US20040187880A1

US20040187880A1 - Cigarette/cigar holder for golf carts/bags

Info

Publication number: US20040187880A1
Application number: US10/404,280
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas Hernandez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-03-31
Filing date: 2003-03-31
Publication date: 2004-09-30

Abstract

Described is a device that holds cigarettes/cigars and that is attachable to golf bags or other surfaces. The device has an attachment section that is pivotally attached to a holder section, said pivotal attachment allowing the holder section to move from a folded position to an extended position. There is a pivoting structure that allows the holder section to be locked into the folded position and, by depressing a pivot pin that extends through the attachment section and the holder section, automatically extends the holder to the extended position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of holding devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to the field of devices that are designed to hold items, such as cigarettes/cigars for golfers.

BACKGROUND

The sport of golfing is generally an outdoor sport. Therefore, participants who smoke feel free to do so. However, especially when smoking cigars, a participant needs to address the golf ball in the middle of a cigarette/cigar. When this happens, the participant puts the cigarette/cigar on the ground, a golf cart, a bench or other like surface. This can lead to either a burnt surface or the cigarette/cigar going out.

Additionally, while some smokers place the cigarette/cigar on the ground during play, when the grass is wet it can cause the cigarette/cigar to go out, or totally ruin it. Even when the grass is not wet it is desirable to keep the cigarette/cigar away from any fertilizers or other chemicals that may be found upon the ground.

In the past, there have been devices that attach to golf bags or golf carts to hold cigarettes or cigars. However, most of these devices project from the golf bag or golf cart and are, therefore, easily broken or otherwise damaged. Other devices place the lit cigarette/cigar too close to the surface creating the possibility of smoke or heat damage to the adjacent surface. Additionally, when these devices project from the golf bag or other surface they may snag on clothing or other objects.

Thus, it can be seen that there is a present need for a cigarette/cigar holding device that projects when in use, but can be placed into a non-projecting position when not in use.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cigarette/cigar holding device that attaches to a golf bag or other surface and that has first and second positions, a first position that projects from the golf bag or other surface when in use and a second position that does not appreciably project from the golf bag or other surface when not in use.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its structure and its operation together with the additional object and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art or arts. If any other meaning is intended, the specification will specifically state that a special meaning is being applied to a word or phrase. Likewise, the use of the words “function” or “means” in the Description of Preferred Embodiments is not intended to indicate a desire to invoke the special provision of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, are sought to be invoked to define the invention(s), the claims will specifically state the phrases “means for” or “step for” and a function, without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material, or act in support of the function. Even when the claims recite a “means for” or “step for” performing a function, if they also recite any structure, material or acts in support of that means of step, then the intention is not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, are invoked to define the inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function, along with any and all known or later-developed equivalent structures, materials or acts for performing the claimed function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device used on a golf bag according to the present invention. [0008]
FIG. 2 illustrates the device according to the present invention in a folded configuration. [0009]
FIG. 3 illustrates the device according to the present invention in an extended configuration (a cigarette is illustrated as a ghost using dashed lines). [0010]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating the hidden extension mechanism. [0011]
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the device according to the present invention. [0012]
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the device according to the present invention illustrating the extension mechanism in a folded configuration. [0013]
FIG. 7 is a view of the opposite end of the device according to the present invention in an extended configuration.[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is useful for holding cigarettes/cigars when a golfer addresses a golf ball. [0015]
The [0016] device 1 of the present invention comprises an attachment structure 10 and an attached holder structure 50. The attachment structure 10 is pivotally attached to the holder structure 50, by a pivoting structure 70, such that there are at least two positions: a first position or an extended position and a second position or a folded position.
The [0017] preferred attachment structure 10 comprises an attachment body 12 having clip 14 attached to the attachment body 12. The attachment body 12 further has at least one, preferably two or more cut-outs 16 and a conduit 18 that extends through the body 12 and cut-out(s) 16. The preferred form of the clip 14 is a generally U-shaped clip with an outwardly curved distal end.
The [0018] preferred holder structure 50 comprises an arm 52 that has a proximate end 54 and a distal end 56. The distal end 56 has at least one notch 58 that will hold a cigarette/cigar that is inserted into the notch 58. Preferably, the notch 58 is generally V-shaped, but other shapes that hold inserted cigarettes/cigars are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention. The proximate end 54 of the arm 52 has an aperture 60 that extends through the thickness of the proximate end 54 of the arm 52.
The [0019] preferred pivoting structure 70 is insertion of the proximate end 54 of the arm 52 into the cut-out(s) 16 in the body 12, aligning the conduit 18 axially with the aperture 60. In one embodiment a simple pin 72 is inserted through the conduit and aperture thereby providing pivotal movement capability.
Preferably, however, there is a [0020] position locking structure 71 where the pin 72 has two balls 74 located within the pin 72 such that a small portion of the two balls 74 project beyond the outer diameter of the pin 72. The two balls 74 are spring biased 84 such that it is slightly retractable under pressure. There is a small first pin hole (not shown) that is located in the proximate end 54 of the arm 52, which extends though the proximate end 54 of the arm 52, such that when the arm 52 is in a folded position, one where it is folded close to a surface to which the body 12 is mounted, the first pin hole lines up with the projecting portion of the two balls 74, thereby locking the arm 52 into the folded position. Alternately, there may also be a second pin hole (also not shown) that is generally perpendicular to the first pin hole, which will lock the arm into an extended position. Finally, there may be a biasing structure 80 that forces the arm 52 from the folded position to the extended position when the two balls 74 are disengaged from the first pin hole. Disengagement of the two balls 74 from the first pin hole is accomplished by depressing a button 82 located at the top of the pin 72, thereby forcing the two balls 74 out of alignment with the first pin hole or second pin hole.
The preferred embodiment of the invention is described above in the Drawings and Description of Preferred Embodiments. While these descriptions directly describe the above embodiments, it is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/or variations to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Any such modifications or variations that fall within the purview of this description are intended to be included therein as well. Unless specifically noted, it is the intention of the inventor that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meanings to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art(s). The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention known to the applicant at the time of filing the application has been presented and is intended for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in the light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. [0021]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1) A device for holding objects comprising an attachment structure attached by a pivoting structure to a holder structure, said pivoting structure having a folded position relative to the attachment section and an extended position relative to the attachment structure and said holder structure comprises an arm with a proximate end and a distal end having a notch therein.

2) The device according to claim 1 wherein said pivoting structure further comprising a locking structure that locks the holder section into a folded position relative to the attachment structure and biasing structure that forces the holder section into the extended position when locking structure is disengaged.

3) The device according to claim 2 wherein the locking structure comprises a pin hole located in a proximate end of the holder structure and a pin having a retractable ball located therein that extends through a conduit in the attachment section and holder section such that when the holder structure is in a folded position the retractable ball interacts with the pin hole thereby locking the holder structure in place relative to the attachment structure.

4) The device according to claim 2 wherein the attachment structure comprises a body with a clip.

5) The device according to claim 3 wherein the attachment structure comprises a body with a clip.