so that the housing bounds an open volume 44 which, as seen in FIGS. 5-8, has a shape that generally matches the volume of four driver heads 18, aligned in a row. In this case, four golf clubs 12 are displayed with four golf club heads 18 within the housing volume 44; with this number not being in any way critical. The same concept can be used to display and secure a single golf club or a number of golf clubs exceeding four.

The bottom wall 42 defines four openings 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, each to allow passage therethrough of an elongate shaft 14 of a golf club 12. The particular configuration of the openings 22 is not critical, and as depicted is substantially larger in area than the diameter of the elongate shaft 14, whereby the elongate shafts 14 can be directed therethrough without requiring precision alignment to avoid interference between the golf clubs 12 and housing 14 as they are directed into their respective display positions.

As depicted, each of the openings 22 is fully surrounded. This configuration is not required.

At the top of the volume 44, a volume entryway 46, as seen clearly in FIG. 9, is defined. The volume entryway 46 is selectively blocked by a lid 48, that makes up part of the blocking assembly 24 and is partially broken away in FIG. 9 to allow identification of the volume entryway 46.

The lid 48 is mounted at one side to the housing 40 through a hinge 50, which allows the lid 48 to be pivoted between a first position, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 9, wherein the blocking assembly is in the loading state, and a second position, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 9, wherein the blocking assembly 24 is in the blocking state. The hinge 50 guides movement of the lid 48 about an axis 52 between the first and second positions therefor.

With the lid 48 in its second position, the lid 48 blocks the volume entryway 46.

The peripheral wall 54 of the housing 40 and the lid 48 each is provided with a plurality of openings O that collectively allow the inside frame volume 44 to be viewed from externally thereof to allow inspection of the heads 18 of the golf clubs 12 when in the display positions. The openings O are strategically sized and located so that the overall integrity of the housing 40 and lid 48 is not significantly compromised, as might allow tampering by a would-be thief.

To place a golf club in the display position, the lid 48 is moved to its first position, as shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 5 and 9. The golf club 12, shown above the security assembly 10 in FIG. 5, is in a starting position, fully separated from the security assembly 10. The shaft free end 16 is then directed in a first direction, as indicated by the arrow 56, through the volume entryway 46, through the housing volume 44, and into one of the openings 22 over which it is aligned. As depicted, the golf club 12 is moved in a substantially straight path in the direction of the arrow 56 from the starting position, whereupon the free end 16 moves through the volume entryway 46, through the housing volume 44, and aligned opening 22, until the club head 18 moves into the housing volume 44 adequately that the lid 48 can be changed from its first position into its second position. As depicted, the straight path 56 is substantially parallel to the length of the elongate shaft 14. As depicted, the path indicated by the arrow 56 is vertical, whereby the shaft 14 is in a depending relationship with the supported head 18. This is not a requirement, as other paths are contemplated, such as a horizontal path.

Once the club head 18 is abutted to the bottom wall 42, the golf club 12 is in the display position. Virtually any configuration of the bottom wall 42, from flat to contoured, will be functional to support the golf club 12 in the display position through the head 18. As depicted, a similar cradle 58 is provided at each location where a club head 18 will bear downwardly on the frame 20. The cradle 58 has a nesting configuration wherein at least one wall 60 on the cradle abuts to a face 62 of the club head 18 to prevent turning of the golf club 12 in the display position around the length of the shaft 14. With this arrangement, by simply lowering the club head 18 into the cradle 58 and effecting potentially a slight angular shifting, a consistent predetermined relationship between the golf club 12 and security assembly 10 can be maintained with the golf club 12 in the display position therefor. The depicted cradle configuration is exemplary in nature only.

With the lid 48 thereafter moved to its second position, the lid 48 blocks the head 18 of the golf club in the volume 44, in its respective cradle 58, with the golf club 12 in the display position. Thus, the blocking assembly 24 in the blocking state limits or prevents movement of the free end 16 of the elongate shaft 14 on the golf club 12 oppositely to the first direction indicated by the arrow 56, and potentially out of its respective opening 22.

Accordingly, with the golf club(s) 12 in the display position and the lid 48 in its second position, a would-be purchaser can observe the club heads 18 within the frame volume 44 through the openings O, but cannot separate the golf clubs 12 from the security assembly 10.

In the depicted form, the frame 20 has an extension 64 that projects beyond the housing 40, with a cradle 58 being provided thereon. The cradle 58 on the extension 64 allows a golf club 12 to be placed into a corresponding display position on the cradle 58 without passing through the housing 40. Thus, this particular golf club 12 can be fully separated by a user to more closely inspect the same and potentially check out the feel thereof.

As shown schematically in FIG. 1, the security assembly 10 further includes a locking assembly 66 having locked and unlocked states. In the locked state, the locking assembly 66 maintains the lid 48 in the second position and in the unlocked state permits the lid 48 to be changed between its first and second positions.

The schematic depiction of the locking assembly 66 is intended to encompass virtually an unlimited number of different forms wherein the “locking” of the lid 48 can be effected through different structures and may incorporate different types of actuation mechanisms, including those operated electronically, mechanically, etc.

An exemplary form of the locking assembly 66 includes a slide bar 68 with, in this case, four offset male projections/holding components 70 spaced along the length of the slide bar 68. An actuator 72 is attached to the bar at least nominally at a mid-length location.

The slide bar 68 is attached to a wall 74 of the housing 40 using pairs of guide tabs at 76; in this case at three lengthwise spaced locations. Each guide tab pair 76 consists of one guide tab 78a fixed to the wall 74 and defining a slot/component 80a that opens in one direction and receives the slide bar 68. The other guide tab 78b in the guide tab pair 76 defines a slot/component 80b that opens oppositely to the slot/component 80a. With this arrangement, the guide tabs 78a, 78b cooperate to captively engage the slide bar 68 and guide lengthwise shifting thereof.

The lid 48 is provided with tabs/receiving holding components 82 to cooperate, one each, with the projections/holding components 70 on the slide bar 68.

Translation of the slide bar 68 is effected by engaging a tab 84 on the slide bar 68, that projects through an elongate opening 86 in the housing 40, and shifting the same relative to the housing 40. The opening 86 has sufficient dimension along the length L of the housing 40 that, with the lid 48 in its second position, the slide bar 68 can be moved from an unlocked position, wherein the projections/holding components 70 are slightly spaced from the tabs/receiving holding components 82 on the lid 48, to a locked position, wherein the projections/holding components 70 simultaneously project, one each, into/through the tabs/receiving holding components 82.

To maintain this locked position, a key-operated lock 88 is provided. The lock 88 is changeable between locked and unlocked states through a conventional key, or other type of actuating structure, identified schematically at 90 in FIG. 10.

As depicted, the lock 88 has a conventional tumbler that is repositionable to move a follower arm 92 into abutting relationship with a surface 94 on the actuator 72 to block translation of the slide bar 68, as would allow the projections/holding components 70 to disengage from the tabs/receiving holding components 82.

A U-shaped shield 96 is provided to at least partially encase a volume in which the parts of the locking assembly 66, that might be tampered with, reside.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the invention.