US20140333049A1

US20140333049A1 - Foldable golf cart

Info

Publication number: US20140333049A1
Application number: US13/891,333
Authority: US
Inventors: Meng-Jung Wu
Original assignee: Yuann Tay Enterprise Co Ltd
Current assignee: Yuann Tay Enterprise Co Ltd
Priority date: 2013-05-10
Filing date: 2013-05-10
Publication date: 2014-11-13

Abstract

A foldable golf cart includes a top part pivotably connected to a bottom part. A handle is pivotably connected to the top portion of the top part and has a movable member which is located corresponding to the locking portion on the top of the top part. When the handle is pivoted upward, the movable member is connected to the locking portion. The top part has a slide to which two rear wheels are connected by two links. The links are connected to the top part by two connection rods. The bottom part has a support member which is connected to the handle. A connection tube is connected between the slide and the bottom part. Two front wheels are connected to the front end of the bottom part. The golf cart can be folded by two hands, and the folded golf cart stands upright.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf cart, and more particularly, to a foldable golf cart which is folded by two hands and the folded golf cart stands upright.
2. Description of Related Art
One of the best things and a great beneficial by-product of playing the game of golf is the exercise that you will receive. Walking a golf course from hole to hole, and tee to green is approximately 4 to 6 miles. Not only are you walking but you are also swinging the golf club and carrying the golf bag. There are basically two types of overall exercise categories. Those categories are moderate and vigorous. Golf can be considered as a moderate type of workout activity. Most of the golf courts have beautiful scenes and playing golf is known as one of the best stress-relief exercises. The players carry multiple golf clubs which are put in the golf bag which is carried by the player. The conventional way for playing golf is not convenient for some players so that golf carts are developed which carry golf bag and cab be moved easily with the players.
Taiwan Patent Publish No. M425693 discloses a golf cart comprising a main body which is composed of a top part and a bottom part. A main shaft is located between the top and bottom parts. The top part has a switch for locking and releasing the main shaft. The main shaft has a slide, and a link mechanism is connected between the slide and the top part. Two wheel frames are connected to two sides of the slide so as to be connected with two rear wheels. A front part is connected to the bottom connection member on the bottom part and has a bending mechanism at the connection portion. A link is connected between the slide and the front part which has two front wheels connected thereto. A handle is connected to the top connection member of the main body and cooperated with a bending mechanism which allows the handle to be folded.
However, when folding the golf cart, the play has to use both his/her hand and foot, and improvements are expected to have a more convenient foldable golf cart.
The present invention intends to provide a golf cart which improves the shortcomings mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a foldable golf cart and comprises a top part pivotably connected to a bottom part. A handle is pivotably connected to the top portion of the top part. A locking portion is located on the top of the top part and the handle has a movable member which is located corresponding to the locking portion. When the handle is pivoted upward, the movable member is connected to the locking portion. The top part has a slide movably mounted thereto. Two rear wheels are connected to the slide by two links. The links are connected to the top part by two connection rods. The bottom part has a support member on the rear end thereof and the support member is connected to the handle. A connection tube is connected between the slide and the bottom part. Two front wheels are connected to the front end of the bottom part.
Preferably, the movable member of the handle is connected with a resilient member which maintains position of the movable member.
Preferably, an engaging portion is connected to the front end of the bottom part. A front-wheel frame is connected to the engaging portion and a front wheel is connected to the front-wheel frame.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a foldable golf cart wherein the bottom part is connected to the handle on the top part by the support tube, and the bottom part is connected to the slide of the top part by the connection tube. The foldable golf cart can be folded by using two hands, and the folded golf cart stands upright by the handle and the top of the bottom part.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the foldable golf cart of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view to show the foldable golf cart of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view to show the handle of the foldable golf cart of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the handle of the foldable golf cart of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view to show the front-wheel frame of the foldable golf cart of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows the steps of folding the handle of the foldable golf cart of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows the steps of folding of the foldable golf cart of the present invention, and

FIG. 8 shows the folded golf cart of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, the foldable golf cart of the present invention comprises a top part 1 and a bottom part 2.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the top part 1 is pivotably connected to the bottom part 2 at its bottom and a handle 11 is pivotably connected to the top portion of the top part 1. A locking portion 12 is located on the top of the top part 1 and the handle 11 has a movable member 111 which is located corresponding to the locking portion 12. The movable member 111 of the handle 11 is connected with a resilient member 112 which maintains position of the movable member 111. When the handle 11 is pivoted upward, the movable member 111 is connected to the locking portion 12. The top part 1 has a slide 13 movably mounted thereto and two rear wheels 15 are connected to the slide 13 by two links 14. The links 14 are connected to the top part 1 by two connection rods 141.
The bottom part 2 has a support member 21 on the rear end thereof and the support member 21 is connected to the handle 11. A connection tube 22 is connected between the slide 13 and the bottom part 2. Two front wheels 242 is connected to a front end of the bottom part 2. An engaging portion 23 is connected to the front end of the bottom part 2. A front-wheel frame 24 is connected to the engaging portion 23. The front-wheel frame 24 has a positioning portion 241 which is connected to or separated from the engaging portion 23 as shown in FIG. 5. A front wheel 242 is connected to the front-wheel frame 24 and pivotable 360 degrees.
When expanding the golf cart, the handle 11 on the top part 1 is pivoted upward to connect the movable member 111 to the locking portion 12 of the top part 1, the lower end of the support tube 21 pulls the rear end of the bottom part 2 to a horizontal position. The connection tube 22 on the bottom part 2 drives the slide 13 to move to a pre-set position on the top part 1. The links 14 are connected to the top part 1 by the connection rods 141 when the slide 13 moves. The links 14 are driven by the connection rods 141 to expand the rear wheels 15 outward to expand the golf cart.
When folding the golf cart, the user presses the movable member 111 of the handle 11 to separate the movable member 111 from the locking portion 12. The handle 11 is then pivoted downward as shown in FIG. 6, and the support tube 21 that is connected with the handle 11 pushes the rear end of the bottom pat 2 when the handle 11 is pivoted downward as shown in FIG. 7. The user then lifts the front end of the bottom part 2 upward by the other hand to pivot the bottom part 2 about the pivotable portion with the top part 1. The connection tube 22 of the bottom part 2 drives the slide 13 upward along the top part 1. During the movement of the slide 13, the rear end of the slide 13 has the rear wheels 15 connected by the links 14, so that the connection portions of the links 14 and the slide 13 are moved upward. The links 14 are connected to the top part 1 by the connection rods 141, so that the links 14 are pulled by the connection rods 141 and folded inward. When the handle 11 is pivoted downward completely, and the bottom part 2 is located beside the top part 1, and the links 14 are completely folded inward, the whole golf cart is folded which stands on the floor by the top of the bottom part 2 and the handle 11 as shown in FIG. 8. The front-wheel frame 24 can be separated from the engaging portion 23 of the bottom part 2 by the control of the positioning portion 241 to further reduce the space occupied by the folded golf cart. The front-wheel frame 24 and the front wheel 242 are then stored separately.
The golf cart of the present invention provides the support tube 21 on the rear end of the bottom part 2 to be connected to the handle 11 on the top part 1, and the connection tube 22 is connected between the bottom part 2 and the slide 13 of the top part 1, so that the user can easily fold the gold cart by two hands.
The front-wheel frame 24 is connected to the engaging portion 23 on the front end of the bottom part 2, so that the front wheel 242 is freely rotated 360 degrees. The front-wheel frame 24 and the front wheel 242 are able to be separated from the golf cart and stored separately.
The folded golf cart stands on the floor by the top of the bottom part 2 and the handle 11, and this is convenient for the user to store the folded golf cart.
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable golf cart comprising:

a top part pivotably connected to a bottom part, a handle pivotably connected to a top portion of the top part, a locking portion located on a top of the top part and the handle having a movable member which is located corresponding to the locking portion, when the handle is pivoted upward, the movable member is connected to the locking portion, the top part having a slide movably mounted thereto, two rear wheels connected to the slide by two links, the links connected to the top part by two connection rods, and

the bottom part having a support member on a rear end thereof and the support member connected to the handle, a connection tube connected between the slide and the bottom part, two front wheels connected to a front end of the bottom part.

2. The foldable golf cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable member of the handle is connected with a resilient member which maintains position of the movable member.

3. The foldable golf cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein an engaging portion is connected to the front end of the bottom part, a front-wheel frame is connected to the engaging portion and a front wheel is connected to the front-wheel frame.