Abstract:
A golf bag assemblage which includes an elongated container for golf clubs, a bottom unit pivotally attached to the bottom of the elongated container so that the bottom unit pivots in relation to the bottom of the elongated container, and leg means attached by attachment means to the outside of upper portion of the elongated container. The attachment means are positioned diametric to the pivotal attachment of the bottom unit, the leg means include legs which are pivotally attached to the attachment means, and the push rod means are attached to the top region of the legs and to the bottom unit diametric to the pivotal attachment of the bottom unit. When the golf bag is tilted in direction diametric to the pivotal attachment of the bottom unit, the bottom unit, in effect, pivots in relation to the bottom of the elongated container, and the push rod means is moved towards the top of the elongated container, thereby pivoting the legs outward.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The invention relates to golf bag assemblages and, in particular, to those golf bag assemblages which include stands which are self-opening and self-closing when they are put down and picked up, respectively, and in which the bottom of the golf bag includes a bottom unit pivotally attached to the bottom of the elongated container of the golf bag, and the bottom portion of the golf bag acts as a pedal for a push rod means which causes the legs of the stand to expand outward to the right and left sides.  
           [0003]    2. Background Art  
           [0004]    There are numerous golf bags with stands which open when the golf bags to which they are fixed or attached are placed down, and which close when the golf bags are picked up. Most of the golf bags with stands presently being marketed include one pedal which is attached at the end of an activating rod to support one or more stand legs while they are opening. In these stand bags, when pressure is applied to the pedal, it moves upward and causes the legs to expand outward to the right and left sides, while the bottom of the golf bag pivots.  
           [0005]    When the ground upon which one of these stand bags is being placed is flat and the surface is hard, the pedal operates well. However, if the ground condition is wet or soft, as for example, after or while it is raining, the pedal is barely functional. Also, in general, in each of these stand bags, the size of the pedal is not as big as is the bottom surface of the bag. Since it is the bottom surface of the bag which touches the ground, it can sink into the mud or any other wet ground base, especially as it pivots. Also, the pedal can hardly support the activating rod as it moves upward when the stand bag is placed down on tall grass.  
           [0006]    In one golf bag assemblage presently being marketed, the activating rod of the stand bag pushes up the activating rod, causing it to collapse. Also, the golf bag cannot stand upright, as there is not a backside support rod in the bag. In contrast, in the subject invention, when pressure is applied to the activating rod, the bottom of the golf bag moves upwards and downwards through the inside of the bag body cuff, and the golf bag can stand upright. It should be noted that, in contrast to other golf bag assemblages in which the bottom of the golf bag pivots, with regard to the subject invention, the bottom of the golf bag does not pivot, but rather the bottom of the golf bag includes a bottom unit pivotally attached to the bottom of the elongated container of the golf bag, and the bottom portion of the golf bag acts as a pedal for a push rod means which causes the legs of the stand to expand outward to the right and left sides.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,654 (Jones) discloses a golf bag which has legs that are movable between an extended position where they support the bag upright and a retracted position where they are in adjacency with the bag. An actuation mechanism moves the legs to their extended position when the bag is urged downwardly when in a vertical orientation with the actuation mechanism in contact with the ground. The base can be partially relieved to permit downward movement of the bag when the actuation mechanism is in contact with the ground without the actuation mechanism being in contact with the ground when the bag is vertical and the nonrelieved portion of the base is resting on the ground. The ground end of the actuation mechanism doe not lie under or extend under the bottom of the golf bag.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,197,298 (McGregor) discloses a golf bag having a folding stand mechanism. A toggle linkage at the lower portion of the folding stand mechanism has a foot with an inward facing vertical arm extend under the bottom of the golf bag, but it does hold the bottom of the bag off of the ground when the folding stand mechanism is in the extended stage.  
         BROAD DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    An object of the invention is to overcome disadvantages and problems of prior art golf bag assemblages including stands. An object of the invention is to provide a sturdy golf bag assemblage, the bottom unit, pedal and stand of which can bear heavy weight, and which is not unsteady when placed on uneven (e.g., grass) or unsteady (e.g., wet) ground. A still further object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of golf bag assemblages in which the bag body does not keep its shape and collapses or deforms. With regard to the subject invention, the golf bag assemblage keeps its shape, and does not collapse or deform. Other objects and advantages of the invention are set out herein or are obvious herefrom to one skilled in the art.  
