FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an improved golf bag.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Golf bags are well known and may include one or two shoulder straps. Golf bags having one shoulder strap cause one shoulder of the golfer to bear the entire load of the golf bag. This concentrated off-center load may have a disadvantageous effect on the golfer's comfort, and create stress on the golfer's muscles and joints when carrying the golf bag.
For this reason, golf bags with two shoulder straps have been developed. Such golf bags distribute the load of the golf bag more evenly between the golfer's shoulders, thereby providing greater comfort when carrying the golf bag. However, over the course of a carrying a golf bag during a round of golf (which may take as long as five or six hours), even golf bags with two shoulder straps may cause significant discomfort and stress on the back, neck, and shoulders of the golfer.
Accordingly, there is a need for a golf bag which provides improved comfort when carried, and reduces the stress and discomfort to muscles, joints, and connective tissues of the golfer (also referred to as the user).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention, an improved golf bag is provided. The golf bag comprises: (a) a container portion defining a closed end and an opposing open end; (b) a plurality of carrying straps operatively connected to the container portion; and (c) a lumbar support pivotably connected to the container portion. The lumbar support pivots relative to the container portion when the container portion is carried by the user.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, an improved golf bag is provided. The golf bag comprises: (a) a container portion defining a closed end and an opposing open end; (b) a plurality of carrying straps operatively connected to the container portion; and (c) a mid-back support pivotably connected to at least one of the plurality of carrying straps. The mid-back support is adapted to pivot relative to the carrying straps when the container portion is carried by the user.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, an improved golf bag is provided. The golf bag comprises:
- (a) an elongate container portion defining a closed end and an opposing open end, the container portion defining a longitudinal axis;
- b) a shoulder harness;
- c) at least one first strap operatively connecting a rear portion of the shoulder harness to the container portion; and
- d) at least one second strap connecting a front portion of the shoulder harness to the container portion;
The first and second straps are adapted to rotate the container portion about the longitudinal axis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a golf bag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a simplified elevation view of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 3A is a detailed plan view of the front side of a container portion of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 3B is a plan view showing a lumbar pivot point according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a detailed plan view of the rear side of a container portion for the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 5A is an exploded perspective view of a lumbar support for the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the lumbar support of FIG. 5A;
FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing the connection of the lumbar support to the container portion;
FIG. 7 is a detailed rear plan view of a strap system and mid-back support of the preferred embodiment; and
FIG. 8 is a detailed front plan view of the strap system and mid-back support of the preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIGS. 1 and 2 show simplified views of a golf bag 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The golf bag includes a container portion 12 having a closed end 14 and an opposing open end 16 to receive golf clubs (not shown). A club divider 18 may be secured to the open end 16 of the golf bag 10. For clarity, details of the container portion 12 are not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but are illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 4, and described in detail below.
Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1 and 2, the golf bag 10 includes a lumbar support 20 and a number of carrying straps 30 for carrying the container portion 12. A mid-back support 40 is connected to the carrying straps 30. For clarity, a number of details of the carrying straps 30 have been omitted from FIGS. 1 and 2, but are illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, and are described in greater detail below.
FIGS. 3A and 4 show a detailed view of a front side 42 and rear side 44 of the container portion 12. For clarity, the carrying straps 30 and mid-back support 40 have been omitted from FIGS. 3A and 4. As used herein, “front side” and “forward” refer to the side of the container portion 12 which is adjacent to the user's back when the golf bag 10 is carried on the shoulders of the user. The term “rear” refers to the opposing side.
Referring to FIGS. 3A and 4, a handle 50 is connected to the container portion 12. The container portion 12 may also include a beverage container holder 52, pivotable stand legs 53, removable zip pouch 54 for valuables with a belt strap 56 securable to a user's waste, and other conventional pockets and storage compartments which are illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 4.
Continuing to refer to FIGS. 3A and 4, the container portion 12 includes a pair of upper loops 60 and lower loops 62 on the front side 42 of the container portion 12. A pair of rear loops 64 are provided on the rear side 44 of the container portion. The loops 60, 62, 64 secure the carrying straps 30 to the container portion 12.
Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the lumbar support 20 includes a frame 70 which is sandwiched between a front cushioning pad 71 and a rear cushioning pad 72. The cushioning pads 71, 72 are secured to the frame by any suitable fashion, such as by adhesive. Preferably, the frame 70 is composed of a polycarbonate material and the cushioning pads are composed of a polyurethane foam. A cushion cover 73 is preferably fitted over the cushioning pads 71, 72.
Referring again to FIG. 3A, the lumbar support 20 pivots about any suitable lumbar pivot point. Preferably, the lumbar pivot point is a lumbar ring 82 located below the lumbar support 20. The lumbar ring 82 is connected to the front side 42 of container portion 12 by lumbar pivot strap 83. The lumbar support 20 may be connected to the lumbar ring 82 by a pair of connector straps 80. The connector straps 80 are looped around the lumbar ring 82 to permit them to slide along the lumbar ring 82. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the lumbar pivot point may be located in any other position, such as for example, behind the lumbar support 20.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3B, the lumbar pivot point is a lumbar buckle 84 and the connector straps 80 are pivotably secured to the lumbar buckle by clasps 85. The remaining parts shown in FIG. 3B are identical to those in FIG. 3A, and will not be further described.
