Golf Bag with Suction Grippers for Mounting on a Vehicle

Abstract

A bag is described for carrying a set of golf clubs while playing golf and while traveling. The bag includes at least two panels, each comprising a first face and an opposite second face. The first face includes sleeves for insertion of shafts of golf clubs. The at least two panels are connected so as to provide a playing mode with the first faces facing outward, thus providing access to the golf clubs. The at least two panels are also connected so as to provide a travel mode with the first faces facing inward, thus protecting the golf clubs while travelling. The bag also includes two suction grippers, each attached to at least one of the second faces. These suction grippers configured to attach the bag to a surface of a vehicle for transit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bag for carrying a set of golf clubs while playing golf and while traveling, the bag comprising:
 at least two panels, each comprising a first face and an opposite second face, the first face comprising sleeves for insertion of shafts of golf clubs, wherein the at least two panels are connected so as to provide a playing mode with the first faces facing outward, thus providing access to the golf clubs, and so as to provide a travel mode with the first faces facing inward, thus protecting the golf clubs while travelling;   two suction grippers, each attached to at least one of the second faces, the suction grippers configured to attach the bag to a surface of a vehicle for transit.   
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the suction grippers each comprise an actuator configured to pull and lock a suction state to attach the bag to the surface of the vehicle and release the suction state to release the bag from the surface of the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises a user operated pump to pull air and create suction in the suction gripper and wherein the actuator further comprises a user operated release to release the suction from the suction gripper. 
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises a user operated lever configured to pull suction on the suction grippers. 
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the suction grippers are attached to the at least one of the second faces by two spring loaded tabs inserting into detents formed in the at least one of the second faces. 
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 4 , further comprising a tab release button for withdrawing the spring loaded tabs from the detents, thereby releasing the suction grippers from the at least one of the second faces. 
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover for covering the end of the bag and heads of the golf clubs when in the travel mode. 
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 7 , wherein the cover comprises wheels, whereby, when the bag is vertically inverted, the wheels allow the bag to be pushed and pulled by a user. 
     
     
         9 . A bag for carrying a set of golf clubs while playing golf and while traveling, the bag comprising:
 first, second, third and fourth panels, each of which panels comprises:
 a middle section with first and second opposing faces, and with first and second opposite sides edges; 
 a first wing section extending at a first angle from the first side edge of each panel; 
 a second wing section extending at a second angle from the second side edge of each panel; 
   a first hinge connecting the second wing section of the first panel to the first wing section of the second panel;   a second hinge connecting the second wing section of the second panel to the first wing section of the third panel;   a third hinge connecting the second wing section of the third panel to the first wing section of the fourth panel;   at least one closure releasably connecting the first wing section of the first panel to the second wing section of the fourth panel;   first, second, and third club holding components, each connected to one of the first, second, third and fourth panels, each of the club holding components comprising at least three sleeves for receiving shafts of golf clubs;   wherein all of the hinges and the closure allow the bag to be folded into a playing mode with the connected wing sections touching each other and the first faces of the middle sections and the club holding components facing outward; and   wherein all of the hinges and the closure also allow the bag to be folded into a travel mode with two of the first, second, third and fourth panels being adjacent with the middle sections facing and club holding components facing inward and with an other two of the first, second, third and fourth panels are adjacent with the middle sections and club hold components facing inward; and   the bag further comprising two suction grippers, each attached to an outside surface of the bag when in the travel mode, wherein the at least two suction grippers are configured to attach the bag to a surface of a vehicle.   
     
     
         10 . The bag of  claim 9 , wherein the suction grippers each comprise an actuator configured to pull and lock a suction state to attach the bag to the surface of the vehicle and release the suction state to release the bag from the surface of the vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator comprises a user operated pump to pull air and create suction in the suction gripper and wherein the actuator further comprises a user operated release to release the suction from the suction gripper. 
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator comprises a user operated lever configured to pull suction on the suction gripper. 
     
     
         13 . The bag of  claim 9 , wherein the suction grippers are attached to the outside surface by at least two spring loaded tabs inserting into detents formed in the outside surface. 
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 13 , further comprising a tab release button for withdrawing the spring loaded tabs from the detents, thereby releasing the at least two suction grippers from the at least one of the second faces.