Abstract:
The present invention is an electrically driven cart. The cart allows one person to do the job of many. The cart features silent running, exceptional power on demand and ergonomical design. The applications for the present invention uses are limitless. They do include big game hauler, farming applications, vendor uses, outdoor uses, indoor uses and many others. The electrically driven cart features variable speed control for either hand, remote speed control, winch, wheel lockouts, front and rear lighting, charge indicator, convenient control panel and a detachedly mounted pneumatic tire. The cart is light weight and can easily be handled by one person in any of the arenas mentioned prior.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Electric drive carts are not new to the art. However, an electric drive cart that has the attributes of the present invention does not exist. The present invention is compact, powerful, electrically driven game cart. The cart was originally developed to retrieve big game animals from the roughest of terrains. The low center of gravity permits the cart to remain stable even when used at a heavy incline. This anti roller feature allows the cart to traverse large rocks and logs while fully loaded. The support frame, axel position and handle bars are positioned so the load is easily balance allowing the user to move large objects with very little effort. This makes remote retrieval possible for any user. 
     The powerful motor operates the drive train with virtually unstoppable power, but is compact enough to store in the box of a pickup truck. 
     The present device allows a lone individual the ability to remove large big game animals by themselves, while quietly, odorlessly and effortlessly walking through the terrain. 
     The uses to the cart are limitless; one use is to haul hunting or camping gear. It is used for hauling bait, hunting stands and firewood. It also has unlimited uses around a farm. The device is safe for indoor operation for such projects as moving, construction and any other use of an indoor application as well as outdoor. 
     Other embodiments include a remote for the winch, a hitch attachment for ATV&#39;s, a pulley system to use with the winch for loading, dumping capabilities and tire chains. 
     The applicant recognizes that the follow prior art is available but not relevant to the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 7,886,853 issued to Konopa on Feb. 15, 2011, entitled “Motorized hand cart for lifting and moving large heavy objects”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,758 issued to Mechulam on Feb. 7, 1984, entitled “Motorized cart”, U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,328 issued to Campbell et. al. on May 16, 2000, entitled “Electric handcart”, United States Patent issued to Yamano on Oct. 12, 2010, entitled “Traveling device”, U.S. Pat. No. 7,210,545 issued to Waid on May 1, 2007, entitled “Motorized beach cart”, U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,477 issued on Jun. 4, 2002, entitled “Electric hand truck”, U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,635 issued to Watts on Feb. 10, 2004, entitled “Multi-purpose deer hunting cart”. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an electrical drive cart. The cart comprises a support frame that has a long axis. The support frame is comprised of two essentially parallel, spaced apart side members forming the long axis. The frame also includes a front cross member, a back cross member and at least two additional cross members located between the front cross member and the back cross member. There is also a center cross member essentially located on the long axis and essentially equally spaced apart from the side members. 
     The support frame has at least two wheel fender support frames and a wheel fender mounted on each wheel fender support frame. 
     The support frame of the invention also has surmounted upon it a wheel axle. This wheel axle has two opposing ends with a hub drive assembly mounted on each end of the wheel axle. The hub drive assembly has locking wheel hub capabilities. 
     The support frame of this invention has a mounting tower mounted near the front cross member and it has a top end. This top end has a pulley to guide a cable mounted on the mounting tower near the top end. 
     The cart has a winch mounted on the support frame near the front member. The cart has a tow plate mounted on the front cross member. 
     The cart carries at least one battery, each battery is housed in a battery frame. The battery frame is attached to the support frame. 
     The cart is electrically driven with a drive assembly comprised of a drive plate mounted on the support frame that has a position-adjustable variable speed drive motor mounted on the drive plate. The drive motor has a drive axle and attached to the drive axle is a chain sprocket. Upon the drive sprocket is a drive chain that connects the drive chain to the hub drive assembly. 
     There are also present at least one control handle mounted on a speed control throttle. The speed control that is mounted on a speed control bracket is mounted to the handle bar support. The speed control is electrically connected to at least one direct current controller and at least one the batteries. 
     There is a freewheeling lockout hub mounted to the drive axle to drive the winch. 
     The cart also has at least two handle bars; each handle bar is rotatable with respect to a forward and backward motion. Each of the handle bars is rotatably affixed to the support frame by use of a handle bar plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows the support frame from the top. 
