Bearings – Rotary bearing – Antifriction bearing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-12
2001-01-16
Marmor, Charles A (Department: 3681)
Bearings
Rotary bearing
Antifriction bearing
C384S544000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174090
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to radio controlled, toy vehicles having front and rear wheels whose movements are controlled by radio frequency signals generated by a wireless transmitter remote from the vehicle and, more particularly, to a wheel bearing system for reducing friction on the axles on which the wheels are mounted, especially during high speed motion of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Radio controlled, toy vehicles have on-board antennas for receiving radio frequency control signals generated by antennas on hand-held, wireless transmitters. The control signals include drive signals for moving the vehicle forward or backward, and steering signals for moving the vehicle toward the right or left during either forward or backward movement. The control signals are processed by on-board control circuitry to activate on-board DC motors. Transmissions and gear boxes are employed for transmitting the mechanical energy produced by the motors to the wheels. High gear ratios for the gear boxes enable the vehicles to move at relatively high speeds, thereby increasing the entertainment value of such vehicles.
High speed operation of such vehicles, however, causes the rear axles on which the rear wheels are mounted, and the front axles on which the front wheels are mounted, to vibrate and shake, thereby causing the vehicles to not run smoothly even over smooth surfaces. U.S. Pat. No. 3,473,259 is an example of a toy vehicle wheel and journal bearing construction.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to enable radio controlled, toy vehicles to be driven smoothly at high speeds.
More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to reduce friction on the rear and front axles of such toy vehicles.
It is another object of this invention to resist vibrations and shaking of the rear and front axles during high speed movement of such vehicles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In keeping with the above objects and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a wheel bearing system for a high speed, radio controlled toy vehicle having front and rear wheels whose movements are controlled by radio frequency signals generated by a wireless transmitter remote from the vehicle.
The system comprises an on-board, rear casing having a pair of tubular extensions extending in opposite directions along a rear axis, and a pair of abutment walls. Each abutment wall is located within a respective extension and extends along a transverse axis generally perpendicular to the rear axis.
The system also includes a pair of apertured, annular, first track elements. Each first track element is mounted within a respective extension and abuts against a respective abutment wall. A pair of drive axles is mounted on the rear casing and extends in opposite directions along the rear axis for driving the rear wheels. Each drive axle extends with clearance through a respective first track element and has an outer shaft portion that extends beyond a respective extension. A pair of rear rims supports the rear wheels. Each rear rim is mounted on a respective outer shaft portion.
The system further includes a pair of annular, second track elements. Each second track element is mounted within a respective extension and is in force-transmitting engagement with a respective rear axle. Each second track element within a respective extension bounds an annular track with a respective first track element within the respective extension.
In accordance with this invention, a plurality of freely revolving, rigid balls is mounted within a respective track and rollably bears against the respective first and second track elements that bound the respective track, for reducing friction on the rear axles during high speed motion of the toy vehicle.
In the preferred embodiment, each outer shaft portion has an end bore. A pin extends through a respective rear rim and into the bore of a respective outer shaft portion.
Also, in the preferred embodiment, each first track element has a transverse base portion that engages the respective abutment wall, and a skirt portion that extends along the rear axis within the respective extension. Each second track element has an axial part that engages the respective rear axle, and a transverse part that extends along the transverse axis away from the respective axial part. The balls simultaneously engage the transverse base portion, the skirt portion, the axial part and the transverse part of the track elements. Each drive axle has a polygonal section within the respective extension. Each second track element has a polygonal aperture of complementary contour to the polygonal section of the respective rear axle.
As for the front wheels, the system further comprises a pair of front rims for supporting the front wheels. Each front rim has a tubular hub. A pair of front axles is mounted on the vehicle. Each front axle extends through a respective hub along a front axis.
In the preferred embodiment, each hub includes a blind bore having an apertured side wall which extends transversely of the front axis, and an apertured disc which is spaced axially from the bottom wall to bound a compartment within the hub. A pair of apertured, annular, first track members is mounted within each compartment. One of the first track members abuts against the side wall. The other of the first track members abuts against the disc. Each front axle extends with clearance through the disc, the track members and the side wall of each hub.
The preferred embodiment further comprises an apertured, annular, second track member which is mounted in each hub between the pair of first track members. The second track member has a first set of wall sections which bounds a first annular channel with said one of the first track members, and a second set of wall sections which bounds a second annular channel with said other of the first track members. Each front axle extends with clearance through the second track member.
In accordance with another feature of this invention, two groups of freely revolving, rigid balls are provided. Each group is mounted within a respective channel and rollably bears against the respective first and second track members that bound the respective channel, for reducing friction on the front axles during high speed motion of the toy vehicle.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 24686 (1959-08-01), Williams
patent: 592935 (1897-11-01), Misner et al.
patent: 596984 (1898-01-01), Danielson
patent: 918600 (1909-04-01), Schacht
patent: 1035421 (1912-08-01), Coppins
patent: 2635018 (1953-04-01), Palumbo
patent: 2866672 (1958-12-01), Black
patent: 3619017 (1971-11-01), Robinson et al.
patent: 3937535 (1976-02-01), Ladin
patent: 4765688 (1988-08-01), Hofmann et al.
patent: 4964742 (1990-10-01), Kagawa et al.
patent: 5590967 (1997-01-01), Kapaan
Echo Toys Ltd.
Ho Ha
Kirschstein et al.
Marmor Charles A
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