Collapsible Combination Golf Cart and Bag

Abstract

A collapsible combination golf bag cart ( 10 ) is provided for converting between an expanded mode ( 12 ) for use on a golf course and a compact mode ( 14 ) for storage. The combination ( 10 ) includes an external frame ( 16 ), a club containment subassembly ( 18 ), a front wheel subassembly ( 20 ), a rear wheel subassembly ( 22 ), a handle ( 24 ), and a seat ( 26 ). The combination ( 10 ) is characterized by a front wheel ( 66 ) which rotates and folds underneath in compact mode ( 14 ) and rear wheels ( 106 ) which pivot backward in expanded mode ( 12 ). The external frame ( 16 ) and club containment subassembly/bag ( 18 ) maintain an offset parallelogram shape for optimal club presentation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rolling golf club carrier comprising:
 an external frame including a base plate, at least one rear frame member, a mid-frame bracket and a collar;   a club containment enclosure mated with said external frame;   a front wheel subassembly including a front wheel; and   a rear wheel subassembly including two rear wheels pivotally mounted on said external frame;   wherein said front wheel is attached to said base plate in a manner such that it may be extended forward therefrom for use or folded underneath said base plate for storage; and   wherein said rear wheels may be pivoted rearward for use or set against said base plate for storage.   
     
     
         2 . The rolling golf club carrier of  claim 1  and further including
 a seat extending forward of said club containment enclosure. 
 
     
     
         3 . The rolling golf club carrier of  claim 2  wherein
 said seat pivots upward to lie flat against said club containment enclosure when not in use. 
 
     
     
         4 . The rolling golf club carrier of  claim 2  wherein
 said seat is pivotally supported on said mid-frame bracket. 
 
     
     
         5 . The rolling golf club carrier of  claim 4  wherein
 said mid-frame bracket is generally U-shaped and includes pivot pins situated on opposing sides thereof; and 
 said seat includes a pair of seat lever arms which engage said pivot pins. 
 
     
     
         6 . The rolling golf club carrier of  claim 5  wherein
 said mid-frame bracket includes, on each side thereof, a stop pin situated between said pivot pin and said rear frame member; and 
 said seat lever arms each further include a stop pin slot to engage said stop pin when said seat is pivoted to a horizontal seating position. 
 
     
     
         7 . The rolling club carrier of  claim 1  wherein
 said rear wheels are mounted on telescoping axles in order to provide a wider wheelbase. 
 
     
     
         8 . The rolling club carrier of  claim 1  wherein
 said rear wheels provide, in conjunction with said front wheel, a long and stable wheelbase in said expanded mode. 
 
     
     
         9 . A golf cart and bag combination, comprising
 a cart portion having a frame, three wheels, and a handle; and   a club containment bag portion secured to said cart portion; wherein said combination is interchangeably convertible between a compact storage mode and an expanded use mode.   
     
     
         10 . The golf cart and bag combination of  claim 9 , wherein
 said three wheels include a front wheel and a pair of rear wheels.   
     
     
         11 . The golf cart and bag combination of  claim 9 , wherein
 said frame includes a left rear beam, a right rear beam, a base plate and a mid frame bracket.   
     
     
         12 . The golf cart and bag combination of  claim 9 , wherein
 said club containment bag portion includes a back panel, and upper sheath portion and a lower sheath portion.   
     
     
         13 . The golf cart and bag combination of  claim 9 , and further including
 a collar member being a part of both said cart portion and said club containment bag portion.   
     
     
         14 . The golf cart and bag combination of  claim 11 , and further including
 a seat member pivotally attached to said mid-frame bracket to extend forward therefrom for seating or pivot upward therefrom for storage.   
     
     
         15 . The golf cart and bag combination of  claim 11 , further including
 a collar member being a part of both said cart portion and said club containment bag portion; and wherein   said club containment bag portion includes a back panel, and upper sheath portion and a lower sheath portion.   
     
     
         16 . The golf cart and bag combination of  claim 15 , and further including
 a seat member pivotally attached to said mid-frame bracket to extend forward therefrom for seating or pivot upward therefrom for storage.   
     
     
         17 . The golf cart and bag combination of  claim 16 , wherein
 said base plate and said collar member are parallel and offset so as to define an offset parallelogram.   
     
     
         18 . The golf cart and bag combination of  claim 15 ,
 said rear wheels are pivotally mounted on said frame at a pivot joint; and   a rotator disk is associated with said pivot joint; said rotator disk including an expanded stop detent and a compact stop detent to mate with a stop post which is stationary with respect to said rotator disk in order to define the limits of pivotal positions of said rear wheels.   
     
     
         19 . A collapsible combination golf bag and cart, comprising:
 a bag subassembly including a wheel cavity;   a transport subassembly including a retractable front wheel and a pair of pivotally mounted rear leg assemblies, each with a rear wheel; and   an expansion subassembly facilitating pivoting said front wheel into and out of said wheel cavity and pivoting said rear leg assemblies from against said bag body to rearward and outward therefrom to a stable rolling wheelbase; wherein   said transport and expansion subassemblies can be manipulated to collapse from an expanded mode into a compact mode.   
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 19 , and further including:
 a handle operationally engaged with said rear leg assemblies.