Abstract:
A hip support for a shoulder-carried golf bag. A “U-shaped” member is affixed to a golf bag to contact the golfer&#39;s body adjacent the lumber and pelvic area of the golfer&#39;s back and hip. When the strap(s) of a golf bag are placed over the shoulder, the hip support member engages and is partially supported by the hip and transfers at least a portion of the weight of the golf bag from the shoulders to the wearer&#39;s pelvic area.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a device and method for distributing the weight of a shoulder-carried load to other parts of the body and, more particularly, for transferring at least a portion of the weight of a shoulder-carried golf bag to the hips.  
         [0003]     2. Prior Art  
         [0004]     A fully loaded golf bag, with clubs, balls, beverages, etc. can weigh up to about 40 pounds. Such a load, if not evenly distributed, can stress muscles during a game of golf. Nevertheless, in order to improve the exercise value of golf, a large number of golfers prefer to carry their golf bag rather than pull a cart. Accordingly, various strap systems have been devised to more broadly and/or evenly distribute the weight of a golf bag on the body. U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,473 to Lamar teaches a golf bag comprising an elongated tubular container, a shoulder strap system for carrying the container on the golfer&#39;s shoulder and a waist band system for fastening the container to the golfer&#39;s waist to support the weight of the container, in part, with the golfer&#39;s lower body. The waist band system includes a waist band for fastening around the golfer&#39;s waist and a lumbar pad for providing cushioning to the golfer&#39;s lower back. The golf bag allows the golfer to transfer the weight of the bag from the shoulders to the lower back to ameliorate fatigue and soreness to the shoulders and to improve the golfer&#39;s posture and golf ability.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,984 to Izzo discloses a golf bag having a dual support strap assembly that allows carriage by a person. The strap assembly includes a first strap having one strap end secured to the golf bag at a first location at its upper, open end, and the other strap end is secured to the golf bag at a second location longitudinally spaced from the first location. A second strap has one end secured to the golf bag at the second location, and the other strap end is secured to the golf bag at a third location longitudinally spaced from the second location between the second location and the closed end of the golf bag. The ends secured at the second location are preferably attached to one another to form a central portion for the strap assembly. The two straps thus allow the golf bag to be carried on both shoulders and oriented transversely across the back. Various mounts are described for these two straps, and different adjustment and padding structures are disclosed. In addition, a pillow is attached to the bag to prevent injury to the golfer&#39;s back during transport. The pillow does not support the bag or transfer any portion of the weight to the hips. While the weight of a golf bag in accordance with Izzo is borne by both shoulders, no portion of the weight of the bag is transferred to the hips.  
         [0006]     Feldman, Jr., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,874, discloses an apparatus and system for carrying a golf bag. The apparatus has a hip belt member for supporting a portion of the weight of the golf bag and reducing the load on the golfer&#39;s back and shoulders. An attachment member is coupled to the hip belt member for attaching the hip belt member to the golf bag, and a belt fastener connects the hip belt member about the golfer&#39;s waist. Additional shoulder straps can be utilized to lift the bag and stabilize and reduce movement of the golf bag relative to the golfer&#39;s body. Hip belt members and shoulder pads can have vent slots for ventilation and improved comfort, while being worn in hot weather. Disadvantageously, the hip belt member must be fastened about the waist, requiring unfastening of the belt to remove the bag from the shoulders, and refastening the hip belt whenever the golf bag is repositioned on the shoulders to be transported. It is, therefore, desirable to provide a hip support for a golf bag that is operable for transferring weight to the hips without requiring fastening a belt around a golfer&#39;s waist.  
