US20030077979A1 - Toy vehicle - Google Patents
Toy vehicle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20030077979A1 US20030077979A1 US10/037,781 US3778101A US2003077979A1 US 20030077979 A1 US20030077979 A1 US 20030077979A1 US 3778101 A US3778101 A US 3778101A US 2003077979 A1 US2003077979 A1 US 2003077979A1
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- Prior art keywords
- chassis
- toy vehicle
- axle
- swing arms
- slot
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H17/00—Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; ; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor
- A63H17/26—Details; Accessories
- A63H17/262—Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H17/00—Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; ; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor
- A63H17/004—Stunt-cars, e.g. lifting front wheels, roll-over or invertible cars
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a remote control toy vehicle, and more particularly, a remote control toy vehicle with independently controlled drive wheels.
- the toy vehicle of the present invention has a wide range of motion and can move in unusual and unexpected ways.
- the toy vehicle includes a chassis having front and rear portions with at least one wheel supporting the front portion of the chassis.
- the toy vehicle further includes spaced-apart swing arms connected to the rear portion of the chassis.
- Rear wheels are rotatably mounted to each end of the swing arms.
- the swing arms are independently movable with respect to the chassis between first and second positions. As a given swing arm moves between the first position to the second position, the rear wheel is moved forward with respect to the chassis.
- Two separate propulsion drives are operatively associated with the chassis and are drivingly coupled to the respective rear wheels.
- Each propulsion drive is adapted to independently drive, or spin, a respective rear wheel in either a first direction or a second opposite direction.
- a rear wheel spinning in the first direction tends to move the toy vehicle forward whereas a rear wheel spinning in the second direction tends to move the toy vehicle rearward.
- the toy vehicle may be remotely controlled by an operator with a radio transmitter transmitting appropriate radio frequency signals.
- the toy vehicle would include a receiver adapted to receive the remotely generated radio frequency signals. The receiver would be operatively connected to each drive motor independently such that each drive motor could be operated independently of the other. Accordingly, an operator could, for example, drive one rear wheel in the first or forward direction while simultaneously driving the other rear wheel in the second or rearward direction.
- the toy vehicle further includes an anti-tipping structure or wheelie bar affixed to at least one of the swing arms to prevent the toy vehicle from tipping backwards when both swing arms are in the second position.
- the wheelie bar could be affixed to the rear portion of the chassis to prevent the toy vehicle from tipping backwards.
- the toy vehicle includes a self-righting member that extends from the chassis.
- the self-righting member is configured to enable at least one of the rear wheels to contact the support surface when the toy vehicle has flipped over to a non-upright position.
- the toy vehicle includes a wheeled steering mechanism supporting the front portion of the chassis.
- the wheeled steering mechanism includes an elongated member having a slot extending therethrough.
- the elongated member is pivotally connected to the front portion of the chassis.
- An axle extends through and is slidably movable within the slot.
- the axle has a wheel disposed at each of its opposite ends.
- the wheeled steering mechanism provides a castering effect when the toy vehicle is moving in a forward direction. The same castering effect is achieved when the toy vehicle moves rearward causing the axle to slide to a position forward of the pivot connection of the elongated member.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy vehicle in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a side view of the toy motorcycle shown in FIG. 1.
- FIG. 3 is a top plan view, partially cut-away, of the toy vehicle shown in FIG. 1.
- FIG. 4 is another side view of the toy motorcycle shown in FIG. 1 being supported by the rear wheels and the wheelie bars.
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the toy vehicle shown in FIG. 1 with the left swing arm pivoted downwardly relative to the chassis.
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the front steering mechanism of the toy vehicle of FIG. 1 as viewed from the top.
- FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevation view in partial cross section of the front steering mechanism of the toy vehicle of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the steering mechanism of the toy vehicle shown in FIG. 1 with a single castering front wheel.
- FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the electrical controls for the toy vehicle of FIG. 1.
- the toy vehicle 10 includes a chassis 12 having front and rear portions 14 , 16 supported respectively by front wheels 18 , 20 and by rear wheels 22 , 24 . Pivotally connected to the rear portion 16 of chassis 12 are spaced apart swing arms 26 , 28 to which rear wheels 22 , 24 are rotatably mounted. Swing arms 26 , 28 pivot about a stationary axle 30 which extends transversely across substantially the entire width of the chassis 12 . As will be discussed in greater detail below, swing arms 26 , 28 are free to pivot independently of one another between, for example, a first position as shown in FIG. 2 and a second position as shown in FIG. 4.
