GOLF BAG
The golf bag provides a golf bag for carrying golf clubs, allowing the user to remove the golf clubs through a slot formed through a wall thereof, rather than through the conventional upper opening. The golf bag includes a base having upper and lower surfaces, the lower surface being adapted for placement on the ground. An internal frame structure may be mounted to the upper surface of the base, and the internal frame structure supports an external wall. The internal frame defines an open interior region for receiving at least one golf club, and an open upper end of the external wall communicates with the open interior region. The slot is formed through a front portion of the external wall, and extends from the open upper end to a central region of the external wall.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/808,006 filed on Jun. 5, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to golfing accessories, and particularly to a golf bag for carrying a set of golf clubs. Particularly, the golf bag has a slot formed through a wall thereof, allowing the user to remove or insert a golf club through the slot, rather than pulling the club up through the open upper end of the golf bag.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional golf bags are typically tubular or cylindrical bags having an open upper end for receiving a set of golf clubs. Given the typical length of golf clubs, conventional golf bags are relatively long bags and, when placed in an upright position, require the user to extend his or her arm upwardly in order to remove or insert a golf club. Elderly or infirm users may find such arm movement to be painful or injurious. It would be desirable to provide a golf bag that allows a user to insert or remove a golf club without having to uncomfortably overextend his or her arm.
Thus, a golf bag solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe golf bag provides a golf bag for carrying golf clubs, allowing the user to remove the golf clubs through a slot formed through a wall thereof, rather than through the conventional upper opening. The golf bag includes a base having upper and lower opposed surfaces, with the lower surface being adapted for placement on a golf cart or other supporting surface. An internal frame structure is mounted to the upper surface of the base, and the internal frame structure supports an external wall.
The internal frame defines an open interior region for receiving at least one golf club, and an open upper end of the external wall communicates with the open interior region, as is known in conventional golf bags. The internal frame structure includes at least one vertical support forming a spine of the internal frame structure, and at least one horizontal support. Preferably, the horizontal supports are formed as circumferential bands, joined to the vertical support. The external wall is secured to outer faces of the horizontal supports and the vertical support.
A lower end of the external wall is secured to the upper surface of the base, and the slot is formed through a front portion of the external wall, and extends from the open upper end of the external wall to a central region of the external wall. Preferably, the internal support frame includes a substantially U-shaped support mounted to the horizontal supports and positioned opposite the vertical support. The substantially U-shaped support is positioned adjacent the slot formed through the external wall and maintains the slot in a permanently open contour.
Clips for releasably securing at least one golf club within the open interior region are further provided. Preferably, at least one substantially C-shaped clip is mounted to the inner face of one of the horizontal supports. The at least one substantially C-shaped clip is adapted for releasably gripping the shaft of the corresponding golf club. Alternatively, an annular ring or retaining plate may be mounted within the bag, with the retaining plate having a plurality of notches formed along the inner circumference thereof. The shafts of the golf clubs may be respectively received within the notches for releasably retaining the golf clubs therein.
Further, a cover is preferably provided, with the cover being dimensioned and configured to releasably and removably cover and close the upper opening of the external wall and the slot. Fasteners releasably secure the cover to the external wall, such as snaps or the like. The cover may have an opening formed therethrough, allowing for the removal of golf clubs from the golf bag when the cover is in place. Preferably, the opening is closed via a zipper or the like.
At least one golf ball carrier may be attached to the external surface of the external wall and, preferably, a carrying strap is further secured to the external surface.
An alternative embodiment includes many of the features noted above, but provides for the selective removal and replacement of the semicircular club shaft retainer if it becomes worn or damaged. Also, rather than providing a single shoulder strap on the rear of the bag for carriage of the bag, the alternate embodiment bag is devoid of such a shoulder strap but includes a pair of shorter golf cart attachment straps for securing the bag to the conventional rear lateral rail of a golf cart. In this manner, the conventional lateral strap used to secure the golf bag to the back of the cart need not be extended across the bag and its front opening or slot, with the front slot or opening of the bag remaining completely accessible. A rigid handle is provided for handling the golf bag, with a pair of wheels on a laterally telescoping axle being provided for transport of the bag over the surface.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSThe present invention is directed towards a golf bag 10. As shown in
As best shown in
The internal frame structure 62 defines an open interior region for receiving at least one golf club C. As shown, the open upper end of external wall 14 communicates with the open interior region, allowing for access to the open interior region (along with access through slot 12, as will be described in detail below). As shown in
A lower end of vertical support 32 is joined to the upper surface of base 16 in any suitable manner. Base 16 is preferably rigid and formed from relatively rugged material, allowing for placement on variable terrain. Base 16 may be formed from polypropylene or any other suitable material.
A lower end of the external wall 14 is secured to the upper surface of the base 16, and the slot 12 is formed through the external wall 14. The slot 12 extends from the open upper end 60 of the external wall 14 to a central region of the external wall 14. As noted above, the internal support frame 62 preferably includes a substantially U-shaped support 34, which is mounted to the horizontal supports 30 and positioned opposite the vertical support 32. The substantially U-shaped support 34 is positioned adjacent the slot 12 formed through the external wall 14 and maintains the slot 12 in a permanently open configuration. The internal frame structure 62, including horizontal supports 30, vertical support 32 and U-shaped support 34, are preferably formed from relatively lightweight metal, such as aluminum or plastic.
Clips for releasably securing at least one golf club C within the open interior region are further provided. Preferably, at least one substantially C-shaped clip 28 is mounted to the inner face of one of the horizontal supports 30, as shown in
In the alternative embodiment shown in
As shown, notches or recesses 72 are formed along the inner circumference of annular retaining plate 70. The shafts of golf clubs C may be releasably held within the notches 72. Preferably, there are 14 such notches 72, allowing for reception of a full set of golf clubs C therein.
Further, as shown in
As shown in
The golf ball carrier 20 preferably has a substantially tubular configuration, which may include a segmented housing 36, as shown. Tabs 48 and 50 are provided at the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the housing 36 for attachment to the external surface of external wall 14.
The housing 36 includes open upper and lower ends, which are releasably closed by upper and lower covers 38, allowing golf balls B to be inserted or removed through either the upper or lower ends. Each cover 38 includes a flap 40 extending outwardly therefrom, and each flap 40 includes a fastener for releasably closing the respective cover 38 to the external surface of housing 36. In
Referring to
A flexible club shaft holder 136 is removably installed within the retaining slot of the club shaft holder retainers 134a and 134b, generally as shown in
The club shaft holder 136 is removably retained within the bag 110 by the club shaft holder retainer portions 134a and 134b, as noted further above. The club shaft holder 136 is installed within the bag 110 with its peripheral club access opening 140 in registry with the open slot 128 of the golf bag 110 to allow golf clubs C (
Accordingly, at least one, but preferably two golf cart attachment strap assemblies are provided to the upper portion of the back area 122 of the golf bag wall 112. Each strap assembly comprises an upper strap 144 affixed to the back area 122 of the bag wall 112 adjacent to the upper end 114 thereof, and a lower strap 146 affixed to the back area 122 of the bag wall 112 above the medial area 116 thereof. Each of the upper straps 144 includes a buckle or clasp component 148 extending from the distal end thereof, with the lower straps also having buckle or clasp components 150 extending from their distal ends. The corresponding buckle or clasp components 148 and 150 may be conventional side latch buckle components or other suitable latch mechanisms. The buckle or clasp components selectively latch together to secure the golf bag 110 to a support structure or the like, e.g., the conventional rearward lateral rail or bar R of a golf cart. In this manner, the club access slot 128 is disposed to the rear, away from the supporting rear rail or bar R of the cart, thus permitting free access to golf clubs C within the bag 110 through the club access slot 128 when the bag 110 is secured to the golf cart.
A rigid handle 152 is affixed to the upper end 114 of the golf bag wall 112 at the back area 122 thereof, or more specifically, to a rigid member defining the upper end or edge of the bag 110. The handle 152 may be made to be removable, if so desired. The rigid upper member may be an extension of the internal frame 126, if so equipped. Alternatively, the golf bag 110 of
It will be noted that the first axle component 162 has a smaller diameter than the second axle component 164, so that the first axle component 162 telescopes concentrically within the second axle component 164. The inboard portion 174 of the second axle component 164 includes a reduced diameter passage 176 at its extreme end that fits closely about the smaller diameter of the first axle component 162 to allow the first axle component 162 to slide freely therethrough. The inboard portion 178 of the first axle component 162 includes a larger diameter flange 180 extending from its extreme inboard end, the flange 180 being larger than the reduced diameter passage 176 of the second axle component 164. Thus, the inboard portion 178 of the first axle component 162 is free to slide laterally within the inboard portion 174 of the second axle component 164. Escape of the first axle component 162 from the second axle component 164 at its extreme range of travel is prevented by the smaller diameter passage 176 of the second axle component 164 stopping movement of the larger diameter flange 180 of the first axle component 162.
A golfer using the golf bag 110 may expand the width of the two wheels 170, 172 by pulling outwardly on the wheels, thereby drawing their axle components 162, 164 frictionally through their respective bracket passages 158 and 160, resulting in a wheel position somewhat as shown in broken lines in
The various components of the golf bags 10 and 110 may be combined with one another, e.g., the telescoping wheels, conical base with its club grip butt receptacles, removable club shaft retainer, and cart attachment straps may be used with the golf bag 10 of
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A golf bag, comprising:
- a wall having an open upper end, a medial area, a lower end, a frontal area, a back area, and an internal surface, the frontal area further including a golf club access slot disposed therein, the slot extending from the upper end of the wall downward to the medial area of the wall;
- a closed, rigid base affixed to the lower end of the wall;
- a plurality of club shaft holder retainers affixed to the inner surface of the wall near the upper end thereof; and
- a flexible club shaft holder, the holder having a generally semicircular configuration defining an open center and a peripheral club access opening, the holder further having a plurality of radially disposed club shaft retaining slots disposed therein, the club shaft retaining slots communicating with the open center of the holder, the holder being removably and replaceably installed and retained within the wall by the club shaft holder retainers.
2. The golf bag according to claim 1, further including at least one golf cart attachment strap assembly extending from the back area of the wall, the strap assembly having an upper strap affixed to the back area of the wall adjacent the upper end thereof and a lower strap affixed to the back area of the wall above the medial area thereof, the upper strap and the lower strap having mating selectively attachable and detachable clasp components extending therefrom.
3. The golf bag according to claim 1, further including:
- laterally spaced, first and second axle holders extending rearwardly from the base;
- a first axle component frictionally adjustably disposed through the first axle holder, the first axle component having an inboard portion and an outboard end, the outboard end having a first wheel rotatably installed thereon; and
- a second axle component frictionally adjustably disposed through the second axle holder, the second axle component having an inboard portion and an outboard end, the outboard end having a second wheel rotatably installed thereon, the inboard portion of the first axle component adjustably telescoping within the inboard portion of the second axle component.
4. The golf bag according to claim 1, further including a cover removably disposed over the open upper end and the golf club access slot of the wall, the cover having a selectively openable closure disposed over the slot when the cover is installed upon the wall.
5. The golf bag according to claim 1, further including a rigid handle extending from the back area of the wall adjacent the open upper end thereof.
6. The golf bag according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a shallow, raised conical central area sloping outward and downward to a plurality of club grip butt receptacles disposed peripherally therearound, each of the receptacles having a drain passage therethrough.
7. The golf bag according to claim 1, further including an internal frame structure defining the upper end, the lower end, and the golf club access slot of the wall.
8. A golf bag, comprising:
- a wall having an open upper end, a medial area, a lower end, a frontal area, a back area, and an internal surface, the frontal area further including a golf club access slot disposed therein, the slot extending from the upper end of the wall downwardly to the medial area of the wall;
- a closed, rigid base affixed to the lower end of the wall; and
- at least one golf cart attachment strap assembly extending from the back area of the wall, the strap assembly having an upper strap affixed to the back area of the wall adjacent the upper end thereof and a lower strap affixed to the back area of the wall above the medial area thereof, the upper strap and the lower strap further having mating, selectively attachable and detachable clasp components extending therefrom.
