BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a combined golf caddie and golf cart apparatus formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, shown in a ride position thereof carrying a golf bag;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, with a rider also indicated;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing a rear portion of the apparatus;
FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus;
FIG. 5 is an exploded rear perspective view of the apparatus;
FIG. 6 is a rear view of the apparatus showing a motor control panel thereof;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing a preferred arrangement for detachably mounting a seat support leg to a frame of the apparatus;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing a fold-out foot peg on the frame of the apparatus;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 9-9 in FIG. 2;
FIGS. 10A-10C are a series of sectional views taken generally along the line 10-10 in FIG. 9 to illustrate a detent mechanism for limiting rotation of a steering assembly of the apparatus;
FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing the steering assembly in a ride position relative to the frame;
FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 11, but showing the steering assembly pivoted to a walk position relative to the frame; and
FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the apparatus similar to that of FIG. 2, with a walker indicated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Attention is directed initially to FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings, wherein a combined golf caddie and golf cart apparatus formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown and designated broadly by reference numeral 10. Apparatus 10 generally comprises a frame 12, a steering assembly 14, a seat 16, a front steering wheel 18 forming part of steering assembly 14, a pair of rear wheels 20, a motor 22, a motor controller 24, and a pair of power sources 26.
Frame 12 is constructed of a durable rigid material, preferably metal, and includes an inverted Y-shaped main member 30, an outer casing 32 provided at an upper portion of the main member 30 and having a passage 33 (FIG. 11) through which steering assembly 14 passes, and a platform portion 34 fixed to and depending from a lower portion of the main member 30. Frame 12 is configured to support a golf bag 8 (not a part of the present invention) in an inclined position. For this purpose, a curved bag support 35 and a bag stop member 36 are provided at a rear area of platform portion 34 to engage a lower end of golf bag 8, and a transverse cradle member 38 is fixed to outer casing 32 near the junction of outer casing 32 with main member 30 to engage and support an upper portion of golf bag 8. Frame 12 preferably includes a central member 29 extending from main member 30 to join with platform portion 34. Alternative configurations of frame 12 designed to support a golf bag are of course possible, and any configuration that supports a golf bag may be used. A pair of fold-out foot pegs 31, one of which is shown in FIG. 8, are fixed to opposite sides of horizontal platform portion 34 to support the feet of a rider.
In accordance with the present invention, steering assembly 14 extends through passage 33 in outer casing 32 of frame 12 and is mounted to pivot with respect to the frame to adjust back and forth between a ride position (FIG. 2) and a walk position (FIG. 13). More particularly, and with reference to FIG. 9, steering assembly 14 includes a steering tube 40 pivotally mounted to the outer casing 32 of the frame 12 by a pair of pivot pins 42 extending in opposite directions from an outer wall of steering tube 40 and received by corresponding holes in outer casing 32. Steering assembly 14 further includes a steering column 44 carried by steering tube 40 such that the steering column is allowed to rotate about the longitudinal axis of steering tube 40. Steering column 44 has an elongated steering axle 46 arranged to extend through steering tube 40 and a handlebar 48 mounted on an upper portion of the steering axle. Steering wheel 18 is shown mounted on a lower portion of steering axle 46 by a fork suspension 19, however other arrangements for mounting steering wheel 18 may be used. Steering axle 46 is prevented from axially directed sliding movement relative to steering tube 40 by upper and lower journal nuts 52, but steering axle 46 is free to rotate with respect to steering tube 40 about their shared longitudinal axis. As will be understood, a user may turn handlebar 48 to rotate the steering column 44, including steering wheel 18, to change the direction of travel of apparatus 10. Moreover, steering assembly 14 pivots with respect to frame 12 to adjust between the walk position of FIG. 13 in which handlebar 48 is ahead of steering wheel 18 and a ride position of FIG. 2 in which handlebar 48 trails steering wheel 18. As indicated in FIG. 5, handlebar 48 is removably mounted on steering axle 46, such as by a lever-operated clamp 49 or quill stem connection, so that handlebar 48 may be quickly mounted for use or removed if necessary for storage.
In order to releasably secure steering assembly 14 in the walk position and alternatively in the ride position, whichever is selected, a locking means 54 is provided. In the embodiment shown at FIGS. 9, 11, and 12, locking means 54 includes a removable locking pin 56 insertable through a pair of aligned holes 60 through opposite sides of outer casing 32. Locking pin 56 may have an enlarged head at one end and a through-hole at the other for receiving a cotter pin or similar device for keeping the locking pin in place after insertion. When in place, locking pin 56 abuts against steering tube 40 to confine it, with the cooperation of outer casing 32, against further pivotal motion with respect to casing 32. Holes 60 are located such that confinement occurs when steering assembly is in both the walk position and the ride position; alternatively, two pairs of aligned holes, one pair for the walk position and one pair for the ride position, may be used. Other means for releasably securing steering assembly 14 in the walk position or ride position include spring biased plungers and other locking mechanisms arranged to act between outer casing 32 and steering assembly 14.
The extent to which steering column 44, including steering wheel 18, can be rotated relative to steering tube 40 is preferably limited to an angular range that allows sufficient directional steering of apparatus 10 but minimizes the risk of tipping. In some situations, such as when steering assembly 14 is in the walk position or during storage of assembly 10, it may be desirable to entirely prevent rotation of steering column 44 relative to steering tube 40. Accordingly, apparatus 10 is preferably equipped with a detent member 64 shown in FIGS. 10A-10C. Detent member 64 is arranged to extend radially through a hole in steering tube 40 to partially reside between a pair of first limit surfaces 66 or between a pair of second limit surfaces 68 provided on steering axle 46. In a preferred embodiment, second limit surfaces 68 have an axis of symmetry that is 180° opposite an axis of symmetry of first limit surfaces 66. As will be understood, when an inner end portion of detent member 64 is between first limit surfaces 66 as shown in FIG. 10A, steering column 44 may be rotated about 22.5° to either side from a centrally aligned position until a corresponding one of the first limit surfaces 66 engages detent member 64, thereby allowing a limited range of steering to the left and to the right. Preferably, detent member 64 is in the form of a plunger mounted on steering tube 40 and spring-biased in a radially inward direction toward steering axle 46. Detent member 64 may be pulled radially outward against the spring bias and steering column 44 rotated through as depicted in FIG. 10B, to position second limit surfaces 68 adjacent detent member 64, such that when detent member 64 is again allowed to move radially inward under the biasing force, the inner end portion of detent member 64 will reside between second limit surfaces 68 as shown in FIG. 10C. In the depicted embodiment, second limit surfaces 68 are spaced close together to prevent rotation of steering column 44 relative to steering tube 40, however second limit surfaces 68 may be spaced to allow some range of rotation as a matter of design choice.
Seat 16 is removably mounted on frame 12 by support legs 17 whose distal ends are received in respective mounting receptacles 37 provided on frame 12. As best seen in FIG. 7, mounting receptacles 37 each have a thumb screw 39 extending through a threaded hole in the receptacle wall for releasably clamping a received support leg in the receptacle. Of course, other means for releasable securing support legs 17 in receptacles 37 may be used, including without limitation pins, lever-operated cams, latches, clips, friction members, and snap members.
In accordance with an improvement of the present invention, support legs 17 and seat 16 are arranged to straddle golf bag 8 supported on frame 12. Consequently, when apparatus 10 is being ridden by a user as shown in FIG. 2, it appears as though the user is riding the golf bag. This feature of the invention allows apparatus 10 to be very compact in size relative to other golf carts, whereby apparatus 10 may be stored in a car trunk or other small space; the removable seat also helps in this regard.
Motor 22 is coupled to one or both of rear wheels 20 for driving apparatus 10. Motor 22 is preferably an electric motor, but an internal combustion engine may also be used. A commercially available wheelchair drive motor with differential and emergency hill brake is known to provide suitable functionality for practicing the present invention. A particular drive motor assembly used by applicant in a prototype apparatus is a 600 W, 24 V DC electric motor transaxle, Model No. HLM-C01-600 available from Jinhua Huilong Machinery Co., Ltd. (China) (http://www.cn-hlm.com).
A motor control system connected to drive motor 22 includes motor controller 24, a throttle control 50 mounted on handlebar 48 and connected to motor controller 24 by a lead wire 70 extending along and secured to frame 12, and a motor control panel 72 connected by wires 74 to motor controller 24. Lead wire 70 preferably includes a plug connection 73 dividing the lead wire into upper and lower portions to accommodate removal of handlebar 48 as discussed above.
Motor controller 24 is shown mounted on platform portion 34, but it is also contemplated to mount motor controller 24 on central member 29 or elsewhere on frame 12. Motor controller 24 varies the drive output of motor 22 in response to an input signal from throttle control 50. Motor controller 24 may be a standard, commercially available electronic motor controller having reverse drive and braking functions. Motor controller 24 is preferably a programmable controller of a type commonly used in automatic wheelchairs and other personal mobility products. Such motor controllers are desirable because they provide several performance and safety features, including multiple speed modes, load compensation for maintaining constant speed when traveling up and down inclines, and anti-rolling functions. Another safety feature may be incorporated by connecting the locking pin 56 to motor controller 24 by a lead wire (not shown) so that frame 12 serves as ground, such that when locking pin 56 is removed from holes 60 an inhibit switch of the motor controller is tripped to prevent operation of the motor. A suitable motor controller known to applicant is the 24 V, 110 Amp Curtis 1228-2901 MultiMode™ electronic controller made by Curtis Instruments, Inc. of Mount Kisco, N.Y. Of course, if an internal combustion engine is used as a motor, it will require a controller adapted for use therewith.
Throttle control 50 is preferably a standard electronic throttle control that is responsive to rotation or other manipulation by a user. A currently preferred throttle control is a 5 V Hall effect throttle control. A standard potentiometer throttle control, or any throttle control adapted for use with motor controller 24, may be used.
FIG. 6 shows control panel 72 associated with motor controller 24. In the illustrated embodiment, control panel 72 includes an on/off switch 76, a power on status light 78, a forward/reverse switch 80, a fast/slow speed mode selection switch 82, and a brake/unbrake switch 84 for a parking brake.
In the embodiment shown in the figures, power sources 26 are two 12 V batteries connected to motor controller 24 by wires 86. The batteries are preferably absorption glass mat (AGM) batteries, which are relatively lightweight and reliable, and do not leak. If an internal combustion engine is used as the motor, the power source will be a fuel tank connected to the engine by a fuel line in a manner known to those having skill in the art.
As will be appreciated from FIGS. 2 and 13, apparatus 10 may function as a ridable golf cart (FIG. 2) or as a golf caddie for a player walking the golf course. To switchover from the ride position shown in FIG. 2 to the walk position shown in FIG. 13, a user removes locking pin 56 from holes 60, pivots steering assembly 14 about the pivot axis defined by pivot pins 42 to bring steering wheel 18 closer to rear wheels 20 until steering tube 40 abuts against outer casing 32, and then re-installs locking pin 56 through holes 60. The user also reverses the direction of handlebar 48 by pulling detent member 64 radially outward and rotating steering column 44 through 180° until detent member 64 can be released for receipt between second limit surfaces 68. In the golf caddie position shown in FIG. 13, apparatus 10 may be operated with motor assistance, or simply pushed or pulled along by a user without motor assistance. If the user chooses to walk behind apparatus 10 with motor assistance, as depicted in FIG. 13, it will be noted that forward/reverse switch 80 should be switched to operate motor 22 in reverse such that rear wheels 20 are leading the apparatus. For sake of clarity, the terms “ahead of” and “trails” and forms thereof as may be used in the claims refer to a rear of the apparatus established by rear wheels 20.
Patent Application
20080023236
