Abstract:
A golf bag including a body with a top member at one end and a bottom member at the opposite end is disclosed. A shoulder strap has an upper end located near the top member and a lower end located intermediate the top and bottom members. Separate mechanisms urge the upper and lower ends of the shoulder strap into a retracted position proximate the top member and a position intermediate the top member and the bottom member, respectively, but allow movement of the upper and lower ends of the shoulder strap from the retracted position into an extended position. Each mechanism may include an elastic cord, an anchor connecting the elastic cord to the bottom member, and a ring connecting the elastic cord to an extension on the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the shoulder strap.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/614,941 filed on Jul. 7, 2003, which application is incorporated by reference, in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to golf equipment and, in particular, to a dual-ended extendable and retractable shoulder strap for golf bags.  
         [0003]     When a golf bag has dual shoulder straps, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,255 issued to J. N. Beebe et al., the dual straps are intended to be used in a particular manner to carry the golf bag. In other words, although the dual straps may appear to be identical, one of the straps is specially designed for use on a person&#39;s right shoulder and the other strap is specially designed for use on a person&#39;s left shoulder. Also, the dual straps must be placed on a person&#39;s shoulders in a particular sequence for proper use. In a golf bag with dual straps such as disclosed in the Beebe et al. patent, a problem exists because it is sometimes confusing for a person to determine which strap to place on the right shoulder and which strap to place on the left shoulder.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention provides a golf bag having a generally tubular body attached at one end thereof to a top member and at the other end thereof to a bottom member. A shoulder strap has an upper end located near the top member and a lower end located intermediate the top and bottom members. A first mechanism located near the top member urges the upper end of the shoulder strap into a retracted position and allows movement of the upper end of the shoulder strap from the retracted position to an extended position. Similarly, a second mechanism located intermediate the top and bottom members urges the lower end of the shoulder strap into a retracted position and allows movement of the lower end of the shoulder strap from the retracted position to an extended position. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each mechanism comprises resilient means such as an elastic cord connected to the upper end and lower end, respectively, of the shoulder strap. The upper end of the shoulder strap is returned to the same location adjacent the top member each time the shoulder strap is moved into its retracted position by the first mechanism thereby making it easier for a person to locate the shoulder strap and utilize it to lift the golf bag with little or no bending over. Likewise, the lower end of the shoulder strap is also returned to its same location intermediate the top and bottom members each time the shoulder strap is moved into its retracted position by the second mechanism. Each mechanism may also include an anchor connecting its elastic cord to the bottom member, and a ring connecting the elastic cord to an extension on the shoulder strap upper end and lower end, respectively. When the present invention is used on a golf bag with dual shoulder straps, it is intended that only one of the straps will be equipped with the above-described mechanisms so that a person may easily distinguish the straps from each other and then determine which strap is for the right shoulder and which strap is for the left shoulder. This overcomes the identification problem mentioned above.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the drawing figures, where like reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the figures, and:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a golf bag embodying the preferred embodiment of an extendable and retractable shoulder strap;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged sectional view of a mechanism for extending and retracting the shoulder strap when the shoulder strap is in an extended position;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged sectional view of the mechanism shown in  FIG. 2  when the shoulder strap is in a retracted position;  
         [0009]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are enlarged sectional views taken along lines  4 - 4  and  5 - 5 , respectively, in  FIG. 2 ; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a golf bag embodying the preferred embodiment of a dual-ended extendable and retractable shoulder strap. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0011]     The description of exemplary embodiments of the invention herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized, and that logical and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not by way of limitation.  
         [0012]     Turning now to the figures,  FIG. 1  is a diagram of a golf bag  10  including a generally tubular body  12  attached at one end thereof to a top member  14  which is open. The other end of the body  12  is attached to a bottom member  16  which is closed. Golf clubs may be inserted and removed through the top member  14  in conventional manner. The golf bag  10  also includes a storage pocket  18  mounted along one side of the body  12 .  
         [0013]     The top and bottom members  14 ,  16  are preferably formed of rigid material such as molded plastic while the body  12  is preferably formed of flexible material such as nylon fabric. U.S. Pat. No. D454,249 issued to G. J. Schmidt, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a golf bag divider top that may be used as the top member  14 , and U.S. Pat. No. D372,362 issued to L. J. Bryant et al, also incorporated herein by reference, discloses a golf bag bottom assembly that may be used as the bottom member  16 .  
