Amusement devices: toys – Rolling or tumbling – Including intrinsic motive power means for propulsion
Patent
1983-09-06
1986-06-17
Yu, Mickey
Amusement devices: toys
Rolling or tumbling
Including intrinsic motive power means for propulsion
A63H 2924
Patent
active
045953813
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention concerns a toy vehicle comprising an electric motor, movable wheels and a means for driving said movable wheels.
In the field of toy cars, essentially three principal categories of vehicles are known: vehicles without drive mechanism, vehicles driven by an electric motor and vehicles driven by inertia. Said vehicles result from different concepts, often corresponding to differing price ranges and sometimes intended for children of differing ages.
The present invention provides a toy vehicle which integrates two of the above described concepts by combining, in the same vehicle, electric drive and inertial drive.
To this end, the toy vehicle, comprising an electric motor, movable wheels and a mechanism for driving the movable wheels according to the invention, is characterized by the fact that it comprises both an inertial mass coupled with an electric motor, and that the drive mechanism for the movable wheels comprises means for disconnecting the movable wheels from their drive mechanism.
According to the first embodiment, the movable wheels are mounted on the extremities of a rigid axle, and the means for disconnecting said movable wheels from their drive mechanism consists of guide means which allow the rigid axle to occupy a first position in which the movable wheels are coupled with the drive mechanism, and a second position in which the movable wheels are disconnected from their drive mechanism.
By these means, it is possible to launch the inertial mass by means of the electric motor, the movable wheels being disconnected from their drive means, and then to launch the vehicle by means of the kinetic energy accumulated by the inertial mass by connecting the movable wheels to their drive mechanism.
The guide means comprise at least one oblong slot, the width of which corresponds generally to the diameter of the rigid axle, and the extremities of the slot comprise stop lugs which define the said first and second positions of said axle.
According to one embodiment, said vehicle comprises spring means which urge the rigid axle into its first position, i.e., that in which the movable wheels are connected to their drive mechanism.
It further comprises electrical contact means arranged to close the supply circuit to the electric motor when the rigid axle is in its second position.
In this manner, when the operator acts on the vehicle so as to place the rigid axle in its second position, the supply circuit to the electric motor closes, launches the inertial mass which accumulates a certain kinetic energy, until the vehicle is released and the springs urge the rigid axle to its first position, thereby connecting the movable wheels with the drive mechanism, which has accumulated sufficient kinetic energy to propel the vehicle.
The electric motor, the drive mechanism and the movable wheels carried by the rigid axle preferably are mounted in a supporting case which is integral with the body of the vehicle, and comprises a pair of parallel plates provided with two oblong slots traversed by the said rigid axle. The spring means, which urge the axle into its first position, comprises a movable piece joined to the case and urged by a spring, in such a way that the movable piece pushes the axle into its first position.
Furthermore, the vehicle according to the invention advantageously comprises blocking means disposed to maintain the said rigid axle in its first position. In this manner, the child may use the vehicle as if it were a conventional inertia driven vehicle, specifically, when the batteries for the electric launching motor are not in place.
In this first embodiment, the inertial mass is mounted on the motor shaft. During the launching phase, the motor drives the inertial mass. During the phase of restoration of the energy stored by the inertial mass, the mass, joined to the axle of the movable wheels, drives the wheels as well as the electric motor to which the electric supply has been interrupted. A portion of the stored kinetic energy is thereby wasted in turning the unused motor.
The
REFERENCES:
patent: 3634969 (1972-01-01), Harlting et al.
patent: 3735525 (1973-05-01), Freed
patent: 4059918 (1977-11-01), Matsushiro
patent: 4422263 (1983-12-01), Masubuchi
Dibold Camille
Rubach Frederic
Joustra S.A.
Yu Mickey
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