U.S. patent application number 11/434449 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-15 for toy motorcycle.
Invention is credited to James Knight, David Sheltman.
Application Number | 20070264904 11/434449 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38050845 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070264904 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sheltman; David ; et
al. |
November 15, 2007 |
Toy motorcycle
Abstract
A toy motorcycle comprises a frame; a front wheel spinably
coupled to the frame; a rear wheel spinably coupled to the frame;
and a motorcycle rider sized for riding the toy motorcycle, wherein
the motorcycle rider includes a torso, and a head that is
disproportionately large relative to the torso, the head being
connected to the torso via a flexible neck joint.
Inventors: |
Sheltman; David; (Rancho
Verdes, CA) ; Knight; James; (Pasadena, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALLEMAN HALL MCCOY RUSSELL & TUTTLE LLP
806 SW BROADWAY
SUITE 600
PORTLAND
OR
97205-3335
US
|
Family ID: |
38050845 |
Appl. No.: |
11/434449 |
Filed: |
May 12, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/440 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 17/21 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/440 |
International
Class: |
A63H 17/00 20060101
A63H017/00 |
Claims
1. A toy motorcycle, comprising: a frame; a front wheel spinably
coupled to the frame; a rear wheel spinably coupled to the frame;
and a motorcycle rider sized for riding the toy motorcycle, wherein
the motorcycle rider includes: a torso, and a head that is
disproportionately large relative to the torso, the head being
connected to the torso via a flexible neck joint.
2. The toy motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the flexible neck joint
includes a spring.
3. The toy motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the rear wheel is larger
than the front wheel.
4. The toy motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the motorcycle rider
further includes hands that are disproportionately large relative
to the torso.
5. The toy motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the motorcycle rider
further includes feet that are disproportionately large relative to
the torso.
6. The toy motorcycle of claim 5, wherein the feet are longer than
a rim diameter of the front wheel.
7. The toy motorcycle of claim 1, further comprising a seat coupled
to the frame, wherein the seat is lower than a top of the rear
wheel and higher than a top of the front wheel.
8. The toy motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the frame includes finger
gripping portions at least partially covering the rear wheel.
9. A toy motorcycle, comprising: a frame; a front wheel connected
to the frame; a rear wheel connected to the frame, wherein the rear
wheel is larger than the front wheel; a seat coupled to the frame,
wherein the seat is lower than a top of the rear wheel and higher
than a top of the front wheel; a motorcycle rider sized for riding
the toy motorcycle, wherein the motorcycle rider includes: a torso,
and a head connected to the torso via a flexible joint that
facilitates head oscillations.
10. The toy motorcycle of claim 9, wherein the front wheels and
rear wheels are spinable.
11. The toy motorcycle of claim 9, wherein the flexible joint
includes a spring.
12. The toy motorcycle of claim 11, wherein the head is
disproportionately large relative to the torso.
13. The toy motorcycle of claim 9, wherein the motorcycle rider
further includes hands that are disproportionately large relative
to the torso.
14. The toy motorcycle of claim 9, wherein the motorcycle rider
further includes feet that are disproportionately large relative to
the torso.
15. The toy motorcycle of claim 9, wherein the frame includes
finger gripping portions at least partially covering the rear
wheel.
16. A toy motorcycle, comprising: a frame; a front wheel spinably
coupled to the frame; a rear wheel spinably coupled to the frame,
wherein the rear wheel is larger than the front wheel; and a
motorcycle rider sized for riding the toy motorcycle, wherein the
motorcycle rider includes: a torso, and a head that is
disproportionately large relative to the torso, the head being
connected to the torso via a flexible neck joint.
17. The toy motorcycle of claim 16, wherein the motorcycle rider
further includes hands that are disproportionately large relative
to the torso.
18. The toy motorcycle of claim 16, wherein the motorcycle rider
further includes feet that are disproportionately large relative to
the torso.
19. The toy motorcycle of claim 16, wherein the flexible neck joint
includes a spring.
