Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6394877
-
Patent Number
6,394,877
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, October 11, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 28, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Banks; Derris H.
- Williams; Jamila
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 446 428
- 446 424
- 446 432
- 446 435
- 446 436
- 446 437
- 446 466
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A model truck having a mechanism driven by a reversible electric motor for selectively raising and lowering the front of the truck and the bed of the truck.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to model vehicles and more particularly to a model truck having a mechanism for selectively raising and lowering the front end of the vehicle in respect of the front wheels;; and the bed body may be selectively raised and lowered in respect of the rear wheels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The prior art is replete with-model cars and other similar vehicle replicas having wheels which may be driven, typically by a D.C. electric motor, to propel the vehicle forward or backward. Such motion of a vehicle imparts great interest in the attending youth.
An object of the invention is to produce a model truck which can be selectively caused to raise or lower the front end of the chassis; or the bed body.
Another object of the invention is to produce a model truck wherein the front end of the chassis of the model truck may be selectively raised or lowered in respect of the ground engaging front wheels, or the bed body of the model truck may be selectively raised or lowered in respect to the chassis, by the actuation of a reversible direct current electric motor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above, as well and other objects of the invention, may be readily achieved by a model truck assembly including:
a chassis;
a bed body having at least one elongate camming surface;
a first set of ground engaging means;
a second set of ground engaging means;
at least one bed lifting arm having outer and inner ends, the outer end of the bed lifting arm adapted to contact the camming surface of the bed body;
a first pivotal mounting intermediate the outer and inner ends of the bed lifting arm for pivotally mounting the bed lifting arm to the chassis;
a reversible drive motor;
a cam member engaging the bed lifting arm between the inner end thereof and the first pivotal mounting means; and
a gear train for coupling the drive motor to the cam member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above, as well. as other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a side elevational view with portions cut away and in section to more clearly illustrate the structure of a model truck incorporating the features of the invention, and a phantom line illustrates the cab portion in the elevated position and the bed portion in the down or rest position;
FIG. 2
is an enlarged side elevational view, partially in section, of the opposite side of the model truck illustrated in
FIG. 1
; and
FIG. 3
is a top plan view of the model truck illustrated in
FIG. 2
, with the cab portion removed to more clearly show the internal components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention in the form of a model truck capable of selectively raising or lowering the cab body of the truck in respect of the associated front wheel assembly, or selectively raising or lowering the bed body of the truck in respect of the chassis.
More specifically, there is shown in
FIGS. 1
,
2
, and
3
a model truck, generally indicated by reference numeral
10
, including a cab body
12
; a bed body
14
; a chassis
16
; ground engaging front wheels
18
,
18
′; ground engaging rear wheels
20
,
20
′; and a power source
22
, containing suitable batteries and having a rocker switch
24
, coupled to a reversible electric motor
25
through a flexible electric cord
26
.
The cab body
12
, and bed body
14
, typically replicate the sheet metal, glass, and bumpers of a conventional commercial vehicle. The chassis
16
is formed to replicate the vehicle frame, suspension components, and certain other components of the running gear. The cab body
12
is adapted to be coupled to the chassis
16
by fastening means such as threaded fasteners, for example. The cab body
12
, bed body
14
, and the chassis
16
may typically be formed of a plastic material which may be formed to genuinely represent the commercial vehicle. The plastic components may be glued together and/or assembled by suitable threaded fasteners.
The suspension of the truck
10
includes ground engaging front wheels
18
,
18
′, and a front axle arm assembly
28
. The front axle arm assembly
28
, as clearly illustrated in
FIG. 3
, includes a pair of spaced apart generally parallel axle arms
30
,
32
, integrally joined together by a cross arm
34
. Pivot pins
36
,
38
are disposed intermediate the ends of the axle arms
30
,
32
, respectively. The forward outwardly extending terminal portions of the front axle arms
30
,
32
are adapted to rotatingly receive the ground engaging front wheels
18
,
18
′, respectively. The suspension of the truck
10
further includes ground engaging rear wheels
20
,
20
′ adapted to be pivotally coupled to the chassis
16
.
The reversible electric motor
25
is suitably mounted within an appropriately formed two-piece enclosure
40
suitably secured to the chassis
16
. The motor
25
is provided with an output shaft having an output gear secured thereto. The output gear serves as the power input gear of a gear train
41
capable of selectively delivering power to oppositely disposed cam wheels
42
,
44
. The specific assembly of the electric motor
25
and gear train
41
is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,575 to Rehkemper et al.
It will be understood that once the motor
25
and all the associated gears of the gear train
25
are disposed in operative position on the base of the enclosure
40
, the upper portion of the enclosure
40
is placed over the base and threaded fasteners are typically employed to maintain upper portion in place and simultaneously hold the gear shafts and pivot pins in operative position.
The bed body
14
includes a front wall
46
, a rear wall
48
, and two opposing side walls
50
,
52
. Inwardly opening, longitudinally extending, spaced apart, generally parallel members
54
,
56
are suitably secured to the respective inner surfaces of the side walls
50
,
52
adjacent the upper marginal edges of the side walls
50
,
52
. Although two longitudinally extending, spaced apart, generally parallel members
54
,
56
are illustrated, it is understood that other configurations may be used, such as, for example, a single elongate camming surface, inwardly opening, longitudinally extending, and suitably secured to the respective inner surfaces of the side walls
50
,
52
adjacent the upper marginal edges of the side walls
50
,
52
.
As illustrated in
FIGS. 1
,
2
, and
3
, the suspension of the bed body
14
is comprised of a bed lifting arm assembly
58
and a bed leveling arm
60
. The bed lifting arm assembly
58
includes a pair of spaced apart generally parallel bed lifting arms
62
,
64
integrally joined together by an inner cross arm
66
, and an outer cross arm
68
. In the illustrated embodiment, there are two bed lifting arms. However, it is understood that other configurations could be employed, such as, for example, one bed lifting arm. Pivot pins
70
,
72
are disposed intermediate the ends of the bed lifting arms
62
,
64
, respectively, and are operative to pivotally connect the arms
62
,
64
to the respective sides of the chassis
16
. Additionally, camming pins
74
,
76
are disposed at the distal ends of the bed lifting arms
62
,
64
respectively and are adapted to be slidingly received within the respective slots
78
,
80
of the bed body
14
. Other camming means and configurations may be used. In the embodiment shown, camming pins
74
,
76
are illustrated, but it is understood that other camming means, such as, for example, an elongate arm portion or a wheel rotatably coupled at the distal ends of the bed lifting arms could be utilized.
The bed leveling arm
60
is adapted to include a longitudinally extending slot
82
formed therein, and further adapted to slidingly receive the outer cross arm
68
of the bed lifting arm assembly
58
. One end of the bed leveling arm
60
is adapted to be pivotally connected to the chassis
16
by a pivot pin
84
. The pivot pin
84
is maintained in the chassis
16
by a bracket
86
secured to the chassis
16
by threaded fasteners
88
. The other end of the bed lifting arm assembly
58
is adapted to be pivotally connected to the front wall
46
of the bed body
14
by a pivot pin
90
, for example.
The flexible power cord
26
is caused to extend from the chassis
16
of the truck
10
and is maintained centrally of one side of the chassis
16
by a bracket
92
secured to the chassis
16
by threaded fasteners
94
.
The cam wheel
42
for effecting movement of the bed lifting arm assembly
58
, and the cam wheel
44
for effecting movement of the front axle arm assembly
28
, will be explained in detail hereafter.
The cam wheel
42
is provided with an outwardly projecting cam
42
′, while the cam wheel
44
is provided with an outwardly projecting cam
44
′. The cams
42
′,
44
′ are effective to cause movement of the bed lifting arm
62
and the front axle arm
32
, respectively.
Motion is transmitted, as described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,575 to Rehkemper et al., through the gear train
41
from the motor
25
, causing the cam wheel
42
to be driven in an anti-clockwise direction. As the cam wheel
42
is caused to rotate, the cam pin
42
′ urges the bed lifting arm
62
to pivot about the pivot pin
70
, as clearly illustrated in
FIG. 1
, causing the camming pins
74
,
76
of the bed lifting arms
62
,
64
to slide within the slots
78
,
80
of the bed body
14
, respectively, causing the bed body
14
to be moved upwardly. Further, the outer cross arm
68
of the bed lifting arm assembly
58
is caused to slide within the slot
82
of the bed leveling mechanism
60
, causing the front wall
46
of the bed body
14
to be moved upwardly simultaneously with the rear wall
48
of the bed body
14
.
When the drive motor
25
is caused to rotate in an opposite or clockwise direction by proper manipulation of the rocker switch
24
, the cam wheel
44
is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction. Such rotation of the cam wheel
44
and the associated cam
44
′ urges the front axle arm
32
to pivot about a pivot pin
38
, causing the front portion of the chassis
16
to be urged upwardly.
In each instance, it will be understood that as soon as the cam members
42
′,
44
′ are driven to their respective apogees, the cam members
42
′,
44
′ commence to travel downwardly allowing the weight of the cab body
12
of the truck
10
to return the truck
10
to apposition of rest at the ground level, and the weight of the bed body
14
to return the bed body
14
to a position of rest on the chassis
16
.
In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be understood that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.
Claims
- 1. A model truck assembly including:a chassis; a bed body having at least one elongate camming surface; a first set of ground engaging means; a second set of ground engaging means; at least one bed lifting arm having outer and inner ends, the outer end of said bed lifting arm adapted to contact the camming surface of said bed body; a first pivotal mounting intermediate the outer and inner ends of said bed lifting arm for pivotally mounting said bed lifting arm to said chassis; a reversible drive motor; a cam member engaging said bed lifting arm between the inner end thereof and said first pivotal mounting means; and a gear train for coupling said drive motor to said cam member.
- 2. The model truck according to claim 1, wherein said first set of ground engaging means includes ground engaging wheels.
- 3. The model truck according to claim 1, wherein said second set of ground engaging means includes ground engaging wheels.
- 4. The model truck according to claim 1, wherein said bed body includes at least one side wall, said side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface.
- 5. The model truck according to claim 4, wherein the elongate camming surface is disposed on the inner surface of said side wall.
- 6. The model truck according to claim 4, wherein said bed body includes at least one set of substanitially parallel elongate camming surfaces disposed on the inner surface of at least one side wall thereof.
- 7. The model truck according to claim 6, wherein the set of substantially parallel elongate camming surfaces form a slot there between, the slot adapted to receive the outer end of said bed lifting arm.
- 8. The model truck according to claim 1, wherein the outer end of said bed lifting arm includes a wheel rotatably coupled to the outer end of said bed lifting arm, the wheel adapted to contact the camming surface of said bed body.
- 9. The model truck according to claim 1, wherein said bed lifting arm includes a camming surface between the outer and inner ends of thereof.
- 10. The model truck according to claim 9, wherein said bed body includes a leveling arm having outer and inner ends, said leveling arm adapted to contact the camming surface of said bed lifting arm.
- 11. The model truck according to claim 10, wherein said leveling arm includes a second pivotal mounting for pivotally mounting the inner end of said leveling arm to said bed body.
- 12. The model truck according to claim 11, wherein said leveling arm includes a third pivotal mounting for pivotally mounting the outer end of said leveling arm to said chassis.
- 13. The model truck according to claim 12, wherein said leveling arm is adapted to replicate the sheet metal of the bed of a conventional commercial truck.
- 14. A model truck assembly including:a chassis having a front end and a rear end; a bed body disposed on said chassis; a first set of arms pivotally mounted to said chassis; a second set of arms pivotally mounted to said chassis; a reversible drive motor having switch means for selectively driving said motor in a first direction or a second direction; a first cam member coupled to said chassis and engaging said first set of arms; a second cam member coupled to said chassis and engaging said second set of arms; and a gear train for coupling said drive motor to said first cam member and said second cam member, whereby energization of said motor in a first direction drives said first cam member and energization of said motor in a second direction drives said second cam member to selectively cause upward movement of the front end of said chassis, and said bed body, respectively.
- 15. The model truck according to claim 14, wherein said second set of arms includes outer and inner ends.
- 16. The model truck according to claim 15, wherein said second set of arms includes a camming surface between the outer and inner ends of thereof.
- 17. The model truck according to claim 16, wherein said bed body includes at least one third arm having outer and inner ends, said third arm adapted to contact the camming surface of said second set of arms.
- 18. The model truck according to claim 17 including a first pivotal mounting for pivotally mounting the inner end of said third arm to said bed body.
- 19. The model truck according to claim 18, including a second pivotal mounting for pivotally mounting the outer end of said third arm to said chassis.
- 20. The model truck according to claim 14, wherein said bed body includes at least one side wall, said side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface.
- 21. The model truck according to claim 20, wherein said bed body includes at least one elongate camming surface disposed on the inner surface of said side wall.
- 22. The model truck according to claim 20, wherein said bed body includes at least one set of substantially parallel elongate camming surfaces disposed on the inner surface of said side wall.
- 23. A model truck assembly including:a chassis; a bed body disposed on said chassis; at least one first arm having an outer end and an inner end; a ground engaging means disposed at the outer end of said first arm; a first pivotal mounting intermediate the outer end and the inner end of said first arm for pivotally mounting said first arm to said chassis; at least one second arm having an outer end and an inner end, a cammimg surface between the outer and inner ends, the outer end of said second arm adapted to receive said bed body; a second pivotal mounting intermediate the outer end and the inner end of said second arm for pivotally mounting said second arm to said chassis; at least one third arm having an outer end and an inner end, said third arm adapted to contact the camming surface of said second arm; a third pivotal mounting for pivotally mounting the inner end of said third arm to said bed body; a fourth pivotal mounting for pivotally mounting the outer end of said third arm to said chassis; a reversible drive motor; a first cam member engaging said first arm between the inner end thereof and said first pivotal mounting; a second cam member engaging said second arm between the inner end thereof and said second pivotal mounting; and a gear train for coupling said drive motor to said first cam member and said second cam member.
- 24. The model truck according to claim 23, wherein said ground engaging means includes ground engaging wheels.
- 25. The model truck according to claim 23, wherein said chassis includes a front portion and a rear portion.
- 26. The model truck according to claim 25, wherein said rear portion of said chassis includes a set of ground engaging wheels rotatably coupled thereto.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
20000001819 |
Mar 2000 |
DE |