US-12616883-B2 - Golf bags, golf bag tops and methods to manufacture golf bags and golf bag tops

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of golf bags, golf bag tops, and methods to manufacture golf bags and golf bag tops are generally described herein. In one example, a golf bag may include a body portion having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a housing portion extending between the top portion and the bottom portion. A handle portion may be located at or proximate the top portion. A club fastener portion may be coupled to the handle portion and may have a U-shaped portion configured to receive a shaft portion of a golf club and retain the golf club in an upright or tilted position. A golf club head of the golf club may be positioned above the club fastener portion and a grip portion of the golf club may be positioned below the club fastener portion. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Inventors

• Duane E. Pacha

Assignees

• Parsons Xtreme Golf, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20231002

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A golf bag comprising: a body portion including a top portion, a bottom portion, and a housing portion extending between the top portion and the bottom portion; a club divider portion located at or proximate the top portion, the club divider portion comprising: a perimeter portion having one or more interior walls; one or more rib portions connected to the perimeter portion to define one or more openings configured to allow one or more golf clubs to be received in the housing portion through the one or more openings; a handle portion coupled to the perimeter portion, a portion of the handle portion comprising a club fastener portion, the club fastener portion comprising: a U-shaped portion defining a space; a cavity adjacent the U-shaped portion; and a magnetic portion disposed inside the cavity, wherein the magnetic portion is received inside the cavity via an opening at an underside of the handle portion, wherein the cavity is open to the space, wherein the magnetic portion is exposed to the space, and wherein the magnetic portion is configured to magnetically attract a metal shaft portion of a golf club received in the space of the U-shaped portion.
2. 2 . A golf bag as defined in claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped portion has a width greater than or equal to an outer diameter of the metal shaft portion of the golf club.
3. 3 . A golf bag as defined in claim 1 , wherein the handle portion extends outward and around a part of the perimeter portion.
4. 4 . A golf bag as defined in claim 1 , wherein the magnetic portion is adhered to the cavity.
5. 5 . A golf bag as defined in claim 1 , wherein the magnetic portion is frictionally coupled to the cavity.
6. 6 . A golf bag as defined in claim 1 , further comprising an external pocket located at or proximate the bottom portion, the external pocket configured to at least partially receive a grip portion of the golf club.
7. 7 . A golf bag comprising: a body portion comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, and a housing portion extending between the top portion and the bottom portion, the housing portion configured to receive a plurality of golf clubs; a handle portion located at or proximate the top portion, the handle portion comprising: a club fastener portion configured to receive a metal shaft portion of a golf club; a cavity in an underside of the handle portion; and a magnetic portion received inside the cavity via the underside of the handle portion, wherein the magnetic portion is configured to magnetically attract the metal shaft portion to secure the golf club to the club fastener portion.
8. 8 . A golf bag as defined in claim 7 , wherein the magnetic portion is exposed to the metal shaft portion.
9. 9 . A golf bag as defined in claim 7 , wherein the magnetic portion is frictionally coupled to the cavity.
10. 10 . A golf bag as defined in claim 7 , wherein the magnetic portion is adhered to the cavity.
11. 11 . A golf bag as defined in claim 7 , wherein the club fastener portion secures the golf club externally from the housing portion.
12. 12 . A golf bag as defined in claim 7 , further comprising an external pocket located at or proximate the bottom portion, the external pocket configured to at least partially receive a grip portion of the golf club.
13. 13 . A golf bag comprising: a body portion comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, and a housing portion extending between the top portion and the bottom portion, the housing portion configured to receive a plurality of golf clubs; a handle portion located at or proximate the top portion; and a club fastener portion integral to the handle portion, the club fastener portion having a U-shaped portion configured to receive a shaft portion of a golf club and retain the golf club in an upright position or tilted position such that a golf club head of the golf club is positioned above the club fastener portion and a grip portion of the golf club is positioned below the club fastener portion.
14. 14 . A golf bag as defined in claim 13 , wherein the club fastener portion is configured to retain the golf club via magnetic attraction.
15. 15 . A golf bag as defined in claim 13 , wherein the U-shaped portion retains the golf club externally from the housing portion.
16. 16 . A golf bag as defined in claim 13 , the club fastener portion further comprising a cavity and a magnetic portion disposed in the cavity.
17. 17 . A golf bag as defined in claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the magnetic portion is exposed.
18. 18 . A golf bag as defined in claim 13 , further comprising an external pocket located below the club fastener portion, the external pocket configured to at least partially receive the grip portion of the golf club.
19. 19 . A golf bag as defined in claim 13 , wherein the club fastener portion and the shaft portion are engaged by a mechanical lock.
20. 20 . A golf bag as defined in claim 1 , wherein the handle portion is coupled at one end to a first side of the perimeter portion and at another end to a second side of the perimeter portion, and wherein the club fastener portion is located at or proximate either the first side or the second side of the perimeter portion.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/348,991, filed Jun. 16, 2021, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,806,593, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 16/216,736, filed Dec. 11, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,065,516, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/607,387, filed Dec. 19, 2017. The disclosures of the referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference. COPYRIGHT AUTHORIZATION The present disclosure may be subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the present disclosure and its related documents, as they appear in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all applicable copyrights. FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to golf equipment, and more particularly, to golf bags, golf bag tops, and methods to manufacture golf bags and golf bag tops. BACKGROUND Golf bags may be used to carry golf clubs and accessories. Some golf bags may be tube-shaped to hold a set of golf clubs and include one or more pockets for holding balls, tees, gloves, rain gear, and other golf related equipment and accessories. The open top portion of a golf bag may be divided into a number of slots to allow an individual to organize and sort the golf clubs. Accordingly, an individual may organize his or her golf clubs based on the available slots provided by the open top portion of the golf bag. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 depicts a golf bag with a golf bag top according to an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein. FIG. 2 depicts a top and side perspective view of a golf bag top according to an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein. FIG. 3 depicts a bottom and side perspective view of the golf bag top of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 depicts a front perspective view of the golf bag top of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 depicts a back perspective view of the golf bag top of FIG. 2. FIG. 6 depicts a top perspective view of the golf bag top of FIG. 2. FIG. 7 depicts a bottom perspective view of the golf bag top of FIG. 2. FIG. 8 depicts a side perspective view of the golf bag top of FIG. 2. FIG. 9 depicts a side perspective view of the golf bag top of FIG. 2 showing an opposing side view of the golf bag top of FIG. 8. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures may not be depicted to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. DESCRIPTION In general, golf bag tops and methods to manufacture golf bag tops are described herein. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. In the example of FIG. 1, a golf bag 100 may include a body portion 110 having a top portion 120, a bottom portion 130, a first housing portion 140 extending between the top portion 120 and the bottom portion 130, and a second housing portion 150 located outside of the first housing portion 140. The first housing portion 140 may define a chamber portion 142 for holding and maintaining one or more golf clubs (e.g., one generally shown as 144) inside the body portion 110. The golf club 144 may be any type of golf club such as, but not limited to, an iron-type golf club, a wood-type golf club, a hybrid-type golf club, or a putter-type golf club. Additionally, the golf club 144 may be part of a set of golf clubs. As described in detail below, the second housing portion 150 may enable one or more golf clubs (e.g., one generally shown as 400) to be prominently displayed and stored separately from any golf clubs stored in the first housing portion 140. The golf bag 100 may also include one or more strap portions (not shown) so that an individual can lift and/or carry the golf bag 100. The golf bag 100 may include one or more golf bag handles (e.g., one generally shown as 160) on the body portion 110 between the top portion 120 and the bottom portion 130. The golf bag 100 may also include one or more pockets (e.g., generally shown as 170) for carrying various items such as golf balls, golf tees, apparel, shoes, and/or other accessories. The pocket 170 may be accessible by different types of closures (e.g., zippers, Velcro®, buttons, etc.). The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. In one example, as shown in FIGS. 1-9, the golf bag 100 may also include a golf bag top (e.g., described and shown as a club divider portion 200) located at or proximate to the top portion 120. The club divider p