Abstract:
A portable golf shelter that protects one golfer from inclement weather as they swing a golf club or practice their putting, chipping, or pitching. The golf shelter comprises a three-sided frame with at least one pair of wheels mounted on the opposite side frames. The frame is made of lightweight material and the wheels are mounted on the side frames so that the front edges of the two side frames can be easily lifted by one person forcing the rear frame downward with light pressure. When the front edges are lifted, the shelter can be easily moved to different locations on the golf course. An optional rearward extending handle is mounted on the rear frame member to assist the person move the shelter. The shelter also includes a lightweight retractable roof that may be folded downward to reduce the shelter&#39;s overall side profile. When the roof is extended, the space inside the shelter is sufficient to allow a golfer and instructor to stand and swing a golf club unencumbered.

Description:
[0001]    This utility patent application is based on the provisional patent application (Ser. No. 60/483,131) filed on Jun. 27, 2003. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to portable shelters, and more particularly to shelters used to protect golfers while swinging at golf balls from the sun, rain, and wind.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    It is common for a golfer to hire a golf instructor to watch and critique their golf swing. Unfortunately, many golfers find hiring a golf instructor embarrassing and prefer the instruction be given privately in a secluded area on the golf course.  
           [0006]    Protective shelters used at golf driving ranges to protect golfers from sun and rain are relatively common. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,162 discloses a relatively large shelter capable to being used at a golf driving range that includes a canopy support section mounted on two triangular supports. Each support includes two wheels that enable the shelter to be moved to different locations on the golf driving range. The mobile shelter is relatively large so that a large number of golfers may use the shelter at one time. The mobile shelter&#39;s frame is relatively heavy to prevent wind induced lift.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,496 discloses a portable, lightweight driving range shelter designed to be lightweight and held down with ground anchors during high wind conditions. The shelter includes a frame having front and back arches joined by two skids at their bottom ends and a set of braces extending between the arches. While this shelter may be easier transport than the shelter disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,162, it is not designed to be assembled and disassembled between uses or after a rain storm.  
           [0008]    What is needed is a portable shelter for a golfer and an instructor that provides privacy and protection against inclement weather. Such a shelter should be relatively small and lightweight thereby enabling it to be easily moved from a main storage area to a golf course or driving range. It should also be quickly assembled and dissembled so it may be used during changing weather conditions. It should also be relatively compact and have a low profile when placed in storage.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable golf shelter that provides privacy to one golfer and a golf instructor.  
           [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide such a portable golf shelter that protects the user from inclement weather while swinging a golf club.  
           [0011]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a portable golf shelter that can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled after changing weather conditions.  
           [0012]    It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a golf shelter that can be dissembled into a compact, low profile configuration.  
           [0013]    These and other objects of the present invention are met by a portable golf shelter that protects golfers from inclement weather as they swing a golf club or practice their putting. The golf shelter includes a retractable roof mounted on a lightweight, three-sided lower frame. The roof includes a plurality of pivoting roof sections joined at their adjacent edges. The lower frame includes at least two wheels mounted on opposite side frame members s with an optional second pair of wheels mounted on the front edge of each frame member. Mounted on the rear frame member is a rearward extending handle that enables one person to press downward and lift the front edges of the two side frame members off the ground so that the shelter may be easily moved to different locations on a golf course or driving range. When the roof is retracted on the frame, the side profile of the shelter is reduced thereby enabling the shelter to partially hidden from view when not in use. When the roof is extended over the frame, the area inside the shelter is sufficient in size to allow a golfer to stand inside the shelter and swing a golf club.  
           [0014]    When two front wheels are not attached to the side frame members, two spike receiving tongues are attached to the front edges of the two side frame members. A pivoting support leg is mounted on the rear frame member that extends downward to hold the rear frame member in an elevated position over the ground. Two stakes are provided with the device that are designed to be driven through the receiving tongues and into the ground to securely hold the front edges on the two side frame members on the ground in windy weather.  
           [0015]    In the preferred embodiment, the material used to cover the two side frames, the rear frame member, and the roof sections may be made of vinyl or nylon sheet or mesh. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golfer standing inside an assembled golf shelter disclosed herein.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective view shelter with two pairs of wheels mounted on opposite sides of the side frames with the three roof frame members shown in an extended position over the lower frame.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the golf shelter shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of one worker forcing the end of rear side frame downward to lift the front edges of the two side frame members to easily move the golf shelter to a new location.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a second embodiment of the golf shelter with an alternative retractable frame and the two front wheels replaced with two spike receiving tongues with two spikes being used to hold the two spike receiving tongues on the ground.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the frame used with the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the folding top rail members of the frame.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the hand brake.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the distal end of one side member used in the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the handle.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the handle shown in FIG. 10.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 12 is a rear elevational view of the folding support leg attached to the rear frame member.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the invention showing the air vents located on the roof panel. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]    Referring to the FIGS. 1-5, there is shown a portable golf shelter, generally indicated by  10  designed to protect a golfer  95  from inclement weather as he swings a golf club or practices his putting, chipping or pitching. The shelter  10  includes a retractable roof  65  comprising several roof sections  66 ,  75 , and  84  joined at their adjacent edges. The retractable roof  65  is mounted on a three sided lower frame  15  that includes two side walls  16 ,  17  and one end wall  18 . Formed on the shelter  10  is a front opening  12  that a golf ball travels through.  
         [0030]    As shown in FIG. 2, the left and right side walls  16  and  17  include a side frame  21 ,  51  respectively. The side frames  21 ,  51  each include a longitudinally aligned lower member  22 ,  52 , a diagonally aligned upper member  25 ,  55  and a plurality of intermediate members  28 ,  68 , respectively, that extend between the lower and upper members. The lower member  22  and upper member  25  are joined together at their front ends  23 ,  26 . The lower member  52  and upper member  55  are jointed together at their front ends  53 ,  56 . The end frame  34  includes a lower and upper transverse member  35 ,  38  and two vertically aligned members  58 ,  58 ′. The ends of the lower transverse member  38  are connected to the rear ends  24 ,  54  of the lower members  22 ,  52  while the ends  36 ,  37  of the upper transverse member  35  are connected to the rear ends  27 ,  57  of the upper members  25 ,  55  on the right and left side frames  21 ,  51 .  
         [0031]    In the first embodiment, two ten inch diameter front wheels  46 ,  46 ′ are attached to the front ends of each side frame  21 ,  51 , respectively, and two twenty-four inch diameter wheels  48 ,  48 ′ are attached to each side frame  21 ,  51 , respectively, at or near the mid-line axis thereof.  
         [0032]    Attached to the upper transverse member  35  on the end frame  34  are two rearward extending handles  90 ,  90 ′. In the first embodiment, the handles  90 ,  90 ′ are straight rods spaced apart so that the user may easily force the handles  90 ,  90 ′ downward to lift the front wheels  46 ,  46 ′ off the ground to turn and move the shelter  10 .  
         [0033]    As mentioned above, the retractable roof  65  comprises three roof sections  66 ,  75 ,  84  that extend transversely over the lower frame  15 . The roof  65  includes a roof frame made up of three U-shaped roof supports  67 ,  76 ,  85  that support three roof sections  66 ,  75 ,  84 . The first roof support  67  extends upward and rearward over the lower frame  15 . The lower ends of the first roof support  67  are pivotally attached to the front ends  26 ,  56  of the upper members  25 ,  55 , respectively. The second roof support  76  is slightly smaller than the first roof support  67  and also extends upward and rearward over the lower frame  20 . The lower ends of the second roof support  76  are pivotally attached to the upper member  25 ,  55 , at or near their mid-line axis. The third roof support  85  extends upward and forward over the lower frame  20  and pivotally connects at its opposite ends to the mid-line axis of the first roof support  67 .  
         [0034]    In the first embodiment, a first roof panel  70  is disposed between the first and second roof supports  67 ,  76 , respectively. The opposite lower edges of the first roof panel  70  is connected to the upper members  25 ,  55  on the left and right side frames  21 ,  51 , respectively. A second roof panel  79  is disposed between the second roof support  76  and the upper member  35  on the end frame  34 . The lower edges of the second roof panel  79  extends downward over the side frames  21 ,  51  and may also be connected to the upper members  25 ,  55  on the left and right side frames  21 ,  51 , respectively. A third roof panel  88  is disposed between the first and third roof supports  67 ,  85 , respectively. The front edge of the third roof panel  88  is securely connected to the third roof support  85 .  
