Support device for vehicles

• US 7,585,010 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2004
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2003
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan; Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chenevert; Paul A
• Application Number:
  US10/543,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20070152463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,051 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.1, 296/37.16, 296/77.1, 296/79, 296/102, 296/181.3, 296/182.1, 296/208, 296/213, 280/DIG.5
• US Class Current: 296/37.16
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/012 The seat support being a part of the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/06 at vehicle front or rear rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/08 specially adapted for sports gear vehicles specially adapted for carrying aeroplanes, for carrying boats B60P
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 280/05 Motorized golf carts

Abstract

A support device is for a vehicle having a body, a roof spaced above the body and a seat back. The support device includes a base or body connectable with the vehicle and having a mounting portion configured for attachment of the seat back and a recess providing a storage space. A roof support has a first end connected with the base and a second end connectable with the roof. The roof support is configured to retain the roof spaced generally above a remainder of the vehicle. Preferably, the roof support includes two struts extending between the base and the roof, the base transferring the weight of the roof from the struts and to the vehicle body. Preferably, the struts each include a fluid passage extending between the roof and the base, the passage being configured to discharge fluid beneath the vehicle body.

Claims

1. A support device for use on a vehicle, the vehicle including a frame, a vehicle body substantially covering the frame and defining a wheel well, a seat back, and a roof, the support device comprising:

a base body configured to connect to the vehicle body generally above the wheel well, the base body including a generally vertical front wall providing a seat mounting portion configured to support the seat back and a generally vertical side wall extending rearwardly from the front wall, the base body defining a recessed portion that provides a storage space;

a ledge portion coupled to the base body, the ledge portion including a coupling member to secure a golf bag to the base body;

an accessory mount coupled to the generally vertical side wall of the base body, the accessory mount configured to support a first accessory of a plurality of accessories and to support a second accessory of the plurality of accessories when the first accessory is removed from the accessory mount, the first accessory being different than the second accessory; and

a roof support configured to support the roof generally above the vehicle body, the roof support including a first strut and a second strut, each of the first and second struts being at least partially supported by the base body and configured to connect to the vehicle body with the base body.

2. The support device of claim 1, wherein the generally vertical side wall of the base body is a first side wall, wherein the base body includes a second generally vertical side wall spaced apart from the first side wall and extending rearwardly from the front wall, and further comprising a mesh element extending between the first and second side walls and spaced rearwardly from the front wall.

3. The support device of claim 2, wherein the accessory mount is a first accessory mount, and further comprising a second accessory mount coupled to the second side wall, wherein the second accessory mount is configured to support a third accessory of the plurality of accessories and to support a fourth accessory of the plurality of accessories when the third accessory is removed from the second accessory mount, wherein the third accessory is different than the fourth accessory.

4. The support device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first strut and the second strut defines an integral fluid passage to direct fluid from the roof through the base body.

5. The support device of claim 1, wherein the seat mounting portion includes a cavity and a lug disposed in the cavity, wherein the cavity is configured to receive a connective block of the seat back such that the lug engages the connective block to secure the seat back to the base body.

6. The support device of claim 1, wherein the coupling member of the ledge portion includes a strap.

7. The support device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of accessories includes at least one of a basket, a sand bottle, a bucket, a golf ball cleaner container, and an adapter bracket.

8. A support device for use on a vehicle, the vehicle including a vehicle body, a roof, and a support post extending from an upper surface of the vehicle body, the support device comprising:

a base body configured to be positioned on the upper surface of the vehicle body, the base body defining a recessed portion that provides a storage recess and a passage extending through the base body adjacent to the storage recess, the passage configured to receive the support post to connect the base body to the vehicle body; and

a strut configured to support the roof generally above the vehicle body, the strut including a first section extending through the passage of the base body and configured to connect to the support post, a second section extending away from the base body and configured to connect to the roof, and a shoulder formed between the first and second sections, the shoulder engaging a portion of the base body adjacent to the passage to support the strut on the base body and to transfer weight of the roof to the base body.

9. The support device of claim 8, wherein the base body defines a first hole, the support post defines a second hole, and the first section of the strut defines a third hole,

wherein the first, second, and third holes are configured to substantially align when the base body is positioned on the upper surface of the vehicle body and the support post extends through the passage, and

wherein a fastener is insertable through the first, second, and third holes to secure the base body and the strut to the support post.

10. The support device of claim 8, wherein, when the base body is installed on the vehicle body, the support post is disposed in the passage such that the base body and the vehicle body substantially enclose the support post.

11. The support device of claim 8, wherein the vehicle includes a second support post extending from the upper surface of the vehicle body, wherein the base body defines a second passage extending through the base body adjacent to the storage recess and configured to receive the second support post, and further comprising:

a second strut configured to support the roof generally above the vehicle body, the second strut including a first section extending through the second passage of the base body and configured to connect to the second support post, a second section extending away from the base body and configured to connect to the roof, and a shoulder formed between the first and second sections, the shoulder engaging a portion of the base body adjacent to the second passage to support the second strut on the base body and to transfer weight of the roof to the base body.

12. The support device of claim 8, wherein the strut defines an integral fluid passage to direct fluid from the roof through the base body.

