United States Patent [19]
`DeGraaff et al.
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`4,513,981
`Apr. 30, 1985
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`3,842,928 10/1974 Kishi ................................. .. 180/214
`4,361,338 11/1982 Kuchenbecker et al7
`280/].11 R
`Primary Examiner—.lohn A. Pekar
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
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`[54] RIDE-ON TOY VEHICLE WITH FRONT
`WHEEL DRIVE AND OUTBOARD FRONT
`WHEELS
`[76] Inventors: Robert DeGraaff, 20 Kennedy Dr.,
`Flanders, NJ. 07836; Michael
`
`Langeiri, 425 Invemess La_y
`Longmeadow, Mass_ 01106
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`[21] Appl' No‘: 491’422
`[22] Filed:
`May 4, 1983
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`3
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`’ DIZ/Si
`[58] Field of Search
`280/1 11 R l l R 1 21
`296)177_ biz/168' 83;
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`[56]
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`’_
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`References Cited
`Us. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`A ch1lds pedal-powered vehicle s1mulat1ng a four
`wheel dr1ve veh1cle includes a body on which there Is
`rotatably supported a pair of rear wheels. Centrally of
`its front end portion is a drive and steering assembly
`which is rotatable within the body to effect rotation of
`a pedal-powered drive wheel at lower end thereof to
`effect turning motion of the wheel and thereby the
`vehicle. Mounted on the front end portion of the body
`outboard of the drive wheel are a pair of outboard front
`wheels which will readily move vertically on the body
`to adjust to differences in ground contour while pres
`enting little resistance to turning of the vehicle. In one
`embodilment, there is includkeld means {or limiting the
`vertica movement so that t ese whee s will stop up
`
`R 280/1.11 R
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`‘12:23; 34122? mar,“ ..... .. 3,151,872 10/1964 Weber, Sr. .
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`280/1.11 X
`3,4l6,625 12/1968 Narutani
`3,684,046 8/1972 Begleiter ...................... .. 280/ 1.11 R
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`Occur
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`at a
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`8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures
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`US. Patent Apr. 30, 1985
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`US. Patent Apr. 30, 1985
`US. Patent Apr. 30, 1985
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`US. Patent Apr. 30, 1985
`US. Patent Apr. 30, 1985
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`US. Patent Apr. 30, 1985
`US. Patent Apr. 30, 1985
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`U.S. Patent Apr. 30, 1985
`U.S. Patent Apr. 30, 1985
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`U.S. Patent Apr. 30, 1985
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`RIDE-ON TOY VEHICLE WITH FRONT WHEEL
`DRIVE AND OUTBOARD FRONT WHEELS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Various constructions have been proposed and mar
`keted for children’s ride-on toys including the conven
`tional bicycles and trieycles. Because children enjoy
`fantasy and desire to simulate adult activity, frequently
`manufacturers strive to simulate the appearance of adult
`vehicles such as racing cars, military vehicles, etc. The
`development of relatively low cost techniques for mold
`ing or forming complex shapes from synthetic resin has
`enabled the industry to meet, and to capitalize upon,
`these desires of children.
`Although both foot pedal and battery-powered
`motor propulsion mechanisms are employed in such
`ride-on toys, cost factors generally favor pedal propul
`sion. Moreover, the mechanism required for pedalling
`and steering is simpler and generally less costly for a
`tricycle type con?guration rather than for a four
`wheeled con?guration
`It is an object of the present invention to provide a
`novel child’s vehicle employing a tricycle-type pedal
`power and steering assembly while simulating the ap
`pearance of a four wheeled vehicle.
`It is also an object to provide such a vehicle in which
`a pair of outboard front wheels present initial resistance
`to movement and turning and move vertically to ac
`commodate variations in ground contour.
`Another object is to provide such a vehicle in which
`the outboard front wheels will stabilize the vehicle
`against overturning.
`Still another object is to provide such a vehicle which
`may be fabricated readily and relatively economically.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It has now been found that the foregoing and related
`objects can be readily attained in a child’s pedal-pow
`ered vehicle which includes a body providing a sidewall
`portion, a seat portion enclosed thereby and a top wall
`portion, and a drive and steering assembly having a
`rotatable steering column extending upwardly through
`the front portion of the body and centrally thereof. This
`assembly includes steering handle means adjacent the
`upper end of the column for effecting its rotation and
`drive wheel means rotatably mounted adjacent the
`lower end of the column. Pedal means is provided for
`effecting rotation of the drive wheel, and the drive and
`steering assembly is secured on the body for rotation
`relative thereto by suitable means.
