METHODS TO MANUFACTURE THE SAME

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 13/873,530, filed April 30, 2013. U.S. Application No. 13/873,530 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a deployable rain hood, and in particular to deployable rain hoods for golf bags.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Many golf bags may be in the form of a tubular fabric or leather container having a generally cylindrical configuration with a closed bottom end and an open top end through which golf clubs are inserted into and removed from the golf bags. During rain an individual may need to cover the open end of the golf bag in order to protect the interior of the golf bag and the golf clubs. For convenience the rain hood may be stored somewhere on the golf bag so it is readily available for use w ^r hen needed. In particular the rain hood may be stored in a pocket on the golf bag that is easily accessible while the golf bag is being transported or carried by an individual.

[0004] When a golf bag is configured to be carried or transported by an individual, the golf bag may have a carrying strap assembly. The individual can use the carrying strap assembly to support the golf bag. In particular the individual w ill have the carrying strap draped over at least one shoulder while the body of the golf bag abuts the hip, thigh, side, or back of the individual. To make the transportation of the golf bag more comfortable there may be a pad located along the bag in an area that may abut an individual while the individual is carrying the golf bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates a golf bag with a rain hood assembly according to one embodiment.

[0006] FIG. 2 illustrates the golf bag and the rain hood assembly of FIG. 1 in a first configuration according one embodiment.

[0007] FIG. 3 illustrates the golf bag and the rain hood assembly of FIG. 1 in a second configuration according to one embodiment.

[0008] FIG. 4 illustrates a cavity of the rain hood assembly in FIG. 1 according to one embodiment.

[0009] FIG. 5 illustrates another configuration of the rain hood assembly of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment.

[0010] FIG. 6 illustrates another configuration of the rain hood assembly of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment

[0011] FIG. 7 illustrates a rain hood assembly according to another embodiment. [0012] FIG. 8 illustrates the cavity of the rain hood assembly of FIG. 7 according to one embodiment.

[0013] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating one method of manufacturing a rain hood assembly according to one embodiment.

[0014] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding elements among the various views of the drawings. The headings used in the figures should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION

[0015] As described herein, a rain hood assembly includes a rain hood that is configured to cover an open end of a golf bag. When the rain hood is in a collapsed position, the rain hood may be stored in a cavity on the golf bag. The outer surface of the cavity can include a padded region. The collapsed rain hood can contribute to the padded region when the rain hood is stored in the cavity. The cavity may include a closure mechanism that closes an opening to the cavity to conceal and/or secure the rain hood inside the cavity. To cover the open end of the golf bag, the rain hood may be removed from the cavity, deployed, and then placed over the open end of the golf bag. The rain hood may also be tethered to an interior of the cavity to keep the rain hood connected to the golf bag while the golf bag is being used.

[0016] Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a golf bag 100 including an elongate body 120 and a rain hood assembly 105. The rain hood assembly 105 includes a shroud 1 10 that is attached to the elongate body 120. FIG. 2 illustrates another view of the golf bag 100. The rain hood assembly 105 further includes a rain hood 200, which is shown in FIG. 2 to be in the deployed position. FIG. 3 illustrates another view of golf bag 100 with the rain hood 200 in a collapsed position. FIG. 4 illustrates a cavity 400 that may be substantially defined by a shroud 1 10 that is coupled to golf bag 100. The shroud 1 10 may include a cushioned portion 420. FIG. 5 illustrates the golf bag 100 with the rain hood 200 in the collapsed position and partially stored in the cavity 400. FIG. 6 illustrates the rain hood 200 being tethered to the golf bag 100 by a strap 600, which may be constructed from an elastic material.

[0017] In the example of FIG. 1, the golf bag 100 includes an elongate body 120, a rain hood assembly 105 including a shroud 110 and a rain hood 200, a bag bottom 130, an open bag top 140, and a strap assembly 150. In the present example, strap assembly 150 of golf bag 100 includes one strap for carrying the golf bag, but some strap assembly embodiments may include a plurality of straps configured to allow an individual to carry the golf bag by using any one or the plurality of the straps. Any suitable strap assembly may be employed.

