Dual-ended extendable and retractable shoulder strap for golf bags

Abstract

A golf bag including a body with a top member at one end and a bottom member at the opposite end is disclosed. A shoulder strap has an upper end located near the top member and a lower end located intermediate the top and bottom members. Separate mechanisms urge the upper and lower ends of the shoulder strap into a retracted position proximate the top member and a position intermediate the top member and the bottom member, respectively, but allow movement of the upper and lower ends of the shoulder strap from the retracted position into an extended position. Each mechanism may include an elastic cord, an anchor connecting the elastic cord to the bottom member, and a ring connecting the elastic cord to an extension on the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the shoulder strap.

1 . A golf bag comprising: 
 a generally tubular body attached at one end thereof to a top member and at the opposite end thereof to a bottom member;    a first shoulder strap coupled to said body, said first shoulder strap including: 
 a first upper end located near said top member, and  
 a first lower end located intermediate said top and bottom members;  
   a first mechanism for urging said first upper end into a first retracted position and for allowing movement of said first upper end from said first retracted position into a first extended position; and    a second mechanism for urging said first lower end into a second retracted position and for allowing movement of said first lower end from said second retracted position into a second extended position.    
   
   
       2 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , wherein said first mechanism comprises a first elastic cord connected to said first upper end, and said second mechanism comprises a second elastic cord connected to said first lower end.  
   
   
       3 . The golf bag of  claim 2 , wherein said first mechanism further comprises a first anchor for connecting said first elastic cord to said bottom member, and said second mechanism further comprises a second anchor for connecting said second elastic cord to said bottom member.  
   
   
       4 . The golf bag of  claim 3 , wherein said first mechanism further comprises a first ring for connecting said first elastic cord to a first extension on said first upper end, and said second mechanism further comprises a second ring for connecting said second elastic cord to a second extension on said first lower end.  
   
   
       5 . The golf bag of  claim 4 , wherein said first extension on said first upper end extends through said first ring and is anchored to said top member, and said second extension on said first lower end extends through said second ring and is anchored to said location intermediate said top and bottom members.  
   
   
       6 . The golf bag of  claim 5 , wherein said top member includes a first opening formed therein and wherein said first extension passes through said first opening, and said location intermediate said top and bottom members includes a second opening formed therein and wherein said second extension passes through said second opening.  
   
   
       7 . The golf bag of  claim 6 , wherein said first anchor is releasable so that said first elastic cord may be released from said first anchor and said first mechanism may be deactivated, and said second anchor is releasable so that said second elastic cord may be released from said second anchor and said second mechanism may be deactivated.  
   
   
       8 . The golf bag of  claim 7 , wherein said first anchor comprises a first pair of strips with overlapping end portions that are releasably held together, and said second anchor comprises a second pair of strips with overlapping end portions that are releasably held together.  
   
   
       9 . The golf bag of  claim 8 , further comprising a first releasable fastener means on the overlapping end portions of said first pair of strips, and a second releasable fastener means on the overlapping end portions of said second pair of strips.  
   
   
       10 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second shoulder strap coupled to said body, said second shoulder strap including: 
 a second upper end located near said top member, and  
 a second lower end located intermediate said top and bottom members,  
 wherein neither of said second upper end and said second lower end is retractable and extendable.  
   
   
   
       11 . In a golf bag having a generally tubular body attached at one end thereof to a top member and at the other end thereof to a bottom member, the improvement comprising: 
 a first shoulder strap coupled to said body, said first shoulder strap including: 
 a first upper end located near said top member, and  
 a first lower end located intermediate said top and bottom members;  
   a first mechanism for urging said first upper end into a first retracted position and for allowing movement of said first upper end from said first retracted position into a first extended position; and    a second mechanism for urging said first lower end into a second retracted position and for allowing movement of said first lower end from said second retracted position into a second extended position.    
   
   
       12 . The improvement of  claim 11 , wherein said first mechanism comprises a first elastic cord connected to said first upper end, and said second mechanism comprises a second elastic cord connected to said first lower end.  
   
   
       13 . The improvement of  claim 12 , wherein said first mechanism further comprises a first anchor for connecting said first elastic cord to said bottom member, and said second mechanism further comprises a second anchor for connecting said second elastic cord to said bottom member.  
   
   
       14 . The improvement of  claim 13 , wherein said first mechanism further comprises a first ring for connecting said first elastic cord to a first extension on said first upper end, and said second mechanism further comprises a second ring for connecting said second elastic cord to a second extension on said first lower end.  
   
   
       15 . The improvement of  claim 14 , wherein said first extension on said first upper end extends through said first ring and is anchored to said top member, and said second extension on said first lower end extends through said second ring and is anchored to said location intermediate said top and bottom members.  
   
   
       16 . The improvement of  claim 15 , wherein said top member includes a first opening formed therein and wherein said first extension passes through said first opening, and said location intermediate said top and bottom members includes a second opening formed therein and wherein said second extension passes through said second opening.  
   
   
       17 . The improvement of  claim 16 , wherein said first anchor is releasable so that said first elastic cord may be released from said first anchor and said first mechanism may be deactivated, and said second anchor is releasable so that said second elastic cord may be released from said second anchor and said second mechanism may be deactivated.  
   
   
       18 . The improvement of  claim 17 , wherein said first anchor comprises a first pair of strips with overlapping end portions that are releasably held together, and said second anchor comprises a second pair of strips with overlapping end portions that are releasably held together.  
   
   
       19 . The improvement of  claim 18 , further comprising a first releasable fastener means on the overlapping end portions of said first pair of strips, and a second releasable fastener means on the overlapping end portions of said second pair of strips.  
   
   
       20 . The improvement of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a second shoulder strap coupled to said body, said second shoulder strap including: 
 a second upper end located near said top member, and  
 a second lower end located intermediate said top and bottom members, wherein neither of said second upper end and said second lower end is retractable and extendable.  
   
   
   
       21 . A golf bag, comprising: 
 a generally tubular body attached at one end thereof to a top member and at the opposite end thereof to a bottom member;    a first shoulder strap coupled to said body, said first shoulder strap including: 
 a first upper end located near said top member, and  
 a first lower end located intermediate said top and bottom members;  
   a first mechanism for urging said first upper end into a first retracted position and for allowing movement of said first upper end from said first retracted position into a first extended position;    a second mechanism for urging said first lower end into a second retracted position and for allowing movement of said first lower end from said second retracted position into a second extended position; and    a second shoulder strap coupled to said body, said second shoulder strap including: 
 a second upper end located near said top member, and  
 a second lower end located intermediate said top and bottom members.  
   
   
   
       22 . The golf bag of  claim 21 , wherein said second upper end is substantially permanently affixed near said top member, and said second lower end is substantially permanently affixed at a location intermediate said top and bottom members.