AU2019100240A4

AU2019100240A4 - A Three Wheeled Vehicle Having a Frontal Shock Absorber

Info

Publication number: AU2019100240A4
Application number: AU2019100240A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yoram Baron
Original assignee: Smart Trike MNF Pte Ltd
Current assignee: Smart Trike MNF Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2019-03-06
Filing date: 2019-03-06
Publication date: 2019-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-06

Abstract

A shock absorber for the front wheel of a tricycle comprises a front wheel having an axle wherein said axle is configured for receiving at least one pedal rod, at least one detachable pedal rod configured for attachment to the axle of the front wheel, a fork configured for rotatably supporting the front wheel axle, which includes at least one slot therein through which the at least one detachable pedal rod is configured to move pass wherein the at least one pedal rod is enabled to move up and down within the slot, at least one coupling member attached to the axle for rotatably receiving the pedal rod, and which the spring interposed the said coupling member and a connection on said fork for maintaining a portion of the fork at a variable space-apart distance from the axle of the front wheel, and where in the slot being sized so that the distance between the coupling member and the fork varies. Fig. 3

Description

A THREE WHEELED VEHICLE HAVING A FRONTAL

SHOCK ABSORBER

Technical Field

The present invention relates to children’s riding vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to shock absorbing systems for children’s riding vehicles such as tricycles.

Background

Whether used for transportation or recreation, riding vehicles such as tricycles may be used for riders of different sizes and capabilities. Some riding vehicles are configured to be propelled and steered by the rider. In some instances, riding vehicles are configured to be pushed and steered from behind, by an individual, such as an adult, pushing the tricycle. Prior art strollers sometimes have a shock absorber for absorbing shock transmitted from the wheel unit when the wheel hits a rock, for example.

US2003057669 discloses a stroller which includes a front leg unit, first and second shock absorbing units, and a bridging member. The first shock absorbing unit includes an upper seat member that is connected to the front leg unit via the bridging member, and a pair of lower movable members that are connected to a front wheel unit and that are movable in a second axis toward and away from the upper seat member so as to absorb shock transmitted from the front wheel unit in the second axis when an external force is applied to the front wheel unit. The second shock absorbing unit includes at least one urging member that abuts against the bridging member

SMRT-119-AU-19

2019100240 06 Mar 2019

-2and the upper seat member so as to oscillate between compression and extension strokes and so as to absorb shock transmitted from the front wheel unit in a third axis that is perpendicular to the second axis when the external force is applied to the front wheel unit. Nevertheless, the disclosed shock absorbing system is costly and weighty.

US 8,740,235 discloses a tricycle having a shock absorber which may be operable between a first mode of operation steerable by a tricycle rider, and a second mode of operation steerable by an individual pushing the tricycle. However, the described tricycle is limited.

It would therefore be desired to propose a system void of these deficiencies.

Summary

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shock absorbing system, for a three wheeled riding vehicle having detachable pedals.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shock absorbing system, for children’s riding vehicles, which is cost effective and light.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a shock absorbing system, for a tricycle, which absorbs the shock of the front wheel regardless of whether the pedal rods are attached or detached.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

SMRT-119-AU-19

-3 2019100240 06 Mar 2019

The present invention relates to a shock absorber for the front wheel of a tricycle, comprising: (a) a front wheel having an axle wherein said axle is configured for receiving at least one pedal rod; (b) at least one detachable pedal rod configured for attachment to said axle of said front wheel; (c) a fork, configured for rotatably supporting said front wheel axle, which includes at least one slot therein through which said at least one detachable pedal rod is configured to pass wherein said at least one pedal rod is enabled to move up and down within the slot; (d) at ast one coupling member, attached to said axle of said front wheel, for rotatably receiving said at least one pedal rod, and which has at least one spring interposed between said coupling member and a connection on said fork for maintaining a portion of said fork at a variable spaced-apart distance from said axle of said front wheel; and (e) wherein said slot, of said fork, therein through which said at least one pedal rod is configured to pass, the slot being sized so that as the distance between said coupling member and the portion of said fork varies.

Preferably, the coupling member includes at least one pillar on an upper end thereof, said pillar having a radius smaller than a radius of the spring which is interposed between said coupling member and a connection on the fork.

Preferably, the coupling member is made of plastic.

In one embodiment, the coupling member, has one spring interposed between said coupling member and a connection on the fork.

In one embodiment, the coupling member, has more than one spring interposed between said coupling member and a connection on the fork.

SMRT-119-AU-19

-42019100240 06 Mar 2019

Preferably, the connection on the fork includes at least one pin that secures the fork over the upper end of the spring(s).

