US20060096682A1

US20060096682A1 - Golf bag

Info

Publication number: US20060096682A1
Application number: US10/983,912
Authority: US
Inventors: Hsin-Pei Hsieh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-08
Filing date: 2004-11-08
Publication date: 2006-05-11

Abstract

A golf bag includes a hood having a zipper with a tab which is movable so as to dispose the zipper in open and closed states, a container that cooperates with the hood to confine a receiving chamber for receiving golf clubs therein, and a securing assembly for securing the hood on the container. The securing assembly includes a plurality of cord retaining units, a plurality of engaging units to engage respectively the retaining units when the hood covers the container, and a security cord connected removably to the cord retaining units and the tab and having a security lock to fasten and lock two ends of the security cord.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a golf bag, more particularly to a golf bag that can prevent unauthorized access to and removal of golf clubs from the golf bag.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a first conventional golf bag includes an elongated hood 1 and an elongated container 2. The hood 1 defines an upper receiving space 11, and is provided with a zipper 14 that extends along one side of the hood 1 to a top portion thereof. The zipper 14 has a tab 142 to facilitate opening and closing of the zipper 14. When the zipper 14 is in a closed state, the tab 142 is adjacent to an open end of the hood 1.
The container 2 defines a lower receiving space 21 for receiving the golf clubs (not shown). Heads of the golf clubs protrude outwardly from an open end of the container 2.
When the hood 1 is mounted on the container 2 so as to cover the open end of the container 2, the upper and lower receiving spaces 11, 21 cooperate with each other to define a receiving chamber for receiving the golf clubs. When the golf clubs are positioned in the receiving chamber, the heads of the golf clubs are received in the upper receiving space 11.
When the tab 142 of the zipper 14 is moved away from the open end of the hood 1 so as to dispose the zipper 14 in an open state, selection and retrieval of the golf clubs from the receiving chamber are facilitated.
The first conventional golf bag further includes a plurality of spaced-apart first locking elements 12 provided around the hood 1, and a plurality of spaced-apart second locking elements 22 provided around the container 2 to engage the first locking elements 12 when the hood 1 is mounted on the container 2 so that the hood 1 is secured to the container 2, thereby preventing the golf clubs from falling out of the receiving chamber when the golf bag is moved. This structure also prevents the golf clubs from being stolen.
Another zipper (not shown) interconnecting the hood 1 and the container 2 may be further provided so as to secure the hood 1 more firmly to the container 2.
However, since the first and second interlocking elements 12, 22 or the zipper that interconnects the hood 1 and the container 2 can be easily disengaged or opened by an external force, the hood 1 and the container 2 are easily separated from each other, resulting in easy access to the golf clubs by unwanted persons. This problem is compounded by the fact that the zipper 14 has no lock.
Referring to FIG. 2, a second conventional golf bag is shown to be similar to the first conventional golf bag. Particularly, the second conventional golf bag includes an elongated hood 1 defining an upper receiving space 11, and an elongated container 2 defining a lower receiving space 21. The hood 1 has a zipper 14 with a tab 142. The second conventional golf bag further includes two positioning seats 31 provided respectively on two opposite sides of the hood 1, and a pair of aligning holes 32 formed in the container 2. A shaft 33 is passed through the positioning seats 31 and the holes 32, and a lock 34 is fastened to the shaft 33, thereby firmly securing the hood 1 to the container 2.
However, since the golf bag usually contains many golf clubs, it is difficult for the shaft 33 to pass smoothly through the positioning seats 31 and the holes 32, such that the second conventional golf bag is inconvenient to use. Furthermore, when the shaft 33 is not needed, i.e., while playing golf, the storing of the shaft 33 is a problem. Moreover, the securing method of the hood 1 and the container 2 in the second conventional golf bag does not resolve the issue associated with an ability of undesired persons to open the zipper 14.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a golf bag that has a securing assembly which is capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.
According to this invention, a golf bag comprises a hood, a container having an open end, and a securing assembly for securing the hood on the container. The hood has a zipper with a tab. The tab is movable so as to dispose the zipper in an open state and a closed state. The hood is mountable on the container to cover the open end, and cooperates with the container to confine a receiving chamber for receiving golf clubs therein. The securing assembly includes a plurality of spaced-apart cord retaining units disposed around one of the hood and the container, a plurality of engaging units disposed around the other one of the hood and the container to engage respectively the cord retaining units when the hood covers the container, and a security cord connected removably to the cord retaining units and the tab and having a security lock to fasten and lock two ends of the security cord.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first conventional golf bag;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second conventional golf bag;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a golf bag according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the first preferred embodiment in an assembled state;
FIG. 5 illustrates a chain connected to a zipper of the golf bag of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a golf bag according to the present invention; and
FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of the third preferred embodiment of a golf bag according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first preferred embodiment of a golf bag according to the present invention is shown to comprise an elongated hood 1′, an elongated container 2′, and a securing assembly 5.
The hood 1′ is similar to the hood 1 of the conventional golf bag. Particularly, the hood 1′ defines an upper receiving space 11′, and is provided with a zipper 14′ that extends along one side of the hood 1′ to a top portion thereof. The zipper 14′ has a tab 142′ which has a through hole 143′ and which is movable so as to dispose the zipper 14′ in an open state and a closed state. When the zipper 14′ is in a closed state, the tab 142′ is adjacent to an open end of the hood 1′.
The container 2′ defines a lower receiving space 21′, and has an open end in spatial communication with the lower receiving space 21′. Golf clubs (not shown) are disposed in the lower receiving space 21′ with the heads protruding outwardly from the lower receiving space 21′.
When the hood 1′ is mounted on the container 2′ so as to cover the open end of the container 2′, the upper and lower receiving spaces 11′, 21′ cooperate with each other to form a receiving chamber for confining the golf clubs therein. With the golf clubs positioned in the receiving chamber, the heads of the golf clubs are received in the upper receiving space 11′.
When the tab 142′ of the zipper 14′ is moved away from the open end of the hood 1′ so as to dispose the zipper 14′ in the open state, selection and retrieval of the golf clubs from the receiving chamber are facilitated.
The securing assembly 5 is provided on the golf bag of the present invention for securing the hood 1′ on the container 2′. The securing assembly 5 includes four spaced-apart cord retaining units 51, four spaced-apart engaging units 52, and a security cord 6.
The cord retaining units 51 are disposed around the container 2′ proximate to the open end thereof. Each of the cord retaining units 51 includes a retaining hole 54.
The engaging units 52 are disposed around the hood 1′ proximate to the open end thereof. Each of the engaging units 52 includes a through hole for extension of a respective one of the cord retaining units 51 therethrough when the hood 1′ covers the container 2′.
The security cord 6 is connected removably to the cord retaining units 51 and the tab 142′ of the zipper 14′. The security cord 6 has a security lock 42 to fasten and lock two ends 61 of the security cord 6, and a key 41 to unlock the two ends 61 of the security cord 6 from the security lock 42. In this embodiment, the security lock 42 is provided on the container 2′, and is disposed diametrically opposed to the tab 142′ of the zipper 14′ when the zipper 14′ is in the closed state. Since the security lock 42 is widely used and is not pertinent to the present invention, a detailed description of the same will be dispensed herewith for the sake of brevity.
To secure the hood 1′ on the container 2′, the zipper 14′ is disposed in the closed state, the hood 1′ is mounted on the container 2′, one end 61 of the security cord 6 is then connected to the security lock 42, and the other end 61 of the security cord 6 is passed through the retaining hole 54 in each of the cord retaining units 51 and the throughhole 143′ in the tab 142′ of the zipper 14′ after the cord retaining units 51 are engaged to the engaging units 52. The security cord 6 is finally extended into the security lock 42, so that not only is the hood 1′ secured on the housing 2′, but the tab 142′ is restrained from movement as well. As a result, the zipper 14′ is maintained in the closed state, and unauthorized access to the receiving chamber is prevented.
An accessory pouch 7 is further provided on the container 2′ for storing the key 41 and the security cord 6. Naturally, the accessory pouch 7 may also be provided on the hood 1′.
The golf bag of the present invention is used similarly to the conventional ones, that is, while playing golf, the hood 1′ is separated from the container 2′, or the tab 142′ is moved so as to dispose the zipper 14′ in the open state, so that the user can selectively retrieve the golf clubs from the lower receiving space 21′ of the container 2′.
After the game is over and the golf clubs are put back into the lower receiving space 21′, the user moves the tab 142′ so as to dispose the zipper 14′ in the closed state, and covers the container 2′ with the hood 1′ so that the golf clubs are confined in the receiving chamber. Subsequently, the security cord 6 is fastened around the hood 1′ and the container 2′ by passing through the retaining hole 54 in each cord retaining unit 51 and the through hole 143′ in the tab 142′ of the zipper 14′. The two ends 61 of the security cord 6 are then locked by the security lock 42 so that the hood 1′ is secured on the container 2′ and the tab 142′ is restrained from movement to thereby maintain the zipper 14′ in the closed state. The golf bag of the present invention can therefore prevent the golf clubs from being stolen.
It should be noted that the locations of the cord retaining units 51 and the engaging units 52 may be interchanged, that is, the cord retaining units 51 may be provided around the hood 1′, whereas the engaging units 52 may be provided around the container 2′.
With reference to FIG. 5, the golf bag of the present invention may be further provided with a chain 9 connected to the tab 142′ of the zipper 14′. The hood 1′ has a notch 144′ formed proximate to the open end thereof. The tab 142′ of the zipper 14′ is disposed adjacent to the notch 144′ when the zipper 14′ is disposed in the closed state. The security cord 6 (see FIG. 4) passes through the retaining hole 54 in each cord retaining unit 51, as well as the chain 9 after the cord retaining units 51 are engaged to the engaging units 52 so that the tab 142′ can be similarly restrained from movement and the hood 1′ secured on the container 2′.
Referring to FIG. 6, the second preferred embodiment of a golf bag according to the present invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the security lock 4′ is a combination lock that dispenses with the need for the key 41 (see FIG. 4) so as to reduce the weight and the number of keys to be carried by the user. Since the combination lock 4′ is widely used especially in traveling bags, a detailed description of the same will be dispensed herewith for the sake of brevity.
Referring to FIG. 7, the third preferred embodiment of a golf bag according to the present invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the golf bag of the present invention further comprises a spring-loaded winding device 8 to wind up the security cord 6. The winding device 8 is disposed diametrically opposed to the security lock 4. During use, two sections 60 of the security cord 6 are pulled out from two opposite sides of the winding device 8 to pass through the retaining hole 54 in each cord retaining unit 51 and the tab 142′ (see FIG. 3). The ends 61 of the two sections 60 of the security cord 6 are then fastened to the security lock 4. When the security lock 4 is unlocked, the two sections 60 of the security cord 6 are released from engagement with the security lock 4, and are automatically wound into the winding device 8, thereby minimizing the trouble of storing the security cord 6. Naturally, the winding device 8 may be disposed at any location of the hood 1′ or the container 2′ depending on use and manufacturing requirements. Since the winding device 8 is known in the art, a detailed description of the same will be dispensed herewith for the sake of brevity.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A golf bag comprising:

a hood having a zipper with a tab, said tab being movable so as to dispose said zipper in an open state and a closed state;

a container having an open end, said hood being mountable on said container to cover said open end, and cooperating with said container to confine a receiving chamber for receiving golf clubs therein; and

a securing assembly for securing said hood on said container, and including

a plurality of spaced-apart cord retaining units disposed around one of said hood and said container,

a plurality of engaging units disposed around the other one of said hood and said container to engage respectively said cord retaining units when said hood covers said container, and

a security cord connected removably to said cord retaining units and said tab, and having a security lock to fasten and lock two ends of said security cord.

2. The golf bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said cord retaining units includes a retaining hole, said security cord passing through said retaining hole of each of said cord retaining units after said cord retaining units are engaged to said engaging units respectively.

3. The golf bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said security lock is a key-operated lock.

4. The golf bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said security lock is a combination lock.

5. The golf bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said security lock is provided on one of said hood and said container.

6. The golf bag as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an accessory pouch provided on one of said hood and said container.

7. The golf bag as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a spring-loaded winding device mounted on one of said hood and said container to wind up said security cord.

8. The golf bag as claimed in claim 7, wherein said security cord has two sections retractably extending out from two sides of said winding device.

9. The golf bag as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a chain connected to said tab, said security cord passing through said chain.