FR3017055A1 - TELESCOPIC GOLF TROLLEY - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a golf trolley comprising an upper bag support (1b), a lower bag support (4a) and wheels (3e). According to the invention, this carriage comprises an elongated carriage body (1, 2) defining a longitudinal axis, said carriage body (1, 2) receiving said bag supports. At least some of said wheels (3e) are mounted on a movable frame (3a, 3b, 3c) rotating about said longitudinal axis or on a removable frame (3a, 3b, 3c) of said carriage body (1, 2) so that said frame (3a, 3b, 3c) can take a first position called storage position in which the lower and upper supports on the one hand, and said frame (3a, 3b, 3c), on the other hand, are superimposed to defining a housing adapted to receive a golf bag, and a second position called position of use, wherein only the lower and upper supports are superimposed, said frame (3a, 3b, 3c) being placed so that said wheels (3e ) provide the rolling of said carriage.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to golf bag trolleys. It relates more particularly to a folding golf cart so that in the storage position, the latter has a small footprint.

It also relates to an assembly for the practice of golf comprising such a trolley and a removable golf bag. BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY The practice of golf requires the transport of its equipment (set of golf clubs, balls, etc.) over long distances and in more or less uneven terrain, this material being generally stored in a golf bag. To facilitate the golfer's task and allow him to focus on his game, he is offered the opportunity not to carry his golf bag by hand or on the back, but to use a cart equipped with wheels to ensure the moving his bag. This cart can be pulled by the player himself or be self-propelled for example by being equipped with an electric motor. A golf cart conventionally comprises a frame provided with wheels, supports for receiving the golf bag and to ensure its maintenance when moving the carriage and a handle for gripping the cart by the player. 25 Such a truck is bulky and occupies a large volume when stored for example in the trunk of an automobile.

Many technical solutions are known to ensure the folding of a golf cart so as to reduce its bulk in the storage position. While providing satisfactory results through more or less sophisticated deployment mechanisms to move the cart from an extended position to a folded position, these technical solutions all treat the golf cart independently of the golf bag so that the volumes of these two elements add up in the limited storage volume that can represent an automobile trunk. In addition, all these solutions include complex mechanisms and joints, which require strengthening of the weak points, and therefore a heavier carriage. There are still known state-of-the-art solutions integrating the trolley to the golf bag, which may require either the implementation of specific golf bags or modifications of the existing golf bags, to allow the assembly towing and taxiing systems. Now it is observed that, the wheels being integrated in the bag, the width between the wheels does not generally provide a satisfactory stability on sloping terrain, resulting in this way imbalances by rotation of the bag during transport. In addition, these solutions generally lead to larger bags because they integrate the rolling system in a given volume, under the bag, and therefore imply an increase in the dimensions of the latter.

A variant of this principle is to provide a golf cart completely removable and made from tubular elements and connecting pieces that the user will have to store in his golf bag for transport. This system thus theoretically allows to minimize the required space of the carriage during its transport since it is fully integrated in the volume of the bag. However, the use of this cart is impractical because the bags are designed to carry the maximum of golf clubs, and there is thus very little room to store the elements of the removable cart. In addition, the assembly / disassembly phases are long and tedious in real conditions of use.

Finally, a last category of trolley, retains the principle of deployable mechanism attached to the bag during transport, and deployed in the rolling phase through sophisticated mechanisms. Unfortunately the complexity of the mechanisms used and joints allowing the deployment kinetics of the wheels requires a large number of elements which ultimately causes a significant increase in the volume of the bag over its diameter, and therefore a storage space necessarily increased. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims at overcoming the disadvantages described above by proposing a golf cart that is simple in its design and in its operating mode, which is economical and which makes it possible to significantly reduce the volume of overall dimensions of the set. trolley / golf bag in storage position.

Another object of the present invention is such a truck which is robust, lightweight and telescopic so that it can be made compact enough for storage. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION To this end, the invention relates to a golf cart comprising a top bag holder, a lower bag holder and wheels. According to the invention, said carriage comprises an elongate carriage body defining a longitudinal axis, said carriage body receiving said bag supports and at least some of said wheels are mounted on a frame movable in rotation about said longitudinal axis or on a removable frame said carriage body so that said frame can take a first position called storage position in which the lower and upper supports on the one hand, and said frame, on the other hand, are superimposed to define a housing adapted to receive a bag golf, and a second position said position of use, wherein only the lower and upper supports are superimposed, said frame being placed so that said wheels ensure the rolling of said carriage. Preferably, the wheels are removable from said movable frame so as to further reduce the size of the carriage in its storage position.

In various particular embodiments of this carriage, each having its particular advantages and likely to have many possible technical combinations: said frame is movable in translation along said longitudinal axis so as to vary the angle of inclination of the carriage relative to the ground, - said chassis comprises two arms extending from a connecting member having a hole for the passage of said carriage body and a locking means for locking in position said connecting member on said carriage body, together formed by said carriage body, said arms and said bag holders defining a housing in storage position for receiving a golf bag. Preferably, this connecting element is tubular. Advantageously, the outer surface of the golf bag can be inscribed in a cylinder, said movable rotating or removable chassis has dimensions such that it is also inscribed, or substantially inscribed, in the same cylinder so that said bag being received in said housing in the storage position, the assembly formed by said bag and said carriage is itself inscribed, or substantially inscribed in said cylinder. said trolley body comprises: at least two portions of distinct bodies, one of said body portions, said main body portion, defining a housing for receiving at least partly said one or more other body portions, called secondary portions, said body portions defining a longitudinal axis of said carriage, said at least one secondary portion being movable in translation relative to said main body portion so that said carriage can assume a position of use and a folded position corresponding to a position of storage of the carriage, and in that - said carriage comprises a locking means for locking said carriage at least in the position of use. Preferably, at least one of said bag supports is placed on a secondary portion. Alternatively, said bag holders are placed on said main body portion. said carriage comprises a handle placed on a body portion called said upper secondary portion, which is placed in the upper part of this carriage, said main body portion being a tube, each other portion of body, or secondary portion, is a telescopically sliding tube or rod in the main body portion. Alternatively, said main body portion having two parallel tubes spaced from one another, each body portion, or secondary portion, comprises two tubes or rods, each of these tubes or rods sliding telescopically in a tube corresponding of said main body portion. Alternatively, the spacing between the tubes of said main body portion defining a housing, each body portion comprises a tube or telescopically sliding rod in this housing. Still alternatively, said main body portion being a tube, said secondary portions may comprise two tubes or rods moving around the main body, which thereby acts as a guide rail. for each secondary portion, said locking means comprise a clamping device for blocking the displacement of said corresponding secondary portion with respect to said main body portion. Advantageously, said clamping device comprises a clamping ring comprising a hole for allowing the passage of said secondary portion and a skirt having a thread on an inner surface intended to cooperate with a thread placed on the outer surface of said main body portion. for locking in position of said secondary portion with respect to said main body portion. Alternatively, said or at least one of said secondary portions 30 is provided at one of its ends with a retractable lug protruding, or respectively orifices spaced along its longitudinal dimension, and in that said main body portion is provided at at least one of its ends with orifices spaced along its longitudinal dimension, or respectively with a retractable lug protruding from its outer surface, said orifices being configured to cooperate with the corresponding lug to ensure the assembling said one or more secondary portions with said main body portion when one of the orifices is placed opposite the retractable lug. It is still possible to use a collar, a split ring, a bolted clamp or a pin to lock the connecting element on the carriage body in position. the longitudinal dimension of said carriage in its storage position is less than or equal to the longitudinal dimension of the clubs intended to be received in said golf bag, said arms form curved wings whose ends are oriented towards the outside of the carriage . These arms thus have a double curvature, a first curvature making it possible to partially follow the outer periphery of the golf bag intended to be transported by the golf cart and a second allowing the wheels to be displaced towards the outside of the volume generated by the golf bag in order to enhance the stability of the golf trolley / bag set. The invention therefore describes a system which advantageously retains the service rendered of a golf bag holder trolley, minimizing the disadvantages: its weight, the maintenance of the deployment mechanisms that wear out, and especially the place held by the trolley assuming that: - if a golf bag is necessary, it is best that the bag with its trolley, does not hold more space than the bag alone, or not much more, - that the passage of the a stowed, rolling state is very fast without any particular tool; the number of elements (especially the moving parts) is reduced to a minimum in order to avoid: the causes of maintenance, the weighting necessary to avoid breakage, as well as the significant increase in the volume of congestion during the transport phase. The present invention further relates to a golf practice assembly comprising a golf cart as previously described and a golf bag removably received on said carriage. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other particular advantages, aims and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, for the purpose of explanation and in no way limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. perspective view of a golf cart according to a first embodiment of the present invention, said carriage being in its use position; - Figure 2 shows schematically the carriage of FIG. 1, the rotatably movable frame having been rotated to locate it in alignment with the bag holders to define a housing for receiving a golf bag in the storage position of the cart; - Figure 3 shows a top view of the carriage of fig. 1 in the use position and in the storage position; Figure 4 is a perspective and partial view of a golf cart according to a second embodiment; - Figure 5 is a perspective and partial view of a golf cart according to a third embodiment; - Figure 6 is a top view of the chassis of the carriage of fig. 1 showing a reinforcing element and secondly a detail of the wheel supports; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Firstly, it is noted that the figures are not to scale. Figures 1 to 3 schematically show a golf cart 25 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The carriage is shown in Figure 1 in rolling configuration, ready to receive the charge of the golf bag. It consists of a single carrier tubular mat (1), round section, square or any other type of shape, and slightly shorter in length than the size of a golf bag. One end of this carrier mat is provided with a locking system (1a) in rotation and in translation of the telescopic mast (2) which carries the possibly removable towing handle (2a) and penetrates into the carrier mat (1).

The length of the mat (2) combined with the system (1a) will allow the adjustment of grip height to the comfort of the player according to his will, and the folding of the mat (2) in the mast (1) for the transport phase so that the final length of the trolley in this phase is identical to that of the bag filled with golf clubs. An upper bag support arch (1b) can be fixed permanently to the carrier mat (1), removable after disassembly, or adjustable as required, by principles of filament winding, welding, gluing, assembly with a mechanical part or any other known assembly means. In order to reduce the number of parts and simplify the manufacture of the carriage, this upper hoop bag support (1b) will be permanently assembled to the carrier mat. The hoop (1b) will ideally have the same diameter as the golf bag so as to maintain it, as in a cradle, while driving, and not to take up more space than the bag when it is linked to him. It is finally provided with straps (1c) adjustable quick release or other means for fixing the golf bag on the upper roll, the assembly avoiding the tilting of the bag during travel. The lower rollbar bearing wheels (3) consists of: - a tubular part called carriage (3a) for translation and rotation on the carrier mat (1) - a rapid locking device (3b) translation and rotation, the carriage (3a) on the mat (1). It may be similar to the system (1a). - A lower roll support bar (3c) fixed to the carriage (3a) in a definitive or removable manner after disassembly as required, by principles of filament winding, welding, bonding, assembly with a mechanical part or any other means known assembly. Preferably and in order to reduce the number of parts and simplify the manufacture of the carriage, this lower hoop bag support (3c) 30 will be permanently assembled to the carriage (3a). - a piece of adaptation (3d) of wheels (3e) on the arch (3c) whose function is to hold the wheels firmly in the direction of travel of the trolley and to allow rapid disassembly of the wheels . - A bag holder (4) permanently fixed or removable at the lower end of the carrier mat (1). This low end piece with the bag holder itself (4a) and quick-release adjustable straps (4b) or any other means for fixing the golf bag, prevent its tilting or rotation. Ideally, the bag holder will have a small footprint avoiding to exceed too much of the bag to reduce the bulk, it will protect the bag as a pad in the phases of driving on abrasive ground (roads ...) and prevent reverse of the cart when the golfer places his cart without holding it on slippery and sloping ground. The carriage is shown in Figure 2 in storage / transport configuration, ready to receive the charge of the golf bag (5). To change from the rolling configuration (Fig. 1) to the storage / transport configuration (Fig. 2) few actions are required. It will be sufficient to: unlock the quick release device (3b) and translate (Movement A) the assembly (3) into its lowest position (practically against the bag support (4)) - to rotate 180 ° (movement B) the assembly (3) so as to accommodate the bag (5) as in a cradle created by the two arches (3c) and (1b) aligned relative to each other. For this reason, the arch (3c) will be of a diameter slightly greater than that of the golf bag and the length of the carriage (3a) will be designed to allow storage of the arch (3c) under the pockets of the golf bag. golf bag. - Unlock the quick locking device (1a) and lower the towing handle by sliding the mat (2) in the mat (1) 25 In this configuration, the golf bag can be coupled to the carriage by positioning in the cradle constituted by the two arches (1b) and (3c) and it will rest in addition, on the bag support (4). A simple locking of the 2 straps (1c) and (4b) will make the bag and the cart integral, and able to transport all. Ideally the wheels (3e) will be removed from their adaptation pieces (3d) and stored in the side pockets of the carriage. To return to the rolling position, the sequence of operations described above must be performed in reverse.

