Abstract:
An improved canopy assembly for attaching a rearwardly extending protective canopy to a motorized golf cart of the type having a top covering the passenger seating area and an uncovered bag storage area reward of the seating area that includes a golf bag support bracket that prevents the golf bags from tipping over. The canopy assembly includes a mounting channel secured to the rearward portion of the top of the golf cart, a base member that attaches directly to the golf bag support bracket, a frame that pivotally attaches to the base member and a sheet of flexible water resistant material attached to the channel and suspended over the frame. The canopy assembly may be extended where the protective canopy substantially covers the cart&#39;s golf bag storage area protecting the bags from rainfall. The canopy assembly may be folded where the protective canopy is moved out of the way allowing golf clubs to be removed from the golf bags without hitting the canopy assembly.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to the field of golf cart canopy covers, specifically to an improved canopy cover that protects golf bags and clubs from rain.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
         [0002]    Canopy covers in the past have been utilized to protect golf bags and clubs located in the rear bag storage compartment of golf carts from rain and damp weather conditions. It is well known in the sport that wet golf club grips can hinder the performance of the player and is undesirable.  
           [0003]    Generally, canopy covers attach to the back of the cart&#39;s top and to the cart&#39;s frame section that supports the top. The connection to the top is typically made with an extruded channel member that accepts the top edge of the canopy. The connection to the cart&#39;s frame is made using a structural base member that serves as a mounting base for a frame supporting the canopy. The base member generally attaches directly to the frame of the cart. However, different cart makes and models have different frame structures making it necessary to change the canopy&#39;s base member&#39;s geometry to properly mate with the cart&#39;s structural frame.  
           [0004]    An example of a canopy cover to protect golf bags and clubs is U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,037 to William T. Held. This canopy cover discloses a cover that includes a channel that attaches to the back of the cart&#39;s top, base members that attach to the frame of the cart supporting the top of the cart and a canopy structure that supports the flexible canopy and is pivotally attached to the base member. As can be seen in the drawings and description of this patent, the base members attached to the cart frame are specifically designed for a particular style cart with a specific frame. It can be easily understood that if the frame design was substantially different as with another cart make or model the base members of the canopy would likely need to be changed to enable them to still attach to the frame. In fact, as detailed in the description section in this patent, the base members utilize two specific preexisting holes in the cart&#39;s frame that must be located in a specific area in order for the canopy&#39;s base members to attach. Additionally, it can be seen that the canopy assembly of this device is complicated, requiring a number of different processes to produce a relatively large number of parts and a significant amount of assembly. This results in a relatively expensive product making it burdensome for a perspective user to purchase. The canopy assembly described in this patent cannot take advantage of the ability to produce one canopy assembly for many different types of golf carts since different canopy base members would need to be designed in order to attach to a variety of frames. In addition, the relatively large number of fasteners and other components reduces the robustness and reliability of the invention described in this patent, increasing the likelihood of a loose fastener caused by normal cart usage.  
           [0005]    Another example of a cover to protect golf bags and clubs is U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,340 to Edwin H. Nuscher. This patent discloses a cover that includes a L-shaped top extending rearwardly from the top of the golf cart. In this patent the cover is supported by L-shaped support bars that attach to the top assembly of the cart. The cover is substantially elevated above the top of the cart to allow access to the golf clubs in the golf bags. However, one can easily see that this type of cover has several key disadvantages. The substantial elevation of the cover above the cart&#39;s top would severely limit the cart&#39;s usage in heavily wooded areas where it is desirable for the cart to travel under low tree branches. The branches could collide into the described cover causing damage to both the cover and the tree. Additionally, wind could easily carry rain on an angle from the sides of the cover into the bag storage area getting the golf bags and clubs wet. The L-shaped cover would also slow the cart&#39;s mobility when traveling against the wind since the cover has a large face that is not aerodynamic allowing the wind to hinder to cart&#39;s performance. The L-shaped roof is also not aesthetically pleasing to the eye making its marketability questionable.  
           [0006]    Another example of an enclosure to protect golf bags and clubs is U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,690 to Jerry M. Showalter. This patent discloses an enclosure that includes a roof panel, a hem portion coupled to the roof panel, a back cover coupled to the roof panel and a second back cover coupled to the roof panel. The invention described in this patent has several key disadvantages. The enclosure includes a roof panel that overlays the existing roof on the golf cart. This requires a lot of material that is relatively expensive leading to a more expensive product. The enclosure lacks a frame structure to suspend it substantially over the clubs resulting in a cover that drapes over the clubs and bag. When the cover is wet, the player must roll or fold it up to expose the golf bags underneath. This action would likely result in the user getting his or her hands wet. Additionally, the enclosure is not aesthetically pleasing since it looks sloppy.  
           [0007]    Another example of a cover to protect golf bags and clubs is U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,325 to Charles A Hughes. This patent discloses a cover that includes four panels that are sewn together along their edges to form a large, rectangularly-shaped box that is secured to the frame of the cart that supports the roof and to the back of the roof covering the seating compartment. The back panel of this cover contains a bag for storing the back panel after it has been folded up. However, this type of cover has a number of disadvantages. To access the covered clubs the player is forced to unhook two hook and loop straps and roll the wet cover up. This is far from convenient and would likely result in the player and possibly the clubs getting wet from the wet cover. The procedure is also slow requiring a significant amount of time. The player must unhook the cover, roll it up and let the cover back down while the player hits the ball. The procedure has to be repeated to return the club back into the golf bag.  
           [0008]    Another example of a roll-up type cover to protect golf bags and clubs is U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,041 to Diane Sullivan. This patent discloses a roll-up type cover that utilizes a shock cord to attach the bottom of the cover to the cart and hooks to attach the top of the cover to the back edge of the cart&#39;s top. This cover has similar disadvantages as U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,325 in that the player must bend over and unhook two shock cord hooks that extend from the bottom edge of the cover to allow the player to roll the cover up. Again, it is likely that the player will get wet during this procedure and it is time consuming. Additionally, the cover lacks a structural frame making it sloppy looking and not aesthetically pleasing.  
           [0009]    Another example of a roll-up cover to protect golf bags and clubs is U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,018 to John Albert Simpson. This patent discloses another roll-up type cover similar to U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,041 and shares the same disadvantages.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention provides an improved canopy assembly for attachment onto a golf cart to protect golf bags and clubs located in the back of the cart from rain. The invention allows the user to quickly extend the canopy to protect clubs and bags from rainfall and just as quickly fold up the cover to allow access to the clubs. Additionally, the invention enables the user to quickly attach and detach the canopy onto the cart&#39;s golf bag support bracket on a variety of different golf cart makes and models since the invention utilizes a versatile attachment method.  
           [0011]    It is to be understood that both the preceding summary and the following detailed description are intended to be exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide a further explanation of the invention claimed. The invention will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
         OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF INVENTION  
         [0012]    Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:  
           [0013]    (a) to provide a canopy rain cover assembly that mounts to a variety of different golf cart types without the need for additional or different parts;  
           [0014]    (b) to provide a canopy rain cover assembly that is inexpensive having substantially fewer parts than the currently known covers that have canopy support frames that allow the canopy to be folded-up;  
           [0015]    (c) to provide a canopy rain cover assembly that is robust and durable;  
           [0016]    (d) to provide a canopy rain cover assembly that is simple to manufacture requiring less processing steps than currently known covers; and  
           [0017]    (e) to provide a canopy rain cover assembly that can be rapidly extended to protect the bag storage area from rainfall and just as rapidly folded up to allow access to the bag storage area. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    These and other advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a golf cart in which an embodiment of the present invention may be used;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the golf cart with canopy attachment members mounted to the cart;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2A is an enlarged partial view of the channel attached to the rear of the top;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the golf cart with an embodiment of the present invention attached with the cover extended to protect the golf bag and clubs from rain;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention attached to the cart&#39;s bag support bracket without the cart present and with the cover extended;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a partial rear perspective view of the base member secured to the bag support with the pivot arm and associated hardware exploded, the canopy and cart are eliminated from clarity;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the base member including the pivot arms secured to the bag support without the cart or the canopy present;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6A is an enlarged partial view of the pivot arm mounted on the base member;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the base member only;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7A is an enlarge partial view of the end of the base member;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cart with an embodiment of the present invention attached and the canopy folded up to allow access to the golf clubs; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of alternative embodiment of the present invention attached to the cart&#39;s bag support bracket without the cart present and with the cover extended. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0031]    [0031]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a motorized golf cart  10  to which an embodiment of a canopy attachment in accordance with the present invention, generally indicated as a canopy assembly  34  in FIG. 3, can be attached. Cart  10  has a top  12  that is attached to the upper ends of rear frame members  14 A and  14 B and the upper portion of a front frame member  16  using fasteners. Top  12  is preferably a molded plastic part and is used to protect passengers sifting in a passenger compartment  22  from rain. The passengers sit on a seat  18  with their back resting on a seat back  20 . Behind seat back  20  is a bag storage area  24 .  
         [0032]    With reference again to FIG. 1, bag storage area  24  is used to store one or more golf bags  26  containing golf clubs  28 . The bottom of golf bag  26  rests on a bottom  30  of a cart body  36 . The upper portion of the golf bag is supported by a U-shaped bag support  32  that prevents golf bag  26  from tipping over. Bag support  32  is preferably a molded plastic part with straps  54  attached to it to secure the golf bag to the bag support. Bag support  32  is mounted onto frame extensions  38 A and  38 B of cart  10  using fastening means (not shown), as for example threaded bolts and nuts. Frame extensions  38 A and  38 B are made of metal and attached to rear frames  14 A and  14 B by fastening means, welding or are a continuous extension of the rear frames.  
         [0033]    Referring again to FIG. 1, bag storage area  24  is generally formed as part of cart body  36  that opens toward the rear of the cart. The bag storage area is defined by bottom  30 , two opposite sides  23 , 25  and seat back  20 . Top  12  has a front edge  11  and a rear edge  13  and is located above passenger compartment  22 , The top does not cover the bag storage area to allow the player to remove golf clubs  28  from golf bag  26  without hitting the golf club on the underside of top  12  while trying to lift the golf club out of the golf bag. Therefore, the bag storage area and the golf bag are exposed to rainfall. In order to protect bag storage area  24  it is necessary to have a cover that can be folded out of the way so that the player may remove the golf clubs without being hindered by a covering directly above golf bag  26 .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 2 and 2A show the components necessary to mount an embodiment of this invention referred to as a canopy assembly  34 , shown in FIG. 3, to cart  10 . A channel  40  is secured to a rear face  42  of top  12  preferably using rivets  44 . However, screws, bolts or other fastening means could be used in place of rivets  44 . A base member  46  is a structural bracket that is attached to bag support  32  by U-bolts  50 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The U-bolts surround the bag support and pass through holes  52  in flanges  58 .  
         [0035]    The channel, shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A, is preferably one continuous piece of extruded aluminum, however, extrude plastic will also work. The channel is preferably elongated having a width about equal to the width of face  42  on top  12 . The channel has a substantially C-shaped cross section with a rearward opening  92 .  
         [0036]    A canopy  84 , shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, has a rolled and a sewn top edge  90  forming a sleeve  91  that a rod  93  is slid endwise into until the end of rod  93  corresponds to the ends of the sleeve forming rounded top edge  90 . Rod  93  has a length about the same as the length of channel  40 . The sleeve and rod are sized to allow them to be inserted as an assembly endwise into the C-shaped cross section of channel  40 . Top edge  90  has a diameter larger than opening  92  in channel  40  preventing the top edge from passing through opening  92 , therefore, securing the top edge within channel  40 . Rod  93  may be constructed of a rigid material as for example plastic or metal.  
         [0037]    As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, U-bolts  50  are used to secure base member  46  to bag support  32  and are secured using washers  68  placed onto U-bolt ends  80  and threaded nuts  82  that thread onto ends  80  of the U-bolts. When the nuts are tightened, flanges  58  contact the back face of bag support  32  clamping them together. U-bolts  50  are preferably made from metal as for example steel.  
         [0038]    With reference to FIGS. 5, 7 and  7 A, base member  46  is preferably one continuous piece of high strength molded plastic, as for example nylon, with a beam  56  spanning the upper portion and two mounting flanges  58  extending from the bottom of the beam. The width of the beam corresponds to the width of the bag storage area. End faces  62 A and  62 B are located on opposite ends of beam  56 . A cylindrical inner boss  60  extends from each end face  62 A and  62 B to form a mounting cylinder for a pivot arm  64 , shown in FIG. 6A, to mount onto. A cylindrical outer ring  61  also extends off of end faces  62 A and  62 B surrounding inner boss  60 . Both the inner boss and the outer ring are formed as part of base member  46 . The outer ring provides a mating surface  63  that contacts a pivot face  65  on pivot arm  64  when the pivot arm is assembled onto inner boss  60  using a screw  66 . The surface to surface contact between surface  63  and pivot face  65  creates constant resistance to rotation of the pivot arm due to friction between them. This resistance holds canopy  84 , shown in FIG. 8, in a folded position when the user forces the canopy upward to allow access to golf clubs  28  and prevents the weight of canopy  84  from rotating pivot arms  64  downward which would result in extending the canopy. Beam  56  has a generally I-beam shaped cross section that provides structural rigidity for the base member  46 . Flanges  58  provide mounting extensions of the beam that contact the back face of bag support  32 , as previously described. The flanges contain holes  52  that the ends of the U-bolts pass through. The flanges are formed as a continuous part of beam  56 .  
