Patent Application
20050200101
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a golf cart, and more particularly to a detachable container for a golf cart, wherein the detachable container, which is embodied as a universal container, comprises two spaced apart container holders for fittingly holding at two inclination arms of the golf cart respectively by a holding length between the container holders.
2. Description of Related Arts
A golf cart is considered as one of the convenient traveling tools to assist golfers to carry the golf bag on the golf course. A conventional golf cart generally comprises a supporting frame for holding the golf bag thereon and two wheel assemblies mounted to the supporting frame, wherein two inclination arms are inclinedly extended from the supporting frame to the wheel assemblies respectively, such that the golfer is able to carry the golf bay by pulling the golf cart from courses to courses.
For convenience purpose, the golf cart further incorporates with a folding arrangement to fold up the gold cart in a compact unit wherein hundreds different types of such foldable golf cart are known in the prior art.
The problem is that most golfers have to carry plenty of golf accessories, such as golf balls, golf tees, golf shoes and golf gloves. Generally speaking, most of the golf bags provide an accessory pocket to store such golf accessories. However, it is a hassle for the golfer to detach the golf bag from the golf cart in order to take the golf accessories from the accessory pocket during golfing. In addition, caps, towels, umbrellas, food and beverages are common items that the golfers usually carry while enjoying the golf activities.
In order to reduce the personal load, the golfer may merely put all the golf items into a shopping bag to hang on the supporting frame of the golf cart. However, it is danger because the golf cart is designed as a transportation tool but not a storage cart. Therefore, the weight hanged on the supporting frame may render the golf cart losing its balance and turning over.
To eliminate the foresaid drawback, the golf cart further comprises a storage container such that the golf items can be put in the storage container conveniently during golfing. However, the problem is that where the storage container should be placed. Accordingly, each golf cart has its own size and wheel distance such that the location of the storage container is one of the major problems for incorporating with the golf cart.
When the storage container is mounted at the supporting frame of the golf cart, the folding structure of the golf cart will be complicated since the storage container will block the folding operation of the golf cart. It is unreasonable that the storage container should be minimized its size to fit the folding operation of the golf cart.
In addition, most of the golf carts comprise an adjustable handle pivotally mounted to supporting frame such that the golfer is able to selectively adjust the handle to fit his or her hand distance. However, when the storage container is mounted at the supporting frame, the pivot movement of the handle will cause an unwanted movement of the storage container so as to lose the balance of the golf cart. In other words, the folding movement of the golf cart will substantially change the dimension of the golf cart through the inclination arms such that the storage container cannot be secured on such foldable golf cart. In fact, storing such golf accessories becomes an extravagant hope for most golfers during golfing.
A main object of the present invention is to provide a detachable container for a golf cart, wherein the detachable container comprises two spaced apart container holders for fittingly holding at two inclination arms of the golf cart respectively by a holding length between the container holders.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable container for a golf cart, wherein the detachable container is a universal container for any kind of golf cart having two inclination arms. In other words, the detachable container is adapted for detachably fitting on all kinds of existing golf carts via the two container holders.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable container for a golf cart, wherein the attaching/detaching operation of the detachable container is easy and convenience by simply dropping down the two container holders along the two inclination arms respectively.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable container for a golf cart, wherein the weight of the detachable container, especially when golf items are disposed therein, ensures the holding engagement between the container holder and the inclination arm so as to prevent the detachable container detaching from the golf cart accidentally.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable container for a golf cart, wherein the detachable container is self-adjusted its position along the inclination arms of by the holding length, such that when the inclination arms are folded to adjust a distance therebetween, the detachable container is still held at the inclination arms so as to prevent the detachable container detaching from the golf cart accidentally.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable container for a golf cart, wherein the detachable container is adapted to be folded up into a compact unit after the detachable container is detached from the golf cart for storage and carriage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable container for a golf cart, which does not require altering the original structure of the golf cart so as to reduce the manufacturing cost of the golf cart incorporating with the detachable container.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable container for a golf cart, wherein no expensive or mechanical structure is required to employ in the present invention in order to achieve the above mentioned objects. Therefore, the present invention successfully provides an economic and efficient solution not only for providing a storage space to carry the golf accessories but also for enhancing the practice use of the golf cart.
Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a detachable container for a golf cart having two inclination arms extending downwardly and outwardly, comprising:
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
Referring to
The golf cart, which is embodied as a foldable golf cart, comprises a supporting frame 10 for supporting a golf bag thereon and two wheel assemblies 20. The supporting frame comprises an upper handle frame 11 and a lower supporting stand 12 pivotally connected to the handle frame 11. Each of the wheel assemblies 20 comprises a side wheel 21 and a wheel arm 22 pivotally extended from the supporting frame 10 to rotatably connect with the side wheel 21. As shown in
It is worth to mention that the two inclination arms 1 can be incorporated with any kind of existing golf cart wherein the inclination arms 1 are downwardly and outwardly extended from the supporting frame 10 to the two wheel arms 22 as two rigid supporters to enhance the stiffness of the golf cart.
The detachable container comprises a container frame 30 having a storing chamber 301, and two container holders 40 spacedly mounted on a rear side of the container frame 30 to define a holding length D between the container holders 40, wherein the holding length D is larger than an upper span between two upper ends of the inclination arms 1 and is smaller than a lower span between two lower ends of the inclination arms 1, such that the container holders 40 are adapted for self-adjustably holding along the two inclination arms 1 respectively at a position that the holding length D matches with a transverse distance between the two inclination arms 1 so as to substantially hold the detachable container at the golf cart.
As shown in
The boundary walls 31 are embodied as a front wall 311, a back wall 312, and two sidewalls 313 pivotally connected with each other edges to edges, wherein two pivot joints 314 are formed at mid-portions of the two sidewalls 313 respectively such that each of the sidewalls 313 is adapted to overlappedly fold in half, as shown in
The boundary walls 31 are inclinedly extended from the base wall 32 such that a top opening 302 of the boundary frame 30 is facing in an inclination manner. Therefore, when the boundary frame 30 is held on the golf cart, the top opening 302 of the boundary frame 30 is facing towards the golfer for easy access.
Accordingly, in order to fold up the container frame 30, the golfer is able to pivotally lift up the base wall 32 within the storage chamber 301 such that the boundary walls 31 are adapted to be overlappedly folded into a compact unit, as shown in
According to the preferred embodiment, the two container holders 40 are spacedly mounted on one of the boundary walls 31 of the container frame 30 so as to hold the container frame 30 on the golf cart. The holding length D is defined between the holding members 41 to match with the transverse distance between the inclination arms 1. Accordingly, the transverse distance is gradually increased from the upper span of the inclination arms 1 to the lower span thereof. Therefore, the container holders 40 fit to hold along the inclination arms 1 once the holding length D matches with the transverse distance between the upper span of the inclination arms 1 and the lower span thereof.
Each of the container holders 40 has a detachable end 41 detachably affixed on the rear side of the container frame 30 and an opposed hooking end 42 adapted for holding at the respective inclination arm 1, wherein the holding length D is defined between the hooking ends 42 of the container holders 40 such that the two container holders 40 are adapted for holding at the two inclination arms 1 from two outer sides thereof once the holding distance D between the two container holders 40 matches with the transverse distance between the inclination arms 1, as shown in
Accordingly, each of the container holders 40 is detachably fastened at the rear side of the container frame 30 such that the holding length D can be selectively adjusted to fit the transverse distance between the two inclination arms 1 so as to adjust the position of the detachable container with respect to the golf cart.
The detachable container further comprises two supplemental container holders 50 spacedly mounted on the rear side of the container frame 30 to define a supplemental holding length D1 between the supplemental container holders 50, wherein the supplemental holding length D1 is larger than the holding length D of the container holders 40 and is smaller than the lower span of the inclination arms 1, such that the supplemental container holders 50 are adapted for self-adjustably holding along the two inclination arms 1 respectively at a position that the supplemental holding length D1 matches with the transverse distance between the two inclination arms 1 so as to substantially hold the detachable container at the golf cart. In other words, the container holders 40 and the supplemental container holders 50 provide four holding points at the inclination arms 1 to ensure the container frame 30 being securely held on the golf cart.
Accordingly, each of the supplemental container holders 50, which has the same structure of the container holder 40, has a supplemental detachable end 51 detachably affixed on the rear side of the container frame 30 and an opposed supplemental hooking end 52 adapted for holding at the respective inclination arm 1, wherein the supplemental holding length D1 is defined between the supplemental hooking ends 52 of the supplemental container holders 50 such that the two supplemental container holders 50 are adapted for holding at the two inclination arms 1 from two outer sides thereof once the supplemental holding distance D1 between the two supplemental container holders 50 matches with the transverse distance between the inclination arms 1.
In order to hold the detachable container on the golf cart, the golfer is able to dispose the container holders 40 at the upper span of the inclination arms 1 and drop down the container frame 30 along the inclination arms 1. Therefore, once the holding length D of the container holders 40 matches with the transverse distance between the inclination arms 1, the inclination arms 1 are fittingly held by the container holder 40 respectively to securely hold the container frame 30 at the inclination arms 1 so as to hold the detachable container on the golf cart.
