The present invention relates to a vehicle with controlled motorized movements.
Conventional vehicles which include the ability to transform from one or more positions are typically manual manipulated vehicles that require various skills and knowledge of the final positions. A need exists for a toy vehicle that includes motorized movements that control and move the vehicle into the various transformation positions.
A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
a is a front perspective view of the vehicle from
b is a front perspective view of the vehicle from
a is a perspective view of the vehicle from
b is a perspective view of the vehicle from
c is a front view of
a is a rear perspective view of the vehicle from
b is a rear perspective view of the vehicle from
c is a side view of the vehicle from
In one or more of the embodiments of the present invention there is provided a toy vehicle having a chassis with a front wheelbase mechanism moveably secured to the chassis to raise and lower a set of front wheels. The front wheelbase mechanism further includes two front segments. Each front segment has one of the front wheels rotatably attached to a lower end of each segment. The front segments further positioned within two channels in the chassis for guiding movement of the front segments. Two front springs are secured at an upper end of each front segment and to the chassis. The springs are biased toward the lower end of each segment. Each front segment further includes a toothed edge meshed to a front gear train in communication with a motor and includes a clutch, such that when the motor is powered in a first direction, the clutch engages the front gear train to direct upward and downward movement of the front segments. In addition to the front wheelbase, a rear wheelbase mechanism is moveably secured to the chassis to raise and lower a set of rear wheels that are pivotally secured to the rear wheelbase mechanism. The rear wheelbase mechanism includes a rear segment with a lower portion pivotally attached to a rear axle and includes the set of rear wheels rotatably attached thereto. The rear segment further has a rear toothed edge meshed to a transfer gear. A lower portion of a rear spring is secured to the chassis and an upper portion of the rear spring is secured to the rear segment and biased toward the rear axle. The transfer gear is meshed to a rear gear train in communication with the clutch, such that when the motor is powered in a second direction, the clutch engages and transfers movement to the rear segment and rear axle, such that the rear segment raises and lowers the rear axle. Therefore powering the motor in the first and second directions animates the vehicle as the front segments and rear segment raise and lower.
In other aspects of this embodiment the vehicle further includes an integrated circuit for receiving signals generated in response to a triggering means and for controlling activation of the motor to direct movement of the front wheels and rear wheels in response to the signals.
Other aspects may include providing the front gear train with two triangular gears meshed to the toothed portion of the front segments. The triangular gears being less than 360 degrees of teeth, such that the triangular gears direct the front segments downward while the teeth are meshed, and then the front springs pull the front segment upward when the teeth are not meshed. This aspect may further provide the toothed portions of the triangular gears offset relative to one another such that the front segments alternately raise and lower as the motor powers in the first direction. Yet other aspects may further include providing the transfer gear with less than 360 degrees of teeth, such that the transfer gear directs the rear segment downward while the teeth are meshed, and then the rear spring pulls the rear segment upward when the teeth are not meshed.
In addition thereto, the embodiment of the vehicle further includes a circuit board in communication with the triggering means and a receiver and a remote control unit with a transmitter to send commands to the receiver, such that the circuit board can send control signals to the triggering means to activate and power the motor in a first and/or second direction.
In a second embodiment of the invention there may be provided an animated toy vehicle comprising front and rear wheelbase mechanisms. The front wheelbase mechanism is movably secured to a chassis and includes a means to direct movement of two front segments positioned within two channels on the chassis and includes a wheel rotatably attached at the lower end of each front segment. The rear wheelbase mechanism is movably secured to the chassis and includes a means to direct movement of a rear segment with a rear axle pivotally secured to a lower portion of the rear segment and includes two wheels rotatably attached thereto. In addition thereto, there is provided a motor, a front gear train, a rear gear train, and a clutch in mechanical communication with the front wheelbase mechanism and rear wheelbase mechanism. The motor is able to move in a first direction to engage the clutch to direct the front wheelbase mechanism and means to direct movement of the front segments to raise and lower the front segments. The motor is also able to move in a second direction to engage the clutch to direct the rear wheelbase mechanism and means to direct movement of a rear segment to raise and lower the rear segment and rear axle.
The means to direct movement of the front segments can include two front springs secured at an upper end of each front segment and to the chassis, where the springs further are biased toward the lower end of each segment; and each front segment further includes a toothed edge meshed to the front gear train in communication with a motor and including a clutch, such that when the motor is powered in a first direction, the clutch engages the front gear train to direct upward and downward movement of the front segments.
