Storage device for golf carts

A storage device for attachment to the underside of the roof of a motorized golf cart is disclosed, comprising a generally rectangular construction, including a bottom shelf, side walls, one back wall, one or more internal dividers, a continuous lip that is used to attach the storage device to the underside of the roof of the golf cart, and a retaining lip across the opening of the storage device, wherein the retaining lip is designed to prevent accessories stored in the storage device from falling out of it while the cart is in motion or parked on an incline. The storage device is fastened to the underside of the roof of a golf cart by fastening members that are disposed in apertures in the continuous attachment lip, with matching apertures being placed in the roof of the golf cart to accept the fastening members. Gasket material is utilized along the entire attachment lip to effect a water-tight seal between the storage device and the roof of the golf cart. The device is suitably dimensioned for attachment to any golf cart.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates in general to an improved accessory storage 
device for motorized golf carts, and in particular to an accessory storage 
device that may be removably and portably attached to the underside of the 
roof of virtually any motorized golf cart. The storage device may then be 
used, for example, to store golf balls, tees, hats, and clothing while the 
golf cart is in use. 
Golf is an increasingly popular game which requires its participants to 
traverse long distances over lengthy golf courses in pursuit of the object 
of the game. Each participant in the game generally must carry a complete 
set of golf clubs and related accessories, all of which are most-commonly 
carried in a standard golf bag. In an average game of golf, the 
participant will walk and carry his or her golf clubs and accessories over 
a distance of four to five miles. 
To increase the speed of play of the game and to minimize fatigue, the 
participants will frequently utilize motorized golf carts. Rather than 
walking the distance of the course while carrying golf clubs and 
accessories, the participants will then ride in the carts over the 
distance of the golf course. 
A standard motorized golf cart is constructed with seating for two 
participants, and with storage areas for two sets of golf clubs in 
standard golf club bags. While many golf carts are constructed without 
roofs or coverings over the seating area, roofs are a standard option that 
are available and are included on most golf carts. The roof structures are 
generally designed to shield the golf cart's riders from rain and other 
inclement weather, and to provide shade from intense sun. The storage area 
for the golf club bags is typically situated to the rear of the cart, and 
is either outside of the area protected by the roof structure or at the 
edge of that area, leaving the golf clubs and bags still somewhat exposed 
to the elements. 
During the play of the game, the participants will frequently carry with 
them, either on their persons or in storage compartments in their golf 
club bags, a variety of accessories that may be used or desired in the 
play of the game. This includes, for example, extra golf balls, golf tees, 
towels, sweaters, sunglasses, hats, shoes, and other articles of clothing. 
Because of the inconvenience of frequently reaching into storage 
compartments on a golf club bag for these accessories, the participants 
who utilize motorized golf carts will place these items in more convenient 
locations in and around their golf carts. Although most golf carts are 
constructed with small storage areas for these items, none have any 
comprehensive structures that are designed exclusively for these items. As 
a result, the golf participants will attempt to improvise storage areas in 
the golf cart by placing accessories between or around the seats or on 
small dashboard-panels that are forward of the seating area. This is an 
imperfect solution, however, in that the accessories are not shielded from 
rain and inclement weather in these locations, nor can they be properly 
secured in these locations while the cart is moving. 
Prior attempts have been made to integrate better storage areas into golf 
carts, and in particular into golf cart roofs. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 
4,650,238 describes a roof structure for golf carts that is designed for 
storage of sets of golf clubs. The roof storage unit described in this 
patent provides access to its storage area from the outside of the golf 
cart only. If the golf cart's riders are caught in a rainstorm, it would 
be impractical for those riders to leave the shelter of the cart to gain 
access to this storage area. Moreover, if the cart is temporarily parked 
on an incline, nothing in the structure described in this patent would 
prevent the contents of the storage area from spilling out under the force 
of gravity. Finally, this roof storage unit is limited to storage of golf 
clubs, and omits any storage room for the many accessories that are 
required to play the game of golf. 
Accordingly, the present invention has as one of its objects the provision 
of a storage device for motorized golf carts that may be easily and 
readily used for storage of golfing accessories. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a storage device 
that may be removably attached to any golf cart that has a roof, 
regardless of the manufacturer of that cart or roof, or the shape or 
design of the roof. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage device that 
securely holds golfing accessories while the cart is in motion, or while 
the cart is parked on an incline. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a storage device 
that may be used by more than one golf participant, and that contains 
separate compartments to segregate each participant's accessories. 
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent in light of 
the present specifications, drawings and claims. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention comprises an improved storage device that may be removably 
attached to the underside of the roof of any motorized golf cart. The 
improved storage device includes at least one, and may include multiple 
internal compartments to hold and segregate golf accessories, including 
golf balls, tees, and articles of clothing. The storage compartment is 
accessible from inside the cart, and includes a retaining lip to securely 
hold accessories in the compartment while the golf cart is in motion or 
while it is parked on an incline. The construction of the storage device 
further includes fastening means, and may include a gasket-like material 
by which the structure would be held and sealed tightly against the 
underside of the roof of any golf cart. The gasket-like material is 
pressed flush against the underside of the roof to create the storage 
compartment. Because the storage compartment is under the roof and may be 
accessed by individuals who are riding in the golf cart, the accessories 
that are stored in the compartment remain shielded from the weather under 
all conditions. 
The present invention can further comprise multiple storage devices, each 
of which is attached to the underside of the golf cart roof to provide 
access to each unit from the golf cart seats. 
In the preferred embodiment, the storage device of the present invention 
comprises a generally rectangular construction, including a bottom shelf, 
side walls, one back wall, one or more internal dividers, a continuous lip 
that allows for attachment of the storage device to the roof of the golf 
cart, and a retaining lip across the opening of the storage device, 
wherein the retaining lip is designed to prevent accessories stored in the 
storage device from falling out of it while the cart is in motion or 
parked on an incline. The storage device is fastened to the underside of 
the roof of a golf cart by fastening means that are disposed in apertures 
in the continuous attachment lip, with matching apertures being placed in 
the roof of the golf cart to accept the fastening means. Gasket material 
is utilized along the entire attachment lip to effect a water-tight seal 
between the storage device and the roof of the golf cart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
This invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, the 
preferred embodiment of which shall be described in the present 
disclosure. The present disclosure is to be considered as an 
exemplification of the principles of this invention and is not intended to 
limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
The present invention 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. A preferred 
embodiment of the storage device of the present invention 10 is shown in 
FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, storage device 10 is attached to the underside 
of the roof 20 of a motorized golf cart. The roof 20 is generally a flat 
planar structure with an upper generally planar surface 21, side overhangs 
22 that are perpendicular to and downwardly opposed from the planar 
surface 21, and vertical tubular roof supports 23. 
The storage device 10 is preferably attached to the forward portion of the 
underside of the planar surface 21 by any of a variety of attachment means 
that are well-known to persons skilled in the art. The maximum width and 
length of the device 10 are such that the device will fit completely under 
the golf cart roof 20 and within the boundaries formed by side overhangs 
22. For those golf cart roofs in which the tubular roof supports continue 
along and inside of the side overhangs 22, the maximum dimensions of the 
device 10 are reduced accordingly to accommodate any reduction in the 
underside area that results from the presence of the continued tubular 
supports. Thus, the storage device 10 can be constructed for generic 
attachment to any golf cart roof. 
As shown in FIG. 1, storage device 10 comprises a generally planar bottom 
structure 11, side structures 12 that are generally perpendicular to and 
upwardly opposed from bottom structure 11 and attached to opposite outer 
edges of bottom structure 11, one or more internal dividers 13 that are 
also generally perpendicular to and upwardly opposed from bottom structure 
11, attachment lip 14, and forward retaining lip 15. The storage device 10 
further includes back enclosure structure 17 that is generally 
perpendicular to and upwardly opposed from bottom structure 11 and 
attached to the back edge of bottom structure 11. 
As shown in FIG. 2, when attached to the roof of the golf cart, the planar 
bottom structure 11, side structures 12, back structure 17, internal 
dividers 13, and the golf cart roof 20 form one or more open storage 
chambers 16. Each of the open storage chambers 16 is enclosed at the top 
and bottom and on three sides, leaving a fourth open end to accept various 
objects and accessories. The forward retaining lip 15 is large enough to 
prevent these objects and accessories that may be placed in chambers 16 
from falling out of the chambers when the golf cart is in motion or when 
parked on an incline such that the front end of the golf cart if facing in 
an upward direction on the incline, but not so large as to prevent objects 
and accessories from being placed into or removed from the storage 
chambers. For complete closure of the storage chambers, hinged or sliding 
doors may be added to the open side of storage device 10. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the attachment lip 14 continues along the entire upward 
edge of each of the side structures 12 and back structure 17 and forms an 
integral unit with these structures. When the storage device 10 is 
attached to the golf cart roof 20, the attachment lip is further 
completely in contact with the underside of golf cart roof 20 to form an 
integral storage unit with it. Likewise, the upward edge of each of the 
internal dividers 13 is completely in contact with the underside of golf 
cart roof 20 to fully enclose storage chamber 16 on all but one side. 
Although not shown on the drawings, a gasket material may be placed 
between the attachment lip 14 and the golf cart roof 20 to effect a 
complete, waterproof seal between the roof and the storage device. 
Also as shown in FIG. 3, lip 14 and internal dividers 13 include a 
plurality of apertures 18. Each of the apertures 18 is situated to accept 
attachment means to attach storage device 10 to the golf cart roof 20 
shown in FIG. 1. Any of a variety of suitable attachment means may be used 
including, by way of example but not by way of limitation, nuts and 
threaded bolts. In an embodiment utilizing nuts and threaded bolts, 
apertures that correspond to the apertures in the attachment lip are 
drilled into the golf cart roof and the bolt is inserted through each of 
the pairs of matching apertures. The storage device 10 is then firmly 
attached to the underside of the golf cart roof by tightening nuts onto 
the threaded ends of the bolts. Rubber or plastic washers may be used to 
effect a watertight seal around these apertures. 
If the storage device 10 is no longer desired, it may then be easily 
removed from the underside of the golf cart roof simply by removing the 
attachment means. Any apertures that remain in the roof of the golf cart 
may then be filled in with any appropriate filler material if it is 
desired to permanently remove the storage device 10 from that particular 
golf cart. 
As also shown in FIG. 2, the side structures 12 may be curved rather than 
flat and planar in nature, and the juncture of bottom structure 11 and 
side structures 12 may be smooth and continuous rather than right angular 
in nature. Although not shown in the drawings, the same curvatures may be 
adapted to the internal dividers 13 and the back structure 17. Adapting 
the curvatures to all of the side structures, back structure, and internal 
dividers allows for simplified manufacture of storage device 10 by way of 
injection molding. 
FIG. 3 shows a top-down view of the storage device of the present 
invention. As shown in FIG. 3, lip 14 is continuous and unbroken, and runs 
entirely around the perimeter of the edges of the side structures 12 and 
back structure 17. Further, lip 14 and the top edge of dividers 13 form a 
continuous and unbroken surface, and all points of this surface are in 
contact with the underside of the golf cart roof when the storage device 
is attached to the roof. In this manner, the storage device and golf cart 
roof completely enclose storage chambers 16 except for one end which 
remains open. The golf participants then insert and remove accessories 
from the chambers 16 through the open end, and retaining lip 15 prevents 
any of these accessories from falling out. 
FIG. 4 shows a side view of the storage device of the present invention. 
The bottom structure 11 need not be one continuous structure, but may 
comprise a plurality of bottom structures between dividers 13 shown in 
FIG. 3. In the embodiment consisting of curved side structures 12 and 
curved dividers 13, it is preferred to use a plurality of bottom 
structures to simplify the manufacture of storage structure 10. 
The storage device of the present invention is generally attached to one 
end of the golf cart roof, with the open end of the storage device facing 
inward toward the center of the golf cart roof. In the preferred 
embodiment, the storage device 10 would be attached to the front end of 
the golf cart roof, leaving the open end of the storage chambers 
accessible to the riders of the golf cart forwardly from their seated 
positions. A plurality of storage devices 10 may be attached to golf cart 
roof 20, with the open end of each storage chamber being accessible to the 
riders of the golf cart. In one embodiment, the golf cart would have two 
storage devices, one forwardly displaced, and one rearwardly displaced 
relative to the center of the golf cart roof. 
The storage device of the present invention would be readily manufactured 
by anyone familiar with any of several manufacturing arts. One 
commonly-available method would be to injection-mold the storage device 
either as one whole unit, or as two or more smaller pieces that would be 
combined to form a unitary structure. For example, if one were to 
manufacture the invention with only one internal divider 13, it could be 
manufactured as two separate halves and joined to form the integral unit 
by any number of methods. 
The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the 
invention, which is not limited to the description and drawings except to 
the extent that the appended claims are so limited, and those skilled in 
the art having this disclosure before them will be able to make 
modifications and variations to the disclosure without departing from the 
scope of the invention.