WO2004041596A1

WO2004041596A1 - Golf bag

Info

Publication number: WO2004041596A1
Application number: PCT/DK2003/000764
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lars Ulrik Middelboe
Original assignee: Lars Ulrik Middelboe
Priority date: 2002-11-08
Filing date: 2003-11-07
Publication date: 2004-05-21
Also published as: AU2003277483A1

Abstract

Golf bags (2) in hard-shell design are not widely distributed due to their voluminous size, in spite of such a golf bag (2) providing better protection of the golf equipment provided in a such compared with traditionally used golf bags of flexible, compressible material that allows a certain compression when e.g. placing it in the boot of a car. However, there will hardly be space for more than two golf bags of the commonly known type in said boot with the result that a group of golf players will rather not go together in the same car to and from the golf course. There is, however, provided a golf bag (2) of the indicated kind which is peculiar in that at least one of the sides (4, 6, 10, 12) include locking means for releasable attachment of the golf bag (2) on a support holder (34) that can be mounted on e.g. a towing hook (68) on an automobile.

Description

GOLF BAG

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a golf bag of the kind which is made as a hard shell and which can be converted into a golf cart and a transport box, and including an external hard shell with a back side including a draw handle, a front side, sides, a bottom and an opening lid which is connected by hinges to one of the sides and which back side includes hollows for accommodating and suspending pivotably journalled and collapsible support legs on the back side, the free ends of which being provided with wheels, the support legs and wheels being lockable in a collapsed and an extended position with lesser and greater spacing, respectively, between the wheels.

Background of the Invention

A golf bag of the kind indicated in the introduction is disclosed in US-A-5, 868,247 describing a hard-shell convertible golf bag which is normally made of plastic and built up so that the golf bags are openable and closable. The general structure consists of three main parts, a hard shell front, a hard shell back side, and a hard shell lid. The wheels can be let in with the intention of transporting the golf bag as air cargo, or for carrying the golf bag, and the wheels are suited for extending when the golf bag is used on a golf bag.

Such combination golf bags are suitable in many ways as they by their design present an efficient protection of the golf equipment placed inside the shell cavity. However, it is to be acknowledged that golf bags of the kind indicated are even very voluminous. This fact implies that the distribution of the said golf bags/carts has not been very wide as golf bags with associated golf clubs are normally transported between the golf player's home and the golf course in a car, where the golf equipment is preferably placed in the boot of the car, by normal car sizes not leaving much space to much more than a single golf bag with contents, and only in a few cases more than two golf bags with contents. It is here to be mentioned that when speaking of common golf bags is meant golf bags of the tubular design in leather or artificial leather or other flexible material allowing a certain degree of compression, and associated undercarriage with extendable wheels on which the golf bag can be placed when it is to be moved around on a golf course.

As mentioned, the distribution of hard-shell golf bags is relatively limited due to their voluminous design. This, however, does not imply absence of the need of said types of golf bags, as these, as already mentioned, provide efficient protection of the golf equipment, and also by their design opens possibilities for carrying items on the golf course which under normal circumstances are not carried for practical reasons, considering space etc. in the traditionally used golf bags.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a golf bag of the indicated kind which is very transport friendly, e.g. in connection with transport thereof in cars or other transport means for persons. Furthermore, it is also the intention to provide a golf bag of the kind indicated in the introduction which allows for transport in areas with inferior space conditions.

This purpose is achieved with a golf bag of the kind indicated in the introduction of claim 1 , which is characterised in that at least one of the sides includes locking means interacting with first locking means on a support holder for releasable attachment of the golf bag on the support holder, the support holder further including a second lock- ing means for releasable attachment of this to a transport means for persons, e.g. a car.

Hereby is achieved that the golf bag can be fastened to a support holder that may be fastened to different external transport facilities on a person transport means, e.g. a car, a bicycle, a boat or the like. Exactly the fact that a golf bag is built up as hard- shell, it is presenting the efficient protection already mentioned to the golf equipment provided inside, is hereby utilised to place the golf bag at the external side of e.g. a car instead of the traditionally used way of transporting, placing the golf bag in the car boot, alternatively in a roof box.

Without renouncing other embodiments of the locking means between the golf bag and the support holder, it is to be mentioned that the first locking means on the golf bag may advantageously be constituted by two sections projecting from the plane of one of the sides, preferably the back side, with slots oriented towards the bottom for receiving the first locking means on the support holder, the first locking means constituted by laminar holding means projecting bluntly from frame members on the support holder.

Hereby is achieved that the golf bag relatively easily can be placed on the laminar holding means of the support holder, and in that the sides of these are also inclining towards each other, the golf bag can be guided to the desired position on the support holder.

With the purpose of effectively securing the golf bag according to the invention on the laminar holding means of the support holder, the golf bag may furthermore include slots on the facing sides of the sections for inserting the ends of a locking means in cut-outs in the mutually facing sides of the laminar holding means, as it appears from claim 3. By using a locking system which is inserted through slots in the side of the projecting sections at the back side, a transverse locking between the hard-shell structure and the laminar holding means on the support holder is hereby acliieved.

If the golf bag is disposed at the outer side of the vehicle, e.g. a car, it will be absolutely necessary that it does not present any bluntly projecting parts that may catch pedestrians, cyclists, motor cyclists etc. With the purpose of safeguarding this in an efficient way, the sides of the golf bag may include cut-outs for receiving the free ends and wheels of the support legs, so that the outer side of the wheels in the collapsed position is situated within or at the planes of the outer sides, as it appears from the characterising part of claim 4. Hereby is achieved that none of the support legs and wheels of the golf bag are projecting outside of the planes delimiting the sides of the golf bag.

With the purpose of performing a lifting and suitable positioning of the golf bag in the support holder, so that the laminar holding means are disposed in the slots in the pro- jecting sections, the golf bag may include a lifting handle at the front side, as indicated in the characterising part of claim 5.

A very popular and much used place of placing items to be transported with a car, but which are so voluminous that they cannot be transported in a car boot, is a towing hook for trailers mounted on the car that is used for transporting e.g. bicycles, prams etc. By the invention it has thus been realised the such towing hook also can be utilised in connection with transporting golf equipment by adapting the support holder associated with the golf bag so that the former can be disposed at the outer side of a car, as the support holder includes holding means that may be arranged with gripping means for releasable attachment on the ball of a towing hook on the car, as indicated in the characterising part of claim 6. Hereby is thus achieved that a golf bag according to the invention may be disposed in an easy and unencumbered way on a towing hook mounted on a car.

With the purpose of ensuring that the support holder is not removed from the car unauthorised, this may be arranged so that the gripping means includes cut-outs for accommodating relevant parts of a locking means or are provided with permanently mounted locking means, arranged as appearing from claim 7. The said cut-outs can possibly be intended for accommodating the stirrup of a padlock.

With the purpose of further safeguarding the golf bag against removal from the support holder, the locking means used for attaching and securing the golf bag on the holding means of the support holder may be designed as it appears from the characterising part of claim 8.

Without wavering any other embodiments it can be said that a compact, largely rectangular box shape of the hard-shell golf bag as indicated in claim 9 is a suitable de- sign of a golf bag according to the invention, particularly when considering that the golf bag is to be disposed at the outer side of a car.

With the purpose of making the collapsible support legs of the golf bag in a simple way as possible, and in order to ensure greatest possible internal volume of the golf bag according to the invention, the support legs can be supported in the slots so that in the extended position of the legs, their upper ends are supported in lateral direction by the sides of slots facing the support legs, as indicated in claim 10. Hereby, the lockable rod systems normally appearing at traditionally known golf bags/undercarriages ex- tending between lower free ends of the support legs are made superfluous, and which in case these appeared in connection with the golf bag according to the invention would take up space and require establishment of diverse slots and recesses that would reduce the internal volume of the golf bag.

As already mentioned, even the commonly known and flexible and compressible golf bags are taking up considerable volume in the boot of a car. This usually results in that golf players meeting on the golf course are driving between home and golf course in each their car with consequent unnecessary fuel consumption. With the purpose of enabling a kind of common transport in a car, the support holder associated with the golf bag according to the invention may be adapted with a plurality of pairs of holding means for carrying a plurality of golf bags, as indicated in claim 12. Hereby is achieved the possibility of car pooling between home and golf course as seen in many other transport aspects, of which pendling between home and work is one.

It is to be mentioned that some cars are so voluminous that space is offered for more than three to four persons in it, meaning that for transporting golf equipment for all persons it will be necessary to provide further transport facilities therefor. Besides, it is not always the case that a towing hook is provided on a car. However, the roof struc- ture of the car can be utilised for transporting golf bags according to the invention, just by using a roof rail, as the support holder may include holding means interacting with a roof rail for releasable attachment of the support holder to a roof rail, and where the support holder includes at least one, preferably two holding means, for carrying at least one golf bag on the roof of a car, as indicated in claim 13. Hereby is thus achieved that the roof surface of a car can be utilised for transporting at least one to two or more golf bags according to the invention. In that connection it is to be mentioned that also golf bags placed on roof rails can be locked with the locking means specified in claim 2. Furthermore, in a special embodiment the support holder may be safeguarded against unauthorised removal from the roof rail by arranging the holding means with means/cut-outs for accommodating a locking device, alternatively by arranging the holding means with integrated locking means.

In the above, much focus has been on external disposition of one or more golf bags according to the invention at the external side of a car.

However, it is to be mentioned that by the invention it has been realised that the said support holder may also be designed in such a way that it is suited for connection to the coupling means for a cycle trailer on a bicycle. Here is simply utilised the fact that the golf bag is mobile if only supported at one end. Transport of the golf bag towed behind a bicycle may take place with the support legs collapsed as well as extended, but with regard to the other traffic transport of the golf bag will probably be most suitable with collapsed/retracted legs and wheels.

Transporting golf bags among the different roughs and fairway, greens etc. on a golf course while playing golf found is normally not a great work for the golf player, particularly not when the golf bag used is provided running on wheels, e.g. like the golf bag according to the invention. However, the said transport may be somehow facili- tated if this is made entirely wheeled, as the underside may furthermore include a slot disposed between the projecting sections, and running in parallel with the longitudinal axis, in which slot a third support leg is disposed, the free end of which including support wheels that are journalled to the support leg by means of an rotational connection, as it appears from the characterising part of claim 14.

With the purpose of facilitating ground transport of the golf bag according to the invention on a golf course, the wheels on the support legs can be provided with electric motors, the respective rotational speeds and directions of rotation of which being controlled by a control unit in such a way that the wheels can be controlled synchronously and asynchronously, as indicated in the characterising part of claim 15. Hereby may be achieved that the user of golf bag may manoeuvre the golf bag with a switchboard or the like disposed in the drawing handle, so that the golf bag can be moved across the golf course without any substantial effort from the user. It will, of course, be necessary to supply electric energy to the said electric motors, which can be done by commonly known chargeable accumulators or batteries, but in the following a more suitable system is discussed for energy supply to such motors etc.

Some golf players may have a desire to clarify the approximate distance covered by him or her across the golf course, which will be possible by providing the golf bag with a GPS unit that may detect localisation of the golf bag, as indicated in claim 16. It will hereby be possible, by means of the GPS unit, to perform the same reading of the covered distances by the golf play, at least for the golf bag, where it may be expected that the golf player also has covered the same distance, either on foot or in a golf car.

The facilities concerning electric motors on the wheels in combination with the GPS unit together with the fact that the golf bag by the third wheeled support leg is completely mobile, it will thus be possible by means of the GPS unit in combination with the control unit for the user simply to program the coordinates for the next location, on which the golf bag is wanted to be used, on the GPS unit, after which the golf player sends the golf bag off to the wanted location by pressing a button. Then the golf player can move freely and independently to the aforesaid position, and here the golf bag containing golf clubs etc, will await arrival of the player.

It is furthermore preferred that the control unit includes facilities for reading in overview maps over e.g. golf courses which also can be shown on the display of the GPS unit. The map may furthermore contain certain routes on which golf bags can operate as independently mobile units between various tee locations, or locations on fairways. It will only be up to the player to select the relevant golf course at the beginning of the play. A particular facility in the control unit may, however, relieve the player for that by detecting the localisation of the golf bag by reading the coordinates of the GPS unit, and by comparing the relevant coordinates for golf courses by finding the relevant programmed golf course.

