The present invention relates to a golf vehicle, such as a golf trolley or a golf cart, which includes a golf bag support apparatus.
Golf carts and golf trolleys are designed to carry golf bags. Conventionally, the golf cart/trolley includes a golf bag support apparatus which comprises a base upon which the base of the golf bag is located and a support arm which extends upwards. A lower portion of the golf bag is secured to a lower portion of the golf bag support apparatus by a lower securing apparatus, such as a strap or arm; and an upper portion of the golf bag is secured to an upper portion of the golf bag support apparatus by an upper securing apparatus. It can be time consuming and awkward to secure the golf bag to the golf bag support apparatus using both the upper and the lower securing apparatus. For example, a person has to bend down to secure the bottom of the bag to the lower securing apparatus and this provides difficulties for people who have limited mobility.
In addition, where the golf vehicle is a collapsible golf trolley, the lower securing apparatus can interfere with the collapsing of the trolley, or the design of the trolley is compromised by having to allow for the lower securing apparatus.
Accordingly, it is desired to replace the lower securing apparatus with an alternative arrangement by which a lower portion of the golf bag may be secured to the lower portion of the golf bag support apparatus.
GB2519073 describes a golf trolley in which the lower securing apparatus has been replaced with one or more plug and socket arrangements in which the or each plug forms a snap-fit arrangement with a corresponding socket. The plugs include a waisted portion and are screwed into the bottom of a golf bag. Accordingly, there is a risk that the plug(s) could be broken or become detached from the bag.
The present invention provides an apparatus for securing a golf bag to a golf bag support apparatus which addresses the problems associated with known securing apparatus.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a golf vehicle including a golf bag support; wherein the golf vehicle is selected from a golf trolley and a golf cart; wherein the golf bag support includes a lower support member; wherein the lower support member includes one of an upwardly projecting locating member and a downwardly extending recess defined by a recess body portion; and wherein the upwardly projecting locating member or the recess body portion comprises a ferromagnetic material or element.
It will be appreciated that the ferromagnetic material/element may be in the form of a permanent magnet or it may be a material that is magnetically attracted to a permanent magnet. The ferromagnetic material/element may be in the form of ferromagnetic plate or a ferromagnetic ring. For example, a ferromagnetic collar which surrounds an aperture or channel.
It will also be appreciated that a golf bag associated with the golf vehicle suitably includes the other of the locating member and the recess, where the locating member is a downwardly projecting locating member and the recess is an upwardly extending recess. In this way, the golf bag support and the golf bag together define a two-part coupling. Thus, if the upwardly projecting locating member of the golf bag support is considered to be a male part of the coupling, then the golf bag may include or define a female part of the coupling, namely an upwardly extending recess. Conversely, if the downwardly extending recess is defined by the recess body portion of the golf bag support is considered to be a female part of the coupling, then the golf bag may include the corresponding male part of the coupling in the form of a downwardly projecting locating member.
In this way, the locating member (male part) may be received within the recess (female part) such that lateral movement of the golf bag relative to the lower support member is prevented or resisted. Furthermore, the locating member or the recess defined by the golf bag may include a second ferromagnetic element, and at least one of the first and second ferromagnetic elements may be a permanent magnet, whereby a magnetic attractive force exists between the golf bag and the lower support member of the golf bag support and disengagement of the locating member from the recess is resisted. In other words, the two-part coupling may be a magnetic coupling.
In an embodiment of the invention, the female part of the two-part coupling may include a ferromagnetic plate. In such embodiments, the ferromagnetic plate may be capable of movement in one or two planes or about one or two axes. Such movement is suitably constrained between a first limit or stop and a second limit or stop. A ferromagnetic plate which is capable of movement in one or two planes permits a better magnetic coupling to be formed, as it ensures a closer arrangement of the ferromagnetic plate of the female part of the coupling relative to the ferromagnetic element of the male part of the two-part coupling. For example, the ferromagnetic plate may be captive within a chamber. The chamber may be in communication with the recess. For example, the recess may open at one end into the chamber. Suitably, the ferromagnetic plate is biased to a first configuration of the plate via a biasing element, such as, for example, a spring. In this way, the insertion of the male part of the coupling into the female part of the coupling urges the ferromagnetic plate from its first configuration to a second configuration against the biasing force. Again, this helps to provide the maximum possible magnetic force between the ferromagnetic materials.
