FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to golf accessories. More particularly, though not exclusively, the present invention relates to a golf bag with golf clubs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Most golf club carrying cases include pockets to allow the golfer to store golf related items such as golf balls and golf tees. Most golfers in a short amount of time are able to fill these pockets with essential items, leaving no room for additional items which may be bulky and large. There is sometimes no room for a golf glove or a towel. Additionally, placing and removing these items from a golf bag can be time-consuming and inconvenient when the concentration of the golfer should be on hitting the ball.
Furthermore, the ability of these pockets to hold items is limited. Consequently, there is a need to increase the ability to store items including large items.
Furthermore, golf heads and putters need to be protected. There have been various covers for heads and putters. However, these covers all face a common problem in that the golf head and putter head generally are substantially larger in size than the golf handle. This problem is usually solved by providing a zipper along the side of the cover in order to allow the golf head or putter head to be easily placed within the cover. However, zippers are notorious for jamming especially in an environment where dirt and other foreign material are available to jam the zipper.
Some golfers will play golf in the rain. This creates a problem with access to the golf clubs. It is possible to cover the golf clubs while not in use in the golf bag; however, the cover has to be taken off and replaced or unzipped and re-zipped every time a different golf club is required. This activity is both cumbersome and time-consuming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The advantages of using magnetic material associated with golf equipment have largely been ignored. Golf equipment offers various opportunities for the use of magnetic material in light of the use of metal on golf carts, on golf bags and on golf clubs themselves.
The present invention includes magnetic tags which can be used to hold relatively lightweight items against a metallic surface. These tags can be used to connect nonmetallic devices to metallic devices.
The present invention includes a rain cover and head cover with a magnetic opening. The magnetic opening will open and close under all kinds of conditions and generally is not susceptible to jamming due to dirt and other foreign material.
The present invention includes a rain cover which allows easy access to the golf clubs with a magnetic opening which is not susceptible to jamming due to dirt and other foreign material and can be easily removed from the golf bag after it is no longer needed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a tag of the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view with section line of the tag of the present invention;
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view along the sectional line of the tag of the present invention;
FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the tag of the present invention;
FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a head cover of the present invention;
FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of edges of the head cover of the present invention;
FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the head cover with the first and second edges being separated.
FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a towel and magnet of the present invention;
FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a folded towel and magnet of the present invention;
FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a towel and tag of the present invention;
FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a glove and magnet of the present invention;
FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a putter cover of the present invention;
FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tag and key of the present invention;
FIG. 14 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a rain cover of the present invention;
FIG. 15 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the rain cover of the present invention;
FIG. 16 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the golf bag with integral magnets.
FIG. 17 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the golf bag being used with various items.
FIG. 18 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the golf bag being used with a ball sling;
FIGS. 19a-g illustrate a cross-sectional view of the cigar/cigarette holder of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates a tag 104 which includes an integral magnet 106 formed between the surfaces of the tag 104 to allow the tag 104 to be attached to a metallic member. The tag 104 also includes a handle 102. The tag 104 may include indicia such as a trademark in order to identify the maker of the tag 104. The tag 104 can be mounted on a cart, a basket, golf irons, a club shaft to metallic pieces in bag logo's, rivets on golf bags, any metallic base product. The tag can be attached to golf towels, kitchen towels, workshop towels, key rings or other similar type of items.
FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of the tag 104 with a sectional line to illustrate a cutaway section showing the magnet 106 and handle 102. While the tag 104 and magnet 106 are shown as cylinders, other shapes are within the scope of the invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view along the sectional line illustrating a side view of the magnet 106 and the tag 104.
FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the tag 104 and the magnet 106.
FIG. 5 illustrates a head cover 506 to cover a golf head or golf putter. The head cover 506 includes a slit 510 in the longitudinal direction of the head cover 506 to allow the golf head or golf putter to have access to the interior of the head cover 506. FIG. 5 illustrates a first edge 502 and a second edge 504 which defines the slit 510 and which are joined together to close and protect the interior of the head cover 506. The head cover 506 includes a narrow portion 508 to conform to the shaft of the golf club. The head cover 506 may be formed as a hollow housing for placement of the golf head or golf putter. The head cover 506 may be formed from flexible material so that it can conform to different shapes of heads and putters. FIG. 5 additionally illustrates that the tag 104 has been attached to the head cover 506 by attraction to the metallic object on the head cover 506 or by attraction to the putter head.
FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the first edge 502 and the second edge 504 which includes a series of magnets 602 positioned generally along the longitudinal direction of the first edge 502 and a second edge 504 to provide a releaseable connection between the first edge 502 and the second edge 504. In this way, the first edge 502 and the second edge 504 can be separated, and the golf head or putter head can be either removed or positioned within the head cover 506.
FIG. 7 illustrates that the first edge 502 has been separated from the second edge 504 to allow access to the interior of the head cover 506.
FIG. 8 illustrates a towel 802 which includes a magnet 806 positioned between fold lines 804 and positioned between the surfaces of the towel 802. The magnet 806 could be positioned anywhere on the towel 802 and could be integral with the towel 802.
FIG. 9 illustrates a folded towel 802 showing a cutaway section 902 showing the magnet 806 beneath the surface of the towel 802.
FIG. 10 illustrates the tag 104 attached to a towel by virtue of a magnet which is integral or built in to the tag 104.
FIG. 11 illustrates a glove 1102 having a flap 1104 with a magnet 1106 integral and between the surfaces of the flap 1104. The golfer can remove the glove 1102 in order to putt the golf ball and can place the glove 1102 on the golf bag or golf cart by virtue of the magnet 1106.
FIG. 12 illustrates a putter cover 1202 including a first magnet 1204 and a second magnet 1206. The putter cover 1202 folds over on itself, and the first magnet 1204 is attracted to the second magnet 1206.
FIG. 13 illustrates the tag 104 connected to the key 1302. The tag 104 could be connected to any item of the user in order to provide a magnet for the item so that it can be conveniently stored by attaching the tag 104 to a golf bag or golf cart.
FIG. 14 illustrates the rain cover 1400 of the present invention. The rain cover 1400 includes a first arm 1406 and a second arm 1408 which is connected to a golf bag 1402 by a fastening device 1414 which may be a complimentary set of snaps, Velcro or other device which can be easily removed and which is attached to the golf bag 1402. The rain cover 1400 includes a first flexible cover 1404 and a second flexible cover 1406 which is shown in phantom line. The first flexible cover 1404 attaches to the golf bag 1402 by first fastening device 1410 which may be complementary snaps or Velcro or other suitable devices and which extends around the golf bag 1402. The second flexible cover 1406 attaches to the golf bag 1402 by second fastening device 1412 which may be complementary snaps, Velcro or other suitable device and which also extends around the golf bag 1402. The first arm 1406 is connected to the second arm 1408 such that the first arm 1406 can pivot with respect to the second arm 1408, and the first arm 1406 rotates from a first position which is substantially at the opening of the golf bag 1402 to allow the user of the golf bag 1402 access to the contents of the golf bag 1402 to a second position which is substantially adjacent to the second arm 1408 to cover the opening to the golf bag 1402 with the first cover 1404. In the second position, the third magnets 1416 positioned on the second arm 1408 are attracted to the fourth magnets 1418 positioned on the first arm 1406 to keep the first arm 1406 at the second position. The first arm 1406 is releaseably connected to the second arm 1408. Consequently, the first cover 1404 is extended to cover the opening of the golf bag 1402. When the user of the golf bag 1402 desires to have access to the contents of the golf bag 1402, the user breaks the attraction between the third magnets 1416 and the fourth magnets and 1418 by rotating the first arm 1406.
FIG. 15 illustrates another embodiment of the rain cover 1500 including a curved first arm 1502 and a curved second arm 1504.
FIG. 16 illustrates a golf bag 1602 of the present invention including integral first metallic piece 1604, second metallic piece 1606 and third metallic piece 1608. These metallic pieces 1604, 1606 and 1608 are formed integral with the golf bag 1602 and are positioned on the exterior of the golf bag 1602.
FIG. 17 illustrates the golf bag 1602 attracting various golf related items. More particularly, the first metallic piece 1604 is shown attracting the magnet 106 of the tag 104 which is connected to the head cover 506; the second metallic piece 1606 is shown attracting the magnet 806 of the towel 802 and attracting the magnet 1106 of the glove 1102, and the third metallic piece 1608 is shown attracting the metallic piece 1204 and a magnet 1206 of the putter cover 1202. Consequently, by virtue of metallic pieces 1604, 1606, 1608, the user is able to releasably connect these items very conveniently without the need of finding an empty pocket of the golf bag.
FIG. 18 illustrates a golf bag 1802 with a golf sling 1804 which includes apertures 1806. The golf sling 1804 may be formed from flexible and expandable material and is attached to the golf bag 1802 around the perimeter of the golf sling 1804. The golf sling 1804 includes apertures 1806 which may be of a reduced diameter than the standard golf ball 1808. As a result of the flexible and expandable material, the size of the aperture 1806 can be enlarged in order to accommodate the golf ball 1808. After the golf ball 1808 has been place between the golf sling 1804 and the golf bag 1802, the size of the aperture 1806 is reduced so that the golf ball 1808 does not fall out of the golf sling 1804.
FIGS. 19a-g illustrate the cigar/cigarette holder 1900 of the present invention. It should be understood that this aspect of the invention will be referred to as a cigar holder, but the concepts apply to cigarettes as well. FIG. 19a illustrates that the cigar holder 1902 includes an aperture 1904 which is generally larger than the cigar.
FIG. 19b illustrates a diameter reducing device 1908 to reduce the diameter of the aperture 1904 and includes curved arms 1912 to distribute the force against the cigar. The diameter reducing device 1908 is moved inward and outward by a screw device 1906. The screw device 1906 can be turned by a turf tool 1904 which is described in my previous application entitled Magnetic Golf Grip with the Ser. No. 11/431,214 and filed on May 10, 2006 incorporated by reference in its entirety. Additionally, FIG. 9b illustrates magnets 1910 formed integrally with the cigar holder 1902 so that the cigar holder 1902 can be supported on any metallic object leaving the hands of the golfer free to play golf
FIG. 19c illustrates a bottom view of the cigar holder 1902 with the tool repair device 1904 in a close proximity.
FIG. 19d illustrates the cigar holder 1902 with a cigar 1912 in phantom line.
FIG. 19e illustrates the cigar holder 1902 connected to the turf tool 1904 by the magnets 1910. One end of the turf tool 1904 has been inserted into empty golf tee slots which could be found on the golf cart 1914.
FIG. 19f illustrates the metallic piece 1604 of the golf bag 1914 being attracted to the magnets 1910 of the cigar holder 1902. Consequently, the cigar holder 1902 can be mounted on the golf bag 1914.
FIG. 19g illustrates that the turf tool 1904 has been inserted into the soil to keep the cigar holder 1902 away from the soil. This keeps the cigar from being contaminated by the soil, and the soil from the contaminated by the cigar.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.
