GB2161120A - Velocipede with removeable handles - Google Patents

Abstract

A velocipede (1) has a handle shaft (4), a rear leg (6) and a saddle (7). A steering handle (8) molded of resin is attached to the handle shaft by being removably fitted on the upper end of the handle shaft, thus providing for interchangeability of different types of handle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Children's pedal cycle BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to a children's pedal cycle There are various types of velocipedes now on the market. For example, one velocipede bears an image of an animal and another an image of a motorcycle. Thus, a purchaser selects from among various types of velocipedes one which has such a design or style as interests him.

On the other hand, when the process of production of velocipedes is considered, it will be seen that if the designs or styles of velocipedes are unified, mass production is possible and a reduction in cost can be attained.

However, purchasers' or users' tastes differ and it is not desirable to unify designs or styles.

On the contrary, if various designs or styles are initially produced in small quantities, it would be possible to provide purchasers or users with those which suit their tastes, but this will lead to an increase in cost.

Further, one's state changes with fashion and some designs or styles falling behind the fashion could remain unsold. In such case, unsold articles have sometimes to be offered below cost a great blow to the seller and the producer.

SUMMUARY OF THE INVENTION This invention, which has been accomplished with the above in mind, has for its principal object the provision of a velocipede wherein designs or styles which suit purchasers' or users' tastes can be efficiently pro duced.

This invention is a velocipede wherein a steering handle molded of resin is replaceable fitted on the upper end of a handle shaft which has a front wheel attached to the lower end thereof.

This invention has resulted from paying attention to the fact that the design or shape of the steering handle portion of a velocipede influences the image of the entire velocipede to a great extent. More particularly, as in this invention, if the handle shaft and the steering handle are constructed of different members and if the design or shape of the steering handle is variously changed, then the image of the entire velocipede which the purchaser or user receives will greatly change even if the other parts are the same. Thus, a plurality of steering handles of different designs or styles may be prepared at a store to allow a purchaser or user to select a suitable steering handle according to his taste and have it attached to the handle shaft, thus making it possible to provide the purchaser or user with a velocipede which suits his taste.Further, at the production stage, even when various types of velocipedes are required, a variety of steering handles molded of resin may be prepared while producing other parts in a unified shape or style, thus making it possible to reduce the cost and to cope with changes of fashion at low cost and without delay. Moreover, even if a certain design or style has fallen behind the fashion, it is only necessary to replace the inexpensive steering handle, a fact which is advantageous from the standpoint of sales strategy.

For comparison purposes, a conventional velocipede will now be considered. In a conventional velocipede, usually two handle shafts have their upper portions bent in opposite directions, and these bent portions are used as a steering handle. Thus, to change the image of the entire velocipede, it is necessary to change the arrangement and framing of the entire velocipede to a great extent.

When it is desired to produce various types of velocipedes, a decrease in productivity and an increase in cost cannot be avoided. And changes of fashion cannot be coped with quickly. If these are taken into consideration, it will be clearly understood how useful this invention is.

Embodiments of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of this invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the velocipede shown in Fig. 1, with a steering handle 8 and a front cover 9 removed; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a steering handle 8 shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a front view of the steering handle 8; Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the steering handle 8; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the front cover 9 shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a front view of the front cover 9; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VII VII in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a side view of the front cover 9; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of this invention; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of this invention; and Fig. 1 2 is a front view showing the rear portion of a steering handle used in another embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI MEN In Fig. 1, an embodiment of this invention is shown. A velocipede 1 comprises a handle shaft 4 having a front wheel 2 and pedals 3 attached to the lower end thereof, a rear leg 6 having rear wheels 5 attached to the lower end thereof, and a saddle 7. The handle shaft 4 is composed of two parallel bars 4a and 4b.

A steering handle 8 is attached to the upper end of the handle shaft 4. Further, the handle shaft 8 has a front cover 9 covering a portion of the front of the velocipede 1.

Referring to Fig. 2 showing the velocipede 1 of Fig. 1 with the steering handle 8 and front cover 9 removed, two fixed plates 10 and 11 spaced from each other are attached to a substantially middle portion of the handle shaft 4 as by welding. The front portion of the saddle 7 is positioned between the two fixed plates 10 and 11. The handle shaft 4 and saddle 7 are interconnected by a bolt 1 2 extending successively through the fixed plate 10, the front end portion of the saddle 7, and the fixed plate 11. In this manner, the handle shaft 4 is turnable around the axis of the bolts 1 2. As illustrated, the two bars 4a and 4b constituting the handle shaft 4 have their upper ends extended linearly upward.

The steering handle 8 shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 is molded of resin. This steering handle 8 is formed to simulate the steering handle generally used in ordinary motorcycles, the right-hand and left-hand portions being bent slightly backward. The left-hand portion of the steering handle 8 is formed with a portion 1 3 simulating a clutch lever and the right-hand portion with a portion 14 simulating a brake lever.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the steering handle 8 has two receiving holes 1 6a and 1 6b extending linearly upward from the lower end surface 1 5 thereof. The receiving hole 1 6a is used to receive the bar 4a shown in Fig. 2 and the receiving hole 1 6b to receive the bar 4b. As shown in Fig. 4, the steering handle 8 has threaded holes 1 7a and 1 7b extending from the outer surface to the receiving holes 16a and 16b.

Thus, when the steering handle 8 is to be attached to the handle shaft 4, first it is fitted on the handle shaft 4 from above and then set screws are driven into the threaded holes 1 7a and 1 7b to thereby fix the steering handle 8 to the handle shaft 4. Removal of the steering handle 8 from the handle shaft 4 can be effected by reversing the operation described above. That is, first the set screws threadedly engaged in the threaded holes 1 7a and 1 7b are loosened and then the steering handle 8 is pulled upward to remove it from the handle shaft 4.If, therefore, a large number of steering handles having the same receiving holes 1 6a and 1 6b as in the steering handle 8 shown in Fig. 4 but differing in shape or design are prepared in advance, then it is possible for a purchaser to select one from among these steering handles according to his taste and have it attached to the handle shaft.

In Figs. 6 through 9, a front cover 9 is shown. The front cover 9, as shown in Fig. 1, is attached to the velocipede 1 to cover a portion of its front. The front of the velocipede is an area which is likely to catch the purchaser's eye and in this sense it may be said that the design or shape of the front cover 9, like that of the steering handle 8, has a substantial influence on the image of the entire velocipede. Thus, if this front cover 9 is removably attached to the handle shaft 4, this will contribute much to providing velocipedes of different images. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the front cover 9 is removably attached to the handle shaft 4.

Referring to Figs. 6 through 9, the front cover 9 has a front projection 1 8 projecting forwardly to the front and a rear plate 1 9 disposed at substantially the middle of the rear surface and extending rearward. The front projection 1 8 is formed to simulate the headlight of a motorcycle. The front cover 9 has fitting recesses 20a and 20b in its right-hand and left-hand sides. These fitting recesses 20a and 20b extend vertically throughout the cover 9 and are adapted to fit on the two bars 4a and 4b constituting the handle shaft 4.

Further, as is clear from Fig. 8, the rear plate 19 is formed with a throughgoing hole 21 for receiving the bolt 1 2 shown in Fig. 2.

The operation for attached the front cover 9 to the handle shaft 4 is as follows.

Referring to Fig. 2, first, the bolt 1 2 which connects the handle shaft 4 and the saddle 7 is removed. Then, the rear plate 1 9 of the front cover 9 is placed on the fixed plate 10 while receiving the bars 4a and 4b in the fitting recesses 20a and 20b, respectively, thereby attaching the front cover 9 to the handle shaft 4. Thereafter, the bolt 1 2 is inserted successively through the rear plate 19, fixed plate 10, saddle 7 and fixed plate 11 and is fixed in position, whereby the front cover 9 is fixed to the handle shaft 4. When it is desired to remove the front cover 9 from the handle shaft 4, the above operation is reversed. That is, if the bolt 1 2 is removed, the front cover 9 can be removed. Thus, if a large number of front covers of different designs or shaped are prepared, it is possible for a purchaser to select a suitable one from among these front covers according to his taste and have it attached to the handle shaft.

