GB2493168A

GB2493168A - Activity wheel assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2493168A
Application number: GB201112852A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philippa Claire Barbara Hancock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-07-26
Filing date: 2011-07-26
Publication date: 2013-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 2031-07-26
Also published as: GB2493168B; GB201112852D0

Abstract

An activity wheel, which may take the form of a hamster wheel, that incorporates a zoetrope, comprises a wheel 1 and support means 2 rotatably supporting the wheel. Retaining means retain a series of progressively changing representations B in fixed relationship with the wheel so as to rotate therewith. Stroboscope means 8, 14 causes each of the representations to be presented to a viewer in succession so that the viewer perceives an animated image constituted by the representations. The wheel may alternative be a treadmill. The treadmill and zoetrope may be linked so that operation of the treadmill causes the zoetrope to operate. A treadwheel in combination with means operable to display an animated image which moves at a speed linked to the treadwheel is also claimed.

Description

Title: Activity wheel assembly

Field of the invention

This invention relates to an activity wheel assembly, to a rodent exercise wheel, such as a hamster wheel and to activity apparatus of the type having a treadmill.

Background to the invention

0 The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to exercise wheel assemblies which are used as exercise toys by hamsters or other rodents (such assemblies commonly being referred to as hamster wheels or rodent exercise wheels).

Such a wheel assembly generally comprises a wheel constructed from plastics is material or from wire and a support frame which is rotationally attached to at least one axle for the wheel so that the wheel is supported for rotation about a horizontal axis.

The wheel normally has a barrier, for example a circular plate across one face, but is open at the other face to allow the rodent to enter arid exit the wheel. The inner periphery of the wheel provides an endless path along which the rodent can run, so as to rotate the wheel. The exercise wheel assembly allows the rodent to run for long distances, despite being in a confined space.

Although many owners of pet rodents enjoy watching their pet using a hamster wheel (or rodent exercise wheel), the wheel assembly itself has little or no aesthetic merit and provides virtually no visual stimulation for the viewer.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an activity wheel assembly comprising a wheel and support means for rotatably supporting the wheel so that the latter is rotated by a human or an animal moving along a path associated with the wheel; retaining means for retaining a series of progressively changing representations in fixed relationship with the wheel so as to rotate therewith; and stroboscope means operable on rotation of the wheel to cause each of the representations to be momentarily presented in succession to a viewer who accordingly perceives an animated image constituted by the representations.

The movement of a human or animal along the path causes the presentation of an animated image, which provides visual stimulation, either to the being moving along the path or to an outside observer, depending on whether the assembly is designed to enable the being or the outside observer to be the viewer.

io Preferably, the path is an endless path within the wheel, in which case the path conveniently comprises an annular path around the inner pcriphcry of the wheel.

In such a case, the support means may to advantage support the wheel for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis.

The assembly may conveniently include the representations, which may take the form of 3D models, but preferably comprise 2D pictures. These pictures are conveniently carried on an annular strip.

Where the viewer is an outside observer, the retaining means may to advantage retain the strip adjacent to the inner periphery of the wheel, the strip and path being coaxial.

Preferably the wheel comprises an inner, transparent annular wall and an outer annular wall which is concentric with the inner wall and spaced therefrom to define an annular gap in which the strip is received.

Alternatively, the representations may be situated outside the wheel around an outer carrier radially spaced from, but coaxial with and rotationally fixed to, the wheel.

This enables a being within the wheel to view the representations.

Preferably, the assembly includes a panel which extends across one face of the wheel to prevent a being therein from falling out through that side.

Where the representations are situated on the carrier outside the wheel, the assembly preferably includes annular barrier means, such as a panel, for preventing access to the space between the wheel and the carrier, from the other side of the wheeL This can prevent dirt from entering the assembly or, more importantly, animals and/or children accessing the space, while the wheel is turning and injuring themselves.

Preferably, the path is unapertured.

io Thus the path does not have any holes in which a foot, claw or paw of the being within the wheel may become trapped or snagged.

The path may nevertheless include a series of raised treads to improve grip for a being moving along the path.

The stroboscope means conveniently comprises a series of slit shaped viewing windows on the path.

Thus the assembly includes a zoetrope comprising the wheel, the representations and the viewing windows.

Preferably, the assembly comprises a hamster wheel or rodent exercise wheel.

According to a second aspect of the invention, thcrc is provided a hamstcr wheel which incorporates a zoetrope or praxinoscope.

The invention also lies in activity apparatus comprising a treadmill and animation means for presenting an animated image to a viewer, in a manner linked to the operation of the treadmill.

The animation means may, for example, comprise an electronic display (such as a cathode ray screen, or LED, LCD, plasma or OLED screen), the animated image being linked to the operation of the treadmill in such a way that, in use, the image moves at a speed related to that of the treadmill.

Preferably, however, the animation means comprises a zoetrope or praxinoscope, the link still being between the speed of measurement of the animated image and that of the treadmill.

The treadmill conveniently comprises a tread wheel which preferably constitutes part of such a zoetrope. I 0

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of activity wheel assembly in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the assembly; Figure 3 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of wheel assembly in accordance with the invention; Figurc 3A shows a modification to the second embodiment; and Figures 4-7 show two examples of a sequence of pictures which can be used in either embodiment of the wheel assembly to provide an animated image to a viewer.

Detailed description of the drawings

The wheel assembly of Figure 1 and Figure 2 comprises a circular wheel 1 mounted on snpport means in the form of a support frame 2 which engages an axle 4 at the centre of the wheel 1 so as to support the wheel 1 for rotation about a horizontal axis defined by the axle 4. The frame 2 has been omitted from Figure 2. The axle 4 is formed as part ot or is attached to, a circular face panel 6, the outer periphery of which is attached to a peripheral annular wall 8 of the wheel 1, so that the wall 8 is rotatably supported on the frame 2 through the panel 6. The wall 8 and panel 6 are constructed from suitable plastics materials and connected together by suitable means, for example by an adhesive. To improve the adhesion between the panel 6 and the wall 8, the panel 6 may include its own peripheral wall (which is not shown) which extends perpendicularly to the main plane of the panel 6 (i.e. the plane of Figure 2) to abut a portion of the wall 8 so as to increase the contact area between the panel 6 and the wall 8, across which the adhesive can act to secure the two components together.

The panel 6 also serves to prevent an object entering or leaving the wheel from one side. The other side of the wheel is open to allow a creature to enter or leave the 0 wheel. In this particular example, the wheel is of a diameter in the general range of 10-40 centimctrcs so that the wheel can function as an exercise toy for use by a hamster or another rodent.

The wheel also includes circular inner wall 10 that is also attached to the panel 6 in a is similar fashion to the wall 8. The wall is formed from a transparent plastics material, is perpendicular to and concentric with the wall 8 and is spaced from the wall 8 to define an annular cylindrical gap II, between the two walls 8 and 10, into which a paper strip 12 may be inserted.

Accordingly, the inner periphery of the wall 10 acts as an endless, annular path along which the rodent can run. The running action of the rodent will cause rotation of the wheel about the axis defined by the axle 4.

As can be seen from Figure 1 the strip 12 extends under the path from thc panel 6 to a position halfway along the wall 8. The strip 12 has a series of progressively changing pictures (here represented by the letter B). The strip 12 is held in position by suitable retaining means, in this case an adhesive acting between the strip 12 and the underlying portion of the wall 8.

The wall 8 is, in fact, formed from a transparent material, to the outer face of which an area of black paint has been applied. As can be seen from Figure 1, the area of the painted face that extends from the position halfway along the wall 8, to the outer edge (i.e. under the portion 14 of the path 10) is castellated to define a succession of slits, for example slits 18. In the painted surface, those slits and the material of the wall 8 constitute windows through which the pictures on the strip 12 may be viewed.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the path 10 includes a series of axial treads, for example the tread 20, regularly arranged around the path and extending from the panel 6 to the outer edge of the wail 10. These help to prevent the feet of a rodent within the wheel from slipping as the rodent attempts to move along the pathway.

In the described example, the number ofpictures B may be, but is not necessarily the 0 same as the number of windows 18. Each window enables a picture to be viewed when that window and the picture are both aligned relative to a viewer (who is outside the wheel). However, because the windows are very narrow and are spaced some distance from the corresponding pictures, when the wheel rotates the pictures are each only momentarily visible to the viewer before rotation of the wheel causes the painted is portion of the black wheel exterior adjacent each slit to block the view of the corresponding picture. The pictures are normally only seen for a period of time which is sufficiently long for the viewer to perceive each individual picture, but too short for the viewer to perceive the rotational movement of the picture about the axis of the wheel 1. The pictures are in fact a series of individual image frames such as are shown in Figures 4 and 5 (which show a flower coming into bloom and then losing its petals) or Figures 6 and 7 (which depict a deformable object, such as a droplet of oil 21 within water, moving through a constriction 23 and deforming as it does so).

Accordingly, when the wheel is in motion, each window/slit 18 on the wall 8 allows a brief recognition of a picture opposite on the strip 12, before an intermittent black panel (the painted portion of the wall 8) on either side of each window/slit 18 (depending upon the direction of rotation of the wheel) interupts this view. The next window/slit 18 will then reveal the same or perhaps the next picture along the strip 12.

The brain's belief that there is an animated image as opposed to a series of separate and individual images is understood to arise from phenomena known as "The Persistence of Vision" (where the brain retains the image of a picture even once it has gone from view) and "Beta Movement" (whereby the brain perceives a smooth transition from one still picture to another).

