Patent Publication Number: US-2006001243-A1

Title: Golf bag with retractable wheels

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Filed of the Invention  
      This invention relates to a golf bag with retractable wheels, and more particularly to the wheels that are adjustable in position for storage and for pulling along the golf course.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      People like to play golf for its mild exercise and to breathe healthy air. However, the golf bag is always a headache to golfers for the inconvenience of carrying around. Therefore, some people use caddies to carry their bags.  
      Some people would prefer to carry the bag themselves when they are playing the game with friends or for leisure. In order for golfers to carry their bags easily, golf bag carts and wheeled golf bags are developed. A golf cart is to put a golf bag on a tri-wheel cart and pushed around the golf course. This golf cart has a large size, which is not easy to carry for a golfer. The other wheeled golf bag is to secure a pair of wheels to the golf bag so that the golfer can pull the golf bag when walking. These wheels are fixed to the golf bag. That takes space in storage and may bump to the objects in a car trunk or storage room.  
      In view of these, the inventor has derived the present invention to improve the above-mentioned shortcomings.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a golf bag with retractable wheels, which is easy to operate.  
      It is another objective of the present invention to provide a golf bag with retractable wheels, which saves space in storage.  
      It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a golf bag with retractable wheels, which is cost effectiveness.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a pair of retractable mechanisms of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged portion view of locating troughs of the retractable mechanism of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged top view of  FIG. 2 , partial sectioned;  
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a safety pin of the present invention, partially sectioned;  
       FIG. 5A  is an enlarged view of a rectangular section of the safety pin of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the present invention, partial sectioned.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention comprises a golf bag  1 , a pair of retractable mechanisms  2 , two wheels  3 , a supporting rod  4  and a handle  5 .  
      The golf bag  1  has a pair of recesses  11  at respective bottom sides adapted to accommodate the retractable mechanisms  2  and the wheels  3  therein. Each recess  11  comprises a long trough  111  at the inner wall for the retractable mechanism  2  to slide along therein. A groove  12  is formed at the lower portion of the golf bag  1  to receive the supporting rod  4  therein. A handle  5  is set on the top of the golf bag  1  for pulling purpose.  
      Each retractable mechanism  2 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , includes a bracket  21 , first, second and third L-shaped rods  22 ,  23 ,  26 , two linking rods  24  and  25 , one short pin  27 , four rivets  28 , two long pins  29 . The bracket  21  is secured to a relative wheel  3 . Each L-shaped rod  22 ,  23  or  26  has a pair of holes at respective ends. Each linking rod  24  or  25  is formed by a pair of rods and shaped like the sign of a thunder with a hole at the center connecting area.  
       FIG. 3  shows the first and second L-shaped rods  22  and  23  in a separated status. The first L-shaped rod  22  comprises locating troughs  221  and  222 , and the second L-shaped rod  23  comprises a locating trough  231  for insertion of a safety pin  32  to secure the wheel  3  and the golf bag  1  at a relative position.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the bracket  21  connects with one respective end of the first and second L-shaped rods  22  and  23  with the short pin  27 , while the other ends of the first and second L-shaped rods  22  and  23  are connected with one end of the linking rods  24  and  25  with the rivets  28 , respectively. The linking rods  24  and  25  are connected with each other at the center portion with one rivet  28 . The other end of the linking rod  25  is connected to one end of the third L-shaped rod  26  with one rivet  28 , while the other end of the linking  24  is connected to the bottom of the golf bag  1  with one long pin  29 . The other end of the third L-shaped rod  26  is connected to the bottom of the golf bag  1  with another long pin  29 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 4, 5  and  5 A, each wheel  3  comprises a hub  31  at the inner. The hub  31  comprises a pair of bearings  311  and a sleeve  312  within the bearings  311 . The sleeve  312  has one end secured to the bracket  21 . The safety pin  32  is inserted in the sleeve  312 , and has one rectangular section  321  inserted into the locating troughs  221 ,  231  or  222 ,  231  of the first and second L-shaped rods  22  and  23 . The other end of the safety pin  32  is a round section sleeved with a spring  322 . The spring  322  is restrained on the round section of the safety pin  32  within the sleeve  312 . The endmost end of the round section of the safety pin  32  protrudes outwardly from the sleeve  312  and the hub  31 , and is secured with a ring  323  thereat.  
      By pulling the ring  323  outwardly, the safety pin  32  moves with the ring  323 , and the rectangular section  321  is detached from the locating troughs  221  and  231  of the first and second L-shaped rods  22  and  23 . The L-shaped rods  22 ,  23 ,  26  and the linking rods  24 ,  25  of the retractable mechanisms  2  are able to extend fully, which brings the wheels  3  outwardly away from the recesses  11 . The weight of the golf bag  1  also helps the retractable mechanisms  2  to extend fully. The spring  322  forces the rectangular section  321  of the safety pin  32  to insert into the locating troughs  222  and  231  of the first and second L-shaped rods  22 ,  23  to secure the retractable mechanism  2  at place. Thus, the golf bag  1  is pulled easily to anywhere at any place. By pulling the supporting rod  4  outwardly, the bag  1  is able to stand still.  
      When traveling, the wheels  3  and the supporting rod  4  may be retracted into the recesses  11  and the groove  12 . By pulling the ring  323  to bring the safety pin  32  away, the wheels  3  are pushed towards the recesses  11  to retract the L-shaped rods  22 ,  23 ,  26 , and the linking rods  24 ,  25 . Thus, the wheels  3  and the retractable mechanisms  2  are collapsed into the recesses  11 , as shown in  FIG. 6 .