Abstract:
Improved visors for mounting to golf carts are provided. A shade member can be connected to at least one mounting bracket. The bracket can be configured to include two mounting arms each having a substantially flat portion including an aperture therethrough and an arcturate portion. A mounting member can be fixedly connected to a golf cart frame and rotationally connected to the shade member thereby allowing rotation of the shade member to a plurality of stable positions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/842,059, titled “Golf Cart Visor”, filed Jul. 2, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     In addition to being employed for the game of golf, golf carts are often used in in golf cart communities for transportation to, for example, shopping, restaurants, doctors, or hospitals. Various attempts have been made to overcome the problem of shielding golf cart drivers and passengers from the glare of the sun to improve safety and comfort. 
     Some known devices modify vehicle sun visors, and even include certain modified sun visors for golf carts. Examples of such devices include U.S. Pat. No. 2,707,072 to Sims for “Article Holder for Sun Visors”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,051 to Cody et al. for “Visor with Mirror and Storage Means”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,238 to Healey for “Roof for Golf Cart”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,856 to Newsome for “Sun Visor Organizer”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,020 to Ferguson for “Storage Device for Golf Carts”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,272 to Faddis for “Golf Cart Sun Visor and Storage Device”. 
     While those above described devices may work for their intended purposes, there is a need for improved sun visors for golf carts which have the benefit of some known devices, yet none of the shortcomings. 
     Therefore, the present invention is directed to improved sun visors adapted for use on golf carts or similar vehicles. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts an isometric view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  depict plan views of opposing sides of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  depict side views of the present invention including a fastener as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIGS. 6 through 10  depict various views of a universal mounting rod according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 11 and 12  depict isometric views of an embodiment of the present invention mounted to the frame of a golf cart. 
         FIGS. 13 through 16  depict several views of a mounting bracket adapted for mounting a sun visor to a golf cart universal mounting rod, an existing mirror bar, or a cross member. 
     
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a sun visor adapted for a golf cart comprises a shade member. The shade member can have an outer surface and an inner surface. At least one mounting bracket can be connected to the shade member. The at least one mounting bracket can be configured to include at least two mounting arms. The at least two mounting arms each can have a substantially flat distal portion including an aperture therethrough and an arcturate or curved proximal portion. The at least two mounting arms can protrude from the shade member such that an aperture is formed between the arms. 
     A universal mounting member can include an elongated rod. The rod can be connected to a flange. The flange can include at least one aperture therethrough for connecting the mounting member to a golf cart frame. The shade member can be rotationally connected to the mounting member by at least one fastener protruding through the apertures locating in the substantially flat portions of the mounting arms which can be frictionally retained substantially within the curved portions of the mounting arms thereby allowing rotation of the shade member to a plurality of fixed sun blocking positions. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the flange can be configured to be substantially parallel to the mounting member. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the flange can be configured to be substantially parallel to the mounting member. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, the shade member can be opaque. 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, shade member can be translucent. 
     In certain embodiments of the present invention, the shade member can be transparent. 
     Yet in other embodiments of the present invention, the shade member can be a light polarizing lens. 
     In some embodiments on this aspect of the invention, the sun visor can further comprise a plurality of clips for retaining a plaque on the outer surface of the shade. 
     In some embodiments, the at least one mounting bracket can be two brackets. 
     In some other embodiments, the at least one mounting bracket can be three brackets. 
     In certain embodiments of this aspect of the invention, the at least one mounting bracket can be integrally molded with the shade member. 
     In other embodiments of the instant invention, the at least one bracket and the shade can comprise an ultra-violet resistant polycarbonate material. 
     In one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the at least one mounting bracket can comprise a first, a second, and a third mounting bracket. The second bracket can include arms having a solid flat portion. The shade can be fastened to the universal mounting member using the first and said second brackets. The arms can capture the mounting member and can be tightened or adjusted to provide a sufficient frictional force to allow for rotation of the shade to a plurality of rotational positions. The shade can be stable at any of the plurality of rotational positions. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a sun visor adapted for a golf cart comprises a sun blocking member including an inner side and an outer side. At least one retaining member can be attached to the inner side of the sun blocking member. The at least one retaining member can have a first arm and a second arm. The first and second arms each can have an aperture therethrough. The first and second arms can be disposed substantially perpendicular to the sun blocking member. Each arm can include a first substantially flat region and a second curved region. At least one fastener can be disposed within the apertures. The curved regions can engage a substantially circular bar mounted on a golf cart. The at least one fastener can be used to reversibly install or remove the sun visor from a golf cart. 
     In one embodiment of this aspect, the shade member can be opaque, translucent, or transparent. 
     In another embodiment, the shade member can be a light polarizing lens. 
     In some embodiments, the sun visor can comprise a plurality of clips for retaining a plaque on the outer side of the shade or on the inner side of the shade. 
     In some embodiments, the at least one retaining member can be integrally molded with the shade member. 
