Hand-Pushable Toy Vehicle

Abstract

A hand-pushable toy vehicle is disclosed. The hand-pushable toy vehicle consists of a platform and wheels capable of accepting a platform skin having an outer appearance of a vehicle. The platform includes a handle arrangement extending upwardly from the platform and positioned to be held in both hands of a child operator during manipulation of the hand-pushable toy vehicle. The hand-pushable toy vehicle is capable of supporting at least a portion of the child operator's weight while the child operator is in contact with the handle arrangement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hand-pushable toy vehicle comprising:
 a platform arrangement capable of receiving and operatively connecting to a platform skin having an outer appearance of a vehicle;   two front wheels rotatably coupled to the platform arrangement, wherein the front wheels rotate independently of each other;   two rear wheels rotatably coupled to the platform arrangement, wherein the rear wheels rotate independently of each other; and   a handle arrangement extending upwardly from the platform arrangement and positioned to be held in both hands of a child operator during manipulation of the hand-pushable toy vehicle;   wherein the hand-pushable toy vehicle is between 4 inches and 18 inches in height, between 5 and 18 inches in width, between 10 and 24 inches in length and capable of supporting at least a portion of the child operator's weight while the child operator is in contact with the handle arrangement.   
     
     
         2 . The hand-pushable toy vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a platform skin constructed at least partially from a piece of injectable mold plastic, the platform skin including at least one tab operatively connecting the platform skin to the platform arrangement.   
     
     
         3 . The hand-pushable toy vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the platform skin resembles a truck, sedan, limousine, convertible, tank, emergency vehicle, spacecraft, buggy, race car, or other commercially available automobile. 
     
     
         4 . The hand-pushable toy vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the platform skin further comprises at least a first handle and a second handle, the first handle positioned horizontally across the platform arrangement from the second handle. 
     
     
         5 . The hand-pushable toy vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the hand-pushable toy vehicle is between approximately 8 inches and approximately 24 inches in height, between approximately 4 and approximately 18 inches in width, between approximately 10 and approximately 24 inches in length, and the platform arrangement is sized and shaped to prohibit a passenger from riding on the hand-pushable toy vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The hand-pushable toy vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising at least two additional wheels rotatably coupled to the platform arrangement, wherein the wheels are positioned horizontally across the platform arrangement from each other. 
     
     
         7 . The hand-pushable toy vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the handle arrangement is adjustable along a vertical plane. 
     
     
         8 . The hand-pushable toy vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the handle arrangement is adjustable along a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         9 . The hand-pushable toy vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the handle arrangement includes:
 a first handle and a second handle; and   a first handle attachment and a second handle attachment;   wherein the first handle attachment fixedly connects the first handle to the platform arrangement and the second handle attachment fixedly connects the second handle to the platform arrangement.   
     
     
         10 . The hand-pushable toy vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the first handle and the first handle attachment are positioned horizontally across the platform arrangement from the second handle and second handle attachment. 
     
     
         11 . The hand-pushable toy vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the first handle and the second handle are positioned at a width greater than the platform arrangement width. 
     
     
         12 . The hand-pushable toy vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the first handle and the second handle are positioned at a width greater than the platform arrangement width. 
     
     
         13 . The hand-pushable toy vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the two front wheels mount to the platform arrangement at a common mounting location. 
     
     
         14 . The hand-pushable toy vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the two rear wheels mount to the platform arrangement at a common mounting location. 
     
     
         15 . A hand-pushable toy vehicle comprising:
 a platform arrangement having a front, a rear, and opposing sides, the platform arrangement capable of receiving and operatively connecting to a platform skin having an outer appearance of a vehicle;   two front wheels rotatably coupled to the platform arrangement at a first common mounting location proximate to the front of the platform arrangement, wherein the front wheels rotate independently of each other;   two rear wheels rotatably coupled to the platform arrangement at a second common mounting location proximate to the rear of the platform arrangement, wherein the rear wheels rotate independently of each other; and   a pair of handles extending upwardly from the platform arrangement along the sides of the platform arrangement and at opposing positions between the first common mounting location and the second common mounting location, each of the handles having an adjustable height and positioned to be held in a hand of a child operator during manipulation of the hand-pushable toy vehicle;   wherein the hand-pushable toy vehicle is capable of supporting at least a portion of the child operator's weight while the child operator is in contact with the handle arrangement; and   wherein the hand-pushable toy vehicle is between approximately 8 inches and approximately 24 inches in height, between approximately 4 and approximately 18 inches in width, between approximately 10 and approximately 24 inches in length and, and the platform arrangement is sized and shaped to prohibit a passenger from riding on the hand-pushable toy vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . A hand-pushable toy vehicle comprising:
 a platform arrangement having a front, a rear, and opposing sides, the platform arrangement integrated with a platform skin having an outer appearance of a vehicle;   two front wheels rotatably coupled to the platform arrangement at a first common mounting location proximate to the front of the platform arrangement, wherein the front wheels rotate independently of each other;   two rear wheels rotatably coupled to the platform arrangement at a second common mounting location proximate to the rear of the platform arrangement, wherein the rear wheels rotate independently of each other; and   a pair of handles integrated into the platform skin at opposing positions between the first common mounting location and the second common mounting location and positioned to be held in a hand of a child operator during manipulation of the hand-pushable toy vehicle;   wherein the hand-pushable toy vehicle is capable of supporting at least a portion of the child operator's weight while the child operator is in contact with the handle arrangement; and   wherein the hand-pushable toy vehicle is between approximately 8 inches and approximately 24 inches in height, between approximately 4 and approximately 18 inches in width, between approximately 10 and approximately 24 inches in length, and the platform arrangement is sized and shaped to prohibit a passenger from riding on the hand-pushable toy vehicle.