GB2148730A - Toy vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy car comprises a chassis (1) and a frame (4/5) pivotally connected at (3) and a rack (7) for imparting energy to an internal clockwork mechanism by pushing the frame (5) down towards the chassis (1) against the action of spring (27). A driving gear (11) is secured to one end of the winding spring of the clockwork mechanism and is coupled to the rack by a gear train (21/23). A driving axle (14) is meshed through an intermediate follower gear (13) with the driving gear (11). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Toy vehicle This invention relates to a toy vehicle such as a toy motor car.

According to the invention, there is provided a toy vehicle which comprises a first member adapted to be moved across a surface, a second member, which is reciprocably or pivotally connected to the first member, and means for storing energy in response to reciprocation or pivotal movement of the second member with respect to the first member.

One aspect of the invention provides a toy car of simple construction in which energy is imparted to and stored in an internal clockwork mechanism by pushing down a frame of the car in order subsequently to release the accumulated energy from the clockwork mechanism for running the toy car. Preferably, pushing the frame downwards causes disengagement of a driving axle of the car from the clockwork mechanism whilst the release of the accumulated energy from the clockwork is accompanied by disengagement thereof from means associated with the frame for winding up the clockwork, such as a vertically movable rack.

A preferred toy motor car according to the invention comprises a chassis, a frame pivotally mounted on the chassis, a coil spring disposed between the chassis and the frame for resiliently biassing the same apart, and driving means for imparting energy to an internal clockwork mechanism through a rack by pushing the frame down towards the chassis, the driving means comprising a driving gear secured to one end of the winding spring of the clockwork mechanism, an intermediate driving gear train meshed with the driving gear, a rack associated with the intermediate driving gear train and disposed for vertical movement within the frame and a driving axle meshed through an intermediate follower gear with the driving gear, the rack being normally kept at an upper position by means of a spring and being disengaged from the intermediate driving gear train at the upper position but engaged with the intermediate driving gear train on downward movement and the intermediate follower gear being supported on a shaft which extends through an elongate aperture disposed on an arc of a circle centring on a shaft of the driving gear, the elongate hole allowing the intermediate follower gear to deviate upwardly on rotation of the driving gear for winding the clockwork, thereby disengaging the intermediate follower gear from the driving axle.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are side sectional views of a toy motor car in accordance with the present invention at different stages in the operation thereof, and Figure 3 is an eniarged view, partially cut away, of the driving mechanism of the toy motor car of Figures 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawings, a chassis 1 is provided at its front upper end with a supporting plate 2 having a pin 3. The chassis 1 supports a frame 5 having an outer shell 4 in the form of a car body by means of the pin 3 of the chassis 1 which extends rotatably into a hole 6. Thus, the frame 5 is pivotally connected to the chassis 1 through the pin 3.

In addition the chassis 1 is provided at its rear end with driving means 9 for imparting energy to an internal clockwork mechanism 8 through a rack 7 by urging the frame 5 towards the chassis 1. The driving means 9 comprises a frame 10, a driving gear 11 supported within the frame 10 and secured to one end of the winding spring of the clockwork mechanism 8, an intermediate driving gear train 12 meshed with the driving gear 11, a rack 7 associated with the intermediate driving gear train 12 and disposed for vertical movement within the frame 10, and a driving axle 14 meshed through an intermediate follower gear 13 with the driving gear 11.

As shown in Figure 3, the clockwork mechanism 8 is disposed in a housing 15 formed on an inner face of the frame 10 opposite the driving gear 11. An inner end 8A of the winding spring is fixed in a groove 16 of the driving gear 11, and the outer end 8B of the winding spring is engaged in one of a plurality of recesses 17 formed in the circumference of the housing 15. Thus, the outer end 8B of the winding spring and the recesses 17 of the housing 15 prevent over-winding of the clockwork mechanism 8, because, if over-winding occurs, the outer end 8B of the winding spring slips out of one recess 17 and then slides on the inner circumference of the housing 15 to engage the next adjacent recess 17.

The rack 7 is provided with a guide pin 19, which is guided in a guide groove 18 formed in the frame 10. Thus, the rack 7 is vertically movable within the frame 10 through engagement of the guide groove 18 with the guide pin 19. The rack 7 is normally kept at the uppermost position thereof by means of a coil spring 20 which is secured at one end to a pin 29 extending from the frame 10 and at the other end to the guide pin 19. Also, the rack 7 is disengaged from the intermediate driving gear train 12 when in the uppermost position thereof, but meshes with the intermediate driving gear train 12 upon downward movement, because an input gear of the intermediate driving gear train 12, namely a driving wheel 21A of an accelerating gear 21 is adjacent a portion 22 of the rack 7 which is free of teeth when the rack 7 assumes the uppermost position thereof.

The intermediate driving gear train 12 comprises an accelerating gear train consisting of two accelerating gears 21,23 meshed with each other, the driving wheel 21A of the input accelerating gear 21 being meshed with the rack 7. A driven wheel 21 B of the accelerating gear 21 is meshed with a driving wheel 23A of the output accelerating gear 23, while a driven wheel 23B of the output accelerating gear 23 is meshed with the driving gear 11. The input accelerating gear 21 is supported on a shaft which extends normally to the frame 10 through an elongate aperture 24.

The intermediate follower gear 13 is supported on a shaft which extends through an elongate aperture 25 disposed on an arc of a circle centring on a shaft 1 1A of the driving gear 11. The elongate aperture 25 allows the intermediate follower gear 13 to deviate upwardly on rotation of the driving gear 11 in the anticlockwise direction, so as to disengage the same From a driving gear 26 of the driving axle 14 of the toy motor car.

A coil spring 27 is disposed between the chassis 1 and the frame 5 biassing the frame 5 upwardly.

In operation, the frame 5 is urged downwards to contact an upper portion of the rack 7, which in turn is then pushed down. The motion of the rack 7 effects rotation of the intermediate driving gear train 12 and then the driving gear 11,so that the clockwork mechanism 8 is wound up. After repeating lowering of the frame 5, the energy stored in the winding spring may be released by freeing the toy motor car. Rotation of the driving gear 11 is then transmitted to the driving axle 14 through the intermediate follower gear 13 meshed with the driving gear 11,thus rotating driving wheels 28 fixed to the driving axle 14 for moving the chassis 1.

In conclusion, the toy motor car comprises the chassis 1 and the frame 5 pivotally connected together at the ends thereof, the coil spring 27 disposed between the chassis 1 and the frame 5 for resiliently biassing the same apart and the driving means 9 for imparting energy to the internal clockwork mechanism 8through the rack 7 by pushing the frame 5 down towards the chassis 1.

Thus the clockwork mechanism 8 may be wound up by carrying out a very simple operation, unlike previously proposed toy motor cars in which energy is imparted to a driving mechanism by turning the wheels, for example by repeatedly moving the toy motor car in contact with a surface. Thus, a toy vehicle in accordance with the present invention can conveniently be operated by a younger child.

Also, the driving means 9 comprises the driving gear 11 secured to one end of the winding spring of the clockwork mechanism 8, the intermediate driving gear train 12 meshed with the driving gear 11, the rack 7 associated with the intermediate driving gear train 12 for vertical movement within the frame 5, and the driving axle 14 meshed through the intermediate follower gear 13 with the driving gear 11, the rack 7 being normally kept at its uppermost position by means of the spring 20 and being disengaged from the intermediate driving gear train 12 at the uppermost position thereof but meshed therewith on downward movement and the intermediate follower gear 13 being supported on a shaft which extends through an elongate aperture 25 disposed on an arc of a circle centring on the shaft 1 1A of the driving gear 11, the elongate aperture 25 allowing the intermediate follower gear 13 to deviate upwardly on rotation of the driving gear 11 so as to wind up the clockwork mechanism 8, thereby disengaging the same from the driving gear 26. Thus, the driving means 9 is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Furthermore, the shaft of the intermediate follower gear 13 is supported in the elongate aperture 25 disposed on an arc of a circle centring on the shaft 1 lA of the driving gear 11, the elongate aperture allowing the intermediate follower gear 13 to deviate upwardly upon rotation of the driving gear 11 for winding up the clockwork mechanism 8, thereby disengaging the same from the driving gear 26, so that the frame 5 can be pushed down to actuate the clockwork 8 without the toy car running.

The frame 5 can be repeatedly pushed down to wind up the clockwork mechanism 8 fully. The rack 7 is restored to its upper position by the elastic force of the coil spring 20 aftertheframe 5 has been pushed down. When the rack 7 has been restored to its upper position, it is disengaged from the driving wheel 21A of the input accelerating gear 21 of the intermediate driving gear train 12.However, the stored energy is not released from the clockwork as long as the axle 14 is prevented from rotating, because the intermediate follower gear 13 rotates anticlockwise and moves downwards within the elongate aperture 25 to mesh with the driving gear 26 of the driving axle 14, so that driving gear 11 is locked and cannot rotate even when the rack 7 is disengaged from the intermediate driving gear train 12, because, for example, the wheels 28 fixed to the driving axle 14 are being urged against the floor.

Any upward movement of the rack 7 when in mesh with the driving wheel 21A of the gear train 12 will cause the input accelerating gear 21 to ride up in a similar elongate aperture 24, where it can rotate freely. Thus, the toy car operates relatively efficiently.

Thus, in summary, the present invention enables the provision of an amusing toy car of simple construction in which a clockwork mechanism may be fully wound up so as to run the car by repeatedly pushing down the body of the car whilst holding the car stationary.

Claims (15)

1. A toy vehicle which comprises a first member adapted to be moved across a surface, a second member, which is reciprocably or pivotally connected to the first member, and means for storing energy in response to reciprocation or pivotal movement of the second member with respect to the first member.

2. A toy vehicle according to Claim 1, which comprises means for effecting rotation of the energy storing means in response to reciprocation or pivotal movement of the second member with respect to the first member.

3. A toy vehicle according to Claim 2, wherein the means for effecting rotation of the energy storing means in response to reciprocation or pivotal movement of the second member with respect to the first member comprises a rack and pinion arrangement.

4. A toy vehicle according to Claim 3, which comprises means for biassing the rack into a position in which the rack does not engage the pinion.

5. A toy vehicle according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein, in use, rotation of the energy storing means is effected during reciprocation or pivotal movement of the second member in a first direction with respect to the first member, and rotation of the energy storing means is not effected during reciprocation or pivotal movement of the second member in a second direction with respect to the first member.

6. A toy vehicle according to Claims 4 and 5, therein the pinion is movable between a first position, in which the pinion engages the energy Storing means, and a second position, in which the minion does not engage the energy storing means, end wherein, in use, the pinion is in the first position during movement of the rack away from the position in which the rack does not engage the pinion and is moved from the first position to the second position by the rack during movement of the rack towards the said position.

7. A toy vehicle according to any one of Claims 2 to 6, wherein the energy storing means comprises clockwork.

8. A toy vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, which further comprises means for effecting movement of the first member across a surface in response to the release of stored energy from the energy storing means.

9. A toy vehicle according to Claims 2 and 8, wherein the means for effecting movement of the first member comprises means for transmitting rotation of the energy storing means to a wheel axle of the first member.

10.Atoy vehicle according to Claim 9, wherein, in use, rotation is transmitted from the energy storing means to the wheel axle during rotation of the energy storing means in a first direction, and rotation is not transmitted from the energy storing means to the wheel axle during rotation of the energy storing means in a second direction.

11. A toy vehicle according to Claim 10, wherein the means for transmitting rotation comprises a gear wheel which is movable between a first position in which the gear wheel engages the energy storing means and the wheel axle and a second position in which the gearwheei engages the energy storing means but does not engage the wheel axle, and wherein, in use, the gear wheel is in the first position during rotation of the energy storing means in the first direction and is moved from the first position to the second position by the energy storing means during rotation of the energy storing means in the second direction whilst the wheel axle is fixed against rotation.

12. Atoyvehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second members comprise a chassis and a body, respectively, of a toy motor car.

13. A toy car which comprises a chassis, a frame pivotally mounted on the chassis, a coil spring disposed between the chassis and the frame for resiliently biassing the same apart, and driving means for imparting energy to an internal clockwork mechanism through a rack by pushing the frame down towards the chassis, the driving means comprising a driving gear secured to one end of the winding spring of the clockwork mechanism, an intermediate driving gear train meshed with the driving gear, a rack associated with the intermediate driving gear train and disposed for vertical movement within the frame and a driving axle meshed through an intermediate follower gear with the driving gear, the rack being normally kept at an upper position by means of a spring and being disengaged from the intermediate driving gear train at the upper position but engaged with the intermediate driving gear train on downward movement and the intermediate follower gear being supported on a shaft which extends through an elongate aperture disposed on an arc of a circle centring on a shaft of the driving gear, the elongate hole allowing the intermediate follower gear to deviate upwardly on rotation of the driving gear for winding the clockwork, thereby disengaging the intermediate follower gear from the driving axle.

14. Atoy car, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

15. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.