GB2492411A

GB2492411A - A pivoting seat for attachment to a golf bag leg

Info

Publication number: GB2492411A
Application number: GB1111265.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham James Ellis
Original assignee: GILMORE SPORTS Ltd
Current assignee: GILMORE SPORTS Ltd
Priority date: 2011-07-01
Filing date: 2011-07-01
Publication date: 2013-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 2031-07-01
Also published as: GB2492411B; GB201111265D0

Abstract

A seat for use with a golf bag GB having a support leg SL comprising a support member 2 adapted to be releasably attached to the leg of the golf bag, a seat portion 4 pivotally connected to a first fixing member and a strut 126 pivotally connected to the seat portion at one end and to a second fixing member at an opposite end wherein one of the fixing members is fixedly mounted to the support member and the other is slidably mounted to the support member and has a clamp to hold its position relative to the support member. There may also be a retaining member of the underside of the seat to hold it to the support portion and a pair of rubber ring locking members 24 and 26 which can be positioned either side of the seat to hold it in position on the leg.

Description

TITLE

Seats for golf bags

DESCRIPTION

Technical Ficid The present invention relates to seats that can be releasably connected to golf bags, and in particular to so-called stand bags' that include a stand, typically in thc form of a pair of legs that extend from a rim part of the golf bag, and which allow the golf bag to remain in a semi-upright position at a convenient angle when resting on its base.

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides a seat for use with a golf bag having a support leg, the seat comprising: a support member adapted to be releasably and securely attached to the support leg of the golf bag; a seat portion pivotally connected to a first fixing member; and at least one strut pivotally connected to the seat portion at one end and to a second fixing member at an opposite end; wherein one of the first and second fixing members is fixedly mounted to the support member and the other one of the first and second fixing members (the slidable fixing member') is slidably mounted to the support member such that the orientation of the seat portion relative to the support member can be selectively adjusted by sliding the other one of the first and second fixing members along the support member; and wherein the sliding movement of the other one of the first and second fixing members is limited by a clamp member which is selectively fixedly mounted to the support member. In other words, the clamp member is used to prevent further movement of the sliding fixing member in at least one direction, optionally so that it cannot slide down the support member.

The seat is designed to be used when the golf bag is in the semi-upright position with its support legs extending outwardly from a rim portion of the golf bag. With the support member of the seat securely attached to one of the support legs of the golf bag, the seat portion can be moved from a stowed position where it lies substantially flat against the support member to a use position where its orientation is fixed using the clamp member, i.e. further sliding movement of the sliding fixing member in at least one direction is prevented by the clamp member, so that the seat portion forms a useful seat on which a user can sit. The seat can remain attached to the support leg, typically in the stowed position, when the golf bag is being carried or transported.

The support member can be tubular with any suitable cross-section although circular tubing might be typical. The tubular support member can have an inner diameter that is sized to receive the support leg. Alternatively, the support member can include any suitable attachment means for releasably and securely attaching the support member to the support leg.

An end or edge of the seal portion can be pivotally connected to the first fixing member. The strut can be pivotally connected to an opposite end of the seat portion, typically to a mounting bracket or flange that is provided on the underside of the seat portion.

The seat can include a pair of struts, each strut being pivotally connected to the seat portion at one end and pivotally connected to the second fixing member at an opposite end. When the seat portion is in the use position then the struts will typically extend from the second fixing member to opposite corners of the seat portion to form a v-shaped support.

A retaining member for temporarily retaining the seat portion in the stowed position can be provided. For example, the underside of the scat portion can include a flange having a u-shaped slot that is sized and shaped so that the support member is a friction fit in the u-shaped slot when the seat portion is in the stowed position. The seat portion can (hen be temporarily retained in the stowed position when the golF bag is being carried or transported but the support member can easily be released from the u-shaped slot when the seat position is to be moved to the use position.

In one particular arrangement the first fixing member is fixedly mounted to the support member, optionally being integrally formed with the support member.

However, in another arrangement the first fixing member is slidably mounted to the support member and the second fixing member is fixedly mounted to the support member, optionally being integrally formed with the support member.

When the support member is securely attached to the golf bag, in use, a lower end of the support member may either rest directly on the ground or be spaced off the ground. In the latter case then the weight of the user sitting on the seat will be transferred through the support member to the support leg of the golf bag. As described in more detail below, the lower end of the support member may be spaced off the ground using a locking or spacing member that is releasably and securely attached to the support leg of the golf bag undemeath the support member.

The present invention can ifirther provide a kit comprising a seat as described above and at least one locking member adapted to be releasably and securely attached to the support leg of the golf bag adjacent an end of the support member to prevent movement of the support member along the support leg in a particular direction, typically so that it cannot slide down the support leg. In the ease where the support member is tubular, such that the support leg is received through the hollow interior of the support member, then a first locking member can be placed over the support leg after the support member has been positioned on the support leg. The first locking member will engage with a lower end of the support member to retain the support member on the support leg of the golf bag. The first locking member can be removed when the support member needs to be removed from the support leg of the golf bag.

A second locking member can also be placed over the support leg before the support leg is positioned on the support leg. The second oeking member wifl engage with an upper end of the support member to prevent the support member from siding up the support leg. The first and second locking members can be moved along the support leg to be in abutment with the lower and upper ends of the support member, respectively, so that the axial position of the support member relative to the support leg is substantially fixed in use.

Each locking member can in the form of a rubber skeve, for example, having an inner diameter sized to be a friction fit with the support leg.

The support member and strut(s) are preferably formed from a substantially rigid material such as metal (e.g. metal tubing) or plastics. The seat can be sized and shaped to meet ergonomic requirements and so that the seat portion is a convenient height above the ground in the use position and when the lower end of the support leg is resting directly on the ground or is spaced off the ground by a small distance, e.g. by a locking or spacing member.

The seat portion can be formed from a substantially rigid plastics material with integral mountings or fixing to allow it to be pivotally connected to the flrst fixing member and the strut(s).

The clamp member can be integral with the sliding fixing member so that tightening the clamp member prevents the sliding fixing member from being able to slide freely along the support member in either direction. The sliding fixing member can therefore be selectively fixed in position on the support member to maintain the seat portion in the use position. The clamp member can also be provided as a separate component part of the seat, e.g. in the form of a u-shaped clip that is clamped around the support member by a screw. The screw can be released to allow the clamp member to slide freely along the support member and then tightened to fixedly secure the clamp member in position. If the clamp member is provided as a separate component then, in use, it will typically be positioned underneath the sliding fixing member so that it can prevent the sliding fixing member from sliding down the support member when a user sits on the seat portion. The sliding fixing member may still be able to slide along the support member in the opposite direction away from the clamp member. Any suitable clamp member can be used.

Drawings Figure 1 shows a side view of a seat according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a front view of the seat of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a side view of the seat of Figure 1 in a stowed position; and Figure 4 shows the seat of Figure 1 positioned on a support leg of a golf bag.

Figures 1 to 3 show a golf accessory in the form of a seat 1 that can be releasably attached to the support leg of a golf stand bag'. The seat I includes a rigid metal, tubular, support member 2 having an inner diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the support leg. With reference to Figure 4, most golf bags have a pair of support legs SL (only one of which is shown) that extend from an upper rim part R of the golf bag GB and which define a stand that allows the golf bag to remain in a semi-upright position at a convenient angle when resting on its base B. The seat 1 includes a seat portion 4 a first end 4a of which includes an integral mounting bracket 6 that is pivotally attached to an upper fixing member 8. The scat portion 4 is formed of a rigid plastics material and can include reinforcing ribs on its underside.

The upper fixing member 8 is fixedly mounted to the tubular support member 2 and can be formed of a rigid plastics material. In an alternative arrangement the upper fixing member can be formed as an integral part of the support member.

A second end 4b of the seat portion 4 includes two mounting brackets or flanges lOa, lOb, one at each corner. The mounting brackets lOa, lOb extend from an underside of the seat portion 4 and arc integrally formed with the seat portion 4.

Two rigid, metal, tubular struts 12a, 12b are pivotally connected between the mounting brackets lOa, I Ob and a lower fixing member 14 which is formed of a rigid plastics material. The lower fixing member 14 is able to slide freely along the tubular support member 2 but its movement in the downward direction (i.e. in the direction oF arrow A) can be limited by a u-shaped clamp member 16 which can be selectively positioned along the support member by the user. More particularly, the clamp member 16 includes a screw 18 that can be tightened to fixedly secure the clamp member in position and that can be released to allow the clamp member to slide freely along the support member 2. In an alternative arrangement (not shown) the clamp member can be integrally formed with the lower fixing member so that when the clamp member is tightened the lower fixing member is fixedly secured to the support member and cannot slide in either direction.

An inteal retaining bracket or flange 20 extends from the underside of the seat portion 4 and includes a u-shaped slot 22 that is sized and shaped to receive the tubular support member 2 with a friction fit.

Figures 1 and 2 show the seat portion 4 in a use position where the seat portion 4 is substantially horizontal and the clamp member 16 is fixedly secured to the support member 2. The struts 12a, 12b provide a v-shaped support for the second end 4b of the scat portion 4. Figure 3 shows the seat portion 4 in a stowed position where it lies substantially flat against the support member 2. The seat portion 4 is temporarily retained in the stowed position by the retaining bracket 20 which receives the tubular support member 2 with a friction fit.

To use the seat 1 the tubular support member 2 is fitted over one of the support legs SL of the golf bag GB as shown in Figure 4. When the golf bag GB is being carried or transported then the support legs SL are normally stowed adjacent the main body of the golf bag. The use of lightweight materials (e.g. metal tubing and plastics) means that the seat 1 docs not add significantly to the weight of the golf bag and the seat can remain attached to the support leg, typically with the seat portion 4 in the stowed position, while the golf bag is being carried or transported.

The seat 1 is intended to be used when the support legs SL are deployed so that the golf bag GB remains in the semi-upright position shown in Figure 4. With the support legs SL properly deployed, the seat portion 4 is moved from the stowed position to the use position by sliding the lower fixing member 14 up the support member as shown by arrow B. The movement of the lower fixing member 14 causes the seat portion 4 to pivot about the upper fixing member 8 and the second end 4b moves in the upward direction as shown by arrow C until the desired seating position is achieved. Typically, the seat portion 4 will be substantially horizontal when in the use position. The angle of the support lcgs SL relative to the ground will determine how far the lower fixing member 14 needs to slide along the support member 2 until the seat portion 4 is in the desired seating position. The movement of the lower fixing member 14 and the seat portion 4 causes the struts 12a, 12b to pivot about the lower fixing member and the mounting brackets I Oa, I Ob as shown by arrow D. Once the seat portion 4 is in the desired seating position, the user slides the clamp member 16 up the tubular support member 2 until it abuts the lower fixing member 14 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The screw 18 is then tightened to fixedly secure the clamp member 16 to the support member 2. The clamp member 16 prevents the lower fixing member 14 from sliding down the support member and so retains the seat portion 4 in the use position when the user is sitting on the seat. To return the seat portion 4 to the stowed position then the clamp member 16 is released from the support member 2 so that the lower fixing member 14 can slide down the support member until the seat portion 4 lies substantially flat against the support member.

The lower fixing member 14 can be made to move up and down the support member 2 by holding the support member in one hand and moving the send end 4b of the seat portion 4 with the other.

The support member 2 can be retained in position on the support leg SL by means of rubber sleeves 24, 26 that have an inner diameter sized to be a friction fit with the support leg. Any other suitable locking means can be used. The lower rubber sleeve 24 retains the tubular support member 2 on the support leg SL.

In an alternative arrangement (not shown) the upper fixing member is able to slide freely along the tubular support member and the lower fixing member is fixedly mounted to the support member.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A seat for use with a golf bag having a support leg, the seat comprising: a support member adapted to be releasably and securely attached to the support leg of the golf bag; a scat portion pivotally connected to a first fixing member; and at least one strut pivotally connected to the seat portion at one end and to a second fixing member at an opposite end; wherein one of the first and second fixing members is fixedly mounted to the support member and the other one of the first and second fixing members is slidably mounted to the support member such that the orientation of the seat portion relative to the support member can be selectively adjusted by sliding the other one of the first and second fixing members along the support member; and wherein the sliding movement of the other one of the first and second fixing members is limited by a clamp member which is selectively fixedly mounted to the support member.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A seat according to claim 1, wherein the support member is tubular and has an limer diameter that is sized to receive the support leg.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A seat according to claim 1, wherein the support member includes attachment means for releasably and securely attaching the support member to the support leg.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A seat according to any preceding claim, wherein an end of the seat portion is pivotally connected to the first fixing member.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A scat according to claim 4, wherein the strut is pivotally connected to an opposite end of the seat portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A seat according to any preceding claim, further comprising a pair of struts, each strut being connected to the seat portion at one end and to the second fixing member at an opposite end.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A seat according to any preceding claim, further comprising a retaining member for temporarily retaining the seat portion in the stowed position.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A seat according to any preceding claim, wherein an undcrside of the seat portion includes a retaining member for receiving the support member when thc scat portion is in a stowed position.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the first fixing member is fixedly mounted to the support member or integrally formed with the support member.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the clamp member is integrally formed with the other one of the first and second fixing mcmbers.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A seat according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the clamp member is provided as a separate component.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A kit comprising a seat according to any preceding claim and at least one locking mcmber adapted to be rcleasably and securely attached to the support leg of the golf bag adjacent an end of the support member to prevent movement of the support member along the support leg in a particular direction.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A kit according to claim 12, further comprising a first locking member adapted to be rdeasaNy and securely attached to the support leg of the golf bag adjacent an end of the support member and a second locking member adapted to be releasably and securely attached to the support leg or the golf bag adjacent an opposite end of the support member.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A kit according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the seat includes a separate clamp member.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A seat substantially as herein described and with reference to the drawings.</claim-text>