GB2059785A

GB2059785A - Toy vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2059785A
Application number: GB8033032A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co Ltd
Priority date: 1979-10-13
Filing date: 1980-10-13
Publication date: 1981-04-29
Also published as: FR2467007B1; ES253496U; GB2059785B; IT8025031A0; DE8027134U1; IT8022958V0; IT1132905B; JPS5942064Y2; ES253496Y; JPS5659089U; FR2467007A1; DE3038266A1

Abstract

A toy vehicle has actuating means operable by the user of the toy so that movement is imparted to components of the toy vehicle to transform the configuration of the toy vehicle from a van truck to a helicopter. To achieve this the toy vehicle comprises a vehicle body having a primary frame, a rearend body portion, a lower rearward body portion and an upper forward body portion; a pair of front wheels mounted to the vehicle primary frame; a pair of rear wheels mounted to the lower rearward body portion; a blade member mounted on the top of the vehicle primary frame for rotation and for movement between an up and down position; a pair of fin-like members pivotally mounted on the lower rearward body portion on respective sides of the primary frame for movement between an up and down position; and actuating means for imparting movement to the rearend body portion, lower rearward body portion and upper forward body portion, and to the blade member and the fin-like members. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Toy vehicle The present invention relates to a toy vehicle and, more specifically, to a toy vehicle having one particular outer configuration which is transformed into a different configuration by imparting various movements to the components of the toy vehicle.

In accordance with one aspect to the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a toy vehicle comprising: a vehicle body having a primary frame; a rearend body portion pivotally mounted on the primary frame for movement between an up and down position; a lower rearward body portion slideably mounted on the primary frame for movement between a forward and rearward position; an upper forward body portion slideably mounted on the primary frame for movement between a forward and rearward position; a pair of front wheels mounted to the vehicle primary frame and a pair of rear wheels mounted to the lower rearward body portion; a blade member mounted on the top of the vehicle primary frame for rotation and for movement between an up and down position; a pairoffin-like members pivotally mounted on the lower rearward body portion on respective sides of the primary frame for movement between an up and down position; and actuating mechanisms for imparting movement to the rearend body portion, lower rearward body portion and upper forward body portion, and to the blade member and the fin-like members.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrated an embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, served to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the toy vehicle, illustrating the toy vehicle when the different components of the toy vehicle are in one position prior to actuation of the push-button for simulating configuration of a van truck; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the toy vehicle of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1, illustrating the internal components of the toy vehicle in their respective positions prior to actuation ofthe pushbutton for the simulated configuration of the van truck;; FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the toy vehicle of FIG. 1 taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1, illustrating the various components of the toy vehicle in their respective positions prior to actuation of the push button forthe simulated configuration of the van truck and depicting the movement and positioning of the fin-like members on the sides of the toy vehicle and the blade on the top of the toy vehicle if the push button were to be activated; FIG. 4 is a partial fragmented cross-sectional and top view of the toy vehicle of FIG. 1 taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1, illustrating the features formed in a recess in an upper rear section of the toy vehicle body and the locking engagement of the fin-like member with the toy vehicle body for maintaining the fin-like member in an up position;; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the toy vehicle, illustrating the toy vehicle after actuation of the push button and movement is imparted to the various components of the toy vehicle for simulating the helicopter configuration; FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the toy vehicle of FIG. 5 taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5, illustrating in general the various components of the toy vehicle in their respective positions after actuation of the push button and movement is imparted to the various components of the toy vehicle for simulating the helicoptercomfiguration; and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the configuration and intercooperation of the upper forward body portion of the vehicle, the figure-like member pivotally mounted in the upper forward body portion of the vehicle, and the actuating level pivotally mounted for engagement with the upper forward body portion of the vehicle.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with the invention, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the toy comprises a toy vehicle, com monlydesignated by the reference numeral 10, which can be transformed from a configuration simulating a truck van to a simulated helicopter when movement is imparted to various components of the toy vehicle. As embodied herein, this toy vehicle comprises a vehicle body 12 of four intercooperating sections, including a primary frame 14, a rearend body portion 16 pivotally mounted on the primary frame 14 for movement between an up and down position; a lower rearward body portion 18 slideably mounted on the primary frame 14 for movement between a forward and rearward position; and an upper forward body portion 20 slideably mounted on the primary frame 14 for movement between a forward and rearward position.The specific configurations of these vehicle body sections and intercooperation therebetween are more fully illustrated in FIG. 2 in their positions for simulating the configuration of a truck van and in FIG. 6 in their respective positions for simulating the configuration of a helicopter after those body sections have been imparted with certain movements as will be described in further detail hereinafter.

In addition to the foregoing vehicle body sections and in accordance with the invention, the toy vehicle further comprises a pair of front wheels 22 and 24 mounted to the primary frame 14 of the vehicle body and a pair of rear wheels 26 and 28 mounted to the lower rearward body portion 18 of the vehicle body.

In the preferred embodiment and to further simulate the configuration of the helicopter when movement is imparted to various components of the toy vehi cle, the toy vehicle further includes a blade member 30 mounted on the top of the vehicle primary frame 14 for rotation and for movement between an up and down position and a pair of fin-like members 32 and 34 pivotally mounted on the lower rearward body portion 18 on the respective sides of the primary frame 14 for movement between an up and down position. The blade member 30 is best seen in FIG. 6 and the fin-like members 32 and 34 in FIGS. 1,3, and 5.

In accordance with the invention, the toy vehicle further comprises actuating means operable by a user of the toy vehicle for imparting movement to the rearend body portion 16, lower rearward body portion 18, and the upper forward body portion 20 of the vehicle body, the blade member 30, and the finlike members 32 and 34. Before movement is imparted to the toy vehicle components, the toy vehicle is configured as a van truck when the rearend body portion 16 is in its down position, the lower rearward body portion 18 is in its rearward position, the upper forward body portion 20 is in its forward position, the blade member 30 is in its lower position, and the fin-like members 32 and 34 are in their up position. The respective positions of these components prior to the actuating means imparting movement are shown in FIGS. 1,2 and 3.When movement is imparted to the various components of the toy vehicle by the actuating means, the vehicle is transformed into a helicopter configuration when the rearend body portion 16 is in its up position, the lower rearward body position 18 is in its forward position, the upper forward body portion 20 is in ts rearward position, the blade member30 is in its up position, and the fin-like members of 32 and 34 are in their down position. The respective positions of these components after the actuating means has been activated is best illustrated by FIGS. 5 and 6.

The various components of the toy vehicle and their inter-relationship between each other for imparting the above described movements and for achieving the simulated configurations is now described in greater detail below.

As herein embodied, the actuating means comprises a first actuating lever 36 having one end 38 formed as a push-button extending from the vehicle primary frame 14 at the top surface thereof for manual movement by the user of the toy. This is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The actuating lever 36 has its opposite end 40 positioned within the vehicle primary frame 14 engaged with the upper forward body portion 20. Preferably, the actuating lever 36 is biased into an upward position by a spring 42 positioned around a rod 43 acting against the pushbutton 38, as best shown in FIG. 3.Locking mechanisms comprising a latch 44 formed on the upper forward body portion 20 and a latch 46 formed on the actuating lever end 40 within the primary frame 14 lockingly engage each other when the push-button 38 of the actuating lever 36 is in its upwardly spring-biased position so that the upper forward body portion 20 is held in its forward position. When the push-button 38 is urged downwardly by the toy user against the biasing force of the spring 42, the locking latch 46 disengages with the locking latch 44, as best seen in FIG. 3. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, when this disengagement of the locking latches 44 and 46 occurs, the upper forward body portion 20 is moved from its forward position to its rearward position.

In orderto impart the movements to the various components of the toy vehicle and as embodied herein, the actuating means further comprises an actuating lever 48 pivotally mounted within the primary frame 14. The lever 48 has an upper end 50 engaged with the upper forward body portion 20, and a lower end 52 engaged with the lower rearward body portion 18, as best seen in FIGS. 2,3, and 6.

Thus, it can be seen that the second actuating lever 48 interacts with the lower rearward body portion 18 and the upper forward body portion 20 to impart certain movement to these components when the push-button 38 is actuated, as described in greater detail hereinafter.

