Abstract:
A stand-alone, mechanical, measuring wheel apparatus with a wheel and odometer. The apparatus is quickly, easily and removably attached to a golf cart by a simple attachment. The attachment, itself, is comprised of a simple clamp arrangement which is also easily attached and removed from a golf cart. The invention apparatus is stand-alone and does not require any modifications to the golf cart.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to measuring devices and, in particular, to a device for measuring the distance traveled on a golf course especially between a green and a hole of the golf course. 
     Golf courses are divided into eighteen holes of varying yardage lengths and difficulty. Prior to striking his or her first shot from a “Tee” at the beginning of a particular hole, the golfer must know the length and difficulty of the hole. This information is usually available at the Tee or on the golfer&#39;s scorecard. After a golfer has teed off, he or she will want to know the length of his or her most recent drive or shot, and will need to estimate the remaining distance to the green which contains the hole and pin. The remaining distance is an important factor in club selection. Improper club selection for a particular distance may cause a golfer to overshoot or undershoot the green. 
     It would thus be useful for a golfer to have a way of determining the distance of a drive or shot to a present lie and the distance from the present lie to the pin. However, after teeing off, a golfer can usually only make a visual estimate of that distance, sometimes assisted by fixed distance markers. For example, it is common to have some type of marker on or adjacent a fairway 150 yards from the center of the green. 
     The prior art has many examples of distance measuring instruments of the odometer type including those used with golfing equipment. The use of odometer devices is known in the prior art. Odometers used with golf carts are generally comprised of a counting device driven by reduction gearing extending to a friction roller or pulley which is maintained in contact with the periphery of the tire of a selected one of the golf cart wheels. Most of these instruments are sophisticated, complex and require substantial modifications. Such devices are usually factory installed due to the fact that certain dismantling has to be undertaken. Alternatively, attachments are provided which operate by a small wheel frictionally engaging the tire of one of the golf cart wheels and this wheel comes in contact through a flexible cable to a counter. However, such devices slip badly particularly when used on wet ground and, therefore, are not entirely satisfactory. Furthermore, the wheel of a golf cart undergoes relatively high shock loads when driven or pulled around the average golf course. Complex mechanisms will not operate reliably under these conditions. 
     Notwithstanding the known prior art, there remains a need for a device adapted for use with a golf cart that is small, inexpensive, easily moved from one golf cart to another, and yet effective for measuring distance. The present invention is directed to such a device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is comprised of a stand-alone, measuring wheel apparatus with a wheel and odometer. The apparatus is quickly, easily and removably attached to a golf cart by a simple attachment means. The attachment means, itself, is comprised of a simple clamp arrangement which is also easily attached and removed from a golf cart. The measuring wheel apparatus and odometer are mechanical not requiring any electrical power sources. The invention apparatus is stand-alone and does not require any modifications to the golf cart. 
     Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a portable distance measuring device for golfers. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for determining and displaying distance to and from a present lie either from a tee or to the green for a golfer playing a particular hole on a golf course. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a distance measuring device that can be used on a hand pulled cart, or on an electric or other motorized golf cart. 
     These, together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical golf cart. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic, rear view of a golf cart, partly in section, with an attachment bracket. 
     FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the measuring wheel apparatus. 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the measuring wheel apparatus. 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the measuring wheel apparatus. 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the cylindrical clamping element. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the odometer display. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown a common form of “pull” cart  10  comprising an elongated main frame member  11  with means for securing a golf bag (not shown) thereto. Said main frame member  11  supports a handle  13  on one end and on the other end a pair of tubular struts  14 , each strut supporting an axle member  15  on which a wheel  16  is mounted. Although there are many variations of golf pull carts, all will have the same basic elements in one form or another. 
     The invention  1  is comprised of a tubular attachment bracket  20  and a measuring wheel apparatus  30  with an odometer  70  attached. The attachment bracket  20  is clamped to one of the cart struts  14  or to the main frame member  11 . The attachment bracket  20  has two portions, an engagement portion  21  the end  22  of which is positioned generally vertically with respect to the ground  2  engaging the cart wheels  16 , and an attachment portion  23  the end  24  of which is formed into a clamp  25  which is removably attached to either a cart strut  14  or the main frame member  11 . 
     The measuring wheel apparatus  30  is comprised of a housing  31  with a wheel  60 , and an elongated attachment element  40 . The housing  31  has a top  32 , front  33 , rear  34 , open bottom  35 , two parallel sides  36  and an exterior surface  37 , said front  33  and rear  34  defining a housing longitudinal axis. The housing top  32 , front  33 , rear  34  and sides  36  define a hollow housing interior  38 . Each side  36  has a hole  39  formed therein near to the bottom  35  at an approximate midpoint between the front  33  and rear  34 , the hole  39  in each side  36  being parallel with the hole  39  in the other side  36 , said holes  39  defining an axis transverse to the housing longitudinal axis. 
     A wheel  60  is rotatably joined to the housing  31  by means of an axle  61  joined to the housing side holes  39 , said axle  61  engaging a central hole  62  in the wheel, said hole  62  being transverse to a radial plane of the wheel  60 . In this embodiment of the invention, the wheel  60  has a solid hub  63  and a tire  64  fixed to the wheel perimeter  65 . One side  67  of the hub  63  has an elongated pin  66  protruding therefrom, said pin  66  having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the axle  61 . The width in the housing interior  38  between the housing sides  36  exceeds the combined width of the wheel  60  and length of the pin  66 . 
     An elongated attachment element  40  extends forward from a junction  41  of the housing front  33  and top  32 . The attachment element  40  has two parallel sides  43  and a forward end  42 . The elongated attachment element  40  has a longitudinal axis defined by its forward end  42  and the junction  41 , said longitudinal axis being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing  31 . Each attachment element side  43  has a hole  44  formed therein near to the forward end  42 , the hole  44  in each side  43  being parallel with the hole  44  in the other side  43 , said holes  44  defining an axis transverse to the attachment element longitudinal axis. 
     A cylindrical clamping element  50  adapted to joining the attachment element forward end  42  is provided. The cylindrical clamping element  50  has an open top  51  and a parallel, open bottom  52 , said top  51  and bottom  52  being interconnected by a rounded side wall  53 . Two generally tangential and parallel rectangular elements  54  protrude from the side wall  53 , said elements  54  lying in planes transverse to a radial plane of the cylindrical clamping element  50 . Each rectangular element has a hole  55  formed therein at an approximate central point, the hole  55  in each element  54  being parallel with the hole  55  in the other element  54 , said holes  55  defining an axis transverse to a cylindrical clamping element central axis. The cylindrical clamping element parallel rectangular elements  54  are positioned about each attachment element side  43  so that the rectangular element holes  55  are aligned with the attachment element side holes  44 . A pin  56  is inserted through the holes  44 ,  55  thereby joining the cylindrical clamping element  50  to the attachment element  40  in a vertical and pivotal relationship. In one embodiment of the invention a threaded hole  57  is formed in the clamping element side wall  53 . A threaded locking screw  58  threadingly engages the hole  57 . 
     A mechanical odometer  70  of conventional construction is attached to the measuring wheel apparatus housing top  32 . A hole  71  is formed in the housing top  32 . The odometer  70  has a protruding member  72  extending downwardly alongside the wheel hub side  67  with the protruding pin  66 . The protruding member  72  is adapted to engage the wheel protruding pin  66  once during one 360° revolution of the wheel  60 . The protruding member  72  increments a mechanical counter within the odometer upon each engagement with the wheel&#39;s protruding pin  66 . The wheel  60  and tire  64  diameters are pre-measured and the odometer mechanical counter calibrated to reflect the linear distance of one full wheel revolution. The odometer  70  also has a dual display  76  for permitting a user to not only measure the distance traveled but also to input a distance to the hole on a golf course into the odometer such that as the golf cart is moved towards the hole the distance traveled by the invention is also subtracted from the distance to the hole to inform the user of the distance left to the hole. The display  76  has a subdisplay  77  presenting each increasing odometer count, preferably in yards or increments of yards. The display  76  also has a subdisplay  78  presenting a count subtraction from a user-selected number, preferably in yards or increments of yards. The display  76  also has the means, actuated by a button  79  or lever of resetting either or both subdisplays, or of temporarily disabling the counter for unmeasured traveling when looking for a ball. 
     In operation, the attachment bracket  20  is clamped to one of the cart struts  14  or to the main frame member  11 . The measuring wheel apparatus  30  is attached to the attachment bracket  20  by sliding engaging of the measuring wheel apparatus attachment element cylindrical clamping element  50  over the attachment bracket engagement portion end  22 . The locking screw  58  is screwed through the threaded hole  57  thereby engaging the attachment bracket engagement portion  21  and thereby holding the clamping element  50  firmly over the engagement portion end  22 . By joining the cylindrical clamping element  50  to the attachment element  40  in a vertical and pivotal relationship, the housing  31  and thereby the wheel  60  can smoothly accommodate variations in terrain, continuously engage the ground without being dislodged from the golf cart  10 , and truly reflect the distance being covered by the golf cart  10 . 
     It is understood that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.