U.S. patent application number 12/035326 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-27 for golf bag stand system.
Invention is credited to Aaron Brookhart, Joseph W. Christensen, James Rocky Harris, Kenneth Harris, Brandon Hefer, Michael James Pratt, Jason Prigge.
Application Number | 20090212174 12/035326 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40997368 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090212174 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pratt; Michael James ; et
al. |
August 27, 2009 |
Golf Bag Stand System
Abstract
A golf bag stand system is described wherein the legs of the
stand system deploy in an arcuate path. The arcuate path permits
the legs of the golf bag stand system to be widely deployed to
support the golf bag while minimizing entanglement issues during
deployment and retraction. The arcuate deployment keeps the legs
closer to the center line of the bag during a greater period of the
deployment/retraction, with the sideward/outward movement of the
legs occurring at the end of leg deployment and at the beginning of
leg retraction. This may be achieved by hingedly connecting the
legs to the golf bag with an axis of rotation that is inclined
toward the center of the golf bag. The legs of the golf bag include
a bend or jog that permits the inclined axis of rotation while
keeping the legs close to the golf bag when in the retracted
position.
Inventors: |
Pratt; Michael James;
(Draper, UT) ; Harris; James Rocky; (Lewi, UT)
; Christensen; Joseph W.; (Cedar Hills, UT) ;
Prigge; Jason; (Salt Lake City, UT) ; Harris;
Kenneth; (St. Louis, MO) ; Hefer; Brandon;
(St. Louis, MO) ; Brookhart; Aaron; (St. Louis,
MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KIRTON & McCONKIE;A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION, ATTORNEYS AT LAW
1800 EAGLE GATE TOWER, 60 EAST SOUTH TEMPLE STREET
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
84111
US
|
Family ID: |
40997368 |
Appl. No.: |
12/035326 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/96 ;
248/97 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 71/0045 20130101;
A45C 13/001 20130101; A63B 55/53 20151001; A63B 55/57 20151001;
A63B 2209/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/96 ;
248/97 |
International
Class: |
A63B 55/10 20060101
A63B055/10 |
Claims
1. A bag stand system comprising: a bag; a pair of leg attachment
points attached to the bag; and a pair of legs hingedly attached to
the bag by hinged attachments at the pair of leg attachment points,
wherein each hinged attachment has an axis of rotation having an
angle of inclination whereby a portion of the axis of rotation more
proximate a vertical plane of symmetry of the bag stand system is
inclined above a portion of the axis of rotation more distal the
vertical plane of symmetry, when the bag is in a substantially
upright and vertical position.
2. A bag stand system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the
legs comprises an upper portion, a lower portion, and a jog
connecting and transitioning the upper portion to the lower
portion.
3. A bag stand system as recited in claim 2, wherein the jog
permits the lower portion of each leg to rest substantially
parallel a long axis of the bag when the legs are in a retracted
position.
4. A bag stand system as recited in claim 1, wherein the angle of
inclination comprises an angle from horizontal of between five and
seventy-five degrees.
5. A bag stand system as recited in claim 1, wherein the angle of
inclination comprises an angle from horizontal of between ten and
sixty degrees.
6. A bag stand system as recited in claim 1, wherein the angle of
inclination comprises an angle from horizontal of between fifteen
and sixty degrees.
7. A bag stand system as recited in claim 1, wherein the angle of
inclination comprises an angle from horizontal of between thirty
and sixty degrees.
8. A bag stand system as recited in claim 1, wherein the
configuration of the bag stand system causes the legs to deploy in
an arced motion.
9. A bag stand system as recited in claim 1, further comprising
means for automatically securing the legs to the bag in a
fully-retracted position, comprising: one or more first
magnetically-interacting portions on at least one of: the bag; a
bracket attached to a portion of the bag; and a bracket attached to
a push rod of the bag stand system; and a second
magnetically-interacting portion on each of the legs.
