Claims
- 1. A self-propelled toy comprised of:a frame having a right side, a left side, front terminus, rear terminus, top and bottom and wherein said left and right side of said frame includes a plurality of paired, mirror image axle receiving holes, each pair of mirror image axle receiving holes being aligned in relation to the front and rear terminus as well as the top and bottom of said frame; at least two leg members rotatably mounted within a pair of said paired mirror image axle receiving holes, each said leg member including, in a medial portion thereof, an axle segment including a leg drive gear mounted thereupon, two leg segments located lateral to said axle segment oriented and configured so that a longitudinal axis of said leg segments is in an angular relationship of from about 80 to about 100 degrees with a longitudinal axis of said axle segment and wherein the leg segments are in a diametric relation, one to the other and in an outboard relation to the frame; at least one transfer gear unit comprised of a transfer gear axle, rotatably mounted within mirror image axle mounting holes of said frame and a transfer gear mounted upon said axle, said transfer gear being especially configured and adapted so as to mate with and engage said leg drive gear; a drive motor unit comprised of a main drive axle rotatably mounted within and extending through a pair of said mirror image axle receiving holes, a drive motor and an inboard drive wheel mounted upon said main drive axle, said inboard drive wheel being especially configured and adapted to transfer rotational force to said leg members as well as to to extend beyond the bottom of said frame as an inboard means of propulsion; wherein, when the drive motor is powered and said toy is placed upon a surface, torsional force provided by said motor rotates said main drive axle and drive wheel mounted thereupon so that said wheel propels said toy along said surface when the wheel is in contact therewith, and wherein said main drive wheel also provides rotational force to and thereby rotates said outboard leg members so as to propel said toy along said surface when the leg segments thereof are in contact with said surface.
- 2. The self propelled toy of claim 1 wherein said leg member additionally comprises a foot segment located distal to each of said leg segments and in an angular relationship of from about 80 to 100 degrees therewith.
- 3. The self propelled toy of claim 2 wherein said foot segment is coated with a elastic coating.
- 4. The self-propelled toy of claim 1 wherein said drive motor is a spring motor.
- 5. The self-propelled toy of claim 1 wherein said at least one transfer gear unit transfers torsional force between said main drive wheel and a proximal leg drive gear.
- 6. The self-propelled toy of claim 1 additionally including a speed control unit.
- 7. The self-propelled toy of claim 6 wherein said speed control unit comprises a speed control axle, rotatably mounted upon and within a pair of said mirror image axle receiving holes, a speed control gear mounted upon said control axle, said speed control gear being especially configured and adapted so as to engage and mate with the main drive gear and wherein said speed control unit also includes a transfer gear configured and adapted so as to mate and engage at least one leg drive gear.
- 8. The self propelled toy of claim 1 additionally comprising a regulatory balance unit.
- 9. The self propelled toy of claim 4 wherein said main drive axle includes wind handles located and positioned at distal termini of said axle.
- 10. The self propelled toy of claim 9 where said wind handle is especially configured and adapted to engage terrain under said toy for propulsion thereof.
- 11. The self-propelled toy of claim 1 wherein said drive motor is an electric motor.
- 12. The self-propelled toy of claim 11 wherein said electric motor is battery powered.
- 13. The self-propelled toy of clam 12 wherein said electric motor is solar powered.
- 14. The self-propelled toy of claim 13 wherein said electric motor is powered by both solar power and batteries.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to the field of mechanical toys. More particularly, the present invention relates to self-propelled toys which provide amusement by moving along a surface by means of foot-like appendages.
US Referenced Citations (10)