US3583096A - Self-propelled torsional motor-driven toy - Google Patents

Abstract

A simulated vehicle has an axle supported by a torsional energy storing elastic strip. A string is wrapped about the axle and unwinds when pulled upwardly to thereby twist the strip. Release of the string allows the wound strip to drive the toy over a surface while rewinding the string. A flaring hollow guide floats on the axle. The apex of the guide extends upwardly in the vehicle and the string is threaded through an opening at this apex. The guide prevents the rewinding string from riding on and over the wheels at the ends of the axle.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Albert B. Slubbmann 2,604,727 7/1952 Swenson 46/206 X [21] A l N gz g g FOREIGN PATENTS PP v Ffled Nov. 6,1969 676,501 12/1963 Canada 46/206 [45] Patented June 8, 1971 Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene [73] Assignee Kohner Bros., Inc. Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting East Paterson, NJ. Attorney-Kirschstein, Kirschstein, Ottinger and Frank [54] SELF-PROPELLED TORSIONAL MOTOR-DRIVEN TOY 14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

ABSTRACT: A simulated vehicle has. an axle supported by a U.S. t i l gy t i g l ti t i g i pp d b t [5 I] f- Cl A63! 29/20 the axle and unwinds when pulled upwardly to thereby twist [50] Fleld of Search 46/97, 101, h Strip Release of the string allows the wound Strip to drive 206 the toy over a surface while rewinding the string. A flaring hollow guide floats on the axle. The apex of the guide extends up- [56] References cued wardly in the vehicle and the string is threaded through an UNITED STATES PATENTS opening at this apex. The guide prevents the rewinding string 2,078,767 4/1937 Marx 46/206 X from riding on and over the wheels at tlhe ends of the axle.

PATENTED JUN 8 I97! INVENTOR ALBERT B. STUBBMANN BY ATTORNEYS M m M SlELlF-FROPELLED TORSIONAL MOTOR-DRIVEN TOY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Torsional string wound motor toys 2. Description of the Prior Art Children have always been delighted with animated toys, especially those which simulate the motion of a vehicle or an animal. Of course, children are also known to have short-lived interest in toys and will often discard a toy after using it but a few times.

Common animated wheeled pull toys have the drawback that small children prefer self-animating toys which need not be manually pulled about. Furthermore, children tire of dragging a toy behind them because the toy is out of their sight. As a consequence, most animated pull-string toys include some type of noisemaker, e.g. a bell. Even with audible animation, pull toys left much to be desired.

As a result, many of the ambulatory or moving toys included sophisticated self-propulsion mechanisms. These toys are, however, disadvantageous due to the fact that their animation mechanisms are costly, complicated and easily broken. Furthermore, the expense involved in purchasing such toys is not warranted by the toys short-lived utility.

Among the past solutions to the problem of creating an inexpensive, easily replaceable, self-propelled toy which would attract and maintain the child's interest for a substantial period of time, yet which is of a cost easily within a family budget, and which cost is such that replacement of the toy with a similarly driven toy of a different character would not be extravagant, was an elastic motor-driven string-wound toy which generally included a torsional energy storing device such as a spring or elastic strip. (A typical such toy is shown in US. Letters Pat. No. 368,499). Such motors generally included an axle which was mounted within the toy and intcrconnected to the body of the toy by a strip. The motor was energized by winding the axle relative to the toy body. This was usually performed with the aid of an actuating string which was initially wrapped about the axle. When the string was pulled from the axle, the axle turned, twisting the initially relaxed elastic strip. Upon release of the actuating string, the elastic strip dissipated its stored energy by rotating the axle causing the toy to move forward while at the same time winding the string back about the axle.

Although this propulsion mechanism provided an animated toy at a relatively low cost, the propulsion system suffered from an inherent and long-suffered disadvantage, to wit: the actuating string would rewind about the axle in a haphazard manner, and often extend beyond the limits of the axle to ride over the wheels and entangle in the torsional energy storing device. This prevented withdrawal of the string for a sub sequent actuation.

Such disadvantage greatly detracted from widespread acceptance of these toys. Prior string-rewinding guide mechanisms attempted to rectify the problem but to no avail because during the rewinding of the motor, the string usually was not held so that it was lax, allowing incursions over the wheels with the aforementioned consequent drawback.

A further disadvantage encountered with some prior toys of the character described was that it was often difficult to interconnect the elastic strip between the axle and the'body of the toy, and thus the elastic strip would break or become entangled during the assembly process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a self propelled toy of the character described which is so constructed that it is not subject to any of the foregoing disadvantages.

More specifically it is an object ofthe invention to provide a self-propelled toy of the character described which is simple and rugged in construction and more efficient in operation, yet can be easily fabricated by mass production methods at a cost appreciably lower than prior devices designed to serve similar functions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a self-propelled toy of the character described wherein a floating guide member is mounted on the axle to center the rewound portions of the actuating string on the axle and prevent the string from overriding the driving wheels.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a toy of the character described wherein a floating guide member rotatably engages the axle with a portion of the member projecting into the toy body and engaging the toy body to limit movement of the member along the axle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a toy of the character described wherein a split axle is utilized with the elastic strip extending axially along and captively engaged by the split axle sections.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a two-piece conically shaped floating axle guide member such as mentioned above, such segmenting permitting an easy assembly of the toy.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a floating axle guide member constructed of two shell halves, each of which includes alignment projections to facilitate assembly.

Other objects of the invention in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly constitutes the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the elastic strip torsion-motordriven toy hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a torsion-motor-driven string-actuated toy constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, said toy being in the shape of an open topped vehicle with a mouse character seated therein;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through said toy, the same being taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and illustrating portions of an axle-driving torsional motor, an actuating string and a guide which is mounted on the axle;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and illustrating the split axle along with the guide member which is mounted on the axle; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the toy, the same being taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and illustrating a side of the guide member and a portion of the split axle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The self-propelled torsionaI-motor-driven toy of the present invention includes a string-actuated torsion motor which corn prises a torsion energy storage device between the axle and the body of the toy with the axle reversely rotating when the string is pulled and the torsional energy storage device dissipating its energy and turning the axle forwardly to propel the toy over a supporting surface when the string is released. While the toy is propelling itself, the pull string is rewound about the axle and the rewound portions of the string are guided around the axle by a floating member which has spaced portions encircling the axle to prevent the rewinding string from drifting into and over the drive wheels. The member extends into the body in a suitable relationship to engage the body and prevent rotation of the member. Thus the floating guide member ensures availability ofthe string for future use.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral I0 denotes a torsion-motor-driven string-actuated toy constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention. The toy includes a hollow body 12 and a hollow figurine 14 positioned atop the body. The figurine M includes an open bottom which is in registry with an opening in the upper surface of the body and is secured in the opening by conventional heat welds or adhesive. The composite toy will thus include a hollow base interior with an upwardly projecting hollow portion, i.e. the figurine. Both the body and figurine are preferably inexpensively molded of a thermoplastic synthetic resin. It should be observed that the external shape of the toy is not of importance, and the torsional motor of the present invention may be utilized with any hollow toy regardless of external configuration.

The weight of the toy should be such that the torsional motor can readily propel the toy along a supporting surface and overcome static frictional resistance.

The toy vehicle shown includes the body 12 which is molded in the configuration of an open-topped roadster and includes front wheels 16 which are molded in one piece with the body so that they do not rotate. Such wheels will provide a slight frictional drag, but due to the light weight of the toy, especially in the hollow front portion, the frictional resistance is insufficient to materially impede the translatory motion of the vehicle. Optionally, the front wheels may be suitably journaled for rotation on the body for lower frictional resistance.

The use of front wheels is not essential and the body may merely include a single surface or point which abuts the toysupporting surface and permits a sliding contact therewith when the toy is driven. Such single point would be desirable if the toy body were ofa different configuration e.g. a tricycle.

