AU708357B1

AU708357B1 - Hand held stabilizing bar for a child's bicycle

Info

Publication number: AU708357B1
Application number: AU23808/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Pearlman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-04-15
Filing date: 1999-04-15
Publication date: 1999-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-15
Also published as: CA2304382A1

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT HAND HELD STABILIZING BAR FOR A CHILD'S

BICYCLE

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: HAND HELD STABILIZING BAR FOR A CHILD'S BICYCLE This invention relates to an adult stabilizing a'child's bicycle while the child is riding it.

Most children learning to ride their first two wheel bicycle with training wheels face the following three major difficulties: 1) balance on uneven ground like a sloped gutter or side of a hill, as even with training wheels the child tends to lean forward shifting the center of gravity, causing the bicycle to topple over, 2) activating the brakes to effectively stop in a hurry at the end of a path or any other danger, 3) keeping up a regular pace particularly up a small incline.

These problems are overcome by the present invention, which after connecting the base plate stabilizing bar to the rear of the child's bicycle, allows an adult to walk behind the bicycle holding onto the bar and controlling the bicycle, preventing it from toppling over if on uneven ground like a sloped gutter or side of a hill, and help slow or speed up the bicycle if the child is unable to do so.

This hand held stabilizing bar device for a child's bicycle has the inventive step of a no tools required, quick release stabilizing bar that differs from previous devices as the previous devices are fixed to the bicycle frame by at least one and sometimes four nuts, making removal time consuming as the use of tools is required and difficult for some people, therefore when the bicycle is in a flat secure yard or inside a house the previous devices are not likely to be removed and would be very cumbersome whereas this hand held stabilizing bar device for a child's bicycle overcomes this problem.

The invention consists of the following two parts: 1) the base plate which attaches to the rear of the bicycle with a bolt 2) the stabilizing bar which is attached to the base plate with a depress-able spring clip. This allows the bar to be easily removed while not in use for example, if the child was riding inside a house or a flat secured yard.

The base plate and stabilizing bar may be made of any suitable material, such as metal or moulded plastic.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings will which will show one example of the invention.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 2 shows one example of a hand held stabilizing bar for a child's bicycle according to this invention; FIG. 3 shows the application of such a hand held stabilizing bar for a child's bicycle.

Referring to FIG. 1 2 it can be seen that the hand held stabilizing bar for a child's bicycle according to this invention comprises of a base plate 1 with a tubular bar housing 5 welded to it and a hole 3 through which a bolt is passed after being first passed through a hole on the horizontal cross bar on the rear frame of a child's bicycle above the rear wheel, when turned clockwise this bolt will tighten against a welded nut 4 on the rear of the base plate, therefore attaching the base plate to the bicycle's frame 6.

The stabilizing bar 2 once inserted into the housing 5 will click into place with a depress-able spring clip 7.

FIG. 3 shows the hand held stabilizing bar for a child's bicycle in operation. It can be seen that a bicycle 6 with the hand held stabilizing bar for a child's bicycle attached to it, enables an adult to have control over the bicycles movement.

It will be realized that the hand held stabilizing bar for a child's bicycle according to this invention is not restricted to the form of attachment to the bicycle shown in the example (a hole 3 through which a bolt is passed after beingfirstpassed through a hole on the horizontal cross bar on the rearframe ofa child's bicycle above the rear wheel, when turned clockwise this bolt will tighten against a welded nut on the rear of the base plate), but may use a separate horizontal bar or any other suitable arrangement if this hole in the bicycle frame is already in use with caliper brakes, a reflector or for any other purpose. The base plate may also be welded to the frame of the bicycle in the manufacturing stage.

Claims

1. A hand held stabilizing bar device for a child's bicycle comprising of two parts being, a base plate which attaches to the rear of a bicycle by way of a bolt, and a quick release stabilizing bar with a no bolt and nut arrangement to fix it to the base plate, and which once attached to the base plate by way of a depress able clip gives another person the ability to control the speed and stability of the bicycle by holding the bar.

2. The hand held stabilizing bar device for a child's bicycle of claim 1 where in the base plate, comprises of a plate with a tubular bar housing welded to it and a hole through which a bolt is passed after being first passed through a hole on the horizontal cross bar on the rear frame of a child's bicycle above the rear wheel, when turned clockwise this bolt will tighten against a welded nut on the rear of the base plate, therefore attaching the base plate to the bicycle's frame.

3. The hand held stabilizing bar device for a child's bicycle of claim 1 where the stabilizing bar has a depress able clip that once inserted into the tubular housing on the base plate will protrude back up a hole in the housing, thereby locking the bar into the housing and forming a constant structure between the bicycle and a hand holding the end of the bar.

4. The hand held stabilizing bar device for a child's bicycle of claim 2 where the base plate may be attached with a separate horizontal bar or any other suitable arrangement if this hole in the bicycle frame is already in use with caliper brakes, a reflector or any other purpose.

The hand held stabilizing bar device for a child's bicycle of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the hand held stabilizing bar for a child's bicycle is made of plastic.

6. The hand held stabilizing bar device for a child's bicycle of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the hand held stabilizing bar for a child's bicycle is made of metal.

7. The hand held stabilizing bar device for a child's bicycle of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the base plate may be welded to the frame of the bicycle in the manufacturing stage.

8. A hand held stabilizing bar device for a child's bicycle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. MICHAEL PEARLMAN 1 JUNE 1999 (Name of Applicant) (Date)