         [0035]    The first, second, and third roof panels  70 ,  79 ,  88  are sewn or adhesively connected together at their adjacent edges to form one large roof panel. During manufacturing, the adjacent edges of the roof panels  70 ,  79 , and  88  are aligned and attached to the roof supports  67 ,  76 , and  85 , respectively, so that the roof  65  may be manually extended or retracted by moving the roof supports  67 ,  76 ,  85  over the lower frame  20 . As shown in FIG. 13, optional air vents  100  may be formed in one or more roof panels  70 ,  79 ,  88 . The air vents  100  include an opening  102  formed in the roof panel (second roof panel  79  shown) with an outer flap  104  aligned and registered over the opening  102 . The flap  104  is sewn along three edges  105 ,  106 ,  107  with lower edge  108  being detached so that air may flow into the shelter  10 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 7-12 discloses a second embodiment of the shelter  10 ′ in which the front wheels have been replaced with front extensions  110  that receives a stake  112  to connect the front edges of the shelter  10 ′ to the ground. Shelter  10 ′ also includes two optional weights  115  approximatey 7 to 12 lbs/each used to hold the shelter  10 ′ on the ground during higher wind conditions. Shelter  10 ′ also includes two optional front tightening straps  116  that connect the front edge of the third roof section to an eyelet  114  attached to the lower frame to prevent the roof from retracting during high wind conditions.  
         [0037]    As shown in FIG. 6, the lower frame on shelter  10 ′ includes two side frames  121 ,  151  each comprising a lower member  122 ,  152  and a diagonally aligned upper member  125 ,  155 , respectively. The distal end of each diagonal upper member  125 ,  155  curves downward and connects to the lower member  122 ,  152 , respectively, approximately 12 to 18 inches from the distal end of the extensions  110 ,  110 ′. Formed near the distal end of each extension  110 ,  110 ′ is a hole  111 ,  111 ′, respectively, through which a stake  112  may extend. During use, the stake  112  extends through the hole  11  and driven into the ground to hold the shelter  10 ′ on the ground.  
         [0038]    The two side frame  121 ,  151  includes a plurality of diagonally aligned brace members  128 ,  168 , respectively, to provide additional support.  
         [0039]    The retractable roof  165  used in shelter  10 ′ shown in FIGS. 5-6 is nearly identical to the retractable roof  65  used with shelter  10  except for the arrangement of the roof supports  166 ,  167 ,  176  and there method of attached to the lower frame  115 . In shelter  10 ′, the diagonal members  125 ,  155  are hollow channels with an longitudinally aligned slot  126 ,  156 , respectively, formed therein as shown in FIG. 7. Disposed inside the upper member  125  is a sliding adapter  131  with two brackets  132 ,  132 ′ formed on its opposite ends. Each bracket  132 ,  132 ′ includes a two arms  133 ,  134  and  133 ′,  134 ′, respectively, spaced apart designed to receive a tongue  136 ,  137  attached to the distal ends of the first and second supports  167 ,  176 . During assembly, the tongues  136 ,  137  on the first and second supports  167 ,  176 , respectively, are extending to the brackets  132 ,  132 ′ and connected thereto with a removable bolt  138  and counter pin  139 . During assembly, the sliding adapter  131  is inserted into the upper member  125  so that the brackets  132 ,  132 ′ extend through the slot  126 . The side frames  121   m    151  are then assembled so that the brackets  132 ,  132 ′ extend upward. After the lower frame  115  is completed, the tongue  136  on the first support  167  is connected to the first bracket  132 . The tongue  137  on the second support  176  is then connected to the second bracket  132 ′. During use, the adapter  131  slides forward in the upper member  126  so that the first and second supports  167 ,  176  may pivot downward into a stacked, longitudinally position over the adjacent upper member. When the roof is extended, the roof supports  167 ,  176  are lifted and pulled forward thereby forcing the adaptor  131  in a forward direction inside the upper member. Formed on the inside surface of the upper member  125  is a hole  141  that receives a locking pin  142 . The hole  141  is located at a position on the upper member  125  so that the locking pin  142  blocks forward movement of the adapter  131  when the roof supports  167 ,  176  are pulled into an extended position.  
         [0040]    The first and second roof supports  167 ,  176  used with the shelter  10 ′ are identical to the first and second roof supports  67 ,  76  used with the shelter  10 . The third roof support  167  used with the shelter  10 ′ is also U-shaped however longer in length so that it may attach to the lower section on first roof support  167 . A bracket  143 , similar to brackets  132 ,  132 ′, is fixed in position on the first roof support  167 . During assembly, bracket  143  attaches to the tongue  146  attached to the distal end of the third roof support  166 .  
         [0041]    Because the distal ends of the extensions  110 ,  110 ′ are supported on the ground, the end wall  118 , is elevated above the ground. An optional support leg  150  is attached to the lower frame member. As shown in FIG. 5, the support leg  150  is pivotally mounted so that it may fold upward when the shelter  10 ′ is moved and folded downward to support the rear wall in an elevated position. In the preferred embodiment, the support leg  150  is made of aluminum tubing approximately ¾ iches in diameter and 18 to 20 inches in length.  
         [0042]    A U-shaped handle  190  is used in place of handles  90 ,  90 ′. The handle  190  is longitudinally aligned with the diagonal upper frame member  154 . As noted above, and as shown in FIG. 4, during use the user forces the handle  190  downward to lift the extension (not shown) off the ground so that the shelter is fully supported by the two rear wheels  48 ,  48 ′.  
         [0043]    In the second embodiment optional U-shaped wheel bars  180 ,  180 ′ are attached to the lower frame  115  to protect the user&#39;s feet when moving the shelter to a new location. As shown in FIG. 8, an optional hand brake  184  may be mounted on the sides of the lower frame member to lock the wheel  48 ′ and prevent movement of the shelter.  
         [0044]    In the first embodiment, a first roof panel  170  is disposed between the first and second roof supports  167 ,  176 , respectively. The lower edges of the first roof panel  170  is connected to the upper members  125 ,  155  on the left and right side frames  121 ,  151 , respectively. A second roof panel  179  is disposed between the second roof support  176  and the upper member  135  on the end frame  134 . The lower edge of the second roof panel  179  extends downward over the side frames  121 , 151  and may also be connected to the upper members  125 ,  155  on the left and right side frames  121 , 151 , respectively. The third roof panel  188  is disposed between the first and third roof supports  167 ,  185 , respectively. The front edge of the third roof panel  188  is securely connected to the third roof support  185 .  
         [0045]    Attached to the inside surface of the lower frame adjacent to opposite sides of the upper frame members are two optional roof support guides. The roof support guides are used to keep the roof support longitudinally aligned and stacked over the upper frame members when disposed in a retracted position.  
         [0046]    In the preferred embodiment the first and second roof supports  67 ,  76 ,  166 ,  176 , are made of 0.025 inch aluminum tubing and approximately 1 inch O.D. The third roof supports  66 ,  166  are made 0.062 inch aluminum tubing. The roof and side panels are made of 18 oz. vinyl panel or mesh material. The lower frame members are all made of 0.067 inch aluminum approximately 1 inch O.D.  
         [0047]    As mentioned above, the dimensions of the shelter  10  are sufficient to allow a golfer to stand and swing a golf club unencumbered, and to be protected from the weather from the sides and rear. The shelters  10  and  10 ′ each measure approximately 120 inches in length, 72 to 84 inches in width, and 108 to 120 inches in height.  
         [0048]    As mention above and as shown in the Figs. the side panels  21 ,  51 ,  121 ,  151 , and end panels  34 ,  134 , and roof panels  70 ,  79 ,  88 ,  170 ,  179 ,  188  are made of nylon or vinyl sheet material. Alternatively, one or more side panels  21 ,  51 ,  121 ,  151 , end panels  34 ,  134 , and roof panels  70 ,  79 ,  88 ,  170 ,  179 ,  188 , may be made of nylon mesh material to allow wind to blow through the shelter  10 .  
         [0049]    When not in use, the shelter  10 ,  10 ′ is stored with the roof sections  66 ,  75 ,  84 ,  166 ,  175 ,  184  retracted over the lower frames  15 ,  15 ′. When inclement weather occurs, the shelter  10 ,  10 ′ may be manually wheeled by one person to the desired area and the roof sections  66 ,  75 ,  84 , and  166 ,  175 ,  188 , respectively, are expanded. The shelters  10 ,  10 ′ are oriented in the desired area so that the user may view the fairway through the front openings  12 ,  12 ′. Optional stakes  110  or weights  115  may be inserted into the ground and around the extensions  110 ,  110  or around the front wheels  46 ,  46 ′ to hold the shelter  10 ,  10 ′ in place during high winds. When the wind becomes excessive, the stakes or weights may be removed and the roof sections  66 ,  75 ,  84  and  166 ,  175 ,  184 , are retracted. The shelters  10 ,  10 ′ may remain in place or be manually moved to a storage area.  
         [0050]    In compliance with the statute, the invention described herein has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown is comprised only of the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.