Abstract:
A toy vehicle is adaptable for use as a ride-on vehicle or a scooter, and includes a support frame provided with a user supporting mechanism and having a first portion and a second distal portion, and a grip handlebar for the user mechanically connected to the support frame. The support frame is mechanically connectible/disconnectible to/from the grip handlebar in order to assume first and second use configurations such that the grip handlebar is connected to the first and second portions, respectively, and such that the user support mechanism assumes different positions.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a National Stage Application of PCT International Application No. PCT/IT2009/000013 (filed on Jan. 15, 2009), under 35 U.S.C. 371, which claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. M12008A000070 (filed on Jan. 18, 2008), which are each hereby incorporated by reference in their respective entireties. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention refers to toys and, particularly, to those toys which act as vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     “Ridable”-type toy vehicles are known, such as, for example, tricycles, provided with a support frame, saddle and a certain number of wheels, typically three or four. This kind of vehicle is ridable by the child who, due to the fact that he is in a sitting position, can employ them also in his early years, for example between two and six years of age. 
     Moreover, toy vehicles, usable as a scooter, are known. Such a second type of vehicle is normally employed by older children than the average child who employs the ridable-type vehicles, as a great sense of balance is required. 
     There is a need to have a toy vehicle, that can have multiple uses and therefore can be converted from one configuration to another (e.g. from ridable to scooter) and vice-versa, avoiding the purchase of two different toys during child&#39;s growth. 
     Therefore, it is the aim of the present invention to provide a toy vehicle, which can be converted from one usage configuration to another, according to not extremely complicated modes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This object is achieved by a vehicle as defined in accordance with embodiments set forth herein. The object is also achieved by a method to convert a vehicle from a first use mode into a second use mode, as defined in accordance with embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A particular embodiment of the invention is described in detail below, as a way of example and not limitative, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example of the vehicle according to the invention in a ridable-type configuration; 
         FIG. 2  shows the vehicle of  FIG. 1  assembled in a scooter-type configuration; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  show an exploded view and an assembled view, respectively, of a support frame employable in said vehicle; 
         FIG. 5  shows an example of saddle employable in the ridable configuration of said vehicle; 
         FIG. 6  shows an example of a grip handlebar employable in said vehicle; 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  show an example of a rear wheel set and a front wheel set, respectively, employable in said vehicle; 
         FIG. 9  shows an example of a rear support plane employable, according to an exemplary embodiment, in the ridable-type configuration; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an exploded view of said vehicle in the ridable-type configuration; 
         FIG. 11  shows a grip handlebar employable in said vehicle in the scooter-type configuration; 
         FIG. 12  shows an exemplary footrest employable in the scooter-type configuration; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates an exploded view of said vehicle in the scooter-type configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a toy vehicle  100  in a first assembling and usage configuration (A), where it is in the ride-on or ridable-type, is shown.  FIG. 2  shows the vehicle  100  in a second assembling and usage configuration (B), where the usage can be in the “scooter”-type.  FIGS. 10 and 13  show exploded views of the vehicle  100  in the two configurations A and B. 
     Referring to both the assembling configurations A and B, the vehicle  100  comprises a grip handlebar  1  for a user and a support frame  2 . The support frame  2  is provided with a first portion  3  and a second portion  4  spaced therebetween, along a vertical direction to a travelling surface of the vehicle  100 . 
     In both assembling configurations, the support frame is provided with user supporting means. Such supporting means are realized, for example, in a seat-type support base or saddle  5  (in configuration A) and in a footrest  6  for resting one or both user feet (in configuration B). According to a preferred embodiment, both the seat base  5  and the footrest  6  are fixable to the first portion  3  of frame  2 . 
     It is to be noted that the support frame  2  is mechanically disconnectible from the grip handlebar  1 , to be re-connected to the grip handlebar  1  in another mode, in order to convert the vehicle from configuration A to B and vice-versa. In configuration A, the grip handlebar  1  is connected to the first portion  3 , and in the configuration B it is connected to the second portion  4 . This way, the supporting means  5  or  6  can assume different positions. 
     Moreover, the vehicle  100 , in the two configurations A and B is provided with travelling means  16  which enable to move the vehicle on a surface. For example, such travelling means, which will be described in detail below, comprises one or more wheels or they are such that they enable a vehicle  100  movement. 
