Golf Bag Bottoms and Methods to Manufacture Golf Bag Bottoms
Embodiments of golf bag bottoms and methods to manufacture golf bag bottoms are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
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The present disclosure relates generally to golf equipment, and more particularly, to golf bag bottoms and methods to manufacture golf bag bottoms.
BACKGROUNDTypically, a golfer may use a golf bag to carry his or her set of golf clubs, golf balls, golf tees, etc. During a round of golf, the golfer may physically carry the golf bag from hole to hole (e.g., via a shoulder strap on the golf bag). Instead of physically carrying the golf bag, the golfer may have an individual (e.g., a caddy) to carry the golf bag. Alternatively, the golfer may use a pull, push, and/or motorized golf cart to carry the golf bag.
In general, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture associated with golf bag bottoms are described herein. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
In the examples of
The golf bag bottom 100 may also include a plurality of support members 120, generally shown as 122, 124, 126, and 128. To provide stability for a golf bag when the golf bag is in a standing position, each of the plurality of support members 120 may be located within a quadrant of the base portion 110. Referring to
One or more of the plurality of support members 120 may be an integral portion of the base portion 110. Alternatively, one or more of the plurality of support members 120 may be coupled to the base portion 110 with a fastener (e.g., a screw-type fastener on an end of the support member). Further, one or more of the plurality support members 120 may be adjustable relative to a ground plane (e.g., the ground plane 410 of
As described in detail below, each of the plurality of support members 120 may extend downwardly and outwardly from the outer surface 114 and/or the side surface 116 within an area between perimeters associated with the base portion 110 (e.g., first and second perimeters 640 and 650 of
Any two of the plurality of support members 120 may form a channel (generally shown as 152, 154, 156, and 158) to receive a bag seat member. In one example, the support members 122 and 124 (e.g., via the substantially flat sides 132 and 134) may form a channel 152 to receive a bag seat member. In another example, the support members 126 and 128 may also form another channel 154 to receive a bag seat member. In a similar manner, the support members 122 and 128 (e.g., the substantially flat sides 142 and 148) and the support members 124 and 126 (e.g., the substantially flat sides 144 and 146) may form channels 156 and 158, respectively, to receive a bag seat member.
To provide stability, each of the plurality of support members 120 may also extend outwardly from both the outer surface 114 and the side surface 116. Each of the plurality of support members 120 may include a substantially pentagonal-shaped bottom surface. Referring to
Although
The golf bag bottom 100 and/or other golf bag bottoms described herein may be made of, for example, plastic entirely or partially. One or more portions of the golf bag bottom 100 and/or other golf bag bottoms described herein may also be made of one or more other suitable type of material(s) such as rubber. Alternatively, a first portion of the golf bag bottom 100 may be made of a first material and a second portion of the golf bag bottom 100 may be made of a different material. For example, the base portion 110 may be made of plastic whereas one or more of the plurality of support members 120 may be made of rubber. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
Turning to
The second perimeter 650 may be based on the first perimeter 640. For example, the second perimeter 650 may be a substantially squared perimeter to inscribe the first perimeter 640. In particular, a plurality of lines 670 tangential to the first perimeter 640 may define the second perimeter 650. The second perimeter 650 may include an apothem 664 with a length of A from the center 660. The radius 662 of the first perimeter 640 and the apothem 664 of the second perimeter 650 may be equal to each other. In one example, the plurality of lines 670 may include four lines 672, 674, 676, and 678 tangential to the first perimeter 640 at four tangential points 682, 684, 686, and 688, respectively. The length of each of the plurality of lines 670 (L) may be twice the length of the radius 662 (e.g., L=2*R). The first and third lines 672 and 676 may be parallel to each other, and the second and fourth lines 674 and 678 may also be parallel to each other. The first line 672 may be substantially perpendicular to the second and fourth lines 674 and 678. In a similar manner, the second line 674 may be substantially perpendicular to the first and third lines 672 and 676.
The plurality of lines 670 may define four corner points of the second perimeter 650, generally shown as 692, 694, 696, and 698. In particular, the first and fourth lines 672 and 678 may intersect at the first corner point 692, the first and second lines 672 and 674 may intersect at the second corner point 694, the second and third lines 674 and 676 may intersect at the third corner point 696, and the third and fourth lines 674 and 678 may intersect at the fourth corner point 698.
