Golf bag with pivoting balance handle

Abstract

A golf bag with a pivoting balance handle is provided. A golf bag according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a body, and handle, and a strap. The body has a top end and a bottom end. The handle has a first end and a second end. The first end of the handle is pivotally coupled to the top end of the body such that the handle pivots relative to the body to automatically balance the mass of the body. The strap is coupled between the second end of the handle and to the bottom end of the body. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.

1 . A golf bag comprising: 
 a body having a top end and a bottom end;    a handle having a first end and a second end, the first end of the handle pivotally coupled to the top end of the body such that the handle pivots relative to the body to automatically balance the mass of the body; and    a strap coupled between the second end of the handle and the bottom end of the body.    
   
   
       2 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame to receive the body, wherein the handle is coupled to a first end of the frame and the strap is coupled to a second end of the frame so that the handle pivots to automatically balance the mass of the frame and the body.  
   
   
       3 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is coupled to the body at a plurality of points proximate the bottom end of the body.  
   
   
       4 . The golf bag of  claim 3 , wherein the strap is a Y-strap having two legs coupled proximate the bottom end of the body at a plurality of points along the second end of the frame.  
   
   
       5 . The golf bag of  claim 4 , wherein the two legs of the Y-strap are coupled to the second end of the frame on opposite sides of a central axis of the body.  
   
   
       6 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises an attachment member and a handgrip portion, wherein the attachment member and the handgrip portion are pivotally coupled together, and wherein the attachment member is coupled to the top end of the body and the handgrip portion pivots relative to the attachment member to automatically balance the mass of the golf bag.  
   
   
       7 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , wherein the body defines an upper body portion located above a plane that bisects the body, and wherein the handle is disposed within the upper body portion.  
   
   
       8 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is coupled to the top end of the body at a plurality of points along the top end of the body.  
   
   
       9 . A golf bag carrying apparatus for a golf bag having a first end and a second end, the apparatus comprising: 
 an attachment member coupled to the golf bag at a first point on the golf bag;    a handle pivotally coupled to the attachment member, wherein the handle pivots about the attachment member in response to the mass of the golf bag; and    a strap coupled to the handle and a second point on the golf bag, the second point being spaced apart from the first point.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first point is proximate the first end of the golf bag.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second point is proximate the second end of the golf bag.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , the golf bag further defining a middle point disposed between the first end and the second end of the golf bag, wherein the first point and the second point flank the middle point such that one of the strap and the handle spans the middle point.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , the strap being further coupled to a third point on the golf bag, wherein the third point is spaced apart from the first and second points.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , the golf bag further comprising a frame, wherein the attachment member is coupled to the frame at the first point and the strap member is coupled to the frame at the second point.  
   
   
       15 . A golf bag handle system to automatically balance a golf bag, the system comprising: 
 a handle member having a first end, a second end, and two pivotally coupled portions, the first end of the handle member being attached to the golf bag at a first point; and    a strap member attached between the second end of the handle member and a second point on the golf bag, the second point being spaced apart from the first point, wherein the two pivotally coupled portions of the handle automatically pivot to balance the mass of the golf bag at a balance point between the first and second points.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first point is located above a middle portion of the golf bag and the second point is located below the middle portion such that the strap spans the middle portion of the golf bag.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the strap is further attached to a third point on the golf bag, the third point being spaced apart from the first point.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first point is proximate the top of the golf bag and the second point is proximate the bottom of the golf bag.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the handle member is pivotally coupled to the golf bag at the first point.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising a frame to receive the golf bag, wherein the handle member is attached to the frame proximate the top of the golf bag and the strap is attached to the frame proximate the bottom of the golf bag.