TOY VEHICLE

Abstract

The toy vehicle includes a chassis, a body, a parallelogram extension assembly, and an actuation assembly. The parallelogram extension assembly moveably couples the body to the chassis such that the body can move forward in a substantially arc-shaped path from a position substantially above the chassis to a relatively forward position. The actuation assembly is mechanically coupled to the parallelogram extension assembly and is configured to cause the parallelogram extension assembly to move the body forward by activating the actuation assembly.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/846,303, filed on Sep. 20, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Toy vehicles have been popular play items for many years. Scaled or miniature toy vehicles are engaging toys for children and may find value as collector items. Additionally, by providing dynamic features and multiple play configurations, play value with toy vehicles may be increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a toy vehicle including a parallelogram extension assembly for moving the vehicle body relative to the vehicle chassis.

FIG. 1B shows the toy vehicle of FIG. 1A in an extended mode.

FIG. 2 shows a toy vehicle including a parallelogram extension assembly and a mouth feature.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed to a toy vehicle that includes a body and a chassis. In one configuration, the body may be positioned in a retracted mode substantially above the chassis so that the relative position of the body to the chassis is substantially similar to the relative position of a conventional full-sized vehicle body to a conventional full-sized vehicle chassis. In another configuration, the body may be moved to an extended mode wherein the body is relatively more forward. The ability of the body to extend in front of the chassis can create a sense of dynamic motion that can increase the play value of the toy vehicle.

FIG. 1A shows an exemplary embodiment of a toy vehicle 100. Toy vehicle 100 may include a chassis 102 and a body 104. The toy vehicle may also include two front monster-truck wheels 106 and two rear monster-truck wheels 108 that may be rotatably coupled to front and rear axles that may be rigidly coupled to the chassis. The spinning ability of the four wheels may allow the toy vehicle to be rolled on the ground or another rolling surface. The relatively large size of the wheels may allow the vehicle to be rolled over rough terrain and/or obstacles, thus simulating the rugged driving ability of a full-sized monster truck. In the illustrated embodiment, two front monster-truck wheels 106 are connected to the chassis by a common front axle, and two rear monster-truck wheels 108 are connected to chassis 102 by a common rear axle. In other embodiments, one or more of the wheels may be independently linked to the chassis and some toy vehicles may not include wheels (e.g., hovercraft, boat, airplane, etc.), and even if wheels are included, such wheels may not spin. Furthermore, a variety of different suspension mechanisms may be linked between the wheels and the chassis and/or between the axles and the chassis, thus providing the toy vehicle with an ability to absorb bumps and/or otherwise behave more similarly to a full-sized monster truck.

Toy vehicle 100 may further include a parallelogram extension assembly 110 and actuation assembly 112. The actuation assembly may receive an input force by a toy vehicle user that in turn actuates the parallelogram extension assembly to move body 104 from a retracted mode substantially over chassis 102 (FIG. 1A) to an extended mode substantially in front of a center of the front wheels (FIG. 1B).

As shown in the exemplary embodiment, chassis 102 may be configured as a simple monolithic box section. In other embodiments, the chassis may be configured with multiple longitudinal and/or cross members that may produce desired structural and/or vehicle performance characteristics. Additionally, various chassis configurations may utilize smaller amounts of materials and may thus reduce the manufacturing cost of the chassis. The chassis may also be configured to be coupled to front and rear axles. In other embodiments, the chassis may be configured to be directly rotatably coupled to front and rear monster truck wheels 106 and 108.

As shown in FIG. 1A, body 104 may be configured as a monster truck body. In other embodiments, the body may be configured as a car, a tank, a train, a truck, or other suitable body type. Furthermore, the body may be configured as a single section or multiple sections. For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, cab 114 is not coupled to bed 116. The bed is shown to be rigidly coupled to chassis 102, while the cab is moveably coupled to the chassis by parallelogram extension assembly 110. In other words, the cab may be allowed to move from the retracted mode to the extended mode while the bed or other section(s) may be held in place. In other embodiments, body 104 may include more or fewer sections that may be rigidly coupled to other body sections and/or to the chassis and/or moveably coupled to the chassis via the parallelogram extension assembly.

Chassis 102 includes a forward end 128 and a rear end 130. Body 104 may be selectively moveable from the retracted mode, substantially over the chassis, to the extended mode, relatively more forward, via parallelogram extension assembly 110.

Parallelogram extension assembly 110 may include front linkage member 118 and rear linkage member 120. Although shown as having only one front linkage member and one rear linkage member, other embodiments may include a parallelogram extension assembly with multiple front and/or rear linkage members. Front linkage member 118 may be pivotably coupled to chassis 102 via a pivot 109 and to body 104 via a pivot 111. Likewise, rear linkage member 120 may be pivotably coupled to chassis 102 via a pivot 113 and to body 104 via a pivot 115.

The effective lengths of front and rear linkage members 118 and 120, as sides of a parallelogram, may be substantially equal. Likewise, a distance defined by a straight line drawn between pivots 109 and 113 may be substantially equal to a distance defined by a straight line drawn between pivots 111 and 115. This geometrical relationship ensures that as the body (or section(s) of the body such as cab 114) is moved from the retracted mode (as shown in FIG. 1A) to the extended mode (as shown in FIG. 1B) the front linkage member remains substantially parallel to the rear linkage member, and the body remains substantially parallel to chassis 102. Furthermore, this geometrical relationship may also result in body 104 being directed along a substantially arc-shaped path as it moves from the retracted mode to the extended mode.

As shown in FIG. 1A, body 104 is in the retracted mode. In this embodiment, body 104 is configured substantially above chassis 102 so that the relative position of the body to the chassis is substantially similar to the relative positioning of a conventional full-sized vehicle body to a conventional full-sized vehicle chassis. In other embodiments, body 104 may be configured such that the horizontal position of the body to chassis 104 is substantially similar to the relative horizontal positioning of a conventional full-sized vehicle body to a conventional full-sized vehicle chassis, however, the distance between the body and chassis may be smaller or greater in the retracted mode. FIG. 1B shows cab 114 in the extended mode, substantially in front of forward end 128 of a center of the front wheels. In other embodiments, body 104 may be configured to be positioned at a smaller or greater distance in front of the forward end of the chassis when in the extended mode. The effective lengths of the linkages, location of the pivots, and the degree of freedom allowed by the pivots can be selected to provide a desired positional relationship between the chassis and the body.

Actuation assembly 112 may include actuation lever 122, actuation member 124, and spoiler 126. Although shown as single structural members, other embodiments may include an actuation lever and/or an actuation member that are made from two or more structural members. As shown in FIG. 1A, actuation member 124 may be pivotably coupled to rear linkage member 120 via an actuation lever 122. In this embodiment, actuation lever 122 is not coupled to body 104. Actuation lever 122 may also be pivotably coupled to chassis 102. Additionally, as illustrated in this embodiment, spoiler 126 may be coupled to actuation lever 122 at a pivot 103. Other embodiments may configure toy vehicle 100 without a spoiler. When present, rear spoiler 126 may serve many functions. As one example, the spoiler may add desired aesthetic characteristics to the toy vehicle. The spoiler may also act as a handle when a toy vehicle user imparts a substantially downward and rearward (away from the forward end of chassis 102) force to actuation lever 122 that will subsequently move body 104 from the retracted mode to the extended mode.

Although actuation lever 122 and actuation member 124 are shown in FIG. 1A to form an acute angle at their intersection while toy vehicle 100 is in the retracted mode, other embodiments may be configured so that the angle formed therebetween is a right or an obtuse angle when the toy vehicle is in the retracted mode. Correspondingly, in the illustrated embodiment, actuation lever 122 is shown to be partially surrounded by bed 116 when the toy vehicle is in the retracted mode.

Front linkage member 118 includes a first end 132, which may be pivotably coupled to chassis 102 via pivot 109 and a second end 134, which may be pivotably coupled to body 104 via pivot 111. Rear linkage member 120 includes a first end 136, which may be pivotably coupled to chassis 102 via pivot 113, a second end 138 that may be pivotably coupled to body 104 via pivot 115, and an intermediate pivot 105 therebetween. Actuation member 124 includes first end 140, which may be pivotably coupled to rear linkage member 120 via an intermediate pivot 105 between the first and second ends of the rear linkage member. Actuation lever 122 includes a first end 144, which may be pivotably coupled to second end 142 of actuation member 124 via a pivot 107, a second end 146, and an intermediate pivot 103 therebetween. Actuation lever 122 may be pivotably coupled to chassis 102 via an intermediate pivot 103.

