Golf Bags Having an External Putter Holder and/or an Externally Accessible Golf Ball Storage System

Abstract

Golf bags may include certain structures and features that allow easy and ready access to various pieces of golf equipment. Such golf bags may include: (a) a base; (b) one or more wall members extending from the base (defining a chamber for plural clubs); (c) a housing member located outside the chamber and defining a first aperture that provides access to a space outside the chamber for receiving a putter shaft; and (d) a ball storage compartment located outside the chamber and outside the housing member. The ball storage compartment, the housing member, and the first aperture may be arranged so that at least a portion of the space for receiving the putter shaft lies between the chamber and the ball storage compartment.

1 . A golf bag, comprising:
 a base;   one or more wall members extending from the base, wherein the wall member or members define an open end and a chamber for receiving a plurality of golf clubs;   a housing member located outside the chamber, the housing member defining a first aperture located outside the chamber that provides access to a space for receiving a putter shaft; and   a ball storage compartment located outside the chamber, wherein the ball storage compartment includes a second aperture that opens to an interior of the ball storage compartment, wherein the second aperture does not include a mechanical closure system, and wherein the second aperture is exposed at an exterior of the golf bag,   wherein the ball storage compartment, the housing member, and the first aperture are arranged such that at least a portion of the space for receiving the putter shaft lies between the chamber and the ball storage compartment.   
     
     
         2 . A golf bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball storage compartment includes a third aperture separate from the second aperture, wherein the third aperture opens to the interior of the ball storage compartment. 
     
     
         3 . A golf bag according to  claim 2 , wherein the third aperture does not include a mechanical closure system. 
     
     
         4 . A golf bag according to  claim 3 , wherein the second aperture and the third aperture are connected by a sleeve that forms at least part of the interior of the ball storage compartment, wherein the second aperture is deformable between a first position that will not allow a golf ball to pass and a second position that will allow a golf ball to pass, wherein the third aperture is located at a position higher than the second aperture when the chamber is oriented in an upright manner, and wherein the third aperture is deformable between a first position that will not allow a golf ball to pass and a second position that will allow a golf ball to pass. 
     
     
         5 . A golf bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the second aperture is deformable between a first position that will not allow a golf ball to pass and a second position that will allow a golf ball to pass. 
     
     
         6 . A golf bag according to  claim 1 , further comprising an insulated chamber located exterior to the one or more wall members, wherein the insulated chamber is not open to the ball storage compartment and is not open to the space for receiving a putter shaft. 
     
     
         7 . A golf bag, comprising:
 a main housing defining a main chamber for holding plural golf clubs;   a second housing integrally formed or engaged with the main housing, wherein the second housing defines an opening located outside the main chamber, the opening providing access to a space for receiving a putter shaft; and   a golf ball storage compartment provided exterior to the main housing, wherein the storage compartment includes a first flexible aperture and a second flexible aperture, the first and second flexible apertures being connected by an internal sleeve, wherein the first flexible aperture is deformable between a first position that will not allow a golf ball to pass and a second position that will allow a golf ball to pass, wherein the first flexible aperture does not include a mechanical closure system, wherein the second flexible aperture is located at a position lower than the first flexible aperture when the main housing is oriented in an upright manner, wherein the second flexible aperture is deformable between a first position that will not allow a golf ball to pass and a second position that will allow a golf ball to pass, wherein the second flexible aperture does not include a mechanical closure system, and wherein at least a portion of the space for receiving the putter shaft is located between the main housing and the golf ball storage compartment.   
     
     
         8 . A golf bag according to  claim 7 , further comprising an insulated chamber located outside the main housing, wherein the insulated chamber is not open to the sleeve and is not open to the space for receiving a putter shaft. 
     
     
         9 . A golf bag according to  claim 7 , wherein the first flexible aperture and second flexible aperture are substantially vertically aligned when the housing is oriented in the upright manner. 
     
     
         10 . A golf bag according to  claim 7 , wherein the sleeve is substantially tubular and is arranged so as to feed golf balls to the second flexible aperture under the force of gravity when the main housing is oriented in an upright manner. 
     
     
         11 . A golf bag according to  claim 7 , wherein the sleeve extends in an axial direction from the first flexible aperture to the second flexible aperture, wherein the sleeve defines an internal open area perpendicular to the axial direction of less than 5 in 2 . 
     
     
         12 . A golf bag according to  claim 7 , wherein the sleeve extends in an axial direction from the first flexible aperture to the second flexible aperture, wherein the sleeve defines an internal open area perpendicular to the axial direction of at least 2.3 in 2 . 
     
     
         13 . A golf bag according to  claim 7 , wherein the sleeve extends in an axial direction from the first flexible aperture to the second flexible aperture, wherein the sleeve defines a longitudinal length in the axial direction of at least 3 inches. 
     
     
         14 . A golf bag according to  claim 7 , wherein a distance between a lower portion of the first flexible aperture and an upper portion of the second flexible aperture is at least 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         15 . A golf bag, comprising:
 a main housing defining a main chamber for holding plural golf clubs;   a second housing integrally formed or engaged with the main housing, wherein the second housing defines an opening located outside the main chamber, the opening providing access to a space for receiving a putter shaft; and   a golf ball storage compartment provided exterior to the main housing, wherein the storage compartment includes a first aperture, wherein the first aperture defines an opening having a longest longitudinal dimension extending in a first direction and a widest transverse dimension extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein, in an unstressed condition, the longest longitudinal dimension is at least 1.75 inches and the widest transverse dimension is less than 1.65 inches, wherein the first aperture is constructed such that: (a) in the unstressed condition, the opening retains a golf ball within the storage compartment against a force of gravity, and (b) when a golf ball located at the opening is exposed to an external, extra-gravitational pulling force, the opening will expand, flex, or move under the pulling force so as to allow the golf ball to pass through the opening, wherein the first aperture does not include a mechanical closure system, and wherein at least a portion of the space for receiving the putter shaft is located between the main housing and the golf ball storage compartment.   
     
     
         16 . A golf bag according to  claim 15 , further comprising an insulated chamber located outside the main housing, wherein the insulated chamber is not open to the storage compartment and is not open to the space for receiving a putter shaft. 
     
     
         17 . A golf bag according to  claim 15 , wherein the storage compartment includes a second aperture, wherein a sleeve extends between the first aperture and the second aperture, and wherein the second aperture includes an opening for introducing a golf ball into the sleeve. 
     
     
         18 . A golf bag according to  claim 17 , wherein the second aperture is located above the first aperture when the main housing is oriented in an upright manner. 
     
     
         19 . A golf bag according to  claim 17 , wherein the first and second apertures are arranged so as to feed golf balls to the first aperture under the force of gravity when the main housing is oriented in an upright manner. 
     
     
         20 . A golf bag according to  claim 15 , wherein a ball storage sleeve extends in an axial direction from the first aperture, wherein the sleeve defines an internal open area perpendicular to the axial direction of less than 7 in 2 . 
     
     
         21 . A golf bag according to  claim 15 , wherein a ball storage sleeve extends in an axial direction from the first aperture, wherein the sleeve defines an internal open area perpendicular to the axial direction of at least 2.4 in 2 . 
     
     
         22 . A golf bag according to  claim 15 , wherein a ball storage sleeve extends in an axial direction from the first aperture and defines a longitudinal length in the axial direction of at least 3 inches. 
     
     
         23 . A golf bag according to  claim 15 , wherein the first aperture is the sole aperture in direct communication with an interior of the golf ball storage compartment. 
     
     
         24 . A golf bag, comprising:
 a main housing defining a main chamber for holding plural golf clubs;   a second housing integrally formed or engaged with the main housing, wherein the second housing defines an opening located outside the main chamber, the opening providing access to a space for receiving a putter shaft; and   a golf ball storage compartment provided exterior to the main housing, wherein the storage compartment includes a first aperture providing access to an interior of the storage compartment, wherein the first aperture, in an unstressed condition, defines an opening having a longest dimension of at least 1.75 inches, wherein, in the unstressed condition, the opening is sized and arranged such that a circle or sphere having a diameter of 1.68 inches will not fully fit within the opening, wherein the first aperture does not include a mechanical closure system, and wherein at least a portion of the space for receiving the putter shaft is located between the main housing and the golf ball storage compartment.   
     
     
         25 . A golf bag according to  claim 24 , further comprising an insulated chamber located outside the main housing, wherein the insulated chamber is not open to the storage compartment and is not open to the space for receiving a putter shaft 
     
     
         26 . A golf bag according to  claim 24 , wherein the storage compartment includes a second aperture, wherein a sleeve extends between the first aperture and the second aperture, and wherein the second aperture provides an opening for introducing a golf ball into the sleeve. 
     
     
         27 . A golf bag according to  claim 26 , wherein the second aperture is located above the first aperture when the main housing is oriented in an upright manner. 
     
     
         28 . A golf bag according to  claim 26 , wherein the first and second apertures are arranged so as to feed golf balls to the first aperture under the force of gravity when the main housing is oriented in an upright manner. 
     
     
         29 . A golf bag according to  claim 24 , wherein a ball storage sleeve extends in an axial direction from the first aperture, wherein the sleeve defines an internal open area perpendicular to the axial direction of less than 7 in 2 . 
     
     
         30 . A golf bag according to  claim 24 , wherein a ball storage sleeve extends in an axial direction from the first aperture, wherein the sleeve defines an internal open area perpendicular to the axial direction of at least 2.4 in 2 . 
     
     
         31 . A golf bag according to  claim 24 , wherein a ball storage sleeve extends in an axial direction from the first aperture and defines a longitudinal length in the axial direction of at least 3 inches. 
     
     
         32 . A golf bag according to  claim 24 , wherein the first aperture is the sole aperture in direct communication with the golf ball storage compartment.