GB2215291A

GB2215291A - Golf trolley

Info

Publication number: GB2215291A
Application number: GB8804020A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jocelyn David Catford
Original assignee: Powakaddy International Ltd
Current assignee: Powakaddy International Ltd
Priority date: 1988-02-22
Filing date: 1988-02-22
Publication date: 1989-09-20
Also published as: GB8804020D0

Abstract

A power-assisted golf trolley comes in kit form and comprises a plurality of lightweight, easy-to-assemble components. In use, the golf trolley is pulled by a user grasping the handle (15). When uphill or uneven ground is encountered, the motor (5) can be switched on to give an additional drive to the axle (3) thereby assisting the user. The trolley has the advantages of light weight, portability and ease of dismantling/assembly. It can be assembled in under half a minute and without the need for special tools. <IMAGE>

Description

GOLF TROLLEY This invention relates to a golf trolley and provides a golf trolley comprising a set of wheels mounted on common axle means, which axle means is mounted for rotation relative to a first member, the first member having a first support region for supporting a motor for driving the axle means and a second support region for supporting a power supply for the motor, and being attached or attachable to a second, elongate, member one end region of which may be provided with a handle, the second, elongate, member being provided with gc lf equipment supporting devices and the relative orientation of the second member to the axle being such that the trolley is adapted to be pulled behind a user grasping the handle, assisted by the motor drive to the axle means when desired.

The invention also provides such a golf trolley in combination with a motor secured to the first support region. In one form the first member comprises an elongate hollow section housing an axle ! which extends coaxially therethrough, and an upright extending substantially perpendicularly to the axle, the upright being attached or attachable to the second member. The latter may take the form of an elongate extruded aluminium hollow bar of square cross-section, in which case the golf trolley can be manufactured to a very low weight. A preferred embodiment, including the motor, weighs less than 12 kg.

According to a preferred embodiment, the golf trolley is constructed so that it can be dismantled in a simple manner into several light and easy to transport components which can be carried in a conventional hold all or carrier. These components include: a pair of wheels; a wheel axle mounted for rotation within an elongate hollow coaxial casing section and having end regions protruding therefrom onto which the wheels can be mounted, the casing section carrying an upright extending substantially perpendicularly to the axle; a connector piece having a first portion for attachment to the upright and a second portion mounted to the first portion and angled thereto; an upper member having one end region arranged to be attached to one end region of the second portion of the connector piece, the other end region of the upper member terminating in a handle; and a lower member having one end region arranged to be attached to the other end region of the second portion of the connector piece.

The upper and lower members are preferably provided with respective golf equipment supporting devices for supporting and locating a golf bag containing golf clubs and/or other golf equipment.

When the components are assembled, the connector piece, upper member and lower member form the second member while the casing section and upright constitute the first member of the golf trolley according to the invention.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a golf trolley; Figure 2 is a plan view of the trolley; and Figure 3 is a view of the trolley dismantled, showing its components.

Referring to the Figures, the golf trolley comprises two wheels 1, 2 mounted on a common axle 3 (Figure 2). The wheels are easily removable by a spring loaded mechanism (not shown). Each wheel includes a wrapped spring clutch bearing manufactured by SKF to reduce drag. These bearings are unidirectional and provide the trolley with a freewheeling action. The axle is mounted for rotation in a casing section 4 (Figure 3, which forms part of a first member and comprises ar; elongate hollow section 4a surrounding the axle. The first member includes, welded to the hollow section 4a, an upright 4b. The upright 4b has a hollow portion 42 of square cross-section.

The hollow section 4a of the casing 4 carries a motor 5 and has a power supply support 6 for carrying a power supply 7 in the form of a battery. In use, the power supply 7 is secured to its support 6 by a strap 9.

The motor 5 is coupled to drive the axle 3 by a gear arrangement housed in a gear hub 8. The gear arrangement is a conventional helical gear reduction drive, and will not be described in detail herein.

The hollow portion 42 of the upright 4b receives a connector piece 19. The connector piece 19 has an elongate square cross-section bar 10 received by the upright 4b and secured thereto by a screw 11. The connector piece 19 also has a crosspiece 12 of smaller cross-section than the bar 10 and secured at an angle OC = 1280 thereto. The crosspiece 12 is formed of extruded aluminium of hollow square cross-section. An upper member 13, similarly comprising an extruded aluminium ba of hollow square cross-section, fits into one end of the crosspiece 12 and a similarly constructed lower member 14 fits into the other end. The upper member 13 terminates in a handle 15. The lower member 14 terminates in a rest 16 (Figure 1) by means of which the golf trolley is supported when assembled but stationary.Each of the upper and lower members 13, 14 carries a supporting device or holding element 17, 18. Each holding element 17, 18 is secured to its respective member 13, 14. Each holding element 17, 18 comprises a plastic injection moulded part providing an arm 19 and a curved portion 20 for receiving a golf bag in a known manner. The holding element 17 on the upper member is adjustable in a known manner to receive golf bags of different sizes.

The motor is connected by a cable 21 extending within the upper member 13 to a speed controllable switch housed in a protrusion 22 of the handle 15. The speed of the motor can be adjusted via a finger controlled knob 23 located in the handle and coupled to the switch.

In use, the golf trolley is pulled by a user grasping the handle 15. When uphill or uneven ground is encountered, the motor can be switched on to give an additional rotation drive to the axle thereby assisting the user. If the trolley is pushed, the gear arrangement acts as a form of brake which is useful if a steep incline is to be negotiated.

A power-assisted pull golf trolley has hitherto not been available. The above described embodiment has the advantages of light weight, portability and ease of dismantling/assembly. It can be assembled in under half a minute and without the need for tools.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A golf trolley comprising a set of wheels including a driven wheel, axle means mounted for rotation relative to a first member to drive the driven wheel, the first member having a first support region for supporting a motor for driving the axle means and a second support region for supporting a power supply for the motor, and being attached or attachable to a second, elongate, member one end region of which may be provided with a handle, the second, elongate, member being provided with golf equipment supporting devices and the relative orientation of the second member to the axle means being such that the trolley is adapted to be pulled behind a user grasping the handle, assisted by the motor drive to the axle means when desired.

2. A golf trolley as claimed in Claim 1, in which the first member comprises an elongate hollow section through which the axle means extends, and an upright extending substantially perpendicularly to the axle means, the upright being attached or attachable to the second member.

3. A golf trolley as claimed in claim 2, wherein the set of wheels comprises two driven wheels connected to respective end regions of the axle means.

4. A golf trolley as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, in which the second member comprises a hollow aluminium bar.

5. A golf trolley as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a motor secured to the first support region.

6. A kit of parts for assembling a golf trolley, comprising: a pair of wheels; a wheel axle mounted for rotation within an elongate hollow coaxial casing section and having end regions protruding therefrom onto which the wheels can be mounted, the casing section carrying an upright extending substantially perpendicularly to the axle; a connector piece having a first portion for attachment to the upright and a second portion mounted to the first portion and angled thereto; a first member having one end region arranged to be attached to one end region of the second portion of the connector piece, the other end region of the first member terminating in a handle; and a second member having one end region arranged to be attached to the other end region of the second portion of the connector piece.

7. A golf trolley substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, or as shown in, the accompanying drawings.