Golf club bag having a golf club collar, method of use thereof, and method of manufacture thereof, and a system for supporting a golf club bag

Abstract

A golf bag having a golf club collar, said collar comprising: at least a first layer defining a plurality of golf club holders, wherein at least some of the said holders include a supporting surface configured to be at least partially moved by a force exerted thereon by insertion into the bag of a golf club shaft having a diameter larger than a preselected diameter, said supporting surface configured to provide an opening sufficient for insertion of the shaft into the bag, said opening having a diameter which is at least equal to a diameter of the portion of the shaft passing through said first layer.

1 . A golf bag having a golf club collar, said collar comprising:
 at least a first layer defining a plurality of golf club holders, wherein at least some of the said holders include a supporting surface configured to be at least partially moved by a force exerted thereon by insertion into the bag of a golf club shaft having a diameter larger than a preselected diameter, said supporting surface configured to provide an opening sufficient for insertion of the shaft into the bag, said opening having a diameter which is at least equal to a diameter of the portion of the shaft passing through said first layer.   
     
     
         2 . A golf club bag according to  claim 1 , wherein said golf bag includes a bag portion and said collar is one of permanently fastenable onto said bag portion and removably fastenable onto said bag portion. 
     
     
         3 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A golf club bag according to  claim 1 , at least some of the said supporting surfaces having a plurality of slits radially spaced therearound, said slits configured to widen so as to provide said opening sufficient for insertion of the shaft into the bag, wherein said plurality of slits define in said supporting surface a plurality of flexible wings radially spaced around said supporting surface, said wings biased toward each other, said wings configured to flex toward the interior of the bag so as to form an opening in said supporting surface when said force is excited thereon. 
     
     
         11 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A golf club bag according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the said supporting surfaces have one of a circular configuration and an elliptical configuration. 
     
     
         16 . A golf club bag according to  claim 1 , at least some of the said supporting surfaces defining a hole having a diameter smaller than said preselected diameter, said hole configured to be enlarged by the force exerted on said supporting surface by insertion into the bag of a golf club shaft having a diameter larger than the preselected diameter. 
     
     
         17 . A golf club bag according to  claim 16 , wherein at least some of said holes are provided with a securing layer therebeneath, said securing layer having an aperture overlapping at least a portion of a corresponding hole in said supporting surface, said aperture having a preselected aperture diameter smaller than the diameter of said corresponding hole, said aperture configured to be enlarged by insertion into the bag of a golf club shaft having a diameter larger than the preselected aperture diameter. 
     
     
         18 . A golf club bag according to  claim 17 , wherein said securing layer is fabricated from an elastic material. 
     
     
         19 . A golf club bag according to  claim 18 , wherein said elastic material is selected from EVA, TPR, and silicone. 
     
     
         20 . A golf club bag according to  claim 17 , wherein said securing layer includes at least one sleeve configured such that said aperture passes therethrough. 
     
     
         21 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A golf club bag according to  claim 16 , wherein at least some of the said supporting surfaces include an inner supporting edge defining said hole. 
     
     
         25 . A golf club bag according to  claim 16 , wherein at least some of the said supporting surfaces have a funnel-like configuration. 
     
     
         26 . A golf club bag according to  claim 1 , further comprising an additional layer spaced apart from said first layer, said first layer and said additional layer defining a plurality of pairs of cooperating support members, at least some of the pairs of cooperating support members configured to provide support for a golf club shaft inserted into said golf club bag. 
     
     
         27 . A golf club bag according to  claim 16 , wherein at least some of the said supporting surfaces include a plurality of slits radially spaced around said hole, and a plurality of strut portions extending radially outwardly from a corresponding said hole, at least some of the of said plurality of slits being located on one of said strut portions. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A golf club bag according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said golf club holders are each provided with a selectively detachable label, said label denoting a type of golf club to be inserted into said holder, said label including a fastener for fastening said label to said collar. 
     
     
         30 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A golf club bag according to  claim 16 , at least some of the said holders having a center point and at least some of the said holes having a center point, wherein at least some of the said hole center points are offset from at least some of the said corresponding holder center points. 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A golf club bag according to  claim 15 , wherein at least some of said supporting surfaces have an elliptical configuration defining an opening, and wherein said opening is located at a focus point of the ellipse. 
     
     
         39 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A golf club bag according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the said supporting surfaces are fabricated from a substantially rigid material. 
     
     
         43 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A method of storing a plurality of golf clubs in a golf club bag, said method comprising:
 exerting a first force by a grip portion of a golf club shaft on a supporting surface of a golf club holder;   at least partially moving at least a portion of the supporting surface in a first direction so as to provide an opening having a first size in said supporting surface, the opening sufficient for insertion of the grip portion therethrough, the opening having a diameter which is at least equal to a diameter of the grip portion;   inserting the grip portion through the holder and supporting the grip portion by the at least partially moved portion of the supporting surface, as the grip portion is inserted therethrough;   exerting a second force by a second shaft portion adjacent the grip portion on the supporting surface, the second force being smaller than the first force, the second shaft portion having a diameter smaller than that of the grip portion;   at least partially allowing the at least a portion of the supporting surface to move in a second direction opposite to the first direction so as to provide an opening having a second size in the supporting surface, the opening sufficient for insertion of the second shaft portion therethrough, the opening having a diameter which is at least equal to a diameter of the second shaft portion;   inserting the second shaft portion through the holder and supporting the second shaft portion by the at least partially moved portion of the supporting surface, as the second shaft portion is inserted therethrough;   repeating said exerting, said at least partially allowing, and said inserting for successive shaft portions, wherein:   a. at least one of said forces exerted by a shaft portion is smaller than that exerted by the preceding shaft portion;   b. at least one said shaft portion has a diameter smaller than that of the preceding shaft portion; and   c. at least one successive opening in the supporting surface has a diameter which is smaller than that of the preceding opening; and   repeating all of the above actions for at least one additional golf club.   
     
     
         46 . A method of manufacturing a golf club bag, said method including:
 forming a golf club collar comprising at least a first layer defining a plurality of golf club holders, wherein at least some of the said holders include a supporting surface configured to be at least partially moved by a force exerted thereon by insertion therethrough of a golf club shaft having a diameter larger than a preselected diameter, said supporting surface configured to provide an opening sufficient for insertion of the shaft thereinto, said opening having a diameter which is at least equal to a diameter of the portion of the shaft passing through said at least first layer;   forming a cylindrical bag having a bottom surface and a substantially cylindrical outer surface defining an open end; and   one of snap-fitting, stitching, and riveting said golf club collar onto the open end of the cylindrical bag.   
     
     
         47 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A golf bag according to  claim 1 , wherein said supporting surface is located above an upper end of said golf bag.