Golf caddy

A two-wheeled cart incorporating an upstanding frame is provided and includes a lower horizontal platform projecting rearward of the frame for supporting a golf bag and an upper forwardly projecting retractable handle assembly. Opposite side portions of the cart support swingably retractable horizontal supports and one of the supports is designed to have a cooler supported therefrom while the other support mounts a seat cushion. The handle of the cart includes a ball carrier as well as score pad and golf tee support structure and one wheel of the cart includes a resettable distance travelled indicator while the other wheel is axially adjustable relative to the cart.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Golf has been a popular sport for many years and various different forms of 
carts heretofore have been provided to support a golfer's bag of clubs 
while the golfer plays a particular golf course. Some forms of carts are 
non-powered and must therefore be pushed or pulled by a golfer and other 
forms of carts are powered and include provisions thereon for supporting 
the golfer as well as his bag of clubs. 
Such powered carts are sufficient in size to support other items such as 
coolers, seats, umbrellas, and other golfing accessories, but most 
handcarts include structure for supporting little more than a bag of golf 
clubs. 
In the past, persons who used handcarts did so either because of the 
unavailability of powered carts or because of financial or physical 
exercise reasons and if motorized carts were available to the more 
affluent golfers such persons would rent motorized golf carts. 
However, the recent increase of interest in physical conditioning has 
prompted even the affluent golfer to use a handcart rather than a 
motorized cart. The more affluent golfer is accustomed to many of the 
golfing accessories which previously could be carried only on a motorized 
golf cart. These accessories include drink coolers, seats, umbrellas and 
the like. Accordingly, a need exists for a golf cart of the hand type and 
which may be used by golfers wishing to receive maximum physical exercise 
while golfing and yet which will be capable of supporting numerous of the 
golfing accessories previously limited to motorized golf carts. 
Examples of various different forms of golf carts including some of the 
general structural and operational features of the instant invention are 
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,711,027, 2,772,113, 2,780,508, 2,806,711, 
3,147,988, 3,162,461, 3,164,339, 3,620,546, 3,707,279, 3,733,086, 
3,866,934, 4,032,054 and 4,262,928. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The golf cart of the instant invention incorporates, generally, an 
upstanding wheeled frame including a lower horizonal shelf projecting from 
the rear side of the frame and a retractable forwardly projecting handle 
carried by an upper portion of the frame. A first side of the frame 
includes a retractable support for supporting a cooler therefrom while the 
other side of the frame retractably mounts a seat structure. In addition, 
structure is provided on the frame for support of an umbrella and the 
handle of the cart supports a ball caddy, a scorecard support, a golf tee 
support and a drink container support. Further, one disclosed form of the 
invention includes a resettable distance travelled indicator operated by 
one of the wheels of the cart. 
The main object of this invention is to provide a golf cart to be used by 
golfers wishing to obtain maxiumum exercise while golfing and wherein the 
cart is provided with structure for supporting a golf bag as well as a 
plurality of golf accessories therefrom and which may be collapsed into a 
compact state for ready storage and transport within the luggage 
compartment of a vehicle. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a golf cart which will be 
capable of supporting various different types of golfing accessories such 
as a golf ball receiver, a score pad, golf tees, a drink container holder 
and an umbrella. 
Another very important of this invention is to provide a golf cart also 
including retractable structure for supporting a cooler therefrom as well 
as a seat structure. 
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a golf cart which will 
be able to indicate distance travelled from each golf tee. 
A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to 
provide a golf cart in accordance with the preceding objects and which 
will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple 
construction and each to use so as to provide a device that will be 
economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in 
operation. 
These together with other objects and advantages which will become 
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation 
as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to 
the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals 
refer to like parts throughout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally 
designates a first form of golf cart constructed in accordance with the 
present invention. The golf cart 10 includes an upstanding frame referred 
to in general by the reference numeral 12 and the frame 12 includes 
upstanding opposite side members 14 and 16 interconnected at their lower 
ends by means of a horizontal transverse member 18. The upper end portions 
20 and 22 of the opposite side members 14 and 16 are upwardly convergent 
and secured together by an upper end gooseneck stem 24 secured 
therebetween. One end of an elongated handle arm is pivotally anchored to 
the gooseneck stem 24 by a friction washer equipped pivot connection 28 
and the handle arm 26 includes a free end equipped with a handgrip 30 and 
is swingable between the extended positions of the handle arm 26 
illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and a folded collapsed position such as 
that illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. 
With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 6 of the drawings, it 
may be seen that the side member 14 has a collared sleeve 32 supported 
therefrom and that a live axle 34 upon which a wheel 36 is stationarily 
mounted is journalled through the sleeve 32 and equipped with a point cam 
37 on its inner end. The point cam 37 is enclosed by a removable cover 38 
supported from the flange 40 of the sleeve 32 and the axle is journalled 
in the sleeve 32 by flange bearings 42 and retained through the sleeve 32 
by a hex nut 44. 
The side member 16 of the frame 12, on the other hand, has a sleeve 46 
supported therefrom through which a slidable adjustable and removable axle 
48 is journalled. The sleeve 46 supports a spring biased locking pin 50 
therefrom and the pin 50 is selectively engageable in either of two 
circumferential grooves 52 formed in the axle 48 and spaced longitudinally 
therealong. Of course, each of the axles 34 and 48 has a second support 
wheel 36 mounted thereon, the support wheels 36 being of lightweight metal 
construction and including resilient peripheral tread rings 56 supported 
therefrom. 
In addition, the side member 16 has the bifurcated right angulated base end 
58 of a support arm 60 pivotally supported therefrom as at 62 and the 
support arm 60 mounts a seat cushion 64 therefrom and has a support leg 66 
pivotally supported from its outer end as at 68, the free end of the 
support leg 66 including a horizontally enlarged foot 70. 
The pivot structure 62 between the bifurcated base end 58 and the side 
member 14 includes frictional washers (not shown) whereby the support arm 
60 may be frictionally retained in the raised phantom line position 
thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. In addition, the pivot 
connection at 68 also includes similar frictional washers whereby the 
support leg may be frictionally retained in the phantom line retracted 
position thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings between opposing 
flanges of the support arm 60. 
The side member 14 has the bifurcated base end 72 of a second support arm 
74 supported, therefrom by a friction washer equipped pivot connection 76 
and the support arm 74 mounts a support table 78 therefrom equipped with a 
peripheral railing 80 disposed above the table 78. The table 78 is adapted 
to receive a cooler 82 thereon, see FIG. 1. 
The upper end portion 20 also mounts an L-shaped bracket 84 therefrom 
equipped with a first "Velcro" panel 86 and a distance indicator of the 
LED or LCD readout and resettable type such as that indicated by the 
reference numeral 88 is removable from the bracket 84, the readout 88 
being provided with a second type of "Velcro" panel for coaction with the 
panel 86 in order to removably anchor the readout 88 to the bracket 84. 
The readout 88 is, of course, electrically connected to a point assembly 
(not shown) also enclosed within the cover 38 and actuable by the point 
cam 37. In this manner, the distance travelled by the wheel mounted on the 
axle 34 may be indicated by the readout 88. The lower portions of the 
upper end portions 20 and 22 include a plurality of vertically spaced bar 
members 90 supported and extending therebetween (see FIG. 2) and the bar 
members 90 may be utilized to support any suitable articles such as a 
cloth or piece of clothing. In addition, the upper end portion 22 supports 
a hook 92 therefrom which may also be used to support a selected article. 