In order to facilitate assembly and production of the above-noted components for the toy vehicle, including mounting of the lower rearward body portion 18, upper forward body portion 20, actuating lever 48 and push-button 38, the primary frame 14 is formed in two sections, an upper section 14" and a lower section 14'. Acentersupport plate 54 is mounted between the upper and lower sections 14" and 14' of the primary frame 14 within that primary frame. After the components of the toy vehicle are in place and assembled within the primary frame, the lower and upper sections 14' and 14" of the primary vehicle frame 14, with the center support plate 54 mounted therebetween, are connected together by conventional means to form an integral vehicle body 12 for the toy vehicle.The center support plate 54 has several significant functions, one of which is to pivotally mount the actuating lever 48, as best shown in FIGS. 2,3 and 6. It can also be seen that the lower rearward body portion 18 is slideably mounted within the lower section 14' of the primary frame 14 below the center plate 54 while the upper forward body portion 20 is slideably mounted along the center support plate 54 within the upper section 14" of the frame 14.

As embodied herein, and as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 6, the lower rearward body portion 18 has a forward section 56 slideably moveable within the lower section 14' of the frame 14 and a rearward section 57 exposed to form a part of the outer configuration of the simulated helicopter when movement is imparted thereto. To impart movement to the lower rearward body portion 18, a spring 58 is connected to the lower section 14' of the primary frame 14 and the section 56 of the lower rearward body portion 18 for biasing the body portion 18 to its forward position. However, when the push-button 38 has not been actuated and the locking latches 44 and 46 are in engagementwith each other, the upper forward body portion 20 is held in its forward position and thus keeps the upper end 50 of the actuating lever 48 in a forward position, as seen in FIG. 2. This in turn keeps the lower end 52 of the actuating lever 48 in a rearward position against the biasing force of the spring 58 so that this lower end 52 of the actuat ing lever 36 engages the front section 56 of the lower rearward body portion 18 to maintain that body portion 18 in its rearward position. This rearward position of the lower rearward body portion 18 is also illustrated in FIG. 2.

When the pushbutton 38 is actuated by being moved downwardly, the locking latches 44 and 46 disengage. Accordingly, the biasing force of the spring 58 urges the lower rearward body portion 18 toward its forward position and thus also moves the lower end 52 of the actuating lever 48 forwardly. In doing so, the actuating lever 36 is pivotally rotated about an axis shaft 59 on the center support plate 54 to also impart a rearward motion to the uppper end 50 of the actuating lever 48. Since the upper end 50 of the actuating lever 36 engages the slideably moveable upper forward body portion 20, the upper forward body portion 20 is caused to move to its rearward position vis-à-vis the movement of the lower rearward body portion 18.This intercooperation and positioning of the body portions 16 and 18 and the actuating lever 48, prior to actuation of the push-button 38, are best shown in FIG. 2 and, after actuation of the push-button 38, are best seen in FIG.

6. It can be further seen that, since the rear wheels 26 and 28 are mounted on the lower rearward body portion 18, these wheels 26 and 28 would likewise be moved from a rearward position prior to actuation of the push-button 38, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to a more forward position when the push-button 38 is actuated and the lower rearward body portion 18 is moved forwardly, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

To further simulate the configuration of the helicopter when certain movement of the components is imparted to the toy vehicle, there is provided the blade member 30 and the rearend portion 16 of the vehicle body 12 as previously identified. These two components will now be described in further detail.

In the preferred embodiment of the toy vehicle, the blade member 30 is operatively connected to the upper forward body portion 20 and imparted with movement when the upper forward body portion 20 is moved as described previously. Preferably, the blade member 30 comprises a blade shaft 60 verti- cally and moveably mounted within the primary frame 14 on the upper section 14" of that primary frame. The blade member 30 further comprises a blades element 62 which is formed as two flat blades and rotatably attached to the upward end of the shaft extending through the primary frame section 14".As is readily apparent from FIG. 6, the blade element 62 can be rotatably mounted to the blade shaft 60 in the manner provided by conventional means, such as the screw illustrated. The lower end of the blade shaft 60 extending into the primary frame section 14" is operatively connected to the upper forard body portion 20. Preferably, cam followers 64 and 66 are integrally formed etthe lower end of the blade shaft 60 and a pair of inclined slots 68 and 70 are formed in a rear section of the upper < orward body portion 20 for slideably receiving the cam followers 64 and 66 within the respective inclined slots 68 and 70.It thus can be seen that the blade element 62 is operatively connected to the upper forward body portion 20 in the manner described above. This arrangement is depicted in FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 7.

