JP3708907B2 - Children's tricycle - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a children's tricycle that sits near the center of a vehicle body and travels by stepping on a foot pedal attached to a front wheel.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Some tricycles for children are provided with a hand bar for the guardian to push from behind. The hand bar is attached so as to extend obliquely rearward and upward from the rear of the seating seat of the tricycle. This push bar is used not only to push the tricycle from behind while the child is riding, but also to stop the tricycle and control the traveling direction.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In this type of vehicle, a child may hang on this bar while the guardian keeps an eye. In this case, since the conventional push bar extends upward and rearward of the rear wheel, there is a problem that when the child hangs, the front part of the vehicle body is lifted with the rear wheel as a fulcrum and the vehicle body becomes unstable.
[0004]
In addition, since the push bar protrudes from the rear of the seating seat to the rear and obliquely upward, the center of gravity of the tricycle increases. When a child rides alone, this long hand bar swings greatly due to body vibration. For this reason, the stability of the vehicle body is deteriorated, and there is a problem that it is difficult to ride when a child rides alone.
[0005]
Moreover, the conventional hand bar is set to a length that can be easily gripped by the guardian while standing. For this reason, the hand bar greatly protrudes upward from the vehicle body, and there is a problem that when this tricycle is stored in a storage place in the house, the long hand bar becomes an obstacle and difficult to store.
[0006]
Therefore, the applicant of the present application has proposed that the hand bar can be expanded and contracted vertically (Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-130572). That is, when the hand bar is used, the hand bar is locked in the use position extended upward, and when not used, the hand bar is pushed downward to the storage position. In this case, when considering the length of the hand bar and the amount of expansion and contraction thereof, the lower end of the hand stick protrudes greatly below the seating seat.
[0007]
However, when the lower end of the push bar protrudes greatly below the seating seat in this way, there is a problem that shoes or clothes can easily come into contact with the child when the child gets on, and the shoes or clothes can be damaged.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and even if a child hangs on this push bar, there is no risk of the vehicle body becoming unstable, and the stability of the vehicle body is improved when the child rides alone. It is possible to store the tricycle without disturbing the hand bar, and the lower part of the hand bar protruding below the seating seat may not touch the child's shoes or clothes, which may damage the shoes or clothes. The object is to provide a tricycle for children that eliminates the problem.
[0009]
[Structure of the invention]
This object according to the invention, a one steering front wheel and two rear wheels, in a children's tricycle a pair of left and right foot pedal is fixed to the front wheel, the seat is supported by a seat bottom downwards It is possible to rotate between the use position where the seat is advanced to the front and lower and the storage position where the lower part is rotated almost horizontally rearward around the upper end and stored below the seating seat. A step arm provided with a pair of left and right foot steps so as to protrude on both sides in the vehicle body width direction at the moving end, a push bar lower made of a pipe having both ends opened from the rear of the seating portion of the seating seat to the diagonally upper and rear, A push bar upper which is inserted so as to be slidable between a use position pulled out to the push bar lower and a retracted storage position and has a grip on the upper part, and the push bar upper is fixed to at least the use position. That the locking means, and a cap closing the lower end of the hand bar lower in the position of use of the hand rods attached to a lower end of the hand rod lower raised the hand rod upper, the lower end of the hand bar lower Position the back and upper positions of the step arm storage position , open the cap at the upper position of the push bar upper position, and project the lower part downward from the lower end of the push bar lower position. Is achieved by a children's tricycle characterized in that the lower part thereof is positioned in the push bar lower so as to close the cap .
[0010]
That is, according to the present invention, when the position of the lower end of the push bar lower is increased and the push bar upper is pulled up to the use position, the amount of protrusion below the push bar is reduced. In addition, when the push bar upper is pushed down to the storage position, the lower part of the push bar upper protrudes below the lower end of the push bar lower. At this time, the child runs on the pedal by himself (steps on). Therefore, the step arm is tilted backward and stored. In this state, the step arm prevents the children's shoes from contacting the lower end of the hand bar.
[0011]
In addition, a cap is provided at the lower end of the hand bar lower so that when the hand bar upper is pulled up, this cap closes the lower end opening of the hand bar lower, so when a child stands on the axle cylinder of the rear wheel For example, children's shoes or clothes can be prevented from directly contacting the lower end of the hand bar lower. The hand bar lower is formed by an outer pipe composed of a pair of left and right straight pipes connected in parallel by brackets, and the hand bar upper is formed by an inner pipe composed of a pair of left and right straight pipes that can be inserted into the outer pipe. It is better to connect the upper end of the pipe with a grip coated with a cushioning material.
