The present disclosure relates to toy vehicles and more particularly to mechanically actuated features of a toy vehicle that provides for enhanced play or options.
Toy vehicles are configured in a variety of styles to allow for enhanced play. Self-propelled toy vehicles have been provided that move without or with reduced inaction from the user. Other toy vehicles are known as transformable toy vehicles. A transformable toy vehicle converts from a first configuration, such as a sports car or truck for example, into a second configuration, such as a helicopter or plane for example. Vehicles with more than one mode or configuration that provide additional functionality are desirable since they enhance the creative play and skills developed by the user.
Toy vehicles having some form of extra functionality are popular among children. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide vehicles with functional features to allow simulation of actions by the toy.
A toy vehicle is provided. The toy vehicle having a vehicle chassis defining a first interior region. A body portion is movably secured to the chassis. A leg member is movably secured to the vehicle chassis for movement from a first position to a second position, wherein the leg member and a wheel rotatably secured to the leg is moved relative to the chassis when the leg member is moved between the first position and the second position the second position. A spring is arranged for providing a biasing force to retain the leg toward the first position. An actuation unit is received within the first interior region of the chassis and operably coupled to the movable leg member, the actuation unit being configured to overcome the biasing force of the spring and move the leg member to the second position when the body portion is moved relative to the chassis.
In another exemplary embodiment, a toy vehicle is provided the toy vehicle having a vehicle chassis having a pair of wheels each independently secured to the chassis via a leg movably secured to the vehicle chassis for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the leg and a wheel rotatably secured to the leg is extended away from the chassis when the leg is moved to the second position. A spring is arranged for providing a biasing force to retain the leg into the first position. A body portion is moveably mounted to the chassis wherein the body portion can be moved towards the chassis in a plurality of directions; and an actuation unit received within an interior region of the chassis and operably coupled to each leg member, the actuation unit being configured to selectively extend either or both of the pair of wheels from the toy vehicle by moving the leg members to the second position from the first position, wherein movement of the leg members from the first position to the second position is dependant upon one of the plurality of directions the body portion moves in as it is moved towards the chassis.
In still another exemplary embodiment, a method for selectively moving a pair of wheels of a toy vehicle away from a chassis of the toy vehicle is provided. The method includes the steps of independently securing the pair of wheels to the chassis of the toy vehicle with a leg movably secured to the vehicle chassis for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the leg and one of the pair of wheels rotatably secured to the leg is extended away from the chassis when the leg is moved to the second position. Each leg is biased into the first position. A body portion is movably mounted to the chassis, wherein the body portion can be moved towards the chassis in a plurality of directions. The body portion is coupled to each of the pair of wheels with an actuation unit received within an interior region of the chassis, the actuation unit being operably coupled to each leg member and being configured to selectively extend either or both of the pair of wheels from the toy vehicle by moving the leg members to the second position from the first position, wherein movement of the leg members from the first position to the second position is dependant upon one of the plurality of directions the body portion moves in as it is moved towards the chassis.
Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following description of embodiments, the description referring to the drawings in which:
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
Referring to
Referring now to the FIGS., a toy vehicle 10 is provided in accordance with various embodiments. The toy 10 vehicle includes, but is not limited to, a body 12, and a chassis 14. In various embodiments, the body 12 is a replication of a vehicle, such as, a car, a truck, a bus, etc. As can be appreciated, the body 12 may also include vehicle components such as, doors, a windshield or windows, a hood, headlights, a bumper, etc. The body 12 couples to the chassis 14. A plurality of leg members 16 are pivotally mounted to the chassis 14 for movement between a first position and a second position wherein the leg members 16 extend outwardly from the chassis 14 in the second position and the leg members 16 are in an un-extended or retracted position in the first position. In various embodiments, one or more of the leg members 16 are movable with respect to the chassis 14 and are spring biased toward the first position. A plurality of wheels 18 are rotatably mounted to the vehicle 10 and each leg member 16 has a wheel 18 rotatably secured thereto. In one embodiment, the wheels 18 include tires 20 that are configured to resemble large off-road type vehicle tires.
