Abstract:
A child&#39;s wagon is provided with a mobile base portion and a body portion that define a large inner cavity for storing various articles. Head, neck and tail assemblies may be provided so that the wagon resembles a desired animal. A frame assembly provides the head and neck with realistic movement when the wagon is moved. A cover for the wagon&#39;s inner chamber may be shaped like a saddle to support one or more children. Additional accessories such as saddlebags, bottle holsters, and a coiled cord pacifier may be provided. The tongue may be pulled manually or disassembled into a tow bar to be pulled by other motive devices.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to wagons for children and more particularly to a child&#39;s wagon that resembles an animal, such as a horse, that can be ridden by a child while storing a plurality of toys and necessary supplies for the child inside the wagon. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Small toy wagons have been built for children for generations. The wagons are easily identifiable as generally shallow, rectangular-shaped, open boxes that are supported by two pairs of wheels and pulled by a tongue extending from the forward end of the wagon. Over the years, various design improvements have been made to this basic design, such as providing a canopy that is supported above the wagon and positioned over the child riding within the wagon. Various shapes and configurations have also been provided, including those that resemble carriages, trucks, farm equipment and the like. However, regardless of the general design configurations, the usability has remained the same. The child and any toys or supplies traveling with the child sit within the wagon box. Adults or other children grasp a distal end of the tongue and pull the child from one location to another. Unfortunately, these structural configurations and designs have become mundane. Moreover, they provide very little additional storage once one or two children are seated within the wagon. 
   Accordingly, what is needed is a novel design for a children&#39;s wagon that is unique in its design and use to please children, while providing ample storage for toys and supplies. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The child&#39;s wagon of the present invention is generally provided with a base supported on a plurality of wheels. A body portion is coupled to the upper end portion of the base and is shaped to permit one or more children to sit on top of the body and ride the wagon as it is being pulled. 
   In one preferred embodiment, the body may be adorned with accessories so that the wagon resembles a horse or other desirable animal. Head and neck portions may be coupled with the forward end portion of the wagon, while a tail may be provided to extend from the rearward end portion. A jointed frame assembly within the head and neck portions permit them to simulate a life-like movement normally exhibited by the horse or other animal when it moves. 
   A large cavity is provided between the base and body portions for the storage of toys and other supplies. An opening is provided in the body portion to provide access to the cavity. In order to supplement the design of the wagon, a cover may be provided for the opening in the shape of a saddle. Reigns may be coupled to the head and provide entertainment and a measure of security to the child riding the wagon. A bottle holster may be draped over the body for carrying one or more bottles. A pair of saddlebags may also be draped across the body for carrying diapers, and the like. A pacifier may be provided at one end of a resilient coil cord and secured to the saddle as well. 
   The wagon may be pulled from one location to another using the tongue in a conventional fashion. In one preferred embodiment, however, the tongue is provided with a link assembly that permits the tongue to separate into a handle section and a tow bar that may be used to secure the wagon to motive devices, such as a riding lawnmower, tractor, and the like. 
   It is therefore a principle object of the present invention to provide a child&#39;s wagon that resembles, and can be ridden like, an animal. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a child&#39;s wagon having a large interior compartment for the storage of toys and other articles. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a child&#39;s wagon having a versatile tongue that may be pulled manually or easily used as a tow bar. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a child&#39;s wagon that resembles an animal and is provided with a plurality of accessories that can be used for storing various articles while enhancing the animal appearance of the wagon. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a modular child&#39;s wagon that may be assembled into a wagon closely resembling an animal, which may be ridden by a child, or left disassembled and used much like a standard child&#39;s wagon. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a child&#39;s wagon that is relatively simple in design and construction. 
   These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those having skill in the art. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one embodiment of the child&#39;s wagon of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the child&#39;s wagon depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a partially exploded isometric view of the child&#39;s wagon depicted in  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 4  is a partially exploded isometric view of the body portion of one embodiment of the child&#39;s wagon of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The children&#39;s wagon  10  of the present invention is generally depicted in a number of preferred embodiments in  FIGS. 1–4 . The wagon  10  is preferably provided with a base  12 , having a front wall  14 , back wall  16 , opposite side walls  18  and  20 , and a bottom wall  22 . The base  12  should be supported by a plurality of rotatable wheels  24 . Various configurations of wheels and axles are contemplated, including various three-wheel and four-wheel configurations. A tongue  26  is provided to extend from the forward end portion of the base  12  a sufficient distance to enable a user to stand and pull the base  12  from one location to another while grasping a distal end portion of the tongue  26 . While the base  12  is depicted as quite similar in design to a common child&#39;s wagon, variations upon the design that provide a greater or fewer number of component parts, such as the aforementioned walls, are contemplated. Likewise, the rectangular shape of the base  12  may be varied according to the circumstances at hand and may be provided in nearly any shape, including oval, round, triangular and the like. 
   The wagon  10  should be provided with a body  28 , having a forward end portion  30 , a rearward end portion  32 , an upper end portion  34  and a lower peripheral edge  36 . Preferably, the lower peripheral edge  36  of the body  28  will be shaped and sized to approximate an upper peripheral edge portion of the base  12  so that the body  28  and base  12  may be coupled to one another as depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . It is contemplated that various applications will make it desirable to releasably engage the body  28  with the base  12 , providing the user with the ability to disassemble the same for storage or to use the components separately from one another. It is also contemplated, however, that the body  28  and the base  12  could be permanently secured to one another or simply constructed as a single unit. 
