GB2260085A - Toy vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

There is disclosed a toy vehicle (1) (preferably self powered) wherein in a preferred embodiment rotation of a powered axle (4) and wheels (3) is translated initially to a reciprocating, linear motion which thereafter is translated to a rocking motion for operating an auxiliary amusement feature (2) which moves relative to the vehicle (1). In one embodiment, the mechanism operating the auxiliary amusement feature includes a lover (7), whereas in another embodiment a link follower (50) is employed both mounted on a crank (6). <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION TOY VEHICLE The present invention relates to a self-powered toy vehicle.

To enhance the amusement value of powered toy vehicles it is sometimes considered desirable to provide auxiliary motion, for example, to provide for movement of an occupant of the travelling vehicle. The present invention provides such auxiliary movement by a mechanism which is characterized by its simplicity, thus ensuring both reliability of performance and low cost of manufacture.

More particularly, the present invention is directed towards a self-powered toy vehicle wherein the rotation of the powered axle and wheels is translated initially to a reciprocating, linear motion which thereafter is translated to a rocking motion for operating the auxiliary amusement feature. In the preferred embodiment, the head of the driver of the vehicle is caused to rotate from side to side as the vehicle moves.

By way of example only, a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be discussed, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toy powered vehicle featuring an unusually large front window through which the upper torso of the driver is visible; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the major components of the toy vehicle; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the operating mechanism responsible for translating the rotation of the powered axle and wheels to the side-byside movement of the head of the driver; Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the upper portion of the toy vehicle; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the gear mechanisms contained within the vehicle housing for powering the vehicle and moving the head of the driver from side to side;; Fig. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the meshing of the gear wheels when the toy vehicle is moved backward; Fig. 7 is a schematic now illustrating the meshing of the gear wheels when the toy which is moving forward under power; and Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective of a second embodiment of the present invention featuring a slider crank mechanism functioning as the motion transforming mechanism.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the toy automobile of the present invention includes a chassis 10 and a body 20. A housing 11 is provided on the chassis 10. A rear axle 4 provided with wheels 3 is rotatably supported within housing 11, as seen in Fig. 3. A gear wheel 4a attached to the rear axle 4 meshes with a gear wheel 5a of shaft 5 which is mounted with a crank driver 6 in the housing 11. As a result, when the rear axle 4 rotates by rolling the rear wheels 3, the crank 6 also rotates.

An L-shaped lever follower 7 is provided on the housing 11 and functions as a motion transforming mechanism in conjunction with the crank 6. A hole 7a is provided on a folded portion of the lever 7, with which a pin 8a beneath an intermediate plate 8 arranged over the lever 7 is engaged. Further, a slot 7b is provided on one arm of the lever 7, and two contacts 7c riding on the crank 6 are provided beneath the fore end of the other arm. As a result, when the crank 6 rotates, the lever 7 performs a rocking motion centered on the pin 8a.

Front legs 80 and rear legs 81 are provided on the intermediate plate 8. Cut out portions 80a are provided on the lower ends of the front portion legs 80 to hold the front axle 13 (shown in Fig. 2) which is additionally attached with front wheels 12 between the chassis 10 and the same. Cut out portions 81a for escaping the rear axle A are provided on the lower ends of the rear portion legs. Further, a crescent moon shaped guiding hole 82 is provided on the intermediate plate 8.

As shown in Fig. 4, the head 2 of the doll is provided on the intermediate plate 8. The head 2 includes a face portion 20 and a hair portion 21.

Holes 20a and 21a for inserting a pin 20a which is provided on the other side of the body 20, are provided in the center of the face portion 20 and the hair portion 21, respectively. Further, a guiding pin 20b is provided at the eccentric position beneath the face portion 20, and is fitted within the slot 7b of the lever 7 through the guiding hole 82 of the intermediate plate 8. As a result, when the lever 7 rocks about the pin 8a, the head 2 of the doll performs rotational motion from side to side centered on the pin 20a.

The spiral spring winding mechanism will now be described with reference to Figs. 5 to 7. When the toy automobile 1 is not moving, forward or backward, a gear wheel 4a attached to the axle 4 is connected to gear wheels 41a and 41b which are attached to a spiral spring shaft 41 through gear wheels 5a and 5b of the shaft 5 which is attached to the crank 6. Gear wheels 40a and 40b are attached to the shaft 40, and further connected to the gear wheel 5a of the shaft 5 attached with thcrank 6. Gear wheel 43a is attached to the shaft 43.

When the toy automobile 1 is manually moved backward, the spiral spring 42 is wound through the gear wheels 4a, 5 a, 43a and 41b (shown in Fig. 6). At this time, the circumferential speed of the gear wheel 41a is faster than that of the gear wheel 5b, so that the shaft 40 attached to the gear wheel 40b rotates in the direction of the gear wheel 41a along a slot lla of the housing 11 to release the meshing of the gear wheel 5b with the gear wheel 40b.

On the other hand, when the toy automobile 1 is released to move forwardly, the axle 4 is rotated through the gear wheels 41a, 40b, 40a, Sb, 5a and 4a (shown in Fig. 7). At this time, the circumferential speed of the gear wheel 5a is faster than that of the gear wheel 41b, so that the shaft 43 attached to the gear wheel 43a rotates in the direction of the gear wheel 5a along a slot llb of the housing 11 to release the meshing of the gear wheel 41b with the gear wheel 43a.

In addition, a governor mechanism 44 including the gear row is connected to the gear wheel 4b attached to the axle 4, as shown in Figure 5.

It~will now be apparent that in the toy automobile 1 of the present invention, the rotational motion of the shaft 5 is directly transformed into rocking motion parallel to the shaft 5 by means of the motion transforming mechanism including the crank 6 and the lever 7. This is accomplished with a minimum number of parts permitting durability and low cost of manufacture and assembly.

The toy automobile of the second embodiment of Fig. 8 differs from the embodiment previously described in that a slider crank mechanism functions as the motion transforming mechanism. According to the toy automobile of this embodiment, a link follower 50 is utilized instead of the lever 7 of the first embodiment. A guiding pin 20b on the lower side of the head portion 2 is engaged with a cut-out portion 50a of the fore end of the link 50 through the guiding hole 82 of the intermediate plate 8, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The fore end of the link 50 moves back and forth on the upper surface of the housing 11 by the rotation of the crank 6 since the link 50 is positioned between the housing 11 and the intermediate plate 8 over the mechanism box 11, as shown in figs. 2 and 4. Thus the head portion 2 rotates back and forth of the fore end of the link 50.

The second embodiment is particularly effective when rotational motion of the shaft 5 is transformed to reciprocating motion crossing the shaft 5 at right angles.

Two embodiments of the present invention are described above; however, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

For example, cams such as a plate cam may be used instead of the crank 6 in both embodiments.

In addition, while the first embodiment of the head portion 2 is provided on the fore end side of one arm of the lever 7, the head portion 2 may be attached at the center of the lever 7 so as to be operatively connected with the lever 7. Since the center of the lever 7 performs rotational motion when the head portion 2 is directly attached to the center, the head portion 2 will perform rotational motion along with the rocking motion of the lever 7.

While in the preferred embodiments the head portion 2 performs rotational motion, the present invention may be used when the head portion 2 performs reciprocating, linear motion. For example, in the first embodiment linear motion may be performed by the head portion 2 extending the arm of the lever 7 attached to the head portion 2, or by the head portion 2 connecting a slider mechanism to the lever 7.

Additionally, in the second embodiment, to perform linear motion in back and forth directions, the head portion 2 may be directly attached to the slider 50.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment it is possible to perform rotational movement of a warning lamp in conjunction with rotation of the axle 5, for example, in connection with a "police car." Still further, the rotational operation may be applied to the head shaking of a robot toy and the like.

Claims (10)

1. A toy vehicle, comprising: a chassis; a body associated with the chassis; at least one wheel and an assembly associated with the chassis and body for mounting the wheel for rotation; drive means for rotating the wheel for propelling the vehicle; an element associated with the vehicle and mounted for movement relative thereto; and means associated with the rotation of wheel for moving the element as the vehicle moves.

2. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body includes a front window and the element is configured as a portion of a driver, such that as the vehicle moves the driver moves relative to the vehicle.

3. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the driver is mounted to rotate from side-to-side.

4. A toy vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wheel is mounted on an axle, and wherein the means associated with the rotating wheel for moving the element is driven by the rotating axle.

5. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein there are two wheels mounted on the axle.

6. A toy vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means associated with the rotating wheel for moving the element includes a gear mechanism driven by movement of the wheel, a rotating cam driven by the gear mechanism, a lever mounted for rotation, a portion of the rotating cam being operatively connected to the lever to rotate same, the element being connected to the lever, such that rotation of the wheel operates the cam in turn rotating the lever in turn moving the element.

7. A toy vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive means for rotating the wheel comprises an energy storing device, such that as the vehicle is moved rearwardly along a surface turning the wheel energy is stored therein, which energy when the vehicle is released by the user, is released rotating the wheel propelling the vehicle forward.

8. A toy vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means associated with the rotating wheel for moving the element comprises a slider crank mechanism.

9. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the slider crank mechanism includes a link follower operable by a crank operated by the wheel, one end of the link connected to the element to move same.

10. A toy vehicle substantially as herein described, with reference to, and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 or Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings.