US20090212174A1

US20090212174A1 - Golf Bag Stand System

Info

Publication number: US20090212174A1
Application number: US12/035,326
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael James Pratt; James Rocky Harris; Joseph W. Christensen; Jason Prigge; Kenneth Harris; Brandon Hefer; Aaron Brookhart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Ogio International Inc
Priority date: 2008-02-21
Filing date: 2008-02-21
Publication date: 2009-08-27

Abstract

A golf bag stand system is described wherein the legs of the stand system deploy in an arcuate path. The arcuate path permits the legs of the golf bag stand system to be widely deployed to support the golf bag while minimizing entanglement issues during deployment and retraction. The arcuate deployment keeps the legs closer to the center line of the bag during a greater period of the deployment/retraction, with the sideward/outward movement of the legs occurring at the end of leg deployment and at the beginning of leg retraction. This may be achieved by hingedly connecting the legs to the golf bag with an axis of rotation that is inclined toward the center of the golf bag. The legs of the golf bag include a bend or jog that permits the inclined axis of rotation while keeping the legs close to the golf bag when in the retracted position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf bag stand system, and more particularly to a golf bag stand system that stably supports a golf bag in a standing position and that retracts in such a way as to limit and reduce entanglements with other objects such as a golfer's legs when the golf bag is picked up from the standing position.
2. Background and Related Art
Golf bag stand systems are known in the art. These stand systems provide a convenient way for golfers to access contents of golf bags prior to, during, or after a round of golf. Some golf bag stand systems are particularly designed for use by golfers who carry their bags during a round of golf. In such instances, golfers must frequently put down their bags, select and access a golf club or other golf accessory, strike a golf ball, return the golf club (and any accessories used), and then pick up their bags. Additionally, the golfers must carry their golf bags between shots, and typically desire to do so comfortably.
Therefore, retractable golf bag stand systems have been devised that provide a mechanism to support the golf bag and provide access to golf clubs and accessories when a golf bag is set down, and that retract so as not to interfere with carrying the golf bag when the golf bag is picked up. Typical existing retractable golf bag stand systems include a pair of substantially straight legs made of tubular steel, fiberglass, or some other material. The two legs are hingedly attached at or near the top of the golf bag and are typically biased in some way so as to remain close to the golf bag in a retracted position. A push-up plate or other similar device is typically attached at the base of the golf bag so as to be pushed upward when the golf bag is set down in an angled position, or when the golf bag is set down in a vertical position and is subsequently tipped toward an angled standing position. One or more rods or other force-translating members transfers force from the push-up plate to the pair of legs so as to overcome the biasing force holding the legs close to the golf bag, thereby deploying the legs into a bag-supporting position, as is well known in the art.
Existing golf bag stand systems have significant problems. For example, some systems deploy the two legs into a position whereby the two legs are too close to the central axis of the golf bag. In other words, such systems do not provide enough separation between the two legs during deployment to provide a stable support for the golf bag. As may be readily appreciated, the base of the golf bag and the two legs provide a three-point support for the golf bag. When the two legs do not adequately separate during deployment, the golf bag is not adequately supported against a side-to-side tipping motion or force. This means that golfers using such bags may frequently tip the bag over when attempting to retrieve a club or other golf accessory or when attempting to return a club or other golf accessory. The problem is exacerbated on uneven terrain, where it may be difficult to obtain a stable placement of the golf bag.
