Universal accessory mounting system for golf cars and utility vehicles

• US 20050224539A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Club Car Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Club Car Incorporated
• Inventors: Hardy, David R., Newman, Duane E., Stewart, Geoff D., Lewis, Gary L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,669,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/274
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for

Abstract

An accessory mounting system is for attaching at least first and second accessories to a vehicle. A first bracket is configured to connectably receive the first accessory and a second bracket is configured to connectably receive the second accessory. The second bracket has a configuration substantially different than the first bracket. A mount is coupled with the vehicle and is configured to connectably receive the first bracket to attach the first accessory to the vehicle and to alternatively connectably receive the second bracket to attach the second accessory to the vehicle. The mount preferably includes a base coupled with the vehicle and at least one and preferably two apertures extending into the base, each configured to receive a fastener coupled with the accessory. A slotted opening extends into the base, is spaced below the apertures, and configured to receive a portion of either an accessory or a bracket connected therewith.

Claims

1. An accessory mounting system for attaching at least first and second accessories to a vehicle, the mounting system comprising:

a first bracket configured to connectably receive the first accessory;

a second bracket configured to connectably receive the second accessory, the second bracket having a configuration substantially different than the configuration of the first bracket; and

a mount coupled with the vehicle and configured to connectably receive the first bracket so as to attach the first accessory to the vehicle when the first accessory is connected with the first bracket and to alternatively connectably receive the second bracket to attach the second accessory to the vehicle when the second accessory is connected with the second bracket.

2. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the first bracket is configured to receive a portion of a fastener coupled with the first accessory so as to connect the first accessory with the first bracket; and

the second bracket is configured to frictionally engage with at least a portion of the second accessory so as to connect the second accessory with the bracket.

3. The accessory mount as recited in claim 1 further comprising a third bracket configured to connectably receive a third accessory, the third bracket having a configuration substantially different than the configuration of the first bracket and the configuration of the second bracket, the mount being further configured to connectably receive the third bracket.

4. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 1 wherein the mount includes:

a base coupled with the vehicle and having a generally vertical surface; and

an aperture extending generally horizontally into the base from the vertical surface and configured to receive a portion of a fastener coupled with the first bracket and to alternatively receive a portion of a fastener coupled with the second bracket.

5. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 4 wherein the mount further includes a second aperture extending into the base and spaced from the first aperture, the second aperture being configured to receive a portion of another fastener coupled with the first bracket and to alternatively receive a portion of another fastener coupled with the second bracket.

6. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 4 wherein the mount further includes a slotted opening extending into the base and configured to receive a portion of the first bracket and to alternatively receive a portion of the second bracket.

7. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 6 wherein the base further includes a generally horizontal surface and the slotted opening extends generally vertically into the base from the horizontal surface.

8. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 4 wherein the mount includes a generally cylindrical insert disposed within the base and having a hole providing the aperture.

9. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 8 wherein the insert has a circumferential interior surface, at least a portion of the interior surface having internal threads engageable with external threads of a fastener.

10. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 4 wherein the base is one of removably coupled with the vehicle, fixedly coupled with the vehicle and integrally formed with the vehicle.

11. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 4 wherein the vehicle includes a body and the mount base is provided by a portion of a body connectable with the vehicle body.

12. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 11 wherein the mount body includes a generally rectangular block connectable with the vehicle body and configured to support a seat back.

13. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 1 wherein the mount includes:

a base coupled with the vehicle;

at least two spaced apart apertures, each one of the two apertures extending into the base and being configured to receive a portion of a separate fastener coupled with one of the first and second brackets.

14. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 13 wherein each one of the first and second brackets includes a pair of apertures, each aperture of each one of the two brackets being alignable with a separate one of the two mount apertures such that a fastener is disposeable within each bracket aperture and the mount aperture aligned with the bracket aperture.