The center 660 may be a distance 668 (D) from each of the four corner points 692, 694, 696, and 698. In one example, the distance 668 may be the square root of 2 times the radius 662 (e.g., D=√2*R≈1.414*R). Accordingly, the distance 699 between the first and second perimeters 640 and 650 may be in a range between zero and (√2−1)*R. In particular, the shortest distance between the first and second perimeters 640 and 650 may be substantially zero at each of the four tangential points 682, 684, 686, and 688 whereas the longest distance between the first and second perimeters 640 and 650 may be substantially (√2−1)*R. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
Although the above examples may depict support members with substantially pentagonal-shaped bottom surfaces, the support members described herein may have other suitable shapes. In the example of
The first and second perimeters 740 and 750 may have a common center 760 with the second perimeter 750 inscribing the first perimeter 740. In particular, the first perimeter 740 may be defined by the shape of the outer surface 714 and/or the side surface 716. The second perimeter 750 may be defined by a plurality of lines tangential to the first perimeter 740, generally shown as 772, 774, 776, and 778. In one example, the first perimeter 740 may be a circle with a radius 762 extending from the center 760. The first perimeter 740 may be substantially equal to the circumference of the outer surface 714 (C) defined by the radius 762 (R) (i.e., C=2*π*R). The second perimeter 750 may be a square with an apothem 764 (A) extending from the center 760. The apothem 764 may be substantially equal to the radius 762 (i.e., A=R) to inscribe the first perimeter 740. The second perimeter 750 may be substantially equal to eight times the radius 760 (i.e., 8*R).
Each of the plurality of support members 720 extend downwardly from the outer surface 714 of the base portion 710. In particular, each of the plurality of support members 720 may include a substantially squared bottom surface. Further, each of the plurality of support members 720 may include at least one substantially flat side (generally shown as 732, 734, 736, and 738) to engage at least a portion of a bag seat member 705 associated with a cart, a bag stand, a bag rack, etc. (not shown). Any two of the plurality of support members 720 may form a channel 752 to receive the bag seat member 705. In one example, the support members 722 and 724 (e.g., via the substantially flat sides 732 and 734) may form channel 752 to receive the bag seat member 705. The substantially flat sides 732 and 734 may engage at least a portion of the bag seat member 705 in response to the base portion 710 sitting on a top surface (e.g., the top surface 1810 of
By engaging at least a portion of the bag seat member 705 with two or more of the plurality of support members 720, two or more substantially flat sides may prevent or reduce movement. In particular, the substantially flat sides 732 and 734 may engage a portion of the bag seat member 705 to prevent or reduce rotational movement of a golf bag (e.g., the golf bag 1700 of
To provide stability, each of the plurality of support members 720 may extend outwardly from the base portion 710 (e.g., via the outer surface 714 and/or the side surface 716). In particular, the golf bag bottom 700 may stabilize a golf bag in a standing position without increasing the size of the base portion 710 (e.g., without increasing the circumference or the surface area of the base portion 710) by defining the first perimeter 740 with the base portion 710 and extending the plurality of support members 720 between the first and second perimeters 740 and 750. Referring to
Alternatively as illustrated in
While
Turning to
The base portion 1110 may be associated with a first perimeter 1140 and a second perimeter 1150. Each of the plurality of support members 1120 may extend outwardly from the base portion 1110 (e.g., via the outer surface 1114 and/or the side surface 1116) into an area between the first and second perimeters 1140 and 1150.
Although
In the example of
The base portion 1210 may be associated with a first perimeter 1240 and a second perimeter 1250. Each of the plurality of support members 1220 may extend outwardly from the base portion 1210 (e.g., via the outer surface 1214 and/or the side surface 1216) into an area between the first and second perimeters 1240 and 1250. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.
Referring to
The base portion 1310 may be associated with a first perimeter 1340 and a second perimeter 1350. Each of the plurality of support members 1320 may extend outwardly from the base portion 1310 (e.g., via the outer surface 1314 and/or the side surface 1316) into an area between the first and second perimeters 1340 and 1350. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.
Turning to
The base portion 1410 may be associated with a first perimeter 1440 and a second perimeter 1450. The support member 1420 may extend outwardly from the base portion 1410 (e.g., via the outer surface 1414 and/or the side surface 1316) into an area between the first and second perimeters 1440 and 1450. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.
Referring to
Although the above examples may depict a particular shape for a bag seat member (e.g., base seat members 705, 1105, 1205, 1305, and 1405 of
The base portion 1510 may be associated with a first perimeter 1540 and a second perimeter 1550. Each of the plurality of support members 1520 may extend outwardly from the base portion 1510 (e.g., via the outer surface 1514 and/or the side surface 1516) into an area between the first and second perimeters 1540 and 1550. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.
Although the above examples may depict particular shapes associated with the first and second perimeters, the first and second perimeters may be other suitable shapes. For example, the first perimeter may be a substantially elliptical shape and the second perimeter may be a substantially rectangular shape. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
In the example of
Although
Referring to
In the example of
Turning back to
Although certain example methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this disclosure is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this disclosure covers all methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.
Claims
1. A bag bottom comprising:
- a base portion having an outer bottom surface and a side surface, the base portion being associated with a first perimeter and a second perimeter defined by a plurality of lines tangential to the first perimeter; and
- one or more support members extending downwardly from the outer bottom surface and outwardly from the side surface between the first and second perimeters, the one or more support members having at least two substantially flat sides to engage at least a portion of a bag seat member associated with at least one of a cart, a bag stand, or a bag rack.
