Patent Application
20140024286
Original patent for the toy shown by the images and as described below
The present invention pertains to a unique design of a toy, particularly, to the assembly of the hook and wheel invention described herein. It consists of a guiding U-shaped hook-like structure attached to a connecting rod with a handle and a circular concave rim-like structure.
The unique design relates to 1) the placement of the U-shaped hook at the end of the connecting rod 2) the concave frame of the rim-like object, which could be hollow or have an interchangeable decorative insert such as a single or multi-colored spokes as presented; or a solid disc insert with various designs, among others. The concave frame assists with the adherence of the wheel to the guiding hook.
While there have been similar forms of the toy structure introduced, this present invention brings two new aspects to the toy: 1) The placement of the guiding hook in a U-shape projecting from the middle of the end of the connecting rod eases handling of the rod and toy from the left or right-hand side. 2) The interchangeable decorative insert options such as a single or multi-colored spokes, or a solid disc insert with various designs, are a new design concept for this toy construction. The interchangeable inserts provide a platform for customization of consumer preferences with multiple colors and designs. The interchangeable solid disc inserts provide a platform for choice of single or multi-colored insert, a stage for display of favorite designs, self portraits, celebrity portraits just to mention but a few.
Interchangeable inserts would be attached to the concave frame by means of any standard attachment method.
For operation of the toy construction, the user would hold the handle 1 on the connecting rod 2 in front of themselves, or on their side, and then put the circular concave rim-like structure 3 on a surface, such as the ground, in between the two prongs of the U-shaped hook 4, as shown in
The user would then push the handle of the connecting rod forward to set the circular concave object in motion, and continue to move forward. Using the hook-like structure attached to the connecting rod, the user would guide and keep the wheel or circular rim structure in motion. Alternatively, to get the wheel in motion, the user could manually push the circular object forward, and then continue to guide it using the hook-like structure attached to the connecting rod.
The wheel would continue to rotate as long as supported in an upright stance by the hook-like structure. To stop the wheel from motion, the user can tip the hook-like structure to the left or right, which would drop the wheel.
The unique design with the placement of the guiding hook in a U-shape projecting from the middle of the end of the connecting rod allows for easy handling of the rod and wheel from the left or right-hand side. The interchangeable decorative insert options such as a single or multi-colored spokes, or a solid disc insert with various designs, are a new design concept for this toy construction. The interchangeable inserts provide a platform for customization of consumer preferences with multiple colors and designs. The interchangeable spoke disc or solid disc inserts provide a platform for choice of single or multi-colored insert, a stage for display of favorite designs, self portraits, celebrity portraits just to mention but a few. The present invention provides a platform for customization of the wheel insert display, providing a space for activities such as promotional advertising.
Interchangeable inserts would be attached to the concave frame by means of any standard attachment method.
We believe that this toy is appropriate for anyone who can remain in motion. The plain construction of this invention also simplifies use of the toy in comparison to previous toy constructions. Enjoyment of the designed toy construction does not require any previous experience; however, mastery of use of the toy would be enhanced by repeated play with the assembly.
In future, we foresee this toy being utilized in competitions such as obstacle courses, relay races, among others, thereby encouraging individual as well as team physical activities. We believe that this unique design of the toy will facilitate enjoyable use.
In production, the hook and wheel can be made of a variety of materials such as metal, rubber, among others, with plastic being the material of preference. The length of the connecting rod, the size of the hook-like structure, and wheel may vary depending on the user's approximate height.
Some of the advantages in production include low costs in manufacturing due to the simplicity of the design of the toy construction. Additionally, with fixed design specifications, production moulds would be easy to design, and retain for ongoing manufacture.
Other benefits foreseen with the hook and wheel include the physical activity associated with the toy, as it requires the person playing with it to be in motion. Playing with the toy assembly would also develop the user's ability to balance objects while in motion, in this case the wheel, which is guided and supported by the hook and connecting rod.
The present invention provides entertainment to the lets the users have fun, compete individually or in a team, all the while encouraging and keeping the user active. This toy is appropriate for anyone who can keep in motion.
