GB2278290A

GB2278290A - Golf bag support stand

Info

Publication number: GB2278290A
Application number: GB9406873A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Andrews
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-05-26
Filing date: 1994-04-07
Publication date: 1994-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 2014-04-07
Also published as: GB9406873D0; GB2278290B

Abstract

A golf bag support stand 1 for a golf bag 2 includes two shafts 4 pivotally interconnected at 6 such as in use to provide a cradle for the bag in a freestanding position. The shafts are constrained by a strap 20 circumscribing the bag and the shafts whereby lifting or setting down of the bag 2 using a principal handle of the bag 2 actuates the strap and thus the shafts to assume a parked or a cradling support position respectively as the case may be. A strap 14 is provided to prevent excess opening of the shafts. In a second embodiment the strap 20 is attached to the pivot point 6. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO GOLv BAG SUPPORT STANDS This invention concerns improvements in or relating to golf bag support stands.

In particular the invention has reference to such a golf bag support stand which is manually portable with the golf bag. It is desirable that the golfer is able to select and withdraw a suitable club for play with ease and to replace the same without the need to stoop to ground level. Equally, it is preferable to avoid the golf bag becoming soiled by contact with the turf.

Accordingly various proposals have been made to provide support for the golf bag in a relatively upright freestanding position for ease of access.

One such proposal consists of a stand having a pair of elongate legs pivoted intermediate their ends in a rigid scissor-like manner such that when open they adopt a cruciform configuration which provides a cradle for the golf bag. The extent of movement of the legs is limited by the provision of a flexible curb affixed to the respective upper ends of the legs, thereby to ensure stability for the so-formed cradle. This stand is carried separately from the bag and thus constitutes an added encumbrance for the golfer. Furthermore, this earlier type of stand did not of itself afford stability since its satisfactory operation depended upon the efficacy with which the golfer sited both the stand and the golf bag in relation thereto.

Another proposal involves the use of a single support attached to the golf bag, the support being suitably formed as to enable the golfer to stake the support into the ground. However, as with other known stands the stability of the stand depends upon the golfer using the support properly, in this case ensuring that the support penetrates the ground sufficiently to withstand withdrawal and replacement of the golf clubs in the bag.

It is of course also known to use powered golf carts or to provide a manually-towed trolley for the conveyance of the set of clubs around the course, but some golfers prefer to carry their golf clubs and other accoutrements as part of the ethos attaching to the game.

It is an object of the, present invention to provide an improved golf bag support stand which affords high amenity and stability in use whilst allowing the golf bag to be carried easily and without hindrance to the golfer or others.

According to the invention a golf bag support stand includes two shafts interconnected in articular manner intermediate their ends, a movement limiting means associated with the shafts for limiting the movement thereof and adapted for interconnection to a golf bag at or near its open end, and a strap for embracing a~ principal carrying handle of the bag and the shafts.

The articular interconnection of the shafts may advantageously be provided by means of a resilient coupling locatable approximately at or near the mid point of the shafts, thereby to allow relative pivotal articulation therebetween such tha in use upon articulation to assume a cradling mode for the golf bag, a cruciform configuration is achieved. The location of the resilient coupling along the length of the shafts is variable thereby allowing the point of pivotal articulation to be varied accordingly. Such variability of location is advantageous in that it permits golf bags of different diametral size to utilise the stand of the present invention.In this respect, smaller diameter bags require the pivot to be relatively higher up on the stand towards the upper ends of the shafts than larger bags which require the pivotal location to be mid-way along the length of the shafts.

The shafts conveniently have ground-engaging feet which may be curvilinear in order to facilitate opening of the shafts by affording a rolling effect upon ground engagement.

The shafts may be pf light weight material, for example aluminium, carbon fibre, fibre glass, plastics material, or other metal suitable for the purpose and may be tubular or solid. The resilient coupling may be of elastomeric material, such for example rubber. The coupling may further be in the form of a rubber sleeve and in one embodiment a relatively rigid collar may be provided for location in use adjacent the resilient coupling to give additional constraint to the movement of the shafts. In a still further alternative, the resilient coupling may be in the form of a spring which upon release of tension on the strap, forces the shafts into a bag supporting attitude. In another embodiment, the shafts may be suitably counterweighted such that upon release of the shafts from a ground-engaging mode, the shafts scissor together into a park mode.The shafts may simply be pivoted together by means of a pin or other equivalent fulcrum.

The movement limiting means may comprise a flexible member, for example a cord, which is threadable through a guide, for example an upper anchor point disposed on the golf bag, or alternatively through one or more guides provided for that purpose at or near the top of the bag. The guides may be formed on a belt securable to but separable from the bag, the position of the belt longitudinally of the bag being variable. The cord is attached at or adjacent the upper free ends of the shafts which may conveniently be provided with connection rings therefor. In a further embodiment the movement limiting means consist of a guide through which the upper free end of each shaft passes, the guide either being fixed in location on the side of the bag or being positionally variable.

