GB2104017A

GB2104017A - Motorised golf trolley

Info

Publication number: GB2104017A
Application number: GB08223109A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Adam Thompson Wilson; Brian Sidney Munday
Original assignee: BRYLITE BATTERIES Ltd
Current assignee: BRYLITE BATTERIES Ltd
Priority date: 1981-08-12
Filing date: 1982-08-11
Publication date: 1983-03-02
Also published as: GB2104017B

Abstract

A motorised golf trolley comprises a wheeled motor frame assembly (1) and a handle (2) releasably connected to the assembly (1) so that together they form a generally T-shaped trolley for carrying a golf bag. The motor frame assembly (1) consists of a straight frame member (5) clamped to the cross part (6) of an inverted U-shaped frame member (4). A pair of main wheels (20) are detachably mounted on the limbs of frame member (4), and the cross part (6) of member (4) carries an electric motor (22) and a battery carrier (33) which locates a battery (32) for energising the motor (22). When the wheels (20) are detached from the assembly (1), the limbs of frame member (4) form legs which, together with an auxiliary wheel (41) on the end of the straight frame member (5), provide a stable three- point support for the assembly (1) which enables the battery (32) to occupy an attitude in which spillage therefrom is least likely to occur during transportation and storage. The wheels (20) are driven through a belt and pulleys, and through a chain and sprockets, see Figure 4 (not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Motorised golf trolley This invention relates to a motorised golf trolley for carrying golf clubs.

Motorised golf trolleys which have been proposed previously have not generally been readily transportable, for example in the boot of a motor car, to and from golf courses, or storable, and there have been problems of spillage from the batteries of electrically driven trolleys during transportation and storing.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a motorised golf trolley which is readily transportable and minimises the risk of battery spillage during transportation and storing.

According to the present invention a motorised golf trolley is provided which comprises a wheeled motor frame assembly and a handle releasably connected to the motor frame assembly, the handle and motor frame assembly together forming an elongated bearer adapted to receive a golf bag longitudinally thereof, and the motor frame assembly comprising a frame on which are detachably mounted a pair of wheels rotatable about an axis transverse to the elongated bearer, an electric motor carried by the frame and which through drive transmission means drives at least one of the wheels, a battery carrier carried by the frame which locates a battery for energising the motor, and support means adapted to provide stable support for the motor frame assembly when the wheels are detached such that the battery occupies an attitude in which spillage therefrom is least likely to occur.

The trolley can be reduced to a compact size for transportation and storage by detaching the handle and wheels from the motor frame assembly. Preferably the weight of the motor frame is kept as low as practicably possible to enable it to be picked up and carried manually without undue difficulty.

Ideally the assembled trolley has the essentially T-shape which it is generally preferred that golf trolleys should have. Thus the handle may be of substantially linear form connecting to a part of the frame which continues the linear form and transversely of which a further part of the frame extends to which the wheels are attached.

Legs may be provided on the motor frame assembly which entirely provide the support means to support the assembly when the wheels are detached. It is preferred, however, that the support means is comprised of a pair of legs and an auxiliary wheel or skid which together provide stable three-point support for the assembly. The wheel or skid is preferably spaced from the rotational axis of the two main wheels so that it may serve also with those wheels to provide three-point support for the assembled trolley when it is at rest. The arrangement is desirably such that when the trolley is so supported by the three wheels, or two wheels and skid, a golf bag carried on the trolley is disposed in a position in which clubs can be readily removed from and inserted in the bag.

The battery carrier may be of the general form of a tray or box in which the battery snugly fits so that it is restrained from moving on the tray. A strap or straps, or other suitable retaining means may be provided and arranged to fasten over the battery to hold it securely in the carrier.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a motorised golf trolley in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a handle and part of a motor frame assembly of the trolley; Figure 3 is a front view of a further part of the motor frame assembly; and Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the further part of the motor frame assembly shown in Figure 3.

The motorised golf trolley comprises a motor frame assembly 1 and a handle 2 which is detachably connected to the motor frame assembly.

