GB2314817A

GB2314817A - Golf trolley with a folding seat

Info

Publication number: GB2314817A
Application number: GB9713631A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harold Fletcher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-06-29
Filing date: 1997-06-30
Publication date: 1998-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2017-06-30
Also published as: GB9613700D0; GB2314817B; GB9713631D0

Abstract

A golf trolley has a releasably attached seat 21 mounted on an arm 13 of the trolley, said seat comprising a seat portion 25 and legs 28 foldably attached to the seat portion, in which the legs lie parallel to the arm in the folded position and the seat portion lies parallel to the arm when in use with the legs extending down towards the ground. There may be two pairs of legs pivotally attached to one another part way along their length. The seat may be mounted on the arm at a position spaced from a handle 14 on the arm. The seat portion may have a bracket 22 releasably mounted on the arm. The releasable means may be hook and eye fastening material (figures 17 and 18). The seat portion may pivot from the in use position to the folded position and may be secured in the in use position by a catch. The seat portion may include a handle (56 figure 15) for the arm.

Description

GOLFER'S SEAT This invention relates to golfer's seats and in particular to a seat assembly arranged for fitting to a golf trolley or cart.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved seat suitable for use by golfers in association with the usual golf trolley.

According to the invention a golfer's seat comprises a seat assembly arranged for fitting to a golf trolley or cart having an arm by which the trolley is transported, the seat assembly comprising a seat portion, foldable legs pivotally attached to the seat portion for pivoting between an operative position and a folded-up position, the legs when in the folded up position lying generally parallel to the arm, mounting means for mounting the seat assembly on the trolley arm, and the mounting means including releasable securing means whereby the seat assembly is releasably attachable to the arm, the seating surface of the seat portion lying generally parallel to the arm in the operative seating position with the legs extending downwardly from said portion towards the ground.

Preferably the foldable legs include two pairs of legs and the legs in each pair are pivotally attached to one another part way along their length so that the legs, in their operative seating position, adopt a generally X-shape, the legs in the inoperative position being foldable to lie generally parallel to one another and to the arm.

Conveniently the mounting means comprises hinge means whereby the assembly is hingedly mounted on the trolley and moveable about said hinge means between said operative and inoperative positions.

The hinge means may be in the form of a double hinge which is opened up in the operative position and is closed up in the inoperative position, the hinge means being lockable in the inoperative position by, for example, a catch.

The hinge means may be releasably clampable to the trolley arm.

Alternatively the seat assembly may be releasably clamped to the trolley arm by quick release means, such as an eccentric cam, whereby the seat assembly may be moveable along said arm between said operative and inoperative positions.

As a further alternative the releasable securing means includes a bracket releasably mounted on the seat portion and releasably attachable to the trolley arm and the releasable securing means, lying between the bracket and the seat portion, includes complementarv hook and eve

means, such as Velcro mounted on the bracket and on the seat portion.

Further features of the invention will appear from the following description of embodiments of the invention given by way of example only, in which; Fig.1 is a side elevation showing a golf trolley and seat assembly in the operative position, Fig.2 is a plan view of the assembly of Fig.l, Fig.3 is a side elevation of the assembly of Figs. 1 and 2 in the inoperative position, Fig.4 is a side view of the assembly of Figs. 1-3 with the seat assembly inoperative and the trolley folded up, Fig.5 is a side elevation of a seat assembly of Figs. 14 in the operative position, Fig.6 is a plan view on the line A-A in Fig.5, Fig.6A is a scrap prospective view of a clamping arrangement for the seat assembly of Figs. 1-6, Fig.7 is a view from one end of a second embodiment of seat assembly, Fig.8 is a view from the other end of the seat assembly of Fig.7, Fig.9A is a side view of the seat assembly of Figs. 7 and 8 in the inoperative position, Fig.9B is a side view of the assembly of Fig.9A in the operative position, Fig.10 is a section on the line 10-10 in Fig.9B, Fig. 11 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the invention, Fig. 12 is a end view of the embodiment of Fig. 11, Fig.13 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figs.1 1 and 12, Fig. 14 is a side view of a further embodiment of the invention, Fig.15 is a plan view of the embodiment of Fig.14, Fig.16 is aperspective view of the embodiment of Figs. 14 and 15, Fig. 17 is a cross-section through an alternative arrangement for releasably attaching the seat to the golf trolley, Fig.l8 is a perspective view of the arrangement of Fig. 17, Fig. 19 shows in end view a bracket for fixing a seat to the trolley, and Fig.20 shows the bracket of Fig. 19 in which the trolley arm is of different dimensions to that of Fig. 19.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1-6A there is shown a golf trolley or cart 10 generally of conventional construction having a pair of spaced wheels 11 mounted on a frame 12 and having at one end an outwardly directed arm 13 at the outer end of which is formed a handle 14 by which the trolley 10 is moved by the user.

