Golf bag connector

Abstract

The present innovation provides for an apparatus attached to or integrally incorporated into a golf bag or other bag designed such that the weight of the golf bag, or the like, with or without clubs is redistributed from the user's shoulders to the core region. With increasing interest in the game of golf as a recreation or profession in the United States, Europe and Asia, the present innovation provides a benefit to all users young, old, male, female, amateur, professional, of varying skill level and/or body types to comfortably carry said golf bag on or around a golf course.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf bag system comprising:
 a. a compartment for holding a golf club;   b. a strap system for supporting said golf bag, said strap system including a plurality of straps, each strap having a first end and a second end, said second end being attached to an attachment point for load support of the compartment;   c. a hub having a plurality of arms, each arm having at least one attachment point to which said first end of at least one of said plurality of straps is connected; and   d. a multi-component attachment assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The golf bag of  claim 1  further comprising attachment points for a load support assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The golf bag of  claim 1  provided that said plurality of arms is integrally formed as a part of said hub. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club of  claim 1  provided that the compartment is for organizing the golf clubs. 
     
     
         5 . The golf bag of  claim 1 , provided that said plurality of straps includes a set of upper straps and a set of lower straps, said upper straps each having a padded portion which engages the shoulder region of a user, and said lower straps which attach between said attachment points of said hub and said golf bag. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-component attachment assembly of  claim 1  comprising a webbing, a cord, an attachment device, a buckle, a loop, a dual side-release buckle, a loop-lock, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-component attachment assembly of  claim 1  that provides a redistribution or transfer of weight of the golf bag to the center mass of the user that is below the pectorals. 
     
     
         8 . A golf bag load support assembly comprising:
 a. a body mounting assembly in the form of a connector arranged to be situated on or at the user's mid-section or abdomen area;   b. a shoulder mounting assembly associated with the body mounting assembly; and   c. a load support assembly member supported on the body mounting assembly and on the shoulder mounting assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The shoulder mounting assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a. a first and second shoulder strap elements which are arranged to be supported by first and second shoulders of a user,   b. a first and second shoulder strap elements being interconnected such that orientation of a first shoulder of the user higher than his second shoulder produces a corresponding orientation of the first and second shoulder strap elements, thus maintaining a desired load distribution between the two shoulders and waist of the user independent of the relative orientation thereof; and   c. a strap means slidably connected to said first and second shoulder strap elements and connected to said body mounting assembly, provided that at least one of the first and second shoulder strap elements and said strap means being formed of a stretchable resilient material in order to permit stretching of the load support so as to accommodate variations in the distance between the shoulders and the waist depending on the body orientation of the user.   
     
     
         10 . The shoulder mounting assembly according to  claim 9  provided that said first and second shoulder strap elements are slidably connected to said strap means by the connector at a location intermediate to said first and second shoulder strap elements. 
     
     
         11 . The attachment member of  claim 10  further comprising an attachment member that is selected from the group consisting of a D-ring, a latch, a ladderloc, a carabiner, a harness, a buckle, a clamp, a O-ring, a clip, and a slide. 
     
     
         12 . A strap system for supporting a golf bag comprising:
 a. a load support assembly;   b. a plurality of straps including a set of two upper straps each having a padded portion which engages the shoulder region of a user and a set of two lower straps connecting to the golf bag; and   c. a hub having at least two symmetrical arms, each said arm having at least one attachment point to one of said plurality of straps, and   
       provided that the hub rotates during use in response to forces applied on each of said straps to provide optimized balance of the golf bag as carried on the shoulders of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The strap system of  claim 12  provided that the plurality of straps is pivotally connected to the hub. 
     
     
         14 . The strap of  claim 12  provided that the hub having at least three symmetrical arms, each said arm having at least one attachment point to one of said plurality of straps. 
     
     
         15 . A strap system for supporting a golf bag comprising:
 a. a load support assembly system;   b. a plurality of straps, each strap having a first end and a second end, said second end being attached to an attachment point on said golf bag; and   c. a hub having a plurality of arms, each arm having at least one attachment point to said first end of at least one of said plurality of straps, said hub including a padded portion.   
     
     
         16 . The strap system of  claim 15  provided that said padded portion acts as a center of rotation for movement of said hub. 
     
     
         17 . The strap system of  claim 15  in which said plurality of arms is integrally formed as a part of said hub. 
     
     
         18 . A hub for a golf bag load support assembly system comprising:
 a. a symmetrical portion having at least four arms extending therefrom for attachment to ends of respective golf bag straps; or   b. a symmetrical portion having at least three arms extending therefrom for attachment to ends of respective golf bag straps; or   c. a symmetrical portion having at least two arms extending therefrom for attachment to ends of respective golf bag straps; and   d. a connector situated at the end of each said arm, providing pivotal connection between said arm and the respective end of said golf bag strap.   
     
     
         19 . The hub of  claim 18  provided that the connector is selected from the group consisting of a D-ring, a latch, a harness, a carabiner, a ladderloc, a buckle, a clamp, a O-ring, a clip, and a slide. 
     
     
         20 . A load support assembly comprising:
 a. a core body mounting assembly;   b. a shoulder mounting assembly;   c. a load support assembly member supported on the core body mounting assembly and on the shoulder mounting assembly; and   d. stretchable resilient means interconnecting the shoulder mounting assembly and the core body mounting assembly in order to accommodate variations in the distance between the shoulders and the waist depending on the body orientation of the user for generally maintaining a desired distribution of a load on the load support assembly member between the core body mounting assembly and the shoulder mounting assembly notwithstanding changes in the relative orientations thereof.