Patent Application
20100270772
This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, GB Application No. 0906909.7, filed on Apr. 22, 2009, and GB Application No. 1001600.4, filed on Feb. 1, 2010, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
This invention relates to a recreational vehicle. In particular, it relates to a recreational vehicle adapted for translational movement by rolling and bouncing movement.
There are many recreational vehicles suitable for use by children including, amongst others, bicycles, tricycles, quadricycles and scooters. These vehicles are wheeled and are therefore designed to move by way of the wheels rotating about an axis along the ground allowing the vehicle to roll along. Other recreational vehicles include hopping balls, pogo sticks or pogo balls. These devices operate by way of a resilient elastic element, such as a spring, that the user compresses with their body weight or through a jumping action to store energy. When the user lifts their weight or when the elastic element has stored sufficient energy, it resiles causing the device and user to jump or “bounce”.
Further, recreational apparatus is known that comprises a frame or body upon which a user stands or sits and to which a resilient elastic element is attached. Such a device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,415 (Blanco). This document discloses recreational gymnastics apparatus comprising a support platform with handlebars, the support platform including a housing to receive a resilient ball. The housing includes a hole with a diameter slightly smaller than the resilient ball and therefore retains it. The platform also includes small arms at the front of the platform which may include small wheels.
According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a recreational vehicle comprising a body having a front wheel and a rear wheel mounted thereto by a mounting system that allows relative movement between an axis of the rear wheel and an axis of the front wheel, biasing means for urging the axes of the front and rear wheels towards each other and a locking system for locking at least one of the front and rear wheels against rotation in one direction whilst allowing rotation of that wheel in the other direction.
In this way, forward motion of the vehicle can be achieved by continually applying and releasing a downwards force, e.g.; bouncing, on the body of the vehicle. More specifically, application of a downwards force on the body pushes the axes of the front and rear wheels apart whilst releasing this force allows the biasing means to urge the axes back together. As rotation of the one of the wheels is locked against rotation in one direction, the wheel will lock when the wheels are either pushed apart or drawn together but not vice-versa causing a resultant movement of the vehicle in one direction. Such a method of propelling a vehicle may increase the amusement of a recreational vehicle for a user, particularly for a young child, who is unable to operate systems, such as pedals, that require more complex movements of the user.
In a preferred embodiment, the locking system is arranged to lock both the front and rear wheels against rotation in the same (preferably rearward) direction. In this way, when the wheels are moved apart, the rear wheal locks against rearward movement and the front wheel moves forward, whereas when the wheels are biased back together the front wheel locks against rearward movement and the rear wheel moves forward. This results in forward motion of the vehicle both when a downward force is applied to the body and on release of that downward force.
In one embodiment, a mechanism of the locking system for the or each wheel is a ratchet mechanism. The ratchet mechanism may comprise a toothed recess in the wheel and pawl fixed relative to an axle of the wheel. This may be preferable to a contrary arrangement of a gear attached to the axle and a pawl attached to the wheel as the toothed recess could be moulded integral with the wheel. In one embodiment, the pawl comprises two or more tongues for engagement with teeth of the toothed recess.
The mounting system may be arranged comprise at least one arm for carrying the rear or front wheel, preferably the rear wheel, the arm mounted to the body for pivotal movement. In this way, a downwards force applied to the body causes the arm to pivot relative to the body pushing the wheels apart. The other of the front and rear may be mounted such that the axis of that wheel is fixed relative to the body.
The biasing means may comprise a biasing member, such as a spring, attached to the arm and the body of the vehicle. The body may be arranged such that the biasing member is housed entirely within the body. This may have the advantage of protecting a user, such as a child, from trapping a finger, or the like, in the biasing means.
The wheels may comprise an anti-slip outer surface, for example the wheels may comprise a hard inner shell and a soft plastic outer coating, for example provided by an over-moulding of the hard inner shell. In this way, the hard inner shell provides durability whilst the soft outer coating prevents the wheel from slipping on the floor. The outer surface of the wheels may be of non-marking material.
According to another aspect of the invention we provide a recreational vehicle comprising a body having at least one bouncing element mounted thereto, the bouncing element having sufficient resilience to allow a user to bounce the recreational vehicle and wherein the bouncing element is mounted to the body by a mounting system, which defines an axis of rotation for the bouncing element.
This is advantageous as not only does the recreational vehicle include the characteristics of a bouncing recreational vehicle it is able to roll similar to a wheeled recreational vehicle using the bouncing element mounted to the body by the mounting system.
