Golf bag flexible cover structure having detachable backpack unit

Abstract

A flexible cover structure for enclosing and protecting a golf club bag during its handling and transport, the cover structure including a cover member and a rigid base member having dual spaced-apart rollers and support pedestals, and including elongated skid bumper rails attached to and extending along its lower back side. The cover structure includes a detachable bag or backpack unit located at the lower front side of the cover structure and removably attached by a zipper. The detachable bag unit has a main inner compartment closable by a zipper extending across its opposite sides and upper portion, a secondary inner compartment closable by a zipper, and a front pocket closable by a zipper. The backpack unit has dual shoulder straps provided on its rear side for convenient use by a golfer and hiker.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A flexible cover structure adapted for protectively enclosing a golf club bag, the cover structure comprising: 
 an elongated flexible cover member having a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape and providing an inner enclosure, said cover member having front, rear and two opposite sides, and having a fastener means extending along one of the cover member two opposite sides and along its upper and lower end portions;    a rigid base member provided attached to said cover member lower end, said base member having a rear extended portion extending upwardly along said cover member rear side, said base member having dual spaced-apart rollers and dual spaced-apart pedestals attached on the base member lower surface and arranged for supporting the cover member when in a generally upright position;    multiple elongated rigid spaced-apart bumper elements fixedly attached longitudinally to said rigid base member rear extended portion along its outer rear side;    a handle means attached to said cover member upper end portion, and a handle means attached to said cover member along one side portion at an intermediate location thereof, said handles adapted for moving or carrying the cover structure; and    at least one detachable bag unit removably attached to said cover member lower front side by fastener means extending around the bag unit periphery, whereby said cover structure can securely retain a golf bag within said inner enclosure, and said detachable bag unit can be detached from said flexible cover member for independent use.    
     
     
         2 . The flexible cover structure of  claim 1 , including strap means attached to said cover member inner rear wall within said inner enclosure for reliably retaining a golf club bag therein.  
     
     
         3 . The flexible cover structure of  claim 1 , wherein said rigid base member and rear extension are covered by flexible inner liner material.  
     
     
         4 . The flexible cover structure of  claim 1 , including dual resilient padding elements provided for said enclosure at its upper end on its opposite front and rear sides.  
     
     
         5 . The flexible cover structure of  claim 1 , wherein said detachable bag unit is attached to said cover member by a continuous zipper.  
     
     
         6 . The flexible cover structure of  claim 2 , including a golf club bag and clubs retained within said enclosure.  
     
     
         7 . The flexible cover structure of  claim 1 , wherein said detachable bag unit has a main rearward inner compartment closable by a zipper extending around the bag unit edges and upper end, and a secondary forward compartment closable by a zipper extending along the bag unit front side.  
     
     
         8 . The flexible cover structure of  claim 6 , wherein said main rearward inner compartment has dual pockets provided on the compartment rear wall.  
     
     
         9 . The flexible cover structure of  claim 6 , wherein said detachable bag unit has a front pocket which is closable by a zipper provided transversely at the pocket upper end.  
     
     
         10 . The flexible cover structure of  claim 1 , wherein said detachable bag unit includes a flexible handle centrally located at the bag rear side upper end.  
     
     
         11 . The flexible cover structure of  claim 6 , wherein said detachable bag unit is a backpack having dual shoulder straps provided on the backpack rear side, said shoulder straps being adapted for attaching the backpack onto the shoulders of a user.  
     
     
         12 . The flexible cover structure of  claim 11 , wherein said dual shoulder straps are each attached at its upper end at a location adjacent and below said handle, and are each attached at its lower end at the outer edge of the backpack rear side.  
     
     
         13 . A flexible cover structure adapted for protectively enclosing a golf club bag, the cover structure comprising: 
 an elongated flexible cover member having a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape and providing an inner enclosure, said cover member having a front, rear and two opposite side portions and having a zipper fastener means extending along one of the cover member's two opposite sides and along its upper and lower end portions;    a rigid base member provided attached to said cover member at the cover member lower end and having a rear extended portion extending upwardly along said cover member rear side, said base member having dual spaced-apart rollers each provided within a recess within said base member, and dual spaced-apart pedestals attached to the base member lower surface for supporting the cover member when in a generally upright position;    dual elongated spaced-apart rigid bumper elements fixedly attached longitudinally to said rigid base member rear extended portion along its outer rear side;    a handle means attached to said cover member upper end portion, and a handle means attached to said cover member along one side portion at an intermediate location thereof, said handles being adapted for moving or carrying the cover structure; and    a detachable backpack unit removably attached to said cover member lower front side outer surface by zipper means extending around the periphery of the backpack unit, whereby said cover structure can securely retain a golf club bag within said inner enclosure and said detachable backpack unit can be removably detached from said flexible cover member for independent use.