Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02813753 2013-04-12
MOTORIZED GOLF CART ADAPTER WITH CENTER DRIVE WHEEL AND
OUTBOARD STABILIZER WHEELS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a motorized golf cart adapter
for converting a manual golf bag cart into a motorized ride-on golf cart, and
more
particularly to such an adapter employing a three-wheel configuration with a
center
drive wheel at the rear and two outboard wheels for improved cart stability
and drive-
wheel traction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known in the prior art to provide motorized devices for aiding
in transport of a bag of golf clubs over a golf course throughout a round of
golf. The
prior art includes portable devices intended for ownership by individual
golfers as an
altemative to renting a course-owned, ride-on cart that is often used to
convey one
or two golfers and their respective bags of clubs over the course for a single
round of
= 15 golf. These portable golfer-owned devices of the prior art can be
classified into a
= number of different types.
A first type is a motorized bag-only unit intended only carry the golf bag
and the clubs stowed therein, leaving the golfer to walk the course, but with
the
reduced burden of power-aided pulling or pushing of their clubs.
Another type is a motorized ride-on unit that carries not the only the
club-filled golf bag, but also the golfer, either in a seated position on a
rider seat or in
a standing position on a rider platform.
CA 02813753 2015-01-30
2
The first two types can be further classified according to whether the
unit is fully self-defined, having a full set of ground wheels for carrying
the device
and its load, or is of an adapter type that cooperates with a wheeled manual-
type
push or pull cart to add one or more motorized wheels to same.
Examples of these different types of motorized golf bag transport
solutions can be found in U.S. Patents 3043389 of Steinberg, 3434558 of Allen,
3561555 of Carmichael, 3941198 of Kappas, 4522281 of Snider, 4573549 of
Pankow, 4848504 of Olson, 5375673 of McCall et al., 6276470 of Andrae Jr. et
al.,
and 6659210 of Tyson, and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2007/0131465 of
Garceau
Applicant has developed a new and unique motorized golf cart adapter
for converting a manual golf bag cart into a motorized ride-on golf cart, with
advantageous features not disclosed or suggested by the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a
motorized golf cart adapter for converting a manual golf bag cart into a
motorized
ride-on golf cart, the motorized golf cart comprising:
a frame having a front end and a back end spaced apart along a
longitudinal axis of the frame;
an attachment member carried on the frame adjacent the front end
thereof for releasable coupling to the manual golf bag cart at a location
disposed
intermediately between planes of two non-motorized wheels thereof;
CA 02813753 2013-04-12
3
a motorized drive wheel coupled to the frame adjacent the rear end
thereof and supported for driven rotation about a drive axis extending in a
direction
transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame;
a pair of outboard wheels coupled to the frame and support for rotation
about respective wheel axes parallel to the drive axis at positions located
outboard
of the drive wheel on opposite sides thereof; and
a rider support arrangement carried on the frame between the front
and rear ends thereof.
Preferably the motorized drive wheel comprises a wheel hub Motor.
Preferably the motorized drive wheel is rotatably supported on a drive
wheel sub-frame that is detachably connected to the frame adjacent the rear
end
thereof.
Preferably the drive wheel sub-frame comprises a wheel fork having a
pair of fork blades between which the drive wheel is rotatably carried, a
crown
connecting the forks together in front of the wheel, and a connection tube
extending
forwardly from the crown for mating engagement with a mounting tube of the
frame.
Preferably each outboard wheel is detachably coupled to the frame by
a quick release mechanism.
Preferably the rider support arrangement comprises a foot platform
carried on the frame in a generally horizontal plane to accommodate a rider's
feet.
Preferably the rider support arrangement comprises seat support
disposed in an upright position upstanding from the frame and a rider seat
disposed
atop the seat support.
CA 02813753 2013-04-12
4
Preferably the upright support is releasably locked in the upright
position, and selectively unlockable for movement from the upright position
into a
collapsed storage position overlying the frame.
Preferably the rider seat is detachable from the seat support.
Preferably there is provided a seat tube depending downward from the
rider seat for mating telescopically with a corresponding tube of the upright
support,
and an adjustment mechanism for locking and unlocking the tubes together for
height-adjustment of the rider seat on the seat support.
Preferably there are provided one or more foot operated controls
mounted on the frame and operable to control the driven rotation of the
motorized
drive wheel.
