GB2223420A

GB2223420A - Toy trundling wheels

Info

Publication number: GB2223420A
Application number: GB8921972A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Peter Grimmett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-10-05
Filing date: 1989-09-29
Publication date: 1990-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 2009-09-29
Also published as: GB8921972D0; GB8823307D0; GB2223420B

Abstract

A plaything includes a wheel 1 which has a tyred-rim 2 supported from a hub 3 by web-spokes 4. Grooved bosses 5 project axially from the hub 3 on either side of the wheel 1, and the wheel 1 is controlled in rolling and manoeuvre by means of a hand-held control rod engaging one or other of the bosses 5. A cranked part of the control rod remote from its hand- grip is used to engage in a circumferential groove 6 of either boss 5. An alternative control rod has a forked end for engaging the groove 6. <IMAGE>

Description

Playthings This invention relates to playthings and is particularly concerned with playthings involving a wheel.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a plaything comprising a wheel that has a portion projecting axially from a hub of the wheel, and a member for holding by hand to abut said portion and exert force thereon to propel and guide the wheel.

The wheel may have a rim that is supported from the hub, for example by wire or other spokes, and may have a pneumatic or other tyre on the rim. The hub, rim and support therebetween, may be of unitary construction, for example of moulded or other plastics.

The axially-projecting portion, which may be formed integrally with the hub, may be grooved to provide a guide for readily receiving abutting engagement of the hand-held member. The said portion may be formed as a grooved boss on the hub.

The hand-held member, which may be of plastics, may be of rod form and have a hand-grip at one end. The end of the member that is to abut the axially-projecting portion of the wheel, may be cranked to facilitate the abutment and exertion of force on the wheel.

Alternatively, or in addition, the hand-held member may have a forked portion to enter onto the axiallyprojecting portion of the wheel to control manoeuvre of the wheel.

The wheel may have an axially-projecting portion of the nature referred to above for providing an abutment for the hand-held member, on both sides of the wheel, so as to enable abutment of the hand-held member to be made on either side.

The present invention has, as another aspect, the provision of a wheel having a hub formed with two grooved bosses on either side of the wheel, for use in a plaything as referred to in the preceding paragraphs.

One form of plaything in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are side and sectional-end elevations respectively of the wheel of the plaything, the section of Figure 2 being taken on the line Il-Il of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the wheel and associated control rod; and Figure 4 shows an alternative, forked-form of control rod for use with the wheel.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the wheel 1 of the plaything (which, for example, may have a diameter of the order of 200 to 600mm or even larger) has a tyredrim 2 that is supported from a hub 3 by web-spokes 4.

A boss 5 projects axially from the hub 3 on each side of the wheel 1, both bosses 5 being contoured to provide a circumferential groove 6 for engagement by the control rod 7 (Figure 3) of the plaything when driving the wheel 1.

Referring to Figure 3, the control rod 7 is elongate, having a hand-grip 8 at one end and a cranked part 9 at the other end. If the grip 8 is held in the hand and the cranked part 9 is urged against one of the bosses 5 while the wheel I is held upright, the wheel can be made to roll. In particular, by holding the rod 7 above and behind the wheel with the cranked part 9 entered into the groove 6 to abut the boss 5 from perhaps slightly beneath the wheel centre, the wheel can be made to roll forwards. Follow through, with the rod 7 maintained in the groove 6, enables force to be exerted on the wheel 1 to keep it rolling, and slight twisting or deflection of the rod 7 in the hand enables the wheel 1 to be steered. The rod 7 may also be used to apply forces on the boss 5 that will cause the wheel 1 to carry out other manoeuvres, slow the wheel down, and to stop.

The wheel 1 and the rod 7 may be constructed of moulded or other plastics. The structure of the wheel 1, may in this respect, be unitary as illustrated, with the rim 2, hub 3, the support therebetween (in this example the spokes 4) and the bosses 5 formed together as one.

The tyre on the rim 2 of the wheel may be a pneumatic tyre, but other tyres may be utilised.

An alternative form of control rod is shown in Figure 4. This incorporates a forked end 10 remote from the hand-grip 11, which is useful for braking the wheel and for holding it steady when stationary. In each of the latter respects, the control rod can be applied to the wheel with the fork 10 entered onto the boss 5 within the groove 6, so that with pressure applied lengthwise and downwards of the rod the wheel can be brought to a halt and held steady and upright. Other manoeuvres of the wheel can be carried out, for example by applying sideways pressure on the wheel through the control rod and with the forked end 10 engaged or otherwise with the groove 6.

Claims

Claims:

1. A plaything comprising a wheel that has a portion projecting axially from a hub of the wheel, and a member for holding by hand to abut said portion and exert force thereon to propel and guide the wheel.

2. A plaything according to Claim 1 wherein the wheel has a rim that is supported from the hub and has a pneumatic or other tyre on the rim.

3. A plaything according to Claim 2 wherein the hub, rim and support therebetween, is of unitary construction.

4. A plaything according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the axially-projecting portion is formed integrally with the hub.

5. A plaything according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the axially-projecting portion is grooved to provide a guide for readily receiving abutting engagement of the hand-held member.

6. A plaything according to Claim 5 wherein the said portion is a grooved boss on the hub.

7. A plaything according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hand-held member is of rod form and has a hand-grip at one end.

8. A plaything according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the end of the member that is to abut the axially-projecting portion of the wheel, is cranked to facilitate the abutment and exertion of force on the wheel.

9. A plaything according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hand-held member has a forked portion to enter onto the axially-projecting portion of the wheel to manoeuvre the wheel.

10. A plaything according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the wheel has a said axiallyprojecting portion on both sides of the wheel, so as to enable abutment of the hand-held member to be made on either side.

11. A wheel for use in a plaything according to any one of the preceding claims, having a hub formed with two grooved bosses on either side of the wheel.

12. A wheel for use in a plaything according to any one of the preceding claims, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A plaything substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A plaything according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 wherein the hand-held member is substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.