15. The accessory mount as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the mount includes at least one aperture configured to receive a fastener; and

each one of the first and second brackets includes one of an aperture, the aperture being alignable with the mount aperture and configured to receive a portion of a fastener so as to connect the bracket with the mount, and a fastener, the fastener being engageable with the mount aperture so as to connect the bracket with the mount.

16. The accessory mount as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the mount includes at least one aperture configured to receive a fastener; and

the first bracket includes a first aperture, the first aperture being alignable with the mount aperture and configured to receive a fastener extendable through the two aligned apertures so as to connect the bracket with the mount, and a second aperture spaced from the first aperture and configured to receive a fastener coupled with the first accessory so as to connect the accessory with the bracket.

17. The accessory mount as recited in claim 16 wherein the bracket included a generally T-shaped body, the first and second apertures extending into the body.

18. The accessory mount as recited in claim 17 wherein the body includes a first body portion, the first aperture extending into the first body portion, and a second body portion extending generally perpendicularly with respect to the first portion, the second aperture extending into the second body portion.

19. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the mount includes at least one aperture configured to receive a fastener; and

the second bracket includes an aperture, the bracket aperture being alignable with the mount aperture and configured to receive a fastener extendable through the two aligned apertures so as to connect the second bracket with the mount, and a pair of opposing engagement surfaces each frictionally engageable with a separate one of two tabs of the second accessory so as to connect the accessory with the bracket.

20. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 19 wherein the second bracket includes a generally L-shaped plate, the bracket aperture extending into the plate and the two engagement surfaces being provided on the plate.

21. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 20 wherein the bracket plate includes

a first plate section providing the aperture and a second plate section extending perpendicularly with respect to the first plate section, the plate second section having opposing edge sections, each plate edge section providing a separate one of the two engagement surfaces.

22. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 21 wherein the plate second section has a support surface, the second accessory being generally disposed upon the support surface.

23. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 19 wherein one of the second accessory tabs is provided by a plate hingedly connected with a remainder of the second accessory so as to be pivotable to engage with one of the bracket engagement surfaces and to alternatively disengage from the one engagement surface.

24. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 3 wherein:

the mount includes at least one aperture configured to receive a fastener; and

the third bracket includes a first aperture, the first aperture being alignable with the mount aperture and configured to receive a fastener extendable through the two aligned apertures so as to connect the third bracket with the mount, and a second aperture spaced from the first aperture and configured to receive a portion of the second accessory so as to connect the accessory with the bracket.

25. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 24 wherein the third bracket includes a body with a pair of spaced apart, generally facing engagement surfaces extending generally vertically within the body and at least partially defining the bracket second aperture, the two surfaces being configured to frictionally engage with the second accessory portion to releasably connect the accessory with the bracket.

26. The accessory mounting system as recited in claim 24 wherein the bracket body includes a generally rectangular box having a generally hollow interior and two spaced apart, generally vertically extending wall sections, each one of the two wall sections providing a separate one of the two bracket engagement surfaces.

27. An accessory system for a vehicle, the accessory system comprising:

at least a first accessory and a second accessory;

a first bracket configured to connectably receive the first accessory;

a second bracket configured to connectably receive the second accessory, the second bracket having a configuration substantially different than the configuration of the first bracket; and

a mount coupled with the vehicle and configured to connectably receive the first bracket so as to attach the first accessory to the vehicle when the first accessory is connected with the first bracket and to alternatively connectably receive the second bracket to attach the second accessory to the vehicle when the second accessory is connected with the second bracket.

28. The accessory system as recited in claim 27 wherein the second accessory is of a different type than the first accessory.

29. The accessory system as recited in claim 27 wherein the first accessory provides a first use and the second accessory provides a second use, the second use being different than the first use.

30. The accessory system as recited in claim 27 wherein:

the first accessory is one of a container for a sand bottle, a sand bucket, a basket, a golf equipment washer, and a cooler; and

the second accessory is another one of the sand bottle container, the sand bucket, the basket, the golf equipment washer, and the cooler.