The strap may be of variable length and may be non-stretchable or may possess a degree of elasticity.

In one embodiment the strap is freely reeved around the bag.

In an alternative embodiment the strap is reevable through eyes provided on a flexible member connectible to a carrying handle of the bag, the strap embracing the principal carrying handle and the shafts. In this latter respect, the strap may have formed therein a loop of fixed or variable dimension for engaging the shafts at or adjacent the point of articular interconnection. The flexible member may be a length of cord having at each end a ring constituting the eyes for the strap.

The principle of operation of the stand of the invention is that during carriage of the bag, the shafts are held in close adjacency to the bag by virtue of the action of the principal carrying handle on the strap which assists in pulling the shafts to the side of the bag, whilst the resilient coupling causes the shafts to move into a relatively close position in relation to one another.

When it becomes necessary to set the bag down, the release of tension of the principal carrying handle allows the strap and therefore the shafts to move away from the bag, and contact by the feet of the shafts with the ground effectively completes the opening of the shafts into a cruciform configuration giving cradling support to the bag. The movement limiting means effectively limits the extent to which the shafts open in relation to one another, and the resilient coupling allows the requisite degree of articulation whilst also providing a limitation on the pivotal movement of the shafts as they assume their supporting position.

By way of example only, two embodiments of a golf club support stand according to the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment in a bag supporting mode; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment in a bag carrying mode; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment in a bag supporting mode; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the second embodiment in a bag carrying mode.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a golf bag support stand is shown generally at 1 and a bag is depicted at 2. The stand 1 comprises two shafts 4 of preferably lightweight material, in this example aluminium, which are interconnected at or adjacent their mid-length in articular manner by a resilient coupling 6 of elastomeric material, such as rubber, thereby to provide a pivot point to allow the shafts to move in scissor-like fashion. A rigid collar 8 circumscribes the shafts 4 at the pivot point and assumes a bearing position on the coupling 6 thereby to afford a restriction on the relative movement of the shafts 4, the collar 8 allowing approximately 900 of pivotal movement.

The shafts 4 carry ground engaging feet 10 and at their relatively upper ends are provided with rings 12 to which is attached a flexible member in the form of a cord 14.

In position in relation to the bag 2, the cord 14 passes through an anchor point 16 for a principal carrying handle 18 on the bag.

The principal carrying handle 18 extends from the top of the bag to a point below its centre. The stand 1 includes a strap 20 which in operational position on the bag embraces the handle 18 and is reeved freely around the bag 2 and thence around the shafts 4 as shown in the drawings.

In use, the stand 1 is assembled in relation to the bag 2 as indicated above and as shown in Figure 2 the stand assumes a park position close to the bag 2 when in the carrying mode, the shafts 4 being pivoted to a small angular degree. The shafts- 4 are held to the bag 2 by virtue of the strap 20 which is pulled to the side of the bag during carriage because of the tension in the principal carrying handle 18 as shown in Figure 2.

When it is desired to set the bag 2 down, the stand 1 then assumes a supporting mode in which the easing of tension in the handle 18 in turn releases the strap 20 thereby allowing the shafts 4 to move away from the park position. By use of a carrying handle 30 at the top of the bag 2 the shafts are allowed to move further away from the park position and the feet 10 are permitted to engage the ground thereby to move the stand into a position as shown in Figure 1. The shafts open into a stable supporting position for the bag by a combination of ground engagement of the shafts and the lowering of the bag into the cruciform cradle formed by the shafts.

The shafts 4 then present a cradling configuration in cruciform manner, whereby the upper portion of the bag 2 can rest in the 'V' formed by the upper half of the stand. The pivotal movement of the shafts 4 is limited by the resilient coupling 6, the rigid collar 8 and cord 14. When the bag 2 rests in the cradle formed by the shafts 4, the resilient coupling is at or near its full extension. In its rest position, the bag 2 is stable and freestanding thereby allowing easy access by the golf player to withdraw and to reinsert clubs according to choice without the need to stoop.

When it is desired to carry the bag 2, the player or caddy merely grasps the principal carrying handle 18 to release the weight , of the bag from the ground and therefore from the shafts 4 and in so doing the resilient coupling 6 occasions retraction of the shafts to a narrower angular position. Upon further elevation of the handle 18, the strap 20 comes into play and because of its encompassing disposition around the shafts 4, brings them to the side of the bag as shown in Figure 2 into the park position in which they do not impede the player carrying the bag or others in the near vicinity.

In view of the automaticity afforded by the complementary action of the resilient coupling 6 and the handle 18 in functional combination with the strap 20, the player has no direct contact with the stand per se.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, like numerals of reference as those used in Figures 1 and 2 have been used for like features.

The second embodiment of a golf bag support bag stand 1 comprises two shafts 4 interconnected in articular manner at their mid length by a resilient coupling 6 and provided at their upper ends with connection rings 12 across which is laced a cord 14, and at their lower ends with ground-engaging feet 10. A belt 15 of adjustable length is securable around the relative upper end of the golf bag 2, is positionally adjustable in relation thereto and carries two guides 17 though which the cord 14 is reeved as shown. The bag 2 has a principal carrying handle 18 embraced by a strap 20 which has a fixed loop 21 engageable with the shafts 4 adjacent the resilient coupling 6. A further cord 23 is provided and is looped through a carrying handle 30, the cord 23 having a ring 25 at each end thereof through which the strap 20 is passed as shown in the drawings.

In use, the bag 2 is carried with the stand 1 in the position shown in Figure 4 wherein the shafts 4 are in a park mode alongside the side of the bag 2, the strap 20 retaining them in this mode by interaction of the principal carrying handle 18 tensioning the strap. When it is desired to set the bag 2 down into a free standing mode, the bag is removed from the shoulder of the golfer or caddy and the tension in the handle 18 is allowed to reduce and simultaneously the tension in the strap is released thus allowing the shafts 4 to move away from the side of the bag, and the feet 10 are made to contact the ground.

As the bag 2 is lowered the cord 14 causes the shafts 4 to scissor outwardly into a larger angular disposition as shown in Figure 3, the length of the cord limiting the degree of movement. At the same time, the resilient coupling 6 is expanded against its elastomeric force, and the stand thus assumes its bag supporting mode allowing easy access to its contents with concomitant stability.

The establishment of a stable supporting golf bag stand is achieved by a combination of ground engagement of the shafts, the cord 14 and the gravitational effect of the bag resting in the cruciform cradle formed by the scissor action of the shafts.

When it is desired to move on to the next play position, the bag and stand are lifted out of ground engagement.

Upon elevation of the bag 2 by use of the handle 18, the weight on the feet 10 is released and the elasticity of the coupling 6 causes the shafts 4 to close to a smaller angular opening. As further elevation of the bag 2 proceeds the tension in the handle 18 increases as does the tension in the strap 20 thus bringing the shafts into the park position in close adjacency to the side of the bag 2. As with the first embodiment, the stand in its park position alongside the bag presents little or essentially no protrusion and thus no impediment to the normal gait of the golfer or caddy or indeed to others in the close vicinity of its carriage.

In a variation of the invention the shafts are so mountable on the bag as automatically to assume a bag supporting mode upon release of tension in the strap.

The present invention thus provides a relatively simple golf bag support stand which substantially automatically assumes support and park positions thus requiring little or no effort on the part of the carrier.

Claims

1. A golf bag support stand including two shafts interconnected in articular manner intermediate their ends, a movement limiting means associated with the shafts for limiting the movement thereof and adapted for interconnection to a golf bag at or near its open end, and a strap for embracing a principal carrying handle of the bag and the shafts.

2. A stand according to Claim 1 in which the interconnection of the, shafts is provided by a resilient coupling locatable approximately at or near the mid point of the shafts thereby to allow relative pivotal articulation therebetween.

3. A stand according to Claim 2 in which the resilient coupling is variable in position along the length of the shafts.

4. A stand according to any one of the preceding claims in which the movement limiting means is in the form of a flexible member adapted for interconnection to at least one guide associated with the bag.

5. A stand according to Claim 4 in which the interconnection between the movement limiting means and the guide is fixed or slidable.

6. A stand according to Claim 4 or 5 in which the guide is constituted by an anchor point on the bag.

7. A stand according to Claim 4 or 5 in which the or each guide associated with the bag is provided on a belt securable around the bag.

8. A stand according to Claim 7 in which the belt is positionally variable on the bag.

9. A stand according to Claim 7 or 8 in which the or each guide is in the form of a ring.

10. A stand according any one of the preceding claims in which the strap is of variable length.

11. A stand according to any one of the preceding claims in which the strap is reevable through eyes provided for that purpose.

12. A stand according to Claim 11 in which the eyes are provided on the side of the golf bag.

13. A stand according to Claim 11 in which the eyes are provided on a flexible member adapted for connection to the golf bag.

14. A stand according to any one of the preceding claims in which the strap is provided with at least one loop for engaging the shafts together or individually.

15. A stand according to Claim 14 in which the or each loop is of fixed or variable dimension.

16. A stand according to any one of the preceding claims in which the strap is non-stretchable or is provided with a degree of elasticity.

17. A stand according to any one of the preceding claims in which the shafts are so mountable to the golf bag as in use to be automatically releasable by the strap into a bag supporting mode.

18. A stand according to Claim 2 and to any claim dependent thereon in which the resilient coupling is made of elastomeric material.

19. A stand according to any one of the preceding claims in which the shafts are of lightweight material.

20. A stand according to Claim 19 in which the lightweight material is aluminium, carbon fibre, fibreglass or plastics material.

21. A stand according to any one of the preceding claims in which the shafts are tubular or solid.

22. A stand according to any one of the preceding claims in which the shafts are provided with ground engaging feet of curvilinear form.

23. A golf bag support stand substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.