The present invention concerns a collapsible golfcart comprising:

- upper and lower elongate frame parts which are displacable relative to one another in the longitudinal direction

- support means for the golfbag on the upper and the lower frame parts

- two legs

- wheel suspension means arranged at the lower end of each leg for a removably arranged wheel

- a handle arranged by the upper end of the upper frame parts .

A golf player has a problem when practising his sport, when it concerns transporting golf clubs to and from the golf course and during play. In order to store and transport golf clubs a golfbag, which can carried by a strap, but which also can be transported on the golf course on a golfcart in order to facilitate movement, is most often used. During automobile and aerial transport the bag with clubs and associated golfcart forms a bulky and cumbersome item of luggage, which steals valuable space e.g. in the luggage compartment of a automobile, on the one hand because of the cart, and on the other hand because of the wheels belonging to the cart.

In order to facilitate transport of the golfbag it is known to use collapsible golfcarts, which rather often are designed as tripods.

A collapsible tripod is provided with three legs with each having a head end and a foot end, and in which two of the three legs can be pivotably attached by their head ends to the third legs near its head end. This tripod can take up a first, collapsed configuration in which the legs are parallel, and an opened out configuration in which the two pivotably arranged legs diverge from one another when seen from the head ends of the legs, whereby the foot ends of the legs are positioned at three points which are equivalent to the corners of an imaginary triangle. In order to achieve stability in the opened out position, this tripod requires some form of support between the pairs of legs. This support is usually designed in the shape of first and second horizontally arranged links, articulated together, each of said first and second links in its turn being pivotably arranged on the leg adjoining it.

A golfcart which is used in hilly country is subjected to loads, partly because of irregularities in the ground, partly because of the weight of the cart with the golfbag

SUBSTITUTE SHEET ISA/SE

and its contents themselves. Because of the stresses on the tripod a number of locking and unlocking manipulations are performed.

A golfcart in the shape of a tripod is known from EP, A, 0 009 333. In order to improve the stability of this cart a horizontal support, in the form of first and second pivotally joined links, is pivotably arranged between the two legs which each have a wheel arranged on their lower end. On the cart's third leg, the leg which supports the golfbag, above the brackets for the two first legs, is a bracket for a pivotably arranged vertical support, of which the second end is pivotably arranged by the common bracket for the two horizontal links between the two first-mentioned legs. The disadvantages which are revealed by this design are that the cart contains many joints and it furthermore contains many parts which during folding of the cart make the collapsed cart voluminous and difficult to handle. For example in the collapsed condition seven elongate parts, the three legs, links 15 resp. 16, support 32, connecting organs 24 resp. 25, have to become essentially parallel. At the same time there are 12 joints. Each additional part in a cart such as this naturally means that the weight and manufacturing cost increases. At the same time the number of joints means that the cart is complicated to produce and that matching the different parts can be difficult, while simultaneously the risk of damage to the parts of the cart increases.

Further collapsible golfcarts have been described in e.g. US, A, 4 302 029, GB, A, 1 401 130, GB, A, 2 264 465, DE, A, 25 28 968, US, A, 4 793 622, as well as GB, A, 2 229 972.

The golfcarts described in US, A, 4 302 029, and US, A, 4 793 622 have conventional wheel axles, even if those in US, A, 4 793 622 are divided and articulated in order to be able to fold during folding of the cart. These wheel axles require complicated mechanical solutions in order that the cart shall be able to be folded up. The golfcarts which are described in GB, 2 264 465 and GB, 2 229 972 feature divided and angled wheel axles.

An object of the present invention is to bring about a golfcart, in which the dis¬ advantages and limitations which exist in the above described golfcarts are set aside, and which is simple and reliably constructed and which can folded up and placed inside the golfbag in collapsed condition.

A further object is to reduce the number of parts and the number of joints comprised in the golfcart according to the invention in comparison with existing golfcarts of similar construction.

A further object is also that the golfcarts wheels can be stored in the golfbag after they have been released from their resp. legs.

This is brought about by the golfcart according to the invention having legs, which are pivotably arranged by the lower end of the upper frame part, and by means being arranged in order to, in the opened out position, on the one hand hold the distance between the wheels constant, as well as on the other hand hold the distance between the wheels and the lower ends of the lower frame parts constant.

Prefered embodiments of the golfcart have the characteristics disclosed in the dependent claims.

The golfcart according to the invention can be easily folded up for trans¬ portation and because of its construction can be folded up in such an advantageous manner that in the collapsed condition it can be stored in the golfbag. In addition, according to the invention, the removable wheels due to their shape, can be placed in the golfbag as well as, in addition, because of the positioning of the "spokes", function as compartment partitions for the bag, as will be further described below.

The golfcart according to the invention is described further with reference to the enclosed drawings which show prefered embodiments of the golfcart with accompa¬ nying wheel.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the golfcart according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the golfcart in partly collapsed condition.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the golfcart in collapsed condition.

