Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a toy. The toy includes a body, a rotating shaft, wheels, and an asymmetric counterweight. The rotating shaft extends through the body of the toy and the wheels are connected at either end of the rotating shaft. The asymmetric counterweight is located at the base of the body and causes the body to rest at an angle. When a player applies a force to the toy, the force causes the wheels of the toy to move while the counterweight helps to facilitate movement of the toy along a surface. In this regard, the toy provides amusement and entertainment to the player while also developing agility and strength.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from Peoples Republic of China Application No. 201320839024.7 filed Dec. 18, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a toy and particularly, although not exclusively, to a wheeled toy. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Playing with toys is an enjoyable activity for children or adults. Nowadays, various popular toys, such as plush toys, baby dolls, puzzles and toy cars, are available in the market for both children and adults. Apart from providing amusement to the players, some toys are specifically designed to help the players discover and train their ability, agility and strength. 
         [0004]    Wheeled toys are one of the most popular toy items, since they can be played by simple manipulation without requiring substantial mental effort compared to games such as puzzles or board games. To make the toys more attractive and pleasing, wheeled toys are often configured to resemble different objects such as animals and cars. 
         [0005]    Wheeled toys of various sizes are available in the market. For example, a wheeled toy can be made to be as small as an item which can be played by infants. At the other end of the spectrum, wheeled toys can be made to a large size so as to be played by adolescences or adults. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a toy comprising: a body; a rotating shaft; wheels rotatably mounted at a lower portion of the body through the rotating shaft, the wheels being arranged to drive the body into motion; and an asymmetric counterweight arranged at the lower portion of the body such that the body is inclined about an axis of the rotating shaft when the toy is at rest. 
         [0007]    In a first embodiment, the asymmetric counterweight is configured such that a longitudinal axis of the body is at an angle of 20-40 degrees to the vertical when the toy is at rest. 
         [0008]    In the first embodiment, the wheels are fixedly connected with the rotating shaft, and the body is rotatably mounted on the rotating shaft. 
         [0009]    In the first embodiment, the wheels comprise a plurality of wheels arranged on two sides of the body. 
         [0010]    In the first embodiment, the wheels comprise two wheels. 
         [0011]    In the first embodiment, the body is cylindrical. 
         [0012]    In the first embodiment, a center of gravity of the asymmetric counterweight is located below the rotating shaft when the toy is at rest. 
         [0013]    In the first embodiment, the asymmetric counterweight is disposed below the rotating shaft when the toy is at rest. 
         [0014]    In the first embodiment, the asymmetric counterweight covers a bottom of the body. 
         [0015]    In the first embodiment, an upper surface of the asymmetric counterweight is substantially horizontal when the toy is at rest. 
         [0016]    In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a toy comprising: a body supported by a wheel arrangement arranged to rotate about a rotating shaft disposed at one end of the body, wherein the body comprises a ballast member disposed adjacent to the rotating shaft so as to allow the body to incline about the rotating shaft when the toy is at rest. 
         [0017]    In the second embodiment, the ballast member is positioned with an offset relative to a longitudinal axis of the body when the toy is at rest. 
         [0018]    In the second embodiment, the ballast member is positioned with an angle of 20-40 degrees from a longitudinal axis of the body when the toy is at rest. 
         [0019]    In the second embodiment, the ballast member is disposed below the rotating shaft when the toy is at rest. 
         [0020]    In the second embodiment of the second aspect, the center of gravity of the body with the ballast member is located below the rotating shaft when the toy is at rest. 
         [0021]    In the second embodiment, the ballast member is arranged to balance the body with an offset when a force is applied to the body. 
         [0022]    In the second embodiment, the center of gravity of the body with the ballast member do not lie on a same vertical plane with a center of the rotating shaft when the force is applied to the body. 
         [0023]    In the second embodiment, the ballast member is arranged to allow the body to oscillate about the rotating shaft after the force is applied to the toy. 