           [0010]    The invention involves a golf bag assemblage which includes an elongated container for golf clubs, a bottom unit pivotally attached to the bottom of the elongated container so that the bottom unit pivots in relation to the bottom of the elongated container, and leg means attached by attachment means to the outside of upper portion of the elongated container. The attachment means are positioned diametric to the pivotal attachment of the bottom unit, the leg means include legs which are pivotally attached to the attachment means, and the push rod means are attached to the top region of the legs and to the bottom unit diametric to the pivotal attachment of the bottom unit. When the golf bag is tilted in the direction opposite to the pivotal attachment of the bottom unit, the bottom unit, in effect, pivots in relation to the bottom of the elongated container, and the push rod means is moved towards the top of the elongated container, thereby pivoting the legs outward.  
           [0011]    The invention comes with a support inside of the bag, where the activating rod is located, to prevent the collapse of the bag body while the bottom functions as it pushes the pedal activating the rod upwards. By keeping the back stationary, the invention allows the bag to stand upright, and allows the bottom of the golf bag to function by moving the bottom up and downward through the inside of the bottom cuffs of the bag. The pedal activated bottom of the bag moves upwards when the activating rod has been pushed, keeping the stand legs in their place. However, when the bag is lifted by the golfer, the bottom moves downward through the inside of the bottom side cuff (lower cuff).  
           [0012]    The material strips may be made of any flexible material or materials, such as, webbing, narrow loom fabric or leather piece. The moving height both upwards and downwards is, thus, controlled, so that the bottom of the golf bag stops at a horizontal position when it moves downward.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    In the drawings:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a back perspective view of a first embodiment of the golf bag with stand of the invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a right elevational view of the golf bag shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a right elevational view of the golf bag shown in FIG. 1 with the stand in an open and extended position;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the lower portion of a back perspective view of a first embodiment of the golf bag and stand shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the golf bag shown in FIG. 1 in an upright position (including the rigid base, the inner collar of the rigid base and the tube portion of the golf bag);  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the golf bag shown in FIG. 1 where the attached stand is in an open and extended position (including the rigid base, the inner collar of the rigid base and the tube portion of the golf bag);  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a top elevational view of the lower portion of the rigid base and push rod tail anchor of the golf bag shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a top elevational view of the inner collar above the rigid base and second rod holder of a second embodiment of the golf bag shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the inner collar above the rigid base and second rod holder of the golf bag shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 is a back elevational view of the push rod of the stand shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 is a top elevational view of the push rod of the stand in FIG. 1;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 is a bottom elevational view of the base of the golf bag shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 13 is a back perspective view of the push rod of the stand shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 14 is a top elevational view of the top hinged portion of the stand shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 15 is a right elevational view of the top hinged portion of the stand shown in FIG. 14;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 16 is a back elevational view of the top hinged portion of the stand shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 17 is an exploded view of the lower portion of a back perspective view of a second embodiment of the golf bag and stand of the invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of a second embodiment of the golf bag in an upright position (including the rigid base, the inner collar of the rigid base and the tube portion of the golf bag); and  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of a second embodiment of the golf bag where the attached stand is in an open and extended position (including the rigid base, the inner collar of the rigid base and the tube portion of the golf bag).  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0033]    Generally, stand  100  will be attached to a golf bag  101 . One embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS.  1  to  16 . Horizontal hinge  102  is attached to the top portion of golf bag  101 , for example, with rivets, through holes  107 . Horizontal hinge  102  includes projection  112  in which are two horizontal holes  103 . On the top end of each vertical leg  104  of the stand is a mirror image unit ( 121  and  122 ) of an adapter  120 . Adapter  120  consists of two mirror image units  121  and  122 . Each mirror image unit ( 121  and  122 ) of adapter  120  has a lower vertical leg  123  which, in turn, has a hole in it into which the end of vertical leg  104  fits. A knob  133  is located on the bottom of each vertical leg  104 . As shown in FIG. 15, the top of each lower vertical leg  123  consists of two surfaces, that is, the curved outer portion  124  of the leg of the adapter and the flat upper portion  125  of the leg of the adapter. When the stand  100  is in its open and extended position, as is shown in FIG. 3, the flat upper portion  125  of the leg of the adapter rests against the horizontal hinge  102  attached to the tube portion  116  of the golf bag. Pin or bar  126  extends horizontally from an end  183  of each mirror image unit ( 121  and  122 ) of the adapter  120 . Each pin  126  pivotally fits in one of the two horizontal holes  103  in projection  112  of horizontal hinge  102 . The mirror image units ( 121  and  122 ) of adapter  120  and pins  126  have a slight outward and upward orientation so as to readily fit in holes  103 . As is shown in FIG. 16, elastic band  127  fits over hooks  128  on the back of lower vertical legs  123 , and helps to hold pins  126  in holes  103 . Elastic band  127  also resists the spread of vertical legs  104  when golf bag  101  is tilted, and, then, also helps to pull vertical legs  104  back together to their original vertical, generally parallel orientation.  
