GB2242404A

GB2242404A - Battery-driven golf cart for walking or riding

Info

Publication number: GB2242404A
Application number: GB9007107A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robin Beer
Original assignee: BEER JANE
Current assignee: BEER JANE
Priority date: 1990-03-29
Filing date: 1990-03-29
Publication date: 1991-10-02
Also published as: GB9007107D0

Abstract

The golf cart comprises a steerable single front wheel (23) and a pair of rear wheels on a common axle driven by a battery-operated motor. A cover (15) mounted on the frame forms a platform for a rider and his/her golf bag. A handle (31) has a lower end 32 accommodated in a housing (37) which is connected to the front wheel (23) for steering the latter. The handle is pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis at its lower end for positioning in any selected one of three positions, namely a walking position wherein the handle extends forwardly, a riding position (as shown in Fig. 1) wherein the handle extends rearwardly and upwardly, and a storage position wherein the handle extends rearwardly over and close to the cover (15). <IMAGE>

Description

GOLF CART This invention relates to golf carts and in particular battery driven golf carts having three wheels and which are designed to carry an individual golfer in a standing position and his/her golfbag about a golf course.

Battery driven golf carts having three wheels are already known but to date the individual golf carts which require the golfer to stand on the cart have not proven popular or commercial. In many instances the stability of the cart or the cumbersome drive/steering mechanisms have proven to be a problem.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming the known disadvantages of three wheeled golf carts by providing a golf cart comprising a frame having a front end and a rear end, a steerable single front wheel at the front of the frame and a pair of rear wheels on a common axle at the rear of the frame, battery-operated drive means connected to at least one of the rear wheels, a cover mounted on the frame forming a platform for a rider and his/her golf bag, and a handle having a lower end accommodated in a housing which is connected to the front wheel for steering the latter, the handle being pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis at its lower end for positioning in any selected one of three positions, namely a walking position wherein the handle extends forwardly of the cover, a riding position wherein the handle extends rearwardly and upwardly relative to the cover, and a storage position wherein the handle extends rearwardly over and close to the cover, the lower end of the handle having a disc fixed thereto and the housing accommodating a bolt which may be selectively engaged in any one of three apertures in the disc, engagement of the bolt in each aperture maintaining the handle in a respective different one of the said three positions.

In addition the golf cart of the present invention preferably has the additional feature that at least two anti-tip skid bars are provided as part of the frame, the said two anti-tip skid bars having a position adjacent the front end of the frame approximating to the position of the two front wheels of a four wheeled golf cart.

The invention will be understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a golf cart according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the golf cart; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the golf cart Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the handle mechanism; Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the handle mechanism assembly; Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section view of the handle mechanism assembly; Fig. 7 is a side view of the golf cart with the handle mechanism assembly removed and with the platform cover in a raised position; Fig. 8 is a side view of the golf cart with the handle in a stored position; and Fig. 9 is a side view of the golf cart with the handle in a walking position.

Referring to the drawings the golf cdrt comprises a tubular metal frame consisting of a front end 10, longitudinal bars 11 and 12, a rear end 13 and centre reinforcing bars 14. A plastics cover 15 is pivotally mounted on the rear end 13 of the frame to cover said frame and to provide in use of the golf cart a platform upon which a golfbag may be located and supported and upon which a golfer may stand, for both bag and golfer to be conveyed about the golf course.

The cover 15 has two foot wells 16and 17 located one each side of a centrally located bag support 18 and t6 augment the bag support 18 a cradle 19 attached to a bar member 20 which locates in stanchion 21 which is integral with a fork 22 which embraces and is connected to a central front wheel 23.

Rear wheels 24 and 25 are mounted on a common axle 26 symmetrically on either side of the front to rear centre line of the platform which passes through the front wheel 23. At least one of the rear wheels 24 and 25 is driven by an electric motor 27 powered by a battery pack 28. The drive from the electric motor 27 to the rear wheels 24/25 is provided through a chain drive 29. The rear axle 26 is provided with a differential 30.

The golf cart is also provided with a steering handle 31 made from a hollow light metal bar or an extruded plastics pipe. The lower end 32 of the steering handle 31 has a disc 33 non-rotatably mounted thereon and provided with two spaced apart holes 34/35 and an arcuate slot 36 therein. The disc 32 forms part of the handle mechanism which comprises a housing 37 mounted on the free end 38 of the stanchion 21 which stanchion 21 has as already mentioned a forked end 22 engaging the steerable front wheel 23. The mechanism and housing 37 are held in position on the free end 38 of the stanchion 21 by a conventional lock nut 38a.

