GB1296915A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1296915 Toy vehicle propulsion unit LOUIS MARX & CO Ltd 22 May 1970 [28 Nov 1969 24983/70 Heading A6S A propoulsion unit for propelling a toy vehicle round a trackway system comprises a guideway 17 for receiving a trackway portion 11, a spring-loaded propulsion member 21 which is provided with a driving head 24, a cocking handle 33 and a cocking finger 25. A trigger 27 is provided which projects into the path of the on-coming vehicle 14, and has at its other end a detent 29 which is located against a detent-ledge 26 on the propulsion member 21 so as to retain the propulsion member in the loaded position against the pull of spring 23. The vehicle striking the projecting arm of trigger 27 causes it to rotate out of the path of the vehicle and releases the propulsion member 21 which is rotated rapidly under the influence of spring 23 causing the driving head 24 to strike the rear of the vehicle 14 and impart a driving force thereto. The propulsion member is then re-cocked manually by means of handle 33. On doing so the cocking finger 25 contacts the arm of trigger 27 causing it to be rotated into the path of the on-coming vehicle again and causing detent 29 to be located against detent ledge 26. A counter for counting the number of passes of the propulsion unit the vehicle makes is provided and comprises a cover plate 42 attached to the base having a viewing aperture 43 and a post extending downwards on which are mounted two discs 45 and 48, disc 45 being marked with numbers and acting as the counter. The underside of the cover plate and the discs 45 and 48 have co-operating ratchets 47 and 49 so that the disc 45 can only be rotated in one direction and the disc 48 when rotated in that direction causes disc 45 to be rotated, and when rotated in the other direction rotates relative to disc 48. The rachets are maintained in contact by means of spring 52 which also serves to bias disc 48 in a clockwise direction. The counting unit is operated by propulsion unit 21 contacting and displacing an arm 58 attached to disc 48. When the propulsion member is released the disc 48 rotates under the action of spring 52 until it strikes a stop 57 and rotates disc 45 with it, advancing the counter one unit.