EP0044148A1 - Spielzeugauto - Google Patents

Spielzeugauto Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0044148A1
EP0044148A1 EP19810302853 EP81302853A EP0044148A1 EP 0044148 A1 EP0044148 A1 EP 0044148A1 EP 19810302853 EP19810302853 EP 19810302853 EP 81302853 A EP81302853 A EP 81302853A EP 0044148 A1 EP0044148 A1 EP 0044148A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vehicle
axle
tractor
trailer
toy
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.)
Ceased
Application number
EP19810302853
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Bryan Frederick Nicholls
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mettoy Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Mettoy Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mettoy Co Ltd filed Critical Mettoy Co Ltd
Publication of EP0044148A1 publication Critical patent/EP0044148A1/de
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H17/00—Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; ; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor
    • A63H17/05—Trucks; Lorries
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H17/00—Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; ; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor
    • A63H17/26—Details; Accessories
    • A63H17/36—Steering-mechanisms for toy vehicles

Definitions

  • This invention relates to toy vehicles.
  • Toy cars which are steerable in that they move along a generally straight path in the forward direction, and turn when driven in a reverse direction.
  • One example of such a car comprises a fifth wheel located between the front wheels of the car, the fifth wheel being pivotally mounted on the vehicle in the manner of a castor.
  • the fifth wheel is so arranged that it is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the car when moving forwardly, but when the vehicle moves rearwardly the wheel rotates within a confined angle causing the car to turn.
  • control of the car is achieved simply by driving the car using simple control methods, which may be mechanical, electrical or electronic.
  • a toy vehicle which comprises a vehicle body (1) and wheeled steering means (8) therefor including a wheel to engage a support surface, said steering means being pivotally mounted on the body and so arranged that, when the vehicle is moved in one direction the vehicle follows a generally straight path, and when moved in the opposite direction, the vehicle turns, characterised in that the wheeled steering means (8) comprises two wheels (11,12) supported by an axle (9) which is freely rotatable about a pivot axis perpendicular to the axle and spaced from the centre of the axle, and wherein two stop means (13,14) are provided which are engageable with the axle to limit angular movement thereof, the first (14) of said stop means holding the axle perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle in one direction of movement of the vehicle, and the second (13) of said stop means holding the axle at an angle to the vehicle longitudinal axis when the vehicle moves in the opposite direction.
  • the wheeled steering means (8) comprises two wheels (11,12) supported by an axle (9) which is freely
  • the vehicle is steered in only one direction of movement, which is preferably the reverse direction. Movement of the axle is achieved by the drag of the wheels on the surface on which the vehicle runs, and power-operated means for rotating the axle, and thus steering the vehicle, are not required.
  • the toy vehicles of the invention may include a motor for selectively driving the vehicle in a forwards and a reverse direction and the motor may, if desired, be remotely controlled.
  • the steering axle is preferably at the front or forward end of the vehicle, and will generally extend transversely of the vehicle.
  • the pivot axis is spaced from the mid-point of the axle (which will normally be on the longitudinal axis of the vehicle) and is preferably at or close to one end of the axle, i.e. at or close to a wheel.
  • the vehicle has a generally planar base portion and the two stops are formed as projections from this base, so that the axle slides over the base (either above or below it) between the two stops.
  • a further planar member may be provided parallel to the base so that a generally triangular box-like structure is formed in which the axle is housed, the structure extending generally transversely of the vehicle with two sides thereof constituted by the two stops.
  • the steering arrangement of the present invention can be employed in a variety of toy vehicles. It is especially useful in articulated toy vehicles which include a tractor and a trailer releasably and pivotally coupled thereto, the steering arrangement normally being located on the tractor.
  • This equipment cannot normally be accommodated in the tractor.
  • Steering of such a vehicle could be readily controlled if the tractor had drivable wheels connected to a motor within the tractor body and the trailer contained the other equipment, such as control switch and batteries.
  • such an arrangement would require a plug and socket between the tractor and trailer, which is not practical on a small toy unless the tractor and trailer were to be permanently connected, which is not desirable.
  • a toy articulated vehicle comprising a tractor and a trailer releasably connected to the tractor, said trailer having means for driving the vehicle, and said tractor having means for steering the vehicle along a generally straight path when the vehicle is driven in one direction and a generally curved path when the vehicle is driven in the opposite direction, and stop means for limiting the rotation of the tractor relative to the trailer when the vehicle is driven in said opposite direction.
  • Such articulated toy vehicles of the invention preferably comprise a steering arrangement of the invention as previously described.
  • the vehicle comprises a cab part or tractor 1 to which is detachably and pivotally connected in known manner a trailer 2.
  • a drive arrangement 3 for the vehicle is located in the trailer 2 and preferably comprises a motor 4 which is arranged to drive the rear wheels 5 of the trailer, for example through gears 6, a battery 7 and a switch arrangement (not shown).
  • the switch arrangement provides "off", “forward” and “reverse” modes and is preferably operated by remote control, for example using a manually operated remote control unit (not shown) which may, for example, transmit sonic, radio, infra-red or ultrasonic waves.
  • the switch arrangement may however be manually operated, or it may be in a separate, hand-operated control unit connected by wiring to the motor 4.
  • the motor 4 may optionally be clockwork and manually actuated to operate in the required modes.
  • a steering arrangement is provided for the vehicle, by which the vehicle moves in a straight path when travelling forwardly and by which the vehicle is caused to turn when travelling in a reverse direction.
  • the steering arrangement comprises an assembly 8 permitting pivotal movement of the front axle 9 of the tractor 1 between two extreme positions, in one of which the axle 9 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and in the other of which the axle 9 is at an angle to the longitudinal axis, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4.
  • the axle 9 is pivotable about a vertical axis which is disposed to one side of the centre of the axle and is preferably close to one of the front wheels 11, the other front wheel 12 being permitted to move through an arc.
  • the extreme positions of the axle 9 are determined by elongate front and rear stops 13,14 which are secured to the underside of the tractor 1. Any suitable means may be used to support the axle 9, for example a bottom plate attached to the stops 13,14 the plate supporting the axle 9 in all permitted angular positions thereof. A second plate (not shown) may be provided over the stops 13 and 14 to form a generally triangular box-shaped structure accommodating axle 9.
  • a stop 15 is provided to limit angular movement of the tractor relative to the trailer.
  • the stop 15 preferably comprises inter-engageable projections 16,17 formed respectively on the tractor 1 and trailer 2, as shown, but may take any suitable form.
  • the tractor 1 has a fifth wheel mounted on the underside of the tractor and arranged to lift the front wheels of the tractor slightly away from the surface on which the vehicle is running.
  • the fifth wheel is mounted on an axle perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the plane of the wheel is offset from that axis.

