GOLF TROLLEY

This invention relates to a golf trolley. More especially, it relates to a motorised golf trolley that incorporates several modified features that improve the efficiency, handling and use of the golf trolley.

There are many types of motorised golf trolley currently available. The majority of trolleys comprise a frame structure, the main area of which is designed to receive a standard golf bag. The trolleys also generally include a handle for directing the trolley during use, and an area within the frame to receive a motor and associated battery.

The applicant has over the years, revolutionised the golf trolley industry by designing a motorised golf trolley which has aesthetic qualities as well as design features that make the trolley very efficient for its purpose. Furthermore, the trolley is foldable to a relatively flat state when not in use. The trolley, and its various hybrids, have proved to be very successful in the golfing market.

The trolley does, however, suffer from certain disadvantages, which will be explained later when discussing the various improved features of design of the trolley that is the subject of this application.

Consequently, this inventions seeks to provide an improved motorised golf trolley that has features of design that overcome various problems associated with motorised golf trolleys currently on the market. The resulting trolley, which combines all of the improved features to be later described, has improved efficiency in terms of handling and control while maintaining a high aesthetic quality.

Accordingly, there is provided a motorised trolley for carrying a sports bag, for example a golf bag, the trolley comprising a frame

structure of generally triangular configuration, the frame comprising a plurality of interconnected frame pieces each having an oval cross-section, the frame having at least one bag locating means connected thereto, the bag locating means having means to prevent rotation of the bag when the bag is located on the frame during use.

Preferably, one bag locating means comprises a main body having a recess for receiving part of a bag and two pivotable arms connected thereto either side of the recess, wherein, in use, each arm pivots against the bag to provide at least three distinct points of engagement with the bag, to prevent the bag from rotating.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which :

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a golf trolley constructed with features in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the golf trolley of Figure 1 in a collapsed state for storage while not in use;

Figure 3 is a front perspective view of a front wheel assembly and bag rest of the trolley of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a side perspective view of the front wheel assembly and bag rest of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective component view of the lower bag rest and front wheel assembly of Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is an expanded view of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view of the trolley of Figure 1 from underneath;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an upper bag clamp of the trolley of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a handle of the trolley of Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a further golf trolley embodiment; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the golf trolley of Figure 9 in a collapsed state for storage while not in use;

Referring first to Figure 1, a golf trolley 2 comprises a generally triangular frame structure 4. The frame 4 comprises a number of interconnected tubular frame sections 6 all of which have a generally oval cross-section.

The frame structure 4 consists of a main spine 8, two base frame members 10 and two back frame members 12. The spine 8, base 10 and back members 12 are all connected together in a generally triangular configuration.

The base frame members 10 lie in the generally horizontal plane when the frame 4 has been constructed. Each base member 10 has an end section 14 which is connected to either side of a lower part of the spine 8, an angled mid-section 16 and an end portion 18. Once constructed, the end section 14 and a main part of the end portion 18 of each base member 10 are generally parallel to each other. The midsections 16 of each base member 10 are angled outwardly, away from each other. The tip of the end portion 18 of each base member 10 is curved upwardly to connect to respective ends of the back members 12. The connection of the base members 10 and back members 12 is such

that the respective ends lie adjacent each other as can be seen in Figure 1.

The back frame members 12 lie in the generally vertical plane when the frame 4 has been constructed.

Each back member 12 has a first end section 20 which is connected to the respective base frame member 10, an angled mid-section 22 and a second end section 24 that is connected to either side of an upper part of the spine 8. Once constructed, the end sections 20, 24 of each back member 12 are generally parallel to each other. The mid-section 22 of each back member 12 are generally angled inwardly, towards each other.

The spine frame member 8 generally consists of three sections, each divided by a folding latch mechanism 26, 28. The bottom section 30 of the spine 8 comprises an end section 32 the end of which is curved and is connected to a lower bag rest 34 and front wheel assembly 36. The bottom section 30 then has an angled section 38 which is angled downwardly towards the base members 10 in the overall frame construction 4. Finally, the bottom section 30 then has a further upwardly-angled section 40.

