Patent Publication Number: US-6910491-B2

Title: Golf umbrella case suitable for positioning in a golf bag

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a golf umbrella case that is specially designed for positioning in a golf bag to keep an integral appearance of the golf bag and prevent the golf bag from being internally wetted by rainwater remained on a golf umbrella positioned therein. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is very possible to have sudden changes in the weather during a formal or a practice golf game that usually takes a considerably long time to complete. In the wide and open golf link, it is almost impossible to timely take shelter from the rain. Therefore, a golfer would usually prepare a golf umbrella to be carried along with the golf bag. In case of sudden changes in the weather, the caddie carrying the golf bag for the golfer may quickly get the golf umbrella for use. The golf umbrella may also be used as a shelter from the sun. 
     FIG. 1  shows a conventionally structured golf bag  1 . As shown, the golf bag  1  is provided at one side close to a bottom and a top thereof with outward protruded holding plate  11  and fastening strap  12 , respectively. The holding plate  11  includes an insertion hole  13 . A conventionally structured golf umbrella  2  is held to the golf bag  1  by inserting a ferrule  21  of the golf umbrella  2  into the insertion hole  13  on the holding plate  11  and tightening the golf umbrella  2  at a position close to a handle  22  of the golf umbrella with the fastening strap  12 , so that the golf umbrella  2  is externally attached to the golf bag  1 . The following disadvantages are found in the above-described manner of binding the golf umbrella  2  to the golf bag  1 :
         1. The golf umbrella  2  is held to an outer side of the golf bag  1  to spoil an integral appearance and reduce the valuable quality of the golf bag.   2. The golf umbrella  2  forms on the outer side of the golf bag  1  a long protruded portion that together with the holding plate  11  tend to collide or interfere with other things to damage the latter or to injure other people&#39;s hands when the golf bag  1  is positioned along with many other articles during conveyance thereof.   3. The golf umbrella  2  is usually attached to the outer side of the golf bag  1  at a position counterclockwise to the right of a shoulder strap  14  of the golf bag  1  to space from the shoulder strap  14  by an angle about 90 degrees. When a caddie carries the golf bag  1  on his or her left shoulder, the golf umbrella  2  located at such a position tends to press against the caddie&#39;s body to cause discomfort to the caddie. To avoid such discomfort, the caddie would usually carry the golf bag  1  on his or her right shoulder for the golf umbrella  2  to face outward relative to the caddie&#39;s body. However, the caddie&#39;s right shoulder would become tired and sore after carrying the golf bag  1  for a prolonged time.       
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a golf umbrella case that is suitable for positioning in a golf bag to eliminate the drawbacks caused by attaching the conventionally structured golf umbrella to the outer side of the golf bag. 
   To achieve the above and other objects, the golf umbrella case of the present invention is adapted to locate in place between two transverse strips at a top opening of the golf bag for holding a golf umbrella therein, so that the golf bag may have an integral and valuable appearance without an outward protruded portion to collide or interfere with external things and cause discomfort to a caddie carrying the golf bag on shoulder. 
   Moreover, the golf umbrella case may collect any rainwater remained on the golf umbrella to avoid an internally wetted golf bag, and may be easily removed from the golf bag to clear rainwater and dust accumulated therein. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein 
       FIG. 1  shows a conventional golf bag with means for externally attaching a golf umbrella to the golf bag; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a golf umbrella case suitable for positioning in a golf bag according to the present invention, with a locating ring assembled thereto; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded sectional view of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a partially sectioned side view of a golf bag with the golf umbrella case and the locating ring of  FIG. 2  positioned therein; 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a first example of golf umbrella suitable for positioning in the golf umbrella case according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  shows the golf umbrella of  FIG. 6  in a fully closed state; 
       FIG. 8  shows the manner of inserting the golf umbrella of  FIG. 7  into the golf umbrella case positioned in the golf bag; 
       FIG. 9  is a partially sectioned side view showing the golf umbrella of  FIG. 7  has been fully inserted into the golf umbrella case positioned in the golf bag; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a second example of golf umbrella suitable for positioning in the golf umbrella case according to the present invention; and 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the golf umbrella of  FIG. 10  in a fully closed state and tightened with a tying strip. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Please refer to  FIG. 2  that is a perspective view of a golf umbrella case  3  suitable for positioning in a golf bag according to the present invention, with a locating ring  4  assembled thereto, and to  FIG. 3  that is an exploded sectional view of FIG.  2 . 
   As shown, the golf umbrella case  3  includes a downward tapered hollow body  31  having a top opening  32  and a closed bottom plate  33 . 
