REMOTELY CONTROLLABLE GOLF CART AND METHOD FOR STEERING A CART

• US 20090038864A1
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sung Yol Yun
• Original Assignee: Sung Yol Yun
• Inventors: Yun, Sung Yol
• Application Number:
  US12/187,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20090038864A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/19.100
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2055/605 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 55/57 Bags with tripod or like set-up stands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 55/61 motorised
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/045 foldable in one action
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/404 Golf articles, e.g. golfbags
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/001 Steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/12 characterised by three-wheeled construction
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0026 Propulsion aids
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0043 One motor drives one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0069 Control
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/04 the driver walking

Abstract

The invention relates to a cart for carrying one or more a golf bags and/or other things, which cart is moveable on wheels and operable in response to transmission of one or more command signals generated in response to activation of at least one operator input device, preferably mounted on or in a remote control, and a method for steering a cart. In one aspect, the cart includes a front-located drive wheel assembly with a drive motor for moving the cart forward by driving at least one drive wheel, and at least one rear-located steerable wheel assembly for turning the cart while it is moving forward. The steerable wheel assembly comprises a steering motor, a center-lock device, and a cart steering wheel. The steering motor and center-lock device may be electrically coupled to one another for coordinating their respective activations in response to one or more of the command signals for holding the steering wheel against pivoting, releasing the hold, and pivoting the cart steering wheel. And, the method includes steps that can be carried out by operation of such a cart.

Claims

1. A cart comprising a front-located drive wheel assembly with a drive motor for moving the cart forward by rotating at least one drive wheel;

and, a rear-located steerable wheel assembly for turning the cart, the steerable wheel assembly comprising a steering motor, a center-lock device, and a cart steering wheel, the steering wheel being pivotable through pivotal directions that include a centered direction, wherein the steering motor generates torque in response to the steering motor being electrically energized and is rotatable in response to said torque, the steering motor being coupled to the steering wheel for pivoting the steering wheel in response to rotation of the steering motor, wherein the center-lock device is adapted for moving a locking means between positions comprising a lock position and an unlock position in response to the center-lock device being electrically energized, wherein the locking means holds the steering wheel in the centered position while the locking means is in the lock position and releases said hold when the locking means is moved to the unlock position, and wherein the steering motor and center-lock device are energized in response to transmission of one or more command signals generated in response to activation of at least one operator input device.

2. A cart, wherein the cart comprises:

a. a frame having a front end and a rear end, wherein the frame is capable of carrying a cart electric power source;

b. a drive wheel assembly located at or near the front end, the drive wheel assembly comprising a drive wheel and a drive motor, wherein the drive wheel has a drive wheel axis about which the drive wheel is rotatable and wherein the drive motor is operably connected to the drive wheel for applying drive torque to the drive wheel while the drive motor is electrically energized, for rotating the drive wheel about the drive wheel axis in response to said drive torque and for said rotation of the drive wheel to move the cart forward;

c. a steerable wheel assembly located rearward of the drive wheel axis, the steerable wheel assembly comprising

(i) a pivot support connector for connecting the steerable wheel assembly to the cart frame;

(ii) a cart steering wheel having a steering wheel axis about which the steering wheel is rotatable;

(iii) a steering wheel support for connecting the steering wheel to the pivot support connector, the steering wheel support being pivotally connected to the pivot support connector for allowing the steering wheel support to pivot about a pivot axis wherein said pivotal movement of the steering wheel support pivots the steering wheel by changing the orientation of the steering wheel axis;

(iv) a steering motor that is capable of developing torque while it is electrically energized, the steering motor being electrically connectable to the cart electric power source or another electric power source carried by the frame, for electrically energizing the steering motor in response to transmission of a command signal generated in response to activation of an operator input device for steering the cart, the steering motor being coupled to the steering wheel support wherein at least some of the torque generated by the steering motor is transmitted to the steering wheel support for pivoting the steering wheel support about the pivot axis;

(iv) an electrically activatable center-lock device, wherein the center-lock device includes a plunger, the plunger being movable between positions that comprise an extended position and a retracted position in response to the center-lock device being electrically energized or de-energized, wherein the center-lock device is electrically coupled with the steering motor for the center-lock device to be electrically energized or de-energized in coordination with the steering motor being electrically energizing or de-energized; and

