Front wheel folding arrangement for golf bag cart

A golf bag cart includes a main frame having a main supporting portion, a handle portion upwardly extended from the main supporting portion, and a handle unit provided on the handle portion, a front wheel operatively supported by the main frame, two rear wheels operatively supported by the main frame, and a wheel folding arrangement which includes a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism can be operated between a locking mode and an unlocking mode for locking and unlocking the front wheel.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a golf bag cart, and more particularly to a front wheel folding device for a golf bag cart.

2. Description of Related Arts

A majority of conventional golf bag cart does not usually have any adjustment devices for adjusting the direction of the golf bag cart when it is moving. For those which are equipped with folding mechanisms, the corresponding structures are usually very complicated and technically unreasonable. Moreover, conventional folding devices are very difficult or inconvenient to operate. All these factors lead to high manufacturing costs and complicated manufacturing procedures.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Certain Variations of the present invention provide a golf bag cart which comprises a front wheel folding arrangement for allowing a user to conveniently fold and unfold at least one front wheel of the golf bag cart.

Certain Variations of the present invention provide a golf bag cart which comprises a locking mechanism for selectively and conveniently locking and unlocking a front wheel of the golf bag cart.

In one aspect of the present invention, it provides a golf bag cart, comprising:

a main frame having a main supporting portion, a handle portion upwardly extended from the main supporting portion, and a handle unit provided on the handle portion;

a front wheel operatively supported by the main frame;

two rear wheels operatively supported by the main frame; and

a wheel folding arrangement which comprises a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism comprising a first connector connected to the front wheel, a second connector movably connected to the first connector via a bearing and a rotating axle, and a locking device provided on the first connector for selectively locking a relative movement between the first connector and the second connector, the locking device comprising a locking latch, and a resilient element provided on the locking latch and is normally compressed to exert a basing force against the locking latch,

the locking mechanism being operated between a locking mode and an unlocking mode, wherein in the locking mode, the handle member of the handle unit is rotated such that the resilient element is released to bias against the locking latch so as to drive the locking latch to engage with the first connector for locking the front wheel, wherein in the unlocking mode, the handle member of the handle unit is rotated such that the locking latch is driven to disengage from the locking hole of the first connector while the resilient element is re-compressed so as to allow the front wheel to be freely rotatable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is the preferred mode of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in any limiting sense. It is presented for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present invention. Each of the inventive features described below can be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

Referring toFIG. 1toFIG. 7of the drawings, a golf bag cart according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Broadly, the golf bag cart comprises two rear wheels10, a front wheel20, a main frame4, a wheel folding arrangement connected to the main frame4and the front wheel20, and a braking device5mounted on at least one of the rear wheels10. The wheel folding arrangement comprises a locking mechanism3and a folding mechanism2.

The locking mechanism3comprises a first connector21connected to the front wheel20, a second connector24movably connected to the first connector21via a bearing23and a rotating axle22, and a locking device7provided on the first connector21for selectively locking a relative movement between the first connector21and the second connector24.

The main frame4has a main supporting portion41, a handle portion1upwardly extended from the main supporting portion41, and a handle unit6provided on the handle portion1for providing a handle for a user of the present invention.

The locking device7comprises a locking latch25, a resilient element26provided on the locking latch25and is normally compressed to exert a basing force against the locking latch25, a supporting base27connected to the locking latch25and supporting the resilient element26, and a connecting wire34operatively connecting the locking latch25and the handle unit6of the main frame4. In other words, the handle unit6is arranged to drive the locking latch25via the connecting wire34so as to facilitate locking and unlocking of the front wheel20.

As shown inFIG. 6of the drawings, the handle unit6comprises a handle base35and a handle member36operatively provided on the handle base35. The handle member36may be driven to rotate with respect to the handle base35so as to drive a movement of the locking latch25via the connecting wire34.

The locking mechanism3may be operated between a locking mode and an unlocking mode. In the locking mode, the handle member36of the handle unit6is rotated such that the resilient element26is released to bias against the locking latch25so as to drive the locking latch25to insert into a locking hole on the first connector21for locking the front wheel20. A slight rotation of the front wheel20may also allow the locking latch25to engage with the locking hole of the first connector21.

When the locking mechanism3is in the unlocking mode, the handle member36of the handle unit6is rotated such that the locking latch25is pulled by the connecting wire34to disengage from the locking hole of the first connector21while the resilient element26is re-compressed. At this time, the front wheel20is free to rotate and the golf bag cart is free to move forward or backward. From the above descriptions, one may appreciate that the front wheel of the golf bag cart may conveniently locked or unlocked without involving complicated equipment.

On the other hand, the folding mechanism2is mounted on the main frame4, and comprises a sleeve structure28provided on the main frame4, a support structure29connected to the sleeve structure28, an actuating device30connected to the sleeve structure28, and a control mechanism32which is provided in the actuating device30, and comprise an engagement member31and a resilient assembly32. The folding mechanism2may be operated between a folding mode and an unfolding mode. In the folding mode, the actuating device30is actuated in a predetermined manner to extend the resilient assembly32to push the engagement member31to disengage from the sleeve structure28. At the same time, the support structure29may be collapsed to drive the front wheel20to fold toward the main frame4. When the front wheel20is completely folded, the resilient assembly32is arranged to drive the engagement member31to re-engage with the sleeve structure28, and the actuating device30is arrange to automatically restore to its original position.

When the folding mechanism2is in the unfolding mode, the actuating device30is actuated in a predetermined manner so as to extend the resilient assembly32for driving the engagement member31to disengage from the sleeve structure28. The support structure29is arranged to drive the front wheel20to move apart from the rear wheels10so as to unfold the front wheel20. When the front wheel20is completely unfolded, the resilient assembly32is arranged to drive the engagement member31to re-engage with the sleeve structure28, and the actuating device30is arrange to automatically restore to its original position. From the foregoing descriptions, it can be appreciated that the golf bag cart of the present invention is facilitate easy and convenient folding and unfolding of the front wheel20.

Referring toFIG. 1toFIG. 5of the drawings, the braking device5comprises a braking pedal11movably supported by the main frame4, a braking member12, a braking base14and a braking rim13attached on the corresponding rear wheel10. The braking member12and the braking pedal11are supported by the braking base14. The braking pedal11is arranged to drive the braking member12to selectively engage with and disengage from the braking rim13so as to selectively exert a braking force against the braking rim13.

The operation of the braking device5is as follows: when a user of the present invention want to stop the golf bag cart, he or she may step on the braking pedal11which drives the braking member12to frictionally engage with a groove formed on the braking rim13. When the user wishes to release the brake, he or she needs to slightly uplift the braking pedal11so as to drive the braking member12to disengage from the braking rim13. From the foregoing descriptions, it can be appreciated that the golf bag cart of the present invention is facilitate easy and convenient braking of the golf bag cart.

The present invention, while illustrated and described in terms of a preferred embodiment and several alternatives, is not limited to the particular description contained in this specification. Additional alternative or equivalent components could also be used to practice the present invention.