WO2018134500A1 - Tricycle - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the invention, this assembly comprises: - a vehicle body (1) forming a rear fork (16) with two branches (17); - two rear wheels (3), each linked to a wheel carrier and having a planar side, these wheels (3) being suitable for being assembled indiscriminately on the inner side or on the outer side of a branch (17). This assembly operation is carried out by means of wheel carriers linked to the rear wheels (3), attachment parts (5) and cavity sections suitable for receiving, indiscriminately, assembly portions of the wheel carriers and attachment sections that the attachment parts (5) comprise.

Description

 TRICYCLE

The present invention relates to a set of assemblable elements for constituting several kinds of gear wheels for children.

 Such a set of elements is known in principle, for example by the patent publication No. US 4,552,372, describing a skateboard adapted to be equipped with a front column that can be either fixed or directional.

 However, to date, there is no set of elements making it possible to constitute wheeled vehicles different from one another, adapted to children of different ages, and in particular able to adapt to children whose age goes from about eight months to about six years. As a result, parents must buy several different gear for the same child, adapted to the different ages of that child, or they must have several gear when they have several children, which is a significant constraint in terms of cost and size.

 The present invention aims to overcome this disadvantage.

 Another object of the invention is to provide a set of elements as mentioned above, to pass quickly and easily from one type of gear to another.

 According to the invention, the set of assemblable elements concerned comprises a gear body, a front steering subassembly including a steering column equipped with a front wheel and a handlebar, and a first rear wheel, said steering column being pivotable along an axis which extends in a plane; the gear body forms a rear fork with two branches extending side-by-side, spaced apart from each other; the two branches have internal faces, which are opposite one branch to another, and a distance extends between these internal faces; the set of elements comprises a second rear wheel; said first rear wheel and said second rear wheel are each connected to a wheel carrier located on one of the axial sides of the wheel, each wheel carrier having a mounting portion of the rear wheel to one of the branches, and each mounting portion of each wheel carrier has first assembly means;

the axial side of each rear wheel opposite to the wheel carrier is plane, and the thickness of each wheel between the planar side and the side of the wheel opposite this plane side is less than half the distance separating the internal faces. branches, the two rear wheels being thus able to be contiguous to one another when they are placed between said branches; the set of elements comprises two fixing pieces each having a mounting part having a shape identical to that of said mounting portion which comprises each wheel carrier, and which comprises second assembly means capable of coming into engagement mutual with said first assembly means;

 each branch has a cavity for mounting a corresponding rear wheel, including:

 - An inner cavity portion, located on the inner side of the branch, adapted to receive indifferently the mounting portion of one of the wheel carriers or the mounting portion of one of said fasteners; and

 an external cavity portion, situated on the outer side of the branch, adapted to receive, in an adjusted manner, either the mounting portion of one of said fasteners or the mounting portion that comprises one of the carriers; wheels, so as to immobilize the wheel carrier relative to the branch in the direction in which said portion and said portion are received in said inner cavity portion.

 Thus, according to the invention, because of the identity of shape between said mounting portion of each wheel carrier and said mounting portion of each fastener, each rear wheel can be mounted either on the inner side of a branch, or on the outer side of this branch, without there being a shaft extending between said branches to receive the rear wheels. Moreover, the aforementioned thickness of the two rear wheels means that these two wheels are able to be placed against each other, being attached to one another, between the branches, so as to form jointly a single rear wheel.

When the two rear wheels are mounted on the inner sides of the branches, the set of elements makes it possible to form a balance bike, that is to say a machine comprising a single front wheel and a single large rear wheel; said internal portions of the cavities of the two branches then receive said mounting portions of the two wheel carriers by engagement of these mounting portions therein until the mounting portions against the bottom walls that these cavity portions delimit; the mounting parts that comprise the fasteners are fitly received in the respective outer portions of these cavities. The second assembly means that comprise the fasteners are then brought into mutual engagement with the first assembly means that comprise the mounting portions of the wheel carriers. The shape of the external parts of the cavities, adjusted to the shape of the mounting parts that include the fasteners, ensures the retention of the wheel carriers in their mounting position, and the coming into mutual engagement of the assembly means ensures the maintenance of these mounting parts in these cavities .

 When the two rear wheels are mounted on the outer side of the branches, the set of elements then makes it possible to form a tricycle with two rear wheels; the mounting portions of the two wheel carriers are then engaged in the outer cavity portions and the joining portions of the two fasteners are engaged in the inner cavity portions. The engagement of the mounting portions of the two wheel carriers in the external cavity portions ensures the retention of the wheel carriers in the mounting position, and the mutual engagement of the assembly means ensures the maintenance of these portions. in these cavities.

 Said first assembly means and said second assembly means could be of any type that can be envisaged, for example by engagement of a fastener with the corresponding mounting portion of the wheel carrier; preferably, however, each mounting portion of each fastener, and therefore each mounting portion of each wheel carrier, has a shape of revolution such that this mounting portion can pivot in the corresponding cavity portion, this pivoting allowing to bring said first assembly means and said second assembly means into mutual engagement.

 This pivotal connection allows said first assembly means and said second assembly means to have a relatively simple structure, for example being of the bayonet type or the screw type.

 In the case of such coupling means coming into mutual engagement by pivoting, it would be conceivable for the user to hold one of the wheel carriers pivotally while the fastener is pivoted to effect the assembly of this carrier. wheel to the corresponding branch; preferably, however,

 each wheel carrier comprises a prismatic portion, and

each mounting cavity of a wheel carrier comprises a cavity portion forming at least one wedging face, adapted to receive this prismatic portion with rotationally wedging of the prismatic portion, and therefore of the wheel carrier, along the axis the pivoting necessary to bring in mutual engagement said first assembly means and said second assembly means. The use of the set of elements according to the invention is thus particularly easy: the mounting portion and the prismatic portion of a wheel carrier are engaged in the corresponding respective cavity portions, and then the fastener is pivoted. so as to bring said second assembly means, which it comprises, into mutual engagement with said first assembly means; the setting of the wheel holder eliminates the need to maintain the wheel holder during pivoting of the fastener.

 According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in this case,

 the wheel carrier has a threaded hole arranged through said prismatic portion and in said mounting portion, coaxially with these portions, and

 - Each fastener comprises a threaded rod adapted to be screwed into the threaded hole.

 Said first and second assembly means are then of the screw type, and are particularly easy to handle by a user.

 Said prismatic portion may in particular be hexagonal.

 The set of elements may include a wraparound seat, adapted to be mounted on the body of the machine and a saddle adapted to be mounted on the body of the machine in place of this wraparound seat.

 The wraparound seat, possibly provided with a safety strap, can be used on a tricycle machine, for small children, whose age ranges from about eight months to about 18 months; the saddle is however used on the machine in tricycle configuration or balance bike configuration.

 The wraparound seat and the seat may each be secured to a lower mounting tube on the gear body, and this gear body may include a receiving hole of one or other of these tubes.

 The mounting of the seat or seat can be achieved simply by engaging a tube integral with the seat or seat in a corresponding hole.

 The integral tube of the wraparound seat may have a length such that it protrudes from the gear body, on the lower side of this body, and the set of elements may comprise a piece forming footfasters receiving the feet of the body. the child, able to be mounted on the lower part of this tube.

The set of elements may also comprise a rod equipped with a gripping handle of the machine, the handle being adapted to be connected to the body of the machine or being connected to said seat and being able to be connected to the body of the machine. gear. An accompanying adult keeps a perfect control of the machine thanks to this handle.

 The set of elements may further comprise a tray or removable container adapted to be placed between said branches in the tricycle configuration of the machine.

 The child can thus carry one or more objects by means of his machine.

Preferably, the branches form substantially flat upper surfaces, advantageously provided with anti-slip.

 These substantially flat upper surfaces allow a support of the feet of the child in the machine's balance control, allowing the child to perform acrobatics.

 The invention will be well understood, and other features and advantages thereof will become apparent with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing described hereinafter; this drawing represents, by way of non-limiting example, a preferred embodiment of the set of assemblable elements concerned, and different gear that this set allows to constitute. In this drawing:

 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tricycle formed by means of elements of said set of elements, in a mounting state of two rear wheels that includes the tricycle;

 Figure 2 is a perspective view of the rear of the tricycle, on an enlarged scale, the two rear wheels being disassembled relative to the body of the machine;

 Figures 2A and 2B are enlargements of details of Figure 2;

 Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a balance bike constituted by elements of said set of elements;

 Figure 4 is a sectional view of one of the rear wheels and a branch that forms a gear body that comprises the set of elements, in section in a vertical plane passing through the axis of the wheel , before mounting this wheel on said branch; Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views from two different angles of another tricycle machine constituted by the elements of said assembly; and

 Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views from two different angles of yet another tricycle machine constituted by the elements of said set.

 FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIGS. 5 and 6, and FIGS. 7 and 8 represent various kinds of wheeled vehicles for children which can be constituted from the same set of assemblable elements. This set of elements includes:

a gear body 1; a front subassembly of direction 2;

 two rear wheels 3, each of which is mounted on a wheel carrier 4;

 parts 5 for attaching the rear wheels 3 to the body of machine 1;

 a saddle 6 connected to a lower mounting tube 7;

 - An enveloping seat 8 connected to a lower tube 9 for mounting and also connected to a rod 10 equipped with a handle 1 1 control of the machine by an accompanying adult;

 a piece 12 forming footpads for receiving the feet of the child, adapted to be mounted on the lower end of the tube 9, and

 - A rear container 13, removable.

 At its front part, the gear body 1 has a hole in which is pivotally mounted the front subassembly 2. The gear body may comprise a locking / unlocking system of the pivoting of the front subassembly 2, of structure well known in itself, and therefore not particularly described.

 At its middle part, this body 1 has a hole for the engagement of one or other of the tubes 7 or 9 and a hole 14 for the engagement of the rod 10 carrying the handle January 1.

 At its rear part, the vehicle body 1 forms a rear fork 16 with two branches 17. These two branches 17 extend in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane in which extends the pivot axis of the steering column. that forms the subset before 2; the two branches 17 have internal faces, which are facing one branch to another, these internal faces being at a determined distance from one another, explained further.

 As is more particularly visible in Figures 2, 2A, 2B and 4, each branch 17 has, for mounting a corresponding wheel 3, a cavity formed by cavity portions 18a, 18b and 18c.

The cavity portion 18a is located on the inner side of the branch 17; as visible in the background in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 2B, it has an inverted U shape, that is to say that it opens into the lower side of the branch 17, so the nearest side of the ground when the machine is used; the walls of the branch 17 delimiting the bottom of this cavity portion 18a are rounded so as to correspond to the diametrical section of a spherical portion shape that has a mounting portion 4a formed by each wheel carrier 4 and so to correspond to the diametral section of a sphere portion shape that also has a fastening portion 5a that comprises each fastener 5, as described below. The cavity portion 18b is located on the outer side of the branch 17; as seen in the foreground in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 2A, this cavity portion 18b has a hollow spherical cap shape adapted to indifferently receive, in an adjusted manner, the aforementioned fixing portion 5a that each fastening piece 5 comprises. or the aforementioned mounting portion 4a that each wheel carrier 4 comprises, and opens on the lower side of the branch 17.

 The cavity portion 18c is intermediate between the cavity portions 18a and 18b; it has an inverted U shape, also opening in the lower side of the branch 17, and forms two facing faces 19 located facing one another, capable of making a wedging of a prismatic portion 4b that comprises each wheel carrier 4, as described below.

 The front subassembly 2 includes a steering column equipped with a front wheel 20 and a handlebar 21. Pedals 22 may be mounted on the hub of the front wheel 20, as visible in the machine configuration shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

 It is particularly visible in FIG. 4 that each rear wheel 3 comprises the wheel carrier 4 on one of its axial sides and that it is flat on its axial side opposite this wheel carrier 4. It is understood by reference in FIG. 3 that the thickness of each wheel 3 between the plane side of this wheel and the opposite side of the wheel is less than half the aforementioned distance separating the internal faces of the branches 17, so that the two wheels 3 can be mounted against each other in the space defined between the two branches 17.

 Referring to Figure 4, it appears that each wheel holder 4 comprises a cylindrical portion 4c engaged in the hub of the wheel 3, forming an axis of rotation of the wheel, and at one end of this cylindrical portion, the portion 4a mounting and hexagonal portion 4b above.

 The cylindrical portion 4c is connected to the wheel 3 by means of a screw 23 engaged in a threaded hole that it forms; it has an inner part of the wheel, of smaller diameter, receiving a bearing 26.

 The mounting portion 4a extends the cylindrical portion 4c, with which it forms body. The hexagonal portion 4b extends the portion 4a on the opposite side to the wheel 3, forming a body with this portion 4a.

The portions 4a and 4b are pierced with a threaded hole 24 coaxial with them and with the portion 4c, which forms first assembly means. Each fastener 5 comprises a mounting portion 5a connected to a threaded rod 5b adapted to be screwed into this threaded hole, this threaded rod 5b forming second assembly means.

