Abstract:
A wind screen for a golf cart. The wind screen is comprised of a frame which defines an opening and screen material is attached to the frame so as to fill the opening. The screen material is selected so as to allow air to travel therethrough while inhibiting the passage of bugs, dust and debris. The wind screen is adapted to be positioned adjacent a windshield of the golf cart such that the passengers in the golf cart can be cooled by air travelling through the wind screen but not have dirt, debris or insects hitting the passengers in the face. In one embodiment, the wind screen is attached to the golf cart through the use of hook and loop fastener material.

Description:
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&#39; 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&#39; 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&#39; 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&#39; 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. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A shows a typical installation of the golf cart screen of the preferred embodiment on a golf cart; 
     FIG. 1B shows a close up view of the attachment of the golf cart screen of FIG. 1 to a golf cart and, in particular, how the golf cart screen is mounted in relation to the canopy frame of the cart; 
     FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the assembled golf cart screen of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3A shows a top or front view of the assembled golf cart screen of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3B shows a side or edge-on view of the golf cart screen of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 4 shows a close up perspective view of the manner of the preferred embodiment in which the golf cart screen of FIG. 1 attaches to the golf cart. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. Referring to FIG. 1A, a golf cart  100  is shown in a perspective view. 
     The golf cart  100  is a typical prior art wheeled, powered vehicle that allows golfers to travel about a golf course without walking. In particular, the golf cart  100  includes a body  101  that houses a motor (not shown). The body  101  is attached to wheels  103  to permit rolling motion of the golf cart  100  over the ground. The golf cart  100  also defines a passenger area  105  which is shaded by a canopy assembly  107 . The front face  109  of the canopy assembly  107  defines a windshield area  102  through which air can flow into the passenger compartment  105  during movement of the golf cart  100 . 
     The golf cart  100  comprises a left canopy upright  104  that interconnects the body  101  of the golf cart  100  to the canopy assembly  107 . The left canopy upright  104  is located in the windshield area  102  and is generally rectangular in shape and is formed from closed metal channel that is generally square in cross-section. The left canopy upright  104  serves as a mounting surface for the wind screen of the preferred embodiment as will be described in greater detail below. 
     The golf cart  100  also comprises a right canopy upright  106  that interconnects the body  101  of the golf cart  100  to the canopy assembly  107  in the windshield area  102 . The right canopy upright  106  is also located in the windshield area  102  and is generally rectangular in shape and is formed from a closed metal channel that is generally square in cross-section. The right canopy upright  106  also serves as a mounting surface for the wind screen of the preferred embodiment as described in greater detail below. 
     The left canopy upright  104  and the right canopy upright  106  together define the outer lateral edges of the windshield area  102 . The windshield area  102  is, in this embodiment, an opening that is rectangular in shape and is defined by the interstitial space between the left canopy upright  104  and the right canopy upright  106 , the golf cart body  101  and the canopy assembly  107 . The windshield area  102  defines the area of the golf cart  100  into which the golf cart screen  120  of the preferred embodiment is fitted. 
     The golf cart  100  also comprises a hinged windshield  114 . The hinged windshield  114  is rectangular in shape and is made of a transparent glass or plastic material. The hinged windshield  114  is provided with a fixed section  113  and a movable section  115  with a hinge  117  interposed between the fixed section  113  and the hinged section  115 . The movable section  115  of the windshield  114  can be rotated upwards so as to occupy the windshield area  102  and is secured in this position in a well-known manner or folded downwards or away from the windshield area  102 . The hinged windshield  114  serves to shield the occupants of the golf cart  100  from wind, weather, and flying debris. 
     A golf cart screen  120  of the present invention is shown in FIG.  1 A. The golf cart screen  120  is rectangular in shape and comprises a frame  122  and a screen material  134  positioned within the frame to be described in greater detail below. The golf cart screen  120  attaches to the golf cart  100  in the windshield area  102  as shown in FIG.  1 A. The method of attachment will be described in greater detail below. The golf cart screen  120  serves to protect the occupants of the golf cart  100  from airborne objects. 