[0018] In general, the elongate body 120 defines a hollow interior configured to receive at least one golf club (not shown). The elongate body 120 can be made of any material such as leather, canvas, or heavy cloth. The elongate body 120 may include a plurality of pockets 160 for storing an individual's personal belongings and golf accessories (not shown). The plurality of pockets 160 may be positioned anywhere along the elongate body 120 for convenience, comfort, accessibility, and/or function. Generally, the plurality of pockets 160 may be made of the same, or a similar material as the elongate body 120.

[0019] The elongate body 120 may also include cushioned portions 420 configured to abut an individual while the golf bag 100 is being carried by the individual. In the current example, the cushioned portion 420 is distinct from the plurality of pockets 160, but in other embodiments of golf bag 100, the cushioned portion 420 may be proximate to, or integrated into one or more of the plurality of pockets 160.

[0020] Now referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the rain hood 200 is depicted in the deployed position and the collapsed position, respectively. The rain hood 200 may include a bag-like rain hood body 210 and an open end 220 that is configured to receive the open bag top 140. When the rain hood 200 receives the open bag top 140, the rain hood body 210 covers the open bag top 140 and any object that may be placed in the golf bag 100 and/or protruding from the open bag top 140, such as golf clubs. The rain hood body 210 is malleable to allow an individual to configure the rain hood in a deployed or collapsed position (e.g. see collapsed rain hood 200 in FIG. 3). The rain hood body 210 may be made from any one or a combination of polyester, nylon, vinyl, leather, canvas or any other suitable water proofi'resistant and malleable material.

[0021] The rain hood 200 of FIG. 2 may include at least one fastener 230. The fastener 230 can be used to secure the rain hood 200 to the golf bag 100 after the rain hood 200 is placed over the open bag top 140 to cover the open bag top 140. In the current example, the fastener 230 is a two part fastener. A complimentary two part fastener 240 is located on the elongate body 120 of golf bag 100. The complementary two part fastener 240 is located proximate to the open bag top 140 in the current example, but the complementary two part fastener 240 may be located anywhere along golf bag 100 between the open bag top 140 and the bag bottom 130 without departing from the present disclosure. The two part fastener may comprise any suitable two part fastener. For example a hook and loop fastener, buttons, and'Or magnets may be used. Additionally, the two part fastener may be located on opposite sides, different quarters, or any suitable fraction of the golf bag 100 body. In another embodiment fastener 230 can be a one part fastener such as a clamping mechanism or a tie.

[0022] The open end 220 of the rain hood 200 may include an elastic perimeter 250 configured conform the rain hood 200 to the open bag top 140 by conforming to the profile of the elongate body 120 of golf bag 100 and frictionally engaging the elongate body 120 of the golf bag 100. In some examples, the rain hood 200 may have a second opening 260 that includes a closure mechanism 270 opposite the open end 220. The closure mechanism 270 may be comprised of any suitable closure mechanism such as a zipper or hook and loop. The second opening 260 in rain hood 200 can allow an individual access to items in the golf bag 100 through the second opening 260 while the rain hood 200 is being used to cover the bag open top 140.

[0023] The rain hood 200 may be folded, rolled and/or crumpled to achieve the collapsed position illustrated in FIG. 3. While the rain hood 200 is in the collapsed position it is more compact than the rain hood 200 in the deployed position so that the rain hood 200 can be stored in the cavity 400. The folding, rolling and/or crumpling of the rain hood 200 traps air within rain hood 200 and provides stacked layers of the malleable material from which the rain hood 200 is constructed. Therefore, collapsing the rain hood 200 can create a cushion like entity. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the size of the collapsed rain hood 200 is comparable to the size of the shroud 1 10 of golf bag 100 so that the rain hood 200 can fit in the cavity 400 in the collapsed position. However in other embodiments the collapsed rain hood 200 can be smaller in size or larger in size than the shroud 110. For example, a rain hood 200 that is larger than the shroud 1 10 may fit in the shroud for storage by applying more compression during folding, rolling and/or crumpling of the rain hood 200 to collapse the rain hood 200.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 4, the shroud 1 10, the cushioned portion 420, and the cavity 400 of rain hood assembly 105 are illustrated. The shroud 1 10 can be made of the same or similar material as the elongate body 140; or the shroud 110 can be made of a material distinct from the elongate body. The shroud 1 10 may have a trapezoidal shape as depicted, or any other shape or configuration. A portion of, or the entirety of shroud 1 10 may include padding in the form of foam, trapped air, packing filler, or any other suitable padding to create the cushioned portion 420. Alternatively, the cushioned portion 420 may only make up a portion of the shroud 110. The shroud 1 10 is coupled to golf bag 100 such that the cushioned portion 420 may abut an individual when the golf bag 100 is being carried.

[0025] The shroud 110 is coupled to the golf bag 100 and substantially defines a cavity 400. A portion of cavity 400 can be enclosed by the shroud 110, or the shroud 110 can encase the entire cavity 400. An opening 430 in the cavity 400 allows access to the cavity 400. The opening 430 may be a slit in the shroud 1 10, or the opening 430 may be at a detached portion of the shroud perimeter 440.

[0026] The shroud 1 10 may include a closure mechanism 450 that is configurable between an open position and a closed position. When the closure mechanism 450 is in the open position (e.g. a zipper that is unzipped in the example shown in FIG. 4), the opening 430 allows at least partial access to the cavity 400. Wlien the closure mechanism 450 is in the closed position (e.g. a zipper that is zipped in the example shown in FIG. 4), the opening 430 at least partially impedes access to the cavity 400. The closure mechanism may be any one of a zipper, hook and loop, magnets, buttons, snaps, elastic, or any other operable closure mechanism.

[0027] The cavity 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 is located near the open bag top 140. The placement of the cavity 400 in FIG. 4 is merely exemplary. In the current example, when the golf bag 100 is carried by an individual, the upper portion of the elongate body 120 abuts the individual on the lower back or side of the individual. The location of the cavity 400 allows the cushioned portion 420 to be located approximately where the golf bag 100 abuts an individual when the individual is carrying the golf bag. The placement of cavity 400 may vary with differently designed golf bags. Some factors that may assist in determining the placement of the cavity 400 are the strap assembly, the shape of the elongate body, the location of pockets on the golf bag, the point of contact between the individual carrying the golf bag and the golf bag, the stand mechanism on the golf bag, or the size of the cavity.

[0028] The cavity 400 in the example of FIG. 4 may be partly defined by the elongate body 120 such that the cavity 400 does not encroach on the interior space of the elongate body 120. In other words, the cavity 400 may not penetrate the elongate body 120. However, in other embodiments the cavity 400 can be located partially or wholly in the interior space surrounded by the elongate body 120 of golf bag 100 without departing from the current disclosure. For example, the elongate body 120 may include an opening defining a portion of the cavity, which may extends into the elongate body 120.

[0029] Turning to FIG. 5, the collapsed rain hood 200 is depicted partially stored in the cavity 400. The cavity 400 may be configured to receive the entire rain hood 200 or a substantial portion of the rain hood 200 for storage. The collapsed rain hood 200 can contribute to the padding in the cushion portion 420 by adding malleable volume adjacent to the cushion portion 420. When the closure mechanism 450 is in the closed position and the rain hood 200 is in the collapsed position in the cavity 400, the rain hood 200 is maintained and stored in the cavity 400 in the collapsed position. When the closure mechanism 450 is in the open position the rain hood 200 may be easily accessible and is deployable through the opening 430 to the deployed position.

