Patent Application
20220241658
There are several different types of golf bags used by golfers. One is tour bags (also known as staff bags), which are the largest bags on the market, making them one of the most popular and the most luxurious. Typical tour bags have plenty of extra space for all belongings, alongside the golf clubs, such as extra clothing, waterproof gloves, and golf balls. Stand bags are a significantly lighter type of golf bag (typically 5 pounds or less) and feature two retractable legs to allow the stand bag to stand upright, preventing it from getting dirty. This allows for easy access to any club while playing golf and stays up on various golf course terrains. Pencil bags are another type of carrying golf bag that has increasingly grown popular in recent years. These bags are incredibly lightweight, thinner versions of a stand bag, but still offer up to a 6-inch diameter top and can hold up to 14 clubs easily. They have a slim line design, making this bag type easy to store in a locker or car.
According to one aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure, a transport system is provided. The transport system includes a golf bag and a plurality of removable wheel structures. An attachment mechanism is provided that couples the removable wheel structures to the golf bag. A handle is coupled to the golf bag. The handle and the removable wheel structures are configured to transport the golf bag. One or more wheel storage devices are coupled to the golf bag for storing the removable wheel structures.
According to one aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure, a method for manufacturing a transport system is provided. The method includes the following: providing a plurality of removable wheel structures; coupling, using an attachment mechanism, the removable wheel structures to the golf bag; coupling a handle to the golf bag, wherein the handle and the removable wheel structures are configured to transport the golf bag; and positioning one or more wheel storage devices to the golf bag for storing the removable wheel structures.
According to one aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure, a transport system is provided. The transport system includes a golf bag and a plurality of removable wheel structures. An attachment mechanism couples the removable wheel structures to the golf bag. A retractable handle is coupled to the golf bag. The retractable handle utilizes spring action to move the position of the retractable handle relative to the golf bag allowing a user to push or pull the golf bag using the retractable handle. One or more wheel storage devices is coupled to the golf bag for storing the removable wheel structures.
The disclosure is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals are used to refer to similar elements. It is emphasized that various features may not be drawn to scale and the dimensions of various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
The figures and descriptions provided herein may have been simplified to illustrate aspects that are relevant for a clear understanding of the herein described devices, systems, and methods, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, other aspects that may be found in typical similar devices, systems, and methods. Those of ordinary skill may recognize that other elements and/or operations may be desirable and/or necessary to implement the devices, systems, and methods described herein. But because such elements and operations are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, a discussion of such elements and operations may not be provided herein. However, the present disclosure is deemed to inherently include all such elements, variations, and modifications to the described aspects that would be known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. For example, as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. That is, terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms, when used herein, do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context.
This disclosure describes removable wheels that can be attached to and removed from an existing golf bag as well as provide easy transport on a variety of surfaces/terrain. Moreover, the golf bags may include a number of handles allowing it to operate as a cart bag or pushcart, and several wheel storage arrangements are provided for storing the removable wheels when not in use. Also, the golf bags may include support legs allowing it to stay up on various golf course terrains. Additional features and implementations of the golf bags are described below.
Support legs 114A may be provided for keeping golf bag 100A upright and balanced when it is not in motion or in use. The golf bag 100A may include a retractable handle 116A that is connected to an upper portion of body 102A. Note that the golf bag 100A may be configured to be in a pull cart arrangement.
An opening 108B in body 102B may be provided for storing golf clubs or the like. An ancillary storage 110B and 112B may be positioned on the side or front of golf bag 100B for providing additional storage for items such as gloves, tees, or other portable structures needed by a golfer. Support legs 114B may be provided for keeping gold bag 100B upright and balanced when it is not in motion or in use. The golf bag 100B may include a fixed angled handle 116B that is connected to an upper portion of body 102B. Note that the golf bag 100B may be configured in a pull cart arrangement.
A flip down balance wheel 114C may be provided for keeping golf bag 100C upright and balanced when it is not in motion or in use. The golf bag 100C may include a sliding handle 116C that is connected to an upper portion of body 102A. Note that the golf bag 100C may be configured in a push cart arrangement.
In some embodiments, the removable wheels 104A, 104B, and 104C may include 6 inch, 8 inch, 10 inch, or 12 inch removable wheels. In some implementations, the removable wheels 104A, 104B, and 104C may include the following structures for connecting to a body of a golf bag: (1) a removable golf tee axle pin; (2) a ring axle pin; (3) a threaded axle rod; (4) spring-loaded wheel locking mechanism; (5) spring-loaded quick-release mechanism; (6) release axle clamp; (7) lever to deploy wheels; (8) push release mechanism, or (9) a wheel release lever.