The golf bag can also include a signal emitter carried by the golf player, communicating wirelessly with the control unit, which signal emitter includes a number of operating keys that may be dedicated to perform various operations together with the control unit. By activating the signal emitter, the control unit can be programmed so that the golf bag is always in a programmed wait/stand-by position desired in advance from the player carrying the signal emitter and so that the presence of the golf bag does not bother the player and his co-players. The signal emitter may furthermore include a button to be actuated by the player for calling the golf bag from a wait/stand-by posi- o

tion when the player needs a club or other items that are stored in the interior of the golf bag.

We are thus speaking about a kind of intelligent golf bag, the location of which is con- trollable by means of the GPS unit and a control unit. It will be presumed that the control system of the golf bag necessarily is to be equipped with certain sensor means so that the golf bag on its course to the position desired by the golf player does not collide with other objects/persons walking on the premises of the golf course. For that purpose, the golf bag may include a number of detectors disposed at the sides of the golf bag, as indicated in the characterising part of claim 18. In this advanced embodiment, the golf bag can thus be used as a kind of a fully automatic, callable unit, which is then finding the shortest and fastest way to the destination by the built-in GPS system and the sensors.

A golf player with authorised access to a golf bag according to the invention may e.g. desire to begin the golf play of the day at a certain tee location, and he may furthermore have the golf bag standing in a depot in a suited place on the golf course and desire to go directly to the tee location without making a detour to the buildings by the golf course. With the purpose of enabling this, the control unit may furthermore in- elude a communication unit for receiving and transmitting data to handheld or stationary communication equipment. Hereby it becomes possible for the golf player to perform a call to the golf bag, either from fixed network or mobile telephone or similar communication equipment, and by means of resident software in the control unit to enter relevant coordinates for the tee location for the course on which the golf play is intended to be commenced as well as the time for initiation of the play, after which the golf bag will leave its residence in time and go for and arrive at the designated tee location no later than the time indicated by the golf player.

Furthermore, it has been realised that by incorporating a special detection unit in the golf ball in combination with a detection/search unit communicating with the control unit and the communication unit, and where the communication unit is programmed for identifying the detection unit of the said golf ball, and together with the display of the GPS unit to perform readout of the actual position of the golf ball. Hereby, a golf player will readily localise a golf ball which has landed outside the fairway by an unsuccessful strike. In a further embodiment, this property may be combined with the control unit being programmed to make the golf bag move in direction of the position where the stricken golf ball has landed after receiving a signal about it from the signal transmitter carried by the golf player. Hence, the golf player may localise a golf ball having landed outside the fairway by an unsuccessful strike without any effort, just by following the movements of the golf cart in the terrain.

With the purpose of ensuring a good and cheap power supply to the electric motors, the control unit, the GPS unit and the communication unit as well as the detectors, the golf bag can include at least one solar cell panel connected to charging unit for charging batteries, as indicated in claim 19. Since the golf play is very often practised in daylight, and preferably in strong daylight, it will thus be possible to provide the golf bag with power herefrom. However, it is to be mentioned that it is also presupposed the said charging unit may be connected to a real charger connected to the mains or similar.

In certain cases, the golf player may need a pause, possibly for consuming carried food or drinks, and for this purpose it may be advantageous to have an available seat. The golf bag according to the invention presents such a facility, as the front side close to the bottom further includes a pivotable leaf, the side parts of which further constituting a side cover of a part of the side recesses for the wheels, where the side parts in the upwards pivoted position of the leaf are bearing on the ground, whereby a part of the upper side of the leaf extending in parallel with the front side, together with the front side hereby form the seat and the back of a seat, respectively, as it appears from claim

20.

Hereby is thus indicated a hard-shell golf bag of the kind indicated which in a particularly preferred embodiment, besides being very transport friendly, may be said to be "the intelligent golf bag".

Short Description of the Drawing

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawing, where: Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a golf bag/cart according to the invention with extended support legs and wheels; Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of a golf bag/cart according to the invention with retracted/collapsed support legs and wheels; Fig. 3 is a view of the bottom of the golf bag shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a carrier/transport support holder associated with a golf bag according to the invention; Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a detail in the support holder shown in Fig.

