Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Bracket connected to vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-02
2001-05-08
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Bracket connected to vehicle
C224S042400, C224S274000, C224S552000, C224S570000, C206S315300, C206S315700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227427
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a means for releasably securing golf bags to the horizontal support member commonly located on the rear of golf carts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Motorized golf carts are commonly equipped with a low deck area on the back of the cart where golf bags may be placed. A rigid horizontal support member for securing golf bags to the golf cart is commonly provided on the rear of the golf cart. The horizontal support is typically arcuate in shape. Flexible straps for securing golf bags are attached towards the center of the horizontal support. A buckle for securing the straps is located at the distal ends of the support. A buckle of the type commonly used to secure golf bags to golf bag holders is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,234 to Boden. Golf bags are secured to the golf cart by positioning the golf bags adjacent to the horizontal support member and then wrapping a flexible strap around each of the bags. The strap is pulled tight across each of the bags and is secured by the buckle.
Although the flexible strap and buckle means described above does hold golf bags in position while the golf cart is in motion, every time a golf bag is released from the cart, the buckle must be released and the flexible strap unthreaded from the buckle. Similarly, when the golf bag is loaded onto the back of the golf cart, the securing strap must be brought across the golf bag, threaded through the buckle, pulled taut so as to secure the bag in a fixed position, and then the buckle must be closed on the strap. All these steps require some effort on the part of the golfer and take up time. Moreover, a person with limited mobility in his hands and fingers, such as can be caused by arthritis, may be unable to thread the strap through the buckle and then close the buckle on the strap to secure the golf bag.
Various hook means for securing a golf bag to a carrier that is pushed or pulled by the golfer have been considered. U.S. Pat. No. 2,626,815 to Chamberlin, U.S. Pat. No. 2,575,930 to Schwartz, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,679,402 to Sawyer teach rolling golf bag carriers in which the golf bag is secured to the carrier, at least in part, by a hook extending over the upper lip of the golf bag. U.S. Pat. No. 2,405,674 to Schliwa et al. teaches an assembly of adjustable plates and brackets for securing the upper lip of the golf bag to a carrier.
There is a need for a more efficient and effective means of attaching golf bags to motorized golf carts. Although the patents discussed above teach means for attaching a golf bag to a carrier, it is desirable to a have a means for attaching golf bags to motorized golf carts which can be retrofitted and used with original equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The golf bag holder of the present invention, which can be easily retrofitted to the horizontal support member commonly provided on the rear of a motorized golf cart comprises a vertically adjustable J-shaped clamp adapted to be mounted to the horizontal support member. The clamp is provided with a vertical slot for insertion of a bolt. The bolt is inserted through the slot in the clamp, a bore in the horizontal support member that registers with the slot, and then is threadedly engaged with a nut provided with a handle. When a golf bag is placed adjacent to the horizontal support member, the clamp is lowered onto the lip of the golf bag by means of the slot traveling on the bolt. Once properly positioned, the clamp is held in place by tightening the nut on the bolt. To release the bag, the golfer need only loosen the nut on the blot and move the clamp out of the way.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 316779 (1991-05-01), Henrickson et al.
patent: 2405674 (1946-08-01), Schliwa et al.
patent: 2575930 (1951-11-01), Schwartz
patent: 2626815 (1953-01-01), Chamberlin
patent: 2679402 (1954-05-01), Sawyer et al.
patent: 3465993 (1969-09-01), Muehlhausen
patent: 4355746 (1982-10-01), Casady
patent: 4373234 (1983-02-01), Boden
patent: 4768650 (1988-09-01), Chancellor, Jr.
patent: 4944434 (1990-07-01), Hamilton
patent: 5029883 (1991-07-01), Derito
patent: 5123531 (1992-06-01), Beretta
patent: 5127564 (1992-07-01), Romero
patent: 5472251 (1995-12-01), Deininger
patent: 5586674 (1996-12-01), Nachbauer
patent: 5671842 (1997-09-01), Jaworski
patent: 5816462 (1998-10-01), Brantley
patent: WO 97/45311 (1997-12-01), None
Cates Charles E.
Cronin Stephen K.
Dawn Elizabeth A.
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