Preferably the one or more foot operated controls comprise an
accelerator pedal and a brake pedal.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a
motorized golf cart adapter apparatus for converting a manual golf bag cart
into a
motorized ride-on golf cart, the apparatus comprising:
a frame having a front end an a back end spaced apart long a
longitudinal axis of the frame;
a frame-mounted attachment member carried on the frame adjacent
the front end thereof for releasable coupling to the manual golf bag cart at a
location
disposed intermediately between planes of two non-motorized wheels thereof;
CA 02813753 2015-01-30
a motorized drive wheel arranged for coupling to the frame adjacent
the rear end thereof in an installed position supported for driven rotation
about a
drive axis extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the
frame;
a pair of outboard wheels arranged for coupling to the frame and at
5 positions located outboard of the installed position of the drive
wheel on opposite
sides thereof for rotation about respective wheel axes parallel to the drive
axis; and
a rider support arrangement carried on the frame between the front
and rear ends thereof.
Preferably there is provided a second attachment member separate
from the frame and selectively matable with the frame-mounted attachment
member,
the second attachment member being configured for mounting on the manual golf
bag cart at a location disposed intermediately between planes of two non-
motorized
wheels thereof and for releasable engagement with the frame-mounted attachment
member to couple the frame and the manual golf bag cart together.
Preferably one of the attachment members comprises a swivel joint
having an upright swivel axis about which the frame and the manual golf bag
cart
can swivel relative to one another when coupled together to enable steering of
the
frame via the non-driven wheels of the manual golf bag cart.
BREF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary
embodiments of the present invention:
CA 02813753 2013-04-12
6
Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a motorized golf cart adapter of
the present invention in a fully assembled state, coupled to a manual cart,
and ready
for use.
Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the motorized golf cart adapter
and manual cart of Figure 1 in a partially disassembled state with a base
frame in a
compact collapsed condition for space efficient transport or storage.
Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the motorized golf cart adapter
of Figure 2 showing a closeup of a locking mechanism of a foldable seat
support of
the adapter, the locking mechanism being shown in a released state with the
seat
support folded down into a storage position.
Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the motorized golf cart adapter
of Figure 1 showing a closeup of the locking mechanism in a locked position
securing the seat support in an upright position deployed for use.
Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of a motorized golf car adapter like.
that of Figure 2, but with the base frame in a prepared condition ready for
coupling to
other components of the adapter.
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the motorized golf cart adapter of
Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the base frame of the motorized
golf cart adapter of Figure 2.
Figure 8A is an exploded perspective view illustrating installation of a
battery box of the motorized golf cart adapter on a mounting plate carried at
an
underside of the base frame.
CA 02813753 2013-04-12
7
Figure 8B is a perspective view of the battery box installed on the
mounting plate.
Figure 8C is a perspective view of the battery box and mounting plate
of Figure 8B from an opposing side thereof, showing a key-operated locking
device
of the battery box.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Figure 1 shows a motorized golf cart adapter 10 of the present
invention in use= with a known type of wheeled golf cart 100 that is typically
manouvred around a golf course by hand with a bag of golf clubs seated on, and
strapped to, whereby the cart is wheeled around the golf course to avoid the
burden
of directly carrying the golf bag over, for example using a shoulder strap.
The
present invention converts such a conventional golf cart into a motorized unit
that
carries not only the golf bag (and golf clubs, balls, tees and any other
accessories
therein), but also the golfer. The illustrated embodiment thereby provides a
full
motorized-mobility solution while being collapsible into a sufficient compact
form to
allow easy transport of the adapter and cart to and from the golf course by an
individual owner, thereby allowing cost savings over time by avoiding the need
for
costly rental of a ride-on cart from the golf course being played.
The manual cart 100 shown in the Figures is a schematic
representation of a commercially available cart marketed as the "Riksha",
which
features two wheels 102 rotatably disposed at opposite ends of a cross-member
tube 104 of a frame 106 of the cart for rotation in parallel vertical planes
about a
common horizontal axis a short height above ground. A pair of parallel upright
frame
CA 02813753 2013-04-12
8
tubes 108 are joined to the cross member tube 104 near the opposite ends
thereof.
A pair of parallel handle support tubes 110 jut obliquely from the top ends of
the
upright frame tubes 108, and are joined together by a handle tube 112 that
lies
parallel to the cross-member tube 104 to form a handle bar or grip bar of the
resulting handle structure. At the bottom ends of the upright frame tubes 108
below
the cross-member tube 104, a support platform 114 projects in a generally
perpendicular direction from the plane of the upright frame tubes 108 to a
side
thereof opposite that to which the handle support tubes 110 are angled. The
bottom
end of a bag of golf clubs (not shown), is seated upon the support platform
114, and
the bag is strapped to the frame tubes 108 to hold the bag snugly against a
brace
116 that spans between the upright frame tubes 108 at a height above the cross-
member tube 104. Normally, such a cart is used by manually pushing the cart
100
around the golf course from the handle-side thereof with the top of the
upright frame
tilted slightly back to the handle-side thereof to elevate the platform 116,
and thus
the golf bag thereon, slightly up off the ground.
Attention is now turned to the adapter 10 of the present invention
which provides a motorized solution for conveying the cart, the golf bag
carried
thereon, and an individual golfer, which Will typically, but not necessarily,
be the
golfer whose clubs are being carried on the cart 10.
In general, the adapter 10 is made up primarily of a base frame 12, a
= pair of outboard wheels 14 disposed in respective vertical planes on
opposite sides
of the base frame 12, a center drive wheel 16 disposed behind the frame 12 in
a
vertical plane disposed centrally between those of the outboard wheels 14, an
CA 02813753 2013-04-12
9
upright seat-support frame 17 standing upward from the base frame 12, and a
rider
seat 18 disposed atop the seat-support frame 16. A front end of the base frame
12
is coupled to the cart 100 at the cross-member tube 104 thereof at a central
location
between the vertical planes of the two cart wheels 102.
The base frame 12 features a longitudinal center member 20 defining a
central longitudinal axis X1 of the adapter 10. A rear cross-member 22 lies
perpendicular to the center member 20 at the rear end thereof. A pair of side
rail
members 24 run forwardly from opposite ends of the rear cross-member 22, first
in a
direction parallel to the longitudinal center member 20, before angling
obliquely
inward to join up to the center member 20 at the front end thereof to form an
apex at
the front end of the resulting base frame 12. A planar sheet of decking
material 26
substantially occupies the open space bound by the central member 20, side
member 24 and rear cross-member 22 on each side of the central = member 20 to
form a foot rest platform on which the rider's feet can rest while driving or
otherwise
sitting on the rider seat 18.
With continued reference to Figure 1, the seat-support frame 17 stands
in a vertical plane perpendicular to the horizontal frame of the base frame 12
when
in a deployed position suitable for use, and has a general form similar to
that of the
base frame 12 in the illustrated embodiment. A central member 28 of the seat-
support frame 17 stands vertically upward in a same vertical plane of the
central
member 20 of the base frame 12, a cross-member 30 lies perpendicular to the
central member in a position over and parallel to the base frame cross-member
22 at
a lower end of the seat-support central member 28, and a pair of side members
32
CA 02813753 2013-04-12
of the seat-support frame extend from the seat-support cross-member toward the
opposing end of the central member 28, starting in a direction parallel to the
central
member 28 before angling inward for connection thereto near the distal end
thereof.
Disposed atop the deployed seat support 17, the rider seat 18 features a
horizontal
5 seating portion 18a and a generally vertical seatback 18b standing upward
from a
rear end thereof, both of which may be padded for optimum rider comfort.
Figure 2 shows an exploded view in which user-removable parts of the
adapter have been separated from one another to substantially uninstall the
adapter
from the cart 100 and break down the adapter into smaller individual
components
10 that can be easily transported in the trunk or cargo area of an average
automobile.
The seat support frame 17 is pivotally mounted on the frame for
movement between the deployed condition of Figure 1, carrying the seat 18 at a
height above the base frame 12, and a folded condition shown in Figure 2,
where
the seat-support frame 17 lies horizontally over the base frame 12 in a
collapsed
position parallel thereto.
With continued reference to Figure 2, a seat post 34 depends
perpendicularly downward form the seating portion 18b of the rider seat 18. To
install the seat into its useful position when the seat support frame is
installed, the
seat post 34 is slid into a hollow interior of the tubular center member 28 of
the seat-
support frame 17 at the open upper end the center member 28 distal to the
cross-
member 30. The seat may be height adjustable through use of a locking
mechanism
36 (Fig. 1) that allows the seat post 34 and corresponding post-receiving
center tube
28 of the seat support frame 17 to be selectively locked together at any of a
number
CA 02813753 2013-04-12
11
of different positions shifted relative to one another along their coincident
axes when
telescopically mated. The mechanism may be in the form of a quick-release cam-
lever seat clamp conventionally employed for adjustable-height bicycle seats.
