GB1586316A - Toy racing car unit - Google Patents

Description

(54) TOY RACING CAR UNIT (71) We, YONEZAWA TOYS CO. LTD., a Japanese Company of 3-16-6, Asakusabashi, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a toy racing car unit in which each car has self-steering mechanism.

According to the present invention there is provided a toy racing car unit in which a toy car runs on a roadbed having a guide plate on each side which projects above the running surface of the road bed, the car having steerable wheels directed toward one of the guide plates so that during advancement of the car, a portion of the car body contacts said one guide plate to be guided thereby, the roadbed including a first electrical path arranged adjacent to and in parallel with one of the guide plates and a second electrical path arranged adjacent to and in parallel with the other guide plate, each electrical path including a pair of electrical lines of opposite polarity, the car including a motor having a drive shaft drivingly connected to the drive wheels of the car via a transmission mechanism that is constructed so as to drive the wheels in the same direction irrespective of the rotational direction of the motor, the drive shaft of the motor also being drivingly connected to the steerable wheels of the car via a steering mechanism which is constructed so as to steer the steerable wheels toward one guide plate when the drive shaft rotates in one direction and to steer the steerable wheels toward the other guide plate when the drive shaft rotates in the opposite direction, and a switch for reversing the polarity of the pair of electrical lines on each electrical path.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of a toy racing car unit according to the invention Figure 2 is a front sectional view of the toy racing car unit of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an electrical circuit for use in the toy racing car unit according to the invention; Figure 4 is a plan view of the toy car mechanism; Figure 5 is a partial plan view similar to Figure 4 in which a steering direction of the front wheels is changed; Figure 6 is a lateral partially sectioned view of the toy car; Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of Figure 7;; Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of a transmission assembly for driving the wheels of the car.

In Figures 1 and 2, the toy racing car unit according to the invention comprises a car body 10 which runs on a roadbed 12 having guide plates 16 and 18 which are arranged on the side edges of the roadbed 12 to project above the roadbed. The front wheels 14 of the car are steered towards one of the guide plates so that a portion of the car body 10 makes contact with the guide plate 16 or 18.

The toy car receives the necessary power from electrical paths 20 or 21 which are arranged in parallel to the guide plates 16 and 18 provided along the roadbed 12. An electrical circuit for supplying the power to the electrical paths 20 or 21 includes therein a switch 22 for reversing the polarity from the positive line to the negative line or from the negative line to the positive line. In order to engage a rotary shaft 24 of a motor 26 with driving wheels 28, 28 for turning the latter forwardly at all times in any rotatory direction of the shaft 24, two crown gears 30 and 32 are rotatably mounted on a wheel shaft 34 as shown in Figure 4 and these gears 30 and 32 are in mesh with a pinion 36 which is secured to the shaft 24.

On the wheel shaft 34 are fixed two flanges 38 and 40 (see Figures 7-9) on which clutches 42 and 44 are arranged to turn together and allow radial movement thereof in relation to the wheel shaft 34.

In the crown gears 30, 32 are arranged elements 46, 48 for engagement with the clutches 42, 44 to constitute a transmission mechanism for the driving wheels 28 as shown in Figure 7. In this arrangement, when the rotary shaft 24 turns clockwise, the clutch 42 for example is engaged with the element 46 to rotate the wheel shaft 34 forwardly, while the clutch 44 is disengaged from the element 48 so as not to disturb the rotation of the wheel shaft 34. On the contrary, when the rotary shaft 24 turns anti-clockwise the clutch 44 is engaged with the element 48 to rotate the shaft 34 forwardly, while the clutch 42 is disengaged from the element 46 so as not to disturb the rotation of the shaft 34. Thus, the wheel shaft 34 turns forwardly at all times regardless of the rotatary direction of the shaft 24.Also, if shaft 24 is stationary the wheel shaft 34 can rotate only in the forward direction without interference from either clutch.

In Figures 4 to 6, a steering mechanism is shown which includes a pinion 50 which is secured to the opposite end of rotary shaft 24 and serves to change the steering direction of the front wheel 14 depending on the rotatory direction of the shaft 24. The pinion 50 is connected to supports 52, 52 of the front wheels 14 through a fan shape gear or arcuate rack 54 which is provided on a fixing plate 56 rotatably mounted on the car body 10. On either side of the fan shape gear 54 there are formed vacant areas 58 and 60 which serve to stabilize the changed direction of the front wheels 14 when the rotary shaft 24 changes its rotatory direction, for example, from the direction as shown in Figure 4 to that shown in Figure 5.The pinion 50 located in the vacant area 58 is engaged with the fan shape gear 54 to move the fixing plate 56 to change the direction of the wheel 14, and when the pinion 50 reaches the vacant area 60 the engagement of the pinion 50 with the fan shape gear 54 is released.

The steering direction of the front wheels 14 may be changed from the position as shown in Figure 5 to that shown in Figure 4.

In place of forming the vacant areas 58 and 60, the pinion may be in the form of a friction wheel which is made into contact with the fan shape gear 54 for stabilization through friction. A spring 62 always retains the fixing plate 56 at the neutral position rendering the front wheels 14 to advance in straight forward. This spring 62 ensures that the fan shape gear 54 is always urged to and engaged with the pinion 50 and that the direction of the wheel 14 may be positively changed by the reverse movement of the pinion 50.

In the present invention, the toy racing car 10 receives the necessary power from the electrical circuit as fully described hereinafter with reference to Figure 3. On the roadbed 12 are arranged two pairs of three parallel lines of the electrical paths 20 and 21. Two basic lines 66 and 68 which feed an alternating current as the power source is divided into four lines 70, 72, 74 and 76, on each of which lines are arranged diodes 78, 80, 82 and 84 serving as a half-wave rectifier. The first electrical line 201 and 211 of the foregoing two pairs of three electrical lines are connected to the lines 70 and 72 divided from the basic line 66. The second lines 20a, 21a and the third lines 20b, 21b are connected respectively to the lines 74 and 76 divided from the basic line 68 and having variable resistances 86 and 88 thereon.

Current collectors (brushes) 90 and 92 of the first car body 10whichreceives the power from the electrical lines 211, and 21a are made into contact with the electrical paths 21 and 21a.

The current collectors 94 and 96 of another car body 10a make contact with the electrical lines 211 and 21b.

In Figure 3, two pairs of the three electrical lines 201, 20a, 20b and 211, 21a, 21b are arranged on the roadbed 12 and the first reversing switch 22 is provided between lines 70 and 74, whereas the second switch 22 is provided between lines 72 and 76.

By the operation of the reversing switch 22 or 22a to switch over the direct current flowing through the electrical lines 201, 20a, 20b or 21' 2lea, 21b from positive to negative or vice versa, the turning direction of the rotary shaft 24 of the motor 26 may be changed resulting in a change in steering direction whilst not affecting advancement of the car. For example, the front wheels may change the steering direction from left to right. Thus, if when the car 10 is running in contact with the guide plate 16 it receives power from the electrical lines 201, and 20a, and when it changes steering direction thereof so that the car contacts the guide plate 18 it then receives the power from the electrical lines 211 and 21a.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A toy racing car unit in which a toy car runs on a roadbed having a guide plate on each side which projects above the running surface of the road bed, the car having steerable wheels directed toward one of the guide plates so that during advancement of the car, a portion of the car body contacts said one guide plate to be guided thereby, the roadbed including a first electrical path arranged adjacent to and in parallel with one of the guide plates and a second electrical path arranged adjacent to and in parallel with the other guide plate, each electrical path including a pair of electrical lines of opposite polarity, the car including a motor having a drive shaft drivingly connected to the drive wheels of the car via a transmission mechanism that is constructed so as to drive the wheels in the same direction irrespective of the rotational direction of the motor, the drive shaft of the motor also being drivingly connected to the steerable wheels of the car