`A rear wheel assembly is comprised of axle means
`and a pair of rear wheels rotatably supported by the axle
`means adjacent the sidewall of the body, and is secured
`on the body by suitable means. A pair of outboard front
`wheels is disposed outwardly of the drive wheel and
`adjacent the sidewall of the body, and suitable means
`mounts these front wheels on the body for rotation
`upon motion of said vehicle over a surface and for lim
`ited vertical movement relative to the plane de?ned by
`the lowermost surfaces of the drive wheel and rear
`wheels. As a result, the front wheels have limited fric
`tional contact with the support surface and move up
`wardly and downwardly independently of the drive
`wheel.
`In one embodiment, the mounting means for the front
`wheels includes means limiting the amount of vertical
`movement thereof, so that these front wheels will mini
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`mize the likelihood of the vehicle overturning. This
`limiting means conveniently includes a bracket
`mounted on the body above the front wheel and having
`a generally vertically extending leg with a slot therein.
`The wheel mounting means includes axle means on
`which the wheel is rotatably mounted, with the axle
`means extending through the slot and being limited in
`the amount of vertical movement by the ends of the
`slot.
`In the preferred embodiment, the front wheel mount
`ing means includes a support rod having an outwardly
`extending portion upon which the wheel is supported, a
`forwardly extending portion extending to the front
`portion of the body sidewall, and a mounting portion
`extending generally parallel to the outwardly extending
`portion. A mounting recess is provided on the front
`portion of the sidewall to pivotably seat the rod mount
`ing portion. As a result, the support rod will pivot in the
`recess to permit the vertical movement of the front
`wheels. Conveniently, this recess is provided by a
`bracket secured to the front portion of the sidewall.
`Desirably, the body includes an outer body shell
`integrally formed from synthetic plastic sheet material
`and a unitary undercarriage upon which the outer body
`shell is supported. This undercarriage includes a rear
`portion in which is journalled the axle means to provide
`the securing means for the rear wheel assembly, and a
`front portion extending transversely of the body and
`seating the drive and steering assembly to provide the
`securing means therefor. In the preferred aspect of this
`construction, the vehicle additionally includes brace
`means extending between and secured to the front por
`tion of the undercarriage and the front portion of the
`sidewall of the outer body shell.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a child’s vehicle em
`bodying the present invention;
`,
`FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof with the
`body and various other elements in phantom line for
`clarity of illustration and with the backrest elevated
`from its seated position and shown in two alternate
`positions;
`FIG. 3 is a bottom view thereof with the body,
`wheels, steering column and various other structural
`elements in phantom line for clarity of illustration;
`FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front view thereof with a
`portion of the wheel broken away to reveal internal
`construction and omitting surface ornamentation and
`various elements for clarity of illustration;
`.
`FIG. 5 is a partially diagrammatic fragmentary sec
`tional view of the body, front wheel axle and support
`assembly, and the closest wheel, the wheel being illus
`trated in full line in a “normal” position and in phantom
`line in its lowermost position, and the reinforcing strut
`being omitted for clarity of illustration;
`FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the front wheel sup
`port rod mounting bracket and of a portion of the front
`wheel axle rod disassembled therefrom;
`FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the
`vehicle showing an alternate embodiment of front
`wheel assembly utilizing a separate bracket for limiting
`the vertical movement of the front wheel;
`FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the
`embodiment of FIG. 7 with a portion of the body bro
`ken away for clarity of illustration and with the wheel
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`the section 51 and is secured thereto by the fasteners 57.
`and axle rod shown in phantom line in the two extremes
`The cap section 55 has a collar 59 at its lower end which
`of its limited vertical movement; and
`provides the bearing surface and cooperates with the
`FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the under
`collar portion 53 to trap the undercarriage 12 and body
`carriage, body and strut assembly along the line 9-9 of
`10 therebetween. At the upper end of the cap section 55
`FIG. 2. 1
`is provided a steering wheel 52 by which rotation of the
`assembly 18 may be effected and which is secured
`thereto by fasteners (not shown). At the lower end of
`the elongated section 51 is a forked portion 54 which
`rotatably clamps an axle 56 therein with the front wheel
`16 supported thereon between the two forks. The axle
`56 has offset crank-type drive pedal extensions 58 to
`permit the child to effect rotation of the front wheel 16
`in either direction.
