US2520226A - Combined golf bag and caddie cart - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 29, 1950 1: 5, s n- 2,520,226

COMBINED GOLF BAG AND CADDY CART Filed Nov. 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. 004 410 5 6'M/7l/ Aug. 29, 1950 D. E. SMITH 2,520,226

COMBINED GOLF BAG AND CADDY CART File d NOV. 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E V y INVENTOR. 52c 00A/4L0 f: 6 407% (filter-nay atented Aug. 29, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I COMBINED GOLF BAG AND CADDIE CART Donald E. Smith, North Hollywood, Calif.

Application November 24, 1947, Serial No. 787,771

9 Claims. 1

My invention relates to a mobile golf club carrier, and has particular reference to a combined caddy cart and golf bag that permits ready access to golf clubs.

The use of caddy carts for carrying golf clubs is well known, the golfer merely placing the usual golf club carrying bag upon the caddy cart, and thereafter moving the cart as desired. When a club is required, a golfer may select one from the bag and replace it when he has finished using it.

Caddy carts have been constructed, however, that employ racks for individually mounting clubs so that they may be easily selected, removed, and replaced. Such rack carts, however, have not employed a club bag or provided space for a club bag. The user of a rack cart accordingly must remove clubs from a bag, place them on the rack, and then store the bag. When the player has finished the game, the clubs must be placed back in the bag for storage or transportation.

My invention provides a self-contained and self-sufiicient caddy cart of the rack type including a club bag. The caddy cart is made in a collapsible or folding construction so as to occupy little space and accordingly may be readily transported with the bag attached. When it is placed in use, the clubs are merely removed from the bag and arranged on the rack, the bag remaining with the cart. Accordingly there is no problem of storage of the bag while the golf game is in progress, and the bag is instantly available for receiving the clubs from the rack. The clubs may also receive the protection of the bag while being transported to and from the golf course.

The collapsible nature of my caddy cart permitting the bag to remain attached provides the golfer with a readily portable caddy cart, and accordingly it is not necessary for him to rent one separately when he arrives at the golf course. Further the folding caddy cart may be so lightly constructed as to impose but little added weight compared to the conventional golf bag. Additionally its shape may be such as to give further protection to the bag during transport or storage.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a combined rack type of caddy cart and golf club carrying bag.

Another object of my invention is to provide a collapsible caddy cart adapted to remain attached to a golf club bag during storage or transport of the has.

A further object of my invention is to provide a collapsible caddy cart having a bag attached that is so arranged as to be movable while partially collapsed.

Other objects, advantages, novel elements, and interrelationships of parts will be apparent in the accompanying description and claims, together with the drawings forming an integral part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an illustrative caddy cart and bag embodying my invention and disposed in a partially collapsed position that permits movement of the cart;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the caddy cart of Fig. 1 showing the principal detachable parts separated from each other;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the caddy cart of Fi 1 as fully opened or extended and ready for use and illustrating in broken outline one typical club disposed in the rack;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of Fig. 1 showing a mount for removably securing a handle;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view oppositely taken from that of Fig. 3 showing the other side of the combined caddy cart and bag; I

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the fully opened caddy cart;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view-of the construction of the upper end of the golf bag;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view partly in section of the wheel mount of the caddy cart;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a clip for retaining a golf club handle; and r Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a club head bag particularly adapted for use with my combined caddy cart and bag.

Referring to the drawings, my combined caddy cart and bag may be referred to generally by the numeral l2, and may include a generally vertical frame member l3 and a folding platform member 54 hinged thereto as by a hinge 55. A bag i6 may be secured to the frame i3 in any suitable manner, and I have found that mounting strips I! having figure-eight slots It may be conveniently utilized so that they may be disposed over projecting screws I9 secured to the frameboard. The entire assembly is rendered mobile by means of a pair of Wheels 2! journaled on a shaft that is preferably disposed adjacent the hinge l5. While this shaft could be secured to the vertical frame I3, I have found it convenient to attach it to the bottom of the folding platform I4.