The toy includes a torsional driving motor 20, the details of which are best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The motor 20 includes a single thin elastic strip or several strips 22 which extend between two registered openings 24 at opposite sides of the body adjacent the lower edge and towards the rear thereof. The elastic strip 22 may be formed from rubber bands, for instance, and serves as a rotational energy storage device to transmit a torque to the axle so as to propel the toy. The openings 24 are peripherally surrounded by cylindrical bosses 26 through which the ends of the elastic strip 22 are threaded. The free ends of the strip 22 project beyond the bosses 26 and are clamped by overcaps 30 tightly against the bosses 26. The caps 30 are preferably heat sealed to the bosses after the ends of the elastic strip are threaded through the openings 24. The overcaps anchor the strip to the toy and prevent rotation of the ends of the strip 22 during storage of torsional energy when the actuating string unwinds from the axle.

The axle 32 through which the elastic strip 22 is threaded includes two split- cylindrical portions 34 and 36 each of which includes a hollow interior and overlapping protuberances projecting into the same. Opposed protuberances are slightly mutually offset to pinch segments of the elastic strip 22 between them so that when the axle 32 is turned the strip will be twisted or untwisted.

The strip-engaging protuberances include two flanges 38 in the portion 34 which project toward the opposite section beyond the axis of the axle 32 and into the hollow interior of the section 36. Additionally, the axle section 36 includes similarly projecting flanges 40 which extend up to the axis of the axle and are adjacent the flanges 38. The ends of both axle sections include perpendicular end walls having semicircular openings through which the ends of the elastic strip 22 are threaded.

To assemble the axle on the elastic strip 22, one of the axle sections, 34 for instance, is placed along the length of the strip 22 and the strip 22 is stretched between the semicircular openings and across the flanges 38. Subsequently, the axle section 36 is aligned with the section 34 and the strip 22. When the two sections are forced together, the strip 22 is tightly pinched between the adjacent flanges 38 and 40 to hold the center of the strip 22 fast to the axle.

Mounted on the opposite ends of the axle are driving wheels 42 which are preferably constructed of rubber or other material having a high coefficient of friction with a supporting surface to provide desirable gripping characteristics for driving the toy. Each wheel 42 includes a hollow central bore which is designed to be tightly frictionally engaged over an end of the axle 32. When the wheels are so engaged, they hold the axle sections 34 and 36 together. In fact, the wheels 42 are optionally the only means for effectively securing the axle sections together.

The axle sections 34, 36 include two protuberances 44 which serve as limit stops to position the wheels 42 so that they are adjacent the ends of the axle 32.

As previously mentioned, the torsion motor 20 is adapted to be actuated by a string 48 which in idle condition of the toy is coiled about a central portion of the axle 32 and which, when drawn from the hollow body of the toy, will cause the axle 32 to rotate, twisting the strip 22 and increasing the torsional energy stored by the strip. This is accomplished by pulling the string 48 vertically upwardly by engaging a finger ring 50 secured to the free end of the string. The other end of the string is threaded through an opening 52 in the head of the figurine l4 and is anchored to the axlev With the toy resting on a supporting surface, the actuating string 48 is designed to be pulled vertically upwardly. Since the toy 10 is relatively light in weight, there will be no translational movement ofthe toy when the axle turns; indeed the upward force lifts the toy at the axle and allows the wheels to turn out of engagement with the supporting surface.

Upon release of the actuating string 48, the stored torsional energy in the elastic strip 22 will urge the axle 32 in a reverse clockwise direction (as viewed in FlG. 2) and thus propel the toy along the supporting surface.

As thus far described, the toy is conventional except for the split axle.

In order to prevent the portions of the string 43 which are rewound about the axle 32 from being haphazardly distributed along the axle and riding out axially over the wheels and onto the ends of the axle where they may become entangled and impede the subsequent withdrawal of the string, a floating guide member 60 is mounted on the axle. The guide member 60 is somewhat conically shaped and includes an open bottom 62 and an open top 64 at its apex.

The guide member 60 also includes converging planar side 66, front 68 and back 70 walls so that the actual shape of the guide is roughly that of a truncated rectangular pyramid. The guide member 60 may be formed of one piece molded construction, but for ease of mounting preferably is constructed of two molded shells which are aligned and joined along abutting edges as will be subsequently described.

