US-12616885-B2 - Basket drainage system

US12616885B2US 12616885 B2US12616885 B2US 12616885B2US-12616885-B2

Abstract

A basket for a vehicle, wherein the basket comprises a solid bottom having one or more fluid egress port disposed therein. The basket additionally comprises one or more hollow drain spout extending from an underside of the bottom of the basket, each spout extending from and fluidly connected to a respective one of the one or more fluid egress port.

Inventors

Michael O'Brien Dalton
Matthew Daniel Wilson
Rebecca Ann Hassan

Assignees

TEXTRON INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240108

Claims (14)

1 . A sweater basket drainage system for a golf car, said sweater basket drainage system comprising: at least one strut boot, each strut boot mountable within a respective one of at least one strut aperture formed in a rear deck of the golf car; and a sweater basket, wherein the sweater basket comprises: a solid bottom having one or more fluid egress port disposed therein; and one or more hollow drain spout extending from an underside of the bottom of the sweater basket, each drain spout extending from and fluidly connected to a respective one of the one or more fluid egress port, wherein each drain spout is structured to direct fluid from within the sweater basket through a respective one of the one or more strut aperture to a ground surface beneath the golf car.
2 . The sweater basket drainage system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one strut boot comprises a spout funnel formed in a sidewall thereof.
3 . The sweater basket drainage system of claim 2 , wherein each drain spout comprises a hollow truncated neck structured to be inserted into the spout funnel of a respective one of the at least one strut boot such that fluid will flow from within the sweater basket into an interior of the respective one of the at least one strut boot and be directed by the respective one of the at least one strut boot through the respective one of the at least one strut aperture to the ground surface.
4 . The sweater basket drainage system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one strut boot comprises a spout aperture formed in a sidewall thereof.
5 . The sweater basket drainage system of claim 4 , wherein each drain spout comprises a hollow elongated finger structured to be inserted through the spout aperture of a respective one of the at least one strut boot such that fluid will flow from within the sweater basket into an interior of the respective one of the at least one strut boot and be directed by the respective one of the at least one strut boot through the respective one of the at least one strut aperture to the ground surface.
6 . The sweater basket drainage system of claim 4 , wherein each drain spout comprises a hollow elongated finger structured to be inserted through the spout aperture of the respective one of the at least one strut boot and through a spout orifice formed in a sidewall of a basket support strut extending through the respective one of the at least one strut boot such that fluid will flow from within the sweater basket into an interior lumen of the basket support strut and be directed by the basket support strut through the respective one of the at least one strut aperture to the ground surface.
7 . The sweater basket drainage system of claim 1 , wherein the bottom of sweater basket is sloped to direct fluid toward the one or more egress port.
8 . A lightweight vehicle, said vehicle comprising: a rear body having a rear deck; and a sweater basket drainage system, wherein the sweater basket drainage system comprises: at least one strut boot, each strut boot mountable within a respective one of at least one strut aperture formed in the rear deck; and a sweater basket, wherein the sweater basket comprises: a solid bottom having one or more fluid egress port disposed therein, wherein the bottom is sloped to direct fluid toward the one or more egress port; and one or more hollow drain spout extending from an underside of the bottom of the sweater basket, each drain spout extending from and fluidly connected to a respective one of the one or more fluid egress port, wherein each drain spout is structured to direct fluid from within the sweater basket through a respective one of the one or more strut aperture to a ground surface beneath the vehicle.
9 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the at least one strut boot comprises a spout funnel formed in a sidewall thereof.
10 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein each drain spout comprises a hollow truncated neck structured to be inserted into the spout funnel of a respective one of the at least one strut boot such that fluid will flow from within the sweater basket into an interior of the respective one of the at least one strut boot and be directed by the respective one of the at least one strut boot through the respective one of the at least one strut aperture to the ground surface.
11 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the at least one strut boot comprises a spout aperture formed in a sidewall thereof.
12 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein each drain spout comprises a hollow elongated finger structured to be inserted through the spout aperture of a respective one of the at least one strut boot such that fluid will flow from within the sweater basket into an interior of the respective one of the at least one strut boot and be directed by the respective one of the at least one strut boot through the respective one of the at least one strut aperture to the ground surface.
13 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the sweater basket drainage system further comprise at least one basket support strut supporting the sweater basket, each basket support strut extending through a respective one of at least one strut aperture, each basket support strut comprising a spout orifice formed in a sidewall thereof.
14 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein each drain spout comprises a hollow elongated finger structured to be inserted through the spout aperture of the respective one of the at least one strut boot and through the spout orifice of a respective one of the at least one basket support strut such that fluid will flow from within the sweater basket into an interior lumen of the respective one of the at least one basket support strut and be directed by the respective one of the at least one basket support strut through the respective one of the at least one strut aperture to the ground surface.

Description

FIELD The present teachings relate to golf car (or similar lightweight vehicle) baskets (such as a sweater basket), and more particularly to basket drainage system for such vehicles. BACKGROUND The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. Traditionally, known light weight vehicles (such as a golf car) baskets (such as sweater baskets) have a plurality of openings, e.g., elongated slots and/or holes of any shape, dispersed across a bottom panel of a sweater basket for water or other liquids to drain out onto the golf car structure below the basket. Particularly, the openings dispersed across a bottom panel of a sweater basket allows water and liquids that collect in the sweater basket to drain onto the rear deck of the golf car and into the bag well where the water and liquids will inconveniently splash and drain of the rear deck and also will undesirably contact golf clubs, towels, golf bags, etc., disposed in the bag well. SUMMARY In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a sweater basket for a golf car (though it is understood that these various embodiments may be generalized to any lightweight vehicle having a basket), wherein the sweater basket comprises a solid bottom having one or more fluid egress port disposed therein, and one or more hollow drain spout extending from an underside of the bottom of the sweater basket. Each drain spout extends from and is fluidly connected to a respective one of the one or more fluid egress port. In various other embodiments, the present disclosure provides a sweater basket drainage system for a golf car, wherein the sweater basket drainage system comprises at least one strut boot and a sweater basket. Each strut boot is mountable within a respective one of at least one strut aperture formed in a rear deck of the golf car. The sweater basket comprises a solid bottom having one or more fluid egress port disposed therein, and one or more hollow drain spout extending from an underside of the bottom of the sweater basket. Each drain spout extends from and is fluidly connected to a respective one of the one or more fluid egress port. Each drain spout is structured to direct fluid from within the sweater basket through a respective one of the one or more strut aperture to a ground surface beneath the golf car. In yet other embodiments, the present disclosure provides a lightweight vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a rear body having a rear deck, and a basket drainage system. The basket drainage system comprises at least one strut boot and a basket. Each strut boot is mountable within a respective one of at least one strut aperture formed in a rear deck of the golf car. The basket comprises a solid bottom having one or more fluid egress port disposed therein, and one or more hollow drain spout extending from an underside of the bottom of the basket. Each drain spout extends from and is fluidly connected to a respective one of the one or more fluid egress port. Each drain spout is structured to direct fluid from within the sweater basket through a respective one of the one or more strut aperture to a ground surface beneath the golf car. This summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing various example embodiments of the present disclosure so as to provide a basic understanding of various aspects of the teachings herein. Various embodiments, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the described embodiments. Accordingly, it should be understood that the description and specific examples set forth herein are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way. FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle (exemplarily a golf car) comprising a basket fluid drainage system (e.g., a sweater basket fluid drainage system), in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a review of the vehicle having the basket fluid drainage system shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a portion of the basket fluid drainage system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a view of a portion of the basket fluid drainage system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a sweater basket and golf bag retention yoke of the basket fluid drainage system shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, (e.g., a sweater basket fluid drainage system) in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclos