Abstract:
A carrier and hitch assembly comprises a rigid, elongated housing having a door covered opening on a front face. The housing is large enough to contain a standard size golf bag and a complete set of clubs. The housing is provided with wheels and a handle so that the housing may be utilized in cart-like fashion. The rear face of the housing is provided with structure for attaching the housing to a hitch assembly for transporting the housing at the rear of an automotive vehicle or golf cart.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/209,482, filed Jun. 6, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention generally relates to portable carriers. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a travel case for storing and transporting a golf bag and clubs.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    Transporting a golf bag loaded with a full set of clubs is a less than enjoyable task for most players, especially senior citizens. Lifting the loaded bag in and out of an automobile trunk or SUV storage area onto a golf cart requires that the bag is shifted from vertical to horizontal and back to vertical. The awkwardness presented by such shifting creates undue strain on the back and shoulder muscles that could cause an injury. Also, the bag and the automobile are subjected to unnecessary wear and tear when the bag is jammed into the trunk with the bags of the other players in the foursome.  
           [0006]    Vacations present a whole new set of problems. Getting a heavy, fully loaded bag along with other luggage to the airport, on an airplane and to the hotel can often be a vacation-dampening chore. A combination golf bag storage and carrier device designed to alleviate the aforementioned problems would be a welcome addition in the art.  
           [0007]    Examples of carriers for transporting and/or storing golf clubs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 269,225 (Picco), Des. 319,346 (Jessen), Des. 394,950 (Kite), 4,012,051 (Embinder), 4,375,847 (Picco), 4,796,789 (Willcocks), 5,168,992 (Bowdy) and 5,582,290 (McCuaig et al.). It is noted that the above cited patentees do not contemplate transporting and/or storing a separate golf bag, nor do they contemplate providing means to mount a carrier to the outside of an automotive vehicle.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 268,574 (Hampton), 4,061,257 (St. Clair), 4,337,882 (Hampton), 4,726,597 (Hickin) and 5,806,738 (D&#39;Angelo) show apparatus for mounting a golf bag and/or golf cart to the rear of an automobile or the like. The patents do not show a wheeled carrier for storing and/or transporting both a golf bag and golf clubs therein.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,064 (Cowe) discloses a cradle for supporting a single golf bag in the trunk of an automobile.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,013 (Hightower) shows a motorized golf cart having golf bag supporting brackets mounted on the rear end thereof.  
           [0011]    EP Patent number 0 128 088 A1 shows a device to carry luggage mounted to a trailer hitch.  
           [0012]    None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to disclose a portable carrier and hitch assembly for a golf bag and clubs as will subsequently be described and claimed in the instant invention.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    The instant invention is drawn to a carrier for a golf bag and clubs in combination with a hitch assembly for supporting the carrier at the rear of an automotive vehicle or a motorized golf cart.  
           [0014]    The carrier comprises a rigid, elongate housing with an enclosed volume of a capacity to contain a conventional golf bag having at least a full set of golf clubs therein. A hinged door is provided on the front of the housing for easy access to the enclosed volume. The housing is also provided with wheels and a movable handle so that the housing may be utilized in cart-like fashion. A rigid handle is fixed at each side of the housing to facilitate lifting. In a first embodiment, the movable handle is positioned in a contoured holder, which holder is fixed on the rear of the housing. The contoured holder is shaped so that it may be attached to a hitch assembly especially designed to support the housing.  
           [0015]    The hitch assembly of the first embodiment comprises a horizontally positioned, tubular support member of T-shaped configuration. The free end of the leg of the T is adapted to be rigidly attached to a trailer hitch mounting bar of a vehicle. The head of the T has at least one mounting bracket rigidly attached to one face thereof. A cylindrical support is rigidly attached to a second face of the T directly opposite the mounting bracket. The bracket and cylindrical support function to engage at least one housing and support the housing at the rear of the vehicle for transportation as will be further explained below.  
           [0016]    In a second embodiment, the carrier is adapted to nest into a specially designed tray, which tray is adapted to be hitched to the rear of a towing vehicle.  
           [0017]    Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a carrier constructed to store and transport a golf bag having a full set of golf clubs therein.  
           [0018]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a carrier constructed to store and transport a golf bag and golf clubs, which carrier has wheels at one end so that the carrier can be utilized in cart-like fashion.  
           [0019]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a carrier constructed to store and transport a golf bag and golf clubs, which carrier may be mounted to a unique hitch assembly.  
           [0020]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.  
           [0021]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a golf bag carrier and hitch assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is a side view of a golf bag carrier and hitch assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a partial rear view of a golf bag carrier according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a hitch assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is a rear view of multiple carriers mounted to a hitch assembly according to a first embodiment the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 is an environmental, perspective view of a golf bag carrier an hitch assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a golf bag carrier according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 is a rear view of a golf bag carrier according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is a partial, perspective, exploded view of carrier tray and hitch assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10 is a top view of a carrier tray and hitch assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0032]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]    Attention is directed to FIGS.  1 - 3  which illustrate a first embodiment of a portable carrier. The carrier is a one-piece, weatherproof housing  10  fabricated from a hard, rugged, plastic material, or the like, which forms a shell enclosing a volume large enough to house a golf bag (not shown) containing at least a full set of golf clubs. The interior of the housing is cushioned to protect the bag and clubs when the housing is being transported. An opening is formed in the front of housing  10  to facilitate the loading and removal of the golf bag. A hinged door  12  is positioned for covering and uncovering the opening in a conventional manner. Door  12  may be provided with locking means if desired. Door  12  will normally be fabricated from the same material as housing  10  although a different material may be used if desired. Wheels  14  are rotatably attached to the lower end of housing  10 . A tubular member  16  is attached to the rear face of housing  10 . Tubular member  16  assumes a flared configuration at its lower end  16   a  for reasons as will be explained below. Member  16  may be attached in any convenient and efficient manner (gluing, molding, etc.). A handle  18  is disposed in tubular member  16 . Handle  18  has an upper end  18   a  which extends slightly above the top of carrier  10 . The lower end  18   b  extends below the lower end  16   a  of tubular member  16 . Handle  18  is fitted for swivel movement in member  16 . Handle  18  may be fabricated from any suitable material (wood, metal, plastic, etc.). A set-in handle  20  is positioned on each side of housing  10  to facilitate lifting the housing.  