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  • Toys (AREA)
EP19810302853 1980-07-11 1981-06-24 Spielzeugauto Ceased EP0044148A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8022781 1980-07-11
GB8022781 1980-07-11

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0044148A1 true EP0044148A1 (de) 1982-01-20

Family

ID=10514709

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19810302853 Ceased EP0044148A1 (de) 1980-07-11 1981-06-24 Spielzeugauto

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0044148A1 (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4577528A (en) * 1984-09-14 1986-03-25 K. K. Hanzawa Corporation Driving/turnaround device for a remote controlled toy vehicle
US6672936B1 (en) * 2002-10-21 2004-01-06 The Little Tikes Company Toy truck
US7195271B2 (en) 2004-07-19 2007-03-27 Mattel, Inc. Pinch-resistant hitch assembly and children's ride-on vehicle assemblies including the same
US7207588B2 (en) 2004-07-19 2007-04-24 Mattel, Inc. Children's ride-on vehicle assemblies having trailing vehicle detection systems
US8366135B2 (en) 2004-07-19 2013-02-05 Mattel, Inc. Children's ride-on vehicles having detection systems
US9027685B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2015-05-12 Mattel, Inc. Latch assemblies and children's products that include latch assemblies

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2683956A (en) * 1949-05-16 1954-07-20 Robert J Conte Toy automobile
US2943418A (en) * 1958-05-26 1960-07-05 Smith Walter Reversing mechanism for toy cars
FR1570797A (de) * 1967-10-21 1969-06-13
DE7033183U (de) * 1970-09-05 1971-07-08 Mangold Gama Fab Fahrspielzeug mit anhaenger.

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2683956A (en) * 1949-05-16 1954-07-20 Robert J Conte Toy automobile
US2943418A (en) * 1958-05-26 1960-07-05 Smith Walter Reversing mechanism for toy cars
FR1570797A (de) * 1967-10-21 1969-06-13
DE7033183U (de) * 1970-09-05 1971-07-08 Mangold Gama Fab Fahrspielzeug mit anhaenger.

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4577528A (en) * 1984-09-14 1986-03-25 K. K. Hanzawa Corporation Driving/turnaround device for a remote controlled toy vehicle
US6672936B1 (en) * 2002-10-21 2004-01-06 The Little Tikes Company Toy truck
US7195271B2 (en) 2004-07-19 2007-03-27 Mattel, Inc. Pinch-resistant hitch assembly and children's ride-on vehicle assemblies including the same
US7207588B2 (en) 2004-07-19 2007-04-24 Mattel, Inc. Children's ride-on vehicle assemblies having trailing vehicle detection systems
US7621552B2 (en) 2004-07-19 2009-11-24 Mattel, Inc. Children's ride-on vehicle assemblies having trailing vehicle detection systems
US8366135B2 (en) 2004-07-19 2013-02-05 Mattel, Inc. Children's ride-on vehicles having detection systems
US9027685B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2015-05-12 Mattel, Inc. Latch assemblies and children's products that include latch assemblies

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19820715

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN REFUSED

18R Application refused

Effective date: 19850302

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: NICHOLLS, BRYAN FREDERICK