13. The support device of claim 8, wherein the vehicle includes a seat back, and wherein the base body includes a seat mounting portion configured to support the seat back.

14. The support device of claim 8, further comprising a ledge portion coupled to the base body, wherein the ledge portion includes a coupling member to secure a golf bag to the base body.

15. The support device of claim 8, further comprising an accessory mount coupled to a generally vertical side wall of the base body, wherein the accessory mount is configured to support a first accessory of a plurality of accessories and to support a second accessory of the plurality of accessories when the first accessory is removed from the accessory mount, and wherein the first accessory is different than the second accessory.

16. The support device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of accessories includes at least one of a basket, a sand bottle, a bucket, a golf ball cleaner container, and an adapter bracket.

17. A vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a vehicle body substantially covering the frame and defining a wheel well;

a seat back;

a roof positioned generally above the vehicle body; and

a support device including

a base body removably connected to the vehicle body generally above the wheel well, the base body including a generally vertical front wall providing a seat mounting portion to support the seat back and a generally vertical side wall extending rearwardly from the front wall, the base body defining a recessed portion that provides a storage space,

a ledge portion coupled to the base body, the ledge portion including a coupling member to secure a golf bag to the base body,

an accessory mount coupled to the generally vertical side wall of the base body, the accessory mount configured to support a first accessory of a plurality of accessories and a second accessory of a plurality of accessories when the first accessory is removed from the accessory mount, the first accessory being different than the second accessory, and

a roof support to support the roof generally above the vehicle body, the roof support including a first strut and a second strut, each of the first and second struts being at least partially supported by the base body and connected to the vehicle body with the base body.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the generally vertical side wall of the base body is a first side wall, and wherein the base body includes a second generally vertical side wall spaced apart from the first side wall and extending rearwardly from the front wall, and wherein the support device further includes a mesh element extending between the first and second side walls and spaced rearwardly from the front wall.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the accessory mount is a first accessory mount and the support device further includes a second accessory mount coupled to the second side wall, wherein the second accessory mount is configured to support a third accessory of the plurality of accessories and to support a fourth accessory of the plurality of accessories when the first accessory is removed from the accessory mount, and wherein the third accessory is different than the fourth accessory.

20. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first strut and the second strut defines an integral fluid passage, and wherein the integral fluid passage directs fluid from the roof through the base body and discharges the fluid through the wheel well of the vehicle body.

21. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the seat back includes a connective block and the seat mounting portion includes a cavity and a lug disposed in the cavity, and wherein the cavity receives the connective block such that the lug engages the connective block to secure the seat back to the base body.

22. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the coupling member of the ledge portion includes a strap.

23. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the plurality of accessories includes at least one of a basket, a sand bottle, a bucket, a golf ball cleaner container, and an adapter bracket.

24. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body having an upper surface;

a roof positioned generally above the upper surface of the vehicle body;

a support post connected to and extending from the upper surface of the vehicle body;

a base body positioned on the upper surface of the vehicle body, the base body defining a recessed portion that provides a storage recess and a passage extending through the base body adjacent to the storage recess, the passage receiving the support post to connect the base body to the vehicle body; and

a strut to support the roof generally above the vehicle body, the strut including a first section extending through the passage of the base body and connected to the support post, a second section extending away from the base body and connected to the roof, and a shoulder formed between the first and second sections, the shoulder engaging a portion of the base body adjacent to the passage to support the strut on the base body and to transfer weight of the roof to the base body.

25. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein the base body defines a first hole, the support post defines a second hole, and the first section of the strut defines a third hole,

wherein the first, second, and third holes are substantially aligned, and

wherein a fastener is insertable through the first, second, and third holes to secure the base body and the strut to the support post.

26. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein the support post is disposed in the passage such that the base body and the vehicle body substantially enclose the support post.

27. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein the base body defines a second passage extending through the base body adjacent to the storage recess, and further comprising:

a second support connected to and extending from the upper surface of the vehicle body, the second strut being received in the second passage of the base body to connect the base body to the vehicle body; and

a second strut to support the roof generally above the vehicle body, the second strut including a first section extending through the second passage of the base body and connected to the second support post, a second section extending away from the base body and connected to the roof, and a shoulder formed between the first and second sections, the shoulder engaging a portion of the base body adjacent to the second passage to support the second strut on the base body and to transfer weight of the roof to the base body.

28. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein the strut defines an integral fluid passage to direct fluid from the roof through the base body.

29. The vehicle of claim 24, further comprising a seat back, wherein the base body includes a seat mounting portion to support the seat back.

30. The vehicle of claim 24, further comprising a ledge portion coupled to the base body, wherein the ledge portion includes a strap to secure a golf bag to the base body.

31. The vehicle of claim 24, further comprising an accessory mount coupled to a generally vertical side wall of the base body,

wherein the accessory mount is configured to support a first accessory of a plurality of accessories and to support a second accessory of a plurality of accessories when the first accessory is removed from the accessory mount,

wherein the first accessory is different than the second accessory, and

wherein the plurality of accessories includes at least one of a basket, a sand bottle, a bucket, a golf ball cleaner container, and an adapter bracket.