Toy vehicle capable of propelling itself into the air

Details Toy vehicle capable of propelling itself into the air Toy vehicle capable of propelling itself into the air

1998-07-09

2001-05-08

Ricci, John A. (Department: 3712)

Amusement devices: toys

Rolling or tumbling

Wheeled vehicle

C446S437000, C446S456000, C446S462000, C446S465000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06227934

ABSTRACT:

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to toy vehicles and more particularly to vehicles that can move across a surface and be controlled to propel themselves into the air.
Many types of toy vehicles have been provided with rods or feet that extend outwardly from the chassis of the vehicle and press against the ground to push the chassis away from the ground or other supporting surface. The cars described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,618,219 and 4,490,124, for example, each include a pivoting member on the bottom of the chassis. When activated, the member pivots, striking the supporting surface with a force sufficient to lift the vehicle into the air. The impact results in highly variable tumbling.
One problem with such vehicles, however, is that the feet or rods used to provide the impact are prone to breakage. It would also be desirable to provide a more efficient way to propel a vehicle into the air, preferably one that provides more consistent results than provided with conventional designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The applicants have designed a new toy that can be efficiently propelled into the air without the need for extending feet or rods, and provides more consistent air travel.
The design includes a braking mechanism that can be used to transform part of a forward momentum of the vehicle into rotational energy. The braking mechanism provides sufficient force to cause the vehicle to rotate forwardly, initially with the front wheels in contact with the supporting surface. As the vehicle rotates forwardly, the point of contact between the rotating vehicle and the supporting surface progresses forwardly along the circumference of the front wheels. As the vehicle continues to rotate forwardly, the point of contact moves to a leading edge on the chassis of the vehicle, and subsequently to a fixed cam surface formed on the top of the chassis.
The cam surface lies on a curve arranged so that, as contact between the supporting surface and the cam surface moves along the cam surface, rotation of the vehicle causes the center of mass of the vehicle to be lifted away from the supporting surface. This lifting action provides the upward momentum necessary to propel the vehicle into the air.


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“Stunt Boss” vehicle illustrated in Hasboro Group 1995 Toy Fair catalog.
Videotape of “Land Shark” concept displayed in-house at Hasbro, Inc. in the presence of three employees of Target Stores on Jul. 8, 1997. The Target Stores employees were permitted to observe the videotape with an understanding of confidentiality.

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