Special receptacle or package – For a sport implement – exercise device – or game – For a golf club
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-22
2001-11-13
Weaver, Sue A. (Department: 3727)
Special receptacle or package
For a sport implement, exercise device, or game
For a golf club
C206S315300, C248S096000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315117
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to golf bags, and more particularly to golf bags with extendable and retractable support stands which act in cooperation with an actuator mechanism to support the golf bag at an angle.
2. Description of 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 sports caused by high stake games shown on television.
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.
In these prior golf bags, however, the mechanism that actuates the leg movements is disposed outside of the body of the golf bag and directly contact the ground. The actuator mechanism is therefore susceptible to damages and is esthetically unpleasant.
In addition, because the base plate that activates the actuator mechanism extends beyond the base of the golf bag, the base plate may damage equipment near the golf bag.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf bag having support legs and an actuator mechanism which act in cooperation therewith that obviates one or more problems of the prior art.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golf bag having the actuator mechanism not protruding from the bag body and becoming an obstacle to other nearby equipment.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golf bag having the actuator mechanism which is aesthetically pleasing and prevents dirt and foreign substance from hindering its operation.
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.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a golf bag includes a body having a side surface and a bottom end, the body defining a longitudinal axis; at least one leg pivotally connected to the body and being able to pivot between a retracted position where the leg is disposed substantially longitudinally along the side surface of the body and an extended position where lower end of the leg is spaced apart from the body; an actuator member disposed substantially longitudinally along the side surface of the body and longitudinally moveable relative to the body, the actuator member being connected at an upper portion to the leg so that the longitudinal motion of the actuator shaft effects the pivoting motion of the leg; a base member disposed at the bottom end of the body, the base member having a bottom face substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body and a slanted face extending from the bottom face at an angle therewith to define a cutout region; an actuator plate pivotally connected to the base member, the actuator plate being able to pivot between a first position and a second position, wherein the lower end of actuator member is connected to the actuator plate so that the actuator shaft moves longitudinally when the actuator plate pivots between the first and the second position; and a shutter assembly slidably attached to the base member and to the actuator plate to at least partially enclose the cutout region defined by the base member.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the shutter assembly comprises at least two shutters slidably coupled to each other so that when the actuator plate at the second position the shutters are collapsed. The two shutters include a lower shutter and an upper shutter, wherein the lower shutter is integrally attached to the actuator plate. Preferably, the shutter assembly substantially enclose the cutout region defined by the base member. In addition, the shutters are substantially of a U-shape and are pivotally coupled to each other to share the same pivot hole. The shutters are made of either a non-transparent or a transparent material.
A According to another aspect of the present invention, a lower portion of the actuator member is partially hidden from view to engage the actuator plate. The actuator member is a U-shaped actuating rod, a bottom end of the actuating rod being connected to the actuator plate and a top end being pivotally connected to the leg.
The golf bag according to the present invention may be manufactured by providing a body having a side surface and a bottom end, the body defining a longitudinal axis; pivotally attaching at least one leg to the body and being able to pivot between a retracted position where the leg is disposed substantially longitudinally along the side surface of the body and an extended position where lower end of the leg is spaced apart from the body; providing an actuator member substantially longitudinally along the side surface of the body and longitudinally moveable relative to the body, the actuator member being connected at an upper portion to the leg so that the longitudinal motion of the actuator shaft effects the pivoting motion of the leg; providing a base member disposed at the bottom end of the body, the base member having a bottom face substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body and a slanted face extending from the bottom face at an angle therewith to define a cutout region; pivotally connecting an actuator plate to the base member, the actuator plate being able to pivot between a first position and a second position, wherein the lower end of actuator member is connected to the actuator plate so that the actuator shaft moves longitudinally when the actuator plate pivots between the first and the second position; and attaching a shutter assembly to the base member and to the actuator plate to at least partially enclose the cutout region defined by the base member.
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.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1757471 (1930-05-01), Platt
patent: 2430107 (1947-11-01), Cronrath
patent: 4620682 (1986-11-01), Y
Lee & Hong
Weaver Sue A.
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