Golf Bag Rain Cover

Field of the Invention This invention pertains generally to sporting goods accessories and more particularly to rain covers for golf bags.

Background of the Field

Golf is a popular sport in this country and around the world and is played under all sorts of weather conditions. A golfer needs a cover for his golf bag to keep the clubs dry but accessible to him during play. Many existing golf bag covers are inefficient at keeping the clubs dry or are complicated to use, resulting in less than optimal accessibility.

Summary of the Invention

A golf bag rain cover for use in covering a club opening of a golf bag. The golf bag rain cover includes a shell constructed of a water-resistant material disposed over the club opening of the golf bag, a flexible rod supporting the shell in a bonnet shape over the club opening in the golf bag, the rod having a first end and a second end, a primary support element for the shell and the rod, the first end of the rod rotatably attached to a distal end of the primary support and the second end of the rod rotatably attached to a middle portion of the primary support and a support tube extending longitudinally along the bag that slidingly receives a proximal end of the primary support

element and that secures the primary support element, the rod and shell over the opening in the golf bag.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIGURE 1A is a perspective view of the golf bag rain cover in a deployed, closed position;

FIGURE 1B is a perspective view of the golf bag rain cover in a collapsed, open position;

FIGURE 2A is a detail view of an extensible rod in contracted, straight position; FIGURE 2B is a detail view of an extensible rod in extended, straight position;

FIGURE 2C is a detail view of three extensible rods in extended, bowed position;

FIGURE 3 is a detail view of a mounting bracket;

FIGURE 4 is a back view showing the rear shell closure fastened;

FIGURE 5A is a perspective view of a rain cover storage sheath separate from a golf bag;

FIGURE 5B is a back view of a rain cover stowage element integral with a golf bag; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of an alternate illustrated embodiment of the invention using non-extensible rods and an integral receiving tube that extends inside the golf bag.

FIGURES 8a-c are perspective views and a cross-sectional view of an alternate illustrated embodiment of the invention using a removable shell.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of an alternate illustrated embodiment of the invention that uses a two-piece rain cover for the golf bag.

FIGURE 10a-c are perspective views and a cross-sectional view of an alternate illustrated embodiment of the invention using a flat primary support element for the rain cover of the golf bag.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of an alternate illustrated embodiment of the invention using a shell that folds in two directions to cover the golf bag.

Detailed Description Figure 1 A shows the golf bag rain cover 10 in the deployed and closed position as it is to be installed over the club opening 11 of a golf bag. In this position, the cover 10 will effectively keep the club heads, as well as the club grips, dry and ready for use by the golfer. For the purpose of these illustrations and this accompanying narrative, the reference frame used will be defined as follows: whether or not the golf bag is held at an angle, and regardless of the installation orientation of the cover thereon, the front of the golf bag will correspond to the front of the rain cover, i.e., the side towards which the bowed rods automatically fall (gravity action); and the rear of the golf bag will correspond to the rear of the rain cover, i.e., the side defining the closure panel. The water-resistant shell 12 is held in a bonnet-like shape and is supported by a plurality of self-tensioning, extensible rods 14 (shown in more detail in following figures) which are bowed over the club opening 11 , and the shell 12 can be opened as shown in Figure 1 B to provide access to the clubs, by collapsing the rods 14 towards the rear of the golf bag. (Although the shell 12 may be initially provided in several panels, the panels may

be sewn, fused, or otherwise fastened together to provide a one-piece shell 12 which surmounts the bowed rods.) Alternatively, the golfer does not have to collapse the cover 10 into the fully open position as shown in Fig. 1 B, but can simply reach up under the closed shell 12 to retrieve the desired club while leaving the remaining clubs protected by the rain cover 10. In the illustrative embodiment, a set of three extensible rods 14 is used with the shell 12, each rod having a first end and a second end. The first ends are all held together in a set, and the second ends are all held together in a set. The first set of rod ends 22 is linked to one mounting bracket 20, and the second opposing set of rod ends 24 is linked to a second opposing mounting bracket 21. The two mounting brackets will then be attached to opposing portions of the golf bag.