Preferably, the coupling members are configured to orient the springs above the pedal rods.

In one embodiment, the coupling member includes at least one pillar on an upper end thereof, the pillar having a radius smaller than a radius of the spring.

In one embodiment, the coupling member includes 2 pillars on an upper end thereof, each of the pillars having a radius smaller than the radius of the spring.

Preferably, the fork includes a chamber and guiding trails.

In one embodiment, the spring is viewable.

In one embodiment, the spring is arranged to absorb shock between the frame and the front wheel.

In one embodiment, the spring is arranged to absorb shock between the handlebar and the pedals.

In one embodiment, each pedal rod is configured for connection about the front wheel axis to rotate said front wheel.

SMRT-119-AU-19

2019100240 06 Mar 2019

-5 In one embodiment, the pedal rod has two pedals, configured to rotate said front wheel.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings, and specific references to their details, are herein used, by way of example only, to illustratively describe some of the embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagram of a tricycle having a shock absorbing system, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of the front wheel assembly, of a tricycle, having a shock absorbing system, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a diagram of the shock absorbing system of the front wheel assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

The terms of “front”, “rear”, “down”, “up”, “bottom”, “upper”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, right, left or any reference to sides or directions are used throughout the description for the sake of brevity alone and are relative terms only and not intended to require a particular component orientation.

Fig. 1 is a diagram of a tricycle having a shock absorbing system, according to an embodiment of the invention. For the sake of brevity, the following description refers to a tricycle, however, the terms “tricycle” and

SMRT-119-AU-19

2019100240 06 Mar 2019

-6“riding vehicle” Eire meant to include any 3 wheeled rideable vehicles used for play, recreation and/or transportation.

Embodiments of the invention may include a tricycle having a frame and a pair of rear wheels 800 for rotatable connection to the frame. As illustrated in Fig. 1, exemplary tricycle 100 may include a main frame 700 including head tube 707. Two rear wheels 800 may be supported toward the rear of the main frame 700. The main frame 700 may be made of any material or have any structure, shape, or configuration capable of supporting a tricycle rider. For example, main frame 700 may include metal tubing or any other rigid material, and may be configured to support a seat 721.

Similarly, embodiments of the invention may include a pair of detachable pedals 200, each pedal configured to rotate the front wheel. Numerous types of pedals may be employed constant with embodiments of the invention. Thus, as used herein, the term pedal refers to any structure that permits a rider to propel a tricycle using foot power. In addition, a pedal may be configured to rotate the front wheel a portion of the time (e.g., during the first mode when the rider propels the tricycle, and may be removable from, disengagable from, during a second portion of the time (e.g., during the second mode when a parent pushes the tricycle from behind).

Each of the pedals may be connected to a detachable pedal rod such as pedal rod 210 which may be connected to the center of the front wheel 150. The pedal rods may be configured of two independent sections, each connected to a separate one of the pedals. In a first mode of operation, the propelling factor of pedal rod 210 may be connected, by any mechanical interconnection means, to a rotating factor of the front wheel 150, thereby allowing rotation of the front wheel using pedal rod 210. By rotating the

SMRT-119-AU-19

2019100240 06 Mar 2019

-7pedal rod 210, the front wheel 150 may be rotated about its center axis, e.g. about the front wheel 150 axle. In one embodiment, the front wheel 150 may have a separate axle to which one or a pair of pedal rods connects.

Embodiments of the invention may include at least one fork blade configured to support the front wheel in a manner permitting the front wheel to rotate about the front wheel axis. As used herein, the term blade includes any structure capable of supporting the front wheel in a rotatable manner. A wheel may be supported, for example, on a single blade or on a pair of blades. When a pair of blades are employed, they are typically interconnected at upper ends opposite points at which they interconnect to the wheel axis and are collectively referred to as a fork (although, as used herein, the term fork may also include structures that have just one blade.) Thus, in various figures, a fork is generally designated with the reference numeral 600. The fork may be formed of individual blades that curve toward each other, or, interconnecting structure may join two individual fork blades. The fork 600 is configured for connection to the handlebar to enable force exerted on the handlebar to turn the fork 600.

The axle, of the front wheel, may be pivotally held by the opposing distal ends of fork blades in a manner such that the front wheel is capable of rotating about its center axis, even when the pedal rods are detached. A mud guard 808 may be disposed near a top of the fork, opposite distal ends supporting the wheel.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of the front wheel assembly, of a tricycle, having a shock absorbing system, according to an embodiment of the invention. The depicted front wheel assembly may be the front wheel assembly of a riding vehicle such as the tricycle described in relations to Fig. 1. The fork 604 is

SMRT-119-AU-19

2019100240 06 Mar 2019

-8configured for rotatably supporting the front wheel 150. In one embodiment, the fork 604 includes a slot 614 therein through which the pedal rod is configured to pass, wherein the pedal rod is enabled to move up and down within the slot 614. In one embodiment, the slot 614, of the fork, through which the pedal rod is configured to pass, is being sized so that as the distance between the coupling member 524 and the portion of the fork varies.

Fig. 3 is a diagram of the shock absorbing system of the front wheel assembly, according to another embodiment of the invention. The diagram depicts the front wheel assembly, as described in relations to Fig. 2, without some of the fork coverings, for the sake of brevity. In the diagram, a coupling member 524 may be positioned for rotatably receiving a pedal rod. The coupling member 524 may be made of plastic or any other rigid material or may have any structure, shape, or configuration capable of for rotatably receiving the pedal rod. The coupling member 524 may include 1, 2 or more pillars on its upper end thereof, where the pillars have a radius smaller than the radius of the springs, in order to hold the springs 504 in place. The coupling member may be configured to orient the spring(s) above the pedal rod. The fork (not shown) may include a connection that secures the fork over the upper end of the springs 504. Thus, the springs 504 may be interposed between the coupling member 524 and the fork for maintaining a portion of the fork at a variable spaced-apart distance from the axle of the front wheel 154. For the sake of brevity only one side of the front wheel is depicted and discussed, although, the other side of the front wheel, including the disclosed parts such as the coupling member 524, may operate similarly as described.

Returning to Fig. 1, in one embodiment, the rear wheels 800 may be rotatably supported on a central axle which may be inserted into the rear part of the main frame 700, effectively allowing the rear wheels 400 to rotate

SMRT-119-AU-19

2019100240 06 Mar 2019

-9frontwards or backwards. A seat 721 may be connected, by any known method, to the main frame 700. The seat 721 may have any configuration capable of supporting a rider. It may include or omit a back rest, may be integrally formed or formed of multiple materials, and/or may be uncovered or covered in cloth, fabric, or other material.

Embodiments may include a parental handle 400, which may be permanent, semi-permanent (e.g., removable with tools), or designed to be removable at will. The term parental handle as used herein, includes any structure, regardless of shape or material that may be grasped by an individual behind a tricycle and used to propel the tricycle from behind. By way of example, parental handle 400 illustrated in Fig. 1, may be made of one or more metal pipes or from any other rigid material. In one embodiment, the parental handle 400 may be telescopically adjustable to accommodate the height of the individual pushing the tricycle 100. The adjustable height mechanism of parental handle 400 may belong to any of the known adjusting techniques such as by a popup pin held within the inner pipe of the handle and which pops out of one of the holes of the outer pipe, where the pin may be pushed from one hole and popped out of a different hole, for adjusting the height of the handle.

While the above description discloses many embodiments and specifications of the invention, these were described by way of illustration and should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention. The described invention may be carried into practice with many modifications which are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. A shock absorber for the front wheel of a tricycle, comprising:

a front wheel having an axle wherein said axle is configured for receiving at least one pedal rod;

at least one detachable pedal rod configured for attachment to said axle of said front wheel;

a fork, configured for rotatably supporting said front wheel axle, which includes at least one slot therein through which said at least one detachable pedal rod is configured to pass wherein said at least one pedal rod is enabled to move up and down within the slot;

at least one coupling member, attached to said axle of said front wheel, for rotatably receiving said at least one pedal rod, and which has at least one spring interposed between said coupling member and a connection on said fork for maintaining a portion of said fork at a variable spaced-apart distance from said axle of said front wheel; and wherein said slot, of said fork, therein through which said at least one pedal rod is configured to pass, the slot being sized so that as the distance between said coupling member and the portion of said fork varies.

SMRT-119-AU-19

2019100240 06 Mar 2019

- 11
2. The shock absorber of claim 1, wherein the coupling member includes at least one pillar on an upper end thereof, said pillar having a radius smaller than a radius of the spring which is interposed between said coupling member and a connection on the fork.
3. The shock absorber of claim 1, wherein the fork includes a chamber and guiding trails.
4. The shock absorber of claim 1, wherein the spring is arranged to absorb shock between the frame and the front wheel.
5. The shock absorber of claim 1, wherein the spring is arranged to absorb shock between the handlebar and the pedals.