Extending outwardly in the opposite direction to the arm 13 is a golf bag support arm 16 having at its outer end a bag support member 17. The wheels are carried on laterally extending bars 18 which are usually pivotable relative to the frame 12 and each have links 19 whereby support and pivoting of the bars 18 is effected. Usually the arm 13 is slidable or foldable relative to the frame 12 to reduce the length of the trolley at the same time pivoting the bars 18 to bring the wheels 11 inwardly towards the position shown in Fig.4.

As thus far described the trolley 10 may be of generally conventional construction. A seat assembly 21 is arranged to be fitted to the arm 13 and handle 14 ofthe trolley to be usable by the golfer, when required, in which case the seat assembly 21 is brought to the position shown in Figs. 1,2, 5 and 6.

The seat assembly is mounted on the arm 13 and handle 14 by a bracket arrangement 22 seen in more detail in Fig.6A. The bracket arrangement 22 is fixed by bolts or the like 23 to a seat portion 24 ofthe assembly, the seat portion defining a seating surface 25 for the user and taking the form of an inverted trough with side walls 26.

On the underside of the seat portion 25 there is fitted two pairs of foldable legs 28, one leg of each pair being pivotally mounted on the seat portion 24 at 27 and the pairs of legs being pivotally connected together towards their mid-points about a pivot 30. The lower ends of the legs carry ground plates 31 arranged to support the seat assembly on the ground. The other leg in each pair has its upper end moveable towards the pivot 27 when the legs are to be moved to their inoperative position. In the operative position the upper end of said leg engages with the underside of the seat portion 24.

Thus it can be seen that the pairs of legs fold up to lie adjacent and parallel to one another in the inoperative position and, by pivoting about the pivot 27 the pairs of legs can be pivoted to lie adjacent and extending generally parallel to the arm 13 away from the handle 14, see Fig. 3.

The connecting bracket 22 is formed with two bracket portions 33 spaced apart and interconnected by an upper bolt 34 carrying a roller 35. Displaced below the bolt 34 is a clamping bolt 36 having at one end an eccentric cam 37 rotatable by a clamping arm 38 in an opening 39.

In use the trolley arm 13 extends through the bracket 22 between the roller 35 and the bolt 36. By rotating the clamping arm 38 the eccentric cam 37 causes the bolt to move relative to and towards the roller 35 in a clamping movement so as to grip the arm 13 between the roller and the bolt 36. Reverse rotation of the arm 38 releases the bracket from the trolley arm 13 and upon release the seat assembly may be moved relative to the arm from an operative position, Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, towards an inoperative position, Figs. 3 and 4.

In the operative position of the seat assembly the assembly is located over the handle 14, that is, towards the outer end ofthe arm 13, with the trolley in a generally horizontal position as seen in the drawings and with the arm and handle under the seat assembly. Due to the weight of the bag on the trolley there will be a tendency for the trolley arm to pivot upwards about the end carrying the bag but this will be counteracted by the weight of the seat assembly and the user sitting on the seat. As soon as the user wishes to move the trolley to a new position the seat assembly is released from the arm 13 and moved towards the wheels, along the arm 13 to expose the handle 14 and enable the user to grasp the handle and move the trolley. The seat assembly can, in use ofthe trolley, slide down the arm 13 or be located spaced from the handle 14 by operation of the clamping arm 38.

Referring now to Figs. 7-10 there is shown an alternative form of seat assembly for use with trolleys similar to that shown in Figs. 1-6. Accordingly the trolley construction is not described again but the trolley has an arm 13 with a handle 14 in a similar manner to the previous embodiment. In this embodiment similar parts are given the same reference numbers as in the previous embodiment. Thus the seat assembly 24 has two pairs of legs 28 pivotally attached to a seat portion 25 for movement between operative and inoperative positions.

The seat portion 25 is, in this case, attached to the arm 13 in a different manner to the previous embodiment. A bracket 45 is located towards one end of the seat portion 25 at a selected position from the handle 14.