     Refer now to  FIG. 3 , where an example of the particular frame  2  in an exploded view is shown in more detail, and  FIG. 4 , where the same frame  2  is shown assembled. In  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the supporting frame  2  is oriented similar to how it is mounted in configuration A ( FIG. 1 ). 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the support frame  2  defines longitudinally a broken line comprising a first portion  3 , a central portion  7  and a second portion  4 . In particular, the central portion  7  has a first end  8  connected to the first portion  3  and an opposite second end connected to the second portion  4 . The central portion  7  appears inclined relative to the first and the second portions  3  and  4 , which are substantially parallel to each other. 
     Moreover, the first and the second portions  3  and  4  are spaced along a direction V, vertical relative to a travelling surface of vehicle  100 . Hence, in the two configurations A and B, portion  3  is higher or lower than portion  4 . 
     The support frame  2  of  FIG. 3 , comprises a left lateral carrying element  10  facing a right lateral carrying element  11 , which is symmetrical to the left one. The left and right carrying elements  10  and  11  can be made, for example, of wood and are fixable to each other by pegs  12  (also made of wood, for example) which insert into corresponding holes  13 . 
     Between the lateral bearing elements  10  and  11  and in the first portion  3 , a first hinge block  14  is located, having, for example, a box shape, fixed by respective pegs  12  and apt to enable the mechanical connection with the handlebar  1  and the travelling means  16  in the configuration A. The first hinge block  14  is provided with a through-hole  14   a.    
     Moreover, at the second portion  4 , enclosed between the lateral bearing elements  10  and  11 , a second hinge block  15  is located, provided with a respective hole  15   a , fixed through respective pegs  12  and apt to enable the mechanical connection with the handlebar  1  and with the travelling means  16  in configuration B. 
     The lateral carrying elements  10  and  11  are provided with a respective first edge wall  19  (well visible in  FIG. 3 ) and a respective second edge wall  20 , opposite to the first, which extend longitudinally. 
       FIG. 5  shows in more detail a particular example of the bearing base or saddle  5 , which presents an ergonomic shape and is provided with lateral brackets  17  for fixing to the support frame  2  through, for example, relative pegs  12  ( FIG. 1 ) or other suitable fixing means. The lateral brackets  17  are, in turn, fixable to the saddle  5 , through proper means such as, for example, screws  18 . It is to be noted that the saddle  5  is reversibly fixable to the support frame  2 . 
     As it can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the saddle  5  is mounted, in configuration A, to the support frame  2 , in order to face its first edge walls  19  and  20  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     Refer now to  FIG. 6 , where a particular embodiment of a grip handlebar  1  is shown, comprising, a fork  21  (or any other suitable connecting device), a first engagement element  22 , two sleeved grips  23  fit on a rod  24 , which orthogonally traverses an upper region of fork  21 . Preferably, lateral knobs  25  are fixed to the ends of bar  24  through screws  26 . 
     Examples of travelling means employable in vehicle  10  according to the invention are shown with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 .  FIG. 7  refers to a rear travelling set  27  which comprises a right rear wheel  28  and a left rear wheel  29  to be disposed on opposite sides relative to the support frame  2 . The rear wheels  28  and  27  are mounted on a respective rotation rod  30  (for example, with threaded ends) and fixed by inner nuts  31 , which bear on respective connectors  32 , and external nuts  33 . In the example in  FIG. 7 , the wheels  28  and  29  are mounted on the second portion  4  according to configuration A of vehicle  100 . 
       FIG. 8  shows an example of embodiment of a front wheel set  34  comprising a front right wheel  35  and a front left wheel  36  mounted on the further rotation rod  37  and fixed through further inner nuts  38  and further external nuts  39 . Moreover, the front wheel set  34  is provided with a respective fork  40  (or any other suitable connecting device) traversed in a lower region by the further rotation rod  37 . Among the further inner nuts  38  and a respective wall of fork  40  spacer rings  41  are inserted. Moreover, the additional external nuts  39  can be conveniently covered by protective cups  42  (made, for example, of plastic). 
     The further fork  40  is provided with a first movement transmitting pin or bar  43 , which extends vertically and is, below, integral with a second engagement element  44 . 
     Preferably, vehicle  100 , for example, in configuration A, can be also provided with a first rear support plate  45 , illustratively shown in  FIG. 9  and in  FIG. 1  and provided with a cut-out  46  apt to receive part of the central element  7  of frame  2 . A cording to the illustrated example, the support plate  45  is fixable, through respective screws  47 , to two lateral fixing bodies  48  provided with holes for the passage of connectors  32  ( FIG. 7 ) of the rear wheel set  27 . A spacer  49  can be interposed between a lower face of the support base  45  and the second portion  4  of frame  2 . 
