Security assembly for golf clubs

Abstract

The combination of: a) at least a first golf club; and b) a security assembly having a frame with at least a first opening and a blocking assembly changeable between loading and blocking states. The first golf club and security assembly are configured so that: a) with the blocking assembly in the loading state and the first golf club initially fully separated from the security assembly, the first golf club can be moved so that at least a part of an elongate shaft on the first golf club is directed into the first opening and the first golf club is in a display position; and b) with the first golf club in the display position and the blocking assembly changed from the loading state into the blocking state, the blocking assembly prevents separation of the first golf club from the security assembly.

1 . In combination:
 a) at least a first golf club, the at least first golf club comprising:
 an elongate shaft with a free end; and 
 a head on the elongate shaft, spaced from the free end of the elongate shaft, and configured to strike a golf ball; and 
   b) a security assembly comprising:
 a frame having at least a first opening; and 
 a blocking assembly changeable between: i) a loading state; and ii) a blocking state, 
   the first golf club and security assembly configured so that: a) with the blocking assembly in the loading state and the first golf club initially fully separated from the security assembly, the first golf club can be moved so that at least a part of the elongate shaft on the first golf club is directed into the first opening and the first golf club is supported in a display position; and b) with the first golf club in the display position and the blocking assembly changed from the loading state into the blocking state, the blocking assembly prevents separation of the first golf club from the security assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the first golf club and security assembly are configured so that the head on the first golf club supports the first golf club in the display position. 
     
     
         3 . The combination according to  claim 2  wherein the first golf club and security assembly are configured so that with the blocking assembly in the loading state the first golf club is moved from a starting position fully separated from the security assembly into the display position by directing the free end of the elongate shaft on the first club into and in a first direction through the first opening. 
     
     
         4 . The combination according to  claim 3  wherein the first golf club and security assembly are configured so that the first golf club is moved in a substantially straight path in the first direction in moving from the starting position into the display position1. 
     
     
         5 . The combination according to  claim 4  wherein the straight path is substantially parallel to a length of the elongate shaft on the first golf club. 
     
     
         6 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the security assembly comprises a cradle for engaging a part of the first golf club, the cradle configured to releasably maintain the first golf club in a predetermined relationship with the security assembly with the first golf club in the display position. 
     
     
         7 . The combination according to  claim 5  wherein the head of the first golf club nests in the cradle with the first golf club in the display position and the blocking assembly in the blocking state blocks the head of the first golf club in the cradle with the first golf club in the display position. 
     
     
         8 . The combination according to  claim 3  wherein with the blocking assembly in the blocking state and the first golf club in the display position, the blocking assembly prevents the free end of the elongate shaft on the first golf club from moving oppositely to the first direction and from the first opening. 
     
     
         9 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein with the security assembly in an operative position, at least a part of the frame with the first opening is spaced above a subjacent surface. 
     
     
         10 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein with the security assembly in an operative position, at least a part of the frame with the first opening is cantilever mounted to a support to be spaced above a subjacent surface. 
     
     
         11 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the frame extends around a volume with an entryway, and the first golf club and security assembly are configured so that with the blocking assembly in the loading state the free end of the elongate shaft on the first golf club is directed through the entryway and the frame volume and into and through the first frame opening into the display position, wherein the head of the first golf club resides in the frame volume. 
     
     
         12 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein with the first golf club in the display position, the head of the first golf club is blocked in the frame volume by the blocking assembly as an incident of changing the blocking assembly from the loading state into the blocking state. 
     
     
         13 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein the blocking assembly comprises a lid that is pivotably connected to the frame and movable pivotably between a first position wherein the blocking assembly is in the loading state and a second position wherein the blocking assembly is in the blocking state. 
     
     
         14 . The combination according to  claim 13  wherein the lid in the second position blocks at least a part of the volume entryway. 
     
     
         15 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the security assembly comprises a locking assembly having locked and unlocked states, the locking assembly in the locked state maintains the blocking assembly in the blocking state, the locking assembly in the unlocked state permitting the blocking assembly to be changed between the loading and blocking states. 
     
     
         16 . The combination according to  claim 14  wherein the security assembly comprises a locking assembly having locked and unlocked states, the locking assembly in the locked state maintaining the lid in the second position, the locking assembly in the unlocked state permitting the lid to be changed between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         17 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein the at least first frame opening comprises a plurality of frame openings each in communication with the frame volume such that at least one additional golf club with an elongate shaft and head can be placed in a display position wherein the head of the at least one additional golf club is in the frame volume. 
     
     
         18 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein with the first golf club in the display position a weight of the first golf club is supported by the head of the first golf club with the elongate shaft of the first golf club depending from the head of the first golf club. 
     
     
         19 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein the frame defines a cradle against which a head of another golf club with an elongate shaft can be supported to thereby maintain the another golf club in a display position with the head of the another golf club outside of the frame volume and the elongate shaft of the another golf club depending from the head of the another golf club. 
     
     
         20 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the first golf club is a “wood” golf club. 
     
     
         21 . The combination according to  claim 16  wherein the locking assembly has first and second holding components that engage holding components on the lid at spaced locations with the locking assembly in the locked state. 
     
     
         22 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the at least first opening is a fully surrounded opening.