CA1122801A - Toy vehicle having reversing mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

TITLE: TOY VEHICLE HAVING REVERSING MECHANISM

ABSTRACT

A toy vehicle having a base section and a turret section is movably supported on a plurality of wheels.
Located in the interior of the vehicle is a motor which is suitably connected to at least one of the wheels of the vehicle. Included in the connecting mechanism between the motor and the wheels is a reversing mechanism for reversing the direction of rotation of the driving of the wheels and thus the direction of the travel of the vehicle. The reversing mechanism also incorporated a trip switch having a position corresponding to movement of the vehicle in one direction and a second position corresponding to movement of the vehicle in the other direction. The trip mechanism is tripped by an outside stimulus, e.g. a metal ball.
Operatively connected to the trip mechanism is an exposure mechanism which alternately extends and then retracts a portion of the trip mechanism in and out of the body of the vehicle. This results in the trip mechanism only being exposed to the outside stimulus when the trip mech-anism is extended outside of the body of the vehicle. The vehicle can also include an indicating mechanism which in-dicates the status of the trip mechanism, that is it would tell an observer whether or not the trip mechanism is exposed from the vehicle body and thus whether or not the direction of the vehicle can be reversed.

Description

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This Invention is directed to a toy yehicle which has a switch mechanism for changing the d~rectlon of the vehicle. ~urther th~s switch mechanism includes an e~posure mechanism which only allows the switch mechanism to ~e operated upon by an external stimulus during alterna~e intervals.
There are at present-man~ toy vehicles on the market for purchase by the consuming pu~lic. T~e largest ~aJority of these vehicles a~e si~ply support-ed on free wheeling wheels and rely upon the child using them for ~oth propulsion power and direction of propulsion. Other toy vehicles such as tralns or cars riding on tracks or simple w~nd up toys have internal mechanisms which provide the propulsion power of the toy.
In a further class of toys, such as one currently on the market under the trademark of BIG LOADER (registered trademark), the vehicles have their own internal propulsion means and additionally propulsion direction switches which change the direction of travel of the vehicles.
While these vehicles are interesting to play wlth and are appealing to different age levels depending upon the sophistication of the vehicle these vehicles are not known to be useful for the use in games wherein the skill of one plaver is pitted against the skill of another player.

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-2-BRIEF SUM~IARY OF TTIE I~VENTIO~

In viet~ of ~he abo~e it is an objec~ of this invention to provld~ a veh~cle which is useful ln ~ames S pit~cing ~he skill of one player a~ainst ~he skill o another player such as the game described ln my applica-tion entitled TOY ~AVING REVERSABLE MOVI~IG OI~JECT filed concurrently with this a~plica~ion. It is a furth~r object of this invention to provid~ a ~ehicle which is not only capable of prol~elllng i~self and reversing direction o~ mo~ment bu~ is also capable of changing its direction of movemen~ in response to an outside stimulus and further being able ~o alterna~e between an operational ~ode wherein it is capableo~changing direc~ion lS o moYement upon appl~cation of an olltslde stimulus and a second mode of opera~ion wherein it is not capable of changin~ direction upon the applioation of an ou~side stimulus.

In view o~ the abo~e ob~ct and o~her objects which will become evid~nt upon ~he r~mainder o this specification, there is pro~ided a toy vehicle ha~ing a vehicle body an~ movable support m~an~ movably ~upporting said vehicle body on a support surfac~; wi~hln the interior o the body of the ~ehicl~ is a locomotion means for movin~ said Yehicle along said sup~ort surface; inte~rally formed with the vehicle is a direction chan~ing means ~or ch~nging the directionofmovemen~ o~ the vehicle and further the direction changing means includes a swi~ch 3Q means for controllin~ the dir~ction of tho movement;
associated with the SWitC]I means is an exposure means which alterna~ely exposes the switch meAns between an exposed position wherein the switch means can b~ ac~cd upon by an ex~ernal sti~ulu5 and a protected position wherein th~ swi~ch means cannot be ac~ed ulon by the external stimulus.

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The vehicle body carl lnclude scveral sections includin~ a base section mounted on wheels and a turr~t sec~ion rota~ably moun~d on ~he base sectlon. The turret section is operatively connected to the dlrection changing means so as to rotate ~he ~u~re~ when the vehicle changes direction. If the ~urret is asymmetrical.having a differently a~pearin~ o~ard end and .~ ~ear e~d this allows for the ~urret ' s forward end always to be proj ~cting tol~ard the direction of tra~el of the ~ehicle while allowin~ the base sec~ion to simply go backward and forward because o~ reversal of d~rection of its driYing wheels.

As a guid~ to those operatin~ the vshicle, a switch position indicatlng means can bc included which is coordinated with the switch means and indicates to the operator of the toy when the switch is in a pos ition such that it can be opera~ed on by an external stim~l~s.
While for the purpose of the embodiment îllustrated the sl~itch means is shown as a mechanical trip member.; Other ~0 embodiments could u~ilize electrical or other similarly activated switchin~ means.

BRIEP DESCRIPTIO.N OF THE DRAWINGS

2S This invention will be better understood when ta~en in Conjunc~iQn with ~he drawings wherein:
Fi~. 1 is an isometric view of the tor Yehicle o ~he invcntion;
plg, 2 is a side eleYat~onal view in section of the vehicle shown in Fig. l as viewed from ~he left sidc o Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is an exploded isometric Yiew of the mechani~al com~onent~ inside of th~ ~oy;
Fi~, 4 is a partial 5 ide elevational view in section of certain mechanica1 componen~s o the ~oy as viewed from the ri~h~ side of Fig, l; and . "

'~. ~ ' ` ' Fig. 5 ls a to? plan ~iew of certain of the ~nterio~ ~echanisms of ~h~ toy including a first orien-~at.lon of these mechaI~lsms in solld line and a second oricntation of these mechanisms in phantom lin~, s The toy of this invention descr~bed in ~he specification and illustrated in ~h~ drawings uses certain operative concepts and principles which are set forth in the appended claims forining a part of this spe,ciEication.
~hose skilled in ~he toy arts will recognize that these principles and concepts could be u~ilized in a variety o~ differently appearing or differently describable - embodiments. Por this reason this invention is not to be cons~rued as to be l:lmi~d to th~ exact embodiment described in this specification and shown in the drawings but is to be construed in li~ht of the appended claims.

~ETAILED DESCRIPTION

The vehicle 18 has two main sections. A base section 20 and a turret section 22 which 1~ rotatably mounted as hereinater described on top of the base section 2~. Projec~ing out o~ the fron~ of the turret 22 is ~ conical member 24 having a helical screw 26 on ~che surfac~3 thereo~ whiCh turns when the vehdcle is moYing as hereina~ter descri~ed.

The base 20 is composed-o a ~op scc~ion 28 .
and a bottom section 30 and toge~her hey form ~ housing for numerous gears and oth~r parts. For the sak0 of simplicity in thls sp~cification generally mos~ of ~he ~ears and axles ~ound in the interior of the base 20 will only be described as to thelr operatlon. The top and bottom sections 28 and 30 o bas~ 20 con~ain numerous ~rillings and cutouts which serve as mountings or ~earing sur~aces for these compollents. I~ will be und~rs~ood ~hat ;.~ ;

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' all of ~he gears, axl~s~ etc. are appr~priately con~en-tionally mounted withln the base 20.

A motor 32 is connected by suitable wir~n~ 34 to an of~on s~itch 36 and a ba~ery pack 38. When ln the on position the mo~aT 32 clrives pinion 40 which is engag~d with a spur gear 42. Integrally formed with spur ~ear 42 is pinion 44. Pinion 44 ma~es with and drives spur gear 46. Spur ~ear 46 is fixedly attached to a~le 48 and also moun~ed to axl~ 48 and integrally fo.rmed with spur gear 46 is pinlon 50. A drum 52 is mounted adjacent to pinion 50 on axle 48, however, drum 52 is freewheeing about axle 48 and its rotation on the axle 48 is theoretically independen~ of both pinion S0 and spur ~ear 46. A small axle 54 projects rom one side o~ drum 52 towarcl pinion 50. A pinion 56 is moun~ed on axle 5~ and engages wi~h pinion S0. Thus, as pinion 50 spins a~out axle 48 pinion 56 ls caused to rotate about axle 54. -A spur ~ear 58 is mounted to an axle 69.
A large pinion 62 is also attach~d to the axle 60 and is rotated by axle 60 in res~ons~ to rotation of spur gcar 58. A spur gear 64 identical in si~e and ~eeth number with spur gear 58 is mounted below spur gear 5B
~bout an axle 66 and axle G6 is so placed within bottom sec~ion ~0 that the t~eth o~ spur gear 64 mesh wi~h th~
teeth of spur gear 58. Integrally ~ormed with and coaxial wi.~h spur gear 64 on axle 66 is a pinlon 68.
Pinion 6B engages w~th a spur gear ? which is integrally for.~d with a driving whe~l 72 mounted on an axl~ 74, On ~he op~osite side o~ axle 74 is a second drlving whecl 75.

Spur gears:58 and 64 are spatlally placed in relationship to drum S2 such that pinion ~6 is capable .

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of meshing wi~h and c~.rivin~ both spur gear 58 and 64.
This ls best seen in ~1~. 4. If drum 52 is fixedly held in the position s~own in solid line in Fi~. 4 pinion 56 meshes with spur gear 58. If pinion 56 is fixe~ly held in the position shown in phantom in Fig. 4 pinion 56 me~hes wi~h and drives spur gear 64. Mo~or 42 rotates as shown by the solid arrol~. This rotation is ~rans~err~d via pinion 40, spur gear ~2, pinion 44, spur gear 46 ~nd pinion 5~ to pinion 56. ~Yh~n p.inion 56 is enga~ed with spur gear 58 spur gear 5~ is caused to rotate in the direction shown by the solid line. Tllis in ~urn causes spur gear 64 to rotate in ~he direc~ion shown by solid - lines and this motion in turn is transferred to pinion 68, spur ~ear 70 and ultimately to dri~ing wheel 72 turnin~ driYin~ wheel 72 in the direc~ion shown by the solid arrow, If instead of engagement with the s~ur gear SS, pinion 56 is engaged directly with spur gear 64, spur gear 64 is driven in ~he direction shown by the broken ar~ow. This also causes spur gear 58 and large pinion 62 to rotate in the direction shown by the broken arrow, the si~nificance which will be de~crlbed hereinafter, and addltionally causes driving whe~l ~o rotate in the direction sho~n by the broken nrrow.
This allows for reversaliof the direction of the driving wheel 72 d~pen~in~ upon whether pinion 56 is enga~ed wi~h ei~her spur ~ear 58 or spur ge~r 64 and consequently reversal of the direc~ion o~ ~raYel o ~e~licle 18.

The placement of pinion 56 is gov~rned by the rotary displacem~nt o~ drum ~2 abou~ axle 48. Dr~ 52 has three small lugs or teeth 76, 78 and 80 on its surface. A lug retention member 82 fits a~ains~ lugs 76, 78 and 80 respecti~ely. The lugs 76, 78 and 80 are so placed on the surface o drum 52 that when lu~ 78 is enga~cd with lu~ retention member 8Z ~inion S6 is en~age~ with spur ~ear 58. When lu~ 80 ls enga~ed with ..

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lu~ re~en~ion member 82 pinion 56 is engaged with spur wheel 64. When lug 76 is en~aged with lug retention member 82 pinion 56 is not engaged wî~h either of spur gears 58 and 64 and as a consequence ~he ~otion of motor is not ~ransf~rred to driving wheel 72 and the vehicl~
18 does not moYe.

When ~he vchicle 18 is viewed from the direction shown in Fi~. 4, the direction of rotation of motor 32 lQ is counterclockwise, By th~ gearin~ hereintofors described this r~sults in ~he direction of drum 52 to also ~be counter-clockwise, B~cause pinion 56 is mowlted on axl~ 54 a counterclockwise momentum is imparted to ~rum 52 by rotation of pinion 50. This momen'cum holds the lu~s 76~ 78 and 8~ against the surface o lug retcntion member 82 whenever lug retention memb~r 32 is directly in line with any of these lugs.

Lu~ retention me~ber 82 is fix~dly a~tached to ~he top of a sleeve 84. Sle~vo 84 contains a central hole ~not separately numbered) allowing sl~eve 84 to be slipped over an upri~ht shat 86 which in turn is ~ttached to bottom section 30. As such slee~e 84 is free to pivo~
` abou~ upri~ht shaft 86 allowin~ the lug re~ention member 82 to swing transversely across the surÇace of drum 52, A c~ntering memb&r 88 is also a~tached t~ sl~eve 84.
Slidably mounted in bot~om section 30 is a slida~le lockin~ memher 90 having a lobe 92 on one end which projects out of the bottom sec~ion 30 and ~s accessi~le to the oper~or of the toy and a pair of ti~es collectively identified by th~ numeral 94 which project in ~he opposi~e direction toward centering member 88. Lockin~ member 90 is ~iased away from sleevc ~4 by a spring ~6. When lobe 92 is depressed ~he tlnes ~4 o locking member 90 slip over cen~erin~ memb~r 88 an~ fixedly hold lu~ retcntion m~mber 82 in the pa~h of lug 7G and as a consequence of .. , , " , . ~. .
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this the vehicle 18 is not driven in either direction but rcmains stationary even though motor 32 is runnin~.

Ex~en~in~ laterally from slce~e 84 near lts bot~o~ end is an arm 98. ,~s can be seen in Flgs. 3 an~
5, arm 98 ~ro;ects almost ~approximately 70 to 80 degrees) perpendicular to lug retention membcr 82. Motion of a~m 9~ about ~lle longitudinal axis of vehicl~ 18 produces essentially transverse movement of the en~ vf lug retention member 82 across the surface of drum 52 in betwecn the path o~ lugs 78 and 80 and includin~ an interference ~osition with lug 76. Arm g8 inclu~es an elon~ated channel 1~0 nearest the end which is not a~tached to sleeve 84.
A second arm 102 is slidably mounted in a longitudinal position with respect to v~hicl~ rm 102 has two ups~andîng pegs 104 and 106 near the end thereof. Peg 104 fits into chann~l 100 of arm 98.

An upstanding shaft 108 is fixed to bottom ~0 section 3Q in a position as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. A
trans~erse member 110 has a bear~ng s~ction 112 on one end thereof and bearin~ section 112 fits over shaft 108 allowing transverse member 110 to pivot akout shaft 108.
Pro;ectin~ out of the sicle o trans~erse member 110 to~ard arm 102 is a short arm 114. Arm 114 conta~ns a channel 116. Channel 116 fits o~er ups~andin~ peg 106.
A tilt mcmber llS is inte~rally for~ed on the bottom o transverse m~mber 110 and is capable o~ pro~ ecting th~u~h a hole (not shown) in th~ bot~om of bottom section 30.
Tilt member 118, as hereinafter descrlbed, can be e~osed below the bot~m surface of bottom sec~ion 30. l~hen it is exposed, this allows tilt member 118 to by physically moved by a ~orce on the outside of Yehicle 18. Any bac~ and forth movement o~ til~ me~b~r 118 along the longi~udinal ~xis o~ ve}ldcle 18 i9 transerred to .
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transversc member 110. Transverse member 110 in turn rotates about shaEt lOS causin~ arm 102 to slide 103~
tudinally hack and for~h wit~lin ~he interior o~` hottom scction 30. This movement is in turn communica~ed to al~ 9S, slee~e 8~, an~ ultimately to luS reten~;on member ~2. The posi~ion o lu~ retention member ~? iS ihereforo in a ~ircct resi-onse ~o the lon~itudil-al posi~ion of ~ilt ~emher 113. ~loweYer, if centering member 88 is fixed by loc~ing membcr 90 both lu~ reteIItion ~e;nber 82 and tilt l~ ~eMber 118 ar~ hel~ in a locke~ ~osition.

On tlle encl of sxle 4S distal from pinion 50 is a worm ~ear 120. A worm wheel 122.is ~ixedly attached to an u~ri~,llt a~le 124 which is free to spin in a lS bearin~ s~lrface (not showll) in bottom section ;0. ~ear ~he lower en~ o~ axle 1 4 is a two-lobed cam t~heel 1_6.
Cam wheel 126 is fi~edly attached to axle 124 anF~ there-~ore rotates in respect to rotation of axle 12~. ~s ~ereinafore described axle 4~ turns in respcct ~o 'l~ motion of motor 3~. This rotary motion of axle 48 is trans~errc~l co ca!~ wheel 126 by tlle interaction of ~orm wheel 1~2 ~ith wor~ ear 120 causing cam wheel 12fi to rotate.

28 A liftin~, member 128 is ~ournaled at one end ~bout two ~ins collec~i~ely icl~n~i~ied by the numcral 13~ integrrally att~ched to one end of lif~ing member 128.
Pins 1~0 ~it into arpropriat~ bearin~,rs in ~ottom section 3n.
Llftin~ mcml~r lX~ pro~cts ~rom pins 130 ncross the top 0 sur~ace o~ cam wh~el 126 an~ ~hen makes a 9Q bend and `~
b~co~es vcrtical section 13~. Vertical section 132 e~tends down toward the bottom of base sec~ion 30.
Integrally forme(~ on the undersurface of lifting member 12S is ~ cam followcr 1~ which mates with the cam ~5 surfaces o~ cam wheel 126. ~s cam 126 rotat~s liftin~
meTnber 12~ is caused to pil,rot about pins 13û. Extending !

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from vertical section 132 of lif~in~ member 12g is liting exten~ion 136. Lifting ex~enslon 13G passes underneath transverse m~mber 110 and ~hen projects upwardly until it culminates at end 138.

An upwarcI and downward mo~ion o-f lifting me~ber 123 is cause~l by the in~eraction of cam follower 134 on the cam surfaces of c~m wIIeel 126 as cam 126 rotat~s.
This upwar~l and downward motion i~ transJr.~ed to trans-1~ vers~ me~ber 110 by liEting extension 136. Transverse member 11~ slides up and ~lown abou~ bearing 112 vertically on shaft 108 causin~ til~ member 118 to aleernately pro-ject through the bottom o bottom section 30 and then be retracted into the interior of bottom section 30. As this happens arm 114 rides uy and down on upstanding pe~
1~6. iIowever~ peg 106 is of sufficient length that arm 114 never is completely free of peg 106. A spring 140 .fits Oil shaEt 108 and w}len top section 23 is fitted to bo~tom section 30 s~rin~ 140 abu~s against top scction 2~ and biases ~ransverse member 110 toward the bottom o bo~.tom scction 30. This in turn, ~ecause trans~rse ~ :
member 110 lies across li~tin~ extension 136~ holds cam : :
follower 134 against the cam sur~aces of cam wheel 126. ~ :

A turret li~ting member 142 having two pins collectively identi:ied by th~ num~ral 144 is moun~e~:to bottom section 30 about pins 14~. A spring 146 bias~s ~nd 14S of turret lifting member 142 in a downward direction.
End 138 of lifting extension 136 fits ~nderneath~turr~t ~ ~
lifting member 142 near en~ 8. As liting extension : ~ ~ :
136 rises and alls:with respec~ to mo~ion of cam wh~el 126 tllis motion is~com~unicated to turret liftin~ m~ember 142. As:end 13~8 of lifting exter.sion 136 is raised it pushes up on end;:l48 of turret lifting mcmber 142. :~ :
Turre~ lifting member 142~spins about pins 144 and the :~ -opposite en~ 150 of turret~liting member 142 drops. As ~: :
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' ,: ~. : ,, ' .' ., ,, , , " ' ; ' , , -. ,' ~ ', . . '~ : '. ' lif~ing extension 136 descends in response to ~he position of cam follower 134 on cam wheel 126 ~prin~ 146 biases end 150 o turre~ liEting member 142 in an upward ~irection.
The upward ~nd downward motion of end 1~0 of turret liftin~ member 142 is transferred to a shaft 152 e~tendin~
from the bot~om of a tllrret signalin~ deYice 154.
Un~er the influence of gra~i~yJ shaft 152 rests agains*
turret liftin~ member 142.

Extending down ~hrough the center of ~urre~ Z2 is a large drilling 156. In the center of drillin~ 156 is. a second drillin~ 158. Turre~ signsling devlce 154 is of a smaller dimension than drilling 156 allowin~
turret signalin~ device 154 ~o fit within the interior of drilling 156. Shaf~ 152 ex~ends from th~ bot~om o turret si~nalin~ derice 154 ~hough drilling 158 and abuts against ~urret lifting memb0r 152.

Both the turret signaling derice 154 and its attached shaft 152 are fr~e to move within their respectiYe drillings 156 and 158. Since shaft 152 rests on ~urret lifting member 142 the movement~of turrc~ tin~ member 142 is transferred to turret sl~naling device 154.
8ecause.of the attachm~nt of lifting member 128 about pins 130 and turret liftin~ member 142 about pins 144, as tilt mem~er 118 is~lifted up into ~he body of bottom section 30 turre~ ~lgnallng deYice lS4 :is allow~d to descend under the ~nfluence o ~ravity into drilli~ 156 and as tilt ~ember 118~descend do~nwards out of ~he body o~ bottom section 30 turret s~gnaling~device 15~4 is raised ou~ of the drilling 156. Thus by visually per-ceiYing the position of turrét~signaling device 154 one knows the position of til~ memb~r 118, i.e. ~he ~urret si~naling de~ice 154 i~ up when the tilt member 118 is ::
down and vice versa. ~ :

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A sha~ 160 ex~ends through a hole (no~ shown) in top section Z8. Mount~d on the bottom of shaft 160 is a crown wheel 162 and mounted on the ~op of sha~ 160 is a spur wheel 164. As such crown wheel 162 is located S within the body o~ base 20 and spur wheel 164 is h~ld slightly above the top surface of ~op section 28.
Crown wheel 162 mates with large plnion 62 and thus the rotation of large pinion 62 is transferred to spur wheel 164. As hereinaore described spur gear 58 is capable of being rotated in both a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction. T~is movemcntofspur g~ar 5~ is transferre~ by axle 60 to large pinion 62 whlch in turn transers ~his motion to spur wheel 164 causing spur wheel to ~ove both: clockwise and coun~erclockwiss. A
lS large gear 166 res~s on the top surface of top section 28 about an upstandins boss (no~ shown) which extends:
upward from top section 28.: The boss~its into the centralized hole in the center of large ~ar 166 . maintaining larg~ ~ear 166 cen~ered on bas~ 20. Extending around the perimeter~of large ~ear 166 are spur te;eth 168. Extending around the top~ surface: o ~large 8ear 166 are crown teeth 170. Spur~:tee:th 168 mesh:w~th crown ~:
wheel 162 and as such the ro~tation o~pinion 62 is transferred to làrge ~ear 166. A~skir~ 172 extends down ~5 ~rom the boStom of turret 22:and ~its inside of crown eeeth 170 o~ lar~e gear 166~: This centers turret 22 on large ~ear 166`and bas~ 20 and all:ows~turret 22:to piro~
about large ~ear 166 and base 20, ~A shaft 174~ex~ends~horizontally through:turret 22 into conical member~4~.: Conical m~mber 24:is:~ixedly~
attached to shaf~ l74 OD :one end ~hcreof and a spur gear ~ :
176 is fixedly attache~ ~o the other end o~ shaft 174, : Spur~gear;1?6:~ma~:es witX crown~tee~h 170:an~ transmit~
~`~motion~of larg~gear 1:66 to con~cal member 24. Since large gear 166 spins in e:ither direc~:ion depending upon . ~- : , : :, . . :: . : ~ : . : -. . . .. .

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the direction o~ pinion 62, conical ~ember 24 also is capable of spinning in both direction.

~Yithin the lnt~rior of turret 22 on the side opposite conical member 24 is a shaf~ 178. Fixedly attached to shat 178 is spur gear 180 which mates wl~h crown teeth 170 and rotates shaf~ 178 in resp~ct to its rotation on large gear 166. Two ratchet wheels 182 and.
184 are also attached to sh~t 178. R~tchet wheel 172 is oriented on shaft 178 so that its tseth~project opposite to the direction of the teeth on ratchet whe~l:l84. Two shafts 186 an~ 188 extend parallel within turre~ member 22 to shaf~ 178. Two escape mechanisms l90 and 192 are mounted about shafts 186 and 188 respecti~ely. Escape mechanism 190 interac~s with ratchet wheel 182 and~
oscape mechanism 192 interacts wit~ ratchet wheel 184 A spring 194 connects to both o ~he tops of escape mechanism 190 and 192 as shown in :Fig~.~3 and biases the escape mechanism into holding posit10ns w~th ~heir :
respective ra~chet wheels.
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As pTeviously noted large gear 166 is free to spin~ about a boss extending from the top of to~ section ~8. Re~erring now speci~ically to Fig. 3 if s~ur ~ear 162 is rotated in the direction sho~n in solid lines this rotation is transferred to large gear 1~6 and causes large gear 166 to ro~ate on the~top surfac~ of top section 28:in ~hc direction shown in solid lines.
I~the escape:mecha~nism 1~0 was not interacting~with 3Q ratche~ wheel 182 spur gear 180 also would b~ free to rotate;~in the~direction~shown in th;e solid lin~
However, as sllown in Pig. 3 spur gear 180 cann~t ~urn :: in;the~dire:ction shown in ~he solid 1ine b~cause escape ` mechanism l90 is:locked a~ain3t ratche~ wheel 182.: As a~cons~quence;o~this the:~turret~22 and the components ~ttached to it, i.e. escape ~echanisms 190 and 192~ the ratchet wheels 182 and 184 and spur gear 180, are fixedly held in respect to large gear 166, Thus, the turret 22 is locked to lar~ gear 166 and is forced ~o move 1n ~he same direction as lar~e gear 1660 Fixedly attached on ~he top surface o~ ~op sec~ion 28 are two ratchek ~rip pegs 196 and 198 and two stop pegs 200 and 20Z~ ~s ~he turret 22 turns in the dir~ction shown in the solid a~row escape mechanism 190 abuts a~ainst ratchet ~rip peg 196 causing the escape mechanism 190 to pi~ot about axle 1~6 and ree ratchet wheel 182. This allows spur gear 180 to rotat~in the direc~ion shown by solid arrow. Just after escape mechanism 190 contac*s ra~chet trip peg 19~ a turret s~op peg 204 which exten~s from the turret toward the top section 28, contacts s~o~ peg 230. This prevents the turret 22 from any urther moYement in the direction shown by the sol~d arrow.

When spur wheel 1~62 is caused to rotate ln the direction shown by ~he brokcn arrow large~gear;l66 reverses direction and~also~urns~in the direction shown in the broXen ar~ow. Since spur gear 180:is prevent~d ::
from traveling in the directivn shown in the:broXen 2S arrow because o interaction o escape mechanism 192 with ratchct wheel 184, turret 22 is caused~to spin in th~
direction shown by:the broken arrow. As a consequence o~ the turret 22 turning in`~his direction turret s~op peg 204 starts to rotate:away rom stop peg 200 and::escape mechanism 190 s~ar~s:to rotate~ away:~ro~m:ratchat t~ip:peg 196. The turret 22 ~h~n turns 180 degrees wi~h respect to the~bas:e 20~unti:1 esca~e mechanism 192 abuts against ~:~
- ratchet ~rip pe~ 198. This liE~s escap~ mechanism 192: ~ :
: from ~the surace:of ratche~wheel;l84 and al}ows spur : : :~

3~ gea~ 180~to turn;in the diraction shown by the broken ~:arrow.~ Shortly th~reafter turret:stop peg 204~abuts :: :