Additionally or alternatively, the male part of the two-part coupling may be carried on a base that is capable of movement about one or two axes (e.g. about a roll axis and/or about a pitch axis). Again, a male part that is capable of movement about one or two axes allows for a better magnetic coupling to be formed. In an embodiment of the invention, the base may include or define a fulcrum or a point about which it can rotate relative to the lower support member.
In an embodiment of the invention, the lower support member includes a downwardly extending recess defined by the recess body portion; wherein the recess is cylindrical in shape or tapers inwards from an upper portion to a lower portion. A tapered recess shape has the effect of guiding a corresponding locating member into the recess. In such embodiments, the recess may include a recess floor portion and the ferromagnetic element may be carried by the recess wall portion and/or the recess floor portion. Thus, the ferromagnetic element may be a disc or a plate of ferromagnetic material and the disc may be carried on an upwardly facing surface of the floor portion, on a downwardly facing surface of the floor portion, or it may be fully or partially embedded within the floor portion. Additionally or alternatively, the ferromagnetic element may be in the form of a ring, collar or loop of a ferromagnetic material which is carried by or embedded (fully or partially) into the side wall of the recess body.
Optionally, the recess body portion may define a recess that is cylindrical, frustoconical or frustopyramidal in shape.
Additionally or alternatively, the lower support member may include an upstanding locating member which tapers from a lower portion to an upper portion. The locating member typically includes a proximal portion which is adjacent to the lower support member and a distal portion which is spaced from the lower support member. In such embodiments, the ferromagnetic element may be carried by the distal portion of the locating member. For example, the ferromagnetic element may be in the form of a disc or plate carried by the distal end portion or it may be in the form of a ring, collar or loop of ferromagnetic material which is located at a peripheral edge of the distal portion.
Optionally, the upstanding locating member may be cylindrical, frustoconical or frustopyramidal in shape.
In an embodiment of the invention, the ferromagnetic element is a permanent magnet. This means that the golf vehicle includes the permanent magnet of the magnetic coupling and the golf bag need only include a ferromagnetic material which is attracted to the permanent magnet. The bottom of a golf bag is more likely to come into contact with ferromagnetic materials. Accordingly, it is more desirable for the permanent magnet to be carried by the golf vehicle. However, providing the golf bag with a permanent magnet is still within the scope of the invention and is not excluded.
In order to supplement the coupling provided by the engagement of the locating member with the corresponding recess, the golf bag support may further include a support arm which extends upwardly from the lower support member. This support arm may be curved or otherwise shaped to correspond to a peripheral shape of a base portion of a golf bag.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a combination of a golf vehicle as defined anywhere herein in connection with the first aspect of the invention and a golf bag, wherein the golf bag includes a bag base plate; wherein (i) when the lower support member of the golf bag support includes an upwardly projecting locating member which includes a first ferromagnetic element, the bag base plate defines an upwardly extending recess defined by a recess body portion, the recess receives therein the upwardly projecting locating member, and the recess body portion which defines the upwardly extending recess includes a second ferromagnetic element; OR (ii) when the lower support member of the golf bag support includes a downwardly extending recess defined by a recess body portion which includes a first ferromagnetic element, the bag base plate defines a downwardly projecting locating member, the downwardly extending recess receives therein the downwardly projecting locating member, and the downwardly projecting locating member includes a second ferromagnetic element; AND wherein at least one of the first and second ferromagnetic elements is a permanent magnet.
It will be appreciated that in the arrangement according to the second aspect of the invention, the locating member is engaged with the corresponding recess to prevent or to resist lateral movement of the golf bag base plate relative to the lower support member, and the magnetic coupling between the golf bag base plate and the lower support member resists or prevents the disengagement of the locating member from the recess.
The ferromagnetic element carried by the lower support member and/or the golf bag base plate may be in the form of a ferromagnetic disc or plate, or in the form of ferromagnetic ring or loop.
In an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the golf bag support includes an upwardly projecting locating member (male part); the golf bag base plate defines an upwardly extending recess (female part) configured to receive therein the upwardly projecting locating member; the upwardly projecting locating member includes a permanent magnet, suitably disposed at a distal end portion of the locating member; and the recess defined by the golf bag base plate includes a ferromagnetic element. In such an arrangement, a two-part magnetic coupling is formed when the locating member is located within the recess.
