Package and article carriers – Carried by animate bearer – Article held by receiver
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-20
2001-01-16
Shoap, Allan N. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Carried by animate bearer
Article held by receiver
C224S264000, C224S259000, C224S614000, C206S315300, C206S315700, C267S070000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173874
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf bag and more particularly pertains to a golf bag employing a carrying strap system for reducing stress upon the shoulders of a user.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of golf bag carrying straps is known in the prior art. Additionally, golf bags employing dual carrying straps have recently become quite popular. Such carrying straps,however, are known to consist of expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,077 to Izzo discloses a shoulder-born carrying strap assembly for carrying golf clubs. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,558,259 and 5,042,704 to Izzo each disclose a golf bag with dual carrying straps. U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,288 to Sattler discloses a supplemental carry strap for a golf bag. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,654 to Jones discloses a golf bag having a hand grip located within its base.
None of these prior art references illustrates a dual strap system specifically designed to reduce stress upon the shoulders of a user through the combination of shock absorbers and gel inserts. In this respect, the carrying strap system of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of reducing stress upon the shoulders of a user.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for improved carrying arrangements for golf bags. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of carrying arrangements now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved carrying system for a standing bag. The system employs dual gel filled straps which are joined to a shock absorber. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to reduce the stresses a golf bag places upon the shoulders of a user.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a self standing bag having a pair of pivotal legs secured proximate its upper extent. These legs are adapted to be retracted when the bag is lifted from the ground. A pair of straps enable the bag to be carried upon both shoulders of a user in a backpack style. Additionally, in order to ease the weight of the bag upon a user, the each of these straps is partially filled with a gel material. Furthermore, the lower portion of each of the straps is secured to the bag by way of a shock absorber. This shock absorber includes upper and lower components which are interconnected by a pair of springs.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved golf bag strap system for use with a self standing golf bag. The system is for use in conjunction with a golf bag having a rigid lower end, a rigid upper opened end and an intermediate extent therebetween. A pivotal foot is secured to the lower end of the bag, and a pair of legs having upper ends are pivotally interconnected proximate the opened end of the bag. Additionally, a pair of actuation rods are interconnected between the upper ends of the legs and the pivotal foot. These legs have a first retracted orientation corresponding to an unpivoted orientation of the foot, and a second pivoted orientation wherein the legs are extended corresponding to the pivoted orientation of the foot. A spring plunger is included having a lower end secured to the intermediate extent of the golf bag. The upper end of the plunger takes the form of a rectangular buckle, with the rectangular buckle having an upper rectangular housing secured thereto. The plunger also includes a lower rectangular buckle and an associated lower rectangular housing. The upper and lower housings are slidably interconnected, with a pair of springs being positioned intermediate the upper and lower housing. Thus, movement of the upper and lower buckles causes each of the springs to be compressed. A pair of bag straps are included with each of the straps having an upper end, a lower end and an intermediate extent therebetween. The lower ends of the straps are secured to the upper buckle, and the upper ends of the straps are secured proximate the upper opened end of the golf bag opposite the upper ends of the pair of legs. Additionally, each of the intermediate extents are formed into a number of segments with a central elongated segment. Each of the central elongated segments has a bladder with a gel filled interior. Lastly, a divider is positioned within the upper opened end of the bag. The divider has arcuate upper and lower dividers interconnected by a central divider.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a carrying strap arrangement which allows any forces applied to the strap to be absorbed by a spring mechanism.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dual strap wherein each strap is filled with a gel material.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a bag with an upper divider for distributing the weight of the clubs stored within the bag.
Still another object of the present invention is to create a carrying strap system which is specifically adapted to be used in conjunction with a self standing golf bag.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1388241 (1921-08-01), Dierking
patent: 1570500 (1926-01-01), Kennedy
patent: 1764750 (1930-06-01), Richter
patent: 5042654 (1991-08-01), Jones
patent: 5042704 (1991-08-01), Izzo
patent: 5429288 (1995-07-01), Sattler
patent: 5501328 (1996-03-01), Keller et al.
patent: 5558259 (1996-09-01), Izzo
patent: 5577648 (1996-11-01), Sason et al.
patent: 5593077 (1997-01-01), Izzo
patent: 5615811 (1997-04-01), Bell et al.
patent: 5829719 (1998-11-01), Han
Heidenreich Chuck
Stein Louis Cobi
Mai Tri M.
Shoap Allan N.
Spalding Sports Worldwide Inc.
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