WO2006129128A2

WO2006129128A2 - Golf bag assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2006129128A2
Application number: PCT/GB2006/050135
Authority: WO
Inventors: Neil Asbury
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-06-01
Filing date: 2006-06-01
Publication date: 2006-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2007-12-01
Also published as: WO2006129128A3; GB2426714A; GB0511120D0

Abstract

A golf bag assembly comprises a conventional golf bag (10), which is mounted at its lower end to a first device (13) for storing and dispensing golf balls. A further device (25) for cleaning the heads of golf clubs is mounted below the fisrt device (13). The devices (13, 25) are modular so that the golfer can choose how they are positioned in relation to each other or other such devices mounted end-to-end with the golf bag (10). The devices are disposed at the lower end of the golf bag and do not significantly increase the bulk of the assembly, compared with a conventional bag.

Description

Golf Bag Assembly

This invention relates to a golf bag assembly.

Golf is a very popular game, which is played throughout the world. In the game of golf, golf clubs are generally carried around the course in an elongate golf bag, which is either carried by the player or transported on a trolley.

A disadvantage of golf bags is that there is limited space for storage and for accessories.

I have now devised a golf bag assembly, which alleviates mentioned the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a golf bag assembly comprising an elongate first compartment having a tubular side, wall which is open at its first end and closed at its second end by an end wall, and a second compartment mounted end-to-end with said first compartment at said second end thereof.

In use, the elongate first compartment is used in the conventional manner to store golf clubs etc. The second compartment can be used to store other items or it can house an accessory, as will be explained hereinafter. The second compartment is provided at the end of the golf bag assembly, which in use is positioned at the lower end thereof and does not significantly increase the bulk of the assembly, compared with a conventional bag.

Preferably the second compartment comprises a tubular sidewall and a lower end wall, the tubular sidewall preferably extending generally concentrically with the tubular sidewall of the first compartment.

Preferably the second compartment is formed of a rigid material such as plastics. Preferably the second compartment is separable from the first compartment.

In one embodiment, locking means may provided for securely locking the two compartments together.

In an alternative, the first compartment may merely stand on the second compartment when the two compartments are mounted together on a golf trolley. In this embodiment, the second compartment preferably comprises a socket into which the end wall of the first compartment can be inserted.

Optionally, a third compartment may be mounted at the opposite end of the second compartment to the first compartment. The third compartment is preferably of a similar construction to the second compartment.

It is important for golfers to keep the head of their clubs as clean as possible, since even a small amount of dirt on the clubface can affect a shot. Apparatus for cleaning golf clubs are often positioned at various locations around golf courses. However, such apparatus may not be to hand when required. Accordingly, in order to alleviate this problem, the second compartment may conveniently house means for cleaning the head of a golf club.

Preferably an aperture is provided in the sidewall of the second compartment, said club cleaning means being positioned behind said aperture, so that the golfer merely has to insert the club to be cleaned through the aperture.

Preferably the club cleaning means comprises one or more brushes which are preferably rotated, for example by an electric motor. A battery for the motor may be disposed inside the second compartment. Alternatively, the motor may comprise a connection for connecting to the battery of an electric golf trolley. Preferably means are provided inside the housing for energising the motor upon insertion of a club through the aperture.

Golfers need a good supply of golf balls, especially when practising. Generally golfers keep a supply of balls in a pocket of their golf bag along with other items. However, a disadvantage of this is that it can often be difficult to find a good ball and once a ball is found, the golfer then has to bend down to place the ball on the ground.

Accordingly, the second compartment may comprise a store for golf balls, means being provided on a sidewall of the compartment for dispensing balls from the store.

Preferably the second compartment comprises means for storing the balls in a row behind said dispensing means.

Preferably means are provided for biasing the balls towards the dispensing means.

In one embodiment, the golf bag assembly may comprise a first compartment for holding golf clubs and a second compartment which houses either the golf club cleaning means or the ball storing and dispensing means.

In another embodiment, the golf bag assembly may comprise a first compartment for holding golf clubs and a second and a third compartment respectively housing the club cleaning means and the ball storing and dispensing means, or vice-versa.

The second and third compartments maybe formed as a single unit, alternatively, they maybe modular with the golfer being able to purchase either the club cleaning means or the ball storing and dispensing means, and then purchase the other at a later stage. An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of an example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a golf bag assembly in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of view through the assembly of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the internal components of a golf ball storage and dispensing device of the assembly of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the internal components of a golf club cleaning device of the assembly of Figure 1 .

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a golf bag assembly comprising a conventional golf bag 10 having a tubular side wall 1 1 formed of flexible material such as plastics or leather, which is open at its upper end and closed at its lower end by a circular base 12 of rigid plastics material.

The lower end of the bag 10 is mounted to a device 13 for storing and dispensing golf balls e.g. 14. The device 13 comprises an enclosure of rigid plastics material having a cylindrical side wall 15, which is closed at its upper and lower ends by respective end walls 16, 17.

The upper end of the sidewall 15 of the enclosure extends upwardly beyond the upper end wall 16 to define a socket on the top of the enclosure in which the circular base 12 of the golf bag 10 is received. The lower end of the sidewall 15 of the enclosure is turned inwardly and then downwardly to define a complementary shape to the bottom of the enclosure, which can fit into a socket provided on the top of an enclosure of another device. A circular aperture 18 is formed in the sidewall 15 of the housing, through which golf balls can be loaded into and dispensed from the device 13. A gate member 19 is slidably mounted to the exterior of the sidewall 15 of the device, over the aperture 18, for movement between open and closed positions. An aperture is provided in the member 19, which registers with the aperture 18 in the sidewall 15 of the device when the member 19 is in its open position. In its closed position, the member 19 closes the aperture 18 in the sidewall 15 of the device.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, the interior of the device 13 for storing and dispensing golf balls comprises a spirally wound coil spring 20, which is rigidly secured at its inner end to a post 21 . The outer end of the spring 20 is bent through substantially 90 degrees to define a portion 22, which extends radially of the enclosure. In use, as golf balls 14 are inserted into the device 13 through the aperture 18, they apply a radially compressive force to the spring 20 which acts to bias the golf balls 14 against the side wall 15 of the enclosure. A guide member 23 is disposed inside the enclosure adjacent the aperture 18 to guide the inserted balls 14 in a direction which extends circumferentially of the side wall 15 of the enclosure against the radially- extending outer end portion 22 of the spring 20. The insertion of balls 14 thus acts on the radially-extending outer end portion 22 of the spring 20 to wind the spring in a direction which biases the balls 14 in a circumferential direction towards the aperture 18 and against the guide member 23.

When the gate member 19 is in its closed position, the balls 14 are unable to escape through the aperture under the applied spring bias. However, when the gate member 19 is in its open position, the balls 14 are dispensed in a controlled manner through the aperture 18. It will be appreciated the device 13 for storing and dispensing golf balls is mounted at the lower end of the golf bag assembly and is thus positioned adjacent the floor when the assembly is mounted on a trolley. In order to alleviate the need for the golfer to bend down to operate the gate member 19, an actuator 24 is preferably provided on the gate member 19 to enable it to be moved between the open and closed positions using a golf club.

Referring again to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the assembly further comprises a device 25 for cleaning the heads of golf clubs mounted below the device 13 for storing and dispensing golf balls.

The device 25 also comprises an enclosure of rigid plastics material having a cylindrical side wall 26, which is closed at its upper and lower ends by respective end walls 27, 28.

The upper end of the sidewall 26 of the enclosure extends upwardly beyond the upper end wall 27 to define a socket on the top of the enclosure. The lower end of the sidewall 28 of the enclosure is turned inwardly and then downwardly to define a complementary shape to the bottom of the enclosure, which can fit into a socket provided on the top of an enclosure of another device.

An aperture 18 is formed in the sidewall 26 of the housing, through which the heads of golf clubs can be inserted into the device for cleaning.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, the interior of the device 25 for cleaning the heads of golf clubs comprises a pair of brushes 30 which are rotatably mounted side-by-side adjacent the aperture 29. The brushes 30 are driven by an electric motor 31 , which is connected to the brushes 30 by a drive belt 32.

A sensor (not shown) is mounted adjacent the aperture 29 to actuate the motor 31 when the head of a club is inserted through the aperture 29 between the brushes 30. The resultant rotation of the brushes 30 acts to clean the club.

It will be appreciated that a golf bag assembly in accordance with this invention provides the golfer with the convenient facility to store golf balls and to clean golf clubs without a significant increase in bulk compared with a conventional golf bag.

In the embodiment shown, the bag 10, the ball storage device 13 and the club cleaning device 25 are merely held together on a trolley by the action of gravity. However, straps or catches could be provided to hold the assembly together, perhaps so that the assembly can be carried instead of transported on a trolley.

The modular nature of the devices 13, 25 means that the golfer can choose how the devices are positioned in relation to each other or which device or devices are used: it is envisaged that other devices such as storage devices or devices comprising other accessories could be provided for purchase.

Claims

1 . A golf bag assembly comprising an elongate first compartment having a tubular side, wall which is open at its first end and closed at its second end by an end wall, and a second compartment mounted end- to-end with said first compartment at said second end thereof.

2. A golf bag assembly as claimed in claim 1 , in which the second compartment comprises a tubular sidewall and a lower end wall, the tubular sidewall preferably extending generally concentrically with the tubular sidewall of the first compartment.

3. A golf bag assembly as claimed in claims 1 or 2, in which the second compartment is formed of a rigid material.

4. A golf bag assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the second compartment is separable from the first compartment.

5. A golf bag assembly as claimed in claim 4, in which locking means is provided for securely locking the two compartments together.

6. A golf bag assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the first compartment is arranged stand on the second compartment when the two compartments are mounted together on a golf trolley.

7. A golf bag assembly as claimed in claim 6, in which the second compartment comprises a socket into which the end wall of the first compartment can be inserted.

8. A golf bag assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a third compartment is mounted at the opposite end of the second compartment to the first compartment.

9. A golf bag assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the second compartment houses means for cleaning the head of a golf club.

10. A golf bag assembly as claimed in claim 9, in which an aperture is provided in the sidewall of the second compartment, said club cleaning means being positioned behind said aperture and arranged to clean the head of a club inserted through the aperture.

1 1 . A golf bag assembly as claimed in claims 9 or 10, in which the club cleaning means comprises one or more brushes and means for rotating said brushes.

12. A golf bag assembly as claimed in claim 1 1 , in which the club cleaning means comprises an electric motor.

13. A golf bag assembly as claimed in claim 12, in which battery for the motor is disposed inside the second compartment.

14. A golf bag assembly as claimed in claim 12, in which the motor comprises a connection for connecting to the battery of an electric golf trolley.

15.A golf bag assembly as claimed in any of claims 12 to 14 as appended to claim 10, in which means are provided inside the housing for energising the motor upon insertion of a club through the aperture.

16.A golf bag assembly as claimed in any of claims 9 to 15 as appended to claim 8, in which the third compartment comprises a store for golf balls, means being provided on a sidewall of the compartment for dispensing balls from the store.

17. A golf bag assembly as claimed in claim 16, in which the third compartment comprises means for storing the balls in a row behind said dispensing means.

18.A golf bag assembly as claimed in any of claims 16 or 17, in which means are provided for biasing the balls towards the dispensing means.

19.A golf bag assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, in which the second compartment comprises a store for golf balls, means being provided on a sidewall of the compartment for dispensing balls from the store.

20. A golf bag assembly as claimed in claim 19, in which the second compartment comprises means for storing the balls in a row behind said dispensing means.

21 .A golf bag assembly as claimed in claims 19 or 20, in which means are provided for biasing the balls towards the dispensing means.

22.A golf bag assembly as claimed in any of claims 19 to 21 as appended to claim 8, in which the third compartment comprises means for cleaning the head of a golf club.

23.A golf bag assembly as claimed in claim 22, in which an aperture is provided in the sidewall of the third compartment, said club cleaning means being positioned behind said aperture and arranged to clean the head of a club inserted through the aperture.

24.A golf bag assembly as claimed in claims 22 or 23, in which the club cleaning means comprises one or more brushes and means for rotating said brushes.

25.A golf bag assembly as claimed in claim 24, in which the club cleaning means comprises an electric motor.

26.A golf bag assembly as claimed in claim 25, in which battery for the motor is disposed inside the second compartment.

27.A golf bag assembly as claimed in claim 25, in which the motor comprises a connection for connecting to the battery of an electric golf trolley.

28.A golf bag assembly as claimed in any of claims 25 to 27 as appended to claim 23, in which means are provided inside the housing for energising the motor upon insertion of a club through the aperture.

29.A golf bag assembly as claimed in any preceding claim as appended to claim 8, in which second and third compartments are formed as a single unit.