Land vehicles: wheels and axles – Wheel
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-31
2001-07-24
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Land vehicles: wheels and axles
Wheel
C301S118000, C446S433000, C446S465000, C305S019000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264283
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to wheels for toy vehicles and more particularly, to wheels for toy vehicles that are capable of being adjusted to various positions quickly and effectively.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Toy track wheels are typically round or circular in shape and will provide the conventional driving mode for a toy car whether the toy car is power driven or is manually moved. Where in the case of the conventional toy vehicle the car will move in a straight line and generally can not overcome many obstacles that it may encounter. It can be appreciated that if the wheels had various configurations, such as, elliptic or oval, the vehicle could act very much like a Caterpillar™ track, where it could climb over the obstacle or in the event of running into an encumbrance, such as a wall, it would tend to move up the encumbrance and possibly fall over backwards. Having different wheel configurations, the movement of the vehicle will become erratic, thus in all likelihood will add pleasure to the vehicle when played with.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a novel wheel which can be readily moved and retained in either the conventional circular configuration or can be moved quickly and efficiently into an oval shape. Essentially, the wheel is spring biased and consists of four rim sections, which tend to retain the wheel in a circular configuration. When it is desired to move the wheel to an oval arrangement oppositely extending rigid rims are moved toward each other. At the same time two flexible rims disposed between the adjacent rigid rims are moved outwardly, thus expanding the tire into an oval configuration. To retain it in the oval configuration the rigid rims are secured in position by a locking means. A simple release mechanism is provided to disengage or release the rigid rims from the locking means. Due to normal resiliency of the tire the rigid rims move outwardly and the flexible rims inwardly, thus returning the wheel to its circular configuration.
In a second embodiment, a wheel assembly is provided with a similar construction. However, the rims include gears racks that engage a pinion gear mechanism. The gear mechanism moves the flexible rims outwardly, at the same time it moves the rigid rims inwardly, positioning the wheel in the oval configuration. The gear arrangement also includes a keying system that inter-engages a plate, such that when engaged the gears are locked in the given position. In order to return the wheel to its circular configuration, a transformation knob is moved inwardly which disengages the key and permits the resiliency of the tire to move the flexible and rigid rims back to their circular orientation.
In yet another embodiment, a mechanism for engaging the rims consists of a cam arrangement. The arrangement includes a center cam that engages cam section on the rims. When the center cam is turned, the rims move a sufficient amount to form the oval configuration. Similarly, when the cam is turned again the tire functions to move the flexible rims inwardly which will, due to a camming function, move the rigid rims outwardly and return the wheel to the circular position.
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patent: 5487692 (1996-01-01), Mowrer et al.
patent: 5492390 (1996-02-01), Kugelmann, Sr.
patent: 5839795 (1998-11-01), Matsuda et al.
Hannon Todd
Rehkemper Jeffrey
Rehkemper Steven
Bellinger Jason R.
Morano S. Joseph
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