CA1214639A - Toy vehicle - Google Patents
Toy vehicleInfo
- Publication number
- CA1214639A CA1214639A CA000444614A CA444614A CA1214639A CA 1214639 A CA1214639 A CA 1214639A CA 000444614 A CA000444614 A CA 000444614A CA 444614 A CA444614 A CA 444614A CA 1214639 A CA1214639 A CA 1214639A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- vehicle
- toggle
- linkage
- spring
- gear
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H29/00—Drive mechanisms for toys in general
- A63H29/02—Clockwork mechanisms
- A63H29/06—Other elements therefor
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H29/00—Drive mechanisms for toys in general
- A63H29/24—Details or accessories for drive mechanisms, e.g. means for winding-up or starting toy engines
Landscapes
- Toys (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE
A toy vehicle has a gear box containing a clock spring which is wound by pushing the vehicle backward. A two part toggle-linkage system connects the gear box to the frame.
When the clock spring is wound, the resulting spring bias urges the toggle-linkage system to one over center position which locks the gear box in order to preserve the energy stored in the wound spring. When the toggle-linkage system is pressed near its center, it moves over center to another position, which unlocks the gear box and releases the energy stored in the wound spring in order to propel the vehicle.
When the vehicle is next moved backward, the toggle-linkage returns to the locked position which once again locks the gear box.
A toy vehicle has a gear box containing a clock spring which is wound by pushing the vehicle backward. A two part toggle-linkage system connects the gear box to the frame.
When the clock spring is wound, the resulting spring bias urges the toggle-linkage system to one over center position which locks the gear box in order to preserve the energy stored in the wound spring. When the toggle-linkage system is pressed near its center, it moves over center to another position, which unlocks the gear box and releases the energy stored in the wound spring in order to propel the vehicle.
When the vehicle is next moved backward, the toggle-linkage returns to the locked position which once again locks the gear box.
Description
~;~14~
^ ~1584C -- 0048C
02 TS;~Y VEE~ICLE
04 This invention relates to t~y vehicles, and more 05 particularly, to toy vehicles which first ~tore energy by being 06 rolled ~n a backward direction, and which are then driven 07 forward responsive to a release of the energy which is ~o 08 stored.
09 There are toy vehicles which are adapted to store energy when they are rolled backward, in order to wind a ~pring.
11 Usually, these vehicles are propelled in a forward direction by 12 ~imply releasing them after they have been rolled backward.
13 Examples of such toy vehicles are found in U.S. patents 14 4,077,156 (Asano) and 2,182t529 ~Wyrick).
In each toy, there is a premium on realism. The more that 16 a child can relate his toy~ to the adult~ world that he sees 17 about him, the more he enjoys and learns from his play. Thus, 18 a toy Yehicle which merely plunges away when released is not 19 always perceived as a Yehicle which can be controlled. On the other hand, if a toy must be released by switches, levers, and 21 the like, it i5 not likely to be perceived as an adult~
22 Yehicle either. Moreover, it may be awkward and dif~icult for 23 a child to get a finger under or around a small toy vehicle in 24 order to work a lever (or the like) without simultaneously deflectin~ the vehicle from its path.
26 Accordingly, there is a need for new and improved vehicles 27 which operate in the described manner, and which are 28 controlled, at a touch. ~ere, an object is to provide such a 29 controlled vehicle, which has no apparent and unrealistic control levers, switches, or the like.
31 Another object is to provide a reliable and dependable 32 vehicle of the described type that is self adjusting, so that 33 it does not have to be locked in the energy storage condition 34 and unlocked to release the energy.
~5 ~Zl~
In keeping with an ~spect of the invention, a toy vehicle 0~ has a toggle-linkage sy6tem, a 6pring~ And a trsnsmi6~ion with 03 ~ rever6e gear controlled by the toggle-linkaqe ~ystem and the 04 6pring. Rolling the ~ehicle backward tr~ns~it~ energy through 05 the trans~is~ion ~nd ~uto~at~ally operates the toggle~linkage 06 6y~tem to ~tore and lock energy ~n the ~pring. Manipulation of 07 the toggle-linkage ~ystem unlock6 and releases the energy 08 6tored in the 6pring by engaging the reYer~e gear. Respon~ive 09 to the release of the energy ~tored in the ~pring, the vehicle 10 i6 propelled in a forward direction.
11 A preferred embodiment of the invention is seen in the 12 attached drawing~, wherein: `
13 Fig. 1 is an e~ploded view (in perspective) of the 14 inventive toy vehicle, Fig. 2 is a top plan Yiew of the inventive toggle-linkage 16 ~ystem mounted on a chassis 17 Fig. 3 i6 a top plan view of the toy vehicle where a body 18 panel or other suitable part (here the hood) is used to release 19 the energy 6tored in a ~pring and thereby propel the vehicle Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of 21 Pig. 2 to show the toggle-linkage mounted in the vehicle;
22 Fig. 5 ~hows tbe to991e-linkage in a first over-center 23 position which locks the gear bo~ and the energy stored in a 24 ~pring;
Fig. 6 shows the toggle-linkage in a second over-center 26 position which unlocks the gear bo~ and releases the energy 27 stored in the spring;
28 Fig. 7 ~hows the toy vehicle being rolled backward, to 29 store energy; and Fig. 8 shows the release of energy stored in the vehicle by 31 a touch upon the hood.
~2~4~i~9 ^, Fig. 1 include~ an exploded view of the major 02 ~ub-a~semblies of the toy vehicle which are; a gear box 20 ~nd 03 a trigger part 22 which together form the toggle-linkage 04 ~ystem; ~ chaRsi~ 24, and a body 26. The b~dy 26 has ~ hood 29 05 which i~ defined by double line 28 to show that it ~s hinged at 06 the front to provide an energy relea~e control panel.
07 The gear box 20 may take any ~uitable form, which, for 08 present purposes, might be viewed as being somewhat ~imilar to 09 the gear box shown in the Asano patent 4,077,156 or the Wyrick patent ?,182,529. In general, the gear box 20 contains a gear 11 train which extends from an axle 30 to a clock spring 32. A
12 movable pinion gear 33 is mounted on a ~hat 34 which is free 13 to ~ove back and forth between the limits set by an elliptical 14 or elongated hole 36. When shaft 34 is in one end (here the upper end) of the hole 36, the ~ear train is connected to axle 16 30 and wheels 38, 40 so that the vehicle is driven forward.
17 When shaft 34 is in the other end (here the lower end) of hole 18 36, the gear train is connected to axle 30 in a manner which 19 winds the spring 32 and stores energy when the vehicle is pushed backward. In short, the gear train is a transmission 21 and the pinion is a reversing gear in th~t transmission.
22 Therefore, if the ~haft 34 is trapped in one end (here the 23 lower end) of hole 36, the gear train is locked in a spring 24 winding or energy storage position. If shaft 34 is free to move into the other (upper) end of hole 36, the energy of the 26 spring is released to propel the vehicle.
27 The rear ~ide of gear box 20 has a step 42 which may be 28 captured under a tab 44 integrally formed on the chassis 24.
29 The front side of the gear box 20 also has a step 46 which engages edges 70, 72 on the trigger part 22. Step 46 also 31 engages a limit stop 48, integrally formed on the chassis 24 to 32 limit the upwardly travel of the gear box 20. The trigger part 33 22 has a pair of arms 49 which embrace the gear box 20 to ^, 6tabilize the toggle-linkage against lateral movement. The 02 ends of arms 49, 49 terminate in gener~lly cylindrical members 03 51, 51 which bear upon the ~ide~ of the gear box 20 to reduce 04 friction at the point of embrace.
05 The forward end of trigger part 22 ha~ an aperture 50 which 06 fit~ over and is held downwardly by a latch 52 integrally 07 formed on chassis 24~ There are two upstanding post~ 54, 56 08 which loosely engage the sides of the trigger part 22, in order 09 to help hold it in alignment. Al~o, the tops of posts 54, 56 engage and help ~upport the bottom of a tran~parent piecepart 11 which fits inside the body 26 to provide the windows of the car.
12 Thus, the trigger part 22 is free to move up and down 13 within the limits provided by the floor uf chassis 24 and limit 14 stop 48. The remainder of the embossments on chassi~ 24 are provided ~or aligning the positions of the body ~hell 26 and 16 the front axle 62 over the chassis 24. The front of the body 17 shell is captured by hooks 63, after which the back of the body 18 ~hell fits over a reinforced hole 65 through which a 19 self-tapping screw 67 passes to seize and hold the body.
The trigger part 22 has a pair of upstanding posts 64 21 integrally formed thereon which raises to a height that 22 slightly raises hood panel 29, when the toggle-linkage is 23 locked in an energy storage condition (see Fig. 5). The height 24 of upstanding posts 64 is such that, the toggle-linkage is pushed down (see Fig. 6) to the energy release condition when a 26 ~ownward pressure is placed on the hood 29. Upstanding ribs 27 are formed on the perimeter of trigger part 22 to give it 28 strength and rigidity.
29 Integrally formed on the chassi~ 24 is an upstanding power locking bridge means 66 which rises to a level that pulls the 31 ~haft 34 into the energy locked position (Pig. 5), against the 32 lower end of slot 36, while the gear box is raised to the level 33 where step 46 bears against li~it stop 48. When the gear box i21~
^1 20 is resting against the floor of cha~si6 24 IFig. 6), the 02 power locking bridge means 66 allows the ~haft 34 to escape to 03 the upper end of the 610t 36, which releases the energy ~tored 04 in the clock spr ing 32 . Thi~ gear box respon~e to the toggle 05 ~ction i6 al~o seen in Fig. 4 where the lower po~ition of the 06 gear box 20 is shown by ~olid lines and the raised position is 07 seen by dot-da~hed lines.
08 In greater detail, Figs. 5 and ~ show the two over-center 09 positions of the toggle-linkage. One end of the trigger lever 22 is hooked under hook 52 near the front end of the chas~is 11 24. As ~hown in Fig. 5, the clock spring 32 has been wound by 12 ~oving the vehicle backward. Therefore, because the vehicle is 13 rolled in a backward direction, tension in the clock spring 14 urges the gear box 20 to tip upwardly in direction A. The tipping occurs because the back step 42 on gear box 20 rocks 16 against a fulcrum formed by the tab 44 on the chassis 24. With 17 the clock 6pring 32 (Fig. 1~ urging the gear box upwardly in 18 direction A (Fig. 5), the shaft 34 is captured in the lower end 19 of slot 36 by a holding means in the form of a locking bridge 66. Thus, the pinion 33 places the gear train in a condition 21 which responds to backward motion in order to wind the clock 22 ~pring.
23 To release the energy ~tored in the clock ~pring 32, the 24 hood of the automobile is pushed downwardly (Fig. 8), thereby pressing post 64 downwardly in direction B (Fig. 6). As the 26 trigger part 22 moves downwardly in direction B, a pair of its 27 edges 70, 72 press downwardly on ~tep 46 at the front of gear 28 box 20. The gear box rocks in direction C.
29 As the gear box 20 is moved downwardly, locking bridge 66 which is at a level which is above the upper end of the slot 31 36, allows the pinion gear on 6haft 34 to move upwardly. This 32 pinion gear movement shifts the gears and enables the gear 33 train in box 20 to be driven in a direction which is reversed ~ _ r IL 4 ~
^~ to the direction in which the gear train moves when the vehicle 02 is rolled backward~ That rever e gear train movement i6 under 03 the urging of the clock spring 32. Also, the releafie of the 04 clock spring, through the gear train~ relieves the bia~ wh$ch 05 caused the toggle-linkage to move over center, ~ ~hown in Fig.
06 5.
07 When the clock spring runs down and loses its stored 08 energy, the toggle-linkage remains in the energy release 09 condition ~een in Fig. 6.
When the vehicle is next rolled backward, energy is again 11 stored in the clock spring 32. The toggl-e-linkage returns to 12 the cocked position of Fig. 5. The gear train i again locked 13 by the capture of the pinion 8haft at the lower end of slot 36, 14 until part 64 is next pushed in direction B (Fig. 7)~
The operating ~equence is ~een in ~igs. 7, 8. The Yehicle 16 is rolled backward as seen in ~ig. 7, and the hood pops up.
17 Then, the vehicle may be left indefinitely in the wound up 18 condition. When the child wants the vehicle to run ~orward, he 19 pushes down on hood 29 (Fig. 8). That flips the toggle-linkage from the Fig. 5 position to the Fig. 6 position, and the 21 vehicle moves forward under the urging of the clock ~pring 32.
22 There are many subtle advantages in the inventive vehicle.
23 A toy vehicle which can be controlled without switches, levers 24 or the like enhances the realism of the toy and a child' 6 play with the toy. In the present invention, for example, as shown 26 in ~ig. 4, the toggle linkage moves from the position shown in 27 dot-dashed lines to the position shown in solid lines without 28 the need for any ~witches or levers. Rather, the hard top 26 29 can be pressed down to move the toggle linkage from the dot-dashed line position to the solid line position. A
31 clicking noise will result from the downward movement of the 32 toggle linkage. Thus, a child may press on the roof until 33 he/she hears a click ~to charge the car~, pull back to wind up l4~:;3~
~ the motor, and then pre6s the hood to relea~e the energy. Thi6 02 play action put~ ~ premiu~ on reali~m ~nd provide~ ~ reliable 03 and depend~ble toy vehicle.
04 Those who are ~killed in the art will readily perceive how 05 to modify the invention. Therefore, the ~ppended cla~ms ~re to 06 be construed to cover all equivalent ~tructures which fall 07 within the true scope and spirit of the invention.
0~
^ ~1584C -- 0048C
02 TS;~Y VEE~ICLE
04 This invention relates to t~y vehicles, and more 05 particularly, to toy vehicles which first ~tore energy by being 06 rolled ~n a backward direction, and which are then driven 07 forward responsive to a release of the energy which is ~o 08 stored.
09 There are toy vehicles which are adapted to store energy when they are rolled backward, in order to wind a ~pring.
11 Usually, these vehicles are propelled in a forward direction by 12 ~imply releasing them after they have been rolled backward.
13 Examples of such toy vehicles are found in U.S. patents 14 4,077,156 (Asano) and 2,182t529 ~Wyrick).
In each toy, there is a premium on realism. The more that 16 a child can relate his toy~ to the adult~ world that he sees 17 about him, the more he enjoys and learns from his play. Thus, 18 a toy Yehicle which merely plunges away when released is not 19 always perceived as a Yehicle which can be controlled. On the other hand, if a toy must be released by switches, levers, and 21 the like, it i5 not likely to be perceived as an adult~
22 Yehicle either. Moreover, it may be awkward and dif~icult for 23 a child to get a finger under or around a small toy vehicle in 24 order to work a lever (or the like) without simultaneously deflectin~ the vehicle from its path.
26 Accordingly, there is a need for new and improved vehicles 27 which operate in the described manner, and which are 28 controlled, at a touch. ~ere, an object is to provide such a 29 controlled vehicle, which has no apparent and unrealistic control levers, switches, or the like.
31 Another object is to provide a reliable and dependable 32 vehicle of the described type that is self adjusting, so that 33 it does not have to be locked in the energy storage condition 34 and unlocked to release the energy.
