Golf caddy

Abstract

A golf caddy comprises a compact body including a sidewall defining a first interior cavity, an open top end and a bottom end, a base attached to the bottom end, and at least one step member extending laterally from the base. A plurality of spikes projects longitudinally from a lower surface of the base. A handle connects to the body and includes a grip portion extending adjacent to the body to define a gap therebetween. A ball holder is connected to the body and has a sidewall defining a second interior cavity, an open top end and a closed bottom end. An alignment tool is attached to the body and is selectively reconfigurable to produce a visually perceivable line extending in a user-selectable direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body.

1 . A golf caddy comprising:
 a compact body including   a rigid sidewall defining a first interior cavity extending along a longitudinal axis, an open top end and a bottom end,   a rigid base attached to the bottom end of the body, the base having an upper surface facing the interior cavity and a lower surface facing away from the interior cavity, and   at least one step member extending laterally from the base;   a plurality of spikes projecting longitudinally from the lower surface of the base;   a handle connected to the body at a first end and including a grip portion spaced apart from the body and extending longitudinally adjacent the body to define an elongated gap between the handle and the body;   a ball holder connected to the body and having a rigid sidewall defining a second interior cavity, an open top end and a closed bottom end; and   an alignment tool attached to the body and selectively reconfigurable to produce a visually perceivable line extending away from the body in a user-selectable direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body.   
     
     
         2 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the body has a length within the range of 18 inches to 36 inches, measured from the top end to the bottom end along the longitudinal axis, but not including the length of the spikes. 
     
     
         3 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the body has a length within the range of 23 inches to 27 inches, measured from the top end to the bottom end along the longitudinal axis, but not including the length of the spikes. 
     
     
         4 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the alignment tool further comprises:
 an elongated shaft member having first and second ends and a central section disposed therebetween, the shaft member extending in a substantially straight line between the first and second ends; and   a mounting element adapted to rotatably connect the central section of the shaft member to the top end of the body such that the first and second ends of the shaft member extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   whereby the elongated shaft member, when attached to the top end of the body, can be oriented in a user-selectable direction to visually form a line extending away from the body substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body.   
     
     
         5 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the mounting element is a center clip member connected to the central section of the shaft member, the center clip member having a pair of channels adapted to removably attach across a circular rim at the top end of the body. 
     
     
         6 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a clip disposed on one of the first and second ends of the shaft member of the alignment tool, the clip adapted to releasably connect to a rim at the top end of the body; and   a securing member disposed on the body, the securing member having sidewalls and a bottom to define a cup-like recess for releasably receiving the other of the first and second ends of the shaft member;   whereby the alignment tool can be releasably secured to a side of the body for storage.   
     
     
         7 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the alignment tool further comprises:
 a laser producing a light beam in a visible wavelength;   a lens disposed along the light beam to convert the light beam to a line of light on surfaces to which it is projected; and   a mounting element adapted to rotatably connect the laser to the body such that the line of light produced by the laser and the lens can be directed at a surface adjacent to the base in a user-selectable direction to form a line extending away from the body substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body.   
     
     
         8 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the mounting element is a rotating collar affixed to the upper end of the body. 
     
     
         9 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the rigid sidewall has a substantially constant cross section, when viewed along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the cross section of the rigid sidewall is a circle of substantially constant diameter, when viewed along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the rigid sidewall is substantially unperforated by through-openings from the interior cavity. 
     
     
         12 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the rigid sidewall defines a plurality of through-openings from the interior cavity. 
     
     
         13 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the handle further includes a cylindrical hole formed therethrough, the hole having an axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body, and having a diameter within the range from 0.75 inch to 1.25 inch. 
     
     
         14 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall of the ball holder defines a cylindrical interior cavity having a diameter within the range of 1.68 inch to 2.00 inch, and the sidewall further includes at least one open slot formed through the sidewall having a width of at least 0.75 inch and extending longitudinally to within a distance of 0.5 inches from the bottom end of the ball holder. 
     
     
         15 . A golf caddy comprising:
 a body including
 a rigid sidewall defining a first interior cavity extending along a longitudinal axis, an open top end and a bottom end, 
 a rigid base attached to the bottom end of the body, the base having an upper surface facing the interior cavity and a lower surface facing away from the interior cavity, and 
 at least one step member extending laterally from the base; 
   a plurality of spikes projecting longitudinally from the lower surface of the base; and   a handle connected to the body at a first end and including a grip portion spaced apart from the body and extending longitudinally adjacent the body to define an elongated gap between the handle and the body; and   wherein the sidewall is formed from a thermoplastic material.   
     
     
         16 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the thermoplastic material of the sidewall is one of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic and polyoxymethylene (POM) plastic. 
     
     
         17 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the sidewall further comprises at least two separate sidewall sections that are joined together. 
     
     
         18 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein:
 at least one of the separate sidewall sections includes a handle slot formed on an edge thereof; and   the handle includes a flange formed thereon that is adapted to fit into the handle slot and be trapped between the two sidewall sections when they are joined together;   whereby the handle is joined to the body.   
     
     
         19 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein:
 the base is formed of a thermoplastic material and the spikes are formed of a metal material; and   the spikes are partially embedded in the base.   
     
     
         20 . A golf caddy in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein:
 the sidewall further comprises at least two separate sidewall sections that are joined together; and   the base including the partially embedded spikes is attached to the bottom end of the two sidewall sections.