KR20170078720A - Cardboard-based unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a cardboard-based unit, a structural element comprising the unit, and a land vehicle comprising the unit and the structural element.

Description

Cardboard-based unit {CARDBOARD-BASED UNIT}

The present invention relates to a unit that is manufactured, substantially or entirely, of a cardboard that can be used as a structural element of a structure and apparatus such as a wheeled unit (e.g., a bicycle or a tricycle).

WO 11067742 discloses a human-powered terrestrial vehicle that is sufficiently rigid to transport human occupants. The vehicle is composed of a recyclable and also a crushably recyclable material as pulp.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a structural unit made of cardboard as its main component or containing a cardboard. This means that the paperboard typically comprises about 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, and even at least 95% of the total weight of the structure. The unit includes a low density cardboard layer, as shown below.

According to a first aspect, the unit of the present invention is an elongated, reinforced elongated member which can be made of cardboard, for example, a cardboard cylinder or rod, or can be made of other lightweight materials such as wood or plastic. Member. And the elongate member is wholly or partially enclosed by the portion of the low density cardboard panel which is formed in tight contact with the elongate member. Some other portions of the cardboard panel are joined together to form a multi-layered cardboard element.

According to the second aspect, the multilayer cardboard unit includes a high density cardboard layer. For example, two low density cardboard layers can sandwich the high density cardboard layer. A special example is a three-layer structure having two outer layers of a low density cardboard sandwiching the high density cardboard layer.

The unit of the present invention can combine the features of both aspects, i.e. it comprises one or more such elongate members as well as a high density cardboard layer sandwiched between two low density cardboard layers.

The elongated member having the mating portion of the cardboard panel cavitates the core-envelope element. The core-envelope element may be positioned at the edge of a multi-layer flat unit to form the edge. The core-envelope element also has a functional significance in reinforcing structural stiffness in bending, compression, and tensile resistant substrates, as will be discussed further below. The structure of the present invention may constitute part of a device such as a wheeled device, for example a part of a bicycle or a tricycle.

Accordingly, the present invention provides, according to a first aspect, (i) two or more layers of a cardboard that are tightly coupled to each other, typically fixed, and can be constituted by a formed low density cardboard panel, and (ii) Based unit comprising two or more core-envelope elements each comprising a surrounding portion of a low density cardboard in tight contact with two or more corresponding elongate members. For example, the unit may be constructed from a sheet of paperboard that is wound around the elongate member, with portions of the panel facing each other closely bonded to each other by, for example, an adhesive.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a unit comprising a high density cardboard panel sandwiched between two layers of low density cardboard.

The combination of one or more layers of high density paperboard is particularly advantageous when it is sandwiched between two layers of low density paperboard, as provided by the second aspect, especially when compressed in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paperboard layer For deformation, it provides additional reinforcement, as compared to a unit having a similar layer structure but no such high density cardboard layer.

It should be appreciated that the structural unit may comprise an outer varnish or other coating layer. The criteria for the multilayer structure here exclude such layers and also focus on the structural elements of the unit. Thus, for example, a unit with a three-ply cardboard structure may include an additional coating layer.

In general, the term "elongated" means that the element has a length dimension that is significantly more significant than the other measurements of the element. These elements may have structures similar to those of the elongated elements generally disclosed in the co-owned PCT application with publication number WO 2014/061012 (hereinafter "012 PCT application"). One or both of the panel portions receiving the elongate member (referred to herein as a "rectangular sub-structure") are integral with the panel portion forming the other portion of the structure.

The term "cardboard panel" means a flat or substantially planar cardboard member having a substantially thin wide surface, in comparison to its length and width. The cardboard panel may be a uniform cardboard member, but may be made of two or more flat cardboard members that are glued or otherwise secured, for example, to form larger cardboard panels formed in different elements of the unit It is possible.

The term "formed" (or any of its linguistic variations) means an indication of the operation of providing a form or a shape to the panel, that is, the step of forming the panel in the unit in its intended final form. This forming step includes, for example, winding a portion of the panel over the elongate member, thereby obtaining a core-envelope structure of the elongate element thus formed. This forming step may, in some embodiments, include forming a void in the flat element.

The term "integral" means that the panel portions used to form the different elements are all part of a single formed panel. Thus, for example, in the case of a panel portion surrounding a elongate member, which forms two skirts of the panel extending from the apex formed along the elongate member, at least one or both of the skirt portions of the panel Extends into a portion of the panel that forms one or more other elements of the unit.

As mentioned, the portion of the panel according to the first aspect is wrapped about two or more elongate members such that the panel is in intimate contact with the member and thus forms the elongated core-envelope element. (not shown). The elongated core-envelope element formed through the engagement between the elongate member and the surrounding cardboard panel is less susceptible to stiffness and similar resistance to similar cardboard structures that do not include such elongate core- For example, bending, tension, and compression resistance. The elongated core-envelope element may form an edge of a flat multi-layer (e.g., two-layer) cardboard unit. Typically, these two elongated core-envelope elements form an edge of a substantially planar element extending therebetween.

The elongate member (which may be made of cardboard, wood, or plastic, as described above) typically has a rounded shape, e.g., a circular cross-section (although sometimes may be oval, oval, etc.) - the envelope element is typically rounded to have a substantially rectangular outer cross-sectional shape, for example, although the envelope element may be molded into other shapes by use of a suitable die.

The present invention implements some features common to those of the '012 PCT application, as well as other PCT application numbers PCT / IL2013 / 050823, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The cardboard-based unit of the first aspect of the present invention has a bending strength of 3 or 4 points perpendicular to the elongated core-envelope element which is significantly larger than the bending strength of the cardboard structure without such elongated core-envelope element . The term "considerably larger" means at least 2, 5, and sometimes at least 10 times greater than a reinforcing member or conventional double layer cardboard structure without elongate members. Some explanations and parameters regarding this bending resistance can be found in the '012 PCT application, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for their relevant portions as described above.

"Low density cardboard panel" is intended to encompass: (i) corrugated, fluted, or otherwise loosely packed papers, which are arranged to form a plurality of cells or voids, (Hereinafter referred to collectively as "paper", "high-density paper", or "cardboard" for the purpose of easily referring to the term "paper") made of paper, high-density paper, (Ii) one or more linerboard sheets laminated to one or both sides of the low density layer (i. E. Sandwiching the low density layer therebetween). An example of such a cardboard panel is known as a "corrugated cardboard ", which is known as a corrugated cardboard panel, which has grooved or pleated paper panel (s) or strips and one or two A flat linerboard, and may also be referred to as a "honeycomb cardboard ". Such materials are widely used in the manufacture of boxes and shipping containers. The corrugated or honeycomb-type cardboard panel may be a single-walled or multi-walled cardboard panel.

The term "high density carton" refers to a substantially uniform sheet of paper across its cross section. The high density paperboard does not have a low density layer of the kind described above.

According to one embodiment of the first aspect, the cardboard-based unit comprises two first elongated core-envelope elements which are parallel to one another and are formed of corresponding parallel elongated members. This first elongated core-envelope element forms an edge of a flat element extending therebetween. The first elongated core-envelope element engages a corresponding parallel first elongate member. The first elongated member may be separated between a central segment of the original cardboard panel and one of the first or second side segments circumscribing the central segment, respectively; Once a portion of the panel winds over the elongate member, the side segments and the center segment form a two-layer element cavity.

According to one embodiment, one or more portions of the first side of the first side segment are attached to one or more portions (opposite sides in the formed structure) of the first side of the center segment. According to another embodiment, one or more portions of the first side of the first side segment and one or more portions of the first side of the second side segment may be located on a corresponding portion of the first side of the center segment Respectively. According to this embodiment, at least two parallel elongate members are engaged with the first surface of the panel. The structure is formed such that the opposite edges of the original panel, which is typically the edge at the end of the side segment, are close to each other. In this way, a closed loop structure (as best seen in cross-section) is formed by the panel, and the first elongated core-envelope element forms the extreme end of such a loop.

According to another embodiment, rather than forming a closed loop structure, the cardboard panels are folded into a generally similar shape to the "S" shape folded in the opposite direction. In this configuration, one or more portions of the first side of the first side segment are attached to corresponding ones or more portions of the first side of the center segment; One or more portions of the second side of the center segment are attached to corresponding one or more portions of the second side of the second side segment. In this configuration, the elongated member in the parallel first elongated core-envelope element is engaged with the first surface of the panel and the other with the second surface of the panel.

According to one embodiment, such a flat carton unit becomes uniform with a substantially complete cardboard multilayer structure over the entire surface. In another embodiment, one or more voids are formed in this flat sheet of cardboard element, which may have decorative or functional significance, for example, through cutting from a multi-layered cardboard element or through proper formation of the original sheetboard panel .

According to one embodiment, the cardboard-based unit comprises one or more integral second elongated core-envelope elements, which are wound about a elongate member oriented vertically to the first elongate core- Formed by a portion of the corrugated panel).

According to some embodiments, a cardboard-based unit (of both the first and second aspects) of the present invention constitutes a part of a wheeled vehicle or land vehicle, such as a bicycle or tricycle.

The present invention provided by the third aspect is a vehicle such as a tricycle or a bicycle comprising a structural unit of the kind described herein. A specific example is a type of bicycle known as a " balance bike "or" run bike ", which is a training bike for children, usually without a pedal or drive chain, ) Propels the bicycle itself by pushing the ground with his feet. In such a bicycle or tricycle, the body may be a structural unit having the features of the body of the present invention. Alternatively or in the alternative, the front wheel steering frame may be a structural unit having features of the body of the present invention.

According to one embodiment, the fork assembly has a fork with the features of a structural unit according to the first aspect, with or without additional high density cardboard panels sandwiched between two low density cardboard panels; The body has the features of the structural unit according to the second aspect.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a bicycle comprising: (i) a body extending between a front end and a rear end of a bicycle with a rear wheel inserted into or near the rear end of the body, There is provided a bicycle comprising a fork assembly pivotably coupled and having a front wheel rotatably inserted into the fork. The body and fork assembly each include an element having the features of the unit described herein. The body and fork assembly are typically constructed entirely of cardboard and also have the features of the unit.

According to one embodiment, the body includes a fork assembly comprising a flat body element embodying features of the unit of the second aspect of the present invention, and an element embodying features of the unit of the first aspect of the present invention.

An exemplary bicycle, for example a training bike, has the following characteristics.

(I) A body comprising two flat body elements, each of which forms a vertical plane and which is typically a mirror image of one another, and having both a front end and a rear end, said two body elements forming a front body block, And are attached to each other at a front end portion thereof to form a body space therebetween; Each of the elements embodying a feature of the unit of the second aspect;

(Ii) at its rear end by a horizontal axle received in a body space and received in a coaxial bushing (typically, but not exclusively made of plastic) inserted into the panel, A rear wheel rotatably coupled to the panel;

(Iii) a fork portion that implements the features of the unit of the first aspect and has two stems that (1) form a stem space therebetween, and (2) A flat fork member formed by the cut-out to form a tapered portion;

(Iv) a bushing (typically made of plastic, but not exclusively) formed in the opposite edge of the opening formed in the front body block and hinging the fork to the body A vertical pivot-receptacle receiving a vertically extending pivot; And

(V) A front wheel inserted into the stem space and rotatably coupled to the two stems by a horizontal axle received in a coaxial bushing inserted in the stem.

Example

Some exemplary embodiments are defined in the following numbered paragraphs. The description of these embodiments is not intended to undermine the above general description and the following detailed description, but rather is intended to be additions.

One. As a unit:

One or more substantially flat elements comprising two or more layers of a low density cardboard which are particularly tightly coupled to each other so as to consist of low density cardboard panels; And

And two or more integral core-envelope elements comprising a surrounding portion of a low density cardboard which is tightly coupled to two or more corresponding elongate members.

2. As a unit of Example 1, the sheet of paperboard of the flat element is attached to each other at that portion.

3. The unit of embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the elongate member has a round cross-section.

4. The unit of embodiment 3, wherein the elongate member has a circular cross section.

5. The unit according to any one of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the elongated member is made of wood, cardboard, or plastic.

6. The unit of any one of embodiments 1-5 wherein the carton panel comprises: (i) at least one low density layer; and (ii) one or more liner cardboard sheets that affix at least one side of the at least one low density layer .

7. The unit of claim 6, wherein the low density carton is a corrugated cardboard or a honeycomb cardboard.

8. The unit of any one of embodiments 1-7, wherein the elongate core-envelope element imparts increased stiffness and bending resistance to the cardboard unit.

9. The unit of any one of embodiments 1-8, wherein the elongated core-envelope element forms an edge thereof.

10. The unit of embodiment 9, wherein the edge has a round outer cross-sectional shape.

11. The unit of any one of embodiments 1 to 10, wherein two of the elongate core-envelope elements are parallel to each other.

12. The unit of claim 11, wherein the two parallel elongated core-envelope elements form an edge of a substantially planar structural element extending therebetween.

13. The unit of any one of embodiments 1 to 12, wherein two side segments of the panel are folded over the elongate member and are coupled to a central segment of the panel formed between the elongate members.

14. The unit of embodiment 13, wherein one or more portions of one side of the first side segment are attached to one or more portions of the same side of the center segment.

15. 13. The unit according to embodiment 13 or 14, wherein the panel has first and second sides, and a first side of the two side segments is attached to a first side of the center segment.

16. The unit of embodiment 14 or 15, wherein the elongate member is coupled to the same side of the panel.

17. 16. A unit as in any of the embodiments 13-16,

The panel having first and second surfaces,

Wherein a first side of each side segment is coupled to a first side of the center segment,

At the ends of the side segments, the opposite edges of the panel are close to each other.

18. As the units of Example 13 or Example 14,

One or more portions of the face of one side segment are attached to the corresponding one or more portions on the same side of the center segment,

One or more portions of the second side segment are attached to a corresponding one or more portions of opposite sides of the center segment.

19. As a unit of Example 18,

Wherein one of the parallel elongated members is coupled to one surface of the panel,

And the other of the parallel elongated members is coupled to the opposite surface of the panel.

20. The unit of any one of embodiments 1-9, wherein the flat element comprises one or more voids.

21. The unit of any of embodiments 11-20, comprising one or more integral second core-envelope elements oriented perpendicular to the parallel elongated core-envelope elements.

22. The unit of any of embodiments 1 to 21 comprising a high density cardboard panel sandwiched between two layers of low density cardboard.

23. A structural unit having a flat element comprising a dense cardboard layer sandwiched between two layers of low density cardboard.

24. As a unit of Example 23, the two layers of low density paperboard sandwiching the high density layer are formed from a single folded cardboard panel.

25. As the unit of Example 23 or Example 24, each layer is adhered to a neighboring layer.

26. The unit of any one of embodiments 23-25, formed according to structural requirements by a cut-out in a flat element.

27. A unit of any one of embodiments 1 to 26, which is a part of a wheeled device.

28. The unit of embodiment 27, wherein the wheeled device is a bicycle or a tricycle.

29. 27. A unit according to embodiment 27 or 28, characterized in that it is a fork of a bicycle or tricycle, also having the following characteristics: (i) a front wheel of a bicycle or tricycle and (ii) one or more other parts .

30. The unit of embodiment 29 comprising a core-envelope element integral with the flat element and configured as a handle of a bicycle or a tricycle.

31. A unit as in any one of embodiments 1-30 comprising at least one hollow elongate member.

32. 31. The unit of embodiment 31, wherein at least one of the hollow elongate members is cylindrical and also receives an axle.

33. A land vehicle comprising a structural unit defined in any of the first through the 32th embodiments.

34. As an onshore vehicle of Example 33, a bicycle or a tricycle.

35. The on-land vehicle of the 34th embodiment is a balance bike.

36. A bicycle or a tricycle of the embodiment 34 or 35 includes the front wheel steering unit having the features of any one of the embodiments 1 to 32. [

37. As a bike:

A body extending between the front end and the rear end, a fork pivotally coupled to the body, a front wheel inserted into the fork, and a rear wheel inserted into the rear of the body, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 32 < / RTI >

38. As the bicycle of the embodiment 37,

The body includes a flat body element that implements the features of any of the embodiments 23-25,

The fork assembly includes an element that implements the features of any one of Embodiments 1 through 22. [

39. As a bike:

A body extending between the front end and the rear end, a fork pivotally coupled to the body, a front wheel inserted into the fork, and a rear wheel inserted into the rear of the body,

The body and fork assembly each include an element having the features of any one of embodiments 1-32.

40. As the bicycle of the embodiment 39,

The body includes a flat body element that implements the features of any of the embodiments 23-25,

The fork assembly includes an element that implements the features of any one of Embodiments 1 through 22. [

41. As a bike:

A body comprising two flat body elements, each of which forms a vertical plane and which is typically a mirror image of one another, and having both a front end and a rear end, said two body elements forming a front body block, And are attached to each other at a front end portion thereof to form a body space therebetween; Each of the elements embodying the features of any one of the embodiments 23- 25;

A rear wheel inserted into the body space and rotatably coupled to the two panels at a rear end thereof by a horizontal axle accommodated in a coaxial bushing inserted in the panel;

A fork portion having two stems that implement the features of any one of Embodiments 1 to 22 and form a stem space therebetween, and a fork portion for forming a panel opening in the middle portion of the panel A steering assembly comprising a flat fork member formed;

A vertical fork pivot-receiving receptacle formed in the front body block and receiving a pivot extending vertically through the panel opening between bushings formed in opposing edges of the opening to hinge the fork in the body; And

And a front wheel inserted into the stem space and rotatably coupled to the two stems by a horizontal axle received in a coaxial bushing inserted in the stem.

42. As the bicycle of embodiment 41, one or more of the bushings, typically all of them are made of plastic.

43. The bicycle of embodiment 42 is a training bike.

To better understand the subject matter described herein and to illustrate how it may be practiced in practice, reference will now be made, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a production method of a cardboard-based unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
Figures 1B and 1C respectively show a schematic perspective view and a top view of the unit thus formed.
2A is a schematic view of a production method of a cardboard-based unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 2b and 2c respectively show a schematic perspective view and a top view of the unit thus formed.
3A is a schematic view of a production method of a cardboard-based unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.
3B shows a cardboard-based unit according to the embodiment.
Figure 3c shows a side view of the unit of Figure 3b.
Figure 4 shows a front view of a cardboard-based unit according to another embodiment of the present invention, similar to that of Figure 3b with some functional cutouts in overall shape.
5A is a front view of a cardboard panel with marked segments to be cut, prior to forming a cardboard-based unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5b shows the panel of Figure 5a with the segment cut after positioning of the elongated member.
Figure 5c shows a front view of a cardboard-based unit formed from the panel of Figure 5b.
6A and 6B are schematic views respectively showing a perspective view and a front view of a balance bike according to the embodiment of the present invention, respectively.
7A to 7H are schematic views of manufacturing steps of the body of the balance bike.
8A-8H are schematic illustrations of the steps of manufacturing the handle and fork assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described with reference to a number of embodiments which are schematically represented in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, FIG. 1 (i.e., FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C) relates to one embodiment, and FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5 each relate to a different embodiment. The different components of these embodiments are each represented by a three digit number, with the first digit being given in accordance with the figures in which they appear (e.g., all numbers in FIG. 1 begin with a "1" ≪ / RTI > The last two digits are special for parts. In the different figures, a similar part is represented by a three-digit number with the same last two digit number. For example, the part 102 of Figures 1a and 1b is similar (having similar functionality) to the part 202 of Figures 2a and 2b. Such similar parts may not be described each time and are directed to the reader to look at the description of corresponding parts in other embodiments.

For purposes of description, it should be recognized that some dimensions are shown outside the scale. For example, in some drawings a carton panel is shown from which a carton-based unit is produced. The panel is shown to have a thickness that is outside the thickness of at least a portion of an actual panel to be used in accordance with the present invention. Thicknesses outside the ratio are intended for illustration purposes only if they are shown in percentages, and it may be more difficult to see them in the drawings.

First, two elongate members (102, 104) positioned on corresponding parallel lines (106, 108) on a first side (140) of panel (100) at equidistance from each opposing edge (Lines 106 and 108 are virtual lines that do not exist in an actual panel). The elongate members 102, 104, which are parallel to each other, separate between the respective side portions 114, 116 of the panel and the central portion 118.

In order to form a cardboard-based unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, the panel 100 has its portions 120, 122 along the side lines 106, 108 wrapped around and the elongate member 102 And 104 are folded along the lines 106 and 108 as indicated by the arrows 106A and 108A so as to come into close contact with each other in the final formed unit as shown in Figures 1B and 1C, 114, 116 are in intimate contact with the first surface of the portion 118 on the first surface thereof, for example, through the use of an adhesive.

In the formed unit shown in Figs. 1B and 1C, two elements can be identified; The two parallel elongated core-envelope elements 130 and 132 form an edge of the unit with a flat two-layer element 134 extending therebetween. Further, in this embodiment, the panel edges 110 and 112 are brought close to each other. In this way, the formed cardboard panel forms a closed loop configuration for the two elongated members.

The elongate members 102, 104 in this embodiment and those described below have a circular cross section. In some embodiments, they may have other rounded cross-sections, e.g., oval, or egg-shaped.

As with the other elongated core-envelope elements in the embodiments described below, elongated core-envelope elements 130 and 132 have rounded edges resulting from the molding process. However, through the use of suitable dies or molds, the edges may be press-molded to have other shapes, for example rectangles. The cardboard panel may be a corrugated or honeycomb type cardboard panel according to one embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this type of cardboard panel.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2A-2C illustrating a unit according to another embodiment (Figs. 2B and 2C) and a manner of forming such a unit (Fig. 2A). Unlike the embodiment of Figures 1A-1C, according to the embodiment of Figures 2A-2C, the cardboard panel is formed in a shape similar to "S"

In the description of the embodiment of Figs. 2A-2C, for facilitating the description, two opposing sides of the panel, represented by the first side 240 and the opposing second side 242, will be referred to.

2a, elongate member 202 is coupled to first surface 240 (located along line 206 parallel to edge 210), and elongate member 204 (Which is parallel to elongate member 202) is coupled with a second side 242 (located along line 208 parallel to edge 212).

As shown in FIG. 2A, lines 206 and 208 include two side portions 214 and 216 and a center portion 218, forming three portions of substantially the same width. The panel 200 is formed by folding it along the line 206 in the direction indicated by the arrow 206A and in the opposite direction along the line 208 in the direction indicated by the arrow 208A. As a result, the thus formed cardboard-based unit shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B has two parallel elongated core-envelope elements 230 and 232 at opposite ends of a substantially planar three-layer element 234 .

In the two embodiments of Figures 1A-2C, the parallel elongated members 102, 104 and 202, 204 (elongated core-envelope elements 130, 132 and 230, 232) Corresponds to the entire length of the original cardboard panel and along the entire length of the cardboard-based unit thus formed. In some embodiments, however, such a member may extend only to a partial length, typically a majority of the length of the panel. According to another embodiment, two or more elongate members disposed along the same axis may be included in the elongated element rather than a single elongated member of the elongate core-envelope element. In other words, in this case the elongate members are formed by many individual segments, which may all be the same or different lengths. Such a segment may be positioned such that one end is adjacent to the end of the other; Or such segments may sometimes be spaced apart from one another. The different segments may be made of the same or different materials. While these segments will typically have the same cross-sectional shape, they may sometimes have different cross-sectional shapes.

Other cardboard-based units and the manner in which they are formed are shown in Figures 3A-3C, which have somewhat more complex designs than the previous embodiments.

Turning now to Fig. 3a, a carton panel 300 and three elongated members 302, 304, 350 can be seen. The elongate members 302 and 304 are positioned parallel to each other along the lines 306 and 308 and at the edges 310 and 312; The elongate member 350 is positioned parallel to the edge 358, that is, perpendicular to the elongate members 302, 304. The cardboard panel 300 is cut along lines 306B and 308B that extend parallel to the edges 358 from the respective edges 310 and 312 to respective lines 306 and 308. [

The side portions 314 and 316 formed between the lines 306 and 308 and the respective cutouts 306B and 308B are folded in the direction of the arrows 306A and 308A in a manner similar to that described with respect to Figure 1A, Ultimately, a vertical structure 370 with two layers formed between two parallel elongated core-envelope elements 330, 332 in the unit shown in FIG. 3b is formed in the edge. The upper portion 354 of the cardboard panel formed between the line 352 and the edge 358 is then folded over the elongate member 350 in the direction of the arrow 352A along the line 352, The elongated core-envelope element 372 is formed. As best shown in FIG. 3C, the portion of the cardboard panel extending downwardly from the element 372 is integral with the central portion of the panel in the structure 370.

Turning now to Fig. 4, there is shown a cardboard-based unit according to another embodiment of the present invention having the overall shape as shown in Figs. 3b and 3c. As can be seen, the unit of Fig. 4 differs from the unit of Fig. 3b by having two cut-out apertures 476, 478 that can be cut off after forming the unit of Fig. 3b. The unit may act as a front element of the tricycle in which the cutout 478 receives the front wheel of the tricycle, and the wheel is received through an axle holder embedded in the bottom of the element 470 (not shown in this figure But will be described further below); Cutout 478 is articulatedly connected to the rear portion of the tricycle through a vertical axle receptacle that is embedded in element 470 (not shown, but shown in Figures 5b and 5c).

In some respects different from the unit of Figure 4, the cut-out may be pre-formed in the panel. This is shown in Fig. The cardboard panel 500 shown in Figure 5a has a generally rectangular shape, but its several members, shown as shadows, are cut to create the pre-formed panel shown in Figure 5b.

3A, the elongate members 502, 504 are located along parallel vertical lines 506, 508 and the other elongate member 550 is positioned along a line perpendicular to lines 506, 552, respectively. Short axle receptacles 580 and 582 are located adjacent to the bottom ends of portions 518A and 518B formed on the two sides of the cutout 578 which typically receive the respective ends of the axles of the front wheels of the tricycle It is a hollow plastic tube segment. Also on the first side of the cardboard are two vertical segments 584, 586, which may be hollow plastic tubes, and also serve for articulation to the body of the tricycle. The pre-formed panel is then folded about the elongated member in the direction indicated by the arrows 506A, 508A, 552A, and after the opposing cardboard faces are stuck together, the cardboard-based unit shown in Fig. do.

A balance bike 600 having a body 602, a fork and knob and fork assembly 604, a seat 606, front and rear wheels 608 and 610 is shown in Figs. 6A-6B. The main material from the balance bike is a cardboard; The main exceptions include wheels, and some of the elements described below, including axles, elongate members, bushings, and pins.

As further seen in Figures 6a and 6b, the body 602 is comprised of two flat body elements 612, 614, each of which forms a vertical plane, and is also essentially mirror image of each other. The elements 612 and 614 are attached to each other at the front end portion 616 to form a front end block 617 and have a rear end portion 618 < / RTI >

A set of coaxial bushings (not shown in Figs. 6A and 6B) that receive a fork pivot (also described below) that provides rotational coupling between the fork assembly 604 and the body 602, Which will be described below and also shown in other figures) is embedded in the front body block 617 to allow a child passenger holding the handle 622 to steer the front wheel 608. A stem 624 of the seat 606 is inserted into the body space 620 which is held in place by the pins 626 intersecting between the two body elements 612 and 614 and through the stem 624 maintain. The wheels 608 and 610 are rotatably coupled to a respective fork 605 and a rear end 618 of the body 602 via respective axes 628 and 630.

The manner in which the body is constructed as well as the body assembly and other components thereof will now be described with reference to Figures 7a to 7h and 8a to 8h.

Figures 7a-7h illustrate the manner of construction of the body 602, and Figures 7a-7g illustrate steps for constructing one of the body elements 612, 614. In a first step, a generally rectangular shaped cardboard panel 700 is provided, in which grooves 702 are formed for centerline 704 (shown in phantom) and thus two portions A ). The cardboard panels may be, for example, 10 to 14 mm, 11 to 13 mm, or sometimes 12 mm thick, for example corrugated or honeycomb type.

A high density paperboard 706, typically a 600 g / m ² sheet of paper, having the same dimensions as the portion A shown in Figure 7b is provided and a thin glue layer is applied on both surfaces thereof. The panel 706 is then integrated with the folded panel 700 against the centerline 704 and is received and tightly engaged through fixation to the panel 706 as shown in FIG. 7C. This therefore leads to the formation of a three-layer structure 710 with two outer layers 708A, 708B of a low density cardboard, for example corrugated or honeycombed, and an inner layer of high density cardboard. This three-layer structure is rigid and also has the load bearing characteristics of the unit of the second aspect.

In the next step, the structure 710 is molded into the intended body shape to achieve the desired shape, as shown in Figure 7D. 7E, the edges of the structure other than the edges 712 formed by the folds 704 are laminated with a paperboard or paper strip 714. [

Thereafter, a horizontal bore 716 is formed at one end which will be the rear end of the body, and a vertical groove having two peripheral wide portions 720A and 720B connected by a narrow portion 722 is shown in Fig. 7F As shown in Fig. Thereafter, as shown in Figure 7g, two plastic bushings 724A and 724B are respectively inserted into portions 720A and 720B.

Thereafter, other elements 612, 614 that are mirror images of the first element are prepared by the same step, with a front end block 617, and are provided by bushings 724A, 724B as shown in Figure 7H Two elements are attached to each other at their front end portions to form a body 602 having a bore 725 formed therein. Thereafter, two plastic bushings 726 and 728 are inserted into the opening 716; These plastic bushings are intended to receive the axle 630 of the rear wheel 610. In the next step (not shown), two lateral openings are formed in each element 612, 614 to receive the sheet retaining pins 626, 628.

Reference is now made to Figs. 8A-8H showing the construction and construction of the fork assembly 604.

These recesses form a central segment 830 and two side segments 832, 834. Two short longitudinal grooves 806 and 808 are formed with respect to the center line 810 of the panel; Two transverse grooves are formed at the bottom ends of the panel transverse recesses 802 and 804 having the center segments 812A and 814A and the transverse segments 812B and 814B.

As can be seen in Figure 8b, the longitudinal members constituted by the rods 816, 818 are inserted into the recesses 802, 804, respectively, and the rods extend over the entire length of the grooves, And upper portions 816A and 816B projecting from the upper edge, respectively. The rods 816, 818 are typically, but not exclusively, made of wood, paperboard, or plastic, but may also be made of metal and many other materials. As can be seen, the bushing 820 is inserted into the bottom end of the groove 806 and the bushing 822 is inserted into the groove 808. In addition, bushings 824 and 826 are respectively inserted into the two central groove segments 812A and 814A. The rods 816, 818 and the bushings 820, 822, 824, 826 are typically secured in place through the use of adhesives.

In the next step, as shown in Fig. 8C, a high density paperboard panel, which may have features similar to the high density paperboard described above for the body, is formed to have a shape that matches the shape of the central segment 830 of the panel. The high density cardboard panels are then typically affixed to the center segment 830 through application of an adhesive.

The two transverse segments 832 and 834 are then folded in the direction of arrows X1 and X2 to form the structure 840 and the segments 832 and 834, The lateral edges of which are joined together at centerline 810 to form a three-layer structure with an outer low density cardboard layer. As can be seen, after this fold, the groove segments 812A and 813B jointly define the bore 842; Of course, the mirror opening also exists at the other end (not shown in this figure).

In the next step, a rectangular section 848 is cut from the middle portion of the structure 840 to form the wheel space 850A and thereby to form the fork unit 850A as shown in Fig. 605, the elongated section 850 with the curved top portion is cut from the bottom portion of the structure 840.

8e also shows a bore 846 formed by the cutout in portion 848 and formed by a bushing 826 that is coaxial with bore 842. [ The cutout of portion 850 represents bore 854 formed by bushing 822 coaxial with bore 852 defined by groove 806 (which is received in its bottom portion bushing 820). The bushings 824, 826 in the bores 842, 846 are each intended to receive the pivot 630. The bushings 820 and 822 in each bore 852 and 854 are intended to receive the axle 856 as shown in Figure 8 so that the body and the fork are pivotably coupled do.

The handle 622 is shown in FIG. 8g and includes a cardboard cylinder 858 formed by three bores 860, 862, and 864, which receive the pins 866. The bore and pin are positioned and dimensioned so that the bores 860 and 862 can respectively receive the projections 816A and 818A of the rods 816 and 818 and the pins are inserted into the bore 852. The length of the pin 866 is adapted to be inserted into the space above the bushing 820 once it has been inserted into the bore 852. By combining the handle with the fork, the assembly 604 is formed as shown in Figure 8h.

The body 602 is inserted into the assembly 604 by inserting the body block 617 into the opening 848A and then inserting the pivot 630 through the bore 852 to pass through the bore 725 of the body block 617. [ As shown in Fig. And the front wheel 608 may be inserted into the wheel space 850A and may also be rotatably coupled to the fork via the axle 630. [

Claims (42)

As a bike:
A body comprising two flat body elements each forming a vertical plane and typically mirrored to each other and having both a front end and a rear end, said two body elements forming a front body block, A body having a high density cardboard layer sandwiched between two layers of low density cardboard, the body being attached to each other at the front end portion to form a body space therebetween;
A rear wheel inserted into the body space and rotatably coupled to the two panels at the rear end by a horizontal axle accommodated in a coaxial bushing inserted in the panel;
1. A steering assembly comprising a flat fork member, said flat fork member comprising: (i) a substantially flat element comprising two or more layers of a low density cardboard made of a low density cardboard panel, And (ii) at least two integral core-envelope elements comprising a surrounding portion of the panel wrapped about two or more elongate members such that the panel is in intimate contact with the member, the fork member (1) a fork portion having two stems defining a stem space therebetween, and (2) a cutout defining a panel opening at an intermediate portion of the panel;
A vertical pivot-receiving receptacle formed in the front body block and receiving a pivot extending vertically through the panel opening between bushings formed in opposing edges of the opening for hinging the fork to the body; And
A front wheel inserted into the stem space and rotatably coupled to the two stems by a horizontal axle accommodated in a coaxial bushing inserted in the stem,
. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein one or more of the bushings are made of plastic. The method of claim 2,
A bike that is a training bike. A bicycle having a front wheel steering unit comprising:
A substantially flat element comprising two or more layers of a low density cardboard made up of a formed low density cardboard panel closely bonded to each other; And
And at least two integral core-envelope elements comprising a surrounding portion of the panel wrapped about two or more elongate members such that the panel is in intimate contact with the member. The method of claim 4,
A bicycle having a body comprising one or more flat body elements each comprising a high density sheet of paper sandwiched between two layers of low density paperboard. As a unit,
One or more substantially flat elements comprising two or more layers of a low density cardboard composed of a low density cardboard panel tightly coupled to each other and formed; And
Comprising two or more integral core-envelope elements comprising a surrounding portion of a low density cardboard sheet wound and tightly coupled to two or more corresponding elongated members. The method of claim 6,
Wherein the flat element layer of the flat element is attached to each other at that part. The method according to claim 6 or 7,
Said elongate member having a round cross-section. The method of claim 8,
Said elongate member having a circular cross-section. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9,
Wherein the elongate member is made of wood, cardboard, or plastic. 11. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 10,
Wherein the cardboard panel comprises: (i) at least one low density layer; and (ii) one or more liner cardboard sheets that pad at least one side of the at least one low density layer. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the low density carton is a corrugated cardboard or a honeycomb cardboard. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 12,
Wherein said elongated core-envelope element imparts increased stiffness and bending resistance to the cardboard unit. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 13,
Said elongated core-envelope element forming an edge thereof. 15. The method of claim 14,
Said edge having a round outer cross-sectional shape. The method of claim 6,
Wherein two of said elongated core-envelope elements are parallel to each other. 18. The method of claim 16,
Wherein the two parallel elongated core-envelope elements form an edge of a substantially planar structural element extending therebetween. The method of claim 6,
Wherein the two side segments of the panel are folded over the elongate member and are coupled to a central segment of the panel formed between the elongate members. 19. The method of claim 18,
Wherein one or more portions of one side of the first side segment are attached to one or more portions of the same side of the center segment. The method according to claim 18 or 19,
Wherein the panel has first and second sides and a first side of the two side segments is attached to a corresponding part of the first side of the center segment. The method according to claim 19 or 20,
Said elongate member being coupled to the same side of said panel. 14. The method of claim 13,
The panel having first and second surfaces,
Wherein a first side of each side segment is coupled to a first side of the center segment,
At the end of the side segment, opposite edges of the panel are adjacent to each other. The method according to claim 18 or 19,
One or more portions of the face of one side segment are attached to the corresponding one or more portions on the same side of the center segment,
Wherein one or more portions of the second side segment are attached to corresponding ones or more portions of opposite sides of the center segment. 24. The method of claim 23,
Wherein one of the parallel elongated members is coupled to one surface of the panel,
And the other of the parallel elongated members is coupled to an opposing surface of the panel. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 24,
Wherein the flat element comprises one or more voids. The method of any one of claims 16 to 25,
And one or more integral second core-envelope elements oriented perpendicular to said parallel elongated core-envelope elements. The method of any one of claims 6 to 26,
And a high density cardboard panel sandwiched between two layers of low density cardboard. A structural unit having a flat element comprising a dense cardboard layer sandwiched between two layers of low density cardboard. 29. The method of claim 28,
Wherein the two layers of low density cardboard sandwiching the high density layer are formed from a single folded cardboard panel. 29. The method of claim 28 or 29,
Each layer being adhered to an adjacent layer. 32. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 30,
And is formed according to structural requirements by a cut-out in the flat element. 32. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 31,
A unit, which is part of a wheeled unit. 33. The method of claim 32,
Wherein the wheeled device is a bicycle or a tricycle. 32. The method of claim 32 or 33,
Characterized in that it is a fork of a bicycle or tricycle and is also configured to engage (i) a front wheel of said bicycle or tricycle and (ii) one or more other parts. 35. The method of claim 34,
A core-envelope element integral with the flat element and configured as a handle of a bicycle or a tricycle. 34. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 35,
And at least one hollow elongate member. 37. The method of claim 36,
At least one of said hollow elongate members being cylindrical and receiving an axle. A land vehicle comprising a structural unit as defined in any one of claims 6 to 37. 42. The method of claim 38,
A bicycle or tricycle, an onshore vehicle. 42. The method of claim 39,
Balance bikes, track cars. As a bike:
A body extending between the front end and the rear end, a fork pivotally coupled to the body, a front wheel inserted into the fork, and a rear wheel inserted into the rear of the body,
Said body and fork assembly each comprising an element having the features of any of claims 6 to 37. 42. The method of claim 41,
The body includes a flat body element that implements the features of the unit of any one of claims 28-31,
Wherein the fork assembly includes an element that implements features of the unit of any of claims 6 to 27.

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