The housing 37 locates in bearings 38/39 the lower end 32 of the steering handle 31 and the disc 33 fixed thereto. The lower end 32 of the handle 31 also locates in a slot 40 in a plate 41 of the housing 37.

The housing 37 also accommodates a spring loaded bolt 42 which is adapted in use to engage with one of the holes 34/35 or the slot 36 in the disc 33.

The steering handle 31 in use may have one of three (3) positions relative to the cover 15. The handle 31 may have a riding position wherein the handle extends rearwardly and upwardly relative to the cover 15 (Fig. 1), a walking position wherein the handle extends forwardly of the cover 15 (Fig. 9), and a stored position wherein the handle extends rearwardly over and close to the cover 15, being approximately parallel thereto (Fig. 8). Depending upon which position of the handle is in use the spring loaded bolt 42 is in engagement with one of the holes 34/35 or the slot 36. When the handle 31 is in the riding position the bolt 42 engages hole 34, when the handle 31 is in the walking position the bolt engages the slot 36 and when the handle 31 is in the storage position the bolt engages hole 35.It will be appreciated that when one wishes to alter the handle 31 from say the riding to the walking position one withdraws the bolt 42 from the hole 34 against the action of the spring 42 and pivots the handle 31 to the walking position, say from A to B, and then engages the bolt 42 into the slot 36. The slot 36 allows a degree of up and down movement on the handle 31 to facilitate use of the golf cart in a walking mode by golfers of different height. The golf cart in the walking position is illustrated in Fig. 9.

It will be understood that the handle 31 is firmly and rigidly fixed when in the riding and storage positions, while in the walking position as already stated a degree of flexibility is provided. In addition the handle mechanism has been so designed such that the handle 31 and the directly associated mechanism and housing may be quickly and easily removed by disconnecting it from the stanchion 21 by the removal of a lock nut 38a. In this way once the handle 31 and the associated mechanism and housing and the golfbag support cradle 19 are removed the cover 15 may be raised by pivoting the cover 15 about a hinge provided at the rear end of the frame 13, the raising of the cover 15 giving ready access to the electric motor, battery pack and other internal parts of the golf cart for maintenance cleaning and changing of the batteries.The golf cart with the cover 15 in the raised position is illustrated in Fig. 7.

In -order to store the golf cart when not in use the handle 31 is moved to the stored position in the manner already described. The golf cart is then placed in a vertical position on its rear end with the handle 31 engaging a rest bracket 50 on the ground as illustrated in Fig. 8.

The handle 31 has affixed thereto cables 44, 45 and associated electronic controls of conventional construction, which control cables are used to control the speed of the golf cart in both the riding and walking modes - the control 44 being a spring loaded throttle control cable and the control 45 being a brake control cable. The speed or throttle control 44 preferably employs a maximum speed dial to limit the maximum speed attainable by acceleration, for example 8 mph. The brake control 45 operates a brake drum fixed to the back axle 26 of the golf cart. When the brake control 45 is applied fully to stop the golf cart a ratchet mechanism (not shown) is engaged so that the brake stays engaged as a parking brake. When the speed control 44 is again actuated to move the golf cart forward the ratchet mechanism is released.

When in use the maximum speed dial is set to maximum (8 mph) and the speed control cable 44 is actuated the golf cart will accelerate slowly until the maximum speed 8 mph is achieved. A solenoid switch (not shown) is provided which is actuated when the predetermined maximum speed (8 mph) of the golf cart is achieved to allow the electric motor to draw power directly from the battery pack.

When the maximum speed dial is set below maximum, i.e. 6 mph and the speed control is actuated the golf cart will as before accelerate slowly until the limit set 6 mph is reached and is then held at that speed of 6 mph until the speed control cable 44 is released and the brake control cable 45 actuated.

The control of maximum speed allows the safe operation of the golf cart at slow or reduced speeds by the elderly or other golfer who would be unhappy or nervous using the golf cart at higher speeds. Further the use of the automatic ratchet mechanism on the brake reduces the risk of the golfer user forgetting to apply the brake when parking the golf cart on an incline. It is well known that one of the more frequent causes of accidents with golf carts is the golf cart running away on an include due to failure to place the brake in the proper on position. Further, the automatic release of the hand brake ratchet by the operation of the speed control ensures that the operator cannot forget to release the brake - which would mean in use that the electric motor would be caused to absorb battery power too quickly and the brake pads would wear unduly quickly.

The speed controls incorporate an electronic feedback unit of conventional construction which limits through the brake system the 'freewheeling downhill speed of the golf cart to a predetermined limit of approximately 8 mph. The exact downhill freewheeling speed of the golf cart cannot be exactly calculated since it will depend on the weight of the golfer/ equipment using the golf cart.

It will be appreciated that a golf cart in use will exhibit in certain conditions of terrain and speed a tendency to overturn. The present invention provides a golf cart which travels under its own power behind the golfer as he/she walks or is ridden by the golfer in a standing position. In difficult terrain the prudent user of the golf cart will ensure that the speed of the golf cart is reduced and/or the golfer will move the handle to the walking position and use the golf cart in the walking position with the handle forward.

The present invention is a three wheeled golf cart and has beer so constructed for reasons of weight and manoeuverability. The tendency of the golf cart to overturn is a function of weight and the distance between its centre of gravity and its overturning axis.

Accordingly in order to improve the stability of the three wheeled golf cart to substantially the same degree of stability enjoyed by a comparable four wheeled golf cart the present invention employs two rigid metal anti-tip skid bars 48, 49 fixedly secured to the frame 10, 11, 12 and positioned at their lower ground engaging ends approximately two inches (5cm) off the ground and in a relative position on the golf cart equivalent to the positions where one might expect to find the two front wheels of a four wheeled golf cart, i.e. symmetrically one on either side of the front wheel 23 and spaced apart by approximately the same distance as the rear wheels 24, 25.The provision of the anti-tip skid bars 48, 49 substantially enhances the overall stability of the golf cart of the present invention and enhances the safety of its usage in a riding position in hilly terrain.

The foot wells 16, 17 and the steering handle 31 are positioned when in the riding position to ensure that the golfer standing on the golf cart is in a stable standing position with his/her feet approximately 12 inches (30cm) apart and with the body leaning forward slightly. With the golfer riding on the golf cart in this position and with the golf cart restricted to a maximum speed of approximately eight (8) miles per hour and to a twenty (20) ft. turning circle on reasonably level ground the golf cart will not overturn. If the golfer uses the golf cart on more hilly terrain the anti-tip skid bars 48, 49 will minimise the danger of any accident.

The frame 10, 11, 12, 13 carries a box 51 which the golfer may use for carrying loose equipment and/or refreshments as required.

The golf cart is provided with a decorative skirt 51 which is affixed to the lower edge of the cover platform 15.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A golf cart comprising a frame having a front end and a rear end, a steerable single front wheel at the front of the frame and a pair of rear wheels on a common axle at the rear of the frame, battery-operated drive means connected to at least one of the rear wheels, a cover mounted on the frame forming a platform for a rider and his/her golf bag, and a handle having a lower end accommodated in a housing which is connected to the front wheel for steering the latter, the handle being pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis at its lower end for positioning in any selected one of three positions, namely a walking position wherein the handle extends forwardly of the cover, a riding position wherein the handle extends rearwardly and upwardly relative to the cover, and a storage position wherein the handle extends rearwardly over and close to the cover, the lower end of the handle having a disc fixed thereto and the housing accommodating a bolt which may be selectively engaged in any one of three apertures in the disc, engagement of the bolt in each aperture maintaining the handle in a respective different one of the said three positions.

2. A golf cart as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the aperture corresponding to the walking position of the handle is a slot which permits a significant degree of up and down movement of the handle in the walking position, whereas at least the aperture corresponding to the storage position does not permit significant up and down movement of the handle.

3. A golf cart as claimed in Claim 1 or 2-, wherein the bolt is spring-loaded into engagement with the disc.

4. A golf cart as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the frame has a pair of anti-tip skid bars which extend to closely adjacent the ground one on either side of the front wheel.

5. A golf cart as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the skid bars are disposed symmetrically one on either side of the front wheel and are spaced apart by approximately the same distance as the rear wheels.

6. A golf cart substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.