1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a backspin toy, and more particularly, to a backspin toy configured to impart backspin to a flywheel rotatably provided to a vehicle so that once the vehicle is catapulted forward from a stand and reaches the limit of its forward motion, the backspin imparted to the flywheel causes the vehicle to run backward and return to the stand.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, toys are known that catapult a vehicle from a ramp, or transmit torque from a flywheel to a drive wheel or wheels of the toy vehicle, or use the flywheel itself as the drive wheel.
For example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. S52-009586-U discloses a toy that applies torque to the flywheel of a wheeled vehicle placed on a starting stand, which then applies that torque to the wheels. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. S62-298389-A discloses a catapult device that applies torque to a flywheel-type drive mechanism coupled to the wheels of a toy car and catapults the car from a ramp. Further, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. H08-005758-U discloses rotating a flywheel of a wheeled toy placed on a catapult device and catapulting the toy.
However, although S52-009586-U provides a flywheel that applies inertial torque to the wheels of a wheeled vehicle that slides down a sloped runway for the purpose of making the wheeled vehicle run farther, the wheeled vehicle does not exhibit backspin.
Although S62-298389-A discloses storing torque in the flywheel-type drive mechanism coupled to the wheels of the toy car and then operating a catapult mechanism to launch the toy car with drive from the drive wheels generated by torque applied from the drive mechanism so that the speed of the toy car does not diminish rapidly, the toy car does not exhibit backspin.
Moreover, although H08-005758-U discloses a configuration in which the flywheel itself is the drive wheel, thus achieving high initial speed and stable take-off, the flywheel itself does not exhibit backspin.
All the approaches described above use the drive force of a flywheel to catapult a vehicle forward at high speed and make the vehicle go farther. None of these approaches, however, employs backspin.
The present invention provides a novel backspin toy comprising a vehicle having a front bumper, a platform having space for accommodating the vehicle therein, a flywheel disposed within the vehicle and rotatably supported within the vehicle, and a backspin unit. The backspin unit imparts backspin to the flywheel, disposed on the platform and engaging the flywheel, and is configured to spin the flywheel rotatably supported within the vehicle to catapult the vehicle at high speed in a forward direction from the platform. At a limit of forward motion, the vehicle subsequently runs backward toward the platform due to the backspin of the flywheel imparted to the flywheel by the backspin unit.
The backspin unit may comprise a rack and pinion assembly, a shaft and the pinion fixedly mounted on the flywheel, with the rack contacting the pinion. By pulling on the rack, the pinion spins the flywheel rotatably supported within the vehicle to catapult the vehicle at high speed from the platform.
Additionally, the rack is switchable between a first position that spins the flywheel in the forward direction and a second position that spins the flywheel in a reverse direction.
The backspin toy of the present invention may further comprise a spring, a lever, and a push member. The lever and the push member operate against a biasing force exerted by the spring to catapult the vehicle from the space in the platform at high speed.
In a preferred embodiment, the backspin toy of the present invention further comprises a first magnet contained in the front bumper of the vehicle and a target member containing a second magnet. The first magnet contained in the front bumper of the vehicle attracts the second magnet contained in the target member upon approach of the vehicle to the target.
The backspin toy of the present invention is configured as described above to impart backspin to a flywheel rotatably provided to a vehicle so that the vehicle, once it is catapulted forward at high speed from a stand and reaches the limit of its forward motion, the flywheel rotates in reverse, causing the vehicle to run backward and return to the stand, thus providing not only the thrill of speed of the vehicle running forward but also the unexpected pleasure of seeing the vehicle run in reverse. In addition, after hitting the target the vehicle runs backward with the target in magnetic tow to the stand, where the vehicle is stopped, to provide users with an extremely rich range of play possibilities.
A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be more readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
A description is now given of preferred embodiments of the present invention. In describing preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner and achieve a similar result.
As can be seen from
The flywheel 3 is rotatably held by seat bearings 34 via bearings 33, 33. The auxiliary wheel 35 is also held between right and left body halves 23 and 24, and functions to stabilize the vehicle 2 during its run.
Although the unit that imparts spin to the flywheel is described above as a rack and pinion assembly, the unit that imparts spin to the flywheel is not limited to a rack and pinion configuration. Alternatively, the unit that imparts spin to the flywheel may be configured as a rotary handle that drives a gear train, a motorized drive unit, or some other suitable means.
As described above, the backspin toy of the present invention imparts backspin to a flywheel rotatably provided to a vehicle so that, once the vehicle is catapulted forward at high speed from a stand and reaches the limit of its forward motion, the flywheel rotates in reverse, causing the vehicle to run backward and return to the stand to provide play full of possibilities.
As described above, the backspin toy of the present invention not only runs forward in a single direction to a lesser or greater distance at a lesser or greater speed as with the conventional toy but after a certain distance also runs backward to the stand from which it is catapulted, providing a variety of play possibilities that utilize this operation and providing entertainment to a wide range of users over a wide range of applications.
Numerous additional modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2011-105686 | Apr 2011 | JP | national |
This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-105686, filed on Apr. 18, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.