Juvenile vehicle

• US 4,541,642 A
• Filed: 07/25/1983
• Issued: 09/17/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Svartz, Bjorn O.
• Original Assignee: Svartz, Bjorn O.
• Inventors: Svartz, Bjorn O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pekar, John A.
• Application Number:
  US06/517,212
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 280/151, 280/3, 254/278, 446/436, 446/451, 446/465, 446/431
• US Class Current: 280/3
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 25/00 Autocar-like self-drivers; Runways therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 8/00 Arrangement or mounting of propulsion units not provided for in one of the preceding main groups
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 9/00 Children's cycles toy vehicles A63H17/00

Abstract

A juvenile vehicle is demonstrated herein which is powered by unwinding a cable from a continuous stepped drum. In the preferred form of the vehicle the cable is unwound and the drum rotates at a faster and faster speed thus causing the vehicle to rapidly accelerate. The preferred method demonstrates the steps of winding the cable on the drum and imparting external power to the cable to thereby cause the drum to rotate.

Claims

1. A riding vehicle comprising:

a frame member, a wheel, said wheel attached to said frame member, a cable receiving drum means, drive means, said drive means joined to said drum means and to said wheel, said drum means rotatably mounted on said frame member for providing impetus to the vehicle by turning said wheel, cable means, said cable means for winding on said drum means, and external power means, said power means for grasping said cable means and applying force thereto, said force being substantially horizontal from said drum means for rapidly unwinding said cable means from said drum means whereby the vehicle moves in a direction substantially opposite the direction of the force applied to said cable means.

2. A riding vehicle as claimed in claim 1 when said drum means comprises a stepped drum means.

3. A riding vehicle as claimed in claim 2 where said stepped drum means is continuous.

4. A riding vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises chain drive means, said chain drive means joined to said cable receiving drum means.

5. A vehicle comprising:

a frame member, a wheel, said wheel attached to said frame member, a continuous stepped drum means having a large and a small step, said drum means rotatably mounted on said frame member for providing impetus to the vehicle by turning said wheel during rotation, cable means, said cable means wound first around said small step and continuing around said large step whereby rapidly unwinding said cable means provides impetus to the vehicle.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5 wherein said continuous stepped drum means includes five steps.

7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5 and including a seat member, said seat member attached to said frame member.

8. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5 and including steering means, said steering means attached to said frame member.

9. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5 and including a rear axle, said rear axle rotatably affixed to said frame member, brake means, said brake means attached to said rear axle.

10. A method for providing impetus to a wheeled vehicle comprising:

continuously winding a cable onto a drum means of the vehicle which is drivingly connected to a wheel, imparting an external substantially horizontal force to the cable, unwinding the cable and rotating the drum means to thereby accelerate the vehicle in a direction opposite from the force applied to said cable.

11. A method for providing impetus to a wheeled vehicle as claimed in claim 10 whereby winding a cable on a drum means comprises winding a cable on a stepped drum means.

12. A method of providing impetus to a wheeled vehicle as claimed in claim 11 whereby winding the cable on a stepped drum means comprises winding a cable on a continuous stepped drum means.

13. A method of providing impetus to a wheeled vehicle as claimed in claim 10 wherein imparting an external force to the cable comprises manually pulling the cable from the drum means.