         [0039]    With reference to FIGS. 6A, 7 and  7 A, on each end of beam  56  are end faces  62 A and  62 B. Inner boss  60 , formed as part of the base member, contains a small diameter screw bore  86  in the center of the boss. The bore has a diameter slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the threads on screw  66  and is sized to allow screw  66  to self-tap into the screw bore to secure pivot arm  64  onto inner boss  60  on each end of beam  56 , as shown in FIG. 6. Washer  68  is used to distribute the clamp force of screw  66  on pivot arm  64  holding the pivot arm on the inner boss and keeping mating surface  63  in contact with the pivot face  65 , shown in FIG. 5, on pivot arm  64 .  
         [0040]    With reference to FIGS. 5, 6A and  7 A, pivot arm  64  is a separately molded plastic part made from a high strength, molded plastic, as for example nylon . The pivot arm contains a pivot hole  88  that has a diameter that is slightly larger than the outside diameter of inner boss  60  allowing the pivot arm to rotate around the inner boss when the pivot arm is slid over the boss and secured in place by washer  68  and screw  66 , as shown in FIG. 6A. Both the screw and the washer are preferably made of steel. Pivot arm  64  extends outward from a cylindrical mounting end  74  and transitions to a rectangular cross section receiving a end  70 , shown in FIG. 6A, that has a hollowed rectangular socket  72 , shown in FIG. 5, that is sized to receive end  75  of a support bracket  76  as shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0041]    With reference again to FIGS. 4 and 5, support bracket  76  is used to structurally support canopy  84  and is generally a U-shaped continuous rigid support with opposite ends  75  that have a rectangular cross section to facilitate insertion into socket  72 . In this way, the support bracket is pivotally connected to base member  46 . The length of support bracket  76  corresponds to the size of bag storage area  24  to ensure that when the support bracket is extended it covers the majority of the bag storage area. Near the ends of the support bracket  76  are rivet holes  94  that align with clearance holes  78  in the pivot arms to allow the insertion of rivets  45 . Rivets  45  secure ends  75  of support bracket  76  into sockets  72  and prevent the ends of the support bracket from coming out of sockets  72  because the rivets cannot slide through sockets  72 .  
         [0042]    With reference again to FIG. 3, canopy  84  is made from a thin sheet of flexible water-resistant material like vinyl that is sewn together. Canopy  84  is defined by a canopy top  85  and two generally opposing canopy sides  87  and  89 . The canopy has a bottom edge  120 , top edge  90  and a front canopy edge  122  that define the limits of the canopy.  
         [0043]    With reference again to FIG. 4, support bracket  76  and a mid-support bracket  96  provide structural support for the canopy. The mid-support bracket is generally a U-shaped continuous support with opposite ends  95  that have rectangular cross sections. The length of the mid-support bracket corresponds to the desired shape of the canopy that it supports. Both the support bracket and the mid-support bracket are made of a semi-rigid material like spring steel or a high strength plastic, as for example nylon. Both the support bracket and mid-support bracket pass through sewn channels  124 A and  124 B respectively in the canopy to locate them in the desired position within canopy  84 . In this way, the canopy is attached to support bracket  76  and mid-support bracket  96 . Support bracket  76  has pin holes  98 A that align with pin holes  98 B in mid-support bracket  96  to allow pins  100  to pass through, pivotally connecting the support bracket and midsupport bracket together. Lock pins  102  are assembled onto the ends of pins  100  to secure the pins in position. In this way, the mid-support bracket is free to pivot about pins  100  relative to support bracket  76 . Support bracket  76  and mid-support bracket  96  together makeup a frame structure for supporting the canopy.  
         [0044]    With reference again to FIGS. 3 and 4, canopy assembly  34  is attached to cart  10  and is extended to protect golf bag  26  and golf clubs  28  from adverse weather conditions like rainfall. In the extended position shown, canopy  84  is pulled taunt from within channel  40  and stretches over mid-support bracket  96  and down over support bracket  76 . Therefore, channel  40 , mid-support bracket  96  and support bracket  76  cooperate to support canopy  84 . In this way, canopy  84  covers bag storage area  24  and remains in this position due to the weight of the canopy, support bracket  76  and mid-support bracket  96 .  
         [0045]    With reference to FIG. 8, canopy assembly  34  is attached to cart  10  and is in a folded up position to allow access to golf bag  26  and golf clubs  28 . Canopy  84  is folded up from the extended position, as shown in FIG. 4, by gripping the bottom of canopy  84  near support bracket  76  and lifting the support bracket upwardly, toward the back of top  12 . The moment force created from this lifting action causes pivot arms  64  to rotate around inner bosses  60 . The mid-support bracket pivots relative to support bracket  76  around pins  100 . At approximately the halfway point of folding up the canopy support bracket  76  contacts mid-support bracket  96  with the cover material folded in-between them and begins to rotate upwardly toward the back of top  12 . When the lifting action is completed, as shown in FIG. 8, both support bracket  76  and mid-support bracket  96  are substantially vertical and the user may release the canopy. The friction between mating surfaces  63  on beam  56  and pivot face  65  on each pivot arm  64  prevents the canopy from falling back into the extended position. Therefore, the canopy is held in the folded position, as shown in FIG. 8, by the friction between mating surface  63  and pivot face  65 . If the weather conditions improve and the player wishes to have the cover retained in the folded position while driving the cart, he or she may choose to fasten the cover in this position using the hook and loop fastening method, shown in FIG. 8. A hook strap  104  is sewn to the canopy on the outer face near top edge  90  and is wrapped around the folded canopy and attached to a loop strap  106  that is sewn to the inner face of the canopy near the top edge. The player may extend the canopy by separating the hook strap from the loop strap and pulling the bottom of canopy  84  near support bracket  76  downwardly and toward the back of the cart. This will extend the cover over bag storage area  24 , as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0046]    In a second embodiment of this invention, shown in FIG. 9, pivot arms  64  and rivet holes  94  are eliminated. Pivot holes  194  and assembled directly onto inner boss  60 . In this embodiment, the modified support bracket  176  is pivotally attached directly to base member  46  in the same way as pivot arms  64 , as previously described.  
       CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE OF INVENTION  
       [0047]    Accordingly, one skilled in the art will recognize that the canopy rain cover of this invention can be used for rain protection on a motorized golf cart easily and conveniently, can be installed just as easily using simple tools and is aesthetically pleasing when installed on the cart. Furthermore, this invention has the additional advantages in that;  
         [0048]    (a) it provides a canopy rain cover that mounts to the bag support on a variety of different golf carts without having to modify the design for each;  
         [0049]    (b) it provides a canopy rain cover that is relatively inexpensive having fewer and simpler parts than currently known covers;  
         [0050]    (c) it provides a rain cover that is robust and durable; and  
         [0051]    (d) it provides a rain cover that is made up of components that are simple and inexpensive to manufacture.  
         [0052]    Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the plastic molded base member  46  could be replaced with a steel or wood base member; the base member could have a different shape or be made an assembly of different parts; the U-bolts used to mount the base member to the bag support could be replaced with another fastening means like a threaded nut and bolt passing through the bag support; screw  66  fastening pivot arms  64  onto inner boss  60  could be replaced be snap fitting pivot hole  88  over a corresponding inner boss; one pivot arm  64  could be removed by only attaching one end of support bracket  76  to base member  46 ; pivot arm socket  72  could be eliminated with bracket  76  attaching another way to the pivot arm; pivot arms  64  could be eliminated by pivotally attaching support bracket  76  directly to base member  46 ; mid-support bracket  96  could also be directly attached to base member  46  or additional pivot arms  64  instead of attaching to the mid section of support bracket  76 ; both the support bracket and the mid-support bracket do not have to pass through sewn channels in the canopy, they could be attached using other fastening means like hook and loop straps; channel  40  could be replaced by another type of fastening means to connect the canopy&#39;s top edge to top  12 , as for example, a hook strip attached to top  12  and a loop strip attached to the top edge of the canopy; and sleeve rod  93  could be eliminated by rolling and sowing top edge  90 , etc.  
         [0053]    Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.