Abstract:
A collapsible golf trolley is revealed. A connection assembly that connects an upper frame, a lower frame, and mounts on two sides includes a locking body locked on a metal rod so as to improve the fastening strength. The connection assembly is further arranged with a guiding wheel corresponding to a guiding slot of a lower frame. This design makes the operation smoother while extending and folding the lower frame. Moreover, a turning member for turning and folding of a front wheel is disposed on a front end of the lower frame. According to the above structure, easy spreading and collapsing and firm connection of the golf trolley are achieved.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Fields of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a collapsible golf trolley, especially to a golf trolley that includes a metal connection part with certain strength, a turning member with easy operation and a guiding wheel set with smooth operation so as to achieve smooth operation and firm stability. 
     2. Descriptions of Related Art 
     As disclosed in Taiwanese Pub. App. No. 351095, a golf trolley consists of a lower frame, an upper frame, mounts, a bar, a rod, a front wheel, and a fastening member. The lower frame consists of a connection plate on a top, a golf bag base on a bottom thereof, and a sliding block. A lower end of the upper frame is pivoted to the connection plate. The mount connected with a rear wheel on a rear end thereof is fixed on each of two sides of the connection plate so as to form a pyramid together with the lower frame. The bar connects the upper frame with the sliding block so that the upper frame and the sliding block move together while the rod connects the sliding block with the mount so as to form a linkage between the sliding block and the mount. The front wheel is disposed under the golf bag base and the front wheel can be extended to straight condition by a foldable joint. The fastening member includes a fastening body pivoted to the top of the sliding block so as to fasten the upper frame and the lower frame firmly with each other. In accordance with the above structure, while collapsing the golf trolley, the fastening member is released, the upper frame and the lower frame are folded, attached to each other and the front wheel is moved to straight condition. When the golf trolley is opened up, by the movement of the bar, the sliding block, the rod and the mounts, the sliding block slides towards the connection plate and the upper frame is fastened with the lower frame by the fastening member. At the same time, the rear wheel is extended. 
     However, the above structure has following disadvantages:
     1. The foldable joint includes a main body whose top end is connected to another joint that is connected to the lower frame. Thus the lower frame and the front wheel are collapsible. The main body is arranged with a U-shaped locking slot and a sleeve whose top end is with a locking rod and bottom end is connected to a wheel frame. A spring is wrapped around the sleeve. Thus the main body is extended first and then turned for folding and storage. Such design is with poor stability.   2. Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 17 , the fastening member  9  further consists of a fastener  91 , a torsion spring  92  pivoted on top of a sliding block B on a middle part hereof, a push snap button  93  on one end, a locking hook  94  on the other end thereof, and a protruding locking block  95  arranged at a connection plate A. Both the locking block  95  and the locking hook  94  are made from plastic so as to have certain elasticity. After being used for a period of time or being applied with a force, the locking block  95  and the locking hook  94  are easily deformed and unable to be locked, even got broken.   3. A slot  901  corresponding to the sliding block B is mounted on each of two sides of a lower frame  90 . Due to surface contact, a friction force between the sliding block B and the slot  901  is quite large. Moreover, sunlight exposure or other environmental factors may results in deformation. Thus the operation is not smooth while spreading and collapsing the trolley.   

     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a collapsible golf trolley that makes extending and folding of the golf trolley become smoother. Moreover, the connection of the golf trolley is with higher stability. 
     In order to achieve above object, a connection part that connects an upper frame, a lower frame, and mounts on two sides includes a locking body locked on a metal rod so as to increase the strength of the fastening. The connection part is disposed with a guiding wheel corresponding to each guiding slot of a lower frame so that the extending and folding of the lower frame are smoother. Moreover, a turning member for turning and folding of a front wheel is arranged at a front end of the lower frame. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an explosive view of connection parts of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing showing a cross section of connection parts in a fastened state according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic drawing showing a cross section of a guiding wheel according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic drawing showing a cross section of connection parts in a released state according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an explosive view of a turning part of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic drawing showing a cross section of a turning part of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic drawing showing a cross section of a turning part in action according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic drawing showing a turning action of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is another schematic drawing showing a turning action of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic drawing showing an embodiment in a folded state according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic drawing showing a reinforcing structure of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is an explosive view of a bending member of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic drawing showing a cross section of a bending member of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic drawing showing a cross section of a bending member in action according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic drawing showing a bending action of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic drawing showing a structure of a prior art available now. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Refer from  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 , a golf trolley folding part according to the present invention includes: an upper frame  1 , a lower frame  2 , two mounts  3 , a linkage  4 , a fastener  5 , a front wheel  6 , a turning member  7 , and a bending member  8 . 
     The upper frame  1  is assembled with a handle  11  on a top end thereof. 
     The lower frame  2  is arranged with two guiding slots  21  on a surface thereof and the bending member  8  is disposed on a rear end of the lower frame  2 . 
     The mount  3  is disposed on each of two sides and each mount  3  is arranged with a side wheel  31 . 
     The linkage  4  is composed of a connection base  41  pivoted with the upper frame  1  as well as mounts  3  on two sides and inserted with the lower frame  2 , a connection block  42  assembled on the lower frame  2  and connected with two guiding wheels  421  by a shaft  422 , a pair of bars  43  whose two ends are respectively pivoted on each of two sides of the upper frame  1  and each of two sides of the connection block  42  respectively, and a pair of moveable linkage parts  44  that are assembled between two sides of the connection block  42  and two sides of the mount  3 . The guiding wheel  421  is moveable and sliding in each guiding slot  21  of the lower frame  2  correspondingly. 
     The fastener  5  includes a metal rod  51  penetrated and assembled with the connection base  41 , a locking body  52  pivoted on the connection block  42  together with an elastic part  53 . The locking body  52  is locked on the metal rod  51  correspondingly so as to connect the connection base  41  with the connection block  42 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the front wheel  6  is assembled with a corresponding fork  61 . The foldable front wheel  6  is turned by a turning member  7  to be folded while a top end of the front wheel  6  is connected to the bending member  8 . 
     The turning member  7  consists of a shaft base  71  disposed on the fork  61  of the front wheel  6 , an elastic body  72 , and a sleeve base  73  sleeved over the shaft base  71 . The shaft base  71  includes an inner tube  711  and an outer tube  712  arranged with a pair of locking protrusions  713  on a tube wall thereof. The elastic body  72  is disposed between the inner tube  711  and the outer tube  712 . The sleeve base  73  is set with a pair of turning guiding slots  731  each corresponding to one locking protrusion  713  so that the locking protrusion  713  slide and turn in the turning guiding slot  731 . The sleeve base  73  is connected to the bending member  8 . 
     Refer from  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 , while in use, the golf trolley is in an extended state. The connection base  41  of the linkage  4  is pivoted to and connected with the upper frame  1  as well as the mount  3  on each of two sides. The lower frame  2  is assembled with the connection block  42  and then is inserted into the connection base  41 . Two ends of the bar  43  are respectively pivoted to and connected with the upper frame  1  and the connection block  42 . As to the linkage part  44 , it&#39;s connected to the connection block  42  and is sliding from the connection block  42  toward the mount  3  on two sides. The guiding wheel  421  of the connection block  42  that is corresponding to the guiding slot  21  of the lower frame  2  is sliding and moved toward the connection base  41 . Thus the locking body  52  pivoted on the connection block  42  is locked on the metal rod  51  on the connection base  41  correspondingly and the connection base  41  is connected and fastened with the connection block  42 . The upper frame  1  and the lower frame  2  are fastened and located firmly by each other. While being folded, unlock the locking body  52  and the locking body  52  is released from the metal rod  51 . Then the upper frame  1  and the lower frame  2  are folded. The guiding wheel  421  of the connection block  42  is sliding in the guiding slot  21  of the lower frame  2  and is moving toward the front wheel  6  while connection block  42  is connected with the upper frame  1  by the bar  43 . Therefore, the upper frame  1  and the lower frame  2  are folded, facing each other. 
     Moreover, refer from  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 10 , the turning member  7  is used to turn the front wheel  6  so as to reduce the volume and space for storage. The turning guiding slot  731  of the turning member  7  is C-shaped. When the golf trolley is extended, the locking protrusion  713  is on one end of the C-shaped turning guiding slot  731  in a fixed state. While turning the front wheel  6 , the locking protrusion  713  of the shaft base  71  is pushed inward along the C-shaped turning guiding slot  731  and then along a horizontal portion of the C-shaped turning guiding slot  731  so as to turn the front wheel  6 . Next, the shaft base  71  is pushed outward by the elastic body  72  and the locking protrusion  713  of the shaft base  71  is located on the other end of the C-shaped turning guiding slot  731 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . Furthermore, refer to  FIG. 12 , a reinforcing rib  411  whose shape is similar to a surface of the connection base  41  is arranged under the connection base  41  so as to increase the strength of the extended golf trolley. 
     Refer from  FIG. 13  to  FIG. 16 , while extending the front wheel  6 , the front wheel  6  is connected to the lower frame  2  by the bending member  8 . The bending member  8  includes a pivot base  81  connected to the front wheel  6  and arranged with two support rods  811 , corresponding to each other. A groove  812  is disposed on an outer surface of each support rod  811 . A surface of the groove  812  is arranged with locating holes  813  and an insertion hole  814 . A base seat  82  arranged on the lower frame  2  is disposed between and connected with the two support rods  811 . The base seat  82  is mounted with locating through holes  821  and an insertion hole  822  corresponding to the locating holes  813  and the insertion hole  814  respectively. The groove  812  of the two support rods  811  is respectively mounted with a lug wrench  83  and a connection block  84  correspondingly. The lug wrench  83  includes a rod  831  wrapped with an elastic part  85  and penetrating through the insertion hole  814  of the pivot base  81 , the insertion hole  822  of the base seat  82  to be fixed on the connection block  84 . Corresponding to the locating holes  813  of the two support rods  811 , the lug wrench  83  and the connection block  84  respectively are disposed with locating prisms  832 ,  841 . By the mounting of the locating prisms  832 ,  841  into the locating through holes  821  of the base seat  82 , the extending/folding angle of the front wheel  6  is controlled. When the bending member  8  is not in use, the lug wrench  83  is in a fixed state and the locating prisms  832 ,  841  of the lug wrench  83  and of the connection block  84  are mounted into the locating through holes  821  so as to be in a locked state. When the lug wrench  83  is released, the elastic part  85  separates the lug wrench  83  from the connection block  84  elastically and the locating prisms  832 ,  841  are released from the locating through holes  821 . Thus the pivot base  81  is moveable and bendable and the front wheel  6  can be extended or folded. 
     Compared with the structure available now, the present invention has following advantages:
     1. By the locking body made of metal locked on the metal rod correspondingly, the fastening is precise and the location is stable. Thus the strength of the golf trolley in the extended state is improved. Moreover, the reinforcing rib whose shape is similar to the surface of the connection base is disposed under the connection base so as to increase the strength of the whole golf trolley.   2. Corresponding to two sides of the lower frame, guiding wheels are disposed on the connection block of the connection part. The guiding wheels slide and move in the guiding slots of the lower frame so as to reduce interfacial sliding resistance. Thus the extension and collapse of the golf trolley are smoother.   3. By the turning member that makes the front wheel turn and fold, located on a front end of the lower frame, the folding of the golf trolley is with smooth operation in a limited space and reduced volume for easy storage is achieved.   

     Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.