The sidewalls 66 at the base of the guide member 60 includes aligned spaced registered openings 72 through which the axle 32 is threaded. With the axle 32 joumaled in openings 72, the guide member 60 will be seated on the axle 32 in floating rotatable engagement therewith.

The actuating string 48 is threaded through the opening 52 in the head of the figurine l4, and thence through the open top 64 of the guide member 60 and finally through a radial opening 74 in the axle 32 at the center thereof. A knot at the inner end of the string anchors this string to the axle. It can be observed that with the guide member 60 positioned on the axle in this manner (as shown in FIG. 3) the convolutions 76 of string 48, which are wrapped about the axle will be limited to the space between the openings 72 on the sidewalls 66 of the guide member 60.

It will be observed that since the string 48 is threaded through the open top 64, the open top 64 serves as an additional guide for centering the string as it is recoiled about the axle 32. Because the open top 64 which guides the string 48 toward the center of the axle 32 is radially spaced from the axle, the string is free to be evenly distributed along the axle but within the confines of the sidewalls 66 of the guide 60.

The tapering conical portion of the guide member 60 adjacent the apex extends into the hollow head of the figurine l4 and the figurine 14 serves to maintain the guide member in a generally perpendicular relationship to the axle. This can be best observed in H0. 2. Additionally, the sidewalls of the figurine M- serve to limit the translational movement of the guide along the axle. Because the guide member is freely rotatably floating on the'axle 32, it might slide along the axle until it contacts a protuberance 44. This is prevented by the abutting engagement between the guide member 60 and the figurine M. Such contact (between the sidewalls 66 of the guide and the protuberances Ml) will have no noticable tendency to produce an increased drag on the axle and reduce the efficiency of the torsional motor in propelling the toy along a supporting surface.

It should be noted that the openings '72 on the sidewalls of the guide member are of larger diameter than the axle 32 and under most circumstances there is a slight abutting contact between the uppermost surface of the openings 72 and the top of the axle 32, This is but a minimal contact and does not markedly impede the efficiency of the torsional motor.

As was previously mentioned, the guide member 60 preferably is constructed of two matching shell halves 7t and at) which are joined along abutting edges. Such two-piece construction is illustrated in FIG. 4. The line of junction of the halves diametrically vertically slits each opening 72 to allow the shell to be assembled around a previously installed axle in an otherwise completed toy.

It will be observed that the tapered sidewalls 66 of each shell half includes locating pins 82 and 84. The pins 82 are formed of one-piece construction with the shell half 80 and include a stepped portion which projects over the peripheral edge of the half and is designed to overlap the mating shell half 725. Similar locating pins 84 are formed of one-piece construction with the shell half 78 and include a stepped portion which overlies the adjacent area of the shell half 80. The locating pins facilitate the assembly of the guide member 80 because the stepped portions of the respective locating pins will permit easy alignment of the respective shell halves 78 and 80 with the stepped portions serving as guides and insuring three-point contact along the sloped sides of the abutting edges. The pins additionally prevent movement of the parts relative to one another when they are being secured to one another by either heat welding or adhesive.

Among the advantages of the guide member 60 is that it evenly distributes the rewound string about the axle and prevents the coils of string from extending to the ends of the axle. Thus, it greatly increases the reliability of the torsion motor. Furthermore, since the guide member is formed of a lightweight plastic, it does not increase the weight of the toy to thus decrease the efficiency of the torsional motor and assures that the string will be properly rewound for maximum efficiency at a minimal increase in manufacturing costs,

Thus it will be seen that there is provided a self-propelled torsional motor driven toy which achieves the various objects of the invention and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the present invention and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent:

l. A self-propelled torsional-motor-driven string-actuated toy, said toy comprising a hollow body, a wheeled driving axle mounted on said body, a torsional energy storing means, said torsional energy storing means being engaged between said axle and said body to bias said axle when energy is stored in said means for rotation in a direction for subsequently driving said toy along a supporting surface, an actuating string, means securing one end of said actuating string to said axle with the opposite end of said actuating string being free and manually engageable, said actuating string being wrapped about said axle and being extendible through said hollow body by pulling the manually engageable free end of the string, the string unwrapping from the axle when said manually engageable end is pulled, the torsional energy of said torsional energy storing means being increased when the string is unwound from the axle, the torsional energy storing means dissipating its increased stored energy and turning the axle to propel the toy along the supporting surface when the manually engageable end of the string is released, the string rewinding about the axle when the axle drives the toy, said toy further including a guide member carried by the axle, said guide member includ ing opposed spaced axle engaging means for captively retaining the axle with the guide member being in floating engagement with the axle and the axle being journaled for rotation relative to the guide member, the axle extending through the axle-engaging means and a portion of the axle being enclosed between axle-engaging means, the string being threaded through the guide member and the rewound portions of the string being captively restrained by the axle engaging means so that the rewound string portions are located along the axle between said axle-engaging means.

2. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the guide member is conically shaped and includes an opening at its apex, the string being threaded through the said opening.

3. A toy constructed in accordance with claim I wherein the hollow body includes limit means for engaging the guide member to limit translational movement of the guide member along the axle.

4. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 3 wherein the limit means includes an upwardly projecting hollow portion, the guide member extending into said upwardly projecting portion.

5, A toy constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein a portion of the guide member projects into the toy, the toy including limit means for engaging said portion of the guide member to maintain the guide member in a generally vertical attitude.

6. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 5 wherein the limit means includes an upwardly projecting hollow portion, the guide member extending into said upwardly projecting portion.

7. A toy constructed in accordance with claim I wherein the axle is formed of hollow half cylinder sections, each section including flanges projecting toward the opposite section, the torsional energy storing means is an elastic strip, said elastic strip being threaded through the interior of the axle, adjacent flanges from opposed sections being juxtaposed when the axle is assembled and engaging the elastic strip to thereby secure the strip between its ends to the axle.

8. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 7 wherein two wheels are included, each wheel having a central bore, the wheels being mounted on the ends of the axle with the bores engaging the axle sections and maintaining the axle sections joined.

9. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 8 wherein the elastic strip interconnects the axle and the hollow body, said elastic strip supporting the axle within the body.

10. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 2 wherein the guide member is formed of two shell halves joined along common abutting edges, each shell halfincluding locating pins unitary therewith, a portion of each locating pin projecting beyond the abutting edge of its associated shell half and overlying the opposite shell half, said locating pins facilitating and simplifying assembly.

11. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the guide member includes sidewalls, the axle-engaging means comprising openings in said sidewalls.

12. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 11 wherein the guide member is formed of two shell halves joined along common abutting edges, the common abutting edges axially bisecting the openings in the sidewalls.

13. A self-propelled torsional-motor-driven toy, said toy comprising a hollow body, a driving axle mounted on said body, a torsional energy storing means, said torsional energy storing means being engaged between said axle and said body to bias said axle when energy is stored in said means for rotation in a direction for subsequently driving said toy along a supporting surface, an actuating string, means securing one end of said actuating string to said axle with the opposite end of said actuating string being free and manually engageable, said actuating string being wrapped about said axle and being extendible through said hollow body by pulling the manually engageable free end of the string, the string unwrapping from the axle when said manually engageable end is pulled, the torsional energy of said torsional energy storing means being increased when the string is unwound from the axle, the torsional energy storing means dissipating its increased stored energy and turning the axle to propel the toy along the supporting surface when the manually engageable end of the string is released, the string rewinding about the axle when the axle drives the toy, the axle being formed of half cylinder sections, the torsional energy storing means being an elastic strip, said elastic strip being threaded through the interior of the axle, said half cylinder sections including cooperating means to grip the elastic strip therebetween and between the ends of the axle.

14. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 13 wherein the half cylinder sections are hollow and the cooperating means grips the elastic strip adjacent the center of the axle.

Claims (14)

1. A self-propelled torsional-motor-driven string-actuated toy, said toy comprising a hollow body, a wheeled driving axle mounted on said body, a torsional energy storing means, said torsional energy storing means being engaged between said axle and said body to bias said axle when energy is stored in said means for rotation in a direction for subsequently driving said toy along a supporting surface, an actuating string, means securing one end of said actuating string to said axle with the opposite end of said actuating string being free and manually engageable, said actuating string being wrapped about said axle and being extendible through said hollow body by pulling the manually engageable free end of the string, the string unwrapping from the axle when said manually engageable end is pulled, the torsional energy of said torsional energy storing means being increased when the string is unwound from the axle, the torsional energy storing means dissipating its increased stored energy and turning the axle to propel the toy along the supporting surface when the manually engageable end of the string is released, the string rewinding about the axle when the axle drives the toy, said toy further including a guide member carried by the axle, said guide member including opposed spaced axle engaging means for captively retaining the axle with the guide member being in floating engagement with the axle and the axle being journaled for rotation relative to the guide member, the axle extending through the axle-engaging means and a portion of the axle being enclosed between axle-engaging means, the string being threaded through the guide member and the rewound portions of the string being captively restrained by the axle engaging means so that the rewound string portions are located along the axle between said axle-engaging means.

2. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the guide member is conically shaped and includes an opening at its apex, the string being threaded through the said opening.

3. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the hollow body includes limit means for engaging the guide member to limit translational movement of the guide member along the axle.

4. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 3 wherein the limit means includes an upwardly projecting hollow portion, the guide member extending into said upwardly projecting portion.

5. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein a portion of the guide member projects into the toy, the toy including limit means for engaging said portion of the guide member to maintain the guide member in a generally vertical attitude.

6. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 5 wherein the limit means includes an upwardly projecting hollow portion, the guide member extending into said upwardly projecting portion.

7. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the axle is formed of hollow half cylinder sections, each section including flanges projecting toward the opposite section, the torsional energy storing means is an elastic strip, said elastic strip being threaded through the interior of the axle, adjacent flanges from opposed sections beinG juxtaposed when the axle is assembled and engaging the elastic strip to thereby secure the strip between its ends to the axle.

8. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 7 wherein two wheels are included, each wheel having a central bore, the wheels being mounted on the ends of the axle with the bores engaging the axle sections and maintaining the axle sections joined.

9. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 8 wherein the elastic strip interconnects the axle and the hollow body, said elastic strip supporting the axle within the body.

10. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 2 wherein the guide member is formed of two shell halves joined along common abutting edges, each shell half including locating pins unitary therewith, a portion of each locating pin projecting beyond the abutting edge of its associated shell half and overlying the opposite shell half, said locating pins facilitating and simplifying assembly.

11. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the guide member includes sidewalls, the axle-engaging means comprising openings in said sidewalls.

12. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 11 wherein the guide member is formed of two shell halves joined along common abutting edges, the common abutting edges axially bisecting the openings in the sidewalls.

13. A self-propelled torsional-motor-driven toy, said toy comprising a hollow body, a driving axle mounted on said body, a torsional energy storing means, said torsional energy storing means being engaged between said axle and said body to bias said axle when energy is stored in said means for rotation in a direction for subsequently driving said toy along a supporting surface, an actuating string, means securing one end of said actuating string to said axle with the opposite end of said actuating string being free and manually engageable, said actuating string being wrapped about said axle and being extendible through said hollow body by pulling the manually engageable free end of the string, the string unwrapping from the axle when said manually engageable end is pulled, the torsional energy of said torsional energy storing means being increased when the string is unwound from the axle, the torsional energy storing means dissipating its increased stored energy and turning the axle to propel the toy along the supporting surface when the manually engageable end of the string is released, the string rewinding about the axle when the axle drives the toy, the axle being formed of half cylinder sections, the torsional energy storing means being an elastic strip, said elastic strip being threaded through the interior of the axle, said half cylinder sections including cooperating means to grip the elastic strip therebetween and between the ends of the axle.

14. A toy constructed in accordance with claim 13 wherein the half cylinder sections are hollow and the cooperating means grips the elastic strip adjacent the center of the axle.

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