Abstract: A golf bag with an improved base. The golf bag is durable, lightweight, comfortable to carry, and easy to use. The base is made of a composite sheet material, preferably a self-reinforced polymer composite sheet material that has been thermoformed. Materials including thermoplastic polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyoxymethylene, and polyester can be processed under precise temperature and pressure conditions to form the self-reinforced polymer composite sheet material.

Abstract: A golf bag comprising a body for holding golf clubs and a shoulder strap assembly comprising (i) a first shoulder strap, (ii) a second shoulder strap, (iii) a bridge member, and (iv) a plurality of connecting straps coupled to the first and second shoulder straps. The first and second shoulder straps are configured to extend laterally towards each other. The bridge member is configured to directly and undetachably couple the first and second shoulder straps. A first end of the bridge member is attached to the first shoulder strap at a first attachment point, and a second end of the bridge member is attached to the second shoulder strap at a second attachment point. The connecting straps are attached to the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap at a third attachment point and a fourth attachment point.

Abstract: An improved leg-deployment system for a golf bag that helps prevent leg droop when the legs are in the retracted state. In an aspect, the technology relates to a golf bag that includes a bag body; a base coupled to the bag body; a top cuff coupled to the bag body; and a leg-deployment system coupled to the top cuff. The leg-deployment system may include a leg receptacle protruding away from an exterior surface of the top cuff; a spring insert inserted into the receptacle, the spring insert including a cantilevered spring segment having a fixed end and a free end; and a leg assembly including a cam nose, wherein the cam nose contacts the cantilevered spring segment when the leg assembly is in a retracted state, and the cantilevered spring segment applies a force to the cam nose to maintain the leg assembly in the retracted state.

Abstract: A hardware-based traversal coprocessor provides acceleration of tree traversal operations searching for intersections between primitives represented in a tree data structure and a ray. The primitives may include triangles used in generating a virtual scene. The hardware-based traversal coprocessor is configured to properly handle numerically challenging computations at or near edges and/or vertices of primitives and/or ensure that a single intersection is reported when a ray intersects a surface formed by primitives at or near edges and/or vertices of the primitives.

Abstract: Techniques applicable to a ray tracing hardware accelerator for traversing a hierarchical acceleration structure with reduced false positive ray intersections are disclosed. The reduction of false positives may be based upon one or more of selectively performing a secondary higher precision intersection test for a bounding volume, identifying and culling bounding volumes that degenerate to a point, and parametrically clipping rays that exceed certain configured distance thresholds.

Abstract: A golf bag having an improved base is provided. The golf bag is durable, lightweight, comfortable to carry, and easy to use. The base is made of a composite sheet material, preferably a self-reinforced polymer composite sheet material that has been thermoformed. Materials made of thermoplastic polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyoxymethylene, and polyester can be processed under precise temperature and pressure conditions to form the self-reinforced polymer composite sheet material.

Abstract: A hardware-based traversal coprocessor provides acceleration of tree traversal operations searching for intersections between primitives represented in a tree data structure and a ray. The primitives may include triangles used in generating a virtual scene. The hardware-based traversal coprocessor is configured to properly handle numerically challenging computations at or near edges and/or vertices of primitives and/or ensure that a single intersection is reported when a ray intersects a surface formed by primitives at or near edges and/or vertices of the primitives.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a waveguide, a sensing layer, a light source for emitting light onto the waveguide, and a detector for detecting a wavelength transmitted from the waveguide. The sensing layer may include a polymer layer which may come into intimate contact with a sample matrix of the environment.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to golf bags having a lightweight and durable top frame assembly. The lightweight top frame assembly can have handle and leg sub-assemblies. Three-dimensional printing methods can be used to form the top frame assembly or any portion thereof. The golf bags may include a cord assembly extending across the top frame to form one or more club dividers for organizing golf clubs.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to golf bags having a lightweight and durable top frame can be made of a lightweight metal and can have different structures. The lightweight top frame assembly can have handle and leg sub-assemblies. Three-dimensional printing methods can be used to form structures in the top frame having various shapes and geometric patterns, for example, a lattice having a top frame (cuff) with club dividers. The walls of the top cuff can be made of a lightweight metal and can have a sidewall, open loop, closed loop, or other structure. The top cuff includes club dividers for storing and organizing clubs in different compartments. The club dividers can be made of a cord material.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to golf bags comprising a cord assembly configured to form a plurality of cord dividers that extend across a top opening of the golf bag to define a plurality of compartments for receiving a golf club. The golf bags may comprise a cord connector having a housing with a first channel and a second channel configured to receive one or more segments of the cord assembly. A plurality of cord segments of the cord assembly may extend through each of the first and second channels of the cord connector. The plurality of cord segments may correspond to different cord dividers.

Abstract: An improved leg-deployment system for a golf bag that helps prevent leg droop when the legs are in the retracted state. In an aspect, the technology relates to a golf bag that includes a bag body; a base coupled to the bag body; a top cuff coupled to the bag body; and a leg-deployment system coupled to the top cuff. The leg-deployment system may include a leg receptacle protruding away from an exterior surface of the top cuff; a spring insert inserted into the receptacle, the spring insert including a cantilevered spring segment having a fixed end and a free end; and a leg assembly including a cam nose, wherein the cam nose contacts the cantilevered spring segment when the leg assembly is in a retracted state, and the cantilevered spring segment applies a force to the cam nose to maintain the leg assembly in the retracted state.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to golf bags having a lightweight and durable top frame can be made of a lightweight metal and can have different structures. The lightweight top frame assembly can have handle and leg sub-assemblies. Three-dimensional printing methods can be used to form structures in the top frame having various shapes and geometric patterns, for example, a lattice having a top frame (cuff) with club dividers. The walls of the top cuff can be made of a lightweight metal and can have a sidewall, open loop, closed loop, or other structure. The top cuff includes club dividers for storing and organizing clubs in different compartments. The club dividers can be made of a cord material.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to golf bags having a top frame (cuff) with club dividers for storing and organizing the clubs in different compartments. The club dividers are preferably made of a cord material. The walls of the top frame can be made of a lightweight metal and can have a sidewall, open loop, closed loop, or other structure. The lightweight top frame assembly can have handle and leg sub-assemblies. Three-dimensional printing methods can be used to form various structures in the top frame. The golf bag of this invention is durable, lightweight, comfortable to carry, and easy to use.

Abstract: A golf bag comprising a body for holding golf clubs and a shoulder strap assembly comprising (i) a first shoulder strap, (ii) a second shoulder strap, (iii) a bridge member, and (iv) a plurality of connecting straps coupled to the first and second shoulder straps. The first and second shoulder straps are configured to extend laterally towards each other. The bridge member is configured to directly and undetachably couple the first and second shoulder straps. A first end of the bridge member is attached to the first shoulder strap at a first attachment point, and a second end of the bridge member is attached to the second shoulder strap at a second attachment point. The connecting straps are attached to the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap at a third attachment point and a fourth attachment point.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to golf bags having a lightweight and durable top frame can be made of a lightweight metal and can have different structures. For example, the top frame can have sidewall, open loop, closed loop, or other configurations. The lightweight top frame assembly can have handle and leg sub-assemblies. Three-dimensional printing methods can be used to form structures in the top frame having various shapes and geometric patterns, for example lattice having a top frame (cuff) with club dividers. The walls of the top cuff can be made of a lightweight metal and can have a sidewall, open loop, closed loop, or other structure. The top cuff includes club dividers for storing and organizing the clubs in different compartments. The club dividers can be made of a cord material. The golf bag of this invention is durable, lightweight, comfortable to carry, and easy to use.