With reference to the orientation of toy vehicle 100 in FIGS. 1A and 1B, when a toy vehicle user imparts a substantially downward and rearward force to the second end 146 of actuation lever 122, the actuation lever may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction about intermediate pivot 103 of the actuation lever. A force may thus be transferred from first end 144 of actuation lever 122 to second end 142 of actuation member 124 via pivot 107, and the force may push the actuation member towards rear linkage member 120. In turn, a force may thus be transferred from the actuation member via intermediate pivot 105 to rear linkage member 120 that may rotate the rear linkage member about pivot 113 in a clockwise direction, toward forward end 128 of chassis 102. A force may thus be transferred from first end 138 of rear linkage member 120 to body 104 via pivot 115 that may result in the body being moved in a clockwise direction along a substantially arc-shaped path from the retracted mode, substantially over the chassis (FIG. 1A), to the extended mode, in front of a center of the front wheels (FIG. 1B).

In some embodiments, a spring and/or counterweight may be implemented to assist extension and/or retraction of body 104 (or section(s) thereof) relative to chassis 102. As a nonlimiting example, a spring may bias body 104 toward the extended state, and a catch may be used to hold the body in the retracted mode, against the biasing of the spring. When the catch is released, the spring may force body 104 from the retracted mode to the extended mode.

In the illustrated embodiment, toy vehicle 100 is a push-operated vehicle that may be manually rolled by a toy vehicle user. As shown, toy vehicle 100 does not include a motor or any other mechanism for imparting motion to the vehicle. However, other embodiments may include one or more propulsion mechanisms. For example, in some embodiments, toy vehicle 100 may include a remotely controlled motor for moving the vehicle and/or one or more remotely controlled steering mechanisms for steering the vehicle. In some embodiments, toy vehicle 100 may include a remotely controlled extension assembly, thus allowing the moving of body 104 from the retracted mode to the extended mode to be remotely initiated.

In some embodiments, a weighted flywheel may be charged by a pull-cord or similar mechanism that impels toy vehicle 100 to move. Furthermore, a triggering mechanism may be used to automatically move body 104 via parallelogram linkage 110 from the retracted mode to the extended mode after the vehicle has traveled a predetermined triggering distance. Of course, the above are provided as nonlimiting examples. It should be understood that an extension assembly may be incorporated into a variety of different functioning vehicles.

FIG. 2 shows a toy vehicle 200 that includes, like toy vehicle 100 from FIGS. 1A and 1B, a parallelogram extension assembly for moving a body relative to a chassis. Toy vehicle 200 also includes a mouth 202 that may add further play value to the toy vehicle by accentuating an effect of a beast lunging for its prey when the vehicle is in the extended mode. Mouth 202 may include jaw 206 and teeth 204. As illustrated, mouth 202 may be concealed and closed when toy vehicle 200 is in the retracted mode and may be revealed and open when the toy vehicle is in the extended mode. Jaw 206 may be pivotably coupled to the body and/or the parallelogram extension assembly via a pivot 208. Jaw 206 includes first end 210 and second end 212. When the body is in the retracted mode, jaw 206 may be substantially parallel to the body. When the body is moved from the retracted mode to the extended mode via a parallelogram extension assembly, jaw 206 may be impelled to rotate in a clockwise direction about pivot 208 until it is fully opened.

The rotation of jaw 206 about pivot 208 may be actuated by an actuation lever and may be further assisted by a spring and/or linkage mechanism and/or by the force of gravity. Furthermore, the rotation of the jaw about pivot 208 may occur gradually during the movement of the body from the retracted mode to the extended mode or may occur more rapidly at a predetermined point during the movement of the body (e.g. when the body has reached the extended mode) or may occur in a piecewise fashion as the body moves from the retracted mode to the extended mode. Additionally, the movement of the body and/or the opening of the jaw may substantially coincide with the revealing of other facial features, such as eyes, ears, or a tongue, for example, that may add further play value to toy vehicle 200 by further accentuating an effect of a beast lunging for its prey.

It will be appreciated that the configurations and embodiments disclosed herein are exemplary in nature, and that these specific embodiments are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The components, shapes, sizes, orientations, etc. described herein are non-limiting examples and it should be understood that each of these features may be changed.

The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and nonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the various systems and configurations, and other features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. The following claims particularly point out certain combinations and subcombinations regarded as novel and nonobvious. These claims may refer to “an” element or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof. Such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Other combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or through presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such claims, whether broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to the original claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A toy vehicle, comprising:

a chassis;

a body selectively moveable from a retracted mode relative to the chassis to an extended mode relative to the chassis;

a front linkage member with a first end pivotably coupled to the chassis and a second end pivotably coupled to the body;

a rear linkage member with a first end pivotably coupled to the chassis, a second end pivotably coupled to the body, and an intermediate pivot therebetween;

an actuation member having a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotably coupled to the intermediate pivot of the rear linkage member; and

an actuation lever having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate pivot therebetween, the intermediate pivot of the actuation lever being pivotably connected to the chassis, and the first end of the actuation lever being pivotably connected to the second end of the actuation member.

2. The toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein an actuation force imparted to the second end of the actuation lever rotates the actuation lever about the intermediate pivot of the actuation lever, thus pushing the actuation member toward the rear linkage, thereby rotating the rear linkage about the first end of the rear linkage to move the body from the retracted mode to the extended mode.

3. The toy vehicle of claim 2, wherein the front linkage and the rear linkage remain substantially parallel as the body is in the retracted mode, as the body is in the extended mode, and as the body moves between the retracted mode and the extended mode.

4. The toy vehicle of claim 2, wherein the front linkage member and rear linkage member cooperate to keep the chassis and the body substantially parallel as the body moves between the retracted mode and the extended mode.

5. The toy vehicle of claim 2, further including a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the chassis.

6. The toy vehicle of claim 2, wherein the body further comprises a mouth, the mouth being concealed and closed when the body is in the retracted mode, and the mouth being revealed and open when the body is in the extended mode.

7. The toy vehicle of claim 6, wherein the mouth is gradually revealed and opened during movement of the body from the extended mode to the retracted mode.

8. A toy vehicle, comprising: wherein actuation of the actuation lever causes the actuation member, the front linkage, and the rear linkage to cooperate to move the body in a substantially arc-shaped path from a position substantially above the chassis to a relatively forward position.

a chassis;

a body;

a front linkage member pivotably coupled to the chassis and to the body;

a rear linkage member pivotably coupled to the chassis and to the body;

an actuation member pivotably coupled to the rear linkage member; and

an actuation lever pivotably coupled to the chassis and to the actuation member;

9. The toy vehicle of claim 8, wherein the front linkage and the rear linkage remain substantially parallel as the body is in the position substantially above the chassis, as the body is in the relatively forward position, and as the body moves in a substantially arc-shaped path from the position substantially above the chassis to the relatively forward position.

10. The toy vehicle of claim 8, wherein the front linkage member and rear linkage member cooperate to keep the chassis and the body substantially parallel as the body moves from the position substantially above the chassis to the relatively forward position.

11. The toy vehicle of claim 8, further including a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the chassis.

12. The toy vehicle of claim 8, wherein the body further comprises a mouth, the mouth being concealed and closed when the body is in the position substantially above the chassis, and the mouth being revealed and open when the body is in the relatively forward position.

13. The toy vehicle of claim 12, wherein the mouth is gradually revealed and opened during movement of the body from the position substantially above the chassis to the relatively forward position.

14. A toy vehicle having a forward end and a rearward end, the toy vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

a body;

a parallelogram extension assembly moveably coupling the body to the chassis such that the body selectively moves forward in a substantially arc-shaped path from a position substantially above the chassis to a relatively forward position; and

an actuation assembly mechanically coupled to the parallelogram extension assembly and configured to cause the parallelogram extension assembly to move the body forward, the actuation assembly including an actuation lever that causes the parallelogram linkage to move the body forward responsive to the actuation lever moving rearward.

15. The toy vehicle of claim 14, wherein the parallelogram extension assembly includes a front linkage member with a first end pivotably coupled to the chassis and a second end pivotably coupled to the body; and a rear linkage member with a first end pivotably coupled to the chassis, a second end pivotably coupled to the body, and an intermediate pivot therebetween.

16. The toy vehicle of claim 14, wherein the front linkage and the rear linkage remain substantially parallel as the body is in the position substantially above the chassis, as the body is in the relatively forward position, and as the body moves in a substantially arc-shaped path from the position substantially above the chassis to the relatively forward position.

17. The toy vehicle of claim 14, wherein the actuation assembly includes an actuation member having a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotably coupled to the intermediate pivot of the rear linkage member; and wherein the actuation lever has a first end, a second end, and an intermediate pivot therebetween, the intermediate pivot of the actuation lever being pivotably connected to the chassis, and the first end of the actuation lever being pivotably connected to the second end of the actuation member.

18. The toy vehicle of claim 14, wherein the parallelogram extension assembly keeps the chassis and the body substantially parallel as the body moves from the position substantially above the chassis to the relatively forward position.

19. The toy vehicle of claim 14, wherein the body further comprises a mouth, the mouth being concealed and closed when the body is in the position substantially above the chassis, and the mouth being revealed and open when the body is in the relatively forward position.

20. The toy vehicle of claim 19, wherein the mouth is gradually revealed and opened as the body moves in a substantially arc-shaped path from the position substantially above the chassis to the relatively forward position.