GB2229640A - Golf bags - Google Patents

Abstract

A golf bag is provided with a strap (2) to be carried over the carrier's shoulder. The strap (2) is connected to the bag at a top point (3) and a lower point (4). The position of the lower point (4) can be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the bag and the strap (2) is also connected to the bag at an intermediate point (7) with respect to which it can slide (8). Sliding at this point (7) makes it possible to adjust the working length of the strap (2) to suit the carrier and the corresponding displacement of the lower point (4) makes it possible to tauten the unused portion of the strap (2) and hold it against the bag. This device avoids the formation of undesirable loops or lugs in the unused portion of the strap (2). <IMAGE>

Description

Golf Bags The present invention relates to bags in which golf clubs and/or other golfing accessories can be carried by a person.

This type of bag is generally formed as an elongate, roughly cylindrical, tube adapted to receive the clubs and is provided in most cases on its outer surface with pockets in which other accessories used for playing golf can be kept.

This type of bag, which allows the golfer to carry at least the usual accessories over distances which may be fairly considerable, must also be as practical as possible so that the carrier is not excessively fatigued and does not lose concentration as a result.

The bag is normally carried for short distances by a carrying handle and for long distances a strap attached to an upper and lower point of the bag is located on a same generatrix of the approximate cylinder forming the bag, which strap is placed over the carrier's shoulder.

In order to ensure that the bag is balanced on its carrier during walking, to incline it so that it is as comfortable as possible to carry and therefore to adapt it to the carrier's own morphology, it is customary for the working length of the carrying strap and/or-the position of the lower connection point to be adjustable.

The adjustment of the working length of the strap often takes place by means of a device of the belt-buckle type, with or without a tongue, cooperating with successive perforations in the strap, this buckle being connected to the lower connection point or close thereto as in the patents GB-400 350, US-3 521 689, US-4 334 564, US-2 711 201, US-4 249 586, US2 722 258, US-1 928 922, US-1 570 510, US-1 621 107 or to the upper connection point as in patent US-1 271 784 or at an intermediate location between the upper and lower points as in the patent US-2 863 483.

The patent US-2 861 614 discloses the same type of buckle device, but the position of the lower point can also be varied by degrees and the strap may also be connected to the bag at an intermediate location between the upper and lower points and can slide with respect to this intermediate point, which sliding may also be varied by degrees.

Another possibility for varying the length of the strap by degrees is disclosed in the patent GB1315 943, which avoids the use of a conventional buckle.

A more complex adjustment device is disclosed in the patent US-2 707 009. A first lower strap is connected to the bag at the lower point and at an intermediate point and a second upper strap is connected to the upper point and to an intermediate point of the lower strap by a buckle device with a tongue which can be displaced with respect to the lower strap by modifying the position of the point at which the upper strap is connected to the lower strap and can also be moved along the upper strap thereby enabling a modification of its length which can also be varied by a buckle borne by the upper strap alone.

All the examples discussed above, however complex they have been made in order to balance the bag on the carrier's shoulder in an optimum way, always include at least one conventional buckle or the like which, apart from being unattractive, may well catch accidentally in the carrier's clothing and gives rise to an unused portion of strap (between the buckle and the free end of the strap) which causes a completely unnecessary encumbrance which may cause the golfer to lose concentration in the event of an accident which may well be completely benign.

The present invention aims to free the carrier from all the drawbacks of the prior art discussed above, while ensuring that the bag is suitably balanced when carried by a shoulder strap whose working length can be adjusted.

The present invention provides a bag for carrying golf clubs and/or other golfing accessories provide with a strap adapted to be carried on the carrier's shoulder and connected to the bag at a top point and a lower point respectively which are spaced apart longitudinally of the bag, wherein the position of the lower point can be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the bag and the strap is also connected to the bag at a third point intermediate the top and lower point so that the strap can slide longitudinally in a continuous manner with respect to this intermediate point, thereby allowing the free length of the strap to be adjusted between the top and the intermediate connection points.

A golf bag in accordance with the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of the golf bag in two adjustment positions of the length of the carrying strap; Fig. 3 is a side view of this bag with the strap device shown edgewise; Fig. 4 is an elevation of this bag viewed from the side of the strap device; and Fig. 5 shows a detail of the device for adjusting the working length of the strap of the invention in cross-section through the plane of Fig.

3.

The drawings show a golf bag provided, in accordance with the invention, with an adjustable carrying strap device. The bag has a conventional, roughly cylindrical, shape and has at least one outer pocket 1 as is also conventional. For carrying, a strap 2 is connected at an upper point 3 to the upper portion of the bag in any known manner, particularly, for instance, by a snap-hook device. The other end of the strap 2 is connected to the bag, on the generatrix of the pseudo-cylinder passing through the upper point 3, at a lower point 4 whose position can be adjusted as will be described below. The upper portion of the bag below the upper connection point 3 bears, along the same generatrix and as is also conventional, a bridge-shaped handle 5 for carrying the bag by hand.

For the carrier's comfort and as is conventional, the carrying strap 2 is advantageously provided with padding 6 so as to protect the carrier's shoulder from excessive contact pressures.

The strap is also connected to the bag at a third intermediate point 7 between the upper and lower points 3 and 4 connecting the strap 2 to the bag. In the following description, this intermediate point 7 will be considered to be fixed with respect to the bag, but it is obvious that the possibility of positional adjustment and fastening in this position are covered and would not depart from the scope of the invention.

As shown in Fig. 5, the strap 2 is connected to the bag at this intermediate point 7 by feeding the strap 2 into a buckle 8 fixed to the bag enabling it to slide freely or, in an improved way, to slide naturally in the form of a baffle fitted with a brake 9 or possibly to be locked at will (not shown as such). The brake 9 acts as a positive stop against sliding when a tension is applied to the strap 2, for instance when it is being carried on the shoulder. In contrast, sliding can take place freely and can thus be carried out manually when the strap 2 is relaxed, as shown in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5.

When the length of the working portion of the strap 2, i.e. between the upper point 3 and the intermediate point 7, has been adjusted to suit the carrier for carrying on the shoulder, the unused portion between the intermediate point 7 and the lower connection point 4 has to be prevented from forming an unused loop which is unattractive and bulky and could be accidently caught up when the bag is being carried or handled in any other way.

The invention therefore provides that this lower portion of the strap 2 remains taut, or at least unobtrusive, against the corresponding generatrix of the bag. For this purpose, the lower point 4 connecting this portion of the strap 2 of the bag is adjustable and can be locked in position on the bag along this generatrix.

Advantageously, an elongate guide member 10, for instance in the form of a strip of fabric of considerable mechanical strength is disposed and fastened between the intermediate point 7 and the lower end of the bag, along which a slide forming the lower connection point 4 can be moved. Positional adjustment and locking in the position selected may be carried out by any appropriate means, for instance push-button, a ratchet and pawl device provide between the bar 10 and the slide 4 or preferably and as illustrated in the drawings, thereby enabling adjustment which is not by discrete degrees but completely continuous, the slide 4 is provided with a toggle lever clamp locking device, as shown in Fig. 5 in the locked position, as used for example in some known devices for fastening belts without a tongued buckle and known sometimes as "camlocks".

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the unused portion of the strap 2 below the intermediate point 7 passes around a return device 11 borne by the slide 4 and is folded over itself and is fixed in position on the section coming from the intermediate point 7 in the vicinity of its end by a buckle brake 12 of known type. It should be noted in passing that this buckle brake 12- allows, in addition to what has been discussed above, an auxiliary adjustment of the length of the strap 2 without the displacement of the slide 4, but this feature, although interesting but less easy to use than the method described above, is not essential to the present invention.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS:

1. A bag for carrying golf clubs and/or other golfing accessories provide with a strap adapted to be carried on the carrier's shoulder and connected to the bag at a top point and a lower point respectively which are spaced apart longitudinally of the bag, wherein the position of the lower point can be adjusted longitudinally with respect to-the bag and the strap is also connected to the bag at a third point intermediate the top and lower point so that the strap can slide longitudinally in a continuous manner with respect to this intermediate point, thereby allowing the free length of the strap to be adjusted between the top and the intermediate connection points.

2.. A bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate point is fixed with respect to the bag.

3. A bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position of the intermediate point is adjustable with respect to the bag.

4. A bag as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the strap is connected to the intermediate point by sliding in a buckle fixed to the bag.

5. A bag as claimed in claim 4, wherein the buckle is provided with a brake opposing, at least under certain conditions, free sliding of the strap.

6. A bag as claimed in claim 5, wherein the brake has the form of a simple baffle borne by the buckle.

7. A bag as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lower point connecting the strap to the bag is formed by a slide which can be moved longitudinally along a guide member borne by the bag.

8. A bag as claimed in claim 7, wherein the guide member has the form of a strip of fabric fixed to the bag and on which the slide can be locked in selected positions.

9. A bag as claimed in claim 8, wherein the slide is locked in position along the guide member by clamping means of a toggle lever device.

10. A bag as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the strap is connected to the lower point by passing the strap about a return device connected to the lower point, folding the strap over itself and fastening the free end on the section of the strap coming from the intermediate point.

11. A bag as claimed in claim 10, wherein the free end of the strap is fastened on the section coming from the intermediate point by means of a buckle brake.

12. A bag for carrying golf clubs and/or other golfing accessories, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.