Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6565412
-
Patent Number
6,565,412
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, October 18, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 20, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Banks; Derris H.
- Williams; Jamila
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 446 465
- 446 466
- 446 470
- 446 437
- 446 455
- 446 424
- 446 432
- 446 435
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A model car having a mechanism driven by an electric motor for selectively raising and lowering the front of the car in synchronization with actuation of the hood, and raising and lowering the rear of the car in synchronization with actuation of the trunk lid.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to model vehicles and more particularly to a model car having a mechanism for selectively raising and lowering the hood and the trunk lid in respect of the body.
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. Toy manufacturers constantly seek new ways to add innovative action to such model vehicles to make such vehicles more versatile and entertaining. An increasing demand for more realistic action in model vehicles has led manufacturers to imitate the action and movement of real vehicles. Such innovative action and moving parts in a model vehicle imparts great interest in the attending youth.
An object of the invention is to produce a model car which can be selectively caused to raise or lower the hood or the trunk lid.
Another object of the invention is to produce a model car wherein the hood and the trunk lid of the model car may be selectively raised or lowered in respect of the car body, 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 car assembly including:
a chassis;
ground engaging means for supporting the chassis;
a body including at least one of a hood or a trunk lid hingedly connected to the body;
a first cam member engagable with one of the hood and the trunk lid; and
a drive motor for actuating the first cam member for raising and lowering the one of the hood and the trunk lid.
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 car incorporating the features of the invention, and illustrating the front portion of the car and the hood in the elevated position, and the rear portion of the car and the trunk lid in the down or rest position;
FIG. 2
is an enlarged side elevational view, partially in section, of the model car illustrated in
FIG. 1
, a phantom line illustrates the hood in the elevated position;
FIG. 3
is an enlarged side elevational view, partially in section, of the opposite side of the model car illustrated in
FIG. 2
, illustrating the rear portion of the car and the trunk lid in the elevated position, and the front portion of the car and the hood in the down or rest position; and
FIG. 4
is a top plan view of the model car illustrated in
FIG. 2
, with the body 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 car capable of selectively intermittently raising and lowering the hood and the trunk lid in respect of the body. The preferred embodiment is further capable of selectively raising and lowering the front of the car in respect of the associated front wheel assembly, and raising and lowering the rear of the car in respect of the associated rear wheel assembly in respective synchronization with the actuation of the hood and the trunk lid. Additionally, the model car is capable of selectively causing the headlights and the taillights to be lighted.
More specifically, there is shown in the drawings a model car, generally indicated by reference numeral
10
, including a body portion
12
having a hood
14
and a trunk lid
16
; a chassis
18
; ground engaging front wheels
20
,
20
′; ground engaging rear wheels
22
,
22
′; and a power source
24
, containing suitable batteries and having a rocker switch
26
, coupled to a reversible electric motor
25
through a first flexible power cord
28
.
The car body
12
typically replicates the sheet metal, glass, and bumpers of a conventional commercial vehicle. The chassis
18
is formed to replicate the vehicle frame, suspension components, and certain other components of the running gear. The car body
12
is adapted to be coupled to the chassis
18
by fastening means such as threaded fasteners, for example. The body portion
12
, hood
14
, trunk lid
16
, and the chassis
18
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 car
10
includes ground engaging front wheels
20
,
20
′, and a front axle arm assembly
30
. The front axle arm assembly
30
, as clearly illustrated in
FIG. 4
, includes a pair of spaced apart generally parallel axle arms
32
,
34
, integrally joined together by a cross arm
36
. As further illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 3
, pivot pins
38
,
40
are disposed intermediate the ends of the axle arms
32
,
34
, respectively, and are operative to pivotally connect the arms
32
,
34
to the respective sides of the chassis
18
. Camming surfaces
42
,
44
are disposed intermediate the inner ends of the axle arms
32
,
34
and the pivot pins
38
,
40
. The forward outwardly extending terminal portions of the front axle arms
32
,
34
are adapted to rotatingly receive the ground engaging front wheels
20
,
20
′, respectively.
The suspension of the car
10
further includes ground engaging rear wheels
22
,
22
′, and a rear axle arm assembly
46
. The rear axle arm assembly
46
, as illustrated in
FIG. 4
, includes a pair of spaced apart generally parallel axle arms
48
,
50
, integrally joined together by a cross arm
52
. As further illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 3
, pivot pins
54
,
56
are disposed intermediate the ends of the axle arms
48
,
50
, respectively, and are operative to pivotally connect the arms
48
,
50
to the respective sides of the chassis
18
. A camming surface
58
is disposed on the cross arm
52
of the rear axle arm assembly
46
. The rearward outwardly extending terminal portions of the rear axle arms
48
,
50
are adapted to rotatingly receive the ground engaging rear wheels
22
,
22
′, respectively.
