Golf Cart Umbrella Holder

Abstract

A golf cart umbrella and umbrella holder comprises telescoping inner and outer hollow tubes having open upper ends and a collapsible umbrella that fits within the inner tube when collapsed and on the upper end of the inner tube when extended for use. The umbrella holder may be strapped to an upright frame in a golf cart or, preferably, may be employed as the upright frame of a hand-pulled golf cart. The umbrella is provided with a conical handle that wedges into the open inner end of the inner tube. An adjustable gear mechanism is provided between the handle and the top of the umbrella to permit the umbrella to be positioned at various angles with respect to the inner tube.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to golf cart umbrellas and more particularly to an umbrella that may be mounted on an extended telescoping umbrella holder and when not in use may be stored within the collapsed umbrella holder.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Gold umbrellas typically are strapped on the outside of gold bags by means of leather straps. In order to use such a gold umbrella, it is necessary that the golfer carry the umbrella in his hand and carry his bag or pull a golf cart with the other hand. When making a shot or performing some other function which requires both hands, it is necessary to set the umbrella down on the ground, thus exposing the golfer and his gold equipment to the rain.

In some types of golf carts the exposure of the golf clubs to the rain is avoided by providing the cart with a small equipment umbrella which is stored in a receptacle in the cart when not in use and is mounted on the receptacle when raised for use. This umbrella, however, provides no protection for the golfer, as the umbrella is just large enough to cover the clubs and is positioned immediately above the clubs at a low elevation. Thus, the golfer must also carry a conventional golf umbrella to protect himself from the rain.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf cart umbrella and umbrella holder therefor, wherein a full sized golf umbrella may be stored in the holder when not in use and may be mounted on the holder at various heights and positions when raised for use, so as to shield both the golfer and his equipment from the rain.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf cart umbrella and umbrella holder therefor, wherein the holder comprises upright telescoping tubes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf cart umbrella and holder therefor, wherein the telescoping tubes comprise the main shaft or frame of the hand-pulled golf cart.

These and other objects and advantages are achieved by the golf cart umbrella of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, an umbrella and umbrella holder therefor comprise hollow inner and outer telescoping tubes having open upper ends, with the inner tube being slidable in the outer tube from a collapsed position to a raised or extended position. The inner and outer tubes are maintained in a generally upright position by being strapped to the frame of a golf cart or preferably, actually forming the main structural member of a hand-pulled golf cart. A holding mechanism is provided to releaseably hold the inner tube in place when it is raised to its raised position. An umbrella adapted for use in connection with this holder comprises a shaft having a collapsible top on one end and mounting apparatus on the other end for mounting the umbrella in its raised position on the open upper end of the inner tube. The umbrella shaft and top are of a size sufficient to permit the shaft and top to be inserted into and stored in the inner tube via the open end thereof when the top is collapsed.

In the preferred practice of the present invention, the inner and outer tubes are cylindrical members, and the unbrella is mounted on the upper end of the inner member by means of an umbrella handle having a conical outer surface, the conical outer surface of the handle being shaped so that the handle may be wedged into the open upper end of the inner tube.

Another feature of the present invention is that the umbrella comprises an adjustable gear mechanism between the handle and the umbrella shaft, such that the umbrella may be disposed at various angular positions with respect to the angular disposition of the inner tube.

Still another feature of the present invention is that the umbrella handle is shaped so that when the umbrella is stored within the tubular holder, the handle covers the open upper end of the inner tube and presents moisture from entering into the umbrella storage area inside the tube.

With a golf cart umbrella of the foregoing design, even when it is raining and the umbrella is in its raised position, the golfer still has both hands free at all times, while the umbrella is properly positioned over the golfer and the golf clubs. With the apparatus of the present invention it is possible to maintain the umbrella at a height sufficient to permit the golfer, with a modified swing, to make a shot from beneath the umbrella.

These and other advantages and features of the present invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, preferred embodiments of the subject invention are described below and shown in the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hand-pulled golf cart, wherein the golf cart umbrella and holder therefor are incorporated into the golf cart design as the frame or main support shaft thereof.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the golf cart shown in FIG. 1, showing a golf bag mounted thereon and showing the umbrella and umbrella holder mechanism of the present invention at its raised position.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view showing the manner in which the golf cart umbrella and umbrella holder therefor may be mounted to a conventional hand-pulled golf cart.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front view showing the geared adjustment mechanism on the umbrella and the pin lock holding mechanism of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, a hand-pulled golf cart 10 incorporating the umbrella 12 and umbrella holder 14 of the present invention as main structural components thereof is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 3, umbrella 12 and umbrella holder 14 are shown attached to the upright frame 16 of a conventional golf cart 17.

With regard to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, golf cart 10 comprises an outer hollow tubular shaft 18 having an open upper end 20. A bottom bag support 22 is mounted perpendicularly to outer shaft 18 at the bottom end thereof, and bag support arms 24 are mounted to outer tube 18 toward the top portion thereof. A golf bag 26 rests on the bottom bag support 22 and is held in position on the golf cart by means of bag support arms 24. A strap 28 may be extended between the ends of bag support arms 24 and around golf bag 26 in order to maintain the golf bag in fixed position on the golf cart.

A folding, adjustable handle 30 is also attached to outer tube 18 at the upper portion thereof, with an adjustable gear mechanism 32 permitting variation of the height of the handle along a vertical plane. The cart is carried on a pair of rubber wheels 34 which are mounted to outer tube 18 by means of collapsible axles 36. Collapsible axles 36 are provided with hinge mechanisms 38 which allow the wheels to be collapsed for storage purposes.

In addition to outer tube 18, the umbrella holder of the present invention also comprises a hollow tubular inner tube 40, which is slidably mounted in the outer tube in telescoping fashion for movement from a collapsed position, as shown in FIG. 1, to a raised or extended position, as shown in FIG. 2. An appropriate holding mechanism is provided to maintain the inner tube in place when it is raised to its raised position. This holding mechanism may consist merely of the frictional sliding contact between the inner and outer tubes or it may include a pin lock mechanism 42 of conventional design.

Umbrella 12 of the present invention comprises a shaft 44 having a collapsible top 46 mounted on one end thereof and a mounting mechanism 48 on the other end thereof, with the mounting mechanisms being adapted to maintain the umbrella in a raised position on the upper end of the inner tube 40. Preferably, mounting mechanism 48 comprises a handle on the end of the umbrella shaped so as to be engageable with the open upper end of the inner tube 40 in a manner sufficient to maintain the umbrella in a raised position.

In a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, inner tubes 18 and 40 are cylindrical in shape and handle 50 is formed of wood and has a tapered or conical outer surface 52 that is shaped so that handle 50 may be wedged tightly into the open upper end of inner tube 40 in the manner shown in FIG. 2.

Umbrella 12 also comprises a geared adjustment mechanism 54 interposed between handle 50 and shaft 44. As shown in more detail in FIG. 4, geared adjustment mechanism 54 is formed by means of a flattened end 56 on the lower end of shaft 44 and a flattened end 58 on a short shaft 60 extending upwardly from handle 50. Flattened ends 56 and 58 are provided with a meshing geared interface 61 and have mating openings 62 and 64 therethrough. A bolt 66 extends through openings 62 and 64, and a wing nut 68 is threadingly engaged on the end of the bolt. Gear mechanism 54 may be adjusted by loosening wing nut 68, moving shaft 44 to an appropriate angular position, and then retightening wing nut 68.

In the preferred practice of the present invention, outer and inner tubular members 18 and 40 are formed of metal such as steel, aluminum, or the like, and are approximately 36 inches long. Outer tubular member has an outside diameter of approximately 13/4 inches and inner tube 40 is of a size sufficient to permit the inner tube to fit snugly within the interior of outer tube 18.

With components of this size, a golf umbrella of conventional dimensions may be employed, thus making it possible to hold the umbrella at an overall height of about 60 to 90 inches. This provides adequate room for protection of both the golfer and his golf clubs while the golfer is pulling the cart and even permits the golfer to complete a shot while standing under the umbrella.

As indicated above, it is also possible to employ the golf cart umbrella and umbrella holder of the present invention in connection with a conventional hand-pulled golf cart. A golf cart 17 of this type is shown in FIG. 3. Such a golf cart comprises a generally upright frame 16 and various other components which are also present in the golf cart shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. For purposes of illustration, all common elements of both golf carts are shown with the same numerals employed in the FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 embodiment, with the numerals being primed to designate their use in connection with the FIG. 3 embodiment. The attachments to frame 16 of golf cart 17 comprise bag support arms 24', bottom bag support 22', adjustable handle 30', wheels 34', and axles 36'. Hinges 38' are provided to permit the wheels to be folded for storage.

In order to attach the umbrella and umbrella holder of the present invention to golf cart 17, channel-shaped brackets 72 are fastened along the side of outer tube 14, with one bracket being spaced toward the top of tube 14 and the other bracket being spaced toward the bottom of tube 14. Appropriate strap fasteners 74 pass through openings in brackets 72 and are then fastened around frame 16. Conventional tightening mechanisms 76 may be employed to tighten the strap and hold the umbrella mechanism securely to the frame. Conventional radiator clamps having screw tightening mechanisms may be used as the strap fasteners for this purpose.

In addition to the use of the present invention in connection with a golf cart, it is contemplated that the present invention could also be employed in other situations wherein an elevated umbrella holder and a compact umbrella storage compartment are desired. One possible use of such an invention might be in connection with a patio table or beach umbrella, wherein it is a recurring problem to find a convenient yet inconspicuous storage compartment for the umbrella.

It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary illustrations of the preferred practice of the present invention and that various changes, modifications, and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation, and details of the construction of the elements disclosed herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or

1. In a hand-pulled gold cart having a generally upright frame, a pair of wheels mounted at the lower end of the frame, a handle mounted on the frame, and mounting means for holding a golf bag, an improvement comprising:

a hollow outer tube with an open upper end;

a hollow inner tube that fits within the outer tube through the open top thereof and is slidable therein in telescoping fashion from a collapsed position to a raised position, said inner tube having an open upper end;

attachment means for attaching the tubes in a generally upright position to the frame of the golf cart;

holding means adapted to releasably hold the inner tube in place when it has been raised to its raised position;

an umbrella comprising a shaft having a collapsible top on one end and an umbrella handle on the other end, said top and shaft being of a size sufficient to permit the shaft and top to be stored inside the inner tube when the top is collapsed, said umbrella handle being formed so as to be engageable with the outer end of the inner tube in such a manner as to hold the umbrella in a generally upright position when the umbrella is

2. An improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the outer and inner tubes are cylindrical;

the umbrella handle has a conical outer surface, said outer surface being formed such that the umbrella may be mounted on the inner tube by wedging

3. An improvement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the umbrella comprises an adjustable gear means between the shaft and the umbrella handle, said gear means being adapted to vary the angle of inclination of the umbrella shaft

4. An improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the umbrella handle covers the open upper end of the inner tube when the umbrella is stored inside the inner tube so as to prevent moisture from entering the interior of the

5. An improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises brackets fastened to the side of the outer tube and strap fasteners passing through the brackets and round the frame, thereby

6. In a hand-pulled golf cart comprising a generally upright shaft; wheels attached to the shaft by means of collapsible axles; an adjustable, collapsible pulling handle attached to the shaft; a bottom bag support attached to the shaft; and bag support arms attached to the shaft, an improvement wherein the shaft comprises an umbrella and umbrella holder therefor comprising:

a hollow outer tube having an open upper end, the axles, handle, and bag supports of the cart being mounted on said outer tube;

a hollow inner tube that fits within the outer tube through the open top thereof and is slidable therein in telescoping fashion from a collapsed position to a raised position, said inner tube having an open upper end;

holding means adapted to releasably hold the inner tube in place when it has been raised to its raised position; and

an umbrella comprising a shaft having a collapsible top at one end and an umbrella handle at the other end, said umbrella top and shaft being of a size sufficient to permit the shaft and top to be stored inside the inner tube when the top is collapsed, said umbrella handle being formed so as to be engageable with the outer end of the inner tube in such a manner as to hold the umbrella in a raised position when the umbrella is withdrawn from

7. An improvement as claimed in claim 6 wherein:

the outer and inner tubes are cylindrical; and

the umbrella handle has a conical outer surface, said outer surface being formed such that the umbrella handle may be wedged into the outer end of

8. An improvement as claimed in claim 7 wherein the umbrella comprises an adjustable gear means between the shaft and the umbrella handle, said gear means being adapted to vary the angle of inclination of the umbrella shaft

9. An improvement as claimed in claim 3 wherein the holding means comprises

10. An improvement as claimed in claim 8 wherein the holding means comprises a releasable pin lock means adapted to releasably lock the inner

11. An improvement as claimed in claim 6 wherein the umbrella handle covers the open upper end of the inner tube when the umbrella is stored inside the inner tube so as to prevent moisture from entering the interior of the inner tube.