Golfing accessory

Abstract

A golfing accessory, comprising an elongate, rigid shank; a handle disposed on a first end portion of the shank; and an umbrella unit movably supported on a second end portion of the shank. The umbrella unit includes a canopy support frame having a plurality of ribs movable between an umbrella closed position and an umbrella open position. The flexible canopy is formed by a plurality of panels each mounted between adjacent ones of the ribs. The canopy includes a pattern formed thereon by a plurality of concentric image arrays, each image array including a plurality of similar images equiangularly distributed about the shank so that, when the canopy support frame is in the umbrella open position the canopy is in a taut state and the pattern creates an illusion of a dimpled exterior of a golf ball.

1 . A golfing accessory, comprising:
 a. an elongate, rigid shank,   b. a handle disposed on a first end portion of said shank; and   c. an umbrella unit movably supported on a second end portion of said shank, said umbrella unit including:
 i. a canopy support frame having a plurality of ribs, said canopy support frame movable between an umbrella closed position and an umbrella open position; and 
 ii. a flexible canopy formed by a plurality of panels each mounted between adjacent ones of said ribs, said canopy including a pattern formed thereon by a plurality of concentric image arrays, each image array including a plurality of similar images equiangularly distributed about said shank so that, when said canopy support frame is in the umbrella open position said canopy is in a taut state and said pattern creates an illusion of a dimpled exterior of a golf ball. 
   
   
   
       2 . A golfing accessory according to  claim 1  wherein said handle is configured as a grip for a golf club and said shank, resembles a shaft for a golf club. 
   
   
       3 . A golfing accessory according to  claim 2  including a ferrule forming a second end portion of said shank, said ferrule configured as an inverted golf tee. 
   
   
       4 . A golfing accessory according to  claim 2  including a ferrule forming a second end portion of said shank, said ferrule configured as an inverted golf tee so that, when said golfing accessory is used as a walking aid with said ferrule pointed toward ground, there is a logical correlation, by virtue of the ordered arrangement of the golf-theme components of said accessory, to a golfer addressing a golf ball prior to a golf swing. 
   
   
       5 . A golfing accessory according to  claim 2  whereby, when said canopy support frame is in the umbrella open position and said ferrule is pointed skyward, there is a logical correlation, by virtue of the ordered arrangement of said golf theme components of said accessory, to a golfer addressing a golf ball prior to a golf swing. 
   
   
       6 . A golfing accessory according to  claim 2  whereby, when said canopy support frame is in the umbrella open position and said ferrule is pointed toward ground, there is a logical correlation, by virtue of the ordered arrangement of said golf theme components of said accessory, to a golfer addressing a golf ball prior to a golf swing. 
   
   
       7 . A golfing accessory according to  claim 1  wherein said shank is selectively extendable. 
   
   
       8 . A golfing accessory according to  claim 1  wherein each image is circular. 
   
   
       9 . A golfing accessory according to  claim 1  wherein each image is polygonal.