WO1994002217A1

WO1994002217A1 - Golf buggy seat and back rest

Info

Publication number: WO1994002217A1
Application number: PCT/AU1993/000221
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frederick Kenneth Park
Original assignee: Frederick Kenneth Park
Priority date: 1992-07-27
Filing date: 1993-05-14
Publication date: 1994-02-03

Abstract

The invention discloses a seat and back rest and arrangement (12) for a golf buggy characterised in that the arrangement comprises at least one back support frame (14) member releasably attachable to a seat frame member (16), the seat frame member (16) being releasably attachable to a golf buggy, the or each back frame member (14) extending vertically above the seat frame member (16) and having a back rest (18) attachable thereto, the seat frame member (16) having a seat means (46) attachable thereto, the or each back frame member having a support bracket (32) extending generally horizontally therefrom and being arranged to support the seat frame member (16) so as to form a seat and back rest.

Description

TITLE GOLFBUGGYSEATANDBACKREST DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a seat and back rest arrangement for a golf buggy. FIELD OF THE INVENTION Golf buggies are commonly provided with some form of seating. Typically, the seat takes the form of an inverted u-shaped support with a cushion arrangement attached to the support. The seat, whilst a desirable addition to the buggy is generally somewhat modest and the comfort of the players could be increased by a more substantial arrangement. Such an arrangement would enable the user of the buggy to rest comfortably on the seat which in longer games, on long courses is advantageous. However, to produce an arrangement of a golf buggy and a seat would take up a considerable amount of space and would be inconvenient to store and transport when not in use. The present invention seeks to resolve the above conflict by providing a seating means attachable to a golf buggy which includes both a seat and back support. Moreover, the seating means of the present invention may be readily disassembled for convenient storage and transport. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat and back rest and arrangement for a golf buggy characterised in that the arrangement comprises at least one back support frame member releasably attachable to a seat frame member, the seat frame member being releasably attachable to a golf buggy, the or each back frame member extending vertically above the seat frame member and having a back rest attachable thereto, the seat frame member having a seat means attachable thereto, the o each back frame member having a support bracket extending generally horizontally therefrom and being arranged to support the seat frame member so as to form a seat and bac rest. Preferably, the seat frame member comprises a pair of limb connected at upper edges thereof by a transversely extending bar, the limbs being slidingly insertable into sleeves located on the support brackets and the back frame member. Preferably, a transverse connection member links the or each back frame member. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 illustrates in perspective view a golf buggy incorporating a seat and back rest arrangement in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates the golf buggy seat and back rest arrangement of Figure 1 in expanded form to allow viewing of the separate components thereof; Figure 3 illustrates in expanded form a golf buggy seat an back rest arrangement in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 illustrates a golf buggy seat and back rest arrangement in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is a golf buggy 10 incorporating a seat and back rest arrangement 12 in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention. The seat and back rest arrangement 12 comprises a backframe member 14, seat frame member 16 and back rest 18. The seat and back rest arrangement 12 is mounted to the golf buggy 10 by mounting means 20 which engage a corresponding mounting site 22 on the golf buggy 10. In Figure 1, the golf buggy 10 is shown with a golf bag 24 used for carrying golf clubs (not shown) in place. As will be seen, the golf bag 24 is used to balance the weight of the user when the sat and backrest arrangement 12 is in use. The seat and back rest arrangement 12 is shown clearly in Figure 2. The back frame member 14 comprises a pair of spaced tubular sections 26 arranged to be generally upstanding. Each of the tubular sections 26 is angled at a lower section 28 thereof. In use, the back frame member 14 is disposed at the rear of the golf buggy 12 with the angled lower sections 28 directed towards the centre of the buggy. Attached to a lower end of each section 28 is a respective vertical spigot 30. Each sleeve 30 comprises an open ended cylinder. Any convenient means such as welding may be used to attach the sleeves 30 to the sections 28. Each lower section 28 also has a respective support bracket 32 extending horizontally therefrom. The support brackets 30 are arranged so as to be spaced from the lower end of the section 28. Further, the support brackets 32 are positioned so as to be directed towards the centre of the golf buggy 10 in use. Each support bracket 32 comprises a rigid member having a generally vertical open ended tubular sleeve 34 attached to the free end thereof. The support bracket 32 extends generally horizontally sufficiently to enable the sleeve 34 to be co-axial with the sleeve 30. Moreover, both the support bracket 32 and spigots 30 are co-axial with a mounting spigot 36 located on an upper side of the buggy 10. The spigots 36 are positioned on the mounting site 22 on the golf buggy 10. A transverse bar 36 extends between the tubular sections 26. The transverse bar 36 serves to fix the relative positions of each tubular section 26. The back rest 18 extends between upper ends of the tubular sections 26. The back rest 18 comprises a sheet of material for terminating in generally tubular end sections 40. The tubular sections 26 are inserted through the end sections 40 in known manner. The back rest 18 is formed of known materials such as canvas or woven polyester materials. Further, the back rest 18 may be used to carry advertising or other promotional material. As shown in the drawings, the seat frame member 16 is located inwardly of the back frame member 14. The seat frame member comprises a generally upturned u-shaped frame including limbs 42 and a cross member 44. The limbs 42 are shaped so as to be slidably insertable through the sleeve 34 and spigots 36. The limbs 42 and cross member 44 may be integrally formed as shown. A cushioned seat 46 is attached to an upper surface of the cross member 44. The seat and back rest arrangement 12 is assembled as shown in Figure 1. Each of the limbs 42 is inserted through a respective sleeve 34 and sleeve 30. The combination of the limbs 42, sleeve 34 and spigot 30 form a stable structure which acts as the mounting means 20. The seat frame member 16 is then secured in the mounting spigots 36 on the golf buggy 10. the golf bag 24 is placed in position in a known manner. The weight of the golf bag 24 and clubs acts as a counterweight to the weight of any person sitting on the seat 46. The seat and back rest arrangement 12 has been shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the seat frame member 16 facing the golf bag 24. However, by removing the seat and back rest 12 from the mounting spigots 36 and rotating the arrangement through 180°, the position of the seat may be reversed. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate second and third embodiments respectively of the present invention. The embodiments depicted in Figures 3 and 4 contain many features in common with the seat and back support arrangement 12 described above and like numerals have been used to refer to like parts. Shown in Figure 3 is a seat and back support arrangement 50 comprising a seat frame member 16 and a back frame member 52. The seat frame member 16 is identical in all respects to the seat frame member 16 of Figure 1. The back frame member 52 includes the spaced tubular sections 26 and angled lower section 28 of the earlier described embodiment. However, the back frame 52 contains a transverse bar 54. The transverse bar 54 is attached at one end 56 to one tubular section 26 by any convenient means such as welding. The transverse bar 54 has a remaining free end 58. The free end 58 has a vertically oriented open ended sleeve 60 attached thereto. The remaining tubular section 26 is slidingly insertable in the sleeve 60. As shown by arrows 62 in Figure 3, the tubular section 26 inserted in the sleeve 60 is rotatable around a vertical axis centred on the sleeve 60. Rotation of the tubular section 26 thus allows the angled lower section 28 and spigot to move in an arc. The back frame is thus able to accommodate seat frames 16 or golf buggies 10 of varying sizes. Figure 4 illustrates a further example of a seat and back rest arrangement 64. In the seat and back rest arrangement 64 depicted in Figure 4, a back frame member 65 is comprised of three separate connectable pieces. The tubular sections 26 of Figures 1 to 3 are replaced with independent tubular sections 66 connected by a removable transverse bar 68. The tubular sections 66 are inserted through sleeves 70 located on either side of the transverse bar 68. In the seat and back rest arrangement 64 both the tubular sections 66 are free to rotate as shown by arrows 72 giving the arrangement a greater degree of flexibility with regard to the size and disposition of both the seat frame 16 and mounting sites 22 on the golf buggy 10. As can be appreciated, a golf buggy 10 may be easily fitted with a seat and back rest arrangement 12, 50, 64 in accordance with the present invention. When the arrangement 12, 50, 64 is to be transported, dis-assembly may be effected readily and the arrangement is easily stored without required large amounts of space. Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:- 1. A seat and back rest and arrangement for a golf buggy characterised in that the arrangement comprises at least one back support frame member releasably attachable to a seat frame member, the seat frame member being releasably attachable to a golf buggy, the or each back frame member extending vertically above the seat frame member and having a back rest attachable thereto, the seat frame member having a seat means attachable thereto, the or each back frame member having a support bracket extending generally horizontally therefrom and being arranged to support the seat frame member so as to form a seat and back rest. 2. A seat and back rest arrangement according to claim 1 characterised in that the seat frame member comprises a pair of limbs connected to each other at upper edges thereof by a transversely extending bar, the limbs being slidingly insertable into sleeves located on the support brackets. 3. A seat and back frame arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that the limbs of the seat/frame member are slidingly insertable into spigots located at ends of the back frame member. 4. A seat and back frame arrangement according to claim 1 characterised in that the back frame member comprises 2 or more spaced sections connectable to the seat frame member by means of sleeves located on lower ends of the sections through which the limbs of the seat frame member are slidably insertable. 5. A seat and back frame arrangement according to claim 4 characterised in that the sections of the back frame member are connectable by a rigid transverse bar extending therebetween and attached thereto. 6. A seat and back frame arrangement according to claim 4, characterised in that the sections of the back frame member are connectable by a transverse bar attached to at least one section and slidable over the remaining sections. 7. A seat and back frame arrangement according to claim 4 characterised in that the sections of the back frame are connectable by a transverse bar slidable over the or each spaced sections.