The bracket 45 is clamped to the arm 13 by suitable means and carries a hinge arrangement 46 one end of which is secured to the bracket 45 and the other end of which is secured to the seat portion 25. The hinge arrangement 46 has hinge points 47 and 48 forming a double hinge whereby upon opening up the hinge arrangement from the position shown in Fig. 9A to the position shown in Fig.9B the seat portion 25 is moved towards the handle 14. In the position shown in Fig. 9B the seat assembly is in the operative position and in the position shown in Fig. 9A the seat assembly is in the inoperative position in which the handle 14 is exposed for use. In the inoperative position the hinge arrangement is secured in the closed position by a catch (not shown).

Attachment of the hinge arrangement to the seat may be by the arrangement shown in Fig.10.

Referring now to Figs. 11-13 there is shown a further form of golf trolley seat of which similar parts are given the same reference numbers as for the previous embodiments. In this case the seat 21 with legs 28 is fixed by a bracket 50 to the arm 13 of a trolley 10. The bracket 50 is fitted releasably around the arm 13 and has an upwardly extending portion 51 which is secured to the seat 21 by bolts 52, the bolts 52 engaging in slots 53 whereby the seat 21 maybe adjusted in its position in relation to the arm 13.

It will be seen that the seat 21 is displaced from the trolley handle 14 sufficient to give access to the handle 14 in use. In this case the seat 21 is coupled to the handle 14 by a chain attachment 54 or other restraint. In this arrangement the seat 21 is normally permanently attached to the trolley 10 but is releasable for separate use if required.

Referring now to Figs. 1416 there is shown a seat 21 which has an inbuilt handle 56 which is a substitute for the handle 14 of the previous embodiments. Thus the handle 14 may be omitted from the arm 13.

The seat 21 is attached to the outer end of the arm 13 by a suitable attachment which may be an extension 57 projecting from the end of the seat remote from the handle 56 and in which projection 57 the arm 13 is located, conveniently by a hinge pin 58 which may be tightened by a thumbscrew 59 (Fig.16). In other respects the seat 21 is similar to that previously described having legs 28 and the remainder of the trolley 10 is in accordance with the other embodiments.

Referring now to Figs. 17 and 18 there is shown an alternative way by which the seat 21 is releasably fitted to the arm 13. In this arrangement a bracket 60 is located around the arm 13 and secured in place by a fixing 61. The bracket 60 has two outwardly extending arms 62 projecting to each side of the bracket 60.

Each of the arms 62 carries on its underside, adhesively attached thereto, material 63 on which is formed hooks or eyes for complementary attachment to eyes or hooks material. The upper surface of the arms 62 similarly has material 64 carrying hooks or loops which is presented upwardly.

The seat 21 at the inner side of a rim 65 along the edge adjacent the bracket 60 has attached thereto hook or eye material 66. The seat 21 is releasably attached to the bracket 60 by a strip of hook or eye material 68 which attaches over one part to the material 66 on the seat 21 and over another part to the material 63 on the underside of the arms 62. The two parts of the material 68 are hinged together and one part lies at an angle of some 90" to the other part.

The two parts are detachable from their associated hook or eye material 63 and 66 to detach the seat 21 from the arm 13. Alternatively the seat 21 may be pivoted about the join between the parts 68 so that it can be moved about the hinge to an inoperative position.

When the seat 21 is separated from the bracket 60 the part of the material 68 which was formerly attached to the seat may be folded over to lie on and be attached to the material 64 on the upper side of the arms 62.

The bracket 60 also has associated with it a stop member 70 which extends upwardly in relation to the arm 13 and may be abutted by the seat 21 to inhibit movement of the seat 21 along the arm 13. If desired the abutment 70 may be capable of hinging about the bracket 60 to permit the hinged movement of the seat, as previously described.

It will be anDreciated that other ways of securing the seat 21 to the bracket 60 utilising hook

and eye material, for example Velcro rhay be employed. In one such arrangement a portion of the under-side of the seat 21 may be applied with the hook or the eye material and arms similar to 62 in Figs. 17 and 18, similarly applied with the hook or eye material, may be engageable with the material on the seat, thereby obviating the need for a separate piece of material such as shown at 68 in Fig. 17.

Referring now to Figs. 19 and 20, there is shown a bracket arrangement which is capable of being adapted to accommodate different sizes of arms 13. Thus in Fig. 19 the arm 13 is generally square in cross-section, whereas in Fig. 20 the arm 13 is rectangular with one dimension longer than the other. In addition the arm 13 may have dimensions between those of Figs. 19 and 20. Furthermore, the bracket of Figs. 19 and 20 can be employed to locate a circular section arm by utilising the insert 75 shown in Fig. 20.

