Golf bag with a docking station for an electronic device

• US 9,545,549 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2014
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Inventors: Soracco, Peter L., Roach, Ryan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): YEN, JASON TAHAI
• Application Number:
  US14/256,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20140339110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 55/00 Bags for golf clubs; Stands for golf clubs for use on the course; Wheeled carriers specially adapted for golf bags
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 55/408 Releasably mounted accessories fitted outside the bag, e.g. straps or holders A63B55/20 and A63B55/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications

Abstract

The invention generally relates to golf bags. A golf bag of the invention may include a detachable and re-attachable storage compartments. A golf bag may include retractable straps. A golf bag of the invention may include power collection and power plug-in devices.

Claims

1. A golf bag comprising:

an extended body having a closed end, an open end, a top surface area, a bottom surface area, a right side surface area, and a left side surface area; and

a computing device comprising a non-transitory memory configured to store data related to a game of golf and a processor configured to provide, via an output device, information related to improving golfer performance during the game of golf, wherein the computing device is operable to

detect a characteristic motion of a bag via a motion sensor on the bag,

relay a signal to a computing device indicating that the bag has exhibited the characteristic motion, and

record—

in the non-transitory memory—

a record indicating that a club has been removed from or inserted into the bag; and

a docking station for connecting to a portable electronic device, the docking station configured to transfer the data between the non-transitory memory and the portable electronic device.

2. The golf bag of claim 1, further comprising a touch screen coupled to the computing device and accessible on an external surface of the golf bag.

3. The golf bag of claim 1, further comprising an energy-harvesting device configured to provide an electric charge via the connector to any mobile device connected thereto.

4. The golf bag of claim 3, wherein the energy-harvesting device comprises a photovoltaic cell.

5. The golf bag of claim 4, further comprising a battery configured to store the electric charge.

6. The golf bag of claim 1, further comprising computer program instructions stored in the non-transitory memory that, when executed by the processor, cause the input/output device to provide golf-related information.

7. A golf bag comprising:

an extended body having a closed end, an open end, a top surface area, a bottom surface area, a right side surface area, and a left side surface area; and

a computing device comprising a non-transitory memory configured to store data related to a game of golf and a processor coupled to the non-transitory memory, the processor configured to provide, via an output device, information related to improving golfer performance during the game of golf, wherein the computing device is operable to

detect a characteristic motion of a bag via a motion sensor on the bag,

relay a signal to a computing device indicating that the bag has exhibited the characteristic motion, and

record—

in the non-transitory memory—

a record indicating that a club has been removed from or inserted into the bag;

a docking station for connecting to a portable electronic device, the docking station configured to transfer the data between the non-transitory memory and the portable electronic device; and

at least one input/output device.

8. The golf bag of claim 7, further comprising computer program instructions stored in the non-transitory memory that, when executed by the processor, cause the input/output device to provide golf-related information.

9. The golf bag of claim 7, further comprising an accelerometer coupled to the computing device.

10. The golf bag of claim 7, further comprising a GPS subsystem in the computing device.

11. The golf bag of claim 7, further comprising an RFID tag reader coupled to the computing device.

12. A golf bag comprising:

an extended body having a closed end, an open end, a top surface area, a bottom surface area, a right side surface area, and a left side surface area;

a computing device comprising a non-transitory memory configured to store data related to a game of golf and a processor configured to provide, via an output device, information related to improving golfer performance during the game of golf, wherein the computing device is operable to

detect a characteristic motion of a bag via a motion sensor on the bag,

relay a signal to a computing device indicating that the bag has exhibited the characteristic motion, and

record—

in the non-transitory memory—

a record indicating that a club has been removed from or inserted into the bag;

a docking station for connecting to a portable electronic device, the docking station configured to transfer the data between the non-transitory memory and the portable electronic device; and

an energy collection device.

13. The golf bag of claim 12, wherein the energy collection device comprises a photovoltaic cell.

14. The golf bag of claim 12, wherein the energy collection device comprises a reverse electrowetting electricity generator.