MOTORIZED GOLF CART

• US 3,608,659 A
• Filed: 04/07/1969
• Issued: 09/28/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Norman S. Gardner
• Original Assignee: Norman S. Gardner
• Inventors: Gardner, Norman S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hersh, Benjamin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Milton L.
• Application Number:
  US04/813,922
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 180/19,65 280/1.5
• US Class Current: 180/19.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/404 Golf articles, e.g. golfbags
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/001 Steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0026 Propulsion aids
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0059 facilitating hand propulsion when motor fails
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0073 Measuring a force
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 280/05 Motorized golf carts

Abstract

Wheeled cart carries one-way electric motor, battery for energizing motor, and one-way transmission for driving wheels. Transmission includes belt loosely trained about pulleys, and a roller engageable with belt to make it taut so that it transmits motion from motor to wheels; disengagement of roller from belt allows cart to be rolled backwardly. Handle includes two telescoping parts, inner part being connected to a rheostat which controls amount of current supplied to motor. Pulling force on outer end of handle determines setting of rheostat and speed of motor.

Claims

1. A motorized golf cart, comprising a. a body;

b. a rack pivotally secured to said body for accommodating a bag of golf clubs, said rack being pivotable between an inclined position in which it rests on said body, and an upright position in which said rack is vertical and its bottom rests on the ground, c. wheels for movably supporting said body on the ground;

d. a one-way electric motor mounted in said body;

e. a one-way transmission, including a clutch, between said motor and at least one of said wheels for propelling the car forwardly when said motor is energized, said transmission preventing the cart from rolling backwards when the clutch is engaged and the motor deenergized;

f. means exposed on the exterior of said body for operating said clutch, whereby the transmission connection between said wheel and motor may be selectively disconnected to permit the cart to be manually maneuvered rearwardly;

g. an energizing circuit for said motor including a battery carried by said body, and a rheostat in series with said battery and motor;

h. a spring urging the parts of said rheostat toward a normal position in which the maximum resistance thereof is in said circuit;

i. a handle secured to said body; and

j. means responsive to a pulling force applied to said handle for adjusting said rheostat parts against the force of said spring, said rheostat adjustment being such that the amount of rheostat resistance in said circuit is inversely proportional to the pulling force, whereby the greater the pulling force the smaller the resistance in said circuit and the greater the speed of said motor and hence the greater the speed of the cart, said spring returning said rheostat parts to their normal position when said handle is released.

2. A motorized golf cart as defined in claim 1 wherein said transmission includes a worm driven by said motor and a worm wheel engaging said worm so as to be driven by it.

3. A motorized golf cart as defined in claim 1 wherein said transmission includes a pair of spaced apart pulleys, one of said pulleys being driven by said motor and the other serving to drive said wheel, and a belt loosely trained about said pulleys, whereby when said clutch is disengaged said belt slides with respect to said pulleys, and wherein said clutch includes a push member movable between a rest position, in which it is disengaged from said belt, and an active position in which it engages said belt to make the latter taut so that it does not slide with respect to said pulleys, whereby said belt transmits motion between the pulleys.

4. A motorized golf cart as defined in claim 3 wherein said push member is a roller.

5. A motorized golf cart as defined in claim 3 wherein said clutch includes a support means mounted for pivotal movement about an axis, said support means carrying said push member at a location spaced from said axis, and means responsive to movement of said exposed means (f) for causing pivotal movement of said support means so as to shift said push member through an arcuate path between its rest and active positions.

6. A motorized golf cart as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle includes two parts mutually slidable in the lonGitudinal direction of the handle, one of said handle parts being fastened to said body, and the other of said handle parts carrying a means to be pulled at its free end, said other handle part being connected to said means (j), whereby application of a pulling force to said means to be pulled causes relative movement between said handle parts and adjustment of said rheostat parts.

7. A motorized golf cart as defined in claim 6 wherein said handle parts are telescopically arranged, said other handle part being slidable within said one handle part.

8. A motorized golf cart as defined in claim 6 wherein the wiper of said rheostat is mounted on a rotatably shaft, and said means (j) includes a spool carried by said shaft, and a cord wrapped around said spool, said cord being connected to said other handle part, whereby movement of said other handle part is transmitted to said spool via said cord causing rotation of said spool and shaft and hence movement of said rheostat wiper.

9. A motorized golf cart as defined in claim 6 wherein said means to be pulled is a loop means for encircling the wrist of the user of the cart.

10. A motorized golf cart as defined in claim 6 wherein said means to be pulled is a clip means for connection to a portion of a garment worn by the user of the cart.