Patent Application
20090137186
The present invention relates generally to toy vehicles and, more specifically, to a motorized toy vehicle having the appearance of a stylized, multi-sectioned snake. It further relates to toy vehicles that have an additional action component beyond movement.
Briefly stated, the present invention is directed to a motorized, multi-segmented, articulated toy snake comprising: a chassis segment having a front end and a rear end, a top side and an opposing bottom side, at least first and second ground contacting drive wheels mounted side-by-side on the bottom side between the front end and the rear end, the chassis segment including an outer housing with a snake-head-like appearance, at least a first electric motor operably connected to at least the first drive wheel, a second electric motor operably connected to at least the second drive wheel, an electric power supply and an electric controller selectively operably connecting at least the first electric motor and the second motor with the electric power supply, an upper jaw member or portion of the outer housing being hinged to the chassis or a remainder of the outer housing; and a multi-segmented body pivotally coupled to the rear end of the chassis, the body including at least a plurality of individual body segments connected end to end, a first body segment being articulated to the rear end of the chassis and a front end of each other body segment of the plurality being articulated to a rear end of a proceeding body segment of the plurality, each body segment including a carriage, each carriage a top side, a bottom side and first and second opposing lateral sides extending between the front and rear ends.
In another aspect, the invention is directed to a motorized biting toy comprising: a chassis with an outer housing and a movable jaw member pivotally coupled with one of the chassis and outer housing; at least first and second ground contacting wheels rotatably supported from the chassis; motor means operably coupled with at least the first and second least first and second ground contacting wheels to drive the wheels and thereby maneuver the toy vehicle; a jaw moving mechanism powered by the motor means to raise the movable jaw member; and a trigger extending from the chassis and outer housing and operably coupled with the jaw moving mechanism to release the movable jaw member from a raised position.
In another aspect, the invention is a motorized toy comprising: a chassis with an outer housing; at least first and second ground contacting wheels rotatably supported from the chassis; a first reversible motor operably connected with at least the first of the first and second ground contacting wheels to drive the first wheel; a second reversible motor operably connected with at least the second of the first and second ground contacting wheels to drive the second wheel, the second motor being separately operable from the first motor to maneuver the toy vehicle; a movable member movably coupled with one of the chassis and outer housing; and a moving mechanism operably connected with the movable member sufficiently to move the movable member from a first position to a second position, the moving mechanism being powered only by simultaneous operation of the first and second motors
The foregoing summary as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown herein. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts. For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying photographs/drawings, in which:
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions.
Briefly, the present invention provides a motorized toy, in particular, a creature-like vehicle device (e.g., an articulable segmented snake) comprising a creature-head-like housing portion for containing the drive and control components preferably including at least a motor controller, a plurality of drive/support wheels, a power supply, a radio signal receiver and at least two drive motors and accompanying gear mechanisms for providing differential drive control capability. The body portion of the creature-like device comprises a plurality of body members connected together end to end in such a fashion as to permit articulation between the head and the body and between each of the body members throughout substantially the entire body portion of the creature-like device. Each body member comprises at least one rotatable wheel for permitting mobility across a surface. A hand held radio signal transmitter is also provided for remote control capability, thereby enabling the toy to become dynamic.
The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The general principles described herein may be applied to embodiments and applications other than those detailed below without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right,” “left,” “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the photographs to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the toy vehicle and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. The terms “horizontal” and “vertical” relate to the toy vehicle oriented with all of its wheels in contact with the ground. Additionally, the word “a” as used in the specification means “at least one.”
Referring now to the photographs/drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in
The power, propulsion and control elements of the toy snake, are all housed in the head section 12 and are shown schematically in
Referring to
The jaw moving mechanism 31 includes an idler gear 32 and a swing gear 33 on either side of a rack member 34. Each idler gear 32 is driven by a separate one of the motors 24, 28 through its worm 23a. Each idler gear 32 is meshed with swing gear 33, which is free to swing back and forth in a slot 33a when rotated by gear 32. The other elements of the jaw moving mechanism 31 include a rack member 34 mounted for linear movement in forward and reverse directions between the swing gears 33, a return spring 35, a cam arm 36, a latch 37 and the actuator/trigger 38. The rack member 34 includes a forward end with opposing racks 34a facing swing gears 33. When both motors 24, 28 are driven in reverse, each swing gear 33 is moved in its slot 33a towards the rack member 34 and into driving engagement with the adjoining rack 34a. Both motors must be driven in reverse at the same time to trap the rack member 34 between both swing gears in order to provide driving engagement between the swing gear 33 and the rack 34a. If only one motor is driven in reverse, the rack member will displace away from the driving swing gear and will not be advanced. When both motors are driven in reverse, the swing gears 33 engaging the racks 34a on either side of the member 34 drive the member 34 in a forward direction against the bias of spring 35 which secures an innermost end 34b of the member 34 most proximal to the spring 35 with the chassis 18. The rack member 34 has a forward extending arm 34c which has been cut away in
The jaw moving mechanism 31 is tripped by firm contact with the actuator/trigger 38. The actuator/trigger 38 is movably mounted on the chassis 18 for sliding and/or pivoting movement. When forced rearward, the rear or innermost end of actuator/trigger 38 strikes the trip member portion 37c biasing it downward and releasing the latch portion 37a from the catch 34d. The actuator/trigger 38 can be biased back to its original forward position by the same bias member used to keep the latch member 37 elevated, or by its own bias member.
It will be appreciated that although use a rack member 34 with separate racks 34a engageable with swing gears 33 is preferred, it would be possible to use other moving mechanisms that include a moving member at least operably engageable with the movable member and a pair of rotary swing members on opposite side of the moving member, the rotary swing members being drivingly engaged with the moving member only with both of the first and second motors being driven simultaneously in predetermined directions. For example, the movable mechanism might include a track member with separate toothless track surfaces in place of the rack member and separate racks. Other types of rotary swing members like friction rollers or wheels driven by the motors in place of swing gears 33 and trap and engage such track member by friction to move it and the movable member.
The at least two drive motors 24, 28 utilized in the present embodiment can be 180 size brushed DC (“BDC”) electric motors. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various types and sizes of motors can be utilized without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
The at least two drive motors 24, 28 in the housing 20 permit a “tank-like” differential drive capability for effectuating a sine-wave slithering motion as the toy snake 10 moves. For example, when a motor control toggle 105a, 105b located on the hand-held remote transmitter/controller 105 is deflected from a generally central, nominal resting or neutral position, the toy snake 10 is caused to move by way of the drive motor to wheel connection relative to the direction deflected on the directional control toggle. Specifically, when the left directional control toggle 105a is pivoted forward or backward, the drive motor 24 connected to left side drive wheel 22 is caused to rotate the wheel 22 in the desired direction (i.e., forward or backward). The drive motor 28 connected to a right side drive wheel 26 similarly causes the right side wheel 26 to rotate in the desired direction depending on the movement of the directional control toggle 105b.
The body 40 of the toy snake 10 comprises a plurality of body segments or members 41 connected together end-to-end in such a fashion as to permit body articulation throughout substantially the entire body 40 of the toy snake 10. The body members 41 are constructed of, but not limited to, a plastic type material of a design as shown in the accompanying figures. However, one skilled in the art will understand that any variety of materials can be used to construct the body members 41 and the design can take on any desired appearance without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. In particular, each body segment 41 includes a carriage 42. Each carriage 42 and body member 41 has a front end 43, a rear end 44, a top side 46, a bottom side 37 and opposing lateral sides 48, 49 extending between the front and rear ends. Each body member 41 includes at least one laterally extending outrigger, preferably generally planar wing 51, 52, extending generally laterally outward from each lateral side 48, 49, respectively of the carriage 42 and segment 41. Most body segments 41 (all but one in this embodiment) also has a generally planar, upwardly extending fin 54 laterally centered on the top side 46 of the carriage 42. Wings 51, 52 are decorative but also provide balance to each body section 41 and can prevent each body section from pitching sideways if not already prevented by the limited movement provided by the articulated couplings 45.
Each body member 41 comprises at least one and preferably only one centrally located, rotatable, ground contacting wheel 50 for permitting mobility across a surface “S” supporting the toy snake 10. The plurality of body members 41 are preferably articulatedly coupled to each other, end-to-end, by way of an articulated coupling indicated generally at 45. While the articulated coupling may be of any of a variety of configurations, a simple and inexpensive coupling is provided by a generally vertical pin in one of the body sections passed though an enlarge vertical hole in an adjoining body section sufficiently enlarged so that some vertical pitching movement is permitted between linked, adjoining body members in addition to side to side yaw movement. Thus, the body members 41 can be identical with a hinge pin at one end and a pin receiving hole at the other end. Furthermore the front end of the first body member 41 of the body 40, which is most proximal to the head segment 12, can be coupled with the rear end of the head segment 12 by the same type of articulated coupling. When the plurality of body members 41 are connected to each other and the chassis 12 by way of the articulated couplings, the toy snake 10 has the appearance, during operational movement by way of radio control operations, of an articulating snake as it slithers quickly across the ground. Preferably the body 40 includes at least one trailer segment (or “trailer”) 56 at the end of the body 40 most distal to the head and pivotally coupled to the last body member 41 of the body 40. More than one trailer can be provided pivotally coupled to a preceding trailer. Each trailer would be characterized by the lack of an unlying wheel which would inhibit the side to side movement of the trailer 56.
It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the toy snake 10 described herein by the present invention can be designed to mimic virtually any creature having virtually any plurality of designs without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described components (assemblies, devices, circuits, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments as may be desired. Additionally, for the most part, details concerning particular chemical reactions, chemical properties, and the like, have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not considered necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention, and are considered to be within the understanding of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.
It is therefore, contemplated that the claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments that fall within the true scope of the invention.
This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/797,778, filed May 4, 2006, entitled “Remote Controlled Toy Creature”, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/915,899, filed May 3, 2007, entitled “Motorized Toy Snake”, and to International Application No. PCT/US07/10979 filed May 4, 2007 entitled “Motorized Toy Creature”, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60915899 | May 2007 | US | |
| 60797778 | May 2006 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/US07/10979 | May 2007 | US |
| Child | 12263945 | US |
