Abstract:
The golf cart enclosure is a complete structural enclosure that is mounted onto the chassis of a golf cart. The enclosure provides a support frame, a roof, front and rear windshields, sliding side doors and front and rear bibs. The side doors are slidably supported on roller tracks that allow the doors to be easily moved from an open to a closed position on either side of the golf cart. The front and rear windshields may be adjusted to allow a draft of air to enter into the enclosure. The enclosure is made from a lightweight material that protects the interior of the enclosure from undesirable weather conditions. The support frame provides front and rear cross bars that support the roof of the enclosure and improve the stability of the enclosure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to golf cart enclosures and more particularly to a weatherproof golf cart enclosure assembly that is secured to the chassis of an existing golf cart, where the assembly provides a complete enclosure around the golf cart passengers. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Golf carts are often used to transport golfers and their clubs around a golf course. Golf carts may also be used for other functions, but are generally used for transporting passengers and some form of baggage. Typically, a golf cart includes a cabin, having a seating area, which houses the controls of the golf cart. The golf cart usually also provides a roof secured to a frame structure above the passengers. The common golf cart usually has open sides allowing the passengers to easily step in and out of the golf cart. These common golf carts do not provide any protection from weather conditions such as rain, wind and excessive exposure to the sun. Many golf covers exist that may be secured to an existing golf cart frame to protect the passenger cabin of the golf cart. The following patent documents disclose existing golf cart covers as well as vehicle cabin enclosures. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,609 issued on Jul. 24, 1984 to Zinno, C. H. discloses a self-propelled wheelchair vehicle. The wheelchair vehicle includes a frame superstructure that is welded onto the chassis of the vehicle. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,694 issued on Sep. 27, 1988 to Gerber, C. E. discloses a golf cart enclosure that may be secured to an existing golf cart. The enclosure includes a roof panel having a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the roof structure of the golf cart, and a plurality of front, rear and side panels suspended from the roof panel. The roof panel provides a peripheral hem that allows each suspended panel to be folded and rolled upwardly and tucked under the roof panel. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,714 issued on Jun. 12, 1990 to Chance, H. discloses a demountable door for a golf cart. The demountable door provides a slidable clear plastic door that is mounted to either side of a golf cart. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,340 issued on Mar. 2, 1993 to Nuscher, E. H. discloses a golf cart rear roof unit. The roof unit is a canopy assembly that extends rearwardly from the roof of a golf cart to protect the rear baggage area of the golf cart. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,275 issued on Jun. 8, 1993 to Ridge, W. discloses a golf cart cover. The cover provides a flexible enclosure that covers an entire golf cart. The enclosure includes a plurality of panels that are secured to one another by zippers. Individual panels may be rolled up to open certain portions of the panels. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,235 issued on May 10, 1994 to Seymour et al. discloses a golf cart weather shield. The weather shield comprises a waterproof, flexible enclosure that completely surrounds the roof and sides of a golf cart. The enclosure includes a plurality of panels that are sewn together and cover the entire golf cart. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,118 issued on Feb. 28, 1995 to Welborn, R. B. discloses an aluminum framed vinyl enclosure for golf carts. The enclosure provides vinyl swinging doors having aluminum frames that are secured to the existing frame of a golf cart. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,183 issued on Nov. 21, 1995 to Hahn, K. S. discloses a clean air operator enclosure for a commercial sprayer. The operator enclosure includes a frame having four vertical uprights that are secured at their bottom ends to a vehicle chassis. A horizontal cover assembly is secured to the top ends of the vertical uprights. A plurality of glass panels is disposed in the upper portion of the frame, leaving an opening along the lower portion of the frame for improved ventilation. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,018 issued on Nov. 18, 1997 to Simpson, J. A. discloses a protective cover for golf bags on a golf cart. The cover comprises a clear vinyl sheet that is secured to the roof of a golf cart by metal snaps. The cover provides a hook at is bottom end for securing the bottom portion of the cover to the rear of the golf cart to cover the baggage area of the golf cart. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,317 issued on Aug. 4, 1998 to Nation, R. discloses a dual paneled golf cart enclosure. The enclosure comprises a plurality of panels. The panels comprise a combination of vinyl or plastic panels and mesh panels. The panels are secured to an enclosure top panel that is mounted over the existing roof of a golf cart. The panels are suspended from the top panel and cover the front, rear and sides of the golf cart. Depending on the weather conditions some or all of the front, rear and side panels may be rolled up to open the enclosure. The mesh panels allow air to enter into the enclosure while preventing insects from entering the enclosure. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,615 issued on Nov. 2, 1999 to Showalter, J. M. discloses a golf cart enclosure and windshield bracket. The device comprises a bracket that is secured to the windshield frame of a golf cart. The bracket has a rail member for receiving a golf cart enclosure panel and a golf cart windshield. The bracket retains the panel and the windshield adjacent to the golf cart windshield frame. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,134 issued on Dec. 28, 1999 to Weston, A. G. discloses a portable golf cart weather shield system. The system includes a front windshield portion, a rear windshield portion and a golf club compartment cover. The weather shield system is made from a flexible, transparent, waterproof material that may be rolled up for storage. The system is secured to an existing golf cart roof to protect the driver of the cart and the golf clubs in the back of the cart. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,447 issued on Mar. 27, 2001 to Nation, R. F. discloses a golf cart frame enclosure attachment device. The device secures an enclosure to the roof of a golf cart. The device has a sleeve that wraps around the frame of the golf cart roof and is secured by a zipper. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,745 issued on Aug. 21, 2001 to Wilson discloses a golf cart enclosure. The golf cart screen assembly comprises two frame assemblies for attachment to either side of an existing golf cart. The frame assemblies define doorways for receiving doors that slide along a bottom rail of each frame assembly. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,916 issued on Oct. 8, 2002 to Mizuta, F. discloses a utility vehicle. The vehicle is provided with a load carrying platform at a rear portion of the vehicle. A cabin frame is mounted around the driver&#39;s seat on the chassis of the vehicle. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,304 issued on Apr. 15, 2003 to Connor et al. discloses a golf cart cover. The golf cart cover is removably affixed to an attached frame and the existing roof support members of a golf cart. The attached frame comprises an upper frame, door posts and at least one removable door. The door may be stored in two positions on the frame or removed from the frame. 
   United Kingdom Patent Application 2 129 745 published on May 23, 1984 discloses a road vehicle with a removable load bearing superstructure. The load bearing superstructure comprises a frame that is secured to the rear chassis of a vehicle. 
   European Patent Application 0 237 494 published on Sep. 16, 1987 discloses a vehicle superstructure for a camper that may be secured to the chassis of a vehicle. 
   The patent documents listed above describe golf cart covers that may be secured to an existing golf cart frame. None of the above inventions, however, disclose a complete enclosure including a support frame, a roof, front and rear windshields and side doors that may be fitted to the chassis of an existing golf cart. 
   None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a golf cart enclosure solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The golf cart enclosure is a complete, weatherproof enclosure that is mounted onto a golf cart chassis. The enclosure provides an entire passenger cabin including front and rear bibs, a support frame, front and rear windshields, sliding side doors and a roof. The support frame includes two side assemblies made from rectangular, hollow steel tubes and front and rear cross bars connecting the two side assemblies. The roof of the enclosure provides a number of bonded studs in the bottom surface of the roof that mount the roof onto the cross members of the support frame. 
   The front windshield is a sash type windshield having a fixed bottom portion and a slidably adjustable top portion. The top portion of the windshield may be lowered to let in a desired amount of air flow. An adjustable fastener is secured to the top portion of the front windshield to hold the windshield in a desired position. The rear windshield provides a right side portion and a left side portion, that are slidably adjustable. 
   The side doors of the enclosure are slidably mounted to the roof and the support frame. The side doors are top mounted and hang from tracks in the roof of the enclosure. A similar track is disposed along the bottom of the support frame for supporting the side doors. Each side door has a front portion and a rear portion that both slide along the side of the enclosure from an open position to a closed position. 
   Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a complete golf cart enclosure having a support frame, a roof, side doors and windshields. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a complete golf cart enclosure that is easily mounted to any golf cart chassis. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a complete golf cart enclosure that protects the passengers of the golf cart from undesirable weather conditions including rain, wind and sun. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide a complete golf cart enclosure made from light weight, structurally secure materials. 
   It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
   These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a golf cart enclosure according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a partly-exploded, perspective view of the golf cart enclosure. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the golf cart enclosure. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the support frame structure of the golf cart enclosure. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded side view of one of the side frames of the golf cart enclosure. 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the roof of the golf cart enclosure. 
       FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of the golf cart enclosure. 
       FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of the golf cart enclosure according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the golf cart enclosure with the sliding side doors in an open position. 
       FIG. 10  is side view of the golf cart enclosure with the sliding side doors in the closed position. 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of one of the side door receiving tracks of the golf cart enclosure. 
       FIG. 12A  is a rear view of the front windshield in its closed position according to an alternate embodiment of the golf cart enclosure. 
       FIG. 12B  is a rear view of the front windshield in its open position according to an alternate embodiment of the golf cart enclosure. 
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention is a golf cart enclosure that is secured to the chassis of a typical golf cart.  FIG. 1  is an environmental perspective view of the golf cart enclosure  10  mounted in place on a golf cart G. The golf cart enclosure  10  is designed to protect the passenger from undesirable weather conditions such as rain, wind and extreme sun exposure. Because the golf cart G is not limited to being used on a golf course the golf cart enclosure  10  is designed to protect the passengers from weather conditions that may be experienced during any regular transportation in the golf cart G. 
     FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the enclosure  10  separated from the golf cart chassis C. The enclosure  10 , having a front end  12  and a rear end  14 , provides a complete passenger compartment that is mounted onto the chassis C of the golf cart G. The enclosure generally comprises a support frame  20  that defines the structure of the golf cart&#39;s passenger cabin. The enclosure  10  further comprises a roof  70  that is secured to the top of the support frame  20 . A front bib  80 , defining the front hood of the golf cart G, is disposed along the support frame  20  at the front end  12  of the enclosure  10 . A rear bib  110 , which separates the passenger compartment from a rear baggage area, is disposed along the support frame  20  at the rear end  14  of the enclosure  10 . A front windshield  90  is mounted onto the support frame  20  at the front end  12  of the enclosure and a rear windshield  100  is mounted onto the support frame  20  at the rear end  14  of the enclosure  10 . 
     FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the golf cart enclosure  10  depicting each of the individual parts of the enclosure  10  and how they are interconnected. The support frame  20  generally comprises bridged twin lateral frames  20   a  and  20   b , a front cross bar  60  and a rear cross bar  60   a  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). Each of the twin lateral frames  20   a  and  20   b  comprise an angled vertical front member  26 , an angled vertical center member  24  and an angled vertical rear member  22 . A top frame member  28  extends along the top of each of the three vertical frame members  22 ,  24  and  26 . A bottom frame member  29  extends along the bottom of each lateral frame  20   a  and  20   b , connecting the front member  26  to the center member  24 , but does not extend to the rear member  22 . The individual members of the frame  20  are welded together to form the support frame  20 . 
   The enclosure  10  provides a pivoting tire access member  30  having an elongate body with a pivot end  32  and a free end  34 . The pivoting tire access member  30  is disposed along the bottom of each lateral frame  20   a  and  20   b  between the center vertical member  24  and the rear vertical member  22 . The pivot end  32  of the access member  30  is pivotally secured to the bottom portion of the rear vertical member  22 . The free end  34  of the access member  30  is not secured to the frame  20  so that the access member  30  may pivot freely about the pivot end  32 . The access member  30  is movable from a closed access position (as shown in  FIG. 9 ), horizontal along the bottom of the frame  20 , to an open access position (as shown in  FIG. 10 ), vertical along the rear vertical member  22 . When the access member  30  is in the closed position it completes the bottom portion of the frame. When the access member  30  is in the open position, the user of the golf cart G may freely access the rear wheels W of the golf cart G. 
     FIG. 5  is an exploded side view of one of the lateral twin frames  20   a . The lateral twin frames  20   a  and  20   b  are identical and include all of the same elements, therefore discussion of one lateral frame is sufficient. As discussed above, each lateral frame  20   a  and  20   b  comprises a top frame member  28 , a bottom frame member  29 , a front vertical member  26 , a center vertical member  24  and a rear vertical member  22 . The top frame member  28 , the bottom frame member  29  and the front vertical frame member  26  each are made of a single unit. The center vertical member  24 , however, comprises a top portion  24   a  and a bottom portion  24   b . The rear vertical member  22  comprises a top portion  22   a , a middle portion  22   b  and a bottom portion  22   c . Each portion of the rear vertical member  22  and the center vertical member  24  are welded together to form the respective vertical members. The support frame  20  is secured to the chassis C by a plurality of bolts. 
   The front cross bar  60  extends along the front end  12  of the enclosure  10  and connects the front vertical members  26  of the twin lateral frames  20   a  and  20   b . The front cross bar  60  provides a front windshield mount portion  62  and a front roof mount portion  64 . The rear cross bar  60   a  has a generally identical structure to the front cross bar  60 . The rear cross bar extends along the rear end  14  of the enclosure  10  and connects the rear vertical members  22  of the twin lateral frames  20   a  and  20   b . The rear cross bar  60   a  provides a rear windshield mount portion  62   a  and a rear roof mount portion  64   a . The front cross bar  60  and the rear cross bar  60   a  increase the strength and security of the support frame  20 . 
   The roof  70  comprises a generally rectangular main body with a generally flat top surface  72 . The roof  70  also provides a front mounting portion  74  and a pair of rear roof extensions  76 . The front mounting portion  74  is curved so that it hangs over the front cross bar  60 .  FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the roof  70 . The roof  70  provides a plurality of bonded studs  79  disposed along the bottom surface  78  of the roof  70 . The bonded studs  79  secure the roof  70  to the support frame  20 . The bonded studs  79  include a pair of front studs for mounting onto the front cross bar  60  and a pair of rear studs for mounting onto the rear cross bar  60   a.    
   The front bib  80 , which defines the front hood portion of the golf cart G, is disposed along the front end  12  of the enclosure  10 . The front bib  80  is secured to the front vertical member  26  on each of the twin lateral frames  20   a  and  20   b . The front bib  80  comprises a curved front hood portion  84  and a front windshield mounting portion  82  at the top of the front bib  80 . 
   The rear bib  110 , which separates the passenger compartment from the rear baggage area B (shown in  FIG. 7 ), is disposed along the support frame  20  at the rear end  14  of the enclosure  10 . The rear bib  110  is disposed between the twin lateral frames  20   a  and  20   b  and is secured to the rear vertical members  22  of each lateral frame. The rear bib  110  comprises a cart mounting portion  114  that fits over the baggage area B of the golf cart G and a rear windshield mounting portion  112  that is positioned underneath of the rear windshield  100 . 
   The front windshield  90  is mounted onto the support frame  20  at the front end  12  of the enclosure  10 . The front windshield  90  is secured to the front vertical members  26  between the twin lateral frames  20   a  and  20   b . The front windshield  90  is positioned on top of the front bib  80  along the windshield mount portion  82  and below the front cross bar  60 . The front windshield  90  is a sash type window having a top portion  94  and a bottom portion  92 . The bottom portion  92  is fixed. The top portion  94  is slidably adjustable along the front vertical members  26 . The top portion  94  of the windshield  90  may be lowered to allow air to enter into the enclosure  10 . The front windshield  90  further comprises a releasable position securing device  96 . According to certain preferred embodiments of the present enclosure  10 , the securing device  96  comprises a pair of magnets disposed on either side of the front windshield  90  that hold the top portion  94  in place by magnetically attaching themselves to the front vertical members  26 . 
   The rear windshield  100  is mounted onto the support frame  20  at the rear end  14  of the enclosure  10 . The rear windshield  100  is secured to the rear vertical members  22  between the twin lateral frames  20   a  and  20   b . The rear windshield  100  is disposed on top of the rear bib  110  along the rear windshield receiving portion  112  and below the rear cross bar  60   a . The rear windshield  100  comprises a right portion  102  and a left portion  104 . The right portion  102  and the left portion  104  of the rear windshield  100  are laterally adjustable along the rear bib  110 . The right portion  102  and the left portion  104  are free to slide over one another to allow air to enter into the golf cart enclosure  10 . 
   The golf cart enclosure  10  further comprises a side door assembly  50  disposed on each of the twin lateral frames  20   a  and  20   b . The side door assembly  50  comprises a forward side door  52  and a rearward side door  54 . The forward door  52  has a front edge  56  that is shaped to conform to the angled contour of the front vertical member  26 . The rearward door  54  has a rear edge  58  that is shaped to conform to the angled contour of the rear vertical member  22 . A handle  55  is disposed along the forward door  52 . 
   The forward door  52  and the rearward door  54  are slidably disposed along the lateral frames  20   a  and  20   b . The doors  52  and  54  are top mounted and hang from the top of the vehicle.  FIG. 11  depicts a track member  120  that is disposed along the underside of the roof  70 . The track member comprises three tracks  122 ,  124  and  126 . The side doors  52  and  54  each comprise a roller assembly (not shown) that each engage one of the tracks  122 ,  124  or  126 . A triple guide door supporting system is positioned along the bottom frame member  29  of each lateral frame  20   a  and  20   b . The triple guide system is identical to the track member  120  shown in  FIG. 11 . The bottom of the side doors  52  and  54  do not include a roller assembly, the side doors  52  and  54  simply rest on the bottom tracks. 
   The side doors  52  and  54  are slidably adjustable along the lateral frame members  20   a  and  20   b .  FIG. 10  shows the side doors  52  and  54  in the closed position. In the closed position the forward side door  52  is positioned along the front vertical members  26 . The rearward side door  54  is positioned between the center vertical member  24  and the forward side door  52 .  FIG. 9  depicts the sliding side doors  52  and  54  in an open position. In the open position the forward sliding door  52  is first slid rearwardly over the rearward side door  54 , similar to the way sliding doors on a typical shower slide over one another. The forward sliding door  52  and the rearward sliding door  54  are then slid rearwardly until they reach the rear vertical member  22 . Once the side doors  52  and  54  are in the open position the passengers of the golf cart G may enter or exit the enclosure  10 . 
   A protective back panel  40  is disposed along each of the lateral frames  20   a  and  20   b  between the rear vertical frame member  22  and the center vertical frame member  24 . An access opening  42  is disposed underneath of the protective back panel  40  on each side of the enclosure  10 . The access opening  42  provides access to the rear baggage area B. 
     FIG. 9  depicts the wheel access member  30  in a closed position. In the closed position the wheel access member  30  is secured to the bottom frame member  29  by a clamp  36 . In the closed position the wheel access member  30  completes the bottom portion of the frame  20  to support the side doors  52  and  54  when they are in the open position.  FIG. 10  depicts the wheel access member  30  in an open position. In the open position the access member  30  is pivoted upwardly and positioned along the rear vertical frame member  22 . When the access member  30  is in the open position the passenger of the golf cart G has access to the rear wheels. 
     FIG. 8  is a rear view of a golf cart enclosure  200  according to a certain alternate embodiment of the present invention. The enclosure  200  of the present embodiment provides an optional cover  280  for the baggage area B of the golf cart. The cover  280  is secured to the roof  270  of the enclosure  200 . A cover bracket  274  is secured to the rear edge  272  of the roof  270 . The cover bracket  274  is a generally cylindrical hollow rod. The baggage cover  280  has a top edge that is mounted to the roof  270  by the cover bracket  274  and a bottom edge  284  that is positioned adjacent the top surface of the baggage area G. The baggage area cover  280  may be pulled down to cover the contents of the baggage area B during undesirable weather conditions. When the weather conditions are desirable, or when access to the baggage area B is necessary, the cover  280  is rolled up and held in place by the cover bracket  274 . The baggage area cover  280  is preferably made from a flexible, waterproof material. 
     FIGS. 12A and 12B  depict a certain alternate embodiment of the front windshield  390 . According to certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, the front windshield  390  further comprises an adjustment knob  396 . In certain weather conditions, when the front windshield  390  is in the closed position, the front windshield  390  will mist/fog over making it difficult for the driver of the golf cart G to be see. The mist/fog on the front windshield  390  may be prevented by allowing a slight breeze of outside air to enter into the enclosure  300 . The adjustment knob  396  of the present embodiment allows the top portion  394  of the windshield  390  to be lowered two inches to allow a small amount of air to enter into the enclosure  300 . A strap  398  is secured to the bottom surface  378  of the roof  370 . The strap includes a top hole  397  and a bottom hole  395 . The two holes  395  and  397  are adapted to receive the adjustment knob  396 .  FIG. 12A  shows the windshield in the closed position. In the closed position the knob  396  is held in place by the top hole  397  in the strap  398 .  FIG. 12B  shows the windshield in the open position. In the open position the knob  396  is held in place by the bottom hole  395  in the strap  398 . This allows the top portion  394  of the window to be held in a slightly open position providing a two inch gap above the top of the windshield  390 . 
   To prevent the golf cart G from being top heavy and tipping over it is important that the golf cart enclosure  10  be made from light weight materials, while still providing sufficient strength and support. The support frame  20 , and the cross bars  60  and  60   a , are made from rectangular, hollow steel tubes. The rear bib  110  and the roof  70  are each made as one piece fiber glass moldings. The front bib  110  is one piece made from sheet aluminum. The cover bracket  274  is made from extruded aluminum. The panels of the side doors assemblies  50 , the front windshield  90 , the rear windshield  100 , and the rear protective cover  40  are all made from impact resistant polycarbonate. 
   It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.