Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-25
2001-10-16
Vanaman, Frank (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280SDIG005, C296S096110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302440
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to debris screening devices and, more particularly, to a removable, diaphanous screen assembly and attachment provision for golf carts and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Golf is a recreational activity enjoyed by millions of people around the world. Golf is an outdoor activity and involves moving around on cut grass fields. Many golf courses are located in areas with moderate to warm average temperatures and often have trees and ponds as part of the landscaping. Golfers enjoy being outdoors and being exposed to the sun and pleasant weather conditions.
Golf requires the use of a set of golf clubs and other accouterments that in aggregate are fairly heavy. To avoid the burden of carrying the club set and other accessories around by hand, many golfers use small wheeled vehicles called golf carts to carry themselves and their equipment around the golf course. The use of a golf cart also opens up the pleasures of golf to individuals who might not otherwise be capable of walking around the golf course and carrying their equipment because of physical infirmity or advancing age.
As the vehicles are driven outdoors in varying weather conditions, the vehicle and occupants are exposed to potentially inclement weather. The vehicle and occupants are also exposed to any ambient wind that may exist as well as the relative air motion induced when the vehicle is underway. The vehicle and occupants are also exposed to flying insects, falling leaves, and other airborne debris. These insects and other debris are a constant irritant and could enter the occupants' mouths or impact and injure their eyes. In addition, the distraction to the driver from unimpeded airborne objects could result in an accident.
In order to protect the occupants from wind and weather intrusion and airborne debris while in motion, a typical golf cart is fitted with a windshield assembly. This windshield is typically a glass or transparent plastic assembly placed in front of the passenger compartment. The windshield typically extends the full width and height of the forward side of the passenger compartment, providing total coverage for the driver and any passengers. The windshield assembly is hinged at the bottom to allow the user to fold the windshield forward. This allows the users to lower the windshield and feel the wind in their face as they drive the cart.
However, this type of windshield has several drawbacks. With the typical windshield assembly the user has two options for use: fold the screen completely forward or fold it up and secure it. The drawback to using a golf cart with the windshield folded forward is that, while permitting unrestricted airflow, such use offers the driver and passenger no protection from flying debris or insects. The drawback to using the golf cart with the windshield in the upright position is that, while shielding the occupants from wind, weather, and debris intrusion, the windshield blocks all airflow from the forward direction. While safer, the golfers' pleasurable experience of feeling the breeze as they drive is precluded with the windshield in the upright position. While there may have been some attempt to form windshield devices that allow some airflow through while inhibiting entry of particulates and insects, these devices have generally been relatively ineffective and obtrusive in appearance.
Hence, there is a need for a golf cart screen that both permits air to flow through to thereby cool the occupants while still keeping bugs and particles away from the occupants' faces. To this end, there is a need for an easily retrofitted assembly that can accomplish these objectives which can be installed in a simple manner that does not affect the overall appearance of the golf cart or inhibit proper operation of the existing windshield.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforementioned needs are satisfied by the golf cart screen of the present invention which, in a first aspect, is an assembly for preventing particles and insects from entering the occupant compartment of a golf cart having a front windshield which defines a windshield area. The assembly comprises a frame having a first and a second side member and a top and a bottom member. The top and the bottom members interconnect the first and second side members such that the first and second side members and the top and bottom member together define an opening. The assembly also comprises a screen having a plurality of openings formed therein wherein the screen is attached to the frame so as to extend across the opening. The plurality of openings in the screen are sized so as to permit air to flow therethrough while preventing particles and insects from travelling through the opening in the frame. The assembly also includes an attachment mechanism connected to the frame so as to permit the frame to be mounted adjacent the wind shield of the golf cart to thereby inhibit particles and insects from travelling through the wind shield area of the golf cart into the faces of the occupants of the golf cart.
In one embodiment, the screen attaches to the golf cart by first adhering one or more strips of hook and loop fastener to the screen frame and adjacent the windshield area of the golf cart. The screen assembly is then placed adjacent the windshield area of the golf cart such that corresponding strips of the hook and loop fastener mate together. The screen assembly is removed from the golf cart by grasping the frame and pulling. The screen assembly can be sized and positioned so as to shield the occupants' faces from object intrusion, yet still allow some unimpeded airflow around the periphery of the screen.
It will be appreciated that the golf cart screen effectively protects the occupants from insect and debris intrusion while allowing a comfortable flow of air to reach the occupants. The golf cart screen provides for convenient attachment to and removal from the golf cart, through the use of readily available and easily used hook and loop fastener. The screen may be readily retrofitted to existing golf carts and does not require elaborate tools or techniques for installation. The screen minimally impacts the overall appearance of the golf cart, because of its slim profile and integration into the existing frame of a golf cart. The screen can be mounted to the interior of the window frame posts such that the screen does not interfere with the normal use of the windshield, as the existing windshield may still be placed in either of its normal use positions. These and other objects and advantages will become more fully apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 5688018 (1997-11-01), Simpson
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patent: 2614268 (1988-10-01), None
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Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Vanaman Frank
LandOfFree
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