Steering mechanism for pop-up toys

Abstract

A collapsed steering and control mechanism for pop-up toy vehicles which mechanism is immediately operational after being popped up.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based on United States Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/178,606 filed Jan. 28, 2000, which claims the priority of German Patent Application Serial Number DE19903994.1 filed Feb. 2, 1999.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

[0002] This application was not developed under any federally sponsored research and development.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates to wheeled pop-up toys, and more specifically to steering mechanisms for such toys.

[0004] In my German Patent No. 29620048.4, I described a mechanism for pop-up toys (“pop-ups”) which, in contrast to the conventional pop-ups, are fully functioning three-dimensional toys.

[0005] Up to now, steering or other directional devices that could be built into three and four-wheeled pop-up toys, preferably made of cardboard, have not been known. It would be desirable to construct pop-ups with the steering mechanism and whole pop-up folded flat, regardless of the position of the steering mechanism on the vehicle; and after popping up, to be immediately steered with mechanical freedom.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Conventionally, when pop-up toys are constructed as vehicles, they are not steerable or controllable, since the wheels are fastened to the rigid side walls of the vehicle and consequently around a rigid axle. “Rigid axle” means an axle with a relatively fixed longitudinal axis, whether or not the axle rotates on its own axis and whether or not a wheel rotates on the axle. A rigid axle does not bend or turn enough for useful steering. A model vehicle is more fun if it can be steered.

[0007] In one exemplary embodiment, a collapsed steering and control mechanism is configured with a “yoke” so as to be able to be immediately operational after being popped up. The exemplary embodiment does this without complicated operations such as interlocking, unintended buckling, tearing down, or other damage to components. Collapsing or folding of the model is easy even with multi-directional steering. The exemplary steering and control mechanism is strong when popped up and remains strong and reliable for good transfer of control and steering forces and clean tracking of any steered wheels. Even with steering, a pop-up vehicle with the exemplary steering and control mechanism is only about as thick as the conventional non-steerable pop-up model when each is in its folded condition. This steering can, in the exemplary embodiment, be inexpensively obtained using “classical” materials such as cardboard, paper, or cloth tape. “Cardboard” as used herein means any material having a generally similar cheapness, strength and corner bendability to cardboard. Plastic sheet material would thus be “cardboard” as would thin wood, thin metal, rubber sheets, etc. More expensive models, such as wooden or metal model cars or trucks using thicker yoke material or thicker steering members could take advantage of the exemplary steering mechanism, by using hinges to allow folding and lateral yoke movement.

[0008] Previously, it seemed impossible, or at least very difficult and non-obvious, how anyone could provide such a combination of features in a pop-up model of a vehicle that is typically made of cardboard. Yet, even with the functional steering, the exemplary steering mechanism has a strength that was previously possible only in rigid vehicle models. The exemplary steering mechanism can also find application in rigidly constructed models. The advantage of the exemplary embodiment lies primarily, however, in the foldable pop-up, since the bendable corners provide the flexibility for both steering and folding which has not previously been achieved in such pop-ups with any similar strength.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a right, upper, front perspective view in partial cutaway of an exemplary four-wheel pop-up steerable vehicle in a fully opened state, FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary steering mechanism for the vehicle of FIG. 1 with the wheel facing the viewer omitted to allow visibility,

[0010] FIG. 3 is a right, upper, front perspective view in partial cutaway of an exemplary three-wheel pop-up steerable vehicle in a fully opened state, and FIG. 4 is a side view of a modified version of the vehicle of FIG. 3 in folded condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The problem of constructing a satisfactory functioning controllable steering of two wheels on one axle is solvable in pop-up model vehicles by use of various embodiments, including, but not limited specifically to, the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In this exemplary embodiment of a steering and control mechanism 100, in the area of a movable front axle 102, a stabilizing transverse wall 104 is provided with a middle section 106 folded forwardly toward a front edge 108. Middle section 106 could alternatively be a separate strip taped to the center of wall 104. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, wall 104 is fastened firmly to a vehicle floor 110 through a bracket-type diagonal connection 112 by a snap 114, 115 or other attachment (not shown), and thus with a pair of side walls 116, 117 attached to floor 110. Wall 116 and wall 117 are connected to transverse wall 104 and floor plate halves 118 and 124, respectively, in a hinged way to form a vehicle body 120 which is rigid and adequately strong in three dimensions. Mechanism 100 is thus configured to form part of a vehicle model 122 with sidewalls 116, 117 and floor plate halves 118, 124. Mechanism 100 occupies an area 126 from a front 127 back to slightly behind transverse wall 104. Transverse wall 104 is made of adequately strong “cardboard” (i.e. of some thin, buckling-resistant material, not necessarily paper or boxboard). Parts 102-126 give vehicle model 122 both in a popped up and in a folded position, as described below, an adequate stability so that other vehicle body parts can be made, for example, out of lighter cardboard.