The bouncing element may comprise a substantially spherical inflatable ball. This is advantageous as it is simple to manufacture, the resilience can be controlled by the inflation pressure and it can roll about an axis.
The bouncing element may comprise a hollow, inflatable member having an outer surface wherein the bouncing element has at least one aperture therein to receive the mounting system, the at least one aperture having a wall that is continuous with the outer surface of the bouncing element. This is advantageous as the inflatable ball is a sealed unit which makes the bouncing element more robust as well as being easy to mount to the body.
The recreational vehicle may comprise one bouncing element and one or more wheels. This is advantageous for younger children as the recreational vehicle is stable because only one point of contact with the ground is flexible i.e. the bouncing element. The recreational vehicle may comprise two bouncing elements mounted at spaced locations to the body. This arrangement is advantageous as the recreational vehicle is easy to bounce by a user as well as roll along.
The bouncing element may include two diametrically opposed mounting sockets arranged to receive mounting lugs that are attached to the body of the vehicle. This is advantageous as the sockets provide a simple and easy to manufacture way of mounting the bouncing element in a rotatable configuration.
Alternatively, the mounting system may comprise an axle that passes through the bouncing element and defines the axis of rotation, the bouncing element comprising a substantially spherical ball having a walled bore therethrough to receive the mounting system. The axle may comprise an axle member that is adapted to extend through the bore in the ball and is secured therein by an end cap that is adapted to be secured to one end.
There now follows by way of example only a detailed description of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;
The mounting system 4 is connected to mounting arms 9 of a rear portion 6 of the body 2. The mounting arms 9 are arranged to extend around the bouncing element 3 to secure it to the body at diametrically opposed points. The body 2 includes a front portion, shown generally as 7, connected to the rear portion 6 of the body 2 by an elongate cross member 8. The rear portion 6 also includes a seat 10 where the child can sit. The front portion 7 comprises handlebars 11 and a front wheel mounting portion 12. The handlebars 11 comprise a pair of hand pegs 13 arranged to be held by a child when the recreational vehicle is in use.
The front wheel mounting portion 12 comprises an elongate member extending perpendicular to the cross member 8. In this embodiment, the vehicle 1 includes two wheels 14. The wheels 14 are received at opposed ends of the wheel mounting portion 12. Each wheel 14 comprises a central support element 15 that connects to the front wheel mounting portion 12 and a pair of wheel halves 16 that engage the ground. The central support element 15 includes an axle member (not visible) that rotatably connects the wheel halves 16 to the central support element 15.
The elastic bouncing element 3 comprises an inflatable ball of resilient material. The resilience of the material is chosen to allow a child or desired user of the recreational vehicle 1 to bounce the vehicle. Thus, the bouncing element 3 is constructed and arranged to be deformed by the weight of the child or, in particular, when the child jumps down upon the vehicle 1. In the case of an inflatable ball, this may be achieved in part by determining the appropriate inflation pressure. The elastic nature of the bouncing element 3 will cause it to resile against the force of the user, particularly when the user lifts their weight, such that the recreational vehicle 1 will rebound from the ground allowing the user to bounce with the vehicle. However, the inflatable ball is of a resilience and inflated pressure that allows it to rotate about the mounting system 4.
The mounting system 4 is shown in more detail in
The first and second sockets 21, 22 are adapted to receive an interface bush 28 which comprises a cup-shaped member complementary to the socket. The interface bush 28 comprises a cylindrical wall 31 and a base 32, which define a cavity 35. The cylindrical wall 31 has an annular securing ridge 30, complimentary to the recess 27, on its outside surface. The interface bush 28 also includes an axle peg 33 which extends from the base 32 into the cavity 35. The axle peg 33 has a plurality of catch members 34 (in this embodiment, three catch members) extending from its distal end. The interface bushes 28 form an interference fit with the cylindrical walls 23 of the first and second sockets 21 and 22 and the securing ridges 30 engages with the recess 27 to resist removal.
The mounting system 4 further comprises a first engagement lug 36 and a second engagement lug 37 on the mounting arms 9 of the body 2 (only part of which is shown in
The catch members 34 ensure that the bouncing element 3 remains securely attached to the body 2 even if it were to deflate. This is advantageous as it makes the vehicle safe to use. Further, the mounting system 4 of this embodiment has been found particularly advantageous in allowing the vehicle to both bounce and roll.
