US-12623128-B2 - Golf bag having lightweight top frame with club dividers made of cord material

US12623128B2US 12623128 B2US12623128 B2US 12623128B2US-12623128-B2

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to golf bags comprising a cord assembly configured to form a plurality of cord dividers that extend across a top opening of the golf bag to define a plurality of compartments for receiving a golf club. The golf bags may comprise a cord connector having a housing with a first channel and a second channel configured to receive one or more segments of the cord assembly. A plurality of cord segments of the cord assembly may extend through each of the first and second channels of the cord connector. The plurality of cord segments may correspond to different cord dividers.

Inventors

Ian Burgess
Stephanie L. Howard
Duane Marshall
Benjamin J. Beck
Ryan Donovan
Jonathan Mark Liston
Michael T. McDuffee

Assignees

ACUSHNET COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230428

Claims (14)

1 . A golf bag, comprising: an elongated tubular body for storing golf clubs, the tubular body having a top opening and a closed bottom, and a frame structure attached to the top opening, the frame structure comprising: a handle sub-assembly with a handle member; a leg sub-assembly with one or more leg-holding brackets for receiving one or more legs of the golf bag; a support extending between the handle sub-assembly and the leg sub-assembly; a cord assembly forming a plurality of cord dividers that extend across the top opening to define a plurality of compartments configured to receive a golf club; and a cord connector having a housing with a first channel and a second channel configured to receive one or more segments of the cord assembly, wherein the cord assembly comprises a plurality of cord segments extending through each of the first and second channels of the cord connector, the plurality of cord segments corresponding to different cord dividers, wherein the plurality of cord segments comprises (i) a first cord segment extending through an enclosed interior region of the first channel, (ii) a second cord segment extending through an enclosed interior region of the second channel, and (iii) a third cord segment extending through the enclosed interior regions of both the first and second channels of the cord connector, wherein the first cord segment comprises (i) a first end attached to a first attachment point of the support using a first clip and (ii) a second end looped around a second attachment point of the support, and wherein the second cord segment comprises (i) a first end attached to a third attachment point of the support using a second clip and (ii) a second end looped around a fourth attachment point of the support, wherein the third cord segment comprises a first end attached to the first clip and a second end attached to the second clip, and wherein the third cord segment is detached or decoupled from the first cord segment and the second cord segment.
2 . The golf bag of claim 1 , wherein the first and second cord segments extend through a different portion or section of the cord connector than the third cord segment.
3 . The golf bag of claim 1 , wherein the cord assembly comprises a first cord sub-assembly including the first and second cord segments and a second cord sub-assembly including the third cord segment, wherein the first cord sub-assembly and the second cord sub-assembly are configured as separate cord dividers.
4 . The golf bag of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cord segments comprises a first plurality of cord segments and a second plurality of cord segments.
5 . The golf bag of claim 4 , wherein the first plurality of cord segments and the second plurality of cord segments include different sets of cord segments.
6 . The golf bag of claim 1 , wherein the first or second channel comprises a curved portion or section shaping the one or more segments of the cord assembly.
7 . The golf bag of claim 1 , wherein the first and second channels of the cord connector are configured to direct the plurality of cord segments in different diagonal directions.
8 . The golf bag of claim 7 , wherein the different diagonal directions include (i) a first set of diagonal directions towards a first and second frame attachment point adjacent the handle sub-assembly and (ii) a second set of diagonal directions towards a third and fourth frame attachment point adjacent the leg sub-assembly.
9 . The golf bag of claim 1 , wherein the cord assembly comprises a plurality of parallel cord segments extending across the top opening between the handle sub-assembly and the leg sub-assembly.
10 . The golf bag of claim 1 , wherein the cord assembly comprises a cord material that is formed from an extensible fiber or wire.
11 . The golf bag of claim 1 , wherein the one or more segments of the cord assembly are looped around the support to form the plurality of cord dividers.
12 . The golf bag of claim 1 , wherein the cord connector has an H-shaped structure.
13 . The golf bag of claim 1 , wherein the cord connector comprises a T-shaped structure or a Y-shaped structure.