~5 ~Zl~
In keeping with an ~spect of the invention, a toy vehicle 0~ has a toggle-linkage sy6tem, a 6pring~ And a trsnsmi6~ion with 03 ~ rever6e gear controlled by the toggle-linkaqe ~ystem and the 04 6pring. Rolling the ~ehicle backward tr~ns~it~ energy through 05 the trans~is~ion ~nd ~uto~at~ally operates the toggle~linkage 06 6y~tem to ~tore and lock energy ~n the ~pring. Manipulation of 07 the toggle-linkage ~ystem unlock6 and releases the energy 08 6tored in the 6pring by engaging the reYer~e gear. Respon~ive 09 to the release of the energy ~tored in the ~pring, the vehicle 10 i6 propelled in a forward direction.
11 A preferred embodiment of the invention is seen in the 12 attached drawing~, wherein: `
13 Fig. 1 is an e~ploded view (in perspective) of the 14 inventive toy vehicle, Fig. 2 is a top plan Yiew of the inventive toggle-linkage 16 ~ystem mounted on a chassis 17 Fig. 3 i6 a top plan view of the toy vehicle where a body 18 panel or other suitable part (here the hood) is used to release 19 the energy 6tored in a ~pring and thereby propel the vehicle Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of 21 Pig. 2 to show the toggle-linkage mounted in the vehicle;
22 Fig. 5 ~hows tbe to991e-linkage in a first over-center 23 position which locks the gear bo~ and the energy stored in a 24 ~pring;
Fig. 6 shows the toggle-linkage in a second over-center 26 position which unlocks the gear bo~ and releases the energy 27 stored in the spring;
28 Fig. 7 ~hows the toy vehicle being rolled backward, to 29 store energy; and Fig. 8 shows the release of energy stored in the vehicle by 31 a touch upon the hood.
~2~4~i~9 ^, Fig. 1 include~ an exploded view of the major 02 ~ub-a~semblies of the toy vehicle which are; a gear box 20 ~nd 03 a trigger part 22 which together form the toggle-linkage 04 ~ystem; ~ chaRsi~ 24, and a body 26. The b~dy 26 has ~ hood 29 05 which i~ defined by double line 28 to show that it ~s hinged at 06 the front to provide an energy relea~e control panel.
07 The gear box 20 may take any ~uitable form, which, for 08 present purposes, might be viewed as being somewhat ~imilar to 09 the gear box shown in the Asano patent 4,077,156 or the Wyrick patent ?,182,529. In general, the gear box 20 contains a gear 11 train which extends from an axle 30 to a clock spring 32. A
12 movable pinion gear 33 is mounted on a ~hat 34 which is free 13 to ~ove back and forth between the limits set by an elliptical 14 or elongated hole 36. When shaft 34 is in one end (here the upper end) of the hole 36, the ~ear train is connected to axle 16 30 and wheels 38, 40 so that the vehicle is driven forward.
17 When shaft 34 is in the other end (here the lower end) of hole 18 36, the gear train is connected to axle 30 in a manner which 19 winds the spring 32 and stores energy when the vehicle is pushed backward. In short, the gear train is a transmission 21 and the pinion is a reversing gear in th~t transmission.
22 Therefore, if the ~haft 34 is trapped in one end (here the 23 lower end) of hole 36, the gear train is locked in a spring 24 winding or energy storage position. If shaft 34 is free to move into the other (upper) end of hole 36, the energy of the 26 spring is released to propel the vehicle.
27 The rear ~ide of gear box 20 has a step 42 which may be 28 captured under a tab 44 integrally formed on the chassis 24.
29 The front side of the gear box 20 also has a step 46 which engages edges 70, 72 on the trigger part 22. Step 46 also 31 engages a limit stop 48, integrally formed on the chassis 24 to 32 limit the upwardly travel of the gear box 20. The trigger part 33 22 has a pair of arms 49 which embrace the gear box 20 to ^, 6tabilize the toggle-linkage against lateral movement. The 02 ends of arms 49, 49 terminate in gener~lly cylindrical members 03 51, 51 which bear upon the ~ide~ of the gear box 20 to reduce 04 friction at the point of embrace.
05 The forward end of trigger part 22 ha~ an aperture 50 which 06 fit~ over and is held downwardly by a latch 52 integrally 07 formed on chassis 24~ There are two upstanding post~ 54, 56 08 which loosely engage the sides of the trigger part 22, in order 09 to help hold it in alignment. Al~o, the tops of posts 54, 56 engage and help ~upport the bottom of a tran~parent piecepart 11 which fits inside the body 26 to provide the windows of the car.
12 Thus, the trigger part 22 is free to move up and down 13 within the limits provided by the floor uf chassis 24 and limit 14 stop 48. The remainder of the embossments on chassi~ 24 are provided ~or aligning the positions of the body ~hell 26 and 16 the front axle 62 over the chassis 24. The front of the body 17 shell is captured by hooks 63, after which the back of the body 18 ~hell fits over a reinforced hole 65 through which a 19 self-tapping screw 67 passes to seize and hold the body.
The trigger part 22 has a pair of upstanding posts 64 21 integrally formed thereon which raises to a height that 22 slightly raises hood panel 29, when the toggle-linkage is 23 locked in an energy storage condition (see Fig. 5). The height 24 of upstanding posts 64 is such that, the toggle-linkage is pushed down (see Fig. 6) to the energy release condition when a 26 ~ownward pressure is placed on the hood 29. Upstanding ribs 27 are formed on the perimeter of trigger part 22 to give it 28 strength and rigidity.
29 Integrally formed on the chassi~ 24 is an upstanding power locking bridge means 66 which rises to a level that pulls the 31 ~haft 34 into the energy locked position (Pig. 5), against the 32 lower end of slot 36, while the gear box is raised to the level 33 where step 46 bears against li~it stop 48. When the gear box i21~
^1 20 is resting against the floor of cha~si6 24 IFig. 6), the 02 power locking bridge means 66 allows the ~haft 34 to escape to 03 the upper end of the 610t 36, which releases the energy ~tored 04 in the clock spr ing 32 . Thi~ gear box respon~e to the toggle 05 ~ction i6 al~o seen in Fig. 4 where the lower po~ition of the 06 gear box 20 is shown by ~olid lines and the raised position is 07 seen by dot-da~hed lines.
08 In greater detail, Figs. 5 and ~ show the two over-center 09 positions of the toggle-linkage. One end of the trigger lever 22 is hooked under hook 52 near the front end of the chas~is 11 24. As ~hown in Fig. 5, the clock spring 32 has been wound by 12 ~oving the vehicle backward. Therefore, because the vehicle is 13 rolled in a backward direction, tension in the clock spring 14 urges the gear box 20 to tip upwardly in direction A. The tipping occurs because the back step 42 on gear box 20 rocks 16 against a fulcrum formed by the tab 44 on the chassis 24. With 17 the clock 6pring 32 (Fig. 1~ urging the gear box upwardly in 18 direction A (Fig. 5), the shaft 34 is captured in the lower end 19 of slot 36 by a holding means in the form of a locking bridge 66. Thus, the pinion 33 places the gear train in a condition 21 which responds to backward motion in order to wind the clock 22 ~pring.
23 To release the energy ~tored in the clock ~pring 32, the 24 hood of the automobile is pushed downwardly (Fig. 8), thereby pressing post 64 downwardly in direction B (Fig. 6). As the 26 trigger part 22 moves downwardly in direction B, a pair of its 27 edges 70, 72 press downwardly on ~tep 46 at the front of gear 28 box 20. The gear box rocks in direction C.
29 As the gear box 20 is moved downwardly, locking bridge 66 which is at a level which is above the upper end of the slot 31 36, allows the pinion gear on 6haft 34 to move upwardly. This 32 pinion gear movement shifts the gears and enables the gear 33 train in box 20 to be driven in a direction which is reversed ~ _ r IL 4 ~
^~ to the direction in which the gear train moves when the vehicle 02 is rolled backward~ That rever e gear train movement i6 under 03 the urging of the clock spring 32. Also, the releafie of the 04 clock spring, through the gear train~ relieves the bia~ wh$ch 05 caused the toggle-linkage to move over center, ~ ~hown in Fig.
