Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Door or window with specified vehicle feature
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-18
2001-08-21
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Door or window with specified vehicle feature
C296S147000, C280SDIG005, C049S426000, C049S449000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276745
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a golf cart screen assembly and a golf cart enclosure assembly.
BACKGROUND ART
A golf cart, also commonly known as a golf buggy, is a vehicle for carrying one or more persons and their equipment around a golf course. Typically, a golf cart comprises a cabin area, which includes one or more seats and controls for operating the golf cart, and an equipment storage area which is usually located rearwardly of the cabin area—typically behind the seats.
In most cases, a conventional golf cart also comprises a roof for the cabin area, the roof being supported by a frame connected to the body of the cart. It is also common for a golf cart to include a front windshield or windscreen.
However, such conventional apparatus leave the occupant(s) of the cabin area exposed to the external environment and in particular to inclement weather and insects.
To overcome this problem, it is known to provide a flexible cover or covers, typically made from polyvinylchloride (PVC), which is connectable to the golf cart to shield the cabin occupants from the environment. Zip fasteners, or similar fasteners, are usually provided to allow access to the cabin area but this is considered to be inconvenient for the cabin occupants.
It is also known for a golf cart to have a body which fully encloses the cabin area—similar to that of a conventional car—and has a hinged door at either side. However, such constructions are relatively expensive to manufacture and suffer from a further disadvantage that the doors cannot readily be left open during use. This results in the cabin area becoming unpleasantly hot for the occupants during warm weather.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides
A golf cart screen assembly comprising first and second mutually spaced apart rail members; at least one protective panel member provided between the first and second rail members, the at least one panel member and the first and second rail members together defining a doorway; and a door slideably coupled between the first and second rail members and arranged for slideable movement between an open state, in which the doorway is open; and a closed state, in which the doorway is closed.
Preferably, two spaced apart panel members are provided between the first and second rail members, the doorway being defined between the panel members.
Preferably, the doorway is substantially rhomboid in shape.
Preferably, the door is coupled to at least one of the first and second rail members by a roller and roller guide assembly.
Preferably, the door is coupled to at least one of the first and second rail members by a runner and runner guide assembly.
Preferably, at least one of the rail members carries a clamping mechanism arranged for releasably clamping the golf cart screen assembly to a golf cart.
Preferably, the screen assembly is provided with a lock mechanism which comprises a bolt member and a bolt retaining member, one of said bolt member and bolt retaining member being provided on the door, the other being provided on one of the first and second rail members and being arranged for mutual interengagement to lock the door in a predetermined position with respect to the said one of the rail members.
More preferably, the bolt member is resiliently biased to engage with the bolt retaining member.
Preferably, the bolt retaining member comprises a tapered projection defining a cam surface which prevents relative movement between the bolt member and the bolt retaining member in one direction along the rail member.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided two golf cart screen assemblies as claimed in any preceding claim, each screen assembly being adapted for connection to a golf cart and arranged so that, when so connected, the screen assemblies serve to shield the cabin area of the golf cart from the external environment.
Preferably, further includes a rear protective panel member arranged between the two screen assemblies and, in use, located rearwardly of the golf cart cabin area.
Preferably, further includes a hood member arranged between the two screen assemblies to project over the equipment storage area of the golf cart.
More preferably, the hood member is pivotably coupled between the screen assemblies and arranged for pivotable movement between an in-use state, in which the hood member projects over the rear storage area, and a non-use state, in which the hood member is seated on the roof of the golf cart.
Further preferably, resilient biasing means are provided between the hood member and at least one of the screen assemblies, the resilient biasing means being arranged to retain the hood member in whichever of the use or non-use states it adopts.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4932714 (1990-06-01), Chance
patent: 5190340 (1993-03-01), Nuscher
patent: 5393118 (1995-02-01), Welborn
patent: 5688018 (1997-11-01), Simpson
patent: 2201197 (1974-04-01), None
Kanesaka & Takeuchi
Pape Joseph D.
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