WO2008090308A1

WO2008090308A1 - Seat with illuminatable means

Info

Publication number: WO2008090308A1
Application number: PCT/GB2008/000074
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Grossman
Original assignee: H Grossman Limited
Priority date: 2007-01-24
Filing date: 2008-01-08
Publication date: 2008-07-31
Also published as: GB0701334D0; EP2106361A1; GB2446009A; GB2446009B

Abstract

A self-propelled or foot-propelled vehicle comprising a tricycle), comprising at least one illuminatable means (45). The vehicle comprises a seat (40) having a base portion (70) and a back portion (75), optionally formed in a one piece moulding. The illuminatable means (45) comprises a plurality of LEDs provided around peripheral portions (71, 72, 76,77) of the base portion (70). and/or the back portion (75).

Description

SEAT WITH ILLUMINATABLE MEANS

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to improvements in and relating to vehicles, for example, self-propelled and/or foot-propelled and/or pedal vehicles such as tricycles, bicycles, scooters, micro-scooters, and collapsible scooters. The invention particularly, though not exclusively, relates to such vehicles adapted for use by children or infants . The invention also relates to an improved seat, for example, for use with a plaything such as a vehicle or seesaw.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION Pedal vehicles, such as tricycles, and other self- propelled or foot-propelled vehicles, such as scooters, are popular with children, infants and young people as recreational or play articles.

It is an object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to obviate and/or mitigate one or more disadvantages in the prior art .

It is an object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide an improved vehicle and/or seat.

It is an object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a vehicle and/or seat having a novel lighting arrangement. By such arrangement a vehicle and/or seat may become desirous to a user to use with such effect. Also such arrangement may cause the vehicle and/or user to become more visible to others. Thus safety may be promoted.

It is an object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a vehicle and/or seat having a novel lighting or illumination effect.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a self-propelled or foot-propelled vehicle, such as a tricycle, comprising at least one illuminatable means on a seat thereof.

Preferably the vehicle may comprise a tricycle, e.g. for use by children or infants.

The vehicle may comprise left and right pedals carried by or fixed to a front wheel thereof.

The front wheel of the vehicle may be larger in diameter than the rear wheels of the vehicle. The vehicle may be a so-called "hog" type tricycle.

The at least one illuminatable means may comprise a plurality of lights, e.g. light emitting diodes (LEDs) . The lights may be of a same colour or of a mixture of colours . At least some of the illuminatable means may be provided on or distributed around at least part of a periphery of the seat.

At least some of the illuminatable means may be provided on or distributed over a front and/or an upper facing surface (s) of the seat.

At least some of the illuminatable means may be at least partly visible or not obscured when a user is seated on the seat, in use.

At least some of the illuminatable means may be provided, in use, adjacent a side of a user.

The seat may comprise a base portion (or seating or buttock support) and a back portion (or back or lumbar support) . The seat may be made at least partly from plastic, which may be moulded. The base portion and the back portion may be formed in one piece.

The back portion may comprise a/the front facing surface and a rear facing surface. The back portion may be solid or preferably hollow.

The base portion may comprise an/the upper facing surface and a lower facing surface.

The base portion may be solid or preferably hollow.

The base portion or upper facing portion may have a first and second (left and right) side peripheral portions and a third (front/foremost) peripheral portion.

The back portion or upper facing portion may have first and second (left and right) side peripheral portions and a third (rear/uppermost top/uppermost) peripheral portion.

The illuminatable means may be disposed on or adjacent to one or more of the peripheral portions, e.g. in a line(s) or string thereat, therealong or therearound. The illuminatable means may be spaced along one or more of the peripheral portion(s), e.g. substantially equally spaced.

In a preferred implementation the illuminatable means are provided at or adjacent to all of the peripheral portions except the third (front/foremost peripheral portion) of the base portion.

The side peripheral portions of the base portion and optionally the front peripheral portion may, in use, be higher than a central portion of the base portion.

The side peripheral portions of the back portion may, in use, be forward of a central portion of the back portion.

The seat may be shaped or configured as a "bucket" type seat. The at least one illuminatable means may be powered by one or more batteries , which may be provided on or adjacent the seat, e.g. in a battery compartment which may be in or on a rear surface of the seat. The batteries may be accessible by a releasably securable cover.

Circuitry connecting the illuminatable means to the one or more batteries may include an on/off switch. The switch may provide a number of "on" positions to allow a user to select the at least one illuminatable means to illuminate continuously or to operate in a predetermined sequence under the control of electronic control means .

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a seat, the seat comprising at least one illuminatable means thereon.

The at least one illuminatable means may comprise a plurality of lights, e.g. light emitting diodes (LEDs). The lights may be of a same colour or of a mixture of colours . At least some of the illuminatable means may be provided on or distributed around at least part of a periphery of the seat.

The base portion may be solid or preferably hollow.

The illuminatable means may be disposed on or adjacent to one or more of the peripheral portions, e.g. in a line(s) or string thereat, therealong or therearound. The illuminatable means may be spaced along one or more of the peripheral portion (s), e.g. substantially equally spaced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a seat adapted for use in a self- propelled or foot-propelled vehicle according to the first aspect of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are:

Figure 1 a view from the front and to one side of a tricycle according to an embodiment of the present invention in a first (non-illuminated) state;

Figure 2 a view from the front and to one side of the tricycle of Figure 1 in a second (illuminated) state; Figure 3 a further view from the front and to one side of the tricycle of Figure 1 in a second (illuminated) state; Figure 4 a view from the front and to one side of a seat of the tricycle of Figure 1 in a first (non-illuminated) state;

Figure 5 a view from the front and to one side of the seat of Figure 4 in a second

(illuminated) state;

Figure 6 a view from the rear of the seat of

Figure 4; and

Figure 7 a circuit diagram of circuitry of the tricycle of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to Figures 1 to 7 , there is illustrated a self-propelled or foot-propelled vehicle, generally designated 5, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The vehicle 5 comprises a tricycle 10, e.g. for use by children or infants, having a frame 15, a front wheel 20, a pair of rear wheels 25, a steering column 30, handlebars 35, pedals 36, a brake mechanism 37, and a seat 40.

The tricycle 10 comprises at least one illuminatable means 45 on the seat 40, as will hereinafter be described in greater detail. The vehicle 5 comprises left and right pedals carried by and fixed to the front wheel 20. The wheel 20 comprises a pneumatic tyre 50.

The wheel 20 also comprises left and right walls 55 ',55", which provide a gap, space or void (not shown) therebetween. The pneumatic tyre 50 comprises a valve

(not shown) accessible via an aperture in one of the left or right walls 55', 55". The aperture may be openably closeable by a cover member 65. The front wheel 20 of the vehicle 5 is larger in diameter than the rear wheels 25 of the vehicle 5. The vehicle 5 is therefore a so-called "hog" type tricycle.

The at least one illuminatable means 45 comprises a plurality of lights, e.g. light emitting diodes (LEDs) . The lights can be of a same colour or of a mixture of colours . The illuminatable means 45 are provided on or distributed or spaced around at least part of a periphery of the seat 40.

At least some of the illuminatable means 45 are provided on or distributed on a front facing surface and/or an upper facing surface of the seat 40.

At least some of the illuminatable means 45 are therefore at least partly visible or not obscured when a user is seated on the seat 40, in use. It will be appreciated by the described arrangement, at least some of the illuminatable means 45 will be provided, in use, adjacent a side of a user when seated.

The seat 40 comprises a base portion 70 and a back portion 75. The base portion 70 and the back portion 75 are formed in one piece, e.g. from a plastic moulding.

The back portion 75 comprises a/the front facing surface and a rear facing surface.

The back portion 75 can be solid or advantageously hollow. The base portion 70 comprises an upper facing surface and a lower facing surface. The base portion 70 can be solid or advantageously hollow.

The base portion 70 has a first and second (left and right) side peripheral portions 71,72 and a third (front) peripheral portion 73.

The back portion 75 has first and second (left and right) side peripheral portions 76,77 and a third (rear top) peripheral portion 78. The illuminatable means 45 are disposed on or adjacent to one or more of the peripheral portions, e.g. in a line(s) or string thereat. In the disclosed embodiment the illuminatable means 45 are provided at or adjacent to all of the peripheral portions except the front peripheral portion 73.

Portions of the side peripheral portions 71,72 of the base portion 70, and optionally the front peripheral portion 73, may be higher than a central portion 74 of the base portion 70. Portions of the side peripheral portions of the back portion 76,77 may be forward of a central portion 79 of the back portion 75. By this arrangement the seat 40 can be shaped or configured as a "bucket" type seat. The at least one illuminatable means 45 is powered by one or more batteries 81, which are provided on or adjacent the seat 40 in a battery compartment 80. The batteries are accessible by a releasably securable cover 85. Referring to Figure 7, circuitry connecting the illuminatable means 45 to the one or more batteries include an on/off switch 90. The switch 90 provides an "off" position and a number of "on" positions. This allows a user to select whether the at least one illuminatable means are "off" or on, and if "on" whether the illumination means illuminate continuously or operate in a predetermined sequence under the control of electronic control means .

It will be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention hereinbefore described is given by way of example only and is not meant to limit the scope thereof in any way. Various modifications may be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, while the disclosed embodiment comprises pedals fixed to the front wheel, in a modification the pedals may drive one or more of the wheels via a drive mechanism, e.g. a cog and chain mechanism. Alternatively, in a further modification the vehicle may be provided with no pedals, and a user may push or propel the vehicle by placing one or both feet on the ground.

The illuminatable means may comprise a decorative feature. However, it may be envisaged that the illuminatable means may be suitably controlled so as to comprise turn or indicator lights or brake lights.

Finally, it will be appreciated that while the disclosed embodiment describes the seat being used on a tricycle, it may be envisaged that the set may be used elsewhere, e.g. by itself or in conjunction with other apparatus, e.g. a seesaw.

Claims

1. A self-propelled or foot-propelled vehicle, such as a tricycle, comprising at least one illuminetable means on a seat thereof.

2. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a tricycle, such as for use by children or infants .

3. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 , wherein the vehicle comprises left and right pedals carried by or fixed to a front wheel thereof .

4. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the front wheel of the vehicle is larger in diameter than the rear wheels of the vehicle.

5. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one illuminatable means comprises a plurality of lights, such as light emitting diodes (LEDS) .

6. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in claim

5. wherein the lights are of a same colour or of a mixture of colours .

7. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the illuminatable means are provided on or distributed around at least part of a periphery of the seat.

8. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the illuminatable means are provided or distributed on a front facing surface (s) and/or an upper facing surface (s) of the seat.

9. A vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least some of the illuminatable means are at least partly visible or not obscured when a user is seated on the seat, in use.

10. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the seat comprises a base portion and a back portion, optionally made from plastic.

11. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the base portion and the back portion are formed in one piece.

12. A vehicle as claimed in either of claims 10 or 11, wherein the back portion comprises a/the front facing surface and a rear facing surface.

13. A vehicle as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the base portion comprises an upper facing surface and a lower facing surface.

14. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in any of claims 9 to 13, wherein the base portion has a first and second (left and right) side peripheral portion and a third (front) peripheral portion.

15. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in any of claims 9 to 14, wherein the back portion has a first and second (left and right) side peripheral portions and a third (rear/top) peripheral portion.

16. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in either of claims 11 or 12, wherein the illuminatable means are disposed on or adjacent to one or more of the peripheral portions, optionally in a line(s) or string thereat.

17. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in any of claims 11 to 16, wherein the illuminatable means are provided at or adjacent to all of the peripheral portions except the front peripheral portion.

18. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in any of claims 14 to 17, wherein the side peripheral portions of the base portion and optionally the front peripheral portion are higher than a central portion of the base portion.

19. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in claim 15 or any of claims 16 to 18 when dependent upon claim 15, wherein the side peripheral portions of the back portion are forward of a central portion of the back portion.

20. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the seat is shaped or configured as a bucket seat.

21. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one illuminatable means are powered by one or more batteries, which are optionally provided on or adjacent the rear seat, such as in a battery compartment which is in or on a rear surface of the seat.

22. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in claim 21, wherein the batteries are accessible by a releasably securable cover.

23. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in either of claims 21 or 22, wherein circuitry connecting the illuminatable means to the one or more batteries comprises an on/off switch.

24. A vehicle, such as a tricycle, as claimed in claim 23, wherein the switch provides a number of "on" positions to allow a user to select the at least one illuminatable means to illuminate continuously or to operate in a predetermined sequence under the control of electronic control means .

25. A seat comprising at least one illuminatable means thereon .

26. A seat as claimed in claim 25, wherein the at least one illuminatable means comprises a plurality of lights, such as light emitting diodes (LEDS) .

27. A seat as claimed in claim 26, wherein the lights are of a same colour or of a mixture of colours .

28. A seat as claimed in any of claims 25 to 27, wherein at least some of the illuminatable means are provided on or distributed around at least part of a periphery of the seat.

29. A seat as claimed in any of claims 25 to 28, wherein at least some of the illurαinatable means are distributed on a front facing surface (s) of the seat.

30. A seat as claimed in any of claims 25 to 29, wherein at least some of the illuminatable means are at least partly visible or not obscured when a user is seated on the seat, in use.

31. A seat as claimed in any of claims 25 to 30, wherein the seat comprises a base portion and a back portion, optionally made from plastic.

32. A seat as claimed in any of claims 25 to 31, wherein the base portion and the back portion are formed in one piece.

33. A seat as claimed in either of claims 31 or 32, wherein the back portion comprises a/the front facing surface and a rear facing surface.

34. A seat as claimed in any of claims 31 to 33, wherein the base portion comprises an upper facing surface and a lower facing surface.

35. A seat as claimed in any of claims 30 to 34, wherein the base portion has a first and second (left and right) side peripheral portion and a third (front) peripheral portion.

36. A seat as claimed in any of claims 30 to 35, wherein the back portion has a first and second (left and right) side peripheral portions and a third (rear/top) peripheral portion.

37. A seat as claimed in either of claims 32 or 33, wherein the illuminatable means are disposed on or adjacent to one or more of the peripheral portions, optionally in a line(s) or string thereat.

38. A seat as claimed in any of claims 32 to 37, wherein the illuminatable means are provided at or adjacent to all of the peripheral portions except the front peripheral portion.

39. A seat as claimed in any of claims 35 to 38, wherein the side peripheral portions of the base portion and optionally the front peripheral portion are higher than a central portion of the base portion.

40. A seat as claimed in claim 36 or any of claims 37 to 39 when dependent upon claim 36, wherein the side peripheral portions of the back portion are forward of a central portion of the back portion.

41. A seat as claimed in any of claims 25 to 40, wherein the seat is shaped or configured as a bucket seat.

42. A seat as claimed in any of claims 25 to 40, wherein the at least one illuminatable means are powered by one or more batteries, which are optionally provided on or adjacent the rear seat, such as in a battery compartment which is in or on a rear surface of the seat.

43. A seat as claimed in claim 42, wherein the batteries are accessible by a releasably securable cover.

44. A seat as claimed in ^' either of claims 42 or 43, wherein circuitry connecting the illuminatable means to the one or more batteries comprises an on/off switch.

45. A seat as claimed in claim 44, wherein the switch provides a number of "on" positions to allow a user to select the at least one illuminatable means to illuminate continuously or to operate in a predetermined sequence under the control of electronic control means .

46. A seat adapted for use in a self-propelled or foot- propelled vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 24.

47. A play equipment or vehicle or seesaw comprising a seat according to any of claims 25 to 45.