         [0034]    A hitch assembly generally designated at  22  is specially designed to support at least one housing from the rear of a vehicle generally designated at  24 . Vehicle  24  may take on the form of an automotive type (car, Suv, truck, etc.) or the vehicle may be a motorized golf cart. Hitch assembly  22  is adapted to be fastened to the conventional trailer hitch mounting bar of either vehicle type. As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and  4 , hitch assembly  22  comprises a T-shaped support member having a leg  22   a  and head  22   b.  Leg  22   a  extends perpendicularly from head  22   b  and has an end adapted to be attached to a conventional trailer hitch mounting bar (not shown). Head  22   b  extends horizontally in spaced, parallel relationship with vehicle  24 . Leg  22   a  and head  22   b  may be fabricated from any strong and durable metal stock. A mounting bracket  26  has a lower end attached to a front face of head  22   b.  A U-shaped stabilizing clip  28  is attached to the upper end of mounting bracket  26 . A cylindrical stub  30  is attached to a rear face of head  22   b  directly opposite bracket  26 . Stub  30  is open at its upper end. Bracket  26  and stub  30  are fabricated from metal and may be attached to head  22   b  in any efficient manner i.e. screws, bolts, welds. U-shaped clip  28  is sized to receive and tightly retain the upper end of tubular member  16 . Stub  30  is sized to be received in the flared lower end  16   a  of tubular member  16 .  
         [0035]    Thus, housing  10  can be stabilized and supported on hitch assembly  22  for transportation to and from the golf course without taking up interior car or trunk space. Means (not shown) may be provided to lock the housing to the hitch assembly if desired. The housing is easily loaded and unloaded from the hitch assembly with a minimum of bending and the housing can be wheeled like a cart after unloading. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, plural brackets and stubs are provided so that a number of housings may be towed by a single vehicle.  
         [0036]    Attention is now directed to FIG. 6 which illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention and comprises a pair of housings  40  supported on a tray assembly  60 . Tray assembly  60  is adapted mounted at the rear of a vehicle V for transporting housings  40 .  
         [0037]    As best seen in FIGS. 6, 7 and  8 , housing  40  is of one-piece, weatherproof design fabricated from hard, rugged, plastic material. The housing encloses a volume large enough to house a golf bag B containing a full set of golf clubs. The interior of housing  40  is cushioned at  40   a  to protect the bag and clubs when the housing is being transported. A cargo net (not shown) may also be provided to afford additional protection. A hinged door  42  is provided for conventionally covering an uncovering an opening formed in the front of the housing. Door  42  may be equipped with a handle and lock for added security. The interior of door  42  is equipped with a golf ball holder  42   a,  strapping  42   b  for holding tees and pockets  42   c  for holding desired miscellaneous items (the interior of door  12  may also be equipped in this manner). Upper and lower set-in handles  44  are disposed on the sides of the housing to enhance lifting onto and from the tray assembly.  
         [0038]    A channel  46  is formed at lower rear end of the housing and extends upwardly from the lower rear end toward the upper end of the housing. As contemplated, channel  46  is approximately four and one-quarter inches wide and extends upwardly a distance of 40 inches. The upper portion of housing  40  is designed to form an overlap  48  for the upper portion of channel  46 . The overlap is approximately eight inches in length. As best illustrated in FIG. 7, the upper portion of channel  46  is lined with rubber  46   a  for purposes as will be explained below. Wheels  49 , positioned at the lower rear of the housing, and a retractable handle  50 , positioned at the upper rear portion, provide means for wheeling the housing. A locking device  52  (explained below) is disposed at the lower front end of housing  40 .  
         [0039]    The tray assembly  60  (FIGS. 9 and 10) comprises a Z-shaped mounting base  62  adapted to be fastened to a conventional trailer hitch mounting bar  64 . Housing support trays  60   a  and  60   b  are positioned and secured on base  62  via tubular members  66 . Trays  60   a,    60   b  have planar support areas whose perimeters are enclosed by upstanding rims  68 ,  69 . Each area enclosed by rims  68 ,  69  approximates the area defined by the lower end of housing  40  whereby the lower end of housing  40  fits snugly within the confines of the tray. Respective channel bars  70   a,    70   b  extend upwardly from each tray in face-to-face relationship. Channel bars  70   a,    70   b  are of a width to fit within channel  46  of a respective housing  40 . The length of the channel bars is such that each end terminates in a respective lined overlap area  48 . The channel bars thus serve to secure the housings in back-to-back relationship for towing (FIG. 6). Locking device  52  is utilized to lock the housing to the tray and provide additional security therefor.  
         [0040]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.