Golf cart with golf club carrying rack

• US 5,718,301 A
• Filed: 08/18/1995
• Issued: 02/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paragon Classics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Paragon Classics, Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, Hansford R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US08/516,798
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 280/847, 280/848, 280/153.5, 280/154, 280/169, 280/783, 280/47.11, 280/DIG. 5, 280/DIG. 6, 180/65.1, 180/65.6, 180/908, 296/3, 410/3, 410/4, 410/6, 410/8, 301/1, 301/9.2
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 55/00 Bags for golf clubs; Stands for golf clubs for use on the course; Wheeled carriers specially adapted for golf bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 11/02 Units of separate wheels mounted for independent or coupled rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/147 using wheel adapters
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/16 by bolts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/406 Golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/10 Bonnets or lids , e.g. for trucks, tractors, busses, work vehicles for truck beds B60J7/1607; for boats B63B19/12; doors arranged at the vehicle rear B60J5/10; inlet covers for vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/05; for protecting non-occupants of a vehicle B60R21/38
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 31/003 compact cars, e.g. city cars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/908 Motor vehicles with short wheelbase
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 280/05 Motorized golf carts

Abstract

A self-propelled golf cart has a cart body which effectively defines a chamber in the rearward portion of the body; the chamber has first and second side walls generally opposed to each other; each of the side walls has a plurality of apertures formed therethrough which respectively communicate with tubular members which are within the chamber and generally between the side walls; and golf clubs are respectively inserted into and through the apertures as to result in the shafts of such clubs extending into respective ones of the tubular members.

Claims

1. A self-propelled golf cart, comprising a golf cart body, wherein said cart body comprises a forward disposed cart body portion, wherein said cart body comprises a rearward disposed cart body portion, wherein said cart body comprises a generally medially situated portion effective for accommodating and carrying thereon at least two players of golf, a chamber formed in said rearward disposed cart body portion, wherein said chamber comprises first and second side walls spaced from each other and generally opposed to each other, a first plurality of apertures formed through said first side wall, a second plurality of apertures formed through said second side wall, first axially extending passages situated generally in said chamber, wherein said first axially extending passages comprise first ends and second ends, wherein said first ends are respectively operatively connected to said first plurality of apertures, wherein said first ends are at an elevation higher than the elevation of said second ends, second axially extending passages situated generally in said chamber, wherein said second axially extending passages comprise third ends and fourth ends, wherein said third ends are respectively operatively connected to said second plurality of apertures, wherein said third ends are at an elevation higher than the elevation of said fourth ends, and wherein respective ones of said first and second axially extending passages carry and support respective golf clubs by having the shafts of said respective golf clubs received through said first and second apertures and received in said axially extending passages operatively connected to such first and second apertures.

2. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 1 wherein said second ends of said first axially extending passages are open.

3. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 1 wherein said fourth ends of said second axially extending passages are open.

4. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 1 and further comprising first and second openable and closable side doors, said first door being operatively connected to said first side wall at a side thereof opposite to said chamber, said second door being operatively connected to said second side wall at a side thereof opposite to said chamber, said first door when opened providing access to the heads of such golf clubs as are carried by said first axially extending passages, and said second door when opened providing access to the heads of such golf clubs as are carried by said second axially extending passages.

5. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 4 wherein when said first door is closed the heads of such golf clubs as are carried by said first axially extending passages are contained between said first side wall and said closed first door, and wherein when said second door is closed the heads of such golf clubs as are carried by said second axially extending passages are contained between said second side wall and said second closed door.

6. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 1 wherein said first ends of said first axially extending passages are at an elevation above the elevation of said fourth ends, and wherein said third ends of said second axially extending passages are at an elevation above the elevation of said second ends.

7. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 1 wherein said first axially extending passages comprise a first plurality of separate tubular members each having a said first and said second end, wherein said second axially extending passages comprise a second plurality of separate tubular members each having a said third and said fourth end, and wherein at least some of said first plurality of separate tubular members and at least some of said second plurality of separate tubular members are interspaced with each other.

8. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 1 and further comprising an openable and closable first side door operatively carried by said first side wall, an openable and closable second side door operatively carried by said second side wall, said first side door when opened providing access to said first side wall and through said first side wall to said chamber, and said second side door when opened providing access to said second side wall and through said second side wall to said chamber.

9. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 1 wherein said chamber is further comprised of a relatively forwardly situated generally vertically extending wall generally separating said chamber from said medially situated portion, wherein said chamber is further comprised of a relatively rearwardly situated generally vertically extending wall, wherein said chamber extends generally from said first side wall to said second side wall, and wherein said chamber extends generally from said forwardly situated wall to said relatively rearwardly situated wall.

10. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 9 and further comprising a rear door pivotally supported by said rearwardly situated wall and pivotally openable and closable with respect to said rearwardly situated wall, a relatively small stowage compartment formed generally between said rearwardly situated wall and said chamber, and wherein when said rear door is opened access is provided to said stowage compartment.

11. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 9 and further comprising first, second and third rear doors each pivotally supported by said rearwardly situated wall and each pivotally openable and closable with respect to said rearwardly situated wall, a relatively small first stowage compartment formed generally between said rearwardly situated wall and said chamber, wherein when said first rear door is opened access is provided to said first stowage compartment, a relatively small second stowage compartment formed generally between said rearwardly situated wall and said chamber, wherein when said second door is opened access is provided to said second stowage compartment, a relatively small third stowage compartment formed generally between said rearwardly situated wall and said chamber, and wherein when said third door is opened access is provided to said third stowage compartment.

12. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of ground engaging cart wheel and tire assemblies, a drive axle assembly having first and second operative ends, and wherein first and second wheel and tire assemblies of said plurality of ground engaging wheel and tire assemblies are respectively operatively connected to said first and second operative ends.

13. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 12 and further comprising first and second axle extenders, said first axle extender being effective to be operatively secured to said first operative end of said drive axle assembly, said second axle extender being effective to be operatively secured to said second operative end of said drive axle assembly, wherein said first wheel and tire assembly is operatively connected to said first operative end of said drive axle assembly by being operatively connected to said first axle extender, and wherein said second wheel and tire assembly is operatively connected to said second operative end of said drive axle assembly by being operatively connected to said second axle extender.

14. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 13 and further comprising first and second fender structures, wherein said first fender is operatively carried by said first side wall as to be in a spaced relationship with and at least partly cover said first wheel and tire assembly, and wherein said second fender is operatively carried by said second side wall as to be in spaced relationship with and at least partly cover said second wheel and tire assembly.

15. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of ground engaging cart wheel and tire assemblies, a drive axle assembly having first and second oppositely disposed operative ends, wherein said plurality of ground engaging cart wheel and tire assemblies comprises a first set of wheel and tire assemblies having first and second wheel and tire assemblies in side-by-side relationship to each other and operatively connected to said first operative end of said drive axle assembly, and wherein said plurality of ground engaging cart wheel and tire assemblies further comprises a second set of wheel and tire assemblies having third and fourth wheel and tire assemblies in side-by-side relationship to each other and operatively connected to said second operative end of said drive axle.

16. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 15 and further comprising first and second axle extenders, said first axle extender being effective to be operatively secured to said first operative end of said drive axle assembly, said second axle extender being effective to be operatively secured to said second operative end of said drive axle assembly, wherein said first and second wheel and tire assemblies are operatively connected to said first operative end of said drive axle assembly by being operatively connected to said first axle extender, and wherein said third and fourth wheel and tire assemblies are operatively connected to said second operative end of said drive axle assembly by being operatively connected to said second axle extender.

17. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 15 and further comprising first and second fender structures, wherein said first fender is operatively carried by said first side wall as to be in a spaced relationship with and at least partly cover said first set of wheel and tire assemblies, and wherein said second fender is operatively carried by said second side wall as to be in spaced relationship with and at least partly cover said second set of wheel and tire assemblies.

18. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 1 wherein said chamber is further comprised of a forwardly situated generally vertically extending wall generally separating said chamber from said medially situated portion, wherein said chamber is further comprised of a rearwardly situated generally vertically extending wall, wherein said chamber extends generally from said first side wall to said second side wall, wherein said chamber extends generally from said forwardly situated wall to said rearwardly situated wall, and a shelf structure operatively joining said forwardly situated generally vertically extending wall to said rearwardly situated generally vertically extending wall, said shelf structure providing shelf space for the carrying thereon of selected goods.

19. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 1 wherein said shelf structure comprises a shelf surface which when viewed as from a location in said medially situated portion appears to be the lowest in elevation at a mid-portion thereof and relatively raised in elevation at portions of said shelf surface extending away from said mid-portion.

20. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of ground engaging cart wheel and tire assemblies, a drive axle assembly having first and second operative ends, wherein said plurality of ground engaging wheel and tire assemblies comprise first and second wheel and tire assemblies respectively operatively connected to said first and second operative ends, first and second axle extenders, said first axle extender being effective to be operatively secured to said first operative end of said drive axle assembly, said second axle extender being effective to be operatively secured to said second operative end of said drive axle assembly, wherein said first wheel and tire assembly is operatively connected to said first operative end of said drive axle assembly by being operatively connected to said first axle extender, and wherein said second wheel and tire assembly is operatively connected to said second operative end of said drive axle assembly by being operatively connected to said second axle extender.

21. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 20 and further comprising first and second fender structures, wherein said first fender is operatively carried by said first side wall as to be in a spaced relationship with and at least partly cover said first wheel and tire assembly, and wherein said second fender is operatively carried by said second side wall as to be in spaced relationship with and at least partly cover said second wheel and tire assembly.

22. A self=propelled golf cart according to claim 1 and further comprising a generally vertically extending third wall rearwardly of said medially situated portion and joined to said first side wall and to said second side wall, as to generally traverse the distance between said first side wall and said second side wall, and an opening formed in said vertically extending third wall enabling the area rearwardly of said golf cart to be viewed from locations within said generally medially situated portion.

23. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 22 and further comprising a window member generally covering said opening.

24. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 23 and further comprising pivot means operatively joining said window member to said generally vertically extending third wall, said pivot means enabling said window member to be pivotally rotated thereabout thereby providing for air flow through said opening.

25. A self-propelled golf cart, comprising a golf cart body, wherein said cart body comprises a forward disposed cart body portion, wherein said cart body comprises a rearward disposed cart body portion, wherein said cart body comprises a generally medially situated portion effective for accommodating and carrying thereon at least two players of golf, wherein said medially situated portion comprises seat means for enabling said at least two players to be seatingly supported thereby, wherein said cart body further comprises first and second side walls spaced from each other and generally opposed to each other, wherein said first and second side walls are carried by said rearward cart body portion and extend upwardly, a generally laterally extending roof portion supported by said first and second side walls and having a generally forward disposed roof portion, first and second generally vertically extending supports laterally spaced from each other and respectively having first and second lower end portions and respectively having first and second upper end portions, wherein said first and second upper end portions are operatively connected to said forward disposed roof portion as to thereby have said laterally extending roof portion extending generally laterally above at least a substantial portion of said generally medially situated portion, a windshield structure having a generally lower functional end and an upper functional end, wherein said lower functional end of said windshield structure is at an elevation generally that of said first and second lower end portions of said first and second generally vertically extending laterally spaced supports, wherein said upper functional end is at least closely situated to said forward disposed roof portion, wherein said first and second generally laterally spaced vertically extending supports are positioned as to be inclined with respect to each other as to be more closely spaced from each other as said first and second generally laterally spaced vertically extending supports increase in distance upwardly from said cart body, further comprising a plurality of ground engaging cart wheel and tire assemblies, a drive axle assembly having first and second operative ends, and wherein first and second wheel and tire assemblies of said plurality of ground engaging wheel and tire assemblies are respectively operatively connected to said first and second operative ends.

26. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 25 and further comprising first and second axle extenders, said first axle extender being effective to be operatively secured to said first operative end of said drive axle assembly, said second axle extender being effective to be operatively secured to said second operative end of said drive axle assembly, wherein said first wheel and tire assembly is operatively connected to said first operative end of said drive axle assembly by being operatively connected to said first axle extender, and wherein said second wheel and tire assembly is operatively connected to said second operative end of said drive axle assembly by being operatively connected to said second axle extender.

27. A self-propelled golf cart according to claim 26 and further comprising first and second fender structures, wherein said first fender is operatively carried by said first side wall as to be in a spaced relationship with and at least partly cover said first wheel and tire assembly, and wherein said second fender is operatively carried by said second side wall as to be in spaced relationship with and at least partly cover said second wheel and tire assembly.