My caddy cart may be conveniently collapsed or folded by rotating the platform M from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the folded position illustrated in Figs. land 2. In this connection it wi l be noted that the lower end of the ba 56 is not attached to the frame l3, and accordingly when the bag is free of clubs the bottom may be pulled outwardly away from the frame I3 and the platform rotated to para lel relationsh p with the frame l3, as illustrated. While the frame is and the platform 14 may be formed of any suitable material such as sheet metal or Specially fabricated metal, I find it de irable at pre-ent to, utilize planar material. and for this purpose I have successfully emplo ed half-inch plywood. Accordingly when t e latform is rotated para lel to the frame l3. as illu trated in Figs. 1 and 2. the thickn ss of the entire caddy cart is reduced to a minimum.

The compact foldin structure of m caddy cart may be additionally enhanced by making the wheels 2! removab e. As shown pa ticularly in Fi 9. it wi l be noted t at wheel 2! mav be provided with a stub shaft 22 that fits with n a tubu ar axle and'mavbe maintained therein by means of a pin 24' passin throu h both mem ers. The W eel zfaccord ngly'rray be removed by remo ing the pin 24. and t e whe l may th nbe disposed flat" against a s rface of the frame Ikby passin the av e 2l 'therethrough. for e ample through holes 25'; If desired, the pin ma pa s throughthe projectin ends of the shafts 22 to lock the'wheels' to'the frame 13.

It will be obvious from an inspection of' the drawin s that t e ma o wei ht of the entire caddv cart wi l be disposed on the side o the axle 23 toward the longest end of"t-"e platform M. Accord n ly aremovab e'brace 25 ma pass upward v t roueh the platform M when in its extend d position to thereby p o ide a third point at which the wei ht of the combinedj'cadd cart and; ba is s p orted; Inasmuch as the brace provide a frictional support a ainst the ground,

t ca dd cart'will be'renderedtnon-ro ling when part'of th weizht isassumed by t e brace 26. The caddy cart maybe easilv' rolled b the user thereof grasping a Lit-shaped handle" 21 wh ch may be inserted in; a pair of sockets 28 iliustrated in detail in Fi z. 4". Each socket 2P ma include a. u-shaped sheet-of metal 29 passingthrough parallel slots 31' in each side. of the frame member I3, and may be secured within th s frame member by a. plurality of screws 32 passing through t e shanks of the" U '-shaped sh et metal. A pressure plate may be provid d within the U-shaped'rhember and ma be ur ed towards th handle 21' by' means of a t umb screw 34-. Thus each endof' the hand e 21 may be securely grasnedby'ti htening the thumb screws 34-. and may be read ly. removed therefrom b loo ening the thumb-screws and pulinp: the hand e ends from t e so kets.

Both the brace Z5 and the handle. 21 may be made of li htwei ht' tubu ar material such as aluminum tubin and when detached. the brace, may be disposed fiat a ainst one side of t e frame l,3 by d sposing one leg within one of the sockets 28. and t e handle. 2! may heldagain t the frame, I 3. by fittine an end portion of the handle 2.! in a clip B3'on thebrace 2% and b disposing: the; bent ends of t e handle 21'throughapertures i l fi leplatform. IL as illustrated in- Fig. 1.

Referring now particularly to the baa IE, it wiILbenoted that this bag may. include th usual. hood 35 for protecting the heads of the clu s when they are inserted. in? the bag. When the clubs have been removed: fromth bag, this hood may be; disposed downwardly therein as; illustrated; in Fig, 6. Further the bag may have a telescoping bottom portion 36 which may be projected upwardly within the bag as is also illustrated in Fig. 6. If desired, a stiff hoop 31 may be disposed at the juncture of the telescoping portion with the main part of the bag, and this hoop may be positioned by one leg of the brace 26 when the caddy cart is being used in its open or extended condition. lhe hoop in this event, as shown in Figs. 6 and 3, will give shape to the bag and in addition the hoop will give added rigidity to the brace 26 because of the bearing of the hoop against the cart frame [3. The brace 26 may be retained in the platform I 4 by frictional engagement, but suitable retaining mechanisms could be employed such as clamps or set screws.

A plurality. of auxiliary compartments or bags may be associated with the main bag [6. As shown best in Figs. 5 and 6, the upper part of the frarnel3 may be apertured as at 42 to permit the attachment of a bag 43 tothe upper part of the main bag and this bag may have-a zipper closure. A second aux-iliary bagrnay be incorporated in the upper mouth of the main-bag; l8, andis best i lustrated in Fig: 7, wherein; wall portions 4e- ;nay' form a and one wall may have two elcmentsfi-S that maybe connect-- ed; alternatively one to a snap-4 6; and one to a fhuswhen the clubs are in themain bag' i6, one snap 4-5 may be connected to the snap 5.5. and whenthe clubs areout of the bag, the other snap be connected" to the snap 3* The frame 53' also-may be apertnred as, at 3t the back ofthe bag ffi'may'have a vertical-slit opened or closed by a zipper M; A" bag; partition 39' may be secured at its sides to the main bag. !'8 and'the'top may be attached'to the free edge or" the bag M1. Tees, cigarettes, and? other miscellaneous items may be convenientlycarried in the upper'bag M, whereas golf balls be carried in the bag 41. and articles of CIIOthiIIg'OL other items, of bull. may be carried inthe bag 39; If desired", a sheet: met'alhd 48. may be hinged to the frame- 1'3; to close the, upper mouth of the bag it, and ifd'esired asheet' metalhoop may surround this'upper mouth: to give shape and. definitionto; the bag r6;

A self club racking arrangement forthe' conibin d" and caddy cart may include a. removable clip band Eljattachable to theframe It" to enclose the bag, it, as best illustrated in Fig.8} and this band may havea plurality of clips SI secured thereto. Also, as clearly illustrated in. Fig, 5, the othersi'de of the frame. it mayhave two or more clips 52a secured thereto for. bolding' the handlesofj the woodiclubs', whereas the clips EZretainthe handles, of the iron clubs.

'1." e racking arrangement of my, inventiondif fersjfrom other rack caddy carts, in that sockets. are rovided. for, club headsthatdispose the club. heads at the lowermost-point.onthe, caddy cart. This. sires, a low center oflaravity. to the. entire. combinedw caddy. cart and bag, thus. facilitating, movement of the cart and improving its balance. The sockets. for. the. iron. clubs maybe. formed in. the platform. l4. that, projects. beyond; the. edges of the bag it, and accordingly, a. number of: sockets 53; may be. formed; therein. by, cutting through. the platform; !A. These sockets, 53' may have various: shapes to accommodate the: differ. ent shapes of the heads of the iron; clubs, and adge-of the, out? may. be considerably tapered as. at; 5ft (Fig. 6) and may be. covered; with a. cushioning material such as; rubber. Accords ingly the heel of a club may rest on=the rubben,

nermitting a substantial portion oi the. blade. to be. cupped by the sockets. 53,} and. the oeofftlie lub, will be restrained by the opposite end of the sockets. 53..

' The racking of the wood'clubs, is best illustratedin Figs. 6 and 8, and there it will benoted that aloopedstrap 55 may be attached to the; underside of, the. platform M4 so asv to. span across a plurality of generally circular apertures 56corresponding in number to the clips 52a. While the wood clubs could be simply mounted by dropping their heads in the apertures. 5:6,.1. prefer to employ a special construction. of club. head bag that may be utilizedlas a. cushioned socketimenlr ber- Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 11 ,,a club. head bag Elmay have a metal strip 58 fastened one. portion ofthe outer edge theref,.and may. have apair of snaps. 5.9 which may be matedltol secure thebag around the shaft of the wood cluhbeing protected. When the wood clubs are racked. 011 the, combined caddy cart and bag 12, the opening of'the baa, may be, turned downwardly as indicated in broken outline in Fig, 6 so thatthe metal, plate 5,? may fitbetween one of a plurality of wire brackets 5! and the. frame is. adjacent bottom thereof. The metal plate 58. forms a. stiffening for the portion. of the rolled over bag rim behind the wire brackets 5! to prevent the. bag from. working loose from. the bracket. Additionally the metal plate; fidmay be slightly curved to conform to the bags shape, as 111115. trated in Fig 11, and accordingly when the bag edge is rolled over, as illustrated in. Fig. 6, there will bev a reverse curvature of; the metal that will. securely lock the bag between the wirebrackets 6.4 and. the surface of the. frame !3..