[0012] One special feature of exemplary embodiment 100 is that transverse wall 104 no longer forms a front or back wall of model 122 as in conventional pop-up models but rather lies intermediate front 127 and back 129. Wall 104 thus has two transverse halves 105, 107 that meet and bend forwardly along a central vertical line 128. The forwardly bent portions of halves 105 and 107 form a two-layer rib type reinforcement 106 on an inside surface 130 of vehicle 122 with steerable axle 102. The steerable axles are usually front axles 102 and 132, although rear axles 133 could alternately or also be made steerable in similar manner, if desired. Both wheels 134 and 135 are supported on lower side edges 131 and 137 of transverse wall 104 so as to be able to swivel horizontally with wheel suspensions 138 and 139. Wheels 134 and 135 are fixed to each other by being fixed to suspensions 138 and 139 and connecting the front and back of suspensions 138 and 139 to each other with front folded connection strip 152 and rear folded connection strip 153 so that wheels 134 can not be moved separately when popped up. Transverse wall 104 allows right and left jointed pivotal attachments 136 and 137 of wheel suspensions 138 to effectively approximate pivoting of wheels 134 themselves. Use of side walls 116 and 117 of the vehicle for jointed attachment of the wheel suspensions 138 and 139 would require pivots 16 and 137 to be fastened above wheels 134 and 135 since wheels 134 and 135 also need a large wheel well 142 in side walls 116 to be able to be turned in any direction. Wheel suspensions 138 and 139 would then react to temporary turning forces by bending and wheels 134 and 135 would no longer be adequately strong. So attachment of wheels 134 and 135 to side walls 116 and 117 would create a major problem with respect to transfer of steering forces at suspensions 138 and 139, and wheels 134 and 135 would be so inaccurately coupled that such a solution must be viewed mechanically as unsatisfactory.

[0013] By the insertion of transverse wall 104 into model 122, however, it is possible to make steering and control fully satisfactory in mechanical functions. Both steerable wheels 134 and 135 are supported so as to be turnable on two flat, rigid yokes 140 and 141 fastened to the wheel suspensions 138 and 139 which in turn are connected through cloth tape connections 143 and 145 or through a cardboard or paper joint, or other hinge type connection,(not shown) or, in more expensive designs, by small hinges which pivot on edges 129 and 131 of wall 104.

[0014] When folded together wheel suspensions 138 and 139 represent on one side simultaneously, an exact fit cutout of each half of transverse wall 104 that therefore lies in one plane folded together with wall 104, as seen in FIG. 2. Since halves 105 and 107 of transverse wall 104 folded together in turn with side walls 116 and 117 and halves 118 and 124 of vehicle floor 110 of model 122 form one plane, steerable suspension 138 and 139 of steerable wheels 134 and 135 folded together at this place 144 is not thicker or is only insignificantly thicker than the earlier pop-up models which were not steerable.

[0015] Wheel suspensions 138 and 139 and connection strips 152 and 153 and transverse wall 104 makes it possible to swivel both steerable wheels 134 and 135 around perpendicular swivel axles 146 and 148 that bisect a midpoint 150 of wheels 134 and 135.. Suspensions 138 and 139 are arranged in vehicle model 122 to be mirror images of each other. During swiveling of the steerable wheels 134 and 135, both suspensions 138 and 139 remain at the same distance from wheel midpoints 150 and to swivel axles 146 and 148. Each connection strip 152 and 153 is fastened so as to be hinged by a fold 154 and suspensions 138 and 139 and 154, or similar strip running parallel to an opposed connection strip 153 at a mirror image position on an opposite side of model 122.

[0016] Both strips 152 and 153 are preferably made of cardboard or cloth tape. Also other materials may be considered. If strips 152 and 153 are made of rigid material, they must have folds 156 and 158 or some other hinge type connection in the middle in order to fold the model 122 together in a way similar to transverse wall 104. A rear connection strip 158 can also be folded in such a way that strip 158 folds together placed against transverse wall 104. In use of soft cloth tape fold 158 is eliminated since the cloth tape folds together “by itself”.

[0017] It is now important that when model 122 pops up, connection strips 152 and 153 tighten tightly between wheel suspensions 138, forced by transverse wall 104 to pop-up and attach to floor plate 122. Thus steerable wheels 134 in popped up vehicle 122 are always arranged satisfactorily parallel to each other in their swivel movements. The forces of tightly drawn binding strips 152 and 153 acting on wheels 134 temporarily are produced by transverse wall 104 which is rigid after the popping up on the one hand, and on the other hand, however, also held in check so that a well functioning steering geometry is produced.

[0018] Viewed technically, connection strips 152 and 153 have the function of steering tie rods. The distances viewed from the axis of rotation 146 and 148 to a front edges 160 or back edges 162 of wheel suspensions 138 and 139 thereby form a steering knuckle arm. Between wheel suspensions 138 and 139 and connection strips 152 and 153 a right angle is formed at front edge 160 when driving straight. During steering operation a more or less oblique angled parallelogram is formed between suspensions 138 and 139 and strips 152 and 156.

[0019] In side walls 116 and floor plate 122, corresponding wheel wells 142 must be provided in order to allow space for the steerability of wheels 134 and 135.

[0020] In order to be able to control wheels 134 and 135, a small perpendicular cardboard strip 166, that corresponds in its material strength to the material strength of transverse wall 104, is inserted in the middle of transverse wall 104 along middle fold 108. Fold 106 could be a separate cardboard strip 166 is glued jointed by a cardboard fold or a cloth tape 170 connection with half 105 of transverse wall 104 exactly in an area 176 of middle fold 128. Strip 166 has in its lower area 178 the exact width of a steering knuckle arm (therefore the distance 180 between the swivel axis 146 and the connection strip 152 acting as a steering tie rod, with which strip 166 is joined in the middle to the connection strip 152 in the area of center fold 168 likewise with transverse wall 104.

[0021] Accordingly this cardboard strip 166 can be moved around a third pivot axle coincident with fold 176 which is arranged concentric and parallel to both of the wheel pivot axes 146 and 148 and thereby carries one of the connection bands 152 and 156 acting as a steering tie rod. Cardboard strip 166 moves parallel to wheel suspensions 138 and pivoting movements of strip 166 are transmitted precisely to steerable wheels 134 and 135. In a part 182 projecting upward over the transverse wall 104 strip 166 is alternately formed upward that strip 166 protrudes over a roof 184 of model 122 and extends through a bow shaped roof cutout 186 and can be moved. Strip 166 is made into any desired driver figure 188 on a side 190 turned away from a control lever 192 to make a visual image recognizable through window openings 194 of a head and body of driver figure 188 turning in the same direction as wheels 134 turn at the time.

[0022] In order to be able to control wheels 134 and 135, strip 166, that corresponds in its material strength to the material strength of the transverse wall 200, is inserted in the middle of the transverse wall 104 along middle fold 154. This cardboard strip 166 is glued jointed by a cardboard fold or cloth tape connection with the transverse wall half 1 exactly in the area of the center-fold of the transverse wall 1. The cardboard strip 6 has in its lower area the exact width of a steering knuckle arm (therefore the distance between the swivel axis and the connection strip acting as a steering tie rod 5, with which it is joined to the connection band 5) in the area of the center fold likewise with the transverse wall 1.

[0023] Accordingly this cardboard strip 166 can be moved around a third pivot axle which is arranged concentric and parallel to both of the wheel pivot axes 146 and 148 and thereby carries one of the connection bands 152 and 153 acting as a steering tie rod. Thus cardboard strip 166 likewise moves parallel to the wheel suspensions 138 and 139 and pivoting movements of strip 166 are transmitted precisely to the steerable wheels 134 and 135. Strip 166 is alternately formed toward the back or toward the front to a perpendicular control lever 182 that protrudes over roof 184 of model 122 and extends through cutout 184 and can be moved. Also, strip 166 can be made into any desired driver figure 188 on side 190.

