Patent Application
20180147503
The present embodiment relates to a wheeled push toy for children. More specifically, the present embodiment relates to a wheeled push toy that can be used by children and teenagers for fun and for exercise.
Toy rolling hoops and guide sticks have been known for many years as toys for the amusement of children. A wide variety of playing apparatus such as toy hoops and guide sticks with specialized controls are available for children. These playing apparatuses also function as an exercising apparatus for the children. The playing apparatus such as toy hoops and guide sticks enables children to perform a wide variety of maneuvers and tricks on a rolling hoop. With the increasing knowledge of the importance of physical exercise to the maintenance of good health, recent attention has been given to the use of such toy hoops and guide sticks as providing entertaining exercise devices.
Children have long enjoyed pushing a hoop. It is a healthy aerobic activity, which develops coordination. One problem with a rolling hoop is that it is difficult to guide once it is rolling. Another problem is that a rolling hoop soon attains velocity, which is difficult to run with. A common hoop is not very alluring to a child's eye. There is a niche for a more stimulating hoop, which can be guided while rolling so that it may be rolled along a turning walkway. A hoop, which would have sufficient internal friction or controls so that it will not run away from running child.
Various types of toy hoops and guide sticks are known in the prior art, in which the following patents are herein incorporated by reference for their supportive teachings, and include the following:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,443, which issued to M. Olson on Jun. 7, 1966. This patent discloses an elongated guide stick having a bifurcated end portion for manipulation of a circular hoop. The circular hoop is formed from a plastic material with a frictional connection fitting. U.S. Pat. No. 3,788,000, which issued to J. Jenkins on Jan. 29, 1974, discloses a toy hoop and guide stick which utilizes an elongated wooden stick provided with a transversely extending wire hoop engaging element. U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,564, which issued to I. Jasinski on May 30, 1978, discloses a toy circular disk and an associated elongated guide stick. The guide stick has a rectangular channel member having a width only slightly greater than the width of the associated disk. U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,341, which issued to E. Klukos on Jun. 12, 1984, discloses a toy circular hoop and associated guide stick. The guide stick has a bifurcated end portion for manipulation of the hoop. U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,830, which issued to A. Moore on Oct. 14, 1986, discloses a circular disk-shaped wheel adapted for manipulation by an elongated guide stick. A U-shaped wire member is secured adjacent one end of the guide stick.
Another prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,069 A1 issued to by Sterlin discloses a toy hoop and guide stick that allows the hoop to be rolled along and controlled by an individual through use of the guide stick. A rectangular channel member is secured to an end portion of the guide stick and has a width equal to about twice the width of the hoop. This allows a wide variety of maneuvers and tricks to be performed by manipulating the hoop. In a second embodiment, the circular hoop has a hollow circular interior track receiving a plurality of elongated rolling members. The hoop is formed from a transparent material to allow observation of the rolling members. The rolling members including a phosphorescent material. However the above prior art do not include proper breaking controls to control the rotation of the toy hoop.
Hence, it can be seen that there is a need for a modified or modern version of a wheeled push toy apparatus that can be used by children and teenagers for fun and for performing exercise.
The present invention is a wheeled push toy apparatus for allowing users especially children and teenagers to have fun riding the toy apparatus. The present wheeled push toy apparatus also enables the users such as children and teenagers to perform exercise while pushing the wheeled push toy apparatus. The wheeled push toy apparatus allows the users such as children and teenagers to play with the apparatus and to perform an exercise such as walking and running exercises with the wheeled push toy apparatus. The wheeled push toy apparatus includes a wheel assembly that is configured to freely rotate about an axle. The wheeled push toy apparatus further includes a pair of adjustable arms, each of which are connected to a pair of ends of an axle to enable free rotation of the wheel assembly. The pair of adjustable arms is connected in form of a U-shape portion. A telescopic handle portion is attached to the U-shape portion formed by the pair of adjustable arms. The telescopic handle portion has a first end and a second end, where the first end of the telescopic handle portion is attached to the U-shape portion and a second end of the telescopic handle portion is connected to a holding handle portion. The holding handle portion provides comfortable grip to the users while playing with the wheeled push toy apparatus. The holding handle portion attached to the telescopic handle portion, which in turn to the U-shape portion formed by the pair of adjustable arms enables the user to push the wheel assembly forward in a desired direction as part of a fun game or exercise.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of these various elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention, thus the drawings are generalized in form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments and applications of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or only address one of the problems discussed above. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below.
