GB2521026A

GB2521026A - Self-propelled toy vehicle that can be steered by radio control

Info

Publication number: GB2521026A
Application number: GB1415658.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pau Lopez Soriano; Daniel Gragera Velaz; Carles Gines Blasi; Joan Noguer De Palol; Miquel Angel Fernandez Rodriguez
Original assignee: IMC Toys SA
Current assignee: IMC Toys SA
Priority date: 2013-12-04
Filing date: 2014-09-04
Publication date: 2015-06-10
Also published as: GB201415658D0

Abstract

A self-propelled toy vehicle 1 that can be steered by radio control, that comprises a propulsion unit 2 and a steering unit 8, each comprising a respective casing 3 and 9 having and supporting the components required by the unit to perform its function in the vehicle; and an element 19 that can be selected from different available options during toy manufacture, which when coupled to each of the propulsion and steering units determines the vehicle wheelbase W. Preferably, at least one of the propulsion and steering units are provided with regulating means (12, figure 2) that allow modifying the position of at least one of the supports for rotationally supporting the rotating axle or axles of the wheels thereof with respect to the casing for changing the track v1 and v2 of the unit.

Description

DESCRIPTION

"Self-propelled toy vehicle that can be steered by radio control"

Technical Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a self-propelled toy vehicle that can be steered by radio control. The vehicle is of the type comprising a motor for driving the drive wheels and an also motorized steering mechanism assisting adjustable steered wheels.

Background of the Invention

There is a large variety of vehicles that can be steered by radio control, commonly called radio-controlled vehicles.

It so happens that a part to which consumers pay special aftention is the vehicle part equivalent to the body of an actual vehicle, i.e., the part conferring the vehicle an image which may be more or less appealing to possible users.

This vehicle part can have different appearances as well as a different size or configuration which may affect the design of the structure supporting this body and also the suitable design of the rolling unit for the vehicle. Therefore, a wheelbase and tracks suitable for the vehicle must be selected according to the size or configuration of the vehicle part equivalent to the body.

For example, in the case of a four-wheeled vehicle, the wheelbase determines the distance between the vehicle axles and the track determines the space between the rails that would be indicated by one and the same pair of wheels.

This entails that every time a significant alteration is made on the size or configuration of the vehicle body, a chassis must be custom-made for the new design, the dimensions of the vehicle wheelbase and tracks being altered for adjusting them to the new needs.

Therefore, an objective of the invention is a more versatile constructive solution that can be adapted to different vehicle sizes or configurations.

The constructive solution sought must enable using the same components even when the vehicle size and configuration change, particularly the main components associated with the drive wheels and the steered wheels even though this means changing the vehicle wheelbase or tracks.

Another objective of the invention is this simple but robust constructive solution that offers more than one variation in vehicle wheelbase and track selection. Likewise, it is also of interest to be able to adapt this solution to the use of different vehicle propulsion motors which means that the vehicle must be prepared, for example, for housing current sources offering different electrical powers, for example, for housing different numbers and/or arrangements of cell packs.

Disclosure of the invention

The toy vehicle according to the invention comprises a propulsion unit and a steering unit, each comprising a respective casing having and supporting the components required by the unit to perform its function in the vehicle; and an element, that can be selected from different available options during toy manufacture, which when coupled to each of the propulsion and steering units determines the vehicle wheelbase (w).

In one variant, the casing of the propulsion unit has at least one motor, a pair of drive wheels operated by the motor and supports for rotationally supporting the rotating axle or axles associated with the drive wheels; and the casing of the steering unit has at least one motorized steering mechanism, a pair of steered wheels assisted by the mentioned steering mechanism and supports for rotationally supporting the rotating axles associated with the steered wheels, at least one of the propulsion and steering units being provided with regulating means that allow modifying the position of at least one of the supports for rotationally supporting the rotating axle or axles of the wheels thereof with respect to the casing for changing the track (vi, v2) of the unit.

In one embodiment, in the propulsion unit and/or steering unit or units provided with the mentioned regulating means, at least one of the supports is a separate component which is assembled in its corresponding casing, and the mentioned regulating means consist of the provision of a series of slots in one of the casing or the corresponding support, and of a complementary projection in the other casing or the corresponding support, for coupling to one another, offering the possibility of being able to assemble said support in the casing according to several different positions conferring different distances between suppoits of the same unit, for thus changing the track of the unit.

According to one variant, the casings comprise a base in which there are formed on opposite sides respective housings with several parallel vertical slots in which the complementary projections fit, said projections are configured by way of flanges and provided in the corresponding supports which comprise respective hubs for rotationally supporting of an axle.

The housings can have a parallelepiped section and are open on the upper portion and the slots can be formed by pairs of grooves formed in vertical walls of the housings, the projections protruding from both sides of the supports such that said flanges can be simultaneously inserted into a selected pair of grooves from its upper opening and slid downwards.

In one embodiment, the steered wheels of the steering unit are mounted on respective hubs, each aiticulated to a corresponding support about veitical axes (y), the mentioned hubs being linked by a link bar. The motorized steering mechanism can comprise a reversible motor equipped with a first output shaft driving the link bar through transmission means.

Both propulsion and steering units are preferably provided with the mentioned regulating means.

More preferably, the two supports for the wheels in each propulsion unit and steering unit can be assembled in the respective casings according to several different positions.

According to another feature of the invention, the vehicle is envisaged to comprise a housing for a power source such as a battely or a cell pack configured by way of a drawer having a length that can be selected from different available options of the same width during toy manufacture, fitting, with sliding capacity, between two support guides provided for such purpose in one of the casings of the propulsion unit or steering unit.

According to one variant of the invention, the casings are provided with respective interfaces for establishing an electrical connection between them.

It is of interest to prepare the element for attachment to the propulsion and steering units by means of fasteners, there being provided in the area of attachment to at least one of the propulsion and steering units several through holes offering different positions of attachment with the element, and therefore the possibility of choosing the gap distance between the mentioned propulsion and steering units and therefore the vehicle wheelbase (w).

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows the propulsion unit and the steering unit of a vehicle according to the invention, as originally separate parts of said vehicle, and the element of the vehicle which will determine the wheelbase in correlative assembly position; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the propulsion and steering units of the Figure 1; Figures 3a to 3d show a detail of the regulating means that allow changing the position of a support for the rotary axle of a steered wheel of the vehicle with respect to the casing of the steering unit, the support coupled to the casing being illustrated in four different positions; Figure 4 is a detail of the propulsion unit and of the housing for the battery or batteries, which is another originally separate element that be coupled to said propulsion unit.

Detailed Description of an Embodiment

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment according to the invention. The vehicle 1 is illustrated without the component that will perform the function of a body for better understanding.

As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 1 comprises the following separate functional parts: a propulsion unit 2; a steering unit 8; and an element 19 that can be selected from different available options during toy manufacture, which when coupled to each of the propulsion and steering units determines the vehicle wheelbase (w).

The propulsion unit 2 and steering unit 8 each comprise a respective casing 3, 9 having and supporting the components required by each unit to perform its function in the vehicle. Both casings 3, 9 comprise formations intended for coupling to the element 19, for example by means of fasteners. In the example, these formations consist of tubular projections with inner thread.

The element 19 is in turn provided with several through holes 29 into which there will be inserted screws that will be tightly fitted to the casings 3, 9 through the thread. It must be noted that providing several holes 29 in the element 19 will allow the attachment thereof to the casings 3, 9 according to several positions, the distance that will separate the casings 3, 9 and therefore the propulsion unit 2 and steering unit 8 being able to be selected, the vehicle wheelbase w suited to the size or configuration of the body thus being able to be selected ultimately.

The body can be attached directly to the casings 3, 9, to the element 19 or to both at the same time by means of using attachment solutions known in the field of toys, for example, by means of fasteners and/or by snap-fitting.

The invention also envisages the element 19 being an extendable element.

In the example (see Figure 2), the casing 3 of the propulsion unit 2 has, among other components, a motor 4, a pair of drive wheels 5 operated by the motor and supports 6a, 6b for rotationally supporting a common axle 7 associated with the drive wheels 5. This common axle 7 comprises a gear which is coupled to the output of the motor 4.

In turn, the casing 9 of the steering unit 8 has, among other components, a motorized steering mechanism 10, a pair of steered wheels 11 assisted by the mentioned steering mechanism and supports 7a, 7b for rotationally supporting the rotating axles 77, each one being associated with one of the steered wheels 11.

The two propulsion and steering units 2, 8 are provided with regulating means 12 that allow modifying the position of their two supports 6a, 6b and 7a, 7b for rotationally supporting the rotating axles (7, 77) of their wheels (5, 11) with respect to the corresponding casing 3, 9 for changing the track (vi, v2) of the unit (see Figure 1).

For such purpose, these supports 6a; 6b and 7a; 7b are originally separate components that are assembled in their corresponding casing 3, 9, the casings 3, 9 and these supports being designed such that they can be assembled according to several pre-established positions conferring different distances between supports of the same unit, for thus changing the track of the unit.

In more detail, the casings 3, 9 comprise a base part 3a, 9a in which there are formed on opposite sides respective housings 15 each with a pair of vertical walls 18 in which there are formed pairs of vertical slots 13 parallel to one another, in which complementary projections 14 provided in the supports 6a; 6b and 7a; 7b can be inserted and moved to an assembly position. This allows mutual coupling between the supports 6a and 6b and the casing 3 of the propulsion unit 2, and between the supports 7a and 7b of the casing 9 of the steering unit 8.

In the first case, the supports 6a and 6b are configured in a general parallelepiped shape having a width similar to the gap between the vertical walls 18 of the housings 15 of the casing 3 in order to be tightly inserted between said walls. To secure the position of the supports 6a and 6b, said supports comprise a projection 14 extending around the perimeter of the supports 6a and 6b, the opposite portions of which, i.e., on opposite sides of these supports 6a and 6b, fit into respective opposing slots 13 of a housing 15.

The supports 6a and 6b are hollow and play the function of hubs for rotationally supporting the axle 7. For such purpose, there is formed at one end a hub-like opening 16 having a circular section in which the mentioned axle 7 going through both supports 6a and 6b according to the correct assembly of the vehicle, is tightly supported.

The housings 15 are closed by applying the corresponding cover part 3b over the base part 3a of the casing 3 and the removal of the supports 6a and 6b is prevented. Both base part 3a and cover part 3b are also configured for housing the motor 4.

Regarding the steering unit 8, respective hubs 17 are coupled, each being articulated to a corresponding support 7a, 7b about considerably vertical axes (y), the mentioned hubs 17 being linked by a link bar 20. The motorized steering mechanism 10 comprises a reversible motor 21 equipped with a first output shaft that drives the link bar 20 by transmission means 23. The movement of this link bar 20 in the direction transverse to the casing 9 causes a simultaneous change in orientation in the steered wheels 11.

The supports 7a and 7b are formed by two half-parts that are joined together in a longitudinal plane of the assembly. They determine between them the support 7a or 7b in which there is distinguished a central portion having an essential parallelepiped shape, a width similar to the gap between the vertical walls 18 of the housing 15 formed in the base part 9a of the casing 9, to be tightly inserted between said walls, and an end portion configured in the form of a fork securing a corresponding hub 17 with the capacity to rotate about the axle (y) between the arms thereof.

Each hub 17 comprises an end opening having a circular section to tightly support an axle 77 and a side extension with means for coupling, engaging or securing same to the link bar 20.

Similarly to the propulsion unit 2, the housings 15 are closed by applying the corresponding cover part 9b over the base part 9a of the casing 9 and the removal of the supports 7a and 7b is prevented. Both base part 9a and cover part 9b are configured also for housing the motorized steering mechanism 10 and the transmission means 23.

Figures 3a to 3d show in detail the assembly between the support 7a and the casing 9 of the steering unit 8.

In the example, the vertical walls 18 of the housing 15 (see Figure 3d) formed in the base part 9a of the casing 9 comprise a series of ribs, four in number, determining respective slots 13 in each vertical wall 18. The slots of one wall are facing the slots of another wall forming pairs of slots intended for fitting the respective projections 14 provided for such purpose in the support 7a.

Figures 3a to 3d show the four different positions in which the support 7a can be assembled in the casing 9, specifically in each of the housings 15 of this casing 9. Since the casing 9 (see Figure 2) is provided with two housings 15 having the same characteristics in which the supports 7a and 7b are assembled, the steering unit 8 provides the possibility of selecting up to 16 different tracks.

Those arrangements in which both supports 7a and 7b are arranged symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal plane of the steering unit 8 are naturally preferred.

Similarly, the propulsion unit 2 also provides a total of 16 different tracks (since each housing 15 has a total of four pairs of slots 13), those arrangements in which the supports 6a and 6b are arranged symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal plane of the propulsion unit 2 being preferred.

The complete assembly of the vehicle 1 naturally provides the possibility that the track vi of the propulsion unit 2 and the track v2 of the steering unit not being the same, resulting in a total of 256 different configurations with respect to the dimensions of the tracks vi and v2. Bearing in mind that the propulsion unit 2 and steering unit 8 can also be coupled to the element 19 in several possible positions, the total configurations for the vehicle 1 is even greater, it only being necessary to select/replace the axle 7 and the axles 77, and the associated link bar 20, according to the tracks vi and v2 of the final vehicle 1.

The vehicle of the invention shown by way of example in the drawings is also prepared so that it is compatible with different batteries or cell packs.

Figure 4 shows that the vehicle comprises a housing 24 for a power source, such as a battery or a cell pack, configured by way of a drawer. In characteristic manner, this drawer would have a length that can be selected from different options with one and the same width that are available during toy manufacture, this width being the width suitable for fitting the drawer with sliding capacity between the support guides 25 provided for such purpose in the casing 3 of the propulsion unit 2.

