Collapsible Protective Mat for Golf Bag Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traveling with golf clubs poses a risk of damage due to exposure to strikes during air travel, and existing protective cases are either ineffective in size or cumbersome for transportation.
Innovation Solution
A protective mat with a skeletal support structure that can be wrapped around a golf bag, convertible between flattened, tubular, and spiral configurations, allowing for secure protection and convenient storage and transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid carrying case is used to protect golf clubs from damage, then protection reliability is improved, but device size and portability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The protective case is divided into a collapsible mat portion and a separate rigid cap portion. The mat can be folded or rolled into a compact size for storage and transport, while the rigid cap is detached and stored separately. When needed, the mat is deployed and the cap is attached to provide protection, thus resolving the contradiction between protection reliability and portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The case transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic collapsible mat that can be easily folded or rolled. This dynamic transformation allows the case to change between a protective state (when deployed) and a compact storage state (when not in use), addressing both protection needs and portability requirements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a large rigid carrying case is used to protect golf clubs, then protection from strikes is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in fitting into vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the case into a collapsible mat and a separate cap, the system can be compressed into a small package that easily fits into vehicles. When protection is needed, the mat is deployed and the cap is attached, providing strike protection without the permanent bulk of a traditional rigid case.
Solution Approach 2:
The case uses a flexible mat material that can be folded or rolled into a thin, compact form for easy transport. When deployed, this flexible mat provides a protective surface that, when combined with the rigid cap, offers adequate protection against strikes during golf club transport.
3Ease of operation
If a soft duffel bag is used to carry golf clubs, then ease of operation is improved, but protection reliability deteriorates due to exposure to strikes
Solution Approach 1:
The case combines a flexible mat material with a rigid cap to create a composite protective structure. The flexible mat provides a base layer of protection and conformability, while the rigid cap adds hard protection against strikes, achieving both ease of operation and protection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The case provides beforehand cushioning through the flexible mat layer that absorbs and distributes impact forces, combined with the rigid cap that prevents direct strikes to the golf clubs. This pre-established protective structure ensures reliability while maintaining ease of transport.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus or case for protecting a golf bag or other equipment is provided that includes a protective mat having a skeletal support structure that can be wrapped around the golf bag or other equipment to protect the golf bag or equipment during travel. The apparatus is configured to conveniently fit into a duffel or travel bag for transport, and also to be rolled up into a narrowed, spiral configuration for storage when it is not in use, and may be expandable to adjust in diameter depending on the size of the article encased.