Golf bag with slidable strap

A golf bag includes a generally tubular bag portion with an elongate body, a bottom and an open top. A carrying strap that lies secured to the elongate body extends continuously from a first position at a top portion of the body to a second position a predetermined distance below the top portion. At least at one of the two positions, a connection secures the strap to the body and allows sliding movement of the strap a predetermined distance over the surface of the body between two stops.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a golf bag with a slidable strap, and more 
particularly to a golf bag with a carrying strap slidably connected to the 
body of the golf bag, allowing the golf bag to adjust to a stable 
position. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
A golf bag typically includes an elongate, tubular body closed at a bottom 
end by a base and open at a top end. It also includes a strap for carrying 
the bag. This strap extends from a top end portion of the tubular body to 
a mid portion; and various connecting devices secure the strap to the 
tubular body at those two locations. 
The prior art includes a wide variety of straps; and various connecting 
devices for securing those straps to a bag body at predetermined points on 
the body. Although many of those straps include means for adjusting the 
length of the strap, they do not allow for adjustment of the connecting 
points between the strap and the body. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,038,984; 
5,0342,703; and 5,042,704 describe a golf bag and strap arrangement with 
adjustable connecting points. However, this arrangement includes a 
double-loop strap with three connecting points. 
The golf bag of the present invention avoids the disadvantages of the prior 
golf bags. It includes a strap, slidably connected to the tubular body of 
the golf bag between two points to allow adjustment of the points of 
connection between the strap and the bag body. It allows the bag to 
self-adjust to a stable position, a position that "hugs" the body of the 
user. The strap assembly of this invention is a simple arrangement which 
allows easy carrying of the bag and minimizes the cost of manufacture of 
the golf bag. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a golf bag includes a 
generally tubular bag portion with an elongate, tubular body, a bottom and 
an open top. A carrying strap that lies secured to the elongate body 
extends continuously from a first position at a top portion of the body to 
a second position a predetermined distance below the top portion. At least 
at one of the two positions, a connection secures the strap to the body 
and allows sliding movement of the strap a predetermined distance over the 
surface of the body between two stops.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND AN EMBODIMENT 
Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the golf bag of the present 
invention generally at 10. The bag 10 includes an elongate, tubular body 
11 closed at a bottom end 12 by a base member 13 and open at a top end 14. 
The body 11 may be fabricated from any suitable material, including any 
suitable, natural or synthetic, fabric material supported by bracing 
members such as spaced vertical rods and horizontal rings made of metal or 
any other material of sufficient strength and rigidity. The base member 13 
may also be any suitable material (e.g., plastic). 
The body 11 includes a plurality of pockets 11a and 11b for storing items 
such as balls, tees, and garments. It defines a central opening 15 divided 
into compartments 15a, 15b, and 15c by a pair of dividers 16 and 17. These 
compartments 15a-c receive a number of golf clubs. A player typically 
places the clubs into the bag by inserting the handle portion of the club 
into the body 11. The player may then load the bag onto his or her 
shoulder using a strap 18 and carry it to a desired location. 
The strap 18 extends from the top end 14 of the bag to a middle portion 19 
(See FIG. 2). It is a foldable elongate member made of nylon, polyester, 
or any other suitable material. A middle portion 18a of the strap 18 
defines a pocket containing resilient material and functions as padding 
for the strap. One end portion 20 of the strap 18 extends through a snap 
hook 21, which connects the portion 20 to the body 11, and forms a loop. A 
strip adjusting member 22 secures the two end portions of the loop 
together and allows adjustment of the length of the loop and, accordingly 
the overall length of the strap 18. 
Similarly, another, opposite end portion 23 of the strap 18 extends through 
a snap hook member 24, which connects the portion 23 to the body 11 and 
forms a loop. A strip adjusting member 25 secures the two end portions of 
the loop together and allows adjustment of the length of the loop and, 
accordingly the overall length of the strap 18. The snap hook 24 connects 
the end portion 20 to a ring 26 slidably mounted to the body 11 at the top 
end 14; and the snap hook 24 connects the end portion 23 to a ring 27 
slidably mounted to the body 11 at the middle portion 19. 
The rings 26 and 27 have a triangular configuration and are made of metal, 
plastic or any other suitable material. These two rings 26 and 27 slide 
over strips or belts 28 and 29, respectively, between predetermined limits 
defined by the vertical belts 30 and 31. The belts 28 and 29 extend around 
the body 11 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Suitable means such as stitching or 
rivets secure the belts 28 and 29 to the body 11 except the 
ring-supporting portions 28a and 29a between the belts 30 and 31. Similar 
means may secure the belts 30 and 31 to the body 11 of the bag 10. (The 
belts 28-31 may be any suitable foldable, flexible, or rigid material such 
as nylon or metal.) 
When a player or user places the strap on his or her shoulder, the 
connections between the strap 18 and the body 11 of the bag allow the bag 
to shift and assume a stable position, a position that "hugs" the body of 
the player. This self-adjusting feature facilitates the transport of the 
bag 10 and increases the comfort of the one carrying it. 
Although the embodiment described above includes sliding connections at 
both ends of strap 18, the bag 10 may include only one such connection, 
either at the top end of the bag or at the middle portion, with the other 
connection being a conventional fixed connection. Moreover, the sliding 
connection at the middle portion may lie at the bottom end of the body 11 
or any other suitable location. 
While the above description and the drawings disclose and illustrate one 
embodiment, one should understand, of course, that the invention is not 
limited to this embodiment. Those skilled in the art to which the 
invention pertains may make modifications and other embodiments employing 
the principles of this invention, particularly upon considering the 
foregoing teachings. Therefore, by the appended claims, the applicant 
intends to cover any modifications and other embodiments as incorporate 
those features which constitute the essential features of this invention.