CA2813753C - Motorized golf cart adapter with center drive wheel and outboard stabilizer wheels - Google Patents

Abstract

A motorized golf cart adapter for converting a manual golf bag cart into a motorized ride-on golf cart features a frame, an attachment member carried on the frame adjacent the front end thereof for releasable coupling to the manual golf bag cart at a location disposed intermediately between planes of two non-motorized wheels thereof, a motorized drive wheel coupled to the frame adjacent a rear end thereof, a pair of outboard wheels coupled to the frame at positions located outboard of the drive wheel on opposite sides thereof, and a rider support arrangement carried on the frame between the front and rear ends thereof. The rear and center position of the driven wheel allows increased traction by rearward shifting of rider weight, while the outboard wheels provide added stability.

Description

MOTORIZED GOLF CART ADAPTER WITH CENTER DRIVE WHEEL AND
OUTBOARD STABILIZER WHEELS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a motorized golf cart adapter for converting a manual golf bag cart into a motorized ride-on golf cart, and more particularly to such an adapter employing a three-wheel configuration with a center drive wheel at the rear and two outboard wheels for improved cart stability and drive-wheel traction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known in the prior art to provide motorized devices for aiding in transport of a bag of golf clubs over a golf course throughout a round of golf. The prior art includes portable devices intended for ownership by individual golfers as an altemative to renting a course-owned, ride-on cart that is often used to convey one or two golfers and their respective bags of clubs over the course for a single round of = 15 golf. These portable golfer-owned devices of the prior art can be classified into a = number of different types.
A first type is a motorized bag-only unit intended only carry the golf bag and the clubs stowed therein, leaving the golfer to walk the course, but with the reduced burden of power-aided pulling or pushing of their clubs.
Another type is a motorized ride-on unit that carries not the only the club-filled golf bag, but also the golfer, either in a seated position on a rider seat or in a standing position on a rider platform.

2 The first two types can be further classified according to whether the unit is fully self-defined, having a full set of ground wheels for carrying the device and its load, or is of an adapter type that cooperates with a wheeled manual-type push or pull cart to add one or more motorized wheels to same.
Examples of these different types of motorized golf bag transport solutions can be found in U.S. Patents 3043389 of Steinberg, 3434558 of Allen, 3561555 of Carmichael, 3941198 of Kappas, 4522281 of Snider, 4573549 of Pankow, 4848504 of Olson, 5375673 of McCall et al., 6276470 of Andrae Jr. et al., and 6659210 of Tyson, and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2007/0131465 of Garceau Applicant has developed a new and unique motorized golf cart adapter for converting a manual golf bag cart into a motorized ride-on golf cart, with advantageous features not disclosed or suggested by the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a motorized golf cart adapter for converting a manual golf bag cart into a motorized ride-on golf cart, the motorized golf cart comprising:
a frame having a front end and a back end spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the frame;
an attachment member carried on the frame adjacent the front end thereof for releasable coupling to the manual golf bag cart at a location disposed intermediately between planes of two non-motorized wheels thereof;

3 a motorized drive wheel coupled to the frame adjacent the rear end thereof and supported for driven rotation about a drive axis extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame;
a pair of outboard wheels coupled to the frame and support for rotation about respective wheel axes parallel to the drive axis at positions located outboard of the drive wheel on opposite sides thereof; and a rider support arrangement carried on the frame between the front and rear ends thereof.
Preferably the motorized drive wheel comprises a wheel hub Motor.
Preferably the motorized drive wheel is rotatably supported on a drive wheel sub-frame that is detachably connected to the frame adjacent the rear end thereof.
Preferably the drive wheel sub-frame comprises a wheel fork having a pair of fork blades between which the drive wheel is rotatably carried, a crown connecting the forks together in front of the wheel, and a connection tube extending forwardly from the crown for mating engagement with a mounting tube of the frame.
Preferably each outboard wheel is detachably coupled to the frame by a quick release mechanism.
Preferably the rider support arrangement comprises a foot platform carried on the frame in a generally horizontal plane to accommodate a rider's feet.
Preferably the rider support arrangement comprises seat support disposed in an upright position upstanding from the frame and a rider seat disposed atop the seat support.

4 Preferably the upright support is releasably locked in the upright position, and selectively unlockable for movement from the upright position into a collapsed storage position overlying the frame.
Preferably the rider seat is detachable from the seat support.
Preferably there is provided a seat tube depending downward from the rider seat for mating telescopically with a corresponding tube of the upright support, and an adjustment mechanism for locking and unlocking the tubes together for height-adjustment of the rider seat on the seat support.
Preferably there are provided one or more foot operated controls mounted on the frame and operable to control the driven rotation of the motorized drive wheel.
Preferably the one or more foot operated controls comprise an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a motorized golf cart adapter apparatus for converting a manual golf bag cart into a motorized ride-on golf cart, the apparatus comprising:
a frame having a front end an a back end spaced apart long a longitudinal axis of the frame;
a frame-mounted attachment member carried on the frame adjacent the front end thereof for releasable coupling to the manual golf bag cart at a location disposed intermediately between planes of two non-motorized wheels thereof;

a motorized drive wheel arranged for coupling to the frame adjacent the rear end thereof in an installed position supported for driven rotation about a drive axis extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame;
a pair of outboard wheels arranged for coupling to the frame and at

5 positions located outboard of the installed position of the drive wheel on opposite sides thereof for rotation about respective wheel axes parallel to the drive axis; and a rider support arrangement carried on the frame between the front and rear ends thereof.
Preferably there is provided a second attachment member separate from the frame and selectively matable with the frame-mounted attachment member, the second attachment member being configured for mounting on the manual golf bag cart at a location disposed intermediately between planes of two non-motorized wheels thereof and for releasable engagement with the frame-mounted attachment member to couple the frame and the manual golf bag cart together.
Preferably one of the attachment members comprises a swivel joint having an upright swivel axis about which the frame and the manual golf bag cart can swivel relative to one another when coupled together to enable steering of the frame via the non-driven wheels of the manual golf bag cart.
BREF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention:

6 Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a motorized golf cart adapter of the present invention in a fully assembled state, coupled to a manual cart, and ready for use.
Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the motorized golf cart adapter and manual cart of Figure 1 in a partially disassembled state with a base frame in a compact collapsed condition for space efficient transport or storage.
Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the motorized golf cart adapter of Figure 2 showing a closeup of a locking mechanism of a foldable seat support of the adapter, the locking mechanism being shown in a released state with the seat support folded down into a storage position.
Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the motorized golf cart adapter of Figure 1 showing a closeup of the locking mechanism in a locked position securing the seat support in an upright position deployed for use.
Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of a motorized golf car adapter like.
that of Figure 2, but with the base frame in a prepared condition ready for coupling to other components of the adapter.
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the motorized golf cart adapter of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the base frame of the motorized golf cart adapter of Figure 2.
Figure 8A is an exploded perspective view illustrating installation of a battery box of the motorized golf cart adapter on a mounting plate carried at an underside of the base frame.

7 Figure 8B is a perspective view of the battery box installed on the mounting plate.
Figure 8C is a perspective view of the battery box and mounting plate of Figure 8B from an opposing side thereof, showing a key-operated locking device of the battery box.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Figure 1 shows a motorized golf cart adapter 10 of the present invention in use= with a known type of wheeled golf cart 100 that is typically manouvred around a golf course by hand with a bag of golf clubs seated on, and strapped to, whereby the cart is wheeled around the golf course to avoid the burden of directly carrying the golf bag over, for example using a shoulder strap.
The present invention converts such a conventional golf cart into a motorized unit that carries not only the golf bag (and golf clubs, balls, tees and any other accessories therein), but also the golfer. The illustrated embodiment thereby provides a full motorized-mobility solution while being collapsible into a sufficient compact form to allow easy transport of the adapter and cart to and from the golf course by an individual owner, thereby allowing cost savings over time by avoiding the need for costly rental of a ride-on cart from the golf course being played.
The manual cart 100 shown in the Figures is a schematic representation of a commercially available cart marketed as the "Riksha", which features two wheels 102 rotatably disposed at opposite ends of a cross-member tube 104 of a frame 106 of the cart for rotation in parallel vertical planes about a common horizontal axis a short height above ground. A pair of parallel upright frame

8 tubes 108 are joined to the cross member tube 104 near the opposite ends thereof.
A pair of parallel handle support tubes 110 jut obliquely from the top ends of the upright frame tubes 108, and are joined together by a handle tube 112 that lies parallel to the cross-member tube 104 to form a handle bar or grip bar of the resulting handle structure. At the bottom ends of the upright frame tubes 108 below the cross-member tube 104, a support platform 114 projects in a generally perpendicular direction from the plane of the upright frame tubes 108 to a side thereof opposite that to which the handle support tubes 110 are angled. The bottom end of a bag of golf clubs (not shown), is seated upon the support platform 114, and the bag is strapped to the frame tubes 108 to hold the bag snugly against a brace 116 that spans between the upright frame tubes 108 at a height above the cross-member tube 104. Normally, such a cart is used by manually pushing the cart around the golf course from the handle-side thereof with the top of the upright frame tilted slightly back to the handle-side thereof to elevate the platform 116, and thus the golf bag thereon, slightly up off the ground.
Attention is now turned to the adapter 10 of the present invention which provides a motorized solution for conveying the cart, the golf bag carried thereon, and an individual golfer, which Will typically, but not necessarily, be the golfer whose clubs are being carried on the cart 10.
In general, the adapter 10 is made up primarily of a base frame 12, a = pair of outboard wheels 14 disposed in respective vertical planes on opposite sides of the base frame 12, a center drive wheel 16 disposed behind the frame 12 in a vertical plane disposed centrally between those of the outboard wheels 14, an

9 upright seat-support frame 17 standing upward from the base frame 12, and a rider seat 18 disposed atop the seat-support frame 16. A front end of the base frame is coupled to the cart 100 at the cross-member tube 104 thereof at a central location between the vertical planes of the two cart wheels 102.
The base frame 12 features a longitudinal center member 20 defining a central longitudinal axis X1 of the adapter 10. A rear cross-member 22 lies perpendicular to the center member 20 at the rear end thereof. A pair of side rail members 24 run forwardly from opposite ends of the rear cross-member 22, first in a direction parallel to the longitudinal center member 20, before angling obliquely inward to join up to the center member 20 at the front end thereof to form an apex at the front end of the resulting base frame 12. A planar sheet of decking material 26 substantially occupies the open space bound by the central member 20, side member 24 and rear cross-member 22 on each side of the central = member 20 to form a foot rest platform on which the rider's feet can rest while driving or otherwise sitting on the rider seat 18.
With continued reference to Figure 1, the seat-support frame 17 stands in a vertical plane perpendicular to the horizontal frame of the base frame 12 when in a deployed position suitable for use, and has a general form similar to that of the base frame 12 in the illustrated embodiment. A central member 28 of the seat-support frame 17 stands vertically upward in a same vertical plane of the central member 20 of the base frame 12, a cross-member 30 lies perpendicular to the central member in a position over and parallel to the base frame cross-member 22 at a lower end of the seat-support central member 28, and a pair of side members of the seat-support frame extend from the seat-support cross-member toward the opposing end of the central member 28, starting in a direction parallel to the central member 28 before angling inward for connection thereto near the distal end thereof.
Disposed atop the deployed seat support 17, the rider seat 18 features a horizontal 5 seating portion 18a and a generally vertical seatback 18b standing upward from a rear end thereof, both of which may be padded for optimum rider comfort.
Figure 2 shows an exploded view in which user-removable parts of the adapter have been separated from one another to substantially uninstall the adapter from the cart 100 and break down the adapter into smaller individual components

10 that can be easily transported in the trunk or cargo area of an average automobile.
The seat support frame 17 is pivotally mounted on the frame for movement between the deployed condition of Figure 1, carrying the seat 18 at a height above the base frame 12, and a folded condition shown in Figure 2, where the seat-support frame 17 lies horizontally over the base frame 12 in a collapsed position parallel thereto.
With continued reference to Figure 2, a seat post 34 depends perpendicularly downward form the seating portion 18b of the rider seat 18. To install the seat into its useful position when the seat support frame is installed, the seat post 34 is slid into a hollow interior of the tubular center member 28 of the seat-support frame 17 at the open upper end the center member 28 distal to the cross-member 30. The seat may be height adjustable through use of a locking mechanism 36 (Fig. 1) that allows the seat post 34 and corresponding post-receiving center tube 28 of the seat support frame 17 to be selectively locked together at any of a number

11 of different positions shifted relative to one another along their coincident axes when telescopically mated. The mechanism may be in the form of a quick-release cam-lever seat clamp conventionally employed for adjustable-height bicycle seats.
Still referring to Figure 2, the drive wheel 16 is carried by a fork-style subframe 38 that is arranged for detachable connection to the base frame 12.
This fork 38 features a pair of fork blades 40 that lie on respective sides of the drive wheel 16 to carry the axle of the drive wheel 16 at free ends of the fork blades 40 that lie opposite the connection of the two fork blades together at a crown 42 of the fork 38. A hollow connection tube 44 projects from the crown to the side thereof opposite the fork blades 40 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis X1 of the adapter 10. A fin-shaped guide plate 46 depends downward in a vertical plane from the connection tube 44 at or near the end thereof opposite the crown 42 of the fork 38.
At the center of the rear cross-member 22 of the main frame 12 a hollow mounting tube 48 is fixed atop the cross-member to lie in a common vertical plane with the center member 20 of the main frame so that a central longitudinal axis of the mounting tube's cylindrical shape is parallel to the longitudinal axis X1 of the main frame 12. The mounting tube 48 projects rearwardly from the rear cross-member 22, and the outer diameter of the mounting tube is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the connection tube 44 of the drive wheel fork 38, whereby the connection tube 44 can be slid telescopically over the free end of the mounting tube 48 disposed behind the rear cross-member 22. A pair of parallel lug plates 50 project rearwardly from the rear cross-member 22 of the base frame 12 on opposite

12 sides of the longitudinal axis X1 thereof just beneath the mounting tube 48.
Orienting the drive wheel. fork 38 such that the guide plate 46 fits between the two lug plates 50 when telescopically mating the connection tube and mounting tube together thus ensures placement of the drive wheel 16 in a vertical plane perpendicular to the horizontal base frame 12.
The outboard wheels 14 are releasably attached to the sides of the base frame 12 at the opposite ends of the rear cross-member 22 for rotation about coincident horizontal axes X2 that lie parallel to the rotational axis X3 of the drive wheel 16 between the fork blades 40 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X1 of the base frame. The drive wheel 16 lies entirely rearward of the frame and provides the sole powered source of drive for the overall assembly of the adapter 10 and the cart 100. Located laterally outward from the drive wheel 16 on opposite sides of the = frame, the outboard wheels 14 provide lateral additional lateral stability over and above that provided by the cart wheels 102 in= order to provide improved roll-resistance to the overall resulting vehicle. The outboard wheels may use known quick-release mechanisms for easy attachment and detachment for use and storage/transport of the adapter, for example employing commercially available push-button quick-release axles.
The outboard wheels 14 lie a short distance ahead of the of the drive wheel 16 so as to place the rotational axes X2 of the outboard wheels in the same vertical plane of the deployed seat-support frame 17. Accordingly, the position of the wheels 14 along the longitudinal axis X1 of the apparatus matches the position of the rider's weight therealong in order to provide the roll-prevention stability where

13 it is needed most. Due to the placement of the drive wheel 16 at the lateral center of the apparatus, the rider has the ability to increase the traction of the drive wheel on the ground by leaning against the seatback 18b in order to shift the rider's weight rearward and force the drive wheel down into increased frictional contact with the ground, thereby increasing traction.
The drive wheel 16 of the illustrated embodiment uses an electric hub motor 52 at the center of the wheel to drive the rotation thereof relative to the fork 38. As shown in Figure 2, a battery box 54 is provided for enclosed storage of a battery-type power supply for the nub motor 52. In Figure 1, the battery box 54 is substantially obscured, having been mounted to the base frame at an underside of the foot rest decking 26 on a respective side of the central member 20 of the base frame 12.
An attachment unit 56 is attached to the cross-member tube 104 of the cart 100, and may left permanently thereon without detriment to optional use of the cart 100 without the motorized adapter 10. The attachment unit 56 features a swivel joint 58 having an upright swivel axis X4 about which upper and lower portions of the join can pivot or rotate relative to one another. The upper portion of the joint is attached to the cross-member tube 104 of the joint, and the lower portion of the joint carries a coupler tube 56a that projects radially from the swivel axis X4 for telescopic receipt of a corresponding coupler tube that juts horizontally forward from the front end of the base frame 12. The illustrated attachment unit 56 is in the form a bicycle headset, in which the stem 56b is clamped to the cross-member tube 104 and clamped to the top end of a steering tube 56c that is journaled in a head tube 56d

14 from which the coupler tube 56a radially extends. Rotation of the steering tube 56c in the head tube 56d defines the swivel axis X4. When the two coupler tubes 56a, 59 are telescopically Mated together and subsequently locked together, for example using the same type of locking mechanism 36' as used for the seat post 34, the cart 100 and the base frame 12 of the adapter 10 are thus secured together, and can swivel relative to one another about the upright swivel axis X4. Accordingly, the cart 100 rides at the front end of the base frame 12 of the adapter 10, where these combined units are thus driven over ground by motorized operation of the drive wheel 16. The rider on the seat 18 manually grips the handle grip 112 of the cart, and can thus swivel the cart relative to the base frame in order to use the two wheels of the cart 102 to steer the overall vehicle formed by this assembly of the cart and adapter.
An accelerator pedal 60 and brake pedal 62 are mounted on the base frame over the foot platform or decking on the right side of the central member 20 of the base frame 12 to control acceleration and braking of the drive wheel. It will be appreciated that manual controls may alternatively be mounted somewhere on the base frame or seat support frame for rider control over the acceleration and braking of the drive wheel 16.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrated a locking mechanism 63 used at each end of the rear cross-member 22 of the base frame 12 to secure the seat-support frame 17 in the deployed position of Figures 1 and 4, and release it from same to allow it to be folded down into the storage position of Figures 2 and 3. An inner shell piece 64 is fixed to the rear cross-member 22 of the base frame 12, for example being bolted thereto through a bottom wall of this inner shell 64 as shown at 66 of Figure 3 from a generally rectangular hollow interior of the shell 64. An outer shell 68 has a slightly larger generally rectangular interior space in order to accommodate the inner shell 64 therein. A pivot pin 70 passes through the two shells in a direction parallel to the 5 rear cross-member 22 adjacent a forward end of the shells, thereby pivotally connecting the two shell pieces for pivoting about a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base frame 12. A respective side member 32 of the seat-support frame 17 has its end fixed to a central wall 68a of the outer shell 68 to project upward therefrom when the outer shell is closed over the inner shell.
A slot 10 72 cuts into the central wall of the outer shell 68 at the free end thereof opposite the pivotally pinned end of the outer shell.
At the distal end of the inner shell 64 opposite the pinned connection thereof to the outer shell 68, another slot 74 cuts into the inner shell between a pair of cylindrical lugs 64a, and a shaft 76 projects axially through these lugs 64a on an

15 axis parallel to that of the rear cross-member 22. A cam lever mechanism 78 features a rod 80 projecting diametrically through the shaft 76 and a cam lever 82 operable to control displacement of the rod through the shaft. Mechanisms of this type are well known, for example in the aforementioned quick release bicycle seat clamp, and thus are not explained herein in greater detail Figure 3 shows the locking mechanism in an opened or unlocked state (i.e. with the outer shell pivoted upward from over the inner shell) in order to lay the seat support frame 17 flat atop the base frame 12. To deploy the seat-support frame, the cam lever mechanism is pivoted about the axis of shaft 66 (as shown at

16 arrow Al) so that the rod 80 points rearwardly out from between the lugs 64a, whereby the outer shell 68 can be pivoted about the axis of pivot pin 72 into a closed position over the inner shell 64 (as shown at arrow A2). The closed position of the outer shell 68 is shown in Figure 4, after which the cam lever mechanism can be pivoted back upwardly and forwardly so that its rod 80 once again projects vertically upward, whereby it now passes upward through the aligned slots 72, 74 of the two shells 64, 68. At this time, the cam lever 82 is manually actuated in a tightening direction, in order to clamp down on outer shell 64, thereby securing it in place over the inner shell 64, and thus locking the seat-support frame 17 in the deployed position.
As shown, the shaft 66 of the locking mechanism may project outward form the inner shell on one side thereof and present a reduced diameter portion 66a thereoutside. A slot 84 in a respective side wall 68b of the outer shell has a rectangular portion 84a jutting into the side wall 68b from the edge thereof that faces downward when the outer shell is closed, and then a circular inner end portion 84b having a diameter that exceeds the width of the rectangular portion 84a. The rectangular portion 84a of the slot 84 accommodates passage of the reduced diameter portion of the shaft 66 through it and into the larger circular portion of the slot during closing of the outer shell, but with some degree of resistance, thus providing a snap-like engagement of the outer shell 68 into the closed position over the inner shell 64, whereby this snap-type engagement and the cam lock mechanism provide a double action locking effect to reduce risk of the seat-support frame inadvertently falling from the deployed position during use.

17 Figures 2 and 7 show the base frame 12 in a fully collapsed condition, where not only is the seat support 17 folded down over the footrest plafform 26, but the coupler tube 59 of the base frame 12 is folded back under the footrest platform.
In the illustrated embodiment, this pivoting of the coupler tube 59 between this stowed position under the base frame 12 and the useful position projecting forwardly therefrom for coupling with the attachment unit 56 is achieved by way of a fold-and-lock mechanism 63' of the same type used on the seat support 17. The inner shell piece 64' is fixed to the coupler tube 59 and the outer shell piece 68' is fixed to the forward end of the central frame member 20, whereby closing of the shell pieces together and locking of the cam lever 82' secures the coupler tube 59 and the central frame member 20 together in coaxial alignment, and release of the cam lever and opening of the shell pieces allows pivoting of the inner shell piece into an open position projecting downward from the base frame to carry the coupler tube 59 in a storage position projecting rearwardly back under the base frame 12 in a direction parallel to the plane of the base frame 12, as best shown in Figure 7.
It will be appreciated that other known locking and pivoting mechanisms for selective storage and deployment of the seat support and coupling tube and connection and disconnection of the coupling tubes may be used, for example using insertable and removable locking pins engagable through holes that align among these components when mated together in the appropriate positions for locking/fastening to one another.
Figure 8 illustrates the battery box 54 in greater detail. A mounting plate 86 is fastened to the underside of the base frame or footrest plafform, and the

18 battery box 54 has channels 88 for sliding engagement over reduced-thickness edges 86a of the mounting plate. A key operated locking pin 90 is operable for movement between a locking position projecting upward from the battery box near an end thereof and a release position withdrawn into the battery box. With the pin 90 withdrawn from the locking position, the battery box 54 is slid along the mounting plate in the direction sliding the battery box further under the base frame 12 from the rear end thereof, until the pin 90 reaches a corresponding hole 92 in the mounting plate 86, at which point a key 94 is used to move the pin 90 upward into the hole 82 in order to lock the battery box to the mounting plate by blocking relative sliding between the two. This locking action by the key also acts to close a switch in a circuit that connects the battery to both the hub motor 52 and a throttle control unit 96. The throttle control unit 96 is mounted to the underside of the base frame and is wired to the accelerator pedal 60. Plug-in cords (not shown) are used for releasable electrical connection of the battery box to both the motor and throttle control.
The illustrated embodiment employs a caliper brake 98 on the drive wheel, which is connected to the foot operated brake pedal 62 by a Bowden cable (not shown) for operation of the caliper brake 98 in a known manner. The cable length provides sufficient slack for disconnection of the drive wheel fork from the frame without need for disconnecting the Bowden cable.
It will be appreciated that although the adapter 10 is shown in use with a push-style Riksha type cart 100, the adapter may similarly be used with other styles of manual carts, including more conventional pull-style carts, such as those

19 shown used with the aforementioned prior art motorization units of U.S.
Patents 6276470, 6659210. For example, different models of the adapter may employ different variations of the attachment unit 56 that are respectively configured for use with different cart types in order to allow mounting of the attachment unit at a suitable location on the cart to enable coupler of the adapter to the cart at the center longitudinal axis of the cart between the planes of the wheels thereof.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS:

1. A motorized golf cart adapter for converting a manual golf bag cart into a motorized ride-on golf cart, the motorized golf cart adapter comprising:
a frame having a front end and a back end spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the frame;
an attachment member carried on the frame adjacent the front end thereof for releasable coupling to the manual golf bag cart at a location disposed intermediately between planes of two non-motorized wheels thereof;
a motorized drive wheel coupled to the frame adjacent the rear end thereof and supported for driven rotation about a drive axis extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame;
a pair of outboard wheels coupled to the frame and support for rotation about respective wheel axes parallel to the drive axis at positions located outboard of the drive wheel on opposite sides thereof; and . a rider support arrangement carried on the frame between the front and rear ends thereof.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motorized drive wheel comprises a wheel hub motor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein the motorized drive wheel is rotatably Supported on a drive wheel sub-frame that is detachably connected to the frame adjacent the rear end thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the drive wheel sub-frame comprises a wheel fork having a pair of fork blades between which the drive wheel is rotatably carried, a crown connecting the forks together in front of the wheel, and a connection tube extending forwardly from the crown for mating engagement with a mounting tube of the frame.

5. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each outboard wheel is detachably coupled to the frame by a quick release mechanism.

6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the rider support arrangement comprises a foot platform carried on the frame in a generally horizontal plane to accommodate a rider's feet.

7. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the rider support arrangement comprises seat support disposed in an upright position upstanding from the frame and a rider seat disposed atop the seat support.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the upright support is releasably locked in the upright position, and selectively unlockable for movement from the upright position into a collapsed storage position overlying the frame.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 or 8 wherein the rider seat is detachable from the seat support.

10. The apparatus of any one of claims 7 to 9 comprising a seat tube depending downward from the rider seat for mating telescopically with a corresponding tube of the upright support, and an adjustment mechanism for locking and unlocking the tubes together for height-adjustment of the rider seat on the seat support.

11. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 10 comprising one or more foot operated controls mounted on the frame and operable to control the driven rotation of the motorized drive wheel.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the one or more foot operated controls comprise an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal.

13. A motorized golf cart adapter apparatus for converting a manual golf bag cart into a motorized ride-on golf cart, the apparatus comprising:
a frame having a front end and a back end spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the frame;
a frame-mounted attachment member carried on the frame adjacent the front end thereof for releasable coupling to the manual golf bag cart at a location disposed intermediately between planes of two non-motorized wheels thereof;
a motorized drive wheel arranged for coupling to the frame adjacent the rear end thereof in an installed position supported for driven rotation about a drive axis extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame;
a pair of outboard wheels arranged for coupling to the frame and at positions located outboard of the installed position of the drive wheel on opposite sides thereof for rotation about respective wheel axes parallel to the drive axis; and a rider support arrangement carried on the frame between the front and rear ends thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 comprising a second attachment member separate from the frame and selectively matable with the frame-mounted attachment member, the second attachment member being configured for mounting on the manual golf bag cart at a location disposed intermediately between planes of two non-motorized wheels thereof and for releasable engagement with the frame-mounted attachment member to couple the frame and the manual golf bag cart together.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein one of the attachment members comprises a swivel joint having an upright swivel axis about which the frame and the manual golf bag cart can swivel relative to one another when coupled together to enable steering of the frame via the non-driven wheels of the manual golf bag cart.