         [0024]    In the second embodiment, the ballast member is made of wood, plastic, metal or any combination thereof. 
         [0025]    In the second embodiment, the wheel arrangement comprises two wheels. 
         [0026]    The present invention is arranged to provide, among others, a simple-structured wheeled toy that provides improved amusement. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  is a front plan view of a toy in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the toy of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of the movement of the toy of  FIG. 1  when it is being manipulated by a player. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated an embodiment of a toy  100  comprising a body  110  supported by a wheel arrangement  130  arranged to rotate about a rotating shaft  120  disposed at one end of the body  110 , wherein the body  110  includes a ballast member  140  disposed adjacent to the rotating shaft  120  so as to allow the body  110  to incline about the rotating shaft  120  when the toy  100  is at rest. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the toy  100  comprises a body  110 , a rotating shaft  120 , a wheel arrangement  130  and a ballast member  140 . In the present embodiment, the body  110  is of an elongated cylindrical form. However, in some other embodiments, the body may resemble other shapes, configurations and forms without deviating from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0033]    A rotating shaft  120  extending through the body  110  is provided in a lower portion of the body  110 . Preferably, the wheel arrangement  130  is arranged to be connected to the shaft  120  so as to support the body  110  in an upright position, and to allow movement of the toy  100  along a surface when a force is applied to the toy by a player. In one embodiment, the wheel arrangement  130  of the present invention includes a plurality of wheels disposed on two sides of the cylindrical body  110 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the wheel arrangement  130  includes two cylindrical wheels, each disposed on one side of the body  110 . Alternatively, in other embodiments, the wheel arrangement  130  may include any number of wheels, and the wheels may resemble other shapes, configurations and forms without deviating from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0034]    In the present embodiment, the wheels of the wheel arrangement  130  are rotatable about the rotating shaft  120  relative to the body  110  when a force is applied to the toy  100  such that the wheels roll along a surface to facilitate movement of the toy  100 . Preferably in this embodiment, the body  110  is also rotatable about the rotating shaft  120  relative to the wheel arrangement  130  when a force is applied or transmitted to the body  110  such that the body  110  may pivot about the rotating shaft  120 . 
         [0035]    Preferably, the wheels of the wheel arrangement  130  in the present embodiment are fixedly connected with the rotating shaft  120  and the body  110  is rotatably mounted to the rotating shaft  120 . This arrangement allows the wheels of the wheel arrangement  130  to rotate together with the rotating shaft  120 , and the body  110  to pivot about the rotating shaft  120  that rotates with the wheels. 
         [0036]    In an alternative embodiment, the body  110  is fixedly connected with the rotating shaft  120  and the wheels of the wheel arrangement  130  are rotatably mounted to the rotating shaft  120 . In other words, in this arrangement the wheels of the wheel arrangement  130  do not rotate together with the rotating shaft  120 , and the body  110  pivots about the rotating shaft  120  by rotating together with the rotating shaft  120 . 
