Balanced, separable, weight-distributed golf bag for ease of carrying

Abstract

A golf club bag is formed in two compartments and attached to form essentially an X shape at approximately midpoint on each compartment. The connection point may vary. Shoulder straps attached to each compartment allow the golfer to carry the bag with the weight proportionally distributed on each shoulder and across the back. The bag may also have a detachable connection to allow the bag to be separated to allow a single compartment to be carried or arranged in such a way that is convenient for storage or transit, and a stand that can be repositioned depending on the golf bag configuration.

Description

BACKGROUND

Golf bags are normally tubular with one closed end and an opening or openings on the other end to receive golf clubs. Most bags have one or more compartments for golf balls and other accessories. Players or caddies sometimes carry the bag with clubs throughout the course, use pull carts to carry the bag of clubs, or power carts to carry both the bag of clubs and themselves. When power carts are used, they are frequently not allowed within a certain distance of the putting surface or teeing grounds and often not even on a fairway when the fairway is wet, has severe slopes or when repeated use in the same area might damage the fairway. Some golf courses require the use of power carts, primarily to generate revenue, and in addition some golf courses restrict power carts to concrete cart paths. When power carts are restricted to golf paths and shots around the green or in the fairway are required, it is not always clear from a distant cart path what club may be needed. The player therefore must take a wedge and other clubs and a putter when around the green, for example, or a selection of middle and long irons and fairway woods for a full swing shot from the fairway in order to hit shots of varying distances and heights so as to not have to return to the cart. In addition to bringing clubs used around the green, instead of returning to the power cart and riding a short distance to the next teeing ground, the player often brings a driver or other clubs used for hitting longer distances off the next teeing ground and simply walks the short distance. Many players end up taking the entire bag off the power cart to ensure that the club that is needed is easily accessible.

Golf bags filled with clubs and accessories are heavy. Regardless, many golfers prefer to carry their bag and clubs for both the benefit of exercise and convenience during play and to get a better “feel” for the course. The golf swing itself puts stress on a golfer's back. The swing alone results in golfers developing back problems, which are aggravated by carrying their clubs. Golfers used to primarily carry golf bags with use of a single shoulder strap placing weight diagonally across his back or forward or aft of the body, which results in one side of the body or the front or the rear of the body supporting the bulk of the weight. Backpack style arrangements attempted to address this using shoulder straps for both shoulders to help distribute the bag and club weight across the golfer's back and shoulders; but because of the tubular singular compartment shape of the bag, and the heads of the golf clubs, which are the heaviest parts of the club, being in approximately the same spot, the weight is still predominantly aggregated along the axis of the opening of the bag and not evenly distributed. This results in one shoulder and side of the body supporting the majority of the weight, which puts excess asymmetrical strain on the back and shoulders and can create stress and injure a golfer's back. It is the intention of this invention to address the issues mentioned above associated with the use of power carts, and to evenly distribute or center the weight of the clubs in such a way that it minimizes strain on a golfers back and makes carrying a golf bag easier and more enjoyable.

A design patent application for one model of the invention was applied for on Jan. 11, 2010, and was been assigned Ser. No. 29/348,470, but has been abandoned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an example top view of an X shaped two compartment golf bag.

FIG. 2 is an example perspective view of an X shaped two compartment golf bag showing the shoulder straps.

FIG. 3 is an example elevation of an X shaped two compartment golf bag.

FIG. 4 is an example perspective view of an X shaped two compartment golf bag showing the shoulder straps.

FIG. 5 is an example elevation of an X shaped two compartment golf bag showing a retractable support stand in one configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention helps to evenly distribute the weight of golf clubs and the golf bag while it is carried. It may be in the form of a novel shape that evenly distributes weight by separating the bag into compartments. In one example, each compartment may carry approximately an equal number of clubs, and by aligning the compartments in such a way that the center of each compartment's weight is carried by a separate shoulder thereby distributing the weight between the shoulders and across the back. In one example each bag compartment would typically hold an equal number of golf clubs. In another example, each compartment may be designed to hold a different number of golf clubs in order to more evenly distribute the weight across a golfer's back. In addition, some golfers may prefer a customized bag in order to distribute the weight unevenly according to each golfer's preferences. The golf bag could be designed to hold the head of the clubs at a certain point resulting in each club's fulcrum point or center of gravity being in approximately the same location in the compartment and directly below the respective shoulder.

The compartments may be attached to one another by any suitable locking mechanism that allows the compartments to be sufficiently separated and allow rotation and locking in a variety of desired positions. The locking mechanism also allows the compartments to be easily separated. In one example, the engaged compartments may be positioned in essentially an “X” configuration or locked in parallel along their longitudinal axes so as to appear as a single tube of selected geometric shape that resembles a traditional golf bag and further allows for use in standard travel carrying cases, or with pull or power carts. In another example, the engaged compartments may be positioned in a modified “X” configuration where the compartments are connected at a point other than the center. In yet another example the compartments may be positioned in an “A” or a “V” configuration where the ends of the compartments are connected such that the weight may be distributed to a desired amount. The compartments outer surface on a longitudinal axis may be rectangular, square, elliptical, round or any geometric shape for both practical and aesthetic purposes. When the rounded compartments are locked together they may appear tubular and similar to a traditional golf bag.

The ability to detach a compartment for ease of carrying a group of clubs also reduces weight by separating load. In one example, when the compartments are locked in their longitudinal axis, one aspect of the invention allows for one compartment to be secured to a power cart via the standard power cart strap, and the second compartment to be easily removed and reattached via the quick lock and release mechanism described above, thus allowing the golfer to easily remove a compartment and carry a group of clubs from a power cart to the fairway or green or next teeing ground when desired as described above, and further not having to re-secure the entire golf bag to the cart with the power cart strap but instead for a single compartment to be reattached using only the quick release locking mechanism. In another example, the compartments may both be secured via the standard power cart strap.

Shown in FIG. 1 is a an example top view of one aspect of the invention of a golf bag 2 that has two golf club compartments 4, 6. Golf club compartment 6 may have a recessed portion, not shown, approximately mid-section, to receive and fix in an “X” position, golf club compartment 4. In another example (not shown) the golf club compartments 4 and 6 may be attached to form a modified X, A or V shape.

FIG. 2 is an example of a perspective view of golf bag 2 showing shoulder strap 16 attached to one end of golf club compartment 6 and the other end of shoulder strap 16 attached to the opposing end of golf club compartment 4. Likewise, shoulder strap 18 is attached to golf club compartment 4 and the other end of shoulder strap 18 is attached to the opposing end of golf compartment 6. Shoulder straps 16 and 18 are detachable from the respective golf club compartments and may be attached to a single compartment for use on a power cart for easily carrying a single compartment to the green, fairway and teeing ground. Although FIG. 2 is as shown, one of ordinary skill would understand that the straps do not need to be attached to the ends of either golf club compartment 4 and 6. In an alternative embodiment the ends of either strap 16 and/or 18 may be attached to the same compartment in either an X or another configuration.

Referring to FIG. 3, an example elevation of a golf bag 2 is shown with the retractable stand 14 retracted to golf bag compartment 6. The retractable stand 14 is shown in the retracted position. When extended, the retractable stand 14 supports the golf bag 2. The retractable stand may have a quick release mechanism allowing it to be located at different points on the bag depending on the configuration and need.

The golf bag 2 is shown in another perspective in FIG. 4, from the side at which the shoulder straps 16, 18 are attached. Detachable carrying straps 16 and 18 are each attached to a top of one golf club compartment and bottom of the other golf club compartment. A second accessories compartment 20 is shown in the bottom portion of golf club compartment 6. Accessories compartment 20 may be located in other portions of golf club compartment 6 or on the other golf club compartment 4.

FIG. 4 also shows that the surfaces of golf bag compartments 4 and 6, when interconnected as an X shape, form a flat surface on the side of the combined bag 2 where shoulder straps 16, 18 are attached. This is the surface that rests against the person's back who is carrying the golf bag 2. Each golf club compartment 4, 6 is aligned across the back of its carrier thereby distributing its weight across the back by shoulder straps 16 and 18. Golf bag compartments 20 and 6 21 can be made of varying sizes or adjustable with respect to compartments 4 and 6 to allow varying angles between 4 and 6 for different size golfers.

FIG. 5 illustrates the components previously described. The two golf club compartments 4, 6 are attached at point 8, thereby essentially forming an X shape. Golf bag 2 is shown with divided openings 10 for golf club compartment 4 and divided openings 12 for golf compartment 6. Golf clubs may be inserted into the divided openings 10, 12. The golf club compartments 4 and 6 of golf bag 2 can be designed in such a way that when open in essentially an X position the divided openings are angled to allow the fulcrum points of longer and shorter clubs to be essentially in the same location. A first accessory compartment 21 is located in golf club compartment 6 adjacent divided opening 12.

Another feature of the golf bag 2 is that the two compartments, 4, 6 can be separated at attachment point 8. Attachment point 8 may be a release type of connection such as interlocking fingers, bayonet type or like detachable interlocks. This allows the golf club compartments 4, 6 to be separated and carried separately when the golfer does not want to carry the combined golf bag 2, for storage or transit, and to ensure that the golf bag is compatible with traditional means for storing and transporting or carrying on golf carts.

The external shape of golf club bag 2 may be any geometric or irregular surface. The golf bag may have different combinations of accessory pockets and carrying straps.

Another feature of the invention, not shown, is a back support on which the golf club bag 2 may be mounted. The back support may be configured to the shape of the back and may have padding to cushion the golf club bag's weight on the person carrying it. The back support may have shoulder straps for carrying. The bag and back support may be detachable and adjustable.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A golf club bag comprising;

A first golf club compartment,

A second golf club compartment, and

The first and second golf club compartments connected to form a shape in one plane.

2. The golf bag of claim 1 further comprising the first and second golf club compartments connected one to another to essentially form an X shape.

3. The golf bag of claim 1 further comprising the first and second golf club compartments connected one to another to essentially form an A shape.

4. The golf bag of claim 1 further comprising a detachable connection of the first and second compartments

5. The golf bag of claim 1 with a support stand that can be easily repositioned depending on the golf bag's configuration.

6. The golf bag of claim 1 further comprising one or more accessory storage compartments in one golf club compartment.

7. The golf club bag of claim 1 further comprising carrying straps.

8. The golf club bag of claim 1. further comprising detachable carrying straps.

9. The golf club bag of claim 1 further comprising a back support.

10. A container for carrying items comprising;

A first compartment,

A second compartment, and

The first and second compartments connected to form a shape in one plane.

11. The container of claim 10 further comprising the first and second compartments connected to form an essentially X shape in one plane.