FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to two-wheeler training wheels more commonly referred as balancing wheels and pertains, more particularly to an improved balancing wheel apparatus that allows a restricted range of adjustable self-alignment of the wheels in the direction of vehicle travel. The adjustable balancing wheel apparatus of this invention is an improvement over conventional fixed balancing wheels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The conventional fixed balancing wheel provides a pair of side-mounted wheels on a two-wheeler. The wheels are fixed in place when initially installed on the two-wheeler.

Typically, the initial placement puts the wheel's surface on the ground, thereby providing stability same as to four wheeled vehicle to the two wheeled vehicle. As the two-wheeler rider gains skill and confidence the wheels are adjusted upward with respect to the surface of the ground. The balancing wheels no longer ride along the ground and the rider must improve his or her balance to ride the two-wheeler. Eventually the rider learns to ride the two-wheeler and the balancing wheels are removed.

A limitation associated with a conventional balancing wheel assembly of the aforementioned type relates to the reduction of stability provided by the assembly when the front wheel of the vehicle is turned to effect a steering change, and is due, at least in part, to this rigid arrangement which does not permit the alignment of balancing wheels in the direction of vehicle travel during the course of a steering change. As during turning, the vehicle pivots around the point of intersection of the axis of rotation of the front and the rear wheel. However as the balancing wheels have no freedom to align themselves, there axis of rotation does not coincide with the pivot point, which may results in steering difficulties and reduction of stability of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved adjustable balancing wheel apparatus that is adapted to provide a restricted range of adjustable self-alignment, in the direction of vehicle travel, on contact with the ground during turning.

In an embodiment of the invention a resilient member is used that limits the range of vertical self-alignment. As the wheel self-aligns during turning, the resilient member is subjected to a torsion force and the resilient member absorbs energy, the force necessary to further twist the resilient member increases to a point where the resilient member acts as a solid restricting any further movement. Thus, limiting the self-alignment based on the characteristics of the resilient member used.

In another embodiment the range of self-alignment, is determined by the external limiters that restrict the maximum range of self-alignment.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a step-through type two-wheeler vehicle illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 depict the frame used in two-wheeler vehicle of Figure. 1 illustrating an embodiment of the invention

Figure 3 (a) and 3 (b) depicts a perspective view of the improved adjustable balancing wheel apparatus attached to the stand of vehicle depicted in Figure. 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the left sub assembly of the improved adjustable balancing wheel apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the upper support member of the left sub assembly of the improved adjustable balancing wheel apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the lower support member of the left sub assembly of the improved adjustable balancing wheel apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 7 depicts constructional details of the joint assembly used to flexibly connect the upper support member and the lower support in the sub assemblies of the improved adjustable balancing wheel apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 8 is sectional view of the joint assembly along the line AA used to flexibly connect the upper support member and the lower support in the sub assemblies of the improved adjustable balancing wheel apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 9 depict constructional details of the joint assembly having external limiters used to flexibly connect the upper support member and the lower support in the sub assemblies of the improved adjustable balancing wheel apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a preferred embodiment for the adjustable balancing wheel apparatus of this invention. The adjustable balancing wheel apparatus is described in combination with a conventional two-wheeled vehicle.

Figure 1 and Figure 2 depicts a two-wheeled motor vehicle, indicated by reference numeral 01, is a step through type two-wheeled motor vehicle mainly composed of a body frame 07, a front fork 02 attached to a head pipe 08 of the body frame 07, a front wheel 04 secured to the front fork 02 and a handle bar 03 further attached to the front fork 02. Furthermore, an engine 05 is mounted to a rear portion of the body frame 07, a rear wheel 06 is secured to the body frame 07 in a vertically swing able manner. A stand 10 is provided to support the vehicle 01 while parked.

With reference to Figure 2, Figure 3(a) and Figure 3 (b), depicts the balancing wheel assembly of the present invention comprising left side sub assembly 12 and right side sub assembly 11 secured to the stand 10 comprising left stand member 10A and right stand member 10B.

Figure 4 illustrates in detail the left sub assembly 12 of the adjustable balancing wheel apparatus of the invention; in the present embodiment said left sub assembly 12 of adjustable balancing wheel apparatus comprises an upper support member 13, a lower support member 14, a wheel 15 and a joint assembly 17 to secure the upper support member 13 and the lower support member 14 such that limited rotational motion between the upper support member 13 and the lower support member 14 is permitted which in turn enables adjustable self-alignment of the wheel along the travelling direction of the vehicle.

A preferred embodiment of the upper support member and the lower support member is illustrated in the drawing Figures 5 and 6.

The upper support member 13 is in shape of a letter "L" with the ends 22, 23 bended in the direction perpendicular to the plane containing the "L" shaped structure. Both bent ends 22, 23 extends in the same direction wherein one of the said end 22 incorporates a first groove 16A and a post 24 secured to the "L" structure parallel to the extended end 22 supports the second groove 16B such that axis of first 16A and second grooves 16B remains parallel to each other. The grooves 16A, 16B facilitates attachment of the balancing wheel assembly to the structural member of the two-wheeler. The said left sub assembly 12 of the balancing wheel assembly in the present embodiment is attached to the left stand member 10A, similar construction is adopted for the right sub assembly 11 and is secured to the right stand member 10B. This arrangement is exemplary without limitation as the said balancing wheel assembly can be mounted on any structural member of the vehicle in any suitable manner. The second one of the said ends 23 is secured to one of the two end of the lower support member 14, that has an arc shape, with the wheel 15 secured at other one of the said ends in a manner that the wheel 15 is free to rotate about its axis. The arc shapes depends upon the amount of trail required for the adjustable self-alignment of the wheels based on the vehicles motion forces and further the axis of limited rotational motion between the upper support member 13 and the lower support member 14 lies in the centre plane of the said wheel 15.

In an embodiment the joint assembly 17 flexibly securing the upper support member 13 and the lower support member 14 comprises of first 18 and second metal sleeves 20 wherein the second metal sleeve 20 is coaxially and rotatably inserted inside the first metal sleeve 18, an intermediate connecting member 19 such as a rubber bush that also acts as resilient member is inserted in the space created between the external surface of second sleeve 20 and internal surface of first sleeve 18, in a manner so as to restrict the relative rotational motion between the first 18 and the second sleeve 20.

In this arrangement the rubber bush 19 provides torsion resistance to the relative motion between the lower support member 14 attached rigidly to the outer surface of first sleeve 18 and upper support member 13 attached to the inner surface of the second sleeve 20 by any appropriate means, as the wheel self aligns, the resilient member 19 is subjected to a torsion force and the resilient member 19 absorbs energy, the force necessary to further twist the resilient member 19 increases to a point where the resilient member acts as a solid restricting any further movement. Thus, limiting the vertical self-alignment based on the characteristics of the rubber bush used.

In another embodiment of the invention, the rotation between the said sleeves 18, 20 is restricted by using first external limiters 21 and second external limiters 22 provided on the first metal sleeve 18 and a third external limiters 23 provided on the upper support member 13 in such a manner that relative motion between the upper support member 13 and the lower support member 14 in one direction is restricted by the contact of first external limiter 21 and in other direction by second 22 with the third external limiter 23.

Hence, restricting the range of relative motion between the lower support member 14 and the upper support member 13 and consequently limiting the range of self-alignment.

In the present embodiment the wheel 15 is secured to the said end of the lower support member 14 through a slot provided in a manner such that it is free to rotate about its axis of rotation.

The right sub assembly 11 is also constructed in particularly the same manner with or without alteration of dimensions based on the vehicle design requirements.

The amount of vertical self-adjustment desired may vary based on the vehicle design.
From the foregoing description those skilled in the art will appreciate that all of the objects of the present invention are realized.

While specific embodiments have been shown and described, many variations are possible. The particular shapes and dimensions may be changed if necessary to suit other equipment with which the invention is used. The stopping member materials may vary however rubber is preferred. The final durometer of the rubber (or equivalent material) can be determined to suit the particular application. It is conceivable that another resilient member other than a rubber bush may be used.

Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made of the invention without departing from its spirit. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A self-aligning training wheel apparatus comprising;

an upper support member having an upper end portion, and a lower end portion, wherein the upper end portion comprises a means for securing the training wheel apparatus to the vehicle;

a lower support member having an upper end portion, and a lower end portion, the upper end portion of the lower support member attached to the lower end portion of the upper support member;

a joint assembly attaching the lower end portion of the upper support member to the upper end portion of the lower support member, so as to allow a predefined rotational movement between the upper support member and the lower support member across an axis; and

a wheel attached to the lower end portion of the lower support member.

2. The self-aligning training wheel apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper support member comprises a substantially L-shaped frame and the lower support member comprises a substantially, arch shaped frame.

3. The self-aligning training wheel apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said joint assembly comprises:

a first sleeve having an outer surface, an inner surface and a circular cross-section, wherein, the outer surface of said first sleeve is rigidly secured to the lower end portion of the upper support member;

a second sleeve having an outer surface, an inner surface and a circular cross-section, wherein, the upper end portion of the lower support member is secure to the inner surface of said second sleeve;

the inner cross-section defined by the inner surface of the first sleeve is larger than the outer cross-section defined by the outer surface of the second sleeve so as to arrange the second sleeve coaxially and rotatably inside the first sleeve; and

a resilient damping member is inserted in the space defined by the inner surface of first sleeve and the outer surface of second sleeve;

wherein the first sleeve and the second sleeve are made up of metal and the resilient dampening member is comprising rubber,

4. The self-aligning training wheel apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resilient member is adapted so as to restrict the range of rotational movement of lower support member with respect to the upper support member.

5. The self-aligning training wheel apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said axis of rotation of the lower support member with respect to the upper support member lies in the central plane of the said wheel.

6. A two wheeled vehicle with a self-aligning training wheel apparatus comprising;
an upper support member having an upper end portion, and a lower end portion, wherein the upper end portion comprises a means for securing the training wheel apparatus to the vehicle;

a lower support member having an upper end portion, and a lower end portion, the upper end portion of the lower support member attached to the lower end portion of the upper support member;

a joint assembly attaching the lower end portion of the upper support member to the upper end portion of the lower support member, so as to allow a predefined rotational movement between the upper support member and the lower support member across an axis; and

a wheel attached to the lower end portion of the lower support member.

7. The two wheeled vehicle with the self-aligning training wheel apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the upper support member comprises a substantially L-shaped frame and the lower support member comprises a substantially, arch shaped frame.

8. The two wheeled vehicle with the self-aligning training wheel apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said joint assembly comprises:

a first sleeve having an outer surface, an inner surface and a circular cross-section, wherein, the outer surface of said first sleeve is rigidly secured to the lower end portion of the upper support member;

a second sleeve having an outer surface, an inner surface and a circular cross-section, wherein, the upper end portion of the lower support member is secure to the inner surface of said second sleeve;

the inner cross-section defined by the inner surface of the first sleeve is larger than the outer cross-section defined by the outer surface of the

second sleeve so as to arrange the second sleeve coaxially and rotatably inside the first sleeve; and

a resilient damping member is inserted in the space defined by the inner surface of first sleeve and the outer surface of second sleeve;

wherein the first sleeve and the second sleeve are made up of metal and the resilient dampening member is comprising rubber.

9. The two wheeled vehicle with the self-aligning training wheel apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the resilient member is adapted so as to restrict the range of rotational movement of lower support member with respect to the upper support member.

10. The two wheeled vehicle with the self-aligning training wheel apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, wherein, said axis of rotation of the lower support member with respect to the upper support member lies in the central plane of the said wheel.