Providing the casings 3, 9 with respective interfaces for establishing an electrical connection with the electrical contact terminals of the drawer or housing 24 of the power source alone is sufficient to power the motor 4 and the motorized steering mechanism 10. This connection can be established by means of electrical wiring, for example.

Claims

CLAIMS1.-A self-propelled toy vehicle (1) that can be steered by radio control, characterized in that it comprises a propulsion unit (2) and a steering unit (8), each comprising a respective casing (3, 9) having and supporting the components required by the unit to perform its function in the vehicle; and an element (19), that can be selected from different available options during toy manufacture, which when coupled to each of the propulsion and steering units determines the vehicle wheelbase (w).
2.-The toy vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that -the casing (3) of the propulsion unit has at least one motor (4), a pair of drive wheels (5) operated by the motor and supports (6a, 6b) for rotationally supporting the rotating axle or axles (7) associated with the drive wheels; -the casing (9) of the steering unit (8) has at least one motorized steering mechanism (10), a pair of steered wheels (11) assisted by the mentioned steering mechanism and supports (7a, 7b) for rotationally supporting the rotating axles (77) associated with the steered wheels, at least one of the propulsion and steering units being provided with regulating means (12) that allow modifying the position of at least one of the supports for rotationally supporting the rotating axle or axles of the wheels thereof with respect to the casing for changing the track (vi, v2) of the unit.
3.-The toy vehicle (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that in the propulsion unit (2) and/or steering unit (8) provided with the mentioned regulating means (12), at least one of the supports (Sa; Sb or 7a; 7b) is a separate component which is assembled in its corresponding casing (3, 9), and in that the mentioned regulating means (12) consist of the provision of -a series of slots (13) in one of the casing (3, 9) or the corresponding support (6a; 6b or 7a;7b), and of -a complementary projection (14) in the other casing (3, 9) or the corresponding support for coupling to one another, offering the possibility of being able to assemble said support in the casing according to several different positions conferring different distances between supports of the same unit, for thus changing the track (vi, v2) of the unit.
4.-The toy vehicle (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the casings (3, 9) comprise a base (3a, 9a) in which there are formed on opposite sides respective housings (15) with several parallel vertical slots (13) in which the complementary projections (14) fit, said projections are configured by way of flanges and provided in the corresponding supports (6a; 6b or 7a; 7b) which comprise respective hubs (16, 17) for rotationally supporting an axle.
5.-The vehicle (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the housings (15) have a parallelepiped section and are open on the upper portion and in that the slots (13) are formed by pairs of grooves formed in vertical walls (18) of the housings, the projections (14) protruding from both sides of the supports (6a; 6b or 7a; 7b) such that said flanges can be simultaneously inserted into a selected pair of grooves from its upper opening and slid downwards.
6.-The vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the steered wheels (11) of the steering unit (8) are mounted on respective hubs (17) each being articulated to a corresponding support (7a, 7b) about considerably vertical axes (y), the mentioned hubs being linked by a link bar (20), and in that the motorized steering mechanism (10) comprises a reversible motor (21) equipped with a first output shaft driving the link bar (20) through transmission means (23).
7.-The vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that both propulsion unit (2) and steering unit (8) are provided with the mentioned regulating means (12).
8.-The vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a housing (24) for a power source such as a battery or a cell pack configured by way of a drawer having a length that can be selected from different available options of the same width during toy manufacture, fitting, with sliding capacity, between two support guides (25) provided with such purpose in one of the casings (3, 9) of the propulsion unit or steering unit (2, 8).
9.-The vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the casings (3, 9) are provided with respective interfaces for establishing an electrical connection between them.
10.-The vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the element (19) is prepared for attachment to the propulsion unit (2) and steering unit (8) by means of fasteners, there being provided in the area of attachment of at least one of the propulsion unit (2) and steering unit (8) several through holes (29) offering different positions of attachment with the element (19), and therefore the possibility of choosing the gap distance between the mentioned propulsion unit (2) and steering unit (8) and therefore the vehicle wheelbase (w).
11.-A method of manufacturing a self-propelled toy vehicle (1) that can be steered by radio control, characterized in that it comprises a propulsion unit (2) and a steering unit (8), each comprising a respective casing (3, 9) having and supporting the components required by the unit to perform its function in the vehicle; the method comprising selecting an element (19) from different available options during toy manufacture, which when coupled to each of the propulsion and steering units determines the vehicle wheelbase (w), and so coupling the element to the propulsion and steering units.
12.-A method of manufacturing according to claim 11 wherein the toy vehicle is as further defined in any one of claims 2 to 10.