         [0007]     The present invention is directed to a hip support for distributing a portion of the weight of a golf bag to the user&#39;s hips and method for attaching the hip support to a golf bag in such a way that the hip support substantially obviates one or more of the limitations of the related art. To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention includes a beltless hip support for attachment to a golf bag wherein, in use, the hip support transfers a portion of the weight of a golf bag to the hips and the golf bag may be donned and removed without the need for a belt or fastener.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     A hip support for a golf bag comprising a “U-shaped” strip of an elastically deformable material having two opposing ends and a gap therebetween. The gap between the opposing ends defines a forward portion of the hip support. A golf bag attachment member is affixed to the strip midway between the opposing ends. The golf bag attachment member provides means for attaching the hip support to the golf bag. The width of the gap between opposing ends of the strip is substantially equal to the transverse diameter of a golfer&#39;s waist and more particularly in the range of between 8-20 inches. The golf bag attachment member is operable for providing either releasable or nonreleasable attachment of the hip support to the golf bag as desired. The hip support for a golf bag preferably further comprises a body-conforming member symmetrically affixed to an inner surface of the strip. In one embodiment, the body conforming member of the hip support comprises a foam pad. In a second embodiment the body conforming member comprises an inflatable elastomeric envelope. The opposing ends of the strip are not attached to each other.  
         [0009]     The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. However the invention itself, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a golf bag hip support in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the first embodiment of a golf bag hip support in accordance with  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a rear view (i.e.,  FIG. 2  viewed from the right) of the first embodiment of a golf bag hip support in accordance with  FIG. 2 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of a golf bag hip support in accordance with  FIG. 2  taken along section line  4 - 4 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a hip support pad on the first embodiment of the golf bag hip support indicated at numeral  5  in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a golf bag hip support in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the first embodiment of a golf bag hip support in accordance with  FIG. 6 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a rear view (i.e.,  FIG. 7  viewed from the right) of the first embodiment of a golf bag hip support in accordance with  FIG. 6 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of a golf bag hip support in accordance with  FIG. 7  taken along section line  9 - 9 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of a third embodiment of a golf bag hip support wherein the shape of the compressible foam member is variable.  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the method for attaching the second embodiment of the golf bag hip support to a golf bag.  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  is an elevational view of a golfer carrying a golf bag that includes a hip support in accordance with any embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     Before beginning a discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is instructive to establish the context of the invention. Turning first to  FIG. 12 , a golfer  120  is shown carrying a golf bag  110  that includes a hip support  60  (not visible in  FIG. 8 ) in accordance with any embodiment of the hip support of the present invention. The bag  110  includes a pair of shoulder straps  111   a  and  111   b  that, without the assistance of a hip support, transfer the weight of the golf bag  110  substantially equally to the golfer&#39;s shoulders. The incorporation of a hip support on the golf bag transfers a portion of the weight to the hips thereby reducing the weight borne by the shoulders as will be discussed below.  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a golf bag hip support in accordance with, and within the scope of, the present invention. The hip support, indicated at numeral  10 , comprises an arcuate, elastically deformable strip  11  having a golf bag attachment member  12  integral therewith and extending rearwardly therefrom. The opposing ends  13  and  14  of the strip  111  are separated on a forward portion thereof by a gap  15 . The golf bag attachment member  12  is affixed to a rear portion of the strip  11 , the rear portion being in geometric opposition to the gap  15 . The golf bag hip support  10  may further include an optional compressible body-conforming member  16  symmetrically affixed to an inner surface of the strip  11 . The purpose of the body-conforming member  16  is to provide a more snug fit between the hip support  10  and the golfer&#39;s hips. The body-conforming member  16  may comprise a compressible foam pad, an inflatable elastomeric envelope, or a similar pad that is operable for conforming to the curvature of a golfer&#39;s waist and pressing against the lateral aspects of the waist above the pelvic girdle.  FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the first embodiment of the golf bag hip support  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a rear view (i.e.,  FIG. 2  viewed from the right) of the first embodiment of a golf bag hip support  10 .  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the golf bag hip support  10 , taken along section line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0024]     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , which is an expanded detail view of the portion of the golf bag hip support  10  indicated at detail  5 , the golf bag attachment member  12  is shown in cross-sectional view affixed to the outer surface of strip  11 . With reference to the strip  11 , the elastic deformability and strength of the strip (i.e., the ability of the arcuate strip, when deformed, to return to its original configuration) comprises a strip of spring steel  20  surrounded by a compliant material  21  or a laminate of such materials, with a durable fabric such as rip-stop nylon covering the outermost surface of the strip  11 . The golf bag attachment member  12  comprises an inner layer  51  of hook-and-loop material bonded to the outer surface of the strip  11  by first adhesive means. An outer layer  52  of a mating loop-and-hook material is releasably attached to the inner layer  51  of hook and loop material. The outermost surface of the outer layer  51  is coated with a nonreleasable second adhesive and covered with a release film  53  to protect the second adhesive layer until use.  
         [0025]     A second preferred embodiment of a golf bag hip support is illustrated in top plan view at numeral  60  in  FIG. 6 . This second preferred embodiment  60  differs from the first preferred embodiment  10  in the shape of the compressible body-conforming member  16  adhered to the inner surface of the strip  11 . It is an important feature of the invention that the gap  15  between opposing ends  13  and  14  of the strip  11  be substantially equal to the width of the golfer&#39;s hips above the pelvis. If the gap  15  is less than the width of the golfer&#39;s hips, the elastically deformable strip  11  enables the gap  15  to be easily widened by manual elastic deformation to fit around the waist.  FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the first embodiment of a golf bag hip support in accordance with  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 8  is a rear view (i.e.,  FIG. 7  viewed from the right) of the first embodiment of a golf bag hip support in accordance with  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of a golf bag hip support in accordance with  FIG. 7  taken along section line  9 - 9 .  FIG. 10  is a top plan view of a third embodiment  100  of a golf bag hip support wherein the shape of the compressible body-conforming member  16  is variable. It is contemplated that the shape of the body-conforming member  16  be appropriate to the curvature of the golfer&#39;s back. The body-conforming member  16  may vary in thickness in the area indicated by the dotted line to meet the support needs of a particular golfer.  
         [0026]     A method for attaching the golf bag hip support  60  (or  10 ) to a prior art golf bag  110  such that it is disposed thereon and positioned to perform its intended function is shown in perspective view in  FIG. 11 . First, the golfer positions the golf bag hip support  60  over the body such that the lower edge  113  of the strip  11  is supported by the iliac crest of the pelvis with the gap  15  in front of the golfer. The golf bag  110  is donned by placing the straps  111   a  and  111   b  over respective shoulders. A mark  112  is made on the bag where the golf bag attachment member  12  on the golf bag hip support  60  abuts the golf bag  110 . The golf bag and the hip support are then removed from the golfer&#39;s body. The release film  53  is peeled from the outer layer of the mating loop-and-hook material  52  and the adhesive-covered forward surface of the outer layer  52  is adhered to the golf bag  110  to overlie the mark  112  on the bag  110 . The outer surface of the inner layer  51  of hook and loop material is then releasably attached to the mating surface of the outer layer  52  thereby securely attaching the hip support  60  to the golf bag  110 . It is an important aspect of the invention that the opposing edges  13  and  14  of the strip  11  substantially overlie the hip and the gap  15  is substantially equal to the width of the golfer&#39;s waist. The snug fit between the hip support  60  and the golfer&#39;s waist obviate the need for any belts or fasteners, and the large gap enables the hip support to substantially self-position itself over the pelvis when the golf bag is donned.  
         [0027]     It may be desirable to provide a hip support for a golf bag in accordance with the present invention that will accommodate a variety of golfers. The waist diameter of golfers varies. It is possible to provide a hip support that will accommodate such differences by making the strip  11  such that the lateral portions of the strip adjacent the ends  13  and  14  are malleable. Thus, if the gap is too large for a particular golfer, the opposing ends  13  and  14  can be drawn together to close the gap to an appropriate width.  
         [0028]     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the hip support may comprise a strip  11  that fits snugly around the waist and not require a compressible member  16 . Further, although the hip support is preferably releasably attached to the golf bag so that the golfer may remove the hip support in the event that a golf cart is used, the golf bag attachment member  12  may comprise a single layer of material that can be permanently affixed to the golf bag by adhesive means or other fasteners. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.