     In relation to the vehicle  100  assembly in configuration A, reference is also made to  FIG. 10 . The support frame  2  is disposed such that the first portion  3  is at a higher height from the floor and, in the example, in a front position, whereas the second portion  4  is lower and in the back. The front wheel set  34  is assembled and the first movement transmission pin  43  is inserted in the through-hole  14   a  of the first hinge block  14 . The assembled handlebar  1  is mounted such that the upper end of the first movement transmission pin  43  is accommodated in a suitable cavity of the first engagement element  22 . Two washers  50  (for example, made of plastic) can be advantageously inserted on the first movement trans-mission pin  43 , which is made integral with the handlebar  1  through a screw  51  insertable through a threaded bore of the first engagement element  22 . A rotation of handlebar  1  relative to the frame  2  causes a correspondent rotation of the front wheel set  34 , which enables to modify the travelling direction of vehicle  100 . 
     The rear support plate  45  and the rear wheel set  27  are mounted to the second portion  4  of the support frame  2 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , in order to allow the rotation of wheels  28  and  29 . Mounting the saddle  5  can be achieved by bolt means comprising screws  52  and nuts or back-screws  53 . 
     In the following, referring to  FIGS. 11 ,  12  and  13 , some components will be described, for example, employed to mount the vehicle  100  in configuration B ( FIG. 2 ). In particular,  FIG. 11  shows a handlebar  1  comprising the same elements described with reference to  FIG. 6  and the following additional components: a second pin  54  and a vertical extension hollow rod  55 . 
     An end of second pin  54  is insertable in the cavity of the first engagement element  22  and it is fixable to this through the above-mentioned screw  51  ( FIG. 13 ). Moreover, another end of the second pin  54  is internally insertable to the extension rod  55  and it is fixable thereto through an further screw  56  (shown in  FIG. 13 ) which traverses the rod  55  itself. 
       FIG. 12  shows in more detail the footrest  6 , provided with screws  47 , fixing brackets  48  and spacer  49 , fixable to the second portion  4  of support frame  2 . 
     Relative to the conversion operations from configuration A (ridable) to B (scooter-type), it is to be considered that the disassembling of vehicle  100  from configuration A is easily feasible, as it is evident from  FIG. 10 . 
     For mounting the vehicle  100  in configuration B, the support frame is rotated by 180° in respect to configuration A, so that the first portion  3  can assume the orientation of  FIG. 13 , being, therefore, disposed in the back and lower in respect to the second portion  4 . 
     In the mounting, the upper end of the first pin  43  is inserted from the bottom in the hole  15   a  of the second hinge block  15  of the second portion  4 , and therefore in the cavity of the vertical extension rod  55  to be fixed thereto by a screw  56 . The first pin  54 , fixed on the top to the first engagement element  22 , is made integral, in its lower end, with the vertical extension rod  55  through, preferably, glue. 
     The footrest  6  and the rear wheel set  27  are mounted to the first portion  3 , similarly to the mounting of the rear support plate  45  and of the rear wheel set itself, in configuration A. It is to be observed that a lower face of the footrest  6  faces the second edge walls  20  of the support frame  2 . According to this example, the saddle  5  and the rear support plate  45  are not employed in configuration B, but it is possible to provide that at least one of these two bearing bases is usable in both configurations. 
     Vehicle  100 , according to the present invention is particularly advantageous. In fact, it can be employed by a child as a ridable toy vehicle (configuration A) until a certain age (for example six years). Subsequently, the vehicle can be disassembled and re-assembled in configuration B, in order to be used as a scooter, and the child will stand on footrest  6 , gripping the handlebar  1 . 
     Hence, the vehicle  100  can be used with different functions for different ages of children, requiring no replacement with any other toy for a wide period of its user&#39;s growth. 
     As it is evident from the above-described, the conversion from configuration A to B and vice-versa, is particularly easy and quick, due to the chance to orient differently the support frame  2  according to the desired use. The other modifications to vehicle  100  are easily feasible as a consequence of using fixing means of the several reversible-type components. The preferred use of wood as a material for making several components of vehicle  100  allows to put together robustness, relative lightness and environment respect.