EP0274782B1 - Bag for golf equipment convertible into a wheeled caddy - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a suitcase for arranging golf equipment, of a type convertible to a cart for transporting the equipment over a golf coarse. This suitcase has a covering defining a parrallelepipedic volume and is made up of a removeable top face (1), a pair of end walls, a pair of side walls and a large bottom face. The covering is rigidly positioned by an internal reinforcing structure (8) that is connected to internal reinforcing walls (9, 10) that are transverse to the cart. A longitudinal standard (15) is fixed to the transverse walls (9, 10). A transverse axle (19) is fixed to the standard (15) and has ends that removeable attach two wheels.

Description

The invention relates to a case for storing golf equipment, of the type convertible into a trolley for transporting this equipment on a golf course.

Golf clubs are traditionally stored in bags intended to be transported on a trolley during a course on a golf course. These trolleys are very simple in design and mainly comprise a tubular upright carrying a handle towards one of its ends and mounted on two oblique arms each carrying a wheel. On this amount are, in addition, subject support members intended to ensure the maintenance of the bag. Despite their simplicity, these trolleys have several drawbacks, however. First, the weight of this cart is added to the weight of the bag containing the clubs. Although these two elements are each of relatively low weight, their addition forms a relatively heavy unit to tow if we consider that a golf course requires several kilometers of walking. In addition, by design, these carts are relatively bulky and therefore pose enormous problems of storage and transport. Finally, the last drawback comes from the fact that the clubs are stored, in bulk, in a bag. Indeed, the choice of a club requires to search, among the tangle of heads, the one chosen, then to longitudinally retier this desired club over its entire length.

To overcome these drawbacks, several solutions have been proposed, aiming to solve this or that problem.

One solution to solve the problem of space, and therefore the storage of carts, was to make partially removable or foldable carts, so as to allow their transport, especially in a car trunk. However, the addition of mechanical members allowing the folding goes against the primary qualities of traditional trolleys, namely their lightness and their simplicity. In addition, the clubs are always stored in a bag intended to be fixed on these trolleys.

Another solution, as described in US Pat. No. 3,164,393, consisted in providing a club carrier device capable of being fixed on a conventional carriage. This removable club carrier device comprises snap-in members making it possible to arrange the "iron" clubs parallel to one another and tubular elements extending parallel to each other, intended to house the wood clubs. This club carrier device allows you to quickly select the desired club. However, being intended to be fixed on a trolley, it does not solve the problems arising from the use thereof. In addition, the support members of the iron clubs are arranged so that these clubs are stored with their heads raised upwards, that is to say in the reverse position to that which they tend to take naturally when their storage. As a result, the club carrier device must be provided with holding members intended to prevent clubs from escaping when the carriage is pulled.

The removal of the bag also led to the production of golf equipment storage cases, convertible into a trolley for transporting this equipment on a golf course. The aim of these inventions is to allow easy transport of golf equipment in a suitcase convertible, by means of a few simple operations, into a cart in which the clubs are separated from each other and easily selectable. However, none of the solutions proposed and notably described in the patents FR 1,292,249, US 4,017,091, DE 2,939,150, GR 2,096,546, US 2,590,178, US 3,738,677 and US 3,431,690 do not allow combine the main qualities sought: lightness, balance of the weight transported relative to the axis of the wheels, easy removal of the clubs and automatic stability of the carriage in its rest position.

The suitcase described in US Patent 3,451,690 comprises, for example, two folding wheels arranged in an intermediate position between the two end faces of this suitcase. In addition, holding means make it possible to arrange the iron clubs upside down parallel to the upper side of the suitcase and access them directly once this upper side is clear. Due to the intermediate position of the wheels and the storage of the iron head down clubs, this case provides good load distribution. Furthermore, the layout of these iron clubs allows easy access to them. However, this suitcase has two major drawbacks, namely a heavy structure giving it a significant weight and a large impasto of the carriage which results in poor handling.

Neither this suitcase, nor any other existing suitcase therefore makes it possible, at present, to meet, as a whole, all the requirements required when designing a golf cart. In addition, it should be noted that all the convertible suitcases have a weight at least equal and often greater than the weight of a bag-cart assembly and are, because of this weight and their dimensions, much less manageable than a conventional cart.