In Figs. 19 and 20 the bracket comprises, in each case, plates 76 and 77 which are secured to the seat 21 in one of two positions as seen in Fig. 19 or Fig. 20. The plates 76 and 77 lie parallel to and spaced apart from one another and they each contain two openings for receiving bolts 78 and 79. In the Fig. 19 arrangement the plates 76 and 77 are located on the inner sides of brackets 80 and 81 and are secured thereto by fixings 82 and 83. In the Fig.

20 arrangement the plates 76 and 77 are located on the outside faces of the brackets 80 and 81 using the same fixing as 82 and 83. Thus, in Fig. 20 the plates 76 and 77 are spaced further apart than in Fig. 19 thereby accommodating the rectangular arm 13 of Fig. 20.

By locating the insert 75 of Fig. 20 within the space between the plates 76 and 77, there is defined a circular opening 85 for receiving a circular section arm 13.

In the arrangements of Figs. 19 and 20 the bracket is detachable from the arm 13 by releasing the bolts 78 and 79. The plates 76 and 77 may be permanently united with the brackets 80 and 81 ofthe seat 21 or may be releasably attached thereto. The arrangement of Figs. 19 and 20 permits attachment to the seat 21 using a bracket arrangement which is common for different sizes of arms 13.

It will be seen that in the illustrated embodiments ofthe seat assembly an existing golf trolley may be fitted with the assembly to adapt the trolley for use with the seat assembly and to enable the trolley to carry the seat assembly as part of the trolley whilst enabling the user to unfold the legs and move the seat assembly to the seating position for use. The seat assembly can also be used when separated from the trolley as a stand alone seat.

Claims

I. A golfer's seat comprising a seat assembly arranged for fitting to a golf trolley or cart having an arm by which the trolley is transported, the seat assembly comprising a seat portion, foldable legs pivotally attached to the seat portion for pivoting between an operative position and a folded-up position, the legs when in the folded up position lying generally parallel to the arm, mounting means for mounting the seat assembly on the trolley arm, and the mounting means including releasable securing means whereby the seat assembly is releasably attachable to the arm, the seating surface of the seat portion lying generally parallel to the arm in the operative seating position with the legs extending downwardly from said portion towards the ground.
2. A golfer's seat according to Claim 1 wherein the foldable legs include two pairs of legs and the legs in each pair are pivotally attached to one another part way along their length so that the legs, in their operative seating position, adopt a generally X-shape, the legs in the inoperative position being foldable to lie generally parallel to one another and to the arm.
3. A golfer's seat according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the mounting means for the seat assembly is arranged to be locatable on the golf trolley arm spaced from a handle located at the outer end of the arm, whereby the handle is graspable when the seat assembly is in the non-operative position.
4. A golfer's seat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the releasable securing means includes a bracket releasably mounted on the seat portion and releasably attachable to the trolley arm.
5. A golfer's seat according to Claim 4 wherein the releasable securing means, lying between the bracket and the seat portion, includes complementary hook and eye means such

as Velcro mounted on the bracket and on the seat portion.
6. A golfer's seat according to Claim 5 wherein a portion of said hook and eye means is a hinged portion secured to the bracket at one side of the hinge and movable over one part of said portion about the hinge so that another part of said portion is engageable with complementary hook and eye means on the seat portion, the seat portion being movable about said hinge between an operative position on said arm and an inoperative position on said arm.
7. A golfer's seat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the seat portion is pivotable from an operative seating position and an inoperative position, the pivot being displaced from the free end of the trolley arm and the seat portion being securable in the operative position against said pivoting action by catch means located towards said free end of the arm.
8. A golfer's seat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mounting means comprises hinge means whereby the seat portion is hingedly mounted on the trolley and movable about said hinge means between said operative and inoperative positions whereby the seat portion is movable between an operative position located towards the free end of said arm and an inoperative position displaced away from the free end of said arm.
9. A golfer's seat according to Claim 8 wherein the seat portion is attachable to the arm through a double hinge which is opened up in the operative position and is closed up in the inoperative position, the hinge means being releasably lockable in the inoperative position.
10. A golfer's seat according to Claim 8 wherein the seat assembly is releasably clamped to the trolley arm by quick release means whereby the seat assembly is movable along said arm between operative and inoperative positions.
11. A golfer's seat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the seat portion incorporates a handle whereby the seat, when attached to a trolley, is grasped by the user.
12. A golfer's seat arranged for fitting to a golf trolley substantially as described with reference to the various embodiments shown in the drawings.