It is worth to mention that the detachable container of the present invention is able to incorporate with any kind of golf cart having two inclination arms 1 because the holding operation of the detachable container is to match the holding distance D between the two container holders 40 with the transverse distance between the inclination arms 1.
In addition, for the foldable golf cart, as shown in
Thus, the golf cart can be folded up into a compact unit since the detachable container is adapted to be detached from the golf cart such that the golf cart does not require altering its original structure to incorporate with the detachable container. Once the detachable container is detached from the golf cart, the detachable container is adapted to be folded up into a compact unit, as shown in
It is worth to mention that when the detachable container of the present invention is held on the golf cart, the weight of the container frame 30, especially when the golf items are disposed therein, will ensure the holding engagement between the container holder 40 and the inclination arm 1 so as to prevent the detachable container detaching from the golf cart accidentally. It is because the downward movement of the container frame 30 is limited by the holding distance D with respect to the transverse distance between the inclination arms 1. Furthermore, the golfer must lift up the container frame 30 along the inclination arms 1 in order to detach the detachable container from the golf cart. Therefore, the weight of the container frame 30 ensures the detachable container to be secured on the golf cart.
Referring to
Each of the container holders 40′ comprises a holding member 41′, having a U-shaped cross section, provided on an upper portion of the rear side of the container frame 30′, wherein each of the holding members 41′ has a holding groove 411′ and a side opening 412′ for receiving the respective inclination arm 1 within the holding groove 411′, such that the two holding members 41′ of the container holders 40′ are held at the two inclination arms 1 from two outer sides thereof.
As shown in
Accordingly, the container frame 30′ comprises a plurality of boundary walls 31′ pivotally connected with each other edges to edges, a base wall 32′ pivotally connected to one of the boundary walls 31′ edge to edge, and at least a retention stopper 33′ provided at a bottom edge of the corresponding boundary wall 31′ in such a manner that when the base wall 32′ is pivotally and downwardly folded within the boundary walls 31′ and is stopped by the retention stopper 33′, the storing chamber 301′ having a top opening 302′ is substantially formed within the boundary walls 31′ and the base wall 32′.
It is worth to mention that the container frame 30′ can be constructed as the container frame 30 of the first embodiment that boundary walls 31 are inclinedly extended from the base wall 32 such that the top opening 302 of the boundary frame 30 is facing in an inclination manner, as shown in
According to the second embodiment, the present invention further comprises a length adjusting unit 60′ which comprises two shaft holders 61′ spacedly mounted on the rear side of the container frame 30′ and a control shaft 62′ rotatably mounted to the shaft holder 61′ to longitudinally supported on the rear side of the container frame 30′ wherein the control shaft 62′ has two threaded end portions 621′ rotatably mounted to the container holders 40′ respectively, such that when the control shaft 62′ is rotated, the two container holders 40′ are driven to slide along the threaded end portions 621′ of the control shaft 62′ so as to selectively adjust the holding distance D between the container holders 40′.
The length adjusting unit 60′ further comprises a control handle 63′ coaxially mounted on the control shaft 63, preferably between the shaft holders 61′, such that the golfer is able to rotate the control shaft 62′ so as to control the holding distance D between the container holders 40′. It is worth to mention that the golfer is able to adjust the position of the detachable container of the present invention along the inclination arms 1 such that the golfer is able to hold the detachable container on the golf cart towards the upper span of the inclination arms 1 by reducing the holding distance D between the container holders 40′. Likewise, the golfer is able to hold the detachable container on the golf cart towards the lower span of the inclination arms 1 by increasing the holding distance D between the container holders 40′.
The detachable container further comprises a retention holder unit 50′ which comprises a resilient arm 51′ substantially mounted at the shaft holders 61′ to downwardly suspend two resilient end portions 511′ and two retention holders 52′ mounted at the resilient end portions 511′ of the resilient arm 51′ respectively wherein the resilient end portions 511′ of the resilient arm 51′ are adapted for providing two outward pushing forces against the inclination arms 1 when the retention holders 52′ are held at inner sides of the inclination arms 1 respectively so as to securely hold the container frame 30′ on the golf cart.
As shown in
The two retention holders 52′ spacedly supported on the rear side of the container frame 30′ via said resilient arm 51′ to define a supplemental holding length D1 between the retention holders 52′, wherein the supplemental holding length D1 is larger than the holding length D of the container holders 40′ and is larger than the transverse distance of the inclination arms 1, such that the resilient arm 51′ provides the outward pushing force at the retention holders 52′ for substantially biasing against the two inclination arms 1 respectively when the supplemental holding length D1 matches with the transverse distance between the two inclination arms 1 so as to substantially hold the detachable container at the golf cart. In other words, the container holders 40′ and the retention holders 52′ provide four holding points at the inclination arms 1 to ensure the container frame 30′ being securely held on the golf cart.
Each of the retention holders 52′, which has the same structure of the container holder 40′, comprises a supplemental holding member 521′, having a U-shaped cross section, provided on a lower portion of the rear side of the container frame 30, wherein each of the supplemental holding members 521′ has a supplemental holding groove 522′ and a supplemental side opening 513′ for receiving the respective inclination arm 1 within the supplemental holding groove 522′, such that the two supplemental holding members 521′ of the retention holders 52′ are held at the two inclination arms 1 from two inner sides thereof respectively.
Accordingly, the golfer is able to dispose the container holders 40′ at the upper span of the inclination arms 1 and drop down the container frame 30′ along the inclination arms 1. Therefore, once the holding length D of the container holders 40′ matches with the transverse distance between the inclination arms 1, the inclination arms 1 are fittingly held by the container holder 40′ respectively to securely hold the container frame 30′ at the inclination arms 1 so as to hold the detachable container on the golf cart.
Then, the golfer is able to push the two retention holders 52′ towards each other via the resilient arm 51′. Once the supplemental holding distance D1 matches the transverse distance between the inclination arms 1, the retention holders 52′ are allowed to hold along the inclination arms 1. Due to the elasticity of the resilient arm 51′, the retention holders 52′ are substantially held at the two inclination arms 1 from two inner sides thereof respectively, as shown in
The two container holders 40A are spacedly mounted on a rear side of the container frame 30A to define the holding length D between the container holders 40A, such that the container holders 40A are adapted for self-adjustably holding along the two inclination arms 1 respectively at a position that the holding length D matches with a transverse distance between the two inclination arms 1 so as to substantially hold the detachable container at the golf cart.
Each of the container holders 40A comprises a holding member 41A, having a U-shaped cross section, provided on an upper portion of the rear side of the container frame 30′, wherein each of the holding members 41A has a holding groove 411A and a side opening 412A for receiving the respective inclination arm 1 within the holding groove 411A, such that the two holding members 41A of the container holders 40A are held at the two inclination arms 1 from two outer sides thereof.
As shown in
In order to hold each of the holding member 41A at an inclined position, each of the container holders 40A further comprises a retention base 42A substantially mounted on the upper portion of the rear side of the container frame 30A such that the respective holding member 41A is inclinedly mounted on the retention base 42A to retain the respective holding groove 411A in an inclination manner.
As shown in
Accordingly, each of the supplemental container holders 50A, which has the same structure of the container holder 40A, comprises a supplemental holding member 51A, having a U-shaped cross section, provided on a lower portion of the rear side of the container frame 30A, wherein each of the supplemental holding members 51A has a supplemental holding groove 511A and a supplemental side opening 512A for receiving the respective inclination arm 1 within the supplemental holding groove 511A, such that the two supplemental holding members 51A of the supplemental container holders 50A are held at the two inclination arms 1 from two outer sides thereof.
As shown in
In order to hold each of the supplemental holding member 51A at an inclined position, each of the supplemental container holders 50A further comprises a supplemental retention base 52A substantially mounted on the lower portion of the rear side of the container frame 30A such that the respective supplemental holding member 51A is inclinedly mounted on the supplemental retention base 52A to retain the respective supplemental holding groove 511A in an inclination manner.
Each of the container holders 40B comprises a holding member 41B, having a U-shaped cross section, provided on an upper portion of the rear side of the container frame 30B, wherein each of the holding members 41B has a holding groove 411B and a side opening 412B for receiving the respective inclination arm 1 within the holding groove 411B, such that the two holding members 41B of the container holders 40B are held at the two inclination arms 1 from two outer sides thereof.
As shown in
Accordingly, each of the shaft fasteners 532B is a hand screw adapted for providing a quick and easy attachment to fasten with the slider shaft 53B so as to adjust the holding length D between the container holders 40B.
In addition, an inclination of each of the container holders 40B is allowed to be adjusted via the slider shaft 531B so as to adjust the inclined position of the container holder 40B for matching an inclination angle of the respective inclination arm 1. Therefore, when the holding members 41B are slid along the inclination arms 1 respectively, the inclination arms 1 are fittingly received in the holding grooves 411B respectively so as to securely hold the container frame 30B on the golf cart.
As shown in
Therefore, the golfer is able to lock up the container holders 40B on the container frame 30B in position to fittingly hold the detachable container on the golf cart. Once the golfer wants to hold the detachable container on another golf cart, he or she is able to easily adjust the holding length D between the container holders 40B to fit the transverse distance between the inclination arms 1.
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
