Abstract:
A golf bag holding apparatus is provided for mounting to a golf cart. The apparatus permits a golf bag to be rotated towards a substantially horizontal alignment to facilitate access to golf clubs stored in the golf bag.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Appl. No. 60/653,967, file Feb. 17, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention relates to an apparatus for holding a golf bag at an angle for conveniently accessing the contents of the golf bag.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     A typical golf bag is a generally tubular structure about three feet long. The bottom end of the golf bag is closed and the top end is open. Pockets generally are formed on opposite sides of the golf bag so that the golfer can carry shoes, balls, tees, towels and other accessories. The interior of the golf bag is used to carry a set of golf clubs. Each golf club has an elongated shaft with a grip at one end and a head at the opposite end. Golf clubs are inserted into the golf bag grip-end first. The golfer will select an appropriate club depending upon the nature of the lie and the distance to the hole. A golfer is likely to use three or four different clubs on each hole, and hence is frequently inserting clubs into the bag and withdrawing clubs from the bag.  
         [0006]     Most golf courses offer electrically powered ride-on golf carts, and most golfers utilize the electric golf carts. The percentage of golfers who use electric ride-on golf carts increases directly with the age of the golfer. Older golfers are much more likely to use an electric ride-on golf cart. Golfers who choose not to use an electric ride-on golf cart are likely to use a pull cart.  
         [0007]     A typical ride-on golf cart is an open-sided vehicle with three or four wheels and two seats. The floor in front of the seats typically is about 6-9 inches from the ground. The rear end of the golf cart is configured for carrying two golf bags, and has a substantially horizontal bag support disposed at approximately the same height as the floor in front of the seat of the golf cart. The horizontal support might be recessed slightly in a well that is dimensioned to receive the bottom end of the golf bag. A substantially vertical front support is disposed forward of the horizontal support. The vertical support may be generally T-shaped and typically has two slightly concave regions and two belts. The closed bottom end of the golf bag can be placed on the horizontal support of the golf cart. The belt then is wrapped around the golf bag to hold the golf bag in an approximately vertical alignment against the vertical support.  
         [0008]     The golfer drives the electric ride-on golf cart around the golf course and periodically retrieves a golf club from the golf bag. The golf club is placed back in the golf bag after each hit.  
         [0009]     As noted above, the golf bag typically is at least three feet long and is supported on the horizontal support of the golf cart approximately nine inches from the ground. Hence, the top of the golf bag may be about 45 inches from the ground. Golf clubs vary in length. However, a typical wood is about 45 inches long. As a result, golfers are subjected to inconveniences as they pull the long golf club sufficiently high to clear the elevated top edge of the golf bag supported on the horizontal support of the ride-on golf cart. The golfer experiences a similar inconvenience when the golf club is being reinserted into the golf bag.  
         [0010]     The physical inconveniences associated with removing a golf club from an elevated golf bag and reinserting the golf club back into the bag often cause golfers to insert the golf club at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the golf bag and then to gradually pivot the golf club into an alignment along the axis of the golf bag as the insertion of the golf club proceeds. A similar pivoting movement may be used during retrieval of a golf club from the golf bag. This pivoting can cause the grip of the golf club to rub against the rigid top edge of the golf bag or against the rigid dividers within the golf bag. Similarly, this pivoting can cause the top end of the grip to contact the shafts of other clubs in the golf bag. As a result, the grips and shaft are subjected to considerable wear. A similar problem may exist with respect to some pull golf carts that a golfer may use while walking a golf course. However, the bottom end of the golf bag generally is not elevated as much when the golfer uses a pull cart.  
         [0011]     Golf courses typically store electric ride-on golf carts in a small secure area of the golf course during the evening and at other times when the golf course is not being used. Some golf cart storage areas are covered to protect the golf carts from the elements. There are economic and practical reasons to minimize the space required for storing golf carts. Thus, golf carts typically are stored in a bumper-to-bumper arrangement in the golf cart storage area of a golf course. Golf carts that require more storage space would not be received very well by golf courses.  
         [0012]     Terrain varies widely from one golf course to another and from one location to another on the golf course. Golf courses in Florida, for example, generally have a flat terrain. Golf courses in New England, on the other hand, are likely to have a more hilly terrain. The golf bags should be supported appropriately in a golf cart to ensure stability on the terrain. The substantially vertical alignment of a golf bag on an electric ride-on golf cart ensures stability for virtually all terrain.  
         [0013]     The subject invention was developed in view of the above-described state-of-the-art and is intended to provide an easier access to clubs in a golf bag.  
         [0014]     Another object of the invention is to ensure stability for the golf bag and golf clubs on the terrain of the particular golf course.  
         [0015]     An additional object of the invention is to provide ride-on golf carts that can be stored in an acceptably small space.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     The subject invention is directed to a golf bag holding apparatus that can be mounted to a ride-on golf cart or a towed golf cart to facilitate the withdrawal and insertion of golf clubs. The apparatus preferably includes a support that can be mounted to a golf cart. The support may be a frame with opposite top and bottom ends. The support may be mounted approximately vertically to a golf cart so that the bottom end of the support is at or near the horizontal support for the golf bag on the golf cart.  
         [0017]     The golf bag holding apparatus preferably includes means for mounting the support to the golf cart. The mounting means may be configured to ensure an approximately upright alignment of the support. The attachment means may include one or more straps provided on the support or on the golf cart. However, other mounting means can be provided, such as substantially rigid clamps, bolts or the like.  
         [0018]     The golf bag hold apparatus further includes an bed with one end connected privotally to the support and with a portion can figured for nesting reception of the golf bag. The bed may have opposite top and bottom ends. The portion of the bed at or near the bottom end of the bed preferably is mounted pivotally to the support frame at a location at or near the bottom end of the support frame. Thus, the bed can be rotated from a first position where the bed lies substantially within the support frame and one or more additional positions where the top end of the bed is angularly separated from top end of the support frame. Alternatively, the bed may be at least one hook with one end that is connected pivotally to the support and a curved portion that nests with the bag.  
         [0019]     The golf bag holding apparatus preferably includes adjustment means for limiting the range of rotation of the golf bag relative to the support. The maximum rotation of the golf bag relative to the support preferably is about 90°. However, the adjustment means preferably permits the bag to be locked releasably in one or more alignments rotated less than 90° from the support.  
         [0020]     The bed may include at least one strap and at least one attachment means connectable with a free end of the strap. The strap is dimensioned to wrap around a golf bag when a golf bag is placed on the bed.  
         [0021]     The golf bag holding apparatus is mounted to a golf cart so that the support of the apparatus is secured to the golf bag support on the golf cart. The bed is releasably secured in a substantially vertical alignment when the golf cart is not being used. Hence, the bed will not project rearwardly from the golf cart and will not impede storage of the golf cart when the golf cart is not being used.  
         [0022]     The apparatus is used by rotating the bed relative to the support and into a position where the bed can support the golf bag substantially parallel to the ground surface on which the golf cart is supported or at an acute angle to the ground surface. The maximum rotational alignment of the bed may be limited by the golf course depending upon the topography of the golf course. More particularly, a golf course with relatively flat terrain may mount the apparatus to permit rotation of the bed into a substantially horizontal alignment. On the other hand, a golf course with a more hilly terrain may limit the rotation of the bed to an acute angle selected in accordance with the maximum grades that are likely to be encountered on the golf course.  
         [0023]     A golfer will use the apparatus by rotating the bed away from the support and towards the alignment for substantially horizontal supporting the bag. The golfer then places the bag on the bed and may secure the bag to the bed substantially in the same manner that the golfer would secure the bag to the vertical support on the rear end of the golf cart. However, the golf bag will be aligned substantially horizontally or at an acute angle to the horizontal so that the clubs can be accessed easily.  
         [0024]     Golfers may want to avail themselves of the easy access provided by the apparatus even though the golf course may not have their golf carts equipped with the apparatus. In this situation, the golfer can mount his or her own apparatus to the golf cart in much the same way that the golfer mounts a bag to the golf cart. In particular, straps on the golf cart and/or straps on the support can be used to attach the frame to the golf cart. The golfer then rotates the bed into the selected alignment and mounts the golf bag to the bed as described above. In a similar manner, a version of the apparatus can be mounted to a manual golf cart so that the golf bag is aligned for more convenient access to the clubs.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a golf cart with the golf bag holding apparatus of the subject invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a rear elevational view of the frame of the golf bag holding apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of the bed of the golf bag holding apparatus.  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is an exploded cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 5 , but showing the bed in an assembled condition.  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a rear elevational view of the assembled golf bag holding apparatus.  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taking along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the golf bag holding apparatus in a first rotational orientation.  
         [0034]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 9  but showing the golf bag holding apparatus in a second rotational orientation.  
         [0035]      FIG. 11  is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of the golf bag holding apparatus.  
         [0036]      FIG. 12  is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0037]     A golf bag holding apparatus in accordance with the subject invention is identified generally by the numeral  10  in  FIGS. 1 and 7 - 10 . The golf bag holding apparatus includes and support frame  12  and a bed  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, the golf bag holding apparatus  10  is intended for use with a golf cart identified generally by the numeral  16  in  FIG. 1 . The golf cart  16  has opposite front and rear ends  18  and  20  and a passenger seat  22  between the ends. At least one golf bag well  24  is formed substantially adjacent the rear end  20  of the golf cart  16 . The typical golf cart well  24  is approximately 10 inches square and defines a relatively shallow concavity sufficiently deep for supporting the bottom end of a golf bag  26 . However, some golf carts have a single well sufficiently wide for accommodating the bottom ends of the two golf bags  26 . The golf cart  16  further includes two vertical supports  28  at positions immediately forward of the respective wells  24 . The vertical supports  28  may be generally T-shaped or π-shaped with one or two vertical beams  28 V and a cross beam  28 C. The vertical beams  28 V may be tubular columns, while the cross beam  28 C may be a plate formed with at least one rearwardly facing concavity for retaining the golf bag  26  thereon. For example, the vertical support  28  may include a belt and buckle assembly that can be wrapped around the golf bag  26  for securing the golf bag  26  in a substantially vertical orientation.  
         [0038]     The support frame  12  of the golf bag holding apparatus  10  is substantially rectangular and includes two parallel vertical supports  30  and  32 , a top horizontal support  34  and a bottom horizontal support  36 , as shown most clearly in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The top and bottom horizontal supports  34  and  36  extend between the opposite top and bottom ends of the vertical supports  30  and  32 . In a preferred embodiment, the support frame  12  defines a length of about 29 inches and an outside width of approximately 10 inches so that the bottom end of the support frame  12  can be nested in the bag well  24  of the golf cart  16 . However, the support frame  12  can have a double width to accommodate two golf bags  26 . Portions of the vertical supports  30  and  32  near the bottom horizontal support  36  are formed with pivot apertures  38  and  40  respectively. An inverted U-shaped mounting bracket  42  projects up from a central part of the top horizontal support  34  and is positioned to abut the cross beam  28 C of the support  28  on the golf cart  26 . Cart mounting straps  44  are mounted to the mounting bracket  42  and can be secured around the cross beam  28 C of the vertical support  28  on the golf cart  16  to hold the support frame  12  in position on the golf cart  16 .  