The locating member is suitably tapered or partially tapered from its base portion (i.e. the portion closest to the golf bag support) to a distal portion.
The ferromagnetic element is suitably a ferromagnetic plate. Additionally, the ferromagnetic plate may be disposed within a chamber located above the recess. The chamber is suitably in communication with the recess, for example, the recess may open at one end into the chamber. The ferromagnetic plate may be displaceable within the chamber. The ferromagnetic plate may be displaced in one or two planes. Thus, it may be displaceable within the chamber in one or two planes. Suitably, the ferromagnetic plate is biased to a first configuration or position, such as, for example, towards the opening of the recess. Thus, the ferromagnetic plate may include a biasing element engaged therewith. In this way, the ferromagnetic plate is urged in use against the permanent magnet carried by the locating member by the biasing element. The displacement of the ferromagnetic plate may be constrained by a chamber body which defines the chamber.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the golf bag support includes an upwardly projecting locating member (male part) and the locating member is carried by a base plate, wherein the base plate is capable of movement about one or two axes (e.g. about a roll axis and/or about a pitch axis). In an embodiment of the invention, the base plate may include or define a fulcrum or a point about which it can rotate relative to the lower support member.
In an alternative embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the lower support member of the golf bag support includes a downwardly extending recess defined by a recess body portion, the bag base plate defines a downwardly projecting locating member, the downwardly extending recess receives therein the downwardly projecting locating member, the downwardly projecting locating member includes a ferromagnetic element; and wherein a permanent magnet is carried by a portion of the recess body portion which defines the bottom and/or the side wall(s) of the recess.
Suitably, the downwardly projecting locating member includes a proximal portion which is adjacent to the bag base plate, and a distal portion which is spaced from the bag base plate; and the distal portion of the downwardly projecting locating member carries the ferromagnetic element; for example, in the form of a ferromagnetic disc or ferromagnetic ring.
In a further embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the recess body defines a recess that is frustoconical in shape; and the locating member is frustoconical in shape. The frustoconical locating member suitably corresponds in size and shape with the frustoconical recess, such that the locating member forms a tight fit within the recess.
The skilled person will appreciate that the features described and defined in connection with the aspects of the invention and the embodiments thereof may be combined in any combination, regardless of whether the specific combination is expressly mentioned herein. Thus, all such combinations are considered to be made available to the skilled person.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
For the avoidance of doubt, the skilled person will appreciate that in this specification, the terms “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, “upper”, “lower”, “width”, etc. refer to the orientation of the components as found in the example when installed for normal use as shown in the Figures.
As shown in
In use, a user places the golf bag 16 on the lower portion 2 of the golf trolley such that the lower support member 10 is located within the recessed portion 22d defined between the feet portions 22a and 22b of the golf bag base plate 18; a side portion of the base plate 18 abuts the curved support arm 14; and the downwardly projecting locating member 20 is disposed within the frustoconical recess 12 with the top surface 24b of the locating member 20 being located adjacent to the floor portion 12a of the recess 12. In this way, a magnetic coupling is provided between the permanent magnetic disc 28 and the ferromagnetic ring 26.
The interengagement between the locating member 20 and the recess 12, and the lower support member 10 and the feet portions 22a, 22b prevents lateral displacement of the golf bag base plate 18 relative to the lower support member 10. Furthermore, the magnetic coupling between the permanent magnetic disc 28 and the ferromagnetic ring 26 prevents the unintentional disengagement of the golf bag base plate 18 from the lower support member 10.
When a user wished to remove the golf bag 16 from the golf trolley, he/she simply applies an upward force which is greater that the magnetic force exerted by the permanent magnet 28 on the ferromagnetic steel ring 16. Once the magnetic force has been overcome, the golf bag 16 may be lifted away from the lower portion 2 of the golf trolley.
As shown in
The combination of the magnetic coupling between the recess defined by the base plate 118a of the golf bag 118 and the permanent magnet carried within the upwardly projecting locating element 112 of the lower support member 110, and the curved support arm 132 properly secures a bottom portion of the golf bag 118 to the lower portion 102 of the golf trolley.
As shown in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2115466.1 | Oct 2021 | GB | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/GB2022/052722 | 10/26/2022 | WO |