,

(v) a plunger receptor comprising a plunger hole, the plunger hole having dimensions for receiving at least part of the plunger, wherein the plunger receptor is connected to the steering wheel support for the plunger receptor to pivot in response to pivotal movement of the steering wheel support and for the plunger receptor to hold the steering wheel support in a steering wheel support neutral direction while the plunger receptor is held in a plunger receptor neutral direction, wherein the plunger hole is at a centering location on the plunger receptor, the centering location being selected for the plunger hole to align with the plunger when the steering wheel is in a centered direction, and wherein the center-lock device is located for aligning the plunger with the centering location when the plunger receptor is in the plunger receptor neutral direction and, when so aligned, for at least part of the plunger to be moveable into the plunger hole for holding the plunger receptor in the plunger receptor neutral direction, and for the plunger to be moveable out of the plunger hole for allowing the plunger receptor to pivot to another pivotal direction.

3. The cart of claim 2 wherein the steerable wheel assembly further comprises a self-centering device, for biasing the steering wheel toward the centered direction in response to pivotal displacement of the steering wheel from the centered direction.

4. The cart of claim 2 wherein the coupling between the steering motor and the steering wheel support includes a pivotable steering gear, wherein at least some of the torque transmitted to the steering wheel is transmitted via the steering gear, the steering gear being connected to the steering wheel support for the steering wheel support to pivot about the pivot axis in response to movement of the steering gear.

5. The cart of claim 4 wherein the steering gear comprises the plunger receptor.

6. The cart of claim 3 wherein the coupling between the steering motor and the steering wheel support includes a steering gear, wherein at least some of the torque transmitted to the steering wheel is transmitted via the steering gear, the steering gear being connected to the steering wheel support for the steering wheel support to pivot about the pivot axis in response to movement of the steering gear.

7. The cart of claim 4 wherein the steerable wheel assembly further comprises a self-centering device, for biasing the steering wheel toward the centered direction in response to pivotal displacement of the steering wheel from the centered direction.

8. The cart of claim 5 wherein the steerable wheel assembly further comprises a self-centering device, for biasing the steering wheel toward the centered direction in response to pivotal displacement of the steering wheel from the centered direction.

9. The cart of claim 6 wherein the steering gear comprises the plunger receptor.

10. The cart of claim 7 wherein the steering gear comprises the plunger receptor.

11. The cart of claim 2 wherein the drive motor is located proximate the drive wheel axis and wherein the center of gravity of the electric power source is located forward of the drive wheel axis.

12. The cart of claim 11 wherein the steerable wheel assembly further comprises a self-centering device, for biasing the steering wheel toward the centered direction in response to pivotal displacement of the steering wheel from the centered direction.

13. The cart of claim 11 wherein the coupling between the steering motor and the steering wheel support includes a pivotable steering gear, wherein at least some of the torque transmitted to the steering wheel is transmitted via the steering gear, the steering gear being connected to the steering wheel support for the steering wheel support to pivot about the pivot axis in response to movement of the steering gear.

14. The cart of claim 12 wherein the coupling between the steering motor and the steering wheel support includes a pivotable steering gear, wherein at least some of the torque transmitted to the steering wheel is transmitted via the steering gear, the steering gear being connected to the steering wheel support for the steering wheel support to pivot about the pivot axis in response to movement of the steering gear.

15. The cart of claim 13 wherein the steering gear comprises the plunger receptor.

16. The cart of claim 14 wherein the steering gear comprises the plunger receptor.

17. A method for steering a cart, the method comprising the steps of:

a. generating a command signal for pivoting a steering wheel on a cart;

b. retracting a plunger from a plunger hole in a plunger receptor in response to the command signal;

c. generating rotational movement of a steering motor in response to the same or another command signal and transmitting at least some of the rotational movement to the plunger receptor;

d. pivoting the plunger receptor away from a neutral direction;

e. pivoting the steering wheel away from a centered direction in response to said pivoting of the plunger receptor away from the neutral direction;

f. allowing or forcing the plunger to extend toward the plunger receptor;

g. ceasing the generation of the rotational movement;

h. pivoting the plunger receptor, or allowing the plunger receptor to pivot, toward the neutral direction;

i. pivoting the steering wheel, or allowing the steering wheel to pivot, toward the centered direction;

j. allowing or forcing the plunger to enter the same or a different plunger hole, the plunger thereby holding the steering wheel against pivoting.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of generating a second command signal for stopping the pivoting of the steering wheel.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of using the steering motor for holding the steering wheel against pivoting.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of using the steering motor for holding the steering wheel against pivoting.