The motor frame assembly 1 comprises a frame 3 which consists of an inverted U-shaped frame member 4 formed from metal tubing and a straight frame member 5 also of metal tubing which is releasably clamped transversely on top of the cross part 6 of the U-shaped frame member 4.

The straight frame member 5 seats on a half clamp 7, Figures 3 and 4, fixed on the cross part 6 which closely embraces a portion of the circumference of the straight frame member, and a bolt 8 retained to the half clamp passes diametrically through the frame member and is fitted with a complementary half clamp 7' and a hand wheel nut 9 to clamp the member rigidly on the cross part. The point at which the straight frame member is clamped to the cross part is offset from the middle of the length of the frame member so that the member has a long rearward portion 10 extending rearwardly from the cross part and a shorter forward portion 11 extending forwardly from the cross part.

Mounted on the depending parallel limbs 12 of the inverted U-shaped frame member 4 are bearings 13, Figure 4, in which an axle 14 is rotatably journalled. The bearings 1 3 are spaced above the lower ends of the limbs 12 which are fitted with rubber or plastics end caps 1 5. The portions of the limbs below the bearings form legs 1 6. Outwardly of the bearings 13 hubs 1 7 are mounted on the axle which incorporate one-way clutches 1 8 and have locating pins 17' radially spaced from the rotational axis. A short stub shaft 1 9 projects from the centre of each hub co-axially with the axle and is externally screw-threaded.

Solid rubber tyred wheels 20 are releasably attached to the hubs. The naves of the wheels 20 have central holes, not shown, through which the stub shafts 1 9 pass and locating holes, not shown, with which the locating pins 17' mate to restrain the wheels from rotation relative to the hubs.

Hand-releasable wing nuts 21 tightened on the stub shafts 19 retain the wheels releasably to the hubs 17.

In an alternative mounting for the wheels 20, the wing nuts 21 may be replaced by springloaded pins (not shown) which extend radially inwards into the central holes of the naves of the wheels. When the locating pins 17' mate with the locating holes the spring-loaded pins engage with annular grooves in the stub shafts 1 9 to retain the wheels releasably to the hubs. The stub shafts do not have to be externally screw-threaded.

Also mounted on the inverted U-shaped frame member 4 at the cross part 6, to one side of the straight frame structure 5, is an electric motor 22.

A pulley 23, Figure 4, on an output shaft 24 of the motor 22 drives a belt 25 which passes round a larger pulley 26 supported by a bracket 27 on one of the limbs 12 of the frame member 4 intermediate the cross part 6 and the axle 14.

Rotatable with the larger pulley 26 is a smaller sprocket 28 which drives a chain 29 engaged with a larger sprocket 30 fixed on the axle. The belt and chain drive gives a step down in rotational speed from the output shaft 24 to the axle. Taking the drive from the output shaft at first by the belt 25 quietens the drive. A guard 31 fixed to the adjacent limb 12 of the frame member 4 extends over the belt 25 and chain 29. As illustrated the guard only partially covers the drive but a guard may be provided, if preferred, which completely encases the drive.

Alternatively, the bracket 27 may be omitted and the larger pulley 26 may be supported by a plate extending parallel to limbs 12 from the cross part 6. Preferably this plate is located between the guard 31 and the motor 22 and is secured thereto.

The drive from the motor drives the wheels for forwards travel of the trolley, but the clutches 1 8 allow the wheels to turn so that the trolley can be pushed backwards manually when required.

Conversely, the drive from the motor may be arranged to drive the trolley in the opposite direction.

The wheels 20 are of a radius greater than the lengths of the legs 1 6, and the legs are longer than the radii of the hubs 17 and the larger sprocket 30 on the axle.

The motor 22 is energised by a 12 volt traction battery 32 designed for travel over rough ground.

The battery is supported on a battery carrier 33 mounted on the inverted U-shaped frame member 4 at the opposite side of the straight frame member 5 from the motor. The battery carrier is made from metal sheet bent to L-shape, a base portion of the L-shape being formed into a tray 34 by having its side and end edges turned up to provide peripheral flanges 35. The tray is dimensioned to receive the battery 32 with a close fit. A leg portion 36 of the L-shaped battery carrier is bolted at its upper end to the cross part 6 of the inverted U-shaped frame member, and the free end of the tray 34 remote from the leg portion 36 extends forwardly from that portion and rests on, and is bolted to, a tubular bar 37, Figure 3, fixed to the adjacent limb 1 2 of the frame member above and parallel to the axle 14.

In an alternative construction the tubular bar 37 may be co-axial with, and arranged to contain, the axle 14. It preferably extends from the limb 12 adjacent the battery carrier to the guard 31.

The battery carrier is so arranged that when the trolley is in its normal attitude of use the battery is standing upright, or substantially upright, so that spillage from the battery is least likely to occur. A strap 38 attached to the flange 35 at the free end of the tray and to the upper end of the leg portion 36 buckles over the battery to retain it securely on the battery carrier.

At the end of the long rearward portion 10 of the straight frame member 5 an upstanding bracket 39 is fixed on which a wheel fork 40 is mounted which carries an auxiliary wheel 41 of substantially smaller diameter than the main wheels 20. The auxiliary wheel 41 is spaced centrally to the rear of the main wheels and, when it is resting on the ground, it and the two main wheels provide well-spaced three point support for the trolley. The length of the rearward portion 10 is such that when the auxiliary wheel is on the ground the portion is inclined at an angle relative to the ground and it props the inverted U-shaped frame member in a position in which it is inclined forwardly away from the straight tube frame member and causes the battery carrier to support the battery 32 in a substantially upright position.

In this position the battery and motor 22 are disposed between the axle 14 and the auxiliary wheel 41, and hence their weights act within the notional triangle contained by the three-point support provided by the wheels and the trolley is stably retained in that position.

The handle 2 is made from a length of tubing of external diameter complementary to the internal diameter of the straight frame member 5. It has a straight shaft portion 42 and a steering bar portion 43 bent at right angles to the shaft. The end of the shaft 42 opposite to the steering bar 43 is a sliding fit in the end of the forward portion 11 of the straight frame member 5. A longitudinal slot, not shown, in and extending from the end of the forward portion is flanked by a pair of lugs 44 and receives a radial lug, not shown, on the shaft 42 which prevents the handle from turning in the straight frame member. A plain hole in the radial lug registers with aligned holes, not shown, in the lugs 44, one of which is screw-threaded, and a clamping screw 45 is passed through the holes and tightened into the screw-threaded hole to clamp the handle securely to the straight tube frame member. Turning of the handle in the straight frame member may, of course, be prevented in other convenient ways, for example by making the handle and frame member of noncircular section tubing.

In a modified construction (not shown) a short tubular sleeve is provided which surrounds the end of the forward portion 11 of the straight frame member and has a longitudinal slot which registers with the slot in the forward portion 11.

The slot in the sleeve is flanked by a pair of lugs, one of which has a screw-threaded bolt secured thereto and which extends through a hole in the other lug. The handle 2 is secured to the frame member 5 by a clamping screw which when tightened on the bolt forces the lugs together reducing the area of the opening in the end of the forward portion 11 and clamping the shaft 42 therein.

A control box 46 is mounted on the handle 2 at the bend which joins the shaft 42 to the steering bar 43. A lead 47 from the control box connects through a sheathed plug and socket connection to a lead 48 from the motor 22. An on/off switch 49 is provided at the control box 46 for controlling the motor. The steering bar 43 is fitted with a rubber or plastics sheathed twist-grip 50 which comprises a speed control knob for controlling the motor.

Alternatively the speed control knob may be incorporated within the control box.

An upper support 51 for a golf bag is mounted on the shaft 42 of the handle 2 towards the clamped end of the shaft. The upper support 51 comprises a U-tube 52 standing centrally on a stem 53 which is clamped in a socket 54 on the shaft. The stem 53 may be released from the socket when the upper support is not required for use. Plastics protective sleeves 55 are fitted over the ends of the U-tube having wavey surfaces which provide springy cushioning for a golf bag resting in the upper support. A lower support 56 for a golf bag is provided on the rearward portion 10 of the straight frame member near its lower end by a pair of mutually upwardly inclined bar rests 57 fixed to the rearward portion. Protective sleeves 58, which may be similar to those on the upper support 51, are also provided on the rests 57.The upstanding bracket 39 at the end of the rearward portion 10 supporting the auxiliary wheel 41 has a cross member 59 secured to it and the two together serve as a bottom rest against which the bottom end of a golf bag resting on the upper and lower supports abuts.

It will be seen that the straight frame member and shaft 42 of the handle with their supports, 56 and 51 respectively, form in combination an elongated bearer for a golf bag, and that the trolley has a generally T-shape overall.

When it is carrying a golf bag the trolley is designed to be trailed behind the person in charge of the trolley, the person steering the trolley from the steering bar 43. However, if the motor is arranged to drive the trolley in the opposite direction, then the person in charge of the trolley walks behind the trolley but still steers the trolley from the steering bar 43. The trolley is propelled by the motor driving the main wheels 20 and normally the person will hold the trolley with the auxiliary wheel 41 off the ground. The driving speed can be adjusted by means of the twist-grip speed control knob 50 to suit the walking pace of the person steering the trolley. The weight of the trolley is balanced to enable it to be manoeuvred easily with a golf bag on it.If necessary the trolley may be suitably weighted to ensure that it is properly balanced to suit the personal requirements of the user. Whenever required the trolley can be moved rearwardly manually, such movement independent of the drive being allowed for by the one-way clutches 18.

When fully charged the battery is preferably able to provide sufficient power to drive the motor for thirty-six holes on a golf course.

When the trolley is not required for use it can be readily disassembled for transportation to and from a golf course, or for storing away. The clamping screw 44 is released to enable the handle to be detached from the straight frame member 5, and the wing nuts 21 are released to enable the main wheels 20 to be detached from the hubs 17. When the main wheels 20 are detached the motor frame assembly is able to stand on the legs 1 6 which they serve with the auxiliary wheel 41 to provide stable support for the assembly. Again the battery is supported in a substantially upright position so that spillage from it is unlikely to occur. The motor frame assembly may be loaded into the boot of a vehicle and stand stably on the floor of the boot whilst it is transported from one place to another. The legs 1 6 restrain the assembly from movement during the transportation. The detached handle and wheels can be readily stowed away with the motor frame assembly.

It may be arranged that a vehicle in which the trolley is to be transported has a connection point to which the battery of the trolley may be connected to be re-charged whilst it is being transported.

Claims

1. A motorised golf trolley comprising a wheeled motor frame assembly and a handle releasably connected to the motor frame assembly, the handle and motor frame assembly together forming an elongated bearer adapted to receive a golf bag longitudinally thereof, and the motor frame assembly comprising a frame on which are detachably mounted a pair of wheels rotatable about an axis transverse to the elongated bearer, an electric motor carried by the frame and which through drive transmission means drives at least one of the wheels, a battery carrier carried by the frame which locates a battery for energising the motor, and support means adapted to provide stable support for the motor frame assembly when the wheels are detached such that the battery occupies an attitude in which spillage therefrom is least likely to occur.

2. A motorised golf trolley according to claim 1 in which legs are provided on the motor frame assembly which entirely provide the support means to support the assembly when the wheels are detached.

3. A motorised golf trolley according to claim 1 in which the support means comprises a pair of legs and an auxiliary wheel or skid provided on the motor frame assembly which together provide stable three-point support for the assembly when the wheels are detached.

4. A motorised golf trolley according to claim 3 in which the auxiliary wheel or skid is spaced from the rotational axis of the pair of wheels so that the auxiliary wheel or skid and the pair of wheels provide three-point support for the assembled trolley.

5. A motorised golf-trolley according to any one of the preceding claims in which the handle is of substantially linear form connecting to a first part of the frame which continues the linear form and transversely of which a second part of the frame extends to which the pair of wheels are attached.

6. A motorised golf trolley according to claim 5 in which the second part of the frame comprises a generally inverted U-shaped frame member having limbs on which the pair of wheels are detachably mounted and an intermediate cross part extending transversely of the first part of the frame.

7. A motorised golf trolley according to claim 6 in which the limbs of the U-shaped frame member comprise a pair of legs which provide at least part of the support means to support the assembly when the wheels are detached.

8. A motorised golf trolley according to any one of claims 5 to 7 in which the first part of the frame has a rearward portion extending rearwardly from the transversely extending second part of the frame and a forward portion extending forwardly from said second part.

9. A motorised golf trolley according to claim 8 in which the rearward portion of the first part of the frame is longer than the forward portion of said first part.

1 0. A motorised golf trolley according to claim 8 or claim 9 in which an auxiliary wheel or skid comprising part of the support means is provided on the end of the rearward portion of the first part of the frame, and the handle is releasably connected to the forward portion of said first part.

11. A motorised golf trolley according to any one of claims 5 to 10 in which the first part of the frame comprises a tubular member and the handle comprises a shaft one end of which is a sliding fit within an end of the tubular member, the shaft having a radial lug which is adapted to be received in a slot in the end of the tubular member so as to prevent relative rotation between the tubular member and the handle, and clamping means releasably securing the shaft to the tubular member.

1 2. A motorised golf trolley according to claim 11 in which the slot in the tubular member is flanked by a pair of lugs having aligned holes, and the shaft is releasably secured to the tubular member by a screw or bolt fastening which passes through the aligned holes.

13. A motorised golf trolley according to any one of the preceding claims in which the battery carrier is of the general form of a tray or box in which the battery snugly fits.

14. A motorised golf trolley according to claim 1 3 in which the battery carrier is of an L-shape which has a base portion and a leg portion, the base portion having side and end edges provided with peripheral flanges such that the base portion forms a tray in which the battery snugly fits.

1 5. A motorised golf trolley according to claim 14 as appended, directly or indirectly, to claim 6 in which the leg portion of the L-shaped battery carrier is secured to the cross part of the U-shaped frame member and the base portion of the carrier is secured to a bar which extends from a limb of the frame member.

1 6. A motorised golf trolley according to any one of the preceding claims in which retaining means is provided comprising a strap or straps arranged to fasten over the battery to hold it securely in the carrier.

1 7. A motorised golf trolley according to claim 6 or any one of the preceding claims 7 to 1 6 as appended thereto in which the electric motor is mounted on the cross part of the U-shaped frame member and drives an axle on which the pair of wheels are mounted, the axle being rotatably journalled in bearings mounted on the limbs of the U-shaped frame member.

1 8. A motorised golf trolley according to claim 1 7 in which the drive is transmitted from the electric motor to the axle by means of a pulley belt drive driven by an output shaft of the electric motor and a chain drive driven by the belt drive and which in turn drives the axle.

1 9. A motorised golf trolley according to any one of the preceding claims in which the drive transmission means includes a one-way clutch which allows the wheels to turn so that the trolley can be pushed backwards manually.

20. A motorised golf trolley according to claim 1 9 in which the pair of wheels are releasably attached to hubs mounted on an or the axle driven by the motor, and the hubs incorporate one-way clutches which allow the wheels to turn so that the trolley can be pushed backwards manually.

21. A motorised golf trolley according to claim 5 or any one of the preceding claims 6 to 20 as appended thereto in which an upper support for a golf bag is detachably mounted on the handle and includes a portion which extends transversely of the handle and is shaped so as to allow the golf bag to rest thereon and a lower support for the golf bag is provided on the first part of the frame.

22. A motorised golf trolley according to claim 8 or any one of the preceding claims 9 to 21 as appended thereto in which a rest for the bottom end of a golf bag is provided at or towards the end of the rearward portion of the first part of the frame.

23. A motorised golf trolley substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.