Power unit for golf cart and the like

Claim 2

A power unit to supply powered movement to a cart of the type having a frame, one pair of spaced and aligned support wheels, and a handle projecting from said frame generally perpendicular to the axis of said support wheels for manually pivoting said frame on said wheels in a vertical plane and for steering in a horizontal plane, including in combination: a manually operated control unit; an electric motor having a drive shaft output; a drive wheel adapted to be impelled by said drive shaft output; said drive shaft output of said electric motor being responsive to said manually operated control unit; and means for detachably securing the power unit to said frame and for positioning said drive wheel substantially centered between said support wheels so that the point of contact of said drive wheel with the ground is substantially aligned with the points of contact of said support wheels with the ground.

Claim 3

A power unit as defined in claim 1 wherein the point of contact of said drive wheel with the ground and the center of rotation of said drive wheel lies in the plane formed by the points of contact of said support wheels with the ground and the centers of rotation of said support wheels.

Claim 4

A power unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said manually operated control unit includes switching means and a battery; and including a power frame having a forward section, a trailing section, a top edge and a bottom edge; said drive wheel having a wheel shaft mounted on said power frame so that said drive wheel protrudes below said power frame; said motor being located in one of said trailing and leading sections of said power frame, and said battery being located in the other of said sections of said frame, with the weight of said frame and components distributed in said forward and trailing sections to produce a torque about the drive wheel axis to substantially counteract the torque reaction of said drive wheel at a normal operating load.

Claim 5

A power unit as defined in claim 3 which further comprises a yoke having: a cross-member and two approximately parallel sides; attachment means located on said cross-member for fixedly engaging said cart; and pivot means located in each of said sides to pivotally engage said power frame whereby said drive wheel is enabled to maintain contact with the surface of travel throughout changes in the terrain.

Claim 6

A power unit to supply powered movement to a cart of the type having a frame and a pair of spaced and aligned support wheels, including in combination: a manually operated control unit having switching means and a battery; an electric motor having a drive shaft output; a drive wheel adapted to be impelled by said dirve shaft output; said drive shaft output of said electric motor being responsive to said manually operated control unit; means for positioning said drive wheel intermediate and spaced from said support wheels so that the point of contact of said drive wheel with the ground is aligned with the points of contact of said support wheels with the ground; a power frame having a forward section, a trailing section, a top edge and a bottom edge; said drive wheel having a wheel shaft fixed to said drive wheel and rotatably mounted on said power frame so that said drive wheel protrudes below said power frame; said motor being located in said trailing section of said power frame, said battery being located in said forward section of said frame and said wheel shaft being attached to said power frame; a yoke having a cross-member and two approximately parallel sides, attachment means located on said cross-member for fixedly engaging said cart and having a pair of knobs, and pivot means located in each of said sides to pivotally engage said power frame whereby said drive wheel is enabled to maintain contact with the surface of travel throughout changes in the terrain; and a bracket mounted on the elongated portion of said cart, said bracket having a pair of slots therein spaced apart an amount equal to the spacing of said knobs whereby said knobs and said brackets form a quick connect joint for the engagement of the cart and the unit to supply powered movement at the power frame.

Claim 7

A power unit to supply powered movement to a cart of the type having a frame and a pair of spaced and aligned support wheels, including in combination: a manually operated control unit having switching means and a battery; an electric motor having a drive shaft output; a drive wheel adapted to be impelled by said dirve shaft output; said drive shaft output of said electric motor being responsive to said manually operated control unit; means for positioning said drive wheel intermediate and spaced from said support wheels so that the point of contact of said drive wheel with the ground is aligned with the points of contact of said support wheels with the ground; a power frame having a forward section, a trailing section, a top edge and a bottom edge; said drive wheel having a wheel shaft fixed to said drive wheel and rotatably mounted on said power frame so that said drive wheel protrudes below said power frame; said motor being located in said trailing section of said power frame, said battery being located in said forward section of said frame and said wheel shaft being attached to said power frame; a yoke having a cross-member and two approximately parallel sides, attachment means located on said cross-member for fixedly engaging said cart and having a pair of knobs, and pivot means located in each of said sides to pivotally engage said power frame whereby said drive wheel is enabled to maintain contact with the surface of travel throughout changes in the terrain; and a bracket mounted on the elongated portion of said cart, said bracket having a pair of slots therein spaced apart an amount equal to the spacing of said knobs whereby said knobs and said brackets form a quick connect joint for the engagement of the cart and the unit to supply powered movement at the power frame.

Claim 8

A power unit as defined in claim 5 wherein said power unit additionally comprises a cylindrical roller mounted to said power frame and located approximately at said bottom edge of said forward section.

Claim 9

A motorized cart including in combination: an elongated frame; one pair of oppositely disposed and aligned support wheels, with each of said wheels joined to said frame by an axle mount; a handle projecting from said frame generally perpendicular to the axis of said support wheels for manually pivoting said frame on said wheels in a vertical plane and for steering in a horizontal plane; a manually operated control unit for mounting on said frame; a motor for attachment to said frame and in electrical connection with said control unit, and a single drive wheel mechanically coupled to said motor and substantially centered between said support wheels so that the point of contact of said drive wheel with the ground lies in a substantially straight line with the points of contact of said support wheels with the ground.

Claim 10

A motorized cart including in combination: an elongated frame; one pair of oppositely disposed and aligned support wheels, with each of said wheels joined to said frame by an axle mount; a handle projecting from said frame generally perpendicular to the axis of said support wheels for manually pivoting said frame on said wheels in a vertical plane and for steering in a horizontal plane; a manually operated control unit for mounting on said frame; a motor for attachment to said frame and in electrical connection with said control unit, and a single drive wheel mechanically coupled to said motor and substantially centered between said support wheels so that the point of contact of said drive wheel with the ground lies in a substantially straight line with the points of contact of said support wheels with the ground.

Claim 11

A cart as defined in claim 7 wherein the point of contact of said drive wheel with the ground and the center of rotation of said drive wheel lies in the plane formed by the points of contact of said support wheels with the ground and the centers of rotation of each of said support wheels.

Claim 12

A motorized cart as defined in claim 7 wherein said manually operated control unit includes switching means and a battery; and said cart further includes a power frame having a forward section, a trailing section, a top edge and a bottom edge; said drive wheel having a wheel shaft mounted on said power frame so that said drive wheel protrudes below said power frame; said motor being located in one of said trailing and leading sections of said power frame, and said battery being located in the other of said sections of said frame, with the weight of said frame and components distributed in said forward and trailing sections to produce a torque about the drive wheel axis to substantially counteract the torque reaction of said drive wheel at a normal operating load.

Claim 13

A motorized cart as defined in claim 9 including a yoke having a cross-member and two approximately parallel sides; said yoke having attachment means located on said cross-member for fixedly engaging said elongated frame; and said yoke having pivot means located in each of said sides to pivotally engage said power frame whereby said drive wheel is enabled to maintain contact with the surface of travel throughout changes in the terrain.