10. A bag stand system as recited in claim 9, wherein the one or
more first magnetically-interacting portions are
magnetically-interacting portions of the bracket attached to the
push rod of the bag stand system, and wherein the push rod is
attached to a push-up plate disposed near a bottom of the bag and
is further attached to the legs, whereby a vertical displacement
applied to the push-up plate simultaneously vertically displaces
the bracket attached to the push rod and applies a deployment force
to the legs, whereby the first and second magnetically-interacting
portions are disengaged from one another.
11. A bag stand system as recited in claim 9, wherein the second
magnetically-interacting portions are integrally formed with the
legs.
12. A bag stand system as recited in claim 9, wherein the second
magnetically-interacting portions are attached to the legs.
13. A golf bag stand system comprising: a golf bag; and a golf bag
stand having a vertical plane of symmetry when the golf bag is
viewed in an upright vertical position, the golf bag stand being
attached to the golf bag and comprising: a pair of legs with upper
ends; and means for hingedly attaching the upper ends to the golf
bag, wherein the means for hingedly attaching have axes of rotation
upwardly inclined toward the vertical plane of symmetry by an angle
of inclination.
14. A golf bag stand system as recited in claim 13, wherein the
angle of inclination comprises an angle of between fifteen and
seventy-five degrees from horizontal, when the golf bag is viewed
in a substantially-upright and vertical position.
15. A golf bag stand system as recited in claim 13, wherein the
angle of inclination comprises an angle of between thirty and sixty
degrees from horizontal, when the golf bag is viewed in a
substantially-upright and vertical position.
16. A golf bag stand system as recited in claim 13, wherein the
angle of inclination comprises an angle of between forty and fifty
degrees from horizontal, when the golf bag is viewed in a
substantially-upright and vertical position.
17. A golf bag stand system as recited in claim 13, further
comprising means for automatically securing the legs to the golf
bag in a fully-retracted position, comprising: one or more first
magnetically-interacting portions on at least one of: the golf bag;
a bracket attached to a portion of the golf bag; and a bracket
attached to a push rod of the golf bag stand system; and a second
magnetically-interacting portion on each of the legs.
18. A golf bag stand system comprising: a golf bag; a pair of legs
having upper ends hingedly attached to the golf bag; and means for
automatically securing the legs to the golf bag in a
fully-retracted position, comprising: one or more first
magnetically-interacting portions on at least one of: the golf bag;
a bracket attached to a portion of the golf bag; and a bracket
attached to a push rod of the golf bag stand system; and a second
magnetically-interacting portion on each of the legs.
19. A golf bag stand system as recited in claim 18, wherein the one
or more first magnetically-interacting portions are
magnetically-interacting portions of the bracket attached to the
push rod of the golf bag stand system, and wherein the push rod is
attached to a push-up plate disposed near a bottom of the golf bag
and is further attached to the legs, whereby a vertical
displacement applied to the push-up plate simultaneously vertically
displaces the bracket attached to the push rod and applies a
deployment force to the legs, whereby the first and second
magnetically-interacting portions are disengaged from one
another.
20. A golf bag stand system as recited in claim 18, wherein the
upper ends are hingedly attached to the golf bag by hinged
attachments having axes of rotation upwardly inclined by an angle
of inclination toward a vertical plane of symmetry of the golf bag
stand system.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a golf bag stand system,
and more particularly to a golf bag stand system that stably
supports a golf bag in a standing position and that retracts in
such a way as to limit and reduce entanglements with other objects
such as a golfer's legs when the golf bag is picked up from the
standing position.
[0003] 2. Background and Related Art
[0004] Golf bag stand systems are known in the art. These stand
systems provide a convenient way for golfers to access contents of
golf bags prior to, during, or after a round of golf. Some golf bag
stand systems are particularly designed for use by golfers who
carry their bags during a round of golf. In such instances, golfers
must frequently put down their bags, select and access a golf club
or other golf accessory, strike a golf ball, return the golf club
(and any accessories used), and then pick up their bags.
Additionally, the golfers must carry their golf bags between shots,
and typically desire to do so comfortably.
[0005] Therefore, retractable golf bag stand systems have been
devised that provide a mechanism to support the golf bag and
provide access to golf clubs and accessories when a golf bag is set
down, and that retract so as not to interfere with carrying the
golf bag when the golf bag is picked up. Typical existing
retractable golf bag stand systems include a pair of substantially
straight legs made of tubular steel, fiberglass, or some other
material. The two legs are hingedly attached at or near the top of
the golf bag and are typically biased in some way so as to remain
close to the golf bag in a retracted position. A push-up plate or
other similar device is typically attached at the base of the golf
bag so as to be pushed upward when the golf bag is set down in an
angled position, or when the golf bag is set down in a vertical
position and is subsequently tipped toward an angled standing
position. One or more rods or other force-translating members
transfers force from the push-up plate to the pair of legs so as to
overcome the biasing force holding the legs close to the golf bag,
thereby deploying the legs into a bag-supporting position, as is
well known in the art.
[0006] Existing golf bag stand systems have significant problems.
For example, some systems deploy the two legs into a position
whereby the two legs are too close to the central axis of the golf
bag. In other words, such systems do not provide enough separation
between the two legs during deployment to provide a stable support
for the golf bag. As may be readily appreciated, the base of the
golf bag and the two legs provide a three-point support for the
golf bag. When the two legs do not adequately separate during
deployment, the golf bag is not adequately supported against a
side-to-side tipping motion or force. This means that golfers using
such bags may frequently tip the bag over when attempting to
retrieve a club or other golf accessory or when attempting to
return a club or other golf accessory. The problem is exacerbated
on uneven terrain, where it may be difficult to obtain a stable
placement of the golf bag.
[0007] To overcome these difficulties, some existing golf bag stand
systems deploy the pair of legs in a wider stance. This provides
more stable support of the golf bag, but such support comes at a
cost. Because the legs deploy to a wider-apart position, such
systems commonly result in more entanglement issues when the stand
system is deployed and especially when the golf bag is picked up
from the standing position. Specifically, to pick up a golf bag
from a standing position, the golfer typically approaches the golf
bag from the side and grasps one or more handles or carry straps of
the golf bag and then lifts the golf bag. This action removes
pressure from the push-up plate, and the biasing force on the legs
causes them to retract. However, the golfer's legs are commonly in
the path of the widely-deployed and now-retracting stand system
legs. The retracting legs therefore often strike the legs of the
golfer picking up the bag. As may be appreciated, golfers commonly
do not like the experience of being struck by the retracting legs.
Additionally, when the stand system legs strike the golfer's legs,
the stand system legs are not able to fully retract and the bag
cannot be comfortably carried until the golfer repositions the golf
bag to allow the legs to fully retract and then repositions the
golf bag again to a comfortable carrying position.
[0008] It is not desirable or practical to expect a golfer to
simply pick up the golf bag while standing farther to the side of
the golf bag to avoid entanglement issues, as this places much
greater strain on the golfer's back and muscles. However, golfers
who use such bags commonly do this, often from an unconscious
adaptation to avoid entanglements, placing themselves at greater
risk for injury or muscle fatigue.
[0009] During an 18-hole round of golf, a par-level golfer may
expect to set down his or her golf bag into the standing position
and to pick up his or her golf bag from a standing position a
minimum of approximately 54 times. Additional times where it may
become desirable or necessary to set down and pick up the golf bag
may include times when a golfer is waiting for a playing partner to
take a golf shot, or when waiting for other golfers in front of the
golfer to complete a hole or move along. As most golfers who carry
their own bags are not par golfers, most golfers will set down and
pick up their bags significantly more often. The problems with
existing stand systems are therefore exacerbated by the frequency
with which such problems are encountered. Either the golfer must be
careful in placing, accessing, and picking up an unstable bag, or
the golfer must put up with repeated potential entanglement
situations.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Implementation of the invention provides a golf bag stand
system whereby the legs of the stand system deploy in an arcuate
path. The arcuate path permits the legs of the golf bag stand
system to be widely deployed to support the golf bag, while
minimizing entanglement issues during deployment and retraction of
the legs of the stand system. This is achieved because the arcuate
deployment keeps the legs closer to the center line of the bag
during a greater period of the deployment/retraction, with the
sideward/outward movement of the legs occurring at the end of leg
deployment and at the beginning of leg retraction. This may be
achieved by hingedly connecting the legs to the golf bag whereby
each hinged connection of the legs to the golf bag has an axis of
rotation that is inclined toward the center of the golf bag when
the golf bag is in an upright vertical position. The legs of the
golf bag include a bend or jog that permits the inclined axis of
rotation while keeping the legs close to the golf bag when in the
retracted position.
[0011] Further implementation of the invention provides a golf bag
stand system whereby the legs of the stand system are automatically
and securely retained in a fully-stowed position when the golf bag
is being carried. This may be achieved by the use of magnets and
the like to apply an attractive magnetic force between a portion of
the golf bag and a portion of the legs of the stand system.
Implementations of the invention are described below in conjunction
with the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The objects and features of the present invention will
become more fully apparent from the following description and
appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical
embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be
considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described
and explained with additional specificity and detail through the
use of the accompanying drawings in which:
[0013] FIG. 1A-1C show perspective views of stylized
representations of golf bags;
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a perspective stylized representation of a golf
bag including legs of a golf bag stand system;
[0015] FIG. 3A-3C show perspective views of stylized
representations of golf bags having stand systems in accordance
with embodiments of the present invention;
[0016] FIGS. 4 and 5 show perspective views of stylized
representations of golf bag stand systems in accordance with
embodiments of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of leg deployment of the
type achieved by embodiments of the present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a stylized representation
of a golf bag stand system that includes an automatic leg retention
system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] A description of embodiments of the present invention will
now be given with reference to the Figures. It is expected that the
present invention may take many other forms and shapes, hence the
following disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not
limiting, and the scope of the invention should be determined by
reference to the appended claims.
[0020] Although the following description focuses on a golf bag
stand system, it is envisioned that the embodiments of the
invention may be advantageously applied to other bags and carrying
devices. By way of example and not limitation, it is envisioned
that embodiments of stand systems similar to those described below
may be used with baseball bag and equipment bags, soft-sided and
hard-sided musical instrument bags and cases, travel bags,
including rolling travel bags, and any other carrying device where
a user may find it convenient to have a stand system of the type
described below. Therefore, in the description and claims, the word
"bag" standing alone should be interpreted as embracing any and all
types of bags and carrying devices.
[0021] Embodiments of the invention provide a golf bag stand system
whereby the legs of the stand system deploy in an arcuate path. The
arcuate path permits the legs of the golf bag stand system to be
widely deployed to support the golf bag, while minimizing
entanglement issues during deployment and retraction of the legs of
the stand system. This is achieved because the arcuate deployment
keeps the legs closer to the center line of the bag during a
greater period of the deployment/retraction, with the
sideward/outward movement of the legs occurring at the end of leg
deployment and at the beginning of leg retraction. This may be
achieved by hingedly connecting the legs to the golf bag whereby
each hinged connection of the legs to the golf bag has an axis of
rotation that is inclined toward the center of the golf bag when
the golf bag is in an upright vertical position. The legs of the
golf bag include a bend or jog that permits the inclined axis of
rotation while keeping the legs close to the golf bag when in the
retracted position.
[0022] Some embodiments of the invention provides a golf bag stand
system whereby the legs of the stand system are automatically and
securely retained in a fully-stowed position when the golf bag is
being carried. This may be achieved by the use of magnets and the
like to apply an attractive magnetic force between a portion of the
golf bag and a portion of the legs of the stand system. Embodiments
of the invention are described below in conjunction with the
attached drawings.
[0023] FIGS. 1A-1C and FIG. 2 illustrate highly-stylized
representations of a golf bag 10. As will be appreciated by one of
skill in the art, the golf bag 10 includes a substantially tubular
structure with an open top 12 and a substantially-closed bottom
(not shown). This structure permits the insertion of one or more
golf clubs through the open top 12 to be contained in the tubular
structure of the golf bag 10, and the substantially-closed bottom
prevents the golf clubs from falling out the bottom of the golf bag
10. In most instances, the golf clubs will remain within the
tubular structure of the golf bag 10 in any orientation of the golf
bag 10 between vertical (meaning the open top 12 is substantially
vertically oriented above the substantially-closed bottom) and
horizontal, and may even remain within the tubular structure of the
golf bag 10 if the golf bag is tipped past horizontal (wherein the
open top 12 is below the substantially-closed bottom) for a time if
the golf bag 10 is not shaken too much. In the representation shown
in FIGS. 1A-1C and FIG. 2, the golf bag 10 has an
approximately-elliptical open top 12, but one of skill in the art
will readily appreciate that the open top 12 may have many
different shapes, including oval, circular, elliptical, almost
rectangular, irregular shapes, and any other shape. The shape of
the open top 12 may vary for functional and aesthetic purposes.
[0024] Although not shown in the stylized representations of FIGS.
1A-1C and FIG. 2, the golf bag 10 may include a number of pockets,
clips, attachments, storage devices, and other structures to
provide functionality to the golf bag 10. Additionally, as is known
in the art but not shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and FIG. 2, the open top 12
may include one or more dividers that may assist a golfer in
organizing his or her clubs in the golf bag in a way that permits
quick retrieval of the golfer's desired club. In some instances,
the dividers may extend vertically downward within the tubular
structure beyond the open top 12, and may even extend the full
height of the golf bag 10 (i.e. down to the substantially-closed
bottom).
[0025] The golf bag 10 may also include a stand system to permit a
golfer to set the golf bag 10 down in an angled position to permit
easy access and retrieval of golf clubs and other accessories from
the golf bag 10. The stand system typically includes a pair of legs
14 connected to the golf bag at a pair of leg attachment points 16.
Each leg 14 includes a proximal end attached to the golf bag 10 and
a distal end that contacts the ground when the legs are deployed
and the golf bag 10 set down. As is known in the art, each leg 14
may include several components or parts, including an attachment
member that attaches to one of the attachment points 16, a long leg
member attached at one end to the attachment member, and optionally
a ground-contacting member attached at the opposite end of the long
leg member. Each of the various members of the legs 14 may be made
of various materials, including metal such as tubular steel,
aluminum, titanium, or other alloys, plastic, fiberglass, composite
materials, graphite, and/or carbon composites. Alternatively, two
or more of the components of the legs 14 may be manufactured as
unitary pieces. As is also known in the art, the stand system may
include a push-up plate at the base of the golf bag 10 and one or
more rods or force-translating members to transfer force from the
push-up plate to the legs 14 to cause the legs 14 to deploy when
the golf bag 10 is set down and/or tipped from a vertical position
to an angled position.
[0026] As discussed above, the legs 14 may be attached to the golf
bag 10 at the pair of leg attachment points 16. The leg attachment
points 16 (and the corresponding attachment members of the legs 14)
may take many differing shapes and may be made of similar materials
to the various members of the legs 14. Typically, the leg
attachment points 16 include some structure that is fixedly
attached to a frame or other supporting structure of the golf bag
10, and the structure of the leg attachment points 16 typically
provides a hinged-type connection between the leg attachment points
16 and the legs 14. Specifically, whatever the shape or structure
of the leg attachment points 16 and the attachment members of the
legs 14, each of the leg attachment points 16 will provide an axis
of rotation 18. Each leg 14 connected to the golf bag 10 deploys
and retracts by rotating about the axis of rotation 18 for that leg
14. In some instances, there may be some play allowed about the
axis of rotation 18 in the connection between the leg 14 and the
attachment point 18, but the bulk of the movement of the leg 14
during deployment and retraction of the leg 14 occurs by hinged or
rotational movement around the axis of rotation 18.
[0027] FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate how typical stand systems attach and
deploy the legs 14. In such systems, the axis of rotation 18 is
substantially horizontal when the golf bag 10 is in a vertical
position, as is illustrated in FIG. 1A. As is illustrated in FIGS.
1B and 1C, the axes of rotation 18 for the pair of legs 14 and
attachment points 16 are generally offset from one other when
looking down the long axis of the golf bag 10 so as to provide
separation between the legs 14 during deployment. If the axes of
rotation 18 are closer to parallel (FIG. 1B), the legs 14 are
deployed more closely together (with the above-mentioned
difficulties of a less-stable golf bag 10). In contrast, if the
axes of rotation are disposed so as to be farther from parallel or
more acute to one another (FIG. 1C), the legs 14 are deployed more
widely (with the above-mentioned entanglement difficulties). In any
event, the legs 14 are typically retracted to a position with the
legs 14 close to the body of the golf bag, as in FIG. 2.
[0028] Embodiments of the invention provide for wide-spaced
deployment of the legs 14 while simultaneously reducing the problem
of entanglement during deployment or retraction by modifying the
axes of rotation 18 as may be seen in FIGS. 3A-3C and FIG. 4. In
these embodiments, the axis of rotation 18 for each leg 14 and
attachment point 16 is rotated so that it is not horizontal when
the golf bag 10 is in a vertical position. Instead, as may be seen
in FIG. 3A, each axis of rotation has an angle of inclination 20 so
that the portion 22 of the axis of rotation 18 closer to a vertical
plane of symmetry 24 of the golf bag stand system (i.e. that
portion 22 of the axis of rotation 18 of one attachment point 16
closer to the opposite attachment point 16). As may be seen in
FIGS. 3A-3C, the vertical plane of symmetry 24 generally bisects
the golf bag 10 (to the extent that the golf bag 10 is symmetrical)
along the long axis of the golf bag 10 and extends in the same
direction that the golf bag 10 is tipped during deployment of the
legs 14, so that the pair of legs 14 are typically substantially
symmetrically disposed about the vertical plane of symmetry 24 of
the golf bag at all times during deployment and retraction of the
legs 14.
[0029] The angle of inclination 20 may be of varying angles from
horizontal (when the golf bag is in a vertically-disposed position)
so as to achieve the advantages discussed herein, including angles
of 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, 25 degrees, 30 degrees, 35
degrees, 40 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees and angles
between these angles and ranges of angles including these angles.
Because of the advantages discussed herein by providing the axes of
rotation 18 with the angle of inclination 20, the axes of rotation
18 may be more close to parallel to each other (i.e. more obtuse to
one another than in FIGS. 1B and 1C) when viewed down the long axis
of the golf bag 10 (as in FIG. 3B), and may even be parallel to
each other when viewed down the long axis of the golf bat 10 (as in
FIG. 3C). This may be done because of the deployment separation
provided by the angle of inclination 20, as will be discussed
below.
[0030] As may be appreciated by reference to FIG. 3A, the long axis
of the legs 14 are not entirely perpendicular to the axis of
rotation 18, otherwise the legs 14 would cross each other and
project from the golf bag 10 in inconvenient ways when the legs 14
are in their retracted position. For this reason, as may be seen in
FIG. 4, each of the legs 14 may be provided with a jog or bend
("jog 26") that separates the legs 14 into two sections, an upper
portion 28 between the leg attachment point 16 and the jog 26, and
a lower portion 30 distal the jog 26 and having a long axis that is
approximately parallel to the long axis of the golf bag 10 when the
legs 14 are retracted. As may be appreciated by reference to FIG.
4, the jog 26 allows the legs 14 to rest against the golf bag 10
when the legs 14 are in their retracted position, for ease in
carrying the golf bag 10. The angle between the upper portion 28
and the lower portion 30 of each leg 14 (i.e. the angle of jog 26)
may vary approximately with the angle of inclination 20.
[0031] As may be appreciated, any shape of the leg 14 that
transitions between the leg attachment point 16 and the lower
portion 30 is consistent with the embodiments of the invention. By
way of example, reference is made to FIG. 5, wherein the jog 26 is
located at a more distal location on the legs 14, and the upper
portion 28 is non-perpendicular to the axis of rotation 18. The
same effect may be achieved by an arcuate or curved portion of the
leg 14 that curves between the attachment point 16 and the lower
portion 30.
