FR3151976A1 - Folding Golf Bag with Hinged Cases - Google Patents

Abstract

FOLDABLE GOLF BAG WITH ARTICULATED CASES Foldable golf bag (100), comprising a plurality of tubular cases (10) arranged parallel and longitudinally, each intended to receive at least one golf club via an upper opening (11), in which the cases (10) are articulated around stiffening axes (40) each of which is placed in a hinge between two successive cases; said bag comprising an upper frame (20) made up of articulated links (21), each link being placed above an opening (11) and engaged on two stiffening axes (40), so as to allow free folding of the golf bag between a flat position, a freely shaped volume position and a regularly shaped volume position; each link (21) comprising at least one elastic means (211) for firmly holding the shaft of a golf club. Abstract: Figure 1

Description

Folding Golf Bag with Hinged Cases

The present invention belongs to the field of golf equipment, in particular golf bags, and more particularly relates to a foldable golf bag comprising several articulated cases which can be rigidly assembled.

State of the art

The golf bag is an essential accessory for golfers, allowing them to carry and protect their golf clubs while traveling on the course. In an effort to improve the convenience and portability of golf bags, constant innovations have been made over the years.

Historically, early golf bags were often made of leather and designed to be carried by hand. They were spacious but impractical due to their weight and bulk. However, these early bags laid the foundation for the future evolution of the golf bag concept.

In the 1940s, golf cart bags were introduced. They were equipped with wheels and a retractable handle, allowing golfers to pull them behind them rather than carry them. This greatly reduced the physical effort required to carry golf clubs, but they were still bulky and not very suitable for travel.

The real development of folding golf bags was motivated by the occasional practice of golf that required more convenient and space-saving bags that could be carried like regular luggage. The goal was to create a golf bag that was compact and easy to carry, while still providing sufficient protection for the clubs.

This is how the golf bag known as the “Sunday” came into being. This bag was primarily designed for golfers who preferred to play with a minimal set of clubs. The Sunday bag was lightweight, compact, and often without legs, making it easy to fold and store in a small space.

In the 2000s, collapsible golf bags were introduced to the market. These bags featured a removable stiffener, usually made of aluminum or lightweight steel, which when removed allowed the bag to fold compactly when not in use. Some models even offered the option of removing the top of the bag for even more compactness.

For example, US2006118441 discloses a foldable golf bag comprising a tubular main body, a frame installed on the upper side of the main body, a lower part mounted on the lower ends of the body, a support leg with a first section which can be installed on the preset position of the frame and a second section which can be installed on the preset position of the lower part with its upper end to be connected or separated from the first section. A support leg with a pair of pivoting connecting members at the top of the bag body is located on the opposite side of the support leg of the bag body and can swing between the retracted position and the extended position. With the detachable support leg which can be removed from the bag body, the user can fold the golf bag to reduce the size for easy storage or carrying.

However, despite the possibility of folding them, these bags are still impractical, particularly because they cannot contain the clubs when folded. Thus, for this type of bag, saving space during transport or storage is inevitably accompanied by separate storage of the clubs which can wear out more quickly.

More recently, roll-up golf bags have become popular. These bags are made of a soft, durable material that allows them to be rolled up into a compact shape when the clubs are not in use. These bags are lightweight and easy to carry, while still providing adequate protection for the clubs. These bags are reminiscent of kitchen knife pouches or similar.

In reality, this type of golf bag appeared about a century ago as evidenced by the following documents.

Document US1597870 describes one of the first patented foldable golf bags. It describes more particularly a golf bag made of flexible material consisting of two side parts that can fold freely against each other around a fold line like a double sheet. Each side part is provided with a plurality of parallel longitudinal pockets that can receive golf clubs in particular. This bag further comprises a carrying handle whose two fixing ends are located on the axis of the fold line so that the carrying of the bag by a user produces the folding downwards of the two side parts.

Document US2023792 describes a similar golf bag of flat shape, consisting of two foldable side parts, with in addition, rigid edges, a protective cap and a zipper to close and open the whole like a case of kitchen knives, brushes, etc.

These solutions are suitable for transporting the bag with less bulk, but they are not suitable for using the bag during a round of golf because they do not allow the bag to be used rigidly in a vertical position. Indeed, these bags must necessarily be placed flat on the course, and when there is no additional protection, they can be damaged by the conditions of the course (humidity, heat, roughness of the sand, etc.).

The present invention aims to overcome all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art set out above by proposing a solution which makes it possible both to reduce the size of the golf bag in all circumstances with the clubs in situ, and to place said bag in various rigid configurations in order to be placed vertically and in complete stability.