The middle section 42 of the spine 8, between first and second folding latch mechanisms 26, 28 lies in a plane generally parallel to the end section 32 of the bottom section 30 of the spine 8. The middle section has an upper bag clamp 44 connected thereto.

The top section 46 of the spine 8 extends in a plane generally parallel to that of the first angled section 38 of the bottom section 30 of the spine 8, to a handle 48.

The folding latch mechanisms 26, 28 allow the overall frame 4 of the trolley 2 to be folded into a collapsed state as can be seen in Figure 2.

Individual features of the trolley 2 will now be described.

The front wheel assembly 36 and lower bag rest 34 is shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The assembly comprises two sections integrally moulded as one piece.

The first section (lower bag rest 34) comprises a sloping platform 50 having a back support 52 extending perpendicularly thereto. The back support 52 has two supporting arms 54, which extend outwardly from either side of the back support 52. Each arm has an aperture 56 formed through an end part thereof. The back support 52 has two elongate protruding ribs 58 generally in region where the arms 54 extend from the back support 52. The ribs 58 aid location of the bottom part of golf bag (not shown) against the trolley frame. When a golf bag is placed on the lower bag rest 34, the arms extend at least partly around the sides of the golf bag to retain it within the lower bag rest 34. A material strap (not shown) is located through the apertures 56 and across the bag for further retention.

The platform 50 may also has one or more protruding ribs or recesses which correspond to ribs or recesses formed in the bottom of a golf bag to aid location of the base of the golf bag against the platform and to prevent rotation of the bag when its bottom part is located in the lower bag rest 34.

The second section (front wheel assembly 36) comprises two parallel extending arms 60 extending outwardly from the underside of the platform 50. The ends of each arm 60 have at least one aperture to receive a bearing 64 for a front wheel 66, as will be described later with reference to Figure 5.

The fact that the platform 50 of the lower bag rest 34 slopes upwardly away from the arms 60 of the front wheel assembly 36, and the fact that the entire structure of the bag rest 34/wheel assembly 36 is designed as having an inner and outer profile of smooth curved design ensures that the structure will not suffer from being clogged up with mud and dirt during use of the trolley 2 on a golf course, which is a common problem suffered by of other golf trolley assemblies currently available.

The lower bag rest 34 and front wheel assembly 36 are connected to the bottom of the spine 8 via a tubular housing 74 having an opening through which the end of the spine 8 is received.

The front wheel assembly 36 includes a unique steering adjustment mechanism which will now be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6.

The steering adjustment mechanism comprises a discrete handle 68 and an adjustment member 70 located between the handle 68 and the arm 58a of the wheel assembly 36 and which extends through a correspondingly shaped recess 72 in the arm 58a to abut and engage with the wheel bearing 64, which, in turn protrudes into the wheel hub 74 to rotate the wheel 66 in use. The adjustment member 70 has a further aperture 76 with an internal thread through which to receive a screw or the like (not shown).

The steering adjustment provides a simple and effective way of adjusting the angle of the front wheel 66, if for example, the lie of the ground requires the trolley 2 to drive forward slightly towards the right or left as opposed to straight. To adjust the wheel angle, the handle 68 is manually pulled to release the mechanism to allow the wheel angle to be adjusted. The screw is then turned to extend longitudinally into the recess 72 of the arm 58a. By doing so, the screw into comes into contact with the bearing 64 which causes the angle of the bearing 64, and hence

the wheel 66 to alter. Once the wheel 66 is altered to the desired angle, the handle 68 is pushed back against the arm 58a to lock the wheel 66 in position.

The front wheel 66, and rear wheels 78 are primarily formed of a soft rubber or rubber-like composition. This reduces the noise produced by the wheels, particularly when the trolley is driven over stone or gravel surfaces. As far as the applicant's are aware, other motorised trolleys on the currently on the market have wheels constructed of plastic and subsequently suffer from the aforementioned noise problems.

The trolley 2 is driven, in use by a motor 80 driven by a battery 82 or other suitable power source. The location of the motor 80 and battery 82 will now be described with reference to Figures 1 and 7 (which is a view of the underside of the trolley 2).

