Abstract:
An adjustable removable golf bag holder intended for use on a variety of available golf carts is described. The holder can be installed with or without modification to the golf cart. The adjustable removable holder described is secured to the golf cart in such a way to allow a golf bag to be attached and secured into the holder and positioned by a golfer at a height or angle preferred by the golfer to facilitate easier club retrieval and selection while keeping the bag secure while the cart is in motion. Once the golf cart is modified, the attachable holder is also easily attached and removed for easy transfer and storage.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to golf bag holders in general and specifically to mountable and adjustable golf bag holder attachments to golf carts.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     As the sport of golf gains in popularity, golf courses are becoming increasingly busy making it more difficult for golfers to schedule play at the time of their choosing. To allow this increasing number of golfers to play at convenient times, and consequently allowing larger numbers golfers to play on any given day, more and more golf courses are requiring golfers to ride in motorized golf carts to speed play. As a convenience to the golfer, a golf bag holder is typically included as a standard feature on most golf carts. Golf bag holders come in numerous designs and capabilities. The most common of these being integrated into the rear of the golf cart allowing the golfer to place his or her golf bag in the upright position and securing the bag to the cart.  
         [0003]     Although the common integrated golf bag holder provides a convenience to the golfer, its positioning makes it difficult for several categories of golfers to retrieve and select golf clubs. Because of its location on the golf cart, the top of a typical golf bag placed in a golf cart may be four or more feet above ground level. In addition to the height of the top of the golf bag above ground level, the golfer must then remove a club, lifting it high enough to clear the top of the golf bag, increasing this height by several feet, making club removal difficult. For example, young golfers or shorter adult golfers may not be tall enough to easily reach or see the engraved club identifier while the club is still in the bag, making club selection more time consuming and club removal difficult. Older golfers with limited flexibility also may have difficulty reaching the top of the golf bag and removing their clubs.  
         [0004]     Adding any type of device to the rear of a golf cart raises several concerns regarding the space each cart will take to store and/or transport. Additionally, devices that must be removed for storage or transport and then reinstalled for play decrease the usefulness of such devices and increase the likelihood of injury during the removal or installation process. When golf carts are stored at a golf course or transported by trailer in bulk between golf courses, the carts are closely grouped together for efficiency. Other known devices are either permanently attached to the golf cart or are bulky and cumbersome, and therefore difficult to install and remove diminishing their usefulness.  
         [0005]     There is a need for a golf bag holder that addresses some or all of these problems.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The described invention relates to attachments to golf carts, and specifically to an adjustable removable golf bag holder which allows for greater ease of use by several categories of golfers.  
         [0007]     The present invention addresses several deficiencies in golf bag holders. One embodiment of the invention provides a golf bag holder that is adaptable to many of the various makes and models of golf carts utilized at private and public golf courses. As such, some embodiments of the invention requires no or minor modification to a golf cart, allowing for short and easy initial installation, minimizing the initial installation time required.  
         [0008]     Embodiments of the present invention allow mounting of the invention to a golf cart through structural elements already present on most golf carts thereby requiring no modification or alteration to the golf cart to allow installation of the described holder. Other embodiments allow for installation of the described holder onto golf carts without the already present structural elements through alteration of the golf cart structure.  
         [0009]     Embodiments of the invention assist several categories of golfers play by allowing for improved club selection and decreasing the physical requirements and time for removal and replacement of golf clubs from a golf bag during play.  
         [0010]     Embodiments of the invention provide adjustability allowing for individualized position and height of the golf bag. This adjustability can be accomplished through set stop points, allowing for a limited positioning of the holder angle available to the golfer. Other embodiments allow for this adjustability to provide for continuous positioning throughout the effective range of the holder through the use of pneumatic or hydraulic friction or through the positioning of an adjustable securing device, such as a thumb screw. This continuous mechanism allows for a more user customizable positioning of the attached golf bag. Additionally, this adjustability allows for the storage and transport of the modified golf carts without the need to uninstall the described holder. The adjustability also decreases the likelihood of injury by not requiring removal and reinstallation of the described holder as is required with other known devices. The adjustable feature farther allows for easy placement and removal of individual golf bags.  
         [0011]     These and other features of the invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description that is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings and illustrated embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a golf bag holder of one embodiment of the present invention positioned within a golf cart.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of a golf bag holder of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of a golf bag securing mechanism.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of a mounting structure.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates structural elements of a common golf cart.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of the adjustable support.  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross sectional view of the adjustable support. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and that structural and logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention  
         [0020]     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1-7 , embodiments of the present invention are described. An adjustable removable golf bag holder  10  is shown generally in the “open” or “down” position in accordance with the invention. Holder  10  includes a lower mounting bracket  31  which attaches to golf cart  11 . Lower mounting bracket  31  is secured to golf cart  11  such that non-hinge surface  31   a  of bracket  31  is in contact with bumper  18  or well bottom  17 . Hinge  32  is attached to bracket  31 . Left and right lower supports  26 ,  27 , included on holder  10  contain left inside, left outside, right inside and right outside holes  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54  for pin  35  allowing connection of holder  10  to hinge  32 . Suitable fasteners include, but are not limited to a bolt and nut, or a bar made of metal or other similarly substantial material with holes at either end for cotter pins or similar securing device. Vertical support  25  is secured to left lower support  26  and right lower support  27 . Left and right upper supports  23 ,  24 , are secured to vertical support  25 . Upper horizontal support  22  is secured to left and right upper supports  23 ,  24 . Left inner, left outer, right inner and right outer golf bag securing strap mounting surface  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  are located on upper horizontal support  22 . Left inner, left outer, right inner and right outer golf bag securing strap mounting openings  41   a,    42   a,    43   a,    44   a  are located through left inner, left outer, right inner and right outer golf bag securing strap mounting surface  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 . The present invention is not limited to securing straps. For example, rigid or semi-rigid supports can be provided to secure the golf bag during use.  
         [0021]     Adjustable support front mounting device  28  is secured to vertical support  25  in a substantially aligned axis to adjustable support rear mounting device  29  located on upper golf cart horizontal support  63 . Adjustable support  21  is connected to horizontal support  25  of holder  10  via adjustable support front mounting device  28  and to golf cart  11  via adjustable support rear mounting device  29 .  
         [0022]     Adjustable support  21  consists of rear support member  71 , forward sliding member  81  and locking mechanism  90 . Rear support member  71  consists of a top side member  73 , a bottom side member  74 , a left side vertical member  75  connecting top side member  73  and bottom side member  74 , a right side vertical member  76  parallel to left side vertical member  75  connecting top side member  73  and bottom side member  74 . Members  73 ,  74 ,  75  and  76  of rear support member  71  form essentially a square configuration. Rear support member  71  is connected to adjustable support rear mounting device  29 . Forward sliding member  81  consists of a top side member  83 , a bottom side member  84 , a left side vertical member  85  connecting topside member  83  and bottom side member  84 , a right side vertical member  86  parallel to left side vertical member  85  connecting topside member  83  and bottom side member  84 . Members  83 ,  84 ,  85  and  86  of forward sliding member  81  form essentially a square configuration. Rear support member  71  is slightly larger than and forward sliding member  81  allowing forward sliding member  81  to be inserted through rear support front opening  77  and into rear support member  71  such that forward sliding member  81  is surrounded by rear support member  71 . Rear support member  71  has opening  91  extending from top side surface  73  of top side member  73  through rear support member  71  and extending through interior top side surface  73   a  of rear support member  71 . Locking mechanism  90  is inserted into opening  91 . Application of torque to locking mechanism  90  causes the bottom surface  92  of locking mechanism  90  to contact top side surface  83   a  of top side member  83  of forward sliding member  81 . This causes bottom side surface  84   a  of bottom side member  84  to be forced against interior bottom side surface  74   a  of bottom side member  74  preventing adjustable support  21  from moving.  
         [0023]     The golf bag securing system consists of a left and right adjustable length securing strap  45 ,  46 , and left and right securing strap  47 ,  48 . Left and right securing strap locking mechanism  49 ,  50  are substantially connected to and left and right securing strap  47 ,  48 . Securing strap locking mechanism is operable to accept the free end of left and right adjustable length securing straps  45 ,  46 .  
         [0024]     Holder  10  in use is located in well  13  of a typical golf cart  11 . Well  13  is defined by the left and right golf cart fenders  15 ,  16 , wall  14  and well bottom  17  of the golf cart  11  body. Lower mounting bracket  31  is secured to golf cart  11  in well  13  on well bottom  17  or to golf cart bumper  18  by fasteners utilizing left lower fastener opening  33  and right lower fastener opening  34 . Fastener holes  19 ,  19   a  are made through well bottom  17  or golf cart bumper  18  in positions equivalent to those of left lower fastener opening  33  and right lower fastener opening  34 . Fasteners are inserted through left lower fastener opening  33  and right lower fastener opening  34  and through fastener holes  19  or  19   a  to secure lower mounting bracket  31  to golf cart  11 . Holder  10  is attached to lower mounting bracket  31  by inserting pin  35  through left outer hinge opening  36  or right outer hinge opening  37 . Pin  35  extends through hinge  32  outer hinge opening  36  or  37  and is held in place by fastener system  38  which may include, but is not limited to a washer and nut. Holder  10  is attached to golf cart  11  via adjustable support  21  and upper horizontal support  63 . Adjustable support  21  is secured to golf cart  11  at upper horizontal support  63 . Upper horizontal support  63  is attached to golf cart  11  by a fastener through left and right upper horizontal support fastener opening  64 ,  65  located on horizontal support  63  and left and right golf bag holder support structure openings  68 ,  69 , and connected to original left and right golf cart bag holder support structure  61 ,  62 . By way of background, left and right golf cart bag holder support structure  61  and  62  are original structures contained on golf cart  11  and are connected to golf cart deck  66  and golf cart seats  67 .  
         [0025]     Golf bags are secured to holder  10  by placing the top or open end of a golf bag against upper horizontal support  22  and the bottom or closed end of a golf bag into well  17 . Left or right adjustable securing strap  45 ,  46  is wrapped around golf bag and the free end of the left or right adjustable securing strap  45 ,  46  is placed through the left or right securing strap locking mechanism  49 ,  50  which are affixed at approximately the ends of left or right securing strap  47 ,  48 . Upon closing of left or right securing strap locking mechanism  49 ,  50 , left or right adjustable securing strap  45 ,  46  is held in place preventing golf bag from falling out of or moving around while golf cart  11  is in motion.  
         [0026]     The above description and drawings are only to be considered illustrative of exemplary embodiments that achieve the features and advantages of the invention. Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated herein, many modifications, even substitutions of materials, can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, the above description and accompanying drawings are only illustrative of exemplary embodiments that can achieve the features and advantages of the present invention. It is not intended that the invention be limited to the embodiments shown and described in detail herein. The invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.