         [0039]     The bed  14  defines a generally rectangular bed frame  48  dimensioned to nest within the support frame  12 . The bed frame  48  of the illustrated embodiment includes side supports  50  and  52 , a top support  54  and a bottom support  56 . In the illustrated embodiment, the bed frame  48  is provided with a plurality of transverse supports  58  connecting spaced apart locations on the side supports  50  and  52 . The top support  54  and the traverse supports  58  preferably are nonlinear and define a concave shallow V-shape or U-shape configured for nested reception of the golf bag  26 . The bottom support  26  is either linear or has a non-linear shape oriented oppositely from the top support  54  and the transverse supports  58 . Thus, the bottom of the golf bag  26  can be supported on the bottom support  56  while the side of the golf bag  26  is nested with the top support  54  and the transverse supports  58 .  
         [0040]     Bag straps  60  and  62  extend from the side supports  50  and  52 , and a buckle  64  is provided on the end of the bag strap  62 . Pivot apertures  66  and  68  are formed in the side supports  50  and  52  of the bed frame  48  and can be aligned with the pivot apertures  38  and  40  in the support frame  12 .  
         [0041]     The bed  14  optionally may include a bag support  72  mounted to the bed frame  48 . The optional bag support  72  may be formed from a resilient waterproof material such as polyurethane that may be color coordinated with the remainder of the golf bag holding apparatus  10 . Additionally, the optional bag support  72  preferably is sufficiently soft and smooth to avoid scratching the surface of the golf bag  26 .  
         [0042]     The golf bag holding apparatus  10  is assembled by nesting the bed  14  in the support frame  12  and then mounting pivot pins  74  and  76  through the registered pivot apertures  38 ,  40 ,  66  and  68 . Links  78  are connected pivotably between the support frame  12  and the bed  14  at locations spaced from the pivot pins  74  and  76 . The links  78  may be pivotal, flexible and/or adjustable. The mounting of the pivot pins  74  and  76  and the links  78  typically will be carried out at a place of manufacture so that the golf bag holding apparatus  10  can be sold to a consumer in a fully assembled condition. The support frame  12 , the bed frame  14  and the bag support  72  all are formed from very lightweight material, e.g. aluminum or stainless steel so that the entire golf bag  10  holding apparatus can be constructed to have a total weight of no more than about five pounds.  
         [0043]     The golf bag holding apparatus  10  is secured to the golf cart. More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment, the bottom horizontal support  36  of the support frame  12  is nested into the bag well  24  on the golf cart  16 . The cart mounting straps  44  then are wrapped around both the U-shaped mounting bracket  42  and the cross beam  28 C of the vertical support  26  of the golf cart  16 . The cart mounting strap  44  may secured by a buckle  46  or by a VELCRO® attachment. This mounting procedure is appropriate for those circumstances where the golfer is carrying his own golf bag holding apparatus  10  to the golf course for mounting on the golf cart  16 . In situations where the golf course retrofits all of their golf carts  16  with the golf bag holding apparatus  10 , a more permanent attachment can be employed by using brackets, bolts or the like.  
         [0044]     The golfer then rotates the bed  14  from the substantially vertical orientation shown in  FIG. 1  to an angular orientation as shown in  FIG. 9  or  10 .  FIG. 9  shows the bed  14  rotated approximately 60° from the vertical alignment of the support frame  12 .  FIG. 10  shows the bed  14  aligned substantially perpendicular to the vertically aligned support frame  12 . The  FIG. 9  orientation is more appropriate for a golf course that is hilly. The  FIG. 10  orientation is more appropriate for a golf course that is more flat. The golf bag  26  is mounted on the bed  14  and is held in position by securing the free end of the bag strap  60  to the buckle  64 . With either the  FIG. 9  or  FIG. 10  orientation of the bed  14 , the clubs in the golf bag  26  are more easily accessible without excessive reaching or stretching by the golfer. Additionally, golf clubs can be slid linearly into or out of the golf bag without a pivoting movement that would be required with the golf bag in the orientation shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0045]     An alternate embodiment of the golf bag holding apparatus is identified by the numeral  80  in  FIGS. 11 , and  12 . The apparatus  80  includes a mounting bracket  82  for mounting to the cross beam  28 C of the vertical support  28  on the golf cart  16 . More particularly, the mounting bracket  82  is a channel with an inverted U-shaped cross section. Bolts  83  or similar fastening means extend through the mounting bracket  82  for securely engaging the mounting bracket  82  to the cross beam  28 C.  
         [0046]     A mounting flange  84  extends up from one end of the mounting bracket  82 , and is formed with a through hole  85  that extends generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of the channel defined by the mounting bracket  82 . An adjustable swivel mount  86  is mounted to the through hole  85  of the mounting flange  84 . More particularly, the swivel mount  86  is rotatable about an axis X extending generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of the channel defined by the mounting flange  82 , and hence generally parallel to the axes about which the wheels of the golf cart  16  rotate. The swivel mount  86  includes a threaded member  87  to tighten the swivel mount  86  to the mounting flange  84  at a selected rotational orientation about the axis X. Additionally, the swivel mount  86  includes an aperture  88  extending transversely therethrough and perpendicular to the axis X. However, the orientation of the aperture  88  can be changed as the swivel mount  86  is rotated about the axis X. A lock bolt  89  extends into the swivel mount  86  perpendicular to the axis X so that a leading end of the lock bolt  89  can be advanced into the aperture  88 .  
         [0047]     The apparatus  80  further includes a generally J-shaped hook  90  with an elongate straight section  92  and a curved section  94 . The straight section  92  is dimensioned to be passed through the aperture  88  and the swivel mount  86  along direction A. The curved section  94  of the J-shaped golf bag hook  90  is dimensioned to partly surround the outer peripherally of a golf bag. The golf bag hook  90  held at a selected longitudinal position (direction A) in the aperture  88  of the swivel mount  86  by tightening the lock bolt  89 .  
         [0048]     The apparatus  80  is used by securing the mounting bracket  82  to the cross beam  28 C of the golf cart  16 . The golf bag support  90  then is adjusted with and in the swivel support  86 . More particularly, the straight section  92  of the golf bag support  90  is moved along its longitudinal axis A to an appropriate position in the mounting aperture  88  of the swivel support  86 , while the swivel support  86  is rotated about its own axis X to adjust the angular alignment of the golf bag support hook  90 , as indicated by the arrow B in  FIG. 12 . The golf bag  26  then merely is positioned with the bottom end of the golf bag  26  in the well  24  of the golf cart  16  and with an outer peripheral side surface of the golf bag  26  supported by the curved section  94  of the golf bag support hook  90 . The adjustment of the golf bag support  90  in the longitudinal direction A of the straight section  92  and in the angularly direction indicated by the arrow B will positioned the golf bag  26  at an appropriate position relative to the horizontal as shown with respect to the first embodiment in  FIGS. 9 and 10 .  
         [0049]     The second embodiment of the apparatus  80  depicts a single J-shaped golf bag support hook  90 . However, a variation of the second embodiment could provide two J-shaped golf support hooks  90  mounted respectively to two mounting brackets  84  secured on opposite ends of the channel-shaped mounting bracket  82 . Alternatively, a single U-shaped golf bag support could be mounted with two flanges  84  and to swivel supports  86 , as described above.  
         [0050]     The apparatus  80  of the second embodiment provides all of the advantages of the first embodiment. However, the apparatus  80  of the second embodiment can be smaller and lighter than the apparatus of the first embodiment.  
         [0051]     While the golf bag holding apparatus has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the bottom horizontal support  40  of the support frame  12  can project rearwardly from the vertical supports  34  and  36  and can have dimensions to nest in the wells of the golf cart. Additionally, as noted briefly above, other attachments can be provided for securing the support frame  12  to the golf cart. Still further, other arrangements can be provided for securing the golf bag to the bed and other linkages (e.g. cables, straps) can be provided for limiting the range of rotation of the bed  14  relative to the support frame  12 . Still further, the golf bag holding apparatus  10  can be adapted for mounting to a manual cart. The bed need not have the bag support  72  and/or the transverse supports  58 . Thus, the bed frame  48  can be mounted around the support frame  12 .