Tt will be appreciated that when a rodent climbs into the wheel 1 and begins to run along the pathway, a viewer outside the wheel will see the individual pictures momentarily and in succession so that the pictures will depict an animated image.

At slower wheel speeds the viewer may perceive a flicker, superimposed over the animated image, as the portions of the wheel exterior adjacent the slits block the view io of the pictures, but at higher speeds the flicker will diminish or may disappear altogether. The speed of movement of the animated image will also vary with wheel speed. being directly proportional to the latter.

It will be appreciated that the slits may, in an alternative embodiment be adjacent the is inner face of the wall 8, the pictures B running under the centre or outer part of the path 10.

The wheel assembly shown in Figure 3 is of a size large enough to be used as an exercise wheel/tread wheel by a human (or a dog, eat, etc.), and is so configured as to provide a zoetrope through which a person (or animal) using the wheel can view an image which is animated by the rotation of the wheel. Accordingly, the components of the assembly shown in Figure 3 are considerably larger than their counterparts in the first embodiment.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, support means in the form of a stand 30 supports a circular plate 32 for rotation about a horizontal axis which is coaxial with an inner wheel 34 which is attached to the plate 32 by suitable means. Because the inner wheel, plate and stand have to support the weight of a human, they will be formed from suitable metals and the inner wheel 34 will be attached to the plate 32 by means of for example, rivets (not shown). The inner periphery of the wheel 34 provides an endless, annular path 36 from which the person using the wheel can walk or run, and is formed with an array of slits 38. To prevent the user from getting his/her feet caught in any of the slits, the pathway is covered by a suitable transparent plastic covering (not shown) attached to the wheel 34 by suitable means (for example an adhesive). The inner periphery of the wheel 34 is black.

The hrner wheel 34 is coaxial with an outer wheel 40 that is also carried by the plate 32. The outer wheel 40 acts as an outer canier for a strip of images B which perform the same role as the corresponding strip in the first embodiment, and is attached to the wheel 40 by a suitable adhesive. Thus, somebody running or walking along the pathway inside the inner wheel 34 can look out of the inner wheel at an animated image constituted by the individual frames B successively, momentarily io coming into the line of sight of that person.

In the modified version shown in Figure 3A, an axial metal bar 42 extends perpendicularly from the centre of the plate 32 to provide a hand hold for a person using the assembly. In other respects, the modified version is substantially the same is as the version shown in Figure 3.

The bar 42 may carry a cylindrical plastics sheath (not shown) which acts as a rotatable cover for the bar so that as the wheel, and hence the bar 42, rotates the sheath provides a hand hold which is stationary relative to the user.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. An activity wheel assembly comprising a wheel and support means fix rotatably supporting the wheel so that the latter can be rotated by a human or animal moving s along a path associated with the wheel; retaining means tbr retaining a series of progressively changing representations in fixed relationship with the wheel so as to rotate therewith; and stroboscope means operable on rotation of the wheel to cause each of the representations to be presented in succession to a viewer who accordingly conceives an animated image, constituted by the representations.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. An assembly according to claim I in which the path is an cndlcss path within thc wheel.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. An assembly according to claim 2 in which the path is an annular path around the inner periphery of the wheel.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. An assembly according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which the support means supports the wheel fix rotation about a substantially horizontal axis.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. An assembly according to any of thc preceding claims in which the assembly includes the representations.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. An assembly according to claim 5 in which the representations comprise a series of two-dimensional pictures canied on an annular strip.zs7. Anassemblyaccordingtoclaim6inwhichthcretainingmcansrctainsthestrip adjacent to the inner periphery of the wheel, under or axially adjacent to the path.8. An assembly according to claim 5 or claim 6 in which the representations are situated outside the wheel around an outer carrier radially spaced from, but coaxial with and rotationally fixed to, the wheel.9. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims in which the assembly includes a panel which extends across one face of the wheel to prevent a being therein from falling out through one side of the wheel.10. An assembly according to claim 9 when appended to claim 8, in which the assembly includes an annular barrier means, such as a panel, for preventing access to the space between the wheel and the carrier, from the other side of the wheel.11. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the path is unapertured.12. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims for which the path includes a series of raised treads to improve the grip for a being moving along the path.13. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the stroboscope means comprises a series of slit shaped viewing windows on the path.14. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the assembly comprises a hamster or other rodent exercise wheel.15. A hamster wheel which incorporates a zoetropc.16. Activity apparatus comprising a treadmill and a zoetropc so linked to the treadmill that operation of the treadmill causes the zoetrope to operate.17. Activity apparatus according to claim 16 in which the treadmill comprises a tread wheel which constitutes part of the zoetrope.18. Apparatus according to claim 17, in which the tread wheel is a hamster wheel, or a rodent exercise wheel.19. Activity apparatus comprising a trcadwheel and animation means operable to display an animated image which moves at a speed which is linked to that of the trcadwheel. I'20. Apparatus substantially as described herein with rckrence to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>