Land vehicles – Wheeled – Extensible
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-09
2001-10-09
Mar, Michael (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Extensible
C280S062000, C280SDIG006, C280S047340
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299195
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a golf cart.
The use of golf carts is well known in the art and many different types have been proposed and are currently available on the market. Generally, golf carts fall into two distinct categories—those for the rental market and those which are intended to be sold to the individual golfer.
The rental market golf carts are typically purchased by the golf course and rented out to the golfer. Such units typically will have a body portion designed to receive the golf bag and a handle portion which is detachable. For ease of use, the golf course will store the carts in available outside space and retain the handles within, the handles being given to the renter upon payment of the required fee. Thus, the prime consideration for such carts is the removability of the handle.
For the retail market wherein the cart is purchased by the user, the key consideration is the compactness of the cart such that it may be transported by the golfer to the golf course. Typically, such carts have consisted of bi-wheel arrangements which can be readily folded and placed in the trunk of a car.
A well known type of cart, both for retail and rental markets, consists of a two-wheel golf cart which is generally designed to be pulled behind the golfer. While it can be pushed ahead of the golfer, such an arrangement is somewhat awkward and as a result, the golfer will normally walk with one arm extended rearwardly pulling the two wheeled cart. Some golfers have noted that this arrangement leaves them somewhat fatigued at the end of a round of golf and in particular, sore shoulders have been encountered. Pushing a golf cart, on the other hand, generally requires that more body muscles be used and therefore the work is spread over a larger muscle mass and the golfer will suffer less fatigue.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf cart which may be pushed by the golfer and which provides a stable platform for a golf bag.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a three-wheeled golf cart which may be folded to a compact position for transport by the golfer.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a three-wheeled golf cart which may be used as a rental cart and which may be quickly and efficiently stored.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a golf cart for receiving and supporting a golf bag, the golf cart comprising a lower frame having a front end and a rear end; a front wheel mounted at the front end of the lower frame; first and second rear wheels mounted at opposite sides of the lower frame proximate the rear end of the lower frame; an upper frame extending upwardly from the lower frame adjacent the rear end of the lower frame, means for hingedly securing the upper frame to the lower frame, the upper frame forming an angle with respect to a generally horizontal plane of the lower frame of less than 90 degrees; a bag receiving cradle extending rearwardly of the upper frame from an upper end thereof to receive and support an upper portion of the golf bag; and handle means, the handle means including means for securing the handle to the upper frame.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a golf cart for receiving and supporting a golf bag, the golf cart comprising a lower frame having a front end and a rear end; a front wheel mounted at the front end of the lower frame; first and second rear wheels mounted at opposite sides of the lower frame proximate the rear end of the lower frame; an upper frame extending upwardly from the lower frame adjacent the rear end of the lower frame, the upper frame being hingedly secured to the lower frame; a generally U-shaped bag receiving cradle extending rearwardly of the upper frame to receive and support an upper portion of the golf bag; retaining means for retaining the upper frame in a generally vertical orientation, the upper frame folding downwardly to lie adjacent the lower frame such that the generally U-shaped bag receiving cradle extends about the front wheel when in a folded position.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a golf cart storage arrangement comprising a storage rack and a plurality of golf carts, the storage rack having a longitudinally extending storage rack base; a plurality of aligned stop means spaced along the longitudinally extending storage rack base; an upwardly extending storage rack support member; a plurality of the golf carts mounted on the storage rack, each golf cart having a lower frame with a front end and a rear end, a front wheel mounted at the front end of the lower frame, first and second rear wheels mounted at opposite sides of the lower frame proximate the rear end of the lower frame, an upper frame extending upwardly from the lower frame adjacent the rear end of the lower frame, means for hingedly securing the upper frame to the lower frame such that the upper frame in a storage position lies in a generally co-planar relationship with the lower frame, and a bag receiving cradle extending rearwardly of the upper frame from an upper end thereof to receive and support an upper portion of the golf bag; the golf carts being stored on the storage rack while in a storage position such that the first and second rear wheels are mounted on opposite sides of the longitudinally extending member, and the front wheel is supported by the upwardly extending storage rack support member, the lower frame and the folded upper frame lying at an angle with respect to a vertical plane and being prevented from movement by action of a stop member on the frame.
In greater detail, the golf cart is one which is both suitable for both the rental market and for the retail market—one wherein the golfer buys the cart and transports it to and from the golf course.
Particularly in the embodiment wherein the cart is designed for transport back and forth to the golf course, both the front wheel and rear wheel are preferably attached by means of a quick release or quick dismount connection. Several such connections are known to those skilled in the art and are used on other wheeled vehicles such as bicycles and the like.
As will be appreciated, a three wheeled golf cart can roll at any moment when on an incline and therefore the golf cart preferably includes a brake member. Many known brake members exist and generally, the brake member is preferably mounted on the upper frame proximate one of the rear wheels. The brake member will include a wheel contacting member moveable into and out of a contacting position with the wheel. To do so, there may be provided a handle which may be operated by either the hand or foot of the user.
The golf cart, as aforementioned, includes a bag receiving cradle which extends rearwardly from the upper frame. In a preferred embodiment, the rearwardly extending cradle is formed integrally with the upper frame as a tubular member which is bent into the desired configuration. As such, the rearwardly extending cradle may have a somewhat U-shaped configuration with a rear portion and a pair of side arms designed to engage the upper portion of a golf bag. In such an embodiment, preferably the side arms (and optionally the rear portion) will include padding to cushion the golf bag.
The lower frame may be formed in many different configurations. In one particular embodiment, there is provided a first lower frame member which extends from proximate the first rear wheel to proximate a first side of the front wheel with a second lower frame member extending from proximate the second rear wheel to proximate the second side of the front wheel, and with a plurality of transverse lower frame members extending between the first and second lower frame members. In this embodiment, one or more of the transversely extending frame members may be adapted to receive and support a bottom end of the golf bag. For this purpose, the transverse lower frame member may be configured to support and retain the golf bag a
Fincham Eric
Mar Michael
LandOfFree
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