Collapsible golf bag cart with improved folding mechanism

Abstract

A collapsible golf bag cart with improved folding mechanism ( 10 ) is provided for converting between an expanded mode ( 14 ) for use on a golf course and a compact mode ( 16 ) for storage. A pivot joint subsystem ( 26 ) includes a rotating reciprocal gear assembly ( 120 ). The cart ( 10 ) is characterized by having equal length base struts ( 34 ), torso struts ( 32 ) and leg struts ( 70 ). Handle grips ( 138 ) are mounted on grip pivots ( 140 ) so as to be lockable in multiple vertical orientations for the user to adjust for optimally controlling the cart ( 10 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible golf bag cart, comprising:
 a pivot joint including a rotatable transverse central axle extending therethrough;   a base frame supporting said pivot joint at its proximal end and having a front wheel structure pivotally attached to its distal end;   a torso frame connected at its distal end to said pivot joint and pivotally connected to a handle at its distal end; and   a pair of rear wheel suspensions pivotally connected to opposing ends of said transverse axle; wherein   rotating said transverse central axle in one direction causes said rear wheel suspensions to expand outward and rearward with respect to said pivot into an expanded mode and rotating said central axle in the opposite direction causes said rear wheel suspensions to retract forward and inward with respect to said pivot joint into a compact mode.   
     
     
         2 . The golf bag cart of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said torso frame is operationally engaged with said transverse central axle through a rotational reversing gear system such that rotating said torso frame about said pivot joint causes said central axle to rotate in the opposite direction.   
     
     
         3 . The golf bag cart of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said rotatable transverse central axle includes a reciprocal rotational gear structure.   
     
     
         4 . The golf bag cart of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said reciprocal rotational gear structure includes a ring gear, a first reversing gear, a second reversing gear, and a central gear secured to said transverse axle.   
     
     
         5 . The golf bag cart of  claim 5 , and further including:
 a stop wedge portion of said central gear;   an expansion limiter to limit rotation in one direction by abutting against said stop wedge; and   a compact limiter to limit rotation in the opposite direction by abutting against said stop wedge.   
     
     
         6 . The golf bag cart of  claim 1 , and further including:
 a pivot lock lever mounted on said torso frame; and   a rotationally stationary component secured to said base frame, said rotationally stationary component having an expansion stop and a compact stop for engaging said pivot lock lever at limits of rotation.   
     
     
         7 . The golf bag cart of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each said rear wheel suspension includes a leg strut pivotally attached near its proximal end to a strut bracket portion of a mounting plate secured on said transverse axle and attached to a rear wheel axle at its distal end, said leg strut including an extension portion opposite said pivot bracket from said rear axle;   a first slide post extending through said mounting plate to engage said leg strut intermediate said strut bracket and said rear axle;   a second slide post extending through said mounting plate to engage said extension portion of said leg strut; and   a ramp structure, stationary with respect to said transverse axle, for engaging the opposite ends of said first slide post and said second slide post to force said leg strut to pivot outward at its distal when said transverse axle is rotated in one direction and to force said leg strut to pivot inward at its distal end when said transverse axle is rotated in the opposite direction.   
     
     
         8 . The golf bag cart of  claim 7 , wherein:
 each said rear wheel subsystem further includes a parallel link pivotally extending between said mounting plate and said rear wheel axle to form a parallelogram linkage with said leg strut.   
     
     
         9 . A collapsible golf bag cart system, comprising:
 a central pivot joint;   a base frame connected to said central pivot joint;   a torso frame rotationally connected to said central pivot joint; and   a rear wheel subassembly rotationally connected to said central pivot joint; wherein   each of said base frame, said torso frame and said rear wheel subassembly has an approximately equal longitudinal length.   
     
     
         10 . The collapsible golf bag cart system of  claim 9 , and further including
 a handle pivotally connected to said torso frame at a location displaced from said pivot joint.   
     
     
         11 . The collapsible golf bag cart system of  claim 9 , wherein
 said pivot joint includes a transverse central axle; and   said torso frame is operationally engaged with said transverse central axle through a rotational reversing gear system such that rotating said torso frame about said pivot joint causes said central axle to rotate in the opposite direction.   
     
     
         12 . The collapsible golf bag cart system of  claim 11 , wherein
 said rear wheel subassembly rotates in conjunction with said transverse central axle.   
     
     
         13 . The collapsible golf bag cart system of  claim 12 , and further including
 a leg deployment ramp and pair of slide posts situated intermediate said central pivot joint on each side thereof; and wherein   said rear wheel subassembly is caused to expand laterally when said transverse central axle is rotated in one direction and to retract laterally when said transverse central axle is rotated in the opposite direction.   
     
     
         14 . A handle assembly for a golf bag cart, comprising
 a handle frame; and   a pair of grip handles mounted on associated grip pivots situated on opposite sides of said handle frame, wherein   each said grip handle may be rotated on its associate grip pivot so as to extend in a range from downward, laterally outward, and upward from said handle frame.   
     
     
         15 . The handle assembly of  claim 14 , wherein
 each said grip handle engages a grip pivot on said handle frame.   
     
     
         16 . The handle assembly of  claim 14 , wherein
 said grip pivot has a range of motion extending from directly vertically downward, through straight outward to directly vertically outward and can be set in place in positions within said range.   
     
     
         17 . The handle assembly of  claim 14 , wherein
 said grip pivot is a ratchet structure.