Granted Patent B1

US 7,185,901 · App. 11/162,097 · Granted Mar 6, 2007

Abstract

Claims (26)

1. A golf cart spindle, for replacement of a production spindle with an axle attached to a golf cart so as to allow mounting of a larger wheel and tire combination on the golf cart, comprising:

a spindle body, said spindle body including a top end and a bottom end, said spindle body including a bolt channel between said top end and bottom end of said spindle body, said spindle body sized to fit existing front spindle supports of the golf cart as a replacement to the production spindle;

a spindle leg extending from said spindle body, said spindle leg having a spindle end attached to said spindle body; said spindle leg having an axle end;

an axle extending from said axle end of said spindle leg; and

said spindle leg extending from said spindle body such that said axle end and said axle is positioned forward and lower than the original position of the axle of the production spindle.

2. The golf cart spindle of claim 1 , wherein said axle extending from said axle end of said spindle leg is positioned about two inches forward than the original position of the axle of the production spindle.

3. The golf cart spindle of claim 1 , wherein said axle extending from said axle end of said spindle leg is positioned about five inches lower than the original position of the axle of the production spindle.

4. The golf cart spindle of claim 2 , wherein said axle extending from said axle end of said spindle leg is positioned about five inches lower than the original position of the axle of the production spindle.

5. The golf cart spindle of claim 1 , wherein said spindle body includes a steering arm attached to said spindle body.

6. The golf cart spindle of claim 1 , wherein said spindle body includes a steering arm that separately attaches to said spindle body.

7. The golf cart spindle of claim 1 , wherein said golf cart spindle includes a brake mounting plate attached near said axle extending from said axle end of said spindle leg.

8. A method of mounting a larger wheel and tire combination on a front of a golf cart, comprising:

removing a production spindle from a front spindle support of the golf cart:

installing onto the front spindle support of the golf cart a new spindle having a spindle body, where the spindle body includes a top end and a bottom end, where the spindle body includes a bolt channel between the top end and bottom end of the spindle body, where the spindle body is sized to fit the front spindle support of the golf cart as a replacement to the production spindle; a spindle leg extending from the spindle body, the spindle leg having a spindle end attached to the spindle body; the spindle leg having an axle end; an axle extending from the axle end of the spindle leg; and the spindle leg extending from the spindle body such that the axle end and the axle is positioned forward and lower than the original position of the axle of the production spindle.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the axle extending from the axle end of the spindle leg is positioned about two inches forward than the original position of the axle of the production spindle.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the axle extending from the axle end of the spindle leg is positioned about five inches lower than the original position of the axle of the production spindle.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the axle extending from the axle end of the spindle leg is positioned about five inches lower than the original position of the axle of the production spindle.

12. A method of making a golf cart replacement spindle to replace a production sized spindle having an axle that is attached to a front spindle support of a golf cart to allow mounting of a larger wheel and tire combination on almost any type of golf cart, the replacement spindle having a spindle body, where the spindle body includes a top end and a bottom end, where the spindle body includes a bolt channel between the top end and bottom end of the spindle body, where the spindle body is sized to fit the front spindle support of the golf cart as a replacement to the production spindle; a spindle leg extending from the spindle body, the spindle leg having a spindle end attached to the spindle body; the spindle leg having an axle end; an axle extending from the axle end of the spindle leg; and the spindle leg extending from the spindle body such that the axle end and the axle is positioned forward and lower than the original position of the axle of the production spindle, comprising:

casting a rough enlarged work piece including an spindle body with a hollow channel to form a bolt channel between a top and bottom of the spindle body, a spindle leg extending away from the spindle body, where the spindle leg has a spindle end attached to the spindle body, where the spindle leg has an axle end that extends forward and lower than the spindle body and where the axle end has enough material to be machined and drilled to receive an axle;

machining the spindle body to fit the front spindle support;

machining the top and bottom of the spindle body to accept a bolt used to secure the spindle body to the front spindle support;

machining the spindle leg if needed to allow clearance of the spindle leg with other parts of the golf cart; and

machining the axle end of the spindle leg and drilling the spindle leg at the proper angle, whereby the machining of the axle end and drilling depends on make and model of the golf cart to receive the replacement spindle.

13. The method of claim 12 , further including machining a grease channel from an outside surface of the spindle body to the bolt channel of the spindle body.

14. The method of claim 12 , further including machining accessory bolt holes in the spindle body to attach accessories to the spindle body.

15. The method of claim 12 , further including machining the top an bottom of the spindle body to receive bushings.

Assignments (8)

Continuity (1)