Pad apparatus

Abstract

A pad apparatus includes a connecting element and a supporting element. The connecting element includes an upper end and a lower end. The upper end of the connecting element is connected with a leg. The supporting element includes an upper end and a lower end. The upper end of the supporting element is rotationally connected with the lower end of the connecting element. The lower end is always in tight contact with a surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a pad apparatus.

2. Related Prior Art

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional club carriage includes a bag 15, two legs 16 (only own is shown) pivotally connected with the bag 15. Each leg 16 is connected with a pad 10. The pad 10 includes an upper end defining a hole 11 for receiving the leg 16 and a flat lower end 12 for contact with the ground 17. An angle exists between the flat lower end 12 of the pad 10 and the ground 17 when the pad 10 is installed on the ground 17. That is, only a small portion of the flat lower end 12 of the pad 10 contacts the ground 17 so that the legs 16 do not firmly support the bag 15 on the ground 17. Hence, the bag 15 is easy to fall.

Referring to FIG. 3, another conventional pad 13 includes an upper end for connection with the leg 16 and an inclined flat lower end 14 for contact with the ground 17. The inclined flat lower end 14 of the pad 13 is in tighter contact with the ground 17 than the flat lower end 12 of the pad 10. However, the inclined flat lower end 14 of the pad 13 is in tight contact with the ground 17 only when the leg 16 is at certain angle from the ground 17. There is no guarantee for such tight contact since the ground 17 is designed with an irregular terrain.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A pad apparatus includes a connecting element and a supporting element. The connecting element includes an upper end and a lower end. The upper end of the connecting element is connected with a leg. The supporting element includes an upper end and a lower end. The upper end of the supporting element is rotationally connected with the lower end of the connecting element. The lower end is always in tight contact with a surface.

The primary advantage of the pad apparatus according to the present invention is that the pad apparatus is to ensure that the leg can be moved to any desired angle from the surface while the supporting device is always in tight contact with the surface.

Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of embodiments referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a club carriage with a conventional pad.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pad shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of another conventional pad.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a club carriage with a pad apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded view of the pad apparatus shown in FIG. 4

FIG. 6 is a side view of the club carriage and the pad apparatus shown in FIG. 4 in a working mode.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pad apparatus of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the club carriage shown in FIG. 4 with a pad apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged exploded view of the pad apparatus shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pad apparatus of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a club carriage includes a bag 60 and two legs 61 pivotally connected with the bag 60. Each leg 61 is equipped with a pad apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The pad apparatus includes a connecting element 20 and a supporting element 30. The connecting element 20 includes a cup 21 formed at an upper end thereof for receiving one of the legs 61 and a socket 24 formed at a lower end thereof. The connecting element 20 includes a plug 22 extending from the cup 21. The plug 22 includes a plurality of barbs 23 formed thereon for fitting a space defined in corresponding one of the legs 61 in order to prevent the connecting element 20 from falling off the leg 61. The connecting element 20 includes two halves each including a side 25 formed thereon. A plurality of apertures 27 is defined in the side 25 of one half A plurality of pillars 26 is formed on the side 25 of the other half. The pillars 26 are fit in the apertures 27 so that the halves are firmly connected with each other.

The supporting element 30 includes a ball 31 formed at an upper end thereof and a pad 32 formed at a lower end thereof. The ball 31 of the supporting element 30 is put in the socket 24 of the connecting element 20 in order to form a ball-and-socket connection. The pad 32 is used for contact with a surface 70 (see FIG. 6).

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the pad apparatus in a working mode. The ball 31 of the supporting element 30 is rotationally connected with the socket 24 of the connecting element 20. Thus, each leg 61 can be moved to any desired angle relative to the surface 70 while the pad apparatus tightly contacts the surface 70. Thus, the golf bag 60 and the legs 61 are kept firmly in position by mans of the pad apparatus.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a pad apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention for use with the golf bag 60. The pad apparatus of the second embodiment includes a connecting element 40 and a supporting element 50. The connecting element 40 includes a cup 41 formed at an upper end thereof for receiving each of the legs 61 and a ball 42 formed at a lower end thereof. The supporting element 50 includes two ears 52 formed at upper end thereof for receiving the ball 42 of the connecting element 40. Each of the ears 52 defines an aperture 53 for receiving a portion of the ball 42 so that the connecting element 40 is rotationally connected with the supporting element 50. Alternatively, each of the ears 52 may include a recess instead of the aperture 53.

FIG. 10 shows the pad apparatus in a working mode. The ball 42 of the connecting element 40 is rotationally connected with the ears 52 of the supporting element 50. Thus, each leg 61 can be moved to any desired angle relative to the surface 70 while the pad apparatus tightly contacts the surface 70. Thus, the golf bag 60 and the legs 61 are kept firmly in position by mans of the pad apparatus.

The present invention has been described through detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments. The embodiments hence shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A pad apparatus comprising:

a connecting element comprising an upper end for connection with a leg and a lower end; and

a supporting element comprising an upper end rotationally connected with the lower end of the connecting element and a lower end for tight contact with a surface.

2. The pad apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connecting element comprises a cup formed at the upper end for receiving the leg.

3. The pad apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connecting element comprises a socket formed at the lower end, wherein the supporting element comprises, at the upper end, a ball rotationally put in the socket.

4. The pad apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the supporting element comprises a pad formed at the lower end.

5. The pad apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the connecting element comprises a plug extending from the cup for fitting in a space defined in the leg.

6. The pad apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the plug comprises at least one barb formed thereon for preventing the connecting element from falling off the leg.

7. The pad apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connecting element comprises two halves connected with each other.

8. The pad apparatus according to claim 7 wherein one of the halves comprises at least one aperture defined therein while the other half comprises at least one pillar fit in the aperture.

9. The pad apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connecting element comprises a ball formed at the lower end thereof, wherein the supporting element comprises two ears for receiving the ball.