Patent Application
20120325699
This invention relates generally to golf bags. Golf bags in accordance with at least some examples of this invention include structures for allowing better securing of the golf bag with transport devices and/or more convenient manufacturing.
The sport of golf is very popular in the world today. Technological innovations have been regularly improving almost every aspect of the game, including the equipment used to tote the golf clubs both on and away from the golf course. Golf bags that were once made from heavy canvas and steel rods have been replaced by bags made from lighter, more durable composites, metals, plastics, and other materials.
Many golfers attach their golf bags to transport devices for play, such as manually powered golf carts (e.g., user propelled push or pull carts) or self propelled carts (e.g., motorized golf carts, optionally carts on which one or more golfers may ride). Typically, golf bags will be secured to these transport devices using a securing strap that extends at least partially around the golf bag to hold the bag in place with respect to the transport device. The securing straps usually contact toward the top of the bag (well above the bag's center of gravity) to help prevent the bag from spilling off the transport device (e.g., on hills, on quick starts or stops, etc.).
Conventional golf bags also often include one or more pockets or compartments in which various items and golf accessories may be carried. For instance, pockets often are provided to hold golf balls, golf tees, towels, ball markers, rain gear, and the like. Due to the size of golf bags and their necessary portable nature, the area for including pockets is somewhat limited. Because the top of the golf bag often is needed for engaging a securing strap of a transport device, as noted above, the top central area of many golf bags will not include pockets because pockets at that location would typically be crushed when the securing strap is engaged around the bag, thereby crushing and potentially damaging the contents of the bag and/or limiting access to the pocket. Thus, pockets typically are provided at lower portions of the golf bag structure and at the sides of the golf bag structure. Low pockets force the user to repeatedly bend down to gain access to the items stored in the pockets. Side mounted pockets also can be difficult to access, e.g., particularly when two golf bags are mounted in close proximity to one another on a single transport device or when sides of the transport device are in close proximity to the pockets.
Not all transport devices hold golf bags in the same orientation. Some transport devices (or transporting techniques) may cause the clubs to lean (under the force of gravity) in one direction with respect to the bag, while other transport devices (or transporting techniques) may cause the clubs to lean (under the force of gravity) in another direction (and often in the opposite direction) with respect to the bag. If the clubs with longer shafts (e.g., woods) are positioned at a “lower position” in the golf bag than clubs with shorter shafts (e.g., irons) when the bag is being used, the heads of the shorter clubs can bang into the shafts of the longer clubs and damage the shafts (e.g., including structural damage that may weaken the shafts and/or aesthetic damage, such as scratches, dings, etc.).
Many golf bags have club dividers or separators with locations or compartments specifically tailored for holding certain clubs, such as the driver, the putter, etc. In such bags, if the compartment for the driver is located on the “low side” of the bag with respect to a specific transport device or technique, this risks damage to the driver shaft due to the heads of the irons banging into the driver shaft. In an effort to address this problem, bags may come in two styles, e.g., one style with special compartments (e.g., for the driver or putter) located at a first side of the bag (for transport devices or techniques in which the clubs lean one direction) and another style with these same special compartments (e.g., for the driver or putter) located at the opposite side of the bag (for transport devices or techniques in which the clubs lean in the opposite direction). These “fixes” increase manufacturing costs and complexities because the club divider fits into the bag body in only one orientation, which requires more manufacturing controls (to assure proper orientation of the parts during assembly) and/or greater bag part inventories (to enable the manufacturer to make bags of both styles). Also, the manufacturer may need to target specific bag styles to specific locations or markets (e.g., to locations or markets having one type of transport devices or techniques or the other).
Accordingly, there is room for improvement in the golf bag art, at least in the various areas noted above.
The following presents a simplified summary of the present invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention, nor is it intended to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some features and aspects of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that follows.
Aspects of this invention relate to golf bags for carrying and/or storing multiple golf clubs (e.g., on a golf course, during travel, etc.). Golf bags according to at least some examples of this invention may include a container defining a main compartment for holding a plurality of golf clubs, the container including a top portion having an open first end for receiving golf club shafts to be held, and a flip pocket including a first part permanently engaged with or integrally formed as part of the container (e.g., located proximate to the top portion of the container) and a second part not permanently engaged with or integrally formed as part of the container, wherein the second part of the flip pocket is movable between a closed or engaged position and an open or disengaged position. Golf bags according to at least some examples of this invention further may include one or more of: (a) a releasable connector system for releasably holding the flip pocket in the closed or engaged position; (b) an anti-slip element engaged with or integrally formed as part of the golf bag body member and optionally located at least partially behind the flip pocket when the flip pocket is in its closed or engaged position; and/or (c) a divider provided at the top portion of the container, e.g., to help keep the golf clubs separated from one another when stored in the main compartment of the golf bag.
Optionally, at least the outer perimeter of the divider may be: (a) symmetric about a first axis extending in a front-to-rear direction, (b) symmetric about a second axis extending in a side-to-side direction, and/or (c) symmetric about a third axis extending in a top-to-bottom direction (when the golf bag is oriented in an upright manner, e.g., as shown in the figures). One or more separator panels within the perimeter of the divider also may be positioned so as to define plural club receiving spaces within the perimeter, and, if desired, the club receiving spaces may be arranged so as to be symmetric with respect to one or more of the axes noted above.
Additional aspects of this invention relate to methods of making golf bags, e.g., of the various types described above, as well as to methods of using such golf bags (e.g., securing them to a transport device).
A more complete understanding of the present invention and at least some advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description in consideration of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:
In the following description of various examples of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example structures and environments in which aspects of the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other structures and environments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made from the specifically described structures without departing from the scope of the present invention.
I. General Description of Aspects of this Invention
Aspects of this invention relate to golf bags for carrying and/or storing multiple golf clubs (e.g., on a golf course, during travel, etc.). More specifically, golf bags in accordance with at least some examples of this invention may include: (a) a golf bag body member defining a main compartment for holding a plurality of golf clubs, the golf bag body member including an open first end for receiving golf club shafts to be held; (b) a flip pocket; and (c) an engagement system for engaging the flip pocket with the golf bag body member. This engagement system may permanently engage a first portion of the flip pocket with the golf bag body member, wherein a second portion of the flip pocket is movable with respect to the golf bag body member. Furthermore, this engagement system allows the second portion of the flip pocket to be movable with respect to the first portion of the flip pocket between: (a) a closed position in which a portion of a surface area of the golf bag body member is in a covered condition and (b) an open position in which that same portion of the surface area of the golf bag body member is in an exposed condition.
Golf bags according to other examples of this invention may include: (a) a golf bag body member defining a main compartment for holding a plurality of golf clubs, the golf bag body member including an open first end for receiving golf club shafts to be held; (b) a pocket having a first portion permanently engaged with or integrally formed as part of the golf bag body member, wherein the pocket includes a first part of a releasable connection structure at a location spaced from the first portion of the pocket; and (c) a second part of the releasable connection structure engaged with or integrally formed as a part of the golf bag body member, wherein the second part of the releasable connection structure is provided at a location of the golf bag body member so as to be capable of interacting with the first part of the releasable connection structure provided with the pocket to releasably engage a second portion of the pocket with the golf bag body member.
Additional aspects of this invention relate to golf bags that include, for example: (a) a container defining a main compartment for holding a plurality of golf clubs, the container including a top portion having an open first end for receiving golf club shafts to be held; (b) a flip pocket including a first (e.g., top) part permanently engaged with or integrally formed as part of the container (optionally proximate to the top portion of the container) and a second (e.g., bottom) part not permanently engaged with and not integrally formed as part of the container, wherein the flip pocket is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position; and (c) a releasable connector system for releasably holding the flip pocket at the engaged position, wherein the releasable connector system includes: (a) a first component engaged with or integrally formed as part of the flip pocket closer to the second part of the flip pocket than to the first part of the flip pocket and (b) a second component engaged with or integrally formed as part of the container at a location so as to be able to interact with the first component when the flip pocket is at the engaged position.
In some additional aspects of this invention, the golf bags optionally may include a first anti-slip element engaged with or integrally formed as part of the golf bag body member. This first anti-slip element may be located behind the flip pocket such that the flip pocket at least partially covers (and in some examples, fully covers) the first anti-slip element when the flip pocket is at its engaged or closed position. The rear surface of the flip pocket and a major surface of the first anti-slip element may be positioned to contact opposite sides of a strap for securing the golf bag body member to a transport device when the pocket is at the engaged or closed position. The first-anti-slip element helps hold the strap in place with respect to the golf bag so that the golf bag will be less susceptible to spinning or twisting as it is being transported by the transport device (e.g., a hand-pulled or hand-pushed cart, a power cart, etc.). The term “anti-slip element” as used herein, means any structure or other feature for increasing the coefficient of friction of a targeted area of the golf bag (as compared with other areas of the golf bag structure) with respect to a securing strap structure, to thereby provide a designated location for engaging a securing strap, e.g., a strap for securing the golf bag to a transport device. “Anti-slip elements” may include separate structural components (e.g., engaged with the golf bag body member), surface treatments to a targeted portion of the golf bag body member surface (e.g., tacky coatings or sprays), or the like. In some examples, the anti-slip element will be a rubber or polyurethane material, e.g., having a relatively soft surface. In other examples, the anti-slip element(s) may physically hold the strap, e.g., like a hook-and-loop fastener.
If desired, additional anti-slip elements may be provided, e.g., around the sides of the golf bag body member or other container. Optionally, these additional anti-slip elements may remain exposed or partially exposed whether the flip pocket is at the engaged and disengaged positions.
The permanent connection between the flip pocket and the golf bag body member or other container may be accomplished in any desired manner without departing from this invention, including permanent engagement structures or by integrally forming the pocket with a material of the golf bag body member or container. As some more specific examples, the top part of the flip pocket may be sewn onto the golf bag body member or container; it may be engaged with the golf bag body member or container by cements, adhesives, rivets, or the like; etc. “Permanent” engagement, as that term is used herein, means engaged in a manner not intended to separate during normal use and not readily disengaged by a user without destroying the connection.
As noted above, a portion of the flip pocket may be releasably engaged with the golf bag body member or other container so that the flip pocket may be moved with respect to the golf bag body member but still remains connected thereto. Such releasable engagements may include, for example, two or more magnets that engage one another, one (or more) magnets that engage a metal material that is attracted to the magnet, a hook-and-loop fastener system, a snap connector, other mechanical clasp connectors (e.g., of the types conventionally found on golf bags, infant seats, etc.), and the like.
Still additional aspects of this invention, relate to features of a divider provided at the top portion of the golf bag body member, e.g., to help keep the golf clubs separated from one another when stored in the main compartment of the golf bag. Such dividers may be separate components engaged with a golf bag body member or may be integrally formed (at least in part) with the golf bag body member. Optionally, the outer perimeter of the top portion of the golf bag body member and/or the outer perimeter of the divider will be symmetric about a first axis extending in a front-to-rear direction and symmetric about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis and extending in a side-to-side direction. Still further, if desired, the outer perimeter of the top portion of the golf bag body member and/or the outer perimeter of the divider may be symmetric about a third axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes and extends in a top-to-bottom direction (when the golf bag is oriented in an upright manner, e.g., as shown in the figures). Any separator structures or panels provided within the perimeter of the divider or the top portion of the golf bag may define plural club receiving spaces within the perimeter, and if desired, the club receiving spaces may be arranged so as to be symmetric with respect to one or more of the axes described above. These symmetry features ease various manufacturing aspects of golf bag structures according to examples of this invention in that the divider may be attached to the golf bag in either of two orientations. These features also allow the same golf bag body member and divider parts to be used for bags directed to various different markets.
Additional aspects of this invention relate to methods of making golf bags, e.g., of the various types described above. Such methods may include, for example, one or more of the following: (a) permanently engaging a first portion of a pocket with a golf bag body member (e.g., by sewing, by cements or adhesives, by other fusing techniques, etc.); (b) engaging a first part of a releasable connection structure with the pocket; and (c) engaging a second part of the releasable connection structure with the golf bag body member. The first part of the releasable connection structure and the second part of the releasable connection structure are engaged at locations on the pocket and golf bag body member, respectively, such that the first part of the releasable connection structure is capable of engaging the second part of the releasable connection structure, and wherein the pocket is selectively convertible between an engaged or downward position or condition and a disengaged or flipped up position or condition. Even in the disengaged condition, however, the pocket remains permanently engaged with the golf bag body member at the first portion of the pocket. These features help prevent undesired loss of the pocket and/or inadvertent failure to keep the pocket with the golf bag.
Still additional aspects of this invention relate to methods of securing golf bags to a transport device, such as a golf cart (manual or powered carts). Such methods may include, for example, one or more of the following steps:
Such methods may further include placing a portion of the securing strap in contact with an anti-slip element provided on the golf bag (e.g., under the flip-up pocket, alongside the pocket, etc.). The securing strap may be sandwiched between a rear surface of the pocket and a major surface of an anti-slip element when the pocket is in its downward position or in its engaged condition.
Given this general description of features, aspects, structures, and arrangements according to the invention, a more detailed description of specific example golf bag structures in accordance with this invention follows.
II. Detailed Description of Example Golf Bag Structures According to the Invention
Specific examples of golf bag structures according to the invention are described in more detail below. The reader should understand, however, that these specific examples are set forth merely to illustrate examples of the invention, and they should not be construed as limiting the invention.
In this illustrated example, the golf bag body member 102 includes numerous pockets 106A, 106B, 106C, and 106D positioned around the bag. Any number of pockets may be provided without departing from this invention, and these pockets may have any desired types of construction, sizes, closure systems (e.g., zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, etc.), and the like, without departing from this invention. While not a requirement,
Pocket 120, as shown in
Examples of engagement of the flip pocket 120 with the golf bag body member 102 now will be described in more detail. In some example golf bag structures 100 in accordance with this invention, one end (e.g., the top edge) of the flip pocket 120 will be permanently engaged with the golf bag body member 102. This permanent engagement may take place in any desired manner without departing from this invention, including in conventional manners for providing pockets on golf bags as are known and used in the art. In this illustrated example structure 100, the flip pocket 120 is engaged with the golf bag body member 102 by one or more sewn seams 122. Also, as shown in
Other ways of permanently engaging one portion of the flip pocket 120 with the golf bag body member 102 are possible without departing from this invention. For example, if desired, the flip pocket 120 may be held to some part of the golf bag body member 102 by rivets, screws, bolts, one or more hinges, or other permanent mechanical connectors. Cements or adhesives also may be used to permanently connect one portion of the flip pocket 120 with the golf bag body member 102. As yet another example, if desired, a portion of the flip pocket 120 may be integrally formed with a portion of the golf bag body member 102 as a unitary, one piece construction.
While not preferred, in some example structures according to some aspects of this invention, the permanent connection may be replaced with a releasable connection, if desired. In such structures, the flip pocket 120 will be completely removable from the golf bag body member 102. While possible, if desired, such structures are not preferred because this risks loss or misplacement of the flip pocket 120, with the potentially undesired effect of arriving at the golf course (or back home) without the flip pocket 120 (and the inconvenience associated with such loss or misplacement of the flip pocket 120). If desired, when such releasable flip pockets 120 are provided, some portion of the connection of the flip pocket 120 may be more difficult to disengage from the golf bag body member 102 to at least discourage complete disengagement of the flip pocket 120 (and thereby prevent or reduce undesired loss or misplacement of the flip pocket 120). As some more specific examples, the releasable connection at the top of such flip pockets may be engaged by one or more zippers, one or more mechanical clasps, etc. Even when completely removable, “flip pockets” in accordance with this aspect of the invention will be movable between engaged and disengaged positions, e.g., in the manners described in more detail below. If desired, completely removable pockets of the types described above may include a clasp, clip, or clamp to enable the pocket to be engaged with another part of the bag or some other device (such as the player's belt or belt loop).
As will become more apparent from the discussion of
In addition to a support member 202 for holding the golf bag base 132, transport devices generally will include a securing strap 206 for engaging the upper portion of the golf bag 100, to help prevent the golf bag 100 from falling off the transport device 200 during use. In accordance with at least some examples of this invention, this upper securing strap 206 is secured as follows. At some point during the bag mounting process (before or after the bag 100 is placed on support 202), the flip pocket 120 of this example golf bag structure 100 is flipped from the engaged position (and the engaged condition) to a disengaged position and condition (e.g., as shown in
Once properly positioned and secured, the flip pocket 120 can be returned to its engaged position and condition, e.g., as shown in
In this manner and structural arrangement, the flip pocket 120 feature of the golf bag 100 according to this aspect of the invention provides improved storage capacity, particularly at the upper area of the golf bag (which often times can be the most conveniently accessible area of the golf bag in use) while still providing adequate securing of the bag to the transport device 200 and while not adversely impacting the contents of the flip pocket 120 when the securing strap 206 is tightened.
Many variations on the various structures and operations described above are possible without departing from this invention. For example, in the structure described above in conjunction with
Other variations in the securing mechanism are possible without departing from this invention. For example, as illustrated in
The example structures shown in
Also,
As yet another potential option, the structure for releasably holding the flip pocket 120 at the engaged or downward position may be provided as part of the permanent connection between the flip pocket 120 and the golf bag body member 102. One more specific example includes an arrangement in which a portion of the flip pocket 120 (e.g., its top edge, a side edge, etc.) is permanently engaged with the golf bag body member 102 by one or more hinges or other rotatable connection member(s) (e.g., the sewn seam 122 is replaced by one or more hinges). While such a flip pocket 120 still could be releasably secured at the downward or other engaged position by the connection elements as described above in conjunction with
As noted above, not all transport devices hold golf bags in the same orientation. Some transport devices (or transporting techniques) may cause the clubs to lean (under the force of gravity) in one direction with respect to the bag, while other transport devices (or transporting techniques) may cause the clubs to lean (under the force of gravity) in another direction (and often in the opposite direction) with respect to the bag. If the clubs with longer shafts (e.g., woods) are positioned at a “lower position” in the golf bag than clubs with shorter shafts (e.g., irons) when the bag is being transported, the heads of the shorter clubs may bang into the shafts of the longer clubs and damage the shafts.
Many golf bags have club dividers or separators with locations or compartments specifically tailored for holding certain clubs, such as the driver, the putter, etc. In such situations, if the compartment for the driver is located on the “low side” of the bag with respect to a specific transport device or technique selected, this orientation risks damage to the driver shaft due to the heads of the irons potentially banging into the driver shaft. In an effort to address this problem, some golf bags may come in two styles, e.g., one style with special compartments (e.g., for the driver or putter) located at a first side of the bag (for certain transport devices or techniques in which the clubs lean one direction) and another style with these same special compartments (e.g., for the driver or putter) located at the opposite side of the bag (for certain transport devices or techniques in which the clubs lean in the opposite direction). As described above, these features increase manufacturing costs and complexities for golf bags because the club divider fits into the bag in only one orientation, which requires more manufacturing controls (to assure proper orientation of the parts) and/or greater bag part inventories (to enable the manufacturer to make bags of both styles). Also, the manufacturer may need to target specific bag styles to specific locations or markets (e.g., to locations or markets having one type of transport devices or techniques or the other). If consumers buy the wrong bag for a specific transport device or technique, they risk damage to their clubs (and the manufacturer may experience significant customer dissatisfaction).
The club separator 904 divides the major compartment 906 of the golf bag 900 into a plurality of different sub-compartments using one or more divider element(s) 908. While any desired number of sub-compartments may be created without departing from this invention, in this illustrated example, the main compartment 906 is subdivided into fourteen sub-compartments. Also, any number of divider elements 908 may be used to provide the overall sub-compartments for the club separator 904 without departing from this invention. The divider elements 908 may extend any desired extent of the overall bag height, e.g., including from 1% to 100% of the overall bag height H (see
For convenience and ease of discussion below, the club separator 904 illustrated in FIGS.
9A through 9C is labeled with “north,” “south,” “east,” and “west” sides or edges. As shown in
This symmetric club separator 904 helps alleviate some of the above noted problems in various ways. First, due to its symmetric features, the sub-compartments on one side of the bag are the same as the sub-compartments on the opposite side of the bag. Therefore, the club separator 904 may be engaged with the golf bag body 902 in either of two directions (e.g., with “north” up in
Also, because the club separator 904 includes the same size and style sub-compartments on each of the opposing sides, the clubs can be oriented within the bag 900 in any desired manner and in manners more appropriate to the transport device or technique being used for a specific round of golf (e.g., the longer clubs can always be moved to be located toward the high end of the bag for a specific transport device and/or transport technique). These features make the bag more flexible (useful with any desired transport device or technique) and help prevent consumers from purchasing a bag that is not well suited for their specific uses (thereby helping prevent club damage and customer relationship damage).
III. Conclusion
The present disclosure and the accompanying drawings serve to provide examples of various features and concepts related to the golf bag described, not to limit the scope of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the arrangements described above without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as defined by the appended claims.
