Foldable Golf Cart Rack With Locking Pivot for Rear Area Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Golf carts have limited space for transporting objects due to the rear seat grab bar obstructing the rear area, necessitating a solution to enhance hauling capacity while maintaining usability and safety.

Innovation Solution

A foldable and lockable golf cart rack that extends from the rear seat grab bar, with pivotable and telescoping members secured by locking devices, allowing horizontal or vertical positioning to optimize space usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a fixed rack is installed on the rear seat grab bar, then hauling capacity is improved, but the grab bar obstructs the rear area and reduces usability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehauling capacityVSAvoidrear area usability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rack members are made movable rather than fixed, allowing them to be folded between the support members when not in use. This dynamic configuration enables the rack to provide hauling capacity when needed while clearing the rear area for normal golf cart usability when folded away.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If a foldable rack is installed, then rear area usability is improved, but the rack may become unstable or misplaced during transportation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverear area usabilityVSAvoidrack stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking device is pre-configured to automatically secure the rack members in their extended position when objects are placed on them. The retainer is also positioned to automatically engage and lock the rack members in place, ensuring stability before transportation begins without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The locking device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the rack members and the support members, providing a reliable connection that ensures stability during transportation while allowing easy folding when unlocked.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If the rack members are extended for hauling, then hauling capacity is improved, but the rack increases visibility and obstruction when not in use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehauling capacityVSAvoidrear area obstruction

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The rack members transition between extended and folded positions based on usage needs. When extended, they provide maximum hauling capacity; when folded between the support members, they minimize obstruction and visibility in the rear area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If a locking device is added to secure the rack, then rack stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverack stabilityVSAvoidrack structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking device serves as a simple intermediary component that provides reliable stability without significantly complicating the overall rack structure. It mediates between the need for stability during transportation and the simplicity of the foldable design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20260054656A1Foldable and lockable golf cart rack

Publication Date: 2026.02.26 CAPRON GERARD

AI summary

A foldable and lockable golf cart rack that extends from a rear seat grab bar of a golf cart. A pair of foldable rack members extend generally horizontally from the support members, and are secured relative to vertical support members by a locking device. The rack members are rotatable relative to a pivot point by disabling the locking device. The rack members are pivoted to so as to be positioned and secured in a second configuration by a retainer that is located below the pivot point.