Claims
- 1. A ride simulator for use with a children's ride-on vehicle having a drive assembly including a first wheel that is mounted on an axle and is adapted to be coupled to an actuator, the simulator comprising:
- a stationary base; and
- a mechanism for removably securing to the vehicle's drive assembly, the mechanism including a first actuator adapted to be removably coupled to the first wheel for effecting reciprocating horizontal and vertical motion of the vehicle with respect to the simulator when motion is imparted to the vehicle's wheel, thereby simulating ground-traveling movement of the vehicle.
- 2. The simulator of claim 1, wherein the simulator is adapted for use with a children's ride-on vehicle having a second wheel mounted on the axle, wherein the mechanism further includes a second actuator, and further wherein the first and the second actuators are each configured to be removably coupled to the first and second wheels, respectively, for supporting the wheels and at least a portion of the vehicle above the base and for effecting horizontal and vertical motion of the vehicle with respect to the simulator when the vehicle's wheels are driven with the axle, thereby simulating ground-traveling movement of the vehicle.
- 3. The simulator of claim 2, wherein the mechanism is adapted to be removably secured to the vehicle's wheels without requiring disassembly of any portion of the vehicle or the simulator.
- 4. The simulator of claim 2, wherein the simulator includes a support structure extending upwardly from the base and having upper portions on which the actuators are mounted to support at least a portion of the vehicle above the base when the first and the second wheels are engaged by the first and the second actuators.
- 5. The simulator of claim 4, further including another support structure extending upwardly from the base to removably engage and slidably support at least a portion of the vehicle above the base.
- 6. The simulator of claim 5, wherein the support structures cooperate to support the entire vehicle above the base.
- 7. The simulator of claim 2, in combination with a children's ride-on vehicle having first and second wheels mounted on an axle, wherein the first and the second wheels each include a side wall with a socket, and wherein the first and the second actuators each include a fastener for selectively engaging a corresponding one of the sockets on the side walls.
- 8. The simulator of claim 7, wherein the sockets are offset from the axle.
- 9. The simulator of claim 7, wherein the side walls are outer side walls of the wheels.
- 10. The simulator of claim 7, wherein each of the sockets includes a receptacle adapted to receive a corresponding one of the fasteners.
- 11. The simulator of claim 10, wherein each of the receptacles includes a recess into which at least a portion of the fastener is selectively inserted.
- 12. The simulator of claim 3, wherein each of the fasteners includes a pin adapted to be received within a corresponding one of the sockets to support the wheel and at least a portion of the vehicle above the base and to cause the reciprocating horizontal and vertical motion of the vehicle about the pin when rotational motion is imparted to the vehicle's wheels, thereby simulating ground-traveling motion of the vehicle.
- 13. The simulator of claim 12, wherein each of the pins is selectively slidable between a retracted position in which the pin is free from engagement with the sockets and an engaged position in which the pin engages a corresponding one of the sockets.
- 14. The simulator of claim 13, wherein each of the pins includes a spring that biases the pin toward the engaged position.
- 15. A children's amusement device, comprising the combination of:
- an independently operable children's ride-on vehicle having a motorized drive assembly including an axle and at least one wheel mounted on the axle; and
- a ride simulator adapted for use with the vehicle, the simulator comprising:
- a stationary base; and
- a mechanism adapted to be removably secured to the vehicle's drive assembly, wherein the mechanism includes a first actuator adapted to be removably coupled to at least one of the vehicle's wheels for effecting reciprocating horizontal and vertical motion of the vehicle with respect to the simulator when rotational motion is imparted to the wheel to which the actuator is coupled, thereby simulating ground-traveling movement of the vehicle.
- 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the simulator is adapted to be removably coupled to the vehicle without requiring disassembly of any portion of the vehicle or the simulator.
- 17. The device of claim 15, wherein the wheel to which the actuator is removably coupled includes a receptacle, and the actuator includes a fastener adapted to selectively engage the receptacle to support the wheel and at least a portion of the vehicle above the base and to cause the reciprocating horizontal and vertical motion of the vehicle about the fastener when rotational motion is imparted to the vehicle's wheels, thereby simulating ground-traveling motion of the vehicle.
- 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the fastener includes a pin adapted to be at least partially received within the receptacle.
- 19. The device of claim 18, wherein the pin is selectively slidable between a retracted position in which the pin is free from engagement with the receptacle and an engaged position in which the pin is at least partially received within the receptacle.
- 20. The device of claim 19, wherein the pin includes a spring that biases the pin toward the engaged position.
- 21. The device of claim 17, wherein the wheel to which the fastener is selectively coupled includes a side wall from which the receptacle extends.
- 22. The device of claim 21, wherein the side wall is an outer side wall of the wheel.
- 23. The device of claim 15, wherein the base further includes a support structure extending from the base to removably engage and slidably support at least a portion of the vehicle above the base.
- 24. The device of claim 23, wherein the support structure includes a platform that engages and slidably supports at least a portion of the vehicle above the base, and the vehicle further includes a slider that is configured to engage and slide along the platform.
- 25. The device of claim 24, wherein the platform includes a top portion that defines an elongate slot and a slide plane beneath the slot; the top portion, slot and slide plane defining a track into which at least a portion of the vehicle is slidably received.
- 26. The device of claim 23, wherein the base includes a second support structure extending upwardly from the base and having an upper portion to which the actuator is mounted.
- 27. The device of claim 26, wherein the support structures are adapted to support the entire vehicle above the base.
- 28. A method for simulating ground-traveling movement of an independently operable children's ride-on vehicle having at least one driven wheel mounted on an axle, the method comprising:
- providing an independently operable children's ride-on vehicle having at least one wheel mounted on an axle and including a receptacle, and a ride simulator that includes a stationary base with an actuator adapted to be removably coupled to the receptacle;
- coupling the actuator to the receptacle to support the wheel and at least a portion of the vehicle above the base;
- imparting a rotational velocity to the vehicle's axle to cause reciprocating horizontal and vertical motion of the vehicle as the wheel rotates with the axle, thereby simulating ground-traveling movement of the vehicle.
- 29. The method of claim 28, wherein prior to the imparting step, the method comprises slidably engaging at least a portion of the vehicle with a first support structure on the base.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/769,372, filed Dec. 19, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,739, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
769372 |
Dec 1996 |
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