Golf Club Bag And Method Of Manufacture
In one embodiment, a golf club bag comprises; a top member, a bottom member opposite the top member, a body portion coupled to the top member and the bottom member, at least one stay extending from proximate the top member to proximate the bottom member to support the body portion, and at least one external support member to support the body portion at an upright angled position. The bottom member is not coupled to any stays. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
This disclosure relates generally to golf club bags, and relates more particularly to a support frame for the golf club bag, and its method of manufacture.
BACKGROUNDGolf Club equipment manufacturers may design golf club bags that have a frame and support legs to support a golf club bag at an angled upright position. The frame is hinged in some manner to the bottom of the golf club bag to allow the bag to bend as it is placed on the ground and bent to the angled position. The hinge facilitates the bottom of the golf club bag to remain parallel and flat to the ground. Alternatively, a golf club bag may have a configuration without hinging the frame to the bottom of the golf club bag.
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction. Descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques can be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring a golf club bag and method of manufacture. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures can be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of the various exemplary embodiments of the golf club bag. When used, the same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.
The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the ordinal terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the exemplary embodiments of a golf club bag and method of manufacture described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described. Furthermore, the terms “contain,” “include,” and “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an article or method that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but can include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such article or method.
The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “side,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the positional terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of a golf club bag and method of manufacture described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described. The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as directly or indirectly connected in a physical, mechanical, or other manner.
DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTSIn an embodiment of golf club bags, a golf club bag comprises: a top member, a bottom member opposite the top member, a body portion coupled to the top member and the bottom member, at least one stay extending from proximate the top member to proximate the bottom member to support the body portion, and at least one external support member to support the body portion at an angled position. The bottom member may not be coupled to any stays. The golf club bag can further comprise at least one intermediate member located between the top member and the bottom member to provide additional support for the golf club bag and/or stays.
In another embodiment, a golf club bag comprises a frame comprising; a top member, a bottom member opposite the top member, all intermediate member between the top member and the bottom member, a first stay, a second stay, and a third stay. A body portion couples to the frame to define a cavity for holding golf clubs. The first stay, the second stay, and the third stay can couple to the intermediate member and the top member. Further, the third stay can also extend beyond the intermediate member towards the bottom member, and can be adjacent to the bottom member.
Among various embodiments described herein, a stay or multiple stays can couple to both an intermediate member and a top member, and the intermediate member can subsequently couple to a body portion. The stay or stays can couple to the top member or the bag by various fittings, such as friction fittings. The top and bottom members can be closed loops, and the intermediate member can be an arcuate member. Certain embodiments can comprise adjustable length stay or stays, such as, telescopically adjustable stays.
Among the exemplary embodiments, a golf club bag facilitates a bottom member lying parallel to a reference ground plane, i.e., lie flat on the ground, when the golf club bag is at an angled “resting,” position. When the golf club bag is at the angled “resting” position, the bottom member does not hinge with another portion of the golf club bag, but rather, a portion of the golf club bag proximate the bottom member may collapse to allow the golf club bag to bend at the angled position.
In an exemplary embodiment, a method for manufacturing a golf club bag comprises, providing a top member, providing a bottom member opposite the top member, providing a body portion coupled to the top member and the bottom member, providing at least one stay extending from proximate the top member to proximate the bottom member to support the body portion, and providing at least one external support member to support the body portion at an angled position. The method further comprises providing the bottom member without being coupled to any stays. Among the embodiments for manufacturing a golf club bag, the various physical elements described above can also be provided.
Turning now to the figures,
Golf club bag 100 can further comprise a second stay 142. Second stay 142 can similarly be coupled to top member 115 and body portion 125 via another top member stay fitting 147 and another bag stay fitting 152. Second stay 142 can be located opposite stay 140, but the various exemplary embodiments described herein are not limited in this regard. Golf club bag 100, as shown in
With reference to
With reference to
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The exemplary embodiments of golf club bags 100, 200, 300 and 1000, as shown in
In certain embodiments, body portion 125 may couple to top member 115 by being incorporated with top member 115. For example, top member 115 can be sewn into body portion 125. Body portion 125 can also couple to an outer perimeter wall of top member 115 so that all or a portion of top member 115 is exposed. In similar fashion, body portion 125 may incorporate bottom member 120. For example, bottom member 120 can be sewn into body portion 125. Body portion 125 can also couple to an outer perimeter wall of bottom member 120 so that all or a portion of bottom member 120 is exposed.
Exemplary embodiments of golf club bag 100, 200, 300, and 1000 can comprise the golf club bag to be flexible. In one example, golf club bag 100, or body portion 125, comprises a flexible material, such as leather or a woven fabric of synthetic and/or natural fibers. Body portion 125 allows golf club bag 100 to deform as needed when used in various manners. For example, when golf club bag 100 is placed on a surface, such as surface 198 in
As mentioned earlier, to provide a frame or support for body portion 125, certain exemplary embodiments comprise golf club bags 100, 200, 300, and 1000 having a single stay or multiple stays. For example, stay 140 in
Golf club bag 100 can further comprise second stay 142, wherein second stay 142 can provide additional support for body portion 125. Second stay 142 is coupled along the inside back portion 101 of body portion 125, it can couple to top member 115 at fitting 147, and extend from top member 115 towards bottom member 120. Similar to stay 140, second stay 142 does not couple to bottom member 120, but rather couples to a fitting, such as stay fitting 152 in
Golf club bags 200 and 300 can further comprise a third stay 244, as shown in
The exemplary embodiments of golf club bags 100, 200, and 300 shown in
Among certain embodiments, the various slays and top, bottom, and intermediate members can comprise materials configured to withstand the forces for supporting, for example, golf club bag 100 plus the weight of golf clubs (not shown) and/or other products housed by or coupled to golf club bag 100, such as golf shoes, golf balls, a golf ball retriever, tees, an umbrella, towels, clothes, etc. The stay and/or intermediated member materials can comprise metals, such as, iron, aluminum, nickel, titanium, their alloys, etc, but the stay materials can also comprise non-metallic materials, such as plastics or composites. In any event, the materials chosen to manufacture the various stays should be capable of supporting the exemplary golf club bags described herein.
With reference to
Intermediate members 280 (
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Among certain examples, and returning to
Certain embodiments can comprise other elements to compliment golf club bag 100. For example, with reference to
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As illustrated in
In method 900, the top member can be similar to top member 115 (
Although a particular order of actions is illustrated in
Additional examples of such changes have been given in the foregoing description. Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments of a golf club bag and method of manufacture is intended to be illustrative of the scope of a golf club bag and method of manufacture and is not intended to be limiting. For example, in one embodiment, a golf club bag can have one or more features of
The article and method discussed herein can be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and that the foregoing discussion of certain of these embodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. Rather, the detailed description of the drawings, and the drawings themselves, disclose at least one preferred embodiment of a golf club bag and method of manufacture, and can disclose alternative embodiments of a golf club bag and method of manufacture.
All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to a golf club bag and method of manufacture claimed in that particular claim. Consequently, replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that can cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims.
Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.
Claims
1. A golf club bag comprising:
- a top member;
- a bottom member opposite the top member;
- a body portion coupled to the top member and the bottom member;
- at least one stay extending from proximate the top member to proximate the bottom member to support the body portion; and
- at least one external support member to support the body portion at an angled position; wherein: the bottom member is not coupled to any stays.
2. The golf club bag of claim 1, further comprising at least one intermediate member between the top member and the bottom member.
3. The golf club bag of claim 2, wherein the at least one stay couples to the at least one intermediate member and the top member.
4. The golf club bag of claim 2, wherein the top member and the bottom member are closed loops, and the at least one intermediate member is an arcuate member.
5. The golf club bag of claim 2, wherein the at least one intermediate member couples to the body portion.
6. The golf club bag of claim 1, wherein the at least one stay couples to the top member by a friction fitting.
7. The golf club bag of claim 1, wherein a length of the at least one stay is adjustable.
8. The golf club bag of claim 1, wherein the at least one stay is approximately 70 to 160 centimeters long and has an end located approximately 0.1 to 20 centimeters above the bottom member.
9. The golf club bag of claim 1, wherein the bottom member lies parallel to a reference ground plane when the body portion is placed at an angled position on the reference ground plane.
10. The golf club bag of claim 1, wherein the bottom member is not hinged to the golf club bag by mechanical hardware.
11. The golf club bag of claim 1, wherein an end of the at least one stay couples to the body portion by a fitting configured to receive the end.
12. A bag comprising
- a frame comprising: a top member; a bottom member opposite the top member; an intermediate member between the top member and the bottom member; a first stay; a second stay; a third stay; and
- a body portion coupled to the frame defining a cavity to hold golf clubs; wherein: the first stay, the second stay, and the third stay couple to the intermediate member and the top member; the third stay extends beyond the intermediate member towards the bottom member; and the third stay is adjacent to the bottom member.
13. The bag of claim 12, wherein:
- the frame further comprises a second intermediate member between the top member and the bottom member; and
- the first stay, the second stay, and the third stay couple to the second intermediate member.
14. The bag of claim 13, wherein the second and third stays are shorter than the first stay.
15. The bag of claim 12, wherein the intermediate member couples to the body portion.
16. The bag of claim 12, wherein the top member and the bottom member are closed loops, and the intermediate member is an arcuate member.
17. The bag of claim 12, wherein a length of the first stay, a length of the second stay, and a length of the third stay are adjustable.
18. The bag of claim 12, wherein the bottom member lies parallel to a reference ground plane when the body portion is placed at an angled position on the reference ground plane.
19. The bag of claim 12, wherein the bottom member is not coupled to another portion of the bag by a mechanical hardware hinge.
20. The bag of claim 12, further comprising support legs configured to maintain the body portion at an angled position.
21. The golf club bag of claim 12, wherein ends of the first, second and third stays couple to the body portion by friction fittings configured to receive the ends.
22. A method for manufacturing a golf club bag comprising:
- providing a top member;
- providing a bottom member opposite the top member;
- providing a body portion coupled to the top member and the bottom member;
- providing at least one stay extending from proximate the top member to proximate the bottom member to support the body portion; and
- providing at least one external support member to support the body portion at an angled position; wherein: the bottom member is not coupled to any stays.
23. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing at least one intermediate member between the top member and the bottom member.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein providing the at least one intermediate member further comprises coupling the at least one intermediate member to the body portion.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein providing the at least one stay further comprises coupling the at least one stay to the at least one intermediate member and to the top member.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one stay couples to the top member by a friction fitting.
27. The method of claim 23, wherein,
- providing the top member comprises providing the top member to be a first closed loop;
- providing the bottom member comprises providing the bottom member to be a second closed loop; and
- providing the at least one intermediate member further comprises providing the at least one intermediate member to be an arcuate member.
28. The method of claim 22, wherein providing the at least one stay comprises providing the at least one stay to be adjustable.
29. The method of claim 22, wherein providing the bottom member comprises providing the bottom member to lie parallel to a reference ground plane when the body portion is placed at an angled position on the reference ground plane.
30. The method of claim 22, wherein providing the bottom member comprises providing a bottom member without hinging to the golf club bag by mechanical hardware.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 16, 2008
Publication Date: Dec 17, 2009
Inventor: Frank A. Quartarone (Phoenix, AZ)
Application Number: 12/140,204
International Classification: A63B 55/06 (20060101);