Patent Publication Number: US-2015068932-A1

Title: Golf bag with a cradle for a mobile device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present subject matter relates to a golf bag. In particular, the present subject matter relates to a golf bag equipped with a device for placing a mobile device, such as a smart phone. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The swinging posture is important in golfing. Most golfers endeavor to correct their swinging postures. Some golfers take lessons from professionals to correct their swing postures and some golfers videotape their swing postures and analyze the videotape to find out and correct any issue with their swinging postures. In order to videotape the swinging posture of a golfer, either a swinging posture correction device is used or another person videotapes the swinging posture for the golfer. 
     Due to the needs for the videotaping device, many types of swing posture correction devices or swinging posture correction systems have been proposed. However, most of the devices are expensive and not easy to use. 
     On the other hand, with the recent development of smart phone technology, the performance and resolution of the cameras built in smart phones have been substantially improved. 
     Some patent applications relating to golf bags have been published, including Korean Patent Registration No. KR 10-463078, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-20030063804, Korean Utility Patent Publication No. 20-2012004737, and Korean Utility Patent Publication No. 20-19990038333. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application provides a golf bag equipped with a device for a mobile device, such as a cradle for a smart phone so as to enable the golfer to videotape his or her swing posture without help of others or by himself or herself. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a golf bag according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a cradle in actual use with a mobile device placed on the device cradle in the golf bag according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are perspective views that illustrate various examples of the device cradle in the golf bag according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating another example of the fixed plate in the golf bag according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. 
     
    
    
