US2578409A - Bagless golf cart - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 11, 1951 o. 1.. EVANS EI'AL BAGLESS GOLF CART 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed March 13, 1950 Dec. 11, 1951 o, EVANS ET AL 2,578,409

BAGLESS GOLF CART Filed March 15, 1950 2 SPEETS-SHEET 2 Ba. 9. E610.

O o 0 0 o 29 O 0 Z b 0 o a o o INVENTOR- -t 0 e OBV/LLE L-EVANJ.

MAL/AM fr. Wqzrrl.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 11,1951

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BAGLESS GOLF CART OrvilleL. Evans and William H. Warth, Rushville, Ind.

Application March 13, 1950,Seria'l No. 149,306

without the necessity of using a golf bag or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved device of this character in which the golf clubs are securely held and yet can be quickly and easily withdrawn therefrom.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved bagless golf cart in which the clubs are supported in a substantially vertical position with the club heads uppermost and in spaced apart relation so that the club heads will not knock against one another "and the golfer can quickly select the-club desired for the particular shot.

The present invention aims to provide an improved structure which can be adjusted to accommodate sets of golf clubs having shafts of different lengths, such as, mens size sets of clubs and ladies or junior size sets of clubs. I

The present invention also aims to provide "an improved bagless golf cart in which means are provided for accommodating golf clubs of aset having different length shafts.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved bagless golf cart in which means are incorporated for maintaining a perfect balance regardless of the number and weight of clubs placed thereon so that the load is balanced in such a manner as to actually aid in the movement of the cart over the golf course.

The present invention has for another object the provision of an improved golf cart which can be collapsed when not in use so that it can be stored in a luggage compartment of an automobile, in a clubhouse locker'or in the home.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

the invention will be hereinafter more fully described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved bagless golf :cart constructed in accord- .ance with the present invention and illustrated in ome of its open operativepositions.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the same,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l and looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the improved device in collapsed condition showing the oppositeside to that illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing and with parts broken away,

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the tee supporting member, the golf ball supportin member and the bracket for receiving the club head por- 'tion of the shafts of the golf clubs,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line B6 of Figure 5 and looking in the direction of the-arrows,

Figure 7 isa sectional View taken on the line 1--1 of Figure 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 9 is asectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure-l0 is asectional view taken on the line l'fl-l0 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows,:and

portions of the axle H. The axle i i has mounted on its opposite ends supporting wheels l2 which are'equipped with semi-pneumatic tires 53.

A handle supporting rod [4 has its opposite ends secured to the inner faces of the arms 10 as by welding or the like. A handle generally indicated at B comprises two telescopic sections [5 and [6 which may be of .non circular shape in cross section and may be hollow. A bearing sleeve I1 is rotatably mounted upon the rod l4 intermediate its ends and is restrained against axial movement on the rod iii by washers l8 which are secured as by welding or the like to the rod [4 at opposite sides of and in engagement with the sleeve I I.

The lower end portion of the section [5 of the handle B is secured to the sleeve I! by welding or the like for rotative movement with the sleeve. Adjacent its upper end the section l5 of the handlei-B has a nut 1.9 secured to its rear face.

3 The rear face of the section I5 is provided with an opening 26 which is in alignment with the threaded opening of the nut l9. A thumb screw 2| is threadedly received by the nut l9 and is adapted to have its irmer end extend through the opening 28 of the section l5 and frictionally bind the section l6 in its preselected vertical adjustment. The upper end portion of the section l6 has mounted thereon a hand grip 22 which may be made of rubber or the like.

Immediately above the rod l4, the arms I are bent inwardly for a short distance at I00. and then extend upwardly in spaced parallel relation as indicated at lilb.

A standard generally indicated at C comprises a lower member 23 and an upper member 24 which is telescopically received by the member 23. The members 23 and 24 may be non circular in cross section and of hollow formation. A bearing sleeve 25 is secured by welding or the like to a plate 26 which is in turn secured by welding or the like to the rear face of the member 23 intermediate its ends. A threaded bolt 21 extends through the sleeve 25 and aligned apertures in the upper ends of the portions lb of the yoke A. A nut 28 is received by the threaded end of the bolt 21 for retaining the portions |0b of the yoke for rotative movement on the bolt 21.

A pair of segmental plates 29 and 36 are secured to the opposite side faces of the lower member 23 of the standard C adjacent its upper end portion. The plates 29 and 30 and the opposite sides of the member 23 are provided with aligned openings 3| and the opposite sides of the member 24 are provided with pairs of aligned openings 32 which are adapted to be selectively brought into registry with the openings 3|. A threaded bolt 33 extends through aligned openings 3| and 32. A nut 34 is threadedly received by the bolt 33 for securing the members 23 and 24 in vertically adjusted position. The segmental plates 29 and 36 extend rearwardly of the section 23 and the plate 29 is provided with an arcuately arranged series of holes 35. A pair of links 36 and 31 have their forward end portions pivotally mounted on a bolt 38 which extends through aligned apertures in the links and in the segmental plates 29 and 30. A nut 39 is threadedly received by the bolt 38. The rear end portions of the links 36 and 31 are pivotally mounted on a a bolt 40 which extends through suitable apertures in the links and is suitably supported by a plate 42 by welding or the like.

The plate 42 is in turn secured to the rear face of the lower section l of the handle B intermediate its ends. A nut 43 is threadedly received by the bolt 48. A thumb screw 44 has a nut 45 mounted thereon and is threadedly received by a threaded opening in the link 36. The threaded opening in the link 36 is adapted to be selectively brought into registry with one of the holes 35 of the segmental plate 29. The thumb screw 44 is then adapted to extend through the threaded opening in the link 36 and engage in the selected aligned hole 35 of the plate 29.

A plate having a main body portion 46 which may be substantially oblong in shape and an upwardly extending substantially triangularly shaped portion 4'! is secured as by welding or the like to the forward face of the lower end portion of the member 23 of the standard C. The lower edge portion of the plate 46 is bent forwardly to provide a flange 48.

A box generally indicated at D comprises front and rear walls 49 and 56, respectively, end walls 5|, a bottom 52 and opened at the top. The bottom 52 of the box rests upon the flange 48 of the plate 46 and is secured to the plate 46 by bolts 53 which extend through suitable openings in the plate 46 and the rear wall 58 of the box. Nuts 54 are threadedly received by the bolts 53.

A cushion 55 of sponge rubber is inserted within the box D and secured to the bottom thereof in any suitable manner. The upper portions of the front and rear walls 49 and 56 of the box D are provided with inwardly extending flanges 51. A block of hard rubber or the like 58 is received through the open top of the box D and rests upon the flanges 51 of the front and rear walls 49 and 58. If desired, the block 58 can be secured to these flanges 51. A strip of metal, plastic, or the like 59 surrounds the upper edge portions of the box D and is secured to the front and rear walls 49 and 58 of the box by screws or the like 60. The upper edge portion of the strip 59 is provided with an inturned flange 6| which overhangs and engages the upper marginal edges of the block 58 to maintain the block seated upon the flanges 51. The block 58 is provided with a plurality of through openings 62 which communicate with the interior of the box D. The block 58 is also provided with sockets 63.

Auxiliary socket members, generally indicated at E and F are mounted on the forward face of the triangular portion 41 of the plate 46 by bolts or the like 64 and nuts 65. As shown more particularly in Figure 11 of the drawing, the auxiliary socket member E comprises a supporting member of angle iron shape in cross section having a vertical flange 66 and a horizontal flange 61. The forward edge portion of the flange 61 is bent upwardly to provide a vertical retaining flange 66 which is disposed parallel to and cooperates with the forward face of the triangular portion 41 of the plate 46 to retain thereoetween a block 69 of hard rubber or the like. The block 69 is provided with a substantially centrally disposed socket 19. A screw ll extends through the bottom of the socket l9 and through a suitable opening in the flange 61' and receives a nut 12 for securing the block 69 to the flange 61. Suitable openings 73 are provided in the flange 67 for receiving therethrough the bolts 64. The auxiliary socket member F is similar in structure to the socket member E, except that the flange 66 is made longer than the corresponding flange of the member E.

A bracket, generally indicated at G, comprises a top wall 14, bottom Wall 15, rear wall 16 and end walls ll. The end walls 71 extend forwardly of the top and bottom walls 14 and 15. The rear wall I6 of the bracket G is secured to the upper portion of the forward face of the member 24 of the standard C by welding or the like. A block 18 of hard rubber or the like has its rear portion received between the top and bottom walls 14 and 15 of the bracket G and its forward portion extends forwardly of the top and bottom walls of the bracket G. The opposite ends of the block 18 engage the end walls ll of the bracket G and the forward edge of the block terminates substantially flush with the forward edges of the end walls 11. The forward edge portion of the block 18 is provided with a series of spaced apart recesses 19. The upper portions of the opposite Walls of each recess 19 are slightly beveled downwardly and inwardly as indicated at 88. The bottom portions of the opposite walls of each recess v15 79 are beveled upwardly and inwardly as at 8| to a greater degree than the bevel at 80. The block [8 is retained within the bracket G 'by' bolt's {8 which receive nuts 83.

