Patent Publication Number: US-2023149783-A1

Title: Golf bag backpack

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 63/264,777 filed on Nov. 18, 2021, and entitled GOLF BAG BACKPACK, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Golf bags have typically been designed with a focus on ease of use during a round of golf, where it is expected that the player is either walking with their bag or transporting it on the back of a golf cart. In these scenarios outdoors, users have an abundance of space to move around. For instance, most golf bags are designed with shoulder straps fixed to the bag so that the bag rests horizontally on the user&#39;s back. When the bag is not being worn on the user&#39;s back, legs of the bag may protrude away from the bag like a kickstand when the bag is sat down, and/or the bag has weight to stand up straight supporting itself. Additionally, golf bags are typically designed for golf clubs to be inserted with the grip ends first, so that the heads of the clubs can be seen and the club easily identified by the user. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     According to one example of the present disclosure a golf bag comprises: a main body having a front and a back that oppose each other, two sides that oppose each other and extend between the front and back, and a bottom and a top open end that oppose each other, a depth of the main body being a distance between the front and back, a width of the main body being a distance between the two sides and greater than the depth, a height of the main body being a distance between the bottom and top open end and greater than the width, and a longitudinal axis of the golf bag extending from the bottom to the top open end; at least one upper connector on the back of the main body; at least two lower connectors, each of the lower connectors being on the back or one of the sides of the main body, the at least two lower connectors being closer to the bottom than the upper connector; and a plurality of shoulder straps, each of the shoulder straps being removably attached to the at least one upper connector and to different ones of the at least two lower connectors, wherein when worn by a user, the longitudinal axis of the golf bag is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the user. 
     In various embodiments of the above example, the golf bag further comprises: a wedge on the back of the main body and extending farther from the back of the main body at an upper end than at a lower end, the lower end of the wedge being closer to the bottom of the main body than the upper end of the wedge; the main body has a rigid frame; the lower connectors are at the same height of the golf bag; the golf bag further comprises: a divider at the top open end that divides the top open end of the golf bag into a plurality of sections, the divider comprising at least one protrusion; and a belt having a plurality of belt holes, the belt holes being removably attached to the at least one protrusion of the divider; the golf bag further comprises: two legs on the back of the golf bag; and a kickstand hinged to the bottom of the golf bag and configured to extend the two legs from the back of the golf bag when actuated; the golf bag further comprises: one or more handles on one or both of the two sides of the main body; the golf bag further comprises: a rigid handle at a front side of the top open end of the main body; the golf bag further comprises: a golf club in the golf bag, a club head of the golf club being held within the main body and a grip end of the golf club extending out of the top open end of the main body; and/or a center of gravity of a system comprising the golf bag and golf clubs held therein is closer to the bottom of the golf bag than to the top open end of the golf bag. 
     According to another example of the present disclosure, a golf bag comprises: a main body having a front and a back that oppose each other, two sides that oppose each other and extend between the front and back, and a bottom and a top open end that oppose each other, a depth of the main body being a distance between the front and back, a width of the main body being a distance between the two sides and greater than the depth, a height of the main body being a distance between the bottom and top open end and greater than the width, and a longitudinal axis of the golf bag extending from the bottom to the top open end; at least one upper connector on the back of the main body; at least two lower connectors, each of the lower connectors being on the back or one of the sides of the main body, the at least two lower connectors being closer to the bottom than the upper connector; a plurality of shoulder straps, each of the shoulder straps being removably attached to the at least one upper connector and to different ones of the at least two lower connectors; a wedge on the back of the main body and extending farther from the back of the main body at an upper end than at a lower end, the lower end of the wedge being closer to the bottom of the main body than the upper end of the wedge; 
     a divider at the top open end that divides the top open end of the golf bag into a plurality of sections, the divider comprising at least one protrusion; and a belt having a plurality of belt holes, the belt holes being removably attached to the at least one protrusion of the divider, wherein a center of gravity of a system comprising the golf bag and golf clubs held therein is closer to the bottom of the golf bag than to the top open end of the golf bag, and wherein when worn by a user, the longitudinal axis of the golf bag is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a traditional golf bag worn by a user. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates an example golf bag of the present disclosure worn by a user. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a back view of an example golf bag according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a side view of an example golf bag according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a perspective view of an example wedge according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    illustrates an example golf bag standing on legs according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  7 A  illustrates a top view of an example golf bag according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  7 B  illustrates an enlarged view of a securing mechanism employed by an example golf bag according to the present disclosure. 
