Patent Publication Number: US-7909215-B2

Title: Golf bag with strap guide assembly

Description:
This is a nonprovisional application claiming the benefit of provisional application No. 60/884,259 filed Jan. 10, 2007. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to golf equipment and, in particular, to shoulder strap assemblies for golf bags. 
     Golf bags used for carrying golf clubs on a golf course usually have either a single shoulder strap for supporting the golf bag on one shoulder or a dual shoulder strap arrangement for supporting the golf bag on both shoulders. Dual shoulder strap arrangements have an advantage in that the weight of the golf bag may be supported on both shoulders for carrying the golf bag relatively long distances yet may be carried on one shoulder for short distances such as across a putting green. When a golfer lifts a golf bag with a dual shoulder strap arrangement into position for carrying, the golfer first lifts the primary shoulder strap onto his or her strong shoulder (typically the right shoulder for a right-handed golfer) then reaches around to grasp the secondary strap to loop over his or her other shoulder. Occasionally, if the golf bag is hoisted the wrong way, the secondary strap will fall on the side of the golf bag that is furthest away from the golfer&#39;s body, making it somewhat inconvenient to reach around to grasp the secondary shoulder strap. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a golf bag, including a body and a shoulder strap assembly. According to an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the shoulder strap assembly comprises a first shoulder strap attached to the body at its upper end on a first side of the spinal axis of the body and at its lower end on an opposite second side of the spinal axis of the body. The golf bag also includes a second shoulder strap attached at its upper and lower ends on the sides opposite the first shoulder strap so that the two shoulder straps cross each other over the spinal axis of the body. A strap guide assembly comprising an elastic cord is connected to an intermediate portion of the second shoulder strap to urge it toward the first side of the golf bag. Since the first side of the golf bag will be closer to the golfer as the golf bag is lifted into position, urging the second shoulder strap toward the first side of the golf bag enables the golfer to quickly grab the second shoulder strap without the necessity of reaching over the second side of the golf bag. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a golf bag incorporating features of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the golf bag shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a golf bag  10  has a generally tubular body  11  with a top end  12 , a bottom end  14 , and a spinal axis  15  extending longitudinally between the top and bottom ends  12  and  14 . The top end  12  of the body  11  includes a throat structure  16  similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,328 to Solheim incorporated herein by reference. Handles  18  may be provided on the body  11  near its top end  12  and bottom end  14 . Golf bag  10  may also be equipped with accessory pockets  19   a  and  19   b  mounted on body  11 . 
     Golf bag  10  includes a shoulder strap assembly that includes a first shoulder strap  20  and a second shoulder strap  22 . First shoulder strap  20  has an upper end  24  attached to the body  11  at a first location  26  proximal top end  12  of body  11 . First shoulder strap  20  also has a lower end  28  attached to body  11  at a second location  30 , which is spaced apart from top end  12  and is intermediate the top and bottom ends  12  and  14  of body  11 . First shoulder strap  20  includes an elongated pad  21  between its upper and lower ends  24  and  28 . With particular reference to  FIG. 2 , first location  26  is on a first side  17  of spinal axis  15  while second location  30  is located on the opposite second side  21  of spinal axis  15 . This orientation of first and second locations  26  and  30  causes first shoulder strap  20  to cross over spinal axis  15  between upper end  24  and lower end  28  of first shoulder strap  20 . 
     Second shoulder strap  22  has upper end  32  and lower end  34  attached to body  11  at third and fourth locations  36  and  38  respectively. Second shoulder strap  22  includes an elongated pad  23  between its upper and lower ends  32  and  34 . Third location  36  is on second side  21  of spinal axis  15  while fourth location is on first side  17  of spinal axis  15 . The orientation of the third and fourth locations  36  and  38  causes second shoulder strap  22  to cross over spinal axis  15  between its upper and lower end  32  and  34  and also to cross over first shoulder strap  20 . 
     First shoulder strap  20  has an adjustment device  40  disposed at its lower end  28  for adjusting the overall length of strap  20  as measured between first location  26  and second location  30 . Similarly, second shoulder strap  22  has an adjustment device  42  disposed on its lower end  34  for adjusting the overall length of strap  22  as measured between third location  36  and fourth location  38 . By utilizing the adjustment devices  40  and  42 , shoulder straps  20  and  22  may have their overall lengths adjusted independently as desired. Further adjustment devices (not shown) may be provided on the upper ends  24  and  32  of straps  20  and  22  in addition to or in lieu of adjustment devices  40  and  42 . Upper ends  24  and  32  of straps  20  and  22 , respectively, are secured in slots (not shown) formed in throat  16  at first location  26  and third location  36 . A retractor (not shown) may be incorporated into throat structure  16  to take up slack in first and second shoulder straps  20  and  22  when not in use. Lower ends  28  and  34  of straps  20  and  22  extend through rings  44  and  46  mounted on body  11  at second and fourth locations  30  and  38 . Alternatively, strap lower ends  28  and  34  may be sewn directly to the body  11  at locations  30  and  38  thereby eliminating rings  44  and  46 . 
     When golf bag  10  is carried by a golfer with first shoulder strap  20  looped over one shoulder and the second shoulder strap  22  looped over the other shoulder, first and second shoulder straps  20  and  22  are arranged to cross each other at an intersection point  48  that is substantially midway between the golfer&#39;s shoulders. This causes golf bag  10  to be supported evenly by the first and second shoulder straps  20  and  22  which is a great advantage over a single strap arrangement. During the process of hoisting the golf bag  10  onto the golfer&#39;s shoulder, however, as the golf bag  10  is lifted by first shoulder strap  20 , second shoulder strap  22  can fall away from the user toward second side  21  of spinal axis  15  as shown by arrow “A” in  FIG. 1 . When the second shoulder strap  22  falls away in such a manner, it can be inconvenient for the golfer to reach around the body  11  to grasp the second shoulder strap  22 . 
     Accordingly, golf bag  10  includes a strap guide assembly  50  that prevents second shoulder strap  22  from falling onto second side  21  of golf bag  10 . Strap guide assembly  50  comprises a shackle  52  made of a lightweight material such as ABS or similar thermoplastic. Shackle  52  has a first eye  54  through which an intermediate portion  48  of second shoulder strap  22  is passed. A resilient member  56  is attached at one end  58  to a second eye  60  formed in shackle  52  and at a second end  62  to a fifth location  64  that is spaced apart from top end  12  toward bottom end  14  of body  11  on first side  17  of spinal axis  15 . Resilient member  56  may be any conventional resilient means such as a spring, spring retractor or other similar device but in the illustrative embodiment comprises an elastic cord having sufficient resiliency to urge second shoulder strap  22  toward first side  17  when second shoulder strap  22  is unloaded yet has sufficient elongation to permit second shoulder strap  22  to extend substantially straight from third location  36  to the user&#39;s shoulder when second shoulder strap  22  is loaded. The resilient member  56  applies tensile force between the intermediate portion  48  of the second shoulder strap  22  and the fifth location  64 . 
     Although certain illustrative embodiments and methods have been disclosed herein, it will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of such embodiments and methods may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, in lieu of an external strap guide, second strap may be urged toward the first side by an internal stiffener. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention should be limited only to extent required by the appended claims and the rules and principals of applicable law.