Fig. 4 shows a detail view of the golfcarts handle.

Fig. 5 shows a detail view of the upper bracket for legs on the frame.

Fig. 6 shows a detail view of the means of attachment for the wheel.

Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment of the golfcart according to the invention.

Fig. 8 shows a wheel according to the invention intended to be used in connection with the golfcart according to the invention.

In figure 1 , where the golfcart is shown in the opened out position, 101 and 102 refer to a lower resp. an upper frame part on a golfcart according to the invention. A handle 121 is arranged by the upper end 102" of upper frame part 102 for pulling the cart on the golf course.

In figure 1 the handle 121 is directed out of the plane of the drawing towards the viewer. This handle is, according to the embodiment in the figure, removable and is attached by an attachment means 122 to the upper frame part 102. The handle can best be designed so as to either be introduced into frame part 102 or run on the outside of the same part.

By the lower end 102' of the same frame parts 102 a bracket 11 1 is arranged, the upper ends of two legs 105 resp. 106 being pivotably arranged on this bracket. On the lower ends of these legs 105 resp. 106, brackets 114 (not visible) resp. 115 are arranged. Link arms 103 resp 104 are pivotably arranged on these bracket 114 resp. 115, said link arms moreover are pivotably joined with a bracket 113 connected to the lower end 101 ' of lower frame part 101.

A support means, generally indicated with 130, to support the golfbags lower end, is arranged on the lower end 101 ' of lower frame parts 101. This support means 130 comprises two arms 131 and 132, and a connecting part 133. The means is shown with the shape of a V, and the connecting part 133 is removably arranged by the lower part 101 ' of lower frame part 101, at a determined distance from its lower end. This can be achieve in a simple manner by arranging for part 133 to slide upon, and be locked at, the lower end 101 ' of the lower frame part.

Arranged in the two arms 131 resp. 132 are two telescopically displacable angled parts 131 ' resp. 132', which can be pretensioned by means of spring power or arranged in an equivalent manner, so as to the take up a position inside the arms when they are not supporting a golfbag, and which are intended to drawn out of the arms sufficiently far enough so as, together with the arms, make up a support, on which the golfcart can rest and where the two pieces 131' resp. 132' upwardly angled parts grip the lower part of the golfbag on its side which faces away from the frame parts. A strap, a chain or similar can be suitably arranged in connection to one or to both of the angled pieces 131 ' resp. 132' to clamp the bag.

The support means 130 can also be arranged in the form of a U-shaped support, which replaces the two arms 131 resp.132. In a manner equivalent to that described above, two L-shaped parts 131' resp. 132' can be telescopically insertable in the arms. The golfbag can also in this case be clamped by a elastic strap or equivalent, which e.g. runs through the L-shaped parts 131 ' resp. 132' and through the U-shaped means 130. This U-shaped means is similarly fastened on the lower frame part 101 by means of a connecting part 133 threaded onto the frame part.

In a prefered embodiment parts 131 , 132 resp. 131 ', 132' are designed such that a rotational movement between arm and L-formad part is prevented e.g. through the components having a quadratic cross-section. The two essentially L-shaped parts 131 ', 132' are moreover so designed that when withdrawn a determined distance out of the arms 131, 132 they can be twisted so as to end up lying in the same plane as the supporting means 130, e.g. through a tapered shape or a round design.

On the upper frame part 102 a carrier 136 arranged is in order to support the golfbag from the side and to prevent it from falling. This carrier can also be provided with a strap or equivalent for fastening around the bag. This carrier is not part of the invention and can be designed according to principles known in the art. By attaching this carrier on the upper frame part 102 with a through locking arrangement 137 it is furthermore possible to ensure the two frame parts position with respect to each other e.g. by the through locking arrangement either functioning as a stop when one frame part is inserted into the other, or by the locking arrangement simultaneously passing through holes arranged and adapted for it in the two frame parts 101, 102.

Figure 1 shows also how a connecting means 120 can be arranged between legs 105 resp. 106 in order to ensure their relative alignment when the golfcart is exposed to extra stresses. This means 120 can designed in many, more or less equally effective, ways. It can have the shape of a chain or one or more releasably connected together link arms. The reason for this design is that during folding up and folding open of the golfcart the legs perform a rotational movement in relation to each other, which complicates the construction of a pivotably connected connecting means.

Figure 2 shows how wheel suspension means 107, 108 are arranged by the lower ends of legs 105, 106. These means can naturally be designed as a unit in

combination with the lower brackets 114 resp. 115, or as seperate units. By means of a twin-headed arrow, it is also shown here the manner in which the lower frame part 101 and the upper frame part 102 are arranged to be telescopically displaced in relation to each other, i.e. the lower frame part 101 can essentially be inserted in the upper frame part 102 and to this effect the upper frame part 102 is provided with a inner, long cavity corresponding to the lower frame parts 101 outer shape. In order to achieve essentially frictionless relative motion between the parts, the lower frame part can be provided with a friction reducing covering of a suitable material and a bush made of the same or compatable material could be arranged in the upper frame parts 102 lower opening. Naturally it is also conceivable that the friction reducing material could be placed inside the hollow upper frame part 102.

Figure 3 shows the golfcart with the removable handle 121 and the removable lower support means 130 in a collapsed position. Here is shown how the golfcart folds up by telescopically displacing the upper frame part 102 in relation to the lower frame part 101, i.e. all of frame part 101 has slid into frame part 102. When this happens the bracket 111 arranged on the upper frame part is displaced towards bracket 113 at the lower frame parts lower end at the same time as legs 105 and 106 take up a position essentially parallel with link arms 103 and 104 (not shown in the figure). The brackets 114 resp. 115 with associated wheel suspension means 107 resp. 108 hereby take up a position up against the upper frame part.

Figure 3 shows also the through hole 150 in frame part 101 which is used in order to fasten the upper support means and which also can be used to lock the two frame part 101 and 102 relative to each other.

Figure 4 shows one design of the handle 121. This is essentially designed as a L, whereby the shorter part is intended to be carried on the upper frame parts 102 upper end. It can alternatively be inserted into the corresponding frame parts end. The handle is arranged to be attached by a through attachment means 122 and its longer part can be positioned in any direction relative to the frame part according to the user's preference. In the embodiment shown in the figures, square shaped tube has been used which naturally means that the handle can be positioned in any of four directions defined by the tube.

Figure 5 shows, from above, the upper bracket 111 for legs 105 resp. 106, which is arranged by the upper frame parts 102 lower end. The bracket comprises an angle iron 160 with holes for two through bolts 163, 164, as well as an inner angle iron 161, similarly provided with corresponding holes. Parts 160 and 161 can advantageously be welded to the upper frame parts 102 lower end. Between legs 105 resp. 106 and frame part 102 an intervening space 165 is visible. During manufacture of the legs and other articulated parts the tubing can be advantageously reinforced on the inside. The end of the part in question which faces towards a bracket can be shaped so as to have a beveled edge which allows the part to be twisted in the bracket and for the unbeveled edge to form a limit for movement in the joint.

The above described embodiment is naturally not obligatory and other arrange- mentss to permit movement in the joints are possible, e.g. one can arrange the components to be at such distance from each other that they do not obstruct each other. However in that case the stabilising effect of the shorter distances will be lost.

Figure 5 shows also how the lower frame part 101 is inserted in the upper frame part 102. An advantage of using square shaped tube is that the geometry of the cart's movement and the different angles are determined by the sides surfaces of the tube. It is nevertheless not necessary to use square shaped tube but ordinary round tube or tube with any desired profile can be used.

The lower bracket 113 is essentially designed in the same manner.

Figure 6 shows the arrangment of wheel suspension means 108 on bracket 115 with a wheel according to the invention.

Figure 7 shows a further embodiment of the golfcart according to the invention. The difference between the two embodiments consists essentially in that wheels are held at a mutually determined distance from each other and from the lower frame parts lower end in a modified manner.

Figure 7 indicates the lower and the upper frame parts by 201 , resp. 202. Between legs 205 and 206 lower ends, an articulated connection consisting of two telescopically insertable and withdrawable link arms 220' resp. 220" is arranged, and between the common joint for the links and the lower frame parts 201 lower end a further

link 203 is arranged. In similarity to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the golfcart has a handle 221, a carrier 236 and a support means 230, as well as wheel 209, 210.

In the embodiments shown the telescopically displacable link arms 220' and 220" are pivotably joined to the lower ends of legs 205 and 206. It is naturally conceivable to arrange these link arms at a greater distance from the wheel axles.

In order to further improve thequalities of the cart, a wheel, intended to be easily adapted to the golfcart, to be easily removable from the cart and which furthermore shalll be placable in the golfbag, is included in the invention.

Figure 8 shows a prefered embodiment of this wheel. The wheel is especially intended for the golfcart according to the invention and can advantageously be designed in one piece, having a hub bore 173 for attaching the wheel onto a wheel axel, as well as having voids 171 designed to correspond to the existing compartment partions in the golfbag intended for receiving golf clubs in the bag. The wheel's hub 174 contains a guiding groove 170 which corresponds to a ringshaped projection on the hub's opposite side.

The material remaining between the voids 171 forms connections 172 between the wheel's hub 174 and its periphery 175.

By this design, during placement of the wheels in the golfbag, one is able on the one hand to laterally control the wheels and on the other hand to rotate the two wheels with respect to each other to bring about the desired partitioning into pockets of the golfbag.

As is seen on the drawings, the described golfcart is compact in its collapsed condition and can with ease be placed in the golfbag. In order to furthermore facilitate transporting the bag and cart, the cart should naturally be produced in some suitable material, e.g. steel, aluminium, titanium or composites.

The device according to the invention, as has been described above with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings can naturally be modified within the frame of the enclosed patent claims with reference to the description and the drawings.