14 . The golf bag of claim 1 , wherein the third cord segment comprises a first length configured to extend along the first cord segment and a second length configured to extend along the second cord segment, wherein the first length is connected to the first attachment point and the second length is connected to the third attachment point.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE This application is a Continuation of co-pending and co-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/689,164 filed on Nov. 20, 2019, which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/689,137 filed on Nov. 20, 2019, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. BACKGROUND Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to golf bags having a top frame with club dividers. The top frame can be made of a lightweight metal and can have different structures. For example, the top frame can have sidewall, open loop, closed loop, or other configurations. The lightweight top frame assembly can have handle and leg sub-assemblies. In some cases, three-dimensional printing methods can be used to form various structures of the top frame. The club dividers can be used for storing and organizing the clubs in different compartments. The club dividers are preferably made of a cord material. Brief Review of the Related Art Both professional and recreational golfers use their golf bags for many different purposes today. The bags are normally designed to carry many items including golf clubs and balls, and accessories such as head covers, towels, hats, umbrellas, and golf tees. Many golf courses require that golfers walk the entire course and carry their own bags. Thus, the golfer is constantly placing the bag over his/her shoulders, removing the bag from their shoulders, and placing the bag down or standing-up the bag using a support leg mechanism on the bag. The golfer is also constantly removing clubs from the bag and inserting them back into the bag. In some cases, different clubs are used depending upon the golfer's preference and shot being made. Thus, the golf bag needs to be durable, lightweight, comfortable to carry, and easy to use. Many golf bags have club dividers for organizing and sorting the clubs into different sections of the bag. For example, Chang, U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,835 discloses a golf bag having a top frame containing equally-spaced corrugated longitudinal members; and a bottom frame containing equally-spaced corrugated longitudinal members. Club dividers, which are formed of fabric or a flexible plate material, are connected to the corrugated members of the top and bottom frames. Velcro hook and loop fasteners can be used to fasten the club dividers to the top and bottom frames. In this way, the bag is divided into different sections for organizing the clubs. Vosloo, U.S. Pat. No. 7,357,251 discloses a golf bag having an outer collar and two sets of arcuate dividers for organizing the clubs. The first set of arcuate dividers may be angled in a first downward direction relative to the top of the top cuff. The second set of arcuate dividers are angled in a downward direction that is opposite from the downward angled direction of the first set of arcuate dividers. Each arcuate divider from the second set intersects at least one arcuate divider from the first set of arcuate dividers along a central axis extending vertically through the top cuff. The downward angled direction of each of the arcuate dividers allows golf clubs, when placed within each compartment, to be carried away from the central portion of the top cuff so that they rest near the outer collar. Kadoya, U.S. Pat. No. 7,431,155 discloses a caddie bag comprising a top cuff with multiple division plates for organizing the golf clubs. There are right sloping plates which are inclined to a lower right towards a back face side. These plates extend in a rightward direction. There also are left sloping plates which are inclined to a lower left towards a back face side. These plates extend in a leftward direction. The outer ends of the right and left slope plates are connected, respectively, to right and left sides of the opening frame to form sectioned spaces for the clubs. The golf bag is an important piece of equipment for the golfer who will walk a considerable distance during their round of play. Depending upon the length of the course, speed of play, and other factors, a golfer may walk a few miles in a round. Thus, a golf bag needs to be lightweight and comfortable to carry. The golfer should be able to balance the bag evenly on their shoulders and back so he/she does not feel excess strain. The golf bag needs to allow the golfer to walk naturally and freely. Thus, bag also needs to be durable enough to carry clubs, balls, and accessories, and yet, at the same time, the bag needs to be lightweight and flexible. The golfer needs to be able to organize his/her clubs in the bag, walk comfortably on the course with the bag, and do other golf-specific actions. For example, the golfer should be able to pull any club out of the bag and return it to the bag freely. The present invention provides a golf bag that is durable, lightweight, comfortable to carry, and easy to use and includes other advantageous properties and features. SUMMARY The present invention provide