Although any number of rods, extensible or not, could be used to practice the invention, an optimal number here illustrated and discussed is three. (For instance, as alluded to in the alternate configuration here presented, two rods could be effectively used.) Figure 2A shows one (14a) of a set of three extensible rods 14a, 14b, and 14c. In this figure 2A, the rod 14a is contracted to a maximum extent, the extent to which it will be contracted and shortened when the shell 12 is in the stowed position, e.g., for stowage in a storage sheath (e.g., a sheath separate from the golf bag or a stowage tube or other element integral with the golf bag). When contracted, the outer portions 18a and 18b of the rod 14a slide onto the inner portion 16, and when extended, the outer portions 18a and 18b slidably extend from the inner portion 16. Figure 2B shows the same rod 14a of the set of three extensible rods 14a, 14b, and 14c in the extended and straight position; and Figure 2C shows the set of rods 14a, 14b, and 14c in the extended and bowed position, as they will be bowed when the shell 12 is in the

deployed, closed position of Fig. 1A. The rod ends (ends of the outer portions) are positioned proximate each other and may be held within pockets 28 of the shell 12. Likewise, the inner portions 16 of the rods 14 may be at least partially held within similar shell pockets or loops. Although there will be two mounting brackets 20 and 21 linked to the ends of the rods 14, and located on the golf bag at the club opening, for clarity and for illustration purposes, only one mounting bracket 20 is shown in Figure 3. It is understood that the second, opposing mounting bracket 21 will be a mirrored complement to the first illustrated. It is also understood that although the mounting brackets 20 and 21 of the embodiment shown here are clips that can be easily installed and removed from the golf bag, any other type of suitable mounting bracket may be used, including a mounting bracket that is permanently mounted to the golf bag at the club opening 11 thereof. In the illustrative embodiment, the three rods 14 (14a, 14b, and 14c) are used with and support the shell 12, the first set of rod ends 22 being linked to one mounting bracket 20 and the second opposing set of rod ends 24 being linked to a second opposing mounting bracket 21. The mounting bracket 20 is designed to hold the first rod 14a in a fixed relation; this rod 14a when extended and bowed into the deployed position will be oriented toward the rear of the golf bag club opening 11 and will retain its position whether the cover 10 is opened or closed. The second and third rods 14b and 14c are held in a pivoting relation to the first mounting bracket 20 and also to the first rod 14a. All rods ends may be retained in pockets 28 of the shell 12 (or alternatively may be held together by a pivot pin or other device) and so will fall forward (gravity action) when the brackets 20 and 21 are installed allowing the shell 12 to completely deploy and cover

the golf bag club opening 11. Alternatively to the shell, the mounting bracket 20 itself may be designed to hold the second and third rods 14b and 14c in such a pivoting relation; these rods 14b and 14c, when extended and bowed into the deployed, closed position, will be oriented toward the front of the golf bag club opening 11 and will be capable of collapsing to be adjacent the first rod 14a to provide club access.

The mounting brackets 20 and 21 may be removable from the golf bag as in the embodiment shown and/or be permanently fixed to the rod ends or to the shell 12 itself. Alternatively, the mounting brackets 20 and 21 may be fixed onto the golf bag proximate the club opening 11 , so that they will always be available for accepting the two sets of rod ends 22 and 24, and thereby deploying the golf bag rain cover 10. Alternatively, the mounting brackets 20 and 21 may be held by a strap which circumscribes the golf bag proximate the club opening 11. If such a strap is used, then the strap may be removed in fair weather (e.g., for the summer season) and installed in harsher weather (e.g., for the fall, winter, or spring seasons). Regardless of the means of attaching the mounting brackets 20 and 21 to the golf bag, the linkage between bracket and rods may be such that at least one fixed rod 14a is oriented toward the rear of the club opening 11.

Figure 4 is a back view of the rain cover 10 and shows a detail of the rear shell closure 30 within the rear panel 38 (which may preferably be constructed of the same water-resistant material as the rest of the shell). This rear shell closure 30 may be accomplished with a zipper 32 as shown, or may be accomplished with a variety of other methods, e.g., hook-and-loop fasteners such as Velcro™, snaps, or overlapping flaps. (The rear panel 38 is typically defined by the shell 12 on ail but the lower edge 40. Alternatively, in the case of a surmounting shell held atop bowed rods, the rear

