Abstract:
A motorized golf bag cart includes a base frame which extends and retracts telescopically to respectively expand or collapse a battery storage compartment. A drive motor supported in the base frame is linked to a drive axle which selectively drives a pair of drive wheel hubs positioned on respective opposite sides of the base frame. The base frame also includes a pair of transversely extending hollow tube which receive respective first and second telescoping support axles such that they are movable between an extended, operative position and a retracted, compact storage position. An articulating handle is designed to be compactly folded. The inventive golf bag cart is thus quickly and easily changeable between an extremely compact storage and transport configuration and a very stable, four wheeled, operative position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a motorized golf bag cart, and, more particularly, to such a motorized cart which is stable and efficient when loaded with a golf bag, but which collapses to an extremely compact size when not in use.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A number of motorized golf bag carts have been developed to carry a golfer&#39;s bag while he or she walks a golf course. These carts have taken a number of different configurations, but have generally fallen into two broad categories, namely motor and battery attachments for existing golf bag hand carts, and self contained, complete, motorized carts. Somewhat representative of the first type is that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,198 to Chris Kappas, and entitled DETACHABLE POWER UNIT FOR A GOLF BAG CART. In the Kappas patent, an articulated frame includes a battery storage area and a separate motor compartment holding a motor which is positioned immediately above a single drive wheel. The entire frame is removably attachable to a standard two-wheeled golf bag hand cart to convert it to a motorized operation. The drive wheel is chain driven and has no steering capability. Other, similar designs are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,597 to Carmichael, U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,776 to Richard Weirick and U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,065 to James Cotton. Numerous examples of selfcontained, motorized golf bag carts also exist. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,612 to Morris Weiss is a four wheel design with a motor driving the front pair of wheels which are steered by an articulating handle. U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,821 to Charles Craven is a simple two wheel motorized design in which a motor drives a single axle positioned between the two wheels. U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,583 to Edwin Nemeth is a three motorized cart in which a battery compartment is attached to a central, elongate frame and a pair of independent motors are attached to respective front drive wheels. Other examples include U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,875 to Robert Clune, U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,696 to Lee Carter, U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,693 to Masao Nakai et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,103 to James Cartmell, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,167,389, 5,180,023 and 5,749,424 to Eric Reimers.  
           [0003]    The prior art motorized golf bag carts, as represented by the above patents, seem to suffer from one of two problems. If they are stable, four wheeled designs, they do not collapse enough to be easily stored and transported. Conversely, the three wheeled designs, although they can generally be collapsed to a smaller storage configuration, are much less stable on sloping or uneven terrain.  
           [0004]    It is clear, then, that a need exists for a motorized golf bag cart which incorporates a stable, four wheel design with a relatively wide wheel base, and yet is easily collapsible to a size which allows for efficient storage and transport.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention is directed to a motorized golf bag cart with a stable, four wheel design. The inventive cart includes a base frame with a battery storage area positioned immediately ahead of a motor compartment which includes a variable speed drive motor. The battery storage area is formed by a telescoping tube assembly such that the base frame can be extended to accommodate a storage battery, or retracted to eliminate the battery storage area during storage and transport. The drive motor is linked to a rear, drive axle via a direct gearing transmission to eliminate problems with drive belts or chains. The drive axle drives a pair of drive wheels positioned on respective opposite sides of the base frame. The drive wheels can be made free wheeling in the event of a dead battery, a failed motor or other drive failure. Positioned on the base frame immediately ahead of the battery storage area are a first and a second transversely extending tube which are hollow and which are sized to receive respective first and second telescoping support axles. Each axle extends outward from its respective tube and mounts one of a pair of front support wheels. Each axle has a pair of locking pin receptacles spaced and sized to receive a respective one of a pair of spring loaded locking pins which extend through an opening in each tube. The axles thus telescope inward and outward relative to the tubes between an extended, operative position and a retracted, storage position. A bag receptacle is attached to and extends forward from the pair of hollow tubes. An articulating handle is attached to the rear of the base frame, with the handle being hinged in two places to allow it to be folded flush against the base frame when stored. A combination speed control rheostat and switch is mounted on the handle near a grip thereof for convenient motor control. In an alternative embodiment, the first and second, tandem hollow tubes are replaced by a single hollow tube which telescopically accommodates both support axles.  
         OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The principal objects of the present invention include: providing an improved motorized golf bag cart; providing such a cart which is extremely stable in operation, yet is collapsible to a small configuration for storage and transport; providing such a cart in which the support wheels are telescopically received in the base frame such that they can be moved from an operative, wide wheel base position to a narrow storage position; providing such a cart in which a base frame includes a battery storage area which can be selectively collapsed for storage once the battery is removed; providing such a cart which includes an articulating handle which folds to a compact configuration for storage; and providing such a cart which is particularly well adapted for its intended purpose.  
           [0007]    Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.  
           [0008]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a motorized golf bag cart in accordance with the present invention, shown in an open, operative position, with a golf bag shown in phantom lines positioned thereon.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inventive golf bag cart in a collapsed, storage position, taken from the side opposite the view of FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top elevational view of a first portion of the cart base frame illustrating a pair of transverse hollow tubes and a corresponding pair of support axles telescopically mounted therein, with the axles telescopically extended shown in phantom lines, and with a motor housing shown in phantom lines to better illustrate the cart base frame.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view of a portion of the cart base frame illustrating a battery storage box mounted on the cart base frame with the frame extended to an operative position.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view of the portion of the cart base frame of FIG. 4, but showing the battery storage box removed and showing the base frame collapsed longitudinally to a storage position and showing the articulating handle being folded into a storage configuration.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, top elevational view of a portion of a second embodiment of the motorized golf bag cart, with a pair of support axles telescopically received within a single transverse hollow tube, with the axles telescopically extended shown in phantom lines.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary view of one of a plurality of spring pin receptacles which are positioned on the cart in a manner allowing the cart to be selectively locked in the storage or operative position.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.  
         [0017]    Referring to the drawing FIGS.  1 - 7 , a motorized golf bag cart in accordance with the present invention is illustrated and generally designated as  1 . The cart  1  includes a tubular base frame  2 . The base frame  2  is formed by a first tube  3  received within a second tube  4  whose inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the first tube  3 .  
         [0018]    Referring to FIGS.  3 - 5 , and  7 , a locking pin receptacle  5  is attached to the exterior of the second tube  4  and a locking pin  11  is positioned within the receptacle  5  and engages a coil spring  12  therein. The spring  12  tends to force the pin  11  inward through an pin aperture  13  (FIG. 7) in the second tube  4  and into the interior thereof. The first tube  3  includes a pair of locking pin apertures  14  and  15  positioned to receive the locking pin  11  therein. An upper portion of the locking pin  11  includes a through bore  21  extending transversely there through and a locking pin keeper  22  is positioned within the through bore  21 , which keeper  22  prevents the pin  11  from being drawn into the receptacle  5  and also provides a gripping surface to allow a user to retract the pin  11  against the force of the spring  12 .  
         [0019]    The first tube  3  can thus be telescopically extended and retracted relative to the second tube  4  between an extended, operative position, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and  4 , at which the pin aperture  14  receives the pin  11  and a retracted position at which the pin aperture  15  receives the pin  11 . This area of the base frame  2  forms a battery storage area  23  to accommodate a storage battery case  24  and battery (not shown) for providing power to a drive motor  25 . A pair of angle members  26  and  27  are attached to and extend forward from a housing  28  to support respective sides of the battery storage case  24 . The telescoping tubes  3  and  4  allow the base frame  2  to be collapsed longitudinally once the storage battery and case  24  are removed, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5.  
         [0020]    Referring to FIG. 3, the first tube  3  of the base frame  2  is attached to and extends rearward from the housing  28 . The housing  28  contains a pair of transversely extending hollow tubes  31  and  32 , respectively, which are sized to receive respective first and second telescoping support axles  33  and  34 . Each support axle  33  and  34  extends outward from its respective tube  31  and  32  and mounts a respective one of a pair of front support wheels  35 . The support axles  33  and  34  and the tubes  31  and  32  are mirror images of each other, and thus only the support axle  33  and the tube  31  will be further described. The support axle  33  includes a pair of locking pin apertures  41  and  42  spaced apart thereon with each aperture  41  and  42  sized to receive a spring loaded locking pin  43  positioned within a locking pin receptacle  44  attached to the exterior of the tube  31  and engaging a coil spring  45  therein. The locking pin receptacle  44 , pin  43  and spring  45  are identical in form and function to the locking pin receptacle  5 , pin  11  and coil spring  12 , and, thus, will not be further described herein.  
