Toy Airplane

Abstract

A toy airplane that can be pushed and steered by a walking child has a pair of stationary (i.e. non-turnable or non-steerable) rear wheels and a rotatable (i.e. turnable or steerable) front wheel. A steering shaft extends upwards and backwards from the back of the plane, and is operable by the child to steer and push the plane. The steering shaft is connected by a gearing system to the turnable front wheel. The gearing system is made up of a rotatable horizontal connecting shaft that engages the steering shaft at one end and the front wheel axle at the other end. Rotation of the steering shaft causes the horizontal connecting shaft to rotate, which causes the front wheel axle to turn, thereby turning the front wheel and steering the plane in a desired direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy airplane that can be pushed and steered by a child, comprising:
 an airplane structure having a fuselage and wings;   stationary rear wheels attached under the wings;   a rotatable front wheel attached to the fuselage;   a rotatable steering shaft extending up and back from the airplane structure;   a gearing system connecting the rotatable steering shaft to the rotatable front wheel;   wherein rotation of the steering shaft by a child rotates the front wheel.   
     
     
         2 . The toy airplane of  claim 1  wherein the gearing system comprises a substantially horizontal rotatable connecting shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The toy airplane of  claim 2  wherein the gearing system further comprises a front gear attached to the front end of the connecting shaft and a rear gear attached to the rear end of the connecting shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The toy airplane of  claim 3  further comprising a steering shaft gear attached to the end of the steering shaft and engaging the rear gear of the connecting shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The toy airplane of  claim 4  further comprising a substantially vertical axle connected to the front wheel and a front wheel turning gear attached to the top of the vertical axle and engaging the front gear of the connecting shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The toy airplane of  claim 5  further comprising a support block fixedly mounted in the airplane structure, the connecting shaft being rotatably mounted therein. 
     
     
         7 . The toy airplane of  claim 1  wherein the airplane structure comprises a body or cabin superstructure and a wing structure joined together. 
     
     
         8 . The toy airplane of  claim 1  further comprising a handle or steering wheel attached to the steering shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The toy airplane of  claim 1  further comprising a steering shaft guide tube fixedly attached to the airplane structure and extending up and back therefrom, the steering shaft being rotatably mounted therein. 
     
     
         10 . The toy airplane of  claim 1  wherein the rear wheels and front wheel comprise a two wheel set.