         FIG. 2  shows the support frame from the side. 
         FIG. 3  shows the wheel for the electric cart. 
         FIG. 4  shows the wheel lockout assembly. 
         FIG. 5   a  shows the hub drive assembly. 
         FIG. 5   b  shows the hub drive assembly. 
         FIG. 6  shows the mounted axle and the hub drive assembly. 
         FIG. 7  shows the winch tower. 
         FIG. 8  shows the winch tower support from the front. 
         FIG. 9  shows the winch tower support from the side. 
         FIG. 10  is the drive plate from the top. 
         FIG. 11  is the motor mount from the top. 
         FIG. 12  shows the winch and its control. 
         FIG. 13  shows a handle bar plate. 
         FIG. 14  shows a handle bar. 
         FIG. 15  shows speed or throttle control bracket. 
         FIG. 16A  shows a speed or throttle control handle. 
         FIG. 16B  shows a speed or throttle control handle. 
         FIG. 17  shows the near end of the support frame with the control panel. 
         FIG. 18  shows the distal end of the electrically driven cart. 
         FIG. 19  shows the battery charger. 
         FIG. 20  shows the power converter. 
         FIG. 21  is an electrical schematic of the electrically driven cart. 
         FIG. 22  is an electrical schematic of the electrically driven cart. 
         FIG. 23  is an electrical schematic of the electrically driven cart. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows the support frame  4  of the electric drive cart  2  from the top. The support frame  4  consists of two side members  6  and  8 . The first side member  6  and the second side member  8  are joined by the front cross member  10  at the support frame  4  near end  94 . The first side member  6  and the second side member  8  are joined by the back cross member  12  at the support frame  4  distal end  96 . The first side member  6  and the second side member  8  are joined by at least three more cross member supports. The first cross member  14  joins both side members  6  and  8  near the near end  94 . The second cross member  16  joins both of the side members  6  and  8  near the distal end  96  for the support frame  4 . There is also an additional cross member  15  that joins both the first and second side members  6  and  8  near the mid section  132  of the support frame  4 . The center cross member  18  runs length wise from the near end  94  to the distal end  96  adding additional support. Other embodiments have more than one of the cross members&#39;  18  running length wise. 
     The first side member  6  has a first fender support  20  attached to it beginning at the mid section  132  and running to near the distal end  96 . The second side member  8  has a second fender support  22  attached to it beginning at the mid section  132  and running to the distal end  96 . Each fender support  20  and  22  has two braces  134  that support each fender  24  and  26 . 
     Under the second cross member  16  is the axle  28  that runs from the first wheel  30  to the second wheel  32 . The axle  28  is affixed to the support frame  4 , which is explained in greater detail further within the specification. Each of the wheels  30  and  32  has a hub  34  and  36  that the axle  28  runs through. The axle  28  has a near end  38  and a distal end  40 . Both the near end  38  and the distal end  40  of the axle  28  have a hub lockout assembly  42 . The hub lockout assembly  42  engages the hub  34  and or  36  to drive the electric cart  2 . The hub lockout assembly  42  and the drive aspects will be discussed further in the appropriate figures. 
     The electric cart  2  can also be equipped with a winch  52 , not shown, the winch  52  runs from the drive mechanism  60  and will also be discussed further. 
       FIG. 2  shows the support frame  4  from the side. This shows the first side member  6 . Each side member  6  and  8  has an upper member  136  and a lower member  138 . At this point it is assumed that each side member  6  and  8  are identical in regard to their structural aspects. Also visible in this figure is the distal end plate  144  at the distal end  96  of the side member  6 . Mounted to the near end  94  is the tow plate  54 . The tow plate  54  is important because there are other embodiments that originate from the tow plate  54  that will come into play later. 