   Where the body  28  and the base  12  are provided as separate components, the bottom  38  of the body  28  may be provided as a solid wall or partially or completely open. Engagement of the body  28  with the base  12  forms an inner cavity  40  that is defined by the interior shapes of the body  28  and the base  12 . It is preferred that the inner cavity  40  be provided in a size that is sufficient to temporarily store toys and other desired articles. This configuration provides a substantial storage compartment on a mobile platform when traveling short to moderate distances or as a stationary toy box. 
   The body  28  may be constructed from a wide range of different materials such as reinforced fiberglass, various plastics, metals and woods. However, it is preferred that the materials and shape of the body  28  provide sufficient strength to support one or more children along the upper end portion  34 . One creative method of construction, which aids in recycling, cuts a side portion from a metal drum, longitudinally, in a manner that provides the desired height and overall base dimensions. Irrespective of the materials used, an opening  42  should be formed in the body  28  to provide convenient access to the inner cavity  40 . A cover  44  may be provided, having a shape and size that is sufficient to cover the opening  42 , when desirable. The cover  44  may be removably coupled with the body  28 , with or without various known mechanical connectors. However, it may be preferred to couple the cover  44  with the body  28  adjacent the opening  42  using a hinge  46  that permits the cover  44  to be moved between open and closed positions with respect to the opening  42 . 
   In a preferred embodiment, the body  28  is configured to resemble an animal, such as a horse. The design characteristics of the wagon  10  easily lend themselves to this end. For example, a simple head  44  may be fabricated and coupled to the forward end portion  30 . The head may also be coupled to the forward end portion  30  using a neck  50  to aid in the appearance of the wagon  10 . A means for coupling the head with the wagon  10  may also be provided to exhibit natural or life-like movement to the head  48  and/or neck  50  when the wagon  10  is moved. Specifically, a frame  52  may be pivotably coupled to the forward end portion  30  that supports the head  48  and the neck  50  that permits their selective movement in upward and downward directions. A neck spring  54  may be provided to extend from the frame  52 , generally intermediate its opposite ends, to the forward end portion  30 , as depicted in  FIG. 4 . The neck spring  54  will keep the head  48  and neck  50  in an upwardly extending position. However, the weight of the head  48 , neck  50  and frame  52  will tend to produce an up and down oscillation when the wagon  10  is placed in motion. 
   Additional realism can be attained from the motion of the head and neck assembly by providing the frame  52  in multiple sections. For example, the frame  52  could be provided in a head section  56  and a neck section  58  that are pivotably coupled to one another, as depicted. The weight of the head  48  and the head section  56  will tend to cause the head  48  to move forward and backward like a pendulum, pivoting on the connection between the head section  56  and the neck section  58 . A head spring  60  may be secured to the head section  56  and the neck section  58  at its opposite ends in order to limit the travel of the head  48  in a forward direction and to ensure its rearward travel. These combined structures emulate the head and neck motion exhibited by most quadrupedal animals when walking or galloping. It is contemplated that additional body parts, such as a tail  62  could be secured to the wagon  10  in order to further enhance its animal-like appearance. 
   Various accessories are contemplated that will enhance the desirable appearance of the wagon  10 , provide easy access to various articles, and increase a child&#39;s enjoyment of the wagon  10 . For example, the cover  44  can be shaped and sized to closely resemble a saddle. Where it is not desirable to fashion an existing saddle into the cover  44 , the cover should be shaped to comfortably accommodate one or more children in a manner similar to an actual saddle. A bottle holster may also be provided, having an elongated flexible body and a pair of open-ended receptacles disposed at opposite ends of the body so that, when the bottle holster  64  is draped over the upper end portion of the body  28 , the open ends of the receptacles face upwardly from either side of the body  28 . An opening  66  may be formed through the body of the bottle holster  64 , enabling a user to slide the opening  66  over a saddle horn or other projection extending from the cover  44  or the body  28 . Preferably, the bottle holster will be shaped and sized to conveniently carry at least two or more baby bottles. Similarly, a pair of saddle bags  68  may also be supplied in a similar flexible design that may be easily draped over the body  28 , as depicted. Preferably, the saddle bags  68  will each be shaped and sized to accommodate a plurality of diapers or other children&#39;s supplies. The saddle bags  68  may be loosely draped across the body  28  or secured using any of a wide range of temporary or permanent mechanical fastening devices. 
   Additional desirable accessories may include a set of reins  70  coupled with the head  48  in a conventional fashion. The reins  70  permit the child to remotely pull on the head  48  and neck  50 , actuating their motion. Additionally, the reins provide a measure of security and stability to the child riding the wagon  10 . A pacifier  72  may be secured at one end of a resiliently deformable coil that is adorned to closely resemble a rope. The opposite end of the cord may be releasably or permanently secured with the cover  44 . In this arrangement, the pacifier  72  is easily accessible by the child and will not be dropped to the ground or left behind. 
   To provide for a greater flexibility in transportation, the tongue  26  may be provided with a link assembly that permits the tongue to separate into a handle section and a tow bar that may be used to secure the wagon to motive devices, such as a riding lawnmower, tractor, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, depicted in  FIG. 3 , the link assembly may be comprised of a hitch  74  that is shaped to releasably engage the rearward end portion of a motive device. The link assembly may be provided with a receiver  76  to releasably engage the hitch  74 , using a pin  78  or other such mechanical locking mechanism. Similarly, a tow assembly  80  may be coupled to the rearward end portion of the wagon  10  so that a second wagon, or other such towable device, and be releasably coupled to the wagon  10 . 
   In the drawings and in the specification, there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and although specific items are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and proportion of parts, as well as a substitution of equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as further defined in the following claims. 
   Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.