Railway rolling stock – Trains – Toy or model train
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-03
2001-02-13
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Railway rolling stock
Trains
Toy or model train
C105S026050, C105S029200, C105S096100, C105S098000, C105S157200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186074
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a model train and more particularly to a drive assembly for a model toy train having more than two truck assemblies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Model toy train manufacturers typically make toy models, or replicas of existing or historical trains. Model toy train manufactures make locomotives or engines, box cars, cabooses and many other things. As to the toy train locomotive or engine and its real world counterpart the similarities are little more than in appearance. In terms of external appearance, both real world and toy train engines include truck assemblies having a plurality of wheels positioned on the tracks. Typically each truck assembly rotates about its central axis allowing the train to negotiate turns in the track.
Notwithstanding their visual similarity, real world train engines and toy train engines use very different power sources. Real world train engines are powered by coal fired boilers, gas turbines and diesels while toy train engines are powered by electric motors which receive their power from the train track. A significant difference caused by the different power sources used in real world and model toy train engines is how the power is transferred to the wheels of the truck assemblies to move the train engines forward.
In real world train engines, such as diesel or gas turbine train engines, the diesel or gas turbine generates electricity which is supplied to electric motors. The electric motors are positioned within one or more truck assemblies and drive the wheels positioned on the track. Because the electric motors are positioned within the truck assemblies the truck assemblies may freely turn about their own axes allowing the real world train to negotiate a corner.
In contrast, the electric motors of model toy train engines power the wheels of the truck assemblies through drives shafts. To do this, the drive shafts of the electric motors are positioned directly over the central axis of each truck assembly. In this way the truck assembly can rotate about its axis, and the electric motor remains positioned within the model toy train body.
Positioning the electric motors in model toy train engines on the central axis of the truck assemblies has limited model toy train manufactures to providing toy train engines having no more than two driven truck assemblies. This is because two points define any curve.
Therefore, there is a need to provide a model toy train motor assembly for model toy trains having more than two truck assemblies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a drive assembly for a model toy train including at least one motor having a motor shaft fixedly positioned within a model toy train body. At least two truck assemblies are provided each having a plurality of wheels, the truck assemblies positioned below the model toy train body. At least two saddles connect each truck assembly to the model toy train body such that each truck assembly freely rotates about the motor shaft. Means for connecting the motor drive shaft to the wheels of each truck assembly are provided such that when the motor drive shaft rotates it causes the wheels in each truck assembly to rotate.
A method of translating rotational energy from a drive shaft of a electric motor in a model toy train to a plurality of wheels on at least two truck assemblies is also provided. The method includes translating the rotational energy from the electric motor to at least a pair of shafts and translating the rotational energy from each of the pair of shafts to the wheels of the truck assemblies.
A further drive assembly in a model toy train has a toy train body is also provided which includes at least two separate electric engines positioned at discrete positions within the toy train body, each electric engine including a motor shaft. At least two subframes are fixedly attached to the toy train body and at least four truck assemblies, each including a plurality of wheels, are rotationally attached to the subframes such that at least two truck assemblies are attached to each subframe. A plurality of pinions connect each drive shaft to at least four worm shafts such that at least two worm shafts are connected to the pinions in each subframe. At least four worm wheel shafts are provided, each worm wheel shaft discretely connecting one of the worm shafts to one of the at least four truck assemblies with the worm wheel shafts operably connected to the wheels in each of the at least four truck assemblies to rotate the wheels of truck assemblies.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3080827 (1963-03-01), Zion
patent: 4799431 (1989-01-01), Edwards et al.
patent: 5398619 (1995-03-01), Buccos
patent: 5632208 (1997-05-01), Weber
patent: 5918546 (1999-07-01), Wike
Chlebek Kevin B.
Grubba Robert A.
Price Jeffery A.
Sullivan Caleb
Jules Frantz
Lionel Trains, Inc.
Morano S. Joseph
Young & Basile P.C.
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