[0024] Such steering in a pop-up model fulfills all the conditions mentioned in the beginning. Mechanism 100 is, after the popping up of model 122, immediately fully operable and can be folded together in any desired steering position without any portion of mechanism 100 interlocking or being able to be damaged. Also with folded steering the steerable wheels 134 and 135 turn at the same time with the collapsing together of vehicle 122 automatically to a straight ahead traveling position, and then lie collapsed together fall and in line with sidewalls 116 and 117.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows mechanism 100 in the folded together position. Here floor plate 110 is represented which together with transverse wall 104 brings about the strength of vehicle 122 with a snap or similar adhesive connection 114 and 115.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a second exemplary embodiment is shown. FIG. 3 is a right, front, upper perspective view of this second exemplary embodiment, which is a 3-wheeled vehicle 200, and FIG. 4 shows vehicle 200 in folded condition with an optional added cutout 226 and optional added control lever 238. In 3-wheeled vehicle 200, a central support 202 is provided that is as strong in its material strength as lower floor plate halves 204, sidewalls 206, and back wall 208 fixing vehicle 200 through a tab type diagonal connection 210 with a snap 212, 214 or other attachment. Other materials of other strengths could be used, provided support 202 is of sufficient strength.

[0027] Support 202 runs through vehicle 200 from backwall 208 to a central forward hinge connection 216 to which a wheel carrier 218, made of strong cardboard attached to a wheel 220 to be steered. The layout and technical implementation of such a center support 202 are known so that a more exact representation would be superfluous. It is important that support 202 be connected upward with a foldable roof 222 or foldable intermediate floor half 224 which is constructed like roof 222. In the latter case there then remains a free space between roof 222 and intermediate floor 224 which can be used as play storage space. The stabilization of vehicle 200 is achieved in this exemplary embodiment by a snap 212, 214 in rear area of the vehicle between wall 208 and floor plate 204 whereby back wall 208 and floor plate halves 204 are connected over folds or foldably flexible material hinged with sidewalls 206. Support 202, always fixed concentric with and parallel to side walls 206, makes it possible that a strong pivot axle 230 can be built for wheel 220.

[0028] In contrast to wheel suspensions 138 and 139, a wheel suspension 228 of wheel 220 is lengthened upward and received over wheel 220. Connection 216 to center support 202 acs as a hinge which forms pivot axle 230 at a midpoint 232 of wheel 220.

[0029] One axle is eliminated in vehicle 200 in order to allow the option of eliminating a control lever, as below described, or in the event a model of a three-wheeler is desired with a control lever. Connection 216 around axis 224 above wheel 220 with one individual wheel 220 is not a problem, provided that a sufficiently long fold 202, 234 is ensured. A horizontal fold length 217 of substantial length and vertical fold length of at least a distance roughly approximately about equal to the diameter of wheel 220 has been found satisfactory, although other lengths could be used. This is because there are no strong lateral forces on wheel 220 or fold 234. Pivot axle 230 can be cardboard fold 216 or can be cloth tape, or in more expensive constructions, be formed of small hinges. Support 202 contains a corresponding wheel cutout 236 to allow freedom of movement of wheel 220.

[0030] Wheel suspension 228 may contain a control lever 238 in its upper area connected as a joint 216 with center support 202 similarly to lever 182, and likewise can be operated through a bow shaped cutout 226 (see FIG. 4) in the vehicle roof 222. Likewise a usual forward upper part 240 of wheel suspension 228 is formed as a drive figure which turns in the direction of steering.

[0031] If pivot axle 230 lends itself to being built easily rearwardly, the vehicle can also be steered when one pivots the whole vehicle 200 in the desired direction, as by pushing the side of the vehicle opposite the intended direction of movement. Wheel 220 now follows in turn the steering movement of pushed vehicle 200 and upper part 240 (the driver figure) turns in whatever direction vehicle 200. In this implementation it may be attractive to do without control lever 238 and eliminate cutout 226, hence cutout 226 is not shown in FIG. 3 but is shown in FIG. 4 to emphasize its optional nature. In FIG. 3 pivot axis 230 is slanted rearwardly so that more of wheel 220 rearward of axis 230 contacts the ground or floor to exert a turning force on wheel when lateral force is applied to vehicle 200

[0032] Vehicle 200 also fulfills all of the requirements mentioned in the beginning with respect to the function and technical convertibility. Here also, especially in the folding together of vehicle 200, wheel suspension 228 turns automatically in the initial position (driving straight ahead) so that the vehicle can be folded together as shown in FIG. 4 from any steering position without difficulty.

