AU610642B2

AU610642B2 - A ride-on device for transportation and stunt riding

Info

Publication number: AU610642B2
Application number: AU22045/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Allan Parr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-09-10
Filing date: 1988-09-10
Publication date: 1991-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 2008-09-09
Also published as: AU2204588A

Description

UZI6__ 1.4 [6 4

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Application Lodged: sectionl 49 and it O.

o,7omplete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: logo ,,.Priority: R.elated Art: 0, C TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: OQ S.

Actual Inventor: 0 0 e Address for Service: o 00 e DAVID ALLAN PARR 1 Nattai Close, Thornleigh, NSW, 2120 David Allan Parr ARTHUR S. CAVE CO.

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY N.S.W. 2000

AUSTRALIA

Complete Specification for the invention entitled A RIDE-ON DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTATION AND STUNT RIDING.

The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me:- 1 ASC 49 r

€I

A RIDE-ON DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTATION AND STUNT RIDING The present invention relates to a ride-on device for transportation and stunt riding which is lightweight, easily stored, portable, yet strong enough to withstand the rigours of stunt riding.

Devices in the market currently directed towards transportation and stunt riding may be categorised generally as either push-bikes or skateboards.

oo€ 00 In consideration of these categories with respect to the riders of these devices, push-bikes and skateboards offer distinctly different riding characteristics.

Push-bikes on the one hand are manouevred by the hands and body weight distribution and basically balanced through the gyroscopic effect of the rotating wheels, have a seat for upper body support and means by which the push-bike may be powered.

115 The result is a device particularly suitable for transporting the rider from one place to another while also allowing the rider to conduct stunt riding where upper body control is 000% S required.

Skateboards on the other hand are manoeuvred and balanced by foot manipulation and body weight distribution and are powered by either harnessing the potential energy of a hill or the kinetic energy of the rider in a manner similar to that used to propel a 'scooter'. The result in this case is a device particularly suitable for stunt riding, while also offering the rider a means of transportation over short distances yet being portable over longer distances and terrain not suitable for skateboard riding.

-2- 0631E To: Signature of Declarant(s) The Commissioner of Patents DAVID A. PARR ARTHUR S. CAVE CO.

PATENT AND TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS

SYDNEY

A.S.C. 3 I AMD/0349a It can be seen therefore that each category has advantages and disadvantages over the other and as such it is the intention of the present invention to combine the advantages of each category to produce a new and useful means of transportation offering freedom, portability, upper body support etc., which is readily adaptable to stunt riding.

In one broad form, the present invention provides a transportation and stunt riding device adapted for use on a support surface, comprising a frame to which is mounted handle bars, a seat and foot support means, and a front and rear pair of wheels, whereby in use, the device may be powered by potential and/or kinetic energy, the direction of travel of said device being governed by the non-perpendicular positioning of the frame relative to the supporting surface.

o0 0oo. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now o 8 be described with reference to the accompanying drawings 0 o ao wherein: o 0 r o Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment; 0o 0 Fig. 2 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment; i Fig. 3 shows a front view of the embodiment of Fig. 1; and :Fig. 4 shows a bottom view of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

The device comprises a frame handle bars i seat foot rest front bogie rear bogie and braking means The frame is further comprised of a main member (2a)j 0.

0 0 3

_~I

"1 preferably formed as a single "vee" shaped member from hollow steel tube, and strengthened by cross member (2b) also preferably of hollow steel tube and securely fixed between the arms of the 'vee' shaped main member. Alternatively the apex of the 'vee' shaped member may be formed so as to allow resilient movement of the arms of the 'vee' in relation to each other. The main member may be constructed in several pieces to reduce package size.

Attached to the main member (2a) and forming an integral 0001 part of the frame are a foot rest support frame (2c) and 1000 s, eat support frame Frames (2c) and (2d) are also preferably formed from hollow steel tube and preferably welded to the main member (2a).

Further mounted on the main member (2a) are handle bars

C

front bogie rear bogie and braking means C C These items are preferably mounted by the use of mechanical

''I

fasteners such as nuts, bolts and washers although other methods of attachment may be used.

0 11 t 0 In a further embodiment, the handle bars may be releasably attached to the main member (2a) so as to allow the handle bars to be rotated into planar relationship with the frame (2a) in longitudinally horizontal or vertical alignment therewith thus facilitating easy storage of the device in confined spaces. Such a mechanism which would allow this type of action may be a combined lift and rotate mechanism however, other mechanisms may be successfully utilised.

The seat may be either permanently or removably attached to the main member (2a) and seat support frame (2d) 4-- 0631E c. '-PI~II~ 1 and may be of any material. In the preferred embodiment however, the seat would be moulded of metal and welded to the main member (2a) and seat support frame (2d).

The braking means may be preferably of a resilient material such as rubber which offers a high co-efficient of friction with respect to a broad spectrum of surfacing materials over which the device may travel. As can best be seen in Fig. 1 the braking device may be attached so as to expose a trailing portion behind the device of sufficient fit, ~length to allow the rider to engage the surface over which the device is travelling with the braking means without the foot of the rider directly engaging the travelled surface, thus causing the device to slow and ultimately stop.

The front bogie is comprised of two wheels (6a) and Sl"'c (6b) rotatably connected to a front bogie plate (6c) by stub Otto axles (6d) and A single axle may also be used. The front bogie plate (6c) is in turn pivotally connected to the frame by way of a third stub axle (6f) which passes through ooo o a a sleeve (2e) attached to and forming an integral part of the frame The sleeve may also be relocatably attached to said frame. The third stub axle (6f) is rotatably held in position through the slieeve (2e) by way of mechanical fasteners (6g) I such as nuts and washers. Attachment of the front bogie to the frame in this manner allows the front bogie to rotate about the axis described by the third stub axle (6f) allowing the device to be manoeuvred by the rider. The third stub axle (6f) is preferably angled rearwardly between and 890 below the longitudinal axis of the frame to 0631E facilitate stability in motion.

To prevent the front bogie from rotating to an angle that would cause wheels (6a) and (6b) to 'lock up', a bogie rotation stop is preferably attached to the frame to prevent the front bogie from rotating beyond a safe angle for turning. However, other means of restricting front bogie rotation such as the attachment of bogie rotation stops to the bogie itself may be employed.

The rear bogie is comprised of two wheels (7a) and (7b) rotatably connected to a rear bogie plate (7c) by stub axles (7d) and A single axle may also be used. The rear bogie plate (7c) is in turn connected to the frame by way of mechanical fasteners (7f) and (7g) and a bracket At o least one resilient member is incorporated in communication 0 f15 with the rear bogie plate such that the rear bogie may move 0000 0000 relative to the frame whilst maintaining a substantially o00o° perpendicular orientation between the axis of the wheels (7a) 00 0 o" and (7b) and the longitudinal axis of the lower member of main o member (2a) of the frame °o 00 To ride the device the rider may either carry the device simply over one shoulder to the top of the hill, place their feet on the foot rest their hands on the 0000 0 S handle bars and sit on the seat thus harnessing the 0o 00 O" potential energy of the hill or place one foot on the foot rest their hands on the handle bars and in either a standing or sitting position tap the kinetic energy generated by the free foot of the rider in a manner not unlike that used to propel a 'scooter'.

to propel a 'scooter'.

6

A

To turn the device the rider simply alters the centre of gravity of the device by leaning to one side or the other or alternatively leaning the device to one side or the other whilst the rider maintains a substantially vertical posture. The change in the centre of gravity causes the frame to lean to the side the rider is leaning, or the frame has been pushed, in turn causing the front bogie to rotate Cabout the third stub axle re-aligning the axis of the r; C wheels (6a and 6b) relative to the longitudinal axis of the frame. This changes the direction of travel of the device.

It should be noted that the rear bogie does not alter orientation with respect to the frame when the centre of gravity is altered but instead works to oppose the sideways 0o0 t overturning moment generated by the altered centre of gravity o0 thus affecting a sideways stability of the device 0OOO To stop or slow the device the rider may from either 0o 0 in a standing or sitting position simply apply a downwards force upon the braking means bringing the braking means oOO Oo 00 4 into frictional contact with the surface over which the device is travelling and subsequently slow or stop the forward motion of the device The preceding is a description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the best method known of performing same. It is not intended however to restrict the scope or spirit of the present invention to the preferred embodiment as those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications and alterations can be made to the present invention as described. The scope of the present invention is 7 0631E indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

0 0 a ge S Cc 0 0 o0 8 -8- 0631E II

Claims

1. A transportation and stunt riding device adapted for use on a support surface, comprising a frame to which is mounted handle bars, a seat and foot support means, and a front and rear pair of wheels, whereby in use, the device may be powered by potential and/or kinetic energy, the direction of travel of said device being governed by the non-perpendicular positioning of the frame relative to the support surface.

2. The device according to claim 1 further comprising braking means.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the frame is formed as a "vee" shaped member having a first arm and a second arm.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein the frame is o"o strengthened between the "vee" by a cross member fixed between o000 the first and the second arms. ooo 5. The device according to claim 3 wherein the apex of the 0o a 0 o "vee" shaped member is formed so as to allow resilient movement 00 0 of the arms of said "vee" shaped member with relation to each other. 0oooo 6. The device according to any of claims 3 to 5 wherein said o handle bars are mounted perpendicularly to the longitudinal 0o o axis of said device at an upper end of the first arm of the "vee" shaped member. S 7. The device according to claim 6 wherein said handle bars 00o0 0 8 are mounted on the frame so as to allow said handle bars to be rotated through ninety degrees and substantially aligned with, or perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis of the device to

9- i AND /0349 a facilitate storage. 8. The device according to any of claims 3 to 7 wherein said seat is mounted on the first arm of the I"vee" shaped member intermediate the upper end of the first arm of the "'vee" shaped member and the apex of the I"vee" shaped member, and said foot support means is mounted on the second arm of the "vee" shaped member. 9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said seat is permanently or adjustably affixed to-the first arm of the "'vee". The device according to any one of claims 3 to 9 wherein said rear pair of wheels is connected to said frame by a first plate connected to the second arm of the I"vee" shaped member by a bracket and mechanical fasteners, said mechanical fasteners passing through the first plate and attaching said first plate -to the bracket, said bracket being affixed to the second arm of 0 the "'vee" shaped member, resilient spacing members being located so as to allow angular displacement of the first plate o 0 relative to the bracket whilst maintaining a substantially 00 perpendicular orientation between the axis of said rear pair of wheels and the longitudinal axis of said second arm, and at least one wheel engaging axle being permanently affixed to the first plate.

11. The device according to any of claims 3 to 10 wherein said front pair of wheels is connected to said frame by a second plate pivotally connected to the second arm of the "'vee" shaped member by a stub axle integrally mounted on the second e plate and passing through a sleeve attached to the second arm of the "'vee" shaped member, permanently affixed to said second 10 AMD 0349a plate being at least one wheel engaging axle.

12. The device according to any one of claims 3 to 11, wherein said braking means is comprised of a resilient pad extending longitudinally rearward from the second arm of the "vee" shaped member may be caused to engage the supporting surface over which the device is travelling by the application of a downwards force to the pad, thus causing the device to bleed energy through frictional contact between the pad and the supporting surface over which the device is travelling.

13. The device according to claims 10 or 11, whereby, in use, the device may be caused to harness potential or kinetic energy, and is steered by adjusting the angle between the device and the supporting surface, such adjustment of said o" angle causing the first plate to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device and the second plate to rotate about an axis defined by the 6 axis of the stub axle passing through the sleeve attached to the frame, such that the first plate and attached rear pair of 0 0 wheels oppose overturning moments developed by the change in the centre of gravity of the device and the second plate and attached front pair of wheels rotate to change the direction of 0I o ~travel of the device.

14. The device according to claims 11 or 12 wherein the lower 0 J end of the sleeve is configured rearward of the upper end of 0 the sleeve such that an included angle between a longitudinal axis of the sleeve and the longitudinal axis of the device is 4 between 300 and 890. A transportation and stunt riding device, substantially -11- I- II A I .i AI4D/0349a as herein described with reference -to the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of operating a transportation and stunt riding device as herein described. DATED this 12th day of February, 1991. DAVID ALLAN PARR By His Patent Attorneys ARTHUR S. CAVE CO. o .0 00 0 *0 0 0 0 0 04 0 o 12 M