Still referring to Figure 2, the drive wheel 16 is carried by a fork-style
subframe 38 that is arranged for detachable connection to the base frame 12.
This
fork 38 features a pair of fork blades 40 that lie on respective sides of the
drive
wheel 16 to carry the axle of the drive wheel 16 at free ends of the fork
blades 40
that lie opposite the connection of the two fork blades together at a crown 42
of the
fork 38. A hollow connection tube 44 projects from the crown to the side
thereof
opposite the fork blades 40 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis
X1 of the
adapter 10. A fin-shaped guide plate 46 depends downward in a vertical plane
from
the connection tube 44 at or near the end thereof opposite the crown 42 of the
fork
38.
At the center of the rear cross-member 22 of the main frame 12 a
hollow mounting tube 48 is fixed atop the cross-member to lie in a common
vertical
plane with the center member 20 of the main frame so that a central
longitudinal axis
of the mounting tube's cylindrical shape is parallel to the longitudinal axis
X1 of the
main frame 12. The mounting tube 48 projects rearwardly from the rear cross-
member 22, and the outer diameter of the mounting tube is slightly smaller
than the
inner diameter of the connection tube 44 of the drive wheel fork 38, whereby
the
connection tube 44 can be slid telescopically over the free end of the
mounting tube
48 disposed behind the rear cross-member 22. A pair of parallel lug plates 50
project rearwardly from the rear cross-member 22 of the base frame 12 on
opposite
CA 02813753 2013-04-12
12
sides of the longitudinal axis X1 thereof just beneath the mounting tube 48.
Orienting the drive wheel. fork 38 such that the guide plate 46 fits between
the two
lug plates 50 when telescopically mating the connection tube and mounting tube
together thus ensures placement of the drive wheel 16 in a vertical plane
perpendicular to the horizontal base frame 12.
The outboard wheels 14 are releasably attached to the sides of the
base frame 12 at the opposite ends of the rear cross-member 22 for rotation
about
coincident horizontal axes X2 that lie parallel to the rotational axis X3 of
the drive
wheel 16 between the fork blades 40 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
X1 of
the base frame. The drive wheel 16 lies entirely rearward of the frame and
provides
the sole powered source of drive for the overall assembly of the adapter 10
and the
cart 100. Located laterally outward from the drive wheel 16 on opposite sides
of the
= frame, the outboard wheels 14 provide lateral additional lateral
stability over and
above that provided by the cart wheels 102 in= order to provide improved roll-
resistance to the overall resulting vehicle. The outboard wheels may use known
quick-release mechanisms for easy attachment and detachment for use and
storage/transport of the adapter, for example employing commercially available
push-button quick-release axles.
The outboard wheels 14 lie a short distance ahead of the of the drive
wheel 16 so as to place the rotational axes X2 of the outboard wheels in the
same
vertical plane of the deployed seat-support frame 17. Accordingly, the
position of
the wheels 14 along the longitudinal axis X1 of the apparatus matches the
position
of the rider's weight therealong in order to provide the roll-prevention
stability where
CA 02813753 2013-04-12
13
it is needed most. Due to the placement of the drive wheel 16 at the lateral
center of
the apparatus, the rider has the ability to increase the traction of the drive
wheel on
the ground by leaning against the seatback 18b in order to shift the rider's
weight
rearward and force the drive wheel down into increased frictional contact with
the
ground, thereby increasing traction.
The drive wheel 16 of the illustrated embodiment uses an electric hub
motor 52 at the center of the wheel to drive the rotation thereof relative to
the fork
38. As shown in Figure 2, a battery box 54 is provided for enclosed storage of
a
battery-type power supply for the nub motor 52. In Figure 1, the battery box
54 is
substantially obscured, having been mounted to the base frame at an underside
of
the foot rest decking 26 on a respective side of the central member 20 of the
base
frame 12.