The means to direct movement of the rear segment can include a rear segment with a lower portion pivotally attached to a rear axle including two wheels rotatably attached thereto. The rear segment further includes a rear toothed edge meshed to a transfer gear. A lower portion of a rear spring is secured to the chassis and an upper portion of the rear spring is secured to the rear segment and biased toward the rear axle. The transfer gear is meshed to the rear gear train in communication with the clutch, such that when the motor is powered in a second direction, the clutch engages and transfers movement to the rear segment and rear axle, such that the rear segment raises and lowers the rear axle.
The second embodiment may also include an integrated circuit for receiving signals generated in response to a triggering means and for controlling activation of the motor to direct movement of the front wheels and rear wheels in response to the signals. In addition, the front gear train may include two triangular gears meshed to the toothed portion of the front segments. The triangular gears have less than 360 degrees of teeth, such that the triangular gears direct the front segments downward while the teeth are meshed, and then the spring pulls the front segment upward when the teeth are not meshed. The toothed portions of the triangular gears may also be offset relative to one another such that the front segments alternately raise and lower as the motor powers in a first direction.
Furthermore, the rear gear train may also include a transfer gear having less than 360 degrees of teeth. The transfer gear can then direct the rear segment downward while the teeth are meshed, then the rear spring pulls the rear segment upward when the teeth are not meshed.
Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.
While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention, claims or the embodiments illustrated.
Referring now to
Continuing to refer to
Referring again to
The upward and downward movement of the front wheelbase mechanism 20 and the rear wheelbase mechanism 25 are controlled by an integrated circuit (“IC”). When the IC receives a signal from one of a plurality of switches (or from a remote control unit (not shown), the IC directs the motor 90 via a control signal to activate in a first direction to drive the front wheelbase mechanism 20 to alternatively raise each of the front segments 40 and the front wheels 30 rotatably attached thereto. Further, the IC may direct the motor 90 via a control signal to activate in a second direction to drive the rear wheelbase mechanism 25 to raise and lower the rear segment 100 as described above.
When one of the plurality of switches (not shown) is triggered in response to a user's input or preprogrammed content, a signal is sent via an electrical connection to the IC included in the vehicle 10. The IC contains a processor(s) and a memory 320. The processor(s) accesses preprogrammed signals or audio content stored on the memory in the IC. The IC further includes programming and electronic components to facilitate and direct audio content and control signals. The processor(s) accesses the preprogrammed signals or audio content based on a program and/or in accordance to a user's input. The processor(s) then generates a response that includes signals and may be in the form of audio or control signals. The IC may be in communication with a variety of components, such as the motor 90, a set of LED drivers (not shown), or an amplifier (not shown). From the processor(s) audio signals are transferred to the amplifier while control signals are transferred to the motor 90 to power in the desired direction, based on a program and/or in accordance to a preprogrammed response. Additionally, signals may be transferred to the LED drivers to illuminate a set of LEDs positioned throughout the vehicle 10. As a user triggers one or more of the plurality of switches, the vehicle 10 in response thereto may execute a performance pattern through movement and audio. Audio is played through a speaker when the IC sends audio content to the amplifier. A power source (not shown) is included in the vehicle 10 to supply power where necessary. It should further be contemplated that the vehicle 10 could include the capability for RC or IR control.
In the first embodiment, the vehicle 10 includes a means to independently raise and lower each of the front wheels 30.
Further and in accordance with the first embodiment, the vehicle 10 includes a means to raise and lower the rear wheels 35.
The first embodiment of the vehicle 10 also includes a means to execute a punching movement with the front wheels 30 when the vehicle 10 is positioned such that the front end of the vehicle is in a substantially upright position.
Additionally, the vehicle 10 includes a means to trigger preprogrammed movements of the components of the vehicle 10 while simultaneously outputting audio.
It is also important to note that the embodiments disclosed herein cover the vehicle 10 that utilizes preprogrammed content or direct user input to direct and trigger responses. It should be further noted that responses can be directed and triggered in a radio controlled embodiment utilizing a transmitter/receiver for communication from a user to the IC.
From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is intended or inferred.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/236,365 filed on Aug. 24, 2009.
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4390187 | Maeda | Jun 1983 | A |
5322469 | Tilbor | Jun 1994 | A |
5334077 | Bailey | Aug 1994 | A |
5527059 | Lee, Jr. | Jun 1996 | A |
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5785576 | Belton | Jul 1998 | A |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20110053457 A1 | Mar 2011 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61236365 | Aug 2009 | US |