초록 ▼

Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded body that has a tread surface, first and second sidewalls and an axis. The body may be configured to rotate about the axis.

Improved blow-molded wheels, methods for producing the same, and children's ride-on vehicles including the same are disclosed. The blow-molded wheels may include a blow-molded body that has a tread surface, first and second sidewalls and an axis. The body may be configured to rotate about the axis. The tread surface may extend circumferentially around the body and may extend between the first and second sidewalls. A first region of the tread surface may be disposed between the first sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded body. A second region of the tread surface may be disposed between the second sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded body. A recessed region may be positioned between the first region and the second region with the radial distance to the recessed region being less than the radial distances to the first and second regions.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A children's ride-on vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body having at least one seat sized for a child; anda plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the vehicle body, wherein the plurality of wheels includes at least one driven wheel and at least one steerable wheel, wherein at least one of the plu

1. A children's ride-on vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body having at least one seat sized for a child; anda plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the vehicle body, wherein the plurality of wheels includes at least one driven wheel and at least one steerable wheel, wherein at least one of the plurality of wheels is a blow-molded wheel that comprises: a blow-molded wheel body having a diameter, an outer surface, first and second sidewalls, a central circumference, and an axis, wherein the blow-molded wheel body is configured to rotate about the axis, wherein the outer surface and the central circumference extend circumferentially around the blow-molded wheel body and between the first and second sidewalls, and wherein the central circumference is equidistant from the first and second sidewalls;a first region of the outer surface, wherein the first region is disposed between the first sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded wheel body;a second region of the outer surface, wherein the second region is disposed between the second sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded wheel body;a recessed region between the first region and the second region, wherein the first region and the second region are directly adjacent to the recessed region, and wherein a first radial distance from the axis to the first region and a second radial distance from the axis to the second region both exceed a third radial distance from the axis to the recessed region by at least the larger of ⅛ inch and 0.1% of the diameter;a third region of the outer surface, wherein the third region is disposed between the first sidewall and the first region; anda fourth region of the outer surface, wherein the fourth region is disposed between the second sidewall and the second region;wherein the third region and the fourth region include a plurality of tread blocks on the outer surface, wherein the plurality of tread blocks are separated and spaced apart from each other on the outer surface. 2. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein the recessed region coincides with the central circumference. 3. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein the recessed region overlaps the central circumference. 4. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein the blow-molded wheel body has a part line, and wherein the recessed region coincides with the part line. 5. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein the blow-molded wheel body has a part line, wherein the central circumference coincides with the part line, and wherein the recessed region overlaps the central circumference. 6. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first region and the second region of the outer surface are smooth around an entire circumference of the blow-molded wheel body. 7. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first radial distance and the second radial distance are generally constant around an entire circumference of the blow-molded wheel body. 8. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first region and the second region of the outer surface are substantially smooth around an entire circumference of the blow-molded wheel body. 9. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of tread blocks have more than one radial distance from the axis to the respective tread block. 10. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the outer surface between the plurality of tread blocks is generally V-shaped. 11. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of tread blocks are generally V-shaped. 12. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of tread blocks are generally U-shaped. 13. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of tread blocks are partially coextensive with the first region and the second region. 14. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of tread blocks extend from an adjacent portion of the outer surface by at least the larger of ⅛ inch and 0.1% of the diameter. 15. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of tread blocks include walls extending from a base surface to define the respective tread blocks, wherein the walls extend at least partially transverse across the outer surface at angles relative to the central circumference. 16. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of tread blocks partially extend onto at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall. 17. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein the recessed region defines a channel having a generally rectangular cross-section and extending around an entire circumference of the blow-molded wheel body. 18. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 17, wherein the channel extends around the central circumference of the blow-molded wheel body. 19. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle further comprises a steering assembly including a steering mechanism configured to receive steering inputs from a child sitting on the at least one seat and a steering linkage configured to convey the steering inputs to the at least one steerable wheel, and wherein the vehicle even further comprises a drive assembly configured to selectively drive the rotation of the at least one driven wheel. 20. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 19, wherein the drive assembly comprises a motor assembly with at least one electric motor configured to drive the rotation of the at least one driven wheel when the motor assembly is energized, and a battery assembly adapted to selectively energize the motor assembly. 21. A children's ride-on vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body having at least one seat sized for a child;a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the vehicle body, wherein the plurality of wheels includes at least one driven wheel and at least one steerable wheel, wherein at least one of the plurality of wheels is a blow-molded wheel that comprises: a blow-molded wheel body having a diameter, an outer surface, first and second sidewalls, a central circumference, and an axis, wherein the blow-molded wheel body is configured to rotate about the axis, wherein the outer surface and the central circumference extend circumferentially around the blow-molded wheel body and between the first and second sidewalls, and wherein the central circumference is equidistant from the first and second sidewalls;a first region of the outer surface, wherein the first region is disposed between the first sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded wheel body, and wherein the first region is smooth with a first radial distance from the axis to the first region that is generally constant around an entire circumference of the blow-molded wheel body;a second region of the outer surface, wherein the second region is disposed between the second sidewall and the central circumference of the blow-molded wheel body, and wherein the second region is smooth with a second radial distance from the axis to the second region that is generally constant around an entire circumference of the blow-molded wheel body;a recessed region between the first region and the second region, wherein the first region and the second region are directly adjacent to the recessed region, and wherein the first radial distance and the second radial distance both exceed a third radial distance from the axis to the recessed region by at least the larger of ⅛ inch and 0.1% of the diameter;a third region of the outer surface, wherein the third region is disposed between the first sidewall and the first region, and wherein the third region includes a plurality of spaced-apart tread blocks on the outer surface; anda fourth region of the outer surface, wherein the fourth region is disposed between the second sidewall and the second region, and wherein fourth region includes a plurality of spaced-apart tread blocks on the outer surface. 22. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 21, wherein the vehicle further comprises a steering assembly including a steering mechanism configured to receive steering inputs from a child sitting on the at least one seat and a steering linkage configured to convey the steering inputs to the at least one steerable wheel, and wherein the vehicle even further comprises a drive assembly configured to selectively drive the rotation of the at least one driven wheel. 23. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 22, wherein the drive assembly comprises a motor assembly with at least one electric motor configured to drive the rotation of the at least one driven wheel when the motor assembly is energized, and a battery assembly adapted to selectively energize the motor assembly.