"RIDING APPARATUS AND USAGE THEREOF"

The present invention relates to a ride on apparatus. More preferably but not exclusively it relates to a gravity powered and/or electric motor powered ride on apparatus that can also be a useful vehicle for the purposes of personal transportation.

5 Many popular sports such as downhill skiing and skateboarding offer excitement and a challenge to people as they negotiate the forces that are induced by diving, climbing, turning and braking at some speed.

There are many known ride on apparatuses that will provide thrills of movement and manoeuvre to those who learn the skills of balance, coordination and inertial force control. 10 Examples of such apparatuses include skis, bicycles, tricycles etc.

Some ride on apparatuses attempt to recreate the "lean-over" effect of downhill skiing. Such cambering vehicles are commonly three wheeled vehicles. They may have a front column with a steering shaft and a front wheel attached thereto, and a pair of spaced apart rear wheels, each rear wheel mounted to trailing arms which are articulated to the front column. The rider of such vehicles 15 would place each foot on foot supports located on the articulating railing arms and hold a pair of handlebars which extend from the steering shaft. US patents 6880840 and 6883814 describe such a device.

Such cambering vehicles require the rider to counterbalance his or her weight on the left and right foot supports to maintain an upright position. By shifting bodyweight and relative foot 20 pressure on each foot support the rider is able to camber or cant the vehicle as one trailing arm rises in relation to the other in the (substantially horizontal) arcs of travel that each arm is pressured and/or released to follow. Such cambering mechanisms typically suffer the disadvantage that at any angle of camber each foot support will be unhelpfully sloping downwards and/or upwards in relation to the ground and the other vehicle parts. Therefore, such vehicles may require a shift of 25. balance by the rider in order to achieve a cambering or canting effect.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ride on apparatus which overcomes or at least ameliorates some of the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.

In an aspect the invention is a three wheel stand on apparatus that can cant as it steers and 30 the rider's feet moves each trailing wheel with respect to the other and the front steerable wheel. A stop and a bias, in each case, controls limits of such relative movement.

In an aspect the present invention consists in a ride on apparatus comprising or including: a frame, a steerable ground contact device mounted from the frame and pivotal about a steering axis,

a right hand articulating assembly mounted from the frame, said articulating assembly having both a ground contact device and a foot rest, said ground contact device and said foot rest being able to be moved relative to the frame as a consequence of their being articulated relative to the frame through at least one axis, a left hand articulating assembly mounted from the frame, said left hand articulating assembly having both a ground contact device and a foot rest, said ground contact device and said foot rest being able to be moved relative to the frame as a consequence of their being articulated relative to the frame through at least one axis, • a forward stop to restrict the right hand articulating assembly from pivoting past a forwards position, a forward stop to restrict the left hand articulating assembly from pivoting past a forwards position, a bias arrangement to bias said right hand articulating assembly to the forwards position, and a bias arrangement to bias said left hand articulating assembly to the forwards position. Preferably the right hand articulating assembly is mounted to the frame via a pair of parallel linkage arms, and the left hand articulating assembly is mounted to the frame via a pair of parallel linkage arms.

Preferably each pair of parallel linkage arms form a parallelogram linkage arrangement with the right and left hand articulating assemblies so that the foot rest of the right and left hand articulating assemblies remains substantially parallel to the ground irrespective of the position of the right and left hand articulating assemblies.

Preferably the linkage arms corresponding to the left or right hand articulating assemblies are pivotal about two spaced apart but parallel pivot axes on the frame and two spaced apart but parallel pivot axes on the articulating assembly, wherein the distance between the pivot axes on the frame is equal to the distance between the pivot axes on the articulating assemblies.

Preferably the pivot axes on the frame for the said right hand articulating assembly are coincident with the pivot axes on the frame for the said left hand articulating assembly.

Preferably the steerable ground contact device is a front wheel.

Preferably the ground contact devices of the left hand and right hand articulating assemblies are rear wheels.

Preferably the axis of rotation of the left hand rear wheel is parallel to the axis of rotation of the right hand rear wheel.

Preferably left hand side and a right hand side rearward stops are mounted to the left hand side and right hand side of the frame respectively, the rearward stops adapted to restrict the respective articulating assemblies from pivoting past a rearwards position.

Preferably said bias arrangement is a tension spring, bungy cord, or the like, fixed at one of its ends to the frame, and the other end to a corresponding articulating assembly, so that the articulating assembly to which it is connected is urged to a forwards position.