     In the drawings, 
       10 ,  20 ,  30  and  40  each refer to Golf bag; 
       100  and  400  each refer to Device cradle; 
       110  and  410  each refer to Fixed plate; 
       150  and  450  each refer to Mobile device; and 
       460  refers to Fixture. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present subject matter relates to a golf bag for storing golf clubs that is equipped with a device cradle for holding or fixing a mobile device capable of videotaping, and a fixed plate one end (the first (1 st ) end) of which is installed on the golf bag and on another end (the second (2 nd ) end) of which the device cradle is fixed. The golf bag exposes the device cradle outside of the golf bag, so that a mobile device capable of videotaping can be placed. 
     In an embodiment the device is hinged to the 2 nd  end of the fixed plate, so that the slope of the device cradle can be adjusted. 
     In another embodiment the height of the fixed plate is adjustable. 
     In another embodiment the size of the device cradle is adjustable according to the size of the mobile device. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The structure and the operation of the golf bag according to one embodiment of the present subject matter is described below in detail. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view that illustrates a golf bag according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the golf bag ( 10 ) for stores golf clubs is equipped with the device cradle ( 100 ) to fix a mobile device capable of videotaping, and a fixed plate ( 110 ) that can fix the device cradle on the outside of the golf bag. The mobile device may be any mobile device equipped with a camera for videotaping, such as a smart phone, a mobile communication device, a tablet PC, a smart player, or an MP3 player equipped with a camera. 
     The device cradle ( 100 ) fixes the mobile device. It may be preferable for the cradle to be hinged to a part of the fixed plate. The device cradle may be hinged to the fixed plate in such a way as to move up to a predetermined angle on the fixed plate, so that the device cradle&#39;s slope can be adjusted. It may be preferable to adjust the slope of the device cradle when installing a mobile device for videotaping on the device cradle so that the user may videotape his swing posture at an optimal angle. 
     With regard to the golf bag in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  illustrates the state in which a mobile device is placed on the device cradle ( 100 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , when installing a mobile device for videotaping on the device cradle, it is possible to videotape the swing motion more accurately by adjusting the height of the fixed plate ( 110 ) and the rotation angle of the device cradle. 
     It may be preferable for the device cradle to be equipped with a part to be able to be adjusted according to the size of the mobile device to be installed, as illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are perspective views that illustrate examples of the device cradle of the golf bag in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the device cradle is equipped with the body ( 210 ) and the size adjustor ( 220 ). Here, the size adjustor ( 220 ) is composed of the upper fixture ( 222 ) and lower fixture ( 224 ) which are attached to the upper part and lower part of the size adjustor ( 220 ), respectively, and the guide module (not illustrated) that makes it possible for the upper fixture and lower fixture to move up and down. The guide module is formed inside of the above-mentioned body so that the upper fixture and lower fixture can move up and down. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , as with the device cradle illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the device cradle is equipped with the body ( 310 ) and the size adjustor ( 320 ). The body is composed of the extrusion at the bottom with which to fix the mobile device. The size adjustor is equipped with the left fixture ( 322 ) and the right fixture ( 324 ) which are installed on the left side and right side of the body, respectively and with the guide module (not illustrated) which makes it possible for the right fixture and left fixture to move left to right. 
     In the above, the size adjustor of the device cradle was described with illustrations. However, the structure and operating mechanism of the size adjustor are not limited to the details described in this statement. Rather, its structure and operating mechanism can be changed or modified in diverse ways by anyone with an ordinary level of knowledge in the technological field in which this invention belongs. 
     The above-mentioned fixed plate ( 110 ) is stably attached to the golf bag and at the same time fixes the device cradle. The 1 st  part is fixed to and installed on the golf bag and the 2 nd  part which faces the 1 st  part is installed with the device cradle. Here, the device cradle is to be exposed outside of the golf bag. The fixed plate could be configured as either as a flat panel type or bar type. Also, any structure that is capable of robustly supporting the device may be used. 
     It is preferable for the height of the fixed plate to be able to be adjusted. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , it is preferable for the fixed plate to be able to adjust the height by being equipped with an upper plate, a lower plate positioned inside of the upper plate, and a mobile lock for the upper plate. One end of the lower plate is to be stably fixed to the golf bag. The upper plate is positioned on the exterior of the lower plate and is configured to be able to move vertically along the surface of the lower plate. When the lock switch is pressed, the extrusion on a side of the upper plate is latched to a groove to prevent the upper plate from moving vertically. When the mobile lock switch is unlocked, the upper plate can move vertically, and the height of the upper plate can be adjusted as the user desires. 
     The structure and operating mechanism to adjust the height of the fixed plate of the golf bag in accordance with the present subject matter is not limited to the previously described method. A person of ordinary skill in the art will be able to make changes or modifications in various ways. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view which illustrates another example of the fixed plate of the golf bag in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the fixed plate ( 410 ) of the golf bag ( 40 ) can be attached to and detached from the golf bag, and a fixture ( 460 ) is attached to a part of the fixed plate in order to be attached to and detached from the golf bag. The fixture can be configured with adjustable screws, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , to be fixed on the golf bag by tightening the screw or configured with tweezers to fix to the golf bag. Therefore, by applying the fixed plate according to the example, the device cradle can be selectively attached to and detached from the golf bag. 
     The present subject matter is described herein by referring to a preferable embodiment of the present subject matter, but a person of ordinary skill in the art will be able to make modifications and changes within the bounds of the present subject matter as described in the range of patent claims. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS 
     With the golf bag in accordance with the present subject matter, one can videotape his or her swing posture easily and simply. 
     ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS 
     The golf bag in accordance with the present subject matter is equipped with a mobile device cradle to enable the golfer to videotape, so that the golfer is able to video tape his or her swing posture easily and simply by placing his or her smart phone on the mobile device cradle. 
     Especially, the height of the mobile device cradle of the golf bag according to the present subject matter can be adjusted according to the user&#39;s height, so it is possible to videotape more accurately. Also, the slope of the mobile device cradle of the golf bag according to the present subject matter can be adjusted, so videotaping can be carried out at the optimal angle. 
     With the present subject matter, it is possible for golfers to easily and simply videotape their swing postures even without professional videotaping devices or swing posture correction devices. 
     The mobile device cradle in accordance with the present subject matter is able to be attached to and detached from the golf bag, so when the user doesn&#39;t use the cradle, he or she can store the cradle inside, only needing to fix the cradle on the desired location of the golf bag when videotaping. 
     It should be understood that the present subject matter is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.