GB2048180A

GB2048180A - Toy Scooter

Info

Publication number: GB2048180A
Application number: GB7913118A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: WATSON HARDWARE Ltd F
Current assignee: WATSON HARDWARE Ltd F
Priority date: 1979-04-12
Filing date: 1979-04-12
Publication date: 1980-12-10
Also published as: GB2048180B

Abstract

A toy scooter has a footboard 1 and a steering handle 2 pivoted to the front end of the footboard. Respective wheel assemblies 9 and 10, e.g. of skateboard type as shown, each with a pair of laterally spaced wheels are attached to the underneath of the footboard 1 adjacent to its rear end, and to the base of the steering handle 2. The handle 2 may as shown have a pair of handlebars 7, 8 at different heights. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Toy scooter This invention relates to a toy scooter.

A toy scooter is a wheeled footboard with a steering handle. Such a scooter is propelled by kicking the ground. Usually, a toy scooter has two wheels, one at the back of the footboard, and the other at the base of the steering handle, the steering handle being pivotally connected to the front end of the foothoard. Both wheels are arranged on the centrai longitudinal axis of the scooter.

The present invention provides a toy scooter comprising a footboard and a steering handle pivoted to the front end of the footboard, the steering handle projecting upwardly with respect to the footboard, wherein respective truck assemblies are attached to the underneath of the footboard adjacent to the rear end thereof and to the base of the steering handle. Throughout this specification the term "truck assembly" should be taken to mean any standard skateboard truck and wheel assembly which is constituted by a base plate attached to the deck of the skateboard (or, in this case, to the scooter footboard or steering handle base), an axle support resiliently mounted on a king pin extending downwardly from the base plate, and a pair of urethane wheels mounted on the ends of an axle held in the axle support.A simple pin-and-socket joint may be provided between the axle support and the base plate to allow the axle to rock or cant, and bushes may be provided on the king pin and the pivot.

Advantageously, the steering handle is provided with two handle-bars, one of which is positioned adjacent to the top of the steering handle, the other being positioned substantially half-way along the steering handle.

The invention also provides a toy scooter comprising a footboard and a steering handle pivoted to the front end of the footboard, the steering handle projecting upwardly with respect to the footboard, wherein respective wheel assemblies are attached to the underneath of the footboard adjacent to the rear end thereof and to the base of the steering handle, each wheel assembly being constituted by a pair of laterally spaced wheels.

One form of toy scooter constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the toy sccoter; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the toy scooter.

Referring to the drawings, a toy scooter has a footboard 1 and a steering handle 2. Both the footboard 1 and the steering handle 2 are made of wood, though they could be made of any other suitable material such as moulded plastics or fibre glass. The footboard, is provided with a covering (not shown) of non-slip material. The steering handle 2 is pivotally connected to the front end of the footboard 1 by means of a U-shaped bracket 3 bolted to the base of the steering handle, a Ushaped bracket 4 bolted to a pillar 5 fastened to the front end of the footboard, and a bolt 6 which passes through aligned apertures (not shown) in the arms of the brackets. The steering handle 2 is provided with a pair of handle-bars 7 and 8 which are bolted to the steering handle respectively adjacent its top and just above half-way.The provision of these two handle-bars 7 and 8 enables the scooter to be used by both small and large children, small children using the lower handle-bar 8 and large children the upper handlebar 7. It is also possible for a large child to use the scooter at the same time as a smaller child, for example, for the larger child to teach the smaller child how to use the scooter. In this case, the larger child holds on to the upper handle-bar 7 and the smaller child holds on to the lower handle-bar 8. Large children may also use the lower handlebar 8 when kneeiing on the footboard 1, or when crouching to increase the speed effect.

A truck assembly 9 is bolted to the underneath of the footboard 1 at the rear end thereof. An identical truck assembly 10 is bolted to a prismatic block 11 which is fastened to the front surface of the steering handle 2 at the base thereof. The truck assemblies 9 and 10 are standard skateboard truck assemblies.

It will be apparent that the scooter described above has many advantages of the standard type of toy scooter. In particular, the use of the truck assemblies 9 and 10 results in a scooter that runs much better than known scooters. Moreover, the scooter is free-standing when not in use, and there are no balancing problems when the scooter is being used. This is particularly important as it means that a child will learn to use the scooter much quicker than with known scooters which require the learning child to balance himself on the scooter footboard. Another advantage of this scooter is the versatility which arises from the provision of the two handle-bars 7 and 8.

1. A toy scooter comprising a footboard, and a steering handle pivoted to the front end of the footboard, the steering handle projecting upwardly with respect to the footboard, wherein a respective truck assembly (as hereinbefore defined) is attached to the underneath of the footboard adjacent to the rear end thereof, and to the base of the steering handle.

2. A toy scooter as claimed in claim 1, wherein each truck assembly is provided with a simple pinand-socket joint between the axle support and the base plate to allow the axle to rock or cant.

3. A toy scooter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the king pin and the pivot of each truck assembly are provided with bushes.

4. A toy scooter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the steering handle is provided with two handle-bars, one of which is positioned adjacent to the top of the steering handle, the other being positioned substantially half-way

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Toy scooter This invention relates to a toy scooter. A toy scooter is a wheeled footboard with a steering handle. Such a scooter is propelled by kicking the ground. Usually, a toy scooter has two wheels, one at the back of the footboard, and the other at the base of the steering handle, the steering handle being pivotally connected to the front end of the foothoard. Both wheels are arranged on the centrai longitudinal axis of the scooter. The present invention provides a toy scooter comprising a footboard and a steering handle pivoted to the front end of the footboard, the steering handle projecting upwardly with respect to the footboard, wherein respective truck assemblies are attached to the underneath of the footboard adjacent to the rear end thereof and to the base of the steering handle. Throughout this specification the term "truck assembly" should be taken to mean any standard skateboard truck and wheel assembly which is constituted by a base plate attached to the deck of the skateboard (or, in this case, to the scooter footboard or steering handle base), an axle support resiliently mounted on a king pin extending downwardly from the base plate, and a pair of urethane wheels mounted on the ends of an axle held in the axle support.A simple pin-and-socket joint may be provided between the axle support and the base plate to allow the axle to rock or cant, and bushes may be provided on the king pin and the pivot. Advantageously, the steering handle is provided with two handle-bars, one of which is positioned adjacent to the top of the steering handle, the other being positioned substantially half-way along the steering handle. The invention also provides a toy scooter comprising a footboard and a steering handle pivoted to the front end of the footboard, the steering handle projecting upwardly with respect to the footboard, wherein respective wheel assemblies are attached to the underneath of the footboard adjacent to the rear end thereof and to the base of the steering handle, each wheel assembly being constituted by a pair of laterally spaced wheels. One form of toy scooter constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the toy sccoter; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the toy scooter. Referring to the drawings, a toy scooter has a footboard 1 and a steering handle 2. Both the footboard 1 and the steering handle 2 are made of wood, though they could be made of any other suitable material such as moulded plastics or fibre glass. The footboard, is provided with a covering (not shown) of non-slip material. The steering handle 2 is pivotally connected to the front end of the footboard 1 by means of a U-shaped bracket 3 bolted to the base of the steering handle, a Ushaped bracket 4 bolted to a pillar 5 fastened to the front end of the footboard, and a bolt 6 which passes through aligned apertures (not shown) in the arms of the brackets. The steering handle 2 is provided with a pair of handle-bars 7 and 8 which are bolted to the steering handle respectively adjacent its top and just above half-way.The provision of these two handle-bars 7 and 8 enables the scooter to be used by both small and large children, small children using the lower handle-bar 8 and large children the upper handlebar 7. It is also possible for a large child to use the scooter at the same time as a smaller child, for example, for the larger child to teach the smaller child how to use the scooter. In this case, the larger child holds on to the upper handle-bar 7 and the smaller child holds on to the lower handle-bar 8. Large children may also use the lower handlebar 8 when kneeiing on the footboard 1, or when crouching to increase the speed effect. A truck assembly 9 is bolted to the underneath of the footboard 1 at the rear end thereof. An identical truck assembly 10 is bolted to a prismatic block 11 which is fastened to the front surface of the steering handle 2 at the base thereof. The truck assemblies 9 and 10 are standard skateboard truck assemblies. It will be apparent that the scooter described above has many advantages of the standard type of toy scooter. In particular, the use of the truck assemblies 9 and 10 results in a scooter that runs much better than known scooters. Moreover, the scooter is free-standing when not in use, and there are no balancing problems when the scooter is being used. This is particularly important as it means that a child will learn to use the scooter much quicker than with known scooters which require the learning child to balance himself on the scooter footboard. Another advantage of this scooter is the versatility which arises from the provision of the two handle-bars 7 and 8. CLAIMS

4. A toy scooter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the steering handle is provided with two handle-bars, one of which is positioned adjacent to the top of the steering handle, the other being positioned substantially half-way along the steering handle.

5. A toy scooter comprising a footboard, and a steering handle pivoted to the front end of the footboard, the steering handle projecting upwardly with respect to the footboard, wherein respective wheel assemblies are attached to the underneath of the footboard adjacent to the rear end thereof, and to the base of the steering handle, each wheel assembly being constituted by a pair of laterally spaced wheels.

6. A toy scooter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.