WO1997007862A1

WO1997007862A1 - Golf caddie

Info

Publication number: WO1997007862A1
Application number: PCT/EP1996/003782
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gert Stolz
Original assignee: Gert Stolz
Priority date: 1995-08-29
Filing date: 1996-08-28
Publication date: 1997-03-06
Also published as: DE29513854U1

Abstract

The invention concerns a golf caddie comprising an elongate frame arrangement (10) on whose outer periphery holding devices (72, 74) are provided for detachably holding golf clubs (38, 42) in the longitudinal direction of the frame arrangement (10). At the lower end of the frame arrangement (10) at least two lower end parts (26, 28) are articulated such that they can be pivoted out of an operating position, in which they extend outwardly from the outer periphery of the frame arrangement (10), into a swung-in position in which they extend upwards substantially in the longitudinal direction of the frame arrangement (10). A wheel (30, 32) is rotatably and detachably mounted on each of two of the lower end parts (26, 28). The size of the wheel is such that both wheels (30, 32) can be accommodated in the interior of the frame arrangement (10).

Description

Dare to play golf

Technical field

The invention relates to a golf cart for transporting golf clubs and golf accessories on a golf course.

State of the art

For the transport of golf clubs and golf accessories on a golf course, tubular golf bags are known which are open on one end and into which the golf clubs are inserted in such a way that the club heads protrude from the opening. These golf bags are either carried or attached to a trolley, which has, for example, a fold-out chassis, at the lower end of which two wheels are provided.

The attachment of the golf bag to the chassis is very cumbersome. If the golf bag is to be stowed in a vehicle again after playing golf, the golf bag must be detached from the chassis again and the chassis folded up.

Since the golf clubs must be inserted with the club head upwards into the known golf bags so that the selection of a golf club required for the respective shot is possible, if the golf bag is attached to the chassis, the main weight is at a distance from the concentrated through the axis of the axis of rotation of the wheels. Therefore, an increased effort is required to tilt and move the chassis. The invention has for its object to provide a golf cart with structurally simple means that has a small footprint in its transport position and is easy to move in its driving position.

This object is achieved by a golf cart which comprises an elongated frame device, on the outer circumference of which holding devices are provided for releasably holding golf clubs in the longitudinal direction of the frame device. At the lower end of the frame device, at least two lower extremities are articulated such that they can be pivoted from an active position, in which they extend outward from the outer circumference of the frame device, into a retracted position, in which they essentially extend in the longitudinal direction extend the rack assembly. A wheel is rotatably and detachably mounted on two of the lower extremities, the size of which is designed such that both wheels can be accommodated inside the frame device.

Because of its design, the golf cart according to the invention takes up little space in a transport position in which the extremities are in the folded position. In addition, the golf clubs can be attached to the holding devices so that their club heads point downward. It follows that the center of mass is close to the axis of rotation formed by the axis of the wheels when the golf cart is tilted and moved. This makes it easy to manipulate the golf cart. All golf clubs can be arranged in the holding devices in a certain order, so that simple gripping is possible in the shortest way without the hassle of searching. The golf clubs can be easily protected against moisture in the rain by pulling on a hood.

The conversion of the golf cart from the transport position into the driving position and vice versa can be carried out very quickly and easily.

The frame device preferably has at least two coaxial, spaced-apart ring elements of the same diameter, on the outer circumference of which the holding devices are provided. As a result, the weight of the golf cart can be reduced.

The ring elements are preferably circular ring elements. But they can also be oval or rectangular.

At the lower end of the rack device, a base plate is preferably attached, on which the golf clubs can rest with their heads. This facilitates the exact fixation of the golf clubs on the holding devices.

However, the golf clubs can also be held with their club heads up, if this is preferred.

Recesses for receiving the club heads can be formed on the base plate, the shape of which is essentially complementary to the shape of the club heads. This ensures that the golf clubs are placed in the correct position and cannot touch or damage each other.

In the interior of the rack device, an upwardly open container is preferably attached in the upper area, in which further accessories such as towels, golf gloves or a Cover can be accommodated. In this case, the space below the container inside the rack device is accessible from outside for receiving the wheels.

The holding devices expediently each have two projections which extend radially outward from the outer circumference of the frame device at the same height and are arranged next to one another. On each projection, an elastic disk is rotatably mounted about an axis running in the longitudinal direction of the frame device, the outer circumference of which extends into the space between two adjacent projections, the minimum distance between the outer circumferences of the two disks being smaller than the diameter of a golf club in the holding area and the space between the projections, the outer circumferences of the discs and the outer circumference of the frame device is essentially the size of the cross section of a golf club in the holding area. This makes it easy to hold the golf clubs on the holding devices.

For easy handling of the golf cart, a handle is preferably articulated in the upper area of the frame device in such a way that it can be pivoted from an active position in which it extends outward from the outer circumference of the frame device into a folded-in position in which it essentially moves into Longitudinal direction of the rack device extends upwards or downwards.

For a secure stand of the golf cart in the driving position, a further lower extremity is advantageously formed by a support which is arranged between the extremities, on each of which a wheel is detachably and rotatably attached. - b -

An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to drawings. It shows:

1 shows a side view of a golf cart in the driving position;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the golf cart of Fig.l;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the golf cart of Fig.l;

Fig. 4 the golf cart of Fig.l in transport position;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the golf cart of FIG. 4.

Fig. 6 in a detail in section the arrangement of a

Support and Fig. 7 schematically the view A-A of Fig. 6th

Best embodiment of the invention

The golf cart shown in FIG. 1 has a frame device 10 which comprises two coaxial circular ring elements 12 and 14 arranged at a distance one above the other. A light and rigid base plate 20 is arranged at a distance below the lower annular element 14, on which a light but soft base plate 22 made of foam rests. The outer diameter of the base plate 20 and the base plate 22 corresponds to the outer diameter of the circular ring elements 12, 14.

The circular ring elements 12, 14 and the base plate 20 are lightly and stiffly fastened on their outer circumference to an elongated frame plate 16 which extends in the longitudinal direction of the frame device 10 and extends from the upper circular ring element 12 to the lower base plate 20. At a distance from the frame plate 16, the circular ring elements 12, 14 and the base plate 16 are connected by two longitudinal struts 18. On the underside of the base plate 20, three extremities, namely a support 24, a first steering knuckle 26 and a second steering knuckle 28 are arranged at an angular distance of 120 °. The frame plate 16 is arranged diametrically opposite the support 24.

The support 24 consists of a plastic tube filled with resin and fibers, which is bent so that it has two parallel legs 80 of the same length and has a substantially circular extension at the bending point, the diameter of which is greater than the distance between the two parallel legs 80. The support 24 is rotatably mounted on a bearing block 54 provided on the underside of the base plate 20 with two parallel side cheeks near its free ends, the pivot axis 60 being located somewhat outside the base plate 20.

6 and 7, one of the side cheeks of the bearing block 54 is shown in association with a leg 80 of the support 24, the position of the support 24 of FIG. 4 being drawn out and that of FIG. 1 being shown in broken lines. Two stop lugs 68 are arranged in pairs on each side cheek. The one stop lug 68 is located laterally somewhat outside of the base plate 20 in the region of the side cheek facing the base plate 20. The other stop lug 68 is provided below the base plate in a region of the side cheek which is further away from it. One stop lug 68 has the bevel shown in FIG. 7. The other stop nose 68 is chamfered from bottom to top.

The legs 80 of the support 24 can be deformed elastically by hand pressure from the outside so that their distance from each other becomes smaller, so that the legs 80 into a stop position or out of it via the stop lugs 68 can be performed. To secure in the respectively set position of the support 24, a blocking element 70 (FIG. 3) can be inserted between the legs 80, which can likewise be pivoted about the axis 60 into the engagement position between the legs 80 or out of it.

An alternative to the embodiment of the support fixation in two end positions shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 would be pairwise recesses in the side cheeks, to which corresponding stop lugs on the legs 80 would then have to be assigned.

The steering knuckles 26 and 28 are pivoted in the same way on the underside of the base plate 20 on bearing blocks 58 and 56 about pivot axes 66 and 62 as the support 24. At the outer end of the steering knuckles 26, 28 there is one perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the Support 24 and arranged parallel to the ground axis 27 and 29, on which a wheel 30 and 33 is detachably and rotatably attached.

The support 24 is shaped so that it extends in the operative position shown in FIG. 1, inclined outwards and downwards and rests with its free end on the floor when the floor plate 20 extends parallel to the floor surface. The steering knuckles 26 and 28 and the wheels 30 and 32 are designed so that the wheels 30 and 32 touch the ground surface in this position.

A handle 34 is articulated in the upper region of the frame plate 16, which is also formed by a plastic tube filled with resin and fibers with two parallel legs. The handle 34 can be pivoted out of the latching position shown in FIG. 1, in which it extends outward and slightly inclined from the frame device 10, into the folding position shown in FIG. 4, in which it extends extends upwards in the longitudinal direction of the frame device 10. A holding device 48 for three or more golf balls 50 is arranged on the handle 34.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, a number of projections 72 arranged at a uniform distance from each extend radially outward from the outer circumference of the circular elements 12, 14. Arranged on the underside of each projection 72 are two elastic disks 74, the outer circumference of which extends beyond the side edges of the projections 72 and into the space between two adjacent projections 72.

The minimum distance between two disks 74 extending into a space is less than the diameter of a golf club 38, 42 in the region of the shaft 39, 43 in which the golf club 38, 42 is to be held by means of the projections 72 and the disks 74. The space between the annular element 12, two adjacent projections 72 and the elastic disks 74 extending into the intermediate space is selected so that when a shaft 39, 43 of a golf club 38, 42 is pressed in, there is a press fit between these elements.

The elastic disks 74 are rotatable about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the frame device 10.

The projections 72 on the circular ring elements 12, 14 are arranged exactly one above the other.

To hold a golf club 38, 42 on the circular ring elements 12 and 14, the golf club 38, 43 with its club head 40, 44 is placed on the base plate 22 and in the region of its shaft 39, 43 in a space between two adjacent projections 72 are pressed in through two adjacent elastic disks 74, the pressing in being facilitated by the possibility of rotation of the disks 74.

Recesses (not shown) can be provided on the base plate 22, which are complementary to the shape of the respective club head 40, 44. This ensures that each club 38, 42 is held in the correct position on the outer circumference of the annular elements 12, 14.

The rackets 38, 42 can also be held, if desired, so that they rest on the base plate 22 with their handles 41, 45.

For a simplified illustration, only the mounting of two golf clubs 38, 42 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. However, a golf club can be placed in each space between the adjacent protrusions 72.

An upwardly open sack 36 for receiving golf accessories is suspended between the circular ring elements 12 and 14 and is attached to the upper circular ring element 12. Through bores for receiving teas can be provided on some projections 52. In addition, it is possible to provide a holding device for a screen 46 along one side of the frame plate 16.

If the golf cart is to be changed from the driving position shown in FIG. 1 to the transport position shown in FIG. 4, the wheels 30, 32 are removed from the axles 27 and 29 and below the bag 2 into the space delimited by the golf clubs placed. As shown in Fig. 4, the diameter of the space surrounded by the golf clubs 38, 42 is larger than the diameter of the wheels 30, 32, so that the wheels 30, 32 can be arranged one above the other.

The support 24 and the steering knuckles 26, 28 are then folded upwards from the position shown in FIG. 1, so that they extend essentially in the longitudinal direction of the frame device 10.

For pivoting the support 24, it is necessary to remove the blocking device 70, if it is present, from the space between two legs 80 by pivoting or pushing it out. If the support 24 is in the transport position shown in FIG. 4, which is shown in solid lines in FIG. 6, the support rests on the floor with its free end and lies with its legs 80 above the free end as seen from the free end Swivel axis 60 on the abutment lugs 68 projecting from each other outside the base plate 20 on the side cheeks of the bearing block 45, specifically on their side without beveling (FIG. 7). To pivot the support 24 into the driving position shown in FIG. 1, which is shown in broken lines in FIG. 6, the legs 80 are pressed elastically against one another by hand, so that their distance from one another becomes smaller and the legs 80 pass one stop lug 68 can be moved. The support 44 is pivoted in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 6 about the pivot axis 60 until the free ends of the legs 80 abut the bevels of the other stop lugs 68 on the side cheeks of the bearing block and slide over them by pressure on the support 24 and bear against the full stop surface of the stop nose, the support 24 being held pressed against this stop surface in the position of FIG. 1, while in the tilted driving position the free end of the support 24 rests against the bottom plate 20 at the bottom. The pivoting of the steering knuckles 26 and 28 configured in the same way takes place in the same way as described for the support 24.

At the lower end of the frame plate 16, small auxiliary wheels 82 are arranged on both longitudinal sides, the size of which is so designed that they touch the floor surface when the support 24 rests with its free end on the floor surface. This facilitates the transport of the golf cart in the transport position.

The golf cart according to the invention has an essentially cylindrical shape in the transport position shown in FIG. 4. For this reason it is possible to pull a cylindrical sack over the golf cart and then stow it away.

The plastic tubes filled with resin and fibers, which are used to manufacture the support 24, the steering knuckle 26, 28, the handle 34 and the longitudinal struts 18, have some special properties:

In the uncured state, the fibers can be displaced with a simple mandrel and thus create a hole without significantly weakening the element. In addition, screws can be screwed in with little effort.

In the hardened state, however, the hose is extremely pressure-resistant, tensile, very light and has very good elastic properties. This is particularly important for the extremities so that they can be bent by pressure to unlock them.

The plastic hoses are also skin-friendly, UV-resistant, shock-absorbing and weldable, for example for repairs. Industrial applicability

In its driving position, the golf cart according to the invention can be used to transport golf clubs and golf accessories on a golf course. When the golf cart according to the invention is in its transport position, it takes up very little space, so that it can be stowed in a vehicle without any problems.

Claims

claims

1. Golf cart, with

- An elongated frame device (10) on the outer circumference of which holding devices (72, 74) are provided for releasably holding golf clubs (38, 42) in the longitudinal direction of the frame device (10), and

- At least two lower extremities (26, 28), which are articulated at the lower end of the frame device (10) in such a way that they extend from an active position, in which they extend outward from the outer circumference of the frame device (10), into a folding position can be pivoted in which they essentially extend upwards in the longitudinal direction of the rack device (10),

- A wheel (30, 32) is rotatably and releasably mounted on two of the lower extremities (26, 28), the size of which is designed such that both wheels (30, 32) are accommodated in the interior of the frame device (10) can be.

2. Golf cart according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame device (10) comprises at least two coaxially spaced Ringelemen¬ te (12, 14) of the same diameter, on the outer circumference of the holding devices (72, 74) are provided.

3. Golf cart according to claim 2, characterized in that at the lower end of the frame device (10) a base plate (22) is mounted on which the golf clubs (38, 42) with their heads (40, 44) can rest.

4. Golf cart according to claim 3, characterized in that on the base plate (22) recesses for receiving the club heads (40, 44) are formed, the shape of the club heads (40, 44) is substantially complementary to the shape.

5. Golf cart according to claim 2, characterized in that an upwardly open container (36) is attached in the interior of the frame device (10) in the upper region and that the space inside the frame device (10) below the container (36) for receiving the wheels (30, 32) are accessible from the outside.

6. Golf cart according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding devices each have two radially outwardly extending projections (72) from the outer circumference of the frame device (10) which are arranged next to one another, with an elastic washer (34 ) is rotatably mounted about an axis running in the longitudinal direction of the frame device (10), the outer circumference of which extends into the space between two adjacent projections (72), the minimum distance between the outer circumferences of the two disks (34) being less than that Diameter of a golf club in the holding area and the space between the projections (72), the outer circumferences of the disks (34) and the outer circumference of the rack equipment. device (10) has essentially the size of the cross section of a golf club (38, 42) in the holding area.

7. Golf cart according to claim 1, characterized in that a handle (34) is articulated in the upper region of the frame device (10) in such a way that it extends from an active position in which it extends from the outer circumference of the frame device to the outside, can be pivoted into a retracted position in which it extends essentially in the longitudinal direction of the frame device (10).

8. Golf cart according to claim 1, characterized in that a lower extremity is formed by a support (24) which is arranged between the extremities (26, 28), on each of which a wheel (30, 32) is detachably and rotatably fastened .