U.S. patent application number 11/037610 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-20 for pad apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to CHENTERLON INC.. Invention is credited to Tien-Tsung Chan.
Application Number | 20060157360 11/037610 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36682751 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060157360 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chan; Tien-Tsung |
July 20, 2006 |
Pad apparatus
Abstract
A pad apparatus includes a connecting element and a supporting
element. The connecting element includes an upper end and a lower
end. The upper end of the connecting element is connected with a
leg. The supporting element includes an upper end and a lower end.
The upper end of the supporting element is rotationally connected
with the lower end of the connecting element. The lower end is
always in tight contact with a surface.
Inventors: |
Chan; Tien-Tsung; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIKOLAI & MERSEREAU, P.A.
900 SECOND AVENUE SOUTH
SUITE 820
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
US
|
Assignee: |
CHENTERLON INC.
Taichung
TW
|
Family ID: |
36682751 |
Appl. No.: |
11/037610 |
Filed: |
January 18, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/315.7 ;
248/96 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 55/57 20151001;
A63B 55/53 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/315.7 ;
248/096 |
International
Class: |
A63B 55/00 20060101
A63B055/00 |
Claims
1. A pad apparatus comprising: a connecting element comprising an
upper end for connection with a leg and a lower end; and a
supporting element comprising an upper end rotationally connected
with the lower end of the connecting element and a lower end for
tight contact with a surface.
2. The pad apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connecting
element comprises a cup formed at the upper end for receiving the
leg.
3. The pad apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connecting
element comprises a socket formed at the lower end, wherein the
supporting element comprises, at the upper end, a ball rotationally
put in the socket.
4. The pad apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the supporting
element comprises a pad formed at the lower end.
5. The pad apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the connecting
element comprises a plug extending from the cup for fitting in a
space defined in the leg.
6. The pad apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the plug
comprises at least one barb formed thereon for preventing the
connecting element from falling off the leg.
7. The pad apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connecting
element comprises two halves connected with each other.
8. The pad apparatus according to claim 7 wherein one of the halves
comprises at least one aperture defined therein while the other
half comprises at least one pillar fit in the aperture.
9. The pad apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connecting
element comprises a ball formed at the lower end thereof, wherein
the supporting element comprises two ears for receiving the ball.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a pad apparatus.
[0003] 2. Related Prior Art
[0004] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional club carriage
includes a bag 15, two legs 16 (only own is shown) pivotally
connected with the bag 15. Each leg 16 is connected with a pad 10.
The pad 10 includes an upper end defining a hole 11 for receiving
the leg 16 and a flat lower end 12 for contact with the ground 17.
An angle exists between the flat lower end 12 of the pad 10 and the
ground 17 when the pad 10 is installed on the ground 17. That is,
only a small portion of the flat lower end 12 of the pad 10
contacts the ground 17 so that the legs 16 do not firmly support
the bag 15 on the ground 17. Hence, the bag 15 is easy to fall.
[0005] Referring to FIG. 3, another conventional pad 13 includes an
upper end for connection with the leg 16 and an inclined flat lower
end 14 for contact with the ground 17. The inclined flat lower end
14 of the pad 13 is in tighter contact with the ground 17 than the
flat lower end 12 of the pad 10. However, the inclined flat lower
end 14 of the pad 13 is in tight contact with the ground 17 only
when the leg 16 is at certain angle from the ground 17. There is no
guarantee for such tight contact since the ground 17 is designed
with an irregular terrain.
[0006] The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at
least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] A pad apparatus includes a connecting element and a
supporting element. The connecting element includes an upper end
and a lower end. The upper end of the connecting element is
connected with a leg. The supporting element includes an upper end
and a lower end. The upper end of the supporting element is
rotationally connected with the lower end of the connecting
element. The lower end is always in tight contact with a
surface.
[0008] The primary advantage of the pad apparatus according to the
present invention is that the pad apparatus is to ensure that the
leg can be moved to any desired angle from the surface while the
supporting device is always in tight contact with the surface.
[0009] Other advantages and novel features of the present invention
will become more apparent from the detailed description when taken
in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention will be described through detailed
illustration of embodiments referring to the drawings.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a side view of a club carriage with a conventional
pad.
[0012] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pad shown
in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of another
conventional pad.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a club carriage with a pad
apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded view of the pad apparatus
shown in FIG. 4
[0016] FIG. 6 is a side view of the club carriage and the pad
apparatus shown in FIG. 4 in a working mode.
[0017] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pad
apparatus of FIG. 6.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the club carriage shown in
FIG. 4 with a pad apparatus according to a second embodiment of the
present invention.
[0019] FIG. 9 is an enlarged exploded view of the pad apparatus
shown in FIG. 8.
[0020] FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pad
apparatus of FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a club carriage includes a bag
60 and two legs 61 pivotally connected with the bag 60. Each leg 61
is equipped with a pad apparatus according to a first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0022] The pad apparatus includes a connecting element 20 and a
supporting element 30. The connecting element 20 includes a cup 21
formed at an upper end thereof for receiving one of the legs 61 and
a socket 24 formed at a lower end thereof. The connecting element
20 includes a plug 22 extending from the cup 21. The plug 22
includes a plurality of barbs 23 formed thereon for fitting a space
defined in corresponding one of the legs 61 in order to prevent the
connecting element 20 from falling off the leg 61. The connecting
element 20 includes two halves each including a side 25 formed
thereon. A plurality of apertures 27 is defined in the side 25 of
one half A plurality of pillars 26 is formed on the side 25 of the
other half. The pillars 26 are fit in the apertures 27 so that the
halves are firmly connected with each other.
[0023] The supporting element 30 includes a ball 31 formed at an
upper end thereof and a pad 32 formed at a lower end thereof. The
ball 31 of the supporting element 30 is put in the socket 24 of the
connecting element 20 in order to form a ball-and-socket
connection. The pad 32 is used for contact with a surface 70 (see
FIG. 6).
[0024] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the pad apparatus in a working mode. The
ball 31 of the supporting element 30 is rotationally connected with
the socket 24 of the connecting element 20. Thus, each leg 61 can
be moved to any desired angle relative to the surface 70 while the
pad apparatus tightly contacts the surface 70. Thus, the golf bag
60 and the legs 61 are kept firmly in position by mans of the pad
apparatus.
[0025] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a pad apparatus according to a second
embodiment of the present invention for use with the golf bag 60.
The pad apparatus of the second embodiment includes a connecting
element 40 and a supporting element 50. The connecting element 40
includes a cup 41 formed at an upper end thereof for receiving each
of the legs 61 and a ball 42 formed at a lower end thereof. The
supporting element 50 includes two ears 52 formed at upper end
thereof for receiving the ball 42 of the connecting element 40.
Each of the ears 52 defines an aperture 53 for receiving a portion
of the ball 42 so that the connecting element 40 is rotationally
connected with the supporting element 50. Alternatively, each of
the ears 52 may include a recess instead of the aperture 53.
[0026] FIG. 10 shows the pad apparatus in a working mode. The ball
42 of the connecting element 40 is rotationally connected with the
ears 52 of the supporting element 50. Thus, each leg 61 can be
moved to any desired angle relative to the surface 70 while the pad
apparatus tightly contacts the surface 70. Thus, the golf bag 60
and the legs 61 are kept firmly in position by mans of the pad
apparatus.
[0027] The present invention has been described through detailed
illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can
derive variations from the embodiments. The embodiments hence shall
not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the
claims.
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