GOLF BAG HAVING ADJUSTABLE CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract

A golf bag having one or more adjustable features is disclosed herein. In particular, the golf bag comprises a handle rotatable around an axis perpendicular to a vertical axis extending through the body of the golf bag, and may be fixed in place via a locking mechanism so that the handle maintains a desired angle with respect to the vertical axis. The handle of the present invention preferably is rotatably affixed to a collar or upper portion of the golf bag. The golf bag also comprises an external pocket that is removably affixed to an exterior surface of the golf bag with hook and loop fasteners and other attachment mechanisms.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/693,910, tiled on Aug. 28, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a golf bag having adjustable features, including a movable handle and a removable external pocket.

2. Description of the Related Art

Golf bags of all kinds, including stand and cart bags, typically include one or more straps to facilitate long distance carrying of the bag, and also include one or more handles located at or proximate an upper or collar portion of the bag that enable golfers to lift and carry the bag short distances. These handles typically extend approximately perpendicularly from a vertical side of the upper or collar portion of the bag of the bag and are formed integrally with the collar or upper portion of the bag. As a result of the integral forming of the handles with the collar of the bag during manufacturing, these handles are fixed in place and cannot be adjusted. Golf bags generally have a standard height, so the fixed quality of the handles can inconvenience or cause discomfort to a golfer who is taller or shorter than average and must grasp the fixed handle at an awkward or non-intuitive angle. As such, there is a need for a golf bag having an adjustable handle,

Golf bags also typically include one or more external pockets that are sized to hold various golf-related equipment and accessories such as golf balls, water bottles, and gloves. The external surfaces of these pockets typically are embroidered with manufacturer and/or golf club logos, but such embroidery is difficult to accomplish when the pocket is integrated with or otherwise permanently affixed to the rest of the golf bag. As such, there is a need for a golf bag having pockets that can be easily customized.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The golf bags of the present invention allow users to adjust the angle formed by the handle with respect to a vertical axis intersecting the golf bag body, and thus increase the ease of use of the golf bags. The present invention also provides removable and interchangeable storage pockets, which allow for greater custom embroidery manufacturing efficiency as well as increased customization options for end users in areas such as materials, colors, design, and functionality.

One aspect of the present invention is a golf bag comprising a top collar comprising at least one divider, a handle rotatably affixed to the top collar, and a bag body. In some embodiments, the collar may comprise first and second rotation points, the handle may comprise first and second rotation elements, the first rotation element may rotatably affixed to the first rotation point, and the second rotation element may be rotatably affixed to the second rotation point. In some of these embodiments, the first rotation point may be located on a first side of the collar and the second rotation point may be located on a second side of the collar opposite the first side of the collar. In other embodiments, a locking means may be disposed between the handle and the collar, and the locking means may allow a golfer to temporarily fix the handle to the collar. In certain embodiments, the handle may be rotatable around an axis that intersects the first and second rotation points. In other embodiments, the top collar and the handle may be composed of a plastic material, an angle between the handle and a vertical axis intersecting the collar may be adjustable, the collar may comprise a plurality of dividers, the bag body may be selected from the group consisting of a stand bag body, a carry bag body, and a cart bag body, and/or the golf bag may further comprise at least one carry strap.

Another aspect of the present invention is a golf bag collar comprising a ring comprising a plurality of internal dividers and an external wall, and a handle rotatably affixed at two points to the external wall, wherein the ring is composed of a lightweight material. The ring may be sized to fit within a golf bag body, and some embodiments may further comprise a locking mechanism that releasably fixes the handle to the ring. In some embodiments, the lightweight material may be selected from the group consisting of plastic, composite, and a metal alloy. In other embodiments, the handle, which may be composed of a plastic material and be partially covered with a rubber material, or may comprise a lightweight material selected from the group consisting of rubber, plastic, composite, and a lightweight metal alloy, may comprise first and second rotation elements. In some embodiments, the handle may be rotatable around a first axis, and wherein the first axis is perpendicular to a second, vertical axis that bisects the ring. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and second rotation elements comprises a locking mechanism, which may engage a part of the ring to semi-permanently fix the handle to the ring. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism may comprise a pin sized to mate with a recess disposed on the oval ring.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is a golf bag comprising a top collar with at least one divider, a handle rotatably affixed to the top collar, a bag body, abase, and an external pocket, wherein the external pocket comprises a plurality of attachment features that removably affix the external pocket to an exterior surface of the bag body. In some embodiments, the collar may comprise first and second rotation points, the handle may comprise first and second rotation elements, the first rotation element may be rotatably affixed to the first rotation point, the second rotation element may be rotatably affixed to the second rotation point, the first rotation point may be located on a first side of the collar, the second rotation point may be located on a second side of the collar opposite the first side of the collar, and the handle may be rotatable around an axis that intersects the first and second rotation points. The golf bag may, in some further embodiments, comprise a locking mechanism disposed between the handle and the collar, which may temporarily fix the handle to the collar. In some embodiments, an angle between the handle and a vertical axis intersecting the collar is adjustable.

In some embodiments, the plurality of attachment features may be a first plurality of hook and loop fasteners, the exterior surface of the bag body may comprise a second plurality of hook and loop fasteners, and the second plurality of hook and loop fasteners may be disposed on the external surface of the bag body to mate with the first plurality of hook and loop fasteners. In further embodiments, the golf bag may comprise a zipper assembly that removably attaches the external pocket to the bag body, a plurality of clip assemblies that removably attaches the external pocket to the bag body, and/or a rod and channel assembly that removably attaches the external pocket to the bag body. In some embodiments, the collar may comprise a plurality of dividers, and the external pocket may extend from the collar to the base. In still other embodiments, the bag body may be selected from the group consisting of a stand bag body, a carry bag body, and a cart bag body.

Another aspect of the present invention is a golf bag comprising a collar, body comprising a front portion, a rear portion, a left side portion, a right side portion, an external surface, and a longitudinal axis, abase, and a first removable pocket comprising a first plurality of hook and loop fasteners, wherein the external surface comprises a second plurality of hook and loop fasteners, and wherein the second plurality of hook and loop fasteners is aligned on the external surface to mate with the first plurality of hook and loop fasteners. In some further embodiments, the bag body may comprise a channel extending along the longitudinal axis, the first removable pocket may comprise a flexible rod, and the rod may be removably received within the channel to affix the first removable pocket to the bag body. In some embodiments, the first removable pocket may be removably affixed to one of the side portions, and in a further embodiment, a second removable pocket may be removably affixed to the other side portion. In some embodiments, the channel and the flexible rod may be hidden from view when the removable pocket is affixed to the bag body.

Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a golf bag collar according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in combination with a golf bag.

FIG. 4 is an exploded, side perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5A is an exploded, side perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a close up view of the circled areas in FIG. 5A when they are affixed to one another.

FIG. 6A is an exploded, side perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B is a close up view of the circled areas in FIG. 6A when they are proximate each other.

FIG. 7A is an exploded, side perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7B is a close up view of the circled areas in FIG. 7A when they are affixed to one another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-4. As disclosed in these Figures, a collar 10 having a plurality of dividers 11, 12, 13, 14 sized to receive one or more golf club shafts is formed from a sturdy and lightweight material, preferably plastic, composite, or a lightweight metal alloy. A handle 20 generally extends from two rotation points 30, 35 located on opposite sides of the exterior surface 15 of the collar 10. The handle 20 includes rotator elements 23, 25, which in the preferred embodiment have a circular shape but can be any shape desired by the manufacturer, that are affixed to the rotation points 30, 35 on the collar 10 and rotate around an axis 40 extending through the two rotation points 30, 35.

By rotating the rotator elements 23, 35, and thus the handle 20, around the axis 40, the angle α between the handle 20 and a vertical axis 50 extending through the collar 10 and the golf bag body 60 to which it is attached can be adjusted. The rotator elements 23, 35 can then be locked to the collar 10 when the handle 20 is adjusted so that handle 20 is temporarily fixed at an angle α selected by the golfer. The rotator elements 23, 25 and collar 10 can include any locking mechanism or means known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. For example, in the preferred embodiment, the rotator elements 23, 25 comprises pins (not shown) that are temporarily inserted into recesses (not shown) on the collar 10 to prevent the rotator elements 23, 25 from moving with respect to the collar 10. In another embodiment, the rotator elements 23, 25 comprise releasable internal clamps (not shown) that are attached to one or more protrusions (not shown) extending from the exterior surface 15 of the collar 10.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention also comprises one or more removable pockets 70 sized to attach to an external surface of the golf bag body 60. As shown in FIG. 4, the exemplary pocket 70, which comprises one or more enclosed interior spaces or sub-pockets (not shown) accessible via one or more closable openings 75, preferably extends from the collar 10 to the base 65 of the golf bag body 60, thus covering one entire side of the golf bag body 60. The pocket 70 preferably is removably affixed to the golf bag body via hook and loop (e.g., Velcro®) strips 80 placed roughly along a longitudinal axis 62 of both the golf bag body 60 and the underside of an edge 72 of the pocket 70, and movement of the pocket 70 during use of the golf bag is prevented by the use of smaller hook and loop strips 82, 84, 86, 88 disposed at intervals at locations on the golf bag body 60 underneath the pocket 70, with mating strips (not shown) disposed at similar locations on the lower surface (not shown) of the pocket 70. The hook and loop strips 80, 82, 84, 86, 88 may be placed anywhere underneath the pocket 70, as long as they create the visual impression that the pocket 70 is seamlessly and permanently integrated with the golf bag body 60.

In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the pocket 70 is affixed to the golf bag body 60, roughly along its longitudinal axis 62, with a zipper assembly 90. The zipper assembly 90 may extend around the entire circumference of the pocket 70, but preferably, for the purpose of reducing the overall weight of the bag, extends only along one edge 72 of the pocket 70, which is secured to the bag at its other points with smaller hook and loop strips 82, 84, 86, 88 disposed at intervals underneath the pocket as disclosed in connection with FIG. 4 herein.

In another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the pocket 70 is affixed to the golf bag body 60 roughly along its longitudinal axis 62 with a plurality of clip assemblies 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, each of which is made up of a clip 110 and a clip receiver 112. Each clip 110 preferably is disposed on the golf bag body 60, while the clip receiver 112 is disposed on an underside of the pocket 70 so the assembly 102 will be hidden when the pocket 70 is affixed to the golf bag body 60, but in other embodiments some or all of the clip receivers 112 may be disposed on the golf bag body 60 instead of on the pocket 70. The clip assemblies 100, 102, 104, 106, 108 may extend around the entire circumference of the pocket 70, but preferably, for the purpose of reducing the overall weight of the bag, extend only along one edge 72 of the pocket 70, which is secured to the bag at its other points with smaller hook and loop strips 82, 84, 86, 88 disposed at intervals underneath the pocket as disclosed in connection with FIG. 4 herein. The clip assemblies 100, 102, 104, 106, 108 preferably are made from a lightweight, non-metallic material to reduce the overall weight of the golf bag, but may be made from any sturdy materials known to a person skilled in the art.

In yet another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the pocket 70 is affixed to the golf bag body 60 roughly along its longitudinal axis 62 with a rod and channel assembly 120. As shown in these figures, the golf bag body 60 comprises an elongated channel 122 that extends roughly along the longitudinal axis 62 from the collar 10 to the base 65, while the pocket 70 comprises an elongated rod 124 extending underneath a longitudinal edge 72 of the pocket 70. The rod 124, which preferably is formed from a flexible, non-metallic material like plastic or composite to increase the ease of assembly and reduce the overall bag weight, is preferably disposed underneath the external surface of the pocket 70 so that the rod and channel assembly 120 is hidden from view when the pocket is assembled with the golf bag body 60. The channel 122 is sized to receive the rod 124 such that the pocket 70 is attached to the golf bag body 60 by sliding the rod 124 down the channel 122 until the rod 124 is fully disposed within the channel 122. The channel 122 preferably has a closed bottom surface to prevent the rod 124 from sliding out of the channel 122 during use. In an alternative embodiment, the golf club body 60 my include the rod 124 and the pocket 70 may include the channel 122. As with the other embodiments disclosed herein, rod and channel assemblies 120 may disposed around more than one edge of the pocket 70, but the rod and channel assembly 120 preferably, for the purpose of reducing the overall weight of the bag, extends only along one edge 72 of the pocket 70, which is secured to the bag at its other points with smaller hook and loop strips 82, 84, 86, 88 disposed at intervals underneath the pocket as disclosed in connection with FIG. 4 herein.

The novel removable pocket 70 structures disclosed herein are beneficial because golf equipment manufacturers typically embroider or otherwise affix company logos along the side of their golf bags to increase brand visibility, and also customize the external surface of golf bags for customers. The removable pocket 70 allows manufacturers to focus on embroidering only a small part of the overall golf bag body 60, thus increasing the efficiency and reducing the cost of customizing, assembling, packaging, shipping, and importing golf bag products. The removable nature of the pocket 70 also allows customers to customize their bags after purchase, by buying replacement pockets with different cosmetic or functional features, such as different materials, colors, attachments like divots and clips to hold other accessories, and number of sub-pockets.

The collar 10 and handle 20 configuration of the present invention can be used in connection with any kind of golf bag, including stand bags, carry bags, and cart bags, and can be made from any materials known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the handle may be made of a lightweight but sturdy plastic and then covered with a rubber material to facilitate grasping by a golfer during use. Similarly, the removable pocket 70 may be combined with any type of golf bag, and be disposed on any part of a golf bag, including the front, rear, sides, and straps of the golf bag, and pre-existing golf bags may be retrofitted to accommodate a removable pocket 70 by adding one or more of the features disclosed herein. The removable pocket 70, and the various means for attaching the removable pocket to the golf bag disclosed herein, may be made of any material preferred by the user, and does not have to made of the same material as the golf bag to which it is affixed.

From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.

Claims

1. A golf bag comprising:

a top collar comprising at least one divider;

a handle rotatably affixed to the top collar;

a bag body;

abuse; and

an external pocket,

wherein the external pocket comprises a plurality of attachment features that removably affix the external pocket to an exterior surface of the bag body.

2. The golf bag of claim 1, wherein the collar comprises first and second rotation points, wherein the handle comprises first and second rotation elements, wherein the first rotation element is rotatably affixed to the first rotation point, wherein the second rotation element is rotatably affixed to the second rotation point, wherein the first rotation point is located on a first side of the collar, wherein the second rotation point is located on a second side of the collar opposite the first side of the collar, and wherein the handle is rotatable around an axis that intersects the first and second rotation points.

3. The golf bag of claim 2, further comprising a locking mechanism disposed between the handle and the collar, wherein the locking mechanism temporarily fixes the handle to the collar.

4. The golf bag of claim 1, wherein an angle between the handle and a vertical axis intersecting the collar is adjustable.

5. The golf bag of claim 1, wherein the plurality of attachment features is a first plurality of hook and loop fasteners, wherein the exterior surface of the bag body comprises a second plurality of hook and loop fasteners, and wherein the second plurality of hook and loop fasteners is disposed on the external surface of the bag body to mate with the first plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

6. The golf bag of claim 5, further comprising a zipper assembly, wherein the zipper assembly removably attaches the external pocket to the bag body.

7. The golf bag of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of clip assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of dip assemblies removably attaches the external pocket to the bag body.

8. The golf bag of claim 5, further comprising a rod and channel assembly, wherein the rod and channel assembly removably attaches the external pocket to the bag body.

9. The golf bag of claim 1, wherein the collar comprises a plurality of dividers, and wherein the external pocket extends from the collar to the base.

10. The golf bag of claim 1, wherein the bag body is selected from the group consisting of a stand bag body, a carry bag body, and a cart bag body.

11. A golf bag collar comprising:

a ring comprising a plurality of internal dividers and an external wall;

a handle rotatably affixed at two points to the external wall; and

at least one locking mechanism that releasably fixes the handle to the ring,

wherein the ring is composed of a lightweight material selected from the group consisting of plastic, composite, and a metal alloy, and

wherein the handle comprises a lightweight material selected from the group consisting of rubber, plastic, and composite.

12. The golf bag collar of claim 11, wherein the handle comprises first and second rotation elements,

13. The golf bag collar of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second rotation elements comprises a locking mechanism.

14. The golf bag collar of claim 11, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a pin sized to mate with a recess disposed on the ring.

15. The golf bag collar of claim 11, wherein the handle is rotatable around a first axis, and wherein the first axis is perpendicular to a second, vertical axis that bisects the ring.

16. A golf bag comprising:

a collar;

a bag body comprising a front portion, a rear portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, an external surface, and a longitudinal axis;

a base; and

a first removable pocket comprising a first plurality of hook and loop fasteners,

wherein the external surface comprises a second plurality of hook and loop fasteners, and

wherein the second plurality of hook and loop fasteners is aligned on the external surface to mate with the first plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

17. The golf bag of claim 16, wherein the bag body further comprises a channel extending along the longitudinal axis, wherein the first removable pocket further comprises a flexible rod, and wherein the rod is removably received within the channel to affix the first removable pocket to the bag body.

18. The golf bag of claim 17, wherein the first removable pocket is removably affixed to the first side portion.

19. The golf bag of claim 18, further comprising a second removable pocket, wherein the second removable pocket is removably affixed to the second side portion.

20. The golf bag of claim 17, wherein the channel and the flexible rod are hidden from view when the removable pocket is affixed to the bag body.