BACKGROUND ART [0002] The conventional golf bag cart comprises a main frame, a golf bag seat, a wheel frame, one or more wheels, a link mechanism, a handle, etc. The handle is generally expandable to facilitate the moving of the cart by hand. The link mechanism is mounted between the handle and the wheel frame for controlling the extraction or retraction of the wheel frame in accordance with the state of the handle at work. The golf bag seat is provided with means to hold securely a golf bag.

[0003] Such a conventional golf bag cart as described above is defective in design in that working of the wheel frame is regulated by the handle. In another words, the folding or unfolding the wheel frame depends on the handle in the folding or unfolding state. Such a functional linkage between the wheel frame and the expandable handle results in operational inconvenience. In addition, the golf bag is secured to the golf bag seat by a plurality of fastening belts or the like such that the golf bag cannot be mounted or dismounted with ease and speed. Furthermore, the bottom end of the main frame is susceptible to frictional contact with the surface of a golf course at such time when the conventional golf bag cart is moved from one place to another on the golf course. The frictional contact may result in damage to the main frame of the golf bag cart. The wheel frame of the conventional golf bag cart is generally provided with only one wheel pivoted therewith. The one- wheeled golf bag cart cannot be easily drawn or pushed with hand, especially on a rugged surface.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION [0004] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a golf bag cart structure free of deficiencies of the conventional golf bag cart described above.

[0005] In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objective of the present invention is attained by the golf bag cart structure comprising a main frame of a telescopic construction, an actuating member, a link member, two wheel frames, and a handle. The outer tube of the main frame is provided with a main slide slot and two spaces, which are intended to prevent the handle from being obstructed at such time when the handle is in motion. The main frame is provided at the bottom end with a front wheel capable of a 360-degree rotation to enable the golf cart to turn with ease. The two wheel frames are caused to fold or unfold by the actuating member in conjunction with the link member. In view of the actuating member being pivoted to the bottom end of the main frame, the unfolding or folding of the two wheel frames is dependent on the main frame in the inclined or upright state. Each of the two wheel frames may be provided with three wheels to facilitate the moving of the golf bag cart on a rugged surface. The main frame is provided with an upper retaining member and a lower retaining member, which are used to hold securely a golf bag.

[0006] The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention in an inclined state.

[0008] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention in an upright state.

[0009] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view illustrating the changing of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention from the upright state to the inclined state.

[0010] FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the link member of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 5 shows a sectional schematic view of a slide seat of the link member of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in a fixed state.

[0012] FIG. 6 shows a sectional schematic view of the slide seat of the link member of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in a movable state.

[0013] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising a front wheel pivoted to a bottom end of the main frame thereof.

[0014] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of the moving of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG 7.

[0015] FIG. 9 shows an exploded perspective view of the front wheel as shown in FIG. 7.

[0016] FIG. 10 shows a sectional schematic view of the front wheel.

[0017] FIG. 11 shows an exploded sectional view of the front wheel as shown in FIG. 7.

[0018] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising two wheel frames, each having three wheels.

[0019] FIG. 13 shows a schematic view of the three-wheeled frames of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention at work.

[0020] FIG. 14 shows a schematic view of the actuating member in the form of roller of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 15 shows a schematic view of the roller-type actuating member of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention at work.

[0022] FIG. 16 shows a schematic view of the upper retaining member and the lower retaining member of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in relation to a golf bag.

[0023] FIG. 17 shows a side schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention along with the golf bag carried thereby.

[0024] FIG. 18 shows a schematic view of a circular upper retaining member and a circular lower retaining member of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in relation to the golf bag as shown in FIG. 16.

[0025] FIG. 19 shows a side schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 18.

[0026] FIG. 20 shows a longitudinal view of a first golf bag retaining structure of the present invention in a retaining state.

[0027] FIG. 21 shows a cross-sectional view of the first golf bag retaining structure of the present invention as shown in FIG. 20.

[0028] FIG. 22 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the first golf bag retaining structure of the present invention in a releasing state.

[0029] FIG. 23 shows a cross-sectional view of a first golf bag retaining structure as shown in FIG.

22.

[0030] FIG. 24 shows a schematic view of a second golf bag retaining structure of the present invention in a releasing state.

[0031] FIG. 25 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the second golf bag retaining structure of the present invention in a retaining state.

[0032] FIG. 26 shows a cross-sectional view of the present invention as shown in FIG. 25.

[0033] FIG. 27 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the second golf bag retaining structure of the present invention in a releasing state.

[0034] FIG. 28 shows a cross-sectional view of the present invention as shown in FIG. 27.

[0035] FIG. 29 shows a schematic view of a lower golf bag retaining structure of the present invention in a releasing state.

[0036] FIG. 30 shows a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 31 shows a cross-sectional view of the outer tube of the main frame of the second preferred embodiment of present invention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY [0038] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a golf bag cart of the present invention comprises the component parts described hereinafter.

[0039] A main frame 10 is of a tubular construction and is provided at a top end with a handle 12.

[0040] Two wheel frames 20 are respectively pivoted at a top end with the main frame 10 such that the two wheel frames 20 can be swivelled toward or away from the main frame 10.

[0041] An actuating member 40 is of a plate-like construction and is pivoted at a front end with a rear side of the bottom end of the main frame 10. The actuating member 40 has a rear end 41 which is movable.

[0042] A link member 50 is formed of a slide seat 51, two upper cables 52, and two lower cables 53. The slide seat 51 is slidably fastened with the main frame 10. The two upper cables 52 are respectively fastened at a top end with the two wheel frames 20, and at a bottom end with the slide seat 51. The two lower cables 53 are fastened at a top end with the slide seat 51, and at a bottom end with the movable rear end 41 of the actuating member 40.

[0043] As illustrated in FIG. 3, when the main frame 10 is tilted, the angle between the movable rear end 41 of the actuating member 40 and an outer tube 11 of the main frame 10 becomes smaller to result in an upward movement of the movable rear end 41 of the actuating member 40. The link member 50 is pushed upward in its entirely by the upward movement of the movable rear end 41 of the actuating member 40. As a result, the two wheel frames 20 are caused to spread out.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the slide seat 51 is provided in an interior with two elastic retaining pins 511, a spring 512 which is disposed in a space formed by a tubular body 513 and a cover plate 514. When the movable end 41 of the actuating member 40 pushes the cables 52 and 53 to cause the two wheel frames 20 to spread out, as shown in FIG. 5, the elastic retaining pins 511 are retained in two retaining holes 102 of the main frame 10 so as to locate the two wheel frames 20 at a spread-out position. The handle 12 is provided at a bottom end with an elastic urging pin 121 and an inverted U-shaped metal piece 122. The elastic urging pin 121 is greater in spring force than the elastic retaining pins 511 of the slide seat 51. The elastic urging pin 121 can be forced into the retaining holes 102 of the main frame 10 by pushing the handle 12 in the direction toward the main frame 10. As a result, the elastic retaining pins 511 are ejected so as to enable the slide seat 51 to slide along the main frame 10. The two wheel frames 20 are caused to swivel toward the main frame 10 by their own weight as well as the weight of a wheel pivoted thereto, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6.

[0045] The main frame 10 is provided with an upper retaining member 61 and a lower retaining member 62, which will be further described in the specification.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 7, the main frame 10 is provided at the bottom end with a front wheel 13 pivoted therewith such that the front wheel 13 is capable of a 360-degree rotation, thereby enabling the golf bag cart of the present invention to turn freely and to avert a frictional contact between the bottom end of the main frame 10 and the surface of a golf course.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the front wheel 13 is pivotally fastened by a pivot 131 between two lugs 133 of a wheel seat 132 which is provided with a projection 134. A fastening seat 135 is fastened with the projection 134 in conjunction with a plurality of bearings 136 and a retaining piece 137. The fastening seat 135 is provided with an insertion portion 138 having a retaining slot 139.

The insertion portion 138 is inserted into a receiving hole 103 of the bottom end of the main frame 10. The receiving hole 103 is provided with a locating pin 141, and a spring 142. The locating pin 141 is disposed in a cell 15 of the main frame 10 and is provided with a locating end 143 which is retained in the retaining slot 139 of the insertion portion 138 via an inner through hole 151 of the cell 15. The locating pin 141 has an outer end which is put through an outer through hole 152 of the cell 15 and is provided with a pull ring 144. The locating pin 141 is provided in the midsegment with a ring 145. The spring 142 is disposed between the ring 145 and the outer wall of the cell 15.

