Abstract:
A wheel toy for entertaining and providing physical exercise. The wheel toy includes a wheel. A rod, which is elongate and has a first end and a second end, is extendable into and securely attached to an axis of the wheel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to toy devices and more particularly pertains to a new wheel toy for entertaining and providing physical exercise. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of toy devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, toy devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 1,499,216; U.S. Pat. No. 602,258; U.S. Pat. No. 2,846,225; U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,791; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 262,468. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new wheel toy. The inventive device includes a wheel. A rod, which is elongate and has a first end and a second end, is extendable into and securely attached to an axis of the wheel. 
     In these respects, the wheel toy according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of entertaining and providing physical exercise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of toy devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new wheel toy construction wherein the same can be utilized for entertaining and providing physical exercise. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new wheel toy apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the toy devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new wheel toy which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art toy devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a wheel. A rod, which is elongate and has a first end and a second end, is extendable into and securely attached to an axis of the wheel. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new wheel toy apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the toy devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new wheel toy which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art toy devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new wheel toy which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new wheel toy which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new wheel toy which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such wheel toy economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new wheel toy which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new wheel toy for entertaining and providing physical exercise. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new wheel toy which includes a wheel. A rod, which is elongate and has a first end and a second end, is extendable into and securely attached to an axis of the wheel. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new wheel toy that provides exercise and improves hand-eye coordination. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new wheel toy that provides interaction with other toy items for additional entertainment possibilities. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new wheel toy according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the rod and axis of the wheel of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new wheel toy embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the wheel toy  10  generally comprises a wheel  12 . The wheel  12  includes an annular member  14  and a plurality of spokes  20 . 
     The annular member  14  has an inner surface  16  and an outer surface  18 . The outer surface  18  is generally convex. The annular member  14  has a diameter preferably between ½ feet and 2 feet. 
     Each of the plurality of spokes  20  has a first end  22  and a second end  24 . Each of the first ends  24  is integrally coupled together and radially extends from an axis  26 . The spokes  20  each substantially lie in a plane. The second ends  24  are securely attached to the inner surface  18  of the annular member  26 . Preferably, the space between the spokes is filled in as is depicted in FIG.  1 . The axis  26  has a bore  28  therein. A sleeve  30  is positioned in the bore  28  and securely attached to the first ends  22  of the spokes  20 . The sleeve  30  has a hole  32  therein. The hole  32  has an annular side wall  34 . The annular side wall  34  is threaded, and the sleeve  30  ideally comprises a metal. 
     A rod  36 , is elongate, and has a first end  38  and a second end  40 . The second end  40  of the rod  36  is extendable into the hole  32 . The rod  36  has threads  42  thereon located substantially adjacent to the second end  40  such that the threads on the rod  36  may removably couple to the threads in the annular side wall  34 . The rod  36  has a length preferably between 3 feet and 4 feet, and ideally the rod  36  has a length equal to 3½ feet. 
     A turning means turns the rod. The turning means comprises a crank  44  having a leg portion  46  and a foot portion  48 . The leg  46  portion is orientated generally perpendicular to the foot portion  48  such that the crank  44  generally has an L-shape. A free end of the leg portion  46  is integrally coupled to the first end  38  of the rod  36 . The leg portion  46  is orientated generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the rod  36 . 
     A ring member  50  is rotatably coupled to the rod  36  such that the rod  36  extends through a central portion of the ring member  50 . The ring member  50  has an exterior surface  52 . A protruding member  54  is integrally attached to and extends away from the exterior surface  52 . The protruding member  54  has a generally planar front  56  and back side  58 . The front  56  and back  58  sides lie in planes orientated generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod  36 . The protruding member  54  has an opening  60  therethrough. The opening  60  extends through the front  56  and back  58  sides of the protruding member  54 . 
     In use, the user turns the crank  46  such that the wheel  12  is rotatably moved across a surface. A string  62 , cord, or the like may be positioned through the opening  60  in protruding member  54  and attached thereto such that a toy or other item may be coupled to a free end of the string  62 . The as the wheel is turned the ring member  50  rotates so that the string does not wrap about the rod  36 . 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.