The present invention proposes to provide a storage case convertible into a golf cart overcoming all the drawbacks mentioned above.

To this end, the present invention proposes to provide a case of relatively small dimensions, convertible into a very light and handy golf cart thanks to the addition of wheels positioned so as to balance the weight of the clubs.

Another objective is to authorize direct access to the clubs without having to remove them over their entire length.

Another objective is to provide a trolley capable of absorbing shocks, in particular when it is used in rough terrain.

(To simplify the description, the case will be described in an inclined position corresponding to the pulling or resting position of the carriage. The terms "upper", "lower", "high", "low" are therefore used with reference to the running surface of this carriage).

The case referred to by the inventIon for the storage of golf equipment is of the convertible type a cart for transporting said equipment to a golf course. It is characterized in that it comprises in combination:

(a) a covering delimiting a rectangular parallelepiped volume, of low height compared to its length and its width and comprising:

. two large opposite faces, upper and lower, one of which, upper, is provided with opening means adapted to release it over its larger surface,

. two small opposite end faces, called high and low, one of which, high, is provided with opening means adapted to release it over its largest surface,

. two opposite side faces provided, in cascade, each with a light formed in their lower half,

(b) two internal transverse walls extending between the lateral faces and arranged at a distance from each other less than the length of a club, the internal wall adjacent to the lower end face being arranged at a distance from said end face adapted to allow the housing of club heads,

(c) support and holding members adapted to arrange the clubs parallel to one another in two planes substantially parallel to the large faces, said support members comprising:

. notches formed at the upper edge of the internal walls, and of shapes adapted to allow the latching of clubs, so that the head of said clubs is housed in the housing delimited by the internal wall and the bottom end face,

. a set of tubular elements carried by the internal walls and extending parallel to each other near the underside, said tubular elements being of a shape suitable for accommodating, each, a club,

(d) an internal reinforcement structure adapted to ensure a rigid retention of the covering in a shape approximately rectangular parallelepiped, said structure being linked to the internal walls,

(e) a longitudinal upright fixed on the internal walls and extending between the end faces, said upright being provided, towards an end situated opposite the high end face, with removable fastening means for quick mounting of a gripping and operating member,

(f) an axle fixed on a section of the upright located between the internal walls, so as to extend transversely between the openings of the lateral faces, said axle consisting of a tubular cross member provided with removable fixing means for quick mounting , on either side of the case, wheels arranged so that the lower end face is located above the rolling plane of said wheels in an inclined position of traction.

The combination of these characteristics makes it possible to obtain a very light case, of reduced dimensions (arrangement of the clubs), convertible into a very handy trolley due in particular to the position of the wheels which makes it possible to balance the weight of the clubs. In addition, once the upper side is open, the clubs are directly accessible.

The rigidity of this case is itself provided by a light internal reinforcement structure preferably comprising a rigid frame extending along the sides of a rectangular parallelepiped, and fixed near the angles of the internal walls.

In addition, the amount is preferably positioned in the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the case. The notches and tubular elements are thus distributed symmetrically on either side of this amount, so as to ensure a good transverse distribution of the loads.

Furthermore, small equipment storage compartments can advantageously be created between the internal walls by providing, on either side of the upright, a removable cover parallel to the upper face and carried by said transverse walls under the notches. of these.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows and from the examination of the appended drawings which present, by way of nonlimiting example, a preferred embodiment. On these drawings which form an integral part of this description:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a case, of a gripping and maneuvering member, and of wheels, in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof, wheels and gripping and operating members mounted, the upper and upper faces of the case being released,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the empty carriage, an access cover to a small equipment storage compartment being open,

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section thereof through a plane A-A,

- Fig 5 is a cross section of the end of the axle,

FIG. 6 is a cross section of the carriage by a plane B-B,

FIG. 7 is a cross section thereof through a plane C-C,

- Figures 8a to 8d are schematic perspective views illustrating the different phases allowing the conversion of the case into a golf cart.

The case for storing golf equipment shown in FIG. 1 is of the type convertible into a trolley for transporting this equipment on a golf course, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 7.

This case includes a covering delimiting a rectangular parallelepiped volume of low height compared to its length and its height. Its dimensions are of the order of 1.15 m long by 0.33 m wide and 0.12 m high. This covering is made of a composite material having a waterproofed external surface and an internal surface in a honeycomb structure such as foam.

The large upper face 1 and the upper end face 2 are each provided with two lateral zippers such as 3, making it possible to release them over their largest surface. The upper face 1 can thus be rolled up on itself in the direction of the upper face 2, the latter then being folded over this rolled up upper face. These two faces are finally maintained by means of a system of snaps 4 arranged to cooperate in this open position.

The side faces 5 are provided, facing each, with a light 6 formed in their lower half.

The rigid retention of this covering according to its rectangular parallelepiped shape is ensured by an internal reinforcement structure 8 constituted by a frame made of a rigid material. This frame has three solid faces, made of a material such as "plexiglass", extending respectively against the side faces 5 and the underside of the case. It is stiffened, moreover, by a transverse frame 14 disposed at the level of the upper end 2.

An external handle 7 for handling is arranged on one of the lateral faces 5, in the vicinity of the center of gravity of the case when the latter contains the clubs. This handle is fixed to the reinforcing frame 8 through the covering.

Inside this case are disposed sdeux transverse walls 9, 10 internal extending between the side faces 5 and located at a distance from each other less than the length of a club. The lower internal wall 10 is, moreover, positioned at a distance from the lower end 11 of the case adapted to allow the housing of the club head 12.

Each end of these internal walls 9, 10 has a return angle for gluing them against the opposite face of the reinforcing frame 8, in order to ensure the undeformability of the case.

Another reinforcing wall 13 is also arranged at the lower end of the case; this reinforcement wall 13 attached to the lower end face 11 is also provided with angled returns capable of being glued to the internal structure 8.

A tubular upright 15 is, moreover, fixed on the transverse internal walls 9, 10. This upright 15 extends longitudinally between the end faces 2, 11, in the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the case. It is fixed, on the one hand, as mentioned above, on each of the internal walls 9, 10, by means of fixing lugs 16 and, on the other hand, on the reinforcement frame 14 disposed at the upper end of briefcase.

Towards its upper end, this upright is provided with removable fixing means for rapid mounting of a gripping and operating member 17; these fixing means consist, in the example, of two bores made, facing each other, in the upper and lower walls of this upright 15 and adapted to accommodate a pin 18.

In its lower half section between the internal walls 9, 10, the upright 15 carries an axle 19 consisting of a tubular crosspiece extending between the slots 6 of the side faces 5 of the case. This axle 19 comprises, at each of its ends, removable fixing means for rapid mounting of a wheel 20.

These fixing means consist of a suspension member consisting of a hollow member 21 housed in the axle 19 at each of its ends, this member being held by means of elastic fittings 22.

The case also includes members for supporting and holding golf clubs, suitable for placing the "iron" clubs 12 parallel to one another, in the vicinity of the upper face 1 of this case and the "wooden" clubs 32 parallel to each other in the vicinity of the underside.

The support and holding members of the "iron" clubs 12 consist of two strips 23 of a semi-rigid material, such as neoprene, each fixed on the upper edge of an internal wall 9, 10 and provided with notches 24 symmetrically distributed on either side of the central upright 15 and allowing the clipping of the clubs.

The "iron" clubs 12 are therefore held in these notches 24, the head housed between the end faces 11 and the inner wall 10 low, in an arrangement where they are directly accessible from the upper face 1 of the case.

The members for supporting and holding the "wooden" clubs 32 comprise tubular elements 25 extending parallel to the underside of the case, in the vicinity of the latter. There are five of these elements, one of which is positioned directly above the central upright 15 and the other four of which are distributed symmetrically on either side of this upright. This arrangement allows a symmetrical distribution of the "wood" clubs 32 and this, whatever their number, even or odd. In addition, the maximum number of "wood" clubs used being generally four, the fifth tubular element can be used to accommodate an accessory such as an umbrella.

These tubular elements 25 are carried by the internal walls 9, 10 provided for this purpose with lights in their lower half. They extend from the lower internal wall 10 in the direction of the upper end face 2 of the case and therefore make it possible to introduce the "wooden" clubs 32 from this end face 2, the head oriented towards the high.