[0033] Other embodiments will also suggest themselves to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading of the above two exemplary embodiments, and those are to be included to the extent stated in the claims below, giving a broad range of equivalents thereto in view of the broad disclosure above made. The above examples are just that, illustrative examples which show best mode and enablement in accordance with statutory requirements, but there is no intention to be limited to just the best mode, as that would not give the properly broad scope sought. Applicant intends the claims below to the limited in scope only by the prior art and the statutory requirement that the invention defined by any claim be patentable over the prior art. To the extent the Festo v. Shoketsu decision of the CAFC remains in effect, Applicant notes that nothing above is intended to be limiting other than as absolutely required in order to render the claims below patentable over the prior art. The claims below, not the description above, and the prior art are intended to define the breadth of coverage sought.

Claims

1. A steering and control mechanism for pop-up toy vehicles which, in a first folded position, is flat and, in a second popped up position, is operational for multi-directional steering.

2. A mechanism in accordance with

claim 1 wherein said mechanism attached to a toy to be steered and wherein said mechanism is, when folded, of substantially similar thickness to said toy.

3. A mechanism in accordance with

claim 2 wherein said mechanism, when folded, is of a thickness less than or equal to the thickness, when folded, of said toy.

4. A mechanism in accordance with

claim 1, wherein said mechanism is operable immediately after being moved from said first position to said second position, without further manual operations

5. A mechanism in accordance with

claim 1, wherein said mechanism is free of resistance to steering caused by interlocking, jamming, etc. in collapsing together or popping up in any desired steering position and is thereby protected from accidental damage during these manipulations.

6. A mechanism in accordance with

claim 1, wherein the mechanism includes

a foldable rectangular yoke with an opposed front wall and rear wall, an opposed right side wall and left sidewall, said opposed front and rear walls joined by flexible corners to said opposed side walls, said yoke being attached to the toy, and

a foldable steering member attached to said yoke for bending said yoke into a parallelogram by application of lateral force between one of said opposed walls of said yoke.

7. A mechanism in accordance with

claim 5, wherein said rectangularity is in a horizontal plane.

8. A mechanism in accordance with

claim 6, wherein a front and a rear wall of the yoke remain parallel throughout the steering movement, but move laterally relative to each other and a left side wall and a right side wall of said yoke incline relative to the toy to accommodate such lateral movement.

9. A mechanism in accordance with

claim 7 wherein said steering member is attached to said front wall of said yoke and a front wall of said toy and is configured to apply lateral force on said front wall of said yoke relative to said front wall of said vehicle.

10. A mechanism in accordance with

claim 8 wherein a right wheel is rotatably attached to said right side wall and a left wheel is rotatably attached to said left wall, so that when said steering member applies said lateral force and said right and left side walls incline, said wheels also incline to thereby steer the toy.

11. A mechanism in accordance with

claim 7 wherein said steering member is attached to said rear wall of said yoke and a front wall of said toy and is configured to apply lateral force on said rear wall of said yoke relative to said front wall of said vehicle to move said rear wall of said yoke laterally relative to said vehicle.

12. A mechanism in accordance with

claim 8 wherein a right wheel is rotatably attached to said right side wall and a left wheel is rotatably attached to said left wall, so that when said steering member applies said lateral force and said right and left side walls incline, said wheels also incline to thereby steer the toy

13. A mechanism in accordance with

claim 1 wherein said steering member and yoke are cardboard.

14. A mechanism in accordance with

claim 6 wherein

said steering member is disposed parallel to said side walls of said yoke and is attached to said front and rear wall of said yoke but not to said toy and

a small section of said left and right side walls of said yoke are attached by a flexible link, respectively, to a left side and right side of said toy, so that when said steering member is turned, said side walls turn in parallel to said steering member.

15. The mechanism of

claim 1 is simple to manufacture.