Vehicle with Moving Eyes
A toy vehicle has a body, at least one wheel associated with the body, a panel having at least one opening, and an actuation system positioned inside the body. The actuation system has a power source, a switch and a controller coupled to the switch and the power source. An eye module is positioned inside the body and coupled to the controller, the eye module having at least one eye positioned adjacent the opening, and mechanism for causing the eye to move when the switch is turned on to actuate the system.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to toy vehicles, and in particular, to toy vehicles having eyes that can move.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Toy vehicles have been popular toys and novelty items for a long time. Children and adults alike have enjoyed playing with toy vehicles, such as cars, trains, boats and planes.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREIt is an object of the present invention to provide a toy vehicle with eyes that can move.
In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the toy vehicle according to the present invention includes a body, at least one wheel associated with the body, a panel having at least one opening, and an actuation system positioned inside the body. The actuation system has a power source, a switch and a controller coupled to the switch and the power source. An eye module is positioned inside the body and coupled to the controller, the eye module having at least one eye positioned adjacent the opening, and mechanism for causing the eye to move when the switch is turned on to actuate the system.
The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Referring to
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3A-3B, according to one embodiment, the eye module 24 has a housing 50 that has an opened front end 52, and an opening 54 in the rear end 56 through which the wire 40 extends. A motor 58 is positioned inside the housing 50 and connected to the wire 40, and is operatively coupled to two gear sets 60, with one gear set 60 on each side. Each gear set 60 includes at least two gears, with one gear coupled to the motor 58, and another gear coupled to a block 62 that has an eye 22 positioned at an outer end. The eye 22 can be a fabricated eye that is made of plastic or any other inexpensive material, and designed to make it look like a human eye. Each block 62 also functions as a weight. As shown in
The eye module 24 can be secured adjacent the openings 20 in the windshield 18, although the eye module 24 can even be positioned at another location of the toy car, such as behind the headlights. In addition, the eye module 24 can also be utilized in connection with other toy vehicles, such as toy trains, toy boats, toy airplanes and other vehicles.
While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
Claims
1. A toy vehicle, comprising:
- a body;
- at least one wheel associated with the body;
- a panel having at least one opening;
- an actuation system positioned inside the body, the actuation system having a power source, a switch and a controller coupled to the switch and the power source;
- an eye module positioned inside the body and coupled to the controller, the eye module having: at least one eye positioned adjacent the opening; a motor coupled to the controller; and a gear set coupling the motor with the eye;
- wherein actuation of the motor causes the gear set to rotate, thereby causing the eye to pivot.
2. The toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein the eye is secured to a block which is coupled to the gear set, with the block functioning as a weight to cause the eye to pivot upwardly under the force of gravity on the block when the eye module is at rest.
3. The toy vehicle of claim 2, wherein the eye pivots downwardly when the motor is actuated.
4. The toy vehicle of claim 1, further including a speaker coupled to the controller, with the speaker actuated to produce a pre-stored sound when the eye is pivoted.
5. The toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein the opening is provided in a windshield of the toy vehicle.
6. A toy vehicle, comprising:
- a body;
- at least one wheel associated with the body;
- a panel having at least one opening;
- an actuation system positioned inside the body, the actuation system having a power source, a switch and a controller coupled to the switch and the power source;
- an eye module positioned inside the body and coupled to the controller, the eye module having: at least one eye positioned adjacent the opening; a magnetic coil coupled to the controller; and a magnet block to which the eye is secured;
- wherein actuation of the magnetic coil causes the magnetic coil to generate an electromagnetic field, thereby attracting the magnet block and causing the eye to pivot.
7. The toy vehicle of claim 6, further including a speaker coupled to the controller, with the speaker actuated to produce a pre-stored sound when the eye is pivoted.
8. The toy vehicle of claim 6, wherein the opening is provided in a windshield of the toy vehicle.
9. The toy vehicle of claim 6, wherein the magnet block drops downwardly under the force of gravity when the eye module is at rest, with the eye pivoted upwardly.
10. The toy vehicle of claim 9, wherein the magnet block pivots upwardly when the magnetic coil is actuated, causing the eye to pivot downwardly.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 19, 2012
Publication Date: Jun 19, 2014
Applicant: NATIONAL PRODUCTS LIMITED (TST East)
Inventor: Chun Kin Lee (NT)
Application Number: 13/719,594
International Classification: A63H 17/26 (20060101);