, ~ . , a~ainst stop peg 202 holding turret 22 i~ tHi~ new position.
The turret 22 will remain in this posltion until the direction of rota~ion of spur gear 58 onco a~ain is roverscd.
At this time large gear 166 and ~urret 22 will again ~urn in ~he direction shown by the solid arrow as previously described. Ratchet trip pegs 196 and lgB are so placed in respect to one another on the surface of body 20 that they do not interfer with th~ interac~ion of each with its respecti~e escape mechanism.
As ~ cons~quence of the reversal of d~rection o~ large gear 16G spur gear 176 also turns in bo~h direc-tions. The stop pegs 200 and 202 and the turret stop peg 204 are positioned such tha~ the limits of travel of the turret 22 about larg gear 166 result ln conical ~ember 24 being pointed either toward one end or the other of the ~ehicle l~Q . Further, the s~o~pegs 200 and 202 are so positioned that conical m~mber 24 points..inthe direction of travel o~ the vehiclc 18.
Because spur ~ear 176 reverses d~rection, consequen~ly the conical member 24 will spin one way when pointed toward one~end Qf th~ vehicle 18 and spin ~he opposite way when pointed toward the other ~nd. As the result , of this opposite spin of conical member 24 ~he helical 2S screw 26 on the conical member 24 will ~irst turn in toward the body of the vehicl~ 18 when the rehicle 18 is going in one direc~ion andwill turn out away fr.om:the body of the vehicle 18 when the vehicl~ 18 is going in : -the o~po~site direc~ion. Along with th~ reversal of~
direction of the ve~iclcl8this spin of the hel~cal screw 26 makes for~an interesting vl~ual:efect.
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At ~he opposlte end of the vehicle lB is a :: second axle 206:having two wheel~ coll~ectiYely identified by the numerals 208 on the ends ther~o. The whecls ~ Z08 are free to spin about axle 206 allowing the vehicl ~ '!
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18 to ride o~er a surface in r~spons0 to propulsion by driYing wheels 72 and 75.

For a more realls~ic effect during thc op~ration of the vehicl~ 18 shaft 60 contains a three lobed cam 278 on the end opposite of spur gear 62. A flexible member 280 int~grally formed with top body section 23 extends toward and slightly touches cam 278. Rotatio~
of axle 60 causes cam 278 to flip agalnst flexîble member 280 e~itting a sound imitatin~ a motor-like noise.

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Claims (14)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR
PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A toy vehicle which comprises:
a vehicle body;
movable support means movably supporting said vehicle body on a support surface;
locomotion means including portions having relative movement with respect to each other for moving said vehicle along said support surface;
direction changing means operatively connected to said locomotion means for changing the direction of movement along said support surface by reversing the direction of said relative movement of at least a portion of said locomotion means;
said direction changing means including a switch means for controlling the direction of said movement, said switch means having at least two positions, a first of said positions corresponding to the movement of said vehicle in one direction and a second of said positions corresponding to movement of the vehicle in another direction, said switch means moving between said positions in response to stimulation of said switch means by a stimulus external to said vehicle body;
exposure means for exposing said switch means alternately between an exposed position, wherein said switch means can be acted upon by said stimulus external to said vehicle body changing the direction of movement of said vehicle body in response to movement of said switch means between said first of said positions corresponding to the movement of the vehicle in one direction and said second of said positions corresponding to movement of the vehicle in another direction, and a protected position wherein said switch means cannot be acted on by said stimulus to change the direction of movement of said vehicle.

2. The toy of claim 1 wherein:
said exposure means includes a position change means for changing said switch means between said exposed position wherein said switch means is capable of being acted upon by said external stimulus and said protected position wherein said switch means is not capable of being acted upon by said stimulus.

3. The toy of claim 2 wherein:
said position change means is operatively connected to said switch-means shifting the position of said switch means between a first position wherein said switch means is capable of being acted upon by said external stimulus and a second position wherein said switch means is not capable of being acted upon by said stimulus.

4. The toy of claim 3 wherein:
said switch means comprises a trip member;
said trip member having a first position corresponding to movement of said vehicle in one direction, said trip member having a second position corresponding to movement of said vehicle in said other direction.

5. The toy of claim 4 wherein:
said position change means comprises extension-retraction means for extending at least a portion of said trip member outside of said vehicle body exposing said portion of said trip member to said stimulus and for at least partially retracting said trip member within said vehicle body preventing exposure of said portion of said trip member to said stimulus.

6. The toy of claim 5 wherein:
said movable support means comprises said vehicle body including rolling means mounted to said vehicle body and rollably supporting said vehicle body on said surface;
said locomotion means comprises a motor means located in said vehicle and operatively connected to said rolling means.

