Windshield-Mounted Beverage Carrier for Golf Cart Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf cart users face difficulties in storing and maintaining beverages at a desired temperature, as existing cup holders do not accommodate temperature control, and hard-sided coolers are inconveniently located at the rear, making it hard to access and secure drinks while driving.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle accessory carrier system that mounts to the windshield frame of a golf cart, featuring a mounting bar with interlocking engaging elements and storage containers that can be secured with fastening systems like VELCRO or mechanical key/keyway fasteners, allowing for adjustable height and secure storage of beverages while maintaining temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hard-sided coolers are secured to the back of the cart, then beverages can be stored, but access requires exiting the cart and walking to the rear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the storage container from the rear of the cart to the windshield frame area, utilizing previously underutilized space in a different spatial dimension. This repositioning brings the cooler within arm's reach of the driver, eliminating the need to exit the cart while maintaining adequate storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is divided into separate components: a mounting bar attached to the windshield frame, and a removable mounting bracket that secures the cooler to the bar. This segmentation allows flexible positioning and easy removal of the cooler while maintaining secure attachment during use.
2Reliability
If hard-sided coolers are used, then beverages can be stored, but the interior is unstructured and items can tip or break
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dividers and securing structures only in specific locations within the cooler interior where items are most likely to shift or break. Rather than making the entire interior structured, localized support elements provide stability for bottles and cans while maintaining the simplicity and flexibility of the overall hard-sided cooler design.
3Ease of operation
If soft-sided coolers are used, then items can be stored, but they are located at the rear and difficult to retrieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the storage container from the rear of the cart to the windshield frame area, utilizing previously underutilized space in a different spatial dimension. This repositioning brings the cooler within arm's reach of the driver, eliminating the need to exit the cart while maintaining adequate storage capacity.
4Temperature
If cup holders are used, then beverages can be held, but temperature control is not maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of a cooler (temperature control) with a cup holder (beverage access). The mounting bar system can accommodate multiple containers including coolers with ice, and the structure is designed to hold various beverage containers at different positions, merging refrigeration capacity with convenient serving positions.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle accessory carrier system for mounting to opposing upright members of a windshield frame of the vehicle includes a mounting bar extending between and operably connected to the opposing upright members, mounting clips for mounting the mounting bar to the opposing upright members, the mounting clips operably connecting the mounting bar to the opposing upright members, and one or more storage containers removably mounted to the mounting bar. A fastening system removably attaches the storage containers to the mounting bar.