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US 7,845,492 B2Granted
Carrying or storing devices, such as golf bags, having externally accessible storage systems
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsDerek Campbell, Lee Allan Dexheimer, Christopher H. Pearson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A golf ball storage system is provided herein. The system may be configured on an exterior of a golf bag and generally includes an upper aperture and a lower aperture that may be substantially vertically aligned. The first and second apertures are connected by an internal sleeve. The sleeve may have a generally tubular configuration to contain golf balls within the storage system in a single file, stacked arrangement. The sleeve may be substantially vertical when the golf bag is in an upright position such that gravity will force balls inserted into the upper aperture to fall to a bottom portion of the sleeve, adjacent the lower aperture, for ease of removal.
Claims66
A golf ball storage system, comprising:
- a first flexible aperture having a first position and a second position, wherein the first position will not allow a golf ball to pass, and wherein the second position will allow a golf ball to pass, the first flexible aperture having a lower portion that is wider than an upper portion;
- a second flexible aperture disposed vertically below the first aperture, the second aperture having a first position and a second position, wherein the first position will not allow a golf ball to pass, and wherein the second position will allow a golf ball to pass;
- and
- a sleeve connecting the first aperture and the second aperture and having a cross section sized so as to allow a golf ball to move through the sleeve.
1 more element
A golf bag, comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber for holding plural golf clubs;
- and
- a golf ball storage compartment provided at an exterior surface of the housing, wherein the storage compartment includes a first flexible aperture and a second flexible aperture, the first and second apertures being connected by a sleeve internal to a portion of the exterior surface of the housing, wherein the first aperture includes a first position that will not allow a golf ball to pass and a second position that will allow a golf ball to pass,
- wherein the second aperture is located at a position lower than the first aperture when the housing is oriented in an upright manner,
- wherein the second aperture includes a first position that will not allow a golf ball to pass and a second position that will allow a golf ball to pass,
- wherein a lower portion of the first aperture is wider than an upper portion of the first aperture when the housing is oriented in the upright manner.
3 more elements
A golf bag, comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber for holding plural golf clubs;
- and
- a golf ball storage compartment provided at an exterior surface of the housing, wherein the storage compartment includes a first flexible aperture and a second flexible aperture, the first and second apertures being connected by a sleeve internal to a portion of the exterior surface of the housing wherein the first aperture includes a first position that will not allow a golf ball to pass and a second position that will allow a golf ball to pass, wherein the second aperture is located at a position lower than the first aperture when the housing is oriented in an upright manner, and wherein the second aperture includes a first position that will not allow a golf ball to pass and a second position that will allow a golf ball to pass, wherein a lower portion of the second aperture is wider than an upper portion of the second aperture when the housing is oriented in the upright manner.
A golf bag, comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber for holding plural golf clubs;
- and
- a golf ball storage compartment integrally formed a pocket member provided on the housing, the pocket member including an interior pocket chamber, wherein the storage compartment includes a first aperture and a sleeve extending from the first aperture, wherein the first aperture is integrally formed in the pocket member and defines an opening having a longest longitudinal dimension extending in a first direction and a widest transverse dimension extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein, in an unstressed condition, the longest longitudinal dimension is at least 1.75 inches and the widest transverse dimension is less than 1.65 inches, and wherein the first aperture is constructed such that:
- (a) in the unstressed condition, the opening retains a golf ball within the sleeve against a force of gravity, and (b) when a golf ball located at the opening is exposed to an external, extra-gravitational pulling force, the opening will expand, flex, or move under the pulling force so as to allow the golf ball to pass through the opening,
- wherein the pocket member further includes a second aperture in communication with the sleeve at an end of the sleeve opposite from the first aperture, wherein the second aperture includes an opening for introducing the golf ball into the sleeve and wherein the second aperture is located inside the interior pocket chamber.
2 more elements
A golf bag, comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber for holding plural golf clubs;
- and
- a golf ball storage compartment integrally formed in a pocket member provided on the housing, the pocket member including an interior pocket chamber, wherein the storage compartment includes a first aperture and a sleeve extending into the compartment from the first aperture, wherein the first aperture is integrally formed in the pocket member, and wherein, in an unstressed condition, the first aperture defines an opening having a longest dimension of at least 1.75 inches, and wherein, in the unstressed condition, the opening is sized and arranged such that a circle having a diameter of 1.68 inches will not fully fit within the opening,
- wherein the pocket member further includes a second aperture in communication with the sleeve at an end of the sleeve opposite from the first aperture, wherein the second aperture includes an opening for introducing a golf ball into the sleeve and wherein the second aperture is located inside the interior pocket chamber.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.