         FIGS.  8 A and  8 B  illustrate side and top views, respectively, of an example golf bag in a closed state according to the present disclosure. 
         FIGS.  9 A and  9 B  illustrate side and top views, respectively, of an example golf bag in an open state according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  10    illustrates a perspective view of an example golf bag according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     Traditional golf bags are not practical for golfers that want to transport their bags in modes such as biking or public transportation. When walking in a crowded area or trying to ride a bike, a bag that rests horizontally takes up excessive lateral room and creates a risk of the clubs falling out. Traditional backpacks are likewise unsuitable for the transportation of golf clubs, as they do not support the size or shape of golf clubs. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an example traditional golf bag  100  worn by a user. Such a golf bag  100  is typically supported by shoulder straps  102  that extend from the golf bag  100  in a direction approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis L 2  of the golf bag  100 . As a result, the golf bag  100  hangs from the shoulders of the user such that the longitudinal axis L 2  of the golf bag  100  is not parallel with the longitudinal axis L 1  of the user. Rather, the longitudinal axis L 2  of the golf bag  100  forms an angle θ between the user&#39;s longitudinal axis L 1  and the longitudinal axis L 2  of the golf bag  100  that is typically between 45 and 90 degrees. When worn by the user, this angle θ results in the golf clubs  104  extending from an open end  106  of the golf bag  100  beyond the user&#39;s sides, thereby extending the lateral space occupied by the user. 
     Considering this, the present disclosure relates to a golf bag that can suitably carry golf clubs during activities other than while playing golf. For example, the golf bag of the present disclosure is capable of securely transporting golf clubs while riding a bike, or in confined spaces (e.g., a train) where excessive lateral room is not available. 
     For example as illustrated in  FIG.  2   , shoulder straps  202  of a golf bag  200  of the present disclosure extend substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis L 2  of the golf bag  200 . Therefore, the golf bag  200  is aligned vertically with a user&#39;s back (and thus parallel to the user&#39;s longitudinal axis L 2 ) when worn. As a result, an open end  206  of the golf bag  200  opens vertically such that the golf clubs  104  extend vertically from the golf bag  200 , also parallel to the user&#39;s longitudinal axis L 2 . Such an arrangement reduces the lateral space occupied by the bag (and thus the user generally). In other words, rather than the golf clubs extending to the side of the user&#39;s body, the clubs  104  instead extend vertically, parallel with the user&#39;s torso. 
     Such straps are seen more clearly with respect to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , which illustrate back and side views of the golf bag  200 , respectively. Generally, the golf bag  200  has a main body  246  with a front  226 , back  224 , sides  248  extending between the front  226  and back  224 , a top open end  206 , and a bottom. A width of the golf bag  200  may be understood as the distance between the two sides  248 . A depth of the golf bag  200  may be understood as the distance between the front  226  and  224 . And a height of the golf bag  200  may be understand as the distance between the bottom and the top open end  206 , through which the longitudinal axis L 2  extends. As seen in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the width of the golf bag  200  is greater than the depth of the golf bag  200 , and the height of the golf bag  200  is greater than the width of the golf bag  200 . In some embodiments, the main body  246  of the golf bag  200  may have a rigid frame covered by a softer (e.g., woven) material such as a nylon, or may be partly or entirely of a firm material, such as plastic, in order to help the golf bag  200  and main body  246  maintain its structural integrity and relative dimensions. 
     As further seen in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , shoulder straps  202  are removably attached at top endpoints to a common connector  208  on a back  224  of the golf bag  200 , and bottom endpoints are removably attached to lower back connectors  210  on different sides  248  of the golf bag  200 , or on the back  224  of the golf bag  200 . As shown, the common connector  208  is located in an upper half (toward the open end  206 ) of the bag  200 , and the lower connectors  210  are located below the common connector  208  (closer to a bottom closed end) of the golf bag  200 . 
     In other embodiments, the top endpoints of each shoulder strap  202  may be removably attached to their own top connectors, and the bottom endpoints may be removably attached to their own bottom connectors. In such an embodiment, the distance between the top connectors can be approximately equal to the distance between the bottom connectors, so that the shoulder straps  202  can hang approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis L 2 . 
     Depending on the embodiment, any type of connector may be used to attach the shoulder straps  202  to connectors  208 ,  210 . For example, the common and side connectors  208 ,  210  may be D-rings, O-rings, or the like to which carabiner-style clips on the should straps  202  may be attached. In other examples, each of the connectors  208 ,  210  and straps  202  may be attached with corresponding male and female buckles, snaps, or the like, or may be string-tied to each connector. 
     Additionally, at least a portion of the shoulder straps  202  may be cushioned to help support the weight of the bag  200 , so that the bag rests comfortably on the user&#39;s shoulders. A length of the shoulder straps  202  may also be adjustable via a buckle or other adjusting mechanisms commonly known in the art. According to one example, an adjustable portion of the shoulder straps  202  are nylon and are narrower than cushioned portions, where the cushioned portion extends from the top endpoints to the adjustable portion, and the adjustable portion extends from the cushioned portion to the bottom endpoints. The cushioned portion is preferably at least 17 mm thick. 
     The shoulder straps  202  may also include a sternum strap  212  fixedly attached thereto. The sternum strap  212  can wrap around the stomach or chest area of the user to help further secure the golf bag  200  to the user when carried. The sternum strap  212  may have a male portion attached to one of the shoulder straps  202 , and a female portion attached to the other of the shoulder straps  204 . The male and female portions may removably connect to each other via a buckle, clip, hook-and-loop, snap, or like connector. In addition or alternatively to the sternum strap  212 , a waist belt can be attached to the golf bag  200  independent of and below the shoulder straps  202 , and extend from each side  248  of the bag  200 . As with the sternum strap  212 , the waist belt may have male and female portions that can removably connect to each other by buckles, clip, hook-and-loop, snap, or like connector. One or both of the sternum strap  212  and waist belt can further be cushioned, made of like materials, and/or adjustable in length as described with respect to shoulder straps  202 . 
     When the golf bag  200  is worn by the user, the shoulder straps  202  run approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis L 1  of the user. The waist belt  212  wrap around the user approximately at the waist or stomach area; and the chest strap is fastened across the torso of the user and are approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L 1  of the user. The sternum strap  212  and/or waist belt help minimize the movement of the bag  200  as the user is walking, riding, or otherwise traveling, thereby reducing the movement of the golf clubs  104  and the other contents of the bag  200 . 
     In addition to the shoulder straps, the golf bag  200  may be carried by the user by a handle  214  located on one or both sides  248  of the golf bag  200 , for example at an upper half of each side  248  of the golf bag. As shown in  FIG.  4   , the handle  214  can have a rubber or plastic grip that surrounds the handle and be attached at both ends. Additionally, the golf bag  200  may include a rigid rubber or plastic handle  216  at the top open end  206  on the front  226  of the golf bag  200 . In other embodiments, any handle on the golf bag  200  can be a bent rod, a cavity in the bag, a knob, an arch, or the like. 
     As further seen in  FIG.  4   , one or both sides  248  of the golf bag  100  may further include a lower front connector  218 , an upper back connector  220 , and/or an upper front connector  222 . As shown, the lower connectors  210 ,  218  may be located at about a midpoint of the bag between the open top end  206  and a lower closed end; and the upper connectors  220 ,  222  may be located near the open top end  206 . Rather than a top endpoint of the shoulder straps being removably attached to the common connector  208  on the back  224  of the golf bag, one of the shoulder straps  202  may be removed and the top endpoint of the remaining shoulder strap  202  may be removably attached to one of the upper connectors  220 ,  222 . When one of the shoulder straps  202  is connected between upper connectors  220 ,  22  and lower connectors  210 ,  218 , the golf bag  200  may be carried like a traditional golf bag. 
     Additionally, unlike the traditional golf bag  100 , the golf bag  200  of the present disclosure accommodates some (e.g., irons and wedges) or all of golf clubs  104  with the club head inside the golf bag  200 , and the grip-ends of the clubs  204  instead extending from the opening  206 . With the golf clubs  104  arranged in this manner, the center of gravity of the golf bag  200  is lowered and closer to the user&#39;s center of gravity, thus making it easier to carry the golf bag  200  with clubs  104  therein, and avoiding the club heads from hitting the user. 
     In other words, because the majority of mass of a golf club is in the club head, when the clubheads extend from the open end  106  of the traditional golf bag  100 , the center of mass of the system including the mass of the golf bag  100  and the mass of the golf clubs  104  is relatively shifted toward the open end  106 . When the golf bag  100  is perpendicular to the user&#39;s longitudinal axis L 1  (and thus the open end  106  is on a lateral side of the user), there is little effect on the user&#39;s stability when carrying the golf bag  100  with the golf clubs  104  stored in such a manner. However, with the vertically carried golf bag  200  according to the present disclosure, the club heads extending out of the open end  106  could cause the golf bag  200  to become top-heavy, making carrying thereof potentially difficult and unstable. With the club heads of golf clubs  104  located inside the golf bag  200 , the total system center of gravity becomes closer to the user&#39;s center of gravity, thereby increasing the user&#39;s stability and comfort while carrying the golf bag  200 . Generally, this means that the total center of mass is closer to the bottom (e.g., in the bottom half) of the golf bag  200 , rather than the open end  106 . 
       FIG.  4    still further illustrates a wedge  228  attached to the back  224  of the golf bag  200 , that forms an angle Φ with respect to the longitudinal axis L 2  and back  224  of the golf bag  200 . The angle Φ creates a gap between the golf bag  200  and the user, thereby keeping the golf clubs  104  a distance away from the user&#39;s head when carrying the bag, further limiting the ability of the club heads to make contact with the user during movement. As shown in the embodiment of  FIG.  4   , the wedge  228  is narrow near the bottom of the bag  200 , and becomes wider (thicker) in the side view as it extends toward the top open end  206 . The wedge  228  begins substantially close to the bottom of the golf bag  200  and extends at least halfway to the top open end  206 . Of course it will be appreciated that the wedge portion  500  can be arranged to extend the entire height of the bag  200 , or a smaller portion of the height of the bag  200 . 
     The wedge  228  may be of a foam, dense pillow filling, or like material to further provide cushion to the user&#39;s back when the golf bag  200  is carried. In other embodiments, the wedge  228  may be made of a hard plastic to provide greater rigidity. In some embodiments the wedge  228  can be a hollow pocket having, for example, a rigid skeleton or a padded lining to create the angle  1 . In similar embodiments, as shown for example in  FIG.  5   , the wedge  228  may only be fixedly attached to the back  224  of the golf bag  200  near the bottom of the golf bag, and attached at its top portion via elastic straps  230 . In this way, the wedge  228  may be pulled away from the back  224  of the golf bag  200  to create a greater gap and/or provide storage behind and/or between the wedge  228  and the back  224  of the golf bag. 
     Referring back to  FIG.  3   , the golf bag  200  may further include a kickstand  240  and two legs  242 . The kickstand  240  is hinged to a bottom of the golf bag  200  and connected to the legs  242  by cables  244 . In this manner, the golf bag  200  may stand upright on its own, but when leaned forward on the kickstand  238  (toward the back  224 ), hinging of the kickstand  240  causes the cables  244  to extend upward, and thus causes the legs  242  to extend outward, as illustrated in  FIG.  6   . When not extended, the legs  242  may be held in place against the back  224  of the golf bag  200  by fasteners  250 , such as hooks, clips, straps, and the like. 
     Turning now to  FIGS.  7 A and  7 B , the golf bag  200  of the present disclosure may include securing mechanisms to reduce golf club  104  movement within the golf bag  200  during transportation. Reducing such movement can reduce noise caused by rattling of the golf clubs  104 , and potential damage to the golf clubs  104 . As seen in a top view of the open top end  106  of golf bag  200 , the opening of the top open end  106  of the golf bag  200  may be segmented into two or more sections by one or more a dividers  700 . The golf clubs  104  may be inserted into different ones of the sections, for example, for organization. The dividers  700  may attach to a collar  710  around the opening of the top open end  106 . The collar  710  may be made of a hard material such as plastic, metal, and the like, and may further include soft padding such as cushioning, foam, nylon or similar materials to protect the golf clubs  104 . Additionally, the dividers may extend an entire or partial height of the golf bag  200 , or only divide the opening. When multiple dividers  700  are used, they may be arranged orthogonal to each other in a grid-like pattern. For example, FIG.  7 A illustrates two orthogonal dividers  700  that form four equal-sized openings in the open end  206 . 
     The securing mechanism may be a belt  702  that secures the golf clubs  104  from movement by tightening golf clubs  104  to the divider  700 . This hinders the movement of individual golf clubs  104  by holding a part of the golf club  104  (e.g. the shaft) to a portion of the golf bag  200 . Therefore, as the golf bag  200  moves, the golf clubs  104  therein move together and with the golf bag  200 . The belt  702  and/or divider  700  may be textured or made from materials that increase a frictional force or provide a sticky/tacky effect to further reduce movement when the golf clubs  204  are in contact therewith. 
     Depending on the embodiment, a different number of belts  702  and/or configurations of belts may be utilized. For example, one belt  702  may be used to secure golf clubs  104  in a single divided section of the top open end  106 . In other examples, a belt  702  may be used to secure golf clubs  104  in a plurality of sections. As shown in  FIG.  7 A , the belt  702  passes through a slot  708  in a cross-divider so that it may extend across multiple sections. Where the slot  708  is at a intersection of dividers  700 , the slot  708  has the effect of pinching the belt  702  to the divider  700  to provide a further securing force. While  FIG.  7 A  only illustrates slots at an intersection of dividers  700 , it should be appreciated that further slots may be provided along a length of the dividers at any location, effectively further segmenting the top open end  106 . Additionally, slots  708  may be located along the collar  710  to accommodate different bag and collar designs. 
     Further, each belt  702  may be fixedly attached to the collar  710  and/or dividers  700  at both ends and/or at any of the slots  708 . In these cases, the belt  702  may be elastic and pulled away from the dividers  700  when a golf club  104  is inserted or removed from the golf bag. When released, the elastic bias of the belt  702  provides a securing force to hold the golf clubs  104  against dividers  700 . The belt  702  may be fixedly attached by sewing, molding, gluing, and the like. 
     In still other examples, the belt  702  may form a closed shape having no ends, such as a loop. In these examples, a portion of the belt  702  may be removably or fixedly attached to divider  700  at one or more locations such as at the slots  708 . The belt  702  may then be stretched along a length of the divider and wrapped around a hook or like protrusion  706 . 
     Additionally or alternatively, the belt  702  may be removably attached at one or both ends. For example, as shown in more detail in  FIG.  7 B , an end of the belt  702  has a plurality of belt holes  704  through which the protrusion  706  (such as a hook or notch) on the divider  700  (e.g. at an end of the divider  700  by the collar  710 ) or on the collar  710  itself extends. In this manner, the end of the belt  702  may be unhooked at one end to allow access to the golf clubs  104 . Additionally or alternatively, the removable end of the belt  702  may be attached to the divider  700  and/or collar  710  by snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners, buckles, and the like. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  8 A,  8 B,  9 A, and  9 B , in some embodiments, function of the kickstand may be integrated with or affect function of the golf club securing mechanism. As described above with respect to  FIGS.  3  and  6   , a kickstand of an example golf bag  800  may be actuated by leaning the bag towards its back  804 , so that the golf bag  800  stands on legs  802 . The orientation of the back  804  of the golf bag  800  relative to the front  806  and thus a body of the golf bag  800  is dictated by the orientation of a folding handle  812 . 
     When the folding handle  812  is in a closed state, the back  804  is held in a closed position and there is no gap between the back  804  and the golf bag  800 . Accordingly, as seen in the top view of  FIG.  8 B , when in the closed state, a back cushion  808  attached to the back  804  of the golf bag  800  pushes against and secures golf clubs  104  against a front cushion  810  attached to a front  806  of the golf bag  800 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  9 A , when the folding handle  812  is moved away from the back  804  of the golf bag  800  and unfolded, the back  804  opens the golf bag  800  a distance d. As seen in the top view of  FIG.  9 B , this causes the back cushion  808  and front cushion  810  to separate from each other, allowing free access to the golf clubs  104  stored in the bag  800 . 
     Finally,  FIG.  10    illustrates a perspective view of golf bag  200 . As seen therein pockets  246  of various sizes and shapes may be located on any surface of the bag  200  for carrying clothes, balls, gloves, and like accessories. The pockets may be closed (e.g., with solid fabric and/or zippers), or open (e.g., defined by a mesh netting). Further, specialty holders such as stitched fabric  248  forming loops/slits for holding tees may be located on any surface of the golf bag  200 . The golf bag  200  may also include a rain cover. Such a cover may be attached, for example, with snap connectors  250  around the open top end  106  to enclose the opening. The rain cover itself may be zippered to provide access to golf clubs  104  without requiring removal of the rain cover. 
     While various features are presented above, it should be understood that the features may be used singly or in any combination thereof. Further, it should be understood that variations and modifications may occur to those skilled in the art to which the claimed examples pertain.