The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for facilitating access to the powertrain of a golf car.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Golf cars can include a rear opening in a rear body of the golf car to provide access to components of the golf car below the rear body, such as the power train. A cover can be provided for covering the rear opening. The cover can be secured in the opening using a plurality of fasteners, often at the corners of the cover. Typically, six or more fasteners are used to securely mount the cover in the opening. The use of such a fastening system often makes it cumbersome to remove the cover from, and secure the cover within, the opening. Thus, such covers and fastening systems for such covers are subject to improvement.
The present teachings provide for an access panel for a golf car that can comprise a first planar portion; a second planar portion integral with and orientated at an angle relative to the first planar portion; a first retention detail extending from the first planar portion; a second retention detail extending from the second planar portion; and an aperture extending through the first planar portion.
The present teachings also provide for a golf car that can comprise a front end; a rear end opposite the front end; a rear body at the rear end comprising an upper portion and a golf bag retention well; and an opening that extends from the upper portion of the rear body to the retention well. The opening can comprise a first flange at the upper portion of the rear body; a second flange at the retention well of the rear body; a first notch in the first flange; and a second notch in the second flange.
The present teachings further provide for a rear body of a golf car that can comprise an upper portion; a golf bag retention well adjacent to the upper portion and recessed beneath the upper portion; an opening in the rear body extending from the upper portion to the golf bag retention well; a cover having a first planar portion and a second planar portion that is integral with the first planar portion at a hinge portion, the first planar portion is angled relative to the second planar portion, the cover is sized to cover the opening; and a plurality of retention details mounted to the cover and operable to cooperate with the opening to retain the cover in the opening.
The present teachings still further provide for a golf car comprising: a front end; a rear end opposite to the front end; a rear body at the rear end comprising an upper portion and a golf bag retention well; an opening that extends from the upper portion of the rear body to the retention well; and a cover covering the opening. The opening comprises: a first flange at the upper portion of the rear body; a second flange at the retention well of the rear body; a first notch in the first flange; and a second notch in the second flange. The cover comprises: a first planar portion; a second planar portion that is integral with the first planar portion at a hinge portion, the first planar portion is angled more than 90° relative to the second planar portion; a first retention detail extending from the first planar portion; and a second retention detail extending from the second planar portion. The cover is flexed at the hinge portion to bring the first planar portion into contact with the first flange and the second planar portion into contact with the second flange, the first planar portion is positioned such that the first planar portion is seated atop the first flange and the first retention detail is seated within the first notch and below the first flange, the second planar portion is positioned such that the second planar portion is seated atop the second flange and the second retention detail is seated within the second notch and below the second flange.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. Throughout this specification, like reference numerals will be used to refer to like elements.
A golf car according to the present teachings is illustrated in
The rear body 22 can comprise an upper portion 24, a well 26, an opening 28 (
With additional reference to
The upper end 38 and portions of the first and second sides 42 and 44 proximate the upper end 38 can include an upper flange 46. The upper flange 46 can be recessed beneath the upper portion 24. The lower end 40 and portions of the first and second sides 42 and 44 proximate the lower end 40 can include a lower flange 48. The lower flange 48 can be recessed within the front wall 36 of the well 26.
The upper flange 46 can comprise one or more cut-out portions or notches 50 at the upper end 38 of the opening 28. The lower flange 48 can similarly comprise one or more cut-out portions or notches 52 at the lower end 40 of the opening 28. The lower flange 48 can further comprise a first extension 54 and a second extension 56. The first extension 54 can extend from the first side wall 42 and the second extension 56 can extend from the second side wall 44. The first extension 54 can be opposite the second extension 56. The first extension 54 can include a first aperture 58 and the second extension 56 can include a second aperture 60.
With additional reference to
The first portion 62 can comprise at least one first retention detail 66. The retention detail 66 can take the form of a flange that can be mounted to an undersurface 67 of the first portion 62 and can extend from an end of the first portion 62. The second portion 64 can similarly include at least one second retention detail 68. The second retention detail 68 can be the same as or similar to the first retention detail 66. For example, the second retention detail 68 can be a flange mounted to an undersurface 69 of the second portion 64 and can extend from an end of the second portion 64.
The first portion 62 can further comprise one or more through holes 70. As illustrated, the first portion 62 can include a first through hole 70a and a second through hole 70b. The through holes 70a and 70b can be spaced apart at opposite ends of the first portion 62. The through holes 70a and 70b can be sized and configured to receive any suitable fastening device, such as a “J” clip.
The cover 30 can be made of any suitable material, such as a suitable polymer. The cover 30 can be made of a material that permits the first portion 62 to flex relative to the second portion 64 at the hinge portion 65.
Installation of the cover 30 within the opening 28 will now be described. The cover 30 can be positioned so that the retention details 68 of the second portion 64 are seated within the upper notches 50 and under the upper flange 46. The area of the second portion 64 proximate to the second retention details 68 can be seated on top of the upper flange 46 for support.
The cover 30 can then be flexed at the hinge portion 65 to position the retention details 66 of the first portion 62 within the lower notches 52 and under the lower flange 48. The area of the first portion 62 proximate to the first retention details 66 can be seated on top of the lower flange 48 for support.
When the cover 30 is seated within the opening 28, the first through hole 70a can be aligned with the first aperture 58 and the second through hole 70b can be aligned with the second aperture 60. Suitable fastening devices, such as “J” clips, can be inserted through the first hole 70a and the first aperture 58, as well as through the second through hole 70b and the second aperture 60. Mounting the cover 30 to the first extension 54 and the second extension 56 further secures the cover 30 within the opening 28.
The cover 30 can be removed from the opening 28 by removing the fasteners used to secure the cover 30 to the first extension 54 and the second extension 56. The first retention details 66 can then be removed from beneath the lower end 40 of the opening 28 and the second retention details 68 can be removed from beneath the upper end 38 of opening 28 to permit removal of the cover 30 from the opening 28. With the cover 30 removed from the opening 28, the opening 28 can be used to obtain access to components of the car 10 beneath the rear body 22, such as the rear end of the powertrain.
With renewed reference to
With reference to
The description herein is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of that which is described are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.