FR2533176A1 - AUTOMOTIVE TROLLEY FOR TRANSPORTING A GOLFER AND ITS BAG - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-propelled trolley intended to carry a person and a load. IT RELATES TO A TROLLEY WHICH INCLUDES A CHASSIS HAVING TWO IDLE WHEELS 12, 14 BETWEEN WHICH A FOOTBOARD IS PLACED 20. THE PERSON TO BE TRANSPORTED IS MOUNTED ON THIS AND HOLDING A BAR 26 WHILE DRIVING WITH THE HELP OF 'A STEERING CANE 88 WHICH ROTATES A THROTTLE ASSEMBLY 16 HAVING TWO DRIVE WHEELS 72. THE ASSEMBLY IS POWERED BY A BATTERY OF ACCUMULATORS. IT IS COMPLETELY REMOVABLE SO THAT IT CAN BE TRANSPORTED FOR EXAMPLE IN THE TRUNK OF A MOTOR CAR. APPLICATION TO TRANSPORT TROLLEYS FOR GOLF.

Description

The invention relates to a self-propelled

  designed to carry on one hand a person and on the other hand a

  object such as a golf bag, although it has other

  It is particularly suitable for golfers who have to carry a heavy bag along a

several kilometers.

  Electric trolleys used for the transport of various objects, and in particular bags, are already known. However, these trolleys can not transport a person, in particular a golfer.

  trolleys intended for the transport of persons but

  not usually the transport of objects such as a golf bag In particular, these trolleys are mainly equipped with internal combustion engines that emit a significant noise They are therefore generally prohibited on golf courses In addition, they are not Not particularly suitable for rolling on grass and on various terrains, encountered

when playing golf.

  The invention relates to a particularly

  well adapted to the problems posed to golf players Ce-cha-

  riot is intended to carry the golfer, but also its bag It can be used as well when the golfer is mounted on him and is transported only when the golfer walks next to the cart which then serves him only support

of bag.

  The trolley is also particularly suitable for golf course travel, and it comprises for this purpose large wheels that distribute the loads applied to the ground and allow a good grip even in ribs In addition, the propulsion system can rotate in a very wide angular range, reaching for example 1800, giving the truck a great maneuverability necessary for the passage in the undergrowth; the carriage according to the invention is easily removable so that it can be placed for example in the trunk of a

motor vehicle.

  More specifically, the invention relates to a trolley

2 2533176

  self-propelled apparatus comprising a frame comprising a first support member for supporting an object to be transported,

  for example a golf bag, and a source of electrical energy

  that, for example, a storage battery, and a second-

  support member for supporting a person to be carried, for example a golfer, two idle wheels mounted near a first longitudinal end of the frame, a propulsion assembly hinged to the frame, near the other longitudinal end of the frame; it and comprising an electric geared motor assembly having two output shafts protruding from a body and substantially aligned, each shaft carrying a driving wheel, a steering member integral with the motor body, and a control member of the geared motor.

  The first support member preferably includes

  a device for fastening an accumulator battery

  latters, and a stop and a support for retaining an elongated bag in an inclined direction relative to the frame, for example so that the open portion of a golf bag is easily accessible and allows the capture of

canes or "clubs" in the bag -

  The second support member advantageously comprises

  It is also desirable for this second support member to further comprise a bar intended to be grasped by hand. It is then advantageous that the control member

  gearmotor is mounted on the bar.

  The articulation of the propulsion assembly on the

  advantageously comprises a stop limiting the rotation

  the propulsion system at 90 on both sides of the

  the direction in which the driving wheels are sensitive-

parallel to the crazy wheels.

  Although the geared motor assembly, when it receives no electric power, normally stops the carriage, it is desirable that it also comprises

  a brake, acting preferably on the drive wheels.

  In one embodiment, the brake control and the gearmotor control are placed on the steering member. In another embodiment, the control

  brake has a pedal carried by the chassis close to

of the footboard.

  It is desirable that the governing body

  has an elongated cane, possibly of length

  glable, arranged over most of the length

of the chassis.

  Other features and advantages of the invention

  tion will become more apparent from the following description,

  with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective of a self propelled carriage according to the invention; Figure 2 shows the carriage of the figure

  1 in exploded form, and it represents the different elements

  dismounted, for example when the trolley is to be placed in the trunk of a motor vehicle; Figure 3 is a plan view of the carriage of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a section through the vertical plane 4-4 of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a perspective showing

  the use of the carriage according to the invention.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective of a trolley embodiment according to the invention FIG.

  is an exploded perspective represents the different

  such as they can be dismantled, for example during

of their transport.

  In these figures, the carriage comprises essentially

  a chassis 10 carried by two idle wheels 12 and 14

and by a propulsion assembly 16.

  More specifically, the frame 10 comprises a platform 18, for example formed of a thick metal sheet,

  and a step 20 carried by the platform through the

  of the longitudinal members 22 The upper face of the platform

  form has cylindrical housings 24 for retaining

  a bar 26 to which the person placed on the market-

  foot 20 can hold another housing 28 allows the attachment of a post 30 A hook 32 welded to the bar 26 is intended to retain a chain 34 fixed by a sleeve 36 to the upright 30 This chain forms a support adjustable in height for a golf bag, as shown in Figure E The other end of the bag is retained on the platform 18 by a stop 38 The bag, when in the indicated position

  in Figure 5, is therefore well stabilized since its

  upper half is retained between the upright 30 and the bar 26 and its lower end is retained by the abutment 38 along its length and, on the sides, by the hood which houses

storage batteries.

  The platform 18 also carries a bracket 40 for retaining the cover 42 in which is placed a

  storage battery 44 as shown in FIG. 4.

  The frame also comprises a hollow section of square section in which is placed a torsion bar 46 This is fixed to the platform 18, in its middle part, and its ends are integral with two arms 48 which each carry an axis 505 Wheels 12, 14 are each mounted on an axis 50 FIG. 2 indicates that each axis

  has a hole 52 for passage of a pin 54 with elastic restraint

  This is to prevent the exit of the wheel 12 by means of a washer 56 Thus, the wheels 12 and 14 can rotate freely but they are held laterally It is also noted in the various figures that these wheels have a important width In addition, they

  are inflated moderately so that their surface area

  tact with the ground is important and prevents lateral slippage in particular In fact, the carriage being intended to roll on the grass which is often wet, it is necessary that the

  cart does not skid laterally.

  The frame 10 also comprises a box-shaped member 58 which is secured to the platform 18 by screws 60 passing through holes in the member 58 and in the holes 62 of the platform 18. These bolts thus retain firmly the thruster assembly 16 on the platform

  The member 58 terminates forwards by a tubular portion

  64 which contains bearings 66 intended to enable

  the rotation of the propulsion unit.

  The propulsion assembly 16 comprises a motor unit

  reducer 68, the reducer being downward and having

  two aligned output shafts 70 which turn to the same vi-

  These two shafts 70 each carry a wheel 72. These wheels are also relatively wide and have a web

  the design of which gives a good grip

  parallel to the plane of the wheel In fact, these wheels are driving and must therefore ensure the movement of the carriage, even in ribs One of the shafts 70 advantageously carries a brake drum 74 against which is applied a jaw 76 That it is recalled at a distance from the drum

  by a spring 78, but-a sheathed cable 80 allows the application

  jaw 76 against the drum 74 when braking

is desirable.

  The upper part of the geared motor unit is screwed, at a flange 82, to a tube 84 which can rotate in the bearings 66 of the member 58 The tube ends

  at the upper part by a part 86 of smaller dia-

  meter intended to carry a steering rod 88 More precise

  Optionally, the rod can be fitted on the part-86 and fixed at various heights by passing a bolt 90 in one of the holes 92 of the rod 88 and in the hole 94 of the portion 86 at the other end, the rod 88 has a telescopic portion 96 which folds and ends with a handle 98 A brake control handle 100 is advantageously

  attached to the other end of the braking control cable 80.

  The handle 98 also preferably carries an on / off button 102 which, when depressed, is intended to control the operation of the motor while,

  when released, it prevents any power supply

  This motor 102 is connected by a wire 104 to the

geared motor 68.

  The geared motor 68 is supplied with electrical energy

  The geared motor unit 68 is also connected by a wire 110 and a plug 112 to a control member 114 which comprises a battery 104 which terminates in lugs 108. two buttons Each of the buttons, when depressed, controls the power supply to the motor in one direction or the other.

  In this way, the operator chooses the meaning of the food

  by pressing the appropriate button, and it commands

  then the power supply of the motor by depressing the

  The mass return is performed by a wire 118

  which is advantageously secured to the platform 18.

  The geared motor unit comprises for example a motor which, powered by 24 V, consumes a current of 14 A The shafts 70 output of the gearbox then rotate at a speed of 115 rpm and have a torque sufficient to

  the truck can climb steep slopes.

  The trolley is about 8 to 10 km / h.

  In the embodiment described, the engine is

  fed in one direction or the other, at its speed

  max., or does not work, depending on whether the button 102 is depressed or not. However, the carriage may also comprise a control, not shown, allowing adjustment of the

  This may be for example a very

  rante, for example provided by rotation of the handle 98

  around the end of the cane 88.

  FIG. 5 represents a golfer who stands with one hand at the bar 26 and who, with the other hand, drives the cart ahead as the player's pce pushes the button 102. wanted place,

  the golfer releases button 102 and the cart stops

  as it is braked by the geared motor.

  When the carriage is abandoned in a hill, it is desirable that the driving wheels are oriented perpendicular to the idler wheels. For this purpose, the golfer rotates the rod 88 by a quarter of a turn. It is then desirable that the tubular member 84 comprises a stop 120 intended to come against one or the other of two stops 122 carried by the member 58 and limiting the rotation

  cane 88 to 90 on either side of the central position

  trale in which the wheels 12, 14 and 72 are parallel.

  Many variations are within the scope of the invention Thus, although it has been indicated that braking is controlled by a handle 100 mounted on the cane, it can also be provided by a pedal placed near the step so that when 'he stands at the bar 26,

  the golfer may depress the pedal.

  In addition, brakes can be mounted on the idlers 12, 14 in which case they must have a tread allowing

such braking.

  In addition, although there is shown a carriage comprising a bar 26 to which the golfer retains and a rod 88 direction, the bar 26 can be removed

  and, in this case, it is desirable that the bar 88 be

  mine by a portion disposed in an arc in a horizontal plane so that the golfer can both remember

  and provide direction with the same organ.

  As shown in Figure 2, one of the advantages

  of the invention is to allow easy dismantling of the chain.

  It is noted that all the separate elements have a

  relatively low, so they can easily be placed in a car trunk. Disassembly is

  very simple since it only requires the loosening of

bolts.

  The trolley according to the invention has a relatively simple structure and all its mechanical characteristics have already proved their robustness in other mechanisms. As a result, the formed assembly is very robust and reliable, it comprises a relatively large number of elements.

  low so that it can be inexpensive.

Claims (8)

  1 self-propelled trolley, characterized in that it com-   takes a frame (10) having a first support member (18, 26, 30, 34, 38) for supporting an object to be transported and an electric power source (44), and a second support member (20) for supporting a person to be transported, two idlers <12, 14) mounted near a first longitudinal end of the frame (10), and a propulsion assembly (16) hinged to the frame (10) in the vicinity of the another longitudinal end thereof and having an electric geared motor assembly (68) having two output shafts (70) protruding from a body, substantially aligned and each carrying a drive wheel (72>,   a steering member (88) integral with the body of the motor-drive   (68), and a control member (102, 104) of the motor-drive unit   tor. 2 trolley according to claim 1, characterized in that the first support member comprises a device (40) for fixing a storage battery (44), and a stop (38) and a support- (26, 30, 34, 38) for retaining an elongated bag in an inclined direction relative to to the chassis.   3 trolley according to one of claims 1 and 2,   characterized in that the second support member comprises a step (20) disposed substantially between the two crazy wheels (12, 14).   4 trolley according to claim 3, characterized in that the second support member further comprises a bar (26) to be grasped by the person transported   Trolley according to any one of the claims   preceding, characterized in that the articulation of the assembly   thruster (16) on the chassis (10) has a stop (120, 122) limiting the rotation of the propulsion unit to 90 on either side of the direction in which the   drive wheels (72) are parallel to the idlers (12,14).   6 Trolley according to any one of the claims-a-   previous arrangements, characterized in that it comprises a brake   (74, -76) acting on the drive wheels.   7 Trolley according to claim 6, characterized in that the control of the brake (100) and the control of the geared motor (102) are arranged on the steering member (88).   8 trolley according to claim 6, characterized in that the brake control comprises a pedal carried   by the frame near the footboard.   Cart according to any one of the claims   preceding, characterized in that the steering member (88)   has an elongated cane, of possibly length   ble, arranged over most of the chassis length.   Trolley according to one of the claims   preceding, characterized in that the geared motor control member comprises a member (114) for causing   reversing the feed of the geareducer (68).