- the toy vehicle 10 includes two independent propulsion drives 56 , 58 that include drive motors 60 , 62 .
- Each drive motor 60 , 62 has drive gears 64 , 66 which drivingly engaged a respective plurality of intermeshing gears 68 , 70 .
- Couplers 72 , 74 couple intermeshing gears 68 , 70 to a second plurality of intermeshing gears 76 , 78 (FIG. 4) which drive rear wheels 22 , 24 .
- intermeshing gears 68 , 70 , 76 , 78 ultimately connect drive motors 60 , 62 to rear wheels 22 , 24
- other suitable mechanisms such as belts or chains, may also be used to connect drive motors 60 , 62 to the rear wheels 22 , 24
- a power supply such as a battery 80 (FIG. 9) is located beneath protective cover 86 in the rear portion 16 of chassis 12 powers drive motors 60 , 62 via electrical wires 88 , 90 .
- battery 80 is removable from chassis 12 so that it may be recharged.
- Drive motors 60 , 62 operate independently of one another. That is, drive motor 60 drives or rotates rear wheel 22 regardless of whether drive motor 62 drives rear wheel 24 . Moreover, each drive motor 60 , 62 can operate in either a forward direction or a rearward direction. In other words, drive motor 60 can either spin or rotate rear wheel 22 in a direction tending to move the toy vehicle 10 in a forward direction or in a direction tending to move the toy vehicle 10 in an opposite rearward direction. Because drive motors 60 , 62 can be driven independently of each other, drive motor 60 may be driven in the forward direction while simultaneously drive motor 62 may be driven in the opposite reverse direction.
- Anti-tipping structures or wheelie bars 96 , 98 are affixed to respective upper portions of swing arms 26 , 28 to prevent the toy vehicle 10 from tipping too far backwards when both swing arms 26 , 28 are pivoted to the second position as shown in FIG. 4.
- rollers 100 , 102 are located at the distal ends of the wheelie bars 96 , 98 so that the toy vehicle 10 can move in a forward direction supported by and rolling on both rollers 100 , 102 and rear wheels 22 , 24 .
- wheelie bars 96 , 98 or modified versions thereof could also be attached to the rear portion 16 of chassis 12 instead of to swing arms 26 , 28 to prevent the toy vehicle 10 from tipping backwards with swing arms 26 , 28 in the second position.
- the toy vehicle 10 includes a steering mechanism 110 that includes an elongated member 112 having a slot 114 extending therethrough.
- the steering mechanism further includes an axle 116 that extends through the slot 114 .
- Front wheels 18 , 20 are rotatably mounted on opposite ends of axle 116 .
- Axle 116 is free to move within slot 114 . That is, axle 116 is free to translate both forwards and backwards along slot 114 as well as pivot in slot 114 as illustrated in FIG. 6, for example.
- Stop members 118 may be affixed to opposite sides of the axle 116 between the opposite ends of the slot 114 and the front wheels 18 , 20 . Although axle 116 is free to move within slot 114 , stop members 118 limit the lateral movement of the axle 116 relative to the slot 114 .
- Elongated member 112 is pivotally mounted to the front portion 14 of chassis 12 at pivot member 120 which extends from elongated member 112 . More specifically, elongated member 112 pivots about axis 122 which is tilted forward relative to a line perpendicular to support surface 124 upon which the toy vehicle 10 travels as best illustrated in FIG. 7. Axle 116 move forwards and backwards in slot 114 along a plane which is substantially perpendicular to axis 122 . As the toy vehicle 10 moves forward, the axle 116 slides to the rear portion of the slot 114 and is positioned rearward of axis 122 .
- the steering mechanism 110 casters about axis 122 such that the toy vehicle 10 tends to move in a straight line even if the front wheels 18 , 20 encounter a disturbance which would otherwise upset the straight line track of the toy vehicle 10 .
- the axle 116 slides to the front portion of the slot 114 and is positioned forward of axis 122 . Accordingly, like the castering effect achieved when the toy vehicle 10 moves forward, steering mechanism 110 casters about axis 122 as the toy vehicle 10 moves rearward.
- axle 116 can pivot slightly further than elongated member 112 because axle 116 can pivot within slot 114 .
- an operator remotely controls the toy vehicle 10 with a remote control transmitter 134 (FIG. 9) which selectively transmits control signals.
- the remote control transmitter 134 transmits control signals over two independent channel so that the drive motors 60 , 62 may be controlled independently of one another.
- the toy vehicle 10 includes an electronic circuit board 136 position directly over protective cover 86 that includes a remote control receiver 138 and a controller 140 .
- the receiver 138 is operative connected to the battery 80 and controller 140 .
- the controller 140 is operative connected to battery 80 and drive motors 60 , 62 .
- the toy vehicle further includes an antenna 142 which receives the control signals from the remote control transmitter 134 and relays those signals to the remote control receiver 138 .
- the remote control receiver 138 receives control signals from the remote control transmitter 134 as the operator directs the toy vehicle 10 to move is a particular direction.
- the operator can independently control the operation of each drive motor 60 , 62 independently of the other.
- the operator can remotely operate both drive motors 60 , 62 in a forward direction, in a rearward direction, or alternatively, one drive motor in a forward direction and the other drive motor in a rearward direction or not at all.
- the direction the toy vehicle 10 travels depends on which direction the drive motors 60 , 62 are operated. If, for example, both drive motors 60 , 62 are operated a forward direction, the toy vehicle 10 will move forward in a straight line.
- the steering mechanism 110 pivots clockwise as viewed looking down on the toy vehicle 10 until the steering mechanism 110 engages sidewall portion 126 .
- the toy vehicle 10 spins in clockwise circle as indicated by arrows 128 , with the circle having a first radius.
- drive motor 62 be operated to spin rear wheel 24 in the rearward direction as shown by arrow 146 with drive motor 60 operating in the forward direction, toy vehicle 10 will spin in a clockwise circle having a second radius smaller than the first radius.
- both drive motors 60 , 62 be operated in the rearward direction, the toy vehicle 10 will move rearwardly in a substantially straight line. If the operator were to command that both drive motors 60 , 62 be switched instantly from the rearward direction to a forward direction, both swing arms 26 , 28 would pivot from the first position to the second position as shown in FIG. 4. With both swing arms 26 , 28 in the second position, rollers 100 , 102 located at the respective ends of wheelie bars 96 , 98 contact support surface 124 . As such, the toy vehicle 10 will move forward while being supported by rear wheels 22 , 24 and rollers 100 , 102 . In this configuration, should drive motor 62 then be shut off, swing arm 28 will return to its first position and the toy vehicle 10 will begin to spin clockwise as shown in FIG. 5.
- the toy vehicle 10 described above is a four-wheeled vehicle.
- the toy vehicle 10 may operate as a three-wheeled vehicle.
- One such embodiment of a three-wheeled version of toy vehicle 10 is shown in FIG. 8.
- steering mechanism 110 and front wheels 18 , 20 are replaced by a single castering wheel 150 connected to front portion 14 of chassis 12 by support member 152 .
- the steering characteristics of this embodiment are similar to those of the embodiment described above. That is, when swing arm 26 moves from the first position to the second position, castering wheel 150 will pivot such that the toy vehicle 10 will spin in a clockwise direction. When swing arm 26 returns to its first position, castering wheel 150 will pivot such that the toy vehicle 10 will continue along a straight path.
- the toy vehicle 10 operates in an upright position as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 .
- upright position means that, while toy vehicle 10 is operating, at least the two rear wheels 22 , 24 remain in contact with the support surface 124 whether the toy vehicle is traveling straight, spinning, or up on rear wheels 22 , 24 and rollers 100 , 102 .
- the toy vehicle 10 may encounter some obstacle, such as a wall, a door, or a chair leg, causing the toy vehicle 10 to flip over to a non-upright position, such that both rear wheels 22 , 24 no longer contact support surface 40 .
- toy vehicle 10 includes a self-righting member or roll bar 160 .
- Roll bar 160 is configured such that when toy vehicle 10 is in any non-upright position, the toy vehicle 10 will rest upon the roll bar 160 with at least one rear wheel 22 , 24 contacting support surface 124 . With one rear wheel 22 , 24 in contact with the support surface 124 , the operator can activate that particular rear wheel 22 , 24 to start the toy vehicle 10 spinning. The spinning, non-upright toy vehicle 10 should flip back to the upright position after of couple of spins, allowing the toy vehicle 10 to operate normally without requiring the operator to physically touch the toy vehicle.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a remote control toy vehicle, and more particularly, a remote control toy vehicle with independently controlled drive wheels.
- Many remotely controlled toy vehicles attempt to duplicate well known vehicles, such as cars, trucks, motorcycles, racing vehicles, tanks, aircraft, space vehicles, and construction vehicles. With these so-called “real life” vehicles, the goal is to imitate the functional characteristics, such as the movement, of the actual life-sized vehicle, but on a reduced scale vehicle. While these types of vehicles can entertain the user by imitating a real life vehicle, the range of motion of most “real life” vehicles is somewhat limited and the movement of these vehicles follow a known behavior. Thus, the user may also desire a toy vehicle which does not behave like a known real life vehicle. That is, the user may be entertained by a vehicle that has a wide range of motion and moves in unusual and unexpected ways.
- Thus, it is believed that a toy vehicle that has a wide range of motion and could move in unusual and unexpected ways would be desired.
- The toy vehicle of the present invention has a wide range of motion and can move in unusual and unexpected ways. To that end and in accordance with the principles of the invention, the toy vehicle includes a chassis having front and rear portions with at least one wheel supporting the front portion of the chassis. The toy vehicle further includes spaced-apart swing arms connected to the rear portion of the chassis. Rear wheels are rotatably mounted to each end of the swing arms. The swing arms are independently movable with respect to the chassis between first and second positions. As a given swing arm moves between the first position to the second position, the rear wheel is moved forward with respect to the chassis. Two separate propulsion drives are operatively associated with the chassis and are drivingly coupled to the respective rear wheels. Each propulsion drive is adapted to independently drive, or spin, a respective rear wheel in either a first direction or a second opposite direction. A rear wheel spinning in the first direction tends to move the toy vehicle forward whereas a rear wheel spinning in the second direction tends to move the toy vehicle rearward. In one aspect of the invention, the toy vehicle may be remotely controlled by an operator with a radio transmitter transmitting appropriate radio frequency signals. Thus, to be remotely controlled, the toy vehicle would include a receiver adapted to receive the remotely generated radio frequency signals. The receiver would be operatively connected to each drive motor independently such that each drive motor could be operated independently of the other. Accordingly, an operator could, for example, drive one rear wheel in the first or forward direction while simultaneously driving the other rear wheel in the second or rearward direction.
- In one aspect of the invention, the toy vehicle further includes an anti-tipping structure or wheelie bar affixed to at least one of the swing arms to prevent the toy vehicle from tipping backwards when both swing arms are in the second position. In the alternative, the wheelie bar could be affixed to the rear portion of the chassis to prevent the toy vehicle from tipping backwards.
- In another aspect of the invention, the toy vehicle includes a self-righting member that extends from the chassis. The self-righting member is configured to enable at least one of the rear wheels to contact the support surface when the toy vehicle has flipped over to a non-upright position.
- In another embodiment of the invention, the toy vehicle includes a wheeled steering mechanism supporting the front portion of the chassis. The wheeled steering mechanism includes an elongated member having a slot extending therethrough. The elongated member is pivotally connected to the front portion of the chassis. An axle extends through and is slidably movable within the slot. The axle has a wheel disposed at each of its opposite ends. As the toy vehicle moves in a forward direction, the axle slides rearwardly in the slot of the elongated member such that it is disposed rearwardly of the pivot connection of the elongated member. As such, the wheeled steering mechanism provides a castering effect when the toy vehicle is moving in a forward direction. The same castering effect is achieved when the toy vehicle moves rearward causing the axle to slide to a position forward of the pivot connection of the elongated member.
- Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following Detailed Description and the accompanying drawings.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy vehicle in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a side view of the toy motorcycle shown in FIG. 1.
- FIG. 3 is a top plan view, partially cut-away, of the toy vehicle shown in FIG. 1.
- FIG. 4 is another side view of the toy motorcycle shown in FIG. 1 being supported by the rear wheels and the wheelie bars.
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the toy vehicle shown in FIG. 1 with the left swing arm pivoted downwardly relative to the chassis.
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the front steering mechanism of the toy vehicle of FIG. 1 as viewed from the top.
- FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevation view in partial cross section of the front steering mechanism of the toy vehicle of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the steering mechanism of the toy vehicle shown in FIG. 1 with a single castering front wheel.
- FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the electrical controls for the toy vehicle of FIG. 1.
- With reference to FIGS.1-3, a
toy vehicle 10 constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Thetoy vehicle 10 includes achassis 12 having front andrear portions front wheels rear wheels rear portion 16 ofchassis 12 are spaced apartswing arms rear wheels Swing arms stationary axle 30 which extends transversely across substantially the entire width of thechassis 12. As will be discussed in greater detail below,swing arms swing arms rear wheels front portion 14 ofchassis 12 compared torear wheels swing arms front portion 14 ofchassis 12 andlinks axle 30.Links axle 30 independently ofswing arms swing arms swing arms axle 30 that engagelinks swing arms members 46disengage links swing arms - With specific reference to FIG. 3, the
toy vehicle 10 includes twoindependent propulsion drives drive motors drive motor drive gears 64, 66 which drivingly engaged a respective plurality ofintermeshing gears Couplers 72, 74 couple intermeshinggears gears 76, 78 (FIG. 4) which driverear wheels gears drive motors rear wheels drive motors rear wheels protective cover 86 in therear portion 16 ofchassis 12powers drive motors electrical wires battery 80 is removable fromchassis 12 so that it may be recharged. -
Drive motors motor 60 drives or rotatesrear wheel 22 regardless of whetherdrive motor 62 drivesrear wheel 24. Moreover, each drivemotor motor 60 can either spin or rotaterear wheel 22 in a direction tending to move thetoy vehicle 10 in a forward direction or in a direction tending to move thetoy vehicle 10 in an opposite rearward direction. Becausedrive motors motor 60 may be driven in the forward direction while simultaneously drivemotor 62 may be driven in the opposite reverse direction. - Anti-tipping structures or wheelie bars96, 98 are affixed to respective upper portions of
swing arms toy vehicle 10 from tipping too far backwards when both swingarms rollers toy vehicle 10 can move in a forward direction supported by and rolling on bothrollers rear wheels rear portion 16 ofchassis 12 instead of to swingarms toy vehicle 10 from tipping backwards withswing arms - With reference to FIGS. 3, 6, and7, the
toy vehicle 10 includes asteering mechanism 110 that includes anelongated member 112 having aslot 114 extending therethrough. The steering mechanism further includes anaxle 116 that extends through theslot 114.Front wheels axle 116.Axle 116 is free to move withinslot 114. That is,axle 116 is free to translate both forwards and backwards alongslot 114 as well as pivot inslot 114 as illustrated in FIG. 6, for example. Stopmembers 118 may be affixed to opposite sides of theaxle 116 between the opposite ends of theslot 114 and thefront wheels axle 116 is free to move withinslot 114, stopmembers 118 limit the lateral movement of theaxle 116 relative to theslot 114. -
Elongated member 112 is pivotally mounted to thefront portion 14 ofchassis 12 atpivot member 120 which extends fromelongated member 112. More specifically,elongated member 112 pivots aboutaxis 122 which is tilted forward relative to a line perpendicular to supportsurface 124 upon which thetoy vehicle 10 travels as best illustrated in FIG. 7.Axle 116 move forwards and backwards inslot 114 along a plane which is substantially perpendicular toaxis 122. As thetoy vehicle 10 moves forward, theaxle 116 slides to the rear portion of theslot 114 and is positioned rearward ofaxis 122. As such, thesteering mechanism 110 casters aboutaxis 122 such that thetoy vehicle 10 tends to move in a straight line even if thefront wheels toy vehicle 10. When thetoy vehicle 10 moves rearward, theaxle 116 slides to the front portion of theslot 114 and is positioned forward ofaxis 122. Accordingly, like the castering effect achieved when thetoy vehicle 10 moves forward, steeringmechanism 110 casters aboutaxis 122 as thetoy vehicle 10 moves rearward. - The pivotal movement of
elongated member 112 aboutpivot member 120 is restricted bysidewall portions front portion 14 ofchassis 12. As illustrated in FIG. 6,axle 116 can pivot slightly further thanelongated member 112 becauseaxle 116 can pivot withinslot 114. - In operation, an operator remotely controls the
toy vehicle 10 with a remote control transmitter 134 (FIG. 9) which selectively transmits control signals. Advantageously, theremote control transmitter 134 transmits control signals over two independent channel so that thedrive motors toy vehicle 10 includes anelectronic circuit board 136 position directly overprotective cover 86 that includes aremote control receiver 138 and a controller 140. Thereceiver 138 is operative connected to thebattery 80 and controller 140. The controller 140 is operative connected tobattery 80 and drivemotors antenna 142 which receives the control signals from theremote control transmitter 134 and relays those signals to theremote control receiver 138. - The
remote control receiver 138 receives control signals from theremote control transmitter 134 as the operator directs thetoy vehicle 10 to move is a particular direction. With a two channelremote transmitter 134, the operator can independently control the operation of each drivemotor motors toy vehicle 10 travels depends on which direction thedrive motors motors toy vehicle 10 will move forward in a straight line. - The toy vehicle, however, will turn sharply should only one drive motor be operated and even more sharply should one drive motor be operated in a forward direction and the other drive motor be operated in a rearward direction. When one
drive motor swing arm motor 60 is operating to spinrear wheel 22 in a forward direction as shown byarrow 144 such thatswing arm 26 is pivoted from the first position to the second position. Asswing arm 26 pivots to and remains in the second position, thesteering mechanism 110 pivots clockwise as viewed looking down on thetoy vehicle 10 until thesteering mechanism 110 engagessidewall portion 126. In this configuration, thetoy vehicle 10 spins in clockwise circle as indicated byarrows 128, with the circle having a first radius. Should drivemotor 62 be operated to spinrear wheel 24 in the rearward direction as shown byarrow 146 withdrive motor 60 operating in the forward direction,toy vehicle 10 will spin in a clockwise circle having a second radius smaller than the first radius. - Should both drive
motors toy vehicle 10 will move rearwardly in a substantially straight line. If the operator were to command that both drivemotors arms swing arms rollers contact support surface 124. As such, thetoy vehicle 10 will move forward while being supported byrear wheels rollers motor 62 then be shut off,swing arm 28 will return to its first position and thetoy vehicle 10 will begin to spin clockwise as shown in FIG. 5. - The
toy vehicle 10 described above is a four-wheeled vehicle. Thetoy vehicle 10, however, may operate as a three-wheeled vehicle. One such embodiment of a three-wheeled version oftoy vehicle 10 is shown in FIG. 8. In this embodiment,steering mechanism 110 andfront wheels single castering wheel 150 connected tofront portion 14 ofchassis 12 bysupport member 152. The steering characteristics of this embodiment are similar to those of the embodiment described above. That is, whenswing arm 26 moves from the first position to the second position,castering wheel 150 will pivot such that thetoy vehicle 10 will spin in a clockwise direction. Whenswing arm 26 returns to its first position,castering wheel 150 will pivot such that thetoy vehicle 10 will continue along a straight path. - During normal operation, the
toy vehicle 10 operates in an upright position as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5. In this context, upright position means that, whiletoy vehicle 10 is operating, at least the tworear wheels support surface 124 whether the toy vehicle is traveling straight, spinning, or up onrear wheels rollers toy vehicle 10 may encounter some obstacle, such as a wall, a door, or a chair leg, causing thetoy vehicle 10 to flip over to a non-upright position, such that bothrear wheels support surface 40. To accommodate for those instances when thetoy vehicle 10 flips over to a non-upright position,toy vehicle 10 includes a self-righting member orroll bar 160.Roll bar 160 is configured such that whentoy vehicle 10 is in any non-upright position, thetoy vehicle 10 will rest upon theroll bar 160 with at least onerear wheel support surface 124. With onerear wheel support surface 124, the operator can activate that particularrear wheel toy vehicle 10 spinning. The spinning,non-upright toy vehicle 10 should flip back to the upright position after of couple of spins, allowing thetoy vehicle 10 to operate normally without requiring the operator to physically touch the toy vehicle. - While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various preferred embodiments and while these embodiments have been described in considerable detail in order to describe the best mode of practicing the invention, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention itself should only be defined by the appended claims, wherein we claim:
Claims (16)
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US10/037,781 US6540583B1 (en) | 2001-10-19 | 2001-10-19 | Toy vehicle |
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US10/037,781 US6540583B1 (en) | 2001-10-19 | 2001-10-19 | Toy vehicle |
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US20030077979A1 true US20030077979A1 (en) | 2003-04-24 |
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