From EP 461 243, a shoulder strap for a golf bag is known, which is fastened at both its ends at the upper edge and in the lower zone of the golf bag in a longitudinally adjustable way, wherein the central zone of the shoulder strap is formed in a V-shape by sewing and a ring is fastened thereon, which is fastened on the bag via a longitudinally adjustable member between the lower and upper fastening positions. In this way, two separate arc-shaped strap portions result which can be pulled over both shoulders, so that the golf bag can be carried in the manner of a rucksack essentially transverse on the back.

The invention is based on the object of designing a shoulder strap, especially for a golf bag, such that the shoulder strap can be used in different ways.

This is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. Because, in the central zone of the shoulder strap, a loop is formed which can be fastened between the outer fastening positions on the bag, on the one hand the shoulder strap can be comfortably carried over one shoulder when the loop is open, while on the other hand, the shoulder strap can be carried over both shoulders in the manner of a rucksack when the loop is fastened between the outer fastening positions on the bag.

Brief description of the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a shoulder strap on a golf bag with a detached loop, Fig. 2 shows a view of the shoulder strap with a loop fastened on the bag, and Fig. 3 shows the shoulder strap in detail in the position for use according to Fig. 2.

In the Figures, 1 designates a long golf bag which can be provided at the lower end with an added bag 2, and has a handle 3 in the upper zone. A shoulder strap 4 is fastened by one end near to the upper edge of bag 1 at 5, and by the opposite end in the lower zone of the bag at 6.

Between these fastening positions 5 and 6, which are distanced from one another in the longitudinal direction, the shoulder strap 4 is formed approximately in the middle zone as a loop 7, which is held in its loop-shape by a clamp member 8. The end of loop 7, which is opposite clamp member 8, is provided with a fastening member 9 which can be fixedly joined to bag 1 by a joining member 10 mounted approximately in the central zone between the two fastening positions 5 and 6. Joining member 10, which is schematically positioned next to handle 3 in Fig. 1, is also mountable on handle 3.

Fig. 1 shows shoulder strap 4 in the one position for use, in which loop 7, by way of example, is fixed on the shoulder strap by means of a velcro strip mounted on the loop at 11. In the form of the shoulder strap reproduced in Fig. 1, this can be laid over one shoulder and in this way bag 1 can be carried comfortably by means of shoulder strap 4, wherein bag 1 hangs diagonally on one side of the body.

Fig. 2 shows shoulder strap 4 in the other position for use, in which fastening member 9 is joined to the bag at the end of loop 7 by joining member 10, so that two arc-shaped portions 12 and 13 result, whose common inner side is formed by loop 7. In this arrangement of shoulder strap 4, the two arc-shaped portions 12 and 13 can be laid over both shoulders so that bag 1 can be carried comfortably on the back in the manner of a rucksack, wherein bag 1 lies essentially transverse on the back.

The length of loop 7 between fastening member 9 and clamp member 8 can be adjusted by pulling strap 4 in the one or the other direction through clamp member 8, in order to shorten or lengthen the length of loop 7. In this way, the shoulder strap in the carrying position according to Fig. 2 can be adjusted in a simple way to the breadth of the shoulder and size of a person, wherein an adjustment of the loop length is not necessary when the shoulder strap is laid over only one shoulder in the position for use according to Fig. 1.

Clamp member 8 can be designed in the form of a normally somewhat rectangular buckle with a central stay, through whose two openings the two ends of loop 7 are pulled. Fig. 3 shows shoulder strap 4 in more detail, wherein one clamp member 8 is reproduced, which overlaps and tightly hold together the two strands of loop 7 and yet permits adjustment of the loop length.

Fig. 3 shows the fastening member at the free end of the loop in the form of a buckle 9, through whose two openings the two strands of loop 7 are conducted so that the loop end remains free and can be attached to a laterally open bow 10 which is pivotably fixed on the bag in a bracket 10'.

Instead of this embodiment with buckle 9 and laterally open bow 10, at the end of loop 7 a stop-catch can also be mounted, which can be inserted by a snap action in a stop-type receiving means, wherein the stop-type receiving means is fixed to bag 1 and provided, in an essentially known way, with elastic gripping members.

Shoulder strap 4 is preferably fastened at both fastening positions 5 and 6 in a way permitting adjustment in its length. By way of example, at fastening positions 5 and 6, closed bows 14 can be pivotably fastened on bag 1 by brackets 14', through whose opening the belt band is pulled, wherein the two strands of the belt are clamped together by a clamp member 15.

Upper fastening position 5 of shoulder strap 4 on bag 1 can also be designed without any possibility for adjustment, while lower fastening position 6 preferably permits an adjustment in the length of the shoulder strap.

Adjustable fastening members 5 and 6 can be designed in different ways, wherein members known in themselves can be used, for example, stop or slip-on connectors, so it does not seem necessary to describe these in detail.

At the two strap portions 12 and 13, on each side of clamp member 8, shoulder cushions 15 are provided which are known in themselves, which are displaceable by means of loops 15'on the shoulder strap and are preferably fixable in their position by a velcro strip.

Outer fastening positions 5 and 6 of shoulder strap 4 preferably have an articulated axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of bag 1, so the latitudinal extension of shoulder strap 4 at fastening positions 5 and 6 lies transverse to the longitudinal axis of bag 1, while the articulated position of loop 7 on joining member 10 lies in the longitudinal direction of the bag, so that the width of the strap is aligned in the longitudinal direction of the bag as shown in Fig. 3. Hereby, the width of shoulder strap 4 in the position for use according to Fig. 1 is aligned such that the shoulder strap can be comfortably carried over one shoulder, while in the position for use according to Fig. 3 loop 7 and the adjacent zones of portions 12 and 13 are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the bag such that they lie flat on the back of the person carrying the bag.

Different variations of the described embodiment are possible. For example, loop 7, in the position for use according to Fig. l, can be insertable in loops 15'of shoulder cushion 15. It is also possible in the position for use according to Fig. 1, to let loop 7 hang loose at the shoulder strap, without loop 7 being fixed by a velcro strip at 11 or by inserting in the loop of a shoulder cushion.

As the representation in Fig. 3 shows, the articulated position of bracket 7 aligned in the longitudinal direction of the bag, is arranged somewhat outside the joining line between fastening positions 5 and 6, so that in this position for use, bag 1 is supported comfortably on the back of the carrier. By this somewhat offset arrangement of joining member 10, the alignment of the strap width in the zones of portions 12 and 13, which abut on clamp member 8, is also favoured for this position for use.