Golf club carrier

Abstract

A removable golf club carrier with pivotable legs that have a retracted position and an extended position. The carrier is removably attached to a golf bag and is designed to hold two or more golf clubs. A handle is used to hold and carry the golf club carrier when it is removed from the golf bag, and is also used to secure the golf club carrier to the golf bag. The pivotable legs are attached to the carrier such that when extended they prop the golf club carrier up while the golfer selects a golf club carrier prior to taking a shot. The golf club carrier has storage compartments that keep the shaft and the handle of the golf clubs clean and dry. The pivotable legs prevent the golf club heads from becoming dirty or wet by preventing them from coming in contact with the ground when the golfer stands the golf club carrier on the ground. An optional outer sleeve is also provided to facilitate ease of insertion and removal of the golf club carrier into and out of the golf bag.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A golf club carrier, further comprising: 
 golf club storage compartment having a plurality of sleeves, each sleeve sized to store the shaft of a conventional golf club;    at least two legs, further comprising: 
 means to attach the proximal end of each leg to the golf club storage compartment;  
 the legs having a closed position wherein the distal end of the legs are in proximity to the golf club storage compartment, can open position wherein the distal end of the legs are extended outward from the golf club storage compartment; and  
 each leg having a length, when pivoted away from the golf club storage compartment, that is sufficient to support the golf club storage compartment at an angle sufficient to allow a golfer to insert or remove a golf club without bending over; and  
   a handle having means to be grasped by a golfer, the handle further having means to secure the golf club carrier to a golf bag.    
     
     
         2 . A golf club carrier, as in  claim 1 ,wherein the proximal ends of the legs are hingedly attached to the golf club storage compartment.  
     
     
         3 . A golf club carrier, as in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the legs pivot at their proximal ends from the open position to the closed position such that they can be stored in close proximity to the golf club carrier when in a closed position, and extended outward at the distal end when in the open position; and    means to secure the distal ends of the legs to the golf club carrier.    
     
     
         4 . A golf club carrier, as in  claim 3 , wherein a spring loaded hinge is used to attach the legs to the golf club storage compartment.  
     
     
         5 . A golf club carrier, as in  claim 3 , wherein a manually operated hinge is used to attach the legs to the golf club storage compartment.  
     
     
         6 . A golf club carrier, as in  claim 5 , wherein a friction hinge is used as the manually operated hinge to hold the legs in position.  
     
     
         7 . A golf club carrier, as in  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the legs are extendable; and    the angle of the golf club carrier when the legs are extended can be adjusted by extending the length of the legs.    
     
     
         8 . A golf club carrier, as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the legs are extendable; and    the angle of the golf club carrier when the legs are extended can be adjusted by extending the length of the legs.    
     
     
         9 . A golf club carrier, as in  claim 8 ,wherein the proximal ends of the legs are hingedly attached to the golf club storage compartment.  
     
     
         10 . A golf club carrier, as in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the legs pivot at their proximal ends from the open position to the closed position such that they can be stored in close proximity to the golf club carrier when in a closed position, and extended outward at the distal end when in the open position; and    means to secure the distal ends of the legs to the golf club carrier.    
     
     
         11 . A golf club carrier, as in  claim 10 , wherein a spring loaded hinge is used to attach the legs to the golf club storage compartment.  
     
     
         12 . A golf club carrier, as in  claim 10 , wherein a manually operated hinge is used to attach the legs to the golf club storage compartment.  
     
     
         13 . A golf club carrier, as in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means to alter the number of available sleeves.    
     
     
         14 . A golf club carrier, as in  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 means to seal unused sleeves.    
     
     
         15 . A golf club carrier, as in  claim 14 , wherein the means to seal unused sleeves are removable caps.  
     
     
         16 . A method of preselecting and transporting a limited subset of golf clubs, including the steps of: 
 selecting a subset of golf clubs from a set of golf clubs and separating them from the set of golf clubs;    storing the selected subset of golf clubs in a golf club carrier;    carrying the golf club carrier to location of the golf ball; and    using at least two legs to prop up the golf club carrier that a sufficient angle to allow one of the selected subset of golf clubs to be removed from the golf club carrier without the golfer having to bend over.    
     
     
         17 . A method, as in  claim 16 , including the additional steps of: 
 using a handle attached to the golf club carrier to transport the golf club carrier, and    secure in the golf club carrier to a golf bag with the handle.    
     
     
         18 . A method, as in  claim 16 , including the additional step of attaching the legs to the golf club carrier such that they are retracted during transport.  
     
     
         19 . A method, as in  claim 18 , including the additional step of making the legs extendable such that a golfer can vary the length of the legs to adjust the angle at which the golf club carrier is propped up.  
     
     
         20 . A method, as in  claim 16 , including the additional steps of: 
 providing means to alter the number of clubs that may be carried by the golf club carrier.