Rideable golf bag cart
A rideable golf cart adapted to transport a rider and a golf bag for use on a golf course. The cart includes a frame and a seat, a front wheel and steering components, a rear wheel, an inclined bag support structure, and a motor/control subassembly.
1 . A motor driven rideable golf cycle for transporting a rider and a golf bag, comprising:
a front wheel ( 66 ) having a front wheel center, a front wheel axle ( 67 ), and a front tire having a front tire outer diameter, a front tire width, and a front tire crown radius;
a front fork ( 62 ) attached to the front wheel ( 66 );
a steering bracket ( 34 ) to which the front fork ( 62 ) is rotationally engaged;
a steering column ( 35 ) engaging the front fork ( 62 );
a handlebar ( 72 ) attached to the steering column ( 35 ) via a handlebar connector ( 63 ), and having a control unit;
a frame tube ( 32 ) connected to the steering bracket ( 34 ) and extending downward and rearward from the steering bracket ( 34 ) when in a riding configuration;
a rear wheel ( 86 ) having a rear wheel center, a rear wheel axle ( 88 ), an internal hub motor, and a rear tire having a rear tire outer diameter, a rear tire width, and a rear tire crown radius, and establishing a wheelbase ( 510 ) measured between the front wheel center and the rear wheel center, and a vertical wheel plane containing the front wheel center and the rear wheel center, oriented perpendicular to a ground plane, intersecting the steering bracket ( 34 ), and defining a first side and a second side of the vertical wheel plane;
a base segment ( 42 ) attached to the rear wheel ( 86 ) and extending toward the front wheel ( 66 );
a pivoting connector assembly ( 200 ) attached to the base segment ( 42 ) and the frame tube ( 32 ), and capable of locking a relative position of the base segment ( 42 ) and the frame tube ( 32 );
a seat support ( 53 ) extending from the base segment ( 42 ) and comprising an upper seat support ( 53 U) extending from a lower seat support ( 53 L);
a seat ( 52 ) attached to the upper seat support ( 53 U);
a rechargeable battery ( 102 ) attached to the frame tube ( 32 ) and in electrical communication with the internal hub motor and the control unit;
an upper bag cradle ( 98 ) attached to the motor driven rideable golf cycle such that it is not symmetrical about the vertical wheel plane;
a bag support base ( 97 ) attached to the motor driven rideable golf cycle such that it is not symmetrical about the vertical wheel plane;
wherein:
the pivoting connector assembly ( 200 ) facilitates the pivoting of the frame tube ( 32 ) toward the seat support ( 53 ) and into a storage configuration;
in the riding configuration the motor driven rideable golf cycle has a center of gravity (CG) located a CGy dimension behind the front axle ( 67 ), measured horizontally parallel to the ground plane, and located a CGh dimension above the ground plane, measured vertically perpendicular to the ground plane, and the CGy dimension is less than 45% of the wheelbase ( 510 );
in the riding configuration the motor driven rideable golf cycle has a minimum clearance ( 500 ), and the CGh dimension is less than 5 times the minimum clearance ( 500 );
the front tire outer diameter is at least 10% greater than the rear tire outer diameter, and the front tire outer diameter is no more than 160% of the rear tire outer diameter;
the front tire outer diameter is at least 85% of the CGh dimension, and the rear tire outer diameter is no more than the CGh dimension;
the rear tire width is at least 10% greater than the front tire width, and the rear tire width is no more than 160% of the front tire width;
the rear tire crown radius is greater than the front tire crown radius; and
the front tire contacts the ground plane directly below the front axle at a contact point ( 530 ), the steering bracket ( 34 ) defines a headset axis ( 520 ), which intersects the ground plane at an axis contact point ( 540 ), a horizontal distance from the contact point ( 530 ) and the axis contact point ( 540 ) is a trail dimension ( 550 ), and the trail dimension ( 550 ) is 1.0″-4.0″.
