Abstract:
A four-sided convertible golf cart cover for covering a rear compartment of a golf cart, including a convertible framework operatively connected above the rear compartment of the golf cart defining a top portion, a front portion, a rear portion, a left side portion and a right side portion, a sectional member operatively connected to the convertible framework, the sectional member including at least one top panel, at least one generally vertical front panel, at least one rear panel, at least one left panel and at least one right side panel, the framework including at least one pivotable member movable from a deployed position to a non-deployed position to respectively move said sectional member from a deployed position covering the rear compartment to a non-deployed position exposing the rear compartment, with the front panel remaining generally vertical throughout the movement of the framework from the deployed position to the non-deployed position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED INVENTIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/884,733, filed Jan. 12, 2007, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to golf cart covers. More particularly, this invention relates to convertible golf cart covers that may be folded over the rear compartment of a golf cart during precipitation and then folded back out of the way to gain access to the golf club bags positioned in the rear compartment. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Background Art 
         [0005]    Presently, there exist many types of golf cart covers designed to cover all or a portion of golf carts. Some are specifically designed to function as a fold-up canopy that covers the rear compartment of the golf cart in which golf clubs are stored. Representative golf cart covers are shown in the following patents, the disclosures of which are each hereby incorporated by reference herein: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 U.S. Patent 
                 Title 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 D497,587 
                 Golf cart folded canopy cover 
               
               
                   
                 D469,734 
                 Canopy for a golf cart 
               
               
                   
                 D478,859 
                 External appearance of a golf cart 
               
               
                   
                   
                 canopy 
               
               
                   
                 4,830,037 
                 Canopy Attachment for a Golf Cart 
               
               
                   
                 5,010,941 
                 Golf cart drop curtain 
               
               
                   
                 5,069,481 
                 Golf cart club rack and method 
               
               
                   
                 5,190,340 
                 Golf cart rear roof unit 
               
               
                   
                 5,388,881 
                 Portable golf cart cover and method 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of manufacture therefor 
               
               
                   
                 5,588,690 
                 Double back golf cart enclosure 
               
               
                   
                 6,007,134 
                 Portable golf cart weathershield 
               
               
                   
                   
                 system 
               
               
                   
                 6,068,325 
                 Golf club cover for golf carts 
               
               
                   
                 6,076,206 
                 Medical transport cot collapsible 
               
               
                   
                   
                 canopy system 
               
               
                   
                 6,216,714 
                 Golf cart club cover 
               
               
                   
                 6,220,647 
                 Retractable awning for a golf cart 
               
               
                   
                 6,227,217 
                 Roof mounted golf bag canopy 
               
               
                   
                 6,227,603 
                 Portable canopy for golf cart rear 
               
               
                   
                   
                 compartment 
               
               
                   
                 6,416,109 
                 Canopy rain cover for a golf cart 
               
               
                   
                 6,471,281 
                 Golf cart canopy and bag support 
               
               
                   
                   
                 bracket 
               
               
                   
                 6,481,780 
                 Golf bag covers for use with golf 
               
               
                   
                   
                 carts 
               
               
                   
                 6,497,444 
                 Radiation shield for occupants of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 golf carts 
               
               
                   
                 6,547,312 
                 Method and apparatus for providing 
               
               
                   
                   
                 personalizing information on a golf 
               
               
                   
                   
                 cart 
               
               
                   
                 6,601,904 
                 Retractable awning with transition 
               
               
                   
                   
                 plate for a golf cart 
               
               
                   
                 6,663,161 
                 Canopy rain cover for a golf cart 
               
               
                   
                 6,663,162 
                 Golf cart retractable canopy 
               
               
                   
                 6,692,058 
                 Golf cart canopy for weather 
               
               
                   
                   
                 protection 
               
               
                   
                 6,739,486 
                 Dispenser for dispensing fill 
               
               
                   
                   
                 material into a golf course divot 
               
               
                   
                   
                 hole and a method and apparatus for 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mounting a dispenser to a golf cart 
               
               
                   
                 6,761,391 
                 Full enclosure protective cover for a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 golf car with rear golf bag storage 
               
               
                   
                   
                 area covering 
               
               
                   
                 6,773,052 
                 Golf cart canopy cover 
               
               
                   
                 6,805,396 
                 Cover for the rear bag compartment of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 a golf cart 
               
               
                   
                 6,854,747 
                 Cover assembly for hospital carts 
               
               
                   
                 6,953,216 
                 Cart canopy frame 
               
               
                   
                 6,979,044 
                 Golf cart rearwardly extending canopy 
               
               
                   
                   
                 cover 
               
               
                   
                 7,093,883 
                 Golf cart rearwardly extending canopy 
               
               
                   
                   
                 cover 
               
               
                   
                 7,100,662 
                 Golf cart club bag protection device 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0006]    More specifically, the canopy disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,037 is generally known in the industry as a “convertible” cover that is affixed in an upright manner between the rear of the seating compartment and the rear compartment (i.e., the golf club area in which the golf club bags are stowed). Standing upright in its non-deployed position, the convertible does not extend over the golf club bags. Full access is therefore allowed to the golf club bags. However, during precipitation such as rainfall, the convertible golf cart cover may be folded rearwardly to a deployed, generally horizontal, position fully covering the golf club area of the rear compartment and hence the golf club bags. When a golfer wishes to withdraw a golf club from one of the bags (or to replace one), the rear frame of the convertible golf cart cover is simply lifted upwardly from its horizontally-deployed position and then pushed forwardly toward the front of the golf cart to a generally vertical non-deployed position, thereby gaining access to the golf club bags. When finished withdrawing (or inserting) the golf club and selecting a new golf club, the convertible golf cart cover is pulled rearwardly from its vertical non-deployed position toward the rear of the golf cart and then lowered to its horizontally-deployed position to once again cover the golf club bags. 
         [0007]    The convertible canopy of U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,037 has achieved considerable success in the marketplace. However, one significant disadvantage of the convertible canopy of U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,037 is the fact that it is only a three-sided canopy composed of left, right and rear side panels. It does not include a front panel. Consequently, when it is folded over the golf club bags to its horizontally-deployed position, the front opening of the rear compartment of the golf cart remains exposed. Precipitation may therefore be blown into the rear compartment through such front opening onto the golf bags. Indeed, when driving the golf cart in the rain, precipitation such as rain often tends to be funneled into the rear compartment. 
         [0008]    Prior art modifications to the convertible canopy of U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,037 have included fastening the leading edges of the side panels to the rear back panel of a conventional golf cart cover, such as through hook and loop fasteners or zippers, thereby closing-off the front opening of the canopy to prevent precipitation from blowing into the rear compartment. For golf carts in which the rear compartment is too far away from the seating area, other prior art modifications to the convertible canopy of U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,037 have included sewing side panel extensions to the side panels to bridge the gap from the leading front edges of the side panels of the canopy and the rear back panel of the golf cart cover. 
         [0009]    Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvement which overcomes the aforementioned inadequacies of the prior art devices and provides an improvement which is a significant contribution to the advancement of the golf cart cover art. 
         [0010]    Another object of this invention is to provide a four-sided “closed” convertible canopy that does not expose the rear compartment of a golf cart to any blown precipitation. 
         [0011]    Another object of this invention is to provide a convertible canopy that includes a front panel that protects the rear compartment of the golf cart from any blown precipitation. 
         [0012]    The foregoing has outlined some of the pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    For the purpose of summarizing this invention, this invention comprises a four-sided convertible canopy that includes a front panel that protects the rear compartment of the golf cart from any blown precipitation. 