The chassis 14 defines an interior region 22 (as shown in
With reference now to
In one embodiment, each gear 28a and 28b is also coupled to a respective leg member 16a, 16b such that rotation of the gears 28a and 28b by movement of actuating members 26a and 26b moves the leg member 16a and 16b outwardly. Furthermore each gear 28a and 28b also couples to a spring such that rotation of the gear in a first direction against the biasing force of the spring will cause the gear and the leg member to return to a first or un-actuated position after an applied force is removed.
For example, a first movable leg member (e.g., a front right movable leg member 16a), is coupled to the gear 28a and the gear 28a is coupled to an actuating member 26a while a second gear 28b is coupled to a second movable leg member 16b, (e.g., a front left movable leg member) and the second gear is coupled to a second actuation member 26b. As can further be appreciated, the actuation unit 24a can similarly include actuating members and gears that couple to rear mounted movable leg members (embodiment not shown).
In any of the embodiments, the body 12 can be mounted to the chassis such that the body is freely floating with respect to the chassis 14 and the body 12 may be manipulated in an essentially vertical downward direction with respect to the chassis 14 or an angled downward direction with respect to the chassis such that depending on the downward movement of the body 12 with respect to the chassis 14 either one or both of the actuation members 26a, 26b are manipulated to provide the effect of extending either the left front wheel or the right front wheel or both wheels simultaneously. In one non-limiting configuration and in order to provide the angled downward movement (i.e. toward the play surface) of the body, the body is mounted to the chassis so it may be pivoted left to right and/or right to left prior to it being depressed downwardly. In one embodiment, the toy vehicle 10 is lifted such that the forward wheels are lifted from a surface (so they can move outwardly away from the chassis 14) while the rear wheels remain substantially on the surface and movement of the body 12 downwardly to the left, right or center with respect to the chassis 14 will cause the left and right leg members 16a, 16b to extend from the toy vehicle 10, which as discussed above may resemble a simulated fighting move such as punching or kicking. It is, of course, understood that in an alternative embodiment, the rear wheels may be extended from the vehicle in a similar fashion.
Accordingly, the body 12 (
As discussed above, each gear 28a, 28b and accordingly each leg member 16a, 16b is spring biased toward the first position such that when the body 12 or portion of the body 12 (
In various alternative embodiments, a portion of the body 12 (
In one exemplary embodiment, the movable leg member(s) 16a, 16b extend in an outward direction away from the front 30 of the chassis 14. As shown in
With reference now to
Accordingly and when a force is applied to the pivoting arm 44 (via movement of the body 12 or any other equivalent device), the pivoting arm 44 is moved and contacts the tab 46 to extend the axle and the movable leg member 16 to a second position or laterally away from the chassis 14 as opposed to forward or rearward movement. When the force is released from the pivoting arm 44, the axle and pivoting arm 44 retracts back to the first position by means of the biasing force of the spring 48. In this embodiment, the movable leg member 16 extends in an outward or lateral direction away from the side of the chassis 14. As can further be appreciated, the actuation unit 24b of this embodiment can similarly include an actuating member and an axle portion that correspond to a rear movable leg member.
In various embodiments, the force can be applied to the pivoting arm 44 from a contact of the body 12 such that when the body 12 is depressed in a direction towards the chassis 14, the body 12 applies the force to the pivoting arm 44. Alternatively, an actuation button is provided. In various embodiments, the body 12 may have one or more biasing member, such as springs 47 for example, that allow the body 12 to be movably coupled to the chassis 14.
With reference now to
Accordingly and when a force is applied to the rear of the vehicle 10 thereby moving the rear axle or alternatively the body 12, the linkage system is manipulated and causes one or more of the front movable leg members 16a, 16b to extend to the second position. When the force is released a spring biased force returns the linkage system to a first position and the one or more of the front movable leg members 16a, 16b are retracted to the first position.
As can be appreciated and as illustrated, actuation unit 24c in one non limiting exemplary embodiment, can include another pair of first and second linking members 50b, 52b that are coupled to a movable leg member 16b. As can be appreciated, the first actuation unit 24c can similarly include a linkage system associated with rear mounted movable leg members.
