Abstract:
A wheel-guiding device comprises a handle connected to a member of a U-shaped member and the handle is preferably essentially perpendicular to a plane of the U-shaped member for guiding the motion of a preferably wheel. The handle is extendable for adjusting the length of the wheel-guiding device. The wheel&#39;s motion is controlled with the wheel-guiding device by engaging the U-shaped member and pushing on the wheel with the wheel-guiding device causing the wheel to both rotate and move in various directions or to stop movement of the wheel.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to devices for use as an amusement or during physical exercise, and more specifically to devices for wheel guiding and methods for controlling wheel movement thereof.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In the past, various distractions have been available for people seeking an amusement or wanting to exercise and maintain a degree of less boredom. For example, head set radios and CD players are both commonly used by walkers and joggers, and free these people from the routine involved in their exercise. People commonly play games such as football, baseball, tennis and racquetball for physical exercise.  
           [0003]    Currently, most joggers, walkers and runners do not include games during their activity. As a result, motivation for performing their activity is weakened. People, rather than going along paths may use relatively expensive exercise machines. It is desirable to have less expensive devices for exercise purposes that will engage the interest of people. A portable exercise device that can be adjusted for use by children or adults of various heights is also desirable.  
           [0004]    In addition, people do not take advantage of other possibilities such as improving their hand and eye co-ordination, while continuing to maintain their physical activity. While sports activities provide the advantage of hand and eye co-ordination, they also require a level of skill that reduces the desirability of some people to pursue those sports. Therefore, there is a need for a product that can amuse people and can help people with lower degrees of skill and the desire to exercise without using exercise machines to do so and develop their motor skills.  
           [0005]    For many people, exercise is a boring activity that becomes a task rather than being fun. Again, a device that provides the ability to engage people in mentally challenging activities, provide fun and promote physical activity would be of great benefit to many people. Chasing a wheel provides such an activity.  
           [0006]    For the foregoing reasons, there is a need to provide devices for wheel guiding and methods for controlling wheel movement thereof.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide improved devices for wheel guiding.  
           [0008]    It is a further object of this invention to provide improving devices for wheel guiding that are adjustable in dimension for use by people of different heights.  
           [0009]    It is a further object of this invention to provide improving methods for controlling wheel movement with wheel-guiding devices.  
         PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a wheel-guiding device comprises in combination a handle and a U-shaped member connected to the handle for guiding motion of a wheel. The U-shaped member is preferably in the form of a U-shaped frame. The handle has an extension portion for adjusting the length of the wheel-guiding device. The handle is at an angle to a plane of the U-shaped member. The handle is at a right angle to a plane of the U-shaped frame. The wheel-guiding device further comprises a wheel coupled to the U-shaped member to control movement of the wheel. The wheel has a rim portion and an opening located within the rim portion.  
           [0011]    In accordance with a second embodiment of this invention, a method of controlling movement of a wheel comprises providing a handle and a U-shaped member connected to the handle; and contacting a portion of the wheel with the U-shaped member for guiding motion of the wheel. The method further comprises the step of pushing an outer surface of the wheel with a portion of the U-shaped member to cause rotation and directional motion of the wheel. The method further comprises the step of surrounding the wheel with the U-shaped member for allowing free directional motion of the wheel. The method further comprises the steps of providing a hollow wheel; turning the handle to cause the U-shaped member to turn; inserting a portion of the U-shaped member inside the hollow wheel; and pushing the outer surface of the hollow wheel with a portion of the U-shaped member that is outside of the hollow wheel.  
           [0012]    In accordance with a third embodiment of this invention, a method of controlling movement of a wheel comprises providing a handle and a U-shaped member connected to the handle; and contacting a portion of the wheel with the U-shaped member for guiding motion of the wheel. The method further comprises the steps of providing a hollow wheel; pushing an inner surface of the hollow wheel with a portion of the U-shaped member to cause rotation and directional motion of the hollow wheel. The method further comprises the steps of providing a hollow wheel; turning the handle to cause the U-shaped member to turn; and inserting the U-shaped member inside the hollow wheel. The method further comprises the step of looping a portion of the U-shaped member around the hollow wheel so that an inner portion of the U-shaped member remains inside the hollow wheel for pushing the inner surface of the hollow wheel.  
           [0013]    In accordance with a fourth embodiment of this invention, a method of controlling movement of a wheel comprises providing a handle and a U-shaped member connected to the handle; and contacting a portion of the wheel with the U-shaped member for guiding motion of the wheel. The method further comprises the step of pulling on a portion of an outer surface of the wheel with a portion of the U-shaped member to cease wheel rotation. The method further comprises the steps of turning the handle to cause the U-shaped member to turn; and surrounding the wheel with the U-shaped member to both stop and pull the wheel. The method further comprises providing a hollow wheel; turning the handle to cause the U-shaped member to turn; inserting a portion of the U-shaped member inside the wheel; contacting a portion of an inner surface of the hollow wheel with the portion of the U-shaped member; and lifting the hollow wheel with the portion of the U-shaped member.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wheel-guiding device and a hollow wheel where movement of the hollow wheel is provided by a U-shaped frame of the wheel-guiding device;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a cross-section through  2 - 2  of a handle of the wheel-guiding device of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a downward view of the wheel-guiding device and the hollow wheel of FIG. 1, showing potential motion directions of the hollow wheel on use of the wheel-guiding device;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the wheel-guiding device and the hollow wheel of FIG. 1 where the U-shaped frame is inside the hollow wheel and contacts an inner surface of the hollow wheel to provide movement;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wheel-guiding device and the hollow wheel of FIG. 1 where a member of the U-shaped frame is in contact with an outer surface of the hollow wheel to provide movement;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the wheel-guiding device and the hollow wheel of FIG. 1 where a member of the U-shaped frame is inside the hollow wheel and a member of the U-shaped frame is in contact with an inner surface of the hollow wheel to provide movement;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the wheel-guiding device and the hollow wheel of FIG. 1 where the hollow wheel is stopped from moving by the U-shaped frame of the wheel-guiding device of FIG. 1;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a downward view of the wheel-guiding device and the hollow wheel of FIG. 1 where the hollow wheel is stopped from moving by the U-shaped frame of the wheel-guiding device of FIG. 1; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the wheel-guiding device and the hollow wheel of FIG. 1 where a member of the U-shaped frame contacts the inner surface of the hollow wheel and the handle is raised to stop movement by lifting up the hollow wheel;  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 4,  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  9  a wheel-guiding device  10  comprises a U-shaped frame  26  connected to a handle  22 . The U-shaped frame  26  comprises a first member  28  essentially perpendicular to and adjacent to the handle  22  to form the first part of the U-shape. A second member  30  is adjacent to and co-planar with the first member  28 , forming the second part of the U-shape. A third member  32  is adjacent to the second member  30  and co-planar with the first and second members  28 ,  30 , forming the third part of the U-shape. While the length of the U-shape member  26  can be varied, in this embodiment a total length of about two feet is preferable.  
         [0024]    According to FIG. 1, the handle  22  is at right angles to the U-shaped frame  26 . However, the handle  22  may also be at a more acute or obtuse angle to the plane of the U-shaped frame  26 . The term “essentially perpendicular” means that the handle  22  is at a right, acute or obtuse angle to the plane of the U-shaped frame  26 , but not co-planar with U-shaped frame  26 .  
         [0025]    In FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the handle  22  is extendable with an upper portion  20  of the handle  22  at an open end of the upper portion  20  of the handle  22  to allow for adjustment of the overall handle length for people of varying height. The upper portion  20  of the handle  22  has a moveable length adjustor  24  (FIG. 2) to stop the handle  22  at the appropriate length for the height of the person intending to use the wheel-guiding device  10 . In addition, the upper portion  20  of the handle  22  has a knob  18  (FIGS. 1 and 2) that fits tightly over a closed end of the upper portion  20  of the handle  22  for gripping the wheel-guiding device  10 . Therefore, the wheel-guiding device  10  is suitable for use by children and adults.  
         [0026]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a hollow wheel  12  is shown surrounded by the U-shaped frame  26  between the frame members  28 ,  30  and  32 . The diameter of the hollow wheel  12  may vary and is preferably about 1 foot in this embodiment. The hollow wheel  12  has an outer surface  14  and an inner surface  16 . The hollow wheel  12  is caused to rotate in a forward motion by pushing the U-shaped frame  26  against the outer surface  14  of the hollow wheel  12  (FIG. 3). A person then continues to follow the motion of the hollow wheel  12  and apply a pushing force to continue its rotation.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 indicates potential directions of motion of the hollow wheel  12  when a member of the U-shaped frame  26  pushes the hollow wheel  12  on the outer surface  14  of the hollow wheel  12 . The directions shown in FIG. 3 include straight, left, right or U-turns. In addition, circles can be made. These changes in motion are accomplished by manipulation of the hollow wheel  12  with the wheel-guiding device  10  on various parts of the hollow wheel  12 , and by altering the angle at which the wheel-guiding device  10  meets the hollow wheel  12 . The faster the wheel-guide device is used by following the hollow wheel  12 , the quicker the hollow wheel  12  moves, increasing the rate of physical exercise. The wheel-guiding device  10  provides challenges for manipulation of the hollow wheel  12 , while improving eye and hand co-ordination skills.  
         [0028]    Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and  6 , alternative methods of manipulating the hollow wheel  12  illustrate how contact between a member of the U-shaped frame  26  and the outer surface  14  or the inner surface  16  of the hollow wheel  12  results in movement of the hollow wheel  12 . In FIG. 4, the contact is between the first member  28  and the inner surface  16 . In FIG. 5 the contact is between the first member  28  and the outer surface  14 , and in FIG. 6 the contact is between the second member  30  and the inner surface  16 . A pushing force of the handle  22  causes motion of the hollow wheel  12 . For these embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and  6  contact is maintained between the hollow wheel  12  and the wheel-guiding device  10  during use, rather than allowing the hollow wheel  12  to move freely. An alternative embodiment of FIG. 4 allows for contact of the first member  28  at an edge of the inner surface  16  of the hollow wheel  12 , rather than having the U-shaped frame  26  fully within the interior surface  16  of the hollow wheel  12 . Similarly, an alternative embodiment of FIG. 5 allows for contact of the first member  28  at an outer edge  16  of the hollow wheel  12 . In each case, the first member  28  (FIGS. 4 and 5) can be withdrawn from the edge of the inner surface  16  after each pushing motion, allowing the hollow wheel  12  to move freely.  
         [0029]    Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 motion of the hollow wheel  12  is stopped by contacting the outer surface  14  of the hollow wheel  12  with the second member  30  of the U-shaped frame  26 . Greater control of the stopping motion is possible by contacting and surrounding the hollow wheel  12  between the members  28 , 30  and  32  of the U-shaped frame  26 . Other methods of contact between the outer surface  14  of the hollow wheel  12  and the wheel-guiding device  10  for stopping motion of the hollow wheel  12  are possible.  
         [0030]    In another embodiment of a method for stopping the hollow wheel  12 , FIG. 9 illustrates the member  32  of the U-shaped frame  26  hooking the hollow wheel on the inner surface  16  of the hollow wheel  12 , which is lifted by the upward motion of the handle  22  of the wheel-guiding device  10 . Other methods of contact between the inner surface  16  of the hollow wheel  12  and the wheel-guiding device  10  for stopping motion of the hollow wheel  12  are possible.  
         [0031]    In summary, the present invention is directed to a wheel-guiding device. A number of embodiments showing methods of controlling motion in various directions and stopping motion of the hollow wheel with wheel-guiding devices are described.  
         [0032]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0033]    For example, there are alternative methods by which the telescoping effect can be accomplished. The handle can be of fixed length and the wheel-guiding device would then be available in different fixed lengths. The materials of construction of the wheel-guiding device may be metals or plastics. The hollow wheel and the knob may be made of plastics or rubbers. Plastic materials may include those, which glow in the dark as a safety precaution. A small light may be attached to the wheel-guiding device as a safety precaution. Dimensions of components of the U-shaped frame may be altered to accommodate different hollow wheels. The methods of causing hollow wheels to move may differ. Hollow wheels may be replaced by solid wheels or other essentially round structures.