Abstract:
A slider is provided which can travel ahead by placing a user&#39;s foot on a board and stamping the ground with the other foot like a known kick board or which can exercise a user by causing shafts each having a rear board fixed thereto to sufficiently extend backward and moving the shafts at symmetric angles relative to each other and can spontaneously travel ahead by means of waveform-like actions using rear casters attached to the bottoms of the rear boards.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a slider, and more particularly, to a slider which can travel ahead by placing a user&#39;s foot on a board and stamping the ground with the other food like a known kick board or which can exercise a user by causing shafts each having a rear board fixed thereto to sufficiently extend backward and moving the shafts at symmetric angles and can spontaneously travel ahead by means of waveform-like motions using rear casters attached to the bottoms of the rear boards. 
         [0003]    2. Background Art 
         [0004]    In general, boards basically travel ahead by stamping the ground with a foot, which is not sufficient for enjoying a high speed and thrill. 
         [0005]    In-line stakes travel ahead by moving feet backwardly or laterally while maintaining a body&#39;s balance. However, the in-line skates have a problem in that they can provide the high speed and the thrill, but can also provide a risk to fall because a user has to maintain the body balance while moving both feet. 
         [0006]    Since the in-line skates travel ahead while a user moves only both feet, they are not sufficient for the effect of exercise of the whole body. 
         [0007]    An instrument traveling ahead by moving a handlebar and moving the feet like skiing has been developed to solve the problems of the in-line skates or boards. However, such an instrument can provide a user with safety and flexibility, but is not sufficient for thrill. 
         [0008]    Since the in-line skates are not provided with a braking system for controlling the traveling speed, a user riding an in-line skate had to reduce the speed by stepping one foot on the ground. Accordingly, it was not possible to rapidly and safely cope with unexpected situations during traveling, thereby causing a safety accident. 
         [0009]    A so-called “kick board” having a handlebar and casters on the front and back sides of a board has been developed. The kick board can travel ahead by kicking the ground with a foot with the other foot placed on a board. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0010]    An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a slider which can travel ahead by causing a user to slide two rear boards backwardly as needed, causing the user to place both feet on the rear boards, respectively, and causing the user to repeat leg folding and unfolding actions. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0011]    According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a slider in which rear boards which are disposed on the rear side of the slider and on which a user&#39;s feet are placed slide along a guide shaft. 
         [0012]    In the slider, the sliding length of the rear boards may be controlled by a slide stopper disposed in the slider. 
         [0013]    In the slider, the slide stopper may control the sliding length of the rear boards by multi-steps. 
         [0014]    In the slider, a torsion spring may be disposed to give a folding elastic force when the rear boards are unfolded from each other. 
         [0015]    According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a slider including a steering unit causing a user to change a direction with hands, wherein the steering unit does not move when a connector portion of the steering unit to a slider body comes in contact with a shaft having a polygonal section. 
       Advantageous Effect 
       [0016]    The slider according to the above-mentioned aspects of the invention can be used like the known kick board and can also travel ahead by causing both shafts having the rear boards disposed thereon to slide and folding and unfolding both rear boards with both feet placed on both rear boards. 
         [0017]    Since the shafts with the rear boards disposed thereon can slide by multi-steps by the slide stopper, a child with short legs can conveniently ride the slider. Since the steering unit can be easily folded by the hinge structure including the connector portion and the steering support, a user can conveniently carry and store the slider. Since a leaf spring is disposed in the front of the shaft hinge and the slide hinge, the unfolded rear boards can be easily folded with the elastic force of the leaf spring. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a slider according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the slider where a front board is removed from the slider shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a state where a slide hinge of the slider slides in the longitudinal direction as much as possible and both shafts and both rear boards are unfolded. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a state where a slide hinge of the slider slides in the longitudinal direction as much as possible and both shafts and both rear boards are unfolded and where a front board is removed from the state shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a slide hinge of the slider according to the embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a slider according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are diagrams illustrating the hinge structure of a connector portion connected to a steering support of the slider. 
           [0025]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are diagrams illustrating a state where the steering support and the connector portion are locked to each other. 
           [0026]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are diagrams illustrating a state where the steering support and the connector portion are opened from each other. 
           [0027]      FIGS. 10A to 10E  are diagrams illustrating the configuration and the operational principle of a slide stopper according to the embodiment of the invention. 
           [0028]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are a perspective view and an exploded perspective view illustrating a sliding unit of the slider according to the embodiment of the invention, respectively. 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating a slider according to another embodiment of the invention 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view illustrating a state where the sliding unit of the slider slides and both shafts are unfolded. 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view illustrating a state where the steering unit of the slider is folded. 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is a diagram illustrating a slider according to a modified example of the invention where a torsion spring is used instead of the leaf spring in the slider shown in  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a slider according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the slider where a front board is removed from the slider shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a state where a slide hinge of the slider slides in the longitudinal direction as much as possible and both shafts and both rear boards are unfolded.  FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a state where a slide hinge of the slider slides in the longitudinal direction as much as possible and both shafts and both rear boards are unfolded and where a front board is removed from the state shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a slide hinge of the slider according to the embodiment of the invention. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a slider according to an embodiment of the invention includes a steering support  60  coupled to a support plate  90 , a guide shaft  15  fixedly coupled to the steering support  60 , a slide hinge  25  into which the guide shaft  15  is inserted in the state where the guide shaft  15  is fixed coupled to the steering support  60  and which slides longitudinally, right and left shaft hinges  20  and  21  which are rotatably coupled to the slide hinge  25 , and right and left shafts  10  and  11  fixedly coupled to the shaft hinges  20  and  21 . The front part of the steering support  60  is coupled to a steering unit  70  below which a steering wheel is disposed. 
         [0035]    Ends of the right and left shafts  10  and  11  are provided with rear boards  5  and  6 , respectively, on which a user&#39;s feet are placed. Casters  41  inclined at a predetermined angle and serving as rear wheels are disposed on the bottom surfaces of the rear boards  5  and  6 . 
         [0036]    After the guide shaft  15  and the slide hinge  25  are assembled, a cover  30  is disposed at an end of the guide shaft  15  so as to prevent the slide hinge  25  from dropping from the guide shaft  15 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , in the state where the slide hinge  25  has not slide along the guide shaft  15 , the shaft hinges  20  and  21  disposed in the front of the right and left shafts  10  and  11  come in close contact with the flat plane of the steering support  60  so as not to be unfolded laterally and are fixed by a locking system locking the slide hinge  25  so as to cause the rear boards  5  and  6  not to slide backwardly (see  FIGS. 10A to 10E ). 
         [0038]    In the state shown in  FIG. 1 , a user can use the slider like the known kick board by kicking the ground with a foot in a state where the other foot is placed on a front board  55  or the rear boards  5  and  6 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , since the guide shaft  15  has a circular section and the slide hinge  25  inserted into the guide shaft  15  has a circular section, the steering unit  70  can be shaken to be oblique laterally in a state where the user places the feet on the rear boards  5  and  6 . This can allow the user to change the direction of the traveling slider or to obtain a greater driving force. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , when the locking system is unlocked and the rear boards  5  and  6  are pulled out, the slide hinge  25  slides backwardly along the guide shaft  15  and the shafts  10  and  11  connected to the slide hinge  25  also slide backwardly, whereby the shafts can be unfolded and folded about both ends of the slide hinge  25 . 
         [0041]      FIGS. 6 to 15  show a slider according to another embodiment of the invention, which will be described in detail below. 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a slider according to another embodiment of the invention as a whole. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , in the slider according to another embodiment of the invention, a support plate  90  and an auxiliary support plate  91  corresponding to the bottom are fixedly coupled to the steering support  60 . The guide shaft  15  is inserted into the rear portion of the steering support  60  in the state where a front fixing member  100  is coupled thereto, the front fixing member  100  is coupled to the steering support  60  with a screw or the like, and the guide shaft  15  is inserted into an opened hole of the front fixing member  100 . In the state where the guide shaft  15  is fixedly coupled to the steering support  60 , the guide shaft  15  is inserted into the slide hinge  25  so as to slide in a longitudinal direction, the right and left hinges  20  and  21  are rotatably coupled to the slide hinge  25 , and the right and left shafts  10  and  11  are coupled to the shaft hinges  20  and  21 . The rear boards  5  and  6  on which a user&#39;s feet are placed are disposed at ends of the right and left shafts  10  and  11  and casters  40  and  41  inclined at a predetermined angle and serving as rear wheels are disposed on the bottom surfaces of the rear boards  5  and  6 . 
         [0044]    After the guide shaft  15  is inserted and assembled into the slide hinge  25 , a cover  30  in which a rear fixing member  32  is disposed is coupled to the rear part of the guide shaft  15  and the cover  30  and the rear fixing member  32  are fixedly coupled to the guide shaft  15  with a screw (not shown) or the like so as to prevent the slide hinge  25  from dropping from the guide shaft  15 . 
         [0045]    A hinge unit is disposed in the front of the steering support  60  so as to be folded with respect to the steering unit  70  having a steering wheel  50  disposed in the front thereof. 
         [0046]    A metal connection plate  66  is inserted into the connector portion  52  protruding from the lower part of the steering unit  70  and a connection shaft  62  is inserted into the steering support  60 , the connector portion  52 , and the connection plate  66  in the state where the connector portion  52  into which the connection plate  66  is inserted is inserted into a concave portion of the steering support  60 . A spring  112  is inserted onto the connection shaft  62  on the opposite side of the side into which the connection shaft  62  is inserted and a cover  110  is screwed to the end of the connection shaft  62  so as to prevent the spring  112  from dropping therefrom. 
         [0047]    A slide stopper  80  controlling the sliding of the slide hinge  25  in the state where it is inserted into the guide shaft  15  is disposed under the front board  55 . The slide stopper  80  is inserted into a center opening of a reinforcing plate  56  coupled to the steering support  60  and the hinge stopper  27  is hooked on a center protrusion of the slide hinge  25 , thereby regulating the sliding of the slide hinge  20  along the guide shaft  15 . 
         [0048]    A rubber member may be disposed on the bottom surface of the shaft hinges  20  and  21 . This improves the elastic force at the time of laterally shaking the steering unit  70 . 
         [0049]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are diagrams illustrating the hinge structure of the connector portion coupled to the steering support. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 7A , the connection shaft  62  includes a cylindrical portion  64  having a circular section and a polygonal pillar portion  63  having a polygonal section such as a tetragon and a pentagon. A polygonal opening  67  having the same sectional shape as the section of the polygonal pillar portion  63  into which the connection shaft  62  is inserted. 
         [0051]    In the drawing, a state where the polygonal pillar portion  63  engages with the polygonal opening  67  is shown. In this state, the connection plate  66  is fixed to the connection shaft  63  so as not to move. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 7B , the connection shaft  62  moves to the right which is the direction of the arrow and the cylindrical portion  64  is located in the polygonal opening  67 . In this case, the connection plate  66  can rotate about the connection shaft  62 . Accordingly, the steering unit  70  coupled to the connection plate  66  can rotate and the upper part of the steering unit  70  can be folded to the front board  55 . 
         [0053]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are diagrams illustrating a state where the steering support and the connector portion are locked to each other. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the connection shaft  62  inserted through the steering support  60  and the polygonal opening  67  of the connection plate  66  includes a spring  112  and a cap  110  screwed to the end of the connection shaft  62 . When an external force is not applied to the cap  110 , the polygonal pillar portion  63  engages with the polygonal opening  67  with the elastic force of the spring  112  so as not to move. Accordingly, the steering unit  70  maintains a state where it is locked to the steering support  60  so as not to rotate. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are diagrams illustrating a state where the steering support and the connector portion are unlocked from each other. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , when the cap  110  is pressed in the direction of the arrow with a user&#39;s finger, the polygonal pillar portion  63  of the connection shaft  62  is separated from the polygonal opening  67  of the connection plate  66 . Accordingly, the connection plate  66  can rotate about the connection shaft  62 . 
         [0057]    When the user intends to fold the steering unit  70 , the polygonal opening  67  is disengaged from the polygonal pillar portion  63  by pressing the cap  110  and the steering unit  70  can rotate about the steering support  60 . 
         [0058]      FIGS. 10A to 10E  are diagrams illustrating the configuration and the operational principle of the slide stopper according to the embodiment of the invention. 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 10A , the slide stopper  80  includes three stop points  82  and  83  of both ends and a portion bent downward from a part located close to the left end thereof. 
         [0060]    A knob  74  used for a user to lift up the slide stopper  80  with a finger are connected to the slide stopper  80  with two supports  76  interposed therebetween. A coil spring  72  is inserted onto each support  76 . Accordingly, when the user does not pull the knob  74  upwardly, the stopper  80  is urged to the downside with the elastic force of the coil springs  72  and comes in contact with the hinge stopper  27  of the slide hinge  25  so that the slide hinge  25  does not slide. 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 10B , the slide hinge  25  and the shafts  10  and  11  coupled thereto do not slide along the guide shaft since they come in contact with the rear surface of the steering support  60 . The stop point  82  at the right end of the slide stopper  80  comes in contact with the hinge stopper  27  so as to prevent the slide hinge  25  and the shafts  10  and  11  coupled thereto from sliding to the left. 
         [0062]    The stopper  80  is urged downwardly with the spring  72  inserted onto the supports  76  when an external force is not applied thereto. 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 10C , the shafts  10  and  11  and the slide hinge  25  slide and the hinge stopper  27  is stopped between the stop points  82  and  83  located on the left side of the slide stopper  80 . 
         [0064]    When the user of the slider is a child with short legs, the child can also conveniently use the slider by hooking the hinge stopper  27  between the stop points  82  and  83  under the middle part without causing the entire shafts  10  and  11  to slide out as shown in  FIG. 10C . In a modified example, one or more stop points  83  can be disposed inside the slide stopper  80  to embody a multi-step sliding stopper. 
         [0065]    Referring to  FIG. 10D , the shafts  10  and  11  and the slide hinge  25  slide to the left side as a whole and the hinge stopper  27  comes in contact with the stop point  82  located at the left end of the slide stopper  80  so as not to move. 
         [0066]    In the drawing, it seems that there is a room between the rear fixing member  32  and the shaft hinge  20 , but a gap is not actually generated due to a bolt  46  shown in  FIG. 11B . 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIG. 10E , the user pulls up the knob  74  of the slide stopper  80 , whereby the slide stopper  80  is lifted up and thus the stop points  82  and  83  are separated upward from the hinge stopper  27 . 
         [0068]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are a perspective view and an exploded perspective view illustrating a sliding unit of the slider according to the embodiment of the invention. 
         [0069]    Referring to  FIG. 11A , a completely-assembled sliding unit of the slider is shown. 
         [0070]    A leaf spring  24  is attached to the front part of the slide hinge  25  and the shaft hinges  20  and  21  rotatably coupled thereto. When a user unfolds the shafts  10  and  11  outwardly, the unfolded shafts  10  and  11  can be easily folded by the restoring force of the leaf spring  24 , which is convenient to the user. 
         [0071]      FIG. 11B  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the sliding section of the slider according to the embodiment of the invention. The shaft hinges  20  and  21  coupled to the shafts  10  and  11  are rotatably coupled to both side surfaces of the slide hinge  25  by the use of rivets  47  or the like. A bolt portion  46  in which a through-hole is formed so as to pass the guide shaft  15  is inserted into a through-hole of the slide hinge  25 . The leaf spring  24  is attached so as to cover the front surfaces of the shaft hinges  20  and  21  and the slide hinge  25  and a nut portion  45  of which the center is opened so as to pass the guide shaft  15  is coupled to the bolt portion  46 , whereby the assembly is completed. 
         [0072]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating a slider according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         [0073]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , in a state where the slide hinge  25  does not slide along the guide shaft  15 , the front parts of the right and left shafts  10  and  11  come in contact with a flat protrusion on the side surface of the steering support  60  and are not unfolded laterally, and the slide hinge  25  is locked with the slide stopper  80 . In this state, the slider can be used like the known kick board. 
         [0074]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view illustrating a state where the sliding section of the slider according to the embodiment of the invention slides and the shafts are unfolded laterally. 
         [0075]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , when a user pulls the knob  74  and lifts the slide stopper  80 , the locking of the hinge stopper  27  is unlocked. In this state, when the rear boards  5  and  6  are pulled up, the slide hinge  25  slides backwardly along the guide shaft  15  and the shafts  10  and  11  coupled to the slide hinge  25  slide backwardly, whereby the rear boards  5  and  6  can be unfolded laterally. 
         [0076]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view illustrating a state where the steering unit of the slider according to the embodiment of the invention is folded. 
         [0077]    Referring to  FIG. 14 , when a user presses the cap  110  of the connection shaft  62  toward the inside of the steering support  60  with a finger, the locking of the steering unit  70  is unlocked and the user can fold the steering unit  70  as shown in the drawing. When the user stops pressing the cap  110 , the steering unit  70  is locked to the steering support  60  in the state where it is folded. 
         [0078]      FIG. 15  is a diagram illustrating a modification where a torsion spring is attached instead of the leaf spring in the perspective view of the sliding section shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B . 
         [0079]    Referring to  FIG. 15 , two torsion springs  100  instead of the leaf spring  24  are attached to the front parts of the slide hinge  25  and the shaft hinges  20  and  21  rotatably coupled thereto. When the user unfolds the legs to unfold the shafts  10  and  11  laterally, the unfolded shafts  10  and  11  are urged to be folded with the restoring force of the torsion springs  100 , which is convenient to the user. 
         [0080]    Inner arms  101  of two torsion springs  100  are coupled to the slide hinge  25  and outer arms  102  of two torsion springs  100  are fixedly coupled to the shaft hinges  20  and  21  coupled to the shafts  10  and  11 , respectively. 
         [0081]    Since the torsion springs  100  are hooked on two protrusions  103  having a circular section and protruding from the slide hinge  25 , respectively, the torsion springs  100  are fixed onto and supported by the slide hinge  25  at the time of action. 
         [0082]    The guide shaft  15  of the slider according to the embodiments of the invention may have a tetragonal section. In this case, the bolt portion  46  through which the guide shaft  15  is inserted has a tetragonal opening. Alternatively, when a particular bolt portion  46  is not provided, the through-hole of the slide hinge  25  may have a tetragonal section. 
         [0083]    While the embodiments of the invention have been described, the invention is not limited to the embodiments, but may be modified in various forms without departing from the spirit and the scope of the appended claims.