US3165330A

US3165330A - Combination golf cart and golf bag

Info

Publication number: US3165330A
Application number: US322949A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert B Cotton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-11-12
Filing date: 1963-11-12
Publication date: 1965-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-12

Description

Jan. 12, 1965 R. B. COTTON COMBINATION GOLF CART AND GOLF BAG 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 12., 1963 PIC-3.2.

INVENTOR Robert 8. Cotton ATTORNEYS FIG.3.

Jan. 12, 1965 R. B. COTTON 3,165,330

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO AG i all 1 m lmummln n mi lllllllllilllll! Jan. 12, 1965 R. B. COTTON COMBINATION GOLF CART AND GOLF BAG 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 12 1963 INVENTOR Robert B. Cotton BY Q4! ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,165,330 COMBINATION GULF (DART AND GOLF BAG Robert B. Cotton, 1503 Old Orchard Road, Media, Pa. Filed Nov. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 322,949 2 Claims. (Cl. 280-41) The present invention relates generally to the game of golf and particularly to a combined means to transport golf clubs while the game is being played and for providing convenience and facility for storage after play.

A golf bag or some means to store and carry the players golf clubs is an important requirement of any golf game and a full bag of golf clubs though a necessity is a heavy burden for even a strong man to carry over a golf course. Because of the burdensome golf bags various expensive types of golf carts to carry the golf club laden bags have become popular, which golf carts make the golf bags easier to handle and relieve the players from the strain of the heavy golf bags loaded with golf clubs. However, there are many areas on the golf course where a cart cannot be or should not be taken, such as the green and tee areas. These areas when avoided by the cart'operator require a greater amount of walking because of the necessity to detour these areas and add to the walking distance over the course thereby detracting from the benefits to be derived by a player using a golf cart.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel golf cart and golf bag formed of lightweight structure, whereby the same may be wheeled as a cart over certain areas of the golf course or may be carried as a golf bag for other areas of the golf course where a cart is objectionable.

Another object is to provide in combination a novel golf cart and golf bag formed of a plurality of tubular members'assembled as a unit which'unit is as light or lighter than a standard golf bag, whereby the same may be wheeled or carried with equal alacrity.

A further object is to provide a combined golf cart and golf bag unit framed in part of individual cells or tubes of lightweight material, such as polyethylene or like material for holding individual golf clubs, whereby the golf clubs are maintained protectively separated to elim inate contact with each other in the unit.

I Still a further object is to provide a novel golf cart and golf bag arrangement with a lightweight construction including relatively small wheels, whereby said cart and bag arrangement is predeterminedly so-shaped and sci-proportioned as to fit in a small storage space, such as an automobile trunk, closet or the like.

Yet another object is to provide for greater economy in golf equipment by providing in a single unit a golf cart with wheel means and a golf bag with a carrying shoulder strap, whereby a golf aspirant need not invest in a cart and in a bag as separate items.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims, it being understood that it is not intended to limit this invention to the deails of construction. Reference for this purpose should be had to the appended claims.

In the drawings, like parts throughout the several views are given like reference numerals and are thus identified in the following detailed description wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view with the frames of the unit folded together;

FIGURE 3 is a cross section view taken on transverse section line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevational view;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view with the frames of the unit unfolded to provide an easel-like supporting effect;

FIGURE 6 is a general perspective view of the unit being used as a cart; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the unit being carried as a golf bag.

Referring to the drawings and with particular reference to FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4, there is shown a combined mobile cart and golf club holding unit comprised of an elongated inverted U-shaped frame A preferably formed of aluminum tubing and a relatively shorter and wider inverted U-shaped frame B preferably formed of aluminum tubing. The frame A is formed with substantially parallel spaced legs 10 and 11, which are suitably lapped over and secured at each of their respective ends to the rear side of thelegs by means, such as bolts or rivets l2 and 13 to the side flanges of back-to-back

angle support bars

15 and 16. The frame legs 10 and 11 continue upwardly into a loop handle portion 19, which handle portion is angled rearwardly to a minor degree in a diverged direction from the ends of tubes 26, as best shown in FIGURE 2.

A plurality of tubes 20 are secured by suitable upper and lower retainer means to the legs It and 11 of the frame A and substantially fill the space between the legs. These tubes, are arranged in contiguous rows C and D and are made of plastic material, such as polyethylene or the like to a bead 20a on the ends.

The rows of golf club tubes are held together as a unitary structure and are positioned angularly from the base

plate angle bars

15 and 16 at the bottom of the frame A and extend in a longitudinal direction angularly upward with respect to the frame A, whereby the open ends of the tubes 20 are forward of the angled handle portion 19. This provides a completely free area over the open ends of the golf club tubes and permits ready insertion and removal of the golf clubs from the tubes.

The retainer means for the cells or tubes 20 comprise shallow U-shaped upper and

lower bars

21 and 22 each with apertured

end lugs

23 and 24 and 25 and 26 positioned transverse the frame A at the top and bottom. These

bars

21 and 22 are relatively different in width and each embrace a respective grouped row C and D of golf club cells or tubes 20 and are joined together in superimposed position by suitable fasteners, such as bolts 27 for the bottom unit and by bolt 28 and an eyelet bolt 29 for the top unit, see FIGURE 3. upper bar 21 of each retainer means is shorter than the lower bar 22 which is formed with spaced apertures so the apertured

end lugs

23 and 24 of bar 21 may be positioned on the bar 22 over the spaced apertures therein to be secured by the bolts 27 of the bottom retainer means or by the bolt 28 and eyelet bolt 29 of the top retainer means. 7

The lower bar 22 of each retainer means in turn is formed with the

apertured lugs

25 and 26 at each end, which lugs anchor to a keeper bar 33 formed with openings arranged to register with the apertures of each of said

respective lugs

25 and 26 and for ultimate securement by nuts 31 threaded on bolts 32 extending through the back-to-back portions of the golf tube

support angle bars

15 and 16 across the bottom of each row of golf club tubes C and D and through the contiguous free end of the A frame legs 10 and 11.

The upper retainer means likewise includes a keeper bar 33 secured to the

lugs

25 and 26, see FIGURE 3.

The frame B at the transverse bridge portion 35 thereof extends transverse spaced intermediate portions of the legs 10 and 11 and is pivotally secured to the legs by hinge straps as and 37 secured to each respectiveleg 10 For example, the

ably wider than the frame A, the

legs

38 and 39 of frame B are laterally spaced to each side of each respective adjacent leg and 11 of the frame A and carry a wheel axle 40. The axle 40 extends through aligned axle openings adjacent, each'free end of the

legs

38 and 3% of frame 13 in the provision of

stub axle sections

41 and 42 on each of which are journalled a

wheel

44 and 45, respectively.

The axle 40 traverses the rear side of the frame A and the filler rows C and D' of golf club tubes'and the frame B with its

wheels

44 and 45 may be swung to and from close proximity to the frame A at the hinge connections in the provision of an easel-like support for the golf clubs when desired. The relative positions of the wheel frame B and the golf club carrier frame A may be held in the parked easel position by arms 46 and 47 each comprised of

pivot links

48 and 49 with an intermediate lock member 50. relative to the size of the complete unit of lessthan seven inches in diameter.

- 'The links when locked into extended position make the unit mobile and permit it to be pulled along by the handle 19, see FIGURE 6. The frame A on either side may be provided with eyelet bolts for receiving

snap hooks

51 and 52 of a shoulder strap 53. When the player approaches a green or tee area, the unit is then picked up and carried with the shoulder strap 53 by the player over the green or tee area as shown in FIGURE 7. If a caddy prefers to carry the cart completely across the eighteen It is preferable toprovide small wheels holes on the golf course, the frames A and B may then be folded together.

In some instances it may be desirable to provide bag is illustrated, it is to be expressly understoodthat the same is not limited thereto as various changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of the parts illustrated, as will now likely appear to others and those skilled in the art. For a definition of the scope or limits of the invention, reference should be had to the appended claims. 7

What is claimed is:

1. A convertible golf club'holder having ground wheels,

and a carrying strap, said holder including a pair of inverted U-shaped frame members, the first of said members forming a handle at the top thereof, the second of said members being pivoted atthe top to medial portions of said firstmember, said .second member carrying an axle with wheels journalled' to each end thereof, transverse tube retainer bars secured to each leg of said first frame member, and a plurality of individual golf club holder tubes between said bars secured to each of the legs of said first frame member, said holder. tubes being open at the top and diverging from the said handle at the top of said first frame member, and tube support means transverse the bottom of the said first frame memher, said support means comprising angle bars positioned back-to-back,- said bars being secured to the rear side of the'first frame memberadjacent the free ends of the legs thereof and'said tubes extending upward from the support-bars to the front side of the; said first frame member.- 7

2. A combined golf club carrier: convertible from a player moved cart to a player carried club carrier and vice versa comprising an inverted U-shaped golf club carrier frame, and providing-spaced legmembers and an inverted U-shaped wheel frame pivoted to. said club -car-' rierv frame providing spaced legs, an axlemounted on the legs of the wheel frame, a plurality of individual golf club holding tubes mounted in transverse rows in said club carrier frame, spaced transverse retainer bars intermediate the leg members of said club carrier for clamping said individual golf club holding tubes in said' transverse rows, tube support means transverse the bottom of said club carrier frame, said tube support means being L-shaped' bars secured adjacent eachother transverse the legs of said club carrier'frame, and means to hold said carrier frame andv said wheel frame in either a player cart operating position, or in a player elevated carrying position, said individual golf club holding tubes extending angularly upward and forward with respect to said invented U-shaped club carrier frame-and said L- shaped support bars, said carrier frame including a shoulder strap and 'said wheel frame axle including spaced ground engaging wheels.

References Cited by the Examiner V UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,43 8 O7 8 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A CONVERTIBLE GOLF CLUB HOLDER HAVING GROUND WHEELS AND A CARRYING STRAP, SAID HOLDER INCLUDING A PAIR OF INVERTED U-SHAPED FRAME MEMBERS, THE FIRST OF SAID MEMBERS FORMING A HANDLE AT THE TOP THEREOF, THE SECOND OF SAID MEMBERS BEING PIVOTED AT THE TOP OF MEDIAL PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST MEMBER, SAID SECOND MEMBER CARRYING AN AXLE WITH WHEELS JOURNALLED TO EACH END THEREOF, TRANSVERSE TUBE RETAINER BARS SECURED TO EACH LEG OF SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER, AND A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL GOLF CLUB HOLDER TUBES BETWEEN SAID BARS SECURED TO EACH OF THE LEGS OF SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER, SAID HOLDER TUBES BEING OPEN AT THE TOP AND DIVERGING FROM THE SAID HANDLE AT THE TOP OF SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER, AND TUBE SUPPORT MEANS TRANSVERSE THE BOTTOM OF THE SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER, SAID SUPPORT MEANS COMPRISING ANGLE BARS POSITIONED BACK-TO-BACK, SAID BARS BEING SECURED TO THE REAR SIDE OF THE FIRST FRAME MEMBER ADJACENT THE FREE ENDS OF THE LEGS THEREOF AND SAID TUBES EXTENDING UPWARD FROM THE SUPPORT BARS TO THE FRONT SIDE OF THE SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER.