Patent Publication Number: US-8534458-B2

Title: Golf bag

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to golf bags. More specifically, the invention relates to golf bags having removable outer skins and/or lightweight rigid structures. 
     Golf bags known in the art suffer from numerous deficiencies. Often these golf bags do not offer the ability to customize their outward appearance. Even those golf bags which are somewhat customizable do so only in cumbersome ways, while also potentially undermining the structural rigidity of the golf bag. 
     Furthermore, while some golf bags are lightweight, it is usually at the expense of soundness of the structural integrity of the golf bag. Meanwhile, other golf bags which do offer a sturdy structure often do so at the undesirable expense of increasing the overall weight of the golf bag. 
     Embodiments of the instant invention provide solutions to these and other problems. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, a golf bag is provided. The golf bag may include a frame and a removable cover. The frame may include a bottom member, a top member, four diagonal members, a longitudinal member, and a frame coupling element. Each of the four diagonal members may diagonally couple the bottom member with the top member. The longitudinal member may longitudinally couple the bottom member with the top member. The frame coupling element may couple two of the diagonal members and the longitudinal member. The longitudinal member may include a carrying handle protruding from a first surface of the longitudinal member. The removable cover may include a central portion, a first coupling member, and a second coupling member. The first coupling member may be coupled with at least a portion of a top of the central portion. The second coupling member may be coupled with at least a portion of a bottom of the central portion. The first coupling member may be reversibly coupled with the top member. The second coupling member may be reversibly coupled with the bottom member. The central portion may be flexible such that when the first coupling member is coupled with the top member, and the second coupling member is coupled with the bottom member, the central portion may be in tension. 
     In another embodiment, a golf bag is provided. The golf bag may include a frame and a removable cover. The frame may include a top member at a top most portion of the frame, and a bottom member at a bottom most portion of the frame. The removable cover may include a central portion, a first coupling member, and a second coupling member. The first coupling member may be coupled with at least a portion of a top of the central portion. The second coupling member may be coupled with at least a portion of a bottom of the central portion. The first coupling member may be reversibly coupled with a top most portion of the top member. The second coupling member may be reversibly coupled with a bottom most portion of the bottom member. 
     In another embodiment, a golf bag is provided. The golf bag may include a frame and a cover. The frame may include a bottom member, a top member, four diagonal members, a longitudinal member, and a frame coupling element. Each of the four diagonal members may diagonally couple the bottom member with the top member. The longitudinal member may longitudinally couple the bottom member with the top member. The frame coupling element may couple two of the diagonal members and the longitudinal member. The cover may be disposed over the frame. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is described in conjunction with the appended figures: 
         FIG. 1  is an axonometric view of one golf bag of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an axonometric view of one frame of a golf bag of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectioned side view of one cover-to-frame attachment system of the invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of one removable cover of the invention. 
     
    
    
     In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have the same numerical reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a letter that distinguishes among the similar components and/or features. If only the first numerical reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components and/or features having the same first numerical reference label irrespective of the letter suffix. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing one or more exemplary embodiments. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     Specific details are given in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known structures and mechanisms may be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring a complete understanding of the various possible embodiments. Additionally, any one or more specific details related in regards to one embodiment may be employed in any other embodiment discussed herein. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, a golf bag is provided. The golf bag may include a frame and a removable cover. In some embodiments, the golf bag may also include a carrying strap, shoulder harness, and/or deployable leg mechanism. An interior club separator may also be included. 
     In some embodiments, the frame may include a bottom member, a top member, four diagonal members, a longitudinal member, and a frame coupling element. 
     The top member may be a circular ring shaped element, being open so as to allow golf clubs and other items to be inserted into the golf bag. In some embodiments, the interior club separator may be at least partially disposed within the open area of the circular ring shaped element, and proceed further into the frame of the golf bag. The bottom member may be a closed circular element which prevents golf clubs and other items from falling from the bottom of the golf bag. The top and bottom members may be made from any number of possible materials, for example, polymers and/or metals. 
     Each of the four diagonal members may diagonally couple the bottom member with the top member. One or more of the diagonal members may be a member having a circular cross section. In these or other embodiments, the diagonal direction of the diagonal members may be characterized by a helical, spiral, and/or corkscrew direction around the circumference and height of the frame. In an exemplary embodiment, the frame may have two pairs of diagonal members, with each pair diagonally crossing each other near or at a mid level height of the frame. The diagonal members may be made from any number of possible materials, for example, polymers and/or metals. 