 On its side on which is the threaded rod 5b, each mounting portion 5a has a peripheral wall having the aforesaid form in sphere portion; on its side opposite to the threaded rod 5b, the mounting portion 5a forms a cavity in which a rib 5c extends, this rib being able to be manually gripped to operate a screwing of the threaded rod 5b in the aforementioned threaded hole, until said peripheral wall comes into contact with the wall of the branch 17 delimiting one or the other of the cavity portions 18a, 18b.

 As it appears by comparison of FIGS. 1 and 3, because of the identity of shape between said mounting portion 4a of each wheel carrier 4 and said mounting portion 5a of each fastener 5, each rear wheel 3 can be mounted either on the inner side of a branch 17 (Figure 3), or on the outer side of this branch 17 (Figure 1). Furthermore, the aforementioned thickness of the two rear wheels 3 makes these two wheels are able to be placed against each other between the legs 17 and to jointly form a single rear wheel, of greater thickness.

 It can be seen in FIG. 3 that, when the two rear wheels 3 are mounted on the inner sides of the branches 17, the set of elements makes it possible to constitute a balance bike, that is to say a machine comprising a front wheel 20 single and a single rear wheel; the internal parts 18a of the cavities of the two branches 17 then receive the mounting portions 4a of the two wheel carriers 4 by engagement of these portions 4a in them until it comes against the bottom walls that these cavity portions 18a delimit, and the mounting portions 5a that comprise the fasteners 5 are fitly received in the respective outer portions 18b of these cavities. The hexagonal portions 4b are received in the intermediate portions 18c of cavity, wedged between the walls 19, which allows to screw or unscrew the fasteners 5 without having to maintain the wheel carriers 4 to prevent them from turning. Once this tightening operation, the shape of the outer portions 18b of the cavities, adjusted to the shape of the mounting portions 5a, ensures the retention of the wheel carriers 4 in their mounting position.

As can be seen particularly in FIG. 4, the rolling portion of each rear wheel 3 is rounded and has a larger diameter at the level of the plane side of the wheel 3 than at the opposite side of this wheel, so that the wheel rear of thicker constituted by the two rear wheels 3 itself presents a rounded part of the bearing, which does not skid this wheel in the event of lateral inclination of the balance bike shown in figure 3.

 As shown in Figure 1, when the two rear wheels 3 are mounted on the outer side of the legs 17, the set of elements according to the invention then makes it possible to form a tricycle with two rear wheels 3; the mounting portions 4a that comprise the two wheel carriers 4 are then engaged in the outer portions 18b of cavity and the assembly parts 5a of the two fasteners 5 are engaged in the internal portions 18a cavity.

 The machines shown in Figures 1 and 3 are intended for children from about two to six years old.

 FIGS. 5 and 6 show that, thanks to the enveloping seat 8, provided with a strap 25 in the example shown, to the sub-assembly 12 forming toe blocks and to the subassembly formed by the rod 10 and the handle 1 1, it is possible to form, with the same set of elements, a tricycle device suitable for children aged from eight to eighteen months, the handle 1 1 allowing an accompanying adult to keep a perfect control of the machine.

 On the machine thus formed, the pivoting of the front subassembly 2 may, depending on the age of the child, be blocked by means of the aforementioned locking / unlocking system.

 It also appears in these figures that the rear container 13 is sized to be placed in place by interlocking on the branches 17 between them, allowing the child to carry one or more objects by means of his machine.

 Figures 7 and 8 show that the set of elements can also constitute a tricycle for a slightly older child, of the order of one to three years, this time using the subset formed by the saddle 6 and the tube 7, in place of the seat 8 and the tube 9. The rod 10 is then separated from the seat 8 and takes place in the hole 14. The pivoting of the front subassembly 2 will be blocked or unlocked by means of the aforementioned locking / unlocking system, according to the appreciation of the accompanying adult.

 It appears from the foregoing that the invention provides a set of assemblable elements for constituting several kinds of wheeled vehicles for children, suitable for children of different ages, and in particular able to adapt to children whose The age ranges from about eight months to six years. Moreover, this set of elements makes it possible to switch quickly and easily from one type of machine to another.

Claims

1. Set of assemblable elements for constituting several kinds of wheeled vehicles for children, comprising a gear body (1), a front steering subassembly (2) including a steering column equipped with a wheel front (20) and a handlebar (21), and a first rear wheel (3), said steering column being pivotable along an axis which extends in a plane;  the machine body (1) forms a rear fork (16) with two branches (17) extending side by side, spaced apart from each other; the two branches (17) have internal faces, which are opposite a branch to the other, and a distance extends between these internal faces; the set of elements comprises a second rear wheel (3); said first rear wheel (3) and said second rear wheel (3) are each connected to a wheel carrier (4) located on one of the axial sides of the wheel, each wheel carrier (4) having a portion (4a) ) mounting the rear wheel (3) to one of the legs (17), and each mounting portion (4a) of each wheel carrier (4) has first connecting means (24);  the axial side of each rear wheel (3) opposite to the wheel carrier (4) is flat and the thickness of each rear wheel (3) between the planar side and the side of the wheel opposite this planar side is less than the half of the distance separating the internal faces of the branches (17), the two rear wheels (3) being thus able to be contiguous to one another when they are placed between said branches;  the set of elements comprises two fixing pieces (5) each having a mounting part (5a) having a shape identical to that of said mounting portion (4a) which comprises each wheel carrier (4), and which comprises second assembly means (5b) adapted to come into mutual engagement with said first assembly means (24);  each leg (17) has a cavity (18a, 18b, 18c) for mounting a corresponding rear wheel (3), including:  an internal cavity portion (18a) located on the inner side of the branch (17), suitable for receiving either the mounting portion (4a) of one of the wheel carriers (4) or the mounting portion (5a). ) of one of said fasteners (5); and an outer cavity portion (18b) located on the outer side of the leg (17) adapted to receive, in an adjusted manner, the mounting portion (5a) of one of said fasteners (5) or the mounting portion (4a) that comprises one of the wheel carriers (4), so as to immobilize the wheel carrier (4) relative to the arm (17) in the direction in which said portion (5a) and said portion (4a) are received in said inner cavity portion (18a). 2. Set of elements according to claim 1, characterized in that each mounting portion (5a) of each fastener (5), and therefore each mounting portion (4a) of each wheel carrier (4), has a form of revolution such that this mounting portion (5a) can pivot in the corresponding cavity portion (18a, 18b), this pivoting for bringing said first assembly means (24) and said second assembly means (5b) in mutual commitment. 3. Set of elements according to claim 2, characterized in that: each wheel carrier (4) comprises a prismatic portion (4b), and each mounting cavity of a wheel carrier (4) comprises a portion (18c ) of cavity forming at least one wedging face (19), adapted to receive this prismatic portion (4b) with rotational wedging of the prismatic portion (4b), and therefore of the wheel carrier (4), along the axis of the pivoting necessary to bring in mutual engagement said first assembly means and said second assembly means (5b). 4. Set of elements according to claim 3, characterized in that: - the wheel carrier (4) has a threaded hole (24) arranged through said prismatic portion (4b) and in said mounting portion (4a) , coaxially to these portions, and  each fixing piece (5) comprises a threaded rod (5b) adapted to be screwed into this threaded hole (24). 5. Set of elements according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that said prismatic portion (4b) is hexagonal. 6. Set of elements according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises an enveloping seat (8) adapted to be mounted on the machine body (1) and a saddle (6) adapted to to be mounted on this machine body (1), this enveloping seat (8) and this saddle (6) being adapted to be mounted on the gear body (1) one instead of the other. 7. Set of elements according to claim 6, characterized in that the enveloping seat (8) and the saddle (6) are each secured to a lower tube (7, 9) for mounting on the gear body (1). ), and in that the gear body (1) comprises a receiving hole of one or other of these tubes. 8. Set of elements according to claim 7, characterized in that the tube (9) integral with the enveloping seat (8) has a length such that it protrudes from the gear body (1), on the lower side of this body, and in that the set of elements comprises a piece (12) forming foot-catches receiving the feet of the child, adapted to be mounted on the lower part of this tube (9). 9. Set of elements according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a rod (10) equipped with a handle (1 1) for gripping the machine, the rod (10) being adapted to be connected to the gear body (1) or being connected to said enveloping seat (8) and being adapted to be connected to the gear body (1). 10. Set of elements according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a removable tray or container (13) adapted to be placed between said legs (17) in the tricycle configuration of the machine. 1 1. Set of elements according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the legs (17) form substantially flat upper surfaces, preferably provided with anti-slip.