US3742507A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic golf bag cart
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-09-10
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Granted: 1973-06-26
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Expires: 1990-09-10
Abstract
Abstract A battery-powered golf bag cart responsive to signals from a movable transmitter carried in the pocket of a golfer, the cart and transmitter being preferably electromagnetically coupled to each other, a receiver in the cart for picking up signals from the transmitter, a battery powered motor for moving the vehicle along the ground towards the transmitter, means for steering the vehicle in the direction of the golfer, brake means for sometimes preventing movement of the vehicle, speed control means in the receiver and responsive to signals within a given range of signal strength for actuating the motor to drive the vehicle towards the golfer, steer control means in the receiver for sensing the position of the golfer and for steering the vehicle towards the golfer, and a stop-control circuit in the receiver responsive to signals (or no signal) falling outside of the predetermined range of signal strength for actuating the brakes and for simultaneously preventing actuation of the drive motor.
Inventors
- 👤 J Pirre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:10
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H30/00; A63H30/02; A63H30/04; B; B62; B62B; B62B2202/00; B62B2202/40; B62B2202/404; B62B5/00; B62B5/0026; B62B5/0069; B62B5/0076; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S280/00; Y10S280/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A movable, steerable vehicle adapted to follow the movements of a movable transmitter providing transmitted signals, said vehicle comprising means for receiving said transmitted signals, motive means for propelling said vehicle along the ground, speed control means responsive to a speed voltage signal from said receiving means for energizing said motor means to propel said vehicle along the ground, and stop control means responsive to the speed voltage signals from said receiving means below a predetermined minimum signal strength or above a predetermined maximum signal strength for causing said speed control means to deenergize said motive means such that said motive means is prevented from moving said vehicle along the ground.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A movable, steerable vehicle adapted to follow the movements of a movable transmitter providing transmitted signals, said vehicle comprising means for receiving said transmitted signals, motive means for propelling said vehicle along the ground, speed control means responsive to a speed voltage signal from said receiving means for energizing said motor means to propel said vehicle along the ground, and stop control means responsive to the speed voltage signals from said receiving means below a predetermined minimum signal strength or above a predetermined maximum signal strength for causing said speed control means to deenergize said motive means such that said motive means is prevented from moving said vehicle along the ground.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
104 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said vehicle includes voltage comparison means receiving signals from said receiving means to provide said speed voltage signals to said stop means and said speed control means, said speed voltage signal being diminished as the distance between the transmitter and the vehicle increases, said motive means propelling the vehicle along the ground at a speed inversely related to the strength of said speed voltage signals whereby the vehicle is propelled toward the transmitter unless the strength of said speed voltage signal is larger than said predetermined maximum strength or smaller than said predetermined minimum signal strength.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said voltage comparison means includes means for providing a steering voltage signal and wherein said vehicle includes steering control means responsive to said steering voltage signal for providing signals representative of the relative position of the transmitter relative to the vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said stop control means includes brake means for preventing movement of said vehicle along the ground when said speed voltage signals are below said predetermined minimum or above said predetermined maximum signal strengths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
108 words
A movable transmitter, a movable, steerable vehicle capable of following the movements of said transmitter, said transmitter having means therein for transmitting signals, said vehicle having receiving means therein for receiving said transmitted signals, motive means for moving said vehicle along the ground, a turnable steering wheel assembly associated with said vehicle for steering said vehicle along the ground, steer control means responsive to signals from said receiving means for actuating said steering wheel assembly to direct said vehicle toward said transmitter, said receiving means including directional receiving antenna means operatively connected to said steering wheel assembly for steering rotation therewith relative to the rest of the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
108 words
A movable transmitter, a movable, steerable vehicle capable of following the movements of said transmitter, said transmitter having means therein for transmitting signals, said vehicle having receiving means therein for receiving said transmitted signals, motive means for moving said vehicle along the ground, a turnable steering wheel assembly associated with said vehicle for steering said vehicle along the ground, steer control means responsive to signals from said receiving means for actuating said steering wheel assembly to direct said vehicle toward said transmitter, said receiving means including directional receiving antenna means operatively connected to said steering wheel assembly for steering rotation therewith relative to the rest of the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said directional receiving antenna means is provided with at least one pair of directional receiving antennae each having at least one wound coil with a longitudinal axis lying a substantially horizontal plane, said pair of antennae lying closely approximate each other in substantially perpendicular relation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The structure set forth in claim 6 wherein said pair of antennae are mounted in such a manner that the line of direction of travel of said vehicle will bisect the angle formed between the longitudinal axes of the antennae.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure set forth in claim 7 wherein said transmitter includes a pair of transmitting antennae mutually perpendicular to each other and lying in a substantially horizontal plane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
A movable, steerable vehicle capable of following the movements of a transmitter providing transmitted signals, said vehicle comprising receiving means for receiving said transmitted signals, motive means for moving said vehicle along the ground, control means responsive to signals from said Receiving means for actuating said motive means to drive said vehicle along the ground, means for sensing the speed of said motive means, and dynamic braking means associated with said motive means and enabled by signals from said speed sensing means due to increases in vehicle speed above a predetermined speed and said signals from said receiving means for slowing said motive means to maintain such at a substantially constant speed when the load thereon decreases such as when descending a grade.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
A movable, steerable vehicle capable of following the movements of a transmitter providing transmitted signals, said vehicle comprising receiving means for receiving said transmitted signals, motive means for moving said vehicle along the ground, control means responsive to signals from said Receiving means for actuating said motive means to drive said vehicle along the ground, means for sensing the speed of said motive means, and dynamic braking means associated with said motive means and enabled by signals from said speed sensing means due to increases in vehicle speed above a predetermined speed and said signals from said receiving means for slowing said motive means to maintain such at a substantially constant speed when the load thereon decreases such as when descending a grade.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure set forth in claim 9 wherein said speed sensing means includes tachometer means operatively connected to said motive means to provide an output signal representative of the speed of said vehicle along the ground.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
141 words
A movable, steerable vehicle capable of following the movements of a transmitter providing transmitted signals, said vehicle comprising receiving means for receiving said transmitted signals, motive means for moving said vehicle along the ground, a turnable wheel assembly associated with said vehicle for controlling the direction of vehicle travel, steer control means responsive to processed signals from said receiving means for sensing the position of the transmitter relative to said vehicle and actuating said turnable wheel assembly to direct said vehicle toward the transmitter, and understeer control means associated with said wheel assembly to provide feedback signals to said steer control means representative of the angular position of said turnable wheel assembly with respect to the rest of said vehicle for preventing said wheel assembly from steering to an angular position beyond that necessary to direct the vehicle toward the transmitter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
141 words
A movable, steerable vehicle capable of following the movements of a transmitter providing transmitted signals, said vehicle comprising receiving means for receiving said transmitted signals, motive means for moving said vehicle along the ground, a turnable wheel assembly associated with said vehicle for controlling the direction of vehicle travel, steer control means responsive to processed signals from said receiving means for sensing the position of the transmitter relative to said vehicle and actuating said turnable wheel assembly to direct said vehicle toward the transmitter, and understeer control means associated with said wheel assembly to provide feedback signals to said steer control means representative of the angular position of said turnable wheel assembly with respect to the rest of said vehicle for preventing said wheel assembly from steering to an angular position beyond that necessary to direct the vehicle toward the transmitter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The structure set forth in claim 11 wherein said understeer control means includes electrical circuit means operatively connected to said wheel assembly for steering movement therewith, said circuit means providing understeer signals which are a function of the angular position of the wheel assembly with respect to the vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure set forth in claim 12 wherein said electrical circuit means comprises variable electrical resistance means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |