Golf bag with club spacing features and method of making the same

Abstract

A golf bag having a body with a separator structure at an upper end that defines a plurality of openings to a plurality of specifically disposed club compartments to receive club shafts, and a method of forming the same. The separator structure defines a width between the openings configured to prevent contact between a club head of each club and the shaft of adjacent clubs. In some configurations, each compartment is fully separated from another. Each club compartment defines a terminal point upon which the club rests within the compartment. The terminal points are configured to offset the club heads of adjacent clubs within the golf bag. In some configurations, a plurality of club receptacles can be provided on one or both of the pair of flat sides.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf bag for reducing or eliminating contact between golf clubs within the golf bag, the golf bag comprising:
 a golf bag body having an elongate octagonal shape in a top view, wherein the golf bag body comprises a flat top surface, a pair of flat sides and defines an interior space;   a plurality of club openings defined by the top surface, each configured to receive a designated golf club;   a plurality of terminal structures, wherein each of the plurality of club openings is associated with one of the plurality of terminal structures such that the golf bag defines a club storage depth for each of the plurality of club openings, wherein the club storage depth for a particular one of the plurality of club openings is a linear distance between the particular club opening and the associated terminal structure;   a plurality of external club receptacles provided on one or both of the pair of flat sides and located external of the interior space of the golf bag body;   wherein the golf bag includes a plurality of different club storage depths, the club storage depths configured such that for each club opening a club head of the designated club positioned in the club opening is positioned at a different height than and is spaced-apart in a height direction from the club heads of designated clubs positioned in neighboring club openings;   wherein a separation between the plurality of club openings is configured such that contact is prevented between the club heads of clubs having relatively lower club head heights and the club shafts of neighboring clubs having relatively higher club head heights.   
     
     
         2 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more inner pockets within the flat sides of the golf body. 
     
     
         3 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , further comprising a strap attached to a rear side of the golf bag body for carrying the bag. 
     
     
         4 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , further comprising two utility compartments located adjacent a front side of the golf bag on opposing sides of the golf bag. 
     
     
         5 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , further comprising a putter well located adjacent a front side of the golf bag, the putter well having a raised collar configured to limit rotational movement of a head of a putter positioned within the putter well. 
     
     
         6 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of club identification markers, each associated with a respective one of the plurality of club receptacles and club openings. 
     
     
         7 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of retention elements, each associated with a respective one of the plurality of club receptacles and configured to limit or prevent movement of a club head of the club received within the club receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , wherein each of the club receptacles is one of a cavity extending into the body of the golf bag, a cavity raised relative to an outer surface of the golf bag and a pocket attached to the outer surface of the golf bag.