As best shown in FIG. 6, an integral upper portion of the lumbar support 20 is connected to a sliding surface 89 preferably located on the handle 50. The upper portion preferably forms a loop 90 by folding the upper portion of the lumbar support 20 onto itself and securing it by a hook-and-pile fastener 92. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the sliding surface 89 may be located on any other suitable part of the container portion 12, and it is not essential that the sliding surface 89 be located on the handle 50.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 7 and 8, the carrying straps 30 preferably include a shoulder harness 100, a pair harness straps 102, a pair of first straps 106, a pair of second straps 108, and a pair of third straps 110. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the shoulder harness may be a discrete harness or any padded member or strap portion which comes into contact with one or both of the user's shoulders when the golf bag is carried.
Referring now to FIG. 7, the shoulder harness 100 is connected at its rear end to a mid-back pivot point on the mid-back support 40 by the harness straps 102. The harness straps 102 run from the right and left portions of the shoulder harness 100 and are secured at their ends to the mid-back pivot point. Preferably, the mid-back pivot point is a mid-back ring 104 which is secured to the mid-back support 40 by the ends of the first straps 106. The ends of the first straps 106 loop around the mid-back ring 104 and are stitched to the first straps 106, as well as the mid-back support 40. The harness straps 102 are looped around the mid-back ring 104 to permit them to slide along the mid-back ring 104, thereby permitting the shoulder harness 100 to shift and move as the user walks while permitting the mid-back support 40 to remain in a fixed position in relation to the user's back.
In an alternative embodiment, the mid-back pivot point may be a buckle similar to the lumbar buckle 84 (described above and illustrated in FIG. 3B) which is connected to the harness straps 102 by clasps similar to clasps 85.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 7, the mid-back support 40 is connected to the container portion 12 by the first straps 106. The first straps 106 are secured to the mid-back support 40 at one end and to the rear loops 64 of the container portion 12 at the other end. The first straps 106 are secured to the rear loops 64 by any suitable means, such as conventional clasps 107.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, and 7, the second straps 108 connect the forward portion of the shoulder harness 100 to the container portion 12. The second straps 108 are preferably stitched to the shoulder harness 100 at one end and are secured to the upper loops 60 of the container portion 12 by clasps 107 at the other end. Adjustment clips 111 are provided on the second straps 108 to adjust the length of these straps.
The third straps 110 terminate at one end in clasps 107 which are secured to lower loops 62 located on the container portion 12. Each of the pair of third straps 110 loops through a clip 112a and a cinch 112b to facilitate adjusting the length of the third straps 110, as described in more detail below. The third straps 110 terminate in adjustment handles 113.
As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the mid-back support 40 may include an open mesh area 120 to improve ventilation to the back of the user.
As shown in FIG. 7, a chest strap 122 which fastens across the user's chest may be provided to further assist with proper positioning of the shoulder harness 100 on the user.
The operation of the golf bag 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, and 7.
When the user desires to carry the golf bag 10, the user places the shoulder harness 100 on the user's shoulders in a known manner. The container portion 12 rests against the user's lower back, which in turn brings the lumbar support 20 in contact with the user's lower back. The user can adjust the carrying straps 30 (as described below) to position the lumbar support 20 in the most comfortable and supportive position. When the user carries the golf bag 10, the lumbar support 20 is capable of maintaining this desirable position in relation to the user's lower back even if the position of the container portion 12 shifts while walking. This advantage is due to the lumbar support 20 being free to move in relation to the golf bag, thereby reducing the likelihood that movement of the golf bag 10 would cause the lumbar support 20 to shift out of the desirable position for the user. In the preferred embodiment, the lumbar support 20 is free to pivot about the lumbar ring 82 and can slide at its upper end along sliding surface 89 on the handle 50.
To find a desirable position of the lumbar support 20 against the user's lower back, the second straps 108 may be lengthened or shortened using adjustment clips 111. The adjustment of the second straps 108 rotates the container portion 12 (as shown by curved line B-B in FIG. 1) about its longitudinal axis A-A (also shown in FIG. 1). This adjustment permits the user to optimize the fit of the lumbar support 20 against the user's lower back.
It is well known that the open end 16 of the container portion 12 should be above the closed end 14 in order to prevent the golf clubs stored in the container portion 12 from falling out when the golf bag 10 is carried by the user. The height of the closed end 14 relative to the open end 16 is referred to as the “rest angle”. The magnitude of the rest angle depends to some extent on the type of golf clubs being carried in the golf bag 10. The rest angle of the container portion 12 may be adjusted by lengthening or shortening the left or right third strap 110 via the combination of clip 112a and cinch 112b. Alternatively, both of the third straps 110 may be adjusted to raise or lower the golf bag 10 in order to assist with positioning the lumbar support 20. The adjustment of the third straps 110 may be made while the golf bag is being carried by pulling on adjustment handles 113. One of the advantages of the present invention is that the pivoting lumbar support 20 can remain in the desirable position against the user's back while the rest angle of the bag is adjusted.
Like the lumbar support 20, the mid-back support 40 also provides improved comfort by maintaining its position against the mid back of the user. The mid-back support is able to provide the improved stability because it is free to rotate (about mid-back pivot point 104) in relation to the harness straps 102 and the first straps 106.
While the present invention as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described objects of the invention, it is to be understood that it is the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention and thus, is representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention, that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims.
Patent Application
20070045371