   The golf umbrella case  3  may be positioned in a golf bag  1 , as shown in  FIG. 4  that is a partially sectioned view of the golf bag  1 . Please also refer to  FIG. 5  that is a top view of FIG.  4 . The golf bag  1  is generally provided at a top opening  15  with two transverse partitioning strips  16  spaced from each other by a predetermined distance to divide an internal space of the golf bag  1  into three smaller rooms. As can be seen from  FIG. 9 , golf clubs  17  are put in different rooms of the golf bag  1  according to their lengths, so that the golf clubs  17  can be easily identified and quickly removed from the golf bag  1 . The partitioning strips  16  also prevent the golf clubs  17  from overly inclining in the golf bag  1  due to an overlarge top opening  15  of the golf bag  1 . The golf umbrella case  3  is positioned in the golf bag  1  by inserting it into the middle room between the two partitioning strips  16 , so that the two partitioning strips  16  properly clamp and thereby locate the golf umbrella case  3  in place in the golf bag  1 . 
   The locating ring  4  is adapted for assembling to an outer circumferential surface of the golf umbrella case  3 , and includes a ring portion  41  and at least one L-shaped lug  42  outward and downward projected from one side of the ring portion  41 . The ring portion  41  is designed for putting on the outer surface of the golf umbrella case  3  with a lower edge rested on top edges of the two partitioning strips  16  to straddle the middle room, and the lug  42  is adapted to rest on one of the two partitioning strips  16  to firmly clamp an upper edge of the partitioning strip  16  between the ring portion  41  and the lug  42 . These arrangements enable the golf umbrella case  3  to stably locate in the golf bag  1  between the two partitioning strips  16 . 
   Please now refer to  FIG. 6  that is a perspective view of a first example of golf umbrella  5  suitable for positioning in the golf umbrella case  3  of the present invention, and to  FIG. 7  that shows the golf umbrella  5  of  FIG. 6  in a fully closed state. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a common golf umbrella  2  usually includes a tying strip  23  having a uniform width connected to a cover  24  of the golf umbrella  2 . When the tying strip  23  is tightened around the closed cover  24 , it is in a transverse position perpendicular to a centerline of the golf umbrella  2 . The tying strip  23  tends to prevent the golf umbrella  2  from smoothly inserting into a golf umbrella case, such as the golf umbrella case  3  of the present invention. On the other hand, the first example of golf umbrella  5  shown in  FIG. 6  includes a tying strip  51  that is connected to a distal end  52  of one of many ribs of the golf umbrella  5 . The tying strip  51  provided at the above-mentioned position does not interfere the fully closed golf umbrella  5  from smoothly inserting into or removing from the golf umbrella case  3 . 
   Please refer to  FIG. 8  that shows the manner of inserting the golf umbrella  5  into the golf umbrella case  3 . To do so, first bind the ribs of the golf umbrella  5  together with the tying strip  51 . Then, wind collapsed gores of the golf umbrella  5  in a normal way and turn the golf umbrella  5  clockwise, as indicated by the arrow A in  FIG. 8 , while downward push the golf umbrella  5 , as indicated by the arrow B, so that the whole golf umbrella  5  is smoothly inserted into the golf umbrella case  3 . A handle  53  of the golf umbrella  5  inserted into the golf umbrella case  3  is upward projected from the top opening  32  of the golf umbrella case  3 , as shown in FIG.  9 . To remove the golf umbrella  5  from the golf bag  1 , simply grip the handle  53  with one hand and the golf umbrella case  3  with the other hand to separate the golf umbrella  5  from the case  3 . 
     FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a second example of golf umbrella  6  suitable for positioning in the golf umbrella case  3  according to the present invention; and  FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the golf umbrella  6  in a fully closed state and tightened with a tying strip. 
   The second example of golf umbrella  6  includes a tying strip  61  connected to a cover thereof. The tying strip  61  has an inclined front edge giving the tying strip  61  a variable width gradually decreased from inner end toward outer end. After the tying strip  61  is wound around the cover of the golf umbrella  6  to tighten the latter, the inclined front edge of the tying strip  61  forms a spiral that does not significantly protrude from the cover and tends to spirally guide the golf umbrella  6  into the golf umbrella case  3  instead of forming a hindrance to prevent the golf umbrella  6  from smoothly inserting into the golf umbrella case  3 . 
   With the golf umbrella case  3  positioned in the golf bag  1  and the golf umbrella  5  or  6  inserted in the golf umbrella case  3 , the golf bag  1  has an integral and valuable appearance. No protruded portion is presented on the golf bag  1  to collide or interfere with other articles or cause discomfort to a caddie carrying the golf bag  1  on shoulder. The golf umbrella case  3  also serves to collect any rainwater remained on the cover of the golf umbrella  5  or  6  received in the case  3 , in order to avoid an internally wetted golf bag  1 . Moreover, the golf umbrella case  3  can be easily removed from the golf bag  1  to clear any rainwater or dust accumulated therein.