     In another aspect of the present invention a golf cart sun visor kit comprises a sun visor adapted for a golf cart. A shade member can have an outer surface and an inner surface. At least one mounting bracket can be connected to the shade member. The at least one mounting bracket can be configured to include at least two mounting arms. The at least to mounting arms each can have a substantially flat distal portion including an aperture therethrough and an arcturate or curved proximal portion. The at least two mounting arms can protrude from the shade member such that an aperture is formed between the arms. A universal mounting member can include an elongated rod. The rod can be connected to a flange that includes at least one aperture therethrough. The flange can be connected to a golf cart frame using at least one fastener. The shade member can be rotationally connected to the mounting member by at least one fastener protruding through the apertures in the substantially flat portions of the mounting arms. The rod can be frictionally retained substantially within the curved portions of the mounting arms allowing for rotation of the shade member to a plurality of fixed sun blocking positions. The kit can include at least one fastener for mounting the at least one mounting bracket to the universal mounting member and at least one fastener for mounting the flange to the gold cart frame. The kit can include an installation instruction sheet and a package for containing the kit. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention is directed to a sun visor for a golf cart, in particular, a device used to shield a golf cart driver or passenger from the sun. The invention is advantageous in that it improves golf cart safety in general, and can help to speed up play on the golf course. The device can be installed using a universal mounting rod as described herein. This allows a golf cart user to install the device on almost any new or pre-existing golf cart frame without the need for costly and time consuming customization. Similarly, the device may be installed directly onto a mirror bar or a cross bar commonly found on many golf carts spanning the frame members across the front portion of the cart.  FIGS. 1-16  depict several non-limiting embodiments of the instant invention as described below. 
     In one non-limiting embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the sun visor  10  can have a substantially rectangular shade member  4 . In this embodiment, the shade member  4  can include an outer surface  8  and an inner surface  12 . The shade member can have three mounting brackets  16  for mounting the visor  10  to a golf cart as will be discussed below. It will be understood that two of the three brackets can be used to fasten the visor in place. Further, any number of brackets can be used depending on the structural and functional requirements of any particular application. 
     In this embodiment, mounting brackets  16  can be integrally molded with shade member  4 . Optionally, the brackets may be separate components which may be attached by conventional means, such as fasteners as shown and described below. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the shade member  4  can include retaining clips  20 . The retaining clips can be used to retain, for example, a sheet of advertising material a sports logo, or a cart identification (not shown). The number and location of clips  20  can be modified to suit a plurality of applications. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-5  the mounting brackets  16  can be configured to include mounting arms  24 . The mounting arms each have a substantially flat distal portion  28  and an arcturate or curved proximal portion  32 . The arms protrude from shade member  4  such that the aperture formed by the distal portion is smaller than that formed by the proximal portion. In this way, the arms can act to capture a mounting bar and be adjusted to provide a frictional force which allows for rotation of the shade to a plurality of positions to block the sun or stow the shade. The frictional connection allows for the stability of the shade at each of the plurality of rotational positions during use of the golf cart and when at rest. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , fasteners, such as nuts  36  and bolts  40  can be used to secure the brackets  24  to a substantially circular member such as a golf cart mirror bar or a universal mounting member  44  as discussed below. 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 6-10 , in one embodiment of the present invention, universal mounting member  44  includes an elongated rod  48 . The elongated rod  48  is connected to flange  52  which can include apertures  56  for connecting the mounting member to a golf cart frame or the like. The flange can be configured to be substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular to mounting member  56 . This allows the device to be mounted using fasters or other known connecting means to a substantially rectangular golf cart frame on a plurality of perpendicular surfaces. Since golf carts may be configured differently, the universal member provides that the position of the flange can be modified to fit a wide variety of cart configurations without costly customization or the need to relocate other components on the cart. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11-12 , the brackets  16  of shade member  4  of the visor is rotationally connected to the rod  48 . In this way, the rod is frictionally retained substantially within the curved portions of the arms to allow rotation to a plurality of fixed positions of the shade about the rod. Screws or other known fasteners (not shown) can be used to fasten one or more of the brackets  16 , preferably two of the three brackets shown. 
     The universal mounting member can be connected to via the flange to a golf cart frame  60 . A configuration wherein two visor assemblies  64  are mounted to the rectangular frame  60  of golf cart  68  for the driver=and the passenger is depicted, however, other configurations such as, for example, one visor assembly on either side of the cart are contemplated herein. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the flange  52  can be mounted to the frame  60  in a plurality of configurations. 
     In another non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, a visor, comprising a sun deflecting material can be secured to an existing mirror bar, a cross member, or a universal mounting member as described above.  FIGS. 13-16  depict several views of a mounting bracket  100 . The bracket includes base  104  and arms  108 . The base can include apertures  106 . The arms  108  include substantially flat portions  116  and curved portions  120  for retaining a fixed member. A shade (not shown) can be connected to one or more brackets via the apertures  106  in base  104  by, for example, screws. The fixed member can be rotationally connected to the bracket between arms  108  using, for example, fastener  124 . In this way, the shade can be rotated to a plurality of stable positions to block the sun or stow the shade out of view. 
     Some components of the present invention can be fabricated from polymers or other structural materials which will be known to one skilled in the art of manufacturing. Like-wise, manufacturing processes such as, for example, injection molding, compression molding, casting, or machining will be well known to those skilled in the art of component manufacturing. 
     The visor  10  can be made of an opaque, translucent, or transparent material for blocking, deflecting, modifying, filtering, or polarizing the rays of the sun thereby by providing a complete blockage or a sun-glasses effect for the user. 
     Shade materials can include polycarbonate with a sufficient amount of colorant or ultraviolet protectant to be opaque or tinted. Known materials include Lexan™ resin, such as, for example Lexan™ 141R. To achieve a grey tint, the base resin may be modified with a sufficient amount of, for example, a nickel based tint such as Smoke Grey Tint UV2. To achieve a brown tint, the base resin may be modified with a sufficient amount of, for example, a brown tinted material such as Smoke Brown Tint UV2. Any color tint may be utilized. A preferred range for colorant/ultraviolet protection materials is between about 0.2% and 0.5% by weight. Other known materials such as wood, metal, ceramic, polymers and elastomers are contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention. 
     Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the disclosure herein.