[0012]
The lower ends of the pair of left and right hand bar lower, can be attached to the connecting member made of resin which bind both these bottom, protecting the openings in the lower end of the hand bar lower from the obstacle. That is, it is possible to prevent the obstacle from hitting these lower ends and damaging the opening at the lower ends, and the slide of the hand bar upper from becoming unsmooth .
[0013]
If the cap is given a returning habit in the closing direction, the cap is automatically closed by pulling out the push bar upper , and this cap is automatically opened when the cap is pushed down, which is convenient.
[0014]
Embodiment
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a part of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a use state in which a hand bar is pulled out, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a storage state when the push bar is pushed down, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI, and FIG. 7 is a front view of the hand bar lower. It is a figure (A) and a side view (B). FIG. 8 is a rear view of the tricycle showing the stored state of the hand bar, and FIG. 9 is a rear view (A) and a side view (B) showing the vicinity of the connecting member that joins the lower end of the hand bar outer. 10 is a perspective view of the connecting member, FIG. 11 is an end view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 10, and FIGS. 12 and 13 are end views taken along line XII-XII and XIII-XIII.
[0015]
1-3, the code | symbol 10 is a vehicle body frame. The vehicle body frame 10 includes a steering shaft cylinder (steering head pipe) 12 at the front end, an axle cylinder 14 at the rear end, and a main pipe 16 that couples the steering axle cylinder 12 and the axle cylinder 14. have. The main pipe 16 descends slightly from the steering shaft cylinder 12, and then extends rearward through a substantially horizontal horizontal portion 16a. The axle cylinder 14 is orthogonal to the rear end of the main pipe 16 and is horizontal in the vehicle body width direction.
[0016]
A front wheel 20 and a steering handle 22 are attached to the steering shaft cylinder 12 by a handle rotating shaft 18 so as to be steerable left and right. That is, a pair of left and right (see FIGS. 2 and 3) front wheel support pipes 26 and 26 are held substantially parallel to the handle rotation shaft 18 by the bracket 24 held by the handle rotation shaft 18. Here, the upper portions of the front wheel support pipes 26, 26 extend upward from the bracket 24 and serve as a steering handle 22.
[0017]
The axle fixed to the front wheel 20 passes through the lower ends of the front wheel support pipes 26, 26 and is bent into a crank shape, to which foot pedals (crank pedals) 28, 28 are attached. That is, the front wheel 20 is a drive wheel that is rotationally driven by the foot pedals 28 and 28. Reference numeral 30 denotes a front fender held by the front wheel support pipes 26, 26, and 32 denotes a handle cover attached between the left and right steering handles 22, 22.
[0018]
A horizontal axle cylinder 14 fixed to the rear end of the main pipe 16 holds a rear axle 34 (FIGS. 1 and 8). The rear axle 34 holds a pair of left and right rear wheels 36. Both rear wheels 36, 36 can be idled independently.
[0019]
Reference numeral 38 denotes a basket (packing box). The bottom portion of the basket 38 is engaged with the axle cylinder 14, and the lower center front portion is fixed to the main pipe 16 by a bolt 40 (FIG. 1) that penetrates the main pipe 16. Therefore, the basket 38 can be easily attached and detached by removing the knob nut 42 screwed into the bolt 40.
[0020]
Reference numeral 44 denotes a bucket type seat. The seating sheet 44 is formed in a substantially L shape in side view by blow molding a resin such as polyethylene. Here, the seating seat 44 has a structure in which a seating-side inner portion 44a and an outer portion 44b that wraps the outside are overlapped in a substantially monaca shape, and in particular, the outer portion 44b is provided with appropriate unevenness to increase its strength and The rigidity is increased.
[0021]
The inner portion 44a and the outer portion 44b are in close contact with each other at the attachment portion to the vehicle body and the attachment portion of the hand pusher rod 56 described later, and these close contact portions 46 (46a to 46c) are bolts 48 (48a to 48c) serving as fastening members. ) Penetrates. That is, the seating portion 50 of the seating seat 44 is fixed by a single bolt 48 a that penetrates the close contact portion 46 a and the main pipe 16.
[0022]
A bracket 52 is fixed to the main pipe 16 below the rear portion of the seating section 50 across the main pipe 16 in the vehicle body width direction. The bracket 52 is fixed with a pair of left and right bolts 48b (only one of which is shown) penetrating the rear portion of the seating portion 50 at this time. The lower bracket 62 of the hand bar lower 56 is tightened together.
[0023]
Reference numeral 54 denotes a hand bar. The hand bar 54 has a hand bar lower 56 fixed to the seating seat 44 and a hand bar upper 58 that is slidably inserted into the hand bar lower 56 from above. As shown in FIG. 7, the hand bar lower 56 is formed of an outer pipe composed of a pair of left and right straight pipes coupled in parallel by an upper bracket 60 and a lower bracket 62. The hand bar upper 58 is formed of an inner pipe composed of a pair of left and right straight pipes inserted into these outer pipes.
[0024]
The upper ends of the pair of left and right inner pipes are connected by a grip 64. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper ends of the inner pipes are connected to each other by a substantially U-shaped pipe 64a that is turned sideways. The pipe 64a is covered with a cushioning material 66 such as a horizontally long annular polypropylene.
[0025]
The upper portion of the hand bar lower 56 is fixed to the seating seat 44 by two bolts 48c (FIG. 4) passing through the upper bracket 60 and the contact portion 46c provided on the backrest portion of the seating seat 44. As shown in FIG. 7, the lower bracket 62 fixed to the lower portion of the push bar lower 56 is bent into a substantially L shape when viewed from the side, and the bent portion includes a close contact portion 46 b and a bracket 52 on the rear portion of the seat portion 50. And are fastened together with bolts 48b.
[0026]
The upper bracket 60 is assembled with a lock means 68 for fixing the push bar upper 58 at a predetermined position. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the lock means 68 includes a resin (for example, polypropylene) lock cover 70 that covers the bracket 60 between the left and right outer pipes, and a guide block 72 that is held inside the cover 70. And a pair of left and right lock levers 74 and 74 that are guided by the guide block 72 and are slidable in the vehicle body width direction, and a compression coil spring 76 that imparts a return habit to the lock levers 74 and 74 to the outside.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 6, the lock levers 74, 74 protrude from elongated holes 70 a, 70 a provided in the lock cover 70, and the lock levers 74, 74 have engagement pins 74 a, which protrude outward in the vehicle width direction. 74a is inserted. These engagement pins 74a enter the engagement holes provided in the outer pipe and the inner pipe, respectively, at the use position in which the hand bar upper 58 is pulled upward, and lock the hand bar upper 58 in this use position. Similarly, the engagement pin 74a locks the push bar upper 58 even in the storage position where the push bar upper 58 is pushed down. FIG. 4 shows this state.
[0028]
When the guardian holds both the lock levers 74 and 74 at the same time and draws them to each other, the lock means 68 slides toward the center of the vehicle body while compressing the spring 76, and the engaging pin 74 a Release the lock between the outer pipe and the inner pipe. In this state, the hand bar upper 58 can slide up and down with respect to the hand bar lower 56.
[0029]
When the push bar upper 58 is pulled up and the lock lever 74 is released in the use state shown in FIG. 2, the engagement pin 74a engages with the engagement hole of the outer pipe and the inner pipe, and the push bar upper 58 can be locked. . When the lock levers 74 and 74 are pulled down to push down the push bar upper 58 and the lock levers 74 and 74 are released in the storage position shown in FIG. 3, the engaging pin 74a can lock the push bar upper in this storage position. it can.
[0030]
A pair of left and right footrest steps 80 extending downward are attached to the horizontal portion 16a of the main pipe 16. The footrest step 80 protrudes from the rotational end of the step arm 82 pivotally supported at the front portion of the main pipe 16 to both sides in the vehicle body width direction. The foot resting step 80 is used when a child seated on the seating seat 44 puts both feet when not stepping on the foot pedal 28, and is mainly used when a guardian uses this tricycle by hand using a hand bar 54. (FIG. 2).
[0031]
The step arm 82 can be rotated between a use position (FIG. 2) that has advanced downward and a storage position (FIGS. 1 and 3) that is rotated substantially horizontally rearward about its upper end. Both positions can be locked. When the footrest step 80 is not used, the step arm 82 can be stored below the seating seat 44 by rotating the lower portion backward with the upper portion thereof as a fulcrum (FIGS. 1 and 3). By storing in this way, it is possible to prevent a child seated on the seating seat 44 from touching the footrest step 80 with shoes or clothes when the pedal 28 is depressed.
[0032]
The length of the outer 56 of the hand bar 54 is set so that the lower end thereof does not protrude downward from the storage position of the step arm 80. For this reason, the lower end of the inner 58 does not protrude downward from the outer 56 at the use position of the push bar 54 with the inner 58 pulled up. Further, at the storage position of the hand push bar 54 with the inner 58 pushed down, the lower end of the inner 58 protrudes downward from the outer 56.
[0033]
The push bar 54 is pulled up to the use position when the child puts his / her foot on the step 80 and the guard pushes the push bar 54. At this time, the step arm 82 has advanced to the use position, but since the inner 58 has been pulled up, the lower end of the inner 58 does not protrude downward from the lower end of the outer 56. For this reason, the foot or clothes of the child seated on the seating seat 44 do not contact the lower part of the hand bar 54, and there is no possibility of damaging the child's shoes or clothes.
[0034]
Further, when the child self-propels by stepping on the pedal 28, the inner 58 of the push bar 54 is pushed down. At this time, the step arm 82 is also rotated rearward and is in the storage position. Therefore, the stepping step 80 is positioned in front of the lower end of the inner 58, and the stepping step 80 prevents a child's shoes or clothes from coming into contact with the lower end of the inner 58.
[0035]
Here, the lower ends of the left and right outers 56 are coupled by a connecting member 84 made of resin. The connecting member 84 is formed by connecting cylindrical portions 86 and 86 fitted and fixed to the lower ends of the left and right outer 56 from below by a bridge portion 88, and protects the opening edge of the lower end of the outer 56 (FIG. 9). ~ 12).
[0036]
Circular caps 90, 90 are attached to the lower surfaces of the cylindrical portions 86, 86 so as to be openable and closable. The caps 90 and 90 are preferably formed integrally with the connecting member 84 and can be opened and closed by a resin hinge serving as a connecting portion thereof. The caps 90, 90 are given a return habit in the closing direction by the torsion springs 92, 92. The peripheral edge of the cap 90 can be brought into close contact with an annular recess 86a (FIGS. 9, 11, and 12) formed along the opening edge of the lower end surface of the cylindrical portion 86.
[0037]
Therefore, in a state where the inner 58 is pulled up and the lower end of the inner 58 enters the outer 56, the cap 90 is automatically closed by the spring 92, enters the recess 86a of the cylindrical portion 86, and closes the cylindrical portion 86 from below. When the inner 58 is pushed down, the lower end of the inner 58 pushes the cap 90 against the spring 92 and opens it.
[0038]
Since the connecting member 84 is attached to the lower end of the outer 56 in this way, the lower end of the outer 56 is protected from obstacles, and the lower end of the outer 58 is distorted, thereby preventing the inner 58 from moving smoothly. In addition, since the cap 90 is engaged so as to be closely attached to the concave portion 86a of the cylindrical portion 86, the cap 90 also prevents the lower end of the outer 56 from being deformed, and the lower end of the outer 56 is more reliably deformed. Can protect.
[0039]
In this embodiment, the luggage box 38 is held by the axle cylinder 14 holding the rear wheel 36, but the luggage box 38 may be removed. At this time, the child may put his / her foot on the axle cylinder 14 and be caught by the hand bar 54 or the grip 64. In such a case, it is conceivable that children's shoes and clothes contact the lower end of the outer 56. However, since the connecting member 84 and the cap are present, the lower end of the outer 56 and children's shoes and clothes can be protected.
[0040]
In this embodiment, the hand bar 54 is inclined obliquely upward and rearward substantially along the rear surface of the seating seat 44, and an annular grip 64 is provided at the upper end of the hand bar upper 58. As shown in FIG. 1, the grip 64 is tilted backward from the extension line above the hand bar lower 56. Further, since the upper end of the hand bar lower 56 does not protrude upward from the back support part of the seating seat 44, the grip 64 is on the back support part of the seating seat 44 as shown in FIGS. It will be located behind. Therefore, the grip 64 does not interfere with the head of the child who is seated.
[0041]
In this embodiment, the hand bar 54 can be easily attached and detached. For this purpose, first, the bolts 48 a for fixing the seating seat 44 and the pair of left and right bolts 48 b are loosened, and the seating seat 44 is removed from the main pipe 16 of the vehicle body frame 10.
Then, the two bolts 48c for fixing the upper bracket 60 of the hand bar lower 56 to the backrest portion of the seating seat 44 may be loosened.
[0042]
After the hand bar 54 is separated from the seating seat 44 in this way, only the seating seat 44 may be fixed to the main pipe 16 of the vehicle body frame 10 with the bolts 48a and 48b. Accordingly, as the hand bar 54 becomes unnecessary, it can be removed and used as the child grows, so that the usable period of the tricycle can be extended.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the stepping step is provided at the pivoting end of the step arm pivotally supported below the seating seat so as to protrude to both sides in the vehicle body width direction , and the step arm is pivoted substantially horizontally rearward. since the lower end of the hand-push rod lower is does not project downward from the foot rest step when accommodating a foot rest steps down the rear of the seat bottom, hand rod upper when using the hand rod does not protrude downward. When the hand bar is not used, the lower end of the hand bar upper protrudes downward from the hand bar lower . At this time , the child will step on the pedal by himself and the step arm will be almost backward. The step arm is positioned in front of the lower end of the upper end of the push bar . For this reason it is no longer possible, such as children's shoes or clothing comes into contact with the lower end of the lower end and hand rod upper of the hand-push rod lower, it is possible to protect these.
[0044]
The hand bar includes a hand bar lower fixed to the vehicle body side and a hand bar upper inserted into the hand bar lower so as to be slidable from above and having a grip on the upper part thereof. Since it can be locked in the use position where it is pulled out, the push bar upper can be pushed down and stored when not in use.
[0045]
For this reason, if this push bar is in the stowed position, even if a child may hang on this push bar when the guardian keeps an eye on it, this push bar does not extend farther than the rear wheel. Therefore, there is no possibility that the front part of the vehicle body will float with the rear wheel as a fulcrum. For this reason, there is no possibility that the vehicle body becomes unstable.
[0046]
Further, when the child travels by stepping on the foot pedal himself, the hand bar can be stored. At this time, the hand bar does not extend high upward, so that the center of gravity of the vehicle body is lowered. In addition, compared to a case where a long hand bar protrudes upward from the vehicle body, the stored hand bar does not shake during traveling, and traveling stability does not deteriorate. Further, when the tricycle is stored, the hand bar does not get in the way and is easy to store. Since the cap is attached to the lower end of the hand bar lower, it is possible to prevent children's shoes and clothes from coming into contact with the lower end of the hand bar lower when the child stands on the rear axle cylinder. . The cap also prevents deformation of the lower end of the hand bar lower.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view partially showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a use state of the hand bar. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a storage state of the hand bar. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a front view (A) and a side view (B).
FIG. 8 is a rear view of the tricycle showing the storage state of the hand bar. FIG. 9 is a rear view (A) and a side view (B) showing the vicinity of the connecting member.
10 is a perspective view of the connecting member. FIG. 11 is an end view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is an end view taken along line XII-XII in FIG. Explanation of]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Body frame 16 Main pipe 18 Handle rotating shaft 20 Front wheel 28 Foot pedal 36 Rear wheel 44 Seating seat 44a Inner part 44b Outer part 54 Push bar 56 Push bar lower 58 Push bar upper 60 Upper bracket 62 Lower bracket 64 Grip 68 Lock means 84 Connecting member 86 Tubular portion 86a Recess 88 Bridge portion 90 Cap

Claims (4)

In a children's tricycle equipped with one steering front wheel and two rear wheels, and a pair of left and right foot pedals fixed to the front wheel,
Is supported by a seat bottom below the stored position prior to use position is advanced downward and the lower about its upper end almost horizontally pivoted rearwardly houses down the rear of the seat bottom of the seat bottom A step arm provided with a pair of left and right foot steps so as to protrude between the two sides in the vehicle body width direction at the rotation end ,
A push bar lower made of a pipe having both ends opened from the rear of the seating portion of the seating seat to the obliquely upper rear,
A hand bar upper having a grip on the upper part inserted so as to be slidable between the use position pulled out to the hand bar lower and the storage position pressed down;
Lock means for fixing the hand bar upper in at least the use position;
A cap that is attached to the lower end of the hand bar lower and closes the lower end of the hand bar lower at the use position of the hand bar that has lifted the hand bar upper;
With
The lower end of the hand bar lower is positioned behind and above the step arm storage position, and the cap is opened at the hand bar upper storage position so that the lower part protrudes downward from the lower end of the hand bar lower. The child tricycle is characterized in that, when the push bar upper is used, its lower part is positioned in the push bar lower so as to close the cap .   2. The push bar lower is formed of an outer pipe made of a pair of left and right straight pipes connected in parallel to each other by a bracket, and the push bar upper is made of an inner pipe made of a pair of left and right straight pipes inserted into the outer pipe. Children's tricycle.   The tricycle for children according to claim 2, wherein a resin connecting member for connecting the lower ends of the pair of outer pipes is attached to the lower ends of the pair of left and right outer pipes. The child tricycle according to claim 1 , wherein the cap is given a return habit in a direction in which the lower end of the hand bar lower is closed.

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