Preferably the steerable ground contact device is operationally connected to handlebars or a steering wheel so that a user of the apparatus can steer the ground contact device.

Preferably a user can induce cambering of the apparatus by pushing backwardly with their foot on the foot rest of one of the articulating assemblies against the bias arrangement. Preferably the front wheel is powered by a motor.

Preferably the motor is a hub mounted electric motor, said electric motor receiving power from a battery pack mounted to the frame.

Preferably the ground contact device has associated suspension members. Preferably the rear wheels are of a diameter substantially equal to one another, and the front wheel has a larger diameter than die rear wheels.

Preferably a stop bar extends rearwardly and downwardly from the frame such that, in use, the distal end of the stop bar will contact the ground if the steerable ground contact device raises too far off the ground.

Preferably ramps are mounted to the left and right hand foot rests, the ramps being suitable to guide a user's foot to make contact with the rear wheel to affect a braking force to the rear wheel.

In another aspect the present invention consists in a method of sport or riding which involves the operative use of an apparatus as herein described.

In another aspect the present invention consists in a ride on apparatus as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

As used herein the term "camber" or "cambered" or "cambering" is used to describe the angled position the apparatus takes with respect to the vertical. As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or", or both.

As used herein the term "(s)" following a noun includes, as might be appropriate, the singular or plural forms of that noun.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a side perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention, Figure 2 shows a rear perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1,

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Figure 3 shows a close up view of the foot rest and rear wheel assembly of the apparatus of Figure 1 in a forwards position, and

Figure 4 shows a close up view of the foot rest and rear wheel assembly of the apparatus of Figure 1 in a rearwards position. A preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures

1 through 4.

Figure 1 shows the ride on apparatus 1 of the present invention. The apparatus 1 has a frame 2 to which many of the other components of the apparatus 1 are connected. In the preferred embodiment the frame 2 has a substantially horizontal rear section and a forward section which is angled upwardly with respect to the horizontal rear section. The frame 2 is preferably manufactured from steel, but may be manufactured from any other suitable material such as aluminium or a composite material. Likewise for other components where appropriate rubber for tires and, if wanted, the bias.

Handlebars 3 are provided for the purposes of steering the apparatus 1. The handlebars 3 are located toward the forward section of the frame 2. The handle bars 3 enable pivoting of the steering axle which is connected to the front wheel 4. The handle bars 3 are affixed to the steering axle by any means as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. The steering axle may pivot inside a journal 5. The journal 5 is located at the distal end of the forward section of the frame 2. Preferably the journal 5 is welded to the distal end of the forward section of the frame 2, but may be affixed in any other suitable way, or may be formed integrally with die frame 2.

A fork 10 is located from the lower end of the steering axle. The fork 10 is provided such that the front wheel 4 pivots about a pivot axis 12 located at the distal end of each arm of the fork 10.

In the preferred embodiment the fork 10 includes suspension members 11. The suspension members may take the form of conventional bicycle shock absorbers. It should however be appreciated that a conventional bicycle fork (without suspension members) may be employed on the apparatus 1 of the present invention.

The handlebar 3 and front fork 10 assembly allows a user to steer the apparatus 1 via manipulation of the handlebar 3 and the pivotally constrained relationship of the steering axle within the journal 5. Accessories such as grips may be provided on the handlebars 3.

With reference to Figure 2 the foot rests 20 are shown to be located on either side of the frame 2. The foot rests 20 define the articulating assemblies 19 on either side of the frame 2. When in use, a user will place their left and right feet on the left and right side foot rests 20 respectively, while gripping the handle bars 3. In this way, it is envisaged, that they user will assume an upright, or substantially upright (with their knees bent) position on the apparatus 1.

Rear wheels 21 may be pivotally mounted to the footrests 20. The pivotal mounting of the rear wheels 21 can be achieved using any suitable means, such as the use of axles 22 as shown on Figure 2. To ensure the rear wheels 21 rotate with minimal friction any appropriate bearing and axle assembly may be employed as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. The foot rests 20 may be manufactured from steel, aluminium or any other suitable material. The foot rests 10 may be provided with gripping profiles to maximise a users grip. With particular reference to Figure 3 the pivotal characteristics of the articulating assemblies 19 is apparent.

There are two linkage arms on each side of the frame 2 to allow the foot rests 20 to move backwards and forwards with respect to the frame 2. The trailing linkage arm 23 pivots about pivot axis 24 on the frame and a pivot axis at the rear of the foot rest 20. The leading linkage arm 25 pivots about pivot axis 26 on the frame and a pivot axis at the front of the foot rest 20.

The linkage arms 23 and 25 on each side of the frame 2 create a parallelogram linkage relationship. In this way, the arms 23 and 25 always remain parallel to each other, and the footrest 20 always remains substantially parallel to the ground.

The movement of the linkage arms 23 and 25, and thus the foot rest 20 is constrained by stop members 27 and 28. Stop member 27 prevents the linkage arm 23 from moving past a substantially vertical position with respect to the ground. The stop member 28 prevents linkage arm 23 from pivoting past a certain point so that the foot rest 20 does not travel too far rearwardly. The foot rests 20 on either side of the frame are biased to the forwards position where the linkage arm 23 abuts the stop member 27. Any suitable means for biasing the footrests to the forwards position may be employed. In the preferred embodiment, biasing members 30 are connected from a connection point 31 on the forward section of the frame 2 to a connection point 32 on the foot rest 20. The biasing members 30 are tension springs, bungy cords or similar so that when the foot rest 20 moves backwardly, the biasing members 30 are stretched, and dius the foot rest 20 is urged back to the forwards position. A guide 33 may be provided to guide the biasing members 30.

It should be appreciated that this is just one possible way of biasing the footrests 20 to the forwards position. Any other suitable configuration may be employed. Figure 3 shows the foot rests 20 in the forwards position. Figure 4 shows what happens when the foot rest 20 moves to a rearwards position. The parallel linkage arms 23 and 25 move clockwise (when viewed from the right hand side of the apparatus) against the bias of the biasing members 30 until the linkage arm 23 abuts the stop member 28.

In use, the user may move one of the footrests rearwardly to enable cambering of the apparatus 1 , the biasing means 30 acts to provide resistance for that rearward movement of the foot rest 20.

As shown in the Figures, it is impossible for the rear wheels 21 to pass the front wheel wheel 4.

By comparison with the prior art cambering vehicles, the present invention could be described as a cambering tricycle apparatus 1 that employs vertically suspended, rearwardly sweeping linkage arms 23 and 25 that pivot rearwards as a result of the user's leg movements. This action produces leveraged cambering over of the apparatus 1 without the user having to shift his or her centre gravity.

The parallelogram configuration of the linage arms 23 and 25 in combination with the foot rests 20 enable the foot rests 20 be maintained in a parallel orientation with respect to die ground even if the user and apparatus 1 are cambered over steeply.

By providing the stop members 27 and 28 the apparatus 1 and user can be supported at the lean over limit by the trailing rear wheels 21. Such arrangements offer the degree of necessary control to safely operate a high speed and sharp cornering apparatus 1.

An aspect of the present invention is that every part of the apparatus 1 can be induced to camber steeply in both left and right directions as a result of the user pushing backwardly on one of the foot rests 20 while maintaining the opposite foot rest in a forwards position (i.e such that linkage arm 25 is substantially vertical).

The biasing members 30 for urging the linkage arms (and thus foot rest 20) to their forward position provides for rapid reversal of camber or the resumption of an upright stance.

By holding both support arms against their front stop members 27 the linkage arms 23 and 25 will be perpendicular to the ground and in this position the apparatus 1 stands substantially upright.

The work that a user applies in cambering the apparatus 1 is directed lengthwise relative to the direction of the apparatus in general. The forces applied rearwardly to the foot rests 20 by the users feet to initiate cambering of the apparatus are therefore applied at right angles to the desired direction of camber. Because of this the camber forces applied to the foot rests 20 generates only minimal steering interference.

Furthermore, the biasing members 30 also are tensioned in a lengthwise direction relative to the direction of the apparatus 1 in general so that steering will be unaffected by their tension.

It is preferably also that the tension of the biasing members 30 against the user's foot pushing backwardly on the foot rests 20 should be reasonably constant at all points in the arc of travel of the foot rests 20.

The front wheel 4 may be larger than the two trailing wheels 21. In the preferred embodiment, the diameter of the front wheel 4 is approximately twice the diameter of the rear wheels 21.

A number of advantages are derived from such a wheel configuration. Firstly, a standard bicycle wheel and associated forks 10 and handlebars 3 can be used with the apparatus of the present invention. This means that parts may be easily obtained from bicycle parts suppliers in order to manufacture the apparatus of the present invention. Also, the comparable small size of the rear wheels 21 ameliorates the problem that large rear wheels would be ineffective in arcing rearwardly quickly to induce a cambering effect of the apparatus 1. Furthermore, a footrest 20 mounted above the axle of large rear wheels would be unacceptably high above the ground, and safety may be an issue.

Optionally an electric motor may be provided to power the apparatus 1. As shown on Figure 1 , a hub-mounted electric motor 40 is provided on the front wheel 4. A power source such as a battery pack 41 may be located at some position on the frame 2. The electric motor may therefore allow the apparatus 1 to travel along flat or inclined surfaces without the user being required to

"push" by removing one of their feet from the foot rests 20. When used stricdy for downhill riding, the electric motor 40 need not be employed. Any motor and power source may be used with the apparatus of the present invention.

The apparatus is configured so as to be safe from a flipping over forwardly because of the size of the front wheel 4. Furthermore, a skilled user should have available leverage with which to actively resist toppling the apparatus himself over sideways.

Because of the user's weight distribution when riding and because the handlebars 3 can be pulled backwards with unintended force by the (standing or crouching) user the most probable reason for a fall would be when the apparatus 1 is flipped backwardly. In the preferred embodiment of the invention a rigid arm 45 projects rearwards and at a downward angle from the rear of the frame 2. The arm 45 preferably terminates at a set height above the ground so that if the apparatus 1 rears backwards to a dangerously steep angle the distal end of the arm 45 makes ground contact. Preferably a rubber tip 46 is placed on the distal end of the arm 45 to improve safety and to maximise its braking friction with the ground surface. A conventional bicycle front wheel brake may be provided for the front wheel 4. Such a brake would normally be sufficient for stopping the apparatus 1 on moderately level ground.

When attempting to stop or turn on steep terrain however the apparatus's front wheel 4 may judder or slide sideways and its braking ability may be reduced.

Relatively wide profile tyres are preferred for the rear wheels 21. This is partly for the reason that such rear wheels 21 are then available to provide for efficient rear wheel braking. When

both rear wheels 21 are braked evenly together the apparatus 1 will stop without any steering bias. The preferred arrangement is for the rear wheels to be brakeable independently of each other. A desirable effect is to initiate a turn in the direction of the braked rear wheel 21. The combination of the front steering wheel, cambering of die apparatus 1 and braked rear wheel 21 may generate "slides" on low grip surfaces.

Braking to the rear wheels 21 can be achieved through foot actuated braking friction against the rear wheels. In this case, the user may angle their foot onto the rear wheel to create a braking force on the rear wheel 21. This preferred method for rear wheel braking involves direct contact between the rider's boot or shoe soles and the inside walls of the tyres. Upwardly and outwardly projecting ramps 50 are preferably mounted at suitable locations on the foot support 20 so that the insteps of the user's feet can comfortably straddle the ramps 50. If the user rotates a foot so to make braking contact with the inner wall of a rear wheel 21 the upward projecting angle of the ramp 50 may assist in preventing the user's foot from being dragged into the space between the ramp 50 and the inside wall of the wheel 21. Furthermore the ramps 50 are well situated for the user's foot to push against in the action of swinging the foot rests rearwardly to induce a cambering effect on the apparatus 1. This is advantageous because good grip contributes to the riders comfort and safety.

It should be appreciated that convention braking systems may be employed for the rear wheels as an alternative or in conjunction with the foot actuated braking system described above. Such a conventional braking system may be controlled by actuators on the handle bars 3.

Preferably the user can actuate the left and right rear wheel brakes independently.

Gravity powered sports such as snow skiing might lack mass appeal if people could not be quickly carried back to the top of the slope. Such might be the case with the present invention. Any suitable mechanism to connect the apparatus to a vehicle or other towing device is also anticipated. The apparatus of the present invention may enable a rider to zig-zag across, down and possibly up steep slopes in a similar way to snow skiing. The apparatus can turn tighter and develop higher G forces that a conventional bicycle or tricycle. Whereas lean-over on a bicycle is achieved by a finely balanced management of forces, the apparatus 1 of the present invention can be leaned or cambered merely by coordinating pressures from the feet of a user. The stand up riding position feels may be more desirable and dynamic than sitting or crouching on a bike. The user's feet are on balanced and predictable foot rests.

In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of

information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.