Amusement devices: toys – Sparking
Reexamination Certificate
2003-03-29
2004-11-23
Banks, Derris H. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Sparking
C446S462000, C446S457000, C446S437000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06821181
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention is a self-propelled toy, which, in the preferred mode, comprises a two wheeled wind-up mechanism which operates using a gear box, a rudder, a flint, and a striker element. When the toy is wound and released, the flint spins against the striker element, creating a sparking effect. The rudder, located below the gearbox, is rigidly affixed to the wind up mechanism. The rudder comes in contact with the surface upon which the item travels, and functions to steer the propelled item in a wave-like manner.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Many innovations for amusement devices with sparking means are provided in the prior art, described as follows. Although these inventions are suitable for the purposes they address, they differ from the present invention as contrasted herein. Following is a summary of patents most relevant to the invention at hand, including description of differences between features of the invention and those of the prior art.
1. U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,396, invented by Kennedy et al., entitled “Stunt-Performing Toy Vehicle”. The patent to Kennedy et al. describes a miniature toy vehicle capable of performing rear wheelies, pinouts and other playful stunts, the vehicle including a chassis having rotatable front and rear wheel axles mounted thereon, a hollow body being supported on the chassis to simulate the appearance of an automobile. A flywheel motor is supported for rotation on the chassis within the body on a flywheel axle normal to the rear wheel axle. The flywheel axle is operatively coupled to the rear wheel axle whereby when the rear wheel axle is rotated, it causes the flywheel motor to spin and to store energy for propelling the vehicle in the forward direction. The relationship of the flywheel motor to the structure of the vehicle is such as to cause the vehicle to behave as a gyro exhibiting precessional motion which in combination with the concurrent forward motion makes it possible for the vehicle to perform stunts. The flywheel has a layer of abrasive material on its upper face. A flint is supported on a pivotable arm and is caused to apply a slight downward pressure on the abrasive material to generate sparks as the flywheel is rotated.
2. U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,102, invented by Bosch, entitled: “Sparking Toy Vehicle”. The patent to Bosch describes a sparking toy vehicle for being supported on a play surface and includes a vehicle body, front and rear wheels rotatably mounted on the vehicle body and a spark generating mechanism mounted on the vehicle. The at least two wheels are mounted with respect to the body for movement between a first position in which the body is a first distance from the play surface when the wheels are in engagement with the play surface and a second position in which the body is a second distance from the play surface when the wheels are in engagement with the play surface. The spark generating mechanism is spaced from the play surface when the body is in the first position and is in contact with the play surface when the body is in the second position. When the vehicle body in the second position and the vehicle is moved across the play surface the spark generating mechanism is in rolling contact with the play surface and generates a spark.
3. U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,212, invented by Kakizaki, is: “Spark Emitting Fly Wheel Driven Vehicle”. In the patent to Kakizaki, a toy vehicle is supported on one end by at least one wheel and on the other end by a fly wheel which is capable of being energized by pulling a gear rack across a pinion which is connected to the fly wheel. On one of the side surfaces of the fly wheel, a material is located which, when contacted by a flint, is capable of emitting sparks. A flint holding member is positioned adjacent to the fly wheel with a flint located on the flint holding member so as to contact the material on the side of the fly wheel. In conjunction with rotation of the fly wheel, sparks are emitted from contact of the flint with the material. Thus, as the car is propelled across a support surface by the fly wheel a trail of sparks are given off.
4. U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,931, invented by Auer, entitled: “Spin-Out Toy Vehicle”. The patent to Auer describes a toy vehicle in which a flywheel motor assembly is operatively coupled to one set of wheels such that when the motor is revved up and the vehicle is released, it then advances on the ground in the forward direction, A set able distance counter assembly is operatively coupled to the other set of wheels to count the number of feet or other increment of distance traveled by the vehicle. Also includes is a braking mechanism provided with a normally-retracted brake shoe whose position is off center with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a normally-retracted brake clutch adapted to engage a braking wheel in the flywheel motor assembly. The braking mechanism is responsive to the distance counter such that when a pre-set distance is traveled by the vehicle, the brake shoe is projected below the chassis to engage the ground and the brake clutch is then caused to engage the braking wheel to arrest the motor. As a consequence, the braked vehicle is caused to swerve from the forward direction, to skid and to spin out.
5. U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,560, invented by Liu entitled: “Sparking Toy Vehicle And Launcher Therefor”. The patent to Liu describes a toy vehicle and a launching assembly for launching the vehicle. The vehicle includes a rotatable sparking mechanism and a drive gear for rotating the sparking mechanism. The launching assembly includes and inclined ramp for receiving the vehicle and a gear train having a drive gear extending upwardly through an aperture in the inclined ramp. The drive gear intermeshes with the vehicle drive gear when the vehicle is received on the ramp. The launching assembly further includes a plunger mounted for engagement with the rear of the vehicle when the vehicle in received on the ramp, and a spring for normally biasing the plunge to an extended position. The gear train is driven by a pivotable lever mounted on the shaft of an actuator gear. Pivoting of the lever rotates the drive gear thereby rotating the sparking mechanism to generate sparks. Pivoting of the lever also withdraws and releases the plunger mechanism to forcibly propel the vehicle off the launching assembly and across a supporting surface.
6. U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,267, invented by Busam, entitled: “Spark Producing Mechanism”. The patent to Busam describers a spark producing mechanism for a toy and includes an at least partially transparent housing, a rotatable abrasive element in the housing and a motor for rotating the abrasive element. The mechanism further includes at least one flint element which is loosely captured in the housing so that it can contact and carom off the abrasive element to randomly produce sparks in the housing during rotation of the abrasive element.
7. U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,623, invented by Gamer, et al., entitled “Toy Welding Apparatus With Sparking Mechanism”. The patent to Garner et al. describes a toy welding apparatus which includes a spin welding mechanism which is operative for welding thermoplastic articles together utilizing a rotating thermoplastic rod. The apparatus further includes a sparking mechanism for producing sparks during operation of the spin welding mechanism so that the operation of the welding apparatus realistically simulates that of an arch welding apparatus.
8. U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,806, invented by Bergstein entitled “Roller Skating Spark Generator”. The patent to Bergstein describes a spark-generating mechanism for mounting on, and for use in combination with, a roller skate or roller skateboard. The mechanism includes a support bracket adapted to be attached to the skating device, to carry rotatably a grindstone wheel between two larger actuating wheels and to hold a spark producing element in resilient contact with the grindstone wheel. Positioned to be inoperative during normal skating, the spark-generating mechanism may be actuated at will by the skater&apos
Banks Derris H.
Cegielnik Urszula M
Strauss, Esq. Richard L.
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