Golf bag incorporating adjustable shoulder strap assembly

Abstract

Golf bag and shoulder strap comprising: elongated tubular body for holding golf clubs; shoulder strap assembly comprising a pre-curved strap pad having a first end, a second end, and being configured to slidably receive a strap; the strap having a first strap end and a second strap end, each attached to the elongated tubular body; the pre-curved strap pad being positioned in a predetermined location on a wearer's front, shoulder and back when the golf bag is mounted on the wearer. Strap may be slidably received within a buckle and either (i) an interior channel that extends within the pre-curved strap pad between the first end and the second end; or (ii) slots and/or tabs that are positioned along a top exterior portion of the pre-curved strap pad that does not contact the wearer's front, shoulder and back when the golf bag is mounted on the wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf bag having a shoulder strap, comprising:
 an elongated tubular body for holding golf clubs; and   a shoulder strap assembly comprising a pre-curved strap pad and a strap;   wherein the pre-curved strap pad has a top exterior portion, an underside, a first end, a second end, an interior channel that extends within the pre-curved strap pad from the first end to the second end, and a curved support member that is enclosed within the pre-curved strap pad;   wherein the strap is slidably received within the interior channel and threads the pre-curved strap pad from the first end to the second end; and   wherein the strap has a first strap end and a second strap end, each strap end removably attached to the elongated tubular body such that the pre-curved strap pad is positioned in a predetermined location on a wearer's front, shoulder and back when the golf bag is mounted on the wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The golf bag having a shoulder strap of  claim 1 , wherein the strap threads a buckle assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The golf bag having a shoulder strap of  claim 1 , wherein the curved support member comprises at least a silicone composition. 
     
     
         4 . The golf bag having a shoulder strap pad of  claim 1 , wherein the underside of the pre-curved strap pad has a surface texture in a predetermined pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The golf bag having a shoulder strap of  claim 1 , wherein the underside of the pre-curved strap pad has a contour that at least partially matches and follows a contour of a wearer's body when the pre-curved strap pad is positioned in the predetermined location on the wearer's front, shoulder and back. 
     
     
         6 . The golf bag having a shoulder strap of  claim 2 , wherein the first end of the pre-curved strap pad is tethered to the buckle assembly, such that both the strap threading the buckle assembly and the first end of the pre-curved strap pad tethered to the buckle assembly are operable relative to each other to selectively adjust and set a position of the pre-curved strap pad to the predetermined location on the wearer's front, shoulder and back. 
     
     
         7 . The golf bag having a shoulder strap of  claim 1 , wherein the shoulder strap assembly further comprises two pre-curved strap pads, each having an exterior portion, an underside, a first end, a second end, an interior channel that extends within the pre-curved strap pad from the first end to the second end, and a curved support member that is enclosed within the pre-curved strap pad;
 two straps, each having a first strap end and a second strap end; and   two buckle assemblies, each strap threading at least one buckle assembly.   
     
     
         8 . The golf bag having a shoulder strap of  claim 7 , wherein each strap threads a hub. 
     
     
         9 . The golf bag having a shoulder strap of  claim 8 , wherein the hub is disposed between the second end of each pre-curved strap pad and the second strap end of each strap and slidably receives the straps in a criss-cross configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The golf bag having a shoulder strap of  claim 8 , wherein the hub is positioned on the wearer's back when the golf bag is mounted on the wearer. 
     
     
         11 . The golf bag having a shoulder strap of  claim 7 , wherein each strap is removably attached to at least one end of the elongated tubular body. 
     
     
         12 . The golf bag having a shoulder strap of  claim 7 , wherein each strap is received within the interior channel of one of the pre-curved strap pads and is slidably adjustable within the interior channel while the pre-curved strap pads are positioned in the predetermined location on the wearer's front, shoulder and back when the golf bag is mounted on the wearer. 
     
     
         13 . A golf bag having a shoulder strap, comprising:
 an elongated tubular body for holding golf clubs; and   a shoulder strap assembly, the shoulder strap assembly comprising a first strap having a first sheath, a first curved support member, and a first gripping layer, and a second strap having a second sheath, a second curved support member, and a second gripping layer;   wherein each sheath is adjacent to a curved support member, each curved support member is adjacent to a gripping layer, and each gripping layer having an underside with a contour that at least partially matches and follows a contour of a wearer's body when positioned in a predetermined location on a wearer's front, shoulder and back;   wherein each sheath has a length L s , each support member has a length L su , and each gripping layer has a length L g ; and   wherein L g <L su <L s  such that each of the first strap and the second strap has a predetermined radius R p .   
     
     
         14 . The golf bag having a shoulder strap of  claim 13 , wherein the underside of at least one gripping layer includes a surface texture in a predetermined pattern. 
     
     
         15 . The golf bag having a shoulder strap of  claim 13 , wherein the first curved support member and the second curved support member have different lengths L su .