When the push-button 38 of the actuating lever 36 has not been depressed and the upper forward body portion 20, the lower rearward body portion 18, and the actuating lever 48 are in their respective positions as previously described and as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cam followers 64 and 66 are at the lower end of the respective inclined slots 68 and 70.

At this time, the blade element 62 is in its lowered position, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, to be in a contiguous relationship with the top surface of the vehicle primary frame 14. However, when the pushbutton 38 is actuated, the movement of the lower rearward body portion 18 and the actuating lever 48 imparts a rearward movement of the upper forward body portion 20 as previously described. When the upper forward body portion 20 is moved rearwardly by this action, the cam followers 64 and 66 are urged upwardly along the inclined slots 68 and 70 to in turn move the blade shaft 60 and the attached blade ele ment 62 upwardly, as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

To provide further unique movementtothe blade element 62 when the blade shaft 60 is moved upwardly by the interaction of cams 64 and 66 and slots 68 and 70, the upper end of the blade shaft 60 and the lower portion of the blade element 62 are formed with mutually engaging cam surfaces 72 and 74. As embodied herein, the caln surfaces 72 and 74 impart a short up and down movement and thus further enhance rotation of the blade element 62 when the blade shaft 60 is moved upwardly by the upper forward body portion 20. This is best illus traded in FIGS. 2,3 and 6.

In addition to imparting rnovementto the blade shaft 60 and blade element 62 when the upper for ward body portion 20 is moved to its rear position, that body portion 20 also imparts an upward move ment to the rearend body portion 16. As previously noted, the rearend body portion 16 is pivotally mounted on the primary frame 14 for movement between an up and down position. As embodied wherein, the rearend body portion 16 is rotatably mounted about an taxis shaft 76 which in turn is connected to the upper section 14" of the frame 14, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6.

As best shown in FIG. 2, when the pushbutton 38 has not been actuated, the upper forward body portion 20 is in its forward position and thus the rearend body portion 16 is allowed to remain in its down position. As can be seen from the drawings, the rearend body portion 16 is configured to resemble the rearend of a truck van in the down position.

When the push-button 38 is eatueted, the upper forward body portion 20 is caused to move toward its rear position as described in detail previously. In doing so, the rear section of the upper forward body portion 20 engages the rearend body portion 16 and urges that body portion 16 upwardly to its outwardly extended position, as shown in FIG. 6. This upward movementofthe rearend body portion 16 is achieved simultaneously with the upward move ment of the blade sc4&commat; shaft 60 and blade element 62, as the upper forward body portion 20 slideably moves toward its rearward position. When portion 16 is in this up position, it is configured to have portions exposed to simulate the aerial tail-fins of a helicopter.

To ensure a smooth movement of the rearend body portion 16 between its up and down positions, guide means is provided. As embodied herein, the guide means comprises a projection 78 which can be integrally formed as a part of the rear section of the upper forward body portion 20 and a projection 80 which can be integrally formed on the front end of the rear end body portion 16 so that projections 78 and 80 mate with each other and cause the body portions 16 and 20 to more smoothly slideably engage each other.

To further simulate the configuration of a helicopter and in accordance with the invention, the toy vehicle was previously noted to include a pair of fin-like members 30 and 34 pivotally mounted on the lower rearward body portion 18 on respective sides of the primary frame 14 for movement between an up and down position. In the preferred embodiment of this toy vehicle, the fin-like members 32 and 34 are lockingly engaged with the primary frame 14 in the up position when the lower rearward body portion 18 is in its rearward position. Likewise, the fin-like members 32 and 34 are unlocked from the primary frame 14 for pivotal movement to their down position when the lower rearward body portion 18 is slideably moved to its forward position. This is achieved principally because these fin-like members are pivotally mounted on the lower rearward body portion 18.

Preferably, a pair of corresponding latching mechanisms 82 and 84, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, are formed on each of the fin-like members 32 and 34 and the corresponding sides of the primary frame 14. These latching mechanisms 82 and 84 lockingly engage the fin-like members to the primary frame in the up position when the lower rearward body portion is in the rearward position and disengage the fin-like members from the primary frame when the lower rearward body portion 18 is moved to its forward position. This becomes apparent by reference to FIG. 5.

As embodied herein and illustrated in FIG. 5, the fin-like members 32 and 34 are configured in a right-angle where a first side 86 of the fin-like member is pivotally connected to an axis shaft 88 which in turn is mounted at the side edges of the lower rearward body portion 18. Each of the sides 86 also has a hole 90 therethrough. As best seen in FIG.

1, when the fin-like members 32 and 34 are in their up position, the side 86 with the hole faces the side of the primary frame to simulate windows for the van truck configuration. A second side 92 of the finlike members 32 and 34, as best seen in FIG. 1, is contiguous with the top surface of the primary frame 14 when the push-button 38 has not been activated and the toy vehicle is in its truck van configuration.

However, when the push-button 38 is activated and the fin-like members 32 and 34 are released by the latching mechanisms 82 and 84 as the lower rearward body portion 20 moves forwardly, the fin-like members 32 and 34 drop to their down position and the second side 92 is positioned horizontally out wardly from the lower side of the primary frame 14 to simulate a landing-like support structure for the helicopter configuration.

In view of the foregoing, it becomes apparent that the fin-like members 32 and 34 add a further significant feature to the helicopter configuration when movement is imparted to the various components of the toy vehicle in accordance with the invention. As best seen in FIG. 5, the upper rear section of the primary frame 14 can be formed with features, such as element 94, simulating further portions of an aerial helicopter. These elements are hidden when the fin-like members 32 and 34 are in their up position but exposed when the fin-like members are in the down position, as illustrated by comparison of FIGS.

1 and 5.

To further enhance the amusing and entertaining features of this toy vehicle and in accordance with the invention, the toy vehicle further comprises a figure-like member 96 pivotally mounted to the vehicle primary frame 14adjacentthe upperforward body portion 20 for movement between a lower hidden position within the primary frame 14 and an exposed upper position on the primary frame when the upper forward body portion is in the rearward position. This is best illustrated by reference to FIGS.

2 and 6. As shown in FIG. 5, the figure-like member 96 takes the formation of a head of a driver of the simulated helicopter in the front portion of the toy vehicle. As embodied herein, the figure-like member 96 is held in the lower hidden position by engagementofthe upper forward body portion 20 overthe figure-like member when the body portion 20 is in its forward position, as shown in FIG. 2. However, the figure-like member 96 is spring-biased to move into its exposed upper position, as illustrated in FIG. 6, when the upper forward body portion 20 is moved to its rearward position as described previously in detail. To facilitate simplicity in assembly and construction, it is preferably to provide a plate 98 on which the head of the figure-like member 96 is mounted.The plate 98 is pivotally mounted to the center support plate 54 by the same axis shaft 59 which pivotally mounts the actuating lever 48 to plate 54. A spring 100 has one end attached to the figure-like member plate 98 and the other end attached to the center support plate 54 for biasing the figure-like member 96 to an upward position.

It can be seen from the foregoing that this toy vehicle is transformed from one particular outer configuration into a different configuration by imparting various movement to the components of the toy vehicle as described in detail above. To achieve this transformation and as has been described, the push-button 38 of the actuating lever 36 is moved downwardly by the toy operator. This movement disengages the locking latches 44 and 46. Because of the biasing force of the spring 58 urging the lower rearward body portion 18 to a forward position, the actuating lever 48 is also moved to cause the upper forward body portion 20 to move to its rearward pos ition. Thus, and somewhat simultaneously, the lower rearward body portion 18 is moved to its forward position, the upper forward body portion 20 is moved to its rearward position, the blade member 30 is moved to its up position, the rearend body por tion 16 is moved to its up position, and the fin-like members 32 and 34 are released from their locking engagement with the primary frame to move to their down position.When all of these movements are imparted to these components, the vehicle is transformed from the van truck configuration, shown in FIG. 1, to the helicopter configuration, as shown in FIG. At the same time, the head of the figure-like 96 springs upwardly from its hidden position (FIG. 1) to its exposed position (FIG. 5). Of course, it is readily apparent that to return the toy vehicle to its original truck van configuration, one simply pushes the rearend body portion 16 downward to cause reverse movement to the various components and relocking of the latches 44 and 46 and to move the fin-like members 32 and 34 back to their locked position.

In view of the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, it is seen that there is provided a toy vehicle which is amusing and extremely entertaining. It is further seen that the toy vehicle is durable, reliable, safe and able to withstand rough play, and one which has components easily assembled and which are simple in construction to allow low-cost, high-volume production. It will be apparenttothose skilled in the art that modifications and variations could be made in the toy vehicle in accordance with the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. Atoy vehicle comprising: (a) a vehicle body having (i) a primary frame; (ii) a rearend body portion pivotally mounted on said primary frame for movement between an up and down position; (iii) a lower rearward body portion slideably mounted on said primary frame for movement between a forward and rearward position; (iv) an upper forward body portion slideably mounted on said primary frame for movement between a forward and rearward position; (b) a pair of front wheels mounted to said vehicle primary frame and a pair of rear wheels mounted to said lower rearward body portion; (c) a blade member mounted on the top of said vehicle primary frame for rotation and for movement between an up and down position;; (d) a pair of fin-like members pivotally mounted on said lower rearward body portion on respective sides of said primary frame for movement between an up and down position; and (e) actuating means for imparting movement to said rearend body portion, lower rearward body portion and upper forward body portion, and to said blade member and said fin-like members.

2. The toy vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a figure-like member pivotally mounted to said vehicle primary frame adjacent said upper forward body portion for movement between a lower hidden position within said primary frame and an exposed upper position on said primary frame when said upper forward body portion is in the rearward posi ron.

3. The toy vehicle of claim 1 or 2, wherein said actuating means is operable buy a user of the toy vehicle for imparting movement to the rearend, lower rearward, and upper forward body portions, said blade member, and said fin-like members for transforming the configuration of the vehicle from a van truck to a helicopter.

4. The toy vehicle of claim 2, wherein said actuating means includes a first actuating lever having one end formed as a push-button extending from the vehicle primary frame for manual movement by the user of the toy and the other end engaged with said upper forward body portion to releasably lock said upper forward body portion in the forward position, a second actuating lever pivotally mounted within said primary frame, having one end engaged with said upper forward body portion and the other end engaged with said lower rearward body portion, and wherein said blade member is connected to said upper forward body portion, said rearend body portion is engaged with said upper forward portion, said lower rearward body portion is spring biased toward the forward position and held in the rearward position by said second actuating lever when said upper forward body portion is in locking engagement with said first actuating lever and wherein said pushbutton is operable to release said upper forward body portion from locking engagement with said push-button, said spring biasing force of said rearward lower body portion urging said second actuating leverto pivot and move said upper forward body portion to the rearward position, said blade member and rearend body portion being urged to the up positions by movement of said upper forward body portion to the rearward position.

5. The toy vehicle of claims 1,2 or 4, wherein the vehicle is configured as a van truck when said rearend body portion is in the down position, said lower rearward body portion is in the forward position, said blade member is in the lower position, and said fin-like members are in the up position, and wherein the vehicle is configured as a helicopter when said rearend body portion is in the up position, said lower rearward body portion is in the forward position, said upper forward body portion is in the rearward position, said blade member is in the up position, and said fin-like members are in the down position.

6. The toy vehicle of claim 4, wherein said fin-like members are lockingly engaged with said primary frame in the up position when said lower rearward body portion is in the rearward position and wherein said fin-like members are unlocked from said primary frame for pivotal movement to the down position when said lower rearward body portion is slideably moved to the forward position.

7. The toy vehicle of claim 2 or 4, wherein said figure-like member is held in the lower hidden position by engagement of said upper forward body portion over said figure-like member, said figure-like member being spring biased to the exposed upper position when said upper forward body portion is moved to the rearward position.

8. The toy vehicle of claim 4, wherein said rear wheels are slideably moved forwardly as said lower rearward body portion is moved to the forward posi tion.

9. The toy vehicle of claim 4, further comprising latching mechanisms formed on each of said fin-like members and said sides of the primary frame for lockingly engaging the fin-like members to the primary frame in the up position when said lower rearward body portion is in the rearward position and disengaging the said fin-like members from the primary frame when said lower rearward body portion is moved to the forward position.

10. The toy vehicle of claim 5, wherein said finlike members are configured in a right-angle and wherein a first side of said fin-like member is pivotally mounted to said lower rearward body portion and has a hole therethrough, and wherein when the fin-like member is in the up position the first side is positioned with the hole facing the side of the primary frame to simulate windows to the van truck and the second side is contiguous with the top surface of the primary frame and when the fin-like member is in the down position and the second side extends horizontally outwardly from the lower side of the primary frame to simulate landing-like support structure for the helicopter configuration.

11. The toy vehicle of claim 4, wherein said blade member comprises a blade shaft vertically mounted through said primary frame and a blade 631&commat;cBe is rotatably mounted at the upper end of said shaft and wherein said upward forward body portion is engaged with the lower end of said blade shaft for moving said shaft upwardly when said upward forward body portion is slidably moved to the rearward position.

12. The toy vehicle of claim 11, wherein said upper forward body portion has an inner section formed with an inclined slot therein and wherein a cam follower is formed at the lower end of said blade shaft engaging said inclined slot of said upward forward body portion for imparting upward movement to said blade shaft when said upward forward body portion is moved to the rearward position.

13. The toy vehicle of claim 11 or 12, wherein said upper end of said blade shaft and lower portion of said blade member are formed with mutually engaging cam surfaces for imparting a short up and down movement to said blade as said blade is rotated about said blade shaft.

'1lob. The toy vehicle of claim 4, wherein said lower rearward body portion has a forward end slideably movable within a lower section of said primary frame and wherein said toy vehicle further comprises a spring connected to said lower section of said primary frame and said front end of said lower rearward body portion for biasing said lower rearward body portion to the forward position and wherein the lower end of said second actuating lever is engageable with said front end of said lower rearward body portion to urge said lower rearward body portion to the rearward position against the biasing force of said spring when said upper forward body portion is in locking engagement with said first actuating lever.

15. The toy vehicle of claim 4, wherein said prim ary frame is formed in an upper and lower section and wherein said toy vehicle further comprises a center support plate mounted between the upper and lower sections of said primary frame within said primary frame, and wherein said figure-like member and said second actuating lever are pivotally mounted to said center support plate, and wherein said lower rearward body portion is slidably mounted within said lower section of said primary frame below said center plate and wherein said upper forward body portion is slideably mounted along said center support plate within said upper section of said primary frame.

16. The toy vehicle of claim 4, 14 or 15, wherein the upper end of said actuating lever is engaged with said upper forward body portion for urging said upper forward body portion to the rearward position when pivotally rotated by the lower end of said second actuating lever from the spring-biased lower rearward body portion after said push-button disengages from said upper forward body portion and wherein said vehicle upper forward portion engages the upper end of said second actuating lever when said upward forward body portion is in the forward position in locking engagement with said pushbutton sothatthe lower end of said second actuating lever maintains said lower rearward body portion in the rearward position.

17. The toy vehicle of claim 4 14 or 15 wherein said push-button is mounted on the top surface of said primary frame and has an upward spring bias and wherein a locking mechanism is formed at the lower end of said push button within said primary frame for engagment with said upper forward body portion when the push-button is in the upwardly spring-biased position and lockingly disengaged with said upper forward body portion when said button is urged downwardly against the spring-biasing force.

18. The toy vehicle of claim 17, wherein said push-button is reciprocally mounted to the center plate of said vehicle body and wherein said toy vehicle further comprises a spring between said pushbutton and said center plate for biasing the push- button to an upwardly vertical position, a spring attached between said figum-like member and said center plate for biasing said figure-like member to an upward position and a shaft attached to said center plate for pivotally mounting said second actuating lever and said figure-like member thereto.

19. Thetoyvehlcleofclaim 17, further compris- ing guide means mounted atthe rear end of said upper forward body portion and the front end of said rearend body portion for moving said rearend body portion to the up position as said upper forward body portion is slideably moved to its rearward position.

20. The toy vehicle of claim 18, further compris- ing a plate pivotally mounted to said pivoting shaft and on which said figure-like member is mounted.

21. The toy vehicle claim cam 5 or 11, wherein said blade member is configured as substantially two flat blades which are contiguous with the top surface of said vehicle primary frame when said blade member is in the down position.

22. The toy vehicle of claim 5, wherein said rearend body portion is configured to resemble the rearend of a van in the down position and having portions exposed in the up position to simulate the aerial tail fins of a helicopter.

23. The toy vehicle of claim 6 or 10, wherein said upper rear portion of said vehicle primary frame is formed with features simulating portions of an aerial helicopter, said features being hidden when said finlike members are in the up position and exposed when the fin-like members are in the down position.

24. The toy vehicle of claim 1 substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.