Golf Bag

Abstract

A golf bag having a hand hold formed at the lower portion of the golf bag body out of line with the shoulder strap of the golf bag.

Description

This invention relates to golf bags and more specifically the invention is directed to a golf bag having a particularly located hand hold for use in carrying and handling the bag.

Convention golf bags have heretofore been provided with a shoulder strap designed to support the bag in an inclined position while it is carried. The shoulder strap is connected to the upper and lower ends of the bag along the longitudinal axis thereof. Usually a handle is found near the upper end of the bag lying substancially under and parallel to the shoulder strap. These conventional bags however have not always proven comfortable and convenient to carry in position over the shoulder or to move from place to place with the handle. It is the intention of the present invention to provide a particularly located hand hold for a golf bag to permit easy and convenient handling both in the across the shoulder position and when handling the handle.

Briefly the present invention is directed to an improved golf bag for carrying golf clubs. The golf bag includes a club carrying body having a closed lower end and an open upper end for accomodating golf clubs therein. A shoulder carrying strap having an upper end and a lower end is connected at spaced apart locations of the body so that the strap is parrallel to the longitudinal axis of the body. A hand hold for gripping by the hand of a golfer is formed at the side of the bag adjacent the lower end thereof. The hand hold is placed on the circumference of the body in a manner so as to be conveniently gripped by a golfer when the bag is being carried in an across the body position utilizing the shoulder strap in a convenient manner.

In a broad aspect the present invention provides a hand hold formed at the lower portion of a golf bag body. The hand hold is formed adjacent the closed end of the body and is adapted for gripping by a golfer's hand. The hand hold is located on the side of the bag body out of line with the conventional shoulder carrying strap which typically extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bag body and is used to carry the golf bag in an over the shoulder position. The longitudinal axis of the hand hold extends at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body and the shoulder carrying strap.

In a more limited aspect the present invention comprises a golf bag having a shoulder strap connected thereto. The shoulder strap extends longitudinally along the golf bag and is used to support the bag in an across the body position. A hand hold is formed at the lower portion of the bag body out of line with the longitudinal centerline of the shoulder strap. The hand hold is of the inverted U-shape and the end tabs of the inverted U shaped member are adapted to be connected to the lower collar of the bag. The hand bar portion of the inverted U shaped member extends along the periphery of the bag body at right angles to the longitudinal line of the shoulder strap.

In another aspect the present invention provides a hand hold formed at the lower portion of a golf bag body which hand hold is recessed into the lower collar portion of the golf bag. Thus a special lower collar is provided with a port or cut out portion sized to accomodate a golfer's hand. The interior of the collar is provided with a recessed portion suitable for gripping. Means are provided for separating the golfer's hand from the clubs contained in the interior of the golf bag body.

A particular object of the present invention is to provide an improved golf bag having a hand hold near the closed bottom end which hand hold facilitates carrying and handling of the golf bag. Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description read in light of the accompanying drawing which is made a part of this specification and in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of golf bag assembled in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lower portion of an alternative embodiment of golf bag assembled in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken of line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a golf bag generally indicated by the number 10 is shown. The golf bag 10 includes a club carrying body 12 which is used to hold the golf clubs. The bag body 10 has an open end 14 into which the clubs are inserted. The lower end 16 of the body 10 is closed to hold the clubs in place in the bag. As is known in the art the bag body may be formed of canvas or vinyl material. Suitable plastic or leather is used to close off the bottom end of the body.

A shoulder strap 20 is connected to the bag body 12 and is used to support the bag in an inclined position over a golfer's shoulder while it is carried. The upper end 22 of the shoulder strap 20 is connected to the upper end of the body 12 by suitable means such as wire loop 24. The lower end 26 of the shoulder strap is also connected to the body 12 by suitable means such as buckle 28. The shoulder strap is connected to the body 12 so that it is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body 12. It is customary to also provide a handle 30 beneath the shoulder strap 20. The handle 30 also is formed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bag body 12.