4, showing laminar holding means and the locking means interacting therewith;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the golf bag shown in Fig. 1 and parts of the carrier/transport support holder shown in Fig. 4 during insertion of the locking means shown in Fig. 5, respectively; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of two golf bags mounted on a carrier/transport support holder according to the invention;

Fig. 8 shows the same as Fig. 7, but from another angle;

Fig. 9 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of a golf bag according to the invention with extended support legs and wheels; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the golf bag/cars according to the invention shown in Fig. 9, with collapsed/retracted support legs and wheels;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the golf bag/cart according to the invention shown in

Fig. 10, as seen obliquely from behind; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the golf bag shown in Figs. 9 - 11 disposed on a support holder for placing on a towing hook; and Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a support holder for carrying a golf bag according to the invention on a roof rail on the roof of a car.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In Fig. 1 is shown a golf bag 2 according to the invention, with support legs 20 and wheels 22 extended and resting on a base 23, e.g. the rough on a golf course, supported by the wheels 22 and the bottom of the golf bag. The golf bag is made as a hard-shell structure, preferably of a plastic material or other suited material, a back side 4, a draw handle 6 (cf. Fig. 2), a front side 8, sides 10, 12 together with bottom 14 and an opening lid 16 which is hinged to the front side 8 in a known way.

The back side 4 includes slots 18, accommodation of support legs 20 and wheels 22. Further appearing from Fig. 2, the sides 10, 12 include recesses 54, 56 so that the wheels 22, when the support legs 20 are retracted in the slots 30, are projecting slightly outside the plane 24 of the back side, so that the golf bag hereby may be transported as a trolley. The extended position of support legs 20 and wheels 22, as it appears from Fig. 1 , is primarily used on a golf course where the increased distance between the legs is stabilising the bag 2 so that it will not turn over easily.

The back side 4 of the golf bag is further including two projecting sections 26, 28, the underside of which includes slotted cutouts 30 for receiving laminar holding means 32 that are mounted on a support holder 34. As it appears, the laminar holding means are inclining, corresponding to the shape of the slotted opening in the projecting sections 26. 28. Hereby is achieved guiding of the golf bag upon the laminar holding means 32 on the support holder 34 at the instant when the golf bag is placed on the support holder 34, cf. Figs. 6 and 7.

In Fig. 2 is shown a golf bag according to the invention, where the legs 20 and the wheels 22 are retracted in the slots 18. As it appears from Fig. 3, the said slots 18 are inclining out from and in towards the centre of the golf bag, and the support legs 20 are supported on the sides 19 of the slots 18 facing the legs, when the legs are extended. Hereby possible collapsible rod connections between the support legs for reinforcing these are made redundant.

In Fig. 4 is shown a support holder 34 intended for mounting on the ball 66 on a towing hook 68 mounted upon a not shown car. The support holder 34 is constituted by a T-shaped beam 33, the free ends 35 of which being provided with upright frame parts 37 standing perpendicularly up from the horizontal plane of the T-beam, in the shown embodiment the top beam 39 of which having projections or cantilevers 41 from which the laminar, bluntly projecting holding means 32 are standing up. The support holder shown in Fig. 4 is intended for mounting up to three golf bags according to the invention. The support holder 34 also includes opening gripping means 64 for mount- ing the support holder on the ball 66 of the towing hook 68.

In Fig. 5 is shown a locking means 46 with legs 42, 44 intended for inserting through slots 40 on the facing sides 36, 38 of the sections 26, 28 and for accommodation in cutouts in the facing sides 50, 52 of the holding means 32 with legs 42, 44 interacting with the cutouts, cf Fig. 6. The first and second leg 42, 44 of the locking means 46 are mutually connected by a hinge connection 47. The first leg 42 of the locking means 46 furthermore includes a cantilevered flap 49 that serves as stop against the second leg 44, when the legs 42, 44 in the condition inserted in the cutouts in the laminar holding means 32 are disposed in continuation of each other. The locking means 46 furthermore includes holes 74 through which may be inserted a locking means, e.g. in the form of a locking bolt, or by inserting relevant parts of an actual locking means for holding the locking means in the inserted position in the cutouts 48 in the laminar holding means, whereby unauthorised removal of the golf bag from the laminar hold- ing means and thereby from the support holder is prevented.

