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Description  |
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The invention relates to a rigid bag for golf clubs and in particular to a
bag which can be used for carrying the clubs from place to place in a
secure manner, and which can also be used on the golf course, as a wheeled
bag or cart.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The conventional golf club bag is made of flexible fabric and is generally
unsuitable for use in transporting the golf clubs safely from place to
place. There are also some problems in use on the golf course itself. The
selection of any particular club from the bag often involves disentangling
the handles of the clubs. Similarly, the return of a club to the bag is
often inconvenient, and may result in scratching the handles of the clubs.
When the clubs are used in wet weather, water may accumulate on the clubs,
and may drain into the bottom of the bag, or be transformed onto the other
clubs. In addition, clubs stored after usage are likely to suffer damage
from dampness.
Proposals have been made in the past for the design of a more rigid bag,
providing greater protection for the clubs. In addition, the use of
tubular sheaths for club handles is well-known.
One such proposal is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,559,709. The design of the
bag shown in that patent is relatively cumbersome and clumsy, and while
providing adequate protection for the clubs during transit or shipment,
fails to satisfactorily solve the other problems. It is excessively
complex to design and build and involves the fabrication of a relatively
large number of different component parts which must then be fastened
together.
It is, therefore, a general objective of the invention to provide a rigid
golf bag for golf clubs which provides adequate control over the shafts of
the clubs, while providing for relatively free circulation of air, and
which provides for removal of water, and which is adaptable for use in
shipping and in transit of the clubs, and is also readily available for
use as a golf cart on the golf course, and which may be fabricated out of
a smaller number of components, providing greater strength and utility in
the end product at a more economical price, and with less material and,
therefore, less weight.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With a view to overcoming these various disadvantages, and providing a golf
club bag meeting these general objectives, the invention comprises an
integral one-piece tubular outer shell, having a closed bottom end, and an
open top end, a top panel closing said open upper end of said tubular
shell, and having a plurality of shaft apertures therein, a core having
panels extending from said upper end downwardly and stops at the lower end
of the core for supporting the ends of the club handles, terminating short
of the closed end of said tubular shell, handle means on the exterior of
said tubular shell, and releasable closure means for said upper end of
said tubular shell dimensioned and shaped to cover the heads of clubs
located in said tubular shell. In a preferred form a wheeled support is
attached to said shell, and is extendable therefrom for supporting the
shell in a generally upright position.
More particularly, the invention provides a bag having the foregoing
advantages including wheels on said shell, and a movable arm on an upper
portion of said shell linked to the wheel support and being extendable
therefrom, whereby said bag may be used as a wheelable cart on a golf
course.
More particularly, the invention provides a golf bag having the foregoing
advantages wherein a carrying handle is formed integrally in one piece
with such tubular shell.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are
pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part
of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its
operating advantages by its use, reference should be had to the
accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are
illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.
IN THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a golf bag according to the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective showing the wheels and handle extended;
FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective of an upper portion of the bag, shown cut
away to show the core;
FIG. 5 is a section along 5--5 of the core;
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective of the inner core;
FIG. 7 is an elevation of a bottom portion of the core with the shell in
section;
FIG. 8 is a perspective of the top;
FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the handle mechanism partly cut away;
FIG. 10 is a detail of the linkage;
FIG. 11 is a perspective of an alternate embodiment;
FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the FIG. 11 embodiment, and,
FIG. 13 is a cut away perspective showing the core of FIG. 11.
DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
Referring generally to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the invention will be seen to
comprise a golf bag, for carrying clubs, golf balls, tees, and other
golfing accessories. Provision may also be made in the bag for carrying
certain items of golf clothing such as shoes, gloves, jackets, and any
other articles of golf clothing which may be desired from time to time.
The golf bag, according to the invention, comprises a rigid outer tubular
shell indicated generally as 10, having a closed lower end 12, and an open
upper end indicated generally as 14.
A rigid enclosure or end cap 16 is movably attachable to the shell 10 at
its upper end 14, by means typically of two latches 18. The latches 18 are
capable of being disengaged or dismantled so that the end closure cap can
simply be removed altogether during use on the golf course. The closure or
cap 16 is formed with a generally tubular shell 20, of a shape and
dimension and cross section corresponding to that of the tubular body or
shell 10. Cap 16 has a closed end 22 at its upper end.
Typically, the closure or cap will be dimensioned to define a cavity at
least sufficient to receive and enclose the heads of the golf clubs which
extend upwardly from the upper end of the tubular shell 10. The end cap
may, of course, be made somewhat longer, so as to provide accommodation or
storage space for other articles.
The latches 18 provide means whereby it may be fastened in the closed
position, and may incorporate locks where desired for the sake of
security.
The open upper end 14 of the tubular shell 10 is provided with a top panel
26, which is suitably fastened in position, and is formed with a plurality
of apertures 28, each of which is intended to receive the shaft of a
single individual golf club. Typically, the top panel 26 may be formed by
moulding techniques, for example, injection moulding, and suitable
markings may be moulded into the upper surface of the panel, indicated
generally as 30, indicating which club is intended to be received in each
aperture.
The interior of the hollow shell 10 is divided up into separate
compartments for the various clubs by means of partition panels, in this
case five panels, which are fitted and fastened together to form a unitary
core, which is then inserted into the hollow shell 10.
Such partition panels comprise a first vertically corrugated partition
panel 32 having generally U-shaped lengthwise corrugations 34. A lower
support flange 36 extends from side to side at the lower end, and has
ridges 38 and drain openings 40 registering with corrugations 34. An outer
drain hole 41 is also provided in tubular shell 10. Second and third
panels 42 and 44 are similar to each other but are formed right hand and
left hand. They are generally corrugated but with the end corrugation
being rotated 180.degree. and closing off two vertical channels 46 and 48.
These two panels 42 and 44 are fastened to each other with rivets and are
in turn held at right angles the first panel 32.
Fourth and fifth panels 50 and 52 are again generally corrugated vertically
and are formed left hand for one and right hand for the other. They are in
turn fastened to both panel 32 and to respective panels 42,44.
Panels 42,44 and 50,52 are all provided at their lower ends with flanges
54.
A total of 18 sleeve-like recesses are thus formed by the corrugations, to
correspond with the apertures formed in the top panel 26.
As noted above, the five partition panels, when fastened together, form an
integral core which is inserted into the shell. As will be noted, however,
the partition panels terminate above closed lower end 12 of the shell, so
as to leave a free air space in this region for free circulation of air.
Openings such as 56 are formed to further promote the free circulation of
air, through the panels.
It will also be appreciated that it is not necessary for the corrugations
on the corrugated partition panels to actually come into contact with each
adjacent panel and indeed a moderate airspacing is desirable to still
further promote the free flow of air.
In addition, the ridges 38 formed in the lower flanges 36 are designed to
act as stand offs for the golf club shaft ends. This aids in keeping dirt
and moisture content to a minimum.
The spacing between the shell, and the unitary core walls is utilized in
various ways for storage of various golfing accessories, articles of
clothing, and the like.
In order to permit the bag to be carried by hand, a handle 70 may be formed
in a side wall of the shell 10. Typically, in this embodiment the shell 10
is a single integral homogenous moulding, typically being formed by blow
moulding techniques from thermoplastic material. Such a handle may thus
readily be formed in such moulding techniques as an integral part of the
shell.
In order that the bag may also be used on the golf course as a golf cart,
two wheels 72 are provided. The wheels 72 are located in suitable recesses
or wheel wells 74, formed in the lower end of the bag shell 10.
Such wheels are suitably mounted on bipod legs 76. Legs 76 are hinged at 78
and can be swung to permit the bag to be pulled along in a manner of a
cart.
Bracing struts 80 are provided for legs 76 for holding legs 76 in their
outer position. A slide 82 is located on rib 84 and secures the inner ends
of the struts 80 and permits them to extend outwardly. In this way the bag
may be stood upright. In this sense, the term upright does not indicate a
precisely perpendicular position, but a position at an upwardly directed
angle, convenient for a player reaching for a club.
In order to assist the golfer in pulling the bag along on its wheels, an
extendable handle is provided which is indicated generally as 86. The
handle 86 is a pivoted member and may be pivoted inwardly into a recess 87
in the bag for storage when not in use (FIGS. 1, 2).
An operating cable 88 (FIGS. 9, 10) extends between pulley 89 on handle 86
and slide 82. When handle 86 is swung open slide 82 is drawn upwardly.
Struts 80 then force legs 76 to swing out for use. When handle 86 is swung
closed, legs 76 are retracted and held locked by spring 90.
It will be appreciated that the bag may thus be used both closed and locked
for shipment of the clubs, and accessories, clothing and the like, as a
single article of luggage. When in use, with the pulling arm extended, and
the wheels extended, the device may be pulled along the course, and used
as a golf cart.
An alternate form of bag is shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13.
A shell 100 has a core formed of corrugated walls 102, 104, and smooth
walls 106, 108. Wall 108 is curved and provides a space between it and
wall 104 for some of the club handles. A space between wall 102 and shell
100 accomodates other handles.
There are no wheels on this form of bag.
Instead, a pair of support legs 110 are hinged to shell 100, and may be
held extended by a spring link 112. Clips (not shown) secure legs 110 in
the stored position.
All of these different modes of usage combined in a structure which
provides safety and security for the set of clubs during shipment and
transportation, and at the same time provides an attractive piece of
luggage. Similarly, the bag when in use on the golf course, is complete in
itself and does not require the addition of various other accessories as
was the case in the past.
The foregoing is a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention
which is given here by way of example only. The invention is not to be
taken as limited to any of the specific features as described, but
comprehends all such variations thereof as come within the scope of the
appended claims.
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