Golf club handgrip elevation apparatus

Abstract

A golf club handgrip elevation device is provided which maintains the handgrip of the golf club off of the ground when the club is placed on the ground. The invention includes an opening in a receiving section into which the club is placed and includes a gripping section for holding golf club end. The gripping section may include brushes, flexible ribs, or fingers. A contact section is provided to contact the ground after the handgrip has been placed into the receiving section. The contact section is wide enough, such that it does not damage the surface of the golf course. A grip section or grip ring is provided adjacent the contact section which does not touch the ground and allows the golfer to pick up the golf club and remove the device without touching the ground or the contact section. Thus, there is no transfer of moisture from the ground to the golfer's hand.

1 - 36 . (canceled) 
   
   
       37 . A golf club handgrip elevation apparatus for elevating a golf club off of the ground, the golf club having a handgrip and a longitudinal axis, the golf club handgrip elevation apparatus comprising,
 a receiving section, having an opening in one end to receive an end of the handgrip, the receiving section having a grip holder for releasably holding the golf club handgrip;   a contact ring adjacent the receiving section;   a grip section having a portion thereof spaced away from the contact ring in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the grip section sized such that when the golf club handgrip is placed into the golf club handgrip elevation apparatus, and the contact ring is in contact with the ground at a point at which the ground is relatively level along the entire length of the golf club handgrip elevation apparatus in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the grip section is exposed to the ground but is held above the ground such that a user is able to place his fingers between the lowermost point of the grip section and the ground to pick up the golf club without his fingers contacting the ground.   
   
   
       38 . The golf club handgrip elevation apparatus of  claim 37  wherein the contact ring has a width in the longitudinal direction of greater than 0.25 inches. 
   
   
       39 . The golf club handgrip elevation apparatus of  claim 37  wherein the contact ring has a continuous outside perimeter. 
   
   
       40 . The golf club handgrip elevation apparatus of  claim 37  wherein the grip section has a closed end. 
   
   
       41 . The golf club handgrip elevation apparatus of  claim 40  wherein the closed end has a surface adapted to display printed information. 
   
   
       42 . The golf club handgrip elevation apparatus of  claim 41  wherein the surface has a surface area of greater than one square inch. 
   
   
       43 . The golf club handgrip elevation apparatus of  claim 41  wherein the surface is substantially planar. 
   
   
       44 . The golf club handgrip elevation apparatus of  claim 37  wherein the grip holder includes fingers for holding the handgrip. 
   
   
       45 . The golf club handgrip elevation apparatus of  claim 37  wherein the golf club handgrip elevation apparatus is constructed of a polymer material. 
   
   
       46 . The golf club handgrip elevation apparatus of  claim 37  further including an attachment device for attaching the golf club handgrip elevation apparatus to a golf bag. 
   
   
       47 . The golf club handgrip elevation apparatus of  claim 46  wherein the attachment device includes a clip. 
   
   
       48 . A golf club handgrip elevation apparatus for elevating a golf club off of the ground, the golf club having a handgrip and a longitudinal axis, the golf club handgrip elevation apparatus comprising,
 a receiving section, having an opening in one end to receive an end of the handgrip, the receiving section having a grip holder for releasably holding the golf club handgrip;   a contact ring adjacent the receiving section;   a grip section having a portion thereof spaced away from the contact ring in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the grip section and contact ring sized such that when the golf club handgrip is placed into the golf club handgrip elevation apparatus, and the contact ring is in contact with the ground at a point at which the ground is relatively level along the entire length of the golf club handgrip elevation apparatus in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the grip section is exposed to the ground but is held above the ground by a distance greater than the diameter of the golf club handgrip at its largest point.   
   
   
       49 . The golf club handgrip elevation apparatus of  claim 48  wherein the entire length of the golf club handgrip elevation apparatus in the direction of the longitudinal axis is less than half the length of the golf club handgrip.