[0032] Providing the axis of rotation 18 with the angle of
inclination 20 and providing the leg 14 with a jog 26 or other
shape as described herein alleviates the problems inherent in
existing stand systems. Specifically, wide deployment of the legs
14 may be achieved with reduced entanglement issues. This is
illustrated in FIG. 6, which shows how the legs 14 deploy in
embodiments of the present invention. Specifically, the legs 14
deploy in an arcuate path 32, as is illustrated in FIG. 6. The
arcuate path 32 provides wide deployment of the legs 14 while
reducing entanglement issues. Specifically, a significant portion
of the outward-to-inward motion of the distal ends of the legs 14
occurs at the end of deployment of the legs 14 and at the beginning
of retraction of the legs 14. This allows the legs 14 to avoid
entanglement with objects including a golfer's legs during
deployment or retraction of the legs 14.
[0033] Thus, the structure described herein provides for a method
of deploying and retracting the legs 14 of a golf bag stand system
that includes providing the legs 14 in a retracted position
proximate the golf bag 10, wherein the proximal ends of the legs 14
are attached to the golf bag 10 near an upper open end of the golf
bag. The method further includes deploying the legs 14 into a
deployed position, wherein the distal ends of the legs 14 are
separated from each other to provide stable support of the golf
bag, and wherein the legs 14 travel along the arcuate path 34. The
method also includes retracting the legs 14 along the arcuate path
34. The method provides stability of the golf bag while reducing
the risk of unwanted entanglements of the legs 14 during deployment
or retraction.
[0034] The embodiments of the invention also provide for a method
for attaching the legs 14 of a golf bag stand system to a golf bag
so that the distal ends of the legs 14 will deploy and retract in
the arcuate path 32. The method includes providing a leg attachment
point 16 on the golf bag 10 near the upper end of the golf bag 10
and providing legs 14 having a lower portion 30 configured to rest
along the sides of the golf bag 10 when the legs 14 are in a
retracted position. The method also includes attaching the legs 14
to the leg attachment points 16 so that each of the legs 14 is
hingedly attached to the golf bag whereby each leg 14 rotates about
the angle of rotation 18 at the leg attachment point 16 and whereby
the angle of rotation 18 is inclined toward the vertical plane of
symmetry an angle of between 15 and 75 degrees from horizontal when
the golf bag 10 is in a vertical position. The embodiments of the
invention embrace any other method of attaching the legs 14 to the
golf bag 10 so that the legs 14 will travel in the arcuate path 32,
including systems of gears.
[0035] One of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the
exact arcuate path 32 of the legs 14 during deployment may be
varied by varying the angle of inclination 20, the distance between
the leg attachment points 16, and the angle between the axes of
rotation 18 of the leg attachment points 16 when viewed along the
vertical axis of the golf bag 10 (e.g., compare FIGS. 3B and 3C).
It is expected that such variation is a matter of simple
experimentation well within the skill of one of modest skill in the
art. As such, the details of such variations are not described
herein.
[0036] One of skill in the art will also readily appreciate that
any form of connection of the legs 14 at the leg attachment points
16 that provides the axes of rotation 18 and substantially hinged
or rotational movement of the legs 14 about the axes of rotation 18
will fall within the embodiments of the invention. By way of
example and not limitation, the axis of rotation 18 may be provided
by a rod on either of the leg 14 or the leg attachment point 16 and
a corresponding slot, hole, receiver, clamp, or other member on the
other of the leg 14 and the leg attachment point 16. Alternatively,
both the leg attachment point 14 and the proximal end of the leg 14
may be provided with a hole that receives a separate rod or rivet
that provides the axis of rotation 18. In other embodiments, a
separate hinge may be provided and attached to both the leg
attachment point 16 and the leg 14 to provide the axis of rotation
18. Any such method or other known method of providing a connection
having the axis of rotation 18 may be used. It is preferred that
the method or mechanism so used be light and durable to allow the
golf bag 10 to be carried and to be used without breakage for an
extended period of time.
[0037] At least some embodiments of the invention also address
problems with the legs 14 of the golf bag 10 dangling, bouncing, or
having some other movement from the fully-retracted or stowed
position, as commonly occurs in existing golf bag stand systems. In
existing systems, when the legs are in their stowed position and
the golf bag is being carried, the bag is typically carried in a
somewhat horizontal position with the legs facing downward. In this
position, the golfer's walking motion causes cyclical up-and-down
motion and force to be applied to the golf bag and legs. This may
cause the legs to move from their fully-stowed position, causing a
risk of entanglement, a risk of the partially-deployed legs hitting
the golfer carrying the golf bag, and risks of noise and
vibration.
[0038] Some embodiments of the invention prevent or reduce this
problem by automatically securing the legs 14 to the body of the
golf bag 10 when the legs 14 are in the fully-retracted or stowed
position. This may be provided by a means for securing the stowed
legs 14 to the bag. One means for securing the stowed legs 14 to
the golf bag 10 is illustrated in FIG. 7. The means for securing
the stowed legs 14 to the golf bag 10 illustrated in FIG. 7
includes a bracket 34 that is attached to the golf bag 10 or to one
or more push rods 36. The push rod(s) 36 may translate force from a
push-up plate (not illustrated) to the legs 14, so as to deploy the
legs 14 when the golf bag 14 is set down/tipped as is known in the
art. The bracket 34 may include magnets 38 that may apply an
attractive force to the legs 14 (if made of a ferromagnetic
material such as solid or tubular steel, and/or other alloys of
iron, cobalt, and nickel, for example), to a portion of the legs
14, such as a ferromagnetic portion incorporated into or attached
to the legs 14, or to corresponding magnets incorporated into or
attached to the legs 14. Alternatively, magnets 38 may be
incorporated into or attached to the legs 14, and the bracket 34
may be made of a ferromagnetic material or may have a ferromagnetic
portion at a location corresponding to the magnets 38 in the legs
14. Hereafter, the corresponding magnets, magnets and ferromagnetic
portions, or magnets and ferromagnetic legs are referred to as
magnetically-interacting portions.
[0039] As may be appreciated, when the legs 14 are retracted into a
position that is stowed or nearly stowed, the
magnetically-interacting portions apply a force to the legs 14,
causing the legs 14 to more fully move into the fully stowed or
retracted position. The magnetic force will also keep the legs 14
in the fully-retracted/fully-stowed position, thereby avoiding the
aforementioned problems that may be encountered with unrestrained
stowed legs 14. The strength of the magnets, and thereby the
attractive magnetic force may be varied or chosen so as to
automatically and securely stow the legs 14 in the fully-stowed
position, without requiring that undue force be applied to the legs
14 to deploy the legs.
[0040] In embodiments where the bracket 34 is attached to the one
or more push rods 36, it will be appreciated that when the golf bag
10 is set down or tipped so as to apply force to the push-up plate,
it will cause a vertical (as viewed in FIG. 7) shift in the push
rods 36 and a corresponding shift in the bracket 34. This may
actually assist in separating the bracket 34 and the legs 14, such
as by relatively vertically displacing the magnetically-interacting
portions so as to reduce the magnetic force keeping the legs 14 in
the fully-stowed position.
[0041] In some embodiments, the magnets 38 or other
magnetically-interacting portion(s) may be disposed on a back
surface or inside of the bracket 34 away from view. Although such a
disposition may require stronger magnets to achieve the same
magnetic force, the result may be visually appealing.
[0042] In other embodiments, the magnets 38 may be directly
attached to an internal or external frame of the golf bag 10. In
still other embodiments, the magnets 38 may be sewn, glued, or
stitched into the material of the golf bag 10 or into a pocket made
in the material of the golf bag 10 at an appropriate location so as
to provide the attractive magnetic force. The vertical placement of
the bracket 34, magnets 38 without a bracket 34, or other
magnetically-interacting portions may be varied for aesthetic or
functional purposes and remain within the scope of the described
embodiments of the invention.
[0043] The present invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from its spirit or essential
characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in
all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of
the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims,
rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come
within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be
embraced within their scope.
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