     FIG. 1B shows in greater detail the relationship between the golf cart  100  and the golf cart screen  120 . FIG. 1B shows a close up view of the left canopy upright  104 . The left canopy upright  104  has an outer surface  110  as shown in FIG.  1 B. It can be seen with reference to FIG.  1 A and FIG. 1B that the hinged windshield  114  would contact the outer surface  110  of the left canopy upright  104  when the hinged windshield  114  is rotated to its upright position. The golf cart screen  120  is preferably mounted to the inner surface of the canopy uprights  104 ,  106  so as to not inhibit movement of the windshield  114 . 
     FIGS. 2,  3 A and  3 B illustrate the golf cart screen  120  in more detail. The golf cart screen  120  comprises a frame  122 . The frame  122  is rectangular and approximately 40″×16″×¼″ in dimensions. The frame  122  comprises a top member  124 , a bottom member  126 , a left side member  130 , and a right side member  132 . The top member  124 , bottom member  126 , left side member  130 , and right side member  132  are rectangular and in the preferred embodiment are formed from light metal channel, such as aluminum. The top member  124 , bottom member  126 , left side member  130 , and right side member  132  are interconnected to form the frame  122 , which defines an opening  123 , in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. 
     The golf cart screen  120  also includes a screen material  134  that is captured within the opening  123  defined by the frame  122 . The screen material  134  is a diaphanous membrane with a plurality of openings, such as the typical window screen material known in the art. The openings are sized so as to prevent passage through the openings of insects and other particles. The screen material is approximately 40″×16″ in dimension with enough additional material to allow attachment to the frame  122  in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. 
     FIG. 4 shows a close up view of the left canopy upright  104  and the method of attaching the golf cart screen  120  to the golf cart  100 . It can be seen with reference to FIG. 4 that the left canopy upright  104  has an inner surface  112  opposite the outer surface  110  shown in FIG.  1 B. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, hook and loop fastener  116  is attached along an approximately 16″ length of the inner surface  112  of the left canopy upright  104 . Similarly, hook and loop fastener  116  is attached to the inner surface  112  of the right canopy upright  106 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mating pieces of the hook and loop fastener  116  attached to the inner surface  112  of the left canopy upright  104  and the right canopy upright  106  are attached along the approximately 16″ length of the left side member  130  and the right side member  132  of the frame  122 . The mating pieces of the hook and loop fastener  116  must be placed on the left side member  130  and the right side member  132  such that both pieces of hook and loop fastener  116  are on the same side of the frame  122 . 
     To attach the golf cart screen  120  to the golf cart  100  the golf cart screen  120  is moved into the windshield area  102  in such a way that the orientation of the golf cart screen  120  matches the windshield area  102 . The golf cart screen  120  must also be oriented such that the hook and loop fastener  116  attached to the golf cart screen  120  is adjacent the inner surface  112  of the left canopy upright  104  and the right canopy upright  106 . To effect the attachment, the golf cart screen  120  must be brought into physical contact with the inner surface  112  of the left canopy upright  104  and the right canopy upright  106  such that the mating pieces of the hook and loop fastener  116  adhere to each other. 
     It can be seen that the golf cart screen  120  is easily retrofitted onto a golf cart  100  through the use of hook and loop fastener  116 . The hook and loop fastener  116  requires no tools or special skill to apply as it is readily available in self adhesive strips that only need to be cut to the desired size and adhered in place. The golf cart screen is easily installed and removed as it attaches with hook and loop fastener  116  that requires no tools and is reusable. While hook and loop fasteners are used in this embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated that other fasteners can also be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     The golf cart screen does not interfere with the normal use of the hinged windshield  114  as the golf cart screen  120  attaches to the inner surface  112  of the windshield area  102  and does not contact the hinged windshield  114  when the hinged windshield  114  is either of its normal positions. The golf cart screen  120  is unobtrusive in use as the frame  122  conforms to the existing left canopy upright  104  and the right canopy upright  106 . Also the screen material  134  used is of a diaphanous nature. The screen material  134 , when assembled into the golf cart screen  120  effectively prevents the passage of insects and other debris due to the small size of the openings in the screen material  134 . It can also be appreciated that due to the openings in the screen material  134  air is able to pass through the golf cart screen  120  and also provides the driver of the vehicle with an unobstructed view. Thus the golf cart screen  120  protects the occupants of a golf cart  100  from insects and other airborne debris, yet still allows air to pass freely into the golf cart  100 . 
     Although the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has shown, described, and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the detail of the apparatus as illustrated as well as the uses thereof, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Consequently, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the foregoing discussions, but should be defined by the appended claims.