Patent Application
20070293121
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
a and b illustrate a perspective view and side elevation respectively of an embodiment of the invention;
a and b illustrate two further examples of an assembly of the invention; and
a and b illustrate two possible movement configurations of the assembly in accordance with the invention.
Referring firstly to
In this case, the vehicle is provided with a push/pull type of motor in which the vehicle can be moved manually in a reverse direction along the surface and then, when released, the motor is effectively released so as to cause propulsion of the vehicle in the forward direction 12.
The member 8 provided on the vehicle, in this embodiment, can be selectively positionable about pivot axis 20 so as to be moved between a position 14 and a position 18 at the front of the vehicle as indicated by arrow 15. In one embodiment stops or detents can be provided so as to provide predetermined positions at the rear of the vehicle as shown, to an intermediate position such as position 16 above the vehicle as shown in broken lines and/or a position 18 to the front of the vehicle also shown in broken lines. This movement can typically be achieved by pivotal movement of the member by the person about the axis 20 at which the free ends of the member are attached to the vehicle. Although the member is shown as to be U-shaped in this embodiment, it should be appreciated that this is not critical and the member can take any particular form and indeed although reference is made to and elongate member another form may be to provide attachment formations at respective locations on the side, front, end or top of the vehicle with which the item or items may be selectively engaged.
In any case, in this embodiment the member 8 can be selectively positioned by the child so as to allow the item 10 to be selectively positioned around the periphery of the vehicle and outboard of the same. The item itself is provided in the form of a model character in this embodiment and includes gripping means 22, in this case, in the form of one of the hands of the model character. The gripping means are typically provided of a resilient material so as to allow the same to exert a sufficient gripping force on the member 8 when attached and positioned thereon so as to retain the item in the selected position.
Alternatively, as shown in
It is also shown how, in addition to the item 10 being selectively positionable on the member 8, the item is articulated in that certain parts of the item such as the arms 26 and legs 28 can be selectively positioned. This therefore allows the effect of the item in terms of weight, to be changed, by the person controlling the location of the weight, even though the position of the item on the member itself may not be altered. This therefore provides two different ways by which the operation of the vehicle as it moves along the surface can be adjusted.
Thus, in use, prior to the movement of the vehicle along the surface, the child can selectively position firstly, the member 8 with respect to the vehicle 2 and the position of the item 10 on the member 8 so that, the item 10 can be positioned effectively at any part around the periphery of the vehicle and lying outboard of the same. Furthermore, the particular configuration of the item 10 can be selected by the user by articulation of portions 26, 28 of the same.
Once the item has been configured and positioned as required, the manner of the movement of the vehicle along the surface will be dependent upon the particular position of the item with respect to the vehicle. For example, in embodiments where the item is shown at the rear of the vehicle, then typically the wheels at the rear of the vehicle only will contact the surface as the extra weight provided by locating the item at the rear of the vehicle and out with the periphery of the vehicle due to the location of the item, will cause the front end of the vehicle and the wheels located there, to lift off the surface 19 in the manner shown in
It should also be appreciated that additional items may be provided to be selectively attached to the member.
The movement of the item along the member can be by manual sliding, or be provided by powered movement via a suitable mechanical arrangement such as a rack and pinion arrangement with the elongate member acting as the rack and the item including a pinion which can be driven. In this case the motor provided within the vehicle can be used to allow power to be taken from the same, in addition to the motor being used to propel the vehicle along the surface. This is therefore most appropriate to the remote control form of vehicle and typically the remote control device will include control means to allow the selective movement and positioning of the item along the elongate member.
There is therefore provided a toy vehicle assembly which in addition to being capable of being moved along a surface can be moved in a particular manner which can be determined and altered by the person playing with the vehicle so as to allow the toy to be of greater entertainment and provide a greater number of play variations.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0611690.9 | Jun 2006 | GB | national |
