AU2004202366A1 - Balance bike - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a training apparatus for teaching a child how to ride a bicycle.

Most bicycles include front wheel and a rear wheel which are separated by a triangular shaped frame that comprises a seat tube, top tube and a down tube. The seat tube is adapted to receive a seat post on which there is mounted a seat or saddle.

Adjacent portions of the seat tube and the down tube are connected to a tube, commonly referred to as a bottom bracket shell. The bottom bracket shell is adapted to receive a bottom bracket that includes an axle having opposing end portions to which a respective crank and peddle is attached and a front cog mounted on said axle.

Adjacent end portions of the top tube and down tube are connected to a head tube which is adapted to receive a steering tube having an upper end portion and a lower end portion.

Typically the bicycle also includes handle bars for steering the bicycle. These are attached to the upper end portion of the steering tube.

The front wheel is supported by a fork that is attached to the lower end portion of the steering tube and wherein the front wheel may rotate freely relative to said fork.

The rear wheel is supported by a pair of lower frame members and a pair of upper frame members. The lower frame members, or chain stays as they are known, each have a fixed end portion that is mounted to the bottom bracket shell. The upper frame members, or seat stays as they are known, each have a fixed end portion that is attached to an upper portion of the seat tube.

The rear wheel typically includes at least one rear cog that is mounted on the wheel and which is capable of rotation in unison with said wheel.

The front and rear cogs are connected by an endless chain and wherein rotation of the peddles shall translate into rotational movement of the rear wheel.

Typically a child's first bicycle would include a pair of detachable training wheels which, when mounted on a bicycle frame, provide support for the bicycle and maintain the bicycle in a substantially upright attitude.

As the child gains confidence and a sense of balance, the position of the training wheels may be adjusted such that when the bicycle is standing in an upright position, neither training wheel touches the ground. Should the bicycle when ridden lean to one side or the other, the training wheel touching the ground will provide support for the bicycle and shall resist any tendency the bicycle may have to fall over on its side. However, a child that has developed a good sense of balance and can ride the bicycle properly will no longer require the training wheels to support the bicycle and these can then be removed.

Unfortunately, some children find it difficult to develop a sense of balance and rely upon the training wheels to support the bicycle when it leans. These children, will not learn how to ride a bicycle while it is fitted with training wheels. However, because they appreciate how dependent thay are upon the training wheels, the removal of the training wheels can be rather traumatic for them.

In order to teach these children to ride a bicycle, it is often necessary for an older person to support either the moving rider or bicycle while running along side. By periodically withdrawing support for the child and/or the bicycle, the child eventually learns how to balance the bicycle. However, it will be appreciated that the latter method of teaching a child to ride a bicycle can be rather tiresome and often traumatic for the child.

The present invention aims to alleviate at least one of the above disadvantages and to provide a training apparatus for teaching a child how to ride a bicycle which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.

With the foregoing in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a training apparatus which may be used to teach a child how to ride a bicycle, said training apparatus including: a body; a free spinning rear wheel that is rotatably mounted on one end of said body; a free spinning front wheel that is rotatably mounted on a front wheel support assembly, said front wheel support assembly being pivotally connected to an opposite end of said body; a handle bar operatively connected to said front wheel support assembly which a user may use to alter the orientation of the front wheel and hence the direction of travel of the training apparatus; a seat mounted on the body on which a user may sit, said seat being located intermediate said front and rear wheels in a manner whereby both of the user's feet are able to touch the ground when the user is sitting on said seat and said apparatus is supported by said wheels in a substantially vertical attitude, and two footrests located on the body and which extend outwardly from the body in opposite directions, said footrests being located intermediate said front and rear wheels, each of said footrests being adapted to provide support for one of the user's feet when in a raised or elevated position.

The body may be any suitable shape and may be constructed from a variety of materials. For example, the body may be made from a plastics material and may be constructed using a process of rotational moulding. Alternatively, the body may be plate like, and may be constructed from a rigid material, such as steel or aluminium.

Preferably, the body is a frame that includes a plurality of frame members and wherein the frame resembles a typical bicycle frame.

Preferably the seat is located as close as possible to the ground and closer to the rear wheel than the front wheel.

However, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the height of the seat above the ground may be adjustable.

Similarly, in some embodiments, the height of the handle bar above the ground may be adjustable.

Preferably the footrests are located close to the ground.

For example, the front and rear wheels may each rotate about a respective axis and wherein the footrests may lie below a plane containing said axes.

In another aspect, this invention relates to a training apparatus that generally resembles a bicycle and which may be used to teach a child how to ride a bicycle, said training apparatus including: a front wheel; a rear wheel; a substantially triangularly shaped frame that includes a seat tube, a top tube and a down tube, said top tube and said down tube being connected to a head tube; a steering stem having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, said steering stem being located rotatably within said head tube; a handle bar attached to said upper portion of said steering stem; a fork attached to said lower portion of said steering stem; a free spinning front wheel that is rotatably mounted on said fork; a pair of chain stays each attached to said frame; a pair of seat stays each attached to said frame; a free spinning rear wheel that is supported by said chain stays and said seat stays; a seat mounted on said frame, and two opposing footrests located adjacent the connection between said seat tube and said down tube, each of said footrests being adapted to provide support for one of the user's feet when in a raised or elevated position.

Preferably the seat is located as close as possible to the ground and closer to the rear wheel than the front wheel.

However, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the height of the seat above the ground may be adjustable.

Similarly, in some embodiments, the height of the handle bar above the ground may be adjustable.

Preferably the footrests are located close to the ground.

For example, the front and rear wheels may each rotate about a respective axis and wherein the footrests may lie below a plane containing said axes.

In yet another aspect, this invention relates to a method of teaching a child to ride a bicycle, said method including: providing the child with a training apparatus of the type described above, and encouraging the child when the training apparatus is moving in a forward direction to place their feet on the footrests and to distribute their weight so that the training apparatus does not fall over.

In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:- FIG. 1 is a side view of training apparatus that has been constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a training apparatus 10 that may be used to teach a child how to ride a bicycle. The training apparatus 10 includes a front wheel 11 and a rear wheel 12 that are separated by a body, in the form of a substantially triangularly shaped frame 13, on which there is mounted a seat 14.

The frame 13 includes a seat tube 15, a top tube 16 and a down tube 17, the top tube 16 and the down tube 17 being connected to a head tube 18, and wherein adjacent portions of the seat tube 15 and the down tube 17 are connected to a tube 26 that extends outwardly from the frame in opposite directions.

The training apparatus 10 also includes a front wheel support assembly 19 including a steering stem 20 having an upper end portion 21 and a lower end portion 22. The steering stem 20 is located rotatably within the head tube 18.

The front wheel support assembly 19 also includes a handle bar 22 that is attached to said upper portion of said steering stem 20 and which extends outwardly therefrom in opposing directions.

The front wheel support assembly 19 also includes a fork 23 comprising two opposing branches 23a and wherein the front wheel 11 spins freely about a front axle 24 having opposing end portions that are attached to a respective branch 23a.

The training apparatus 10 also includes a rear wheel support assembly 25 including a pair of opposing chain stays 27 that extend rearwardly from the tube 26. Further, attached to the free end of each chain stay 27 is a mounting plate 28 in which there is formed an opening 29. Each mounting plate 28 is also connected to the top tube by a respective seat stay The rear wheel 12 spins freely about a rear axle 31 having opposing end portions that are located in a respective opening 29 and which are each attached to a mounting plate 28 using a suitable fastener.

The seat 14 is mounted on a seat post 32 that is slidably received within the seat tube 15 and wherein the relative position of the post 32 within the seat tube 15 may be selectively varied. This enables the user to vary the height of the seat 14 above the ground and wherein a suitable fastener, not shown, may be used to secure the post in a preferred position relative to the seat tube In use, a child that can not ride a bicycle may be provided with a training apparatus 10, and wherein the height of the seat 14 above the ground is preferably adjusted so that the child's feet rest on the ground when the child is seated on the seat 14. The child, in turn, may use their feet to propel the training apparatus 10 along the ground.

When the training apparatus 10 is moving, the child should be encouraged to lift their feet off the ground and to place their feet on the tube 26 which serves as footrests, while trying not to allow the training apparatus to fall on it's side. By doing this repeatedly, it is believed that the child will acquire a sense of balance which will enable them to ride a bicycle with confidence.

By holding on to the handle bar and using it to turn the steering stem 20, the child can alter the orientation of the front wheel 11 and thereby change the direction of travel of the training apparatus It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the present invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this -8invention as is herein defined in the appended claims.

Claims (12)

1. A training apparatus which may be used to teach a child how to ride a bicycle, said training apparatus including: a body; a free spinning rear wheel that is rotatably mounted on one end of said body; a free spinning front wheel that is rotatably mounted on a front wheel support assembly, said front wheel support assembly being pivotally connected to an opposite end of said body; a handle bar operatively connected to said front wheel support assembly which a user may use to alter the orientation of the front wheel and hence the direction of travel of the training apparatus; a seat mounted on the body on which a user may sit, said seat being located intermediate said front and rear wheels in a manner whereby both of the user's feet are able to touch the ground when the user is sitting on said seat and said apparatus is supported by said wheels in a substantially vertical attitude, and two footrests located on the body and which extend outwardly from the body in opposite directions, said footrests being located intermediate said front and rear wheels, each of said footrests being adapted to provide support for one of the user's feet when in a raised or elevated position.

2. A training apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body is a frame that includes a plurality of frame members and wherein said frame resembles a typical bicycle frame.

3. A training apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said seat is located as close as possible to the ground and closer to the rear wheel than the front wheel.

4. A training apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the height of said seat above the ground is adjustable.

5. A training apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the height of said handle bar above the ground is adjustable. o A training apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said front and rear wheels each rotate about a respective axis and wherein said footrests lie below a plane containing said axes.

6.1 A training apparatus that generally resembles a bicycle and which may be used to teach a child how to ride a bicycle, said training apparatus including: a front wheel; a rear wheel; a substantially triangularly shaped frame that includes a seat tube, a top tube and a down tube, said top tube and said down tube being connected to a head tube; a steering stem having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, said steering stem being located rotatably within said head tube; a handle bar attached to said upper portion of said steering stem; a fork attached to said lower portion of said -11- steering stem; a free spinning front wheel that is rotatably mounted on said fork; a pair of chain stays each attached to said frame; a pair of seat stays each attached to said frame; a free spinning rear wheel that is supported by said chain stays and said seat stays; a seat mounted on said frame, and two opposing footrests located adjacent the connection between said seat tube and said down tube, each of said footrests being adapted to provide support for one of the user's feet when in a raised or elevated position.

7. A training apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said frame resembles a typical bicycle frame.

8. A training apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said seat is located as close as possible to the ground and closer to the rear wheel than the front wheel.

9. A training apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the height of said seat above the ground is adjustable.

A training apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the height of said handle bar above the ground is adjustable.

11. A training apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

-12- IZ. A method of teaching a child to ride a bicycle, said method including: providing the child with a training apparatus of the type claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, and encouraging the child when the training apparatus is moving in a forward direction to place their feet on the footrests and to distribute their weight so that the training apparatus does not fall over. Dated this 31st Day of May, 2004 PETER ALAN COOKE By his Patent Attorneys AHEARN FOX