Convertible golf bags and related methods

Abstract

Convertible golf bag and related methods are provided herein. A convertible golf bag can include a chassis configured to receive and hold golf clubs therein and a saddle bag configured to receive and store items therein. The golf bag can also include one or more first chassis fasteners disposed on the chassis and one or more saddle bag fasteners disposed on the saddle bag. The one or more first saddle bag fasteners are arranged for selective engagement with the one or more first chassis fasteners, thereby enabling coupling and decoupling of the saddle bag and the chassis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf bag comprising:
 a chassis configured to receive and hold golf clubs therein, the chassis defined by a front, two sides, and a back;   a saddle bag configured to receive and store items therein, the saddle bag defined by a C-shaped rear wall positioned directly in contact with the chassis front and two sides when attached to the chassis;   one or more saddle bag fasteners positioned along a top edge of the C-shaped rear wall and along side edges of the rear wall, arranged for selective engagement with one or more chassis fasteners for aligning and enabling coupling and decoupling of the saddle bag and chassis fasteners;   wherein the saddle bag is configured in a horseshoe shape that wraps around the chassis front and chassis sides only.   
     
     
         2 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , wherein both the chassis and the saddle bag fasteners are zippers that zip in the same direction for selective engagement of the opposing saddle bag fasteners with each other. 
     
     
         3 . The golf bag of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the saddle bag comprises an outer substrate, an inner substrate and a saddle bag reinforcement board positioned between the outer substrate and the inner substrate for conforming the saddle bag to the chassis when coupled; and   the chassis comprises an exterior substrate, an interior substrate and a chassis reinforcement board positioned between the exterior substrate and the interior substrate for conforming the chassis to the saddle bag when coupled.   
     
     
         4 . The golf bag of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the saddle bag reinforcement board comprises one or more fastener holding apertures for securing and positioning the one or more first saddle bag fasteners,   the chassis reinforcement board includes one or more fastener holding apertures for securing and positioning the one or more first chassis fasteners.   
     
     
         5 . The golf bag of  claim 2 , further comprising a handle secured to the saddle bag between the chassis fasteners and proximal the chassis magnets for carrying the saddle bag when the saddle bag is decoupled from the chassis. 
     
     
         6 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the saddle bag comprises a front wall facing outward from the chassis, a rear wall facing the chassis and on which the saddle bag magnets are positioned, and a linking wall extending between the front wall and rear wall; and   the linking wall defines a trough for flow of liquid from the saddle bag, the trough extending from a top portion of the linking wall to a side portion of the linking wall.   
     
     
         7 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A convertible golf bag comprising:
 a chassis having a top portion with one or more apertures therein for receiving and holding golf clubs, a base, and side walls extending between the top portion and the base, the side walls forming a front, a rear, a first side, and a second side of the chassis;   a saddle bag securable to and removable from the front and sides of the chassis, wherein the saddle bag is configured in a horseshoe shape that wraps around the chassis front and chassis sides only, the saddle bag having a C-shaped front wall that faces outward from the chassis and a rear wall that faces inward toward the side walls of the chassis and directly contacting the chassis front and two sides when the saddle bag is attached to the chassis;   chassis magnets disposed on at least the front of the chassis; and   corresponding saddle bag magnets disposed on the top edge of the rear wall of the saddle bag such that when the saddle bag magnets are aligned and engaged with the chassis magnets, chassis fasteners positioned on the first and second sides of the chassis are aligned with opposing saddle bag fasteners positioned outside of the saddle bag magnets for engaging the saddle bag and the chassis.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The convertible golf bag according to  claim 10 , wherein the saddle bag fasteners comprise corresponding zipper portions that zip in the same direction for selective engagement with each other, and for selective engagement of the chassis and fasteners. 
     
     
         13 . The convertible golf bag according to  claim 12 , further comprising a handle secured to the saddle bag between the chassis fasteners and proximal the chassis magnets for carrying the saddle bag when the saddle bag is decoupled from the chassis. 
     
     
         14 . The convertible golf bag according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the saddle bag comprises a front wall facing outward from the chassis, a rear wall facing the chassis and on which the saddle bag magnets are positioned, and a linking wall extending between the front wall and rear wall; and   the linking wall defines a trough for removing liquid from the saddle bag extending from a top portion of the linking wall to a side portion of the linking wall.   
     
     
         15 . The convertible golf bag according to  claim 10 , wherein the chassis magnets are positioned within the side walls of the chassis and the saddle bag magnets are positioned within the rear wall of the saddle bag. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The convertible golf bag according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the rear wall of the saddle bag comprises a pliable outer substrate and a pliable inner substrate, and a saddle bag reinforcement board positioned between the outer substrate and the inner substrate to stiffen the rear wall to facilitate attachment of the saddle bag to the chassis of the golf bag; and   the saddle bag reinforcement board comprises fastener holding apertures for secure placement of the saddle bag magnets therein to facilitate proper placement within the saddle bag and alignment with the chassis magnets of the chassis when attaching the saddle bag to the chassis;   the side walls of the chassis comprise a pliable exterior substrate and a pliable interior substrate with a chassis reinforcement board positioned between the outer substrate and the inner substrate to stiffen a portion of the side walls to facilitate attachment of the saddle bag to the chassis of the golf bag; and   the chassis reinforcement board comprises fastener holding apertures for secure placement of the chassis magnets therein to facilitate proper placement within the chassis and alignment with the saddle bag magnets of the saddle bag when attaching the saddle bag to the chassis.   
     
     
         18 . A method of using a convertible golf bag, the method comprising:
 providing a chassis having a top portion with one or more apertures therein for receiving and holding golf clubs, a base, and side walls extending between the top portion and the base, the side walls forming a front, a rear, a first side, and a second side of the chassis and the chassis comprising chassis magnets disposed on at least the front of the chassis;   providing a saddle bag configured in a horseshoe shape that wraps around the chassis front and chassis sides only, the saddle bag having a first end and a second end and having a front wall that faces outward and a C-shaped rear wall that faces inward when the saddle bag is attached to the chassis, such that the rear wall is positioned directly in contact with the chassis front and two sides when attached to the chassis, the saddle bag comprising saddle bag magnets disposed on a top edge of the rear wall of the saddle bag;   positioning the rear wall of the saddle bag proximal the font of the chassis for engaging the saddle bag magnets with the chassis magnets of the chassis, thereby aligning saddle bag fasteners with chassis fasteners positioned on the chassis, wherein the saddle bag fasteners are positioned on opposing perimeters of the rear wall of the saddle bag; and   engaging the saddle bag fasteners with the chassis fasteners for engaging the saddle bag securely to the chassis.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising the step of disengaging the saddle bag fasteners from the chassis fasteners and disengaging the saddle bag magnets from the chassis magnets so that the saddle bag is decoupled from the chassis. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , engaging one of the saddle bag fasteners to another one of the saddle bag fasteners for compacting the saddle bag. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more chassis magnets positioned between chassis fasteners, each disposed on the chassis; and   one or more saddle bag magnets positioned between saddle bag fasteners, each disposed on opposing perimeters of a chassis-facing surface of the saddle bag,   the one or more saddle bag magnets arranged for selective engagement with the one or more chassis magnets for aligning and enabling coupling and decoupling of the saddle bag and chassis fasteners.   
     
     
         23 . the golf bag of  claim 1 , wherein the saddle bag maintains the horseshoe shape and C-shaped interior when unattached from the chassis.