Referring now to
A pivotally mounted lever 54 is further provided for actuating the first pivotally mounted cam member 56. The lever 54 actuates the first cam member 56 based on a force applied to the lever 54. When actuated, the first pivotally mounted cam member 56 pivots to a second position. When in the second position, the cam surface of the first pivotally mounted cam member 56 engages the surface of the second pivotally mounted cam member 58 thereby causing the second pivotally mounted cam member 58 to pivot to a second position, and further causing the corresponding leg member 16a to extend to a second position.
When the force is removed from the lever 54, the first pivotally mounted cam member 56 pivots back to the first position by means of the biasing force of the spring, which causes the second pivotally mounted cam member 58 to pivot back to the first position by means of the biasing force of the corresponding spring, thereby causing the leg member 16a to retract to the first position.
As can be appreciated, the actuation unit 24d in one non limiting exemplary embodiment can include another pair of cam members that are coupled to a movable leg member such that each front wheel is secured to a movable leg member spring biased into a first position and each leg member is coupled to a cam member 58 pivotally mounted to the chassis and having a cam surface positioned to engage a complimentary cam member of a first cam member 56.
In this embodiment, there are a pair of first cam members 56 each being pivotally mounted to the chassis and being configured to engage a respective cam member 58. Here each of the cam members 58 are positioned to be manipulated by a corresponding lever 54 pivotally mounted to the chassis. In this embodiment each lever is located such that if the upper body portion 12 is pushed downwardly towards the chassis in essentially a vertical direction tab member or feature 61 will engage both levers 54 and move them which in turn causes the cam member 56 to actuate cam members 58 and thus both leg members 16 are extended. Alternatively and if the body is angled with respect to the chassis as it is being depressed only one of the levers will be actuated and thus a left or right wheel and arm member is extended. Still further a user may rock the upper body portion 12 in a left to right manner with respect to the chassis such that the left and right wheels may extend and retract in an alternating fashion to resemble a punching action.
With reference to
In addition, the openings the distal ends of the features are received in may be configured to allow for angular movement of the body as well as downward movement of the body so that various angles and movements are provided to provide for the selective actuation of each of the independently mounted wheels and associated leg members. Still further the features themselves may be pivotally mounted to the upper body and/or the features themselves may also be configured to be snap fitted into openings in the chassis while still allowing for the pivotal and angular movement of the body portion with respect to the chassis. Accordingly, various movement of the body with respect to the chassis allows a force to be applied to one or both of the levers in a selective fashion from a single contact or feature 61 of the body 12 such that, as discussed above, when the body12 is depressed in various directions towards the chassis 14, the body 12 applies the force to either one or both of the levers 54. When two or more levers are depressed, the application of the force to the corresponding lever 54 can in one non-limiting embodiment be dependant upon the direction of the force applied to the body 12.
Alternatively, one or more actuation buttons can be provided on the body for manipulation of the levers. In various embodiments, the force applied to the chassis 14 from the body 12 can be regulated by one or more spring biased members acting upon the upper body portion.
As can further be appreciated, the first actuation unit 24d can similarly include a cam system associated with rear mounted movable leg members or all four wheels of the vehicle may actuated.
Referring now to
For example and in this embodiment, the movement can be the flipping open of the hood, flipping up of the headlights, and/or exposing a particular windshield (e.g., a second windshield or the back side of the first windshield).
In the example of
Referring to
The third actuation unit 70 also includes a first leg member assembly 76 and a second leg member assembly 78 that are coupled between the tires 20 and the linkages 72, 74 respectively. The leg member assemblies 76, 78 is configured to actuate or cause the movement of a front component of the body 12, such as the tires 20 for example. It should be appreciated that the leg member assemblies may further be coupled to actuate the movement of other components, such as the flipping open of the hood, flipping up of the headlights, and/or exposing a particular windshield (e.g., a second windshield or the back side of the first windshield) for example.
Referring to
In the embodiment of
Accordingly and in one embodiment, the toy will have a fighting feature that may include a front or rear tire side kick, a front or rear dual wheel punching effect or single wheel punching action wherein the activation method can either be pressing down on rear or front tires, pressing activation buttons located on top of the body or pressing down on the entire body to produce any of these fighting/punching features. In the various embodiments spring loaded links using anyone of gears, cams, linkages or combinations thereon allow for this action to occur.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the present application.
The present application claims the benefit of Provisional Application, Ser. No. 61/349,634, filed May 28, 2010, the contents each of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
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