2 . The motor driven rideable golf cycle of claim 1 , wherein the steering column ( 35 ) has a column axis ( 35 A) and a column axis angle ( 35 AA), the seat support ( 53 ) has a support axis ( 53 A) and a support axis angle ( 53 AA) of less than 90 degrees, and the support axis angle ( 53 AA) is ±15 degrees of the column axis angle ( 35 AA).
3 . The motor driven rideable golf cycle of claim 2 , wherein the front tire outer diameter is at least 15% greater than the rear tire outer diameter, the rear tire outer diameter is no more than 90% of the CGh dimension, and the support axis angle ( 53 AA) is at least 70 degrees.
4 . The motor driven rideable golf cycle of claim 3 , wherein the rear tire width is at least 15% greater than the front tire width, and the front tire outer diameter is at least 100% of the CGh dimension.
5 . The motor driven rideable golf cycle of claim 3 , wherein the CGy dimension is +25% of the CGh dimension, and the CGy dimension is at least 24% of the wheelbase ( 510 ).
6 . The motor driven rideable golf cycle of claim 3 , wherein the CGy dimension is at least 24% of the wheelbase ( 510 ), the CGy dimension is greater than the CGh dimension, and the trail dimension ( 550 ) is 1.5″.
7 . The motor driven rideable golf cycle of claim 1 , further including a running board ( 56 ) attached to the base segment ( 42 ) and having a top surface defining a running board height ( 56 H) measured vertically above the ground plane, wherein the running board height ( 56 H) is 35-65% of the rear tire outer diameter.
8 . The motor driven rideable golf cycle of claim 1 , wherein the CGh dimension is at least 2.75 times the minimum clearance ( 500 ).
9 . The motor driven rideable golf cycle of claim 1 , wherein the front tire crown radius is at least 30% of the front tire outer diameter, and the rear tire crown radius is at least 200% of the front tire crown radius.
10 . The motor driven rideable golf cycle of claim 9 , wherein the front tire crown radius is no more than 85% of the front tire outer diameter, and the front tire outer diameter is 30-50% of the wheelbase ( 510 ).
11 . The motor driven rideable golf cycle of claim 1 , wherein in the storage configuration the motor driven rideable golf cycle fits within an imaginary box having a box width, a box height, and a box length, wherein:
a girth is 130 inches or less, where the girth is defined as two times a sum of the box width and the box height; and
a sum of the girth and the box length is 165 inches or less.
12 . A motor driven rideable golf cycle for transporting a rider and a golf bag, comprising:
a front wheel ( 66 ) having a front wheel center, a front wheel axle ( 67 ), and a front tire having a front tire outer diameter, a front tire width, and a front tire crown radius;
a front fork ( 62 ) attached to the front wheel ( 66 );
a steering bracket ( 34 ) to which the front fork ( 62 ) is rotationally engaged;
a steering column ( 35 ) engaging the front fork ( 62 );
a handlebar ( 72 ) attached to the steering column ( 35 ) via a handlebar connector ( 63 ), and having a control unit;
a frame tube ( 32 ) connected to the steering bracket ( 34 ) and extending downward and rearward from the steering bracket ( 34 ) when in a riding configuration;
a rear wheel ( 86 ) having a rear wheel center, a rear wheel axle ( 88 ), an internal hub motor, and a rear tire having a rear tire outer diameter, a rear tire width, and a rear tire crown radius, and establishing a wheelbase ( 510 ) measured between the front wheel center and the rear wheel center, and a vertical wheel plane containing the front wheel center and the rear wheel center, oriented perpendicular to a ground plane, intersecting the steering bracket ( 34 ), and defining a first side and a second side of the vertical wheel plane;
a base segment ( 42 ) attached to the rear wheel ( 86 ) and extending toward the front wheel ( 66 );
a pivoting connector assembly ( 200 ) attached to the base segment ( 42 ) and the frame tube ( 32 ), and capable of locking a relative position of the base segment ( 42 ) and the frame tube ( 32 );
a seat support ( 53 ) extending from the base segment ( 42 ) and comprising an upper seat support ( 53 U) extending from a lower seat support ( 53 L);
a seat ( 52 ) attached to the upper seat support ( 53 U);
a running board ( 56 ) attached to the base segment ( 42 ) and having a top surface defining a running board height ( 56 H) measured vertically above the ground plane;
a rechargeable battery ( 102 ) attached to the frame tube ( 32 ) and in electrical communication with the internal hub motor and the control unit;
an upper bag cradle ( 98 ) attached to the motor driven rideable golf cycle such that it is not symmetrical about the vertical wheel plane;
a bag support base ( 97 ) attached to the motor driven rideable golf cycle such that it is not symmetrical about the vertical wheel plane;
wherein:
the pivoting connector assembly ( 200 ) facilitates the pivoting of the frame tube ( 32 ) toward the seat support ( 53 ) and into a storage configuration;
in the riding configuration the motor driven rideable golf cycle has a center of gravity (CG) located a CGy dimension behind the front axle ( 67 ), measured horizontally parallel to the ground plane, and located a CGh dimension above the ground plane, measured vertically perpendicular to the ground plane, and the CGy dimension is less than 45% of the wheelbase ( 510 );
in the riding configuration the motor driven rideable golf cycle has a minimum clearance ( 500 ), and the CGh dimension is 2.75-5 times the minimum clearance ( 500 );
the front tire outer diameter is at least 10% greater than the rear tire outer diameter, and the front tire outer diameter is no more than 160% of the rear tire outer diameter;
the front tire outer diameter is at least 85% of the CGh dimension, and the rear tire outer diameter is no more than the CGh dimension;
the rear tire width is at least 10% greater than the front tire width, and the rear tire width is no more than 160% of the front tire width;
the running board height ( 56 H) is 35-65% of the rear tire outer diameter
the rear tire crown radius is greater than the front tire crown radius; and
the front tire contacts the ground plane directly below the front axle at a contact point ( 530 ), the steering bracket ( 34 ) defines a headset axis ( 520 ), which intersects the ground plane at an axis contact point ( 540 ), a horizontal distance from the contact point ( 530 ) and the axis contact point ( 540 ) is a trail dimension ( 550 ), and the trail dimension ( 550 ) is 1.0″-4.0″.
13 . The motor driven rideable golf cycle of claim 12 , wherein the steering column ( 35 ) has a column axis ( 35 A) and a column axis angle ( 35 AA), the seat support ( 53 ) has a support axis ( 53 A) and a support axis angle ( 53 AA) of less than 90 degrees, and the support axis angle ( 53 AA) is +15 degrees of the column axis angle ( 35 AA).
14 . The motor driven rideable golf cycle of claim 12 , wherein the front tire outer diameter is at least 15% greater than the rear tire outer diameter, the rear tire outer diameter is no more than 90% of the CGh dimension, and the support axis angle ( 53 AA) is at least 70 degrees.
15 . The motor driven rideable golf cycle of claim 12 , wherein the rear tire width is at least 15% greater than the front tire width, and the front tire outer diameter is at least 100% of the CGh dimension.
16 . The motor driven rideable golf cycle of claim 12 , wherein the CGy dimension is +25% of the CGh dimension, the CGy dimension is at least 24% of the wheelbase ( 510 ), the front tire crown radius is at least 30% of the front tire outer diameter, and the rear tire crown radius is at least 200% of the front tire crown radius.
17 . The motor driven rideable golf cycle of claim 12 , wherein the CGy dimension is at least 24% of the wheelbase ( 510 ), the CGy dimension is greater than the CGh dimension, and the trail dimension ( 550 ) is 1.5″.
18 . The motor driven rideable golf cycle of claim 12 , further including a running board ( 56 ) attached to the base segment ( 42 ) and having a top surface defining a running board height ( 56 H) measured vertically above the ground plane, wherein the running board height ( 56 H) is 35-65% of the rear tire outer diameter.
19 . The motor driven rideable golf cycle of claim 12 , wherein in the storage configuration the motor driven rideable golf cycle fits within an imaginary box having a box width, a box height, and a box length, wherein:
a girth is 130 inches or less, where the girth is defined as two times a sum of the box width and the box height; and
a sum of the girth and the box length is 165 inches or less.
20 . A motor driven rideable golf cycle for transporting a rider and a golf bag, comprising:
a front wheel ( 66 ) having a front wheel center, a front wheel axle ( 67 ), and a front tire having a front tire outer diameter, a front tire width, and a front tire crown radius;
a front fork ( 62 ) attached to the front wheel ( 66 );
a steering bracket ( 34 ) to which the front fork ( 62 ) is rotationally engaged;
a steering column ( 35 ) engaging the front fork ( 62 );
a handlebar ( 72 ) attached to the steering column ( 35 ) via a handlebar connector ( 63 ), and having a control unit;
a frame tube ( 32 ) connected to the steering bracket ( 34 ) and extending downward and rearward from the steering bracket ( 34 ) when in a riding configuration;
a rear wheel ( 86 ) having a rear wheel center, a rear wheel axle ( 88 ), an internal hub motor, and a rear tire having a rear tire outer diameter, a rear tire width, and a rear tire crown radius, and establishing a wheelbase ( 510 ) measured between the front wheel center and the rear wheel center, and a vertical wheel plane containing the front wheel center and the rear wheel center, oriented perpendicular to a ground plane, intersecting the steering bracket ( 34 ), and defining a first side and a second side of the vertical wheel plane;
a base segment ( 42 ) attached to the rear wheel ( 86 ) and extending toward the front wheel ( 66 );
a pivoting connector assembly ( 200 ) attached to the base segment ( 42 ) and the frame tube ( 32 ), and capable of locking a relative position of the base segment ( 42 ) and the frame tube ( 32 );
a seat support ( 53 ) extending from the base segment ( 42 ) and comprising an upper seat support ( 53 U) extending from a lower seat support ( 53 L);
a seat ( 52 ) attached to the upper seat support ( 53 U);
a running board ( 56 ) attached to the base segment ( 42 ) and having a top surface defining a running board height ( 56 H) measured vertically above the ground plane;
a rechargeable battery ( 102 ) attached to the frame tube ( 32 ) and in electrical communication with the internal hub motor and the control unit;
an upper bag cradle ( 98 ) attached to the motor driven rideable golf cycle such that it is not symmetrical about the vertical wheel plane;
a bag support base ( 97 ) attached to the motor driven rideable golf cycle such that it is not symmetrical about the vertical wheel plane;
wherein:
the pivoting connector assembly ( 200 ) facilitates the pivoting of the frame tube ( 32 ) toward the seat support ( 53 ) and into a storage configuration;
in the riding configuration the motor driven rideable golf cycle has a center of gravity (CG) located a CGy dimension behind the front axle ( 67 ), measured horizontally parallel to the ground plane, and located a CGh dimension above the ground plane, measured vertically perpendicular to the ground plane, and the CGy dimension is less than 45% of the wheelbase ( 510 );
in the riding configuration the motor driven rideable golf cycle has a minimum clearance ( 500 ), and the CGh dimension is 2.75-5 times the minimum clearance ( 500 );
the front tire outer diameter is at least 10% greater than the rear tire outer diameter, and the front tire outer diameter is no more than 160% of the rear tire outer diameter;
the front tire outer diameter is at least 85% of the CGh dimension, and the rear tire outer diameter is no more than the CGh dimension;
the rear tire width is at least 10% greater than the front tire width, and the rear tire width is no more than 160% of the front tire width;
the running board height ( 56 H) is 35-65% of the rear tire outer diameter the rear tire crown radius is greater than the front tire crown radius;
the front tire contacts the ground plane directly below the front axle at a contact point ( 530 ), the steering bracket ( 34 ) defines a headset axis ( 520 ), which intersects the ground plane at an axis contact point ( 540 ), a horizontal distance from the contact point ( 530 ) and the axis contact point ( 540 ) is a trail dimension ( 550 ), and the trail dimension ( 550 ) is 1.0″-4.0″; and
in the storage configuration the motor driven rideable golf cycle fits within an imaginary box having a box width, a box height, and a box length, wherein:
a girth is 130 inches or less, where the girth is defined as two times a sum of the box width and the box height; and
a sum of the girth and the box length is 165 inches or less.