Container for shipping golf equipment

Abstract

A container for shipping golf equipment. The container includes a back panel, side panels, and a front panel which define the interior of the container. The interior includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The front panel is at least partially removable from the side panels to allow access to the interior of the container. An air bladder is affixed to the side panels within the upper portion of the interior. The air bladder includes a sealable fill stem through which the air bladder may be inflated. The inflated air bladder is used to substantially immobilize the golf equipment during shipping.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A shipping container comprising: 
 a back panel;    side panels affixed to and extending from the back panel;    a front panel at least partially removably affixed to the side panels, the combination of the back panel, side panels, and front panel defining an interior of the container, the interior having an upper portion and a lower portion; and    a first air bladder affixed to the side panels within the upper portion of the interior, the first air bladder including a sealable fill stem.    
     
     
         2 . The shipping container of  claim 1  further comprising an air pump coupled to the sealable fill stem.  
     
     
         3 . The shipping container of  claim 1  further comprising 
 a second air bladder affixed to the back panel within the upper portion of the interior; and  
 a pressure equalization tube coupling the first air bladder to the second air bladder.  
 
     
     
         4 . A method of transporting golf equipment, the golf equipment including golf clubs stored in a golf bag with a portion of the golf clubs extending from the golf bag, comprising: 
 placing the golf bag with the golf clubs in a shipping container, the container including a back panel, side panels, and a front panel that define an interior of the container, the front panel being at least partially detachable from the side panels to allow access to the interior of the container, wherein an air bladder is affixed to the side panels within the interior of the container, the air bladder including a sealable fill stem;    inflating the air bladder via the sealable fill stem to substantially immobilize the portion of the golf clubs extending from the golf bag;    securing the front panel to the side panels to enclose the interior of the container; and    transporting the container.