`A pair of brackets generally designated by the nu
`meral 66 is secured by fasteners 67 to the inner surface
`of the grill portion 30 of the body 10. Captured between
`the brackets 66 and the body 10 is a ?attened portion at
`the front end of the reinforcing struts 68, and ?attened
`portions at the other end thereof are secured to the side
`portions 40 of the undercarriage 12 by the fasteners 69.
`Pivotably seated in the recess 70 of the bracket 66 is
`the front wheel support rod generally designated by the
`numeral 72. As seen in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and
`7, these have an elongated pivot portion 74 which seats
`in the recesses 70 of the pair of brackets 66, elongated
`side portions 76 extending rearwardly therefrom, and
`axle portions 78 upon which are rotatably mounted the
`front wheels 22. As shown in FIG. 5, the support rod 72
`may pivot within the bracket recess 70 relatively freely
`over a substantial arc, movement downwardly being
`limited by abutment of the side portion 76 of the rod 72
`against the stop ledge 79 on the bracket 66. In FIG. 6,
`the bracket 66 is shown in combination with an alter
`nate embodiment of support rod 172. This arrangement
`uses separate support rods 172 for each of the front
`wheels with the pivot portion 174 having a reversely
`bent portion 175 to lock it in the bracket 66. In this
`embodiment, each front wheel 22 may move totally
`independently of the other without requiring ?exure of
`a continuous pivot portion 74 of the other embodiment.
`The front and rear wheels 20, 22 are of similar blow
`molded construction. As seen in FIG. 4, the front wheel
`22 bears against a bushing 80 which bears against the
`bosses 82 on the axle portion 78 to locate the wheel 22
`thereon. The wheel 22 is held on the axle portion 78 by
`the cap nut 84. The rear wheels 20 are similarly rotat
`ably mounted on the rear axle 50.
`Turning now to FIGS. 7 and 8, therein illustrated is
`an optional front wheel movement limiting bracket
`generally designated by the numeral 90 which has a
`mounting ?ange 92 secured to the hood 24 of the body
`10 by fasteners 98 above the simulated wheel well and
`an elongated leg 94 which extends vertically down
`wardly on the inner side of the wheel 22. Adjacent to its
`lower end, the bracket leg 94 has an arcuate slot 96
`therein through which the axle portion 78 extends. As a
`result, the amount of vertical movement of the wheel 22
`is limited by the length of the arcuate slot 96.
`Seated in apertures in the top ?ange at the rear»34 of
`the body 10 is a roll bar 100 of inverted U-shaped con
`figuration. Secured to the top wall of the body 10 about
`the dashboard 26 by fasteners 102 is an injection molded
`windscreen or “windshield” 104 which seats a rear view
`mirror 106. Various decals or other surface ornamenta
`tion may also be provided on the body 10.
`In operation of the vehicle, the child simply pedals
`the drive wheel 16 and turns the steering wheel 52 to
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
`Turning?rst to FIGS. 1-3, therein illustrated is a
`child’s pedal powered vehicle which is generally com
`prised of a unitary body generally designated by the
`numeral 10 which is supported upon an undercarriage
`generally designated by the numeral 12. A separate seat
`back or backrest is generally designated by the numeral
`14 and is movable between several positions. A pedal
`driven front wheel 16 is disposed centrally of the body
`at ‘the lower end of the drive and steering assembly
`generally designated by the numeral 18, and a pair of
`rearwheels 20 are provided on the undercarriage 12. In
`this vehicle, a pair of outboard front wheels 22 simulate
`the appearance of a four-wheeled vehicle while moving
`vertically relative to the body 10 as will be more fully
`described hereinafter.
`The body 10 is conveniently thermoformed from a
`single sheet of thermoplastic material to provide a top
`wall portion generally comprised of the hood 24, dash‘
`board depressed seat area 28, and the ?ange 29 includ
`ing the seat area 28. The body also has a sidewall por
`tion comprised of the grill area 30, sides 32 and rear 34.
`A large aperture or cutout 36 is provided in the top wall
`between the seat 28 and dashboard 26.
`The undercarriage 12 is molded as a hollow structure
`and includes a rear portion 38 extending transversely of
`the rear portion of the body 10 under the seat 28, a pair
`of side portions 40 extending forwardly and upwardly
`from the rear portion 38, and a front portion 42 disposed
`under the dashboard 26. The ?ange 29 of the top wall
`portion of the body 10 is con?gured to seat over the side
`portions 40 of the undercarriage 12, and the dashboard
`26 of the body 10 is formed so as to overlie the front
`portion 42. The rear portion 38 of the undercarriage 12
`has depending legs 39 along its side margins, and the
`front portion 42 has a rearwardly extending arcuate
`mounting socket portion 41 with an angled passage 37
`therethrough which registers with an aperture in the
`overlying dashboard portion 26.