panel 38 may simply depend from the shell.) The zipper 32 closes the rear panel 38 of the rain cover to a point proximate the lower edge 40 of the rear panel, defining an opening 42 to accommodate a golf bag handle or shoulder strap. It is optimal, though not requisite for the practice of the invention, that the zipper 32 descend far enough that the zipper tab 34 locate at or below the club opening 11 so that no rain can enter though the opening 42 onto the golf clubs. The lower edge 40 of the rear panel therefore locates proximate the club opening of the golf bag. An adjustable retention strap 44 attached to the rear panel 38 of the rain cover proximate the lower edge 40 fastens under such golf bag handle or shoulder strap to complete the circumscription of the opening 42. Alternatively, the zipper tab 34 (or flap end, bottom snap, etc.) may be fastened to the golf bag for added retention and rain resistance (for instance on a windy day). Fastening the closure 30, and fastening the retention strap 44, zipper tab 34, or snap, etc., not only assists in retaining the rain cover 10 to the golf bag and in eliminating space between the cover and the golf bag, but also adds an amount of tension to the rear panel 38 of the shell 12, so as to maintain the bonnet-shape of the shell 12 as installed on the golf bag. When the closure 30 is unfastened, the tension will be released, and the rear panel 38 will be loose and capable of being stowed (Ae., the rods 14 will be allowed to straighten out from the deployed position (bowed) in order to contract into the straight, stowable position of figure 2A). The golf bag rain cover 10 is intended to be stowed in or proximate to (even adjacent) the golf bag, and in the stowed position, the inner portion 16 slides into and nests with the outer portions 18a and 18b in order to accommodate the difference in length between the stowed (straight and contracted) and in use (extended and bowed)

configurations. (The contracted rods 14 can now be stowed in a storage sheath 46, shown in FIGURE 5A, along with the shell 12 to await future use.) In alternate embodiments, any other suitable method for contracting and extending the rod length could be designed, e.g., telescoping, folding, etc. FIGURE 5B shows an alternate embodiment of a storage element 48, such as a tube, being fastened to or integrated with the side of the golf bag and the rain cover 10 being removably housed therein and deploying therefrom. The stowage element 48 may have an open end proximate or adjacent the club opening of the golf bag and a closed distal end spaced therefrom, and the stowage element 48 may be located on the interior or the exterior of the golf bag. In this embodiment, the entire rain cover, including at least one mounting bracket, may slide out of and be separated from the stowage element (and then mounted onto the club opening), or the rain cover may slide out of the proximate end of the storage tube 48, and then the proximate end of the stowage tube may itself function as one of the two mounting brackets (by engaging and retaining the first mounting bracket attached to the rain cover). The opposing mounting bracket may be linked to the opposed rod ends and removably attach onto the opposing side of the club opening 11. Alternatively, the opposing mounting bracket may be permanently fixed to the appropriate location on the club opening 11 , and the rod ends would simply deploy from the storage tube 48 and link to said mounting bracket. FIGURE 6 shows an alternate embodiment in which one of the extensible rods

14 (in this figure, the middle/second rod 14b) may be collapsible and retained in closer proximity to an adjacent rod (in this figure, the rearward/first rod 14a). In this way, the rain cover 10 may be partially collapsed to accommodate some pull cart configurations,

some light rain situations, or other circumstances. One way to accommodate such retention may be to use strategically placed hook-and-loop fasteners 50 such as Velcro™. Any other suitable method may be used.

In other illustrated embodiments, the golf bag rain cover 10 of FIGs. 1-6 is integrated into the golf bag. FIG. 7 shows a golf bag 100 with a golf bag rain cover 102 integrated into the golf bag 100 under a first illustrated embodiment. The rain cover 102 includes a shell 112 supported by one or more rods 108, 110 and a primary support element 106. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the rod(s) 108, 110 are not extensible and are pivotally attached to the primary support element 106 via a connector (e.g., a screw, rivet, etc.) 114.

The shell 112 may be joined to the primary support element 106 via the connector 114. In this case, the connector 114 joins the shell 112 to the support element 106 by extending through the primary support member 106, the rod(s) 108, 110 and the lower marginal edges of the shell 112. Alternatively, the shell 112 may be provided with loops that extend around the primary support member 106 and rod(s) 108, 110. As with previous embodiments, the rod(s) 108, 110 and shell 112 may be pivoted upwards to allow access to the clubs within the bag 100.

The rain cover 102 may also include a self-tensioning device (e.g., a shock cord, bungee, spring, etc.) 130. The self-tensioning device 130 may be connected on a first end to an extension 128 of a lower rod 110 and to a top portion of the main support element 106 on the opposite end. The tensioning device 130 functions to return the rain cover 102 in a lowered position after a user accesses the clubs and also to resist wind gusts.

The primary support member 106 is supported (and connected to the golf bag 100) on a first, proximal end 126 by a receiving tube 104. The opposite, distal end 124 of the primary support member 106 is secured to an opposing side of the golf bag 100 by a receiving loop or pocket 174 (FIG. 8b). Alternatively, the distal end of the primary support member 106 may be secured to the opposing side of the golf bag 100 using any of a number of other attachment methods (e.g., a Fastex buckle, bracket 20, 21 , etc.).

FIG. 7 shows the receiving tube 104 disposed on an outside of the bag 100, but it should be understood that the receiving tube 104 could just as well be disposed inside the bag 100. The tube 104 includes a first, straight portion 116 and a second, curved portion 118. In the case, where the tube 104 is disposed primarily on an outside of the bag 100, the first portion 116 extends along the outer surface of the bag 100 and enters the bag 100 through an aperture 120. The second portion lies inside the bag 100 and extends along the bottom of the bag and up a far side of the bag 100.

The primary support element 106 and rod(s) 108, 110 are both constructed of a resilient material so that when the distal end of the primary support member 106 is released, the primary support member 106 and bar(s) 108, 110 assume a straightened shape parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bag 100. The receiving tube 104 is constructed of sufficient length and diameter so that the straightened primary support element 106, the rod(s) 108, 110 and shell 112 may be urged downwards into the support tube 104 when not needed. In this regard, once the distal end of the primary support element 106 has been released, the rod(s) 108, 110 automatically fold into and against the primary support element 106. The shell may be wrapped around the primary support element 106 and bar(s) 108, 110. The wrapped assembly may then be

urged (pushed) down into the tube 104. As the primary support member 106 is pushed into the tube 104, the proximal end of the primary support member 106 first proceeds down the first portion 116 and then up into the second portion 118 of the support tube104. When the rain cover 102 is again needed, the process is reversed. In this case, a user simply grasps the distal end of the primary support element 106 and pulls it out of the tube 104 until the proximal end of the primary support element 106 encounters a stop 122 on the support tube 104. The user then simply folds the distal end over the top of the bag 100 and engages the distal end into the loop or pocket 174 on the far side. FIGs. 8a-c illustrate another embodiment where the rain cover 150 is integrated into the golf bag 100. In this embodiment, the shell 160 is removable and may be stored separately. The volume of the supporting structure of the rain cover 150 is substantially smaller than other embodiments.

In FIG. 8a, the primary support member 152 and rods 154,156 are extensible as in some of the previous examples. FIG. 8c depicts an example of the structure of the primary support member 152 and rods 154, 156. As may be noted, the primary support structure 152 and rods 154, 156 may be constructed of at least three elements, including substantially identical end elements 168, 172 and a coupling element 170. In order to avoid pulling the primary support element 152 and rods 154, 156 apart, each of the end elements 168, 172 may have an enlarged end element 166 and the coupler a constricted end 164 that prevents the end elements 168, 172 from being pulled out of the coupler 170.

The rods 154, 156 are pivotally connected to the primary support element 152 via a connector element 158 (e.g., a screw, rivet, etc.). The support element 152 is supported on a proximal end by the receiving tube 161. The distal end of the primary support element 152 may be secured to the side of the bag 100 opposite the tube 161 via the receiving loop or pocket 174.

As noted above, the shell 160 is removable from the rain cover 150. When installed, the shell 160 may be secured to the primary support element 152 and flexible rods 154, 156, 158 via a hook and loop elements (e.g., Velcro) 162, 164. Once removed, the shell 160 may be stowed in a separate pocket within the golf bag 100. Since the shell 160 of the rain cover 150 is removable, the receiving tube 161 is allowed to be significantly smaller. In addition, since the primary support element 152 and flexible rods 154, 156, 158 are also extensible, the support tube 161 is allowed to be shorter.

In this regard, once the shell 160 is removed and the distal end of the primary support element 152 is released from the bracket 20, 21 , the resilient material of the primary support element 152 and rods 154, 156 causes the primary support element 152 and rods 154, 156 to become straight. Once the primary support element 152 has been released, the straightening of the primary support element 152 causes the rods 154, 156 to coalesce into the tight bundle of elements 162 shown in FIG. 8b. Once the primary support element 152 and rods 154, 156 have coalesced into the bundle 162 of FIG. 8b, the bundle 162 may be pushed down into the tube 161 when the rain cover 150 is not needed.

When the rain cover 150 is again needed, the bundle 162 is again pulled out of the tube 161 as shown in FIG. 8b. Once pulled out of the tube 161 , the user may grasp the distal end 164 and begin to urge and otherwise bend the primary support member 152 from an upright orientation downwards towards the loop or pocket 174 with one hand while he/she spreads the rods 154, 156, 158 with his/her other hand, finally inserting the distal end 164 into the loop or pocket 174. Finally, the user may place the shell 160 over the primary support member 152 and rods 154, 156 and attach the shell 160 to the primary support element 152 and rods 154, 156 with the hook and loop elements 162, 164. FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of a golf bag 100 with an integral rain cover 200. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the rain cover 200 is divided into a first portion 202 and a second portion 204, each with its own receiving tube. In use, the first and second portions 202 and 204 are used together as follows.

A first portion 208 of the shell 206 is part of the first portion and a second portion 210 of the shell 206 is part of the second portion 204. In use, the first and second portions 202, 204 of the shell 206 are joined via a connector (e.g., a zipper) 212 that connects the first portion 208 to the second portion 210.

Similarly, the primary support element 214 is divided into a first portion 216 and a second portion 218 that are connected during use by a coupler 220. Similarly, a middle support rod 222 includes a first portion 226 and a second portion 228 joined by a coupler 230. The bottom support rod 224 also includes a first portion 232 and a second portion 234 joined by a coupler 236. An enlarged view of the coupler 230 is provided as an example of the structure of the other couplers 220, 236.

The first and second portions 202, 204 are each provided with a respective receiving tube 238, 240. In this embodiment, the distal end of the primary support element 214 lies adjacent the point where the second portion 218 enters the tube 240 and the proximal end of the primary support element 214 lies adjacent the point where the first portion 216 enters the tube 238.

To store the rain cover 200, a user simply unzips the zipper 212 and disconnects the couplers 220, 230, 236. The first and second portions 202, 204 are then folded and pushed into the respective receiving tube 238, 240.

FIGs. 10a-c illustrate another embodiment of a golf bag 100 with an integral rain cover. FIGs. 10a-b show alternate embodiments of a primary support element assembly 250 including a flat primary support element 252 and receiving tube 254. The primary support element assembly 250 may be used with the extensible rods 154, 156 and shell 160 of FIGs. 8a-b.

The primary support element 252 of FIG. 10a includes a first portion 256 and a second portion 258. The first portion 256 and second portion 258 are fabricated of flat interlocking sections that may have a cross-sectional structure such as that shown in FIG. 10c. The interlocking sections (e.g., flat interlocking slats) allow the portions 256, 258 to slide past into each other in a manner that allows that portions 256, 258 to be substantially coextensive in a stored state or position. In the first embodiment of FIG. 10a, the coextensive position of the portions 256, 258 allows a relatively short receiving tube 260 to be used.

FIG. 10b shows an alternate embodiment of the FIG. 10a. In FIG. 10b, the first and second portions 260, 262 may be of a longer length to allow more overlap at the

center 264. A longer receiving tube 266 is also provided to receive the coextensive portions 260, 262 in a stored state.

FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment where the rain cover 300 is integrated into a structure of the golf bag 100. Under the structure of FIG. 11 , the primary support element 302 may be a one-piece flat resilient bar (e.g., plastic or fiberglass) that slides into a flat receiving tube 304. The receiving tube 304 is structured as a helix to curve around the bag 100 to accommodate the length of the one-piece primary support element 302.

A number of flexible rods 304, 306, 308, 310 are provided that may be folded out over both sides of the golf bag 100. The flexible rods 304, 306, 308, 310 may be secured to the primary support element 302 via an appropriate connector (e.g., screw, rivet, etc.) 314.

The shell 312 may be somewhat larger and extend over both sides. The shell may be secured to the primary support structure 302 and/or rods 304, 306, 308, 310 via loops in the shell 312 or via a loop and hook connection, as described in previous embodiments.

In another alternate embodiment, the primary support elements and flexible rods of FIGs. 7-11 are provided in the form of inflatable channels (tubes) formed from a relatively soft material that are inflated to provide the structural functionality previously described with respect to FIGs. 7-11. Similarly, the receiving tubes may be a pump or compressed air source that inflates the rain cover to cover the clubs of the golf bag.

It is appreciated that various modifications to the inventive concepts described herein may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the hereinafter appended claims.