The clip band 5i may be detachafcly secured to the frame member is. by meansog a plurality oil integrally formed hooks $52 that may. proj incorn. lementary recesses in the mounting; strip Ll. (Fig. 3), and. the hook engagementwith this strip may be locked in. position by means. of latches 53c. disposed one at each. 1 d; of: the clip band. 5!. It. will, b noted from. Figs. 2. and 3 that the clip band 5i may have a spiral disposition; on the frame is which will grasp the c' shafts at approximately the same relatiyepo tion; on. ea h cl t. ue the. r in l ns-. hs oi th cntlu s- T sp nt of. c ash s reierabir jn elow the portion of the. shaft,

While the clips 52 may be of any" convenient or conventional construction l; prefer to employ a strip metal construction as illustrated in; g, 1Q, wherein a. generally U-shaped metal portion 52b'1nay have the shanksv thereof triply bent todefine. a socket 520 for a club shatter handle, ach shank may bescoveredwitha resilient material 526. such a. tube. of rubber or plastic The angular disposition of the platform I 4. with resneot to the frame 5 may be limited by means of a pair of slotted plates 65; cooperatingwitha thumb screw Ed, one slate and'thumb; screw beinazdis s d o ea e. o hera e .8.- Not only does the. thumbscrew 64,- act as a stop to; limit rotation of the platform M. to a horizontal lie-t l d. but al o perm e ati rmt be locked in either the horizontal position of. ljig. 31 or the parallel position of Fig.

If; for reason it is necessary. or desirable to. use the. bag separate from the cart, the bag. may be removed by. lifting upwardly to unlatch. the screw heads l8, and a carrying; strap. 65. mayv be snapped to any convenient eyes or oops. n. e s t a he baa o m e ual voa ie l hen e. baa isatt h d to the caddy cart,,.the. strap may be detached and.con.- venientlyv carried" in the. separate bag 39. (Fig.

The. attachment of. the handle 21-, the brace. 25'," and'th'eclip. band 5! upon the combined cart and. hag when. in a partially collapsed position is illustrated in Fig. 1. There. itwill be noted thatthe brace 25 may have. the. short. leg thereof. disposed in the far handle socket 2.8, dispos- 111g; outwardly the. U-shaped clip 63 that engages the, uppermost. portion. of the U-shapedhandle 21'. The bent ends of the. U-shaped handle may be projected throu h the socket apertures 56 in the. platform M. The clip band 5! may be dis posedaround the. reduced telescoping portion 36 of the bag Ill, and the ends may pro ect through the same socket. apertu es 55. A suitable thong be employed to tie the projecting ends of the hand 51. to. the platform I4, wh ch thong may also. securely position the ends. of the, U shaped handle 2.7.

