Patent ID: 7048283
Filing Date: 2006-05-23
Classification: B62B,B62D,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A folding mechanism for a front wheel of a golf cart, comprising a locating block secured to a lower end of a main support rod of a golf cart; the locating block having a transverse pivotal hole extending from a left side to a right side, and two transverse through holes on two sides of, and equidistant to, the pivotal hole thereof; a support member whose front end has a front wheel of the golf cart supported on; the support member having two spaced apart connecting portions projecting rearwards; each of the connecting portions having a transverse pivotal hole adjacent to, and aligned with the pivotal hole of the locating block; each of the connecting portions having two transverse through holes on two sides of, and equidistant to, the pivotal hole thereof; left and right engaging elements movably fitted on respective ones of outward lateral sides of the connecting portions of the support member for releaseably securing the support member to the locating block; each of the left and the right engaging elements having a pivotal hole aligned with the pivotal holes of the connecting portions of the support member; each of the engaging elements having two posts passed into respective ones of the through holes of the connecting portions; a connecting pivotal rod passed through the pivotal holes of the engaging elements, the locating block, and the connecting portions; the pivotal rod having a first end projecting from the left engaging element, and being screwed to a nut at a second threaded end; and a control lever pivoted to the first end of the pivotal rod at a pivotal portion thereof; the control lever having a concavely curved portion and a projection portion, both of which are adjacent to the pivotal portion, and face opposite directions; a distance between the projection portion and the pivotal portion is longer than a distance between the concavely curved portion and the pivotal portion; whereby as soon as the control lever is pivoted to such position as to contact the left engaging element at the concave portion, the posts of the engaging elements will be outside the respective ones of the through holes of the locating block to disengage the locating block, thus allowing the support member to be angularly displaced relative to the locating block from a forwards stretched position to a rearwards folded position, and from the rearwards folded position to the forwards stretched position; and whereby as soon as the control lever is pivoted to such position as to contact the left engaging element at the projection portion thereof after the support member has been pivoted to one of the stretched and the folded positions, the engaging elements will engage the locating block with the posts thereof being passed into the through holes of the locating block, thus securing the support member to the locating block.