Patent Application
20120184178
The present invention relates to toy vehicles and more particularly pertains to a new toy vehicle assembly that couples a common spring powered musical movement with a novel pull back gear system to wind the musical movement spring and propel said vehicle while playing a tune.
The use of toy vehicle assemblies that include mechanical musical movements or pull back motors is described in the prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,159 Bass et al. Aug. 25, 1981 describes a toy musical train which incorporates an automatic reversing mechanism and a musical movement coupled to a motor.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,908,997 Elliot Handler, Oct. 20, 1959 describes a toy musical vehicle wherein the musical movement is actuated by a rotating member such as a wheel or axle. The method therein describes the actuation of the musical movement with a belt and friction wheel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,451 Holtier, Apr., 30, 1991 describes a toy vehicle structure that incorporates a music movement assembly with selectable operating options, however it does not provide a pull back spring drive mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,749,046 Jul. 6, 2010 describes a toy vehicle pull back energy storage gear mechanism providing different speeds.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,534 Dec. 30, 1980 describes a toy vehicle having a spring drive mechanism coupled through first and second unidirectional slip clutch members to the drive wheels thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,986 Aug. 4, 1987 describes a spring drive mechanism for propelling toy vehicles that utilizes an engaging lever.
Numerous spring drive toy vehicle patents exist that fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements. However they do not combine a musical movement that contains a spring with a pull back gear system that winds the spring through a first gear ratio while pushing the vehicle in the reverse direction, and for propelling the vehicle through a second gear ratio on release of the vehicle.
The existing art is also complicated to assemble because of the use of multiple axles that require support frames at both ends. Furthermore they utilize levers or the displacement of axle positions to engage and disengage various gears leading to excessive gear wear. Other toy vehicles that included a musical movement but were not connected to the wheels included a key to wind the spring.
The need remains for a pull back spring powered toy vehicle that addresses the limitations of the prior art. The present invention further produces a musical tune without the use of batteries and electronics by the use of simple mechanical means. Further there remains a need for a design that couples a widely available reliable musical movement mechanism with a pull back gear system that is simple to manufacture with a reduced part count that captivates the attention of a young child while providing educational benefits of music and mechanics.
The present invention meets the needs presented above by meshing an existing mass produced mechanical music movement to a unique pull back gear assembly in a toy vehicle.
Further the pull back gear assembly is coupled to at least one wheel so when the musical movement is playing a musical tune the toy vehicle will move forward.
Further the pull back motor gear assembly will wind a spring in the musical movement when the toy vehicle is pulled backwards.
Further the gear assembly that winds the spring through a first gear ratio while pushing the vehicle in the reverse direction, propels the vehicle through a second gear ratio on release of the vehicle.
Further the use of transparent plastic in the body of the toy vehicle makes the musical movement visible at all times providing the young child user an opportunity to observe and learn simple mechanical principles of motion and simple gears and an understanding of an old method of storing and playing musical tunes.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new toy vehicle assembly presenting a novel eye-catching conversation piece. This is further enhanced by including a detailed figure in each vehicle that is specific to the included tune. Further the top surface of each toy vehicle is substantially flat horizontally from left to right to provide a surface for printed graphics, preferably lenticular images to be glued to.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new musical toy vehicle that does not require batteries or electronics.
To this end, the present invention generally comprises a spring powered musical movement coupled to a unique pull back gear assembly that is coupled to at least one wheel and enclosed in a unique toy vehicle body assembly.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims.
The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
Spur gear 50 and bevel gear 60 are molded as a single part and mesh with spur gear 40. This part is mounted in a rotational position co-axially on shaft 230 which is molded perpendicular with the car bottom surface indent 215 of car bottom 200. The surface 215 is recessed approximately 1.5 mm. Additionally there is a raised surface 235 of approximately 0.25 mm around the base of shaft 230 upon which the bottom surface of spur gear 50 slides thus separating the majority of the surface area of the bottom of spur gear 50 from the surface below it. No retainer fastener is required to retain this gear part in place.
Spur gear 70 and bevel gear 80 are molded as a single part. It is mounted in a rotational position co-axially on shaft 220 which is molded perpendicular with the car bottom recessed surface 215. Additionally there is a raised surface of approximately 0.25 mm around the base of shaft 220 upon which the bottom surface of spur gear 70 slides thus separating the majority of the surface area of the bottom of spur gear 70 from the surface below it. No retainer fastener is required to retain this gear part in place. The centers of shaft 220 and shaft 230 are placed vertically below the center line of rear wheel axle 140. Spur gear 70 meshes with spur gear 50. In the present embodiment of this toy vehicle spur gear 40 has 30 teeth, spur gear 50 has 25 teeth and spur gear 70 has 11 teeth.
Rear wheel axle 140 is supported in a semicircular arc channel on lands 210 that are molded extensions of car base 200, the outer surfaces of which are coincident with the outer side surfaces of toy vehicle shell 300 in
For descriptive purposes arrows are indicated on the gears in
To wind up the spring in music movement 10 the car is pulled in reverse. When pulled backwards the axle is rotated by the wheels. Ratchet gear 100 engages the teeth in gear assembly 120. Ratchet gear 100 thus drives bevel gear 60 via bevel gear 130. Since the ratio of these bevel gears of the present invention is 1 to 1, one rotation of the wheels rotates the bevel gear 60 and spur gear 50 once. This in turn rotates spur gear 40 and winds the music movement 10 spring approximately 0.8 times. Since all the gears are always meshed, the rotation of gear 50 while winding the spring, also rotates gear component 70 and 80 which turns approximately 2.27 times faster. This in turn rotates gear assembly 170. Using the gear numbers described in this detailed description it can be calculated that the bevel gear assembly 170 will rotate approximately 5.2 times faster than gear assembly 120 and axle 140 and in the same direction. Since gear assembly 170 is thus rotating considerably faster than the rotational speed of the axle 140, it will slip on the ratchet gear 180.
When the toy vehicle is pulled forward then both ratchet gears will slip preventing damage to the gears and music movement.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. It is also relatively apparent that variations in gear ratio and the attachment of mechanical links to one or more of the rotating parts herein to animate the vehicle toy figure is possible.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
