The present invention relates to a damage alerting system and, more particularly, to such a system particularly suited, although not exclusively, for golf carts and like motorized conveyances .

BACKGROUND

Motorized golf carts are known, most usually in the form of an electric motor propelled cart with sun cover and adapted to operate "off road" on the terrain of a golf course .

A problem encountered with these kinds of vehicle is collision, damage caused by the vehicle either running into or being run into trees or other obstacles, including other carts, typically found on a golf course .

A problem thus encountered by golf course operators

(who typically make available golf carts for use by golfing patrons) is how to minimize damage and/or the likelihood of damage to their golf carts when in use on a golf course or the like . Frequently the cart is surreptitiously returned without reporting any problems or damage resulting from a collision and the golf course operator may not become aware of damage, for example to the steering mechanism, until inspecting or driving the cart , or receiving a complaint from the next user.

It then becomes very difficult to recover damages from the persons responsible for the cart when the collision occurred.

It is an object of the present invention to address or ameliorate one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of determining misuse of a vehicle/ said method comprising:

(a) (a) applying a collision sensing means to said vehicle;

(b) (b) applying control means to said vehicle in communication with said collision sensing means; whereby said control means, on receiving a collision sensed signal from said collision sensing means causes said vehicle to become inoperative, Preferably, said control means includes a collision sensed indicator which indicates to a vehicle user that said collision sensing means has sensed a collision.

Preferably, said vehicle remains inoperative until the occurrence of either a first event or a second event . Preferably, said first event comprises the passing of a predetermined period of time.

Preferably, said second event comprises said control means being re-set .

Preferably, said collisions sensing means is adapted to cause retention of a card or tab within a controller module when said collision sensing means detects a collision.

In a further broad form of the invention, there is provided a damage alerting system for a golf cart or like vehicle; said damage alerting system comprising: (a) Collision sensing means for issuing a collision sensed signal in the event that said vehicle collides with a stationary object; (b) (b) A controller module in communication with said collision sensing means, said controller module on receiving a collision sensed signal from said collision sensing means causing said vehicle to become inoperative.

Preferably, said controller module , includes a collision sensed indicator which indicates to a vehicle user that said collision sensing means has sensed a collision.

Preferably, said vehicle remains inoperative until the occurrence of either a first event or a second event,

Preferably, said first event comprises the passing of a predetermined period of time.

Preferably, said second event comprises said controller module being re-set .

Preferably, said collision sensing means is a mechanical trip switch mounted to a front peripheral portion of said golf cart .

Preferably, s.aid collision sensing means is a multi- directional impact sensor; said sensor adapted to close an electronic circuit when subjected to sudden movements in any direction. Preferably, the drive system of said . golf cart is enabled by insertion of a card or tab. into a slot in said controller module.

Preferably, said card or tab is retained within said slot when said collision sensing means senses a collision. Preferably, said card or tab is retained in said slot until the occurrence of either said first event or said second event .

In a further broad form of the invention, there is provided a damage alerting system for a golf cart or like vehicle; said damage alerting system comprising:

(a) Collision sensing means for issuing a collision sensed signal in the event that said vehicle collides with a stationary object;

(b) Control means in communication with said collision sensing means, said control means on . receiving a collision sensed signal from said

collision sensing means causing said vehicle to become inoperative,

In yet a further broad form of the invention, there is provided a golf cart provided with a damage alerting system; said system, including a sensor for sensing impacts sustained by said golf cart in a collision; said sensor communicating with a controller adapted to disable the drive system of said golf cart; the arrangement being such as to prevent removal of said golf cart from the location of said collision .

Preferably, said drive system remains inoperative until said controller Is reset by means of a key switch .

Preferably, said drive system remains inoperative until said controller is reset by means of a timer at the elapse of a predetermined time interval from a said collision.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present- invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein :

Fig. 1 illustrates a golf cart incorporating a damage alerting system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a flow diagram of the logic of operation of the damage alerting system of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an electronic schematic diagram of one possible electrical interconnection arrangement for the damage alerting system of Fig. 1;

Fig . 4 illustrates an electronic circuit diagram of a controller circuit suited for use with the controller of the damage alerting system of Fig . 1 ,

Fig. 5 is a further example of an electronic circuit diagram for use with the controller of the damage alerting system of any previous embodiment . Fig . 6 is a representation of a controller and flow chart for a further preferred embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OP PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Preferred Embodiment

Initially, with reference to Figs . 1, 2 and 3 there is illustrated a damage alerting system 10 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention .

In this instance the damage alerting system 10 is applied to a golf cart 11. In this particular instance the golf cart 11 employs electric motors supplied by battery power as the motive means for the vehicle .

In this instance the golf cart 11 includes a peripheral portion 12 extending around its perimeter, any portion of which is likely to be a point of first contact with an obstacle (not shown) . In this particular instance front peripheral portion 13 of golf cart 11 is taken as the most likely point of

first contact with an object and, on this basis, a collision sensor 14 , in this particular instance, a trip switch 15 is secured thereto.

The trip switch 15 is in electrical communication with a controller 16 (refer Fig . 3) ideally contained in a weatherproof box 16 mounted on a dashboard portion 17 of golf cart 11 (refer inset of Fig. 1) .

The controller 16 includes a trip indicator 18 _. , a reset switch 19 and, optionally, a bypass switch 20 (refer Fig . 2) .

As shown in the flowchart of .Fig. 2, in the event that the trip switch 15 is activated by the front peripheral portion 13 of golf cart 11 coining into contact with an object (for example a tree or the like) the controller 16 causes cart operating solenoid 21 to be de-energised by operation of relay switch 22 thereby to cause electric power to cart motor 23 to be disconnected. The disconnection remains in effect until, in this instance, the occurrence of one of two events : either reset switch 19 is activated or a predetermined period of time elapses in which event the control self-resets .

In this embodiment the reset switch 19 is. key. operated with the intention that the reset switch can only be operated by authorized persons e . g. the proprietor of the golf course upon which the golf cart is operating.

A typical predetermined period of time may be of the order of one or more hours . The intention is that the predetermined period of time is sufficiently long that it is relevant only when the golf cart 11 is in a non- operational environment . For example, when the golf cart 11 is being stored at night in a shed it may be that trip switch 15 is inadvertently activated. The self-reset feature invoked when , the predetermined period of time elapses allows that the golf cart 11 will be available for use immediately the next morning on retrieval from storage without the necessity to operate reset or bypass switches .

The bypass switch 20 is intended to substitute for the trip switch 15 in the event that trip switch 15 malfunctions . In this instance the bypass switch 20 is intended to send a signal to controller 16 indicating that trip switch 15 has not been tripped. Again, in its preferred form, the bypass switch 20 will be key operated with the key being _. held by authorized persons .

Fig . 4 illustrates four possible implementations of the controller circuit within controller 16. The implementation of Fig . 4A utilizes a 555 timer for the timing functions . The implementations of Fig , 4B and Fig. 4C utilize alternative electronic arrangements to effect timing. It is intended that the general circuit outlined in Fig . 3 and with detail reference to Fig. 4 can be utilized

in golf carts having either 36 or 48 volt power systems . A voltage regulator is required to supply control power to the controller 16.

Whilst an electric powered golf cart is envisaged in the particular embodiment described above it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the same principles can be applied to gasoline or gas powered carts or like vehicles with the requirement being that controller

16 is able to deactivate control circuits for the motive means for the vehicle .

Similarly the collision sensor 14 can be implemented in other ways , for example by the use of an air switch or the like . In this instance a momentary air switch is fitted within box/controller . 16 and a small air hose connects from here to the front bumper or other front peripheral portion 13 where a large diameter hose is utilized with air pressure by compression of the hose providing the trigger to provide a "collision sensed" signal , Second Preferred Embodiment:

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the control system and applicable circuitry remains the same . However, in this embodiment the sensing system is adapted to detecting a collision or impact upon any part of the golf cart and from any direction, and is achieved by use of a multidirectional impact sensor . Such sensors

typically depend upon displacement of moveable body within an enclosure such that a given sudden and sufficient displacement of the sensor within a predetermined time frame, closes a circuit . Such a sensor may be conveniently mounted anywhere within the confines of the cart and is not reliant on any physical displacement of a mounting relative to the cart .

In use, the cart by means of the invention is made inoperative at the scene of a collision . The preset time delay ensures that the cart remains at the scene long enough to allow the reason and effect of the collision to be ascertained and the person or persons responsible identified .

Third Preferred Embodiment In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a vehicle such as a golf cart is again provided with collision detection sensing system as described in the first and second preferred embodiments as described above . Also as previously described, the sensing system when triggered by an impact on the vehicle in effect disables the electronic control system of the vehicle so as to immobilize it .

However as shown in Figure 6, the controller box 16 which contains the circuitry as previously described, includes a further vehicle securing system. In this instance, the controller box 16 is provided with a slot 24

adapted to accept a card or tab 26, supplied to a user or hirer of the vehicle and which must be returned to the point of issue of the vehicle at the conclusion of a period of use or hire as proof that the vehicle has not been involved in a collision.

The card or tab 26 is arranged firstly so as to enable the vehicle' s control circuitry, so that without the insertion of the card or tab, the vehicle is inoperative. This could be achieved by various means as will be clear to those skilled in the art, such as by sensors within the controller box adapted to the recognition of physical or electronic features of the card or tab 26. In a preferred arrangement, a sufficient portion of the card or tab 26 remains projecting from the slot 24 to enable the card or tab 26 to be extracted when the vehicle has been returned to the point of issue.

Secondly, the card or tab 26 is arranged so that when the collision sensor previously described is trigged by an impact, the card or tab 26 is locked or otherwise retained within the slot 24 of the controller box 16. Retention could be achieved in one exemplary arrangement, by a mechanical clamping of the card or tab 26, for example by a solenoid activated catch projecting through a slot in the card or tab. By this means, the vehicle is firstly immobilized at the point where the collision is detected by the collision

sensor and secondly, a user or hirer is prevented from presenting the card or tab 26 at the point of issue claiming the vehicle has been returned . The card or tab 26 may be recovered from the slot once the key operated reset switch described above has been activated or the preset delay time has expired.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.