US 5,167,389 A · Self propelled golf bag cart

Abstract

A self-propelled golf bag car assembly (10) is provided to allow a golfer to walk during a round of golf while having the golf cart (12) and the contents carried by the cart (10). The bag cart (10) includes a plurality of cooperative subassemblies for performing specific functions. The bag cart (10) includes a free subassembly (16), a first drive wheel subassembly (10), a second drive wheel subassembly (20), a caster subassembly (28), a handle subasembly (30), and a hand grip subassembly (32). Each of the drive wheel subassemblies (18, 20) includes a shoulder (22), a motor (26), and a wheel (24) subassembly. Power and control is provided by directly driving a motor (118) associated with each wheel (24) through an electrical subassembly (38). The electrical subassembly includes a battery (48) and a variety of controlling components situated in a manual control box (34), a main power unit (54) the hand grip (32), and an optional remote control unit (36). The bag cart (10) is primarily characterized by direct independent drive of the wheels, compactibility from a use mode to a storage mode, and precise user control from the hand grip (32), or the remote control unit (36). The primary expected usage of the self propelled golf bag cart assembly (10) is by individual golfers on walking courses.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A shoulder assembly adapted for interconnecting a first component structure and a second component structure in a plurality of orientation modes, including, at least, a compact mode and an expanded mode, comprising:

a shoulder mount attached to the first component structure, the shoulder mount including a positive integral number of arc shaped receiving slots formed therein;
a shoulder plate member for mounting on the shoulder mount in a generally planar juxtaposition therewith, so as to partially rotate with respect to the shoulder mount;
a number of support cylinders, equal to said number of said receiving slots, mounted perpendicularly on the surface of the shoulder plate facing the shoulder mount, each of said support cylinders extending through a corresponding one of said receiving slots;
a plurality of arm members extending from the shoulder plate member to the second component structure, said arm members being arrayed so as to be mutually parallel in one selected dimension, said arm members being connected to the shoulder plate member in a manner such that a limited degree of freedom is provided in a dimension perpendicular to said plane of juxtaposition, while maintaining a fixed orientation between the shoulder plate member and each of said arm members in all other dimensions.

1 more element

A pivotal wheel mount assembly for a golf bag cart having a cart body and two primary wheel members, comprising:

a first shoulder plate and a second shoulder plate, parallel to the first shoulder plate, each being attached to the cart body so as to extend generally perpendicular thereto, and each shoulder plate including a plurality of curved slots formed therein for slidably receiving load bearing members therethrough;
a pair of opposed arm assemblies, with each arm assembly being associated with one of the wheel members, each arm assembly including shoulder disk means adjacent to a respective one of the shoulder plates, a plurality of arm members pivotally attached at a proximal end to said shoulder disk means and pivotally attached at a distal end thereof to wheel disk means, said wheel disk means being attached to the wheel member in such a manner that the wheel member rotates with respect thereto;
wherein the pivotal wheel mount assembly is characterized by the arm assemblies being affixed to one another by said load bearing members such that said shoulder disks conjunctively rotate intermediate a storage mode position and a use mode position, with rotational locking means being provided to secure the arm assemblies in each of said mode positions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Self propelled golf bag cart

Life of this patent

Self propelled golf bag cart

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19