Golf bag retention device

This application is entitled to and claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/278,608, filed on Jan. 14, 2016, the specification of which is herein incorporated by reference as if fully stated.

The present invention relates to a harness or carrier for a golf bag and its contents. Golfing has become a major source of entertainment. With the popularity of golf, many improvements in the equipment are currently being developed. For example, various devices have been developed to secure a golf bag and clubs onto the rear of a golf cart. A strap, for example, is one device that is used to retain the golf bag in the cart as the golfer drives from one shot to another, and from one golf hole to another golf hole. In one known carrier or harness for golf bags, a belt is attached to a rear portion behind the seats of a golf cart. The belt is laced through hand carriers on the golf bag and then buckled to snugly fit about the golf bag. One drawback with this design is that access to the bag is somewhat limited in that it is tucked into the rear of an associated golf cart. Related thereto, the golf bag is typically stood up on end wherein the golf clubs must be raised substantially in an upward direction to remove them from the bag. Providing easier access to the golf clubs while yet retaining the golf bag in the rear of the golf cart would be an improvement in the art. Another drawback with the known design of a strap is that it does not adequately stabilize the golf bag, and may as the cart is being driven, result in the bag and/or clubs in the bag being released from the back of the golf cart. Providing a golf bag retention device that firmly stabilizes the golf bag at the rear of the golf cart would be an improvement in the art.

The present invention includes a golf bag retention device, also known as a golf carrier or harness, that is adapted to be secured to an associated golf cart. A golf bag retaining device contains a band that may be shaped as a trapezoid, a hoop, or otherwise shaped, and adapted to be fixed to a rear of the golf cart. A first armature extends from the band and is adapted to support a golf bag. A second armature extends from the band in the same direction as the first armature, and the second armature extends opposite the first armature side of the band, and also is adapted to support a golf bag. A first buckle is fixed to a first open end of the first armature and a second buckle is fixed to a second open end of the second armature. A golf bag belt is adapted to fit through each of the first and second buckles and then about an associated golf bag, for securing and stabilizing the golf bag to a rear of a golf cart.

FIG. 1 exemplifies a golf bag retention device 10 , that may also be referred to as a harness or carrier 10 .

FIG. 2 exemplifies a top view of the golf bag retention device 10 of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 exemplifies an armature or attachment member 14 / 18 including a buckle or connector 20 .

FIG. 4 exemplifies a belt 28 and an associated buckle that are typically provided on the rear of a golf cart, for securing a golf bag to the rear of the golf cart.

FIG. 5 exemplifies a golf retention device in accordance with the present invention, secured to the rear of the golf cart by the belt 28 normally provided at the rear of the golf cart.

FIG. 6 exemplifies a golf retention device of the present invention, secured to the rear of the golf cart by the belt 28 normally provided at the rear of the golf cart, and, a golf bag secured to the golf retention device 10 in accordance with the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, and with reference to the figures, a golf bag retention device 10 contains a bracket or band 12 for securing a golf bag to a golf cart, typically the back end of the golf cart. See FIGS. 1, 5, and 6 , for example. The band 12 may be made from a flexible, resilient, and/or rigid type of material. As shown in the figures, the band 12 contains a general trapezoidal form, but may be formed in other geometric shapes that hold and accommodate the exterior of a golf bag.

A first member 12 a of band 12 may be formed in a flat profile to fit flush against a basket or back end of a golf cart, for example. A belt 26 may be attached to the back of the golf cart and also around first member 12 a , thereby securing the golf device 10 to the golf cart. A second member 12 b may be formed in an oblique or angled direction from the first member 12 a . A third member 12 c may also be formed in an oblique or angled direction from the first member 12 a , wherein second member 12 b and third member 12 c are formed opposite to each other and angle away from each other as they extend away from the first member 12 a . A fourth member 12 d is formed opposite the first member 12 a , and connects second member 12 b with third member 12 C, thereby forming the annular band 12 . The band 12 is preferably made from a rigid material thereby enhancing the stability of the golf bag when attached thereto. As shown in FIGS. 4-6 , a belt 28 , typically provided on the rear of the golf cart for securing a golf bag, may instead be woven or routed through two or more slots 30 provided in second member 12 b and/or third member 12 c , and also through slots 32 formed in arms 14 and 18 if desired, then secured in the normal fashion to thereby additionally secure device 10 to the rear of the golf cart.

A first armature or attachment member 14 rearwardly extends from the second member 12 b and is preferably rigidly formed. As used in this specification, the term “rearwardly” is meant to indicate that the subject constituent of the golf bag retaining device is adapted to extend rearward from the rear of an associated golf cart. As also shown in the figures, a first cross bracket 14 a , preferably triangular in shape, extends from a bottom 12 d 1 of the fourth member 12 d . A side member 14 b of the armature 14 , extends from the second member 12 b toward the rear of the device 10 , and also extends from the first cross bracket 14 a . A first hook member 14 c is integrally formed at a rear-most point of the side member 14 b . A first connector 16 such as a buckle 16 contains a first orifice 16 a for placement of the hook member 14 c therethrough. The buckle or connector 16 is thereby attached to an associated belt 24 or other restraining member 24 that is fully or at least partially wrapped about the golf bag, to thereby secure the golf bag device 10 to the golf cart.

A second armature or attachment member 18 rearwardly extends from the second member 12 c and is preferably rigidly formed. As also shown in the figures, a second cross bracket 18 a , preferably triangular in shape, extends from a bottom 12 d 1 of the fourth member 12 d . A side member 18 b of the armature 18 , extends from the third member 12 c toward the rear of the device 10 , and also extends from the second cross bracket 18 a . A second hook member 18 c is integrally formed at a rear-most point of the side member 18 b . A second connector 20 such as a buckle 20 contains a second orifice 20 a for placement of the hook member 18 c therethrough. The buckle or connector 20 is thereby attached to an associated belt 24 or other restraining member 24 that is fully or at least partially wrapped about the golf bag, to thereby secure the golf bag device 10 to the golf cart.

When installed on a golf cart, the golf bag retention device 10 preferably provides a rigid assembly that better supports a golf bag connected thereto.

The band 12 and the connectors 16 and 20 may be injection-molded or otherwise molded if made from a rigid plastic, for example. The various members and arms of band 12 may be integrally joined in one monolithic assembly, or, if desired, may be made individually and then joined together by male and female fittings, by adhesives, or by other known methods. Belts 24 , 26 , and 28 may be made or sewn from a flexible material such as plastic or fabric, in a known manner.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,600,729, 8,910,785, and 8,662,363, and, U.S. Patent Application Pub. Nos. 20120018470, 2012126447, and 20120223112 exemplify related art, and are each herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

It will be understood that the foregoing description of the present invention is for illustrative purposes only, and that the various structural and operational features herein disclosed are susceptible to a number of modifications, none of which departs from the scope of the present invention. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention, but is meant to include any equivalents that would be realized by those of ordinary skill in the art.