Torsion spring powered toy vehicle

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6722940
  • Patent Number
    6,722,940
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, December 26, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, April 20, 2004
    20 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Original Assignees
    • (Fairfield, CA, US)
  • Examiners
    • Ackun; Jacob K.
Abstract
Torsion Spring Powered Toy Vehicle comprised of a chassis, a torsion spring assembly attached to the top side of the chassis, the torsion spring assembly consisting of a flat plate having a pair of centrally located perpendicular tabs, a torsion spring and an integral spring axle and lever arm retaining post a front and rear axle and attached wheels. The rear axle has a centrally located string receiving pin mounted to the axle so that when the user forces back the lever arm and attaches the string loop to the axle pin and turns the rear wheel set counter clockwise thereby winding the string about the rear axle and then releases the vehicle, the vehicle is propelled forward when the the torsion spring forces the lever arm to return to a rest position thereby causing the string to unwind thereby causing the rear wheels to rotate in a clockwise fashion.
Description




CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS




Not Applicable




STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT




Not Applicable




DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX




Not Applicable




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates generally to the field of toy vehicles and more specifically to a torsion spring powered toy vehicle.




When teaching children about principles of physics and the formulas resulting from those principles, it has been proven to be helpful to provide various physical apparatus to demonstrate the real world effects of the principles in question and to see, in real life, the application of the applicable formulas.




One such basic formula is—Force equals mass times acceleration. To physically demonstrate this formula, science teachers have used a toy vehicle concept manufactured by such companies as Pitsco of Pittsburgh, Kans. The toy vehicle is comprised of a mouse trap having a torsion spring, a lever arm attached to one end of the spring and a means of wrapping the string around the rear axle of the vehicle so that when the string is wound up on the axle and the lever arm is released, the vehicle shoots forward demonstrating the principle—Force equals mass times acceleration. Although this toy is helpful in showing the principle, it is deficient in that the toy vehicle kit comes with only one diameter of wheel and one length of lever arm. Therefore it is not possible to evaluate and test the effect of different diameter wheels and different length lever arms. Additionally, the current vehicles do not have the ability to adjust the location of the torsion spring assembly fore and aft on the chassis. Additionally, the existing toys are built in a flimsy fashion and are not suitable for use in a classroom year after year thereby causing the school additional expense each year. Additionally, the existing toys do not provide a convenient method to increase or decrease the mass of the vehicle. Furthermore, the existing vehicles do not provide a way to change the degree of friction provided by the wheels. Finally, the existing vehicles are not particularly easy to assemble and disassemble.




BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The primary object of the invention is to provide a torsion spring powered toy vehicle that can help the user learn about force, mass and acceleration.




Another object of the invention is to provide a torsion spring powered toy vehicle that can be easily assembled and disassembled by a child.




Another object of the invention is to provide a torsion spring powered toy vehicle that allows the user to use a variety of wheel sizes and lever sizes and weights to test the difference in distance and acceleration when various sizes are used.




Another object of the invention is to allow the user to adjust the location of the torsion spring fore and aft on the chassis.




A further object of the invention is to provide a torsion spring powered toy vehicle that allows the user to make changes to wheel size, lever size and weight quickly and easily.




Yet another object of the invention is to allow a child to gain first hand experience with the the physical equation—Force Equals Mass times Acceleration.




Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.




In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed Torsion Spring Powered Toy Vehicle comprising: a toy vehicle chassis, a torsion spring assembly attached to the top side of said chassis, said torsion spring assembly consisting of a flat plate having a pair of centrally located perpendicular tabs. A torsion spring and an integral spring axle and lever arm retaining post are attached through apertures in said tabs. A live rear axle is attached transversely to the rear of said chassis, said rear axle having a centrally located string receiving pin mounted in a perpendicular fashion to said axle. A live front axle is attached transversely to the front of said chassis. A plurality of sets of rear wheels are included, each set of wheels having a different diameter and capable of being removably attached to the rear axle. A set of front wheels is attached on either side of the front of said chassis. A tubular rigid lever arm is removably attached to the lever arm retaining post. The toy vehicle includes a plurality of lengths of said lever arm. A string is fixedly attached to each said lever arm and terminates in a loop. The loop can be attached to the rear axle pin. When the lever arm is pulled back and the string wound on the rear axle, a propulsion means is created so that when the user lets go of the lever arm, the vehicle is propelled forward. A post mounted perpendicularly to the chassis is capable of removably receiving a weighted washer or washers. Post


42


can be mounted forward or aft in additional holes


32


,


34


,


36


provided to change the downward force on the rear wheels


2


,


4


which affects traction. A plurality of apertures located in the top surface of the chassis allows the torsions spring assembly to be moved fore and aft and re-attached by fasteners such as bolts and nuts.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of the invention.





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of the torsion spring assembly of the invention.





FIG. 3

is an exploded view of the invention.





FIG. 4

is a view of the various rear wheel sizes of the invention.





FIG. 5

is a view of the various lever arm sizes of the invention.





FIG. 6

is a perspective view of a rear wheel whit an added friction tire.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.




Referring now to

FIG. 1

we see a perspective view of the toy vehicle of the present invention


100


. Rear wheels


2


,


4


, are held on to axle


53


by wing nut


6


separated from wheel


2


by washer


8


. A torsion spring assembly consist of torsion spring


16


, mounting plate


14


having perpendicular tabs


22


,


24


, a spring axle and integral lever arm holding post


20


. Lever arm


18


is slid onto post


20


. A string


50


is fixedly attached to the end of lever arm


18


and the free end terminates in a loop that attaches to a pin located on axle


52


and the string is wound about the axle


52


by the user. When the user lets go of lever arm


18


it moves about arc


26


to its resting place on chassis


12


thereby causing string


50


to be pulled and forcing axle


52


and attached rear wheels


2


,


4


to spin thereby propelling the toy vehicle


100


forward. Front wheels


28


,


30


are mounted to the front of chassis


12


in the standard way. The spring plate


14


is attached to chassis


12


by bolts


46


,


48


. The user can choose to move the spring plate by loosening bolts


46


,


48


and replacing them in one of the other apertures


32


,


34


,


36


provided. Post


42


allows the user to add a weight


44


to the vehicle thereby changing the mass.

FIG. 2

shows a detailed view of the spring assembly. Torsion spring


16


terminates at one end in fixed end


19


and at the other end in rotatable end


17


. End


17


is wrapped around lever arm retaining post


20


. Post


20


acts as an axle for spring


16


and then bends approximately eighty degrees to form the ever arm retaining post. Rigid tubular lever arm


18


can be slid onto lever retaining post


20


and spring end


17


holds the lever arm


18


frictionally in place. Retaining bolt


46


can be clearly seen to penetrate through aperture


80


thereby fastening the plate


14


by nut


47


to chassis


12


.

FIG. 3

is an exploded view of the present invention


100


. Spring holding tabs


22


and


24


hold post


20


more safely and securely than a traditional mouse trap device that is sometimes used in toys of this type.




In this view perpendicular string retaining pin


60


can be clearly seen fixedly mounted to the central portion of live rear axle


52


. The axle ends


52


,


55


penetrate chassis apertures


90


,


91


and accept washers


15


,


11


and nuts


13


.


10


. Wheels


2


,


4


are then slipped on and held in place by washers


8


,


13


and wing nuts


6


,


7


. This allows the user to easily remove the wheels


2


,


4


without the need of tools. Live front axle


29


can be clearly seen ready to accept front wheels


28


,


30


.

FIG. 4

shows how sets of rear wheels


2


,


4




3


,


93


, and


5


,


95


can be provided to allow the user to test the results of speed and distance when different diameter wheels are used.

FIG. 5

shows a plurality of lever arms


18


,


21


,


23


, that can be placed on the lever arm receiving post


20


so that the user can change the duration of time of axle rotation as well as the force applied to the rear axle


52


.

FIG. 6

shows a rear wheel


2


with a rubber tire


70


, in this case a rubber band, to increase the traction of the wheel


2


to the surface that the vehicle is rolling on.




The present invention also helps the user understand the principles of potential energy, kinetic energy, velocity, inertia and torque.




The above description and illustrations show that the present toy vehicle invention is a novel means to help children learn the effects of force, mass and acceleration and the relationship between these basic physical principles. The invention is easy and economical to manufacture and is easy for children to assemble and disassemble.




While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. Torsion Spring Powered Toy Vehicle comprising:a toy vehicle chassis; a torsion spring assembly attached to the top side of said chassis; said torsion spring assembly consisting of a flat plate having a pair of centrally located perpendicular tabs, a torsion spring and an integral spring axle and lever arm retaining post. a live rear axle attached transversely to the rear of said chassis; said rear axle having a centrally located string receiving pin mounted in a perpendicular fashion to said axle; a live front axle attached transversely to the front of said chassis; a plurality of sets of rear wheels; each set of said rear wheels capable of being removably attached to said rear axle on either side of the rear of said chassis; said sets of rear wheels provided in a plurality of different diameters; a set of front wheels attached on either side of said front of said chassis; a tubular rigid lever arm removably attached to said lever arm retaining post; said toy vehicle including a plurality of lengths of said lever arm; a string attached to each said lever arm; said string terminating in a loop; a post mounted perpendicularly to said chassis capable of removably receiving a weighted washer; and a set of weighted washers capable of being received by said post.
  • 2. Torsion Spring Powered Toy Vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lever arm is forced back by the user and the user attaches said string loop to said axle pin and turns said rear wheel set counter clockwise thereby winding said string about said rear axle and then releases said vehicle, said vehicle is propelled forward when the said torsion spring forces said lever arm to return to a rest position thereby causing said string to unwind thereby causing said rear wheels to rotate in a clockwise fashion.
  • 3. Torsion Spring Powered Toy Vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rear wheels are removably retained by a wing nut thereby making it easy for a child to change said rear wheels of different diameters without the need for tools.
  • 4. Torsion Spring Powered Toy Vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lever arm is easily slid onto and removed from said lever arm receiving post.
  • 5. Torsion Spring Powered Toy Vehicle as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a set of rubber or other high friction tire elements that can be removably attached to said rear wheels thereby giving said rear wheels more traction.
  • 6. Torsion Spring Powered Toy Vehicle as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a book and or video that further teaches and demonstrates the use of the said vehicle to said user and further teaches the principles of the physics formula—Force equals mass times acceleration.
  • 7. Torsion Spring Powered Toy Vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said toy vehicle can be easily and economically manufactured.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number Name Date Kind
2570711 Rempel Oct 1951 A
3323229 Mulka Jun 1967 A
3619939 Vidal Nov 1971 A
4817936 Matsuda Apr 1989 A