AU6149700A

AU6149700A - Safety steering system for play equipment and vehicles for children which permit the children to keep to the correct side of the road in a controlled manner

Info

Publication number: AU6149700A
Application number: AU61497/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Willi Foldenauer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-06-13
Filing date: 2000-06-13
Publication date: 2001-01-02
Also published as: EP1208033A1; WO2000076837A1; CA2392401A1; DE19926806C1

Description

PCT Application PCT/FP00/06381 Dr. W Foldenauer. ,,STEERING SAFETY DEVICE FOR CHILDREN'S TOY VEHICLES AND CHILDREN'S VEHICLES AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLED OBSERVANCE OF THE CORRECT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY" Patent Application DE 199 26 806 C 1 Description The present invention concerns a device for children's toy vehicles and children's vehicles to ensure that they remain on the correct side of the roadway. As a result of the numerous toys and vehicles available on the market for use by children, children come into contact with traffic train a very early stage, be it only initially frorm the pavement or on a cyule track or in parks, In these contexts children are often the cause of dangerous situations for other traffic participants by not remaining oi the correct (e.g. in the case of traffic travelling tihe right) right hand side of the roadway since the children's sense of direction and distinction between left arid righl is not so well developed. Children themselves are often the casualties of traffic accidents because they change sides of the road suddenly because they are unsure and believe that the other side, the right-hand side, is perhaps the correct side. Wc have all experienced such situations from time to time. In the meantime numerous safety devices have been produced for the younger traffic participants which make thorn more visible for others and which encourage adults to exercise greater consideration and caution. Some examples of these are a safe-distance Indication attached to the luggage carrier of a bicycle (DE 296 09 065 U1), additional reflectors (DE 83 30 456 U1) and a flexible mast carrying a brightly-coloured safety flag (DE 78 25 460 U1) for a bicycle, These ,,passive" safety devices, however, only serve to draw attention In the smaller participants in the traffic, they do nothing to improve the children's driving or riding skills and their sense of direction. What is urgently needed is a kind of safety device that provides the child with the active possibility Io make his or her own driving or riding conduct safer and better suited to the traffic, The object of the present invention is to create a safety device for use with all children's sleerod toys arid vehicles which ensure that the child using them will remain on the prescribed correct side of the roadway (e.g. trattic on the right), which is technically simple to produce and to attach, and is thus susceptible of widespread use among consumers. This object is achieved by the invention in that the open or closed steering device (steering wheel or handlebars) of the vehicle is so designed, preferably on the side corresponding to the side of the road prescribed for Iraffic movenett (on the right-hand *lde for traffic on the right), that the area foreseen for gripping with the hand is provided with a sheath and at least one signal element so that this preferred grip area is unmistakably distinguishable in comparison with other areas of the sl.eering device and particularly distinguishable from the grip area for the other hand. This is achieved in a preferred embodiment by the area of the steering device to be gripped by the hand, preferably on the side corresponding to the side prescribed for traffic, being distinguished clearly in an optical, material, acoustic form or a specially-designed shape from the other area [o be gripped by the hand so that continuous optical, acoustic or tactile stimuli on a preferred side are exercised on the child, The child using such a steering device will be permanently reminded of the correct (e.g. rlght) side of the roadway and will see, hear or teel what the abstract provisions for right hand drive traffic mean. The child soon develops tangible understanding and no longer feels uncertain of the correct position on the roadway. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the signal part is removable and replaceable. This makes it possible to use different signal parts, which inlensitios the stimulation effect. Furthermore, it is possible to increase attention by designing the signal part to match the changes In children's tastes. In another preferred embodiment, the signal part consists of well-known figures from children's fairy tales or comic stories or other characters, designs and shapes from the realms of children's imaginary or factual worlds. Another embodiment has at least parts of the signal device that can move or that emit light or acoustic signals. A further preferred embodiment has a grip and a signal element which is made of an elastic material and is detachable In SUCh a way that it can be slid onto the conventional steering device or can bo attached on top of an already-existing hand grip element. This makes it possible by subsequently fitting existing steering devices with the signal or grip element according to tho invention to uchieve the steering safety device intended by the invention. Yet another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention has an aperture along at least the length of the grip section which allows it to be opened up easily and slid over any normal existing grip on a steering device and to be secured permanently by adhesion, clamping, or gluing so that it cannot slip. A further particularly preferred embodiment is that the design of the exchangeable signal part is such that this part can also be attached to the child's hand or arm. In this way the optical, acoustic or tactilo stimuli of the safety device are transfcrrcd to a different position, on the hand corresponding to the prescribed side of the roadway, and thus Intensify the effect of the safety device. The figures show: Fig. 1: Viow of the steering safety device according to the invention in closed (1) and in open (2) position with the preferred grip element (3), consisting of the sheath (4) and the signal part (5) Fig. 2: Exchangeable signal part according to the invention (5) In the form of a well-known comic figure (6) and of another object appropriate for use by children (7) Fig. 3: A detachable device according to the invention with a sheath (4) and a signal part (5) made of elastic material for subsequent fitting to common steering devices (6) Fig. 4: A device according to the invention with an aperture along the length of the grip eloront (9) to enable it to be fitted onto common steering devices (8) Fig. 5: A device according to the invention with a signal pad (5) whereby the signal part partially covers the child's hand but leaves the hand free enough to operate the brake lever (10) Fig, 8: Signal part (5) attached to the child's hand. Fig. 1 shows a view of the steering safety device according to the invention in the form of a steering wheel (1) with a grip element (3) whereby the sheath part (4) and the signal part (5) are unmistakably distinguishable from all the other parts of the steering device. The same safety device Is also displayed mounted on an open steering device/handlebar (2). Fig. 2 shows how an exchangeable signal part (5) can be replaced by another signal part. Fig. 3 shows how the device according to the invuntien can be fitted by sliding the grip element (3) having u sheath (4) and a signal part (5) onto a conventIonal steering device (2). Fig. 4 shows how a device according to the invention with a grip element having a longitudinal aperture (9) and a signal part (5) can be secured on a conventional steering device, thus equipping il with a steering safety device according to the invention. FIg. 5 shows how a particular embodiment of the signal part (5) partially covers the child's hand (10) while at the same time leaving sufficient freedom of movement to operate the brake lever. Fig. 6 shows how the detached signal part (5) can, alternatively, be attached to the child's hand in order to provide the desired stimulus from this position. Patent claims

Claims

1. Steering safety device in closed (1) and open (2) form characterized in that the steering device, on the side corresponding to the side of the roadway prescribed for traffic, is provided with a grip element (3) comprising a sheath part (4) and a signal part (5) so that this preferred grip area is unmistakably distinguished from the other grip area for the other hand and from all other areas of the steering device.

2. Steering safety device according to claim 1 characterized in that the preferred grip element (3) corresponding to the prescribed side of the roadway is clearly distinguished in an optical, acoustic or material way of by virtue of its shape from the other sheath grip for the other hand, whereby said preferred grip element (3) conveys optical, acoustic or tactile stimuli which distinguish this preferred WUd frurri thu it irairing areas Uf the sloering device.

3. Steering safety device according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the preferred grip area (3) having a signal part (5) is removable entirely or in part from the steering safety device and can be securely refitted.

4. Steering safety device according to one of the claims 1-3 characterized in that the preferred grip area (3) having a signal part (5) is constructed of an elastic material so that the grip area (3) having a signal part (5) can be fitted in part or as a whole onto conventional steering devices (8) and seured by ifearis of adhesion, plugging, clamping or glueing.

5. Steering safely device according to one of the claims 1-4 characterized in that the preferred grip area (3) having a signal part (5) is provided in some areas at least with longitudinal apertures (9) so that it can he slipped over conventional open or closed steering devices (B) and secured on them.

6 Steering safety device according to one of the claims 1-6 characterized in that the signal part (5) is provided with a mounting such that when the signal part (5) is detached from the preferred grip area (3) it can be attached to the child's hand or arm.

7. Steering safety device according to one of the claims 1-6 characterized in that the signal parl (5) is designed in the shape of appropriate children's figures, well-known toys, everyday items, clocks, compasses or mirroring surfaces,

8. Steering safety device according to one of the claims 1-7 characterized in that the signal part (5) at least partially covers the child's hand (10) but does not hinder access to the brake laver.

9. Steering safety device according to one of the claims 1-8 characterized in that the signal part (.5) is at least partially replaceable by other signal parts.

10. Method for controlled observance of the position on the correct side of the roadway by children using toy vehicles and vehicles characterized by the use of a steering safety device according to claims 1-9. There follow three pages of drawings.