Golf bag with expandable collar apertures

Abstract

An expandable top collar system ( 10 ) for a golf bag ( 12 ) is provided for providing one or more expandable apertures ( 36 ) facilitating a smaller lateral aspect collapsed mode ( 14 ) and a larger aspect expanded mode ( 16 ). The system ( 10 ) includes expansion means ( 37 ) and securing means ( 49 ) associated with each expandable aperture ( 36 ) so as to define the degree of aspect expansion.

1 . An expandable top system for a golf bag, comprising:
 a golf bag collar structure, open to the top and presenting at least one insertion aperture; wherein   at least one of said insertion apertures is provided with expansion means such that the opening aspect of said insertion aperture may be extended to transform said insertion aperture into an expandable aperture having an expanded mode; and   securing means are provided such that each expandable aperture may be restored to a collapsed mode and maintained in said collapsed mode.   
     
     
         2 . The expandable top system of  claim 1 , wherein said expansion means are selected from the group including:
 hinged segments, telescoping joints, elastic rim segments, accordion segments and rim windows.   
     
     
         3 . The expandable top system of  claim 1 , wherein
 said collar structure includes at least three of said insertion apertures, one of said insertion apertures being a rear aperture normally adapted to retain clubs adapted for driving and fairway use; and   said rear aperture is selected to be said expansion aperture.   
     
     
         4 . The expandable top system of  claim 1 , wherein
 said collar structure includes a circumferential rim and collar dividers which separate said collar structure into a plurality of said insertion apertures; and   said expandable aperture includes a hingedly mounted segment of said circumferential rim, said hingedly mounted segment being pivotable so as to facilitate expansion of said expandable aperture.   
     
     
         5 . The expandable top system of  claim 4 , wherein
 said hingedly mounted segment pivots on a pair of pivot pins and further includes a slide slot, slide pin and thumb screw combination on each side of said segment to adjust the degree which said hingedly mounted segment pivots.   
     
     
         6 . The expandable top system of  claim 1 , wherein
 said collar structure is laterally divided into symmetrical halves, with each half including a circumferential rim and a plurality of collar dividers; and   the portions of said circumferential rim and said collar dividers on the adjacent portions of each said half are joined together by telescope joints, with receiving tubes on one said half and insertion segments on the other said half, such that the halves may be pulled apart to a degree to create expanded open aspects of some of said expandable apertures in an expanded mode, or slid back together into a collapsed mode.   
     
     
         7 . The expandable top system of  claim 6 , and further including
 at least one spacer block to maintain said halves in a spaced-apart juxtaposition in said expanded mode.   
     
     
         8 . The expandable top system of  claim 7 , and further including
 at least one securing mechanism to maintain said halves in a closely joined juxtaposition in said collapsed mode.   
     
     
         9 . An aperture expansion system for a golf bag, comprising:
 expansion means incorporated into one or more club insertion apertures in the collar of a golf bag in order to transform said insertion aperture into an expandable aperture such that said expandable aperture can present a greater open aspect in an expanded mode; and   securing means for operating in conjunction with said expansion means to limit and restrict said expansion aperture between said expansion mode and a collapsed mode.   
     
     
         10 . The aperture expansion system of  claim 9 , wherein
 said expansion means is selected from the group including hinged segments, telescoping joints, elastic rim segments, accordion segments and rim windows.   
     
     
         11 . The aperture expansion system of  claim 9 , wherein
 said expansion means is in the form of a hingedly mounted segment, being pivotally mounted on the circumferential rim of said collar such that said segment pivots outward to an expanded mode, or pivots back inward to a collapsed mode.   
     
     
         12 . The aperture expansion system of  claim 11 , and further including
 a curved plate mounted on said circumferential rim by a pair of pivot pins and including at least one a slide slot;   at least one slide pin mounted on said circumferential rim for mating with a corresponding said slide slot; and   a thumbscrew associated with each said slid post to tighten on said slide post to secure a desired orientation of said slide post within corresponding said slot.   
     
     
         13 . The aperture expansion system of  claim 9 , wherein
 said collar is laterally divided into symmetrical halves, with each said half including a circumferential rim and a plurality of collar dividers to define a plurality of said expandable apertures; and   said expansion means is in the form of telescope joints joining said halves at interface locations such that said halves may be pulled apart to a degree to create expanded open aspects of some of said expandable apertures formed therebetween in an expanded mode, or slid back together into a collapsed mode.   
     
     
         14 . The aperture expansion system of  claim 13 , and further including
 at least one spacer block to maintain said halves in a spaced-apart juxtaposition in said expanded mode; and   said securing means are selected from the group including: securing straps and buckles, mating forks and receptacles; and Velcro™ type fasteners   
     
     
         15 . The aperture expansion system of  claim 13 , and further including
 a turnbuckle associated with each telescope joint to maintain said halves in a spaced-apart juxtaposition in said expanded mode and to secure said halves together in said collapsed mode.   
     
     
         16 . The aperture expansion system of  claim 9 , wherein
 said expansion means is an accordion segment of collar rim adapted to unfold outward into a pouch.   
     
     
         17 . The aperture expansion system of  claim 9 , wherein
 said expansion means is an elastic portion of collar rim adapted to stretch outward into said expanded mode; and   said securing means is a rim guard sleeve restricting elastic expansion of said elastic portion in said collapsed mode.