20. The toy motorcycle of claim 16, wherein the frame includes
finger gripping portions at least partially covering the rear
wheel.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
[0001] Children play with toy action figures and toy vehicles in a
variety of different make-believe play patterns. For some types of
play, realistic toys are preferred, and for other types of play,
extraordinary toys that do not realistically portray real-world
objects are preferred. The inventors herein have recognized that
toys that incorporate some realistic aspects with other
extraordinary aspects can be more enjoyable than a purely realistic
toy or a purely extraordinary toy. As such, a toy motorcycle with
some realistic features and some extraordinary features is
provided. The toy motorcycle can include a rider with a
disproportionately large head that is connected to a normal-sized
torso via a flexible joint. The motorcycle rider can be mounted on
a toy motorcycle that includes spinable wheels. As such, the toy
can be rolled in a somewhat realistic manner that emulates the
rolling of a real motorcycle. At the same time, the
motorcycle-rider's head can move in an exaggerated manner as the
motorcycle rolls.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary motorcycle rider on a toy
motorcycle.
[0003] FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway showing the flexible neck joint
of the motorcycle rider of FIG. 1.
WRITTEN DESCRIPTION
[0004] The present application is directed to a motorcycle toy. The
motorcycle toy comprises a motorcycle that is capable of rolling
and a motorcycle rider that has a disproportionately large
bobble-head. The motorcycle may be configured to have a rear wheel
that is larger than a front wheel. The rider may be configured to
have body parts such as head, hands or feet that are
disproportionately large relative to a torso. Thus, the motorcycle
toy possesses some extraordinary aspects that do not portray
real-world objects.
[0005] The combination of motorcycle rolling and wiggling of the
head may create a special effect. For example, since the large and
heavier bobble-head is coupled to a lighter flexible joint, a small
bump on the path of the motorcycle or even slight maneuver of the
motorcycle may result in amplified motion of the head, which can be
appealing to children. As such, the spinable wheels facilitate
exaggerated movement of the bobble-head.
[0006] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary bobble-head motorcycle rider on a
toy motorcycle. A motorcycle 10 comprises a front wheel 12, a rear
wheel 14, and a frame 16. Wheels can be defined by a rim diameter
as illustrated by C and a tire diameter as illustrated by D. Frame
16 may further comprise a seat 18. The frame may include a rear
fender 20. In one example, rear fender 20 may be defined by
substantially flat surfaces to allow fingers to grasp the
motorcycle and manipulate the movement of the motorcycle.
[0007] In the illustrated example, rear wheel 14 is significantly
larger than front wheel 12. Seat 18 is lower than a top of rear
wheel 14 and higher than a top of front wheel 12. Thus, motorcycle
10 resembles an extraordinary toy that does not portray a realistic
motorcycle. Both front wheel 12 and rear wheel 14 may be spinably
coupled to frame 16. In one example, wheels 12 and 14 may be
coupled to frame 16 through axles of the wheels. Thus, the
motorcycle can be rolled forward and backward, and turned to
different directions via a force applied to the toy. In one
example, a user can control the motorcycle by holding gripping
regions located on a rear fender of the motorcycle.
[0008] It should be noted that the sizes of wheels and relative
positions of wheels and seat may be varied. In some embodiments,
motorcycle 10 may be configured to portray a realistic motorcycle.
In some embodiments, motorcycle 10 may be configured to portray a
somewhat fantastical motorcycle.
[0009] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a motorcycle rider 22 is mounted
on motorcycle 10. Rider 22 comprises a head 24, a torso 26, hands
28, and feet 30. In the illustrated example, head 24 is
disproportionately large relative to torso 26. For example, a
largest dimension of head 24 (as indicated by A) is approximately
three times a length of the torso (as indicated by B). A flexible
joint 32 is disposed inside head 24 to couple the head with torso
26. In one embodiment, the flexible joint 32 may include a spring.
In one embodiment, the lowest part of head 24 has a large opening,
thus providing a large degree of head movement via flexible joint
32. The head movement can oscillate in a plane substantially
perpendicular to the axis of flexible joint 32, and/or oscillate
about a resting position of the flexible joint. Since a large and
heavier head is supported by a lighter spring, a slight touch of
head 24, a slight movement of an object attached to the torso, or a
slight movement of the motorcycle may cause a significant motion of
head 24. In the illustrated example, head 24 includes a helmet 34.
The helmet may have any suitable configuration, including a helmet
with a full mouth guard, as shown. Head 24 and the helmet may be an
integrated piece, or the helmet can be removably connected to the
head.
[0010] Hands 28 and/or feet 30 can be configured to be
disproportionately large relative to torso 26. For example, a
length of the hand (indicated by E) may have approximately the same
dimension as the length of top torso, B. In another example, the
length of feet (indicated by F) may be larger than the length of
top torso, B. Further, hands 28 may be configured in such a way
that the rider appears to wear gloves designed for motorcycle
riding. Feet 30 may include boots having a motorcycle themed
appearance. The gloves and boots may be disproportionately large
relative to torso 26. Thus, rider 22 may not portray a realistic
rider with natural proportions. The accessories of the rider, such
as the helmet, gloves and boots may emphases a motorcycle theme in
an exaggerated manner.
[0011] In some embodiments, the size of rider 22 may be configured
to be disproportional relative to motorcycle 10. For example, feet
may be disproportional relative to wheels. In the illustrated
embodiment, the length of a foot, F, may be longer than the rim
diameter C of front wheel 12.
[0012] The motorcycle toy described above may create special
effects that are appealing to children. For example, as motorcycle
10 rolls, head 24 can wiggle or otherwise move. The motion will be
enhanced dramatically when the motorcycle encounters an obstacle
such as a pump. Since a large and heavier head is supported by a
small, light, and flexible joint, even a slightly rough surface or
slight maneuver by children may cause significant motion of the
head. Further, the patterns of the head's motion may change when
the motorcycle rolls in different ways. For example, the motorcycle
may be rolled along a line at different speed combinations such as
fast, slow, and then fast, etc. Also, the motorcycle may be turned
in different directions and at different speeds, or rolled over
different bumps or simulated jumps. The movements described above
will result in amplified motions of the bobble-head in various
patterns and in exaggerated manners. Consequently, users may be
amused by a variety of motions of the bobble-head.
[0013] Furthermore, motorcycle 10 and the rider 22 may attract
consumers such as children and collectors. In particular, a design
in which characteristics of both real-world objects and
extraordinary objects are combined can provide a more interesting
play experience than a strictly toy or fantastical toy that is not
based on a real object. Also, the disproportional body parts of the
rider make the rider look more like a child. Thus, children can
identify with the toy rider as one of their own. In some
embodiments, the motorcycle is not configured in accordance with a
real motorcycle. Further, in some embodiments, since the motorcycle
may be configured to be similar to bikes rode by small children
(e.g., small front wheels, large rear wheels, and lower seat), it
is easy to be accepted by children.
[0014] Frame 16 of motorcycle 10 may include handlebars 36, front
forks 38, and rear forks 40. A stand (not shown) may optionally be
included to support the motorcycle toy and permit the motorcycle
toy to stand by itself.
[0015] In some embodiments, a part of torso 26, hands 28, or feet
30 may be configured to attach to the frame 16 so that the rider
may not be detached from the motorcycle. Alternatively, the rider
may be detachably mounted to the motorcycle so that the rider and
the motorcycle may be two separate pieces and the rider can be
removed from the motorcycle.
[0016] It will be appreciated that the configurations disclosed
herein are exemplary in nature, and that these specific embodiments
are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous
variations are possible. The subject matter of the present
disclosure includes all novel and nonobvious combinations and
subcombinations of the various systems and configurations, and
other features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein.
[0017] The following claims particularly point out certain
combinations and subcombinations regarded as novel and nonobvious.
These claims may refer to "an" element or "a first" element or the
equivalent thereof. Such claims should be understood to include
incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor
excluding two or more such elements. Other combinations and
subcombinations of the disclosed features, functions, elements,
and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present
claims or through presentation of new claims in this or a related
application. Such claims, whether broader, narrower, equal, or
different in scope to the original claims, also are regarded as
included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.
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