         [0021]    The support axle  33  can thus be telescopically extended and retracted relative to the tube  31  between an extended support position at which the pin aperture  41  receives the pin  43  and a retracted, storage position at which the pin aperture  42  receives the pin  43 . The telescoping support axles  33  and  34  thus allow the support wheels  35  to be collapsed transversely inwardly to an extremely compact configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 2.  
         [0022]    The base frame  2  includes a motor support area  61  and a variable speed drive motor  62  is attached thereto. The drive motor  62  drives a drive axle  63  via a direct gearing transmission  64  in a known manner. The motor  62  and transmission  64  are housed within a motor enclosure  65 . A pair of drive wheels  71  are driven by the drive axle  63  to power the cart  1 . It is contemplated that a disengagement feature (not shown) can be provided to disengage the drive wheels  71  from the axle  63  in the event of a power failure, such that the drive wheels  71  can become free wheeling.  
         [0023]    The cart  1  includes a bag receptacle  91  attached to and extends forward from the housing  38 , with the receptacle shaped to receive a base portion  92  of a golf bag  93 , shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1.  
         [0024]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and  5 , an upright post  94  is attached to and extends upward at an approximate 90 degree angle from the second tube  4  of the base frame  2 . A pivot support  95  is attached to the post  94  near the upper end and a first handle member  96  is pivotably attached to the upright post  94  thereby. The first handle member  96  is preferably of a two-part telescoping construction with an inner tube  97  telescoping into an outer tube  98 , which allows it to be collapsed downward for storage to render it more compact. The first handle member  96  can be locked into the extended position via a spring pin  99 .  
         [0025]    A golf bag securing loop  101  is attached to the first handle member  96  such that it is pivotable with the first handle member  96  with respect to the post  94 . A second pivot support  102  is attached to the first handle member  96  near the top thereof. An articulating second handle member  103  is attached to the second pivot support  102 , with the second handle member  103  being locked into an operative position by a locking pin  104  and unlocked to be folded to the compact storage position shown in FIG. 2 by releasing the locking pin  104 .  
         [0026]    A motor on-off switch  106  and a motor speed control rheostat  107  are attached to a generally semi-circular handle control plate  108  to allow a user to easily control motor operation and speed.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment for telescoping the support wheels  35   a  of a modified bag cart  1   a . In this alternative embodiment  1   a , the first and second, tandem hollow tubes  31  and  32  of FIG. 3 are replaced by a single hollow tube  111  which telescopically accommodates a pair of drive axles  112  and  113  on respective open ends thereof. Just as in the tandem tube arrangement, each support axle  112  and  113  includes a pair of locking pin apertures  41   a  and  42   a  spaced apart thereon with each aperture  41   a  and  42   a  sized to selectively receive a spring loaded locking pin  43   a  positioned within a locking pin receptacle  44   a . Again, the locking pin receptacles  44   a  and spring loaded pins  43   a  are identical in form and function to the locking pin receptacle  5 , pin  11  and coil spring  12 , and, thus, will not be further described herein.  
         [0028]    Each support axle  112  and  113  can thus be telescopically extended and retracted relative to the tube  111  between an extended support position at which the pin aperture  41   a  receives the pin  43   a  and a retracted, storage position at which the pin aperture  42   a  receives the pin  43   a . The second embodiment of bag cart  1   a  in FIG. 6 can include a telescoping battery storage area similar to the battery storage area  23 , or this feature can be eliminated for cost saving purposes.  
         [0029]    The invention has been illustrated and described in a particular design, but other mechanisms for telescoping the support wheels  35  and battery storage area  23  can be visualized which might be equally effective. For example, the base frame  2  can be made of two or more telescoping support tubes instead of the single tubes  3  and  4 . The size and shape of the various frame and support axle tubes is illustrative only, and other shapes and sizes could perform as well. Other variation will occur to those skilled in the art. It is thus to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.