Child's riding bike that converts between a balance bike and a pedal-powered bicycle

Abstract

A child's riding vehicle can be quickly reconfigured between a balance bike configuration and a pedal-powered bicycle is configuration, suitable for children of different ages, without removing any parts to be stored separately. The pedal crank arms can be repositioned on the crank and the pedal axles can be pivoted so that in the balance bike configuration: the pedal crank arms are positioned adjacent to one another and generally upward; the pedal axles are pointed mostly rearwardly but also slightly inwardly rather than extending transversely side-to-side; and the crank arms and pedal axles are telescoped in. The result is that in the balance bike configuration the pedals and crank arms are compacted and folded out of the way so as not to interfere with the child riding the vehicle.

1 . A child's riding vehicle that converts from a child's balance bike configuration to a pedal-powered bicycle configuration, wherein an X-direction is defined as a direction of travel of the vehicle, a Y direction is defined as transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle, and a Z-direction is defined as being vertical, the vehicle having:
 a left side pedal having a left side pedal axle, the left side pedal axle being affixed to a left side pedal crank arm;   a right side pedal having a right side pedal axle, the right side pedal axle being affixed to a right side pedal crank arm, the left and right side pedal crank arms extending in the +Y direction and the −Y direction, respectively, when the vehicle is being used in the pedal-powered bicycle configuration;   a crank to which the left and right side pedal crank arms are affixed, and about which the left and right side pedal crank arms rotate;   a lock for selectively locking the left and right side pedal crank arms into:
 i) a first position in which the left and right side pedal crank arms are parallel to each other and extend in a common direction, for when the vehicle is being used as a child's balance bike; and 
 ii) a second position in which the left and right side pedal crank arms are parallel to each other and extend in opposing directions, for when the vehicle is being used in the pedal-powered bicycle configuration; 
   a left side pedal pivot for allowing the left side pedal axle to pivot from a normal position extending in the +Y direction, to a stowed position in which the left side pedal axle does not extend substantially in the +Y direction; and   a right side pedal pivot for allowing the right side pedal axle to pivot from a normal position extending in the −Y direction, to a stowed position in which the right side pedal axle does not extend substantially in the −Y direction; whereby a width of the vehicle in the Y direction as measured pedal-to-pedal is reduced when the pedal axles are pivoted into their respective stowed positions.   
     
     
         2 . The child's riding vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the left and right side pedal pivots comprise concentric first and second members that are rotatable and lockable relative to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The child's riding vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein a +Z direction extends perpendiculalry to the +X direction and the +Y direction, the +X direction and the +Z direction define an X-Z plane, and when the left side pedal axle and the right side pedal axle are each in their respective stowed positions, the left and right side pedal axles each extend parallel to an X-Z plane. 
     
     
         4 . The child's riding vehicle of  claim 1 , when the left side pedal axle and the right side pedala axle are each in their respective stowed positions, the left side pedal axle and the right side pedal axle each extend inwardly toward a center line of the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . A child's riding vehicle that converts from a child's balance bike configuration to a pedal-powered bicycle configuration, where an X-direction is defined as a direction of travel of the vehicle, a Y direction is defined as transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle, and a Z-direction is defined as being vertical, the vehicle having:
 a left side pedal crank arm attached to a left side pedal, the left side pedal having an axle;   a right side pedal crank arm attached to a right side pedal, the right side pedal having an axle;   a crank about which the left and right side pedal crank arms rotate, the left and right side pedal crank arms being affixed to the crank and providing motive force thereto when the vehicle is being used in the pedal-powered bicycle configuration;   a lock for selectively locking the left and right side pedal crank arms into:
 i) a first position in which the left and right side pedal crank arms are parallel to each other and extend in opposing directions, for when the vehicle is being used in the pedal-powered bicycle configuration; and 
 ii) a second position in which the left and right side pedal crank arms are parallel to each other and extend in a common direction, for when the vehicle is being used in the child's balance bike configuration. 
   
     
     
         6 . The child's riding vehicle of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a left side pedal pivot for allowing the left side pedal axle to pivot from a normal position extending in the +Y direction, to a stowed position in which the left side pedal axle does not extend substantially in the +Y direction;   a right side pedal pivot for allowing the right side pedal axle to pivot from a normal position extending in the −Y direction, to a stowed position in which the right side pedal axle does not extend substantially in the −Y direction, whereby a width of the vehicle from the −Y direction to the +Y direction as measured pedal-to-pedal is reduced when the left side and right side pedal axles are pivoted into their respective stowed positions; and   a retainer for retaining at least one of the right and left side pedals in a predefined rotational position about the crank when the vehicle is being used in the child's balance bike configuration.   
     
