Universal bracket for mounting a variety of golf accessories on a golf cart

Abstract

A bracket for a golf cart is provided for mounting one of a variety of golfing accessories on a golf cart. The bracket includes a golf cart mounting surface being adapted to attach to the structure of the golf cart on both a driver side and passenger side of the golf cart. The bracket also includes an accessory mounting surface being adapted to attach to one of a variety of golfing accessories on both the driver side and passenger side of the golf cart. Additionally, the bracket is provided with at least one and preferably two vertical gussets extending between the cart mounting surface and the accessory mounting surface. The gussets brace against movement of the accessory mounting surface relative to the cart mounting surface.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bracket for mounting accessory items to a golf cart, the bracket comprising: 
 a golf cart mounting surface being configured to permit the bracket to be mounted at a selected position on a selected structure of the golf cart, the golf cart mounting surface being arranged to permit the bracket to be mounted on one of a variety of makes and models of the golf cart without alteration of the golf cart or the cart mounting surface;    an accessory mounting surface connected to the cart mounting surface, the accessory mounting surface being configured to attach to one of a variety of golf accessories without alteration of the one of a variety of golf accessories or the accessory mounting surface, the accessory mounting surface being configured to permit mounting of the one of a variety of golf accessories at a selected location of the one of a variety of golf accessories relative to the golf cart when the cart mounting surface is mounted to the selected position of the bracket relative to the golf cart; and    a gusset extending between said mounting surfaces to resist relative deflection therebetween.    
     
     
         2 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the cart mounting surface has a left mounting area and a right mounting area and the left mounting area is used to attach the bracket to the structure of the golf cart on a driver side of the golf cart and the right mounting area is used to mount the bracket to a structure of the golf cart on a passenger side of the golf cart.  
     
     
         3 . The bracket of  claim 2 , wherein the left and right mounting areas of the cart mounting surface each include a hole pattern and each of the hole patterns share a common slotted hole.  
     
     
         4 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory mounting surface has a first mounting area and a second mounting area and the first mounting area is used to attach the one of a variety of golf accessories to the bracket when the bracket is mounted on the driver side of the golf cart and the second mounting area is used to attach the one of a variety of golf accessories to the bracket when the bracket is mounted to the passenger side of the golf cart.  
     
     
         5 . The bracket of  claim 4 , wherein the accessory mounting surface includes a plurality of holes that are arranged to permit the one of a variety of golf accessories to be attached to the bracket at selected vertical and lateral positions of the one of a variety of golf accessories relative to the golf cart.  
     
     
         6 . The bracket of  claim 5 , wherein the first mounting area of accessory mounting surface includes a first hole pattern that is used to mount the one of a variety of golf accessories to the bracket when the bracket is attached to the driver side of the golf cart, and the second mounting area of the accessory mounting surface includes a second hole pattern that is used to mount the one of a variety of golf accessories to the bracket when the bracket is attached to the passenger side of the golf cart.  
     
     
         7 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the one of a variety of golf accessories includes a golf ball washer.  
     
     
         8 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the one of a variety of golf accessories includes a basket.  
     
     
         9 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the one of a variety of golf accessories includes a golf club washer.  
     
     
         10 . The bracket of  claim 1  wherein the one of a variety of golf accessories includes a container for beverages.  
     
     
         11 . A bracket for mounting one of a variety of golfing accessories on a golf cart wherein the golf cart has a mounting means for attaching a rear basket to a structure of the golf cart, a rear golf bag storage area and a strap for retaining a golf bag in the rear golf bag storage area, the bracket comprising: 
 a golf cart mounting surface being adapted to attach to the structure of the golf cart on both a driver side and passenger side of the golf cart outboard of the rear basket using the mounting means for mounting the rear basket to the structure of the golf cart;    an accessory mounting surface connected to the cart mounting surface, the accessory mounting surface being adapted to attach to one of a variety of golfing accessories on both the driver side and passenger side of the golf cart outboard of the rear basket;    and a gusset extending between the golf cart mounting surface and the accessory mounting surface.    
     
     
         12 . The bracket of  claim 11 , further comprising a horizontal spacing member intermediate the cart mounting surface and the accessory mounting surface, the horizontal spacing member spacing the accessory mounting surface laterally away from the cart mounting surface whereby the one of the variety of golf accessories is spaced away from the structure of the golf cart and the golf bag storage area thereby making the one of a variety of golfing accessories accessible by a person without interference from the structure of the golf cart and the golf bag retaining means.  
     
     
         13 . The bracket of  claim 11 , further comprising a vertical extension member intermediate the cart mounting surface and the accessory mounting surface, the vertical extension member being obliquely angled to the cart mounting surface and extending adjacent to the rear basket as the vertical extension member depends from the cart mounting surface, the vertical extension member abutting the rear basket thereby preventing the bracket from substantially moving relative to the cart mounting surface.  
     
     
         14 . The bracket of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting means for mounting the rear basket to the golf carts includes mechanical fasteners and the cart mounting surface is configured to receive at least one of the mechanical fasteners when the bracket is attached to the structure of the golf cart.  
     
     
         15 . A bracket for mounting one of a variety of golfing accessories on a golf cart, the bracket comprising: 
 a golf cart mounting surface being adapted to attach to the structure of the golf cart on either of a driver side and passenger side of the golf cart;    an accessory mounting surface being adapted to attach to one of a variety of golfing accessories on either the driver side and passenger side of the golf cart; and    at least one vertical gusset extending between the cart mounting surface and the accessory mounting surface, the gusset bracing against movement of the accessory mounting surface relative to the cart mounting surface.    
     
     
         16 . The bracket of  claim 15 , further comprising a vertical extension member and a horizontal spacing member intermediate the cart mounting surface and the accessory mounting surface, the vertical extension member depending from the cart mounting surface and the horizontal spacing member spacing the accessory mounting surface laterally away from the structure of the golf cart, the gusset attaching to the cart mounting surface, horizontal spacing member and vertical extension member.  
     
     
         17 . The bracket of  claim 16 , wherein the vertical extension member is obliquely angled to the cart mounting surface and abuts the structure of the golf cart as it depends from the cart mounting surface thereby preventing movement of the bracket relative to the golf cart.  
     
     
         18 . The bracket of  claim 16  wherein the horizontal spacing member spaces the accessory mounting surface laterally away from the cart mounting surface whereby the one of the variety of golf accessories is spaced away from the structure of the golf cart thereby making the one of a variety of golfing accessories accessible by a person without interference from the structure of the golf cart.  
     
     
         19 . The bracket of  claim 16 , wherein the cart mounting surface, vertical extension member, horizontal spacing member, gusset, and accessory mounting surface are formed monolithically.  
     
     
         20 . The bracket of  claim 16 , wherein the cart mounting surface, vertical extension member, horizontal spacing member, and accessory mounting surface are formed monolithically.  
     
     
         21 . The bracket of  claim 16 , wherein the cart mounting surface, vertical extension member, horizontal spacing member, and accessory mounting surface are formed from a single blank stock piece of material.  
     
     
         22 . The bracket of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one gusset is a triangular shaped planar member.