7. The toy of claim 1 including:
a vehicle body;
movable support means movably supporting said vehicle body on a support surface;
locomotion means for moving said vehicle along said support surface;
direction changing means operatively connected to said locomotion means for changing the direction of movement along said support surface by reversing the direction of at least a portion of said locomotion menas;
said direction changing means including a switch means for controlling the direction of said movement, said switch means having at least two positions, a first of said positions corresponding to the movement of said vehicle in one direction and a second of said positions corresponding to movement of the vehicle in another direction, said switch means moving between said positions in response to stimulation of said switch means by a stimulus external to said vehicle body;
exposure means for exposing said switch means alternately between an exposed position, wherein said switch means can be acted upon by said stimulus external to said vehicle body changing the direction of movement of said vehicle body in response to movement of said switch means between said first of said positions corresponding to the movement of the vehicle in one direction and said second of said positions corresponding to movement of the vehicle in another direction, and a protected position wherein said switch means cannot be acted on by said stimulus to change the direction of movement of said vehicle;
said exposure means including a position change means for changing said switch means between said exposed position wherein said switch means is capable of being acted upon by said stimulus and said protected position wherein said switch means is not capable of being acted upon by said stimulus;
said position change means being operatively connected to said switch means for shifting the position of said switch means between a first position wherein said switch means is capable of being acted upon by said stimulus and a second position wherein said switch means is not capable of being acted upon by said stimulus;
said switch means comprising a trip member;
said trip member having a first position corresponding to movement of said vehicle in one direction, said trip member having a second position corresponding to movement of said vehicle in said other direction;
said positon change means comprising extension retraction means for extending at least a portion of said trip member outside of said vehcle body exposing said portion of said trip member to said stimulus and for at least partially retracting said trip member within said vehicle body preventing exposure of said portion of said trip member to said stimulus;

said movable support means comprising said vehicle body including rolling means mounted to said vehicle body and rollably supporting said vehicle body on said surface;
said locomotion means comprising a motor means located in said vehicle and operatively connected to said rolling means;
said direction changing means including at least four gears, a first gear, a second gear, a third gear and a fourth gear;
said first gear operatively connected to said motor means;
said third gear and said fourth gear operatively connected to each other, said fourth gear operatively connected to said rolling means;
said second gear operatively connected to said first gear and alter-nately capable of operatively connecting to either of said third gear or said fourth gear such that said motor means is operatively connected to said rolling means through either a first gear train including said first gear operatively connected to said second gear said second gear operatively connected to said third gear and said third gear operatively connected to said fourth gear, or a second gear train including said first gear opera-tively connected to said second gear and said second gear operatively connected to said fourth gear, said second gear train excluding said third gear.

8. The toy of claim 1 wherein:
said vehicle body comprises at least two sections, a base section and a turret section;
said turret section rotatably mounted on said base section;
turret rotation means for rotating said turret on said base section;
said turret rotation means operatively connected to said direction changing means such that said turret rotation means is activated by said direction changing means.

9. The toy of claim 8 wherein:
said turret section having a front end and a rear end, said turret rotation means rotating said turret section such that said front end of said turret section is always directed to the direction of movement of said vehicle body.

10. The toy of claim 9 including:
said turret section having a rotating member mounted on said front end of said turret section and rotatable about an axis at an angle to the axis of rotation of said turret, said rotating member rotating when said vehicle body moves along said support surface.

11. The toy of claim 10 including:
a switch position indicating means indicating which of said positions said switch is in;
said switch position indicating means operatively connected to said switch means.

12. The toy of claim 11 wherein:
said direction changing means includes a cylindrical drum member ro-tatably mounted on an axle about the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical drum member;
at least two lug members attached to the curved surface of said cylin-drical drum;
a rotatably mounted lug retention member positioned proximal to the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical drum member;
said lug retention member substantially capable of traveling trans-versly over the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical drum member and interacting with said lug member.

13. The toy of claim 12 including:
said vehicle body comprising at least two sections, a base section and a turret section;
said turret section rotatably mounted on said base section;
turret rotation means for rotating said turret on said base section;
said turret rotation means operatively connected to said direction changing means such that said turret rotation means is activated by said direction changing means;
said turret section having a front end and a rear end, said turret rotation means rotates said turret section such that said front end of said turret section is always directed to the direction of movement of said vehicle body;

said turret section having a rotating member mounted on said front end of said turret section, said rotating member rotating when said vehicle body moves along said support surface;
a switch position indicating means indicating which of said positions said switch is in;

said switch position indicating moans operatively connected to said switch means;
said direction changing means including a cylindrical drum member rotatably mounted on an axle about the longitudinal axis of said cylin-drical drum member;
at least two lug members attached to the curved surface of said cylindrical drum;
a rotatably mounted lug retention member positioned proximal to the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical drum member;
said lug retention member substantially capable of traveling transversly over the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical drum member and interacting with said lug member.

14. The toy of claim 13 wherein:
said rolling means includes a plurality of wheels.