Golf bag with adjustable handle

Abstract

A golf bag with an adjustable handle. A golf bag according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a body, a handle, and a retracting member. An attachment member may also be employed for securing a portion of the handle to the bag. The top of the handle is pivotally connected to the body by the attachment member. The bottom of the handle is connected to the body by the retracting member such that the bottom can extend and retract relative to the body. The retracting member passes through an aperture on the body and connects to the bottom portion of the body at a point on the interior of the body. This arrangement allows the handle to pivot and extend away from the body as the bag is lifted. As a result, the handle remains substantially parallel to the plane of the ground while the center of mass of the bag is balanced directly below the handle. This provides an ideal position for carrying a golf bag. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.

1 . A golf bag comprising: 
 a body defining an interior and an exterior; and    a handle having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion in pivotal communication with the body, the second portion in retractable communication with the body.    
   
   
       2 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , further comprising a retracting member in communication with the second portion and the interior of the body, the retracting member configured such that the second portion transitions between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the body.  
   
   
       3 . The golf bag of  claim 2 , further comprising an aperture defining a portal between the interior and exterior of the body, wherein the retracting member is in operable communication with the aperture.  
   
   
       4 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , further comprising a retracting member having a first segment and a second segment, wherein the second segment comprises a plurality of parts each in communication with the interior of the body.  
   
   
       5 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment member in communication with the body and in pivotal communication with the first portion.  
   
   
       6 . The golf bag of  claim 2 , wherein in the extended position the axis of the handle is at an angle to the axis of the body.  
   
   
       7 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , comprising a retracting member having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment in communication with the second portion and constructed from an inelastic material, the second segment constructed from an elastic material further comprising two ends each connected to the interior of the bag at points spaced apart from each other, the first segment and the second segment operationally joined to each other at a point within the interior of the bag, wherein the retracting member enables retractable communication between the second portion and the body.  
   
   
       8 . A golf bag comprising: 
 a body defining an interior and an exterior surface;    a handle having a first portion and a second portion;    the first portion in rotatable communication with the body at a first attachment point; and    the second portion retractably secured to the body at a second attachment point, the second attachment point being spaced apart from the first attachment point, the second portion being configured to move between the exterior surface and a point spaced apart from the body, and retract toward the exterior surface.    
   
   
       9 . The golf bag of  claim 8 , further comprising a retracting member in communication with the second portion and the second attachment point, the retracting member configured such that the second portion can move away from the exterior surface due to a grasping force and can be retracted to a position proximate the exterior surface in a resting state.  
   
   
       10 . The golf bag of  claim 8 , further comprising an aperture spanning the interior and exterior surface, and a retracting member passing through the aperture and in communication with the second portion and the interior of the body.  
   
   
       11 . The gold bag of  claim 8 , wherein the second attachment point is located at or near the bottom of the interior of the body.  
   
   
       12 . The golf bag of  claim 8 , further comprising two brackets, each bracket in rotatable communication with the first portion, and in rotatable communication with the exterior surface at two attachment points spaced apart from each other.  
   
   
       13 . The golf bag of  claim 8 , further comprising a retracting member in communication with the second portion, and an elastic member in communication with the retracting member and the interior of the body at two attachment points spaced apart from each other.  
   
   
       14 . The golf bag of  claim 13 , wherein the retracting member is not stretchable and the elastic member is stretchable.  
   
   
       15 . The golf bag of  claim 8 , the handle further defines an axis of the handle that in the extended position remains substantially parallel to the plane of the ground, and the angle between the axis of the handle and the axis of the body is greater than zero when the bag is lifted, and the center of mass of the bag is substantially on a line perpendicular to the axis of the handle and the axis of the bag.  
   
   
       16 . A method to make a golf bag with an adjustable retractable handle comprising: 
 providing a body;    connecting an attachment member to the body;    pivotally connecting the top of a handle to attachment member;    retractably attaching the bottom of the handle to the body such that the bottom of the handle can extend away from the body and be pulled back to the body.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising connecting the attachment member to a point on the top region of the body.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising rotatably connecting one or more brackets to the body, and rotatably connecting the top of the handle to said one or more brackets.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 passing the retracting member from outside the body through an aperture on the body into the interior of the body and connecting the retracting member to at least one point inside the body.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , connecting a strap forming a loop to the top region of the body, and pivotally connecting the top of the handle to said strap.