Figs 10 and 11 show other embodiments ol the invention wherein the steering handle 8 and front cover 9 of the velocipede shown in Fig. 1 are replaced by those having different shapes or styles. However, the construction excluding the steering handle and front cover, i.e., the construction shown in Fig. 2 is unchanged.

First, a velocipede 22 shown in Fig. 10 will be considered. It is seen that a steering handle 23 has a design simulating the head and hands of a penguin. Further, the front cover 9 shown in Fig. 10 is the same in shape as that shown in Fig. 1 but has a sticker 24 depicting a lion's face stuck to the front projection 1 8 thereof.

The steering handle 26 and front cover 27 of a velocipede 25 shown in Fig. 11 are formed to simulate a motorcycle, as in the case of Fig. 1. However, the design in Fig. 11 will give a more sporty feeling than the one shown in Fig. 1. That is, the steering handle 26 has its right-hand and left-hand portions 26a and 26b bent backward to a greater extent. Further, the front surface of the front cover 27 is provided with a front projection 28 different in design from the front projection shown in Fig. 1. The front projection 28 is also designed to simulate the headlight of a motorcycle but will give a more sporty feeling than does the one shown in Fig. 1.

As is clear from a comparison of Figs. 1, 10 and 11, the image of the entire velocipede can be greatly changed by simply changing the steering handle and front cover. Thus, by preparing various types of steering handles and front covers and selecting suitable ones therefrom and attaching the selected ones to the handle shaft, a velocipede suiting the purchaser's or user's taste can be easily and quickly provided. In the above embodiments, both the steering handle and the front cover have been replaceable; however, only the steering handle may be made replaceable, in which case the effect would be less than in the case of the above embodiments but the image of a velocipede can also be changed variously by replacing the steering handle alone.

Further, in the above embodiments, the handle shaft 4 has been formed of two paral lel bars 4a and 4b, with their upper ends extending linearly upward. However, it is not absolutely necessary to extend the upper ends of the bars 4a and 4b linearly. For example, the bars 4a and 4b may be bent to the right and left, respectively, in which case the steering handle to be attached to the upper end of the handle shaft could not be fitted on the handle shaft from above. This problem can be solved by vertically bisecting the steering handle to provide front and rear portions and forming the respective contact surfaces of the front and rear portions with receiving recesses for receiving the upper end of the handle shaft.

Fig. 1 2 shows the rear portion of a soconstructed steering handle. As illustrated, the rear portion 29 of a steering handle has receiving recesses 30a and 30b for receiving two bars 4a and 4b having their upper ends bent. Though not shown, the front portion of the steering handle has a shape corresponding to that of the rear portion. Therefore, the steering handle can be attached to the handle shaft by holding the upper end of the handle shaft 4 between the rear portion 29 and the front portion of the steering handle and then fixing the rear portion 29 and the front portion together as by screws. In this example also, when the attached state of the steering handle is examined, it is seen that the steering handle has been fitted on the handle shaft.

It goes without saying that the handle shaft 4 may not be formed of two parallel bars 4a and 4b. That is, it may be formed of a single bar.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims (6)

1 A velocipede wherein a steering handle molded of resin is replaceable fitted on the upper end of a handle shaft having a front wheel attached to the lower end thereof.

2. A velocipede as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the upper end of said handle shaft extends linearly upward, and said steering handle has a receiving hole extending linearly upward from the lower end surface thereof to receive the upper end of said handle shaft.

3. A velocipede as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said steering handle is vertically bisected into a front portion and a rear portion, and the respective contact surfaces of said front and rear portions are formed with receiving recesses for receiving the upper end of said handle shaft.

4. A velocipede as set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle shaft has a front cover for covering a portion of the front of the velocipede.

5. A velocipede as set forth in claim 4, wherein said front cover is removable from said handle shaft.

6. A velocipede as set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle shaft is formed of two parallel bars.