Storage compartment for rental golf cart
View Patent ↗A rental golf cart includes a permanent or removeable storage container having one or more climate-controlled interior compartments. The storage container may be powered by an internal battery, the golf carts, or both. Access to the climate-controlled interior compartments may be controlled by a control panel or sensors in a handle to the compartment. The container may also include a video camera as well as a visual display. The removable storage container may be removably attached to an ancillary docking station which may be used to replace retail items removed from the storage container during rental of the golf cart. Sensors within the interior compartments may detect when retail items are inserted and removed from the storage compartment.
1. A climate-controlled, storage compartment for rental golf cart comprising:
a golf cart having an electrical power and communication port;
a climate-controlled storage container attached to the electrical power and communication port and storing a plurality of removable retail objects;
wherein the climate-controlled storage container includes sensors for detecting the presence of retail items within the container, and the climate-controlled storage container is capable of recording and transmitting information regarding the number and type of retail items removed from the container while the container is attached to the rental golf cart;
wherein the climate-controlled storage container includes a handle having a blood alcohol level sensor that analyzes the sweat on the person's hand who is opening the compartment, and which does not permit opening of the storage container when the sensor detects a blood alcohol level in the golfer's sweat above a predetermined amount.
2. The climate-controlled storage compartment for rental golf cart of claim 1 wherein the climate-controlled container is removably attachable to an ancillary docking station.
3. The climate-controlled storage compartment for rental golf cart of claim 2 wherein the climate-controlled storage container includes a coded lock and does not permit opening of the storage container unless a predetermined code is entered.
4. The climate-controlled, storage compartment for rental golf cart of claim 3 wherein the climate-controlled storage container includes an alarm, such as one or more beeps, when the blood alcohol sensor in the handle detects a blood alcohol level that has not yet reached but is approaching a predetermined amount that would prevent operation of the golf cart.
5. The climate-controlled, storage compartment for rental golf cart of claim 4 wherein the climate-controlled storage container includes a camera that records a video or still shot image when a retail item is removed from the container.
6. The climate-controlled, storage compartment for rental golf cart of claim 5 wherein an ancillary docking station automatically replaces retail items removed from the storage container while the container is attached to the rental golf cart.
7. A climate-controlled, storage compartment for rental golf cart comprising:
a golf cart having an electrical power and communication port;
a built in climate-controlled storage container attached to the electrical power and communication port and storing a plurality of removable retail objects;
wherein the climate-controlled storage container includes sensors for detecting the presence of retail items within the container, and the climate-controlled storage container is capable of recording and transmitting information regarding the number and type of retail items removed from the container while the container is attached to the rental golf cart;
wherein the climate-controlled storage container includes a handle having a blood alcohol level sensor that analyzes the sweat on the person's hand who is opening the compartment, and which does not permit opening of the storage container when the sensor detects a blood alcohol level in the golfer's sweat above a predetermined amount.
8. The climate-controlled, storage compartment for rental golf cart of claim 7 wherein the climate-controlled storage container includes a coded lock and does not permit opening of the storage container unless a predetermined code is entered.
9. The climate-controlled, storage compartment for rental golf cart of claim 7 wherein the climate-controlled storage container includes an alarm, such as one or more beeps, when the blood alcohol sensor in the handle detects a blood alcohol level that has not yet reached but is approaching a predetermined amount that would prevent operation of the golf cart.
10. The climate-controlled, storage compartment for rental golf cart of claim 9 wherein the climate-controlled storage container includes a camera that records a video or still shot image when a retail item is removed from the container.
11. The climate-controlled, storage compartment for rental golf cart of claim 10 wherein an ancillary docking station automatically replaces retail items removed from the storage container while the container is attached to the rental golf cart.
12. A method of manufacturing a climate-controlled, storage compartment for rental golf cart comprising:
providing a golf cart having an electrical power and communication port;
affixing a climate-controlled storage container to the electrical power and communication port;
stocking a plurality of removable retail objects inside the climate-controlled storage container;
wherein the climate-controlled storage container includes sensors for detecting the presence of retail items within the container, and the climate-controlled storage container is capable of recording and transmitting information regarding the number and type of retail items removed from the container while the container is attached to the rental golf cart;
wherein the climate-controlled storage container includes a handle having a blood alcohol level sensor that analyzes the sweat on the person's hand who is opening the compartment, and which does not permit opening of the storage container when the sensor detects a blood alcohol level in the golfer's sweat above a predetermined amount.
13. The method of manufacturing a climate-controlled, storage compartment for rental golf cart of claim 12 wherein the climate-controlled storage container includes a coded lock and does not permit opening of the storage container unless a predetermined code is entered.
14. The method of manufacturing a climate-controlled, storage compartment for rental golf cart of claim 13 wherein the climate-controlled storage container includes an alarm, such as one or more beeps, when the blood alcohol sensor in the handle detects a blood alcohol level that has not yet reached but is approaching a predetermined amount that would prevent operation of the golf cart.
15. The method of manufacturing a climate-controlled, storage compartment for rental golf cart of claim 14 wherein the climate-controlled storage container includes a camera that records a video or still shot image when a retail item is removed from the container.
16. The method of manufacturing a climate-controlled, storage compartment for rental golf cart of claim 15 wherein an ancillary docking station automatically replaces retail items removed from the storage container while the container is attached to the rental golf cart.