31. The accessory system as recited in claim 27 wherein:

the first bracket is configured to receive a portion of a fastener coupled with the first accessory so as to connect the first accessory with the first bracket; and

the second bracket is configured to frictionally engage with at least a portion of the second accessory so as to connect the second accessory with the bracket.

32. The accessory system as recited in claim 27 further comprising:

a third accessory; and

a third bracket configured to connectably receive the third accessory, the third bracket having a configuration substantially different than the configuration of the first bracket and the configuration of the second bracket, the mount being configured to connectably receive the third bracket.

33. The accessory system as recited in claim 27 wherein the mount includes:

a base coupled with the vehicle and having a generally vertical surface; and

an aperture extending generally horizontally into the base from the vertical surface and configured to receive a portion of a fastener coupled with the first bracket and to alternatively receive a portion of a fastener coupled with the second bracket.

34. The accessory system as recited in claim 33 wherein the mount further includes at least one of:

a second aperture extending into the base and spaced from the first aperture, the second aperture being configured to receive a portion of another fastener coupled with the first bracket and to alternatively receive a portion of another fastener coupled with the second bracket; and

a slotted opening extending into the base and configured to receive a portion of the first bracket and to alternatively receive a portion of the second bracket.

35. The accessory system as recited in claim 33 wherein the first bracket includes:

a first aperture alignable with the mount aperture and configured to receive a fastener extendable through the two aligned apertures so as to connect the bracket with the mount; and

a second aperture spaced from the first aperture and configured to receive a fastener coupled with the first accessory so as to connect the accessory with the bracket.

36. The accessory system as recited in claim 33 wherein the second accessory includes a pair of tabs and the second bracket includes:

an aperture alignable with the mount aperture and configured to receive a fastener extendable through the two aligned apertures so as to connect the second bracket with the mount; and

a pair of opposing engagement surfaces each frictionally engageable with a separate one of two second accessory tabs so as to connect the accessory with the bracket.

37. An accessory mount for connecting an accessory with a vehicle, the accessory mount comprising:

a base coupled with the vehicle;

an aperture extending into the base and configured to receive at least a portion of one of the accessory and a fastener coupled with the accessory; and

a slotted opening extending into the base, spaced vertically below the aperture, and configured to receive a portion of one of the accessory and a bracket connected with the accessory.

38. The accessory mount as recited in claim 37 wherein the base has a generally vertical surface and the aperture extends generally horizontally into the base from the vertical surface.

39. The accessory mount as recited in claim 37 wherein the base further has a generally horizontal surface and the slotted opening one of extends generally vertically into the base from the horizontal surface and extends generally horizontally into the base from the vertical surface.

40. The accessory mount as recited in claim 37 wherein the aperture is a first aperture and the mount further comprises a second aperture spaced from the first aperture and extending into the base, the second aperture being configured to receive at least a portion of one of the accessory and a fastener coupled with the accessory.

41. The accessory mount as recited in claim 37 wherein the aperture is configured to receive a fastener coupleable with an accessory and to alternatively receive a fastener integrally formed with an accessory.

42. The accessory mount as recited in claim 37 wherein the base includes:

a circumferential interior surface defining the aperture; and

one of an interior thread formed on the interior surface, a projection extending generally radially inwardly from the interior surface, and an opening extending generally radially outwardly from the interior surface and into the base.

43. The accessory mount as recited in claim 37 wherein the vehicle includes a body and the base is one of provided by a body connectable with the vehicle body and integrally formed with the vehicle body.

44. The accessory mount as recited in claim 37 wherein the base is provided by a generally rectangular body connectable with the vehicle and configured to support a seat back.

45. An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, the mounting system comprising:

an accessory;

a bracket configured to connectably receive at least one other accessory; and

a mount coupled with the vehicle and configured to connectably receive the accessory so as to mount the accessory to the vehicle and to alternatively connectably receive the second bracket so as to mount the one other accessory to the vehicle when the other accessory is connected with the second bracket.