Supports – Bag holders – Golf bag
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-03
2001-11-06
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Bag holders
Golf bag
C206S315300, C206S315700, C280S646000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311937
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to golf bags, and more particularly to golf bags having a support stand and extendable and retractable seating apparatus.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Golf is one of the most widely played sports activities in the United States. Not only is this activity already widespread, but the number of golfers continue to grow due to popularity of the sport caused by high stake televised games.
The sport of golf is typically played with a set of golf clubs which are commonly placed in a golf bag. When a golf bag is carried by a golfer, it is desirable to include a stand which supports the golf bag in its upright position to allow easy access to the golf clubs. Conventionally, this function has been accommodated by providing legs which are extendable when the golf bag is placed on the ground and retractable when the golf bag is carried.
Various methods have been used to move the legs between their retracted and extended positions. One method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,377 to Suk (the “Suk reference”). In the Suk reference, before a pair of legs can be used to support a golf bag, a slide member must be moved in a descending position along a two parallel groove track formed in a slide bracket. When the extending feature of the legs are not needed, the user must then manually move the slide member in an upward position along the track. The manual operation of the sliding member may be cumbersome to some golfers.
Another conventional golf bag stand is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,483 to Maeng (the “Maeng reference”). In the Maeng reference, the pair of legs extend away from the golf bag to provide support when the golf bag is forcefully tilted with respect to the ground. In such a position, the contact surface area of the golf bag with the ground is minimal, which comprises the tips of two legs and an edge of the golf bag, and thus possibly causing the golf bag to tip over when it is placed on a slope or irregular surface. In addition, a horizontal drive member pivotally mounted to a base of the golf bag in the Maeng reference must be sufficiently rigid and large to withstand the tilting force, because the drive member must provide all of the actuating force to the U-shaped actuating member.
Since golf entails periods of waiting and substantial amount of walking during the game, it is also desirable to provide a seat on the golf bag of sufficient strength to support the weight of a golfer. The seat should take up a minimal amount of space or be collapsible or removable so as not to impede the golfer in manually carrying the bag or installing on a golf cart.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a golf bag with a built-in seating device that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a self-supporting golf bag having a seat of sufficient strength and dimension to support a golfer when seated thereon.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golf bag having a collapsible seat that may be collapsed close to the bag for easy transport.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a golf bag comprises a body having a front surface, a back surface, a lower region and a base member, the body defining a longitudinal axis; at least one leg pivotally connected to the back surface of the body pivoting between a retracted position where the leg is disposed substantially longitudinally along the back surface of the body and an extended position where the lower end of the leg is spaced apart from the body; a pocket member attached to the front lower region of the body, the pocket member having a collapsible seating surface associated with the front surface of the body; and a support structure connected to the base member and disposed in the pocket member. The support structure including at least one frame member supporting the seating surface, wherein ends of the frame member are coupled to the base member of the body to form the seating surface when the body is tilted.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the support member includes a first frame member connected to the base member and a second frame member pivotally connected to the base member. The second frame member is at least partially coupled to the body to pivot in accordance with the pivoting movement of the body. Preferably, the first frame member is unpivotally erected from the base member.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the base member has first and second receptacles. Each one of the first receptacles defines an opening having a longitudinal cross-section substantially identical to that of the first frame member to securely couple the first frame member with respect to the base member. The ends of the second frame member are substantially spherical and each one of the second receptacles has a socket for receiving the ends of the second frame member to form a pivoting connection.
According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the support member includes a first frame bar connected to the base member and a second frame member pivotally connected to the base member. Preferably, the second frame member of the support member is at least partially coupled to the body to pivot in accordance with the pivoting movement of the body. The first frame bar is unpivotally erected from the base member.
According to one aspect of the second embodiment of the present invention, the base member has first and second receptacles. The first receptacle defines an opening having a longitudinal cross-section substantially identical with that of the first frame bar to securely couple the first frame bar to the base member. The ends of the second frame member are substantially spherical and each one of the second receptacles has a socket for receiving the ends of the second frame member to form a pivoting connection.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by studying the detailed description in conjunction with the drawings and the accompanying claims.
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Le Tan
Lee & Hong
Ramirez Ramon O.
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