Patent Publication Number: US-2018029659-A1

Title: Scooter with removable toy

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/205,453, filed Jul. 8, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/885,159, filed Oct. 16, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/067,763, 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 toys for vehicles and, more specifically, to a ridable vehicle that supports a removable stick toy. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Riding on vehicles such as scooters is a popular recreational activity. Scooters have become popular among many age groups and there are many different scooter variations and scooter designs. Conventional scooters generally have at least two wheels and some type of steering mechanism. Other scooter designs include three or more wheels. Scooter designs have also become more compact and convenient. With the increase in scooter popularity, there has also been a significant increase in the demand for scooter accessories. 
     Often, it is desirable for a rider of a vehicle or scooter to transport a toy on a vehicle or attach a toy to the vehicle. However, some vehicles require a rider to use both hands to ride or steer the vehicle. Such vehicles often include baskets or other add-on structures for carrying additional items for the rider. Other embodiments require adhesive or more permanent components to attach a toy to the vehicle. It is generally desirable for the rider to transport a toy on a scooter without requiring the use of the rider&#39;s hands. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of the present invention involves the realization that it is also desirable to couple a toy to a scooter without the need for baskets or additional structures for securing the toy on the vehicle. Therefore, the current arrangements in the prior art for transporting a toy on a scooter are unsuitable. 
     Preferred embodiments of the present scooter are configured to allow a user to securely couple a toy to a scooter or ridable vehicle. A user can couple a toy to the scooter and transport the toy while at the same time steering and controlling the scooter. Furthermore, preferred embodiments allow the user to conveniently remove the toy from the scooter. Furthermore, preferred embodiments are configured so that the toy is proximate the hands of a user while the use is riding the scooter. In other preferred embodiments, the toy is held securely on the scooter and is restricted from falling out of its position on the scooter during regular riding of the scooter. Preferably, the handlebar assembly of the scooter securely engages the toy so as to restrict movement of the toy relative to the scooter under typical riding conditions. 
     A preferred embodiment is a toy combination including a scooter and a stick toy. The scooter includes a body having a deck and a footrest surface. A handlebar assembly is operably coupled to the body and includes a vertical member extending upward relative to the deck. The vertical member includes a top portion and a handlebar is supported by the vertical member. The handlebar includes grip portions that are accessible to a user riding on the scooter. The stick toy includes an elongate stick portion. The vertical member of the handlebar assembly includes an opening adjacent to the top portion of the vertical member. The opening is configured to receive the elongate stick portion of the toy so that the toy is selectively securely supported by the handlebar assembly. 
     In some configurations, the handlebar assembly includes a retention ring portion coupled to the vertical member adjacent the opening, and the retention ring portion is configured to frictionally engage the elongate stick portion of the toy. The retention ring portion can include at least one protruding member extending inward from an inner surface of the retention ring portion, and the at least one protruding member frictionally engages the elongate stick portion of the toy when the elongate stick portion is received within the opening. 
     In some configurations, the handlebar is supported by the vertical member at a position in front of the vertical member. 
     In some configurations, the vertical member is a hollow tube having an inner surface that is sized and shaped to receive the elongate stick portion of the toy. A cross-section of the inner surface of the vertical member can be circular. The hollow tube can be longer than the elongate stick portion of the toy. 
     An embodiment involves a scooter that has a body having a deck and a footrest surface. The scooter also includes at least one front wheel and a rear wheel supported by the body. A handlebar assembly is coupled to the body and extends upward from the body. The handlebar assembly has a vertical member and a handlebar supported by the vertical member. The handlebar includes grip portions accessible to a user riding the scooter. The vertical member includes an upper portion that includes an opening, which is sized and shaped to receive an elongate stick portion of a stick toy so that the stick toy is supported by the handlebar assembly. 
     In some configurations, the vertical member is hollow and receives the elongate stick portion of the toy when the elongate stick portion is passed through the opening. The vertical member and the elongate stick portion can each be cylindrical in shape. 