A Ztee receiving tray, generally indicated at H, comprises a bottom wall 84, a top wall 85, a rear wall 86, end walls 81 and a sheet of sponge rubber 88. The bottom wall '84 is longer than the top wall 85 and extends forwardly thereof and is provided with suitable openings for securing it to the top wall '14 of the bracket G by means of the bolts 82. The layer of sponge rubber 88 is confined between the top and bottom and rear walls 84, 85 and 8B. The bottom and top walls 84 and 85 are provided with aligned holes 89 and the layer of sponge rubber 88 is provided with holes .90 which are in registry with the holes 89, but are of slightly smaller .diameter than the holes 89.

A golf ball carrying trough having a bottom 9 l, a forward wall 32, arear wall 93 and an end wall 94 rests upon the upper surface of the bottom wall 84 of the tray .H and is secured thereto by the bolts 82 and by bolts 9.5 which receive nuts 96. The end of the trough opposite to the end wall as is open as indicated at 91. A coil spring 98 has its opposite ends attached to the upper edges of the front-and rear walls 92 and 93, respectively, of the trough adjacent the open end 91.

A container comprising a bottom '99, a front wall I03, a rear wall l] and an end wall I02 is secured to the bottom Wall of the bracket G and to the bottom wall 84 of the'tray I-Iby, the

bolts 82 and 95 which extend through flanges I03 and I04 on the front and rear walls I03 and IE5, respectively.

A brace IE5 has, its opposite end portions secured to the rear wall 13 of the bracket G by welding or the like andits intermediate portion secured to the rear face of the upper end portion of the member 24 of the standard C. One end portion of the brace I 05 extends into the container over its end wall I02.

A holder for lighted cigars or cigarettes comprises a flange 106 which is secured by welding or the like to the section I6 of thehandle B adjacent the hand grip 22 and a cigarette supporting plate l in having upstanding side and bottom flanges I33 and I99, respectively. The plate I0! is provided with an opening I I0 adjacent the flange I89. When the .player'is making a shot he can place his lighted cigar or cigarette upon the plate l El and it will be confined there by the flanges ms and H19 and the adjacent side of the section it of the handle B. The lighted end of the cigar or cigarette will be disposed Over the opening, l H] so that air can freely circulate around the lighted end to support combustion.

In the use of-the device the upper member 24 of the standard C will be adjusted up or down in the lower member 23 to accommodate mens clubs or ladies or junior clubs, depending upon the size of the clubs to be carried by the cart. This adjustment will be made by loosening the nut 34 and removing the bolt 33. After the member 24 has been suitably adjusted the bolt 33 and nut '34 will be replaced.

The clubs will be successively placed upon the cart by extending the hand grip portion of the longer clubs Ill through the openings 32 in the block 58 until the end of the club rests upon the cushion 55. These longer clubs are usually the Woods. The shaft of each club'adjacent the head end thereof will be forced into a correspondsockets 63.

ing aligned :recess 1 9"of the'blocklfl. Due to the resiliency of the materialfrom which the block 18 is made and the beveled arrangement of the walls of the recesses the shaft can be readily inserted in the recesses by exerting relatively slight pressure upon the shaft and at the 'sametime the club will be firmly secured to prevent rattling or accidental displacement.

The hand grip end portions of the shorter clubs H2 or irons will then be successively inserted in the sockets E3 of :the block 58 so that the ends of the clubs will rest upon the bottoms of the The shaft of each iron club adjacent its head will be forced into a corresponding aligned recess 19 of the block l'8and the iron club will be retained by the cooperative action of "the socket 63 and the recess 19.

A plurality of golf balls, such as indicated at H3, will be. placed :in the trough 9| and will be retained therein due to "the inherent resiliency of the walls 92 and .93 and the action of the coil spring .92 in drawing the walls .92 and 93 towards each other into frictional engagement with the balls H3.

Golf tees I M will be inserted through the holes 89 and 90 of the tray .H and will be frictionally retained therein by :thelayer .88 of sponge rubber.

When the golf clubs, golf balls and tees have been placed upon the cart in the manner described above, the golfer :can adjust the spread between the wheels 13 and the box D to obtain the best possible balance. This adjustment for the properbalance can be made by loosening the thumb screw 44 and by suitable pressure on the handle B the wheels 13 may be moved towards or away from the box D. Through the yoke A and the links '36 and3'l the load will be adjusted forwardly or backwardly'depending upon the direction the handle Biis moved. The links 36 and 31 will swing about their pivot bolts 38 and the link 36 will .carry with it the thumb screw 44 into registry with one of the holes 35 in the plate 29. When the proper adjustment has been secured the thumb screw 44 will be screwed into the selected hole 35 and the parts will be maintained in their selected adjusted position. With thisarrangement such a proper balance of the load will be obtained 'as to actually aid in the'movement of the cart.

The upper section It of the handle B may be adjusted within the section i=5 by loosening the thumb screw 21 and sliding the section 16 into or out of the'section l5. When the desiredadjustment has been obtained the thumb screw 2| may be screwed into frictional engagement with the section 16 to retain it in the selected position. The golfer can move the cart by grasping the hand grip 22 and balancing it on the wheels l3 by means of which it may be rolled over the ground. When it is desired to make a shot the cart may be disposed as shown in Figure l of the drawing in which the cart is supported by the wheels, [3 and the lower end portion of the member 23. The golfer selects the desired club and removes it from the cart by grasping the shaft adjacent the recess 19 and exerting pressure on the shaft forwardly of the cart.

Due to the beveled formation of the walls of the recess and the resiliency of the material of the block 18 the shaft will be readily removed from the recess. One of the golf tees H4 can be removed from the tray H by a slight upward pull on the golf tee. A ball H3 maybe withdrawn from the trough 9| by forcing it under the spring 98 and from between the walls 92 and 93 or one 7 end of the spring may be removed from the wall to release the golf ball.

When it is desired to store the golf cart the thumb screw 44 will be loosened until it is clear of the holes in the plate 29. The cart will then be collapsed to the condition shown in Figure 4 of the drawing by moving the wheels 13 and the box D together. The thumb screw 44 will then be screwed into the aligned hole 35. It will be noted from Figure 4 of the drawing that in this collapsed position the lower section l5 of the handle B will have its upper portion received between the rear edge portions of the plates 29 and 30 to prevent lateral movement of the handle B and its associated parts. As shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, the upper section I6 of the handle B is disposed at right angles to its operative position illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing. This is effected by entirely removing the upper section Hi from the lower section [5 and turning the section I6 through substantially 90 degrees and then reinserting it into the section l5. It will also be noted from this figure 4 of the drawing that the entire structure is disposed within the limits of the diameter of the wheels [3.

It will be noted from Figure 1 of the drawing that when in its fully extended position the upper edges of the links 36 and 31 will engage the under surface of a plate H5 to limit the spreading of the wheels l3 and the box D. This plate H5 is secured to the upper edges of the plates 29 and 30 by welding or the like. When in collapsed condition a dust-proof and weather-proof cover of plastic or the like may be placed over the cart and the golf clubs. When the cart is in use this plastic cover may be stored in the container 99.

The auxiliary socket members E and F can be mounted or removed from the portion 47 of the plate 46 by means of the bolts 64. The sockets T0 of these auxiliary members are used in the same manner as are the sockets 63 of the block 58.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modiflcations being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What we claim is:

1. An improved bagless golf cart comprising supporting wheels, a yoke mounted on said supporting wheels, a handle pivotally mounted on said yoke, a standard pivotally mounted on said yoke, a box mounted on the lower end of said standard for supporting the hand grip portions of golf clubs, a block mounted on the upper end portion of said standard for removably gripping the shafts of said golf clubs adjacent the heads thereof, means for movably connecting said handle to said standard, said standard comprising two telescopic members for permitting adjustment of said block towards and from said box, and means for securing said members in adjusted position.

2. An improved bagless golf cart as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that said handle comprises two telescopic sections to permit lengthening or shortening said handle, and means for securing said sections in adjusted position.

3. An improved bagless golf cart comprising supporting wheels, a handle pivotally supported by said wheels, a standard pivotally supported by said wheels, a box mounted upon the lower end portion of said standard for receiving the hand grip portions of golf clubs, a cushion disposed in said box upon which the ends of the golf clubs are adapted to rest, a block mounted upon the upper end portion of said standard and having recesses for receiving shafts of said golf clubs adjacent the heads thereof, a pair of segmental plates mounted on said standard, one of said plates having an arcuate series of holes, a pair of links pivotally connected to said handle and pivotally connected to said standard, a thumb screw carried by one of said links and adapted to be brought selectively into registry with one of the holes in the said one segmental plate, a stop plate mounted on said segmental plates and disposed in the path of movement of said links to limit the movement thereof in one direction, the rear portions of said segmental plates being spaced apart to receive therebetween said handle when the cart is in fully collapsed condition.

ORVLLLE L. EVANS. WILLIAM H. WARTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,262,298 Procter Nov. 11, 1941 2,406,183 Allen Aug. 20, 1946 2,472,407 David et al June 7, 1949 2,480,597 Nelson Aug. 30, 1949

Images