SYSTEM FOR STEERING A TOY VEHICLE
A steerable toy vehicle includes a first steering plate having a proximal end and a distal end, the first steering plate having a first steering plate pivot point at its distal end, and a second steering plate having a proximal end engaged with the proximal end of the first steering plate so that rotation of the second steering plate in a first rotational direction causes the first steering plate to rotate in a second rotational direction. The vehicle includes at least one tire rotatably coupled to the first steering plate, and at least one tire rotatably coupled to the second steering plate. Rotation of either one of the first or second steering plates in a first rotational direction causes the toy vehicle to steer left, and rotation of the same one of the first or second steering plates in a second rotational direction causes the toy vehicle to steer right.
This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 61/378,344 filed Aug. 30, 2010 and provisional application No. 61/258,503 filed Nov. 5, 2009.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to toy vehicles, and more particularly to toy vehicles that are steerable.
2. Description of the Related Art
Likely since Henry Ford's introduction of mass production techniques to automobile construction and the birth of the car culture in America, manufacturers have produced miniaturized replicas and stylized representations of automobiles and other vehicles for use as toys. Typically placed on the floor or table-top, a user will often grasp the toy vehicle and push it along the surface in an imaginative simulation of driving or other movement. Such toy vehicles may have front wheels that turn when the vehicle's body is grasped and tilted (U.S. Pat. No. 2,386,745) or front and rear axles that rotate in the same direction (U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,216,497; 5,312,288) to produce lateral toy movement (rather than turning).
A need still exists, however, to produce stylized toy representations of vehicles for the imaginative simulation of driving and other movements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA toy vehicle is disclosed that allows steering of both front and back wheels in a coordinated manner to affect steering of the toy vehicle as a whole. In one embodiment, a first steering plate having proximal and distal ends also has a first steering plate pivot point at its distal end. A second steering plate has its proximal end engaged with the proximal end of the first steering plate so that rotation of the second steering plate in a first rotational direction causes the first steering plate to rotate in a second rotational direction. At least one tire is rotatably coupled to the first steering plate, and at least one tire rotatably coupled to the second steering plate. In this configuration, rotation of either one of the first or second steering plates in a first rotational direction causes the toy vehicle to steer left, and rotation of the same one of the first or second steering plates in a second rotational direction causes the toy vehicle to steer right.
A method of steering a toy vehicle is also disclosed that includes rotating a first steering plate about a first steering plate pivot point in a first angular direction, the actuating causing at least one tire rollably connected to the first steering plate to change its axis of rotation, rotating a second steering plate engaged with the first steering plate in a second angular direction directionally opposite from the first angular direction, the second steering plate rotating in response to the rotation of the first steering plate and the rotating the second steering plate causing at least one tire rollably connected to the second steering plate to change its axis of rotation in an angular direction opposite from the change in the axis of rotation of the at least one tire rollably connected to the first steering plate. In this manner, the at least one tire rollably connected to the first steering plate and the at least one tire rollably connected to the second steering plate are steered in opposite angular directions to collectively steer the toy vehicle.
The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principals of the invention. Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
A toy vehicle steering apparatus, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, includes front and rear steering plates (also referred to as “wheel sliders”), engaged at their respective proximal ends, a chassis to seat the front and rear steering plates and vehicle tires rotatably coupled to the steering plates. A toy vehicle body is rotatably coupled to the chassis and is connected to at least one of the steering plates through a body steering armature. A user, by leaning the toy vehicle body to a first side can cause the front and back wheels to steer the toy vehicle in a first direction, and by leaning the toy vehicle to a second side can cause the front and back wheels to steer the toy vehicle in a second direction. Additionally, a raised axle guide may be provided to enable one or more wheels to lift up during travel of a steering plate, creating a “walking” effect with the toy vehicle as it may be leaned first to one side and then the other by the user.