     In some configurations, the handlebar assembly includes a cap portion coupled to the vertical member adjacent the opening, the cap portion having a hole through which the elongate stick member of the stick toy is passed. The cap portion can be sized and shaped to frictionally engage the elongate stick member of the stick toy when it is passed through the hole and into the opening. The cap portion can include one or more flap portions. 
     In some configurations, the handlebar is coupled to the vertical member at a position below the opening. 
     An embodiment involves a scooter that includes a body having a deck and a foot rest surface. The body also has a front portion and a rear portion. A pair of front wheels is rotatably supported by the front portion of the body. A rear wheel is rotatably supported by the rear portion of the body. A handlebar assembly is supported by the front portion of the body. The handlebar assembly includes a handlebar supported by a vertical tube. A stick toy has an elongate stick member and a head portion. The vertical tube includes a top portion that is open and the elongate stick member of the stick toy is selectively received into the open top portion of the vertical tube so that the elongate stick member is stowed within the tube. 
     In some configurations, the handlebar assembly includes a retention ring portion coupled to the top portion of the vertical tube, and the retention ring portion frictionally engages the elongate stick member when the elongate member is received into the vertical tube. The retention ring portion can include multiple flap portions that frictionally engage the elongate stick member. 
     In some configurations, the handlebar is coupled to the vertical tube forward of and below the open top 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 five figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a scooter and a toy having certain features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a handlebar assembly of the scooter of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a handlebar assembly of the scooter of  FIG. 1  and a toy. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of an embodiment of a handlebar assembly and a toy. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of the ring portion of the handlebar assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     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 “scooters”, 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 scooters to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and modifications and equivalents thereof. In particular, while the present systems and methods have been described in the context of particularly preferred embodiments as it relates to scooters, 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 scooters with different arrangements of front and rear wheels. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a scooter includes a body having a deck and a footrest portion. The body supports a handlebar assembly that is configured to support a toy. Preferably the handlebar assembly includes a vertical portion that receives an elongate portion of a toy. In some embodiments, the vertical portion includes an opening that receives an elongate portion of a toy. Preferably, the opening is configured to frictionally engage the elongate portion of a toy so that the movement of the toy relative to the vertical portion is restricted. In some embodiments, the vertical member includes a retention member or ring portion that is configured to frictionally engage the elongate portion of the toy and the ring portion can include protrusions or flaps that engage the elongate portion. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a scooter  10  having certain features, aspects and advantages of the present invention. The scooter  10  includes a body  20 , which includes a deck  26  and a handlebar assembly  24 . Preferably, the upper surface of the deck  26  includes a foot rest surface  23  which is configured to support a foot or the feet of a user. The scooter  10  includes one or more wheels  22  supported by the body  20 . The illustrated scooter includes wheels  22  spaced apart from one another with the deck  26  extending therebetween, such as a pair of front wheels spaced laterally from one another and at least one rear wheel spaced longitudinally from the front wheels. However, other numbers and arrangements of wheels can be provided, including but not limited to a single front wheel and a single rear wheel. 
     As illustrated, a preferred embodiment of the scooter  10  also includes a support portion  25  which supports the handlebar assembly  24  so that the handlebar assembly  24  extends upward from the deck  26 . Preferably, a handlebar  27  is positioned at or near the top of the handlebar assembly  24 . In one embodiment, the body  20  also includes one or more toy coupling portions configured to receive and preferably retain a portion of a toy  40  and couple the toy  40  to the scooter. In one embodiment, the scooter also includes a toy supported by the scooter, and a portion of which is received by a toy coupling portion of the scooter. In one embodiment, the toy is a stick toy (e.g., a stick horse) that includes an elongate portion that is received within a toy coupling portion on the scooter. Embodiments of the toy and the scooter that supports such toys are described below with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 5 . In the illustrated arrangements, the toy includes an elongate portion that is received within a corresponding void or opening on the scooter; however, arrangements in which the toy is coupled to other portions of the scooter are also possible. Preferably, each of the toy and the scooter has separate utility as a plaything, such that the toy and the scooter can be played with separately from one another. Preferably, the toy and the scooter also have utility as a combination. For example, the toy can add ornamental interest to the scooter when in the stowed position. 
     As described,  FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment of the scooter  10  that includes the body  20 , deck  26  and handlebar assembly  24 . Preferably, the handlebar assembly  24  is configured to allow a rider to steer the scooter  10  by steering at least one of the wheels  22 . However, the scooter  10  can have any suitable steering mechanism, such as the steering mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,186,693 to Korschot, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. Alternatively, the steering mechanism can include one or more front wheels that is rotatable about a steering axis and controllable by the handlebar assembly  24 . 
     In one embodiment, the handlebar assembly  24  includes a handlebar  27  with two grip portions  32 . The scooter  10  also includes a toy  40  supported by the handlebar assembly  24  and adjacent the handlebar  27 . In one embodiment, the toy  40  includes a top portion  42  that is the likeness of an animal head (e.g., a horse head, such that the toy  40  is a stick horse) or other type of head or toy feature. However, the top portion  42  can also be any type of toy or likeness. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of the handlebar assembly  24  that includes a vertical member  43  supporting the handlebar  27 . The handlebar  27  includes grips  32  and generally extends horizontally and perpendicular to the vertical member  43 . The handlebar  27  can be coupled to the vertical member  43  at or adjacent the middle portion of the handlebar  27 . Preferably, the vertical member  43  is configured to support a toy  40  and can at least substantially completely surround a stick portion of the toy  40  when the toy  40  is in a stowed position. In other embodiments, the handlebar  27  is configured to support the toy  40 . As illustrated, the vertical member  43  includes an opening  44  and is configured to receive a portion of a toy. Preferably, the opening  44  is positioned at or near the top of the vertical member  43 . However, in other embodiments the opening  44  is positioned along the sides of the vertical member  43  or near the bottom. In other embodiments, the opening  44  can be located on the handlebar  27 . Alternatively, a separate member (not shown) can be coupled to the vertical member  43  or the handlebar  27  and can include an opening or receiving portion configured to receive a portion of a toy. 
     In some embodiments, the handlebar  27  is coupled to the vertical member  43  at a location forward of the opening  44 . Preferably, the handlebar  27  is also coupled to the vertical member  43  at a position that is lower than the opening  44 . In other embodiments, the handlebar  27  is coupled to the vertical member behind the opening  44 . The handlebar  27  can also be supported by the vertical member  43  via a stem or other support member that couples the vertical member  43  to the handlebar  27  and positions the handlebar  27  away from the vertical member  43 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the vertical member  43  preferably supports a toy  40  so that a portion of the toy  40  extends above the vertical member  43  and/or above the handlebar  27 . Preferably, the toy  40  includes a top portion  42  and an elongate member or stick  48  that extends downward from the top portion  42 . Preferably, the elongate member  48  is slidably received into the opening  44 . The elongate member  48  can also be slidably received and stowed within the vertical member  43  of the handlebar assembly  24 . Preferably, the shape of the opening  44  corresponds to the size and shape of the cross-section of the elongate member  48 . Also, the cross-section of the inner surface(s) of the vertical member  43  can be sized and shaped to correspond to the cross-section of the outer surface of the elongate member  48 . As illustrated, the elongate member  48  is cylindrical, the opening  44  is circular, and the inner surface of the vertical member  43  is cylindrical or circular. Preferably, the cross-section of the inner surface of the vertical member  43  is only slightly larger than the cross-section of the elongate member  48 . In other embodiments, the elongate member  48  and the vertical member  43  have cross-sections that are rectangular or polygon-shaped. The cross-sections can also be circular with one or more flats sides. In other arrangements, the elongate member  48  and the vertical member  43  can have compatible shapes that allow the elongate member  48  to be stowed within the vertical member  43  and which preferably inhibit substantial relative movement therebetween in directions perpendicular to a longitudinal axis. 
     Preferably, the toy  40  includes a stop portion (not shown) that contacts the handlebar assembly  24  when the elongate member  48  is fully received into vertical member  43 . The stop portion can be configured to contact the opening  44  or top portion of the vertical member  43  so that it restricts movement of the toy  40  or elongate member  48  further downward into the opening  44 . In some embodiments, the stop portion can be the bottom surface of the top portion  42  of the toy  40 . In other embodiments, the stop portion can be coupled to or part of the elongate member  48 . Alternatively, the top portion  42  of the toy  40  can rest on the opening  44  or handlebar  27  when the elongate member  48  is inserted into the vertical member  43 . 
     As illustrated, in some embodiments, the handlebar  27  is supported by the vertical member  43  at a position forward of the opening  44 . The toy  40  preferably is received into the opening  44  at a location behind the handlebar  27  so that at least a portion of the toy  40  extends behind the handlebar  27  and closer to a user riding the scooter  10 . In some embodiments, the handlebar  27  is configured to allow the elongate portion  48  to pass through a cut-out or other opening in the handlebar  27 . Preferably, the handlebar  27  is coupled to the vertical member  43  at a location below the top of the opening  44 . In some embodiments, the handlebar  27  is coupled to the vertical member  43  by a bracket or other coupling member. Preferably, the elongate member  48  can rotate within the opening  44  and vertical member  43  so that the top portion  42  of the toy  40  can rotate relative to the handlebar assembly  24 . Preferably, the top portion  42  can rotate  360  degrees relative to the handlebar assembly  24  with the elongate member  48  inserted into the vertical member  43 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of the handlebar assembly  24  and toy  40 . In some embodiments, the toy  40  includes more than one removable portion. As illustrated, the toy  40  includes a top portion  42  and an elongate member  48  that includes a first member  60  and a second member  62 . Preferably, the first member  60  is removably coupled to the top portion  42  and a portion of the first member  60  is received within the top portion  42 . The first member  60  is also removably coupled to the second member  62 . Preferably, a portion of the first member  60  is received within the second member  62 . Preferably, the first member  60  includes one or more pins  64  protruding outward from the surface of the first member  60 . The second member  62  can include one or more voids or openings  66 . When a portion of the first member  60  is received into the second member  62 , the one or more pins  64  engage the one or more voids  66  and a portion of the one or more pins  64  enters into the one or move voids  66  to restrict movement of the first member  60  relative to the second member  62 . Preferably, the one or more pins  64  (e.g., biased push pins) can be selectively removed from the one or more voids  66 , and the first member  60  can be removed from the second member  62 . 
     In one embodiment, the handlebar assembly  27  includes a gripper, retention member or friction ring  50  located adjacent the opening  44  and configured to engage the elongate member  48  of the toy  40 . The ring  50  can be removable from the handlebar assembly  24  and is preferably coupled to the top of the vertical member  43  adjacent the opening  44 . Preferably, the ring  50  is configured to frictionally engage the elongate member  48  of the toy  40  when the elongate member  48  is inserted into the opening  44 . In one embodiment, the ring  50  includes flaps or protrusions  51  that extend inward from the outer edge of the ring  50 .  FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of a ring  50  that includes protrusions  51  and is configured to be coupled to a vertical member  43 . The protrusions or flaps  51  can be configured to provide frictional contact with the elongate member  48  to restrict movement of the elongate member  48  within the opening  44  and the vertical member  43 . This is beneficial because the elongate member  48  can be held in position within the opening  44  or vertical member  43  so that undesired movement of the toy  40  relative to the handlebar assembly  24  is limited when the handlebar assembly  24  is subjected to outside forces. For example, the ring  50  preferably applies a force to the elongate member  48  sufficient to retain the elongate member  48  within the opening  44  and vertical member  43  when the scooter is subjected to bumps or other normal riding conditions. The ring  50  can also be configured to apply a frictional force to the elongate member  48  sufficient to control the speed at which the elongate member  48  is inserted into or removed from the opening  44 . This can provide more control to the rider and can protect the toy  40  from being damaged during insertion or removal from the scooter. 
     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.