Abstract:
A golf club locking device attachable to a golf club bag having a main portion divided into one or more compartments and a mouth portion forming openings in the bag for receiving golf clubs in the compartments. The golf club locking device comprises a locking member and a main member which fastens to the mouth of the golf club bag and includes openings corresponding to the compartments. The locking member is coupled to the main member and slides linearly in relation to the main member between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the openings are constricted thereby preventing removal of clubs from the golf bag. The locking device is manufacturable as integral component of a golf bag.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/807,846 filed Feb. 26, 1997, and now allowed.  
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to a golf club locking device for use in combination with a golf bag, and more particularly to a locking device attached to a golf bag for preventing removal of golf clubs when in a closed position and a locking mechanism for securing the device and the golf bag.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Golf club locking devices are known in the art. The cost of golf clubs have always made them an attractive target for thieves. In particular, unsecured and unattended golf bags and their contents make a tempting target for unscrupulous types, especially at public golf courses which are easily accessible.  
           [0004]    Known locking devices are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,019 to Lewis, U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,100 to Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 1,770,060 to Barlow, U.S. Pat. No. 1,717,959 to Cauffman, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,753 to Murphy.  
           [0005]    The Cauffman patent discloses a device which is attached to the opening of a golf bag. When in the locked position, the device prevents the removal of golf clubs from the bag. The device comprises a circular base plate and a circular club locking member. The circular base plate has a series of circular openings for the shafts and grip ends of the golf clubs. The club locking member comprises a rotatable disk which is provided with corresponding openings for receiving the shafts of the clubs. The club locking member is rotatable between a normal position and a locked position. In the locked position, the locking member prevents the clubs from being pulled from the bag by constricting the openings around the shafts and grip ends of the clubs.  
           [0006]    The device taught by Cauffman is cumbersome to use while golfing because the clubs must be individually inserted through the openings. In addition, the circular base and club locking plates severely restrict access to the inside of the golf bag and the number of golf clubs which can be carried (and secured) is limited by the number of openings. The size of the circular openings also means that clubs with small diameter shafts will be loosely held in the locked position. Furthermore, the disc shape of the locking member and accompanying circular movement makes the Cauffman unsuitable for use with golf bags which do not have a circular mouth.  
           [0007]    The Murphy patent discloses a device for securing golf clubs in a golf bag. The device taught by Murphy fits over the top of a golf bag and is fastened by a strap assembly. The Murphy device comprises two stationary plates with a sliding plate disposed between the stationary plates. Each of the plates includes slots for allowing golf clubs to be inserted and removed from the bag. To secure the golf clubs in the bag, the sliding plate is moved forward to constrict the slot openings around the shafts of the clubs. The sliding plate includes a locking tab for receiving an external padlock shackle for locking the position of the sliding plate to prevent the plate from opening so that the clubs cannot be removed from the slots.  
           [0008]    While the Murphy provides an improved golf club security device over the prior art devices, there are still drawbacks associated with the Murphy device. First, the arrangement of shifting plates as taught by Murphy is severely limited in practical application to golf bags because it effectively reduces golf club carrying capacity by closing off the open top of the bag. A minimum opening space is required in order to be able to easily insert and remove clubs in a golf bag. The Rules of Golf allow a golfer to carry a maximum of fourteen clubs, but many amateurs will carry more than fourteen clubs in addition to a ball retriever and other golf aids which are stored inside the club compartment. The sliding plate and slot arrangement taught by Murphy effectively reduces the opening space in the golf bag and thus the capacity of the bag. In order to accommodate more clubs, the Murphy device is either removed by the golfer during play or the slot size in the plates needs to be increased. Detaching the Murphy locking device for a round of golf would necessitate the removal of all the golf clubs, and then the installation and reinsertion of the clubs at the end of the round—clearly an undesirable mode of operation or option. Therefore to increase club capacity, the slot size in the Murphy device needs to be enlarged. This means that the diameter of the device must also be increased to accommodate the larger slots and the increased travel length of the sliding plate to effectively close the slots around the club shafts. Thus to provide the desired golf club capacity results in an increase in the diameter of the golf bag. Such an arrangement restricts the application of the Murphy device to golf bags with large enough diameters to accommodate the plates. This makes the Murphy device unsuitable for use with most smaller golf bags without sacrificing club carrying capacity. This shortcoming is further magnified by the trend to smaller and lighter golf bags.  
           [0009]    Another drawback of the Murphy device is the potential incompatibility with the bag top geometry of existing golf bags. The geometry of present golf bag tops is becoming more complex to facilitate better club organization. The addition of the Murphy device to a golf bag with an oval shape, tear drop or with a compartmented top increases the geometry of the bag top and inevitably leads to a further decrease in capacity. This means that in practical terms the Murphy device is suitable for use with open top bags having a substantially circular shape.  
           [0010]    Another drawback associated with the Murphy golf club security device is the need for an external padlock to secure the plates in the locked and open positions. The sliding plate and bottom plate each include a locking “lip” or tab having holes which are aligned in the respective locked and open positions. To secure the plates, the shackle of a padlock is passed through the respective aligned holes in the locking lips. If it is desired to secure the bag to a fixed object, such as a bag rack, then a cable of sufficient length is passed around the object and coupled to the shackle of the padlock. Therefore according to Murphy, it is necessary to carry along a separate padlock and cable in order to secure the plates and/or golf. It will be appreciated that a lock and cable is inconvenient to store in the golf bag because of the rigidity of the cable and the necessity to use precious pocket space which on most lightweight golf bags in use today is already at a premium. Furthermore, should the padlock or cable be lost or left behind, the utility of the device is destroyed because the plates can no longer be secured in the locked position.  
           [0011]    In the Murphy device, the sliding plate is secured in locked position by inserting a padlock shackle through the respective holes in the locking tabs on the sliding and bottom plates. While such an arrangement prevents moving the sliding plate to the open position, the single tab restraint point and circular geometry of the sliding plate makes it possible to pry or torque the plate and cause side shifting which would extend the opening size of the slot at one end and thereby allow the club to be removed even though the sliding plate is in the locked position.  
           [0012]    The security device taught by Murphy also includes “tabs”, a cuff and a strap for fastening the device to the golf bag. This arrangement leads to another disadvantage arising from the fact that it does not accommodate the D-ring which is found on the vast majority of golf bags in use today. The D-ring provides a swivel for attaching the top end of a shoulder strap. The D-ring is preferably positioned as high as possible on the bag top to ensure that the bag does not become top-heavy and tip to spill clubs when carried. On carry bags, the balance point is of critical importance because the bag is carried in a horizontal position under the arm with the strap being supported on the golfer&#39;s shoulder. The arrangement of the tabs, cuff and strap in the Murphy device impedes the operation of the D-ring and impairs to the ability to comfortably carry the bag, thereby limiting the use of the device to golfers who use a pull cart or a power cart.  
           [0013]    To provide improved golf club organization, some modern golf bags utilize an elevation in the bag top. The bag top is higher at one end for accommodating longer clubs, such the metal woods, and lower at the other end for shorter clubs, such as the wedges. The Murphy device in its present configuration is intended for installation on a flat plane. If the Murphy device is installed on a bag top with an elevation, the sliding plate would tend to move to the closed position due to gravity. This means that during play a padlock would have to be used to secure the sliding plate in the open position. If the Murphy device is installed the other way, i.e. sliding plate is biased in open position, then the sliding plate and the clubs must all be shifted into order to move the plate to the closed position and thereby secure the golf clubs in the bag. The fact that the sliding plate comprises a relatively thick sheet of solid material and the weight of steel shaft clubs makes this a cumbersome task.  
           [0014]    Accordingly, there is still a need for a golf club locking device which is suitable for use with golf bags having different top geometries without decreasing the club carrying capacity of the golf bag. There is also a need for golf club and bag locking device which is integrated with the golf bag.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0015]    The present invention provides a golf club locking device fastened to a golf bag for locking golf clubs in the bag and includes a lock mechanism for securing the locking device and also securing the golf bag to another object such as a golf bag rack or golf cart.  
           [0016]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf club locking device which can be integrated with golf bags having a variety of shapes.  
           [0017]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf club locking device which allows full access to the inside of the golf bag without diminishing club carrying capacity, without affecting the ease with which clubs can be replaced in the bag and which secures all the clubs carried in the golf bag without limiting the number of golf clubs.  
           [0018]    It is also an object to provide a golf club locking device which is lightweight and economical to manufacture. It is yet a further object to provide a golf club locking device which can manufactured as an integral component of a golf bag.  
           [0019]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf club locking device which includes features for facilitating the organization of the golf clubs carried in the bag.  
           [0020]    It is an object to provide a locking mechanism which is integrated with the golf bag for securing the golf club locking device and also the golf bag.  
           [0021]    In a first aspect, the present invention provides a golf club locking device for a golf club bag, the golf club bag having a main portion divided into one or more compartments and a mouth portion forming openings in the bag for receiving golf clubs in the compartments, said golf club locking device comprising: (a) a main member having means for attaching to the mouth of the golf club bag, and the main member having openings communicating with the compartments; (b) a locking member disposed below the main member; and (c) tracking means for linearly guiding movement of the locking member in relation to the main member to a first position to prevent removal of golf clubs contained in the compartments and to a second position to permit removal of the golf clubs, in the first position the locking member constricting the openings to engage the golf clubs.  
           [0022]    In a second aspect, the present invention provides a securable golf bag comprising: (a) a main portion divided into a plurality of compartments and a mouth portion forming openings in the bag for receiving golf clubs in the compartments; and (b) a golf club locking device comprising, (i) a main member having means for attaching to the mouth of the golf club bag, and the main member having openings communicating with the compartments; (ii) a locking member disposed below the main member; and (iii) tracking means for linearly guiding movement of the locking member in relation to the main member to a first position to prevent removal of golf clubs contained in the compartments and to a second position to permit removal of the golf clubs, in the first position the locking member constricting the openings to engage the golf clubs.  
           [0023]    In a third aspect, the present invention provides in combination with a golf bag having a main portion divided into one or more compartments and a mouth portion forming openings in the bag for receiving golf clubs in the compartments, the golf club locking device comprising: (a) a main member having means for attaching to the mouth of the golf club bag, and the main member having openings communicating with the compartments; (b) a locking member disposed below the main member; (c) tracking means for linearly guiding movement of the locking member in relation to the main member to a first position to prevent removal of golf clubs contained in the compartments and to a second position to permit removal of the golf clubs, in the first position the locking member constricting the openings to engage the shafts of the golf clubs; and (d) lock means for locking the device in the first and second positions.  
           [0024]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a lock mechanism for use with a golf bag with a golf club locking device attached to the mouth of the golf bag and having openings for inserting and removing golf clubs and means for engaging the golf club locking device in a locked position for preventing removal of the clubs from the openings, the lock mechanism comprising: (a) a cable attached to the golf bag, the cable having a locking end, (b) a lockable receptacle for receiving the locking end of the cable; and (c) a lock for securing the lockable receptacle and preventing removal of the locking end of the cable.  
           [0025]    In yet another aspect the present invention provides a golf bag comprising: (a) a body portion having a plurality of dividers, the dividers having one end attached to the bottom of the golf bag and forming compartments; (b) a mouth portion for providing access to the body portion for inserting golf clubs in the compartments, and the mouth portion including, (i) a main member having means for attaching to the mouth portion of the golf club bag, and the main member having openings communicating with the compartments; (ii) a moving member disposed below the main member, and the moving member including fastener means for fastening the other end of each of the dividers; (iii) tracking means for guiding movement of the moving member in relation to the main member, and the dividers moving in cooperation with the moving member.  
           [0026]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for applying a protective layer to club contacting surfaces on a member of a golf bag, said method comprising the steps of: applying a heat sensitive adhesive to the club contacting surfaces of said golf bag member; placing said heat sensitive adhesive and said golf bag member in a mould; heating a thermoplastic laminate sheet having a padded portion to a predetermined temperature; indexing said heated thermoplastic laminate sheet over said mould and said golf bag member prepared with the heat sensitive adhesive; drawing said heated thermoplastic laminate sheet into contact with said prepared golf bag member; activating said heat sensitive adhesive to create a bond between said heated thermoplastic laminate sheet and said prepared golf bag member; trimming excess portions of the bonded thermoplastic laminate sheet.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]    Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and in which:  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club locking device according to the present invention in an unlocked position;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the golf club locking device of FIG. 1 in a locked position;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 is a top view of a golf club locking device of FIG. 1 in the unlocked position;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 4 is a top view of the golf club locking device of FIG. 1 in the locked position;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5( a ) is a three-dimensional perspective depiction of the golf club locking device of FIG. 1;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5( b ) is an end view of another embodiment of a tracking guide for the golf club locking device of FIG. 1;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6 is a partial cut-away view of a golf bag incorporating a locking mechanism according to another aspect of the present invention;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the golf club locking device taken along line A-A in FIG. 3;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the golf club locking device of FIG. 4 taken along line B-B;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 9 is a top view of another embodiment of a golf club locking device according to the present invention in an unlocked position;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 10 is a top view of the golf club locking device of FIG. 9 in a locked position;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the golf club locking device of FIG. 9 taken along line C-C;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the golf club locking device of FIG. 10 taken along the line D-D; and  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 13 is a top view of a locking unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0042]    Reference is made to FIGS.  1  to  5 ( a ) which show a first embodiment of a golf club locking device  10  according to the present invention. Like reference numerals indicate like elements in FIGS.  1  to  5 ( a ).  
         [0043]    As shown in FIGS.  1  to  5 , the golf club locking device  10  comprises a top member  12 , a sliding locking member  14  and a pair of tracking guides  16  shown individually as  16   a ,  16   b . The sliding locking member  14  is mounted inside the top member  12  and is disposed and located below the top member  12 . The locking member  14  includes rails or bars  17  shown individually as  17   a ,  17   b  which are seated in the respective tracking guides  16   a ,  16   b . The tracking guides  16  cooperate with the rails  17  to guide the locking member  14  along a linear path between an unlocked position shown in FIG. 1, and a locked position shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0044]    The locking device  10  is fastened to the top of a golf bag  11  (FIG. 6) and replaces the conventional bag top and skirt or collar assembly which is attached to the bag during the manufacturing process. The top member  12  has a lower edge  13  which forms a skirt or collar that mates with the opening of the golf bag  11 . The top member  12 , the sliding locking member  14  and the tracking guides  16  are preferably injection moulded from a thermoplastic material using known techniques.  
         [0045]    As shown in FIG. 1, the top member  12  comprises a control panel  18  and a compartment access portion  20 . The compartment access portion  20  has one or more openings  22  shown individually as  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  which are bordered by a front member  24   a , cross members  24   b  and  24   c  and a rear member  24   d . The locking device  10  is attached to the top of the golf bag  11  (FIG. 6). If the golf bag  11  has partitions or dividers  26  shown individually as  26   a ,  26   b  which form compartments  28   a ,  28   b ,  28   c  (FIG. 6), then the cross members  24   b ,  24   c  register with the partitions  26   a ,  26   b  to provide full access to the compartments  28   a ,  28   b ,  28   c . The partitions typically comprise flexible panels made from fabric and  26   a ,  26   b  are preferably secured to the sliding locking member  14 , using a suitable fastener  67  as shown in FIG. 1 for partition  26   a  (partial view), for example a hook and loop fastener strips sold under the brand name VELCRO™. In this arrangement, the partitions  26  are secured by the sliding plate  14  and also move along with the sliding plate  14  as it is moved.  
         [0046]    As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the locking member  14  comprises a frame formed with bars  30  shown individually as  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c , partition members  32   a ,  32   b  and side members  34   a ,  34   b . In the locked position, the sliding member  14  is moved forward and the openings  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  are constricted between the bars  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c  and the members  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  which prevents the removal of golf clubs by reducing the width of the openings  22  around the larger diameter of the club shafts at the grip ends. The side members  34   a ,  34   b  include the rails or bars  17   a ,  17   b  which cooperate with the respective tracking guides  16   a ,  16   b  to linearly guide the movement of the member  14 . The arrangement of the side members  34   a ,  34   b  and the tracking guides  16   a ,  16   b  provides a fixed linear motion of the sliding member  14  and prevents side-to-side play. In another embodiment, the two tracking guides  16   a ,  16   b  are replaced by a single tracking guide  31  (FIG. 5( b )) which is positioned essentially in the middle of the top member  12 , i.e. coincident with the members  32   a ,  32   b . The single tracking guide  31  comprises a channel  33  having a restricted opening  35  and a transverse flange  37  which is held captive in the channel  33 . As shown in FIG. 5( b ), the transverse flange  37  is attached (or formed) on the top side of the locking member  14  and comprises a “T”-shape. The channel  33  (i.e. tracking guide) is affixed to the bottom of the top member  12  and comprises the restricted opening  35  which supports and guides the transverse flange  37 . Such an arrangement still has the advantage of fixing the linear movement of the sliding member  14  between the closed and open positions and preventing side-to-side play of the member  14 .  
         [0047]    The partition members  32   a ,  32   b  as shown in FIG. 3 further subdivide the openings  22   b  and  22   c . If the golf bag  11  includes compartment sub-dividers, i.e. centre dividers, the members  32   a ,  32   b  preferably register or align with the compartment sub-dividers in the golf bag  11 . The sub-dividers or centre dividers are secured to the members  32   a ,  32   b  of the sliding plate  14  in a similar fashion as described above for the partitions  26   a ,  26   b , e.g. using hook and loop fasteners.  
         [0048]    As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and  5 , the openings  22  have a contoured or concave shape. The concave shape of the openings  22  promotes the movement of the club shafts against locking edges  23  shown individually as  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c  (FIG. 3) of the respective openings  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  when the golf bag  11  is tilted or shifted. This facilitates the closing or constriction of the openings  22  around the club shafts when the sliding member  14  is moved to the locked position. The collecting action of the contoured openings  22  is enhanced when the locking device  10  is mounted on a golf bag having an angled top with an elevation as shown in FIG. 6. Advantageously, the contoured shape of the openings  22  in cooperation with the tracking guides  16  also makes it difficult to torque or pry the sliding member  14  to one side and force open one end of the opening  22  to pull out a golf club when in the closed position.  
         [0049]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the control panel  18  on the top member includes an integrated lock mechanism for locking the sliding member  14  in the open and the closed position. The lock mechanism is described in more detail below with reference to FIGS.  6  to  8 . The control panel  18  as shown in FIG. 1 also provides a recess  19  for receiving the end of the sliding member  14  in the open position so that the sliding member  14  registers with the members  24   b ,  24   c  and  24   d  in the top member  12 . This arrangement advantageously provides seamless access to the compartments  28   a ,  28   b ,  28   c  of the golf bag  11  when the sliding member  14  is in the open position. Further in the closed position, the sliding member  14  does not extend beyond the periphery of the top member  12  which prevents the sliding member  14  from interfering with the external D-ring or loops round on most golf bags.  
         [0050]    As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the front member  24   a  and cross members  24   b  and  24   c  preferably have rounded top edges. The rounded top edges facilitate insertion and removal of clubs from the golf bag. The rounded edges also eliminate the sharp edges which tend to nick and damage the graphite shafts found on the more expensive metal woods and irons.  
         [0051]    To provide additional protection for graphite shafts, a protective layer  66  (shown in broken outline in FIGS. 3 and 4) is formed on the surfaces which come into contact with the club shafts such as the edges  23  of the openings  22  and the bars  30 . The protective layer  66  preferably comprises a padded and abrasive resistant skin which is applied by a thermo-forming process to the club contacting surfaces. The thermo-forming process comprises the following steps: (1) application of a heat sensitive adhesive to the club contacting surfaces of the bars  30  and the openings  22 ; (2) placement of the components on a mould; (3) heating a thermoplastic laminate sheet by radiant or convective heat to the required temperature; (4) indexing the heated thermoplastic laminate sheet over the mould and prepared injection moulded part; (5) using vacuum or air pressure to draw the heated laminate sheet into contact with, and to the shape of, the prepared club contacting surface (e.g. bar  30  on the sliding member  14 ) and activating the adhesive to create a bond between the components; and (6) trimming the excess material from the moulded components.  
         [0052]    The protective layer  66  may also be formed using known processes and materials, such as co-injection of Santoprene™ or flocking a fibrous composition to the surfaces of the bars  30  and edges.  
         [0053]    Reference is next made to FIG. 6 which shows a locking mechanism according to another aspect of the present invention. The locking mechanism is integrated with the golf club locking device  10  and the golf bag  11 . The locking mechanism is accessed through the control panel  18 .  
         [0054]    The integrated locking mechanism comprises a retractable wire cable  34  which is located in the interior of the golf bag  11  and fixed to the inside of the top member  12  using a suitable fastener, for example, a conventional grommet  36  and a rivet  38 . The other end of the cable  34  is attached to a restraint or locking member, such as a ball  40 . The cable  34  is threaded through a ring or pulley  42  which is coupled to the base of the bag  11  by a spring  44 . The spring  44  biases the cable  34  in a retracted position inside the bag  11 , but allows the cable  34  to be extended from the bag  11  or top member  12  with the application of a pulling force to the ball  40 . The spring  44  may be replaced by a sprung spool or an elastic cord arrangement with sufficient tension to bias the cable  34  in the retracted position.  
         [0055]    As shown in FIG. 3, the ball  40  is accessed on the control panel  18 . Referring to FIG. 3, the control panel  18  includes an aperture  46  for inserting the ball  40  into a socket  47  which is formed in the sliding member  14  (FIG. 7). The socket  47  communicates with a locking track or channel  48  which is formed in the control panel  18 . The control panel  18  also includes a lock  50 , and the sliding member  14  includes a lever  52  which projects through the aperture  46  and channel  48 . The lever  52  is formed in the sliding member  14  (FIG. 7) and facilitates moving the sliding member  14  between the unlocked position (FIGS. 1 and 3) and the locked position (FIGS. 2 and 4). In operation, the lever  52  constricts the channel  48  and prevents the ball  40  from being removed from the aperture  46  when the sliding locking member  14  is in the locked position (FIGS. 2 and 4).  
         [0056]    The lock  50  comprises a conventional plunger lock having a cylinder or piston which is movable between an extended and a retracted position and locked in position by a key or a combination lock mechanism. The plunger lock  50  secures the sliding member  14  in the locked and unlocked positions. In the locked position, the lock  50  also prevents movement of the sliding locking member  14  and movement of the lever  52  secures the ball  40  and cable  34  if inserted in the socket  47 .  
         [0057]    To secure the sliding member  14  in the unlocked position, the plunger lock  50  is actuated so that the cylinder registers with a first hole  54 . The first hole  54  is aligned with the plunger lock  50  when the sliding member  14  is fully retracted in the unlocked position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The ability to secure the sliding member  14  in the unlocked position is useful to prevent the sliding member  14  from shifting position when the clubs are being used for play. To secure the sliding member  14  in the locked position, the sliding member  14  includes a second hole (not shown) which registers with the plunger lock  50  when the sliding member  14  is moved into the locked position (FIGS. 2 and 4). The clubs are secured in the golf bag  11  by moving the sliding member  14  to the closed position (FIG. 4), depressing and thereby locking the plunger lock  50  so that the cylinder engages the second hole. Advantageously, this arrangement also allows the golf clubs to be conveniently secured to prevent rattling and shifting during play which could nick or damage the graphite shafts. To secure the golf clubs, the sliding member  14  is moved to the closed position and the plunger lock  50  is depressed to engage the member  14 . To retrieve a club for a golf shot, the plunger  50  is unlocked and disengaged, the member  14  is moved to the open position, and the club removed. This feature is particularly useful when the golf bag is being carried on a power cart where there is a tendency for shaking and rattling of the golf clubs inside the golf bag compartments.  
         [0058]    The locking mechanism according to this aspect of the invention also provides the capability to secure the golf bag  11  to a fixed object, such as a bag rack or a fence post, by pulling on the ball  40  to extend the cable  34 , wrapping the cable  34  around the fixed object, and inserting the ball  40  into the socket  47  through the aperture  46 . The cable  40  is then secured in the locked position by using the lever  52  to move the member  14  until the cylinder for the lock  50  registers with the second hole of the sliding member  14  in the closed position. When moved to the closed position, the locking channel  48  and lever  52  prevent the ball  40  and cable end  34  from being removed from the socket  47 . The plunger  50  is then depressed to engage the sliding member  14  and locked with the key or combination lock. The golf bag  11  may now be left unattended with peace of mind knowing that the clubs are secured inside the bag  11  and the bag  11  itself is secured to the rack. An attempt to break the security of the golf locking device  10  would not go unnoticed to bystanders.  
         [0059]    In another embodiment of the locking mechanism, a ball assembly  40 ′ is coupled to the top of the carrying or shoulder strap  77  by a cable  41  as shown in FIG. 6. The ball  40 ′ in conjunction with the shoulder strap  77  replaces the ball  40  and cable  34  assembly. The cable  41  is preferably integrated with the shoulder strap  77  and secured to the wall of the bag  11  using a fastener  43  such as grommet and rivet.  
         [0060]    To secure the golf bag  11  to a fixed object, e.g. a bag rack, the top of the shoulder strap  77  is detached from the D-ring and wrapped around the bag rack. The ball  40 ′ is then seated into the socket  47  and secured by the locking channel  48  and the lever  52  when the member  14  is moved to the closed position and locked by the plunger  50 . This embodiment has the advantage of eliminating the need for the retractable cable  34  mounted inside the golf bag  11 . In addition, the a thicker cable  41  can be used.  
         [0061]    According to another aspect of the present invention, the shoulder strap  77  and locking cable  41  combination is secured by a locking unit  56 . The locking unit  56  is affixed to the side of the bag  11  as shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 13, the locking unit  56  comprises a socket  58  and channel  60  for receiving the ball  40 ′ and cable  41 , and a plunger  62  and combination (or key lock)  64 . To secure the golf bag  11 , the shoulder strap  77  (and cable  41 ) are detached from the D-ring and wrapped around an object, e.g. a fence post. The ball  40 ′ and cable  41  are inserted into the socket  58  and slid to the end of the channel  60 . The plunger  62  is then moved to the locked position shown in broken outline  62 ′ and the combination lock  64  locks the position of the plunger  62 ′. To unlock the cable  41 , the combination is entered in the lock  64  and the plunger  62  is moved back to allow the ball  40 ′ and cable  41  to be slid to the socket  58  and removed. Advantageously, this arrangement allows the locking mechanism according to the present invention to be used with a golf bag which is not equipped with the golf club locking device  10 .  
         [0062]    Reference is next made to FIGS.  9  to  12  which show another embodiment of a golf club locking device  10 ′ according to the present invention. Like references indicate like elements in the drawings.  
         [0063]    For the golf club locking device  10 ′, the sliding member  14  is replaced by a shutter arrangement  100 . The shutter arrangement  100  as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 comprises a lever arm  102  and three shutters  104 ,  106 ,  108  each of which span a respective opening  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  . Each of the shutters  104 ,  106 ,  108  is coupled to the lever arm  102  at a respective lower pivot point  110 ,  112 ,  114 . The shutters  104 ,  106 ,  108  are also coupled to the top member  12  at respective upper pivot points  116 ,  118 ,  120 . The upper pivot points  116 ,  118 ,  120  each comprise a shaft spanning the width of the top member  12  and suitably attached to the member  12  to permit the shutters  104 ,  106 ,  108  to swing between an open and a closed position in response to actuating the lever arm  102 .  
         [0064]    As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the lever arm  102  substantially bisects the top member  12  and is aligned with the locking channel  48 . Each shutter  104 ,  106 ,  108  comprises two sections  104   a  and  104   b ,  106   a  and  106   b ,  108   a  and  108   b  which together span the respective opening  22 . The lever arm  102  includes an actuator  53  which projects through the channel  48  and provides a means for actuating, i.e. moving the lever arm  102  between a closed position indicated by arrows  103  in FIG. 12 and an open position as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. The shutter arrangement  100  is secured in the open and locked positions using a locking mechanism as will be described below.  
         [0065]    Referring to FIG. 12, the shutters  104 ,  106 ,  108  preferably comprise an upper portion  122  and a graphite protection lower portion  124 . The upper portion  122  is made from a suitable thermoplastic material, while the lower portion  124  includes a suitable graphite protection layer which is applied or integrated as described above. When the shutters  104 ,  106 ,  108  are moved to the closed position, the shutters  104 ,  106 ,  108  constrict the openings  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  to prevent removal of golf clubs by reducing the width of the openings  22  around the larger diameter of the club shafts at the grip ends. In another aspect, the lower portion  124  is formed from a semi-rigid material which provides some deflection while still constricting the openings  22  when the mechanism  100  is moved to the closed position.  
         [0066]    As also shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the lever arm  102  includes an aperture  126  for cooperating with the plunger lock  50  and securing the lever arm  102  and shutters  104 ,  106 ,  108  in the closed position. As shown in FIG. 12, the aperture  126  registers with the cylinder or piston  51  of the plunger lock  50  when the lever arm  102  is moved to the closed position  103 . By actuating the plunger lock  50 , the cylinder  51  extends through the aperture  126  and bars movement of the lever arm  120  and the opening of the shutters  104 ,  106 ,  108 . (As described above, the extended cable  34  and ball  40  may also be inserted into the socket  47  before the shutters  104 ,  106 ,  108  are closed to secure the bag  11  to a fixed object.) The lever arm  102  may also include another aperture  128  for securing the shutters  104 ,  106 ,  108  in the open position when the lever arm  102  is fully retracted.  
         [0067]    In another embodiment, the skirt  13  on the top member  12  is replaced by a series of tabs. Each of the tabs includes an aperture for receiving a fastener for attaching to the mouth of the bag  11 . This arrangement allows the locking device  10  to be retrofitted on an existing golf bag. It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the tabs and/or fasteners will depend on the manufactured structure of the golf bag to be fitted.  
         [0068]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the presently discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.