Figure 3 shows the carriage seen from above in the two configurations with the golf bag shown in dashed lines and the open straps: - Position (1) in rolling configuration: the rollbar (3c) is the opposite of the bag support arch (1b) - Position (2) in storage / transport configuration: the wheel-carrying arch (3c) is aligned with the bag support arch (1b). It will be noted in particular in this figure that the wheel support arch (3c) of diameter slightly greater than that of the bag ends ideally (at the wheels) by a reversed or rectilinear curvature part forming an angle with the vertical potentially d approximately 10 ° to 90 ° (more particularly between 30 ° and 501, which makes it possible to deport the wheels outside the volume of the bag, and to ensure the stability of the assembly in the rolling phase. however, once the wheels are removed (in the storage / transport phase), the adaptation piece (3d) exceeds too much the volume of the bag and in particular that of the side pockets so as to minimize the storage space. this figure 3 that we can appreciate the originality of this invention in storage / transport mode allows to occupy a volume of the bag with its trolley almost similar to that of the golf bag alone .. Figure 4 represents one of the multiples v of the invention, especially in the case where the tubular mats (1) and (2) and the carriage (3) are not of round section, but square, rectangular ... and do not allow the relative rotations of these three rooms relative to each other. The 25 principles of storage of the shaft (2) carrying handle in the axis (1) and adaptation of the bag support part (4) do not change and do not require special representation, but the carriage (3) can be replaced for example by the following device: - One or two tubes (5a) and (5b) are welded, glued or assembled (a weld (5e) is shown for example) on the carrier axis (1 ) and constitute the sheath assembly (5) integral with the carrier axis. - One or two penetrating tubes (6a) and (6b) are welded, glued or assembled on the wheel carrier arch (3c) (a weld (6c) is shown for example). The rest of the device: 35-wheel adapter parts, wheels ... remains unchanged and is therefore not represented. The two penetrating tubes are arranged on the arch (3c) so as to allow translation into the tubes of the sleeve assembly (5). An example of a rapid locking device (6d) is shown (but many other locking systems could be adapted) which makes it possible, thanks to the holes (5c) and (5d), to prevent the translation of the penetrating tubes once in position, in the tubes of the sheath assembly and therefore blocks at the same time any movement of the rollbar carrying wheels. Position 1 represents the device ready to be assembled for the rolling position after translation A of the wheel-carrying rollbar (integral with its penetrating tubes), and locking of the device (6d) in the hole (5c). Position 2 represents the same device ready to be assembled for the storage / transport position after translation B of the wheel-carrying rollbar (integral with its penetrating tubes), and locking of the device (6d) in the hole (5d). The passage from the rolling position to storage / transport or vice versa, will therefore require disassembly of the wheel support arch of its housing, a reversal of its mounting direction in the tubes of the sleeve assembly, and a repositioning in the housings of the sheath assembly. FIG. 5 represents another variant of the invention based on the same principle, in the case of a carrier mat (1) of square or rectangular section. The roll carrier arch (3c) is then secured by welding, bonding or assembly (it is shown with a weld (7e) for example) on the section carriage shaped identical to that of the carrier axis. The carriage (7) consists of an upper part (7b) and a lower part (7a) assembled by a hinge or any system allowing rotation, and a quick closing (7c). Once locked by the system (7c), the wheel arch (3c) can not translate or rotate, it will be locked in position. Position 1 represents the device in the rolling position when the rapid lock 7c is engaged. Position 2 represents the device in storage / transport position 35 when the quick lock (7c) is engaged.

The passage of a rolling configuration storage / transport, will require unlocking the carriage in position 1 by disengagement of the device (7c) an opening of the carriage 7 through the hinge (7d), a tilting of the whole hoop plus trolley then a reassembly in position 2. It should be noted that this device is adaptable for the carriages of which the carrier mat is of round section, but the carriage must include in addition a system preventing the rotation of the latter on the mast. FIG. 6 represents a possible reinforcement of the wheel-carrying arch (3c) by limiting its opening or its deflection, by means of a flexible cable (3d3) but not elastic (or a rigid rod) which can be dismantled, the two ends of which end with a quick fastener (3d2) on the rollbar or on the wheel adapters. Position 1 shows a tensioned cable, for which the end hooks 15, or a simple rectangular parallelepiped (3d2) in which the cable is fixed in an adjustable manner (to adapt the tension) comes to slide by translation A into a housing of the type drawer (3d1) integral with the wheel adapter (3d), thereby creating a fixing point near each of the wheel axles (3e). In this way, the roll bar can no longer open because the tensioned cable limits its opening. The position 2 shows a relaxed cable because it was enough to remove the piece (3d2) of its drawer type housing (3d1) to disassemble the device that can then be stored in a bag pocket.

Claims (14)

REVENDICATIONS1. Golf trolley comprising an upper bag support (1b), a lower bag support (4a) and wheels (3e), characterized in that said carriage comprises a carriage body (1, 2) defining a longitudinal axis, said carriage body (1, 2) receiving said bag supports and in that at least some of said wheels (3e) are mounted on a moving frame (3a, 3b, 3c) in rotation around said longitudinal axis or on a removable frame (3a, 3b, 3c) of said carriage body (1, 2) so that said frame (3a, 3b, 3c) can take a first position said storage position in which the supports lower and upper on the one hand, and said frame (3a, 3b, 3c), on the other hand, are superimposed to define a housing adapted to receive a golf bag, and a second position called position of use, wherein only the lower and upper supports are superimposed, said frame (3a, 3b, 3c) being placed so that said wheels (3e) ensure the rolling of said carriage. 2. Trolley according to claim 1, characterized in that said frame (3a, 3b, 3c) is movable in translation along said longitudinal axis so as to vary the angle of inclination of the carriage relative to the ground. 3. Trolley according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said frame (3a, 3b, 3c) comprises two arms (3c) extending from a connecting element (3a) having an orifice for the passage of said carriage body (1, 2) and locking means (3b) for locking in position said connecting element on said carriage body (1, 2), the assembly formed by said carriage body (1, 2), said arms (3c) and said bag holders (1b, 4a) defining a housing in a storage position for receiving a golf bag. 4. Trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outer surface of the golf bag can be inscribed in a cylinder, said movable frame (3a, 3b, 3c) rotating or removable has dimensions such it is also inscribed, or substantially inscribed, in the same cylinder so that said bag being received in said housing in the storage position, the assembly formed by said bag and said carriage is itself inscribed, or substantially inscribed in said cylinder. 5. Trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said carriage body (1, 2) comprises: - at least two body portions (1, 2) distinct, - one of said body portions ( 1), said main body portion, defining a housing for receiving at least in part said one or more other body portions (2), said secondary portions, said body portions (1, 2) defining a longitudinal axis of said carriage; said one or more secondary portions being translatable relative to said main body portion so that said carriage can assume a use position and a folded position corresponding to a storage position of the carriage, and in that said carriage comprises locking means for locking said carriage at least in the position of use. 6. Trolley according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one of said bag supports (1b, 4a) is placed on a secondary portion. 7. Trolley according to claim 5, characterized in that said bag supports (1b, 4a) are placed on said main body portion. 8. Trolley according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a handle (2a) placed on a body portion (2) said upper secondary portion, which is placed in the upper portion of said carriage . 9. Trolley according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that said main body portion (1) being a tube, each other body portion (2), or secondary portion, is a tube or a sliding rod 25 telescopically in the main body portion. 10. Trolley according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that said main body portion (1) comprising two tubes placed parallel spaced apart from each other, each body portion, or secondary portion (2) comprises one or two tubes, or rods, or wherein said main body portion (1) is a tube, said secondary portions (2) comprise two tubes or rods, moving around said main body. Trolley according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that for each secondary portion, said locking means comprises a clamping device for blocking the displacement of said corresponding secondary portion with respect to said main body portion. 12. Trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the longitudinal dimension of said carriage in its storage position is less than or equal to the longitudinal dimension of the clubs to be received in said golf bag. 13. Trolley according to any one of claims 3 to 12, characterized in that said arms (3c) form curved wings whose ends are oriented towards the outside of the carriage. 10 14. A golf practice set comprising a golf cart as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 and a golf bag removably received on said carriage.