Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6241202
-
Patent Number
6,241,202
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, November 23, 199924 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 5, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
- Kamrath; Alan
- Rider, Bennett, Egan & Arundel, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 248 96
- 206 3153
- 206 3157
- 280 646
- 180 651
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A supporting device for a golf bag includes two supporting rods, two connecting members, a support base located on the ground, two strips, and a strip-holding member. Each connecting member is integrally formed on the upper end of an associated supporting rod. The upper end of each connecting member is pivotally connected to the golf bag and thus pivotable about a pivotal axis. Each connecting member further includes a receptacle extended in a direction parallel to the pivotal axis. Each strip includes an upper end securely attached to the receptacle of an associated connecting member to move therewith and a lower end securely attached to the support base. The strip-holding member is slidably attached to the strips to hold the strips and includes an upper end with two spaced inwardly facing notches. The strip-holding member further includes two spaced slots in a lower end thereof, each slot being communicated with outside via a slit.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf bag having an improved supporting device allowing smooth operation for supporting the golf bag in an inclined status.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical golf bag may stand in an upright manner or be supported in an inclined status by a supporting device attached to the golf bag.
FIG. 1
of the drawings illustrates a conventional supporting device for a golf bag
11
. The supporting device includes two supporting rods
10
, a support base
12
, and two strips
13
. Each supporting rod
10
has an upper end pivotally connected to the golf bag
11
by a pin
15
. Each strip
13
includes an upper end attached to a hole
14
of a block
17
securely mounted to an upper portion of an associated supporting rod
10
and a lower end securely attached to the support base
12
. A strip-holding block
16
is attached to the strips
13
to thereby hold the strips
13
. Thus, the golf bag
11
may either stand in an upright manner (
FIG. 2
) or be supported in an inclined status (FIG.
3
). Nevertheless, each supporting rod
10
must be drilled with two holes parallel to each other (one for mounting a pin
15
and the other for receiving the upper end of a strip
13
) and such drilling is not easy and time-consuming. Pivotal movement of the supporting rods
10
to the position for supporting the golf bag
11
in an inclined status is difficult and not smooth if the two holes are not extended in a parallel manner. In addition, the block
16
is not adjustable and assembly of the strips
13
and the block
16
cannot be achieved easily, as the strips
13
must be passed through the block
16
before the strips
13
are attached to the supporting rods
10
and the base
12
.
The present invention is intended to provide a supporting device for a golf bag that mitigates and/or obviate the above problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a supporting device for a golf bag comprises:
two supporting rods each having an upper end and a lower end,
two connecting members each being integrally formed on the upper end of an associated said supporting rod, the upper end of each said connecting member being pivotally connected to the golf bag and thus pivotable about a pivotal axis, each said connecting member further including a receptacle extended in a direction parallel to the pivotal axis,
a support base adapted to be located on the ground,
two strips each including an upper end securely attached to the receptacle of an associated said connecting member to move therewith and a lower end securely attached to the support base, and
a strip-holding member through which the strips extend, the strip-holding member being slidably attached to the strips to hold the strips,
whereby the supporting rods are pivotable to a status for supporting the golf bag in an inclined status with the lower ends of the supporting rods located on the ground.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a supporting device for a golf bag comprises:
two supporting rods each having an upper end and a lower end,
two connecting members each being integrally formed on the upper end of an associated said supporting rod, the upper end of each said connecting member including a pivotal hole pivotally connected to the golf bag by a pivotal pin, each said connecting member further including a receptacle extended in a direction parallel to a pivotal axis of the pivotal pin,
a support base adapted to be located on the ground,
two strips each including an upper end securely attached to the receptacle of an associated said connecting member to move therewith and a lower end securely attached to the support base, and
a strip-holding member through which the strips extend, the strip-holding member being slidably attached to the strips to hold the strips,
whereby the supporting rods are pivotable to a status for supporting the golf bag in an inclined status with the lower ends of the supporting rods located on the ground.
The strip-holding member includes an upper end with two spaced inwardly facing notches. The strip-holding member further includes two spaced slots in a lower end thereof, each slot being communicated with outside via a slit. Preferably, each connecting member is integrally formed on the associated supporting rod. Preferably, each connecting member includes an integrally formed wing in which an associated receptacle is defined.
Outward pivotal movement of the supporting rods and sliding movement of the strip-holding block can be achieved easily. Manufacture of the supporting device is simple. The strip-holding block may be attached to the strips after the strips are attached to the supporting rods and the support base.
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 conventional supporting device.
FIG. 2
is a rear view of the golf bag in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is a side view of the golf bag in
FIG. 1
, wherein the golf bag is supported in an inclined status.
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of a golf bag with a supporting device in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5
is a perspective view, partly exploded, of the golf bag in FIG.
4
.
FIG. 6
is a rear view of the golf bag in FIG.
4
.
FIG. 7
is a side view of the golf bag in
FIG. 4
, wherein the golf bag is supported in an inclined status.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to
FIGS. 4 through 7
and initially to
FIGS. 4 and 5
, a supporting device is provided for a golf bag
20
that includes two mounting seat
22
on an upper end thereof and a substantially U-shape restrainer
23
. The supporting device in accordance with the present invention includes two supporting rods
30
, two connecting means
40
, two strips
60
, a strip-holding member
80
, and a support base
70
. Each supporting rod
30
includes a lower end
31
that may stand on the ground to support the golf bag
20
in an inclined status. Each connecting means
40
may be a connecting member
41
that is integrally formed on an upper end of an associated supporting rod
30
. Each connecting member
41
includes a pivotal hole
42
in an upper end thereof and a wing
43
extended from a lateral side thereof, the wing
43
including a receptacle
44
. The wing
43
may be integrally formed on the connecting member
41
by injection molding. The receptacle
44
is parallel to the pivotal hole
42
. A pivotal pin
50
is extended through a hole
21
in the mounting seat
22
and the pivotal hole
42
in the connecting member
41
, thereby pivotally connecting the supporting rod
30
to the mounting seat
22
.