An attachment unit 56 is attached to the cross-member tube 104 of the
cart 100, and may left permanently thereon without detriment to optional use
of the
cart 100 without the motorized adapter 10. The attachment unit 56 features a
swivel
joint 58 having an upright swivel axis X4 about which upper and lower portions
of the
join can pivot or rotate relative to one another. The upper portion of the
joint is
attached to the cross-member tube 104 of the joint, and the lower portion of
the joint
carries a coupler tube 56a that projects radially from the swivel axis X4 for
telescopic
receipt of a corresponding coupler tube that juts horizontally forward from
the front
end of the base frame 12. The illustrated attachment unit 56 is in the form a
bicycle
headset, in which the stem 56b is clamped to the cross-member tube 104 and
clamped to the top end of a steering tube 56c that is journaled in a head tube
56d
CA 02813753 2013-04-12
14
from which the coupler tube 56a radially extends. Rotation of the steering
tube 56c
in the head tube 56d defines the swivel axis X4. When the two coupler tubes
56a,
59 are telescopically Mated together and subsequently locked together, for
example
using the same type of locking mechanism 36' as used for the seat post 34, the
cart
100 and the base frame 12 of the adapter 10 are thus secured together, and can
swivel relative to one another about the upright swivel axis X4. Accordingly,
the cart
100 rides at the front end of the base frame 12 of the adapter 10, where these
combined units are thus driven over ground by motorized operation of the drive
wheel 16. The rider on the seat 18 manually grips the handle grip 112 of the
cart,
and can thus swivel the cart relative to the base frame in order to use the
two wheels
of the cart 102 to steer the overall vehicle formed by this assembly of the
cart and
adapter.
An accelerator pedal 60 and brake pedal 62 are mounted on the base
frame over the foot platform or decking on the right side of the central
member 20 of
the base frame 12 to control acceleration and braking of the drive wheel. It
will be
appreciated that manual controls may alternatively be mounted somewhere on the
base frame or seat support frame for rider control over the acceleration and
braking
of the drive wheel 16.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrated a locking mechanism 63 used at each end
of the rear cross-member 22 of the base frame 12 to secure the seat-support
frame
17 in the deployed position of Figures 1 and 4, and release it from same to
allow it to
be folded down into the storage position of Figures 2 and 3. An inner shell
piece 64
is fixed to the rear cross-member 22 of the base frame 12, for example being
bolted
CA 02813753 2013-04-12
thereto through a bottom wall of this inner shell 64 as shown at 66 of Figure
3 from a
generally rectangular hollow interior of the shell 64. An outer shell 68 has a
slightly
larger generally rectangular interior space in order to accommodate the inner
shell
64 therein. A pivot pin 70 passes through the two shells in a direction
parallel to the
5 rear cross-member 22 adjacent a forward end of the shells, thereby pivotally
connecting the two shell pieces for pivoting about a transverse axis
perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis of the base frame 12. A respective side member 32 of the
seat-
support frame 17 has its end fixed to a central wall 68a of the outer shell 68
to
project upward therefrom when the outer shell is closed over the inner shell.
A slot
10 72 cuts into the central wall of the outer shell 68 at the free end
thereof opposite the
pivotally pinned end of the outer shell.
At the distal end of the inner shell 64 opposite the pinned connection
thereof to the outer shell 68, another slot 74 cuts into the inner shell
between a pair
of cylindrical lugs 64a, and a shaft 76 projects axially through these lugs
64a on an
15 axis parallel to that of the rear cross-member 22. A cam lever mechanism 78
features a rod 80 projecting diametrically through the shaft 76 and a cam
lever 82
operable to control displacement of the rod through the shaft. Mechanisms of
this
type are well known, for example in the aforementioned quick release bicycle
seat
clamp, and thus are not explained herein in greater detail
Figure 3 shows the locking mechanism in an opened or unlocked state
(i.e. with the outer shell pivoted upward from over the inner shell) in order
to lay the
seat support frame 17 flat atop the base frame 12. To deploy the seat-support
frame, the cam lever mechanism is pivoted about the axis of shaft 66 (as shown
at
CA 02813753 2013-04-12
16
arrow Al) so that the rod 80 points rearwardly out from between the lugs 64a,
whereby the outer shell 68 can be pivoted about the axis of pivot pin 72 into
a closed
position over the inner shell 64 (as shown at arrow A2). The closed position
of the
outer shell 68 is shown in Figure 4, after which the cam lever mechanism can
be
pivoted back upwardly and forwardly so that its rod 80 once again projects
vertically
upward, whereby it now passes upward through the aligned slots 72, 74 of the
two
shells 64, 68. At this time, the cam lever 82 is manually actuated in a
tightening
direction, in order to clamp down on outer shell 64, thereby securing it in
place over
the inner shell 64, and thus locking the seat-support frame 17 in the deployed
position.
As shown, the shaft 66 of the locking mechanism may project outward
form the inner shell on one side thereof and present a reduced diameter
portion 66a
thereoutside. A slot 84 in a respective side wall 68b of the outer shell has a
rectangular portion 84a jutting into the side wall 68b from the edge thereof
that faces
downward when the outer shell is closed, and then a circular inner end portion
84b
having a diameter that exceeds the width of the rectangular portion 84a. The
rectangular portion 84a of the slot 84 accommodates passage of the reduced
diameter portion of the shaft 66 through it and into the larger circular
portion of the
slot during closing of the outer shell, but with some degree of resistance,
thus
providing a snap-like engagement of the outer shell 68 into the closed
position over
the inner shell 64, whereby this snap-type engagement and the cam lock
mechanism provide a double action locking effect to reduce risk of the seat-
support
frame inadvertently falling from the deployed position during use.
CA 02813753 2013-04-12
17
Figures 2 and 7 show the base frame 12 in a fully collapsed condition,
where not only is the seat support 17 folded down over the footrest plafform
26, but
the coupler tube 59 of the base frame 12 is folded back under the footrest
platform.
In the illustrated embodiment, this pivoting of the coupler tube 59 between
this
stowed position under the base frame 12 and the useful position projecting
forwardly
therefrom for coupling with the attachment unit 56 is achieved by way of a
fold-and-
lock mechanism 63' of the same type used on the seat support 17. The inner
shell
piece 64' is fixed to the coupler tube 59 and the outer shell piece 68' is
fixed to the
forward end of the central frame member 20, whereby closing of the shell
pieces
together and locking of the cam lever 82' secures the coupler tube 59 and the
central frame member 20 together in coaxial alignment, and release of the cam
lever
and opening of the shell pieces allows pivoting of the inner shell piece into
an open
position projecting downward from the base frame to carry the coupler tube 59
in a
storage position projecting rearwardly back under the base frame 12 in a
direction
parallel to the plane of the base frame 12, as best shown in Figure 7.
It will be appreciated that other known locking and pivoting
mechanisms for selective storage and deployment of the seat support and
coupling
tube and connection and disconnection of the coupling tubes may be used, for
example using insertable and removable locking pins engagable through holes
that
align among these components when mated together in the appropriate positions
for
locking/fastening to one another.
Figure 8 illustrates the battery box 54 in greater detail. A mounting
plate 86 is fastened to the underside of the base frame or footrest plafform,
and the
CA 02813753 2013-04-12
18
battery box 54 has channels 88 for sliding engagement over reduced-thickness
edges 86a of the mounting plate. A key operated locking pin 90 is operable for
movement between a locking position projecting upward from the battery box
near
an end thereof and a release position withdrawn into the battery box. With the
pin
90 withdrawn from the locking position, the battery box 54 is slid along the
mounting
plate in the direction sliding the battery box further under the base frame 12
from the
rear end thereof, until the pin 90 reaches a corresponding hole 92 in the
mounting
plate 86, at which point a key 94 is used to move the pin 90 upward into the
hole 82
in order to lock the battery box to the mounting plate by blocking relative
sliding
between the two. This locking action by the key also acts to close a switch in
a
circuit that connects the battery to both the hub motor 52 and a throttle
control unit
96. The throttle control unit 96 is mounted to the underside of the base frame
12
and is wired to the accelerator pedal 60. Plug-in cords (not shown) are used
for
releasable electrical connection of the battery box to both the motor and
throttle
control.
The illustrated embodiment employs a caliper brake 98 on the drive
wheel, which is connected to the foot operated brake pedal 62 by a Bowden
cable
(not shown) for operation of the caliper brake 98 in a known manner. The cable
length provides sufficient slack for disconnection of the drive wheel fork
from the
frame without need for disconnecting the Bowden cable.
It will be appreciated that although the adapter 10 is shown in use with
a push-style Riksha type cart 100, the adapter may similarly be used with
other
styles of manual carts, including more conventional pull-style carts, such as
those
CA 02813753 2015-04-13
19
shown used with the aforementioned prior art motorization units of U.S.
Patents
6276470, 6659210. For example, different models of the adapter may employ
different variations of the attachment unit 56 that are respectively
configured for use
with different cart types in order to allow mounting of the attachment unit at
a
suitable location on the cart to enable coupler of the adapter to the cart at
the center
longitudinal axis of the cart between the planes of the wheels thereof.
