EXTENDABLE GOLF CLUB SEPARATOR FOR A GOLF BAG
A golf bag frame divider for a top of a golf bag includes a frame with internal frame members and at least one slotted frame member. The internal frame members and the slotted frame member define a plurality of golf club slots. Each golf club slot receives a different golf club. An ergonomic handled T tab assembly with a slidably adjustable height is disposed adjacent to at least one of the golf club slots. The ergonomic handled T tab assembly includes an ergonomic handle. At least one detent mechanism engages at least one notch to hold the ergonomic handled T tab assembly at a selectable pre-set height above the frame member.
The application relates to a golf bag, particularly to a golf bag with slots for individual golf clubs.
BACKGROUNDA golf bag can carry up to the regulation number of 14 golf clubs.
SUMMARYAccording to one aspect, a golf bag frame divider for a top of a golf bag includes a frame with internal frame members and at least one slotted frame member. The internal frame members and the slotted frame member define a plurality of golf club slots. Each golf club slot receives a different golf club. An ergonomic handled T tab assembly with a slidably adjustable height is disposed adjacent to at least one of the golf club slots. The ergonomic handled T tab assembly includes an ergonomic handle. A first outer T tab is mechanically coupled to the ergonomic handle, the first outer T tab having a series of notches along a first outer T tab outer edge. A second outer T tab is mechanically coupled to the ergonomic handle. The second outer T tab has another series of notches along a the second outer T tab outer edge and disposed between the first outer T tab and second outer T tab a plurality of T tabs. At least one detent mechanism engages at least one notch to hold the ergonomic handled T tab assembly at a selectable pre-set height above the frame member.
In one embodiment, the ergonomic handled T tab assembly is adjacent to three of the golf club slots.
In another embodiment, the golf club slots defined between the at least one slotted frame member and an outer frame part of the frame member are adapted to receive a driver golf club.
In yet another embodiment, the at least one notch includes an about half circle shape.
In yet another embodiment, the detent mechanism includes a latching knob.
In yet another embodiment, the latching knob is disposed at an end of a latching arm.
In yet another embodiment, the latching knob includes a plastic.
In yet another embodiment, the detent mechanism includes a latching knob and detent spring assembly.
In yet another embodiment, the detent spring assembly includes a latching arm.
In yet another embodiment, the latching arm includes a double bent latching arm with a latching arm elbow.
In yet another embodiment, at least one of the first outer T tab or the second outer T tab includes an end stop latch to prevent an accidental removal of the ergonomic handled T tab assembly from the slotted frame member.
In yet another embodiment, the T tabs and slots of the slotted frame member include an about flat rectangular cross section.
In yet another embodiment, the golf bag frame divider further includes at least one additional raised section of the frame raised above a plane of the internal frame members to provide the golf bag carrying handle member.
In yet another embodiment, the golf bag carrying handle member includes an ergonomic cover material softer than the golf bag carrying handle about which it is disposed.
In yet another embodiment, at least one internal frame member forms in whole, or in part combined with the frame member, an about trapezoidal opening golf club slot.
In yet another embodiment, the about trapezoidal opening golf club slot includes a slot adapted to accept a putter golf club.
In yet another embodiment, the ergonomic handle of the ergonomic handled T tab assembly includes an outer layer or covering material which is softer than the material of the frame.
In yet another embodiment, the ergonomic handle of the ergonomic handled T tab assembly includes at least one or at least one arch shape.
In yet another embodiment, the frame includes a metal.
In yet another embodiment, the frame or the ergonomic handled T tab assembly includes a plastic.
The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages of the application will become more apparent from the following description and from the claims.
The features of the application can be better understood with reference to the drawings described below, and the claims. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles described herein. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views.
One of the problems in storing and transporting golf clubs is how to best protect the drivers. Drivers typically have a longer shaft and larger or heavier golf head compared with other clubs and should be stored separately for best protection in the golf bag. However, the particular shaft lengths and head types vary. What is needed is an adjustable partition to best protect the drivers. Golfers also need to protect their hands from unnecessary injuries from adjustable parts of a golf bag, and the growing number of aging golfers means adjustments should be easy to make by all players including those older players. What is needed is an adjustable partition with an ergonomic handle without sharp edges and which is easy to adjust, and which once adjusted, will stay in place.
It was realized that a combination of a long ergonomic lifting handle combined with a series of elongated T tabs that slide within a corresponding series of T tab slots supplies a good adjustment friction. Moreover, by providing a series of detent notches on the outer edges of each of the outermost T tab slides, it was realized that a series of settable heights can be made more robust against undesired movement. These solutions were found to be particularly suitable for integration into a frame to be installed on top of a golf bag.
Another problem in golf bags with fixed golf club slots, is that permanent internal dividers preclude access for retrieval of a part or component in the bag, or reconfiguration of the golf club slots if a wider slot is needed or desired. It was realized that dividers in one direction which can be snapped in place allow for such flexibility. Moreover, a soft covering can be added to make the removable dividers more ergonomic for easier removal or placement.
At least one additional raised section of said frame member can be raised above a plane of said internal frame members to provide a golf bag carrying handle member. Two such golf bag handles are shown in the figures. The golf bag carrying handle members (e.g.
Adjustment positions are realized by the T tab notches on the outermost edges of both of first outer T tab 113 and second outer T tab 115. At any particular selectable height of Ergonomic handled T tab assembly 110, detent latching knobs 141 drop into corresponding notches 119 to further hold the Ergonomic handled T tab assembly 110 at the desired height. Notches 119 prevent accidental or inadvertent changes in the desired set height of the ergonomic handled T tab assembly 110. By applying sufficient force to the Ergonomic handled 111, the detent latching knobs 141 are released from the corresponding notches 119, allowing the ergonomic handled T tab assembly 110 to be set to a different lower or higher desired height. The various selectable heights of ergonomic handled T tab assembly 110 are preset at time of manufacture by the various location of notches 119 on the outermost edges of both of first outer T tab 113 and second outer T tab 115. Any suitable spacing (linear or non-linear) of notches 119 can be used to locate the pre-set selectable positions of height for the Ergonomic handled T tab assembly 110. More generally, at least one detent mechanism can engage at least one notch to hold the ergonomic handled T tab assembly at a selectable pre-set height above said frame member.
Latching knob and detent spring assembly 139 can be of a straight arm or a double bent type arm. As shown in
Also, visible in
Turning back to
Snap clip sockets 1500 can be located at desired positions along the side walls of both of slotted frame member 131 and internal frame member 1801b. Removable dividers 610 can be covered by a relatively soft material and/or textured material, such as, for example, a relatively soft plastic can be used over the typically harder metal or plastic of frame 910 for a better ergonomic grip. For example, a soft material overlay disposed over a removable divider 610 can provide an ergonomic grabbing surface.
A golf bag frame as described hereinabove can be affixed or mounted to a golf bag in any suitable way using any suitable adhesives, glues, troughs, ridges, slots, and/or fasteners. It is also unimportant what material or materials the golf bag is made from.
It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
Claims
1. A golf bag frame divider for a top of a golf bag comprising:
- a frame with internal frame members and at least one slotted frame member, said internal frame members and said slotted frame member define a plurality of golf club slots, each golf club slot to receive a different golf club;
- an ergonomic handled T tab assembly with a slidably adjustable height disposed adjacent to at least one of said golf club slots, said ergonomic handled T tab assembly comprising: an ergonomic handle, a first outer T tab mechanically coupled to said ergonomic handle, said first outer T tab having a series of notches along a first outer T tab outer edge, a second outer T tab mechanically coupled to said ergonomic handle, said second outer T tab having another series of notches along a said second outer T tab outer edge, and disposed between said first outer T tab and second outer T tab a plurality of T tabs; and
- at least one detent mechanism to engage at least one notch to hold said ergonomic handled T tab assembly at a selectable pre-set height above said frame member.
2. The golf bag frame divider of claim 1, wherein said ergonomic handled T tab assembly is adjacent to three of said golf club slots.
3. The golf bag frame divider of claim 1, wherein said golf club slots defined between said at least one slotted frame member and an outer frame part of said frame member are adapted to receive a driver golf club.
4. The golf bag frame divider of claim 1, wherein said at least one notch comprises an about half circle shape.
5. The golf bag frame divider of claim 1, wherein said detent mechanism comprises a latching knob.
6. The golf bag frame divider of claim 5, wherein said latching knob is disposed at an end of a latching arm.
7. The golf bag frame divider of claim 5, wherein said latching knob comprises a plastic.
8. The golf bag frame divider of claim 1, wherein said detent mechanism comprises a latching knob and detent spring assembly.
9. The golf bag frame divider of claim 8, wherein said detent spring assembly comprises a latching arm.
10. The golf bag frame divider of claim 9, wherein said latching arm comprises a double bent latching arm with a latching arm elbow.
11. The golf bag frame divider of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first outer T tab or said second outer T tab comprises an end stop latch to prevent an accidental removal of said ergonomic handled T tab assembly from said slotted frame member.
12. The golf bag frame divider of claim 1, wherein said T tabs and slots of said slotted frame member comprise an about flat rectangular cross section.
13. The golf bag frame divider of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional raised section of said frame raised above a plane of said internal frame members to provide the golf bag carrying handle member.
14. The golf bag frame divider of claim 1, wherein said golf bag carrying handle member comprises an ergonomic cover material softer than said golf bag carrying handle about which it is disposed.
15. The golf bag frame divider of claim 1, comprising at least one internal frame member forming in whole, or in part combined with said frame member, an about trapezoidal opening golf club slot.
16. The golf bag frame divider of claim 15, wherein said about trapezoidal opening golf club slot comprises a slot adapted to accept a putter golf club.
17. The golf bag frame divider of claim 1, wherein said ergonomic handle of said ergonomic handled T tab assembly comprises an outer layer or covering material which is softer than the material of the frame.
18. The golf bag frame divider of claim 1, wherein said ergonomic handle of said ergonomic handled T tab assembly comprises at least one or at least one arch shape.
19. The golf bag frame divider of claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a metal.
20. The golf bag frame divider of claim 1, wherein said frame or said ergonomic handled T tab assembly comprises a plastic.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 16, 2019
Publication Date: Jul 16, 2020
Inventor: Bud Wilcox (Grass Valley, CA)
Application Number: 16/248,958