To overcome these difficulties, some existing golf bag stand systems deploy the pair of legs in a wider stance. This provides more stable support of the golf bag, but such support comes at a cost. Because the legs deploy to a wider-apart position, such systems commonly result in more entanglement issues when the stand system is deployed and especially when the golf bag is picked up from the standing position. Specifically, to pick up a golf bag from a standing position, the golfer typically approaches the golf bag from the side and grasps one or more handles or carry straps of the golf bag and then lifts the golf bag. This action removes pressure from the push-up plate, and the biasing force on the legs causes them to retract. However, the golfer's legs are commonly in the path of the widely-deployed and now-retracting stand system legs. The retracting legs therefore often strike the legs of the golfer picking up the bag. As may be appreciated, golfers commonly do not like the experience of being struck by the retracting legs. Additionally, when the stand system legs strike the golfer's legs, the stand system legs are not able to fully retract and the bag cannot be comfortably carried until the golfer repositions the golf bag to allow the legs to fully retract and then repositions the golf bag again to a comfortable carrying position.
It is not desirable or practical to expect a golfer to simply pick up the golf bag while standing farther to the side of the golf bag to avoid entanglement issues, as this places much greater strain on the golfer's back and muscles. However, golfers who use such bags commonly do this, often from an unconscious adaptation to avoid entanglements, placing themselves at greater risk for injury or muscle fatigue.
During an 18-hole round of golf, a par-level golfer may expect to set down his or her golf bag into the standing position and to pick up his or her golf bag from a standing position a minimum of approximately 54 times. Additional times where it may become desirable or necessary to set down and pick up the golf bag may include times when a golfer is waiting for a playing partner to take a golf shot, or when waiting for other golfers in front of the golfer to complete a hole or move along. As most golfers who carry their own bags are not par golfers, most golfers will set down and pick up their bags significantly more often. The problems with existing stand systems are therefore exacerbated by the frequency with which such problems are encountered. Either the golfer must be careful in placing, accessing, and picking up an unstable bag, or the golfer must put up with repeated potential entanglement situations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Implementation of the invention provides a golf bag stand system whereby the legs of the stand system deploy in an arcuate path. The arcuate path permits the legs of the golf bag stand system to be widely deployed to support the golf bag, while minimizing entanglement issues during deployment and retraction of the legs of the stand system. This is achieved because the arcuate deployment keeps the legs closer to the center line of the bag during a greater period of the deployment/retraction, with the sideward/outward movement of the legs occurring at the end of leg deployment and at the beginning of leg retraction. This may be achieved by hingedly connecting the legs to the golf bag whereby each hinged connection of the legs to the golf bag has an axis of rotation that is inclined toward the center of the golf bag when the golf bag is in an upright vertical position. The legs of the golf bag include a bend or jog that permits the inclined axis of rotation while keeping the legs close to the golf bag when in the retracted position.
Further implementation of the invention provides a golf bag stand system whereby the legs of the stand system are automatically and securely retained in a fully-stowed position when the golf bag is being carried. This may be achieved by the use of magnets and the like to apply an attractive magnetic force between a portion of the golf bag and a portion of the legs of the stand system. Implementations of the invention are described below in conjunction with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A-1C show perspective views of stylized representations of golf bags;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective stylized representation of a golf bag including legs of a golf bag stand system;

FIG. 3A-3C show perspective views of stylized representations of golf bags having stand systems in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show perspective views of stylized representations of golf bag stand systems in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of leg deployment of the type achieved by embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a stylized representation of a golf bag stand system that includes an automatic leg retention system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A description of embodiments of the present invention will now be given with reference to the Figures. It is expected that the present invention may take many other forms and shapes, hence the following disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not limiting, and the scope of the invention should be determined by reference to the appended claims.
Although the following description focuses on a golf bag stand system, it is envisioned that the embodiments of the invention may be advantageously applied to other bags and carrying devices. By way of example and not limitation, it is envisioned that embodiments of stand systems similar to those described below may be used with baseball bag and equipment bags, soft-sided and hard-sided musical instrument bags and cases, travel bags, including rolling travel bags, and any other carrying device where a user may find it convenient to have a stand system of the type described below. Therefore, in the description and claims, the word “bag” standing alone should be interpreted as embracing any and all types of bags and carrying devices.
Embodiments of the invention provide a golf bag stand system whereby the legs of the stand system deploy in an arcuate path. The arcuate path permits the legs of the golf bag stand system to be widely deployed to support the golf bag, while minimizing entanglement issues during deployment and retraction of the legs of the stand system. This is achieved because the arcuate deployment keeps the legs closer to the center line of the bag during a greater period of the deployment/retraction, with the sideward/outward movement of the legs occurring at the end of leg deployment and at the beginning of leg retraction. This may be achieved by hingedly connecting the legs to the golf bag whereby each hinged connection of the legs to the golf bag has an axis of rotation that is inclined toward the center of the golf bag when the golf bag is in an upright vertical position. The legs of the golf bag include a bend or jog that permits the inclined axis of rotation while keeping the legs close to the golf bag when in the retracted position.
Some embodiments of the invention provides a golf bag stand system whereby the legs of the stand system are automatically and securely retained in a fully-stowed position when the golf bag is being carried. This may be achieved by the use of magnets and the like to apply an attractive magnetic force between a portion of the golf bag and a portion of the legs of the stand system. Embodiments of the invention are described below in conjunction with the attached drawings.
FIGS. 1A-1C and FIG. 2 illustrate highly-stylized representations of a golf bag 10. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the golf bag 10 includes a substantially tubular structure with an open top 12 and a substantially-closed bottom (not shown). This structure permits the insertion of one or more golf clubs through the open top 12 to be contained in the tubular structure of the golf bag 10, and the substantially-closed bottom prevents the golf clubs from falling out the bottom of the golf bag 10. In most instances, the golf clubs will remain within the tubular structure of the golf bag 10 in any orientation of the golf bag 10 between vertical (meaning the open top 12 is substantially vertically oriented above the substantially-closed bottom) and horizontal, and may even remain within the tubular structure of the golf bag 10 if the golf bag is tipped past horizontal (wherein the open top 12 is below the substantially-closed bottom) for a time if the golf bag 10 is not shaken too much. In the representation shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and FIG. 2, the golf bag 10 has an approximately-elliptical open top 12, but one of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the open top 12 may have many different shapes, including oval, circular, elliptical, almost rectangular, irregular shapes, and any other shape. The shape of the open top 12 may vary for functional and aesthetic purposes.
Although not shown in the stylized representations of FIGS. 1A-1C and FIG. 2, the golf bag 10 may include a number of pockets, clips, attachments, storage devices, and other structures to provide functionality to the golf bag 10. Additionally, as is known in the art but not shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and FIG. 2, the open top 12 may include one or more dividers that may assist a golfer in organizing his or her clubs in the golf bag in a way that permits quick retrieval of the golfer's desired club. In some instances, the dividers may extend vertically downward within the tubular structure beyond the open top 12, and may even extend the full height of the golf bag 10 (i.e. down to the substantially-closed bottom).
The golf bag 10 may also include a stand system to permit a golfer to set the golf bag 10 down in an angled position to permit easy access and retrieval of golf clubs and other accessories from the golf bag 10. The stand system typically includes a pair of legs 14 connected to the golf bag at a pair of leg attachment points 16. Each leg 14 includes a proximal end attached to the golf bag 10 and a distal end that contacts the ground when the legs are deployed and the golf bag 10 set down. As is known in the art, each leg 14 may include several components or parts, including an attachment member that attaches to one of the attachment points 16, a long leg member attached at one end to the attachment member, and optionally a ground-contacting member attached at the opposite end of the long leg member. Each of the various members of the legs 14 may be made of various materials, including metal such as tubular steel, aluminum, titanium, or other alloys, plastic, fiberglass, composite materials, graphite, and/or carbon composites. Alternatively, two or more of the components of the legs 14 may be manufactured as unitary pieces. As is also known in the art, the stand system may include a push-up plate at the base of the golf bag 10 and one or more rods or force-translating members to transfer force from the push-up plate to the legs 14 to cause the legs 14 to deploy when the golf bag 10 is set down and/or tipped from a vertical position to an angled position.
As discussed above, the legs 14 may be attached to the golf bag 10 at the pair of leg attachment points 16. The leg attachment points 16 (and the corresponding attachment members of the legs 14) may take many differing shapes and may be made of similar materials to the various members of the legs 14. Typically, the leg attachment points 16 include some structure that is fixedly attached to a frame or other supporting structure of the golf bag 10, and the structure of the leg attachment points 16 typically provides a hinged-type connection between the leg attachment points 16 and the legs 14. Specifically, whatever the shape or structure of the leg attachment points 16 and the attachment members of the legs 14, each of the leg attachment points 16 will provide an axis of rotation 18. Each leg 14 connected to the golf bag 10 deploys and retracts by rotating about the axis of rotation 18 for that leg 14. In some instances, there may be some play allowed about the axis of rotation 18 in the connection between the leg 14 and the attachment point 18, but the bulk of the movement of the leg 14 during deployment and retraction of the leg 14 occurs by hinged or rotational movement around the axis of rotation 18.
FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate how typical stand systems attach and deploy the legs 14. In such systems, the axis of rotation 18 is substantially horizontal when the golf bag 10 is in a vertical position, as is illustrated in FIG. 1A. As is illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 1C, the axes of rotation 18 for the pair of legs 14 and attachment points 16 are generally offset from one other when looking down the long axis of the golf bag 10 so as to provide separation between the legs 14 during deployment. If the axes of rotation 18 are closer to parallel (FIG. 1B), the legs 14 are deployed more closely together (with the above-mentioned difficulties of a less-stable golf bag 10). In contrast, if the axes of rotation are disposed so as to be farther from parallel or more acute to one another (FIG. 1C), the legs 14 are deployed more widely (with the above-mentioned entanglement difficulties). In any event, the legs 14 are typically retracted to a position with the legs 14 close to the body of the golf bag, as in FIG. 2.
Embodiments of the invention provide for wide-spaced deployment of the legs 14 while simultaneously reducing the problem of entanglement during deployment or retraction by modifying the axes of rotation 18 as may be seen in FIGS. 3A-3C and FIG. 4. In these embodiments, the axis of rotation 18 for each leg 14 and attachment point 16 is rotated so that it is not horizontal when the golf bag 10 is in a vertical position. Instead, as may be seen in FIG. 3A, each axis of rotation has an angle of inclination 20 so that the portion 22 of the axis of rotation 18 closer to a vertical plane of symmetry 24 of the golf bag stand system (i.e. that portion 22 of the axis of rotation 18 of one attachment point 16 closer to the opposite attachment point 16). As may be seen in FIGS. 3A-3C, the vertical plane of symmetry 24 generally bisects the golf bag 10 (to the extent that the golf bag 10 is symmetrical) along the long axis of the golf bag 10 and extends in the same direction that the golf bag 10 is tipped during deployment of the legs 14, so that the pair of legs 14 are typically substantially symmetrically disposed about the vertical plane of symmetry 24 of the golf bag at all times during deployment and retraction of the legs 14.
The angle of inclination 20 may be of varying angles from horizontal (when the golf bag is in a vertically-disposed position) so as to achieve the advantages discussed herein, including angles of 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, 25 degrees, 30 degrees, 35 degrees, 40 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees and angles between these angles and ranges of angles including these angles. Because of the advantages discussed herein by providing the axes of rotation 18 with the angle of inclination 20, the axes of rotation 18 may be more close to parallel to each other (i.e. more obtuse to one another than in FIGS. 1B and 1C) when viewed down the long axis of the golf bag 10 (as in FIG. 3B), and may even be parallel to each other when viewed down the long axis of the golf bat 10 (as in FIG. 3C). This may be done because of the deployment separation provided by the angle of inclination 20, as will be discussed below.
As may be appreciated by reference to FIG. 3A, the long axis of the legs 14 are not entirely perpendicular to the axis of rotation 18, otherwise the legs 14 would cross each other and project from the golf bag 10 in inconvenient ways when the legs 14 are in their retracted position. For this reason, as may be seen in FIG. 4, each of the legs 14 may be provided with a jog or bend (“jog 26”) that separates the legs 14 into two sections, an upper portion 28 between the leg attachment point 16 and the jog 26, and a lower portion 30 distal the jog 26 and having a long axis that is approximately parallel to the long axis of the golf bag 10 when the legs 14 are retracted. As may be appreciated by reference to FIG. 4, the jog 26 allows the legs 14 to rest against the golf bag 10 when the legs 14 are in their retracted position, for ease in carrying the golf bag 10. The angle between the upper portion 28 and the lower portion 30 of each leg 14 (i.e. the angle of jog 26) may vary approximately with the angle of inclination 20.
As may be appreciated, any shape of the leg 14 that transitions between the leg attachment point 16 and the lower portion 30 is consistent with the embodiments of the invention. By way of example, reference is made to FIG. 5, wherein the jog 26 is located at a more distal location on the legs 14, and the upper portion 28 is non-perpendicular to the axis of rotation 18. The same effect may be achieved by an arcuate or curved portion of the leg 14 that curves between the attachment point 16 and the lower portion 30.
Providing the axis of rotation 18 with the angle of inclination 20 and providing the leg 14 with a jog 26 or other shape as described herein alleviates the problems inherent in existing stand systems. Specifically, wide deployment of the legs 14 may be achieved with reduced entanglement issues. This is illustrated in FIG. 6, which shows how the legs 14 deploy in embodiments of the present invention. Specifically, the legs 14 deploy in an arcuate path 32, as is illustrated in FIG. 6. The arcuate path 32 provides wide deployment of the legs 14 while reducing entanglement issues. Specifically, a significant portion of the outward-to-inward motion of the distal ends of the legs 14 occurs at the end of deployment of the legs 14 and at the beginning of retraction of the legs 14. This allows the legs 14 to avoid entanglement with objects including a golfer's legs during deployment or retraction of the legs 14.
Thus, the structure described herein provides for a method of deploying and retracting the legs 14 of a golf bag stand system that includes providing the legs 14 in a retracted position proximate the golf bag 10, wherein the proximal ends of the legs 14 are attached to the golf bag 10 near an upper open end of the golf bag. The method further includes deploying the legs 14 into a deployed position, wherein the distal ends of the legs 14 are separated from each other to provide stable support of the golf bag, and wherein the legs 14 travel along the arcuate path 34. The method also includes retracting the legs 14 along the arcuate path 34. The method provides stability of the golf bag while reducing the risk of unwanted entanglements of the legs 14 during deployment or retraction.
The embodiments of the invention also provide for a method for attaching the legs 14 of a golf bag stand system to a golf bag so that the distal ends of the legs 14 will deploy and retract in the arcuate path 32. The method includes providing a leg attachment point 16 on the golf bag 10 near the upper end of the golf bag 10 and providing legs 14 having a lower portion 30 configured to rest along the sides of the golf bag 10 when the legs 14 are in a retracted position. The method also includes attaching the legs 14 to the leg attachment points 16 so that each of the legs 14 is hingedly attached to the golf bag whereby each leg 14 rotates about the angle of rotation 18 at the leg attachment point 16 and whereby the angle of rotation 18 is inclined toward the vertical plane of symmetry an angle of between 15 and 75 degrees from horizontal when the golf bag 10 is in a vertical position. The embodiments of the invention embrace any other method of attaching the legs 14 to the golf bag 10 so that the legs 14 will travel in the arcuate path 32, including systems of gears.
One of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the exact arcuate path 32 of the legs 14 during deployment may be varied by varying the angle of inclination 20, the distance between the leg attachment points 16, and the angle between the axes of rotation 18 of the leg attachment points 16 when viewed along the vertical axis of the golf bag 10 (e.g., compare FIGS. 3B and 3C). It is expected that such variation is a matter of simple experimentation well within the skill of one of modest skill in the art. As such, the details of such variations are not described herein.
One of skill in the art will also readily appreciate that any form of connection of the legs 14 at the leg attachment points 16 that provides the axes of rotation 18 and substantially hinged or rotational movement of the legs 14 about the axes of rotation 18 will fall within the embodiments of the invention. By way of example and not limitation, the axis of rotation 18 may be provided by a rod on either of the leg 14 or the leg attachment point 16 and a corresponding slot, hole, receiver, clamp, or other member on the other of the leg 14 and the leg attachment point 16. Alternatively, both the leg attachment point 14 and the proximal end of the leg 14 may be provided with a hole that receives a separate rod or rivet that provides the axis of rotation 18. In other embodiments, a separate hinge may be provided and attached to both the leg attachment point 16 and the leg 14 to provide the axis of rotation 18. Any such method or other known method of providing a connection having the axis of rotation 18 may be used. It is preferred that the method or mechanism so used be light and durable to allow the golf bag 10 to be carried and to be used without breakage for an extended period of time.
At least some embodiments of the invention also address problems with the legs 14 of the golf bag 10 dangling, bouncing, or having some other movement from the fully-retracted or stowed position, as commonly occurs in existing golf bag stand systems. In existing systems, when the legs are in their stowed position and the golf bag is being carried, the bag is typically carried in a somewhat horizontal position with the legs facing downward. In this position, the golfer's walking motion causes cyclical up-and-down motion and force to be applied to the golf bag and legs. This may cause the legs to move from their fully-stowed position, causing a risk of entanglement, a risk of the partially-deployed legs hitting the golfer carrying the golf bag, and risks of noise and vibration.
Some embodiments of the invention prevent or reduce this problem by automatically securing the legs 14 to the body of the golf bag 10 when the legs 14 are in the fully-retracted or stowed position. This may be provided by a means for securing the stowed legs 14 to the bag. One means for securing the stowed legs 14 to the golf bag 10 is illustrated in FIG. 7. The means for securing the stowed legs 14 to the golf bag 10 illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a bracket 34 that is attached to the golf bag 10 or to one or more push rods 36. The push rod(s) 36 may translate force from a push-up plate (not illustrated) to the legs 14, so as to deploy the legs 14 when the golf bag 14 is set down/tipped as is known in the art. The bracket 34 may include magnets 38 that may apply an attractive force to the legs 14 (if made of a ferromagnetic material such as solid or tubular steel, and/or other alloys of iron, cobalt, and nickel, for example), to a portion of the legs 14, such as a ferromagnetic portion incorporated into or attached to the legs 14, or to corresponding magnets incorporated into or attached to the legs 14. Alternatively, magnets 38 may be incorporated into or attached to the legs 14, and the bracket 34 may be made of a ferromagnetic material or may have a ferromagnetic portion at a location corresponding to the magnets 38 in the legs 14. Hereafter, the corresponding magnets, magnets and ferromagnetic portions, or magnets and ferromagnetic legs are referred to as magnetically-interacting portions.
As may be appreciated, when the legs 14 are retracted into a position that is stowed or nearly stowed, the magnetically-interacting portions apply a force to the legs 14, causing the legs 14 to more fully move into the fully stowed or retracted position. The magnetic force will also keep the legs 14 in the fully-retracted/fully-stowed position, thereby avoiding the aforementioned problems that may be encountered with unrestrained stowed legs 14. The strength of the magnets, and thereby the attractive magnetic force may be varied or chosen so as to automatically and securely stow the legs 14 in the fully-stowed position, without requiring that undue force be applied to the legs 14 to deploy the legs.
In embodiments where the bracket 34 is attached to the one or more push rods 36, it will be appreciated that when the golf bag 10 is set down or tipped so as to apply force to the push-up plate, it will cause a vertical (as viewed in FIG. 7) shift in the push rods 36 and a corresponding shift in the bracket 34. This may actually assist in separating the bracket 34 and the legs 14, such as by relatively vertically displacing the magnetically-interacting portions so as to reduce the magnetic force keeping the legs 14 in the fully-stowed position.
In some embodiments, the magnets 38 or other magnetically-interacting portion(s) may be disposed on a back surface or inside of the bracket 34 away from view. Although such a disposition may require stronger magnets to achieve the same magnetic force, the result may be visually appealing.
In other embodiments, the magnets 38 may be directly attached to an internal or external frame of the golf bag 10. In still other embodiments, the magnets 38 may be sewn, glued, or stitched into the material of the golf bag 10 or into a pocket made in the material of the golf bag 10 at an appropriate location so as to provide the attractive magnetic force. The vertical placement of the bracket 34, magnets 38 without a bracket 34, or other magnetically-interacting portions may be varied for aesthetic or functional purposes and remain within the scope of the described embodiments of the invention.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A bag stand system comprising:

a bag;

a pair of leg attachment points attached to the bag; and

a pair of legs hingedly attached to the bag by hinged attachments at the pair of leg attachment points, wherein each hinged attachment has an axis of rotation having an angle of inclination whereby a portion of the axis of rotation more proximate a vertical plane of symmetry of the bag stand system is inclined above a portion of the axis of rotation more distal the vertical plane of symmetry, when the bag is in a substantially upright and vertical position.

2. A bag stand system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the legs comprises an upper portion, a lower portion, and a jog connecting and transitioning the upper portion to the lower portion.

3. A bag stand system as recited in claim 2, wherein the jog permits the lower portion of each leg to rest substantially parallel a long axis of the bag when the legs are in a retracted position.

4. A bag stand system as recited in claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination comprises an angle from horizontal of between five and seventy-five degrees.

5. A bag stand system as recited in claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination comprises an angle from horizontal of between ten and sixty degrees.

6. A bag stand system as recited in claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination comprises an angle from horizontal of between fifteen and sixty degrees.

7. A bag stand system as recited in claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination comprises an angle from horizontal of between thirty and sixty degrees.

8. A bag stand system as recited in claim 1, wherein the configuration of the bag stand system causes the legs to deploy in an arced motion.

9. A bag stand system as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for automatically securing the legs to the bag in a fully-retracted position, comprising:

one or more first magnetically-interacting portions on at least one of:

the bag;

a bracket attached to a portion of the bag; and

a bracket attached to a push rod of the bag stand system; and

a second magnetically-interacting portion on each of the legs.

10. A bag stand system as recited in claim 9, wherein the one or more first magnetically-interacting portions are magnetically-interacting portions of the bracket attached to the push rod of the bag stand system, and wherein the push rod is attached to a push-up plate disposed near a bottom of the bag and is further attached to the legs, whereby a vertical displacement applied to the push-up plate simultaneously vertically displaces the bracket attached to the push rod and applies a deployment force to the legs, whereby the first and second magnetically-interacting portions are disengaged from one another.

11. A bag stand system as recited in claim 9, wherein the second magnetically-interacting portions are integrally formed with the legs.

12. A bag stand system as recited in claim 9, wherein the second magnetically-interacting portions are attached to the legs.

13. A golf bag stand system comprising:

a golf bag; and

a golf bag stand having a vertical plane of symmetry when the golf bag is viewed in an upright vertical position, the golf bag stand being attached to the golf bag and comprising:

a pair of legs with upper ends; and

means for hingedly attaching the upper ends to the golf bag, wherein the means for hingedly attaching have axes of rotation upwardly inclined toward the vertical plane of symmetry by an angle of inclination.

14. A golf bag stand system as recited in claim 13, wherein the angle of inclination comprises an angle of between fifteen and seventy-five degrees from horizontal, when the golf bag is viewed in a substantially-upright and vertical position.

15. A golf bag stand system as recited in claim 13, wherein the angle of inclination comprises an angle of between thirty and sixty degrees from horizontal, when the golf bag is viewed in a substantially-upright and vertical position.

16. A golf bag stand system as recited in claim 13, wherein the angle of inclination comprises an angle of between forty and fifty degrees from horizontal, when the golf bag is viewed in a substantially-upright and vertical position.

17. A golf bag stand system as recited in claim 13, further comprising means for automatically securing the legs to the golf bag in a fully-retracted position, comprising:

one or more first magnetically-interacting portions on at least one of:

the golf bag;

a bracket attached to a portion of the golf bag; and

a bracket attached to a push rod of the golf bag stand system; and

a second magnetically-interacting portion on each of the legs.

18. A golf bag stand system comprising:

a golf bag;

a pair of legs having upper ends hingedly attached to the golf bag; and

means for automatically securing the legs to the golf bag in a fully-retracted position, comprising:

one or more first magnetically-interacting portions on at least one of:

the golf bag;

a bracket attached to a portion of the golf bag; and

a bracket attached to a push rod of the golf bag stand system; and

a second magnetically-interacting portion on each of the legs.

19. A golf bag stand system as recited in claim 18, wherein the one or more first magnetically-interacting portions are magnetically-interacting portions of the bracket attached to the push rod of the golf bag stand system, and wherein the push rod is attached to a push-up plate disposed near a bottom of the golf bag and is further attached to the legs, whereby a vertical displacement applied to the push-up plate simultaneously vertically displaces the bracket attached to the push rod and applies a deployment force to the legs, whereby the first and second magnetically-interacting portions are disengaged from one another.

20. A golf bag stand system as recited in claim 18, wherein the upper ends are hingedly attached to the golf bag by hinged attachments having axes of rotation upwardly inclined by an angle of inclination toward a vertical plane of symmetry of the golf bag stand system.