Pedal-powered golf cart

#This invention relates generally to wheeled vehicles and more specifically to foot-powered vehicles and most specifically to pedal-powered golf carts.

#Golf is a game which is played by an ever-growing number of people. Golf carts which are adapted to carry golfers as well as their equipment between holes are presently in very extensive use on a great many golf courses. Golf carts allow for ease of play by golfers whose physical condition precludes walking long distances. Golf carts are also widely utilized because they speed up the play by decreasing travel time between holes, thereby enabling a higher throughput of players for a given course. Additionally, golf carts provide transport for clubs, drinks and other associated golfing equipment.

#Heretofore, golf carts have been mechanically powered either by electric motors or gasoline engines. Such carts are expensive to buy and maintain, and necessitate charging bulky storage batteries, or accommodating the noise and exhaust fumes of gasoline engines. Many golfers are forced to forego the advantageous benefits of exercise attendant upon golfing because they must utilize golf carts in order to speed up play. It should thus be appreciated that a human-powered golf cart would confer several advantages insofar as it would provide benefcial exercise and would be a non-polluting, silent, simple, inexpensive and easy to maintain vehicle.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf cart structured in accord with the principles of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the golf cart of FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the golf cart of FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along line III--III; and

#There are a wide variety of designs and styles of golf cart which may be structured in accord with the principles of the present invention. FIG. 1 depicts one such embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a golf cart 10 includes two pedal assemblies 12 disposed so as to power a pair of drive wheels 14.

#As is best shown by FIG. 2, power is transmitted from the pedals 12 to a transmission 16 via a transmission input shaft 18 operatively connected thereto. As depicted, the input shaft 18 is connected to the pedal assembly 12 by means of a drive chain 20. The output of the transmission 16 is transferred to a drive shaft 22 by means of a standard coupling such as a universal joint or the like. It is noteworthy that the golf cart of the present invention eliminates the need for a long chain drive communicating between the pedals and/or transmission and drive wheels 14. Such chains are prone to jamming by weeds, grass or debris and tend to accumulate large amounts of sand or dirt in a golf course environment and accordingly, elimination of such drive chains is one advantage of the present invention.

#The golf cart further includes a pair of seats 26 disposed upon the frame and floor of the golf cart and individually positionably adjustable with relation to the pedal assemblies 12 most proximate thereto. In this manner, the seats may be adjusted to accommodate different sized users.