         [0034]    As shown best in FIGS. 10 and 13, push rod  109  has two vertical rods  110 , two top cross bars  111 , and a horizontal bar  119  which hooks into the hook  143  of the push rod tail anchor  142  which extends from the lower portion of the rigid base  106 . As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 13, vertical rods  110  are generally parallel but are slightly slanted outward in their top portion. Each of the top cross bars  111  of the push rod  109  is pivotally positioned in a hole  129  in a mounting  130  located on the back of each of the lower vertical legs  123  of each adapter  120  above hook  128 . Push rod  109  is composed of a resilient metal (e.g., spring steel) so that the spring action thereof holds top cross bars  111  in holes  129 , and so that vertical rods  110  bend outwardly when the golf bag  101  is tilted and the vertical legs  104  of the stand expand outward to the right and left sides. As shown best in FIG. 1, clip  117  is mounted around vertical rods  110 , near their bottom portion to hold the vertical rods together.  
         [0035]    As shown best in FIG. 4, the rigid base has an upper portion  174  which extends from the lower portion  106 , and a floor  179 . Six knobular projections  134  extend from the floor  179  of the rigid base. A projection  161 , in which there are holes  155 , extends from the upper portion  174  of the rigid base. The upper portion of rigid base  174  fits within the inner collar above the rigid base  144 . The outer collar  171  of the tube portion  116  of the golf bag slides over the inner collar  144  above the rigid base. Rivets or other attaching means  172  secure the outer collar  171  of the tube portion  116  of the golf bag through holes  173  in the outer collar  171  and through holes  177  in the inner collar  144  above the rigid base to the inner collar  144  above the rigid base. The inner collar  144  above the rigid base includes a first projecting portion  167  and a second projecting portion  169 , and a rim  145 .  
         [0036]    As is shown in FIG. 4, hole  163  in one end of a first material strip  152  is attached by, for example, rivet or other attaching means  146  through hole  170  to the second projecting portion  169  of the inner collar  144 . A hole  164  in the other end of first material strip  152  is attached by, for example, rivet or other attaching means  176  through hole  175  to the lower portion of the rigid base  106 .  
         [0037]    As is shown in FIG. 4, hole  165  in one end of second material strip  153  is attached by, for example, rivet or other attaching means  154  through hole  168  to the first projecting portion  167  of the inner collar  144 . A hole  166  in the other end of second material strip  152  is attached by, for example, rivet or other attaching means  184  through hole  185  to the lower portion of the rigid base  106 .  
         [0038]    As is shown in FIG. 4, first rod  148  is placed in the first rod holder  150 . The first rod holder  150  projects from the floor  179  of the rigid base and runs along a side of the lower portion  106  of the rigid base. The first rod  148  extends up into the tube of the golf bag past the inner collar  144  above the rigid base between the rivets or other attaching means which pass through holes  155  in the projecting portion  161  of the upper portion of the rigid base. The projecting portion  161  of the upper portion of the rigid base is attached to the inner collar  144  above the rigid base.  
         [0039]    As is shown in FIG. 4, second rod  149  is placed in the second rod holder  151 . The second rod holder  151  runs along and projects from the third projecting portion  186  of the inner collar  144 .  
         [0040]    A layer of material  178  may run around the inner surface of the inner collar  144  above the rigid base.  
         [0041]    As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, two attaching bands, each made, for example, of VELCRO (including a band of hooks  181  and a band of loops  182 ) are attached to the golf bag tube directly below the level of the lower vertical legs  123  of the adapter  120 . When the golf bag is upright, the attaching bands of hooks can be brought over top of both the vertical legs  104  of the stand and the two vertical rods  110  of the push rod and attached to the two bands of loops  182 , thereby holding the stand  100  and push rod  109  stationary against the golf bag  101 .  
         [0042]    Attached to the upper rim of the golf bag by, for example, a C-ring may be two shoulder straps. These shoulder straps may attach to the surface of the golf bag at their other ends approximately half way down the golf bag. Together, the shoulder straps may be used to hold the golf bag as would one hold a back pack, that is, with one shoulder strap running across each shoulder of a person.  
         [0043]    In operation, the use of golf bag  101  tilts the top of golf bag  101 . The tilting action pushes against the push rod tail anchor  142 . The bottom of the golf bag stand, then, acts as a pedal for the actuating rod. As is shown best in FIGS. 5 and 6, the inner collar  144  above the rigid base slides within the upper portion  174  of the rigid base on the side of the push rod tail anchor  143 . The pressure is transmitted up against pivot points  129  of the upper portions of vertical legs  104 . (The bottom of vertical rods  110  rest against the ground when golf bag  101  is tilted). As a result, the bottom of vertical legs  104  move outwardly and away from each other so as to maintain a somewhat vertical orientation, so as to provide a tripod stability for tilted golf bag  101  (see FIG. 3). When golf bag  101  is raised back to the vertical, vertical legs  104 , and other parts return to their original positions and orientation.  
         [0044]    FIGS.  17  to  19  show a second embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment of FIGS.  1  to  16  with some notable differences. For example, the first material strip  152  and the second material strip  153  in the second embodiment both are attached to the floor  179  of the rigid base as opposed to the sides of the rigid base  180  (or lower portion  106  of the rigid base as in the first embodiment). Also, the rigid base  180  of the second embodiment of the invention does not include both a lower portion  106  and an upper portion  174 , as does the first embodiment of the invention.  
                                         LIST OF PARTS                                100   stand       101   golf bag       102   horizontal hinge       103   horizontal holes in horizontal hinge       104   vertical legs of stand       106   lower portion of rigid base       107   holes through which horizontal hinge can be attached to golf bag       109   push rod       110   two vertical rods of push rod       111   two top cross bars of push rod       112   projection of horizontal hinge       116   tube portion of golf bag       117   clip       119   horizontal bar       120   adapter       121   mirror image unit of adapter       122   mirror image unit of adapter       123   lower vertical leg of adapter       124   curved outer portion of leg of adapter       125   flat upper portion of leg of adapter       126   pin or bar       127   elastic band       128   hooks       129   pivot points of the two vertical rods 110 of the push rod       130   mountings       133   knobs       134   projections from the bottom of the lower rigid base 106       142   push rod tail anchor       143   hook of push rod tail anchor       144   inner collar above rigid base       145   rim of inner collar above rigid base       146   rivets or other attaching means in 152 and 170       148   first rod       149   second rod       150   first rod holder       151   second rod holder       152   first material strip       153   second material strip       154   rivet or other attaching means in 153 and 168       155   holes in projecting portion of rigid base       159   rivets or other attaching means passing through holes 155 in           projecting portion of rigid base       161   projecting portion of upper portion of rigid base       163   first hole in first material strip 152       164   second hole in first material strip 152       165   first hole in second material strip 153       166   second hole in second material strip 153       167   first projecting portion of inner collar       168   hole in first projecting portion of inner collar       169   second projecting portion of inner collar       170   hole in second projecting portion of inner collar       171   outer collar       172   rivet or other attaching means       173   holes in outer collar through which rivet or other attaching means           172 pass       174   upper portion of rigid base       175   hole in lower portion of rigid base       176   rivet or other attaching means in 175       177   holes in inner collar above rigid base through which rivet or other           attaching means 172 pass       178   material       179   floor of rigid base       180   base of embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 to 19       181   attaching band (hooks)       182   attaching band (loops)       183   end of mirror image unit of adapter (122 and 123) from which pin           or bar 126 extends       184   rivet or other attaching means in 185       185   hole in lower portion of base       186   third projecting portion of inner collar