In use, a child would typically sit on the seat 10 and place their hands on the hang pegs 13. The bouncing element ball 3 and, in particular, how it is mounted to the body 2, allow the child to bounce the vehicle as well as roll it along the ground.
A second embodiment of the mounting system 4 is shown in
The first axle peg 46 includes a retaining ridge 54, at an end of the axle peg 46 opposed to the annular flange 45. The second axle peg 51 also includes a retaining ridge 56, at an end of the axle peg 51 opposed to the annular flange 50. In this embodiment, the mounting system 4 includes a pair of axle apertures 55 and 57 on the mounting arms 9 of the body 2 (only part of which is shown in
A third embodiment of the mounting system 4 is shown in
Referring to
The body 102 is generally triangular in cross-section having a narrow front portion, shown generally at 107, connected to a wider rear portion 106. A seat 110 where a child can sit extends across an upper part of the rear and central portions 106, 108 of the body 102. The front portion 107 comprises handlebars 111 having a pair of hand pegs 113 to be held by a child when the recreational vehicle is in use.
The mounting system comprises rear mounting arms 109 and front mounting arms 112 for carrying the rear or front wheel 103, 114 respectively. Each wheel 103, 114 is connected to the corresponding arms 109, 112 by an axle (not shown) that passes through a bore in the wheel 103, 114 to be received in axle apertures 155 in the arms 109, 112. Forming the aperture 155 on one of the arms 109, 112 is a projection 156 having a non-circular cross-section, in this embodiment a hexagonal cross-section, to be inserted in a correspondingly shaped aperture of a pawl 183 of the locking system 180, as described in more detail below. A circlip 157 clips around the axle to permit rotation of the axle but prevent lateral movement. A cap 158 fits within a recess 159 in each arm 109, 112 to protect against the user from contacting the rotating axle, in use.
The arms 109 that carry the rear wheel 103 are integrally connected together to extend around the wheel 103. An elongate member 160 extends upwardly from a shoulder portion 122 of the arms 109 (that extends over a circumference of the wheel 103) to be pivotally connected to the body 102 for rotation about a point 190. Pivotal movement of the arms 109 relative to the body 102 is limited by abutments 123, 124.
The arms 112 carrying the front wheel 114 are part of a front fork 115 fixed to the body 102.
The elasticated cord 191 is attached between the elongate member 160 and an attachment point 192 on the body 102 of the vehicle. The body 102 may be arranged such that the elasticated cord 191 is housed entirely within the body 102. In this embodiment, a guard plate 193 closes an opening in the bottom of the body 102 to block access to the elasticated cord 191. This may have the advantage of protecting a user, such as a child, from trapping a finger, or the like, between the elasticated cord 191 and the body 102 or front fork 115 of the vehicle.
The locking system 180 comprises a locking mechanism 181 for each wheel 103, 114, in this embodiment a ratchet mechanism 181. The ratchet mechanism 181 comprises a toothed recess 182 integrally moulded in the wheel 103, 114 and the pawl 183 fixed relative to an axis of rotation of the wheel 103, 114 (i.e.; does not rotate about the axis of the wheel). In this embodiment, this is achieved through attachment of the pawl 183 to the hexagonal projection 156 of one of the arms 103. The pawl 184 comprises three tongues 185 arranged to engage with the teeth of the toothed recess 182. The tongues 185 are shaped such that initial rotation of the wheel 102, 114 in one direction causes the tongues 185 to engage with the teeth and resist further rotation, whereas on rotation of the wheel 103, 114 in the other direction, the tongues 185 resiliently flex to pass over the teeth and allow continued rotation. In this embodiment, the tongues 185 are spiral shaped with outwardly hooked ends for engagement with the teeth. The arrow in
The wheels 103, 114 comprise an anti-slip, non-marking outer surface formed from moulding a soft plastic coating over a harder inner shell. The hard inner shell may provide durability whilst the soft outer coating prevents the wheel from slipping and marking the floor.
In use, a user bounces on the seat 110, the vehicle translating this up and down motion into forward motion of the vehicle 101. More specifically, application of a downwards force on the body 102 causes the arms 109 to pivot such that the front and rear wheels 103, 114 move apart (resulting in a position as shown in
Alterations and modifications can be made to the above described embodiments without departing from the invention as defined herein. For example, the number of front and rear wheels may be changed. For example, two front and/or two rear wheels could be provided.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0906909.7 | Apr 2009 | GB | national |
| 1001600.4 | Feb 2010 | GB | national |
