Patent Publication Number: US-2004046438-A1

Title: Tricycle with movable storage bin

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY  
       [0001] The present disclosure relates to a child&#39;s ride-on vehicle and particularly to such a vehicle having a movable storage bin. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a tricycle having a movable storage bin.  
       [0002] Children&#39;s wheeled ride-on vehicles, such as tricycles and the like, are known and frequently have additional features to entertain their users. Children are often entertained by simulating various adult activities, such as work activities and the like.  
       [0003] According to the present disclosure, a child&#39;s ride-on vehicle comprises a frame, a plurality of wheels coupled to the frame, a seat coupled to the frame, and a storage bin. The storage bin is coupled to the frame and is movable between a storage orientation and a dumping orientation. A releasable latch is coupled between the frame and storage bin to inhibit movement of the storage bin from the storage orientation to the dumping orientation.  
       [0004] In the illustrated embodiment, the storage bin comprises a bottom having an upwardly-facing surface, an opposite surface, and an upstanding wall extending from the bottom to form a receptacle. A bracket is coupled to the opposite surface of the bottom and is pivotally coupled to the frame.  
       [0005] The frame includes a rear frame member and the bracket engages the rear frame member and pivots about the rear frame member as the storage bin moves between the storage orientation and the dumping orientation. The latch includes an actuator movably coupled to the wall. The actuator has a first surface that engages a second surface provided on the frame to releasably maintain the storage bin in the storage orientation. The actuator is pivotally coupled to the wall to move between a latched position in which the first surface is positioned to engage the second surface and a released position in which the first surface is disengaged from the second surface as the storage bin is moved from the storage orientation to the dumping orientation.  
       [0006] Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007] The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:  
     [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tricycle including a frame, a front wheel, a pair of rear wheels, a seat coupled to the frame, and a movable storage bin shown in a storage orientation;  
     [0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tricycle of FIG. 1 showing the storage bin pivoted to a dumping orientation, and a portion of the seat broken away to reveal a latch for securing the storage bin in the storage orientation shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0010]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional side view, taken generally along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1, showing a latch (comprising an actuator and a catch) in a latched orientation so that the catch is positioned to lie in the path of an “engagement surface” of the actuator to block movement of the storage bin away from the storage position in the manner shown in FIG. 4;  
     [0011]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of the tricycle similar to FIG. 3, showing a user attempting to lift a “latched” storage bin while the latch inhibits movement of the storage bin from the storage orientation to the dumping orientation owing to contact between the engagement surface of the actuator and a catch surface of the catch;  
     [0012] FIGS.  5 - 7  show a sequence wherein a user operates the actuator to “release” the latch coupling the storage bin to the tricycle frame and then moves the storage bin relative to the tricycle frame to the dumping orientation;  
     [0013]FIG. 5 is a fragmentary partial sectional view taken generally along line  5 - 5  of FIGS. 1 and 12, showing a section of the latch and a bracket extending from a floor of the storage bin and coupling the storage bin to the tricycle frame to pivot relative to the frame;  
     [0014]FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional side view similar to FIG. 4 showing a user lifting a handle to actuate the actuator and move it to a released position so the storage bin may be moved from the storage orientation;  
     [0015]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 6, showing the storage bin in a dumping orientation, an outer surface of the rear wall of the storage bin forming an acute angle with the surface on which the tricycle rests, and a user pulling on a handle of the actuator to move the storage bin toward the storage orientation;  
     [0016] FIGS.  8 - 10  show a sequence showing installation of the actuator in a recess formed in the storage bin to allow for pivotable movement of the actuator about a pivot axis relative to the storage bin;  
     [0017]FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, exploded sectional view (similar to FIG. 10) showing the actuator prior to insertion between a pair of inwardly-facing walls bordering a recess formed in a front wall of the storage bin;  
     [0018]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 8 showing each end of a shaft of the actuator flexing a tab that borders an opening formed in each of the inwardly-facing walls;  
     [0019]FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 9 and taken along line  10 - 10  of FIG. 2 showing the actuator assembled so the ends of the shaft are situated in the openings in the inwardly-facing walls to mount the actuator pivotally relative to the storage bin;  
     [0020]FIG. 11 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a portion of the tricycle showing a bracket extending from the bottom surface of the storage bin floor and a collar positioned on the other side of a frame member (illustrated in phantom) to pivotally couple the storage bin to the frame;  
     [0021]FIG. 12 is a rear view of the tricycle showing the brackets and collars coupled together and wrapping around the rear frame member;  
     [0022]FIG. 13 is a fragmentary bottom view of the tricycle with a portion of the frame broken away to expose the actuator in the recess in the front wall of the storage bin, and the collars coupled to the brackets to pivotally couple the storage bin to the frame; and  
     [0023]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the actuator with a handle removed from the end of one of the levers showing the end of the actuator shaft spaced apart from the opening and the tab bordering the opening of a portion of one of the interior walls of the front wall of the storage bin. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0024] As shown in FIG. 1, a tricycle  20  includes a frame  22 , a front wheel  24 , and left and right rear wheels  26 ,  28  all rotatably coupled to frame  22 . A storage bin  30  is coupled to frame  22 , illustratively to rear wheel mount  32 . Storage bin  30  pivots relative to frame  22  between a storage orientation shown in FIG. 1 and a dumping orientation shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a latch  34  is coupled to tricycle frame  22  and storage bin  30  to releasably lock storage bin  30  in the storage orientation and provide means for latching the storage bin  30  in a storage orientation to inhibit movement of storage bin  30  from the storage orientation toward a dumping orientation. Latch  34  includes an actuator  36  pivotally coupled to storage bin  30  and a catch or catch portion  38  coupled to frame  22  as shown best in FIG. 4. To move storage bin  30  from the storage orientation, a user “actuates” actuator  36  as illustrated in FIG. 6, moving it from alignment with catch portion  38  so that catch portion  38  does not engage actuator  36  and block movement of storage bin  30  to the dumping orientation.  
