Patent Application
20230051119
Not applicable to this application.
Not applicable to this application.
The described example embodiments in general relate to a side mounted golf bag rack for use with a golf cart.
Racks for holding golf bags, mounted on motorized golf carts, have been in use for many years, and are typically mounted on the back of golf carts, and are designed and sized to hold just two golf bags. Since these mount on the rear of the cart, they leave the back unusable for carrying additional passengers, gear, etc. For example, a second, rear-facing seat cannot be accessed if the bags are being carried, because the bags block the seat. Some existing racks are designed to carry a single bag, which is an obvious disadvantage when the cart is used by two golfers, and the single bag and its rack still limits access to the rear of the cart.
Some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a side mounted golf bag rack or holder for use with a golf cart, which can hold golf bags at the rear, side position of the golf cart. In some embodiments, the golf bag rack may include a frame comprising a lower frame member and an upper frame member, wherein the frame is mountable on a side of the golf cart. The rack may also include a cross piece mounted on the upper frame member, the cross piece adapted to secure an upper portion of a golf bag in the rack. The rack further includes a lower support member that can be pivotally mounted on the frame, wherein the lower support member is pivotable between a first position and a second position.
The lower support member is adapted to support the golf bag in a position adjacent to the side of the golf cart when the lower support member is in the first position. The lower support member can be folded out of the way when not in use, and thus can be oriented along the upper frame member in the second position. In some example embodiments, the lower support member rests on a portion of the lower frame member when the lower support member is in the first position, wherein the lower frame member supports the lower support member by limiting its rotation.
In some example embodiments of the golf bag rack the lower frame member is mountable on the golf cart by a transverse mount attachable to the golf cart, such as on the lower frame of the golf cart. The golf bag rack is adapted to hold two golf bags, and the lower support member is adapted to support two golf bags. Two such racks may be mounted on a golf cart—for example, one on each side of the golf cart.
In some other embodiments, the present disclosure comprises a golf bag holding system. The system may have a transverse mount adapted for mounting on the golf cart, and can further include two golf bag racks, each rack attached to the transverse mount at an opposite end of the transverse mount (i.e., one on each side of the golf cart). Each golf bag rack may include a frame comprising a lower frame member and an upper frame member, wherein the frame is attached to the transverse mount. Each rack may also include a cross piece mounted on the upper frame member, the cross piece adapted to secure an upper portion of one or two golf bags. A lower support member of each rack may be pivotally mounted on the frame, wherein the lower support member is pivotable between a first position and a second position, as described above.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the embodiments of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional embodiments of that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment in detail, it is to be understood that the various embodiments are not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
To better understand the nature and advantages of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the following description and the accompanying figures. It is to be understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the scope of the present disclosure. Also, as a general rule, and unless it is evidence to the contrary from the description, where elements in different figures use identical reference numbers, the elements are generally either identical or at least similar in function or purpose.
Some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a golf bag holding rack or system that can hold one, two, or more golf bags at the rear, side position of a golf cart 10. Some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure include two golf bag racks 20, each rack having a frame 23 comprising a lower frame member 22 and an upper frame member 24, wherein the frame is mountable on a side of the golf cart 10. The rack 20 may also include a cross piece 26 mounted on the upper frame member 24, the cross piece 26 adapted to secure an upper portion of a golf bag 50 in the rack 20. The rack 20 further includes a lower support member 30 that can be pivotally mounted on the frame 23, for example, on upper frame member 24, wherein the lower support member 30 is pivotable between a first position and a second position.
The pivotal connection of the lower support member 30 to the frame 23 may comprise a hinge that uses a bolt 33 as a pivot member that passes through a bracket on the upper frame member 24 and hinge 32 on the lower support member 30.
The lower support member 30 may comprise a basket, having a substantially flat portion that is sized and shaped to support one or more golf bags 50. The lower support member 30 may be made of various materials using different manufacturing techniques. In one example, the lower support member 30 may comprise an expanded metal support surface 34 (which may comprise the substantially flat portion), angled metal side pieces, and a support tube 35, designed to rest against lower frame member 22 when in the first position. Together, these components provide a rigid assembly. In addition to a metal assembly, the lower support member 30, as well as all parts or components of the system, can be made of other materials, such as composites, plastics, resins, steel, aluminum, or other metals or alloys.
The lower support member 30 is substantially horizontal in the first position, and substantially vertical in the second position. When it is substantially horizontal, it is well suited to support one, two, or more golf bags 50. When it is not in use, the lower support member 30 can be folded up and out of the way in a substantially vertical position. As stated above, the lower support member 30 can be held in the first position due to the support tube 35 resting against a part of lower frame member 22, such as support surface 27, which prevents rotation about hinge 32 beyond the horizontal position. In the second position, in which the lower support member 30 is substantially vertical, the lower support member 30 is held in position by lock 40, which may be comprised of bracket 44 and a locking member, such as a bolt or pin 42 that fits through the bracket 44 and a hole 39 in the frame or a part of lower support member 30.
The lower support member 30 is adapted to support one or more golf bags 50 in a position adjacent to the side 12, 14 of the golf cart 10 when the lower support member 30 is in the first position. The lower support member 30 can be folded out of the way when not in use, and thus can be oriented along the upper frame member 24 in the second position. In some example embodiments, the lower support member 30 rests on a support surface 27 of the lower frame member 22 when the lower support member 30 is in the first position, wherein the lower frame member 22 supports the lower support member 30 by limiting its rotation.
As stated, the example embodiments may comprise a system, wherein more than one golf bag rack 20 is mounted on a single golf cart 10. For example, the system may comprise two golf bag racks 20, each mounted on the side of the golf cart 10 near the rear of the cart, although other locations are possible. In some example embodiments, the lower frame member 22 of each golf bag rack 20 is attached to or mounted on a transverse mount 21, which may be a square tube secured to the bottom portion of golf cart 10.
The transverse mount may be welded or attached to a portion of the frame of golf cart 10 by bolts, adhesives, or other fastening or attachment means. Similarly, each golf bag rack 20 may be welded to the transverse mount 21 or they may be attached with fasteners, bolts, or other means. In an example embodiment, the lower frame member 22 may comprise a square, round, or rectangular tube that fits inside or outside of the transverse mount 21, and can then be welded or bolted in place. A close fit between the lower frame member 22 and the transverse mount 21 adds rigidity to the system.
Each golf bag rack 20 may comprise a cross piece 26, as briefly mentioned above. The cross piece 26 is configured to secure the top portion of one or more golf bags 50. To that end, each cross piece may have a strap 28, such as a nylon web strap, and a buckle 29 to secure the strap once it has been wrapped around a golf bag 50.
As shown throughout the figures, each golf bag rack 20 may comprise a frame 23 comprising a lower frame member 22 and an upper frame member 24, wherein the frame 23 is removably or permanently mountable on a side of the golf cart 10. The lower frame member 22 and the upper frame member 24 may be made of square, rectangular, or round steel tubes, although other shapes and materials are possible as well. The lower frame member 22 may be attached to a transverse mount 21 that is securely mounted on the golf cart 10. In some embodiments, the frame members 22, 24 may be welded or bolted together, to form an L-shaped frame 23 as shown for example in
The lower frame member 22 may be a horizontal piece (horizontal referring to its orientation when the system is mounted on golf cart 10) as shown, for example, in
On the upper frame member 24, a hinge 32 may be used to pivotally attach 26 the lower support member 30 to the frame 23. Hinge 32 may comprise a stationary bracket or tube welded or attached to the upper frame member 24. A bolt 33 and nut 31 (as shown in
The rack 20 may also include a cross piece 26 mounted on the upper frame member 24, the cross piece 26 adapted to secure an upper portion of a golf bag 50 in the rack 20. The rack 20 further includes a lower support member 30 that can be pivotally mounted on the frame 23, for example, on upper frame member 24, wherein the lower support member 30 is pivotable between a first position and a second position.
A golf bag holding system, as shown for example in
As shown in the figures, and especially in
One or both racks 20 can be removably attached to transverse mount 21, as shown in
As shown in
Each lower support member 30 may comprise a basket, having a substantially flat portion that is sized and shaped to support one or more golf bags 50. The lower support member 30 may be made of various materials, such as metal, composite, plastic, etc. In one example, the lower support member 30 may comprise an expanded metal support surface 34 (which may comprise the substantially flat portion), angled metal side pieces, and a support tube 35, designed to rest against lower frame member 22 when in the first position. Together, these components provide a rigid assembly. In addition to a metal assembly, the lower support member 30 could be made of other materials, such as composites or molded plastic.
The lower support member 30 may be pivoted between a first position and a second position. The lower support member is substantially horizontal in the first position, and substantially vertical in the second position. The lower support member is shown in the first position in
When the lower support member 30 is substantially horizontal, it can support one, two, or more golf bags 50, as shown for example in
As noted previously, the lower support member 30 can be held in the first position due to the support tube 35 resting against a part of lower frame member 22, such as surface 27, which prevents rotation about hinge 32 beyond the horizontal position. This is shown, for example, in
As shown in
In use, the system may be used to carry four or more sets of golf clubs on a four-seat golf cart, as shown for example in
The racks 20 can be added to an existing cart by welding or attaching a transverse mount 21 to existing brackets or frame components on the golf cart, as shown in
Frame members 22 of racks 20 may also be permanently attached to transverse mount 21 by welding, adhesives, or other means. Alternatively, the lower or upper frame members 22 and 24 could be mounted directly onto the frame or other elements of a golf cart 10. The system could also be modified so that each rack 20 can carry more than two bags. For example, the lower support member 30 could be made longer, so that three bags, rather than two, could be supported. The cross piece 26 and strap 28 would also be modified in such case, to match the number of bags that could be held by lower support member 30.
The frame 23 can be fabricated by welding pieces of square tubing together to form lower frame member 22 and upper frame member 24, although other techniques are possible as well, especially if the system is not made of metal. For example, the frame could be a molded composite part. Once the frame is constructed, the other components, such as the cross piece 26, bracket 44, support surface 27, and the hinge bracket, can be welded or attached to the frame 23, as best shown in
Because the lower support member 30 is pivotally attached to the frame 23, it can be pivoted between a first position and a second position. The lower support member is substantially horizontal in the first position, and substantially vertical in the second position. The lower support member is shown in the first position in
The first, substantially horizontal position is the “in-use” position, wherein the lower support member can support golf bags, as shown for example in
In the second position, in which the lower support member 30 is substantially vertical, the lower support member 30 is held in position by lock 40, which may be comprised of bracket 44 and a locking member, such as a bolt or pin 42 that fits through the bracket 44 and a hole 39 (see, e.g.,
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the various embodiments of the present disclosure, suitable methods and materials are described above. All patent applications, patents, and printed publications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, except for any definitions, subject matter disclaimers or disavowals, and except to the extent that the incorporated material is inconsistent with the express disclosure herein, in which case the language in this disclosure controls. The various embodiments of the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the various embodiments in the present disclosure be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.
