After-Market Golf Ball Container For Attaching To Golf Cart

Abstract

An after-market container that attaches with mating opposing members to a golf cart for holding golf balls for sequential dispensing from an interior cavity through an opening between a pair of opposing legs that each includes a projecting stop on an interior surface, with the legs flexible for moving from a first position for holding one of the golf balls retained by the projecting stops to a second outward position sufficient for the golf ball to pass by the projecting stops.

1 . An after-market container for attaching to a golf cart for sequential dispensing of golf balls, comprising:
 a housing having an interior cavity for receiving at least one golf ball;   the housing defining an opening for passage of the golf ball into and from the interior cavity;   the housing defining a pair of opposing legs at the opening, each leg having on an interior surface a projecting stop and the legs flexible for moving from a first position for holding the golf ball between the legs and retained by the opposing projecting stops to a second outward position sufficient for the golf ball to pass by the projecting stops;   the housing including a land portion on an exterior thereof for abutting contact with a surface of a member of a golf cart;   a connector comprising a first mating member attached to the housing and defining a recess configured for receiving a portion of member of the golf cart and a second mating member detachably connected to the first mating member and defining a second recess configured for receiving a second portion of the member of the golf cart; and   fasteners for connecting the first mating member and the second mating member in engaged relation receiving the member of the golf cart for attaching the container to the golf cart.   
   
   
       2 . The after-market container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines an elongated cylindrical interior cavity having a first interior diameter closely sized to a diameter of the golf ball to be received therein. 
   
   
       3 . The after-market container as recited in  claim 2 , wherein a distance between the opposing projecting stops are spaced a second distance apart, the second distance less than the first diameter. 
   
   
       4 . The after-market container as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the legs define arcuate surfaces extending coaxially with the cylinder with opposing side edges that define a gap with the respective side edge of the opposing leg. 
   
   
       5 . The container as recited in  claim 4 , wherein each side edge of the leg defines a notch therein, for gripping the golf ball held between the legs for removal therefrom. 
   
   
       6 . The container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a window in a surface thereof, whereby the number of golf balls within the interior cavity are observable. 
   
   
       7 . The container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a pair of axially aligned, spaced-apart longitudinally extending slots, whereby the number of golf balls within the interior cavity are observable. 
   
   
       8 . The container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first mating member includes a pair of spaced-apart threaded bores and the second mating member defines a pair of passageways spaced for aligning with the bores, whereby the threaded fasteners extend through the passageways and engage the bores for connecting the first and second mating members together. 
   
   
       9 . The container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein an end of the housing opposing the legs is selectively opened for disposing the golf ball within the interior cavity. 
   
   
       10 . The container as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a cap selectively detachably attached to the end of the housing for closing the housing, whereby removal of the cap opens the housing for receiving the golf ball. 
   
   
       11 . The container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the projecting stops are resilient members attached to the interior surface of the respective leg. 
   
   
       12 . The container as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the resilient members are formed of rubber. 
   
   
       13 . The container as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an holder extending laterally from a sidewall of the housing and defining an opening therethrough having an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container, for receiving a shaft of a golf club to be carried. 
   
   
       14 . The container as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a patch attached to the housing and having a surface of a first character for selective and detachable engagement to a patch on a golf accessory having a surface of a second character. 
   
   
       15 . The container as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the opening defines a nub extending from a side wall portion, thereby restricting the passage of golf balls therethrough. 
   
   
       16 . The container as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the nub extends a distance sufficient that a golf ball can be forcibly moved past the nub into the cavity yet stop an uppermost golf ball in the cavity from moving out of the cavity past the nub unintentionally by the user of the container. 
   
   
       17 . An after-market container for attaching to a golf cart for sequential dispensing of golf balls, comprising:
 a housing having an interior cavity for receiving at least one golf ball;   the housing defining an opening for passage of the golf ball into and from the interior cavity, the opening defining a nub extending from a side wall thereof for restricting passage of golf balls;   the housing defining a pair of opposing legs at the opening, each leg having on an interior surface a projecting stop and the legs flexible for moving from a first position for holding the golf ball between the legs and retained by the opposing projecting stops to a second outward position sufficient for the golf ball to pass by the projecting stops;   each side edge of the leg defines a notch therein, for gripping the golf ball held between the legs for removal therefrom;   the housing including a land portion on an exterior thereof for abutting contact with a surface of a member of a golf cart;   a connector comprising a first mating member attached to the housing and defining a recess configured for receiving a portion of member of the golf cart and a second mating member detachably connected to the first mating member and defining a second recess configured for receiving a second portion of the member of the golf cart; and   fasteners for connecting the first mating member and the second mating member in engaged relation receiving the member of the golf cart for attaching the container to the golf cart.   
   
   
       18 . The container as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the first mating member includes a pair of spaced-apart threaded bores and the second mating member defines a pair of passageways spaced for aligning with the bores, whereby the fasteners extend through the passageways and engage the bores for connecting the first and second mating members together. 
   
   
       19 . The container as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising an holder extending laterally from a sidewall of the housing and defining an opening therethrough having an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container, for receiving a shaft of a golf club to be carried.