         [0037]    Preferably, a ballast member  140  is arranged at the bottom portion of the body adjacent to the rotating shaft  120  to facilitate the movement of the toy  100  along a surface. In the present embodiment, the ballast member  140  is disposed below the rotating shaft  120 . As shown in the side view of  FIG. 2 , the upper surface of the ballast member  140  is arranged to be substantially horizontal or flat when the toy  100  is at rest. Preferably, the ballast member  140  of the present invention is a weighted material that is generally heavier than the remaining of the body  110  of the toy  100 . In the present embodiment, the ballast member  140  is an asymmetric counterweight as shown in  FIG. 2 . In one embodiment, the ballast member  140  is made of wood, plastic, metal or any combination of materials thereof. 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the toy  100  at rest/at an equilibrium position. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the body  110  is arranged to be “inclined” by tilting towards the heavier side of the asymmetric counterweight  140  when the toy  100  is at rest/at the equilibrium condition. In the present embodiment, the asymmetric counterweight  140  is arranged such that the body  110  is tilted backward with respect to the travelling direction of the toy  100  when the toy  100  is at rest. However, in one embodiment, the asymmetric counterweight  140  may be arranged such that the body  110  is tilted forward with respect to the travelling direction of the toy  100  when the toy  100  is at rest. In either case, the longitudinal axis A-A of the body  110  is at an angle α with vertical axis O-O perpendicular to the surface of which the toy  100  is resting on. Preferably, the angle α is 20 to 40 degrees. The arrangement of the counterweight  140  in the body  110  facilitates the linear movement of the toy  100  along the surface when a force is applied to the body  110 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  shows the movement of the toy  100  when it is being manipulated by a player. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the upper portion of the body  110  inclines backwards with respect to the travelling direction with angle α when the toy  100  is at rest. When a force is applied by a player&#39;s fingers or hand to press or push the upper portion of the body  110 , the upper portion of the body  110  rotates further backwards (more than the inclination of the toy  100  at rest) about the rotating shaft  120  with respect to the travelling direction. As a result, the backward rotation of the upper portion of the body  110  propels the toy  100  forward such that the toy  100  moves away from the player&#39;s fingers or hand as indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 3 . Also, as the upper portion of the body  110  rotates further backwards, the lower portion of the body  110  with the ballast member  140  rotates forward about the rotating shaft  120  with respect to the travelling direction. 
         [0040]    As a result of the forward rotation of the lower portion of the body  110  with the ballast member  140  about the rotating shaft  120 , and the backward rotation of the upper portion of the body  110  about the rotating shaft  120 , the center of gravity of the body  110  with the ballast member  140  and the center of the rotating shaft  120  do not lie on the same vertical plane. Particularly, during the initial movement of the toy  100  with the upper portion of the body  110  swinging backward with respect to the travelling direction, the center of gravity of the body  110  with the ballast member  140  is disposed forward to the center of the rotating shaft  120  with respect to the travelling direction. Due to the forward displacement of the center of gravity of the body  110  with the ballast member  140 , the torque provided by the center of gravity of the body  110  with the ballast member  140  will act on the toy  100  such that the upper portion of the body  110  reverses its rotation and rotates forward about the rotating shaft  120  with respect to the travelling direction whereas the lower portion of the body  110  also reverses it direction of rotation and rotates backward about the rotating shaft  120  with respect to the travelling direction. The resultant effect is that the body  110  of the toy  100  will oscillate to and fro about the rotating shaft  120  with successive forward and backward inclination as the toy travels in the forward direction. Preferably, the amplitude of the oscillation of the body  110  gradually decreases due to damping and the toy  100  eventually stops due to the friction between the wheels and the surface. 
         [0041]    In the present embodiment, the center of gravity of the body  110  with the ballast member  140  is disposed below the rotating shaft  120  so as to ensure the body  110  will not topple during the movement of the toy  100  whilst ensuring the movement of the toy  100  can be triggered smoothly. In other words, the body  110  is operable to oscillate to and fro about the rotating shaft  120  and returns to its initial position (with a backward inclination of angle α without toppling during movement of the toy  100  after a force has been applied to trigger the movement the toy  100 . In the present embodiment, the positioning of the ballast member  140  below the rotating shaft  120  when the toy  100  is at rest is particularly advantageous in that it can ensure that the center of gravity of the body  110  with the ballast member  140  is arranged below the rotating shaft  120  such that the self-balancing of the toy  100  can be drastically improved. 
         [0042]    The embodiment of the toy in the present invention is advantageous in that a player can experience more enjoyment with the toy by simply pressing onto or giving a slight push to the upper portion of the body so as to trigger the movement of the toy. Also as the toy moves, the body of the toy oscillates to and fro. This may enhance visual interest of the toy to the players. Other advantages of the toy of the present invention with regard to structure, function, and manufacturing ease and cost will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after referring to the above description. 
         [0043]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. 
         [0044]    Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.