     
         7 . The child's riding vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein a +Z direction extends perpendicularly to the +X direction and the +Y direction, and the +X direction and the +Z direction define an X-Z plane, and when the left side and right side pedal axles are in their respective stowed positions, the left and right side pedal axles extend parallel to the X-Z plane and inwardly toward a centerline of the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The child's riding vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein one of said left and right side pedal crank arms is removable from the crank and repositionable on the crank at either one of said first position and said second position. 
     
     
         9 . The child's riding vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein said one of said left and right side pedal crank arms is removable from the crank via a threaded member that extends through a hole in said one of said left and right side pedal crank arms and engages a hole in the crank, such that disengaging the threaded member from the hole in the crank allows one of said left and right side pedal crank arms to be removed from the crank shaft and repositioned thereon. 
     
     
         10 . The child's riding vehicle of  claim 5 , further comprising a retainer for retaining at least one of the right and left side pedals in a predefined rotational position about the crank when the vehicle is being used in the child's balance bike configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The child's riding vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the retainer comprises a spring clip that receives and releasably retains the at least one of the right and left side pedals as the respective pedal axle is pivoted to its stowed position. 
     
     
         12 . The child's riding vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein each of said left and right pedal axes defines a respective spinning axis, and each of said right and left pedals includes a respective pedal spin lock that selectively prevents the respective pedal from spinning about its respective spinning axis. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The child's riding vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein each of the pedals has a respective pedal platform; and the pedal spin locks are configured to lock the pedals such that the pedal platforms are oriented vertically. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A child's riding vehicle that converts from a child's balance bike configuration to a pedal-powered bicycle configuration, where an X-direction is defined as a direction of travel of the vehicle, a Y direction is defined as transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle, and a Z-direction is defined as being vertical, the vehicle having:
 a left side pedal and a left side pedal crank arm attached thereto, the left side pedal having an axle;   a right side pedal and a right side pedal crank arm attached thereto, the right side pedal having an axle;   a crank about which the left and right side pedal crank arms rotate, the left and right side pedal crank arms being affixed to the crank and providing motive force thereto when the vehicle is being used as in the pedal-powered bicycle configuration;   a left side pedal pivot for allowing the left side pedal axle to pivot from a normal position extending a first distance in the +Y direction to a stowed position in which the left side pedal axle extends a second distance in the +Y direction, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance; and   a right side pedal pivot for allowing the right side pedal axle to pivot from a normal position extending a third distance in the −Y direction to a stowed position in which the right side pedal axle extends a fourth distance in the −Y direction, wherein the fourth distance is less than the third distance, whereby a width of the vehicle from the −Y direction to the +Y direction as measured pedal-to-pedal is reduced when the pedal axles are pivoted into their respective stowed positions.   
     
     
         17 . The child's riding vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein each of said right and left pedal axes defines a respective spinning axis, and the child's riding vehicle further comprises left and right side pedal spin lock that selectively prevents the respective pedal from spinning about its respective pedal axle. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The child's riding vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein each pedal pivot comprises:
 a outer tube and an inner member concentric therewith, the outer tube and the inner member rotatable 90° relative to one another between said normal position and said stowed position.   
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A child's riding vehicle that converts from a child's balance bike configuration to a pedal-powered bicycle configuration, where an X-direction is defined as a direction of travel of the vehicle, a Y direction is defined as transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle bicycle, and a Z-direction is defined as being vertical, the vehicle having two wheels, left and right side pedals having respective pedal axles, and left and right side pedal crank arms connected to a crank, wherein in the pedal-powered bicycle configuration, the left and right side pedal crank arms extend in opposing directions, the left and right side pedal axles extend outwardly in the ±Y directions, bike configuration, the left and right side pedal crank arms extend in a common direction, thereby reducing a pedal-to-pedal width of the vehicle relative to the pedal-to-pedal width when the vehicle is in the pedal-powered bicycle configuration. 
     
     
         22 . The child's riding vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein in the balance bike configuration, the left and right side pedal crank arms extend vertically and rearwardly to respective positions from the respective crank to which each said pedal crank arm is affixed, and are retained at said respective positions. 
     
     
         23 . The child's riding vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein each of the pedals has a respective pedal platform, and in the balance bike configuration the pedal platforms extend vertically to respective positions and are retained at said respective positions.