When the insertion portion 138 is located at a predetermined position in the receiving hole 103 of the bottom end the main frame 10, as shown in FIG. 10, the locating end 143 of the locating pin 141 is elastically retained in the retaining slot 139, so as to locate the insertion portion 138. The front wheel 30 is detachably fastened with the bottom end of the main frame 10. As a result, the front wheel 30 can be unfastened, as illustrated in FIG. 11, by pulling the pull ring 144 of the outer end of the locating pin 141 so as to cause the locating end 143 to move out of the retaining slot 139. The front wheel 30 can be then easily separated from the bottom end of the main frame 10.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the two wheel frames 20 are respectively provided with a wheel 30 pivoted thereto.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 12, the two wheel frames 20 are respectively provided with a three- wheeled unit 30B which is formed of three wheels 31 and a wheel mount 32. The three wheels 31 are pivotally fastened with wheel mount 32 which is in turn fastened with a bottom end of the wheel frame 20 of a tubular construction. The three-wheeled units 30B enable the golf bag cart of the present invention to be moved around a rugged surface, or even on the stairway, as illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 14, the present invention comprises an actuating member 40B, which is formed of a roller 42 and a roller mount 43 for pivoting the roller 42. The roller mount 43 is pivotally fastened with the bottom end of the main frame 10. When the main frame 10 is tilted, as illustrated in FIG. 15, the angle between the main frame 10 and the roller mount 43 becomes smaller. As a result, the link member 50. is pushed upwards to cause the two wheel frames 20 to spread out.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 16, the upper retaining member 61 and the lower retaining member 62 are designed to hold securely a golf bag 05 which is provided with an upper retaining seat 71 and a lower retaining seat 72. The upper retaining seat 71 is provided with a fastening portion 710 by which the upper retaining seat 71 is fastened with the golf bag 05. Similarly, the lower retaining seat 72 is provided with a fastening portion 720 by which the lower retaining 72 is fastened with the golf bag 05. The golf bag 05 is securely held by the golf bag cart such that the upper retaining seat 71 is engaged separably with the upper retaining member 61, and that the lower retaining seat 72 is separably engaged with the lower retaining member 62, as shown in FIG. 17.

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the upper retaining member 61 is provided with an upper retaining piece 71B which is provided with an engagement portion 711 and a fastener 712. The engagement portion 711 is separably engaged with the upper retaining member 61. The fastener 712 is used to fasten the upper portion of the golf bag 05. Similarly, the lower retaining member 62 is provided with a lower retaining piece 72B which is provided with an engagement portion, 721 and a fastener 722.

[0053] As shown in FIGS. 16,20 and 21, the upper retaining member 61 is provided with a knob 611, a block 612 located in an interior of the retaining member 61 for holding the knob 611, two retaining hooks 614, two slide seats 615 connected with the two retaining hooks 614 such that an inclined plane 616 of the two slide seats 615 is movably rested against a slope 613 of the block 612, two springs 617 disposed between a fixation wall 618 and the two slide seats 615. The upper retaining seat 71 of the golf bag 05 is provided with two retaining slots 713 in which the two retaining hooks 614 of the upper retaining member 61 are removably retained. The upper retaining seat 71 and the upper retaining member 61 are disengaged with each other by an external force exerting on the knob 611, thereby causing the two retaining hooks 614 to move toward each other by virtue of the guiding action of the slope 631 and the inclined planes 616 of the two slide seats 615.

[0054] As shown in FIGS. 24,25, and 26, the upper retaining seat 71 is provided with two projections 714, which are inserted into two insertion holes 613 of the upper retaining member 61.

The upper retaining member 61 is provided with a receiving slot 632 located between the two insertion holes 631 such that the receiving slot 632 is in communication with the two insertion holes 631. The two insertion holes 631 are provided therein with a retaining plate 633 having a center through hole 634 for putting therethrough the projection 714. The retaining plate 636 is provided with a curved protrusion 635. Two springs 636 are respectively fitted over two tubes 637 of the inner wall of the receiving slot 632 such that an outer end of the springs 636 urges the retaining plate 633 to rest against an inclined plane 638 of the insertion hole 631. Two slide blocks 639 are disposed in the receiving slot 632 such that an outer end of the slide blocks 639 is rested against the curved protrusion 635 of the retaining plate 633. The slide blocks 639 are provided at an inner end with an inclined guide edge 640. A knob 641 is pivoted in the interior of the receiving slot 632 such that a top of the knob 641 is extended out of the top of the upper retaining member 61, and that a bottom of the knob 641 is urged by a spring 642. The knob 641 is provided at the bottom with two inclined push faces 643 which are rested against the inclined guide edges 640 of the two slide blocks 639.

[0055] As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the upper retaining seat 71 is provided with two projections 714, which are inserted into two insertion holes 631 of the upper retaining member 61 such that the projections 714 are engaged with the tubes 637 of the upper retaining member 61 via the through holes 634 of the retaining plates 633. In view of the retaining plate 633 being urged by the spring 636 to rest against the inclined plane 638, the projections 714 are securely held in the through holes 634 of the retaining plate 633. The upper retaining seat 71 can be separated from the upper retaining member 61 by an external force exerting on the knob 641, thereby resulting in displacement of the two inclined push faces 643 so as to cause the two slide blocks 639 to slide in opposite directions.

Meanwhile, the curved edge 635 is pushed to cause the retaining plate 633 to locate securely to enable its through holes 634 to release the projections 714 of the upper retaining seat 71.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 29, the lower retaining member 62 is provided with an L-shaped plate 621. In the meantime, the lower retaining seat 72 is provided with a retaining slot 723 for retaining removably the L-shaped plate 621.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 30, a golf bag cart of the present invention comprises a main frame 10, two wheel frames 20, a link member seat 5 OB, an upper retaining member 61, an a lower retaining member 62.

[0058] The main frame 10 is of a telescopic construction and is provided in a bottom segment with an outer tube 11. The outer tube 11 is provided at a top end with a handle 12 which is pivoted at a bottom segment with the outer tube 11 such that the handle 12 can be extracted and retracted.

[0059] The two wheel frames 20 are pivoted at a top end with the outer tube 11 of the main frame 10 such that the two wheel frames 20 can be swivelled toward or away from the main frame 10.

[0060] The link member set 50B is slidably fastened with the outer tube 11 of the main frame 10 such that the link member set SOB is located between the bottom end of the outer tube 11 and the top ends of the two wheel frames 20.

[0061] The upper retaining member 61 and the lower retaining member 62 are used to hold securely a golf bag.

[0062] This embodiment is basically similar in construction to the first preferred embodiment described above and is characterized by the outer tube 11 and the link member set 50B.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 31, the outer tube 11 of the main frame 10 is provided with a central main slide slot 112, two spaces 113, and two partitions 115 for separating the central main slide slot 112 from the two spaces 113. The central main slide slot 112 is intended to receive slidably the handle 12. The two spaces 113 are intended to accommodate fasteners 114, such as bolts, rivets, and the like, so as to prevent the fasteners 114 from interfering the sliding of the handle 12.

[0064] The link member 50B is formed of a slide seat 51 and an upper cable 52 which is fastened at an upper end with one of the two wheel frames 20, and at a lower end with the slide seat 51. In view of the lack of the actuating member 40 of the first preferred embodiment, the two wheel frames 20 are manually spread out. However, the two wheel frames 20 can be caused to fold by pressing the handle 12.

[0065] The advantages ofthe present invention are therefore readily apparent. The two wheel frames 20 of the present invention can be easily actuated by the actuating member 40 to spread out. In addition, the two wheel frames 20 can be caused to fold by holding the main frame 10 in an upright position. The main frame 10 of a telescopic construction enables a user to operate the golf bag cart of the present invention with ease.

[0066] The outer tube 11 of the telescopic main frame 10 is provided with a central main slot 112 and two spaces 113. The main slot 112 is used to accommodate the handle 12 while the spaces 113 are intended to accommodate fasteners in such a way that the fasteners do not interfere the sliding of the handle 12.

[0067] The main frame 10 is provided at the bottom end with a front wheel 13 capable of 360- degree rotation. The front wheel 13 enables the golf bag cart of the present invention to turn with ease.

[0068] The wheel frames 20 are provided with a three-wheeled structure 3 OB enabling the golf bag cart of the present invention to move on a rugged surface, or even on a stairway.

[0069] The actuating member 40 of the present invention may take various forms, such as plate or roller. When the actuating member takes the form of roller, the roller also serves to prevent the bottom end of the main frame 10 from making a frictional contact with the surface of a golf course.

[0070] The main frame 10 of the present invention is provided with the upper retaining member 61 and the lower retaining member 62 for holding securely a golf bag.

[0071] The embodiments of the present invention described above are to be regarded in all respects as being illustrative and nonrestrictive. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without deviating from the spirit thereof. The present invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.