# US 2012/0074004 A1 · Golf club carrying case > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0074004 A1 - Document ID: US20120074004A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/313,138 - Filed: 2011-12-07 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-11 - Inventors: Scott E. Andochick - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120074004A1 ## CPC - A63B 55/40: Bags with partitions or club holders - A45C 5/03: Suitcases - A45C 5/14: with built-in rolling means - A45C 13/005: {Hinges} - A45C 13/02: Interior fittings; Means, {e.g. inserts,} for holding and packing articles - A45C 13/262: {for wheeled luggage} - A63B 55/60: Wheeled carriers specially adapted for golf bags - A45B 7/00: Other sticks, e.g. of cranked shape - A45C 5/08: of round or oval shape - A45C 2005/037: {with a hard shell, i.e. rigid shell as volume creating element} - A63B 2210/50: Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS - A45B: WALKING STICKS (walking aids, e.g. sticks, for blind persons A61H3/06); UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS (cane or umbrella stands or holders A47G25/12) ## Abstract A golf club carrying case has first and second elongated shells connected along a first longitude edge by one or more hinges. At least one closing mechanism is used to hold the first and second elongated shells together, along a second longitude edge, to form an elongated housing. A number of restraints are used to restrain golf clubs within the elongated housing. The first and second elongated shells are shaped such that one end of the elongated housing is large enough to accommodate the heads of driver clubs and the lengths of the first and second elongated shells are sufficient to accommodate the maximum length of a driver club. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A golf club carrying case comprising: first and second elongated shells; a hinge connecting the first and second elongated shells along a first longitude edge; at least one closing mechanism configured to hold the first and second elongated shells together along a second longitude edge to form an elongated housing having a first end and a second end, wherein the maximum cross-dimension of a central region of the elongated housing is less than the maximum cross-dimension of the first end of the elongated housing and less than the maximum cross-dimension of the second end of the elongated housing; and at least one restraint coupled to at least one of the first and second elongated shells and configured to restrain golf clubs within the elongated housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second elongated shells are shaped such that the first end of the elongated housing is large enough to accommodate the heads of a plurality of driver clubs and wherein the lengths of the first and second elongated shells are sufficient to accommodate a maximum length of a driver club. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second shells are substantially hemi-cylindrical in shape and wherein the diameter of the elongated housing formed by the first and second elongated shells is no more than approximately six inches. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein a restraint of the at least one restraint comprises an elastic strap. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein a restraint of the at least one of restraint comprises a hook-and-loop fastener. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein the maximum cross-dimension of the first end of the elongated housing first is no more than approximately six inches. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 5, wherein the golf club case is sized to accommodate a set of 14 golf clubs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one wheel coupled to one end of the elongated housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an attachment mechanism for attaching the golf club carrying case to a wheeled suitcase. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second elongated shells comprise plastic shells. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a first handle configured to allow the golf club carrying case to be held in a substantially horizontal orientation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 11, wherein the first handle comprises a first flexible strap attached to the first elongated shell at a location opposite the hinge and a second flexible strap attached to the second elongated shell at a location opposite to the hinge. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a second handle attached to an end of the elongated housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein the closing mechanism comprises a mechanism selected from the group of mechanisms consisting of a latch, a zip, a strap with a buckle, and a strap with a hook-and-loop fastener. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ends of the first elongated shell overlap the ends of the second elongated shell when the golf club carrying case is closed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sum of the length, width and depth of the elongated housing formed by the first and second elongated shells is no more than approximately 62 inches. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a protective strip encompassing the perimeter of the first elongated shell. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one circumferential band positioned to inhibit axial motion of the golf club carrying case relative to a supporting surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a shoulder strap fixedly or removably coupled to the elongated housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: a collapsible golf bag having a substantially rigid frame configured to support a collapsible flexible bag, wherein the width of rigid frame and the height of the flexible bag are such that the collapsible golf bag may be accommodated within the golf club carrying case. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 20, wherein the collapsible golf bag further comprises: at least one carrying strap; and at least one hook configured to attach the collapsible golf to a golf cart. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 20, further comprising: an accessories bag removably attached to the collapsible golf. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 20, wherein the maximum cross-dimension of the first end of the elongated housing first is no more than approximately six inches. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, wherein the closing mechanism comprises a first zip fastener operable to connect the first and second elongated shells, the golf club carrying case further comprising: a foldable gusset around the perimeter of the first elongated shell; and second zip fastener that may be closed to maintain the foldable gusset in a folded configuration and opened to allow the foldable gusset to be unfolded and thereby increase the interior volume of the golf club carrying case. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, the elongated housing further comprising: a region, located between longitudinal edges of the first and second elongated shells, that forms a hinge, the material in the region being thinner than the material in the first and second elongated shells. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 25, further comprising: a latch integrated with the first elongated shell; and a catch integrated with the second elongated shell and positioned to engage the latch in the first elongated shell. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) A golf club carrying case in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: a latch integrated with the first elongated shell; and a catch integrated with the second elongated shell and positioned to engage the latch of the first elongated shell.