Patent Application
20080054579
With reference to
The bag (50) holds a fully populated golf bag and has a side and a bottom.
The foldable mini-cart is attached to the bag (50) and has a bag support and a foldable wheel assembly (40).
The bag support is attached to the side and the bottom of the bag (50) and has a longitudinal frame (10) and a foot (120).
The longitudinal frame (10) is rectangular, is attached to the side of the bag at the bottom and has two longitudinal bars (12), a top bar, a bottom bar (11) and a mounting bar (13).
Each longitudinal bar (12) has an outer edge, a top end and a bottom end.
The top bar is attached to the top ends of the longitudinal bars (12). With further reference to
The mounting bar (13) is connected to the longitudinal bars (12) between the top ends and bottom ends and has two ends and two pivot pin holes (131). The pivot pin holes (131) are formed respectively in the ends of the mounting bar (13).
The foot (120) is attached to and protrudes perpendicularly from the bottom bar (11) and holds the bottom of the bag (50).
The foldable wheel assembly (40) is attached pivotally to the longitudinal frame (10) at a selectable angle and has a frame, at least one latch assembly, an actuator bar (48) and at least two wheels (412).
The frame is H-shaped and has two latch plates (30), two legs (41) and a crossbar (42).
The latch plates (30) are attached respectively to the outer edges of the longitudinal bars (12) and align with each other, and each latch plate (30) has a curved lower edge, a connecting hole (31) and multiple latch notches (32). The latch notches (32) are formed in the curved lower edge at different angles relative to the longitudinal bar (12).
Each leg (41) has a proximal end, a distal end, a pivot sleeve (411), a pivot pin (413) and a guide slot (49).
The pivot sleeve (411) is mounted transversely on the proximal end and has a through hole. The through holes align respectively with the connecting holes (31) in the latch plates (30).
The pivot pins (413) are mounted rotatably respectively through the through holes in the pivot sleeves (411) and the connecting holes (31) in the latch plates (30) and are mounted securely respectively in the pivot pin holes (131) in the mounting bar (13).
The crossbar (42) connects the two legs (41) between the proximal and distal ends of the legs (41).
The guide slots (49) are formed respectively in the legs (41) between the crossbar (42) and the proximal ends of the legs (41) and align with and face each other.
The latch assemblies selectively engage the latch notches (32) to hold the legs (41) at a specific angle relative to the longitudinal frame (10) and hold the wheel assembly (40) at a selectable angle relative to the longitudinal frame (10), and each latch assembly has an actuating sleeve (43), an actuator (45), an end cap (47), a latch (46), a spring (44) and an actuator bar (48). The actuating sleeves (43) are attached respectively to the legs (41) near the proximal end of the legs (41) and align respectively with the latch plates (30), and each actuating sleeve (42) is tubular and has a proximal end (431), a distal end (432) and an annular lip (433). The annular lip (433) is formed on and protrudes radially in from the distal end (432).
The actuator (45) extends slidably into the actuating sleeve (43) through the distal end (432) and has an inner end (451).
The end cap (47) is mounted on and protrudes radially out from the inner end (451) of the actuator (45) and slidably mounted inside the actuating sleeve (43).
With further reference to
The shaft is attached coaxially to the inner end (451) of the actuator (45) through the end cap (47) and has a distal end.
The head is formed on the distal end of the shaft and selectively engages a latch notch (32) on the latch plate (30) to hold the foldable wheel assembly (40) in position.
The spring (44) is mounted around the actuator (45) in the actuating sleeve (43) between the annular lip (433) and the end cap (47) and pressing the latch (46) toward the latch plate (30) so the head of the latch (46) will engage a corresponding latch notch (32) on the latch plate (30).
The actuator bar (48) is connected to the actuators (45), allows the actuators (45) to be pulled simultaneously to disengage the latches (46) from the latch plates (30) and may extend through the actuators (45) and protrude slidably into the guide slots (49) in the legs (41) as shown in
The wheels (412) are mounted respectively on the distal ends of the legs (41) and allow the bag (50) to be easily moved without having to carry the bag (50).
The golf travel bag in accordance with the present invention makes carrying a fully populated golf bag easy and convenient.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