     The longitudinal member may longitudinally couple the bottom member with the top member. The longitudinal member may couple perpendicularly with the top and bottom members (as opposed to the diagonal coupling of the diagonal members). The longitudinal member may include a carrying handle protruding from a first surface of the longitudinal member, toward the outside of the frame. The longitudinal member may have a rectangular cross section and/or be made from any number of possible materials, for example, polymers and/or metals. 
     In some embodiments, a frame coupling element may couple two of the diagonal members and the longitudinal member. In these or other embodiments, the frame coupling element may couple two of the diagonal members on a second side of the longitudinal member, where the second side is opposite the first side where the carrying handle is located. The frame coupling element may be made from one, two, or more individual pieces, and/or be made from any number of possible materials, for example, polymers and/or metals. Merely by way of example, the frame coupling element could consist of two pieces (for example, front and back pieces), where the longitudinal member and two of the diagonal members are disposed between the two pieces, with the two pieces being coupled together thereafter (for example, with screws, adhesive, etc.). 
     The removable cover may include a central portion, a first coupling member, and a second coupling member. The first coupling member may be located along at least a portion of the top of the central portion. The second coupling member may be located along at least a portion of the bottom of the central portion. The first and second coupling members may be made from any number of possible materials, for example, polymers and/or metals, and the central portion may be made from a differing material. For example, the central portion of the removable cover could be made from a natural or synthetic fabric, and could be composed of multiple pieces, all stitched, or otherwise joined together. Though not discussed in detail herein, the outside of the removable cover could have any number of pockets, fasteners, and compartments already known in the art. 
     Additionally, in some embodiments, the central portion of the removable cover may be made, at least partially, from a material which is more flexible in a first direction between the top member and the bottom member than a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Thus, the removable cover would flex in the top-to-bottom direction of the golf bag when coupled with the frame (the removable cover, or some portion thereof, would be in tension). In these or other embodiments, when the removable cover is coupled with the frame at least a portion of the four diagonal members push outward on the removable cover from an interior of the golf bag. The removable cover, in particular the central portion, may either be non-flexible, or less flexible in the circumferential direction around the golf bag (perpendicular to the top-to-bottom direction). 
     In some embodiments, the first coupling member of the removable cover may be reversibly coupled with the top member, and the second coupling member of the removable cover may be reversibly coupled with the bottom member. “Reversibly coupled” means that a user of the golf bag could uncouple and re-couple the coupling members with the top and bottom members, in many embodiments without the aid of tools or other devices. 
     Various possible coupling mechanisms may be employed to couple the coupling members with the top and bottom members of the frame. In some embodiments, each of the first and second coupling members may include a hook shaped edge member, and each of the top member and bottom member may define a channel. In these embodiments, the first or second coupling member being reversibly coupled with the top or bottom member may result in the respective hooked shaped edge member being at least partially disposed within the respective channel. 
     In a similar embodiment, either one of the hook shaped members may have a barbed end (similar to a fish hook) or a bulbous end. Likewise, the channels in the top and bottom members which accept these hook shaped members may have matching or congruently shaped channels to facilitate an interference fit of the coupling member with the frame element. In any embodiment, the hook shaped, or other shaped members, may either be inserted directly into the face of the channel, or inserted laterally at an entrance point at an end or intermediate point of the channel. The coupling member may then be run down the length of the channel (around the circumference of the top or bottom member), until the coupling member is completely disposed in the channel, end to end. 
     In yet other embodiments, any type of coupling mechanisms may be employed to couple the removable cover with the frame such that the removable cover completely covers the sides of the frame from view. Merely by way of example, buttons, rivet buttons, latches, hook and loop (Velcro®), string ties, etc. may be used at either one or both of the top and bottom of the removable cover to couple such to the frame. In this manner, the frame is fully protected on its side by the removable cover, and the removable cover advantageously aesthetically covers the entire side of the frame. Thus, removable covers can allow for different outer utility configurations and/or appearance of the golf bag. 
     In some embodiments, the golf bag may also include a carrying strap. A first portion of the carrying strap may be coupled directly or indirectly with the top member, and a second portion of the carrying strap may be reversibly coupled, directly or indirectly, with the frame coupling element. The carrying strap may either be a single purpose or dual purpose single-shoulder carrying strap and/or dual-shoulder harness. In some embodiments, the removable cover of the golf bag may have one or more cut-outs or apertures to allow the carrying strap to couple to the frame through the removable cover. In an exemplary embodiment, each end of the carrying strap will couple with the frame. In other embodiments however, one or both ends of the carrying strap may couple with the removable cover. 
     Any reversible coupling of the carrying strap with the frame may allow a user of the golf bag to quickly and easily uncouple the carrying strap with the frame. In this manner, the bottom of the carrying strap, which is likely to be coupled with the frame through an aperture in the removable cover, may be at least temporarily disconnected so that the removable cover can be uncoupled from the frame. The same or other removable cover could then be coupled with the frame, the carrying strap re-coupled, and the golf bag ready for use. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, a different golf bag is provided. The golf bag may include a frame and a removable cover. The frame may include a top member at a top most portion of the frame, and a bottom member at a bottom most portion of the frame. The removable cover may include a central portion, a first coupling member, and a second coupling member. The first coupling member may be coupled with at least a portion of a top of the central portion. The second coupling member may be coupled with at least a portion of a bottom of the central portion. The first coupling member may be reversibly coupled with a top most portion of the top member. The second coupling member may be reversibly coupled with a bottom most portion of the bottom member. 
     In some of these embodiments, the golf bag may also include a carrying strap. In these or other embodiments, the frame may further include a frame coupling element. A first portion of the carrying strap may be coupled with the top member of the frame, and a second portion of the carrying strap may be reversibly coupled with the frame coupling element. In some embodiments, the removable cover defines an aperture which allows the frame coupling element to be reversibly coupled with the second portion of the carrying strap through the aperture. 
     In some embodiments, the first coupling member may be a hook shaped edge member, and the top member may define a congruently shaped channel for reception and disposition of the first hook shaped edge member. Likewise, the second coupling member may also be a hook shaped edge member, and the bottom member may define a congruently shaped channel for reception and disposition of the second hook shaped member. In some embodiments, the central portion may at least partially be made from a material which is more flexible in a first direction between the top member and the bottom member than a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, a yet different golf bag is provided. The golf bag may include a frame and a cover. The frame may include a bottom member, a top member, four diagonal members, a longitudinal member, and a frame coupling element. Each of the four diagonal members may diagonally couple the bottom member with the top member. The longitudinal member may longitudinally couple the bottom member with the top member. The frame coupling element may couple two of the diagonal members and the longitudinal member. The cover may be disposed over the frame. In some embodiments, the cover may be reversibly coupled with the frame. In these or other embodiments, the cover may be coupled with both the top member and bottom member of the frame, and stretched there-between. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , an axonometric view of one golf bag  100  of the invention is shown. Golf bag  100  may include a frame  200  (see  FIG. 2 ) and a removable cover  110  disposed over frame  200 . Deployable leg stands  210  are also shown. Carrying handle  220  may protrude from frame  200  and through a first aperture in removable cover  220 . 
     Carrying strap  130  may be coupled at one end with frame  200  at any point near the top of frame  200 . In other embodiments, not shown here, carrying strap  130  may couple with the frame through aperture  120 , or another aperture through removable cover  110 . Aperture  140  provides an access point through removable cover  110  to allow attachment of the other end of carrying strap  130  to frame  200  (carrying strap  130  shown not attached to frame  200  in  FIG. 1 ). As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , removable cover  110  covers the entirety of the sides of golf bag  100 , with the top and bottom of the removable cover having coupling elements  150 ,  160  to reversibly couple removable cover  110  to the top-most and bottom-most portions of frame  200 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an axonometric view of the frame  200  of golf bag  100  from  FIG. 1 . Frame  200  includes deployable leg stands  210 , carrying handle  220 , top member  230 , bottom member  240 , diagonal members  250 , longitudinal member  260 , frame coupling element  270 , and club separator  280 . 
     As described above, diagonal members  250  diagonally couple top member  230  with bottom member  240 . Diagonal members  250  may couple in to cylindrical recesses in top member  230  and bottom member  240 . Two of diagonal members  250  cross each other and are coupled together by frame coupling element  270 , which also coupled with longitudinal member  260 . Frame coupling element  270  may be the connection point for the bottom of carrying strap  130 . Longitudinal member  260  may couple with rectangular shaped recesses in top member  230  and bottom member  240 . Additional fasteners or adhesives may also be used at any coupling described herein. Furthermore, club separator  280  and deployable leg stands  210  may be fixedly coupled with, or integral to, top member  230 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a sectioned side view of one removable cover  110  to frame  200  attachment system  300  of the invention. Removable cover  110  may include a top coupling member  310 , and a bottom coupling member  320 . These coupling members  310 ,  320  may be fixedly coupled with, or integral to, central portion  330  of removable cover  110 . 
     Frame  200  may include top member  230  and bottom member  240 . Top coupling member  310  may include a hook shaped element which is deposited into a channel  330  on top member  230 . In this manner, the top of removable cover  110  covers the entirety of the outside portion of frame  200  at the top member  230 , so that none of top member  230  is viewable from the outside of golf bag  100 . 
     Bottom coupling member  320  may also include a hook shaped element which is deposited into a channel  340  on bottom member  240 . In this manner, the bottom of removable cover  110  covers the entirety of the outside portion of frame  200  at the bottom member  240 , so that none of bottom member  240  is viewable from the outside of golf bag  100 . 
     Note that channel  340  and its corresponding outer wall  350  is more recessed vertically than the corresponding channel  330  on top member  230 . In this manner, removable cover  110  is less likely to be damaged with contact with the ground or other surfaces when being moved about. Instead, bottom  360  of bottom member  240  bears the brunt of any such impact. This may be advantageous because bottom member  240  may be constructed more robustly than bottom coupling member  320 . Channels  330 ,  340  can be more or less recessed than shown, or can possibly be flush with their respective top and bottom members  230 ,  240  (as with top member  240 ). 
     In practice, to attach removable cover  110  with frame  200 , top coupling member  310  may be coupled with top member  230 , and then removable cover  110  may be stretched such that bottom coupling member  320  may be coupled with bottom member  240 . In this manner, central portion  330  may be in tension between the top and bottom members  230 ,  240  as shown by directional arrows  370 . This tensional force may at least partially assist in keeping removable cover  110  statically attached to frame  200 . As discussed above, additional assistance in keeping removable cover  110  coupled with frame  200  may be realized by the use of different coupling mechanisms at top and bottom members  230 ,  240 , as well as matching coupling mechanisms at top and bottom coupling members  310 ,  320 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a plan view  400  of one removable cover  110  of the invention. In this embodiment, top coupling element  310  and bottom coupling element  320  are shown coupled with central portion  330 . Central portion  330  has two apertures, a first aperture  120  for the carrying handle to pass through, and a second aperture  140  for carrying strap  130  to be coupled with frame  200 . In some embodiments, first aperture  120  may extend to and through the top of removable cover  110 . In these embodiments, carrying strap  130  may couple with the frame through first aperture  120 . 
     Removable cover  110  may have cut-outs  410  at the corners of removable cover  110  to allow for deployable leg stands to join with frame  200  at that location when removable cover  110  is coupled with frame  200 . Likewise, cut-outs may also be provided in other embodiments at the bottom of removable cover  110 , either to prevent damage to the bottom of removable cover  110  when golf bag  100  is deployed on its stand legs, or to allow for the operation of any mechanism which facilitates deployment of stand legs (ground pedal which actuates stand legs). 
     In the above described embodiment, the sides of top member  230  and bottom member  240  may be entirely obscured by removable cover  110 , except portions of top member  230  and bottom member  240  which are integrated with, or attached directly to, leg/stand deployment mechanisms (and thus possibly visible through cut-outs  410 ). This may be accomplished because the coupling points for removable cover  110  are at the very top of top member  230  and the very bottom of bottom member  240 . 
     However, in other embodiments removable cover  110  may obscure only a portion of top member  230  and/or bottom member  240 . By way of example, removable cover  110  may couple with top member  230  at a point half of the way up the outside of top member  230 . These embodiments may or may not have cut-outs  410  as is necessary per other features of golf bag  100 . In yet other embodiments, removable cover  110  may not obscure any significant portion of top member  230  and/or bottom member  240  by coupling with top member  230  at a bottom-most point on top member  230 , and a top-most point on bottom member  240 . These embodiments also may or may not have cut-outs  410  as is necessary per other features of golf bag  100 . 
     Finally, coupling mechanisms  420  may be provided around at least a portion of the perimeter of removable cover  110 . These coupling mechanisms  420  may provide for the coupling of removable cover  110  to itself, or to portions of frame  200 , thereby completing a clean covering of frame  200 . Coupling mechanisms  420  may be any coupling mechanism known in the art, including buttons, rivet buttons, latches, hook and loop (Velcro®), string ties, etc. 
     The invention has now been described in detail for the purposes of clarity and understanding. However, it will be appreciated that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.