Patent Publication Number: US-2011057502-A1

Title: Wheel rocking mechanism

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 USC 119(e) of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/241,361, filed Sep. 10, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     This application relates to the field of wheels and more particularly to mechanisms and arrangements for imparting a rocking motion to one or more wheels. 
     SUMMARY 
     A rocking motion is often soothing and comforting for babies and young children. While rocking babies and young children is effectual in calming them down, it often makes it difficult to do other tasks as it frequently involves sitting with or holding the child. This is particularly time consuming and inconvenient when the child has been taken out in a stroller. Therefore, it would be beneficial to be able to rock a child while the child is being transported in a device such as a stroller. 
     In particular, this application discloses a wheel rocking system comprising: a hub for coupling to a rotational axis; a rim coupled to the hub; a wheel coupled to the rim; and a rocking mechanism associated with the wheel, the rocking mechanism operable to provide a rocking motion when the wheel is rotated. 
     This application also discloses a wheel rocking system comprising: a hub for coupling to a rotational axis; a rim coupled to the hub; a wheel coupled to the rim, the wheel having a curvature; and an adjustable rocking mechanism associated with the wheel, the rocking mechanism selectively movable between a rocking position, whereby the rocking mechanism is operable to provide a rocking motion when the wheel is rotated, and a neutral position, whereby no rocking motion is provided to the wheel by the rocking mechanism when the wheel is rotated. 
     This application further discloses a rocking mechanism for imparting a rocking motion to a wheel assembly, the rocking mechanism comprising: a first sidewall; a second sidewall in spaced relationship with the first sidewall, wherein the first and second sidewalls are configured to receive the wheel therebetween; a first surface extending between the first and second sidewalls, the first surface configured to engage a surface as the wheel is rotated atop the surface such that a rocking motion is imparted to the wheel when the rocking mechanism first surface engages the surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings, when considered in connection with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected. 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a wheel rocker system; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the wheel rocker system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a wheel rocker system; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the wheel rocker system of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a wheel rocker system; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the wheel rocker system of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a wheel rocker system; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the wheel rocker system of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a wheel rocker system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first embodiment of a wheel rocker system  100  is shown. The wheel rocker system  100  generally includes a hub  102 , a wheel  104 , a rim  106  and a rocking mechanism  108 . The wheel  104  includes a circumferential periphery  110  for partially engaging a surface as the wheel  104  rotates such that the wheel  104  rolls over said surface  110 . The hub  102  is coupled to a rotational axis (not shown) whereby rotation of the axis is imparted to the wheel  104  via the hub  102  and rim  106 . Alternatively, rotation of the wheel  104  may be imparted to the axis via the rim  106  and hub  102 . In yet another alternative, the hub  102  may be rotationally coupled to a frame or other suitable body such that the wheel  104  is operable to rotate relative to the frame or other suitable body. The rim  106  extends between the hub  102  and the wheel  104 . In one embodiment, the rim  106  rigidly secures the wheel  104  to the hub  102 . While the rim  106  is shown as comprising a plurality of spokes  106   a,  it will be appreciated that the rim  106  may have any suitable configuration operable to couple the wheel  104  to the hub  102 . 
     The rocking mechanism  108  is capable of engaging the wheel  104 . In the illustrative embodiment, the mechanism  108  includes first and second sidewalls  120  for releasably engaging the sidewalls  122  of the wheel  104 . As will be discussed further below, the rocking mechanism  108  is operable to impart a rocking motion to the wheel  104  as the wheel  104  rotates or rolls over a surface. The rocking mechanism  108  may include a first surface  112  and a second surface  114 , each operable to engage a surface, such as a sidewalk, ground, etc., as the wheel  104  rotates thereon. The first surface  112  may be substantially tangential to the wheel periphery  110 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the first surface  112  may be substantially parallel with and slightly offset from a line  115  tangential to the wheel periphery  110 . In this instance, a first end  116  of the first surface  112  may be curved toward the wheel periphery  110  such that a relatively smooth transition may be made from the wheel periphery  110  to the first surface  112  during wheel  104  rotation over a surface. However, it will be appreciated that the first surface  112  may be in any suitable relationship relative to the wheel periphery  110  and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. The first surface  112  and second surface  114  intersect at an apex  118 . In the illustrative embodiment, the apex  118  is rounded such that a relatively smooth transition may be made from the first surface  112  to the second surface  114  as the mechanism  108  rotates over a surface. In the illustrative embodiment, the second surface  114  is not tangential to the wheel periphery  110 ; however, it will be appreciated that the second surface  114  may be in any suitable relationship relative to the wheel periphery, including, but not limited to, tangential. 
     In operation, the wheel  104  rotates or rolls over any suitable surface. During such rotation, the rocking mechanism  108  may be rotated towards the surface such that the rocking mechanism first surface  112  engages the surface such that the rocking mechanism  108  lifts the wheel to initiate a rocking motion. With continued rotation, the rocking mechanism  108  may continue to lift the wheel  104  until the apex  118  engages the surface, after which the second surface  114  engages the surface and the wheel  104  is lowered until the wheel periphery  110  again engages the surface thereby terminating the rocking motion. The wheel  104  and/or axle impart the rocking motion to the device the wheel  104  is rotatably coupled to. The rocking mechanism  108  may be employed with any suitable wheel coupled to any suitable device, including, but not limited to, infant stroller, bicycles, tricycles, scooters, etc. 
     Referring to now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , another illustrative embodiment of a wheel rocker system  200  is shown. The wheel rocker system  200  is analogous in most respects to the wheel rocker system  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  and a correlation of parts is generally indicated in this embodiment by indexing the numerals in  FIGS. 1 and 2  by 100. In the present embodiment, the rocker mechanism  208  is releasably coupled to the wheel  204  via a coupling mechanism  213 . The coupling mechanism  213  may be any suitable device for releasably coupling the rocking mechanism  208  to the wheel  204 , including, but not limited to, one or more elastic ties, one or more wires, one or more ropes or strings, etc. The coupling mechanism  213  may be operable to draw the rocking mechanism sidewalls  220  into engagement with the wheel sidewalls  222 ; however, it will be appreciated that the mechanism sidewalls  220  may engage the wheel sidewalls  222  without the use of the coupling mechanism  213 . In one embodiment, the coupling mechanism  213  may be configured to be tied on or about one or more spokes  206   a    
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , another illustrative embodiment of a wheel rocker system  300  is shown. The wheel rocker system  300  is analogous in most respects to the wheel rocker system  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  and a correlation of parts is generally indicated in this embodiment by indexing the numerals in  FIGS. 1 and 2  by 200.In this embodiment, the rocking mechanism  308  is releasably coupled adjacent to one wheel side wall  322 . The rocking mechanism  308  may be releasably coupled to the wheel  308  via any suitable means. In the illustrative embodiment, a bolt  323  extends through the rim  306 . A rotatable arm  325  is disposed at the distal end of the bolt  323  and is operable to be moved from a first position to a second position where the arm  325  releasably engages the rim  106  or spoke  106   a  to releasably secure the rocking mechanism to the rim  106 . The rocking mechanism  308  may be removed from the rim  106  by rotating the arm  325  to the first position and pulling the rocking mechanism  308  laterally away from the wheel  304  such that the bolt  323  and arm  325  are pulled through the rim  106 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , another illustrative embodiment of a wheel rocker system  400  is shown. The hub  402 , a wheel  404 , and rim  406  are the same or substantially similar to those of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The rocking mechanism  408  includes a static portion  409  and a movable portion  411 . The static portion  409  is rigidly secured to the wheel  404  via any suitable means, including, but not limited to, mechanical fasteners, welding, bonding, adhesive(s), or the like. The static portion  409  includes a surface  409   a  that is curved to substantially match the curvature of the wheel  404 . The movable portion also includes a curved surface  440  that substantially matches the curvature of the wheel  404 . 
     Near the first end  430  of movable portion  411 , the movable portion  411  is is rotatably fixed to the static portion  409 . A second end  432  of the movable portion  411  is releasably secured to the static portion  409 . In the illustrative embodiment, the movable portion  411  includes an arcuate slot  434  for receiving a peg  436  extending from the static portion  409 . A nut  438  may be releasably coupled to the peg  436  and operable to selectively and releasably couple the second end  432  of the movable portion  411  to the static portion  409 . In one embodiment, the arcuate slot  434  and peg  436  limit rotation of the movable portion  411  relative to the static portion  409  while also allowing a user to vary the height and/or amount of rocking motion provided by the rocking mechanism  408 . Thus, the movable portion  411  may be pivoted such that curved surface  440  is substantially aligned with the curved surface  409   a  of the static portion  409  such that no rocking motion is produced, and also pivoted such that the surfaces  440 ,  409   a  are not aligned such that the curved surface  440  of the movable portion  411  engages the surface rolled over whereby the rocking mechanism  408  imparts a rocking motion to the wheel  404 . In an alternative embodiment, the movable portion  411  may be secured between the static portion  409  and wheel  404 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , an alternative embodiment of a wheel rocker system  500  is disclosed. In this arrangement, an axle  502  is hingeldy coupled to the rim  504  or hub  506  in a manner offset from the center  508  of the wheel  510 . The axle  502  may include a second hinge  512  laterally offset from the wheel  510 . The axle  502  is thus movable from a first, or rocking position, wherein the axle  502  is offset from the wheel center  508  and a second position wherein the axle  502  is substantially aligned with the wheel center  508 . Thus, a user may selectively move the axle  502  between a rocking and non-rocking position. 
     While the present disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.