Amusement devices: toys – Aquatic – Boat
Reexamination Certificate
2003-05-19
2004-05-04
Banks, H. Derris (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Aquatic
Boat
C446S163000, C446S165000, C440S040000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06729931
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention relates to toy watercrafts, such as remote control toy boats and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved turbine mechanism for toy watercrafts. In accordance with the invention, the improved turbine mechanism provides directional control for the toy watercraft that enables the watercraft to be selectively propelled in a forward direction and a backward direction, as well as enables the watercraft to be selectively turned in the left and right directions. The improved turbine mechanism includes an impeller that is housed within a directional control valve that moves in response to the rotational direction of the impeller between a first position that directs the water jet rearwardly and a second position that directs that directs the water jet forwardly. The watercraft is propelled in the forward direction when the directional control valve directs the water jet rearwardly, and is propelled in the backward direction when the directional control valve directs the water jet forwardly. Thus, in accordance with the invention, the forward/reverse direction of the watercraft is controlled by controlling the direction of rotation of the impeller, which, in turn, controls the position of the directional control valve and the resulting water jet direction. In the preferred embodiment, two turbine mechanisms of the present invention are provided on the watercraft in a side-by-side relationship. In this twin-engine embodiment, each of the turbines is individually controlled in a manner that enables the watercraft to be turned in the left and right directions as desired, in addition to operating in the forward and reverse directions. The invention provides a safe and cost effective propulsion system for toy watercrafts and the like.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Toy vehicles have proven to be very popular toys for children of all ages. Many different types of toy vehicles have been provided in the past. For example, toy vehicles have been provided in the form of toy boats, toy cars, toy trucks, toy construction equipment, toy motorcycles and the like. Toy manufacturers are constantly trying to find ways to improve the operation of toy vehicles so that they look and function in a manner that is as real as possible and provide a safe toy for children, while also keeping the cost of the toy as low as possible. Many toy vehicles are made as miniaturized replicas of real full-size vehicles. Many such toys also include battery-driven motors that enable the toy to be self-propelled, thereby providing greater realism and further enjoyment for the user. Toy manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to make such toys safer, less expensive and more reliable, while still providing a fun and exciting toy.
Such toy watercrafts have been provided with remote control systems, such as radio frequency (RF) transmitters and receivers, which enable the user to remotely control the operation of the watercraft during operation. Other self-propelled toy watercrafts have been provided without remote control functionality, wherein the user simply turns on or off the power to the watercraft and the watercraft operates without user control.
Toy watercrafts have been provided with propeller and jet drive systems for propelling the watercraft across water. In propeller drive systems, a propeller is provided that is driven by a drive shaft connected to a motor, such as a miniature electric motor, housed within the watercraft. A rudder and steering control box are typically provided for directional control of propeller-driven toy watercraft. Such propeller-driven toy watercrafts have been provided in the past in a variety of forms and have proven to be a very popular toy for children of all ages. However, such prior propeller-driven toy watercrafts have had some disadvantages. For example, the structure of the drive shaft assembly of prior toy watercrafts have enabled water to enter the hull of the boat, thereby causing a significant amount of water to collect in the hull of the watercraft when floating or operating in water. Prior toy watercrafts have used epoxy glue, resin and/or grease around the propeller shaft in an attempt to reduce or prevent water from entering the hull. However, these prior techniques have not eliminated the problem of water entering the hull around the drive shaft assembly.
Drain holes have typically been provided in prior toy watercrafts to enable the user to periodically drain the collected water from the watercraft housing by removing the watercraft from the water and inverting the watercraft, so that the hull water drains out through the drain holes. The frequency at which the user must drain the boat hull depends on the rate at which the propeller assembly allows water to enter the hull. Many of the prior toy watercrafts have required frequent draining, thereby reducing the enjoyment of the toy. Not only can the water entering the hull cause damage to the internal parts of the toy watercraft, but it also adds substantial additional weight to the watercraft, which adversely effects the operation thereof. The additional weight of even a relatively small amount of water in the hull can prevent the watercraft from performing optimally. Larger amounts of water in the hull can prevent the watercraft from balancing or planing on the surface of the water, thereby dramatically reducing the performance and enjoyment of the toy watercraft.
Another disadvantage of propeller driven toy watercraft is that the propeller drive shaft assembly is typically constructed in a manner that enables the drive shaft to vibrate significantly during operation, thereby decreasing the efficiency and performance of the toy watercraft during operation. A further disadvantage of such prior propeller drive assemblies is that they are relatively noisy during operation, which also results in (or is indicative of) less than optimal performance for the drive assembly. Yet another disadvantage of prior propeller-driven toy watercraft designs is that the manner in which the propeller is attached to the propeller shaft adversely impacts the propeller performance. For example, prior propellers have been attached to the shaft in a manner that creates an unsymmetrical or unbalanced condition which, during high rotational speed, causes turbulence and/or vibration that prevents the propeller from performing optimally. One example of a prior propeller attachment method is to use a fastener, such as a screw, through the side of the propeller and into contact with the shaft. Prior propeller attachment methods have also made it difficult or impossible to replace the propeller in the event that the propeller becomes damaged, such as by an impact with another object. Even slight damage to the propeller can seriously reduce the operational efficiency thereof. Major propeller damage, such as loss of one or more propeller blades, can render the toy inoperative. If the damaged propeller cannot be replaced, the toy can no longer be enjoyed by the user. A further disadvantage of prior toy watercraft designs is that the connection between the shaft and the motor is not done in a way that assures reliable and maximum transfer of power from the motor to the shaft. A still further disadvantage of propeller driven toy watercraft is that the propeller is exposed and can result in injury to the operator or other party if they contact the spinning propeller during operation of the toy.
All of the above-noted disadvantages of prior propeller-driven toy watercraft designs contribute to a less than ideal product from the end-user's perspective. Such toys are typically purchased with the hope and/or expectation that the watercraft will perform optimally and for a long period of time. These expectations are not always met by prior toy watercraft designs as a result of one or more of the above-noted problems and/or other problems with the propeller drive shaft assembly. Moreover, propeller-driven toy watercraft drive assemblies can be relatively complex, expensive, diff
Banks H. Derris
Miller Bena B.
New Bright Industrial Co. Ltd.
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
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