In accordance with the present invention a hand hold is formed at the lower portion of the golf bag body 12. The hand hold is formed adjacent the closed end 16 of the body and is adapted to be gripped by a golfer's hand. The hand hold is located on the side of the body out of line with the conventional shoulder strap. Thus in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention a hand hold 32 is connected to the lower portion of the bag body 12. The hand hold 32 is formed in a general inverted U shaped configuration. The tabs 35 and 37 of the inverted U are inserted between the bag body 12 and the lower bag collar 34. The tabs 35 and 37 are fixed in place by suitable means such as by sewing or stapling.

The hand hold is connected to the lower portion of the bag out of line with the shoulder strap. The hand hold is arranged so that it is about 90.degree. out of phase with the longitudinal axis of the shoulder strap. In this manner the hand hold is in the most advantageous position to be gripped by the golfer when the bag is carried in the across the shoulder position. It is also clear that the longitudinal axis of the hand hold is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shoulder strap. Thus the hand bar portion 39 of the hand hold is disposed at right angles to the shoulder strap 20.

An additional feature of the hand hold 32 of the preferred form of the present invention is the dual use of the hand hold as a holder for an umbrella or the like as well as hand hold. Thus a hole 40 is formed in the hand hold 32 for accomodating the tip of an umbrella. The upper portion of the umbrella is secured by means of buckled loop 42. The umbrella may be carried on the bag in such a manner without detracting from the prime function of the hand hold, i.e., serving as a handle on the lower part of the golf bag for the golfer.

An alternative embodiment assembled in accordance with the invention is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom portion of a golf bag and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken at line 3--3 of FIG. 2. The bag body 44 terminates in a special lower collar 45. The lower collar 45 contains a hand port 46 on its peripheral surface. The port 46 is shaped and sized so as to comfortably accomodate entry of at least the four fingers of a golfer's hand.

An inverted base plate 48 and a floor plate 49 cooperate with the lower collar 45 to hold the fabric or vinyl of the bag body 44 securely held by means of sewing or riveting. The inverted base plate 48 contains a depressed portion 51 which is formed to accomodate entry of a golfer's hand between the base plate 48 and the floor plate 49. Thus the depressed portion 51 is alligned with the hand port 46 to provide a recessed hand hold at the lower portion of the golf bag body 44. The floor plate 49 extends over the recessed portion 51 to prevent clubs from contacting the golfer's hand while engaged in the handhold.

The handhold of the alternative embodiment is advantageous in that it is unlikely to become snagged while the bag is being transported. The alternative handhold is also formed on the side of the bag out of line with the shoulder strap. Thus the alternative handhold is formed about 90.degree. out of phase with the longitudinal centerline of the shoulder strap. The handhold is formed so that its longitudinal centerline is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bag. In this manner the handhold is most conveniently grasped by a golfer when the bag is supported in an across the shoulder position on the golfer's body by the shoulder strap.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed the present invention is not limited thereto as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a golf bag which includes a bag body having a closed bottom end and an open top end for holding clubs and a shoulder carrying strap having its ends connected to the body and extending longitudinally along at least a portion of said body the improvement which comprises a hand hold on the side of the bag body 90.degree. out of phase with the shoulder strap and formed on the lower portion of said body adjacent the closed end, the longitudinal axis of the hand hold being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shoulder strap.

2. In a golf bag which includes a bag body having a closed bottom end having a lower collar formed thereabout and an open top end for holding clubs and a shoulder carrying strap having its ends connected to the body and extending longitudinally along at least a portion of said body the improvement which comprises a hand hold recessed into the lower collar of the bag body adjacent the closed end.

3. A golf bag comprising a club carrying body having a closed lower end and an open upper end for accomodating golf clubs therein, a shoulder carrying strap having an upper end and a lower end connected to said body at spaced apart locations on said body parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof and a hand hold for gripping by a hand of a golfer formed on the side of said body adjacent the lower end thereof; said hand hold being 90.degree. out of phase with the longitudinal centerline of the shoulder strap and the longitudinal axis of the hand hold being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shoulder strap.

4. The golf bag of claim 3 where the hand hold is of inverted U shape and extends along the outside of the bag body.

5. The golf bag of claim 3 where the hand hold is recessed into lower collar of the golf bag.

6. The golf bag of claim 5 where the recessed hand hold is formed by a port in the lower collar and a recessed portion in an inverted bottom plate.