Wind-up ride on toy

Described is a wind-up ride on toy with wind-up mechanism to propel a rider. The ride on toy comprises a body portion having a seat portion. A first axle is rotatably connected with the body portion, while a pair of wheels are connected with the first axle. The wind-up mechanism has an elastic band and a rotatable spool. The elastic band is fixed at a first end within the body portion and is attached with the rotatable spool at a second end. Additionally, the rotatable spool is operably connected with the first axle, such that winding the elastic band around the spool causes the elastic band to transition from a relaxed state to a stretched state and, upon allowing the elastic band to return to the relaxed state, the spool rotates the first axle and pair of wheels, thereby causing the wind-up ride on toy to propel forward.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a non-provisional application of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/020,842, filed on May 6, 2020, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of Invention

The present invention relates to ride on toy and, more particularly, to a ride on toy with a wind-up mechanism to propel a rider.

(2) Description of Related Art

Ride on toys have long been known in the art. However, there are currently no ride-on toys as described and illustrated herein.

Thus, a continuing need exists for a new and improved ride-on toy.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present disclosure provides a wind-up ride on toy. The ride on toy comprises a body portion having a seat portion. A first axle is rotatably connected with the body portion, while a pair of wheels are connected with the first axle. Further, a wind-up mechanism is attached with the body portion. The wind-up mechanism has an elastic band and a rotatable spool. The elastic band is fixed at a first end within the body portion and is attached with the rotatable spool at a second end. Additionally, the rotatable spool is operably connected with the first axle, such that winding the elastic band around the spool causes the elastic band to transition from a relaxed state to a stretched state and upon allowing the elastic band to return to the relaxed state, the spool rotates the first axle and pair of wheels, thereby causing the wind-up ride on toy to propel forward.

In another aspect, a plurality of gears are operably connected between the rotatable spool and the first axle.

In yet another aspect, the pair of wheels are a pair of rear wheels, while a second pair of wheels (i.e., front wheels) are also rotatably connected with the body portion.

Finally, as can be appreciated by one in the art, the present invention also comprises a method for forming and using the invention described herein. For example, the method comprises acts of seating a rider upon a seat portion of the wind-up ride on toy; drawing the wind-up ride on toy backwards, such that in drawing the wind-up ride on toy backwards, an elastic band within the toy stretches around a rotatable spool to stretch from a relaxed state to a stretched state; and releasing the wind-up ride on toy, such that upon releasing the wind-up ride on toy, the elastic band returns to the relaxed state and causes the spool to rotate, thereby rotating an axle and an attached pair of wheels and propelling the wind-up ride on toy and rider forward.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please note, if used, the labels left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise and counter-clockwise have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions between various portions of an object.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, the present disclosure provides a ride-on toy100with a wind-up mechanism to propel a rider. The ride-on toy100includes a seat portion102upon which the rider can sit, as well as a plurality of wheels (e.g., a pair of front wheels104and a pair of rear wheels106) operably connected with a body portion108. The seat portion102is sufficiently sized for a person to sit on it. For example, the seat portion102is between six and twenty four inches long, and between three and twelve inches wide, or any other desired dimension to accommodate a ride, such as a child. The plurality of wheels are operably connected with the body portion108via axles, or any other mechanism or device that allows the ride-on toy100to roll upon a surface and be propelled forward.

The ride-on toy100is built to allow a child to sit upon the ride-on toy100and push oneself along a surface. Further and as shown inFIG.3, within the ride-on toy100is a wind-up mechanism300that allows the rider to push the ride-on toy100backwards. In doing so, an elastic band302is stretched (to a stretched state) around a spool304that is operably attached to at least one of the axles (e.g., rear axles306) of the toy100. When stretched around the spool304, the elastic band300provides for stored energy as it wants to return to an unstretched, relaxed state. When released (such as by the user lifting up their legs), the elastic band300pulls itself back to the relaxed, unstretched state. In doing so, the band300causes the spool304to rotate, which in turn is operably connected with the axle306to cause the ride-on toy100to be propelled forward.

Gearing308is desirably connected with and between the spool304and axle306to change the torque and/or speed at which the axle306and attached wheels rotate. For example,FIG.4AthroughFIG.6depict the axle306as connected with the gears308. The gears308include any gearing set up as desired to alter the torque and/or speed at which the axle306rotates. As a non-limiting example and as depicted in the figures, the gears include a first gear400connected with the spool304. A second gear402is operably connected with the first gear400, while a third gear404is operably connected between the second gear402and the axle. Thus, rotation of the spool304as the band300returns to an unstretched state causes the gears400,402, and404to rotate and pass the rotational forces to the axle306and ultimately the connected wheels (e.g., rear wheels106(or front wheels in another aspect)) to propel the ride-on toy forward.

For further understanding.FIG.7Adepicts the wind-up mechanism with the elastic band302in a relaxed, unstretched state. In a second step and as shown inFIG.7B, as the wind-up ride on toy100is pulled backwards700, the wheels106rotate in a first direction702to cause the elastic band302to stretch as it is wound around the spool304. Since the elastic band302is fixed at a distal end704(first end) within the body portion and attached with the rotatable spool304at a second end, the band302is forced to stretch around the spool304as the spool304rotates, thereby created stored or potential energy within the elastic band302.

If a user were to lift their legs after winding back the wind-up ride on toy100, the toy100is propelled forward708as the energy is released from the band302. In other words, as the ride-on toy100is released, the elastic band302pulls itself back toward a relaxed, unstretched state. In doing so, the band302rotates the spool304, which causes the operably connected (e.g., via the gears) wheels106to rotate in a second direction706and propel the toy100forward708.