The handle arm 26 mounts one longitudinal edge of a scorecard supporting 
panel 94 therefrom (see FIG. 5) and the other longitudinal edge of the 
panel 94 supports a pair of scorecard engageable clips 96 therefrom. The 
panel 94 extends longitudinally of the handle arm 26 and the marginal edge 
of the panel 94 remote from the handle arm 26 includes a depending 
apertured panel 98 supported therefrom. The panel 98 includes a plurality 
of apertures 100 formed therethrough and golf tees 102 may be wedged in 
the apertures 100 for support from the panel 98. Also, the end of the 
panel 94 remote from the handgrip 30 thereof includes a notched support 
104 from which writing instruments may be supported and the underside of 
the panel 94 supports a tubular magazine 106 therefrom closed at its end 
remote from the handgrip 30 and including ball retaining fingers 108 at 
its end adjacent the handgrip 30. The magazine 106 includes a coiled 
compression spring (not shown) disposed therein and a plurality of golf 
balls 110 may be telescoped into magazine 106 against the biasing action 
of the aforementioned spring, the ball retaining fingers 108 preventing 
the outermost ball 110 from being discharged from the magazine 106. 
Further, from FIG. 9 of the drawings, it may be seen that the interior of 
the magazine 106 is lined with a smooth plastic sleeve 112. Also, if it is 
desired, the interior spring within the magazine 106 may be omitted and 
the golf ball 110 closest to the ball retaining fingers 108 may be 
discharged from the open end of the magazine toward the fingers 108 merely 
by tilting cart to a position such that the handle arm 26 is in a forward 
and downwardly inclined position. 
From FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 7 of the drawings, it may also be seen that the 
handle assembly supports a drinking container holder 114 therefrom, the 
holder 114 being pivotally mounted as at 116, see FIG. 5, or oscillation 
about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the handle arm 26. 
The juncture between the upper end portions 20 and 22 of the side members 
14 and 16 supports a rigid horizontal and rearwardly opening 
semi-cylindrical brace 118 therefrom with whose free ends a flexible and 
longitudinally stretchable elongated tension member 120 may be releasably 
engaged. The brace 118 and the tension member 120 encircle the upper end 
of a conventional golf bag 122 therefrom. A similar semi-cylindrical brace 
124 is supported by a depending shank 126 from the central portion of the 
transverse member 18 and has the opposite ends of a second elongated 
flexible and longitudinally stretchable tension member 127 removably 
anchored to its opposite ends. The central portion of the transverse 
member 18 also includes a horizontally rearwardly projecting base 128 from 
whose outer free end of the base end 130 of a horizontally outwardly 
projecting and horizontally swingable kick stand 132 is pivotally mounted 
as at 134. The outer end of the kick stand 132 includes downwardly facing 
foot 136. 
From FIGS. 1 and 2, it may be seen that an upstanding sleeve 140 is 
supported from the upper end portion 20 and equipped with a thumb screw 
142. The lower end of an upstanding umbrella shank 144 is adjustably 
anchored in the sleeve 140. 
It will be noted that the major components of the cart 10 are constructed 
of lightweight material such as aluminum, exclusive of the axles 34 and 48 
from which the wheels 36 are supported as well as other minor components 
which may be constructed of other metals or plastic, and FIG. 8 of the 
drawings illustrates an adjustable set screw 148 by which upward swinging 
movement of the handle arm 26 may be adjustably limited. 
With attention invited more specifically to FIGS. 10 and 11 of the 
drawings, there will be seen a modified form of golf cart referred to in 
general by the reference numeral 10' and which is substantially identical 
to the cart 10, except that the cart 10' includes vertically spaced 
horizontal plates 11 and 13 through which upper and lower end portions, 
respectively, of golf club shaft support tubes 15 and an umbrella support 
tube 17 are supported. The tubes 15 are used in lieu of the golf bag 
supporting braces 118 and 124 and the cart 10 may be provided with a tube 
corresponding to the tube 17, if desired. Otherwise, the cart 10' is 
substantially identical to the cart 10. 
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the 
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily 
occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the 
invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and 
accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted 
to, falling within the scope of the invention.