         [0014]    More particularly, the front panel is sewn to the leading front edges of the side panels and top panel of a conventional three-sided convertible canopy to form a four-sided canopy. The convertible canopy is installed in an upright, generally vertical position between the seating compartment and rear compartment in which the golf club bags are stowed. In this vertical non-deployed position, the front panel is in a generally vertical, upright position separating the seating compartment from the rear compartment. Further, when the convertible canopy is folded rearwardly to its horizontally-deployed position over the rear compartment to cover the golf club bags, the front panel remains in a generally vertical, upright position. Consequently, in both positions, the front panel prevents precipitation from blowing into the rear compartment in which the golf club bags are stowed. Advantageously, unlike the prior art three-sided convertible canopies, when driving in the rain, the four-sided convertible canopy of the invention does not funnel the rain into the rear compartment. Indeed, the four-sided convertible canopy of the invention left upright in its vertical non-deployed position while driving in light rainfall tends to deflect the rainfall since its front panel always remains in its vertical position. 
         [0015]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a rearward perspective view of a prior art golf cart. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a rearward perspective view, partially exploded, of the three-sided convertible canopy of U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,037; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a frontal perspective view of the four-sided convertible canopy of the present invention comprising a front panel that protects the rear compartment from blown precipitation; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view through the upper front corner of the convertible canopy of  FIG. 3  showing it attached to the top of the golf cart. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0022]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a motorized golf cart  20  has a front  24 , a rear  26 , and a seating compartment  28  intermediate of the front  24  and rear  26 . The golf cart  20  includes a top roof  30 , usually a hard top, for protecting occupants seated in the seating compartment, generally indicated by numeral  28 , from adverse weather conditions. 
         [0023]    The golf cart  20  also includes a rear compartment, generally indicated by numeral  32 , into which golf bags  34  and clubs  36  are loaded into and secured so they do not fall out during driving of the golf cart  20 . The rear compartment  32  of the golf cart  20  opens generally rearwardly of the cart  20  and is defined by a bottom  38  upon which the bags  36  are adapted to rest, two opposite sides  40 , 42  and the back  44  of the cart seat. 
         [0024]    The top  30  of the golf cart  20  defines a front edge  46  and a rear edge  48  and is substantially centered over the seating compartment  28 . No part of the top  30  is typically disposed directly over the rear compartment  32  leaving the rear compartment  32  uncovered and, hence, exposed to weather precipitation such as rainfall. The top  30  is supported above seating compartment  32  of the golf cart  20  by means of a support post arrangement  50  including rear post assemblies  52 , 54  extending generally upwardly from the rear of the seating compartment  28 . Each post assembly  52  or  54  includes a first rigid post  56  having an arcuate upper end  58  and a second rigid post  60  having a lower arcuate end  62 . The second post  60  in each assembly  52  or  54  is disposed above the first post  56  so that its lower arcuate end  62  engagably overlies the upper arcuate end  58  of the first post  56 . Each of the engaging arcuate ends  58  and  62  define aligned opening  64 , and the first and second posts  56  and  60  of each assembly  52  or  54  are operatively secured to one another by means of a bolt  66  having a shank which extends through the aligned openings  64  and an associated nut which is threadably accepted about the end of the bolt  66 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , as taught by the prior art convertible canopy of U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,037, the convertible canopy attachment  22  is attachable to the golf cart  20  for purposes of covering bags  34  positioned within the rear compartment  32  and thereby protecting the bags  34  from rainfall and other weather-related precipitation. The prior art canopy attachment  22  includes frame  70  adapted to be attached to the golf cart  20 . In the canopy attachment  22 , the frame  70  includes two bar sections  72  and  74  each having a first through-opening  76  and a second through-opening  78  defined therein. Each bar section  72  or  74  is elongated in shape with two opposite ends and is relatively short in length as measured between its ends. The first through-opening  76  defined in each bar section  72  or  74  is located adjacent one end thereof, and the second through-opening  78  defined in each bar section  72  or  74  is located adjacent the other end thereof. 
         [0026]    The prior art canopy attachment  22  further includes a convertible canopy, generally indicated by numeral  80 , secured to the frame  70  and movable relative thereto between operative and inoperative conditions, described hereinafter. The canopy  80  includes a frame structure  82  and a cover section  83  supportedly attached to the frame structure  82  for movement therewith. The frame structure  82  includes a pair of generally U-shaped metal brackets  84  and  86  which are pivotally attached to one another and to the frame means  70 . 
         [0027]    The bracket  84  includes two parallel cylindrically-shaped legs  88 , 90  and an elongated cylindrically-shaped connecting portion  92  extending between the legs  88 , 90 . The length of each connecting portion  92  corresponds generally to the width of the rear compartment  32  of the golf cart  20 , the length of each bracket leg  88  or  90  corresponds generally to the width of the rear compartment  32  of the golf cart  20 , and the length of each bracket leg  88  or  90  corresponds generally to the depth of the rear compartment  32 . Each leg  88  or  90  of the bracket  84  defines an end portion  94  or  96  which is pivotally connected to a corresponding one of the bar sections  72  and  74  of the frame means  70 . To this end, a member  98  having a ring portion  100  is fixedly secured to each leg end portion  94  or  96  and a member  102  having a clevis portion  104  is fixedly secured to each bar section  72  or  74 . The member  98  includes a sleeve portion  106  attached to so as to extend from the ring portion  100 , and the sleeve portion  106  is positioned about and fixedly secured, as by welding, to the corresponding leg end portion  94  or  96 . 
         [0028]    The bracket  86  includes two parallel cylindrically-shaped legs  118 , 120  and an elongated, cylindrically-shaped connecting portion  122  extending between the legs  118  and  120 . The length of each connecting portion  122  is about equal to the width of the rear compartment  32  of the cart  20 , and the length of each bracket leg  118  or  120  is slightly shorter than the length of each bracket leg  88  or  90  of bracket  84 . Each leg  118  or  120  of the bracket  86  defines an end portion  124  or  125  which is pivotally connected to a corresponding one of the legs  88  and  90  of the bracket  84 . Each member  126  includes a sleeve portion  132  attached so as to extend from the ring portion  128 , and the sleeve portion  132  is positioned about and fixedly secured, as by welding, to the corresponding leg  88  or  90 . The clamp  130  includes two clamp members  134  and  136  positioned about the corresponding leg  88  or  90 , and each clamp member  134  or  136  includes two opposite flanges  138 , 140  through which apertures are defined. The clamping members  134  and  136  are positioned on opposite sides of the corresponding leg  88  or  90  so that the leg  88  or  90  is sandwiched therebetween and the apertures defined in opposing flanges of the clamping members  134  and  136  are aligned. 
         [0029]    The cover section  83  of the canopy  80  includes a sheet  150  of waterproof, flexible material folded and joined along appropriate edges as to provide a covering draped across the brackets  84  and  86 . The cover section  83  is preferably constructed of a transparent plastic and defines two opposite side sections  152  and  154 , a back section  156  and a top section  158 . The side sections  152  and  154  are operatively arranged against a corresponding pair of bracket legs  88 , 118  or  90 ,  120 , the back section  156  is arranged so as to span the space defined between the connecting section  92  and  122  of the brackets  84  and  86 , and the top section  158  is arranged adjacent the connecting section  122  so as to extend forwardly thereof. The top section  158  defines a forwardmost edge portion  159  which is folded back and stitched upon itself so as to form a sleeve  161  having an opening extending from one side of the cover section  83  to the other. 
         [0030]    The canopy  80  further includes an attachment, generally indicated  160 , for securing the cover section  83  to the brackets  84 , 86 . In the canopy attachment  22 , the attachment  160  preferably includes hook and loop type fasteners  162 , such as are sold under the trade designation Velcro, for releasably attaching the cover section  83  to the brackets  84 , 86 . Each hook and loop type fastener  162  includes a hook bundle strip  164  stitched to the cover sheet  150  at appropriate locations thereon adjacent a corresponding bracket  84  or  86  and a loop bundle strip  166  stitched to the cover sheet  150  adjacent the hook bundle strip  164 . By wrapping each hook bundle strip  164  about the adjacent bracket  84  or  86  and pressing the strip  164  against its corresponding loop bundle strip  166 , the cover section is releasably secured to the brackets  84  and  86 . 
         [0031]    The canopy attachment  22  further includes an attachment member  168  adapted to be secured to the back edge  48  of the top  30  of the cart  20 . The back edge  48  defines a planar and rearwardly-facing surface  170  and for purposes of accommodating the attachment member  168  thereto includes a series of preformed threaded openings  172  extending along the edge  48 . The attachment member  168  is elongated in shape and includes an upper section  174  and a lower section  176 . The upper section  174 , as viewed in cross section, is somewhat C-shaped and the lower section is platen-like and joined to the upper section so as to depend downwardly therefrom. Defined along the length of the lower section  176  is a series of openings  178  which, when operatively positioned against the back edge  48  of the cart top  30 , are aligned with the threaded openings  172  defined therealong. To secure the attachment  168  to the back edge  48 , shanks of screws  180  are inserted into the aligned openings  178  and  172  and tightened within the threads of the openings  172 . The attachment member  168  can be constructed of any of a number of suitable materials, such as plastic. 