         [0014]     A shoulder strap  20  has an upper end  22  located near the top member  14  and a lower end  24  located intermediate the top and bottom members  14 ,  16 . The shoulder strap  20  may be placed over a person&#39;s shoulder and utilized in conventional manner to carry the golf bag  10 . If desired, the shoulder strap  20  may be preformed with a permanent curvature that matches a person&#39;s shoulder. The upper end  22  of the shoulder strap  20  is connected to a mechanism  26  best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  which normally urges the shoulder strap  20  into a retracted position shown in broken lines in  FIG. 1  and which allows movement of the shoulder strap  20  from that retracted position to an extended position shown in solid lines in  FIG. 1 . The lower end  24  of the shoulder strap  20  is connected to the body  12  by conventional means such as sewing or riveting.  
         [0015]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the mechanism  26  includes resilient means such as an elastic cord  28  which passes through an anchor  30  that connects the elastic cord  28  to the bottom member  16 . The anchor  30  is secured by stitching  32  to an outer wall  16   a  of the bottom member  16 . As best seen in  FIG. 5 , the anchor  30  consists of a pair of strips  34 ,  36  made of fabric such as nylon that have overlapping end portions  34   a,    36   a.  These end portions  34   a,    36   a  of strips  34 ,  36  are releasably held together by utilizing releasable fastener means such as a conventional hook and loop fastener. Therefore, the anchor  30  is releasable so that the elastic cord  28  may be released from the anchor  30  and the mechanism  26  may be deactivated if desired.  
         [0016]     The elastic cord  28  is tied to a ring  38  that is located near the top member  14 , as seen in  FIG. 2 , when the shoulder strap  20  is in its extended position. The ring  38  connects the elastic cord  28  to an extension  23  on the upper end  22  of the shoulder strap  20 . The extension  23  extends through the ring  38 , as best seen in  FIG. 4 , and is anchored by stitching  40  to an outer wall  14   a  of the top member  14 . The upper end extension  23  of the shoulder strap  20  passes through an opening  15  formed in the top member  14 . When the shoulder strap  20  is in its retracted position, the ring  38  is moved downward (as seen in  FIG. 3 ) toward the bottom member  16  and the upper end  22  of the shoulder strap  20  contacts the top member  14 .  
         [0017]     It will be understood that the shoulder strap  20  is normally urged into its retracted position shown in broken lines in FIG. I by the mechanism  26 . When a person utilizes the shoulder strap  20  to lift the golf bag  10 , the shoulder strap  20  will be moved into its extended position shown in solid lines in  FIG. 1 . The movement of the shoulder strap  20  from its retracted position to its extended position is allowed by a stretching action of the elastic cord  28  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . When the shoulder strap  20  is released, it is moved into its retracted position by a retracting action of the elastic cord  28  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Each time the shoulder strap  20  is moved into its retracted position by the mechanism  26 , the upper end  22  thereof is returned to the same location where it is in contact with the top member  14  adjacent the opening  15 . This limits the retracting action of the elastic cord  28  while making it easier for a person to locate the shoulder strap  20  and utilize it for lifting the golf bag  10  with little or no bending over.  
         [0018]     In a golf bag (not shown) which has dual shoulder straps instead of the single shoulder strap  20 , only one of the dual straps will be equipped with the mechanism  26 . This enables a person to easily distinguish the straps from each other and then determine which strap is for the right shoulder and which strap is for the left shoulder.  
         [0019]     With reference now to  FIG. 6 , a golf bag  100  includes a generally tubular body  120  attached at one end thereof to a top member  140  which is open. The other end of the body  120  is attached to a bottom member  160  which is closed. Golf clubs may be inserted and removed through the top member  140  in conventional manner. The golf bag  100  also includes a storage pocket  180  mounted along one side of the body  120 .  
         [0020]     The top and bottom members  140 ,  160  are preferably formed of rigid material such as molded plastic while the body  120  is preferably formed of flexible material such as nylon fabric. U.S. Pat. No. D454,249 issued to G. J. Schmidt, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a golf bag divider top that may be used as the top member  140 , and U.S. Pat. No. D372,362 issued to L. J. Bryant et al., also incorporated herein by reference, discloses a golf bag bottom assembly that may be used as the bottom member  160 .  
         [0021]     A shoulder strap  200  has an upper end  220  located near the top member  140  and a lower end  240  located intermediate the top and bottom members  140 ,  160 . The shoulder strap  200  may be placed over a person&#39;s shoulder and utilized in conventional manner to carry the golf bag  100 . If desired, the shoulder strap  200  may be preformed with a permanent curvature that matches a person&#39;s shoulder. The upper end  220  of the shoulder strap  200  is connected to a mechanism  260  (which includes resilient means such as an elastic cord  280  which passes through an anchor  300  that connects the elastic cord  280  to the bottom member  160 ) similar to mechanism  26  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which normally urges the upper end  220  into a retracted position shown in broken lines in  FIG. 6  and which also allows movement of the upper end  220  from that retracted position to an extended position shown in solid lines in  FIG. 6 . The lower end  240  of the shoulder strap  200  is connected to a mechanism  270  (which includes resilient means such as an elastic cord  285  which passes through an anchor  305  that connects the elastic cord  285  to the bottom member  160 ) similar to mechanism  26  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which normally urges the lower end  240  into a retracted position shown in broken lines in  FIG. 6  and which allows movement of the lower end  240  from that retracted position to an extended position shown in solid lines in  FIG. 6 . Notably, embodiments of the invention contemplate that elastic cords  280  and  285  may both pass through a single anchor rather than through anchors  300  and  305 , respectively.  
         [0022]     The elastic cord  280  is tied to a ring  380  that is located near the top member  140  (similar to elastic cord  28  and ring  38  shown in  FIG. 2 ) when the upper end  220  is in its extended position. The ring  380  connects the elastic cord  280  to an extension  230  on the upper end  220  of the shoulder strap  200 . The extension  230  extends through the ring  380 , and is anchored by stitching to an outer wall of the top member  140  similar to that which is shown in  FIG. 4 . The upper end extension  230  of the upper end  220  passes through an opening (similar to opening  15 ) formed in the top member  140 . When the upper end  220  is in its retracted position, the ring  380  is moved downward (similar to that shown in  FIG. 3 ) toward the bottom member  160  and the upper end  220  contacts the top member  140 .  
         [0023]     Likewise, the elastic cord  285  is tied to a ring  385  that is located intermediate the top and bottom members  140 ,  160  when the lower end  240  is in its extended position. The ring  385  connects the elastic cord  285  to an extension  235  on the lower end  240  of the shoulder strap  200 . The extension  235  extends through the ring  385 , and is anchored by stitching to an outer wall of the body  120  similar to that which is shown in  FIG. 4 . The lower end extension  235  of the lower end  240  passes through an opening (similar to opening  15 ) formed in the body  120  at a location intermediate top and bottom members  140 ,  160 . When the lower end  240  is in its retracted position, the ring  385  is moved downward (similar to that shown in  FIG. 3 ) toward the bottom member  160  and the lower end  240  contacts the body  120  at a location intermediate top and bottoms members  140 ,  160 . [ 0024 ] It will be understood that the upper end  220  and lower end  240  are normally urged into their retracted positions by mechanisms  260  and  265 , as shown in broken lines in  FIG. 6 . When a person utilizes the shoulder strap  200  to lift the golf bag  100 , the upper end  220  and lower end  240  will be moved into their respective extended positions as shown in solid lines in  FIG. 6 . The movement of the shoulder strap  200  from its retracted position to its extended position is allowed by a stretching action of the elastic cords  280  and  285  similar to that which is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . When the shoulder strap  200  is released, it is moved into its retracted position by a retracting action of the elastic cords  280  and  285  similar to that which is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Each time the shoulder strap  200  is moved into its retracted position by the mechanism  260 , the upper end  220  thereof is returned to the same location where it is in contact with the top member  140 . Likewise, each time the shoulder strap  200  is moved into its retracted position by the mechanism  265 , the lower end  240  is returned to the same location where it is in contact with the body  120  intermediate the top and bottom members  140 ,  160 . These configurations limit the retracting action of the elastic cords  280  and  285 , while making it easier for a person to locate and utilize the shoulder strap  200  for lifting the golf bag  100  with little or no bending over.  
         [0024]     In a golf bag (not shown) which has dual shoulder straps instead of the single shoulder strap  200 , only one of the dual straps will be equipped with mechanisms  260  and  265 . In other words, the additional shoulder strap does not extend and/or retract. In one particular embodiment, the additional shoulder strap is substantially permanently attached to golf bag  100 . As such, this type of configuration enables a person to easily distinguish the two straps from each other and then determine which strap is for the right shoulder and which strap is for the left shoulder.  
         [0025]     Benefits, advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims or the invention. The scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean one and only one unless explicitly so stated, but rather one or more. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims.