Patent Publication Number: US-5524968-A

Title: Golf chair for the handicapped

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     There has been a crusade to insure and establish the rights of the handicapped culminating recently in the Americans with Disabilities Act. 
     The area of sports presents an interesting challenge in this area. Previously handicapped persons could not take part in even the most mundane activities. The present invention makes a giant stride in this field of endeavor. It will permit a handicapped person of the first time to actively take part in playing golf. 
     2. Prior Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,312,477 introduces a movable support that may advantageously be used by a person laying carpet stripping adjacent to a wall surface. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,560 describes a dental stool with a base having casters permitting movement in a desired operating position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,387 teaches a collapsible back pack chair adapted to be carried on the back of a user. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,260 shows a chair seat mount which permits the seat to tilt forward. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,896 relates to a portable and collapsible seat. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,748 has as its object a portable swivel hunter&#39;s stool. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,366,981 presents a standing work seat in which the support column and base are rigidly attached together, the support column is inherently rotatable, the seat is inclinable in the seat direction. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,080 is a mobility aid for use in conjunction with crutches or like, by a legless person or a person afflicted with paraplegia for step-like ambulating the aid having a foot with a convex lower surface. 
     OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of this invention to permit a handicapped person to play golf. The invention centers about a pivotal chair which may be adjusted about the pivot for angular movement and adjusted up or down for varying heights and by the use of an adjustable tripod may be made amenable to varying surfaces. 
     The invention of this chair is a giant step in bringing handicapped persons to the field of sports, especially in this instance golf, which were previously outside the scope of activity for the handicapped. 
     The focal point of the instant invention is the use of the pivotal swivel joint on the chair as described in detail in the drawings with proper handle control and stops for angular movement in a circular direction and forward and backward movement to permit the handicapped person to play golf. He or she may bend forward to address the ball and then swing and move in a circular motion after hitting the golf ball to &#34;follow through&#34;. In addition the tripod features permit the handicapped person to adjust to heights and different terrains on the golf course. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an orthogonal view of the golf chair for handicapped persons without the seat and is imploded to show all the parts. 
     FIG. 2 is an imploded side view of the chair and pivotal swivel mechanism. 
     FIG. 3 is a detailed cutaway view of the chair portion of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAM 
     FIG. 1. 
     A bracket (13) for seat rod (12) with clamp screw (14) is mounted to pivotal swivel joint (18) which has an adjustable screw handle (15) for horizontal movement with an adjustable handle (16) to control forward movement. An upper ball bearing ring (24) and lower ball bearing ring (25) contain two horizontal or swivel stops (braking system (19,20) with a swivel stop pin (21). The swivel joint (18) is connected to a vertical support rod (23) fitting through a bonnet (26) with a vertical adjustment screw knob (22) for raising or lowering the seat said bonnet (26) being a support and guide for the tripod unit comprising three legs (27) with lateral support legs (17,31) each with finger snap back (31) and each tripod leg (27) containing a finger snap back (28) for each tripod extension (29) the base of which has a leveling pad with screws (30). 
     FIG. 2 is a side expanded view of the chair and pivotal swivel mechanism. 
     A chair (10) with a restraining belt and buckle (11) held in place through a hook (32) on back of chair upright portion (3) is held onto a pivotal swivel joint (18) by rod (12) held in place by a clamp screw (14) which forms pivot unit of the rod (13) whose upper portion is equipped with a screw handle for horizontal movement and an adjustment handle (16) on its opposite side resting on vertical support rod (23) above which are upper (24) and lower (25) ball bearing rings having swivel brake stops (19) and stop pin (20) on lower ball bearing rings and horizontal or swivel stop (braking system) (21) or the upper ball bearing (24). 
     FIG. 3 is an imploded view of the chair portion of the invention supported and resting on bracket or seat rod (12) with chair back (10a) having a restraining belt and buckle (11) supported in place by belt loop (32) on chair back (10a).