In one embodiment of a vehicle steering system 100 illustrated in
In one embodiment, a body steering armature 116 is coupled to a decorative vehicle body (not shown), with the decorative vehicle body itself rotatably coupled to front and rear body rotation posts (118, 120) through upright body ribs (122, 124) that are preferably molded to the decorative vehicle body (not shown). Rotation of a major axis of the vehicle body is centered about the front and rear body rotation posts (118, 120), enabling the body steering armature 116 to translate rotation of the vehicle body to angular rotation of the second steering plate 104 by means of a steering armature post 126 extending from the body steering armature 116 that engages a channel 128 formed on the second steering plate 104. The front and rear body rotation posts (118, 120) are preferably each defined by a pin bracket screwed to the decorative vehicle body (not shown).
In one embodiment, the second steering plate 104 is rotatably coupled to the chassis 110 at a second steering plate pivot point 130 that aligns with a rear axle 132 connecting left and right rear tires at a distal end 214 of the second steering plate 104. The second steering plate 104 is preferably rotatably coupled to the chassis 110 by means of a small dial shaft which is part of the slider body and that engages with a complementary hole in the chassis that itself defines the second steering plate pivot point 130. Through these mechanisms, rotation of the second steering plate 104 in a first rotational direction causes rotation of the first steering plate 102 in a second rotational direction. Left and right steering over-travel stops (134, 136) are preferably formed on the chassis 110 adjacent the first steering plate 102 to prevent over actuation of the vehicle steering apparatus 100 by over rotation of the body steering armature 116.
During operation, a user may grasp the decorative vehicle body (not shown) to push the vehicle steering apparatus 100 forward on its front and rear tires (206, 208, 210, 212). If a user leans the vehicle body to the right (for example), the vehicle body rotates about the front and rear body rotation posts (118, 120) to trans-late rotation of the coupled body steering armature 116 to lateral movement of the steering armature post 126 in the channel 128, thus causing angular rotation of the second steering plate 104 about the second steering plate pivot point 130. With the second steering plate 104 engaged with the first steering plate 102 at their distal ends 202, rotation of the steering armature post 126 induces the first steering plate 102 to rotate about the first steering plate pivot point 112 as the steering plate post 106 is induced to move by the translation/rotation of the slot 108 about the second steering plate pivot point 130. Because the front and rear wheels are rollably coupled to the first and second steering plates, respectively, the vehicle turns to the right. Similarly, if the vehicle body is leaned to the left, an opposite rotation of the first steering plate 102 is induced through the body steering armature 116 to turn the vehicle to the left.
Also illustrated in
In
While various implementations of the application have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of this invention.
Claims
1. A toy vehicle steering apparatus, comprising: wherein rotation of either one of said first or second steering plates in a first rotational direction causes said toy vehicle to steer left, and rotation of the same one of said first or second steering plates in a second rotational direction causes said toy vehicle to steer right.
- a first steering plate having a proximal end and a distal end, said first steering plate having a first steering plate pivot point at said distal end;
- a second steering plate having a proximal end engaged with said proximal end of said first steering plate so that rotation of said second steering plate in a first rotational direction causes said first steering plate to rotate in a second rotational direction;
- at least one tire rotatably coupled to said first steering plate; and
- at least one tire rotatably coupled to said second steering plate;
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second steering plate comprises a slot to receive a post extending from said first steering plate whereby said first steering plate and said second steering plate are slidably and rotatably engaged at said proximal ends.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said proximal end of said second steering plate comprises a plurality of gear teeth to receive a corresponding plurality of gear teeth on said proximal end of said first steering plate.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a body steering armature coupled to a vehicle body, said body steering armature engaged with one of said first or second steering plates;
- wherein rotation of said vehicle body about a major axis of said toy vehicle causes said body steering armature to rotate about said major axis, thereby causing rotation of said one of said first or second steering plates through said engagement of said body steering armature with said one of said first or second steering plates.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, said body steering armature comprising:
- a post to engage a channel of one of said first or second steering plates, so that rotation of said body steering armature about said major axis of said toy vehicle pushes said post against side walls of said channel resulting in rotation of said one of said first or second steering plates.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a chassis to seat said first steering plate and said second steering plate.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first steering plate is rotatably coupled to said chassis at said first steering plate pivot point.
8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said second steering plate has a distal end rotatably coupled to said chassis at a second steering plate pivot point.
9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first steering plate pivot point is aligned with the axis of rotation of said at least one tire.
10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said chassis further comprises:
- a raised axle guide to raise an axle connected to one of said at least one tire rotatably coupled to said first steering plate and said at least one tire rotatably coupled to said second steering plate, as a respective one of said first steering plate and said second steering plate is rotated;
- wherein said toy vehicle steering apparatus appears to walk when steered alternately right and left.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:
- an axle frame support coupled to said axle, said axle frame support rotatably coupled to said first steering plate.
12. A method of steering a toy vehicle, comprising:
- rotating a first steering plate about a first steering plate pivot point in a first angular direction, said actuating causing at least one tire rollably connected to said first steering plate to change its axis of rotation;
- rotating a second steering plate engaged with said first steering plate in a second angular direction directionally opposite from said first angular direction, said second steering plate rotating in response to said rotating of said first steering plate and said rotating said second steering plate causing at least one tire rollably connected to said second steering plate to change its axis of rotation in an angular direction opposite from the change in the axis of rotation of said at least one tire rollably connected to said first steering plate;
- wherein said at least one tire rollably connected to said first steering plate and said at least one tire rollably connected to said second steering plate are steered in opposite angular directions to steer the toy vehicle.
13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:
- guiding an axle cam connected to one of said at least one tire rollably connected to said first steering plate over a raised axle guide as said first steering plate is rotated in said first angular direction.
14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:
- rotating a vehicle body about a major axis of said toy vehicle;
- translating said rotating of said vehicle body about the major axis of said toy vehicle to said rotating said first steering plate.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said rotating a vehicle body comprises grasping the vehicle body with a hand and applying force to rotate the vehicle body.
16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said translating said rotating of said vehicle body comprises pushing said first steering plate about said first steering plate pivot point using a body steering armature coupled to said vehicle body.
17. The method according to claim 14, wherein said rotating said second steering plate is accomplished by a post on said first steering plate pushing against side walls of a slot established in said second steering plate.
18. The method according to claim 14, wherein said rotating said second steering plate is accomplished by gear teeth on said first steering plate driving complementary gear teeth established on said second steering plate.
19. A toy vehicle steering apparatus:
- front and rear steering plates engaged at their respective proximal ends;
- a chassis to seat said front and rear steering plates;
- front left and front right tires rollably coupled to a front steering plate and positioned along a front tire rotation axis, said front steering plate rotatably coupled to said chassis at a point along said front tire rotation axis;
- rear left and rear right tires rollably coupled to a back steering plate and positioned along a rear tire rotation axis, said rear steering plate rotatably coupled to said chassis at a point along said rear tire rotation axis;
- a toy vehicle body rotatably coupled to said chassis along a major axis of said toy vehicle;
- a body steering armature coupled to said toy vehicle body, said body steering armature engaged with one of said first or second steering plates;
- wherein said front left and front right tires steer the toy vehicle in a first direction in response to rotation of said vehicle body about said major axis of said toy vehicle in a first rotational direction and said rear left and rear right tires steer the toy vehicle in a second direction in response to rotation of said vehicle body about said major axis of said toy vehicle in a second rotational direction.
20. The toy vehicle of claim 19, further comprising:
- a raised axle guide positioned to raise an axle connected to one of said at front left and front right tires rollably coupled to said front steering plate as a respective one of said first steering plate and said second steering plate is rotated;
- wherein said toy vehicle steering apparatus appears to walk when steered alternately right and left.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 2, 2010
Publication Date: May 5, 2011
Inventor: Stephen Derek Bond (Agoura, CA)
Application Number: 12/938,306
International Classification: A63H 17/00 (20060101);