Each strip
60
includes an upper end securely received in the receptacle
44
of an associated connecting member
41
and a lower end securely attached to the support base
70
. The strip-holding member
80
is substantially I-shape and includes an upper end with two spaced inwardly facing notches
81
. The strip-holding member
80
further includes two spaced slots
84
(
FIG. 5
) in a lower end thereof. Each slot
84
is communicated with outside via a slit
83
. Each strip
60
is passed through an associated notch
81
and an associated slot
84
. Thus, the strip-holding member
80
is slidably attached to the strips
60
to hold the strips
60
such that lower portions of the strips
60
are in an upright status.
As illustrated in
FIGS. 4 and 6
, the golf bag
20
may stand in an upright manner wherein lower portions of the strips
60
are guided by the restrainer
23
. The support base
70
is located on the ground to provide assistance to stable support.
Referring to
FIG. 7
, the supporting rods
30
may be pivoted outward to support the golf bag
20
in an inclined status by the lower ends
31
. The support base
70
is still located on the ground to provide a stable support. Each wing
43
is also pivoted while the receptacle
44
to which a strip
60
is attached is kept parallel to the pivotal pin
50
. Thus, the strips
60
may be moved smoothly during outward pivotal movement of the supporting rods
30
. The strip-holding block
80
is slid upward rapidly to keep the strips
60
straight.
According to the above description, it is appreciated that outward pivotal movement of the supporting rods
30
and sliding movement of the strip-holding block
80
can be achieved easily. Manufacture of the supporting device (i.e., injection molding) is simple. The strip-holding block
80
may be attached to the strips
60
after the strips
60
are attached to the supporting rods
30
and the support base
70
.
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 spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
- 1. A supporting device for a golf bag, comprising:two supporting rods each having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end of each said supporting rod being adapted to be pivotally connected to the golf bag and thus pivotable about a pivotal axis, a support base adapted to be located on the ground, two strips each including an upper end securely attached to an upper portion of an associated said supporting rod to move therewith and a lower end securely attached to the support base, and a strip-holding member through which the strips extend, the strip-holding member being slidably attached to the strips to hold the strips, wherein the supporting rods are pivotable to a status adapted to support the golf bag in an inclined status with the lower ends of the supporting rods located on the ground; and wherein the strip-holding member includes an upper end with two spaced inwardly facing notches, the strip-holding member further including two spaced slots in a lower end thereof, and each said slot being communicated with outside via a slit.
- 2. The supporting device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a receptacle extended in a direction parallel to the pivotal axis for each of said two supporting rods, with the upper end of each said two strips being securely attached to the receptacle of the associated said supporting rod.
- 3. The supporting device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: a connecting member formed on the upper end of each supporting rod, with the supporting rod being adapted to be pivotally connected to the golf bag by an upper end of the connecting member being adapted to be pivotally connected to the golf bag.
- 4. The supporting device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the upper end of the connecting member includes a pivotal hole and is adapted to be pivotally connected to the golf bag by a pivotal pin received in the pivotal hole.
- 5. The supporting device as claimed in claim 4, wherein each said connecting member is integrally formed on the associated supporting rod.
- 6. The supporting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein each said connecting member includes an integrally formed wing in which an associated said receptacle is defined.
- 7. The supporting device as claimed in claim 3, wherein each said connecting member is integrally formed on the associated supporting rod.
- 8. The supporting device as claimed in claim 7, wherein each said connecting member includes an integrally formed wing in which an associated said receptacle is defined.
- 9. The supporting device as claimed in claim 3, wherein each said connecting member includes an integrally formed wing in which an associated said receptacle is defined.
- 10. The supporting device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a connecting member formed on the upper end of each supporting rod, with the supporting rod being adapted to be pivotally connected to the golf bag by an upper end of the connecting member being adapted to be pivotally connected to the golf bag.
- 11. The supporting device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the upper end of the connecting member includes a pivotal hole and is adapted to be pivotally connected to the golf bag by a pivotal pin received in the pivotal hole.
- 12. The supporting device as claimed in claim 11, wherein each said connecting member is integrally formed on the associated supporting rod.
- 13. The supporting device as claimed in claim 10, wherein each said connecting member is integrally formed on the associated supporting rod.
- 14. A supporting device for a golf bag, comprising:two supporting rods each having an upper end and a lower end, two connecting members each being integrally formed on the upper end of an associated said supporting rod, the upper end of each said connecting member including a pivotal hole adapted to be pivotally connected to the golf bag by a pivotal pin, each said connecting member further including a receptacle extended in a direction parallel to a pivotal axis of the pivotal pin, a support base adapted to be located on the ground, two strips each including an upper end securely attached to the receptacle of an associated said connecting member to move therewith and a lower end securely attached to the support base, and a strip-holding member through which the strips extend, the strip-holding member being slidably attached to the strips to hold the strips, whereby the supporting rods are pivotable to a status adapted to support the golf bag in an inclined status with the lower ends of the supporting rods located on the ground; and wherein the strip-holding member includes an upper end with two spaced inwardly facing notches, the strip-holding member further including two spaced slots in a lower end thereof, and each said slot being, communicated with outside via a slit.
- 15. The supporting device as claimed in claim 14, wherein each said connecting member includes an integrally formed wing in which an associated said receptacle is defined.
US Referenced Citations (6)