GB2508133A

GB2508133A - A child's vehicle accessory

Info

Publication number: GB2508133A
Application number: GB1218318.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephanie Westphal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-10-12
Filing date: 2012-10-12
Publication date: 2014-05-28
Also published as: GB201218318D0

Abstract

A bike, trike or scooter accessory, which can be attached to a T-shape handlebar via snap fitting. The accessory is a single unit made of PVC or any other plastic, having a hollow with narrower 2, 4 and broader 3, 5 portions to receive the T-shape handlebars. The accessory is preferably a toy 1 and may have sound and / or light and / or water/bubble emitting functionality.

Description

ACCESSORY FOR PERSONALIZING A CHILDREN'S SCOOTER, BICYCLE OR

OTHER RIDE ON TOY

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to scooter or bike accessories. More particularly it relates to a device for personalizing a children's push scooter, bike and trike or any other children's ride on toy.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Children like to ride their scooters holding toy figures. These have to be either handheld, which makes the riding experience potentially dangerous or they'll be stored in a jacket pocket, where they could fall out and get lost.

Fixture means are known from the prior art for attaching an accessory to the frame or handlebars of the scooter, bike or trike. Specially designed fasteners or bolted connectors are usually used for this purpose.

US patent No. US20100109279, published on 201 0-05-06, describes a toy vehicle for a doll that can be coupled to a child's vehicle. In one implementation, the toy vehicle is a toy scooter that is configured to support a doll in a standing configuration.

European patent No. EP1637443, published on 2006-03-22, discloses a bottom base for a soft water-spouting toy. It includes an upper combining base and a lower fixing base threadably combined with each other. When in use the fixing base is fixed stably on a handle of a child's bicycle, and the combining base is combined tightly with the lower portion of a soft water-spouting toy. The combining base has a center hole for a ball to sink therein, invertible with the toy for pouring water therethrough and into the interior of the toy after being disengaged from the fixing base. After the toy is filled with water, the combining base with the attached toy is inverted again, and threadably combined with the lower fixing base, allowing the toy to be played with by a child riding on the bicycle. The water in the toy and the bottom base cannot leak out by sealing means in the combining base and the fixing base.

German utility model No. DE29605170, published on 1996-06-20 describes a toy attachment, arranged to be fastened to a T-bar handle of a child's scooter or a bike. Attachment is based on press-studs, fastened to the internal surface of a notch inside a soft toy.

Prior art patents describe multiple ways of attaching a toy to the handlebars of a scooter, bike or trike and personalizing it this way. Majority of the fastening means comprise multiple components and are difficult to produce as well as complicated to attach. Fastening with press-studs requires the toy to be soft, therefore it can not be large, otherwise it would fall down or loose its shape. Furthermore such fastening is not reliable and the toy might get lost.

There is a need for reliable and firm fastening of large PVC or other plastic toys to the 1-bar handle of a scooter, bike or trike. The attached toy should keep its orientation and shape in various riding situations and should not fall down.

SUMMARY

An object of the present invention is to provide a way for fastening relatively large PVC toys to the 1-bar handle of a child's vehicle, such as bicycle, tricycle or push scooter. Fastening should be carried out without requiring any external fixtures or fittings. The toy should be easily and reliably attachable by an elder child or by an adult. The aim is to enhance the children's amusement when riding a cycle or scooter.

To address the specifications discussed above, the present invention proposes a slightly elastic PVC shaped toy which can be attached to the front of any T-bar scooter, bike or trike or any other children's ride on toy. The toy features an integral hollow, essentially of a T-shape, with a path of inserting the handle into it.

The exterior of the toy (1) can be an imitation of an animal head, a car or any other.

Several configurations of the hollow are provided and represent slightly different attachment mechanisms. Both configurations provide bolt-less fixing of PVC toys to the handlebars of a scooter or bike.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention better, and appreciate its practical applications, the following pictures are provided and referenced hereafter. Figures are given as examples only and in no way should limit the scope of the invention.

Figure 1. illustrates a toy (1) attached to the T-bar handle (6, 7) of a scooter; Figure 2. illustrates a side view of the toy (1); Figure 3. provides a three-quarter view of the toy (1) with T-shaped hollow exposed; Figure 4. provides a side view ofa toy (1), having essentially a vertical hollow (2) opening to the bottom; Figure 5. provides a bottom view of the toy (1), having essentially a vertical hollow (2) opening to the bottom;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention provides an accessory for children's scooters, bikes or trikes or any other children's ride on toy. It enhances the child's experience while riding their scooter as the invention turns the scooter into a real' scooter companion in their minds. The invention adds character and uniqueness to a child's vehicle. It clips on and off so children can customize their scooters as they wish. Attachment of the toy to the T-bar handle is fast and simple.

In the most preferred embodiment, the toy is a single piece unit comprising at least an integral hollow for inserting a T-bar handle. The built-in T-shaped attachment mechanism permits a pop on' attachment of the toy (1) to the handlebar tubes (6) and (7). The hollow comprises at least an opening (2, 4) for inserting of the handlebar tubes (6) and (7) and slots (3, 5) arranged to hold the handlebar tubes (7, 6) after attachment. The toy (1) is preferably made from elastic plastic, such as PVC or similar. The openings (2, 4) are narrower than diameter of standard tubes used for scooter handlebars (7, 6). The slots (3, 5) feature diameters, which essentially correspond to diameters of the tubes (7, 6). As a result, after insertion, the handlebars are locked inside the slots (3, 5).

In the most preferred embodiment, there is a T-shape hollow arranged on the back of the toy (1) with a T-shape opening for insertion of the handlebar tubes (7, 6).

Two slots (3, 5) are arranged deep inside the hollow, whereas the first slot (3) is essentially horizontal and is arranged to receive the horizontal tube (7) of the handlebars and the second slot (5) is essentially vertical and is arranged to receive the vertical tube (6) of the scooter handlebars.

In order to attach the toy (1), it is best to orient its front face upwards, then the horizontal tube (7) is fitted into the horizontal slot (3). Further, the front face is pushed downwards in order to fit the vertical bar (6) into the vertical slot (5).

The toy (1) is only one piece which preferably is a colorful cartoon like head.

The toy (1) is made from a PVC plastic or any other plastic with a 75 or 80 shore so it's not too hard as it would make it too difficult to attach and not too soft. It is slightly elastic so that the toy (1) can be attached easily. It should be appreciated that any other lightweight and elastic material can be used for making the toy (1) and the type of the material should not be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention.

It should be apparent that a person skilled in the art would be able to use any other materials, which are suitable for mass production and comply with the elasticity and firmness requirements. Furthermore the overall shape of the toy could be essentially of any kind and artistic form, as long as it is a bulky object, which features enough volume for containing the openings (2) and/or (4) and slots (3) and/or (5).

Yet in another embodiment the toy (1) comprises an essentially vertical hollow, which opens to the bottom. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the hollow comprises narrower vertical section (2) as well as horizontal and vertical slots (3, 5), arranged to receive the tubes of the scooter handlebar (6, 7) Yet in another embodiment, the toy (1) comprises sound generating means, such as a horn, audio player or similar.

Yet in another embodiment, the toy (1) comprises light generating means, such as flashlight, spotlight, LED illumination or similar.

Yet in another embodiment, the toy (1) comprises water spouting or a bubble machine feature (not indicated in the drawings). In such arrangement, the toy (1) contains a water receptacle for holding water, soapy water or similar. Furthermore a membrane or a button is arranged on the exterior of the toy (1) for creating pressure inside the liquid receptacle or in a separate valve chamber. An opening is arranged preferably to the front face of the toy (1) and is arranged to form a spout or bubbles, whenever said membrane or the button is pressed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A child's vehicle accessory, which is arranged to be fastened to the frame of a bikeoratrikeorascooter,c ha ra cte ri z ed inthatsaidaccessory is a single unit comprising a hollow for insertion of T-shape handlebars (6, 7) of the vehicle.
2. The accessory according to claim 1, .c h a r a c t e r i z a d in that said hollow comprises at least one narrower portion (2, 4), which opens to the outside of the unit (1) and is arranged for insertion of the T-shaped handlebars (6, 7) and at least one wider portion (3, 5), which is arranged as a socket for reception of said T-shaped handlebars (6, 7).
3. Theaccessoryaccordingtooneofclairnslto2,c ha ra cte ri zed in that said hollow comprises two narrower portions (2, 4), which are exposed to the back of the accessory (1).
4. Theaccessoryaccordingtooneofclaimslto2,c ha ra cte r i z e d in that said hollow comprises a single narrower portion (2), which is exposed to the bottom of the accessory (1).
5. Theaccessoryaccordingtooneofclaimslto4,ch a ra Gte ri zed in that said accessory (1) is a toy.
6. Theaccessoryaccordingtooneofclaimslto5,ch a ra cte r i ze d in that said accessory (1) is made from elastic plastic, such as PVC or similar.
7, The accessory according to one of claims 1 to 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said accessory (1) comprises sound generating means.
8. Theaccessoryaccordingtooneofclaimslto7,ch a ra cte r i zed in that said accessory (1) comprises light generating means.

9 The accessory according to one of claims 1 to 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said accessory (1) comprises water spouting and/or bubble making means.