To this end, the present invention relates to a foldable golf bag comprising a plurality of tubular cases arranged parallel and longitudinally, each intended to receive at least one golf club via an upper opening. This bag is remarkable in that the cases are articulated around stiffening axes, each of which is placed as a hinge between two successive cases, in that it comprises an upper frame made up of articulated links, each link being placed above an opening and engaged on two stiffening axes, so as to allow free folding of the golf bag between a flat position, a freely shaped volume position and a regularly shaped volume position, and in that each link comprises at least one elastic means for firmly holding the shaft of a golf club.

The regular shape when putting the bag into volume can be rectangular.

More generally, by "regular" we mean a regular polygon shape (triangle, rectangle, pentagon, etc.).

In order to allow the golf bag to be flattened and expanded, at least one link of the upper frame, called the end link, comprises a quick-attachment means enabling it to engage in a stiffening shaft and to disengage therefrom by manual action by a user. Such a means is, for example, a clip hook.

According to one embodiment, each link comprises two elastic means, each located at one end of said link. This makes it possible to store two golf clubs in each case.

According to an exemplary embodiment, each elastic means of the links comprises a curved branch defining a housing, so as to allow the handle of a golf club to be clipped.

For greater overall rigidity, the golf bag further features a lower frame facing the upper frame and positioned on the other side of the cases, said lower frame also being made up of as many hinged elements as there are links in the upper frame to follow the folding/unfolding movements of the latter.

According to one embodiment, each case has a flat exterior face and a curved interior face defining a useful volume for storing golf clubs.

More particularly, the outer faces are rigid, to improve the rigidity of the golf bag, and the inner faces are flexible to allow more compact volume configurations of said bag by deforming by compression against each other.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the upper frame is configured to allow at least one volume arrangement of the golf bag following a parallelepiped shape of rectangular cross section.

For example, the golf bag has six cases and six links in the upper frame. Thus, the rectangular shape of the upper frame can be achieved with one link on each short side and two links on each long side of the rectangle.

Of course, the golf bag according to the invention further comprises convenience means among gripping means (handle, grip, etc.), transport means (shoulder strap, wheels and sliding pull handle, etc.) and additional storage means for equipment other than golf clubs (pockets for balls, tees, gloves, bottles, etc.).

The fundamental concepts of the invention having just been set out above in their most elementary form, other details and characteristics will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows and with reference to the appended drawings, giving by way of non-limiting example an embodiment of a foldable golf bag with articulated cases, in accordance with the principles of the invention.

Presentation of the drawings

The figures are provided for purely illustrative purposes for a better understanding of the invention without limiting its scope. The various elements may be represented schematically and are not necessarily to scale. In all the figures, identical or equivalent elements bear the same numerical reference.

It is thus illustrated in:
: a perspective view of a golf bag set up according to one embodiment of the invention;
: a perspective view of the golf bag flat before folding;
: a top perspective view of the golf bag;
: a top view of the golf bag in volume, showing the arrangement of the upper frame links;
: a top view of the golf bag laid flat;
: a partial perspective view of the golf bag, showing the lower frame.
Detailed description of embodiments

It should be noted that certain technical elements well known to those skilled in the art are recalled here to avoid any insufficiency or ambiguity in the understanding of the present invention.

In the embodiment described below, reference is made to a golf bag, intended primarily for playing golf as its name indicates. This non-limiting example is given for a better understanding of the invention and does not exclude the use of the golf bag in activities close to golf, or even the adaptation of the latter to other applications requiring both the storage of tools or longiform equipment and a smaller footprint.

In the present description, the term “bag” is sometimes used to designate by extension the golf bag according to the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 show a foldable golf bag 100, comprising several tubular club storage cases 10, hinged to each other, an upper frame 20 and a lower frame 30 each consisting of hinged rigid elements, and connected to each other by the cases 10. Stiffening axes 40, each running along a longitudinal side of a case 10, make it possible to hinge said cases and to connect the upper 20 and lower 30 frames.

Each case 10, according to the example illustrated, is a cylindrical tube having a flat face and a curved face with a right section in the shape of an arc of a circle.

Each case 10 has an upper opening 11 at its upper end, through which a golf club can be inserted or removed.

The flat faces and the curved faces of the cases 10 are respectively located outside and inside the golf bag 100 when said bag is set up as shown in the figure. .

The flat face of the cases 10 is preferably rigid to provide overall rigidity to the bag 100, while their curved face is preferably flexible in order to increase the compactness of said bag when it is put into volume, in which case the interior faces can deform by compressing against each other.

Of course, the cases 10 may have other alternative shapes, in particular cylindrical shapes with a circular or elliptical section, truncated cone shapes converging from top to bottom, etc., provided that they include the upper openings 11 through which the golf clubs can be inserted or removed.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the cases 10 are closed at their lower ends, opposite the upper openings 11. This makes it possible in particular to place the clubs entirely in the cases whose length is greater than that of the clubs.

However, the cases may have lower ends that can be opened, in particular by a quick opening/closing system (press studs, zipper, etc.).

In any case, each case 10 can accommodate at least two clubs stored head to tail, in order to transport the clubs completely covered, from the head to the grip, and prevent them from being damaged or damaging other luggage during a trip for example.

The cases 10 are surmounted by the upper frame 20 whose articulated elements make it possible both to place the bag 100 in different rigid positions and to position the clubs inside said cases.

The upper frame 20 in fact comprises several links 21 articulated successively around the stiffening axes 40, each link 21 being inserted between two axes 40 at its two ends.

There represents the golf bag 100 in a perspective allowing a better visualization of the arrangement of the links 21, with one link less to allow an opening 11 to be seen in its entirety.

It should be noted that in some figures, elements of the bag may not be shown. This is particularly the case in figures 1 and 3 in which a case 10 and a link 21 have been deliberately “hidden” for better understanding.

Each link 21 has a C shape whose closed side, substantially rectilinear, is oriented towards the outside of the bag 100, and whose open side, opposite the closed side, ends with two curved branches 211 each defining a housing 212 intended to receive the handle of a golf club.

The branches 211 have a certain elasticity to allow the clubs, previously inserted into the cases 10, to clip by their handle into the housings 212 provided for this purpose.

Thus, clipping the handles into the housings 212 of the links 21 makes it possible to block the head of the clubs above to facilitate, for example, the ordering of these by their names and numbers.

The 21 links can for this purpose have numbers for storing the clubs. This makes it easier for the player to choose and grab the club without having to mix and push the other clubs.

Furthermore, locking the clubs in the links 21 advantageously makes it possible to maintain the clubs in a stable position and to limit their lateral movement when transporting the golf bag 100, thus reducing premature wear of the handles.

Indeed, when the clubs are stored in the golf bag 100, their heads protrude from the openings 11 to be grasped by the player. Thus, the shafts of the clubs are supported in the links 21. The various movements of the bag as well as the repetitive removal and replacement of the clubs cause friction of the shafts against the inner surfaces of the links 21 likely to cause their wear. As a result, the links 21 have elasticity, via their branches 211, to tighten the shafts of the clubs in the housings 212 and limit their movements during transport.

The inner surfaces of the links 21 may also have a protective coating to further limit wear on the club shafts due to friction.

According to the illustrated example, which is particularly suited to a parallelepiped volume of the golf bag 100 with a rectangular cross section, the links 21 are of two types: the transverse links 21a and the longitudinal links 21b which respectively form the short sides and the long sides of the upper frame 20.

There represents a top view of the golf bag 100, allowing a better visualization of the generally rectangular shape of the upper frame 20 when said bag is put into volume. This shape is obtained by a particular arrangement of the links 21, in which each transverse link 21a forms the short side of the rectangle and is positioned substantially perpendicular to the long sides of the rectangle each formed of two successive and aligned longitudinal links 21b.

As a result, the ends of each link 21 are shaped, depending on the location of the latter in the upper frame 20, to cooperate with the ends of the adjacent links.

More particularly and according to the example illustrated, the ends of the longitudinal links 21b located at the level of the transverse axis of symmetry (T) have a shape allowing them to be joined and aligned.

Furthermore, in order to be able to articulate on the stiffening axes 40 and thus allow the folding and unfolding of the golf bag 100, the links 21 have holes at their ends into which the axes 40 are introduced.

Thus, each hole of a link 21 is superimposed on a hole of an adjacent link 21 so that said holes are crossed by the same articulation axis 40. For this purpose, the ends of the links 21 are shaped to allow this superposition as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

There shows a top view of the golf bag 100 in a flat position in which the cases 10 are substantially in the same plane. This position is obtained in particular by means of links 21, called end links, which can be detached from each other and assembled when being set up.

In order for the golf bag 100 to be able to be opened and closed, one of its links 21 has on its end intended to be free, in place of the engagement hole in an axle 40, a quick attachment means 215 capable of engaging in an axle 40 and quickly releasing it by a simple manual action by the user.

The quick attachment means 215 is for example a clipping hook.

A thick arrow on the represents the direction of opening of the golf bag 100 to pass from a closed position, in which the attachment means 215 of the end link is fixed on its associated axis 40, to an open position in which said means is completely disengaged from said axis.

Of course, starting from the open position of the , the golf bag 100 can be put into volume according to different configurations, different from the parallelepiped configuration of the , and in particular prismatic configurations with a triangular base or configurations of any shape.

In addition, and without the release of the end link, the bag 100 can be flattened by lifting three links alternately, so that the links overlap two by two on a single line. For this purpose, the links 21 are slidably mounted on the stiffening pins 40.

This allows the 100 bag to be flattened with the clubs in place, quickly and with very little manipulation. In this case, the 100 bag is not completely flattened as in the , but flattened on two layers like a cardboard box with an open bottom that is flattened along its fold lines.

There finally represents the golf bag in an upside down position to show the lower frame 30.

The lower frame 30 comprises as many articulated elements 31 as there are links 21 in the upper frame 20, in order to follow the movements of the latter.

The articulated elements 31 of the lower frame 30 are of a different design from that of the links 21, and only have the function of engaging in the articulation axes 40. This makes it possible to improve the overall rigidity of the golf bag 100.

Among the articulated elements 31, one element comprises a quick attachment means 315 to ensure the same function as the attachment means 215 of the end link 21.

Thus, the frames, upper 20 and lower 30, and the stiffening axes 40 connecting them constitute a freely foldable framework of the golf bag 100, said framework supporting the cases 10 which are the main storage spaces of said bag.

The upper frame 20 and the lower frame 30 operate together by means of a locking/unlocking system enabling their respective movements to be coupled/released during the operations of filling and flattening the bag 100.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the locking/unlocking system is actuated by a handle 53 which makes it possible to disengage and engage a stiffening axis 40 in the articulated end element 31 of the lower frame 30, by a simple downward or upward actuation.

Of course, the golf bag 100 may include any other means of convenience, in particular means of gripping, transport, additional storage, etc. Such means are partially represented and indicated by the references 51, 52 and 53.

The golf bag 100, according to the illustrated example, also includes lower extensions 12 on all or part of the cases 10. These extensions 12, visible on the , allow to accommodate golf clubs longer than the others.

It is apparent from the present description that certain non-essential elements of the golf bag may be modified, replaced or deleted without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims below. For example, the bag may include a protective cap to prevent the accumulation of water in the cases in the event of rain.

Claims (10)

Golf bag (100), foldable, comprising a plurality of tubular cases (10) arranged parallel and longitudinally, each intended to receive at least one golf club via an upper opening (11), characterized in that the cases (10) are articulated around stiffening axes (40) each of which is placed in a hinge between two successive cases, in that it comprises an upper frame (20) made up of articulated links (21), each link being placed above an upper opening (11) and engaged on two stiffening axes (40), so as to allow free folding of the golf bag between a flat position, a freely formed volume position and a regularly formed volume position, and in that each link (21) comprises at least one elastic means (211, 212) for firmly holding the shaft of a golf club. Golf bag according to claim 1, in which at least one link (21) of the upper frame (20), called the end link, comprises a quick-attachment means (215) allowing it to engage in a stiffening axis (40) and to disengage therefrom by manual action of a user. Golf bag according to claim 1 or 2, in which each link (21) comprises two elastic means, each located at one end of said link. A golf bag according to any preceding claim, wherein each resilient means comprises a curved leg (211) defining a housing (212) so as to enable the shaft of a golf club to be clipped therein. Golf bag according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a lower frame (30) facing the upper frame (20) and placed on the other side of the cases (10), said lower frame also being made up of as many articulated elements (31) as there are links (21) in the upper frame (20) to follow the folding/unfolding movements of the latter. A golf bag according to any preceding claim, wherein each case (10) has a flat outer face and a curved inner face defining a useful volume for storing golf clubs. Golf bag according to claim 6, in which the outer faces are rigid, to improve the rigidity of said bag, and the inner faces are flexible to allow more compact volume configurations of said bag. Golf bag according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the upper frame (20) is configured to allow at least one volume setting of said bag following a parallelepiped shape of rectangular cross section. A golf bag according to any preceding claim, comprising six cases (10) and six links (21) in the upper frame (20). A golf bag according to any preceding claim, further comprising convenience means (51, 52, 53) including gripping means, carrying means and auxiliary storage means for equipment other than golf clubs.