Support bracket for golf cart roof assembly

• US 5,031,713 A
• Filed: 01/23/1990
• Issued: 07/16/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corp. of America (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corp. of America (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Criscuolo, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Finlay, Tamara L.
• Application Number:
  US07/468,839
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 180/89.1, 280/32.5, 280/DIG. 5, 280/756, 296/210, 296/102, 296/216, 296/196, 296/187
• US Class Current: 180/89.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/08 of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 280/05 Motorized golf carts

Abstract

A mounting bracket arrangement for use in a golf cart so that an optional roof assembly may be readily added to the vehicle, either at the factory or later on in the field without the need for any special tools or equipment other than conventional hand tools. The support bracket in question underlies the cowl and is affixed at its lower ends to a rigid frame element. The opposite end is adapted to be joined to the roof support rails using bolts or other suitable fasteners extending through cylindrical tubular spacers located in the holes drilled through the thickness dimension of the vehicle'"'"'s cowl.

Claims

1. In combination with a golf cart of the type including a frame, at least one steerable wheel, suspension means for suspending said steerable wheel from said frame, a pair of rear wheels suspended from said frame and driven by motor means, a body supported by said frame, said body including a front cowl surrounding said suspension means, seat means and a rear trunk, and a roof member, an improved mounting fixture for supporting said roof member, comprising:

(a) bracket means disposed beneath said front cowl and including

(i) first and second generally L-shaped rigid rails with upper and lower ends,

(ii) spacing means attached to said first and second rails for maintaining said rails in spaced, parallel alignment,

(iii) first flange means for attaching said lower end of said first and second rails to said suspension means,

(b) elongated, roof member supporting brace means disposed above said cowl and including upwardly extending posts;

(c) tubular spacer means passing through said cowl without contacting same and positioned between said upper ends of said first and second L-shaped rigid rails and said roof member supporting brace means;

(d) fastener means extending through said upper ends of said first and second generally L-shaped rigid rails, said tubular spacer means and said roof member supporting brace means for rigidly joining said roof member supporting brace means to said rigid rails; and

(e) means connecting said roof member to said posts of said brace means.

2. The mounting fixture as in claim 1 wherein said fastener means includes a plurality of bolts, said tubular spacer means being disposed between said roof member supporting brace means and second flange means affixed to said upper end of said rails and passing through holes formed through said cowl, said plurality of bolts passing through said roof member supporting brace means, said tubular spacer means and said second flange means affixed to said upper end of said rails.