Golf bag

Abstract

The golf bag provides a golf bag for carrying golf clubs, allowing the user to remove the golf clubs through a slot formed through a wall thereof, rather than through the conventional upper opening. The golf bag includes a base having upper and lower surfaces, with the lower surface being adapted for placement on the ground. An internal frame structure is mounted to the upper surface of the base, and the internal frame structure supports an external wall. The internal frame defines an open interior region for receiving at least one golf club, and an open upper end of the external wall communicates with the open interior region. The slot is formed through a front portion of the external wall, and extends from the open upper end to a central region of the external wall.

1 . A golf bag, comprising:
 a base having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface being adapted for placement on a support surface;   an internal frame structure having at least one vertical support and at least one horizontal support, the internal frame structure being mounted on the upper surface of the base and extending upwardly therefrom, the internal frame structure defining an open interior region adapted for receiving at least one golf club; and   an external wall mounted to the internal frame structure and attached, at a lower end thereof, to the upper surface of the base, the external wall defining an upper opening in communication with the open interior region defined by the internal frame structure, and defining a slot extending from an upper end of the external wall to a central region thereof, whereby a user may remove the at least one golf club from the open interior region through the slot.   
   
   
       2 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for releasably securing the at least one golf club within the open interior region of the golf bag. 
   
   
       3 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one golf club comprises a plurality of golf clubs, said means for releasably securing comprising an annular retaining plate mounted to an interior surface of said golf bag, an inner circumference of the annular retaining plate having a plurality of notches formed therein for releasably receiving the plurality of golf clubs. 
   
   
       4 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said means for releasably securing the at least one golf club within the open interior region comprises at least one clip mounted to the at least one horizontal support. 
   
   
       5 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a cover releasably attached to the external wall for releasably covering and closing the upper opening and the slot defined in the external wall. 
   
   
       6 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one horizontal support comprises:
 an upper horizontal support mounted to an upper end of the at least one vertical support; and   at least one central horizontal support mounted to a central portion of the at least one vertical support.   
   
   
       7 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the upper horizontal support has a substantially C-shaped contour defining a front opening formed therethrough. 
   
   
       8 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising a substantially U-shaped frame member having an open upper end and a closed lower end, the open upper end thereof being secured to the upper horizontal support adjacent and contiguous to the front opening formed therethrough, the closed lower end being secured to the at least one central horizontal support, the U-shaped frame element defining a forward opening, the forward opening being positioned adjacent the slot formed through said external wall. 
   
   
       9 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a carrying strap secured to said external wall. 
   
   
       10 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one ball carrier mounted to an outer surface of said external wall. 
   
   
       11 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one ball carrier comprises:
 a tubular wall having open upper and lower ends, the tubular wall defining an open interior region adapted for receiving at least one golf ball; and   upper and lower flaps secured to the upper and lower ends of the tubular wall, respectively for selectively and releasably closing the upper and lower ends thereof.   
   
   
       12 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising upper and lower releasable fasteners for releasably securing at least a portion of each of the upper and lower flaps to an outer surface of the tubular wall. 
   
   
       13 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the upper and lower releasable fasteners comprise hook and loop fasteners. 
   
   
       14 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the tubular wall is segmented to define a plurality of separate compartments for removably receiving multiple golf balls. 
   
   
       15 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising means for releasably securing the cover to an outer surface of the external wall. 
   
   
       16 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the means for releasably securing the cover to an outer surface of the external wall comprises a plurality of snap fasteners. 
   
   
       17 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the cover has an opening formed therethrough. 
   
   
       18 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising means for releasably closing the opening formed through the cover. 
   
   
       19 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the means for releasably closing the opening comprises a zipper. 
   
   
       20 . The golf bag as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the annular retaining plate has a substantially C-shaped contour.