Accessory Rack for a Golf Cart

Abstract

An accessory rack for a golf cart is shown for use in a golf cart having a fold-out rear seat. One or more of the racks can be installed without modification of the golf cart. The rack is secured to the golf cart in such a way as to allow a golf bag to be securely attached within the fold-out seat area at a desired height or angle to facilitate easier club retrieval and selection while keeping the bag secure when the cart is in motion. The rack can also be easily attached and removed for easy transfer and storage.

1 : An accessory rack for a golf cart for use with a golf cart having a fold-out rear seat area in the form of a flat utility transport area defined between side rails, the accessory rack comprising:
 a centrally located support beam;   a pair of bag receiving elements spaced apart at each of opposite ends of the centrally located support beam;   a pivot leg for attaching the centrally located support beam to a selected side rail of the transport area;   wherein the centrally located support beam has a foot piece at an outer extent thereof opposite the pivot leg which rests on the flat utility transport area defined between the side rails when the rack is in place on the golf cart, the support beam also having a bag support plate which extends from the foot piece for supporting an end of a golf bag in use.   
     
     
         2 : An accessory rack for a golf cart for use with a golf cart having a fold-out rear seat area in the form of a flat utility transport area defined between side rails, the accessory rack comprising:
 a centrally located support beam;   a pair of bag receiving elements spaced apart at each of opposite ends of the centrally located support beam, the bag receiving elements defining a pair of generally U-shaped openings;   a pivot leg for attaching the centrally located support beam to a selected side rail of the transport area, the pivot leg having an inner extent attached to the support beam at a pivot point and having an oppositely arranged outer extent which terminates in an attachment bracket which engages the selected side rail of the transport area of the cart;   wherein the centrally located support beam has a longitudinal foot piece arranged generally perpendicular to the support beam at an outer extent thereof opposite the pivot leg which rests on the flat utility transport area defined between the side rails when the rack is in place on the golf cart, the support beam also having a bag support plate which extends upwardly from the foot piece in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the support beam for supporting an end of a golf bag in use.   
     
     
         3 : The accessory rack for a golf cart of  claim 2 , wherein the support beam forms an angle with respect to the flat utility transport area of the cart when in place, the angle being selected to orient a golf bag at a convenient angle to allow a player to select a desired club from the golf bag during play. 
     
     
         4 : The accessory rack for a golf cart of  claim 3 , wherein the angle that the support beam forms with respect to the flat utility transport area of the cart is in the range from about 30 to 60 degrees. 
     
     
         5 : The accessory rack for a golf cart of  claim 4 , wherein a pair of accessory racks are mounted in an oppositely arranged fashion in the flat utility transport area of the golf cart. 
     
     
         6 : The accessory rack for a golf cart of  claim 2 , wherein the attachment bracket of the pivot leg is secured to the selected side rail of the golf cart by a threaded bolt which is received within a threaded opening located in the side rail. 
     
     
         7 : A method of securing one or more golf bags in a golf cart where the golf cart has a fold-out rear seat area that forms a flat utility transport area defined between side rails when folded-out, the method comprising the steps of:
 first, folding-out the rear seat area of the golf cart to form the flat utility transport area;   providing an accessory rack for securing a golf bag within the utility transport area so formed, the accessory rack having a centrally located support beam and a pair of bag receiving elements in spaced apart fashion at each of opposite ends of the centrally located support beam, the bag receiving elements defining a pair of generally U-shaped openings;   providing a pivot leg for attaching the centrally located support beam to a selected side rail of the transport area by a pivot leg, the pivot leg having an inner extent attached to the support beam at a pivot point and having an oppositely arranged outer extent which terminates in an attachment bracket which engages the selected side rail of the transport area of the cart;   wherein the centrally located support beam has a longitudinal foot piece arranged generally perpendicular to the support beam at an outer extent thereof opposite the pivot leg which rests on the flat utility transport area defined between the side rails when the rack is in place on the golf cart, the support beam also having a bag support plate which extends upwardly and slightly outwardly from the foot piece for supporting an end of a golf bag in use;   mounting the accessory rack within the utility transport area of the cart;   placing the golf bag on the accessory rack within the U-shaped openings on the support beam.   
     
     
         8 : The method of  claim 7 , wherein the support beam forms an angle with respect to the flat utility transport area of the cart when in place, the angle being selected to orient a golf bag at a convenient angle to allow a player to select a desired club from the golf bag during play. 
     
     
         9 : The method of  claim 8 , wherein the angle that the support beam forms with respect to the flat utility transport area of the cart is in the range from about 30 to 60 degrees. 
     
     
         10 : The method of  claim 7 , wherein a pair of accessory racks are mounted in an oppositely arranged fashion in the flat utility transport area of the golf cart.