Operated By Belt Drive Or By Tangential Contact With Wheel Patents (Class 446/449)
  • Patent number: 11883760
    Abstract: A foldable toy includes: a body part; a support part movably connected to the body part; at least one movable body part movably connected to at least one of the body part or the support part; and a locking part to fix the moveable body part in a first position to lock the foldable toy in a first shape in which the body part, the support part, and the movable body part are deployed. When the locking part is unlocked, the movable body part moves to a second position, and the foldable toy is folded into a second shape in which the body part, the support part, and the movable body part are stacked on one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventor: Shin-Kyu Choi
  • Patent number: 11850531
    Abstract: A rollable toy car of the present disclosure relates to the technical field of toys. The rollable toy car includes a car body device, a rolling device arranged on the car body device, and a transformation actuating device arranged on the car body device, wherein a transformation actuator actuates a first car body to rotate by means of a first gear set; the transformation actuator actuates a third car body to rotate by means of a third gear set; and a first rolling frame is driven to rotate by the first car body, and a third rolling frame is driven to rotate by the third car body, so that the first rolling frame, a second rolling frame and the third rolling frame are jointly enclosed into a rollable shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventor: Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 10843094
    Abstract: A radio-controlled (RC) toy includes a pair of RC toy vehicles having toy bodies with generally planar base portions. Each toy vehicle has a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted thereon. A coupling arrangement stacks the toy vehicles along a stacking axis that is generally perpendicular to the base portions, and connects the toy vehicles together in a stacked vehicle configuration in which the base portions face each other. At least one RC controller controls movement of at least one of the toy vehicles for individual vehicle movement in a single vehicle configuration over a support surface, and for joint movement of the toy vehicles in the stacked vehicle configuration over the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Inventor: George Balanchi
  • Patent number: 10281915
    Abstract: A multi-purposed, self-propelled device and method for operation of the self-propelled device. Certain variations can include a spherical housing having an internal drive system and a multifunctional payload space for use in a variety of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: SPHERO, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Berberian, Ian Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Kevin Hemmings, Ross MacGregor
  • Patent number: 5888138
    Abstract: A movable model object which resembles a racehorse has a model supported on a base having wheels that run on a field of a horse racing game apparatus. The model includes front and rear legs as movable elements and a power transmitting mechanism for transmitting rotation of the wheels to the front and rear legs. The power transmitting mechanism includes an endless belt for transmitting the rotation of the wheels to a rotatable shaft rotatably supported on a fixed frame of the model to move the front and rear legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Suganuma
  • Patent number: 5603651
    Abstract: A bubble producing toy includes a rod or tether having a circular ring at one end to loosely encircle the user's lower leg or ankle. A bubble producing mechanism is secured to the outer end of the rod and is operative to produce bubbles when twirled about the user's leg. The bubble producing mechanism includes a housing which carries a power wheel rotatable in response to ground engagement during twirling about the user's leg to rotate a bubble plate within the housing. The bubble plate has a plurality of openings over which bubble-producing films are formed as the plate dips into a bubble-producing solution during rotation and moves the films successively through an air passage in the housing so that bubbles are formed through a discharge end of the air passage. The rod or tether is of sufficient length to require a skipping or hopping movement of the user's free leg so as not to impede twirling of the toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Shure Products Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas S. Shure, Tai H. Matlin, James A. Waring
  • Patent number: 5162009
    Abstract: A race track includes a recessed continuous track path directed through a top surface of a rigid game board, wherein the rigid game board includes a vibratory mechanism to transmit vibratory energy to tokens mounted within the race track path. The race track tokens include a plurality of vibratory transmitting tabs projecting downwardly through a bottom surface of each token, wherein the tabs may optionally be rotatably mounted upon a rotary cylinder to permit directional orientation to each token during its traverse of the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Inventor: Hurley G. Vaughn
  • Patent number: 4929216
    Abstract: A cylindrical ring and a character having a number of extending parts that are circumscribed by a circle having a diameter equal to the inside diameter of the ring are readily combinable by a child to make a rotating toy. Insertion and removal of the character from the inside of the ring are facilitated by making the ring of a deformable material. The combined ring and character are placed in a vehicle in contact with the vehicle wheels so that as the vehicle is moved along a playing surface, the wheels rotate the combined ring and character. Part of the vehicle body is hinged for closing an opening through which the combined ring and character are inserted. Above the ring is a transparent dome in which a ball is positioned in contact with the ring so that as the combined ring and character rotate, the ball rotates within the dome. Other accessories provide rotatable surfaces which engage the outer curved surface of the cylindrical ring to rotate the combined ring and character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventors: Lamont C. Morris, Wayne A. Kuna, Rouben T. Terzian
  • Patent number: 4915633
    Abstract: A user-propelled toy school bus which as it travels along a playing surface exhibits through its side and rear windows the successive letters of the alphabet. These letters are printed along an endless scroll that is guided in a path running behind the windows, each letter being defined by a series of equi-spaced parallel segments. The scroll is so driven by one set of the bus wheels through a unidirectional drive system that as the bus travels in either direction, the scroll always advances continuously in the same direction. Formed on each window is a parallel array of equi-spaced viewing elements. As the scroll advances behind each window, the segments of each letter alternatively move into registration with the viewing elements to expose the letter, and then the interstices between the segments move into registration with the viewing elements to blank out the letter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Buddy L Corporation
    Inventors: Robert T. Auer, David W. Reina, Richard L. Keats
  • Patent number: 4889516
    Abstract: A power module which when plugged into an open compartment in the body of a motorless toy vehicle and switched on, then acts to drive the vehicle in a selected direction. The compartment is disposed above a coupling gear mounted on a wheel axle. The case of the module simulates the appearance of a multi-cylinder engine nad houses a DC motor and a battery supply therefor, the motor being operatively coupled to a drive pinion whose teeth project below the base of the case to engage the coupling gear whereby when the motor is energized, the wheel axle is caused to turn to propel the vehicle. The upper end of the case which projects above the body has a rocker pivoted thereon which simulates an air scoop for the engine and functions as the actuator for a polarity-reversing switch connecting the battery supply to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Buddy L Corp.
    Inventors: Robert T. Auer, David Reina
  • Patent number: 4601675
    Abstract: A mechanized ball includes a hollow sphere having a removable hatch through which a powered ball driving unit can be placed within the sphere and removed therefrom. The ball driving unit can be electrically or mechanically powered and may be in the form of a single powered driving wheel or a self-contained four wheeled toy vehicle. The vehicle may be guided within the ball by a strut and/or a spring device which contacts an interior part of the ball. In some species the ball may be steered by a weight which is moved back and forth along a dual helical groove on a diametral support from which a single powered drive wheel is suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1986
    Inventor: Donald E. Robinson