Abstract:
A retractable awning for attachment to a golf cart is provided. The awning is comprised of a framework having a plurality of U-shaped rib members and a fabric cover. The U-shaped rib members have ends terminating at a common pivot point to allow respective relative movement to move the awning between an extended deployed position and a retracted closed position over a rear compartment of the golf cart. Each successively adjacent rib member is dimensioned slightly less than its preceding rib member to allow nesting of all the rib members in a common plane so that the framework can lie substantially flat in its retracted position. Sleeve members for receiving the rib members are provided on the underneath side of the awning cover to allow the fabric to deploy and retract over the framework without binding.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to coverings and awnings for golf carts. A standard golf cart has an area for stowage of golf clubs and other equipment at the rear of the cart. While the cart&#39;s roof covers persons riding in the cart, it leaves the equipment in the stowage area uncovered. Golfing equipment can be very expensive, and it is undesirable for it to get wet because of rain. As such, a cover extending over the rear stowage area of the cart is desirable. However, ready access by a golfer to his equipment is essential, so the cover should not obstruct the golfer&#39;s ability to reach for clubs as needed. Further, if rainy conditions are not present, the cover is not needed and must be moved out of the way. There exist retractable covers that extend over the cart&#39;s stowage area, but they often do so in a cumbersome fashion. While some covers, when deployed, may do an adequate job in keeping rain off the equipment, they do not fold away in a neat, compact fashion when retracted after use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     By means of the instant invention there is provided a retractable awning for the rear equipment stowage area of a golf cart. The awning is comprised of a framework having a fabric covering extended over a plurality of U-shaped rib members joined at their ends at a common pivot point. The rib members are moveable relative to each other so that the awning can be moved in fan-like fashion between an open, deployed position to a closed, retracted position. A first top rib member forms the top, forward lateral edge of the awning, and each successive rib member supports a portion of the fabric to give structural shape to the awning in its deployed state. The awning is attached to the rear of a golf cart by fastening the top rib member to the underneath side of the rear edge of the roof of the golf cart. The respective pivot points of the rib members are supported against the cart&#39;s vertical support posts. Each successive rib member has an incrementally smaller dimension than its preceding rib member such that all the rib members can be nested together in a common plane when the awning is in the closed retracted position. Sleeves are disposed on the inner surface of the fabric to receive the rib members which allows the fabric to deploy smoothly over the framework. A fabric flap is provided at the top lateral edge to enable the loose awning fabric to be gathered neatly together when the awning is held against the rear edge of the cart&#39;s roof in the closed retracted state. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a retractable awning for attachment to the rear of a golf cart to protect equipment stored in the cart&#39;s stowage area. Another object of the invention is to provide a retractable awning having a framework comprised of rib members that nest together in planar alignment when in a closed retracted position. These and other object of the present invention are realized in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, described by way of example and not by way of limitation. 
     Additional object, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following more detailed description and drawings in which like elements of the invention are similarly numbered throughout. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the awning in a partially open state. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the awning framework taken in side elevation along lines  2 — 2  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a pivot point of the awning framework taken in side elevation along lines  3 — 3  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the awning in a deployed state on the back of a golf cart. 
     FIG. 5 is a view showing a mounting embodiment in which the bottom portion of the awning is attached to a support post of a golf cart. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the awning in a retracted state on the back of a golf cart. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the nested rib members comprising the awning framework taken in side elevation along lines  7 — 7  in FIG.  6 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The awning attachment of the present invention, which is generally indicated by the reference numeral  10 , is shown in FIG.  1 . It is comprised of a framework  12  which supports a fabric covering  14 . Framework  12  is comprised of a series of U-shaped rib members  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22 , each having ends  16 ′,  16 ″,  18 ′,  18 ″,  20 ′,  20 ″,  22 ′ and  22 ″, respectively. While additional, or fewer, rib members may be employed, four rib members provides the optimum number to adequately provide support for the fabric covering and give it a pleasing, gently arcuate shape. The respective rib member ends are connected together by bolts  24  and  26 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, to create common pivot points  25  and  27 , respectively, by which the rib members may be moved relative to each other. Bushings  28  are provided along bolts  24  and  26  between the rib member ends to provide adequate separation thereof to facilitate relative movement of the rib members when fanned out. A sufficient amount of fabric covering  14  is provided to enable the awning, when deployed, to extend arcuately from the rear edge section  30  of the roof of the cart to a point slightly beyond the rear edge of the cart, and to a level approximately even with the seats of the cart, so as to effectively cover the top of a golf club bag  32  held upright in the storage compartment as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     Sleeves are disposed on the forward and rear edges and underneath side of fabric cover  14  by sewing or the like to receive the rib members as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The sleeves allow a certain freedom of movement of the fabric cover along the rib members to facilitate deployment and retraction of the awning. Sleeve  50  is formed around the perimeter front lateral edge of fabric cover  14  and receives arms  34  and cross piece  36  of rib member  16 . Sleeves  52  and  54  receive arm  38  and cross piece  40 , respectively, of rib member  18 . A corresponding sleeve  52  on the opposite interior side of fabric  14  receives the other arm  38 . Similarly, sleeves  56  and  58  receive arms  42  and cross piece  44 , respectively, of rib member  20 . Sleeve  60  is formed around the perimeter rear lateral edge of fabric cover  14  and receives arms  46  and cross piece  48  of rib member  22 . 
     Each successive rib member after the first top rib member has an incrementally shorter dimension with respect to both its length and width so that the entire framework may lie substantially flat in a nesting relationship when in the closed retracted position shown in FIG.  6 . As further shown in FIG. 1, rib member  16  comprises arms  34  and cross piece  36 . Rib member  18  comprises arms  38 , which are around ½ to one inch shorter than arms  34  of rib member  16 , and cross piece  40 , which is around one to two inches shorter than cross piece  36  of rib member  16 . Likewise, rib member  20  comprises arms  42  and cross piece  44 , which are respectively around ½ to one inch shorter than arms  38  and around one to two inches shorter than cross piece  40  of rib member  18 . Further, rib member  22  comprises arms  46  and cross piece  48 , which are respectively around ½ to one inch shorter than arms  42  and around one to two inches shorter than cross piece  44  of rib member  20 . The dimensions may vary due to the thicknesses of the rib members and fabric cover  14  held between the rib members. This arrangement allows each successive rib member to be nested within the forwardly preceding rib member in a planar relationship. Rib members  16 - 22  are substantially flat in cross section which facilitates their side-by-side placement at pivot points  25  and  27  and also allows the nesting relationship shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Bushings  28  keep the rib members spaced apart to provide room for the fabric sleeve material sandwiched between the rib members. 
     The awning attachment is fitted on to a golf cart as shown in FIG.  4 . The forward edge of the frame structure, at the top edge of rib member  16 , is connected to the underneath side of the rear section  30  of the cart&#39;s roof. Such connection can be made by providing drill holes in both the rib member and the roof to allow screwing or bolting the rib member directly into the roof section, or by any other appropriate connection means known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, the rib member should lie flush with the rear edge of the roof so that the awning remains as unobtrusive as possible. The frame is further secured to the cart&#39;s upright, vertical support posts  62  and  64  through mounting clamps  66  and  68 . These mounting clamps, as shown in FIG. 5, each comprise a metal strap  70  having a clamp  72  for engaging the cart&#39;s support post  62  or  64 . Clamp  72  may comprise an open faced C-shaped channel having inwardly biased edges for holding support post in tight engagement. Alternately, a clamp having a tightening fastener, such as a threaded C-clamp, may be used. Mounting clamps  66  and  68  each have an end  74  for mounting at pivot points  25  and  27  for the rib members of framework  12  as shown in FIG.  3 . It is to be understood that the configuration of the vertical support posts of carts of different manufacturers may vary, with the posts being set wide in some cart models and set narrow in other cart models. As such, the distance of the pivot points  25  and  27  to the cart&#39;s supports will vary. To accommodate such different dimensions, the mounting clamps may be provided with different lengths of straps  70 . 
     To hold the loose fabric material of cover  14  in a neat bundle when the awning is in the closed, retracted position, a gathering flap  76  is provided on the top section of cover  14 . FIG. 1 shows flap  76  extending along the substantial width of cross piece  36  of rib member  16 , being secured to the fabric by sewing or the like along that end. The free end is provided with snaps or hook and loop fastening material. When the awning is in the open, deployed position, gathering flap  76  lies loosely on the top of fabric covering  14  on the back of the awning. It is not long enough, however, so that it dangles below the rear bottom edge of the awning. When the awning is folded up into its closed, retracted position, gathering flap is wrapped around the nested rib members and secured by its snaps or hook and loop fastening means to corresponding fastening means on the forward lateral edge of the framework of the awning or to the underneath side of the roof of the cart as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. By having the gathering flap extend the substantial width of the framework, it avoids unsightly bulging out of material that would be present if narrow gathering strips were instead used. As an additional advantage, the wide gathering flap allows for printed material to be placed thereon which presents a useful marketing tool for advertisers during golf tournaments. 
     Use 
     The retractable awning of the present invention provides a useful attachment to the rear of a golf cart to keep equipment dry during rainy periods. It is very simply employed by pulling apart the rib members in fan-like fashion to create the arcuate structure of the awning. When a golfer needs to access her equipment and reach for a club, she need merely raise the edge of the awning to a sufficient degree to be able to reach in to the golf bag. When the rainy conditions no longer exist, the framework is simply pivoted into its closed retracted state. The nesting arrangement of the rib members allows for a neat, compact arrangement. Gathering flap  76  is then wound around the rear end of the rib members and brought around underneath the roof section to neatly bundle the fabric material. The awning of the instant invention, however, need not only be used for rainy conditions; it can also be used as a screen to protect the cart occupants from the rays of the sun. Thus, the awning can be kept in its open deployed state all the time. If desired, a window  78  may be formed in the rear of the awning using transparent plastic or the like. 
     Various changes and modifications may be made within this invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.