Golf bag cart

A golf bag cart includes a bag having an inner space, a wide lateral surface, and a narrow bottom surface. A cart support is is provided on which the bag is loaded. A pressurizing member is fixed to the cart support such that the pressurizing member is rotated by a predetermined angle. The pressurizing member is pressurized against the earth and endures the weight of the bag when the bag is inclined by a predetermined angle. A plurality of left and right leg members are movably fixed to a middle portion of the cart support via a fixture such that the leg members are arranged to form a predetermined angle with respect to the fixture. The fixture is rigidly fixed to the cart support. The leg members are folded by way of self weight when the bag is erected. Wheel members are fixed to free ends of the left and right leg members via brackets such that the wheel members are rotated. The wheel members are folded by way of self weight together with the left and right leg members when the bag is erected. A plurality of link members each have an end coupled to the pressurizing member, and an opposite end coupled to the leg members. The link members unfold the leg members while being elevated when the pressurizing member is pressurized against the earth. A clasp is slidably installed on the cart support for fixing the bag to the cart support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a golf bag cart and, more particularly, to a golf bag cart which has a simplified structure for insuring convenient use and reduced production cost, and easily moves free of spatial restriction.

(b) Description of the Related Art

Generally, golf bags are carried by picking up a handle or shouldering a shoulder string. In this structure, when the user puts several numbers of golf clubs in the golf bag, and carries it, he becomes easily tired because the golf bag is very heavy due to its own weight as well as the weight of the golf clubs.

In order to solve the above problem, a separate cart may be provided to carry the golf bag. However, in this case, the golf bag and the cart should be separately brought while coming to the golf field so that the burden of carrying may become increased.

In this connection, it has been proposed that the cart should be made in a body with the golf bag. Such a body with the cart and the golf bag can be referred to as the “golf bag cart.”

For instance, the golf bag cart includes a bag for receiving several numbers of golf clubs, upper and lower fixation members fixed to the bag, and a support detachably coupled to the upper and lower fixation members at its upper and lower ends. A pair of leg members are coupled to the support at their one ends via a first bracket such that they can be rotated with a predetermined angle with respect to each other. Wheels are coupled to the opposite ends of the leg members such that they can be rotated. A holding handle is coupled to an upper portion of the support at its one end via a second bracket such that it can be rotated. A pair of link members are coupled to the holding handle at their one ends and to the leg members at their opposite ends such that they can be rotated.

A locking member is provided in the holding handle to detachably fix the holding handle to the upper fixation member while keeping the outstretched state of the leg members to be constant.

In the above structured golf bag cart, when the holding handle is elevated while rotating around the second bracket, the link members are operated to thereby rotate the leg members around the first bracket and outstretch them. When the leg members are completely outstretched, the locking member of the holding handle is inserted into a locking groove formed at the upper fixation member to keep the outstretched state of the leg members to be constant.

In contrast, when the user intends to fold the holding member and the leg members, he releases the locking state of the locking member and rotates the holding handle around the second bracket to thereby descend it. At this time, the leg members are rotated downwards, and adhere to the bag.

However, such a golf bag cart involves complicated structure that makes it difficult for the user to handle it in a convenient way. Furthermore, the golf bag cart cannot easily move while keeping the folded state of the leg members to be constant. Particularly, when the golf bag cart should move in such a narrow place as a stairway, it cannot easily move with the outstretched leg members.

In addition, since the holding handle or the shoulder string for picking up or shouldering the cart golf bag to carry it is positioned on the front surface of the bag opposite to the surface sided with the leg members, the leg members are liable to be swayed or outstretched due to their own weight, causing possible safety problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf bag cart which has a simplified structure, and freely moves in a convenient way.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf bag cart which can effectively prevent the cart structure from being swayed while moving.

These and other objects may be achieved by a golf bag cart including a bag having an inner empty space for receiving a plurality of golf clubs, a wide lateral surface, and a narrow bottom surface. A cart support is longitudinally fixed to the lateral surface of the bag via upper and lower brackets. A pressurizing member is fixed to the bag while positioning just below the cart support such that it is rotated by a predetermined angle. The pressurizing member is pressurized against the earth and endures the weight of the bag when the bag is inclined by a predetermined angle. A plurality of left and right leg members are movably fixed to a middle portion of the cart support via a fixture such that they are arranged to form a predetermined angle with respect to the fixture. The fixture is rigidly fixed to the cart support. The leg members are folded by way of their own weight when the bag is erected. Wheel members are fixed to free ends of the left and right leg members via brackets such that the wheel members are rotated. The wheel members are folded by way of their own weight together with the left and right leg members when the bag is erected. A plurality of link members each have an end coupled to the pressurizing member, and an opposite end coupled to the leg members. The link members unfold the leg members while being elevated when the pressurizing member is pressurized against the earth.

An elastic member is tensioned between the left and right leg members to push the folded leg members toward the cart support when the bag is erected. A holding handle and a shoulder string are attached to the bag or the cart support such that they are positioned together with the cart support on the same surface of the bag to prevent swaying of the folded leg members when the bag moves. A control handle is formed at a top portion of the cart support to control the direction of the bag. The control handle is pulled out of an upper cover when the bag containing the golf clubs is covered with the upper cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of this invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1to9are views illustrating a golf bag cart according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The golf bag cart has a bag1with an inner empty space for receiving several numbers of golf clubs, a wide lateral surface, and a narrow bottom surface2.

A cart support3is longitudinally fixed to the lateral surface of the bag1with a predetermined length. A pressurizing member5is also fixed to the lateral surface of the bag1just below the cart support3such that it can be rotated by a predetermined angle. When the bag1is inclined by a predetermined angle, the pressurizing member5is pressurized against the earth while enduring the weight of the bag.

A plurality of left and right leg members9are movably fixed to a middle portion of the cart support3via a fixture7such that they are arranged to form a predetermined angle with respect to the fixture7. The leg members9can be folded due to their own weight when the bag1is erected. The fixture7is preferably positioned at the middle or lower portion of the bag1, and rigidly fixed to the cart support3.

Wheel members11are fixed to free ends of the leg members9such that they can be rotated. The wheel members11contact the earth together with the pressurizing member5when the bag1is inclined and the leg members9are unfolded. In contrast, when the bag1is erected, the wheel members11are folded together with the leg members9due to their own weight.

A plurality of link members13are coupled to the pressurizing member5at their one ends, and also coupled to the leg members9at their opposite ends. When the pressurizing member5is pressurized against the earth, the link members13coupled to the pressurizing member5are elevated to thereby unfold the leg members9by a predetermined angle.

An elastic member15is tensioned between the left and right leg members9to push the folded leg members9toward the cart support3when the bag1is erected.

Upper and lower brackets17and19are fixed to the lateral surface of the bag1via bolts or rivets, and the cart support3is securely coupled to the upper and lower brackets17and19via bolts or rivets.

The cart support3is pipe-shaped with an inner empty space such that it can have light weight and good rigidity. The section of the cart support3is preferably rectangular-shaped such that the cart support3can be securely coupled to the bag1in a simplified manner.

The fixation of the pressurizing member5to the lateral surface of the bag1is realized by the lower bracket19and a hinge shaft21. As shown inFIG. 6, first and second fixation protrusions23and25are formed at the lower bracket19to fix the hinge shaft21thereto.

The fixture7for fixing the leg members9to the cart support3is fixed to the middle portion of the cart support3via bolts or rivets, and the leg members9are fixed to the fixture7via a hinge shaft27such that they can be rotated.

Two or more of the leg members9are arranged either in the left side or in the right side with respect to the fixture7such that they can substantially endure the weight of the bag1containing golf clubs and are no longer outstretched when the angle between each leg member9and the cart support3is 90°_or more.

As is in the cart support3, the leg member9may be structured to have an inner empty space and a rectangular-shaped section.

The fixation of the wheel members11to the free ends of the leg members9is realized by brackets29. The brackets29are fixed to the free ends of the leg members9such that they can be rotated. When the bag1is erected, the wheel members11are folded together with the leg members9by their own weight. Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 9, when the bag1is rapidly inclined such that the pressurizing member5does not exert any pressurizing force, the wheel members11contact the earth, and moves thereon.

The position of the wheel members11is preferably established such that they do not directly contact the bag1while placing over the lowest portion of the pressurizing member5when the leg members are completely folded. This structure makes it possible that the resulting golf bag cart moves even at such a narrow place as a stairway.

An angle between the bag1and each leg member9is established to be in the range of 90-130 degrees. In this angular range, the leg member9cannot be easily folded when the golf bag cart moves, and can endure the weight of the bag1containing golf clubs when the golf bag cart comes to a standstill on the earth via the pressurizing member5and the wheel members11.

Each link member13is bar-shaped with bent ends that are movably hooked in first and second hinge holes31and33formed at the pressurizing member5and the leg member9, respectively.

A holding handle35and a shoulder string37for picking up or shouldering and carrying the bag1are attached to the bag1or the cart support3such that they are arranged on the lateral side of the bag1with the cart support3. In such an arrangement, the swaying of the folded leg members9is maximally prevented while minimizing the required elastic force of the elastic member15. It is preferable that at least one end portion of the holding handle35and the shoulder string37surrounds the cart support3.

The lower end portion of the cart support3is covered with a softening member39to minimize noise occurring when the bracket29of the leg members9contacts the cart support3and to prevent abrasion thereof.

A stopper41(not shown inFIG. 6, but shown inFIG. 7) is provided at the side of the bracket29of the leg members9facing the cart support3. When the leg members9are folded toward the cart support3, the stopper41contacts the cart support3to thereby limit movement of the leg members9. The stopper41may be covered with a softening member to minimize noise when contacting the cart support3and to prevent abrasion thereof.

A control handle43is formed at the top portion of the cart support3to easily control the direction of the bag1when the user carries the golf bag cart. As shown inFIG. 9, the control handle43is structured such that when the bag1containing golf clubs is covered with an upper cover45, the user rotates the control handle43, and pulls it out of the upper cover45to operate it.

A covering member47formed with cloth or leather surrounds the upper portion of the cart support3over the bag1to prevent noise occurring when the cart support3collides with heads of the golf clubs contained in the bag1and abrasion thereof.

A stopper49is fixed to each of the left and right leg members9to define the angle between the neighboring leg members9. When the left or right leg members9are outstretched by a predetermined angle, the stopper49fixed to one of the left or right leg members9contacts the neighboring leg member9to thereby define the angle between them. It is preferable that the stopper is screw-fixed to the leg member9to control such an angle.

In operation, when the bag1is inclined so that the pressurizing member5is rotated around the hinge shaft21and pressurized against the earth, the link members13coupled to the pressurizing member5are elevated while rotating around the first and second hinge holes31and33.

The leg members9coupled to the link members13are outstretched from the fixture7via the hinge shafts27, and the elastic member15interconnecting the leg members9is widened.

As shown inFIG. 2, in case the wheel members11contacts the earth, the pressurizing member5and the two wheel members11form a predetermined angle with respect to each other, and support the bag1at three points.

When the user intends to move the bag1, he grips the control hand43and inclines the upper portion of the bag1such that the pressurizing member5becomes distant from the earth while leaving out the wheel members11on the earth. As a result, as shown inFIG. 4, only the wheel members11contact the earth so that the user can easily move the bag1.

Since the leg members9are outstretched by 90 degrees or more with respect to the cart support3, the folding of the leg members9is limited so that the moving of the bag1can be fluently performed.

In case the wheel members11or the bag1are not used, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 7, as the bag1is erected to be perpendicular to the earth and the pressurizing member5does not exert any pressurizing force, the leg members9and the wheel members are folded, and return to their initial position due to their own weight.

At this time, the link members13rotate around the first and second hinge holes31and33, and return to their original position while descending to the lower portion of the bag1. The folded leg members9tightly adhere to the cart support3owing to the elastic force of the elastic member15. The further movement of the leg members9is limited by the aforementioned stopper41so that noise or abrasion can be prevented.

Particularly, even when the bag1is carried by picking up the holding handle35or shouldering the shoulder string37, the swaying of the leg members9does not occur because they are arranged at the lateral surface of the bag1where the leg members9are positioned.

Furthermore, in case the user intends to move the golf bag cart in such a narrow place as a stairway while folding the leg members9, he rapidly inclines the bag1by a predetermined angle such that the pressurizing member5does not exert any pressurizing force and only the wheel members11contact the earth. In this way, the golf bag cart can be moved in a state that only the wheel members11contact the earth.

In the following preferred embodiments, other components of the golf bag cart are the same as those related to the first preferred embodiment except that the position of the pressurizing member varies or spacers are newly introduced.

FIG. 10is a side view of a golf bag cart according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 10, the pressurizing member5is directly hinge-coupled to the lower end portion of the lateral surface of the bag body1.

FIG. 11is a side view of a golf bag cart according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 11, the bottom surface2of the bag1is formed with an inclined portion6. The pressurizing member5is connected such that one end of the pressurizing member5is integrally connected to the inclined portion6and the other end of the pressurizing member5moves freely up and down.

FIG. 12is a side view of a golf bag cart according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 12, a guide member8is fixed to the lower end portion of the lateral surface of the bag1, and the pressurizing member5is connected to the bottom end of the cart support3in a body such that it moves along the guide member8.

FIG. 13is a side view of a golf bag cart according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 13, spacers51and52are provided between the cart support3and the bag1to space them apart from each other with a predetermined distance. In this structure, the cart support3does not hinder the movement of golf clubs100when they are inserted into the bag1or pull out thereof.

The spacers51and52are formed at the upper and lower brackets17and19of the bag1in a body such that the cart support3is positioned parallel to the bag1or inclined with respect to the latter.

In the above arrangement, the spacers51and52make the center of the wheel members11and the cart support3to become closer to each other, and this structure serves to improve stability of the golf bag cart.

FIG. 14is a side view of a golf bag cart according to a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 14, a spacer51is provided between the cart support3and the bag1to space them apart from each other.

The spacer51is formed at the upper bracket17of the bag1in a body such that the distance between cart support3and the bag1is gradually widened from the bottom side of the cart support3to the top side.

In the above structure, as the bag1is inclined with respect to the earth even when the cart support3is positioned to be parallel to the earth, the spacer51prevents the golf clubs100from slipping out of the bag1.

FIG. 15is a side view of a golf bag cars according to a seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 15, the bottom surface64of the cart support3is formed with an inclined portion60, and the pressurizing member61is integrally connected to the lower portion of the inclined portion60like the forming method. In addition, the groove63can be formed at a connecting portion between the pressurizing member61and the bottom surface64of the cart support3. Therefore, an end portion62of the pressurizing member61can be rotated when the cart is inclined.

FIG. 16is a side view of a golf bag cart according to an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 16, the pressurizing member70is connected to the lower portion71of the cart support3like the riveting joint method. That is, one end72of the pressurizing member70is connected to the lower portion71by a rivet73and the other end74of the pressurizing member70is connected to the link member13. The pressurizing member70is made of an elastic material, so, the other end74of the pressurizing member70can be rotated when the cart is inclined.

FIG. 17is a side view of a golf bag cart according to a ninth preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 17, the pressurizing member80is connected to the lower portion81of the cart support3like the wedging joint method. That is, the lower portion81is formed with a hole82, and a wedge portion83of one end84of the pressurizing member80is penetrated into the hole82. Therefore, the pressurizing member80is connected to the lower portion81by the wedge portion83. The other end85of the pressurizing member80is connected to the link member13, so that the pressurizing member80can be rotated when the cart is inclined.

FIG. 18is a side view of a golf bag cart according to a tenth preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 18, the pressurizing member90is connected to the front portion91of the cart support3like the wedging joint method. That is, the front portion91is formed with a hole93, and a wedge portion94of one end95of the pressurizing member90is connected to the front portion91by the wedge portion94. Also, the pressurizing member90is formed with a groove96, and the other end97of the pressurizing member90is connected to the link member13, so that the pressurizing member81can be rotated when the cart is inclined.

FIG. 19is a side view showing a clasp of a golf bag cart for fixing the bag to the cart support, andFIG. 20is a partial exploded view showing the clasp of FIG.19.

As shown In FIG.19andFIG. 20, the bag1can be fixed to the cart support3by a clasp100. The clasp100has a bracket101, a guide portion102, and a fixing portion103.

The bracket101is downwardly bent to be formed with an inner space such that an edge portion104of the bag3is inserted into the inner space.

The guide portion102has a hole105into which the frame106of the cart support3is inserted, such that the clasp,100slidably installed on the frame100so as to ascent or descend.

The fixing portion103comprises a hinge shaft107, a handle108hingedly connected to the hinge shaft107, and an eccentric portion110integrally formed at one end of the handle108.

In the eccentric portion110, the distance D between a center of the eccentric portion110to contacting point109is more long than other radius of the eccentric portion110.

Therefore, when the handle108is rotated in a clockwise direction, the contacting point109makes contact with the outer surface of the frame106, so the clasp100is fixed at a predetermined portion of the frame106, and the bag1is fixed to the cart support3by the clasp100. At this time, the bag3is supported by the lower portion111of the cart support3.

On the other hand, when the handle108is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction, the contact point109is released from the state of contacting the outer surface of the frame106. Therefore, the clasp100ascends along the frame, so the bag3can be separated from the cart support3.

As described above, the inventive golf bag cart has advantage of simplified structure, reduced production cost, convenience in use, and easy movement free of spatial restriction

Furthermore, when the golf bag is carried by picking up the holding handle or shouldering the string, the cart structure is kept to be constant without swaying so that possible safety problems can be prevented.