Child vehicle with tool-less components and associated methods

A child vehicle, comprising:

• a front frame assembly including at least one front wheel;
• a steerer for turning the at least one front wheel;
• a rear frame assembly pivotally connected to the front frame assembly and including a rear wheel axle;
• and
• a rear wheel positively connected to the rear wheel axle by a tool-less connector, wherein the tool-less connector comprises:
• a locking element carried by the rear wheel and moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position;
• and
• a groove in the rear wheel axle,
• wherein at least a portion of the locking element resides in the groove when in the locked position to thereby restrict movement of the rear wheel relative to the rear wheel axle,
• wherein no portion of the locking element resides in the groove when in the unlocked position to thereby allow movement of the rear wheel relative to the rear wheel axle, and
• wherein the locking element includes an oval aperture having a first portion with a first radius and a second portion with a second radius, and wherein the second radius is smaller than the first radius.

A method of tool-less assembly of a child vehicle, comprising:

• providing a front frame assembly including at least one front wheel;
• providing a steerer for turning the at least one front wheel;
• providing a rear frame assembly including a rear wheel axle;
• providing a rear wheel including a central hub having a wheel mounting sleeve and a tool-less connector, the tool-less connector comprising a spring-biased locking element having a locked position and an unlocked position located in the central hub adjacent the wheel mounting sleeve and a groove formed in the rear wheel axle adjacent the end;
• inserting an end of the rear wheel axle into the wheel mounting sleeve;
• and
• connecting the rear wheel to the rear wheel axle using the tool-less connector, comprising
• moving the locking element from the locked position to the unlocked position;
• inserting the rear wheel axle through an aperture in the locking element;
• moving the locking element to the locked position to engage a portion of the locking element within the groove of the rear wheel axle.

A child vehicle, comprising:

• a front frame assembly including a handlebar with a steering tube and a front fork having a fork stem and a front wheel;
• a rear frame assembly including a head tube and at least one rear wheel;
• and
• a sleeve assembly mounted to the front frame assembly and engaging the rear frame assembly to rotatably connect the front and rear frame assemblies in a tool-less manner,
• wherein the sleeve assembly includes an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve connected to the inner sleeve,
• wherein the inner sleeve is positively connected to the front frame assembly by a first tool-less connector, and
• wherein the first tool-less connector comprises a spring clip on the inner sleeve and an aperture in the fork stem, and wherein when the spring clip is received in the aperture, the inner sleeve is positively connected to the fork stem.

A child vehicle, comprising:

• a front frame assembly including a handlebar with a steering tube and a front fork having a fork stem and a front wheel;
• a rear frame assembly including a head tube and at least one rear wheel;
• and
• a sleeve assembly mounted to the front frame assembly and engaging the rear frame assembly to rotatably connect the front and rear frame assemblies in a tool-less manner,
• wherein the sleeve assembly includes an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve connected to the inner sleeve, and
• wherein the inner sleeve includes a plurality of tabs, the plurality of tabs clamping on the front frame assembly when the outer sleeve is connected to the inner sleeve.