       FIG. 3  shows the wheel  30  for the electric cart  2 . Also visible is the axle near end  38 , wheel hub  34  and axle  28 . There is also one of many openings  110  in the locking hub. Here there is one opening  110  where in actuality there are at least eight. These openings  110  allow the hub to be locked and drive the wheel  30 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the hub lockout assembly  42 . This aspect of the present invention is one discovery that gives the invention a greater utility over the prior art. The hub lockout assembly  42  slides over the axle  28  at its near end  38 . The hub drive assembly  106  is on the back side of the hub lockout assembly  42 . The first wheel hub  34  has a drive locking pin  98 . The drive locking pin  98  is in a housing  102  that is spring bias by a bias spring  104 . When the drive locking pin  98  is not engaged the wheel  30  moves freely. When the drive locking pin  98  is engaged it will pass through the opening  110  locking the hub lockout assembly  42  to the hub drive assembly  106  and therefore directly to the axle  28 . When the axle  28  is being driven by the electric motor  64  it will drive the electrically driven cart  2 . Each side of the electric driven cart  2  has a hub lock out assembly  42 . Therefore one hub lockout assembly  42  can be engaged while the other is not. Also both can be locked in giving a direct drive from both wheels  30  and  32 . The other alternative is that neither of the hub lockout assemblies  42  is engaged and the wheels  30  and  32  spin freely. Designation  108  is an axle nut and designation  100  is a drive locking pin knob. 
       FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  shows the hub drive assembly  106 . Again this component is attached directly to axle  28 . Here the multiple openings  110  are visible. The drive locking pin  98  can easily lock into the nearest opening  110  when it is engaged. The hub drive assembly would function in the same manner even if there was only one opening  110 . It is just faster to have multiple openings  110  for the engagement of the drive locking pin  98 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the mounted axle  28  and the hub drive assemblies  106 . The axle  28  is mounted to plates  146 . There are two of these plates  146  with the attachment being on the bottom of the plate  146  which is not visible. The axle  28  has a near end  38  and a distal end  40 . Near each of the ends of  38  and  40  there is a hub drive assembly  106  attached to the axle  28 . Also visible are the battery supports  56  and  58 . These supports  56  and  58  have the capacity to each carry one battery. The battery supports  56  and  58  have the ability to have the battery slide out at the rear of each support  56  and  58 . The batteries are secured in place by a restraint, typically a bungee strap. 
       FIG. 7  shows the winch tower  44 . In  FIG. 2  we discussed the tow plate  54  and that it has multiple functions. One of those functions is to support a winch tower  44 . The winch tower  44  is attached to the tow plate  54  and is upright away from the support frame  4  of the electrically drive cart  2 . The winch tower  44  has a top end  46 . This top end  46  supports a pulley  48  and in other embodiments supports multiple pulleys  48 . The tow plate  54  has a bracket  148  that support the winch tower  44  that is quickly detachable. 
     Also quickly detachable from the tow plate  54  is a pneumatic tire  184 , discussed later. 
       FIG. 8  shows the winch tower  44  bracket  148  from the front. Visible here at the near end  94  of the support frame  4  is the Reese hitch  112 . This is another aspect of the tow plate  54 . The Reese hitch  112  allows the electrically driven cart  2  to be towed by a vehicle, preferable an ATV. The tow plate  54  also has the winch tower  44  bracket  148  where the winch tower  44  is attached by a pin  150 . Visible at the top end  46  is the pulley  48 . This pulley  48  supports the cable  50 . The cable  50  is stored in the winch  52 . This cable runs from the winch  52  through a bronze guide bushing  196 , not shown, guiding the cable  50  to the pulley  48  and terminates in this embodiment with a D snap ring  198 . 
       FIG. 9  shows the winch tower  44  bracket  148  from the side. The near end  94  of the support frame  4  has the tow plate  54  attached to it. The bracket  148  supports the winch tower  44  by a pin  150  attachment. 
       FIG. 10  is the drive plate  62  from the top. The drive plate  62  is mounted on the support frame  4 . The drive plate  62  supports the drive assembly  60 , not shown. 
       FIG. 11  is the motor mount plate  92  from the top. The motor mount plate  92  has a near end  114  and a distal end  116 . This motor mount plate  92  is mounted to the support frame  4  with the near end  114  facing the near end  94  of the support frame  4 . The motor mounting plate  92  has a series of elongated openings  118 . The motor  64  is mounted to the motor mounting plate  92  in an adjustable manner. The elongated slots or openings  118  allow the motor  64  to slide and taking slack out of the drive chain  70 , not shown. The adjustment feature also allows for the drive chain  70  to be loosened allowing for maintenance. 
       FIG. 12  shows the winch  52  and its control. The winch  52  is slidably mounted to the axle  28 . There is a winch locking handle  152  that has three positions of locking, not shown here. The winch control handle  152  is attached to winch control shifter  122  which controls the actual movement of the winch  52  with regard to its position on the axle  28 . In this figure the winch  52  is locked out and is inoperable. The second position is a neutral position where the winch  52  is unlocked but not engaged. On the axle  28  is a winch driver  120  that is affixed to the axle  28 . In the third position the winch  52  engages or meshes with the winch drive  120  and locks into position engaging the winch  52 . Generally this is done with the wheels  30  and  32  unlocked. The drive is energized thus rotating the winch  52  and drawing the winch cable  50  around the winch  52 . If the throttle is ran in reverse the winch cable  50  is drawn out. Also visible are the winch bearings  124  and bronze bushings  126 . 
     The winch  52  and its operation is also key to the utility of the invention in that it has been discovered that the electrically driven cart  2  can be operated in the steepest of terrain by simply drawing the winch cable  50  out a significant distance, then securing it around a structure such as a tree. With the wheels  30  and  32  unlocked the operator can simply draw the winch  50  in and pull the electrically driven cart  2  up the incline loaded without any guidance from the user except throttle control and minor steering. 
       FIG. 13  shows a handle bar plate  84 . There are two handle bar supports  84  and  86 , both being identical the applicant will disclose the first handle bar plate  84  with the understanding that the other or second handle bar plate  86  is identical and is attached to the opposite side or second side member  8 . With that said the first handle bar plate  84  attaches to the distal end  96  of the support frame  4 . The handle bar plate  84  has multiple openings therethrough  154  for adjusting the handle bars  88  and  90  to height of the operator. The handle bar plate  84  is attached to the distal end  160  with the handle bars  88  and  90  being attached with a pin  156  giving the quick adjustable capabilities. 
       FIG. 14  shows a handle bar  88 . There are two handle bar  88  and  90 , both being identical the applicant will disclose the first handle bar with the understanding that the other or second handle bar  90  is identical and is attached to the opposite side or second side member  8 . The handle bar  88  has a near end  158  and a distal end  160 . The near end  158  attaches to the distal end  96  of the electrically driven cart  2 . The distal end  160  of the handle bar  88  is where the throttle control bracket  80  is mounted. 
       FIG. 15  shows throttle control bracket  80 . The throttle control bracket  80  has the throttle control  74  is attached to it. The first handle bar  88  and the second handle bar  90  are identical. So each of the handle bars  88  and  90  are mounted and equipped in the same manner. 
       FIG. 16  shows the speed control or throttle control handles  74  and  76 . Each of the throttle controls  74  and  76  are identical as is their attachment. The first throttle control  74  is attached to the distal end  160  of the handle bar  88 . Each of the throttle controls  74  and  76  is wired to the power source or batteries  164 ,  166  and the motor  64  to energize the drive assembly  60  to operate the winch  52  and drive the wheels  30  and  32 . 
       FIG. 17  shows the near end  94  of the support frame  4  with the control panel  168 . The control panel  168  has the on/off power switch  170 , the light on/off switch  172 , battery charge indicator  174 , tow plate  54 , winch forward and reverse switch  176 , the remote control power point  178 , rear LED light  180  and the high/low speed switch  182 . Also visible are the handle bar plates  84  and  86 . The openings therethrough  154  with the pins  156  are also clear as well as the first handle bar  88  and the second handle bar  90 . 
     This embodiment has a pneumatic tire  184  detachably mounted by the pin  186  to the tow plate  54 . 
       FIG. 18  shows the distal end  96  of the electrically driven cart  2 . Shown here is the front LED light  188  and the recharge outlet  190 . Also visible here are the first fender  24  and second fender  26 , with three center cross members  18 . This also shows the first battery  164  and the second battery  166  as well as the battery charger  192 . 
       FIG. 19  shows the battery charger  192  close up. 
       FIG. 20  shows the power converter  194  of the invention close up. 
       FIG. 21  is an electrical schematic of the electrically driven cart. 
       FIG. 22  is an electrical schematic of the electrically driven cart. 
       FIG. 23  is an electrical schematic of the electrically driven cart. 
     Another embodiment includes different sized and configured poly binds that are mounted to the cart.