In operation. the combined caddy cart and. bag may be. converted from a storage cond tion to an operating condition. The wheels 2! during storage may have their shafts 22 pass through the apertures. 25 in the f ame H. and to render the. combination club holde mobi e, these wheels may be DZlOl IltSfl one on either end of the axle 2.3. condition of. the cad y art is then that illustrated in Fig. 1. There it will be noted that the telescoping lower portion 3.5 of. thezbag- I5 may extend to the ground so as to, prevent the cart. from. moving on the wheels. Accordingly the folded cart with the Wheels in o erating position he leaned a nst Wall. fence, or other structure without danger: of the cart. roll- Once the combined cart and bag-hes been-rolled to asuitable positimiv such the-first t e. the thong binding the clip band 5! and. the handle. 2.? ma. be: removed and t e c ip. band-may,- be nositioned illustrated in Fig. 3 by inserting the hooks 62 comnlerhentary slots. The han's die 2 may be detached from the clip 63. on the brace. 2.5 and the brace. may he removed and the handle insertedin, its sockets 23. The. hood 3.5 of the-bag H5 may then be o e ed and th clubs manually gra ped about their heads to lift the enti e mass of clubs upwardly. to ermit flexing of the lower portion of the bag Hi so: that the platform i5. may-be rotated. to its horizontal 790-. sition as illustrated in Figs. 5. an 6. The wing scre s 6 ma then be tightened against the slotted brace 65 to lock the p atform. M. in position after the manual eraso upon t e club heads been removed and they are allowed to then a ainst the platform The brace 26. may then. be inserted in position by til ing t e cart !2 forwardlyocne leg of the brace no sing th o h the frame 53. andv the other pas ing u wardly through the platform it into the hoop 31. The iron clubs may then be removed from the bag. !6 and posit oned in their sock ts 53 as. ll strated in broken outline in Fig. 6. The wood cl bs may neizt be disposed in the sockets 5E, and the urn.- tecting bags may thereafter be unsnanned. from the shafts and the edges rolled to dispose, the metal plate 53 (Fig. 11) behind the associated wire bracket 6!, as illustrated in broken. outline in 6.

The hood 3:": may next be disposed inwardly within the bag H5. and the bag 4 may have one snap 45.. released from the mating snap 46-, and the other snap =35 attached to the mating snap 4! to define the bag M as shown in Fig. 6. This bag may be conveniently used for storage-of. tees and other small objects. The metal cover 48 may then be rotated on its hinge to a horizontal position as illustrated in Fig. 3. The entire cart is then ready for use, balls being obtained from the pocket 43 if desired, and articles of clothing being stored in the bag 39 if desired.

The entire cart is lightweight and therefore easily moved from place to place on its wheels by tilting the entire cart forward so that the weight is taken off of the brace 26. When the grip of the user is released on the handle 21', the low center of gravity of the entire cart due to the downward disposition of the club heads will immediately restore the cart to an upright position until a part of the weight is borne by the brace 26. This brace will frictionally engage the ground to hold the combined cart and bag in a stationary position. The clubs are not only available for instant identification and inspection, but are also readily removed by merelypulling the handle outwardly from the clips 52 for the iron clubs. or the clips 52a for the wood clubs. Further, my rack arrangement disposes the heads of the iron clubs away from the player, thus correctly positioninx the club in the players hand for use when the club is removed from the rack. The clubs are readily replaced by inserting the heads in the respective sockets 53 or 58 and again inserting the shafts in the clips.

The folding or collapsing operation for the combined cart and bag is the opposite from that described, and the clubs may first be removed from their sockets and held manually while the brace 26 is removed and the platform [4 is rotated to a position parallel to the frame 13. The telescoping portion 86 of the bag is then extended as illustrated in Fig. 1, and the clubs may be inserted in the bag and the hood 35 closed over their heads. The brace '26 may then be positioned in the sockets 28 and the handle 21 may then be rotated 180 and placed against the frame l3 so that its bent ends project through the outer sockets 56 of the platform M. The clip band may then be removed and disposed about the telescoping portion 38. The bag may then be rolled to a car or other means or transportation, and when it is desired to store the combined cart and bag, the wheels 2| may be removed from their axles 23 by removal of the pins 2:3. The wheel shafts 23 may then be inserted through the apertures 25 and locked by the pins 24. The bag as thus completely collapsed is adequately protected by the frame [3 against rough handling or other abuse, inasmuch as astiff frame member forms one entire side of the bag andprojects upwardly therefrom.

While I have described my invention with respect to a specific embodiment thereof, 1 do not limit myself to this embodiment, norrotherwise, since it is obvious that various modificae tions could be made there-n without departing from the true spirit and scope of my invention. The disclosed embodiment of my invention is accordingly merely illustrative and not definitive or limiting.

I claim:

1. A combined caddy cart and golf bag comprising: a generally vertical frame member; a golf bag secured to the frame member; a platform member hinged to the bottom of the frame and adapted to swing from a position parallel to the frame to a position generally at right angles thereto so as to support the bag and project beyond the confines of the bag; a clip band disposed about an upper portion of the bag and secured to the frame; a plurality of sockets formed in the platform member below the clip band to receive the heads of clubs; and wheels secured to one of the members adjacent opposite ends of the hinge connection between them, whereby the platform may be rotated to a right angle position with respect to the frame and clubs may be removed from the bag and their heads positioned in the sockets and their shafts held by the clip band.

2. A combined caddy cart and golf bag as defined in claim 1 and including a ground contacting brace removably secured to the platform adjacent the bag, so that the cart will be restrained against movement because of the frictional contact of the brace with the ground.

3. A combined caddy cart and golf bag as defined in claim 1 having a handle removably secured to the frame on the side opposite the bag.

4. A combined caddy cart and golf bag comprising: a vertical generally planar frame member; a platform member hinge connected to the bottom thereof to rotate from a generally parallel position to a position at right angles to the frame and having portions projecting from either side of the frame in this latter position; a pair of Wheels secured to one of the members adjacent opposite ends of the hinge connection; a bag disposed on one side of the frame member; a

clip hand secured to the frame member and surrounding an upper portion of the bag; a semicircular arrangement of iron club sockets formed on the platform adjacent the bag and below the clip band; a plurality of wood club sockets formed on the platform on the side opposite the iron sockets; and handle clips mounted on the frame above the wood club sockets.

5. A combined caddy cart and golf bag as defined in claim 4 and having a brace removably mounted on the underside of the platform adjacent the bag and having a handle removably mounted on the opposite side of the frame.

6. In a combined caddy cart and golf bag: a folding platform member disposed adjacent the bottom thereof; a plurality of circular apertures in the platform of a diameter sumcient to receive the head of a wood club; and a looped strap attached to the bottom of the platform and passing diametrically across the apertures, whereby wood clubs may be supported by disposing their heads in the apertures until they engage the loops.

7. In a combined caddy cart and golf bag adapted to rack wood clubs: a generally vertical frame member; a generally transverse platform member secured to the bottom of the frame member; a plurality of circular apertures formed in the platform member; a strap secured to the bottom of the platform member and having loops disposed diametrically across the apertures; brackets secured to the frame member adjacent the apertures; and a bag mounted on the brackets by rolling over an edge thereof to engage the bracket and having the closed portion of the bag disposed in the apertures and resting upon the loops.

8. A combined caddy cart and golf bag com prising: a generally vertical planar frame member having an upper aperture and a lower larger aperture; a platform; a hinge securing the platform to the bottom of the frame member for rotation from a parallel position to a generally right angular position; a golf bag secured to one side of the frame adjacent the top of th'e bag so that the platform may be rotated against the frame member by lifting the bottom of the ba outwardly from the frame member; an auxiliary bag formed on the golf bag opposite each aperture in the frame member; a pair of detachable wheels secured to the bottom of the platform at opposite ends of the hinge; a clip band removably secured to the frame member and passing around an upper part of the golf bag; a plurality of iron club sockets formed in the platform below the clip band; a plurality of wood club sockets formed on the platform adjacent the other side of the frame member; a corresponding plurality of clips secured to the frame member above the wood head sockets; a removable handle secured to the side of the frame member adjacent the wood head sockets; and a removable brace secured to the bottom of the platform underneath the iron head sockets.

9. A combined caddy cart and golf bag comprising: a vertical generally planar frame member; a platform hinge-connected to the bottom thereof to rotate from a generally parallel posi- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,409,838 Emery et a1. Mar. 14, 1922 1,644,592 Howland Oct. 4, 1927 2,262,298 Proctor Nov. 11, 1941 2,411,965 Hartung Dec. 3, 1946 2,428,853 Proctor Oct. 14, 1947 2,435,893 Mall Feb. 10, 1948 2,438,078 Sutphen Mar. 16, 1948

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