The reversible electric motor
25
is suitably mounted within an appropriately formed two-piece enclosure
60
suitably secured to the chassis
18
. 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 first and second cam wheels
62
,
64
. The first cam wheel
62
is provided with an outwardly projecting cam
62
′, while the second cam wheel
64
is provided with an outwardly projecting cam
64
′. The specific assembly of the electric motor
25
and gear train
41
is of the type 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 the associated gears of the gear train
41
are disposed in operative position on the base of the enclosure
60
, the upper portion of the enclosure
60
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
38
,
40
,
54
,
56
in operative position.
As mentioned before, the body portion
12
includes a hood
14
, and a trunk lid
16
. Referring now to
FIGS. 2
,
3
, and
4
, the inner end of the hood
14
is adapted to be pivotally connected to the body
12
by pivot pins
66
,
68
. The pivot pins
66
,
68
are maintained in the body
12
by brackets
70
,
72
secured to the body
12
by fastening means such as threaded fasteners, for example. The inner end of the trunk lid
16
is adapted to be pivotally connected to the body
12
by pivot pins
74
,
76
. The pivot pins
74
,
76
are maintained in the body
12
by a bracket
78
secured to the body
12
by fastening means such as threaded fasteners, for example. In the embodiment shown, the inner end of the hood
14
and the inner end of the trunk lid
16
are pivotally connected to the body
12
. However, it is understood that other configurations can be used such as, for example, the outer end of the hood
14
, or the outer end of the trunk lid
16
may be pivotally connected to the body
12
.
The inner end of the hood
14
includes camming members
80
,
82
adapted to slidingly contact the camming surfaces
42
,
44
of the front axle arm assembly
30
.
The inner end of the trunk lid
16
includes camming member
84
adapted to slidingly contact the camming surface
58
of the rear axle arm assembly
46
.
Headlights
86
,
88
are disposed in the front portion of the body
12
and adapted to be coupled to the body
12
by fastening means such as threaded fasteners, for example. The headlights
86
,
88
are further coupled to the reversible electric motor
25
by a second flexible power cord
90
.
Taillights
92
,
94
are disposed in the rear portion of the body
12
and adapted to be coupled to the body
12
by fastening means such as threaded fasteners, for example. The taillights
92
,
94
are further coupled to the reversible electric motor by a third flexible power cord
96
.
The first flexible power cord
28
is caused to extend from the chassis
18
of the car
10
and is maintained rearward of the chassis
18
by a bracket
98
secured to the chassis
18
by threaded fasteners
100
.
In operation the first cam wheel
62
is effective for movement of the front axle arm assembly
30
, and the second cam wheel
64
is effective for movement of the rear axle arm assembly
46
. Specifically, the cams
62
′,
64
′ are effective to cause movement of the front axle arm
32
and the rear axle arm
50
, respectively.
Motion is transmitted, as described in detail in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,575 to Rehkemper et al., causing the cam wheel
62
to be driven in an anticlockwise direction. As the cam wheel
62
is caused to rotate, the cam pin
62
′ urges the front axle arm
32
to pivot about the pivot pin
38
, as clearly illustrated in
FIG. 1
, causing the front portion of the chassis
18
to be moved upwardly. Further, as the front axle arm
32
pivots about the pivot pin
38
, the camming surfaces
42
,
44
of the front axle arm assembly
30
contact the camming members
80
,
82
of the hood
14
, urging the hood
14
to pivot about pivot pins
66
,
68
, and causing the front portion of the hood
14
to be urged upwardly. Additionally, as the cam wheel
62
is caused to rotate, an electric current generated by the reversible electric motor causes the headlights
86
,
88
to be lighted.
When the drive motor
25
is caused to rotate in an opposite or clockwise direction by proper manipulation of the rocker switch
26
, the cam wheel
64
is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction. Such rotation of the cam wheel
64
and the associated cam
64
′ urges the rear axle arm
50
to pivot about a pivot pin
56
, causing the rear portion of the chassis
18
to be urged upwardly. Further, as the rear axle arm
50
pivots about the pivot pin
56
, the camming surface
58
of the rear axle arm assembly
46
contacts the camming member
84
of the trunk lid
16
, urging the trunk lid
16
to pivot about pivot pins
74
,
76
, and causing the rear portion of the trunk lid
16
to be urged upwardly. Additionally, as the cam wheel
64
is caused to rotate, an electric current generated by the reversible electric motor causes the taillights
92
,
94
to be lighted.
In each instance, it will be understood that as soon as the cam members
62
′,
64
′ are driven to their respective apogees, the cam members
62
′,
64
′ commence to travel downwardly allowing the weight of the front or rear of the model car
10
to return the car to a position of rest at the ground level.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention is directed to a vehicle wherein the hood and the trunk lid may be activated, it will be understood that successful results may be achieved by employing a mechanism for operating only the hood or only the trunk lid.
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 vehicle assembly including:a chassis; ground engaging means for supporting said chassis; a body including at least one of a hood and a trunk lid hingedly connected to said body; a first cam member engageable with the one of the hood and the trunk lid; and a drive motor for actuating said first cam member for raising and lowering the one of the hood and the trunk lid.
- 2. The model vehicle according to claim 1, including a first lifting arm coupling said first cam member to the one of the hood and the trunk lid.
- 3. The model vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said ground engaging means includes a first set of ground engaging wheels and a second set of ground engaging wheels.
- 4. The model vehicle according to claim 3 wherein said first lifting arm includes an outer end and an inner end, said first lifting arm rotatably receiving said first set of ground engaging wheels intermediate the outer end and the inner end of said arm.
- 5. The model vehicle according to claim 4 wherein said first lifting arm includes at least one camming surface.
- 6. The model vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the one of the hood and the trunk lid includes a camming member adapted to contact the camming surface of said first lifting arm.
- 7. The model vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said first lifting arm includes a first pivotal mounting intermediate the outer and inner ends thereof for pivotally mounting said first lifting arm to said chassis.
- 8. The model vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said first lifting arm includes at least one camming surface intermediate the outer end and the inner end of said arm.
- 9. The model vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising a second cam member engageable with the other one of the hood and the trunk lid.
- 10. The model vehicle according to claim 9, including a second lifting arm coupling said second cam member to the other one of the hood and the trunk lid.
- 11. The model vehicle according to claim 10 wherein said second lifting arm includes an outer and an inner end, said second lifting arm rotatably receiving said second set of ground engaging wheels intermediate the outer end and the inner end of said arm.
- 12. The model vehicle according to claim 11 wherein said second lifting arm includes at least one camming surface.
- 13. The model vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the other one of the hood and the trunk lid includes a camming member adapted to contact the camming surface of said second lifting arm.
- 14. The model vehicle according to claim 13, wherein said second lifting arm includes a second pivotal mounting intermediate the outer and inner ends thereof for pivotally mounting said second lifting arm to said chassis.
- 15. The model vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said second lifting arm rotatably receives said second set of ground engaging wheels at the outer end of said arm.
- 16. The model vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said second lifting arm includes at least one camming surface intermediate the outer end and the inner end of said arm.
- 17. The model vehicle according to claim 9, including a gear train for coupling said drive motor to said first cam member and said second cam member.
- 18. The model vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said first lifting arm rotatably receives said first set of ground engaging wheels at the outer end of said arm.
- 19. The model vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said drive motor is a reversible drive motor.
- 20. A model vehicle assembly including:a chassis; a first set of ground engaging wheels; a second set of ground engaging wheels; a body disposed on said chassis; at least one first lifting arm having an outer and an inner end, said arm adapted for rotatably receiving said first set of ground engaging wheels intermediate the outer end and the inner end thereof, said arm including a camming surface; a first pivotal mounting intermediate the outer end and the inner end of said first lifting arm for pivotally mounting said first lifting arm to said chassis; a hood including a first hinged mounting disposed thereon for coupling said hood to said body, and a camming member adapted to contact the camming surface of said first lifting arm; at least one second lifting arm having an outer and an inner end, said arm adapted for rotatably receiving said second set of ground engaging wheels intermediate the outer end and the inner end thereof, said arm including a camming surface; a second pivotal mounting intermediate the outer end and the inner end of said second lifting arm for pivotally mounting said second lifting arm to said chassis; a trunk lid including a second hinged mounting disposed thereon for coupling said trunk lid to said body, and a camming member adapted to contact the camming surface of said second lifting arm; a reversible drive motor; a first cam member engaging said first lifting arm between the inner end thereof and said first pivotal mounting; a second cam member engaging said second lifting 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, 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.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
956793 |
Oct 1974 |
CA |
4425128 |
Jan 1996 |
DE |