`The seat 28 of the body and rear portion 38 of the
`undercarriage 12, and the dashboard 26 of the body 10
`and front portion 42 of the undercarriage 12, have coop
`erating apertures to seat fasteners 43 which secure the
`body 10 to the undercarriage 12. The seat 28 and the
`rear portion 38 also have several aligned pairs of
`spaced, relatively large apertures 44 which seat the
`depending posts 46'on the removable backrest 14 to
`provide adjustment for the size of the child using the
`vehicle.
`A rear axle 50 extends transversely through the legs
`39 of the rear portion 38 of the undercarriage 12 and
`rotatably supports the rear wheels 20 generally under
`the sides 32 of the body 10 in the simulated rear wheel
`wells.
`The drive and steering assembly 18 is journalled in
`the passage 37 of the socket portion 41 of the undercar
`riage 12, and its axis of rotation extends downwardly
`and forwardly. As best seen in FIG. 2, the assembly
`includes a two-piece column comprised of the elon
`gated section 51 which has an enlarged collar portion 53
`and the cap section 55 which fits over the upper end of
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`effect the turning movement of the drive wheel 16 and
`thereby the entire vehicle. Since the outboard front
`wheels 20 have only minimal contact with the ground
`and support only their own weight and a portion of the
`weight of the support rods 72, they move readily in an
`are by pivoting of the support rod 72 and offer little
`resistance to the turning of the front end although they
`continue to rotate in parallel with the ‘rear wheels 20.
`Thus, turning and powering of the vehicle is accom
`plished readily by a tricycle-type drive and steering
`assembly. However, to the child and playmates, the
`vehicle simulates the appearance of a four wheel drive
`vehicle.
`Moreover, by providing relatively free vertical
`movement of the outboard wheels 22, they will appear
`to be in contact with the ground surface even if there is
`a signi?cant difference in elevation between that under
`the drive wheel 16 and the outboard wheels 22 because
`the ground will move the wheels 22 upwardly and its
`own weight will move it downwardly. Even in the
`embodiment utilizing a single continuous rod 72 to sup
`port both outboard wheels 22, there is generally suf?
`cient ?exure over the length of the rod 72 so that both
`front wheels 22 will normally separately follow the
`ground contour.
`For convenience in carrying the vehicle, the stop
`ledge 79 limits the amount of downward movement of
`the rod 72 and thereby of the wheels 22. If no stop were
`provided the wheels could pivot freely to a point where
`the center portion 76 of the rod 72 would abut the grill
`portion 30 of the body 10, thus making the vehicle
`unnecessarily cumbersome to carry and maneuver.
`In the embodiment utilizing the wheel movement
`limiting bracket 90, the downward movement is limited
`by the end of the slot 96. Although it is generally not
`desirable for the outboard front wheels 22 to carry any
`signi?cant loading, excessive tipping or overturning
`motion of the front end of the vehicle will cause the rod
`72 to abut the upper end of the slot 96 of a bracket 90.
`At this point, the wheel 22 will carry a load translated
`to the body 10 by the bracket 90 and tend to stabilize the
`vehicle and preclude further overturning motion.
`The several elements of the vehicle are readily fabri
`cated and assembled. The body is conveniently thermo
`formed from resin sheeting which has good impact
`45
`resistance such as high impact polystyrene and ABS;
`composite sheeting of high impact polystyrene with a
`surface layer of polystyrene for gloss is desirably em
`ployed.
`Blow molding is conveniently used for fabricating the
`wheels, undercarriage, and steering column assembly
`with high density polyethylene being desirable as the
`resin. Injection molding is readily employed for the seat
`back, windscreen, and rear mirror, again using high
`density polyethylene as the resin.
`The roll bar may be formed from extruded polvinyl
`chloride tubing or from metal tubing.
`The brackets are conveniently metal stampings or
`castings, and the struts are readily formed from metal
`tubing. The axles and front wheel support rods are
`formed from metal rod.