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. clutches 42, 44 to constitute a transmission mechanism for the driving wheels 28 as shown in Figure 7. In this arrangement, when the rotary shaft 24 turns clockwise, the clutch 42 for example is engaged with the element 46 to rotate the wheel shaft 34 forwardly, while the clutch 44 is disengaged from the element 48 so as not to disturb the rotation of the wheel shaft 34. On the contrary, when the rotary shaft 24 turns anti-clockwise the clutch 44 is engaged with the element 48 to rotate the shaft 34 forwardly, while the clutch 42 is disengaged from the element 46 so as not to disturb the rotation of the shaft 34. Thus, the wheel shaft 34 turns forwardly at all times regardless of the rotatary direction of the shaft 24.Also, if shaft 24 is stationary the wheel shaft 34 can rotate only in the forward direction without interference from either clutch. In Figures 4 to 6, a steering mechanism is shown which includes a pinion 50 which is secured to the opposite end of rotary shaft 24 and serves to change the steering direction of the front wheel 14 depending on the rotatory direction of the shaft 24. The pinion 50 is connected to supports 52, 52 of the front wheels 14 through a fan shape gear or arcuate rack 54 which is provided on a fixing plate 56 rotatably mounted on the car body 10. On either side of the fan shape gear 54 there are formed vacant areas 58 and 60 which serve to stabilize the changed direction of the front wheels 14 when the rotary shaft 24 changes its rotatory direction, for example, from the direction as shown in Figure 4 to that shown in Figure 5.The pinion 50 located in the vacant area 58 is engaged with the fan shape gear 54 to move the fixing plate 56 to change the direction of the wheel 14, and when the pinion 50 reaches the vacant area 60 the engagement of the pinion 50 with the fan shape gear 54 is released. The steering direction of the front wheels 14 may be changed from the position as shown in Figure 5 to that shown in Figure 4. In place of forming the vacant areas 58 and 60, the pinion may be in the form of a friction wheel which is made into contact with the fan shape gear 54 for stabilization through friction. A spring 62 always retains the fixing plate 56 at the neutral position rendering the front wheels 14 to advance in straight forward. This spring 62 ensures that the fan shape gear 54 is always urged to and engaged with the pinion 50 and that the direction of the wheel 14 may be positively changed by the reverse movement of the pinion 50. In the present invention, the toy racing car 10 receives the necessary power from the electrical circuit as fully described hereinafter with reference to Figure 3. On the roadbed 12 are arranged two pairs of three parallel lines of the electrical paths 20 and 21. Two basic lines 66 and 68 which feed an alternating current as the power source is divided into four lines 70, 72, 74 and 76, on each of which lines are arranged diodes 78, 80, 82 and 84 serving as a half-wave rectifier. The first electrical line 201 and 211 of the foregoing two pairs of three electrical lines are connected to the lines 70 and 72 divided from the basic line 66. The second lines 20a, 21a and the third lines 20b, 21b are connected respectively to the lines 74 and 76 divided from the basic line 68 and having variable resistances 86 and 88 thereon. Current collectors (brushes) 90 and 92 of the first car body 10whichreceives the power from the electrical lines 211, and 21a are made into contact with the electrical paths 21 and 21a. The current collectors 94 and 96 of another car body 10a make contact with the electrical lines 211 and 21b. In Figure 3, two pairs of the three electrical lines 201, 20a, 20b and 211, 21a, 21b are arranged on the roadbed 12 and the first reversing switch 22 is provided between lines 70 and 74, whereas the second switch 22 is provided between lines 72 and 76. By the operation of the reversing switch 22 or 22a to switch over the direct current flowing through the electrical lines 201, 20a, 20b or 21' 2lea, 21b from positive to negative or vice versa, the turning direction of the rotary shaft 24 of the motor 26 may be changed resulting in a change in steering direction whilst not affecting advancement of the car. For example, the front wheels may change the steering direction from left to right. Thus, if when the car 10 is running in contact with the guide plate 16 it receives power from the electrical lines 201, and 20a, and when it changes steering direction thereof so that the car contacts the guide plate 18 it then receives the power from the electrical lines 211 and 21a. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A toy racing car unit in which a toy car runs on a roadbed having a guide plate on each side which projects above the running surface of the road bed, the car having steerable wheels directed toward one of the guide plates so that during advancement of the car, a portion of the car body contacts said one guide plate to be guided thereby, the roadbed including a first electrical path arranged adjacent to and in parallel with one of the guide plates and a second electrical path arranged adjacent to and in parallel with the other guide plate, each electrical path including a pair of electrical lines of opposite polarity, the car including a motor having a drive shaft drivingly connected to the drive wheels of the car via a transmission mechanism that is constructed so as to drive the wheels in the same direction irrespective of the rotational direction of the motor, the drive shaft of the motor also being drivingly connected to the steerable wheels of the car

via a steering mechanism which is constructed so as to steer the steerable wheels toward one guide plate when the drive shaft rotates in one direction and to steer the steerable wheels toward the other guide plate when the drive shaft rotates in the opposite direction, and a switch for reversing the polarity of the pair of electrical lines of each electrical path.

2. A toy racing car unit according to claim 1 wherein the transmission mechanism includes a pinion fixedly mounted on the drive shaft of the motor and which measures between an opposed pair of crown wheels each of which is rotatably mounted on the axle of the drive wheels, the crown wheels each including a clutch for drivingly connecting the crown wheel to the axle, the clutch of one crown wheel engaging when the pinion rotates in one direction whilst the clutch of the other crown wheel disengages and the clutch of said other crown wheel engaging when the pinion rotates in the opposite direction whilst the clutch of said one crown wheel disengages.

3. A toy racing car unit according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the steering mechanism includes a pinion fixedly mounted on the drive-shaft, the pinion meshing with an arcuate rack which is formed on a plate pivotally connected to the car body, the plate being connected to the steerable wheels so as to be capable of changing the steering direction of the wheels on rotation of the pinion.

4. A toy racing car unit according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein each electrical path includes at least three electrical lines, the electric supply circuit being arranged to divide the two basic lines of alternating current into four lines, each line including a code which serves as a half-wave rectifier, a first electrical line of each electrical path being connected to both lines divided from the one basic line and the remaining second and third electrical lines of the electrical paths being connected respectively to the lines divided from the other basic line, a variable resistance being provided for controlling flow of current along the lines divided from the basic lines.

5. A toy racing car unit substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.