The present disclosure relates to the field of push toy devices and more particularly to a wheeled push toy apparatus for allowing users especially children and teenagers to have fun riding the toy apparatus. The present wheeled push toy apparatus also enables the users such as children and teenagers to perform exercise while pushing the wheeled push toy apparatus. The present wheeled push toy apparatus is similar to a roll-n-move toys, which allows the users such as children to push or roll a wheel attached to a rod or handle. The present wheeled push toy apparatus allow the users to have fun and allows them to perform outdoor or indoor walking and running exercises while playing with the present wheeled push toy apparatus.
The telescopic handle portion 106 has a first end and a second end, where the first end of the telescopic handle portion 106 is attached to the U-shape portion and a second end of the telescopic handle portion 106 is connected to a holding handle portion 110. The holding handle portion 110 provides comfortable grip to the users while playing with the wheeled push toy apparatus 100. The holding handle portion 110 also includes a number of controls or control buttons for controlling the rotation operation of the wheel assembly 102 of the wheeled push toy apparatus 100. The holding handle portion 110 is covered using soft materials, such as, but not limited to, rubber, fabric etc., which allow the users to comfortably hold onto the holding handle portion 110 while playing and performing the walking or running exercises with the present wheeled push toy apparatus 100. The present wheeled push toy apparatus 100 is essentially a wheeled pushable apparatus, which can be pushed in any direction, having built-in lighting and sound generating arrangements for engaging the children playing with the apparatus 100 with fun and amusement. The U-shaped pair of arms 104a, 104b attached to the first end of the telescopic handle portion 106 and the holding handle portion 110 connected to the second end of the telescopic handle portion 106 forms an elongated steering column or steering arrangement of the wheel assembly 102. Further the present wheeled push toy apparatus 100 includes a number of electronic controls to control the movement or rotations of the wheel assembly 102.
The holding handle portion 110 connected to the second end of the telescopic handle portion 106 includes a number of control buttons including a on/off button for the wheeled push toy apparatus 100, a braking button 116 to control the rotation of the wheel assembly 102, and a sound horn button 118 to generate sound. The audio from the sound-emitting device is controlled using the sound horn button 118 provided on the holding handle portion 110. The holding handle portion 110 attached to the telescopic handle portion 106 includes a braking button 116 to control the rotation of the wheel assembly 110. The pair of adjustable arms 104a, 104b forming the U-shape portion connected to the axle 108 of the wheel portion 102 of the present wheeled push toy apparatus is adjustable or movable. i.e. the distance between the pair of adjustable arms 104a, 104b forming the U-shape portion can be adjusted automatically to control the rotation of the axle 108 and the wheel assembly 102 attached to it. The U-shape portion includes an electric motor controlled using the braking button 116 to adjust the distance between the arms 104a, 104b of the U-shape portion and to control the rotation of the wheel assembly 102. The on/off button for the wheeled push toy apparatus 100 may control the lighting of the wheel assembly. Further the sound horn button 118 on the holding handle portion 110, when activated, causes the sound-emitting device 114 on the wheel assembly 102 to create a sound. The LED lighting or the lighting means 112 and the sound-emitting device 114 enables the user to safely use the present wheeled push toy apparatus 100 both at night and day. In some instances, the wheeled push toy apparatus 100 carries a portable power supply means with the holding handle portion 110 to power the electronic components such as the sound-emitting device 114, the LED lighting or the lighting means 112, etc. The portable power supply means includes a rechargeable lithium Ion battery either placed in the holding handle portion 110 or on the wheel portion 102 or on the U-shape portion and the users can recharge the battery whenever needed through normal power outlets.
A method of using the present wheeled push toy apparatus 100 includes the steps of making the wheel portion of the wheeled push toy apparatus 100 upright and holding the holding handle portion 110 of the apparatus 100. Then pushing the wheeled push toy apparatus 100 forward to rotate the wheel portion 102 and then turning on the LED lights and the sound during the movement of the wheeled push toy apparatus 100 in a desired direction. The U-shape portion and the attached telescopic handle portion is rotatable about the wheel assembly in a 360-degree direction. The LED lights and the sound are turned on automatically or using manual controls provided on the holding handle portion 110 of the apparatus 100. In some instance, the movement of the user holding the wheeled push toy apparatus 100 can be tracked using the existing exercising applications installed on the smartphone or wearable device of the user to track the physical activity of the user while playing with the wheeled push toy apparatus 100.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, different designs of the handle portion of the wheeled push toy apparatus 100 can be provided. Further different colors can be provided for the different parts of the wheeled push toy apparatus 100. It is intended that the scope of the present invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims appended hereto.