`In assembling the vehicle, the rear axle is inserted into
`the undercarriage and the rear wheels are mounted
`thereon. The drive wheel and pedal assembly is inserted
`into the lower section of the steering column which is
`then slid upwardly through the aperture in the under
`carriage. The body is then placed on the undercarriage
`and secured thereto by the fasteners. This subassembly
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`is then turned upside down. The rearward end of the
`reinforcing struts is secured to the undercarriage, and
`the brackets are then secured to the inside surface of the
`grill portion of the body with the struts and front wheel
`support rod(s) in place therein. The outboard front
`wheels are then secured onto the support rods.
`At this point, the assembly may be turned over to
`place the wheels on the floor or table. The upper por
`tion of the steering column and the steering wheel are
`mounted, and the several remaining elements (wind
`screen, mirror, seatback and roll bar) may be mounted
`thereon.
`Thus, it can be seen from the foregoing detailed speci
`?cation and drawings, that the child’s vehicle of the
`present invention readily employs a unitized tricycle
`type front wheel drive and steering assembly while
`providing outboard front wheels to simulate a four
`wheeled vehicle. The outboard wheels present little
`frictional resistance to turning of the vehicle while
`moving readily to adapt to the ground contour and
`remain in contact therewith. In one embodiment, these
`outboard wheels may provide enhanced stability for the
`front end of the vehicle against overturning.
`Having thus described the invention, We claim:
`1. A child’s pedal-powered vehicle comprising:
`A. a body providing a sidewall portion, a seat portion
`enclosed thereby and a top wall portion;
`B. a drive and steering assembly having a rotatable
`steering column extending upwardly through the
`front portion of said body and centrally thereof,
`said assembly including steering handle means ad
`jacent the upper end of said steering member for
`effecting rotation thereof, said steering assembly
`having drive wheel means rotatably mounted adja
`cent the lower end of said column and pedal means
`for effecting rotation of said drive wheel;
`C. means securing said drive and steering assembly
`on said body for rotation relative thereto;
`7
`D. a rear wheel assembly comprising axle means and
`a pair of rear wheels rotatably supported by said
`axle means adjacent said sidewall of said body;
`E. means securing said rear wheel assembly on said
`body;
`F. a pair of outboard front wheels disposed out
`wardly of said drive wheel and adjacent said side
`wall of said body;
`G. means mounting said front wheels on said body for
`normal disposition in the plane de?ned by the low
`ermost surfaces of said drive wheel and said rear
`wheels for rotation upon motion of said vehicle
`over a surface and for limited vertical movement
`relative to the plane de?ned by the lowermost
`surfaces of said drive wheel and rear wheels,
`whereby said front wheels have limited frictional
`contact with the support surface and move up
`wardly and downwardly independently of said
`drive wheel.
`2. The child’s vehicle of claim 1 wherein said mount
`ing means for said front wheels includes means limiting
`the amount of vertical movement thereof, whereby said
`front wheels will minimize the likelihood of said vehicle
`overturning.
`3. The child’s vehicle of claim 1 wherein said front
`wheel mounting means includes a support rod having an
`outwardly extending portion upon which said wheel is
`supported, a forwardly extending portion extending to
`the front portion of said sidewall, and a mounting por
`tion extending generally parallel to said outwardly ex
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`tending portion, and a mounting recess on said front
`portion of said sidewall pivotably seating said rod
`mounting portion, whereby said support rod will pivot
`in said recess to permit said vertical movement of said
`front wheels.
`4. The child’s vehicle of claim 3 wherein said recess is
`provided by a bracket secured to said front portion of
`said sidewall.
`5. The child’s vehicle of claim 2 wherein said limiting
`means comprises a bracket mounted on said body above
`said front wheel and having a generally vertically ex
`tending leg with a slot'therein, and wherein said wheel
`mounting means includes axle means on which said
`wheel is rotatably mounted, said axle means extending
`through said slot and being limited in the amount of
`vertical movement by the ends of said slot.
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`6. The child’s vehicle of claim 1 wherein said body
`includes an outer body shell integrally formed from
`synthetic plastic sheet material and a unitary undercar
`riage upon which said outer body shell is supported,
`said undercarriage including a rear portion in which is
`journalled said axle means to provide said securing
`means for said rear wheel assembly.
`7. The child’s vehicle of claim 6 wherein said under
`carriage includes a front portion extending transversely
`of said body and seating said drive and steering assem
`bly to provide said securing means therefor.
`8. The child’s vehicle of claim 6 wherein said vehicle
`additionally includes brace means extending between
`and secured to the front portion of said undercarriage
`and the front portion of said sidewall of said outer body
`shell.
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