Golf cart with outboard power unit

Claim 2

A collapsible powered golf cart, comprising, a. a central upright frame, b. a collapsible leg structure pivotally mounted at each side of a midportion of the frame, each carrying a rotatable wheel, c. golf bag support means disposed on the frame, d. a power unit support bracket on one leg structure extending upwardly and outwardly over the adjacent wheel, e. a power unit including a housing supported on said support bracket at a position outside of the wheel associated with said one leg structure, and f. a motor unit in the housing connected to drive the adjacent wheel so that the cart may be propelled by the power unit and collapsed with the power unit in position.

Claim 3

A cart as defined in claim 1 including a disengageable clutch connecting said motor unit and the adjacent wheel so that the cart may free-wheel in event of motor failure.

Claim 4

A cart as defined in claim 1 including a disconnectible coupling connecting the motor unit and the wheel so that the motor unit may be disconnected from the wheel, and means removably mounting the power unit housing on said support bracket.

Claim 5

A cart as defined in claim 1 including means removably mounting the power unit housing on the support bracket.

Claim 6

A collapsible powered golf bag cart, comprising, a. an upright frame, b. a collapsible leg structure pivotally mounted at each side of a midportion of the frame, each carrying a wheel support bracket movable between extended and retracted positions relative to the frame, c. a wheel rotatable on each support bracket, d. golf bag support means disposed on the frame so that the center of gravity of the frame is located forwardly of the axis of the wheels and the lower end of the frame rests on the ground for stability when the cart is unattended, e. a motor unit support bracket on one wheel bracket, f. a motor unit on the support bracket including a housing disposed outside of the adjacent wheel approximately on the axis thereof, g. a battery unit support bracket on the other wheel bracket h. a battery unit on the last mentioned support bracket including a housing disposed outside of the adjacent wheel approximately on the axis thereof, i. a motor in the motor housing connected to drive the adjacent wheel, and j. a battery in the battery unit housing providing power for the motor.

Claim 7

A collapsible powered golf bag cart, comprising, a. an upright frame, b. a collapsible leg structure pivotally mounted at each side of a midportion of the frame, each carrying a wheel support bracket movable between extended and retracted positions relative to the frame, c. a wheel rotatable on each support bracket, d. golf bag support means disposed on the frame so that the center of gravity of the frame is located forwardly of the axis of the wheels and the lower end of the frame rests on the ground for stability when the cart is unattended, e. a motor unit support bracket on one wheel bracket, f. a motor unit on the support bracket including a housing disposed outside of the adjacent wheel approximately on the axis thereof, g. a battery unit support bracket on the other wheel bracket h. a battery unit on the last mentioned support bracket including a housing disposed outside of the adjacent wheel approximately on the axis thereof, i. a motor in the motor housing connected to drive the adjacent wheel, and j. a battery in the battery unit housing providing power for the motor.

Claim 8

A cart as defined in claim 5 including a handle extending from an upper portion of the frame, a motor control on the handle, and means connecting the motor control in circuit with the battery and the motor.

Claim 9

A cart as defined in claim 6 wherein said motor control includes a switch for deenergizing the motor or energizing the motor forwardly or reversely, and means for varying the speed of the motor.

Claim 10

A cart as defined in claim 5 including a disconnectible coupling connecting the motor and the adjacent wheel, means removably mounting the motor unit housing on its support bracket, and means removably mounting the battery unit housing on its support bracket so that the motor unit and battery unit may be removed when the cart is collapsed.

Claim 11

A cart as defined in claim 5 including a disengageable clutch connecting the motor and the adjacent wheel so that the cart may be moved freely in event of motor failure.

Claim 12

A cart as defined in claim 5 wherein the motor support bracket and the battery support bracket each comprises an inverted U-shaped member extending upwardly from the associated wheel bracket, outwardly over the adjacent wheel and downwardly outside the adjacent wheel.

Claim 13

A collapsible two-wheel powered golf bag cart, comprising, a. a central upright frame, b. a collapsible leg structure pivotally mounted at each side of the frame each carrying a support bracket for a wheel and movable between extended and retracted positions, c. a collapsible handle attached to an upper portion of the frame extendable to a position accessible for manipulating the cart, d. means connecting the handle and the leg structures for extending the latter, e. means for locking the handle and leg structures in extended positions, f. golf bag support means disposed on the frame so that the center of gravity of the frame is located forwardly of the axis of the wheels and the lower end of the frame engages the ground for stability when the cart is unattended, g. a power unit including a housing removably supported on one wheel bracket and disposed outside the adjacent wheel, h. a motor unit in the housing including a drive motor and a drive shaft driven by the motor, i. a disengageable coupling connecting the drive shaft and said one wheel, j. a battery unit including a housing supported on the other wheel bracket outside of the other wheel and including a battery for supplying power to the motor, k. an on-off-reverse switch on the handle in circuit with the battery and the motor, l. resistance means in the motor housing in circuit with the motor for varying the speed thereof, and m. means on the handle connected for varying the resistance in the housing.

Claim 14

A collapsible two-wheel powered golf bag cart, comprising, a. a central upright frame, b. a collapsible leg structure pivotally mounted at each side of the frame each carrying a support bracket for a wheel and movable between extended and retracted positions, c. a collapsible handle attached to an upper portion of the frame extendable to a position accessible for manipulating the cart, d. means connecting the handle and the leg structures for extending the latter, e. means for locking the handle and leg structures in extended positions, f. golf bag support means disposed on the frame so that the center of gravity of the frame is located forwardly of the axis of the wheels and the lower end of the frame engages the ground for stability when the cart is unattended, g. a power unit including a housing removably supported on one wheel bracket and disposed outside the adjacent wheel, h. a motor unit in the housing including a drive motor and a drive shaft driven by the motor, i. a disengageable coupling connecting the drive shaft and said one wheel, j. a battery unit including a housing supported on the other wheel bracket outside of the other wheel and including a battery for supplying power to the motor, k. an on-off-reverse switch on the handle in circuit with the battery and the motor, l. resistance means in the motor housing in circuit with the motor for varying the speed thereof, and m. means on the handle connected for varying the resistance in the housing.

Claim 15

A powered golf bag cart, comprising a. a frame including a central upright support and leg structures attached to opposite sides of a mid portion of the support, each carrying a rotatable wheel, b. a handle extending from an upper portion of the support for manipulating the cart, c. golf bag holder means on the support, d. an electric motor mounted on one of said leg structures and connected to drive one of the wheels to propel the cart, e. battery means mounted on the frame in circuit with the motor, f. resistance means adjacent the motor in circuit with the battery and motor for varying the speed of the motor, and g. circuit control means including an on-off-reverse switch on the handle in circuit with the battery and motor, and means on the handle connected in circuit with the resistance means for varying the speed of the motor.

Claim 16

A powered golf bag cart, comprising a. a frame including a central upright support and leg structures attached to opposite sides of a mid portion of the support, each carrying a rotatable wheel, b. a handle extending from an upper portion of the support for manipulating the cart, c. golf bag holder means on the support, d. an electric motor mounted on one of said leg structures and connected to drive one of the wheels to propel the cart, e. battery means mounted on the frame in circuit with the motor, f. resistance means adjacent the motor in circuit with the battery and motor for varying the speed of the motor, and g. circuit control means including an on-off-reverse switch on the handle in circuit with the battery and motor, and means on the handle connected in circuit with the resistance means for varying the speed of the motor.

Claim 17

A powered two-wheel golf bag cart, comprising, a. a frame including a central upright support and leg structures attached to opposite sides of a mid portion of the support each carrying a rotatable wheel, b. a hoLlow handle including a shaft extending from an upper portion of the support and having a terminal portion with a hand grip disposed transverse to the axis of the shaft for manipulating the cart, c. golf bag holder means on the support, d. an electric motor mounted on the frame and connected to drive one of the wheels to propel the cart, e. battery means mounted on the frame in circuit with the motor, f. circuit control means on the hand grip at one end thereof for manipulation by the thumb and/or forefinger, g. wiring in the handle connecting the battery, the motor and the control means, and h. means mounting the terminal portion of the handle for rotation approximately 180* about the axis of the shaft to dispose said one end of the hand grip laterally at one side or the other, for use by the right hand or the left hand of a golfer.

Claim 18

A powered two-wheel golf bag cart, comprising, a. a frame including a central upright support and leg structures attached to opposite sides of a mid portion of the support each carrying a rotatable wheel, b. a hoLlow handle including a shaft extending from an upper portion of the support and having a terminal portion with a hand grip disposed transverse to the axis of the shaft for manipulating the cart, c. golf bag holder means on the support, d. an electric motor mounted on the frame and connected to drive one of the wheels to propel the cart, e. battery means mounted on the frame in circuit with the motor, f. circuit control means on the hand grip at one end thereof for manipulation by the thumb and/or forefinger, g. wiring in the handle connecting the battery, the motor and the control means, and h. means mounting the terminal portion of the handle for rotation approximately 180* about the axis of the shaft to dispose said one end of the hand grip laterally at one side or the other, for use by the right hand or the left hand of a golfer.

Claim 19

A golf bag cart as defined in claim 13, including a forward-reverse-off switch on the hand grip in circuit with the battery and the motor, resistance means adjacent the motor in circuit with the battery and motor for varying the speed of the motor, and switch means on the handle connected in circuit with the resistance means for varying the speed of the motor.

Claim 20

A golf bag cart as defined in claim 14, wherein the forward-reverse-off switch includes a lever at the end of the hand grip pivotable about an axis parallel to the axis of the hand grip.

Claim 21

A golf bag cart as defined in claim 14, wherein the speed control switch means includes an actuator movable longitudinally parallel to the axis of the hand grip.