Patent Publication Number: US-11027212-B2

Title: Kart with movable visual effect

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/793,573, filed Oct. 25, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/442,472, filed Feb. 24, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/192,862, filed Jun. 24, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/823,737, filed Aug. 11, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/067,818, filed Oct. 30, 2013, the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments of the invention relate generally to ridable vehicles and, more specifically, to a ridable kart with a movable visual effect. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Riding on vehicles such as go karts or toy karts is a popular recreational activity. Karts have become popular among many age groups and there are many different kart variations and designs. Conventional karts generally have at least three wheels and some type of steering mechanism. Other kart designs include four or more wheels. Kart designs have also become more compact and convenient. With the increase in kart popularity, there has also been a significant increase in the demand for karts of varying sizes. There has also been an increase in the demand for karts with visual features and accessories that personalize the kart. 
     Often, it is desirable for a smaller rider to ride a kart without the use of a motor or power unit. However, some karts without motors require a rider to use his or her feet to push on the riding surface and propel the kart. Also, it is desirable that some karts have a visual element or design, especially those karts intended for use by children. Such karts might include a movable visual element that a rider must directly move with his or her feet or hands. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of one or more embodiments involves the realization that it is desirable to allow a smaller rider to ride on a kart and move the kart without the use of a motor or the rider pushing off the riding surface. Another aspect of one or more embodiments is that it is desirable to have a movable visual effect on a kart that does not require a rider to use his or her hands or feet to directly move the movable visual feature. Therefore, the current arrangements in the prior art for ridable vehicles or karts are unsuitable or could be improved or made more desirable. 
     Preferred embodiments of a kart have a first portion and a second portion that are movable relative to one another. One of the first portion and the second portion have a visual feature that is movable along with one of the first portion and the second portion and is externally visible in at least some relative positions of the first portion and the second portion. In some configurations, movement of the first portion relative to the second portion is directed by the user of the kart and can be or include steering movement of the kart. In some configurations, the visual feature is carried by an inner portion of the kart and is visible through windows or openings in an outer portion of the kart. 
     Some embodiments of the present kart are configured to provide a moving visual effect as a user rides on the kart. A user can ride on the kart and steer the kart while at the same time producing the desired visual effect. Furthermore, preferred embodiments allow the user to generate the visual effect by moving one portion of the kart relative to another portion. Furthermore, preferred embodiments are configured so that the user does not need to remove his or her hands or feet from their normal riding positions in order to produce the visual effect. Preferably, an inner portion of the kart moves relative to an outer portion of the kart and at least a portion of the inner portion can be seen through the outer portion as the inner portion moves relative to the outer portion. 
     A preferred embodiment is a ridable vehicle or kart. The kart includes a body having a rear portion with a seat portion and an outer cover portion. The rear portion supports at least one rear wheel. The kart body also includes a front portion having a coupling portion rotatably coupled to the rear portion. The front portion includes a handlebar assembly operably coupled to the front portion. The front portion also supports at least one front wheel and includes an inner surface. The inner surface is positioned adjacent to the outer cover portion and the outer cover portion covers at least a portion of the inner surface. The outer cover portion includes at least one window portion through which a portion of the inner surface is visible. Preferably, the inner surface includes at least one visual feature visible through the at least one window portion, and the visual feature moves relative to the window portion as the front portion rotates relative to the rear portion. 
     In some configurations, the front portion rotates relative to the rear portion about an axis, and the inner surface rotates relative to the outer portion about the axis. 
     In some configurations, the outer cover portion includes two window portions and the inner surface includes two visual features, and the two visual features resemble eyes. In some configurations, the two visual features move relative to the window portions along a curved path as the front portion rotates relative to the rear portion. 
     In some configurations, the handlebar assembly includes substantially straight portions configured to support the foot of a user riding the kart. 
     In some configurations, the outer cover portion is curved and the inner surface is similarly curved so that the inner surface can slide along the inside of the outer cover portion. 
     An embodiment involves a ridable vehicle with a body having a rear portion rotatably coupled to a front portion. The front portion includes a coupling portion and the rear portion includes a seat portion. The vehicle includes at least one front wheel supported by the front portion and at least one rear wheel supported by the rear portion. It also includes a handlebar assembly supported by the front portion and accessible to a user riding the vehicle. The rear portion has an outer shell portion having at least one opening and the front portion has an inner surface adjacent to the outer shell portion. The inner surface moves relative to the outer shell portion when the front portion is rotated relative to the rear portion. The outer shell portion includes a curved surface and the inner surface includes a curved surface so that the inner surface can slide along the inside of the outer shell portion. The inner surface has a visual feature that is visible through the opening in the outer shell portion and the visual feature moves relative to the opening. 
     In some configurations, the front portion rotates relative to the rear portion about an axis, and the inner surface rotates relative to the outer portion about the axis. In some configurations, the outer shell portion includes two openings and the inner surface includes two visual features, and the two visual features resemble eyes. 
     In some configurations, the two visual features move relative to the two openings along a curved path. In some configurations, the handlebar assembly includes substantially straight portions configured to support the foot of a user riding the kart. 
     In some configurations, the at least one front wheel is positioned underneath the rear portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are described below with reference to drawings of a preferred embodiment, which is intended to illustrate, but not to limit, the present invention. The drawings contain six figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a kart having certain features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the kart of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of a kart of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of the window portions and visual features of the kart of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the window portions and visual features of  FIG. 4  in a different position. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of the window portions and visual features of  FIG. 4  in another different position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following detailed description, terms of orientation such as “top”, “bottom”, “upward”, “downward”, “lower”, “front”, “frontward”, “rear”, “rearward”, and “end” are used to simplify the description of the context of the illustrated embodiments. Likewise, terms of sequence, such as “first” and “second”, are used to simplify the description of the illustrated embodiments. However, other orientation and sequences are possible, and the present invention should not be limited to the illustrated orientation(s). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other orientations of the various components are possible. 
     For the purposes of this disclosure, embodiments of personal mobility vehicles will be referred to as “karts”, but it will be understood by those with ordinary skill in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments and references to karts to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and modifications and equivalents thereof. In particular, while the present vehicles and related methods have been described in the context of particularly preferred embodiments as it relates to karts, the skilled artisan will appreciate, in view of the present disclosure, that certain advantages, features and aspects of the systems and methods may be realized in a variety of other applications, including personal mobility vehicles other than karts with different arrangements of front and rear wheels. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a kart includes a body having a rear portion and a front portion. Preferably, the front portion is rotatably coupled to the rear portion and is movable relative to the rear portion. The rear portion of the body includes a seat portion and an outer shell or cover portion. Preferably, the front portion includes a coupling portion coupled to the rear portion and an inner surface adjacent the outer shell or cover portion of the rear portion. In some embodiments, the inner surface moves relative to the outer shell, and the outer shell includes an opening or window through which a portion of the inner surface is visible. Preferably, the inner surface includes some type of visual marking or effect that moves relative to the outer shell and is visible through the opening or window in the outer shell. In some embodiments, the openings or windows on the outer shell are shaped like eyes and the inner surface includes markings that look like eye balls and move relative to the windows to give the effect of eyes moving to look in different directions. Embodiments of the kart are described below with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 6 . In the illustrated arrangements, the kart includes a front portion with an inner surface and a rear portion having an outer shell or cover portion, however, arrangements in which the illustrated arrangement is reversed or in which the kart has other portions or surface that move relative to one another are also possible. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a kart having certain features, aspects and advantages of the present invention. The kart includes a body  10 , which includes a first or rear portion  20  and a second or front portion  30 . Preferably the front portion  30  is rotatably coupled to the rear portion  20 . The rear portion  20  includes a seat portion  22  configured to allow a rider to be seated thereon. The rear portion  20  also supports at least one rear wheel  24 . In a preferred embodiment, the rear portion  20  supports two rear wheels  24  and in other embodiments the rear portion  20  can support more than two rear wheels. The rear wheels  24  are coupled to the bottom of the rear portion  20 . In some embodiments, the rear wheels  24  are swivel or caster wheels configured to rotate relative to the rear portion  20  about a swivel axis. Preferably, the rear wheels  24  are located below and toward a rearward end of or behind the seat portion  22 . In some embodiments, the rear portion  20  curves upward or extends upward at the rear end of the rear portion behind the seat portion  22 . Preferably, the rear portion  20  also includes an outer shell or cover portion  26 . In some embodiments, the outer shell or cover portion  26  is located in front of and adjacent to the seat portion  22  and can resemble a head of an animal, insect or character, for example. In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the lower surface of the rear portion  20  includes a framework  60  comprising a plurality of ridges  62 . 
     As illustrated, the outer cover portion  26  preferably includes one or more openings or window portions  28 . In some embodiments, the one or more openings or window portions  28  are configured to allow a person to see through the outer cover  26 . In one embodiment, the window portions  28  comprise a translucent or transparent material. In another embodiment, the window portions  28  comprise cut-out portions in the outer cover portion  26 . Preferably, the window portions  28  are circular and are located near the front of the outer shell or cover  26 . The outer shell  26  can also include visual features on the surface of outer shell  26  or extending therefrom. For example, the outer shell  26  can include protruding features such as protrusions resembling antennae  27  or features painted or printed on the surface such as features resembling a mouth  29  or ears. In some embodiments, the outer shell  26  is configured with visual features that resemble an animal, insect or cartoon character. 
     As illustrated, the front portion  30  includes a coupling portion  38  that is configured to be coupled to the rear portion  20 . The front portion  30  also supports at least one front wheel  34 . In a preferred embodiment, the front portion  30  supports two front wheels  34  and in other preferred embodiments, the front portion  30  supports only one front wheel or more than two front wheels  34 . Preferably, the front portion  30  also supports a handlebar assembly  32  configured to allow a user to move and/or steer the kart. In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the front portion  30  comprises an anti-tipping feature, such as a projection  50  positioned along the front portion  30  between the rear portion  20  and the handlebar assembly  32 . The handlebar assembly  32  preferably extends from the front of the kart backwards toward the rear portion  20  so that a user can access the handlebar assembly  32  with his or her hands. The handlebar assembly  32  also preferably includes grips  36  accessible to the hands of a user. Preferably, the front portion  30  in configured to extend away from the rear portion  40  in the forward direction and the handlebar assembly  32  is supported by the front portion  30  at a location forward from the rear portion  20  so that a user riding the kart can rest his feet on a portion of the handlebar assembly  32  in front of the rear portion  20 . In some embodiments, the handlebar assembly  32  includes a substantially straight portion or portions  45  located near the front of the kart and configured to support a user&#39;s foot as the user rides the kart. Preferably, the handlebar assembly  32  also includes two end portions  42  that extend backward toward the rear portion  20  of the kart. Preferably, the end portions  42  also curve or extend upward and include the grips  36  that are accessible to a user riding the kart. 
     In some preferred embodiments, the front portion  30  is rotatably coupled to the rear portion  20  and rotates relative to the rear portion  20  about an axis. Preferably the axis is generally or substantially vertical and/or normal to the riding surface. Preferably, the front wheels  34  are positioned behind the axis and under the rear portion  20 . Preferably, the entire front portion  30 , including the handlebar assembly  32  and the front wheels  34 , rotate about the axis relative to the rear portion  20 . Each of the front wheels  34  can also rotate about its own wheel axis. Because the rotational axis and/or contact patch of the front wheels  34  is spaced behind the steering axis, oscillating movement or repeated back-and-forth rotation of the front portion  30  also creates a motive force for the kart. In some embodiments, the front wheels  34  can be swivel or caster wheels that are configured to rotate about a swivel axis relative to the front portion. 
     As illustrated, the front portion  30  also includes an inner member or inner surface portion  39 . Preferably, the inner surface portion  39  moves relative to the outer shell or cover  26  of the rear portion  20  as the front portion  30  rotates relative to the rear portion  20 . The inner surface  39  is at least partially nested within or covered by the outer cover portion  26  and the inner surface  39  preferably has the same, similar or compatible shape as part of the outer cover portion  26 . In some embodiments, the inner surface  39  is curved or spherically shaped (e.g., hemi-spherical) and the outer cover portion  26  is also curved or spherically shaped (e.g., hemi-spherical) so that the two surfaces can be positioned adjacent to one another and move relative to one another. In a preferred embodiment, the inner surface  39  and the outer cover portion  26  have the same curvature and the inner surface  39  is configured to slide along the inside of the outer cover portion  26 . Preferably, the inner surface  39  is coupled to the coupling portion  38  and extends upward from the coupling portion  38  and front portion  30 . 
     Preferably, a portion of the inner surface  39  is visible through the window portion or opening  28  on the outer cover portion  26 . In some embodiments, the window portion  28  comprises a translucent or transparent material that makes the underlying inner surface portion  39  visible. In other preferred embodiments, the window portion  28  is a void or opening in the outer cover portion  26  through which portions of the inner surface  39  are visible. Preferably, the inner surface  39  includes one or more visual features  40  that are visible through the window portion  28 . As the inner surface  39  moves relative to the outer cover portion  26 , the visual feature  40  moves relative to the window portion  28  which can provide a desired visual effect. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the inner surface  39  includes two visual features  40  that resemble eyes or the iris and pupil portions of an eye. The outer cover portion  26  includes two window portions  28 , and one of the visual features  40  is visible through each of the window portions  28 . The visual features  40  that resemble eyes can move side to side relative to the window portions  28  as the inner surface  39  moves relative to the outer cover portion  26 . This results in a visual effect resembling eyes moving side to side as the handlebar assembly  32  rotates from side to side. This embodiment also results in the desired effect that the eyes or visual features  40  follow the direction of the handlebar assembly  32  and front portion  30  as a user steers the kart. Preferably, the visual features  40  move to point in the direction that the kart is moving or being steered. In alternative arrangements, a portion of or component connected to and movable with the inner surface portion  39  can extend to the outside of the cover  26 , such as through openings (e.g., window portions  28 ) or from underneath of the cover  26 , such that the exposed portion or component is visible and creates a desired visual effect upon steering or other movement of the kart. In other arrangements, the visual feature can be color(s) or symbols (e.g., words) that can move relative to another portion of the kart (e.g., the cover  26 ) and can be exposed or hidden as a result of steering or other movement of the kart, for example. Thus, for example, the exposed color could move or could change as a result of steering or other movement of the kart. Or, an exposed word(s) or other symbols could changes as a result of steering, such as the words “left” or “right” depending on the steering direction, which could be visible to a user of the kart, if desired. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , in some embodiments the visual features  40  are substantially centered within the window portions  28  when the front portion  30  and handlebar assembly  32  are in a position pointing straight forward relative to the rear portion  20 . Preferably the visual features  40  resemble eye portions and are centered within the window portions  28  when the front portion  30  is in a centered position relative to the rear portion  20  and not rotated to one side or the other. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , in some embodiments the visual features  40  move to the right side of the window portions  28  when the handlebar assembly  32  is rotated to the right relative to the rear portion and the inner surface  39  rotates to the right. Preferably, this provides the visual effect of the visual features  40 , which resemble eyes, moving to the right as the handlebar assembly  32  is steered to the right. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments the visual features  40  move to the left side of the window portions  28  when the handlebar assembly  32  is rotated to the left relative to the rear portion and the inner surface  39  rotates to the left. Preferably, this provides the visual effect of the visual features  40 , which resemble eyes, moving to the left as the handlebar assembly  32  is steered to the left. In other embodiments, the visual features  40  can move in an opposite direction relative to the direction of movement of the handlebar assembly  32  or front portion  30 . In some embodiments, the movement of the visual features  40  relative to the window portions  28  can include a vertical component. 
     Although the embodiments of the invention presented herein have been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.