Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6318682
-
Patent Number
6,318,682
-
Date Filed
Monday, July 24, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 20, 200122 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Stodola; Daniel P.
- Novosad; Jennifer E.
Agents
- Kamrath; Alan
- Rider, Bennett, Egan & Arundel, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 248 96
- 248 97
- 248 166
- 248 168
- 248 688
- 206 3157
- 206 3153
- 206 3152
- 211 702
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A support base is mounted to a golf bag of the type having a substantially U-shaped resilient defined by a mediate section and two limbs. The support base has two parallel side passages in a top side thereof. The support base further has a cutout in a lateral side thereof. The cutout and the side passages being communicated with each other and arranged to define a tongue with the side passages located on both sides of the tongue. Each side passage includes an open outer end and a closed inner end. An end wall defining the inner end of each side passage includes an inclined groove. The cutout includes an outer open end and an inner end that is aligned with the closed inner ends of the side passages. The outer end of the cutout allows insertion of the mediate section of the resilient member into the closed inner end of the cutout until each of the limbs of the resilient member reaches the closed inner end of an associated one of the side passages, thereby allowing the limbs to be pivoted into the inclined grooves for supporting the golf bag in a tilt position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a support base for a golf bag.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 6
of the drawings illustrates a conventional support base
16
for a golf bag
12
, wherein the support base
16
is rotated through 90° for supporting the golf bag
12
in a tilt status. Nevertheless, the support base
16
might be rotated inadvertently and a support leg
14
of the support base
16
tends to be broken when the support leg
14
is inadvertently moved to a position shown in FIG.
7
. The present invention is intended to provide a support base that solves this problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A support base in accordance with the present invention is mounted to a golf bag of the type having a substantially U-shaped resilient defined by a mediate section and two limbs. The support base comprises two parallel side passages in a top side thereof. The support base further comprises a cutout in a lateral side thereof. The cutout and the side passages being communicated with each other and arranged to define a tongue with the side passages located on both sides of the tongue. Each side passage includes an open outer end and a closed inner end. An end wall defining the inner end of each side passage includes an inclined groove. The cutout includes an outer open end and an inner end that is aligned with the closed inner ends of the side passages. The outer end of the cutout allows insertion of the mediate section of the resilient member into the closed inner end of the cutout until each of the limbs of the resilient member reaches the closed inner end of an associated one of the side passages, thereby allowing the limbs to be pivoted into the inclined grooves for supporting the golf bag in a tilt position.
The outer open end of the cutout is located at a level higher than that of the inner end of the cutout. The mediate section of the resilient member is pivotally received in the outer open end of the cutout.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a golf bag with a support base in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a perspective view, partly exploded, of the golf bag in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of the support base in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4
is a sectional view of the support base and a resilient member.
FIG. 5
is a sectional view similar to
FIG. 4
, wherein the resilient member is moved to a position for supporting the golf bag in a tilt status.
FIG. 6
is a partial side view, partly sectioned, of a golf bag with a conventional support base.
FIG. 7
is a view similar to
FIG. 6
, wherein the golf bag is in an upright position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to
FIGS. 1 through 5
and initially to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a golf bag
1
generally includes a bag
2
, a mounting member
5
attached to the bag
2
, two legs
3
, a tensioner
6
, a substantially U-shape resilient member
7
, and a support base
4
, wherein the support base
4
is the main feature of the present invention. The U-shape resilient member
7
includes a mediate section
72
and two limbs
74
each having a distal end
76
connected to an upper end of an associated leg
3
to move therewith.
Referring to
FIG. 3
, the support base
4
includes two parallel side passages
46
in a top side thereof and a cutout
44
in a lateral side thereof. The cutout
44
and the side passages
46
communicate with each other to and arranged to thereby define a tongue
42
with the side passages
46
located on both sides of the tongue
42
. Each side passage
46
includes an open outer end
47
and a closed inner end
49
, wherein an end wall defining the inner end
49
includes an inclined groove
48
. The cutout
44
also includes an open outer end (not labeled) and an inner end (not labeled) that is aligned with the closed inner ends
49
of the side passages
46
.
In assembly, the mediate section
72
of the U-shape resilient member
7
is inserted into the support base
4
via the cutout
44
and the limbs
74
of the resilient member
7
are moved along the side passages
46
until the limbs
74
reach the inner ends
49
of the side passages
46
, respectively, while the mediate section
72
of the resilient member
7
reaching the inner end of the cutout
44
, as shown in FIG.
4
. In use, the support base
4
is pivoted through an angle until the limbs
74
of the resilient member
7
enter the inclined grooves
48
, respectively. Thus, the support base
4
may provide assistance in supporting the golf bag
1
in a tilt position.
The support base
4
is an integral unit that is preferably made of plastic material. In addition, the tongue
42
of the support base
4
is resilient and the cutout
44
, except the inner end thereof, has a height slightly smaller than an outer diameter of the mediate section
72
of the resilient member
7
. The closed inner ends
49
of the side passages
46
and an inner end of the cutout
44
together define a space for snugly and pivotally receiving the mediate section
72
of the resilient member
7
. Namely, the inner end of the cutout
44
includes a height greater than the remaining portion of the cutout
44
. Thus, the resilient member
7
is pivotally retained in the space after the resilient member
7
is forcibly inserted into the support base
4
via the cutout
44
and passed through the side passages
46
.
The support base
4
in accordance with the present invention is rigid and pivotable relative to the resilient member
7
to thereby avoid breakage of the support base
4
. Namely, breakage of the support base
4
that happens often in an upright status in the conventional designs is avoided, as the support base
4
tends to lie flat.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
- 1. A support base adapted to be mounted to a golf bag having a substantially U-shaped resilient member defined by a mediate section and two limbs, the support base comprising: two parallel side passages in a top side thereof, the support base further comprising a cutout in a lateral side thereof, the cutout and the side passages communicating with each other and arranged to define a tongue with the side passages located on both sides of the tongue, each said side passage including an open outer end and a closed inner end, an end wall defining the inner end of each said side passage including an inclined groove, the cutout including an outer open end and an inner end that is aligned with the closed inner ends of the side passages, the mediate section of the resilient member being insertable into the inner end of the cutout until each of the limbs of the resilient member reaches the closed inner end of an associated one of said side passages, thereby allowing the limbs to be pivoted into said inclined grooves for supporting the golf bag in a tilted position.
- 2. The support base as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner end of the cutout includes a height greater than a remaining portion of the cutout.
- 3. The support base as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mediate section of the resilient member is adapted to be pivotally received in the inner end of the cutout.
US Referenced Citations (32)