Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Abstract
A motorized device for a golf pull cart with a hitch device to connect the
motorized device to the pull
cart, which from now on will be known as the "Motogolf pull-cart".
The present invention relates to the addition of a motorized vehicle to a
conventional pull cart in order
to be pulled during a golf game in the golf course. This provides portable
mobility to golfers, which can
be carried to golf courses in a regular car trunk along with clubs and such.
Background
The problem is that on a golf course, golfers often carry their own golf clubs
in a golf club bag. The
golfers may walk the entire course with the golf club bag held by a strap
swung over their shoulder or by
using a pull cart. A typical set of golf clubs may include 12 golf clubs or
more. The set of clubs thus is
often heavy and cumbersome to carry over an entire course. A caddie may
accompany the golfer to aid
in carrying the golf clubs.
Wheeled pull carts, also known as pull carts, have been developed to permit
golfers to wheel their clubs
over the course, by pulling the carrier by hand. The pull carts typically
permit a golf bag to be attached
by straps, and the golf bag is thus transported over the entire golf course by
the golfer pulling or pushing
the carrier. Such manual pull carts and the associated walking of the entire
course however lead to slow
golf games, which can be a major problem on popular golf courses. Moreover,
some golfers fatigue or
are incapable of walking an entire golf course, which can require 6.5
kilometers of travel or more.
Motorized golf carts, typically having electric or internal-combustion motors,
also are known. Some
courses even require such carts to speed golf play. These motorized golf carts
typically move along
specially-designated areas, or cart paths, on the golf course so that golfers
can proceed with ease
quickly throughout the golf course. Some golf courses permit golf carts to
travel not just on the cart
paths, but also over the entire course, including fairways. However, this
travel can damage the golf
course. For example, when a fairway is wet, the golf carts can leave muddy
track marks on the fairway
or even on the greens. For this reason, many golf courses confine motorized
golf carts to the cart paths.
When using a motorized golf cart, golfers typically place their golf bags in
the golf cart and strap them in.
They do not remove the bags during play, since the bags with the clubs are
heavy and the golf bag must
be lifted to be strapped in. Typically, the bottom of the bag sits at least
0.3 meters from the ground, and
the straps are even higher. The lifting of the golf bag in the first place is
also burdensome.
On a course where the motorized golf carts are confined to the cart paths,
golfers without caddies
typically golf as follows: (1) The golfer drives his cart to a tee, decides
what club to use and removes that
club from the golf bag located in the golf cart, and then tees off; and (2)
the golfer then drives the cart
along the path to a location near the golf ball, guesses which one or two
clubs might be proper, removes
the clubs from the golf bag situated or attached to the golf cart; and then
walks to the golf ball with the
clubs in hand, and hits the ball. This second step continues until the golfer
has placed the ball in the cup.
A problem occurs when a golfer selects the wrong club or clubs from the bag in
the motorized cart.
Improper selection can occur for example because of the lie or by mistaking
the distance of the ball or
the wind speed at the location of the ball. The golfer then must walk back to
the cart and replace his
CA 2995976 2018-02-22
clubs with a proper club. Since his ball may be a long distance from the golf
cart, a long delay can result.
Moreover, the partner in the motorized golf cart, which typically has two
seats, could have driven the
motorized cart to a new location, leading to even longer delays.
If two players are using a motorized cart on a golf course where motorized
carts are permitted on the
fairway, a similar problem may occur: the first golfer may choose one or two
clubs, and the second
golfer will drive the cart to a new position. If the first golfer has chosen
the wrong clubs and must return
to the golf cart at a new location to exchange clubs, the speed of play can be
drastically reduced.
With the challenges listed and only the solutions listed available, there is
need for the invention
mentioned herein, namely the "Motogolf pull-Cart".
Following references to existing valid patents and the explanation of how they
are different to the
"Motogolf pull-Cart":
U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,084 discloses a piggyback golf bag for use in a riding
golf cart. An attachment device
can connect the golf bag to the golf cart. The golf bag when attached to the
golf cart rides in a
compartment and must be lifted onto the golf cart. This is not a portable
mobile device like the
"Motogolf pull-Cart" because requires the traditional two-seater golf cart.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,193,256 and 5,482,304 disclose trailer devices for golf
equipment. The golf equipment
trailer of the '256 patent does not function as a golf club carrier, which is
defined herein as a manually-
movable golf club carrier, such as push or pull cart. The pull-type golf cart
of the '304 patent is
attachable solely to a bicycle, and appears not to be intended to be
detachable during play but rather
that the bicycle be ridden on the golf course. This is not a motorized device
like the "Motogolf pull-Cart"
that allows transportation of golf clubs in the golf course.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,171 discloses a portable towing apparatus fitting in the
golf bag bay of a golf cart for
towing another disabled golf cart. This is not intended to be a portable
mobile device like the "Motogolf
pull-Cart" but rather a towing device for a regular golf cart.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,624 B2 discloses a towing apparatus that fits to regular
motorized golf carts and
attaches to pull carts so the can be lifted and carried using the apparatus or
disengaged at anytime. This
is not a portable mobile device like the "Motogolf pull-Cart" because requires
the traditional two seater
golf cart.
CA 2813753 discloses an adapter for converting a manual golf cart into a
motorized ride-on golf cart that
features a frame, with four wheels and one motorized wheel coupled to the
frame. This is not a portable
mobile device like the "Motogolf pull-Cart" because it can not be fitted into
a regular car trunk.
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Description of Invention
In light of the problems associated using the regular golf carts, the pull
carts have become somewhat a
solution but with the disadvantage of the high physical effort to walk the
entire golf course including
steep hills and long distances in most of the courses in Alberta-Canada.
Therefore, the "Motogolf pull-
cart" will provide the advantage of the pull cart combined with the advantage
of a motorized carrier that
allows speeding up the pace of play and conserve the energy of the golfer for
the game instead of using
his/her energy for pulling golf carts.
The present invention provides a motorized device, a quick release hitching
device, and the pull cart
attachment to enable some models of existing pull carts in order to obtain the
combination "Motogolf
pull-cart".
All components are meant to be light weight and portable, therefore can be
carried in any car trunk
from home to the golf course.
The first component of the hitching device may include quick connectors and
swivel joints connecting to
the motorized device to allow change of direction between the motorized device
and the pull cart.
The term hitching device as defined herein is any device operable for securing
the detachable device.
The motorized device is intended for one person only. The pull cart preferably
includes a golf club bag
removable from the carrier body, although the bag may be integrated with the
pull cart.
Preferably, the pull cart includes a second hitching device. Thus, enabling to
connect the motorized
vehicle to the pull cart.
The first hitching device connected to the motorized device is preferably with
two degrees of
mechanical freedom to accommodate change in direction between the motorized
device and the pull
cart. Preferably, the second hitching device also is rotatable about the
horizontal axis.
The present invention provides a mountable device for pull carts: a frame and
the second hitching
device.
The present invention also has the added advantage that a foursome golfing can
each go directly to their
balls and be ready to hit when safe to do so, improving dramatically the pace
of play.
As will be obvious to one skilled in the art, there are a variety of ways to
realize this same connectivity,
once the idea has been clearly enunciated.
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