Amusement devices: toys – Figure toy or accessory therefor – Having mechanism or manipulatable means to move figure or...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-28
2003-11-18
Banks, Derris H. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Figure toy or accessory therefor
Having mechanism or manipulatable means to move figure or...
C446S352000, C446S353000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06648720
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Spring powered toy cars utilizing wheels as a means of locomotion are well known. Also, it is well known to utilize mechanical legs to move toys along a surface. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,708 (the “'708 patent) discloses a robot toy which simulates the movement of a spider. The robot toy includes four pairs of operative cooperating legs located on either side of the main frame of the robot. The articulated robot legs disclosed in the '708 patent are configured so that alternate legs on each side of the toy—mirrored legs—are aligned in a down position so as to provide balance—and so reduce wobbling of the robot—when the toy is moving. While the '708 patent discloses a toy with mechanical legs on either side of a main frame, there is no means of locomotion provided and/or situated between the right and left robot legs. Also, the inherent “balancing” the device provided by the afore-mentioned alternate mirrored configuration of legs generally maintains the robot in an upright (balanced) position as the toy moves forward. Such a balancing effect prevents a change in attitude—from upright to canted to the left or right—which might otherwise allow the device to engage dips and depressions while traversing uneven terrain. Therefore, if the '708 robot should lose contact with trackable ground on either the right or left side of the device due to, for example, uneven terrain, locomotion is compromised. Furthermore, the outboard position of the legs extending from the '708 robot, are unable to engage terrain directly under the toy. Therefore, if the device attempts to traverse terrain demonstrating a peak or ridge oriented in line with the long axis of the toy—and direction of travel—, the outboard legs may become hopelessly suspended, “beached” upon the ridge directly under the frame of the toy and unable to make further progress. Also, although the articulated robot legs of the '708 device may provide suitable propulsion on various surfaces demonstrating adequate friction and/or demonstrating a texture allowing engagement of the robot legs, the small “footprint” provided by the disclosed legs may compromise movement on hard, smooth surfaces.
Conventional spring or electric motor driven toys utilizing outboard wheels in a similar manner as full size automobiles provide excellent movement and speed on hard, smooth surfaces. The term “outboard” as used throughout this specification and claims in regard to wheels, legs or other device parts refers to the lateral position of said parts in relation to the main frame of any such device. Therefore, outboard device legs and/or wheels would be generally located outside of the confines of extension of the frame or proximal to the lateral (right or left sides) of such devices. The term “inboard” as used throughout this specification and claims in regard to wheels, legs or other device parts, refers to the relative position of said parts as being within the confines and lateral extension of such device main frames. The “inboard” location of such propulsion means would include locating such means at or about the longitudinal axis (midline) of such devices as well as locations between said midline and the lateral extent of the device frame.
Wheeled toy vehicles may also be provided with textured—knobby—tires in order to increase traction when utilized on irregular surfaces. However, wheeled vehicle may not exhibit sufficient traction to negotiate highly irregular surfaces which may be negotiated by devices such as the '708 robot. Also, such wheeled toys, unless provided with sufficient ground clearance, may be likewise “beached” by an elevated ridge or other obstruction located directly under the toy and medial to such wheels.
It would be highly advantageous to provide a self-propelled toy which provided the advantages of both wheels and leg like locomotion means so as to maximize said toys ability to negotiate a wide variety of terrain. It would be further advantageous if said toy could exhibit both outboard and inboard means of locomotion in order to increase the likelihood of contact and traction of either means of locomotion with irregular and uneven terrain. It would be still further advantageous if said self-propelled toy were provided with a means to vary the attitude thereof, thereby alternating maximum contact of legs and or wheels located on opposite sides of said vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Now in accordance with the present invention a self-propelled toy is disclosed wherein locomotion is provided by both outboard legs as well as at least one inboard wheel. The self-propelled toy of the present invention is comprised of a frame having a front terminus, a back terminus, a right side, a left side, a top and a bottom. Paired, mirror image axil receiving holes aligned in both fore/aft as well as inferior/superior position are provided within and through the right and left sides of the frame. A plurality of leg members, rotatably mounted within said paired, mirror image receiving holes, extend laterally beyond the left and right sides of the frame, in an outboard configuration. Each such leg member includes a central axil segment, extending through and beyond the pair of mirror image receiving holes. Lateral to said axil segment, the leg member includes a bend of from about 80 to about 100 degrees, in regard to the longitudinal axis of the axil segment, so as to form two leg segments on either side of said axil segment. The leg segments are advantageously selected to be of a sufficient length so as to extend beyond the bottom of the frame during the below-described rotation of the leg member. The axil segment, medial to said bend is substantially straight as is the leg segment, distal to said bend. However, in certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, the leg member may additionally include, distal to the leg segment, a foot segment, just distal to a further 80 to 100 degree bend. The foot segment serves, as discussed in further detail below, to increase the surface area of contact—or “foot print”—of the leg member as said member, periodically, comes in to contact with terrain below the toy to provide traction and locomotion. The paired axil receiving holes through which the leg members are mounted, may be advantageously positioned and oriented in close approximation to the bottom of the frame so as to facilitate periodic contact of the leg or foot segments with terrain under the toy, as well as to provide superior ground clearance. A leg drive gear is mounted, medial to the right and left side of the frame, upon the axil segment. The drive gear is configured and adapted—is of a size and includes a tooth arrangement—so as to enable the leg drive gear to mesh and engage the below-described transfer gears so as to transfer torque and rotation to and between leg members for propulsion of the device.
At least one inboard main drive wheel is rotatably mounted within the confines of the left and right side of the frame, said wheel extending beyond the bottom portion of said frame. The main drive wheel, as discussed below, provides an additional means of propulsion (inboard wheel propulsion) through contact, rotation and traction against terrain under the toy. The main drive wheel is configured so as to include circumferentially located gear teeth so as to provide a means of transferring torsional force and rotation from a motor to the leg members (outboard foot propulsion) either by directly engaging a proximal leg drive gear or indirectly, via a transfer gear/unit, speed control gear or combinations thereof as discussed in greater detail, below. The gear teeth of the main drive wheel (or as it is also described herein “the main drive gear”) also act as a means of increasing traction of the wheel against terrain. A motor unit, utilizing a drive means, such as, for example, a coil spring motor, battery powered electric motor or solar powered electric motor, provides torsional power to the toy. For example, a spring drive unit and main drive wheel may be advant
Banks Derris H.
Miller Bena B.
Strauss, Esq. Richard L.
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