06 5.
07 When the clock spring runs down and loses its stored 08 energy, the toggle-linkage remains in the energy release 09 condition ~een in Fig. 6.
When the vehicle is next rolled backward, energy is again 11 stored in the clock spring 32. The toggl-e-linkage returns to 12 the cocked position of Fig. 5. The gear train i again locked 13 by the capture of the pinion 8haft at the lower end of slot 36, 14 until part 64 is next pushed in direction B (Fig. 7)~
The operating ~equence is ~een in ~igs. 7, 8. The Yehicle 16 is rolled backward as seen in ~ig. 7, and the hood pops up.
17 Then, the vehicle may be left indefinitely in the wound up 18 condition. When the child wants the vehicle to run ~orward, he 19 pushes down on hood 29 (Fig. 8). That flips the toggle-linkage from the Fig. 5 position to the Fig. 6 position, and the 21 vehicle moves forward under the urging of the clock ~pring 32.
22 There are many subtle advantages in the inventive vehicle.
23 A toy vehicle which can be controlled without switches, levers 24 or the like enhances the realism of the toy and a child' 6 play with the toy. In the present invention, for example, as shown 26 in ~ig. 4, the toggle linkage moves from the position shown in 27 dot-dashed lines to the position shown in solid lines without 28 the need for any ~witches or levers. Rather, the hard top 26 29 can be pressed down to move the toggle linkage from the dot-dashed line position to the solid line position. A
31 clicking noise will result from the downward movement of the 32 toggle linkage. Thus, a child may press on the roof until 33 he/she hears a click ~to charge the car~, pull back to wind up l4~:;3~
~ the motor, and then pre6s the hood to relea~e the energy. Thi6 02 play action put~ ~ premiu~ on reali~m ~nd provide~ ~ reliable 03 and depend~ble toy vehicle.
04 Those who are ~killed in the art will readily perceive how 05 to modify the invention. Therefore, the ~ppended cla~ms ~re to 06 be construed to cover all equivalent ~tructures which fall 07 within the true scope and spirit of the invention.
0~
Claims (10)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A toy vehicle having a gear box including a housing 20 containing a spring 32, means responsive to backward motion of said vehicle for operating said gear box to store energy in said spring during a first mode of operation, means responsive to a selection (force B) of a second mode of operation for releasing the energy stored in said spring through said gear box (20) for driving said vehicle in a forward direction, said gear box wind-ing said spring (via gear 33) responsive to a rotation of gears in a first direction (64) when operating said first mode and for rotating said gears (via gear 33) in a second direction when operating in said second mode, said invention being characterized by a toggle linkage means comprising said housing of said gear box (20) having one end pivotally attached (at 42) to said toy vehicle at one point (44) and a trigger lever arm (22) having one end pivotally attached to said toy vehicle at a point (52) which is remote from the one point (44), a second end (46) of said gear box housing engaging another end (72) of said trigger lever arm to form an over center toggle linkage means, the relative lengths of said gear box housing and said trigger lever arm being such that said toggle linkage moves back and forth between two over-center positions, said spring urging said toggle linkage to one of said two over-center positions when operating in said first mode and a manual selection means moving said toggle linkage to the other of said two over-center positions for operating in said second mode.
2. The toy vehicle of claim 1 further characterized in that said gear box contains a movable pinion gear (33) which rev-erses the effective rotational direction of said gear box (20), and means (wind up of spring 32 or push force B) responsive to movement of the toggle-linkage between said over center positions for moving said pinion gear.
3. The toy vehicle of claim 2 further characterized in that holding means (66) are integrally formed on said vehicle for controlling said movement of said pinion gear (32) responsive to the movement of said toggle-linkage between said two over center positions.
4. The toy vehicle of claim 3 further characterized in that the holding means is in the form of a locking bridge (66) above said pinion gear (32), to hold said gear (32) in a lower position when said toggle-linkage (20, 22) is in an upper position.
5. The toy of claim 3 further characterized in that hinged body panel means (29) are provided on said vehicle, said means for applying a force to said toggle-linkage (20,22) being operated responsive to movement of said body panel.
6. A toy wheeled vehicle comprising spring means (32), transmission means (gears in 20) with a reverse gear (33) means responsive to rolling said vehicle backward for transmitting energy through said transmission for storing and locking energy in said spring, the invention being characterized by toggle-linkage means (20 (housing), 22) responsive to a manipulation (force B) of said toggle-linkage for unlocking and releasing said energy stored in said spring by engaging said reverse gear (33), and means responsive to said release of said energy stored in said spring for propelling said vehicle in a forward direction.
7. The toy of claim 6 further characterized in that spring tension caused by said energy stored in said spring urges said toggle-linkage to said operated position.
8. The toy of claim 7 further characterized in that means (66) integrally are formed on said vehicle in a position relative to the position of said toggle-linkage in said operated position for urging said reversing gear to an energy storage position responsive to said backward rolling of said vehicle.
9. The toy of claim 8 further characterized in that said vehicle comprises a body part (29) which moves said toggle-linkage away from said operated position for urging said revers-ing gear (32) to an energy release position.
10. The toy of claim 9 further characterized in that said body part is a hood (29) of said vehicle.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08300589A GB2133300A (en) | 1983-01-11 | 1983-01-11 | Toy vehicle |
| GB8300589 | 1983-01-11 | ||
| GB08332969A GB2135895B (en) | 1983-01-11 | 1983-12-09 | Toy vehicle |
| GB8332969 | 1983-12-09 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1214639A true CA1214639A (en) | 1986-12-02 |
Family
ID=26284875
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000444614A Expired CA1214639A (en) | 1983-01-11 | 1984-01-04 | Toy vehicle |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU2321784A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1214639A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3400221A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2541128B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2135895B (en) |
| IT (1) | IT8420448V0 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4536169A (en) * | 1983-10-24 | 1985-08-20 | Mattel, Inc. | Quick release spring powered toy vehicle |
| CN1788821B (en) | 2004-12-16 | 2010-08-11 | 马特尔有限公司 | Toy vehicle |
| ITUB20154046A1 (en) * | 2015-09-30 | 2017-03-30 | Artsana Spa | Recharging toy vehicle. |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE275418C (en) * | ||||
| US2735222A (en) * | 1956-02-21 | glass | ||
| US2182529A (en) * | 1937-01-06 | 1939-12-05 | Clayton E Wyrick | Mechanical motor drive |
| US4077156A (en) * | 1976-09-17 | 1978-03-07 | Shinsei Kogyo Co., Ltd. | Toy vehicle with energy storing mechanism |
| JPS5843500U (en) * | 1981-09-18 | 1983-03-23 | 株式会社川上精巧 | traveling toy |
-
1983
- 1983-12-09 GB GB08332969A patent/GB2135895B/en not_active Expired
-
1984
- 1984-01-04 CA CA000444614A patent/CA1214639A/en not_active Expired
- 1984-01-05 DE DE19843400221 patent/DE3400221A1/en active Granted
- 1984-01-06 IT IT2044884U patent/IT8420448V0/en unknown
- 1984-01-10 FR FR8400453A patent/FR2541128B1/en not_active Expired
- 1984-01-11 AU AU23217/84A patent/AU2321784A/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2135895B (en) | 1986-07-23 |
| DE3400221A1 (en) | 1984-07-12 |
| GB2135895A (en) | 1984-09-12 |
| AU2321784A (en) | 1984-07-12 |
| GB8332969D0 (en) | 1984-01-18 |
| FR2541128B1 (en) | 1986-12-19 |
| IT8420448V0 (en) | 1984-01-06 |
| FR2541128A1 (en) | 1984-08-24 |
| DE3400221C2 (en) | 1988-09-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |