Abstract:
A harness attached to or adapted to be attached to a golf bag to be positioned about the shoulders and neck of the user. According to the preferred embodiment, the harness comprises a unitary padded member defining a collar and back contour piece. The collar and back contour piece are attachable to one another via first and second attachment mechanisms. Preferably, the collar includes first and second articulating joints to enable the harness to readily adapt to the width of a golfer&#39;s back. The collar may further include pockets for receiving and holding magnets to impart magnetic therapy. The back contour piece is preferably configured to provide lumbosacral support to the golfer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    U.S. Pending Application No. 09/459,693 filed Dec. 13, 1999 entitled Golf Bag Carry Apparatus and U.S. Continuation Application No. 09/727,047 filed Nov. 30, 2000 entitled Golf Bag Carry Apparatus 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    Many golfers in playing the game of golf prefer to walk, which provides exercise and, in addition, maintains the golfer&#39;s physical flexibility to assist in playing the game of golf. In many instances the golfer prefers to carry his bag as opposed to having a caddy do so. It has long been customary to fit a golf bag with a carry strap that goes over the shoulder of the golfer to assist in supporting the weight of the golf bag and the golf clubs as opposed to having the golfer utilize a handle affixed to the bag. Although this type of mechanism has been used for a long period of time, and is successful and in many instances is still used, it has a tendency to apply an undue amount of weight to one shoulder of the golfer thus, tending to tire out that portion of the body prior to the opposite shoulder.  
           [0003]    To alleviate the foregoing, in the recent past a plurality of strap-type devices have been developed which may be affixed to a golf bag and adapted to fit over both shoulders of the golfer to assist in distributing the weight of the golf bag and the golf clubs evenly across the shoulders of the golfer. Such golf bag carrying straps take many forms and are attached to the golf bag in many different ways. In some instances, the straps are sewn directly into seams of the golfbag and thus, become a permanent part of the golf bag. With such structures, if the strap breaks or becomes worn or the like, then the entire golf bag must be replaced. In other instances, there are special openings or fittings which are designed as a part of the golf bag when it is constructed through which the strap must pass in order to cause them to be properly situated for use by the golfer. Such special construction of the golf bag adds additional cost and also renders the golf bag useful only with the specific golf bag carry straps designed for use with it. Therefore, if the golfer grows tired of a particular type of golfbag carry strap, it could not be replaced on the specially designed bag and again the golfer would be required to buy a new bag.  
           [0004]    The golf bag carry straps designed to fit over both shoulders do work reasonably well and do permit a better balancing of the weight on the shoulders of the golfer than was possible prior to their introduction. However, such devices tend to apply forces to the shoulders of the golfer not only in a downward direction, but a backward direction particularly when the golfer is walking, thus, tending to apply an undesired weight or force to the golfer&#39;s body resulting in discomfort and creating a situation where the golfer&#39;s upper body becomes tired. As a particular example, such straps merely lay vertically along the lumbosacral vertebrae and, although imparting a stressor load thereto, provide nothing in terms of contoured anatomical support. Additionally, such straps are typically formed from multi-piece construction and, as a result, require substantial labor and expense in manufacturing the same and further cause such straps to become vulnerable to tearing or ripping. Such golf bags are further problematic in so far as the same are ill-adapted for widespread versatile use amongst individuals of dissimilar size. More specifically, such straps are typically configured to have a single unitary size that cannot be adjusted for purposes of accommodating the broadness of a given individual&#39;s shoulders. In this regard, there is lacking any mechanism by which such straps can adjust to accommodate shoulder breadth.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, there is a substantial need in the art for a golf bag carry strap that is capable of fitting over both shoulders of an individual that further provides a greater degree of lumbosacral back support when in use, and can further easily and readily adjust to accommodate the dimensions of a given individual&#39;s shoulders and back. There is a further need in the art for such a golf bag carry strap that is of substantially lower cost to manufacture than prior art straps, and can additionally be modified to impart therapeutically-beneficial modalities, such as magnet therapy and the like. There is yet a further need for such a strap that can be easily and readily substituted for virtually all golf bag carry straps currently in use, can be readily manufactured utilizing existing materials and technology, and can substantially minimize injury and pain typically associated with prior art golf bag carry straps.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention resolves the problems existing in the prior art by providing a formed padded harness which includes a collar that fits around the neck and over the shoulders of the golfer and a back contour piece that is adjoined to the apex of the collar and extends downwardly from the neck along the back of the golfer to provide lumbar support. The harness, which includes the collar and back contour piece, preferably consists of a unitary piece of padded material. The arms of the collar near the apex preferably contain articulable joints which enable the collar to be easily and flexibly positioned on any golfer&#39;s shoulders, irrespective of size. Similarly, the back contour piece of the harness can be easily adjusted to maximize the lumbar support of the golfer&#39;s back. Attaching devices extend from the back contour piece and from the ends of the collar opposite the apex for engagement with appropriate fixtures on the golf bag to allow easy positioning of the harness about the neck and across the shoulders of the golfer.  
           [0007]    The collar of the harness can optionally be lined with magnets to assist in relieving any pain or discomfort of the golfer as a result of carrying the weight of the golf bag. To achieve that end, the arms of the collar may be configured to contain tiny pockets for the insertion of magnets for use in therapeutically relieving pain and discomfort. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    These as well as other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a golf bag carry harness constructed in accordance with the principals of the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the harness of FIG. 1 attached to a golf bag;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the construction of the collar and taken about the lines  3 - 3  of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view illustrating in more detail the construction of the back contour piece means;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one means for attaching the harness of the present invention to the golf bag;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating an alterative means for attaching the harness to the golf bag;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is another alternative means for attaching the harness to the golf bag;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is yet another alternative means for affixing the harness to the golf bag;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is another alternative means for affixing the harness to the golf bag; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a golfer carrying a golf bag utilizing the golf carry harness of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]    The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended merely as a description of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and sequence of steps for construction and implementation of the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0020]    The golfbag carry harness of the present invention provides an apparatus which the golfer may utilize to very easily and with great comfort support the weight of the golf bag and the golf clubs contained therein when the golfer is walking during the playing of a round of golf. The weight of the golf bag and the golf clubs is evenly distributed over the shoulders and across the back of the golfer as a result of a formed padded collar which fits around the back of the neck and immediately over the shoulders and down the front of the golfer.  
         [0021]    The collar preferably contains articulable joints that enable the golfer to very easily and flexibly position the collar onto his or her shoulder with little or no effort in order to accomplish the desired distribution of the weight. Optionally, the collar can be lined with magnets to alleviate any pain or stress resulting from carrying the weight of the golf bag discussed more fully below. A back contour piece affixed to the apex of the collar may further be provided to increase comfort and lumbar support.  
         [0022]    The manner in which the collar is attached to the golf bag maintains the collar in this position. The attachments means is adjustable to allow the golfer to create the desired pitch for a golf bag and golf clubs to prevent the clubs from falling out of the bag, while providing comfort and the appropriate weight distribution for the golfer, and to position the golf bag across the golfer&#39;s back in such a manner as to minimize bumping or swinging of the golf bag against the back of the golfer.  
         [0023]    Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the golf bag carry harness of the present invention is shown. The primary elements of the harness are a collar  10  and a back contour piece  12 . The collar  10  includes an apex  14  which is substantially centrally disposed between distal ends  16  and  18  thereof. The back contour piece  12  is adjoined at the apex  14  of the collar  10 , and together, preferably form a contiguous and unitary piece of padded construction. As would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, by forming back contour piece  12  and collar  10  from a unitary piece of padded material substantially reduces the cost and difficulty with manufacturing the golf bag carry harness of the present invention. In this regard, it is well known to those skilled in the art that substantial labor and expense is associated with multi-piece construction, which typically requires increased stitching at the juncture between such pieces. In addition, such multi-piece construction is known in the art to be substantially less durable insofar as the seams between multiple components defines an area which can be subjected to tearing or ripping when subjected to pulling forces, as would be encountered during the use of such straps.  
         [0024]    The apex  14  of the collar  10  is designed in a curvilinear fashion so that the interior portion  20  thereof will rest comfortably about the neck of the golfer. Continuing from about the neck region  20  the collar defines a first region  22 - 24  which rests upon the right and left shoulders respectively of the golfer. The right arm  26  of the collar extends downwardly over the chest of the golfer and terminates at the distal point or end  16 . Likewise, the left arm  28  extends downwardly from the left shoulder of the golfer over the golfer&#39;s chest and terminates at the distal point or end  18 . According to a preferred embodiment, both arms of the collar defined at regions  22  and  24  contain articulable joints  120 - 122  (FIG. 1) which serve to adjust the arms of the collar according to the width or size of his or her shoulders to maximize the comfort provided by the harness.  