[0030] Turning to FIG. 6, a tether 600 for connecting the rain hood 200 to the golf bag 100 is illustrated according to one embodiment. The rain hood 200 is coupled to one end of tether 600 proximate to the rain hood opening 220. The opposite end of the tether 600 is attached to the golf bag 100 from inside the cavity 400, proximate the cavity opening 430 so the tether 600 can be entirely inserted into the cavity along with the rain hood 200. The tether 600 may be formed of an elastic band, and the tether 600 may be detachable from either the cavity 400 and/or the rain hood 200. The tether 600 may be made of a rope, bimgee, cable, strap, or any other suitable tethering method. The tether 600 may be attached anywhere in the cavity 400, the shroud 1 10, or the elongate body 120 without departing from this disclosure.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, a rain hood assembly according to another embodiment is illustrated. The rain hood assembly 700 includes a rain hood 710 that is similar to rain hood 200, and a storage device 720 having a cavity 810. The storage device 720 is configured to store the rain hood 710 in the collapsed position in the cavity 810. The rain hood assembly may also include a tether 730 for attaching the rain hood 700 to storage device 720.

[0032] Rain hood assembly 700 includes at least one adaptable strap 740 for mounting the rain hood assembly 700 on a golf bag. The rain hood assembly 700 has a square shaped cavity storage device 720 with an adaptable strap 740 attached to sides of the storage device 720 to facilitate mounting the rain hood assembly 700 to a golf bag. Other embodiments may have alternative methods for mounting to the rain hood assembly 700 to a golf bag. For example, a hook and loop system, a bungee, or a permanent mounting method may be used for mounting the rain hood assembly 700 on a golf bag without departing from the current disclosure.

[0033] In FIG. 8, the storage device 720 includes an opening 800 that leads into an interior cavity 810. The opening 800 may include a closure mechanism 815 configured to substantially open and close the opening 800 to allow discretionary access to the cavity 810. The storage device 720 includes at least one cushioned portion 820. The cushioned portion 820 may be similar to cushioned portion 420 in many respects. Therefore, a detailed description of the cushioned portion 820 is not provided. The storage device 720 can receive rain hood 710 within the cavity 810. When rain hood 710 is received in cavity 810, the rain hood 710 may contribute to the padding in the cushioned portion 820.

[0034] Turning to FIG. 9, a method 900 of providing a rain hood assembly is illustrated. The method 900 may include providing a rain hood (block 910) that is configurable between a deployed position and a collapsed position and is capable of receiving the open bag top (e.g., open bag top 140 of FIG. 1). Providing a rain hood according to method 900 includes providing a rain hood that may be similar to the rain hood 200 or the rain hood 710, and may comprise features similar to the fastener 230 (FIG. 2), an elastic perimeter 250 (FIG. 2), or a second opening that is configurable between an open position and a closed position (not shown).

[0035] The method 900 also includes providing an interior cavity that is at least partially enclosed by a shroud, and the interior cavity being accessible through an opening in the cavity (block 920). In some examples an interior cavity provided according to method 900 may be similar to cavity 400 (FIG.s 4-5) or cavity 810 (FIG 9). In some examples a shroud provided by method 900 may be similar to the shroud 110 (FIG.s 4-5), and the shroud can have a shroud perimeter 440 (FIG. 4). In some examples the opening provided according to method 900 may be similar to opening 430 (FIG. 4), having a closure mechanism 450 (FIG. 4) or closure mechanism 815 (FIG.s 7-8), or being located on a shroud perimeter 440 (FIG. 4). Providing an interior cavity according to the method 900 may alternatively include providing the storage device 720 having the cavity 810.

[0036] The method 900 may include providing a cushion portion located on at least one of the shroud or an area adjacent to the shroud (block 930). In some examples, a cushion portion provided according to method 900 may be similar to the cushion portion 420 (FIG. 4-5) or the cushion portion 820, and can include foam, trapped air, packing filler, cotton, or any other suitable material, or being the same, less or greater in area than the shroud 1 10.

[0037] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative of the scope of the invention and is not intended to be limiting. It is intended that the scope of the invention shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims. For example, the method 900 may comprise many different procedures, processes, and activities and be performed by many different modules, in many different orders. Additionally, any element of FIGs. 1 -9 may be modified, and that the foregoing discussion of certain of these embodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments.

[0038] All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to the embodiment claimed in that particular claim. Consequently, replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims, unless such benefits, advantages, solutions, or elements are expressly stated in such claim.