2. A bag bottom as defined in claim 1, wherein the first perimeter comprises a substantially circular perimeter.
3. A bag bottom as defined in claim 1, wherein the second perimeter comprises a substantially quadrilateral perimeter.
4. A bag bottom as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more support members comprises four support members located in different quadrants of the base portion.
5. A bag bottom as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more support member comprises two or more non-circular support members, two or more square-shaped support members, two or more rectangular-shaped support members, or two or more pentagon-shaped support members.
6. A bag bottom as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more support members comprises at least one of a support member being an integral portion of the base portion or a support member coupled to the base portion with a fastener.
7. A bag bottom as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more support members comprises a bottom portion substantially parallel to a ground plane in response to the bag bottom being in at a standing position.
8. A bag bottom as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more support members comprises at least one support member extending downwardly from the base portion by at least 0.32 inches.
9. A bag bottom as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more support members comprises at least one support member extending outwardly from the base portion by at least 0.64 inches.
10. A bag bottom as defined in claim 1, wherein the bag bottom comprises a golf bag bottom associated with a golf bag.
11. A bag bottom comprising:
- a base portion forming an inner perimeter associated with a shape of an inscribed circle with a radius; and
- a plurality of support members extending downwardly from the base portion, each of the plurality of support members having at least a portion extending outwardly from the base portion between the inner perimeter and an outer perimeter associated with a shape of a polygon with an apothem equal to the radius of the inscribed circle,
- wherein a first support member of the plurality of support members comprises a first substantially flat side,
- wherein a second support member of the plurality of support members comprises a second substantially flat side, the second substantially flat side being substantially parallel to the first substantially flat side of the first support member.
12. A bag bottom as defined in claim 11, wherein the outer perimeter comprises an outer perimeter associated with a shape of a square having a point on each side tangential to the inscribed circle.
13. A bag bottom as defined in claim 11, wherein the plurality of support members comprises at least two non-circular support members, two or more square-shaped support members, two or more rectangular-shaped support members, or two or more pentagon-shaped support members.
14. A bag bottom as defined in claim 11, wherein the plurality of support members comprises at least one of a support member being an integral portion of the base portion or a support member coupled to the base portion with a fastener.
15. A bag bottom as defined in claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of support members comprises a bottom portion substantially parallel to a ground plane in response to the bag bottom being in at a standing position.
16. A golf bag comprising:
- a top portion having one or more openings to receive one or more golf clubs;
- a body portion coupled to the top portion to store the one or more golf clubs; and
- a bottom portion coupled to the body portion, the bottom portion having a base portion and one or more support members,
- wherein the base portion being associated with a first perimeter and a second perimeter defined by a plurality of lines tangential to the first perimeter,
- wherein the one or more support members extending downwardly from an outer bottom surface of the base portion and outwardly from a side surface of the base portion between the first and second perimeters, and
- wherein the one or more support members having at least two substantially flat sides to engage at least a portion of a bag seat member associated with at least one of a cart, a bag stand, or a bag rack.
17. A golf bag as defined in claim 16, the first perimeter comprises a substantially circular perimeter.
18. A golf bag as defined in claim 16, wherein the second perimeter comprises a substantially quadrilateral perimeter.
19. A golf bag as defined in claim 16, wherein the plurality of support members comprises two or more non-circular support members, two or more square-shaped support members, two or more rectangular-shaped support members, or two or more pentagon-shaped support members.
20. A golf bag as defined in claim 16, wherein the plurality of support members comprises at least one of a support member being an integral portion of the base portion, or a support member coupled to the base portion with a fastener.
21. A golf bag as defined in claim 16, wherein each of the plurality support members comprises a bottom portion substantially parallel to a ground plane in response the golf bag being in a standing position.
22. A method comprising:
- forming a base portion having an outer bottom surface and a side surface, the base portion being associated with a first perimeter and a second perimeter defined by a plurality of lines tangential to the first perimeter; and
- forming one or more support members extending downwardly from the outer bottom surface and outwardly from the side surface between the first and second perimeters, the one or more support members having at least two substantially flat sides to engage at least a portion of a bag seat member associated with at least one of a cart, a bag stand, or a bag rack.
23. A method as defined in claim 22, wherein forming the base portion comprises forming a base portion associated with a substantially circular perimeter.
24. A method as defined in claim 22, wherein forming the base portion comprises forming a base portion associated with a substantially quadrilateral perimeter.
25. A method as defined in claim 22, wherein forming the one or more support members comprises forming two or more non-circular support members, two or more square-shaped support members, two or more rectangular-shaped support members, or two or more pentagon-shaped support members.
26. A method as defined in claim 22, wherein forming the one or more support members comprises forming at least one of a support member being an integral portion of the base portion, or a support member coupled to the base portion with a fastener.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 28, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 5, 2009
Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation (Phoenix, AZ)
Inventors: Douglas W. Anderson (Phoenix, AZ), Frank A. Quartarone (Phoenix, AZ)
Application Number: 11/846,424
International Classification: A63B 55/00 (20060101);