In some embodiments, the handles 116A, 116B, and 116B may include a flip handle, a rotatable handle, a retractable handle, a retractable handle with a textured grip, a sliding handle, a fixed angle handle, a handle with a side button release, or a handle with a trigger release mechanism. In some embodiments, the handles 116A, 116B, and 116B may include a contoured T-shaped handle with a hip pad. The handles described herein may allow the golf bags to operate as push carts or pull carts across various terrains.
Moreover, wheel storage 106A, 106B, and 106C may include a removable mesh wheel bag, a cleat feature to store a wheel bag, a wheel pouch stored in a larger pocket of a golf bag, a flip pin for wheel storage on a body of a golf bag, or a push release feature for storing the removable wheels. In some implementations, the golf bags may include one or more of the wheel storage arrangements described herein.
In some embodiments, the support legs 114A and 114B, and balance wheel 114C may open up when a release lever hits the ground.
The removable wheels 402 may include rims 414 positioned in its interior and an opening 416. A user 406 may place the removable wheels 402A and 402B to be securely locked on both sides of body 410. For example, a user 406 may position a threaded portion of threaded axle rod 404 into opening 416 of removable wheel 402A, allowing movable wheel 402A to rotate about threaded axle rod 404. In this case, the threaded axle rod 404 may be already positioned and locked with connecting member 412. The removable wheel 402A, using rims 414, may rotate about threaded axle rod 404 until the threaded portion securely locks the removable wheel 402A. Afterward, a cap 408 may be placed at opening 416 of removable wheel 402A for protection. Inlet 418 shows cap 408 having a feature for attaching to the threaded portion. Note that removable wheel 402B may be connected to body 410 in the same fashion described herein for removable wheel 402A.
A user 606 may release or connect removable wheel 602B from body 612 by outwardly pulling or inwardly pushing clamp 608. The removable wheel 602A may be connected to threaded portion 610 using the same approach discussed in
When the spring-loaded quick release system 704 is pushed inward, the springs 714A and 714B may push the clamps 708A and 708B into body 710 via the opening 712. Within the opening 712, the spring-loaded clamps 708A and 708B may be connected to grooves or other connecting members for securely locking removable wheel 702 to body 710. The grooves or other connecting members may be positioned on the peripheral surfaces of opening 712. To release the removable wheel 702 from body 710, the user 706 may pull outwardly spring-loaded quick release system 704, releasing spring-loaded clamps 708A and 708B from their locked positions within opening 712.
The relative movements of body 810 and removable wheels 802A and 802B may be caused by a vertically traveling axle 812 positioned in body 810. When user 806 pushes upwards lever 808, the vertically traveling axle 812 may move upwards or downwards in body 810 depending on if body 810 is in an initial rest portion or not. If body 810 is initially in a rest position, pushing lever 810 upwards may lower vertically traveling axle 812 to be positioned below lever 808, lowering the removable wheels 802A and 802B to be in contact with the ground. If body 810 is initially not in a rest position, pushing lever 808 upwards may move vertically traveling axle 812 upwards to be positioned above lever 808, lowering body 810 so support member 804 may be in contact with the ground. In this case, the removable wheels 802A and 802B may not be deployed because they are positioned above the ground.
A user 1006 may attach removable wheel 1004A or 1004B to housing 1008 by inserting a portion of the corresponding axle 1020 of removable wheel 1004A or 1004B into a sleeve 1012A or 1012B via opening 1018. The wheel release lever 1010 may be a spring activated lever system. When a user 1006 pulls upwards the wheel release lever 1010, the removable wheels 1004A and 1004B may be released from housing 1008 using spring action.
A portion of wheel release lever 1010 may be positioned within housing 8 and directly locks the inserted portion of axle 1020 in a locked position, which effectively attaches removable wheel 1004A or 1004B to housing 1008 and body 1010. The wheel release lever 1010 may be connected to compression spring 1014. When a user pulls the wheel release lever 1010, the wheel release lever 1010 may retract back to its original position. The compression spring 1014 may be used to return the wheel release lever 1010 to its original position. The housing 8 may include an opening 1016 to securely position body 1002 within housing 8.
In some embodiments, sleeves 1012A and 1012B may include metal. In some embodiments, the housing 8 may be a bottom plastic molded housing. In some embodiments, the wheel release lever 1010 may be a metal casted release lever.
To deploy the use of the retractable handle 1102, a user 1104 may press handle release button 1108 to set retractable handle 1102 at three position settings. In the resting position setting, the retractable 1102 may be vertically aligned (at 0°) with body 1106. When the user 1104 presses the handle release button 1108, the retractable handle 1102 may be set at a mid-position setting, where retractable handle 1102 may be positioned perpendicular with body 1106. The user 1104 may further raise the retractable handle 1102 from the mid-position setting to a high position setting by pressing handle release button 1108. In this case, the retractable handle 1102 may be positioned at an angle of 135° with body 1106. At this point, if user 1104 presses handle release button 1108, retractable handle 1102 may revert to its resting position.
The retractable handle 1102 may be locked at one of its position settings when retractable handle 1102 is engaged with body 1106 resulting in first gear 1110 and second gear 1112 being connected to each other. The compression spring 1112 may be in an uncompressed state. The user 1104 may unlock the current position setting of retractable handle 1102 by pressing handle release button 1108 resulting in separating first gear 1110 and second 1112 and disengaging retractable handle 1102 with body 1106. In this case, the compression spring 1112 may be in a compressed state.
In some embodiments, the retractable handle 1102 may be a T-shaped handle having a handle release button, which operates substantially similar to handle release button 1108 as described herein.
The retractable handle 1202 may include a first housing 1216A and a second housing 1216B. The first housing 1216A and the second housing 1216B may house the various components defining retractable handle arrangement 1200, and may be connected to each other using screws 1224. The trigger lever 1208 may be connected to strings 1220A and 1220B. The strings 1220A and 1220B may be connected to compression springs 1212A and 1212B, respectively. The compression springs 1212A and 1212B may each be wrapped around one of the locking pins 1218A and 1218B, respectively. Compression springs 1214A and 1214B may be attached on a surface of trigger lever 1208, and may be in direct communication with a side of first housing 1216A. The trigger lever 1208, compression springs 1212A and 1212B, compression springs 1214A and 1214B, locking pins 1218A and 1218B, and strings 1220A and 1220B may be positioned within retractable handle 1202.
When the user 1204 pushes the trigger lever 1208, the compression springs 1214A and 1214B may be compressed sending along strings 1220A and 1220B tension to be communicated to compression springs 1212A and 1212B. This may result in compression springs 1212A and 1212B being compressed and allowing locking pins 1218A and 1218B to remove retractable handle 1202 from its locked position to an unlocked position. In the unlocked position, the user 1204 may be permitted to move retractable handle 1202 in several defined position settings described below. Once the user 1204 selects a position setting, the user may set the locked position at that position setting by releasing trigger lever 1208. This may result in locking pins 1218A and 1218B removing retractable handle 1202 from the unlocked position to a locked position.
The retractable handle 1202 may be deployed in three position settings. In the resting position setting, the retractable handle 1202 may be vertically aligned (at 0°) with body 1206. When the user 1204 pushes the trigger lever 1208, the retractable handle 1202 may be set at a mid-position setting, where retractable handle 1202 may be positioned perpendicular with body 1206. The user 1204 may further raise the retractable handle 1202 from the mid-position setting to a high position setting by pressing trigger lever 1208. In this case, the retractable handle 1202 may be positioned at an angle of 135° with body 1206. At this point, if user 1204 presses trigger lever 1208, the retractable handle 1202 may revert to its resting position.
In some embodiments, the retractable handle 1202 may be a T-shaped handle having at least one trigger lever, which operates substantially similar to trigger lever 1208 as described herein.
In some embodiments, one or more mobile phone holders may be positioned on any of the bodies of the golf bags described herein. The one or more mobile phone holders may include an opaque pocket, a transparent pocket, or both for storing a mobile phone. In some embodiments, an umbrella holder may be mounted on the golf bags described herein.
In some embodiments, the bodies of golf bag described herein may include an electric motor unit for powering the removable wheels described herein. This may allow the golf bag to be self-powered, thus reducing the effort needed by a golfer to push or pull the golf bag around a golf course. In some embodiments, a speed adjustment controller for adjusting a golf bag's speed during movement may be provided. The speed adjustment controller may include a speed dial allowing users to adjust the golf bag's speed to be consistent with a golfer's walking speed or the terrain of the golf course. The speed adjustment controller may include several sensors to self-adjust the golf bag's speed according to the terrain, the golfer's walking speed, or other factors.
Reference in the specification to “one implementation” or “an implementation” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the implementation is included in at least one implementation of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one implementation,” “in some implementations,” “in one instance,” “in some instances,” “in one case,” “in some cases,” “in one embodiment,” or “in some embodiments” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same implementation or embodiment.
Finally, the above descriptions of the implementations of the present disclosure have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the present disclosure be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims of this application. As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the present disclosure, which is set forth in the following claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 63/143,551 filed on Jan. 29, 2021, the contents of which is included herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63143551 | Jan 2021 | US |