9. The golf bag according to claim 8, further including:
- a plurality of club shaft holder retainers affixed to the inner surface of the wall near the upper end thereof; and
- a flexible club shaft holder, the holder having a generally semicircular configuration defining an open center and a peripheral club access opening, the holder further having a plurality of radially disposed club shaft retaining slots disposed therein, the club shaft retaining slots communicating with the open center of the holder, the holder being removably and replaceably installed and retained within the wall by the club shaft holder retainers.
10. The golf bag according to claim 8, further including:
- laterally spaced, first and second axle holders extending rearwardly from the base;
- a first axle component frictionally and adjustably disposed through the first axle holder, the first axle component having an inboard portion and an outboard end, the outboard end having a first wheel rotatably installed thereon; and
- a second axle component frictionally adjustably disposed through the second axle holder, the second axle component having an inboard portion and an outboard end, the outboard end having a second wheel rotatably installed thereon, the inboard portion of the first axle component adjustably telescoping within the inboard portion of the second axle component.
11. The golf bag according to claim 8, further including a cover removably disposed over the open upper end and the golf club access slot of the wall, the cover having a selectively openable closure disposed over the slot when the cover is installed upon the wall.
12. The golf bag according to claim 8, further including a rigid handle extending from the back area of the wall adjacent the open upper end thereof.
13. The golf bag according to claim 8, wherein the base comprises a shallow, raised conical central area sloping outward and downward to a plurality of club grip butt receptacles disposed peripherally therearound, each of the receptacles having a drain passage therethrough.
14. The golf bag according to claim 8, further including an internal frame structure defining the upper end, the lower end, and the golf club access slot of the wall.
15. A golf bag, comprising:
- a wall having an open upper end, a medial area, a lower end, a frontal area, a back area, and an internal surface, the frontal area further including a golf club access slot disposed therein, the slot extending from the upper end of the wall downwardly to the medial area of the wall;
- a closed, rigid base affixed to the lower end of the wall;
- laterally spaced first and second axle holders extending rearwardly from the base;
- a first axle component frictionally and adjustably disposed through the first axle holder, the first axle component having an inboard portion and an outboard end, the outboard end having a first wheel rotatably installed thereon; and
- a second axle component frictionally adjustably disposed through the second axle holder, the second axle component having an inboard portion and an outboard end, the outboard end having a second wheel rotatably installed thereon, the inboard portion of the first axle component adjustably telescoping within the inboard portion of the second axle component.
16. The golf bag according to claim 15, further including:
- a plurality of club shaft holder retainers affixed to the inner surface of the wall near the upper end thereof; and
- a flexible club shaft holder, the holder having a generally semicircular configuration defining an open center and a peripheral club access opening, the holder further having a plurality of radially disposed club shaft retaining slots disposed therein, the club shaft retaining slots communicating with the open center of the holder, the holder being removably and replaceably installed and retained within the wall by the club shaft holder retainers.
17. The golf bag according to claim 15, further including at least one golf cart attachment strap assembly extending from the back area of the wall, the strap assembly having an upper strap affixed to the back area of the wall adjacent the upper end thereof and a lower strap affixed to the back area of the wall above the medial area thereof, the upper strap and the lower strap further having mating, selectively attachable and detachable clasp components extending therefrom.
18. The golf bag according to claim 15, further including a cover removably disposed over the open upper end and the golf club access slot of the wall, the cover having a selectively openable closure disposed over the slot when the cover is installed upon the wall.
19. The golf bag according to claim 15, further including a rigid handle extending from the back area of the wall adjacent the open upper end thereof.
20. The golf bag according to claim 15, wherein:
- the base comprises a shallow, raised conical central area sloping outward and downward to a plurality of club grip butt receptacles disposed peripherally therearound, each of the receptacles having a drain passage therethrough; and
- an internal frame structure is disposed within the wall, the frame structure defining the upper end, the lower end, and the golf club access slot of the wall.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 5, 2010
Publication Date: Nov 25, 2010
Inventors: TIM J. DYLINA (Kenville, TX), Lisa K. Dylina (Kenville, TX), Frank Fenton (Sarasota, IL)
Application Number: 12/851,520
International Classification: A63B 55/08 (20060101);