         [0032]    With the attachment member  168  operatively secured to the back edge  48  of the cart top  30 , the upper section  174  opens rearwardly of the cart  20 . As will be explained hereinafter, the attachment member  168  cooperates with an elongated dowel element  182  for securing the forwardmost edge  159  to the cart top  30 . 
         [0033]    In order to install the canopy attachment  22  to the golf cart  20 , each bolt  66  is removed from its secured relationship with the post assembly  52  or  56  to expose the aligned openings  64 . Each bar section  72  or  74  is then operatively positioned in engagement with the arcuate upper end  58  of the corresponding post  56  so that its through-opening  76  is aligned with a corresponding one of the aligned openings  64 , and a bolt  184  is inserted through each alignment of openings  64  and  76 . Nuts  186  are then threaded upon the shank of the bolts  184  to tightly secure the bar sections  72  and  74  to the post assemblies  52  and  54 . The shank of each bolt  184  is of sufficient length to extend through the aligned openings  64  and  76  and threadably accept the nut  186 . It follows that by securing the bar sections  72  and  74  to the post assemblies  52  or  54 , the brackets  84  and  86  are operatively secured to the golf cart  20 . 
         [0034]    The forwardmost edge  159  of the cover section  158  is securable to the attachment member  168  by the dowel element  182 , mentioned earlier. The dowel element  182  is elongated in shape and is about the same length as the attachment bracket  168 . Furthermore, the outer diameter of the dowel element  182  is small enough to be slidably received endwise by the upper portion  174  of the attachment member  168  when inserted endwise therein yet large enough to prevent the dowel element  182  from passing through the rearwardly-facing opening. In the illustrated embodiment  22 , the dowel element  182  is in the form of tubing constructed of flexible plastic, but it will be understood that the dowel element  182  can be constructed of any of a number of suitable materials. 
         [0035]    To secure the forwardmost edge  159  of the top section  158  of the cover to the attachment member  168 , the sleeve  161  formed in the forwardmost edge  159  is directed through the opening of the upper portion  174  so as to be positioned therein. One end of the dowel element  182  is then directed into one end of the opening defined in the sleeve  161  and forced therethrough until each end of the dowel element  182  corresponds with an end of the sleeve  161  and an end of the attachment member  168 . The sleeve  161 , and hence the forwardmost edge  159 , is thereby secured to the attachment member  168  as the sleeve  161  is captured between the outer surface of the dowel element  182  and the inner walls of the upper section  174  having a generally C-shaped opening as described. The dowel element  182  is prevented from migrating out of the sleeve  161  by the frictional engagement therewith. 
         [0036]    With the bar sections  72  and  74  operatively secured to the post assemblies  52 , 54  and the forwardmost edge  159  of the cover section  158  secured to the attachment member  168  as aforesaid, the canopy  80  is in condition for movement between its generally vertical non-deployed and its generally horizontal deployed positions. More specifically, in its deployed position, the canopy  80  is folded over the golf bags  34  and clubs  36  to thereby protect them from rainfall and other weather-related precipitation. In such deployed position, brackets  84  and  86  are supported by the cover section  83  and from the attachment member  168  so that the bracket  84  is arranged in plane oriented substantially horizontally and the bracket  86  is arranged in a plane oriented at an acute angle in relation to the horizontal. In such a condition, the back and top sections  156  and  158 , respectively, of the cover section  83  are held in a taut condition between the connecting section  92  of bracket  84  and the attachment member  168  as the bracket  84  is held in the illustrated cantilevered condition by the cover section  83 . Furthermore, the side sections  152  and  154  of the cover section  83  are each held taut in a planar condition against a corresponding set of bracket legs  88 ,  118  and  90 , 120 . The weight of the bracket  84  has been found to be effective in maintaining the canopy means  80  in the operative condition. 
         [0037]    When in its upright, generally vertical, non-deployed position, the brackets  84  and  86  are each oriented in planes which may be slightly inclined to the vertical. Furthermore, the back and top sections  156  and  158 , respectively, drape between a corresponding pair of the bracket connecting sections  92  and  122  and between the bracket connection section  122  and the attachment member  168  while each of the side sections  152  and  154  of the cover section  83  is limp and folded upon itself. The canopy  80  can be releasably secured in the non-operative condition by a fastener such as a hook and loop-type fastener  190  including a loop bundle strip  192  attached at one end to the back section  156  of the cover section  83  and a hook bundle strip  194  fixedly secured atop the attachment member  168 . By wrapping the free end of the strip  192  about the bracket connecting sections  92  and  122  and pressing the strip  192  against the hook bundle strip  194 , the canopy  80  is releasably secured in the non-operative condition. 
         [0038]    As the canopy  80  is moved from its deployed to its non-deployed positions, the bracket  84  pivots relative to the bar sections  72  and  74  and the bracket  86  pivots relative to the bracket  84 . Consequently, the brackets  84  and  86  are moved from an angularly related relationship to a condition at which the connecting sections  92  and  122  of the brackets  84  and  86  are positioned adjacent one another. Furthermore, the back  156  of the cover section  83  is permitted to drape and become limp as a natural result of the bringing together of the bracket connecting sections  92  and  122 , and the top  158  of the cover section  83  is permitted to drape and become limp as a natural result of the bringing together of the bracket section  122  and the attachment member  168 . Hence, the cover section  83  moves between taut and limp conditions in an accordion-style fashion as the canopy means  80  are moved between operative and non-operative conditions. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in accordance with the present invention, the four-sided convertible canopy  200  of the invention improves upon the prior art three-sided canopy attachment  22  by the addition of a front panel  202 . More specifically, the front panel  202  preferably comprises a transparent or translucent sheet of material  204  in a preferably generally rectangular configuration. Further preferably, the sheet of material  204  comprises a flexible sheet of material. 
         [0040]    The width of the rectangular sheet of material  204  is dimensioned to horizontally extend between and be affixed to the forwardmost edges  153  and  155  of opposing side sections  152  and  154  of the sheet  150  of the cover section  83  whereas its height is dimensioned to vertically extend between and be affixed forwardmost edge  159  of the top section  158  of the sheet  150  of the cover section  83  and the frame  70 . 
         [0041]    In its preferred form of being composed of a transparent or translucent flexible plastic, the side edges  204 S of the sheet of material  204  are preferably affixed to the sheet  150  by sewing the side edges  202 S of the into the side hem  153 H and  155 H of the sheet  150 . Likewise, the top edge  204 T of the sheet of material  204  is affixed to the sheet  150  by sewing the top edge  204 T of the sheet of material  204  into the hem  159 H of the forwardmost edge  159  of the top section  158  of the sheet  150 . In lieu of sewing, the side edges  204 S and the top edge  204 T may be removably fastened to the respective side hems  153 H and  155 H or the top hem  159 H by a fastener such as by hook and loop fasteners, zippers, snaps or the like. 
         [0042]    The bottom edge  204 B of the sheet of material  204 , which is preferably finished with a hem  206 , is fastened to the frame  70  (illustrated in its preferred form as a continuous member). Many different types of fasteners may be employed such as a hook and loop straps  208  sewn to the hem  206  that are wrapped around the frame  70  and fastened back onto itself. Alternatively, several hook and loop straps  208  may be positioned along the length of the frame  70 . Still alternatively, fasteners may comprise a zipper having one side affixed to the frame  70  and the other side affixed (e.g., sewn) to the bottom edge  204 B, allowing the bottom edge  204 B to be removably zippered to the frame  70 . In lieu of a zipper, a continuous strip of a hook &amp; loop fastener may have one component affixed to the frame  70  and the other component affixed (i.e., sewn) to the bottom edge  204 B, thereby allowing the bottom edge  205 B to be removably fastened to the frame means  70 . 
         [0043]    It is noted that the front panel  202  is held in a generally vertically position irrespective whether the canopy attachment  22  is non-deployed or deployed. Consequently, the front panel  202  functions to protect the rear compartment  32  in which the golf bags  34  are stored from any frontally blown precipitation, such as would often occur during driving the golf cart in the rain. 
         [0044]    Finally, it is noted that an optional flap  210  may be sewn along the hem  159 H of the forwardmost edge  159  of the top section  158  of the sheet  150 . The flap  210  is of sufficient vertical length to be able to wrap around the convertible canopy  200  when in its non-deployed position for it to be tucked under the flap  210 , whereupon the flap  210  is then snapped thereto. Similar to my related invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,694, the flap  210  functions to protect the convertible canopy  200  during extended periods of non-deployment from being contaminated by debris and other contaminates. 
         [0045]    The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0046]    Now that the invention has been described,