| AU7863387A | 1988-03-24 | |||
| DE658630C | 1938-04-06 | |||
| FR774873A | 1934-12-15 | |||
| FR2459063A1 | 1981-01-09 |
| 1. | defining the invention are as follows : * Means for steering a "pushalong" toy vehicle having at least a pair of dirigible, groundengaging wheels; said means including a telescoping steering column; a steering wheel mounted on one end of said telescoping steering column for bringing about rotation thereof; the other end of said telescoping steering column being steerably coupled to an axle for a said pair of dirigible groundengaging wheels. |
| 2. | The steering means as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said steering column comprises two or more mutuallytelescopin elements fabricated from flexible plastic tubing. |
| 3. | The steering means as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wher said other end of said telescoping steering column is steerably coupled to said axle via a rackandpinion arrangement. |
| 4. | The steering means as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein a simulated instrument panel is mounted on said telescoping steering column adjacent said steering wheel. |
| 5. | The steering means as claimed in any one of the precedin Claims, wherein said steering column is able to telescop from a length of substantially 1.5 meters to a length of substantially 1 metre. |
| 6. | Means for steering a toy vehicle, substantially as here¬ inbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing. * Note : If there is insufficient space above to type the statement of claim, do not use this sheet but use separate sheet of paper beginning with the words 'The claims defining the invention are as follows :" and ending with the date and th. |
This invention relates to playthings and more particularly to a steerable toy vehicle of the "push-along" kind.
Toy vehicles havingdirigible - that is to say, steerable- ground engaging wheels are known ; in this day and age such toy vehicles are usually electrically, or even electronically controlled and are generally expensive playthings.
However, younger children still enjoy the more traditional, and usually larger but less complex, "push-along" kind of toy vehicle andit is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a said "push-along" toy vehicle which is able to be steered by a young user in a realistic manner.
To this end therefore, the present invention consists in means for steering a "push-along" toy vehicle having at least a pair of dirigible, ground-engaging wheels ; the means including a telscoping steering column ; a steering wheel mounted on one end of said telescoping steering column for bringing about rotation thereof ; the other end of the telescoping steering column being steerably coupled to the axle of a said pair of dirigible, ground-engaging wheels.
In order that a better understanding of the present invention may be gained, hereinafter will be described a preferred embodiment thereof, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying somewhat schematic
drawing in which a toy vehicle is referenced 10. In this case the illustrated toy vehicle is a semi-trailer but it could well be a motorcar, a truck, a bus, a tank, or even a locomotive, providing it has at least a pair of dirigible, ground-engaging wheels, as 11.
Toy vehicle 10 is provided with means for steering it, including a steering column comprising two mutually-teles elements 12 and 13 > ideally fabricated from flexible plastic tubing. Element 12 should be a "push-fit", or "friction-fit" in element 13 so that, in the event bhat the toy vehicle 10 collides with some solid or immovable obstacle, the steering column will telescope in on itself and/or flex so that injury to the young user is extremely unlikely.
At the upper end of the telescoping steering column 12, 1 is a steering wheel 14., rigidly affixed to steering column element 12 so that turning steering wheel 14. will rotate the whole steering column- together with the pair of dirigible road wheels 11. Thus it will be realised th the push-fit of element 12 in element 13 must have a suff coefficient of fruction so that element 12 will not turn in element 13» while not preventing their telescoping act
However, to comply with these parameters, the two telescoping tubes 12 and 13 are ideally of rectangular cross-section. Ideally, steering column 12,13 is able to telescope, say from a length of substantially 1.5 metres to a length of about 1 metre.
The lower end of the telescoping steering coJumn 12, 13 is steerably coupled to the front axle of the toy vehicle 10. Preferably this steerable coupling is a rack-and-pinion arrangement, although linkage-arm steering of Akermann kind is nevertheless contemplated.
A simulated instrument panel 15 may be mounted on steering column element 12, while such a warning means as, say , a bulb horn cβculd well be incorporated.
From the abovegoing, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set out in the following Claims: