Mechanical Motor Patents (Class 446/164)
  • Patent number: 10589430
    Abstract: A two wheeled throwable robot comprises an elongate chassis with two ends, a motor at each end, drive wheels connected to the motors, and a tail extending from the elongate chassis. The throwable robot includes a pair of torque limiting mechanisms, each torque limiting mechanism being operatively coupled between a motor and a drive wheel. Each torque limiting mechanism comprises a drive flange portion, a driven flange portion and a plurality of rollers. A spring element provides a ring force that biases the rollers toward the driven flange portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: ReconRobotics, Inc.
    Inventor: Alex J. Kossett
  • Patent number: 8197298
    Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a central housing having first and second oppositely disposed sides. A first wheel is rotatably mounted on the first side of the housing and a second wheel is rotatably mounted on the second side of the housing. Each of the first and second wheels has a central hub. Each hub has a center disposed along a common first axis of rotation. A plurality of vanes are attached to the hub and form the first and second wheels. An end of each vane distal to the hub forms a circumferential surface portion of one of the first and second wheels. Each vane is individually and separately manually angularly repositionable about a second axis of rotation extending transversely with respect to the first axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: William Willett
  • Patent number: 7794300
    Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a central housing having first and second oppositely disposed sides. A first wheel is rotatably mounted on the first side of the housing, and a second wheel is rotatably mounted on the second side of the housing. Each of the first and second wheels has a central hub and a plurality of individual vanes rotatably attached to the hub. Each hub has a center disposed along a first axis of rotation. Each vane is rotatable about a second vane axis extending transversely with respect to the first axis. An end of each vane distal to the hub forms a circumferential surface portion of one of the first and second wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph T. Moll, Vladimir Leonov, William Willett, Kenlip Ong
  • Publication number: 20090124164
    Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a central housing having first and second oppositely disposed sides. A first wheel is rotatably mounted on the first side of the housing and a second wheel is rotatably mounted on the second side of the housing. Each of the first and second wheels has a central hub. Each hub has a center disposed along a common first axis of rotation. A plurality of vanes are attached to the hub and form the first and second wheels. An end of each vane distal to the hub forms a circumferential surface portion of one of the first and second wheels. Each vane is individually and separately manually angularly repositionable about a second axis of rotation extending transversely with respect to the first axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: MATTEL, INC.
    Inventor: William Willett
  • Patent number: 7217170
    Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a central housing having first and second oppositely disposed sides. A first wheel is rotatably mounted on the first side of the housing, and a second wheel is rotatably mounted on the second side of the housing. Each of the first and second wheels has a central hub and a plurality of individual vanes rotatably attached to the hub. Each hub has a center disposed along a first axis of rotation. Each vane is rotatable about a second vane axis extending transversely with respect to the first axis. An end of each vane distal to the hub forms a circumferential surface portion of one of the first and second wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph T. Moll, Vladimir Leonov, William Willett, Kenlip Ong
  • Patent number: 6793552
    Abstract: A radio controlled toy is provided with a robotic rider that catches waves via an electric motor and propeller, then rides waves like a real surfer, and rights itself after a wipeout comprising a novel way to rotate the robotic rider's upper torso and to disburse the motor room heat allowing for long run times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Inventor: Steven J. Derrah
  • Patent number: 6183333
    Abstract: A toy surfboard or body board has a specially shaped bottom surface of the board to hold the waves in the same manner as in a full sized surfboard or body board. A figure of a surfer is positioned on the top surface to balance and maintain and bias the board to a flat running configuration. A compartment is located in the board to hold a radio receiver, controls, motor mechanisms and the batteries. A rudder is located rearwardly of the bottom mounted propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Wombarra Innovations Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Jason Grant Venables Hall
  • Patent number: 4919637
    Abstract: A model submarine has an inherent "fail safe" feature, so that the submarine (if submerged) will rise to its periscope depth in the event the submarine encounters a stationary object, or in the event a power failure occurs. Power is supplied by a single submersible motor-pump unit within a free-flooding hull. The motor-pump unit supplies a pressurized water discharge for, first, forward propulsion of the submarine via the discharge nozzle of an ejector pump; and second, for hydraulic control of the diving and steering maneuvers. The ejector pump has a venturi for aspirating fluid out of the ballast tank. An automatic depth control feature assures that the submarine will level off to a desired predetermined depth when a diving command signal is given; and the desired predetermined depth is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Leonard Bloom
    Inventor: Lewis W. Fleischmann
  • Patent number: 4902260
    Abstract: Am amphibian toy car which can be operated by a remote controller comprising a semicircular flow-control cover disposed ajacent to the upper portion of each front wheel and a buoy. By these flow-control cover and buoy, the forward propel force above the front wheels is not generated, so that the toy car can move forwardly and turn right and left under the condition that wheels are submerged in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Bando Sports, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Kyu Im
  • Patent number: 4744781
    Abstract: An amphibious toy vehicle having paddles located within the wheels of the toy vehicle which can be extended outside the wheels in order to propel the vehicle forward and backward in water. A flotation chamber is provided at the bottom of the vehicle. A gear assembly including rack gears is used to extend and retract the paddles. After the paddles are retracted inside the wheels, the toy vehicle may be moved over a supporting surface by the rotating wheels. A downwardly extending portion attached to an upper body of the amphibious toy vehicle helps to keep motors mounted inside the vehicle dry when the toy vehicle is placed in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Ostendorff, Peter C. Crosson, Samuel M. Goldstein, Daniel H. Meggs
  • Patent number: 4652247
    Abstract: This toy propels itself along the surface of a pool of water or along an extremely steep, irregular nonwater surface. A battery powers a motor, which drives the vehicle's four wheels and a steerable water jet. The wheels carry pronounced peripheral cleats for propulsion along both a water surface and a very steep, irregular nonwater surface. The hollow wheels, several times overscale, contribute significantly to overall buoyancy. The water-jet impeller aids propulsion along a water surface and can be rotated horizontally to direct the vehicle in circles of variable diameter. The motor shaft is aligned with the direction of vehicle travel and extends both forwardly and rearwardly from the motor to drive a symmetrical geartrain for nonwater-surface propulsion: fixed on each shaft end is a pinion that drives a spur gear, which in turn drives a worm, that in its turn drives a worm gear keyed to an axle. The worm gear drives the axle, which drives the wheels and tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Adolph E. Goldfarb
    Inventors: Adolph E. Goldfarb, Delmar K. Everitt
  • Patent number: 4547166
    Abstract: An amphibious toy vehicle about the length of a "penlight" battery can climb any grade where it will not tip over backward, and can propel itself through water. An "AA" battery powers an electric motor in the four-wheel-drive vehicle. The motor has a double-ended shaft, driving a symmetrical worm-and-worm-gear geartrain. The motor and geartrain are aligned along one side of the chassis; the battery alongside them occupies the rest of the chassis. Both climbing and water-propulsion capability are enhanced by several-times-overscale hollow (to aid flotation) wheels, with pronounced peripheral cleats. A flotation chamber extends beneath the entire chassis. To resist degradation due to dirt, the chassis is substantially sealed against dirt particles, but for economy the sealing is not watertight. To compensate for this, the entire electromechanical system has been made to operate even with the chassis full of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Assignee: Adolph E. Goldfarb
    Inventors: Adolph E. Goldfarb, Delmar K. Everitt
  • Patent number: 4540376
    Abstract: An amphibious toy vehicle powered by a water turbine and 4 drive wheels adapted to operate in a forward and backward direction on land and in a forward straight and circular direction in water. A single battery operated motor coupled to a transmission simultaneously drives both the 4 drive wheels and the water turbine. Power shafts from the transmission to the water turbine and the drive wheels are contained in isolated vertical risers extending above the water line so that the vehicle housing cavity containing the battery source, motor and transmission remain water-free without the use of seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Assignee: Azrack-Hamway International, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Turbowitz, William Pipa