The frame 4 of the trolley 2 further includes to laterally extending frame members 84 which extend parallel to each other between the two base members 10. The frame members 84 provide a support structure for a housing or platform 86 mounted on the frame members 84. The housing 86 is formed as a box-type structure which holds the battery 82 similar power source therein. The housing 86 includes a Hd 88 to hide the battery 82 from view during use.

The housing 86 is divided into sections each containing a battery 82, for example a lithium battery. The housing 86 and lid 88 can be constructed with a substantially amount of design freedom at the areas at which the shape is not dictated by the function of holding the batteries 82. For example, the described embodiment, the housing 86 and lid 88 are formed with a recess to provide a stylish appearance (without the battery 82 being seen).

The housing 86 may have a socket (not shown) in which electrical leads for the power source can be received when the trolley 2 is not in use, and in particular, when the trolley 2 is in its collapsed state. This prevents the leads, once disconnected from the power source, from hitting the frame which may suffer slight surface damage as a result.

As can be seen from Figure 7, the motor 80 is carried on a rear wheel axle 90 underneath the housing 86. Consequently, the motor 80 is also not generally in view during use.

The upper bag clamp 44 will now be described with particular reference to Figure 8.

The upper bag clamp 44 is located on the middle section 42 of the spine 8. The clamp 44 comprises a main body 92 with two parallel arms 94 formed a clamping member. The spine 8 of the frame 4 is received and secured between the arms 94. The main body 92 has two arcuate location members 96 each being pivotable about a respective end of the main body 92.

When a golf bag (not shown) is placed on the frame 4 of the trolley during use, the top part of the bag rests within the semicircular gap 98 between formed between the location members 96 of the clamp 44. As the bag is placed within the gap 98, the location members 96 pivot against and around the bag in such a way that, at rest, the top part of the bag has four points of contact with clamp 44 (i.e. at each tip of each location member 96).

This four-point contact prevents the bag from twisting when be carried on the frame 4. Twisting of the bag is further prevented by the way in which the lower part of the bag rests against the lower bag rest 34, as has been explained previously. Such twisting of the bag is a problem suffered by all other golf trolleys currently on the market.

The handle 48 will now be described with particular reference to Figure 9.

The handle 48 comprises has a main gripping section 100 and a tubular stem 102, at the end of which is a latch mechanism which is, in turn connected to the top of the spine 8 of the frame 4 of the trolley 2. While not in use, the handle 48 is able to fold via a latch mechanism 104 to allow the entire trolley 2 to be folded for storage or for carrying.

The gripping section 100 of the handle 48 comprises a "D-shaped" section 106 and an "inverse D-shaped" section 108 joined together along their flat sides. The design of handle 48 is such that the handle 48 is equally useable for right-handed or left-handed individuals. Each gripping section 106, 108 has a gripping surface 110 which is made from a soft, tactile to improve the grip and overall feel of the trolley 2 during use.

A stem 112 formed by the connection of the two gripping sections 106, 108 includes a digital LCD display 114 and control 116 for motor speed. The control 116 takes the form of a frusto-conical switch, the rotation of which controls the motor speed. Such a control is a simple to use, allowing the speed to be controlled one digit of a user's hand.

The trolley may include a odometer or similar device to measure the exact distance travelled by the trolley. In such a case, the calculated distance may be displayed on the display screen.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate an example of a second trolley embodiment. This trolley 120 (although not necessarily shown in the Figures) may incorporate all or any selection of the features detailed above in relation to the first embodiment.

The main difference in the second embodiment is in the overall frame structure 122. In this embodiment, the frame 122 does not have base frame members as such. Rather, the frame 122 comprises a main spine 124, of the same shape and design as that of the spine 8 of the first embodiment, and an arcuate frame structure 126 attached to the spine 124 and extending downwardly therefrom and generally perpendicular thereto. The arcuate frame 126 carries a battery 128 and motor 130 of the trolley and also forms a rear axle for the rear wheels 132.

Two struts 134 extend from the arcuate frame 126 to a top part of the spine 124.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 9 and 10, a handle 136 comprises an L-shaped member which includes a gripping surface 138 and electronic control 140 and display 142. It is clearly envisaged however that this handle 138 could be replaced by the handle 48 of the first embodiment.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of motorised golf trolleys in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.