         [0025]    In addition, the arms of the collar may preferably contain tiny pockets  28  for the optional insertion of magnets (FIG. 1). In this regard, the use of magnets is reportedly successful in treating a wide variety of conditions, including arthritis, rheumatism, fibromyalgia, back pain, headaches, muscles strains and sprains, joint pain, tendinitis, and shoulder pain, among many others. To produce the desired therapeutic benefit, it is presently believed that exposure to biomagnetic negative poles, or north poles, has the ability to relieve pain, reduce swelling, promote tissues alkalinization, and increase tissue oxygenation. Exposure to south or positive poles, in contrast, is believed to increase swelling, promote anxiety and other adverse side effects. As such, current magnetic therapy dictates surrounding all or a portion of the body in close proximity to the north or negative poles of such magnets as is facilitated by pockets  28  of the collar of the present invention.  
         [0026]    By referring to FIG. 3, the internal construction of the collar  10  is illustrated. As is therein shown, the collar  10  is constructed from a padding material such as polystyrene foam or the like  30  which includes a non-skid surface  32  which engages the neck, shoulder and chest region of the golfer when the harness is in position to carry the golf clubs. A layer  34  of heavy gauge cloth material such as nylon or canvas or the like is affixed to the padding  30  and covers the opposite surface  36  thereof. As is illustrated, the material  34  is affixed to the padding by stitching at  38  and by a tape  40  which is positioned over the material  34  and under the padding  30  at the edge  42  thereof and then is stitched in place. Thus, the heavy gauge material  34  extends the entire length of the collar  10  and, as will become apparent hereinafter, is the structural member which supports the weight of the golf clubs and the golf bag. The tape  40  extends along the entire outside edge of the collar  10  and into tape  48 , which is positioned around the entire side of the back contour piece  12  as viewed in FIG. 1. It should be noted that the tape  40  does not appear on the inside edge, thus providing a greater amount of comfort to the wearer of the golf bag carry harness.  
         [0027]    The back contour piece  12  is constructed in a manner similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3. The outer surface  44  thereof is constructed from a heavy duty cloth material such as canvas or the like, while the opposite surface  46  (FIG. 4) is a padding similar to that shown at  30  in FIG. 3. However, the padding incorporated as part of the back contour piece  12  will be specifically designed and configured to form a complementary shape along the lumbar and/or lumbosacral vertebrae along the wearer&#39;s back. In this respect, and contrary to straps of the prior art, the back contour piece  12  will be formed to abut and form a complementary fit along the lower vertebrae of the wearer&#39;s back to thus impart the desired support thereto, which advantageously facilitates the wearer&#39;s ability to maintain proper posture while wearing the collar of the present invention, as well as more ideally distributes the load imparted by the golf bag upon the wearer&#39;s body. As a result, the back contour piece  12  not only provides greater comfort to the golfer, but also minimizes the potential for injury to the golfer&#39;s back.  
         [0028]    Attachment means is further provided for affixing the harness to a golf bag  50 . Technically all golf bags include a shoulder strap which is attached to the golf bag at spaced apart positions. Traditionally, the attachment points would include such items as a ring  52  at the upper most portion of the bag and a second ring  54  displaced therefrom adjacent the pocket or pouch  56  of the golf bag which is used to carry golf balls and other golfing paraphernalia. The rings  52  and  54  may be O-rings, D-rings or similar type of structure. Typically the shoulder strap is snapped into place at the rings  52  and  54 . For purposes of affixing the golf bag carry harness of the present invention, the shoulder strap may be removed and discarded and the collar and flap of the present invention then affixed as shown in FIG. 2. Generally, this attachment of the harness is accomplished by straps shown generally at  58  and  60  which extend from the distal point  16  and  18  of the collar  10  and from the lower portion of the back contour piece  12  as shown.  
         [0029]    As is illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, the distal point  16  of the chest portion  26  of the collar  10  includes a buckle  62  which is permanently affixed to a short strap  64  which in turn is securely stitched as shown at  66  to the distal point  16 . Also extending from the distal point  16  is a strap  68 . The strap  68  is disposed on the side opposite from the strap  64  and is also stitched securely and permanently in place by the stitching  66 . Strap  68  loosely hangs from the distal point  16  of the chest portion  26  of the collar  10 . To secure the distal point  16  to the golf bag  50 , the strap  68  would be passed through the ring  52  and would then be returned to the buckle  62  where it would be passed through the appropriate openings and cinched in place to securely affix the distal end  16  to the golf bag  50 . A buckle  70  and strap  72  is also affixed to the distal point  18  of the chest section  28  of the collar  10  in a manner substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0030]    Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 4, the attachment means which is secured to the back contour piece  12  is illustrated in greater detail. As is therein shown, a first strap  74  having buckles  76  and  78  is positioned in place along the edge  80  of the back contour piece  12 . An additional strap  82  is positioned on the opposite side from the strap  74  and such is shown in FIG. 4. The strap  82  is continuous and extends well beyond the buckles  76  and  78 . Each of the straps  74  and  82  are continuous one piece straps. The two straps are stitched together along the edge  80  of the back contour piece  12  as is illustrated by the stitching  84  and  86 . In this manner the strap  82  provides extensions or continuations  88  and  90  thereof which cooperate with the straps  68  and  72  to secure the golf bag carry harness of the present invention to the golf bag  50 . As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the strap  88  is passed through the ring  52  and is returned to the buckle  76  where it is then secured in place. Similarly, the strap  72  and the strap  90  are passed through the ring  54  returned to the buckles  70  and  78 , respectively, and are secured in place. It will be recognized that through the utilization of the straps and the buckles, the effective length of the straps  58  and  60  may be adjusted to position the golf bag in a manner to accommodate the desired pitch thereof as well as the distribution of the weight across the shoulders, neck and back of the golfer. The adjustment will also position the bag at the height desired by the golfer to make it more comfortable to carry the golf clubs.  
         [0031]    All of the attaching means in the preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described as including straps and buckles which are affixed to a collar  10  and back contour piece  12 . Other types of attachment means may be utilized. In each instance the attachment means will provide appropriate adjustment capability to position the golf bag as desired by the golfer to provide the ultimate in comfort in carrying the bag. One such alternative fastening or attaching means is illustrated in FIG. 6. In this instance, there is provided a strap  92  which has the appropriate Velcro (hook and loop fastener) attachment structure attached thereto as illustrated at  94  and  96 . The end  98  of the strap  92  would be passed through one of the rings  52  or  54  depending upon where the strap  92  was attached. The strap would then be folded back upon itself and the two Velcro (hook and loop fastener) locking portions  96  and  94  brought together to secure the strap at the desired length to position the golf bag as above discussed.  
         [0032]    In FIG. 7, an additional attaching means alternative embodiment is illustrated. In this instance, a strap  100  would have a snap hook  102  affixed permanently to the end  104  thereof. The snap would be inserted into the appropriate ring  52  or  54  depending upon where the strap  10  is attached. As is illustrated, a buckle member or similar such structure  106  would be disposed between the hook  102  and the portion of the strap  100  affixed to the harness. This buckle would be utilized to provide movement of the hook toward or away the harness as is illustrated by the arrow  108  to accomplish the desired adjustment.  
         [0033]    In reference now to FIG. 8 an additional strap  110  is illustrated with male and female snap members at  112  and  114  respectively. The end  116  of strap  110  would be inserted through one of the rings  52  and  54  depending upon where the strap  110  was attached and the male snaps  112  would be brought into an appropriate position to accomplish the desired adjustment with one or more of the female receptacles  114  for the snaps and upon being snapped into place adjustment would be accomplished and the harness would be affixed to the golf bag  50  as above described.  
         [0034]    Referring now more specifically to FIG. 10, the golf carry harness is illustrated in position about the neck and over the shoulders and down the chest of the wearer. The straps  58  and  60  are properly affixed to the golf bag  50  and are adjusted to the length desired so that the golf bag rides comfortably across the back of the golfer slightly above the hips and across the waist. In this position the golf bag does not bounce, more evenly distributes the weight of the golfbag, is appropriately balanced and is easily taken off by the golfer and just as easily returned to position when it comes time to carry the bag.  
         [0035]    As is evident from the foregoing discussion, there may be a variety of different attachment means. Any one of which could be utilized in order to accomplish the desired adjustment to position the golf bag carry harness constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and the desired position with regard to the golf bag to provide the ultimate comfort to the golfer while walking the golf course carrying his or her bag.