In Fig. 6, which is a detail of the back side 4 of a golf bag according to the invention and of the top beam 39 of the support holder 34, is shown how the golf bag is fastened to the upright laminar holding means 32 of the top beam by fastening and inserting the first leg 42 and the second leg 44, respectively, of the locking means 46 through the slots 40 in the projecting sections 26, 28 at the back side of the golf bag.

In Fig. 7 is shown how two golf bags 2 are mounted on a support holder 34 mounted on a towing hook 68 on a not shown automobile. As it appears from the Figures, there is space for disposition of a further golf bag on the support holder.

As shown in Fig. 8, the front side of the golf bag 2 includes an indentation 82 in which is provided a handle 80 which is used in connection with mounting and dismounting the golf bag according to the invention on the support holder 34.

In Fig. 8 is also shown a second, preferred embodiment of the golf bag 2' according to the invention, where the sides 10, 12 include coverings 94 of a part of the recesses 54, 56 in the outer planes of the side for the retracted wheels 22, which is possible as a result of suspending the support legs in the obliquely extending slots 18 in the back side 4 of the golf bag 2'. The wheels 22 are thus extended by an obliquely forward projecting and outward displacement of the support legs 20, while the golf bag 2, 2' is tilted rearwards for resting on the bottom 14 which is supported on the ground 23.

In Fig. 9, which is a front perspective view of the golf bag 2 according to the present invention, it is seen that the underside 4 of the golf bag further includes a slot 96 which is disposed between the projecting sections 26, 28, and which are running in parallel with the longitudinal axis 3. In the said slot 96 a third support leg 98 is sus- pended, the free end of which including a support wheel 100 that is journalled at the said support leg 98 by a rotational connection 102. The support leg 98 can be retracted into the slot 96, the lower part thereof also including a widening for accommodating the support wheels 100, as it also appears from Fig. 10 showing the golf bag of Fig. 9 with retracted support wheels 22 and retracted support legs 98 with wheels 100 in the slots 18, 96, respectively.

As otherwise outlined in Fig. 9, the wheels 22, 22' are provided with electric motors 104, 104', their respective rotational speed and direction of rotation being controlled by a control unit 106 which in the shown embodiment of the golf bag according to the invention is disposed at the underside of the lid 16. The control unit 106 may furthermore include a GPS unit 108 for detecting and localising the golf bag and a communication unit 110 for receiving and transmitting data to handheld or stationary communication equipment 112, e.g. a mobile telephone. As it further appears from Figures 9, 10 and 11, the golf bag in the shown embodiment includes detectors 114 on the back side and the sides 10, 13, the detectors communicating with the control unit 106.

As it appears from Fig. 11 , the front side 6 of the golf bag includes two solar panels 116 that in a known way are connected with charging aggregates for chargeable batteries for supplying power to electric motors 104, 104', control unit 106, GPS unit 108, communication unit 110 and detectors 114, respectively. It will be clear that the control unit includes a charge controller including means for regulating the charge characteristic relevant for the used batteries (not shown). If the golf bag is equipped with said extra third wheel-bome support leg 98 in combination with electric motors 104, 104' in the wheels 22, 22', control unit 106, GPS unit 108, communication unit 110 and the detectors 114 in combination with the solar panels 116, an approximately intelligent self-transporting golf bag is provided, which may be called by the golf player to a given position, e.g. a tee position on a golf course at the start of the play, and subse- quently, when using the golf clubs, is directed to the next locality where the golf player needs the clubs provided in the bag.

The golf bag furthermore includes a collapsible leaf 117 at the front side 8, close to the bottom 14, the wide parts 118, 120 of leaf 117 also constituting the side covering 94 of some of the recesses 54, 56 in the sides 10, 12. The side parts 118, 120 in the collapsed position of the leaf are supported on the ground 23, whereby the part of the upper side 122 of the leaf, cf Fig. 11, which is extending in parallel with the front side 8, together with the front side 8 hereby form the seat and the back, respectively, of a seat.

In Fig. 13 is shown a roof rail 78 on which is mounted three support holders 34 in an embodiment of the support holder 34 associated with the golf bag in an embodiment for mounting on the roof rail 78. The support holder 34 includes a beam 86 extending in parallel with the support rod 84 of the roof rail, the beam 86 being releasably at- tached to the roof rail 78 by means of not shown gripping devices. The gripping devices may be provided with means/cutouts for accommodating a locking device (not shown) adapted therefor, alternatively for accommodating relevant parts of a standard locking device, or with actually integrated locking devices for prevention of unauthorised removal. Appearing on Fig. 9, on beam 86 is provided two laminar holding means 32 of the same type as the support holder 34 shown in Fig. 4 for mounting on a towing hook 66.

The golf bag 2 is fastened in the same way to the laminar holding means 32 by means of the locking device 46 as described above, but it is preferred that the golf bag is mounted with horizontal orientation, i.e. in horizontal position, with its longitudinal axis oriented in parallel with the roof 88 of the car 90 on which the roof rail 78 is mounted. List of References

2 golf bag

3 longitudinal axis of golf bag

4 back side 6 drawing handle

8 front side

10 side

12 side

14 bottom 16 opening lid

18 slots

19 sides of 18 facing support legs 20

20 support legs

21 free ends of support legs 22 wheels

23 ground or base

24 plane of back side

26 section projecting from back side

28 section projecting from back side 30 slots for receiving laminar holding means

32 laminar holding means

33 T-beam

34 support holder

35 free ends of T-shaped beam 33 36 side of 26 facing 28

37 upright frame parts from 35

38 side of 28 facing 26

39 top beams of 37

40 slots in 36 and 38 41 cantilevers on 39

42 first leg of locking means 46

44 second leg of locking means 46

46 locking means hinge connection 46 cutouts in sides 50, 52 on laminar holding means 32 facing side of holding means 32 facing side of holding means 32 recesses in side 10 for free ends of support leg 21 and wheels 22 recesses in side 12 for free ends of support leg 21 and wheel 22 outer side of wheel plane of outer side 10 plane of outer side 12 gripping means on support holder 34 ball on towing hook 68 towing hook holes in 64 for receiving relevant parts of a locking means 72 locking means for 64 holes in 46 for receiving relevant parts of a locking means 76 locking means for 46 roof rail handle on front side indentation support rod of roof rail beam extending in parallel with support rod 84 car roof car cover of 54, 56 slot support leg support wheel rotational j oint electric motors control unit GPS unit communication unit communication equipment 114 detectors

116 solar panel

117 collapsible leaf

118 side part

120 side part

122 leaf

Claims

1. Golf bag (2) of the kind made as a hard shell and which may be converted into a golf cart and a transport box, and including an external hard shell with a back side (4) including a draw handle (6), a front side (8), sides (10, 12), a bottom

(14) and an opening lid (16) which is connected by hinges to one of the sides (4, 8, 10, 12) and which back side (4) includes hollows (18) for accommodating and suspending pivotably journalled and collapsible support legs (20) on the back side, the free ends (21) of which being provided with wheels (22), the support legs (20) and wheels (22) being lockable in a collapsed and an extended position with lesser and greater spacing, respectively, between the wheels (22), characterised in that at least one of the sides (4, 6, 10, 12) includes locking means (26, 28) interacting with first locking means (32) on a support holder (34) for releasable attachment of the golf bag (2) on the support holder (34), the support holder (34) further including a second locking means

(64) for releasable attachment of this to a transport means for persons, e.g. a car.

2. Golf bag according to claim 1, characterised in that the first locking means on the golf bag are constituted by two sections (26, 28) projecting from the plane (24) of one of the sides (4, 6, 10, 12), preferably the back side (4), with slots (30) oriented towards the bottom (14) for receiving the first locking means (32) on the support holder (34), the first locking means (32) constituted by laminar holding means (32) projecting bluntly from frame members (37, 39, 41 ) on the support holder (34).

3. Golf bag according to claim 2, characterised in that the facing sides (36, 38) of the sections (26) further include slots (40) for inserting the ends (42, 44) of a locking means (46) in cut-outs (48) in the mutually facing sides (50, 52) of the laminar holding means (32).

4. Golf bag according to claim 1 - 3, characterised in that the sides (10, 12) include recesses (54, 56) for receiving the free ends (21) and wheels (22) of the support legs (20), so that the outer side (58) of the wheels (22) in the collapsed position is situated within or at the planes (60, 62) of the outer sides.

5. Golf bag according to any of claims 1 - 4, characterised in that the front side (8) includes a lifting handle (80), preferably pivotably journalled in an indentation (82) on the front side (8).

6. Golf bag according to any of claims 1 - 5, characterised in that it can be placed at the external side of a car, as the support holder (34) includes holding means (32) arranged with gripping means (64) for releasable attachment on the ball (66) on a towing hook (68) fitted on the car.

7. Golf bag according to any of claims 1 — 6, characterised in that the gripping means (64) includes cut-outs (70) for receiving relevant parts of a locking means (72) or are provided with permanently fitted locking means.

8. Golf bag according to any of claims 1 - 7, characterised in that the locking means (46) includes cut-outs (74) for receiving relevant parts of a locking means (76) or are provided with permanently mounted locking means.

9. Golf bag according to any of claims 1 - 8, characterised in that it has mainly rectangular box shape, the longest centre axis of which constituting the longitudinal axis (3) of the golf bag.

10. Golf bag according to any of claims 1 - 9, characterised in that the support legs (20) are supported in the slots (18) so that in the extended position of the legs, their upper ends (23) are supported in lateral direction by the sides of slots (18) facing the support legs (20).

11. Golf bag according to any of claims 1 - 10, characterised in that it can stand freely in the extended position of the support legs and supported by the wheels (22) and the bottom (14), respectively.

12. Support holder (34) for carrying a golf bag (2) according to any of claims 1 - 11, characterised in that it includes a plurality of pairs of holding means (32) for carrying a plurality of golf bags (2).

13. Support holder (34) for carrying a golf bag (2) according to any of claims 1 - 11, characterised in that it includes holding means interacting with a roof rail for releasable attachment of the support holder (34) to a roof rail (78), and where the support holder (34) includes at least one, preferably two holding means (32) for carrying at least one golf bag (2) on the roof of an car.

14. Golf bag according to any of claims 1 - 13, characterised in that the underside (4) further includes a slot (96) disposed between the projecting sections (26, 28), and running in parallel with the longitudinal axis (3), in which slot is disposed a third support leg (98), the free end of which including support wheels ( 100) that are journalled to the support leg (98) by means of a rotational connection (102).

15. Golf bag according to any of claims 1 - 14, characterised in that the wheels (22, 22') on the support legs (20, 20') are provided with electric motors (104, 104'), the respective rotational speeds and directions of rotation of which being controlled by a control unit (106) so that the wheels can be controlled synchronously and asynchronously.

16. Golf bag according to any of claims 1 - 15, characterised in that the control unit (106) includes a GPS unit (108) for detecting localisation of the golf bag

(2), e.g. on a golf course.

17. Golf bag according to any of claims 1 - 16, characterised in that the control unit (106) further includes a communication unit (110) for receiving and transmitting data to handheld or stationary communication equipment (112).

18. Golf bag according to any of claims 1-17, characterised in that the back side (4) and/or the sides (10,12) includes detectors (114) for detecting items in the vicinity of the golf bag, the detectors being connected to the control unit (106).

19. Golf bag according to any of claims 1 - 18, characterised in that it at least includes at least one solar panel (116), preferably disposed at the front side (8), the solar panel cells being connected to charging unit for charging batteries for energy supply to the electric motors (104, 104'), the control unit (106) including the GPS unit (108), the communication unit (110) and the detectors (114), respectively.

20. Golf bag according to any of claims 1 - 19, characterised in that the front side (8) close to the bottom (14) further includes a pivotable leaf (117), the side parts (118, 120) of which further constituting a side cover (94) of a part of the recesses (54, 56) at the sides (10, 12), where the side parts (118, 120) in the upwards pivoted position of the leaf (117) are bearing on the ground (23), whereby a part of the upper side (122) of the leaf extending in parallel with the front side (8) and together with the front side (8) are forming the seat and the back of a seat, respectively.