It should be noted that the internal reinforcement structure 8, the internal walls 9, 10 and possibly the support and holding members 23, 24, 32 of the clubs can also be made in one piece and in a single operation by molding or injection of a plastic material.

Finally, the case includes two compartments for storing small equipment closed by removable covers 26 arranged between the internal walls 9, 10 on either side of the central upright 15. These covers 26 are carried by brackets 27 fixed on the internal walls 9, 10 under the notches 24 of the latter.

The case is associated with two wheels 20 and a gripping and maneuvering member 17 intended to be mounted by means of simple operations in order to transform this case into a golf cart.

The gripping and operating member 17 is intended to be mounted in the extension of the central upright 15 so as to project relative to the upper end face 2 of the case. This member 17 consists of a handle 28 carried by a section 29 of conjugate section of the internal section of the central upright 15, so that it can be fitted into the latter.

This profile 29 is provided with a through-hole arranged so as to be located opposite the bores arranged towards the upper end of the upright 15, in the fitted position of this element 29. The blocking of the gripping and maneuvering member 17 is provided by a pin 18 which is received in the aforementioned slot.

In order to dismantle this gripping member, it is thus possible either to separate it from the central upright 15, or to push the profile 29 inside this upright 15 so that the handle 28 does not protrude relative to the face of upper end 2. In the latter case, the pin 18 can also be replaced by a retractable pin coming to be housed in a bore formed on the upright 15 or by any equivalent means of longitudinal locking of the profile 29 on the upright 15.

The wheels 20 of the carriage are low pressure wheels having a low support on the ground, which makes it possible to roll over all the zones of a course without leaving traces on the ground.

Each wheel 20 is carried by an arm 30 extending obliquely relative to the axis of rotation thereof. These arms 30 have a bent end 31 of conjugate section of the internal section of the hollow members 21 housed at the end of the axle 19 and arranged so as to arrange the arms 30 in the same plane, orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the amount 15.

Each wheel 20 is therefore carried by means of a suspension member which makes it possible to absorb the shocks undergone by this wheel during in particular the use of the trolley in uneven terrain, facilitating and thus making the traction of this trolley less painful. .

Furthermore, the longitudinal position of the axle 19 and the arrangement of the wheels 20 are studied so that the bottom end face 11 of the case is located above the rolling plane of these wheels for an inclination between the underside of this case and the working plane significantly lower than 45 degrees.

This arrangement, associated with the fact that the "iron" clubs 12 are arranged upside down, makes it possible to obtain the following two advantages: on the one hand, the carriage is stable in its rest position and therefore does not require the addition of a support member such as a stand, on the other hand, in its towed position, the center of gravity of the load is substantially positioned in line with the axle 19. The effort borne by the user is therefore very weak.

Figures 8a to 8d illustrate the different steps for converting the case into a golf cart.

During transport (Figure 8a), the case has many advantages due to its reduced dimensions, its low weight (of the order of 10 kg when it contains golf clubs) and the position of the handle. handling 7 which ensures its stability.

The conversion of this case into a golf cart is very easy by means of very simple maneuvers:

- opening of the upper face 1 then of the upper end face 2 (FIG. 8b),

mounting of the two wheels 20 and of the gripping and operating member 17 simply fitted into the hollow members 21 and at the end of the central upright 15, without the interposition of mechanical members (FIG. 8c). It should be noted that the wheels 20 and possibly the gripping and maneuvering member 17 can be stored in pockets provided for this purpose on the external side of the underside of the case or, more generally, in a separate small bag.

These operations make it possible to obtain a very light and handy carriage in which the "iron" clubs 12 are directly accessible from the upper face 1.

Claims (12)

1. Bag for golf equipment, convertible into a wheeled caddy for carrying said equipment on a golf course, said bag comprising, in combination:
   (a) a cover delimiting a parallelepiped space of small height as compared to its length and width and comprising:
   . two large opposite faces, one top and one bottom face, one (1) of which, the top face, is provided with opening means (3) designed so as to free it over its largest surface area,
   . two small opposite end faces (2, 1l), so-called higher and lower faces, one (2) of which, the higher face, is provided with opening means (3) designed so as to free it over its largest surface area,
   . two opposite lateral faces (5) each provided with one aperture (6), facing the other one, in their lower half,
   (b) two internal transverse walls (9, 10) extending between the lateral faces (5) and arranged at a distance one from the other which is smaller than the length of a club, the internal wall (10) next to the lower end face (11) being arranged at a distance from said end face which is designed to allow for lodging the heads of the clubs (12),
   (c) support and securing means (23, 24, 25) designed so as to arrange the clubs (12, 32) parallel one to the other in two planes substantially parallel with the large faces, said support means comprising :
   . slots (24) made at the top edge of the internal walls (9, 10) and the shapes of which are designed so as to allow for engaging the clubs (12), so that the head of said clubs is lodged in the housing delimited by one (10) of the internal walls (9, 10) and the lower end face (11),
   . a set of tubular members (25) supported by the internal walls (9, 10) and extending in parallel to each other near the bottom face, said tubular members having shapes designed so as to lodge, each, one club (32),
   (d) one internal reinforcement structure (8) designed so as to ensure rigid support of the cover in a shape, which is approximately the shape of a parallelepiped, said structure being linked to the internal walls (9,10).
   (e) one longitudinal stay (15) secured to the internal walls (9, 10) and extending between the end faces (2, 11), said stay being provided, at one end located opposite the upper end face (2), with removable fastening means for quick action assembly of one gripping and actuating means (17),
   (f) one axle (19) secured to a section of the stay (15) located between the internal walls (9, 10) so as to extend transversally between the apertures (6) of the lateral faces (5), said axle consisting of one tubular cross-bar provided with removable fastening means (21, 22) for quick action assembly, on both sides of the bag, of wheels (20) that are arranged so that the lower end face (11) is located above the rolling plane of said wheels in an inclined traction position.
2. Bag according to claim 1, characterised in that the longitudinal position of the axle (19) on the stay (15) and the arrangement of the wheels (20) are designed so that the lower end face (11) of said bag is located above the rolling plane of the wheels (20), with an inclination between the large faces and said rolling plane that is substantially less than 45 degrees.
3. Bag according to one of the claims 1 or 2, in which the stay (15) is located in the longitudinal plane of symmetry of said bag, the slots (24) and the tubular members (25) being distributed symmetrically on both sides of said stay (15).
4. Bag according to claim 3, comprising an additional tubular member (25) arranged vertically to the stay (15).
5. Bag according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the internal reinforcement structure (8) comprises a rigid frame extending along the faces of a parallelepiped and secured near to the angles of the internal walls (9, 10).
6. Bag according to claim 5, characterised in that it comprises a transverse reinforcement wall (13) placed next to the lower end face (11) and linked to the internal reinforcement structure (8).
7. Bag according to one of the claims 3 to 6, characterised in that it comprises, on both sides of the stay (15), a removable top (26) in parallel to the large faces and supported by the internal transverse wall (9, 10) under the slots (24) of the latter, so as to delimit a space for storing small equipments between said internal walls.
8. Bag according to one of the preceding claims, in which :
   - the removable fastening means of each wheel comprise suspension means consisting of a hollow member (21) lodged at one end of the axle (19) and supported in this end by elastic joints (22),
   - each wheel (20) is carried by an arm (30) provided with an angled end (31), the section of which is paired with the inner section of the member (21),
9. Bag according to claim 8, in which the arms (30) of the wheels (20) extend at an angle in relation to the axis of rotation of said wheels, the removable fastening means (21, 22) and the angled end (31) of the arms being arranged so as to set said arms in one plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the stay (15).
10. Bag according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cover comprises an outer face made of waterproof material and an inner lining displaying a honeycomb structure.
11. Bag according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a manipulating grip (7) arranged at one of the lateral faces (5) near the centre of gravity of said bag when the latter contains the clubs, said grip being fastened to the reinforcement frame (8) through the cover.
12. Bag according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that :
    - the opening means of the top large face (1) and of the upper end face (2) consist of zip fasteners (3) arranged laterally on said faces so as to allow for :
    . rolling up the top face (1) in the direction of the higher face (2),
    . folding the higher face (2) over the top face (1) in the rolled-up position of the latter,
    - said top and higher faces are provided with a system of snap fasteners (4) arranged so as to cooperate in the open position of these faces.

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