US20060021114A1

US20060021114A1 - Harness for towing a golfer's pull cart

Info

Publication number: US20060021114A1
Application number: US10/886,062
Authority: US
Inventors: David Engel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-08
Filing date: 2004-07-08
Publication date: 2006-02-02

Abstract

A Harness for towing a golf cart includes an adaptable part, which attaches to the different types of handles of golf bag pull carts. Another adaptable part of the Harness fits around the waist/hip of any size golfer and is easily and quickly attached and detached to facilitate use of the Harness while walking the golf course and playing golf. A final adaptable part of the Harness connects the two previously mentioned parts to one another and adjusts for pull cart balance characteristics and golfers' physical dimensions and stride lengths. Using this Harness facilitates comfortable walking with upper body completely unencumbered by carrying a golf bag or grasping the handle of the pull cart.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This harness is designed for use on a golf course, where a golfer needs to carry or pull his/her golf bag containing clubs and necessary accoutrements to play the game.
Carrying golf bags applies stress to the human body, especially the upper torso and spine. This stress may affect the ability to accurately swing a golf club and inhibit effectiveness of the golfer and consequently, enjoyment of the game.
Pulling or pushing a golf cart designed to hold the golf bag occupies one or both hands and interrupts the natural stride or gait of the human body. When the hips and legs swing while walking, the shoulders and arms naturally swing in counterbalance to the hips and legs. Anchoring one or both arms to a cart reduces the free motion of the upper body and disrupts the gait.
Riding in a golf cart, onto which a golfer has placed his golf bag, reduces the exercise offered by the sport. Using a motorized pull cart is more expensive than a manual pull cart.
This invention allows a golfer to benefit from the exercise and enjoyment of walking the golf course and the economy of using a pull cart while playing, without unnecessarily stressing his/her body.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This harness is a devise for towing a golfer's pull cart. One end of the harness attaches to the handle of various types of pull carts and the other end around the golfer's waist or hips and is adjustable for waist/hip size. It attaches and detaches with ease, quickly accommodating the demands of stopping to hit a golf shot, followed by walking to the ball to hit again. Between the two ends is an adjustable strap, which can accommodate different pull cart dimensions, handles and balance characteristics and golfers' height and stride length. This apparatus leaves the golfer's torso, shoulders and arms able to move freely while walking between shots on the golf course.

BRIEF DESRCIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a view of both sides of Part One of the Harness, (which attaches the Harness to the handle of the golfer's pull cart) including the labeled components of Part One.
FIG. 2 is a compressed view of Part Two of the Harness, (which attaches the Harness to the golfer's waist) including the labeled components of Part Two.
FIG. 3 is a view of Part Three of the Harness, (which attaches Part One to Part Two and adjusts for various pull cart and golfers' characteristics) including the labeled components of Part Three.
FIG. 4 is a view of the fully assembled Harness, labeling the three parts comprising the Harness.
FIG. 5 is a view of the Harness in use with a golfer and pull cart, including a golf bag mounted on the pull cart.
FIG. 6 is a close-up of the Harness in use featuring the Harness attachment to the golfer and the handle of the pull cart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device is easily manufactured by sewing nylon webbed strapping onto plastic and metal fasteners and rings, including hook and loop fastening apparatus. The harness is constructed of three parts, which are affixed to one another.
Part One provides a means by which the harness attaches to the pull cart (FIG. 1). It includes a 12-inch length of one-inch wide nylon strap (‘A’). One end of the nylon strap is passed through a metal D-ring (‘B’) and folded back, overlapping 1.5 inches and sewn fast to itself. The entire side of the strap with the overlapped section is covered (by sewing), with ⅝ths-inch wide hook material (the ‘male’ portion of hook and loop fastener, ‘C’). On the other surface of this strap is sewn a three-inch strip of the loop material (the ‘female’ portion of hook and loop fastener, ‘D’) at the D-ring end of the strap.
Part Two of the harness (FIG. 2) includes of a 48-inch length of one-inch wide nylon strap (‘E’). One end of the strap passes through the cross member of the ‘female’ end of a plastic two piece, quick-release buckle (‘F’) for one-inch strapping. A two-inch length overlaps the strap and is sewn fast to itself. (The overlapping strap faces the ‘inside’ of this belt section of the harness.) The other end of the strap is threaded over the center cross member and through both rings of a metal double D-ring fastener (‘G’). (This fastener will be positioned in the center of the golfer's back as s/he wears this strap around her/his waist or hips with the center cross member, exposed on the ‘outside’ of the belt, serving as an attachment point for Part Three of the harness.) Next, this end of the strap passes through both rings and over the center cross member of a plastic double D-ring strap length adjuster (‘H’). (The center cross piece is exposed on the ‘inside’ of the belt.) Next, the strap passes through the cross member of the ‘male’ end of the plastic quick-release buckle (‘I’), doubles back upon itself and passes again through the plastic double D-ring strap length adjuster (‘H’), to the ‘outside’ of the other layer of strap. In this configuration, the strap can accommodate many waist/hip sizes of different golfers. (A longer length of nylon strap may be used for golfers with even larger waist/hip sizes.) In FIG. 2, the ‘outside’ of the loop faces the viewer.
Part Three of the harness (FIG. 3) provides a means of attaching Parts One and Two of the harness together, towing the pull cart and adjusting the distance between the golfer and the pull cart, to accommodate different golfer statures and pull cart characteristics. It includes of a 30-inch length of one-inch wide nylon strap (‘J’). One end of the strap is passed through the proximal cross member of a plastic strap length adjusting fastener (‘K’) and overlapped upon itself 2 inches and sewn fast to itself. (The overlapped section of the strap is on the ‘inside’ of this section.) The other end passes through the middle cross member of the metal double D-ring exposed on Part Two (FIG. 2, ‘G’) so that cross member is now on the ‘inside’ of the loop formed by Part Three. Next, this end passes through another metal double D-ring strap length adjuster (‘L’) with the cross member exposed on the ‘inside’ of the loop formed by this strap. The strap then passes through the metal D-ring of Part One (FIG. 1, ‘B’). Next, the strap passes beneath, then doubles back over the distal cross member of the plastic strap adjusting double D-ring (to which the other end of this strap is sewn, ‘K’), back through the metal D-ring from Part One of the harness (FIG. 1, ‘B’), on the outside of the other layer of this strap. Finally, this end passes through the metal double D-ring on the outside of the previous layer of itself (‘L’).
Part One of the Harness attaches to the pull cart handle by wrapping around the handle (with the hook and loop fastener on the outside of the wrap), threading through the D-ring, then fastening to itself by pressing the hook portion onto the loop portion of the hook and loop fastener. After adjusting Part Two to the appropriate length to accommodate the golfer's waist or hips, it attaches to the golfer by wrapping Part Two around the waist/hips and inserting the male end of the quick release buckle into the female end. Detaching Part Two requires compressing the inserted male end of the quick release buckle exposed within the female end. Part Three is adjusted for length so that the pull cart remains tipped forward and balanced as the golfer tows it.

Claims

1. A Harness for towing a golfer's pull cart, which attaches to the handle of the pull-cart and around the golfer's waist/hips, comprising of:

A part which attaches to the handle of the pull cart by means of wrapping around the pull-cart handle and securing itself with hook and loop fastener:

An adjustable part which straps around the golfer's waist, securing the Harness to the golfer, designed for quick attachment and removal:

An adjustable part, which attaches to the preceding two parts, providing a means of securing the part attached to the pull cart handle to the part strapped around the golfer's waist and adjusting to different balance and handle characteristics of the pull cart and height and stride lengths of different golfers.