     [0025] Storage bin  30  includes a floor  40  and walls  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  extending upwardly from floor  40  to form a receptacle  41  for receiving objects. Actuator  36  is pivotally coupled to front wall  56 , and part of actuator  36  is situated in a recess  66  formed in front wall  56 . Left and right side walls  50 ,  52  of storage bin  30  extend generally upwardly from floor  40  and are spaced apart from each other. Rear wall  54  and front wall  56  are coupled to and extend between left and right side walls  50 ,  52 . Floor  40  includes an upwardly-facing surface  42  and an opposite, downwardly-facing surface  44 . Brackets  46 ,  48  are coupled to and extend from downwardly-facing surface  44  and engage frame  22  to permit a user to move the storage bin  30  between the storage and dumping orientations.  
     [0026] Actuator  36  moves relative to storage bin  30  so that actuator  36  pivots from a normal or latched position shown in FIG. 3 to an actuated or released position shown in FIG. 5. When latch  34  is in the latched position, catch  38  lies in the latched path  37  of an engagement surface  82  of actuator  36 , as shown in FIG. 3, blocking movement of engagement surface  82  beyond catch  38 . In the released position shown in FIG. 6, catch  38  is out of the unlatched path  39  of engagement surface  82  of actuator  36 , no longer blocking movement of actuator  36 , permitting a user to move storage bin  30  to the dumping orientation.  
     [0027] As shown in FIG. 10, actuator  36  is coupled to front wall  56  for movement between the latched and released positions about an axis  57 . As shown in FIGS.  2 - 10 , actuator  36  includes a shaft  58  that couples actuator  36  adjacent ends  60  thereof to interior walls  62 ,  64  that border recess  66  in front wall  56  of storage bin  30 . As shown in FIGS.  9 - 11  and  15 , ends  60  are inserted into openings  68  formed in walls  62 ,  64 , and pivot therein as a user pivots the actuator  36  relative to storage bin  30 . To actuate actuator  36 , a user pivots actuator  36  about axis  57 , as shown in FIG. 6, lifting in direction  210  one of a pair of handles  70  coupled to an end of one of a pair of levers  72 ,  74  that extend from shaft  58 . When the user releases handle  70 , the weight of levers  72 ,  74  and handles  70  pivot actuator  36  about axis  57  in direction  212  to the latched position shown in FIG. 3.  
     [0028] Actuator  36  includes a first lobe  76  which, when actuator  36  is in the latched position shown in FIG. 4, cooperates with catch portion  38  to latch storage bin  30  in the storage orientation. As illustrated in FIGS.  2 - 10 , first lobe  76  is coupled to shaft  58 , illustratively to the center of shaft  58 . First lobe  76  includes an engagement surface  82  positioned to engage catch portion  38  to prevent undesired movement of storage bin  30  from its storage orientation. As shown in FIG. 4, when actuator  36  is in the latching orientation, and a user attempts to lift storage bin  30  in direction  214 , engagement surface  82  engages catch portion  38  to inhibit movement of storage bin  30  from the storage orientation.  
     [0029] First lobe  76  and outer lobes  78 ,  80  cooperate with front wall  56  to prevent over-rotation of latch  36  beyond the latched and released orientations shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 respectively. Outer lobes  78 ,  80  are coupled to shaft  58 , illustratively on each side of first lobe  76 . In the latched orientation of actuator  36 , first lobe  76  lies between front wall  56  and frame  22 . Outer lobes  78 ,  80  each have an engagement surface  83  that engages front wall  56 , as shown in FIG. 5, when actuator  36  is moved to the latched orientation to prevent over-rotation of actuator  36  in direction  212  beyond the latched orientation. As shown in FIG. 6, first lobe  76  engages front wall  56 , to prevent over-rotation of actuator  36  in direction  210  beyond the released orientation.  
     [0030] As shown in FIG. 3, in the latched orientation of actuator  36 , engagement surface  82  of actuator  36  and catch surface  110  of catch portion  38  are positioned relative to one another so that engagement surface  82  clears catch surface  110  when actuator  36  is pivoted between the latched orientation and the released orientation. As shown in FIG. 3, engagement surface  82  and catch surface  110  are normally spaced apart and illustratively lie generally facing and parallel to one another. In this orientation, engagement surface  82  and catch surface  110  are spaced apart by a distance A. Distance A is sufficient to permit a user to pivot actuator  36  in direction  210  about axis  57  to the released orientation shown in FIG. 6 so that storage bin  30  can be lifted in direction  214  toward the dumping orientation. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, catch surface  110  lies in the path of engagement surface  82  when actuator  36  is not actuated. As shown in FIG. 4, as a user lifts storage bin  30  in direction  214 , engagement surface  82  and catch surface  110  engage one another, and further movement of storage bin  30  in direction  214  is inhibited.  
     [0031] To actuate actuator  36 , a user grasps either or both of handles  70  and pivots the actuator  36  in direction  210  from the latched orientation shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and  6  to the released orientation shown in FIG. 6. This movement moves first lobe  76  so that catch surface  110  is not in the path of engagement surface  82 , releasing storage bin  30  to be moved in direction  214  to the dumping orientation shown in FIG. 7.  
     [0032] As shown in FIGS.  8 - 10 , actuator  36  is assembled by coupling actuator  36  to storage bin  30  at a recess  66  in front wall  56 . Interior walls  62 ,  64  of front wall  56  are generally opposing and inwardly-facing. Interior walls  62 ,  64  each have openings  68  therein sized to receive ends  60  of shaft  58 , as shown in FIG. 14. To facilitate insertion of ends  60  into openings  68 , a flexible tab  84  extends into each opening  68 . As shown in FIGS.  9 - 11 , when assembling actuator  36  to storage bin  30 , a user inserts shaft  58  into recess  66 , sliding ends  60  of shaft  58  over tabs  84  and into openings  68  in interior walls  62 ,  64 . Illustratively, ends of tabs  84  cooperate with openings  68  to approximate the annular shape of ends  60  and permit actuator  36  to pivot relative to interior walls  62 ,  64  and maintain the position of ends  60  therein. When assembled, as shown in FIG. 6, actuator  36  is positioned forward of brackets  46 ,  48 .  
     [0033] Catch portion  38  of latch  34  extends from frame extension  86  to face front wall  56  and recess  66 . Catch portion  38  includes a base  88  to mate with frame extension  86 . Aligned holes in base  88  and frame extension  86  receive retainers  90  therethrough to couple catch portion  38  to frame  22 . A wall  92  extends from base  88 , illustratively extending perpendicularly from frame extension  86 . Wall  92  includes a rearwardly-extending lip  94 .  
     [0034] As shown in FIGS.  2 ,  8 - 10 ,  13  and  14 , one end of each of left and right levers  72 ,  74  is coupled to and projects from each end of shaft  58 . The other end of each of levers  72 ,  74  is provided with one handle  70 . The other end of each of left and right levers  72 ,  74  extends toward a front portion of tricycle  20  and outwardly from a longitudinal centerline through tricycle  20  so that handles  70  are accessible from either side of frame  22  and in front of storage bin  30 .  
     [0035] Illustratively, each handle  70  is ball-shaped and includes a lever-receiving aperture  96  to receive lever  72 ,  74 . A handle screw hole  98  extends through handle  70  to lever-receiving aperture  96  and aligns with a hole  99  in the protruding end of lever  72 ,  74 . A retainer  97  is inserted through holes  98 ,  99  to secure handle  70  to lever  72 ,  74 . While retainer  97  is illustratively a screw, a wide variety of connectors such as pins, nuts and bolts, rods, and the like may be used in accordance with the present invention. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 14, when actuator  36  is coupled to storage bin  30 , each lever  72 ,  74  extends toward the front of tricycle  20  and away from the other lever  72 .  
     [0036] As shown in FIGS.  12 - 14 , first and second brackets  46 ,  48  pivotally couple storage bin  30  to frame  22 . Brackets  46 ,  48  are coupled to downwardly-facing surface  44 . As best shown in FIG. 12, each of brackets  46 ,  48  include a pair of spaced walls  112 ,  114  extending from downwardly-facing surface  44 . First and second panels  116 ,  118  extend between walls  112 ,  114  at ends  120  of each wall. Ends  120  of walls  112 ,  114  project from downwardly-facing surface  44  a greater distance than a central portion  122  of each wall  112 ,  114 . Central portion  122  is complementarily shaped to outer portions  124  of rear frame member  126 . Illustratively, outer portions  124  have generally right circular cylindrical regions  128 , and central portion  122  of each of walls  112 ,  114  of each of first and second brackets  46 ,  48  include a part-circular bearing surface  130  to slide against the regions  128  of outer portions  124 . First and second panels  116 ,  118  each include a boss  132  having an aperture therein to receive a retainer  134  as described below. Illustratively, as shown in FIG. 5, bearing surfaces  130  of brackets  46 ,  48  are disposed approximately centrally on floor  40 . Thus, storage bin  30  is generally centered over its pivot axis, illustratively the centerline through rear frame member  126 .  
     [0037] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 12- 14 , tricycle  20  includes first and second collars  136 ,  138  to couple to first and second brackets  46 ,  48  respectively and pivotally couple storage bin  30  to rear frame member  126 . Each of collars  136 ,  138  include a body  140  that is illustratively part right circular cylindrical in shape. As shown in FIG. 12, body  140  includes a first side  142  and an opposite second side  144 . A coupler  146  is provided on each of sides  142 ,  144 , the coupler illustratively including a hole  148  for receiving a retainer  134  therethrough. While the retainer  134  is illustratively a screw, a wide variety of connectors such as pins, rivets, rods, clips, nuts and bolts, and other suitable connectors may be used in accordance with the present disclosure. A pair of walls  150 ,  152  having a gap  154  for receiving a panel  116  or  118  are provided on each coupler  146 .  
     [0038] Storage bin  30  is coupled to frame  22  by positioning bearing surfaces  130  of brackets  46 ,  48  on regions  128 . Collars  136 ,  138  are then attached to brackets  46 ,  48  respectively, thus pivotally coupling storage bin  30  to frame  22 . In the storage orientation shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, storage bin  30  is supported by rear frame member  126  contacting brackets  46 ,  48 , and, as also shown in FIG. 7, by a main frame member  156  of frame  22  contacting front wall  56 .  
     [0039] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, frame  22  includes main frame member  156  having a front portion  158  and a rear portion  160 . A fork  162  is pivotally coupled to front portion  158  of main frame member  156 . Front wheel  24  is rotatably mounted adjacent a lower end of fork  162  and a handlebar  164  is mounted adjacent an upper end for steering the tricycle. A seat  170  is coupled to frame  22 . Left and right pedals  166 ,  168  are coupled to a crank  172  attached at  174  to front wheel  24 . Rear wheel mount  32  is coupled to main frame member  156 .  
     [0040] As shown in FIG. 1, front portion  158  of main frame member  156  is coupled to fork  162 . Fork  162  includes a pair of generally parallel fork members  176 ,  178 . Fork members  176 ,  178  are coupled to each other adjacent upper end  180  by handlebar  164 . A wheel mount  182  is coupled to fork  162  adjacent lower end  184 . Wheel mount  182  includes left and right wheel connectors  186  having a fork connection portion (not shown) received in an opening in lower end  184  of one of fork members  176 ,  178 . Each wheel connector  186  includes a bearing  188  to receive an associated one of left and right journals  190  of crank  172  for rotation of crank  172  in wheel mount  182 . When pedals  166 ,  168  are operated by a user, crank  172  rotates in bearings  188 , and rotates the front wheel  24  to power tricycle  20 .  
     [0041] Illustratively, as shown in FIG. 5, an inner surface of rear wall  54  forms an obtuse angle with floor  40 . An outer surface of rear wall  54  forms an acute angle with the surface on which tricycle  20  is supported when storage bin  30  is in the dumping orientation, articles contained in bin  30  can slide down rear wall  54  and out of bin  30 .  
     [0042] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, tricycle  20  includes a first connector plate  192  coupled to frame extension  86 . Extension  86  extends from rear portion  160  of main frame member  156  and toward rear wheels  26 ,  28 . Wheel mount  32  illustratively includes rear frame member  126  having a central portion  194  and outer portions  124 . A somewhat C-shaped front frame member  196  is coupled at its ends to the outer portions  124  of rear frame member  126 . A central portion  198  of front frame member  196  extends toward the front wheel  24 . A second connector plate  193  is coupled to central portion  198  of front frame member  196  extending toward and coupled to central portion  194  of rear frame member  126 . First and second connector plates  192 ,  193  are coupled to frame  22  and together by any suitable method, for example by welding, coupling the plates to the frame or to each other with nuts and bolts, clips, retainers, and the like.  
     [0043] Although the illustrative embodiment shows a tricycle, it is within the scope of this disclosure to include the features disclosed herein with a child&#39;s vehicle having any number of wheels. Although the disclosure has been described in detail with reference to certain illustrative features or embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the disclosure as shown and described.