Having Instrinsic Energy-storing Battery Or Flywheel Patents (Class 446/462)
  • Patent number: 6439948
    Abstract: An elongated substantially hollow body supports a pair of motor drive units, a battery power supply, and a radio frequency receiver and controller module. A pair of axles are rotatably supported near the frontal end of the elongated body and in turn support a pair of large diameter wheels. The motor drive units within the body are operatively coupled to the axles and are able to differentially drive the wheels. The position of the axles and wheels near the frontal portion of the vehicle results in the extension of a substantially greater portion of the body away from and beyond the wheels. Thus the extending portion of the body defines a trailing end. A control transmitter provides independent operational signals to each of the motor drive units to differentially drive the wheels. Each time the direction of travel of the toy vehicle is reversed, the reaction torque applied by the motors to the body causes the body to flip about the axles and invert bringing the trailing end to the opposite side of the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Ostendorff, Helena Bartor, Nathan C. Proch
  • Publication number: 20020094744
    Abstract: A remote control toy car and bubble blower arrangement includes a chassis equipped with front wheels and rear wheels and covered with a car body and a pivoted hood, a reciprocating bar adapted to open/close the hood, a bubble-blowing ring, which is moved with the hood and dipped in the solution in a solution container when the hood is closed, a cam wheel controlled to reciprocate the reciprocating bar, a van wheel adapted to blow air through the bubble-blowing ring when the hood is opened, a gear box adapted to rotate the can wheel and the rear wheels, and a motor controlled by a remote controller to rotate the vane wheel and the gear box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventor: Chung-Jen Cheng
  • Publication number: 20020090883
    Abstract: A forward/backward steering control mechanism installed in a toy car and coupled to a power drive and controlled by a remote controller to move the toy car forwards/backwards. The forward/backward steering control mechanism uses a remote controller-controlled server to move a movable gear on the transmission shaft of the toy car between a first transmission gear wheel, which is coupled to the power drive of the toy car, and a second transmission gear wheel, which is coupled to the first transmission gear wheel through two meshed idle gears, so as to control the direction of rotation of the transmission shaft, and to further control forward/backward movement of the toy car.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventor: Ke-Way Lu
  • Patent number: 6390883
    Abstract: A programmable device such as a toy or novelty item has a keyboard which can be activated by a user to set up any one of multiple different motions of the toy. Sounds and lights can be activated to coordinate with the movement. The toy can be a car or other device capable of moving in the environment. The toy is also controllable by remote control through a receiver and transmitter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Silverlit Toys Manufactory, Ltd
    Inventor: Kei Fung Choi
  • Patent number: 6338664
    Abstract: A remote controller for a toy vehicle includes a toggle switch on a hand controller for selectively enabling one of two sets of vehicle functions, and a reduced signal set integrated circuit for transmitting control signals to the vehicles. A group of function keys on the hand controller activates a function from each function set. The combined settings of the toggle switch and function key cause a unique combination of toggle switch signal and function key signal to be transmitted to the vehicle. The vehicle decodes the toggle switch and function key signal to determine which control function is to be performed. In addition, the vehicle may have a center steering controller which automatically sets a center steering course for the vehicle when no turn signal is being received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: New Bright Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yau Wah Wong
  • Publication number: 20010053653
    Abstract: A remote control running toy comprises a pair of uprights (24), each having a kingpin (22) for steerably supporting the wheels (20); and a steering mechanism (32) which is coupled through steering rods (30) with the uprights (24); wherein the running toy comprises a coil-shaped spring member (40) for absorbing a shock transmitted via the uprights (22) to the steering rods (28). Thereby, the remote control running toy is provided, which is able to prevent the steering rods from being damaged, even if a strong shock acts onto the front wheels, thus improving the reliability of the running toy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: Nikko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuyoshi Harada
  • Patent number: 6227933
    Abstract: The robot ball comprises an encapsulating shell, a drive system and a steering system. The shell has an axis of rotation and an outer annular tread surface centered on the axis of rotation. The drive system is encapsulated in the shell and comprises a first motorized mechanism and a counterweight. The first motorized mechanism has a stator portion and a rotor portion centered on the axis of rotation and connected to the shell. The counterweight is connected to the stator portion and is spaced apart from the axis of rotation whereby, due to inertia of the counterweight, rotation of this rotor portion rotates the shell to roll the tread surface on the ground. The steering system comprises a second motorized mechanism through which the counterweight is connected to the stator portion. This second motorized mechanism includes a pivot assembly having a pivot axis transversal to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Universite de Sherbrooke
    Inventors: François Michaud, Serge Caron
  • Patent number: 6227934
    Abstract: A toy vehicle has a curved cam surface on the upper surface of its chassis, with a forward point on a tangent that is relatively close to the center of mass of the vehicle, and a rearward point on a tangent that is relatively far from the center of mass. The vehicle includes a breaking mechanism that can be used to start the vehicle rotating forwardly. As the vehicle rotates, the point of contact between the vehicle and the supporting surface moves from the front wheels to a leading edge and subsequently to the cam surface. As the vehicle rotates with the cam surface in contact with the supporting surface, the center of mass of the vehicle is forced upwardly, providing sufficient momentum to propel the vehicle into the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: The Simplest Solution
    Inventors: William Isaksson, Paul Dowd
  • Patent number: 6206751
    Abstract: A toy vehicle is provided that is adapted for motor driven, battery powered operation, and in which the wheels can be disengaged from their gear train to permit free-wheeling use. The gear train for transmitting rotation from the motor drive shaft to the axle includes a worm gear mounted to the axle. The worm gear can be axially shifted along the axle with a manually manipulatable switch to engage and disengage the axle from the gear train. The switch preferably also controls transmission of electric power to the motor. In a presently preferred embodiment, electrical powers transmitted from the battery compartment to the motor solely by suitably disposed contact plates and, thus, is a “‘no wire’ design”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: New Bright Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keung Lee
  • Patent number: 6071173
    Abstract: A miniature-sized toy vehicle that is set in motion with a push along an intended straight-ahead path of movement and which rides on a ball bearing in depending relation from the vehicle chassis, the revolving mode of which ball bearing contributes to an optimum length of travel, and wherein the vehicle chassis has a rotative degree of movement about the ball bearing and during its travel will realign itself, if inadvertently released at an angle to the movement path, into a proper position for travel along the intended straight-ahead path of movement, to further increase the length of travel of the toy vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventor: William J. Kelley
  • Patent number: 6033285
    Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a chassis and a body mounted to the chassis. An electro-mechanical vibration generator is operatively connected with the chassis. The vibration generator is preferably an electric motor having a weight attached to the shaft of the motor. A light source and a sound source are each operatively connected with the body. A propulsion mechanism is connected with the chassis. Operation of the propulsion mechanism causes the toy vehicle to move across the medium on which it rests. An electrical circuit and an electrical power source are each connected with the vibration generator, the light source, the sound source and the propulsion mechanism. The electrical circuit controls the sequence and timing of the connected components to provide at least one sequence of events. A switch is connected with the electrical circuit. Upon activation of the switch, the electrical circuit initiates the sequence of events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Marvel Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Fine, Paul Nielsen
  • Patent number: 5961368
    Abstract: A differential structure of remotely controlled toy car, including a housing, a gear set installed in the housing and a left and a right shafts the ends of which extend out of two sides of the housing for connecting with wheel shafts. Each of the left and right shafts has a front end formed with spiral teeth meshing with two upright spiral gears on two sides. Each two adjacent left and right upright spiral gears mesh with one transverse spiral gear therebetween. During turning, by means of the engagement between the upright, transverse and upright sprial gears, a good differential modulation is achieved between the left and right shafts. Also, a sufficient torque is provided to prevent the wheels from slipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: Yu-Po Chu
  • Patent number: 5951362
    Abstract: A high speed electric toy vehicle having a high current rating electric motor is provided with a fail-safe mechanism which would promptly operate to cut off motor power supply before the battery is burnt or the vehicle housing is melted as a result of over-current developed across an electric motor due to locking of rotary shaft under operating conditions. The fail-safe mechanism operates by detecting the presence or absence of motor motion as indicated by a motion tag which are attached to a part of the vehicle which always moves in response to movement of the motor shaft. The mechanism will cut off supply to the motor when no motion has been detected for a pre-determined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Penta Blesses Enterprises
    Inventor: Wai-Hung Siu
  • Patent number: 5924909
    Abstract: A self-propelling rolling toy includes a transparent spherical outer casing, a coupling rod provided in and coupled non-rotatably to the outer casing, a horizontal transmission shaft mounted rotatably in the outer casing, an inner body mounted rotatably on the shaft inside the outer casing, a clutch operable to lock selectively the inner body to the outer casing, and a winding-type driving unit disposed in the inner body. The driving unit includes a spiral energy spring with an innermost end coupled to the shaft and an outermost end coupled to the inner body, a ratchet and pawl unit provided on the shaft, and a gear set which couples the ratchet and pawl unit and the coupling rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Dah Yang Toy Industrial Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Kazumi Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 5882241
    Abstract: A radio controlled toy vehicle has a central chassis, a front end mounting a pair of front wheels which is rotatably coupled to the front of the chassis and a rear end mounting a pair of rear wheels. An electric motor is provided in the chassis to selectively rotate the front end with the front wheels about a generally longitudinal axis through a partial rotation for steering or through as many complete rotations as desired for stunts. In one embodiment, the front end includes a yoke pivotally supporting a pivot body mounting the front wheels. The rear end contains a propulsion drive coupled to the rear wheels and is pivotally coupled with the chassis so that both rear wheels remain grounded as the chassis pivots in reaction to rotation of the front end for steering. In another embodiment, a stop is provided to limit the rotation of the front end. The stop releasably engages a collar around a shaft rotating the front end and is disengaged by providing more torque to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventors: Sean T. Mullaney, Michael G. Hoeting, Jonathan A. Jaffe, Vladamir Leonov, Shohei Suto
  • Patent number: 5868600
    Abstract: A toy car has a body with front and rear wheels, wheel support members with rightward/leftward travel wheels, and an elevating mechanism for lifting up and down the wheel support members in order to set the rightward/leftward travel wheels with respect to the body in positions higher than the front and rear wheels and positions which is lower than the front and rear wheels and in which the rightward/leftward travel wheels are in contact with the ground. When the wheel support members are in lifting-up positions, the front and rear wheels, not the rightward/leftward travel wheels, are in contact with the ground, and the toy car travels forward or backward. When the wheel support members are in lifting-down positions, the rightward/leftward travel wheels, not the front and rear wheels, are in contact with the ground, the toy car travels rightward or leftward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Asahi Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5839941
    Abstract: A toy car includes a chassis, a power supplying mechanism disposed on the chassis, a cover attached to and above the chassis, a swinging unit mounted swingably on the cover, a cam wheel disposed rotatably on the chassis, and a driving wheel unit. A transmission is disposed between the power supplying mechanism and the cam wheel and between the power supplying mechanism and the driving wheel unit so as to rotate the driving wheel unit and the cam wheel by actuation of the power supplying mechanism and so as to reverse the rotational direction of the driving wheel unit and the cam wheel upon collision of the car with a stationary object. A follower unit interconnects the swinging unit and the cam wheel so as to rotate the swinging unit between a first position and a second position relative to the cover upon rotation of the cam wheel on the chassis in a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Inventor: Hwa-Lo Chen
  • Patent number: 5833514
    Abstract: Rotational reactionary forces associated with drive trains which propel vehicles are harnessed and employed to move vehicle sub-components. The motor of a motor driven vehicle is mounted to the frame of the vehicle. The motor includes an output shaft that extends from the motor. The motor functions to rotate the output shaft, which rotation propels the vehicle. The motor further includes a motor housing from which the output shaft extends. The motor housing is pivotally mounted to the frame of the vehicle so as to allow substantial rotation of the motor housing with respect to the frame. The motor housing pivots in response to reactionary forces associated with the rotation of the output shaft. The motor housing interacts with sub-components of the vehicle such that the pivoting of the motor housing imparts motion upon the sub-components, such as air spoilers, suspension members, or trim adjustment devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Inventor: James O. Eaton
  • Patent number: 5823848
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a toy vehicle powered and propelled by a launching device. More specifically, the invention includes a toy vehicle, preferably about three inches long, with a flywheel at its midpoint. The body, chassis, wheel and other parts are preferably plastic. The flywheel, however, is preferably a non-ferrous metal, and most preferably a diecast zinc metal. In one embodiment of the invention, the toy vehicle is placed in the launching device. The vehicle rolls down a ramp to a car stop. Magnets in the flywheel activate a switch that turns on an electromagnet, causing the flywheel to accelerate. When the vehicle reaches the vehicle stop of the launcher, the flywheel is spinning and magnets on the flywheel activate a reed switch that turns on an electromagnet each time a magnet passes the reed switch. The reed switch, acting as a commutator along with the magnets in the flywheel, creates the effect of a D.C. motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Inventor: Charles Cummings
  • Patent number: 5823844
    Abstract: A vibrating toy is provided and includes a housing, a battery mounted within the housing, a motor mounted within the housing activated by the battery, a shaft driven by the motor, a mechanism on the shaft for imparting an eccentric vibration from the housing, a play element outside of the housing, and a mechanism for connecting the play element to the housing and through which the play element can receive vibrations generated from the mechanism that imparts the eccentric vibration. A weighted element attached to the shaft in a manner to unsymmetrically distribute weight imparts the eccentric vibration. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a vibration is transferred to the housing which in turn through contact vibrates a wire serving as the mechanism that connects to the play element. The invention further concerns a method whereby a live pet animal can be entertained by interaction with the aforementioned vibrating toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Inventor: Eli Markowitz
  • Patent number: 5803789
    Abstract: A remote control toy includes a remote land vehicle which is controlled by a hand controller configured in the shape of a flying vehicle. The hand controller includes a switch for controlling forward and rearward movement of the land vehicle and a photoelectric tilt switch for controlling steering of the land vehicle wherein tilting movement of the flying vehicle hand controller causes steering of the land vehicle. The tilting movement of the hand controller for steering creates that appearance that the flying vehicle is following or chasing the land vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventors: Bryan L. Dean, Victor G. Reiling, Loren T. Taylor, Todd W. Wise, Charles W. Miga
  • Patent number: 5785572
    Abstract: A power tool is transformable from a power wrench configuration for use in fastening elements forming a toy vehicle to an engine for the toy vehicle. The power wrench includes a handle having sections pivotally mounted to the housing of the wrench. The handle sections, when used as a wrench, form a single handle for the wrench and are pivoted away from one another to lie along opposite sides of the housing. The handle sections have portions simulative of an actual engine whereby the power wrench may be transformed to a toy engine simulative of an actual full-scale engine. The engine may be disposed in the toy built with the power wrench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Inventors: Richard C. Levy, Richard J. Maddocks, Dudley J. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 5762533
    Abstract: A toy vehicle has a chassis, two axles, two pairs of wheels and four identical wheel support housings. Each wheel is mounted on a separate end of a separate one of the two axles by one of the wheel support housings. The wheels are mounted for rotation on the housings, which are mounted off center on the axles so as to rotate eccentrically around the axles with the wheels. Wheels on either lateral side of the chassis are driven by separate propulsion motors driving separate gear trains in the chassis to propel the vehicle. Collars around the axles and pairs of gears within the wheel support housings themselves couple the wheels with the gear trains. The axles are rotated together through a third shaft driven by a separate accessory motor to vary the eccentric position of the wheel support housings and thereby alter the appearance and performance of the vehicle. Slip clutches with angled, mating faces, effectively coupling the axles with the third shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Tilbor, Michael G. Hetman, Jonathan A. Jaffe
  • Patent number: 5752871
    Abstract: A running body which can run at least forward or rearward includes a power source; a vehicle body including three vehicle body structural elements which are foldably connected to one another in series through axles, and a gear mechanism for driving wheels by the power source. The wheels are attached to the axles and other axles disposed on fore and rear portions of the vehicle body. At least one of the wheels is driven at a speed different from the others. A motor may be used as the power source and remote control for controlling the rotation of the motor may be also used, in order to give a variations of the figure of the running body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Tomy Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 5735727
    Abstract: A transmission mechanism of a toy car, including a housing in which a power source is disposed. The power source is drivingly connected to a first and a second cams via a gear set. A slidable pressing/pushing slide board and a driving slide board are respectively pushed by the first and second cams to slide. The driving slide board further drives a linkage set to upward pivot a movable casing cover open or close the movable casing cover. A decorative body is disposed on inner side of the movable casing cover, whereby when the movable casing cover is upward opened, the decorative body is exhibited to create a visual entertaining effect. The pressing/pushing slide board can depress a rotary power wheel set and make the same descend and contact with the ground, enabling the toy car to run over the ground and create a live versatile entertaining effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Wen Ho Tsai
  • Patent number: 5692946
    Abstract: A spherical steering toy including a spherical housing, a mounting plate mounted inside the spherical housing and having wheels maintained perpendicularly in touch with the inside wall of the spherical housing, a servo-motor having an output shaft fastened to the center of the mounting plate by a screw, a driving mechanism coupled to the servo-motor at one side opposite to the crossed frame, which driving mechanism including a reversible motor, a transmission gear train, and a wheel coupled to the reversible motor through the transmission gear train and rotated by it against the inside wall of the spherical housing, and a control circuit controlled by a remote controller to operate the servo-motor and the reversible motor, wherein starting the reversible motor causes the spherical housing to rotate forwards and backwards on a flat surface; starting the servo-motor causes the spherical housing to change the steering direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Inventor: Wang-Mine Ku
  • Patent number: 5643036
    Abstract: A toy vehicle has a drive wheel and a flywheel that are coupled together by a slip clutch which includes a flexible pawl extended from the drive wheel to the surface of the flywheel so that the drive wheel may be grasped and brought to an immediate stop without injury. The toy vehicle cooperates with the energizer-launcher so that the toy vehicle is spring catapulted therefrom upon release thereof. The energizer-launcher has a pistol grip handle with trigger for one-handed aiming and launching of the vehicle and a pull cord for accelerating the flywheel and drive wheel while the launcher is being held by the pistol grip handle. A tachometer may be provided on the energizer-launcher. The toy vehicle further may have a spark generator on the drive wheel which is activated by the rotation of the drive wheel after the vehicle is launched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: LCD International, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Dexter Chih-Teh Liu, Douglas Melville, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5630743
    Abstract: A photosensitive electric toy car including a base provided with a pair of front wheels at a front portion thereof and a pair of rear wheels at a rear portion thereof, a power chamber fitted on an opening of the base, a control device arranged within the power chamber and provided two photosensitive resistors which will pick up signal from ground to control rotating direction of a first motor, a battery chamber electrically connected with the control device, a driven plate mounted on the top of the power chamber, a cover plate mounted on the top of a curved member on the base, and a driving device for controlling a second motor to drive the toy car, whereby the toy car can be conveniently controlled to move along a desired path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Inventor: Show Li Shi
  • Patent number: 5586924
    Abstract: A toy car structure including a power source for driving a driving wheel to drive a linkage assembly so as to push a movable casing open or close relative to a fixed casing. A pull rod urged by an extension spring is disposed on inner side of the movable casing. When the movable casing is moved, the pull rod is hooked on the fixed casing to form a pulling relationship. By means of the pulling of the pull rod, a driven board is pushed to push open a movable door of the movable casing so as to exhibit the inner decorative body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Wen Ho Tsai
    Inventor: Tien F. Huang
  • Patent number: 5580296
    Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a vehicle body and front and rear wheels that are mounted on respective front and rear regions of the vehicle body for rotation about their axes. The toy vehicle further includes a pair of wings that is mounted on the vehicle body for movement between their extended, spread apart positions and their retracted positions. An upper jaw is mounted on the front region of the vehicle body for pivoting between a raised and a lowered position. A reversible electric motor and a gear transmission interposed between the motor and the rear wheels are accommodated in a common housing. The housing is mounted on the vehicle body for tilting movement about the axis of the rear wheels. A kinematic linkage translates the tilting movement of the housing that occurs in automatic response to energization of the motor in the appropriate sense into the movement of the wings and the pivoting of the upper jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Echo Toys Ltd.
    Inventor: Wai H. Chow
  • Patent number: 5549501
    Abstract: A toy car including a casing mounted inside the car body to hold a driving mechanism and a transmission mechanism, a steering wheel assembly mounted in a circular opening on the chassis and coupled to the transmission mechanism, a battery power supply mounted on the chassis, a stop member mounted on the chassis, a link coupled between an upright shaft on the steering wheel assembly and the transmission mechanism and having a front downward rod, a slide having one end coupled to the link and an opposite end terminating in two retainer arms engaging the stop member, and a switch disposed in a side opening on the slide, wherein when the toy car is depressed by the player against the ground, the steering wheel assembly is lifted to tilt the link, causing the front downward rod of the link forced into a locating hole on the slide for permitting the slide to be moved by the link to switch off the switch in cutting off battery power supply from the driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Chain Fong Toys Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-Long Jow
  • Patent number: 5487692
    Abstract: An expandable wheel assemble for toy vehicles includes an axle, a first hub fixed to the axle, a second hub supported by the axle, and at least one web that spans between and is joined to the hubs, and has a central portion movable outwardly from the axle due to centrifugal force when the wheel assembly is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Tonka Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin B. Mowrer, Robert L. Beck
  • Patent number: 5372534
    Abstract: The variable geometry wheeled conveyance includes front and rear pairs of wheels carried by a frame longitudinally spaced from one another for rotation about longitudinally spaced axes in a first configuration of the conveyance. A parallelogram linkage connects the wheels and the frame. By displacing the linkage, the wheels are movable into a second configuration with each wheel being rotatable about a transverse axis longitudinally spaced from every other wheel. A timer initiates transformation from the first to the second configuration and also causes a change in a gear ratio from the drive motor to the wheels to simultaneously upon such transformation change the speed of the conveyance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Inventors: Richard C. Levy, Richard J. Maddocks
  • Patent number: 5370572
    Abstract: An electrical toy baby cart includes two handles. Two front frames and two rear frames are respectively and pivotally connected to the bottoms of the handles. A front wheel holder is fastened to the bottoms of the front frames and supported on two front wheels, and a rear wheel axle is fastened to the bottoms of the rear frames and supported on two rear wheels. A battery box arranged between said front and rear frames. A transmission gear box, a control box electrically connected to the battery box and having a motor controlled to drive the transmission gear box, and two transmission wheels driven by the transmission gear box to move the electrical toy baby cart are provided within the front wheel holder. When the handles are pressed downward and then turned downward toward the front frames, the top projecting block at the top end of each rear frame is moved away from the top projecting block at the top end of either front frame for permitting the electrical toy baby cart to be collapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Inventor: Fan-Shen Lee
  • Patent number: 5364300
    Abstract: A toy train is disclosed including a driving mechanism in a gear box, two driving wheels coupled to the driving mechanism, two driven mechanism coupled to the driving wheels through two transmission mechanisms and moved to turn linked wheel sets and driving gears, and two guide wheels driven by the driving mechanism, wherein turning on the gear box causes the driven mechanism to be swung outwards and inwards alternatively in moving the toy train or causing it to simulate the flying of a flying object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Inventor: Jin-Long Jow
  • Patent number: 5334076
    Abstract: A radio control car allowing the self-running car to be smaller and lighter, requiring less frequent and easier replacement of the battery. The radio control car according to the present invention is characterized in that said radio control car is provided with a self-running car 12 having a power unit 14, a receiving control unit 15 and an accumulating unit 16 for supplying power to the above-mentioned units and with a controller 13 having a transmitting control unit 19 and a battery unit 20, wherein said accumulating unit 16 of said self-running car 12 is charged by said battery unit 20 when a charged terminal 24 of the accumulating unit 16 of the self-running car 12 is connected with a charging terminal 25 of the battery unit 20 of said controller 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Sawara Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Morio Shinozuka
  • Patent number: 5297981
    Abstract: A toy ball in accordance with this invention includes a hollow sphere with spaced apart resilient knobs extending outwardly from the sphere and an internal mechanism that causes a random motion and bouncing of the ball. A safety switch is also provided to prevent injury to a user or damage to the toy while it is disassembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: The Ertl Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John Maxim, Christopher Thompson, Mark F. Reyner
  • Patent number: 5173072
    Abstract: A travelling toy vehicle is provided having an external body in the shape of a dump truck or other vehicle. An internal gear box, or frame, drives two wheels on an axle. The frame contains a vibrating mechanism and rocks left and right by the motion of a spur gear disposed between two cylindrical force receiving pieces attached to the external body of the travelling toy vehicle. A power transmission route change mechanism couples driver power from a motor to the vibrating mechanism for a predetermined period of time to simulate ideling of the vehicle. Thereafter, the drive power is coupled to the travelling mechanism to provide forward movement of the travelling toy vehicle. Electrical power to the motor is switched on and off by pressing down against the rear portion of the travelling toy vehicle. An operation restricting lever mounted at the rear of the vehicle prevents the switching on of electrical power when the toy is being stored and allows manual use of the toy without propulsion by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Tomy Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Ozawa
  • Patent number: 5145442
    Abstract: A multi-purpose solar energy operated toy vehicle generally has a plate resembling a ship to be placed on a ship body, while a pair of paddles are connected to the ship body with a motor. A solar cells panel is installed to provide electrical energy by way of photoelectric effect, so that a battery disposed in a housing on the plate can be electrically charged and the motor can be driven to move the vehicle. A pair of front wheels can be rotatably attached on the front portion of the ship body and a pair of rear wheels can replace the paddles to allow the vehicle to run on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Inventor: Ja D. Zan
  • Patent number: 5100368
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to an improved speed variable transmission system adapted for, in particular, electrically operated vehicle. The system is operated by common manual gear shift. The manual gear shift has a power source made up of a specially designed electric motor having a rotatable outer shell relatively moveable with respect to a core rotor so that the power from the rotatable outer shell and the core rotor of the electric motor can be output respectively to a front and a rear differential gear device, and the vehicle can be powered to move via the differential gear devices. The respective transmission shafts between the electric motor and the front and rear differential gear devices can be selectively locked so that the power from the motor can be selectively varied when output to the differential gear devices thereby the wheels of the automobile can be varied in speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignees: Shi-Hai Chien, Peter B. S. Liao
    Inventor: Shi-Hai Chien
  • Patent number: 5062819
    Abstract: A self-propelled vehicle is arranged wherein a coin receiving slot is provided within the vehicle body that is removably mounted relative to a vehicle chassis to permit replacement of the vehicle body by various configurations. Each of such bodies includes a support plate for directing an associated coin disk into the associated slot to complete an electrical circuit energizing a motor, and accordingly driving forward and rear wheels of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Inventor: Mitchell K. Mallory
  • Patent number: 5045013
    Abstract: An air-cushion vehicle toy [1] includes a first motor [3b] for driving a propeller fan [3a], a second motor [4b] for driving a hovering fan [4a], and a body [1a] detachably mounted on a chassis [1b], on which a power supply [5a] is supported, and covering the upper surface of the chassis [1b] with various components supported thereon. The air-cushion vehicle toy [1] further includes a power cutoff mechanism [5] for breaking a power supply circuit to deenergize the first and second motors when the body [1a] is removed from the chassis [1b].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Gakushu Kenkyusha
    Inventor: Takashi Fujitani
  • Patent number: 5006090
    Abstract: An ultra-miniature electrically powered vehicle having an electric motor which drives at least one of the vehicle's wheels, and which is energized through a pair of pick-up shoes contacting an electrified track. The brush assemblies of the motor are located substantially parallel and proximate to the vehicle's front axle and extend outwardly of the vehicle chasis into the volume defined by the front wheels, which are open on the inside face. The drive shaft of the motor lies above the plane defined by the axles of the vehicle. These features enable the vehicle to be significantly smaller than those of the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc.
    Inventors: Melvin R. Kennedy, Joseph J. Lubinski
  • Patent number: 4976650
    Abstract: A starter device for a toy drive mechanism that simulates manual starting of a small engine. The starter device includes an input mechanism, operable by a user, for providing a first drive force; a memory mechanism for storing the number of operations of the input mechanism by the user; a sound generating mechanism for producing sounds in response to at least one of the first drive force and a second drive force; a motor mechanism for providing the second drive force in response to at least one of an intermittent input and the number of operations of the input mechanism being a predetermined number; and a mechanism for providing the intermittent input based on operation of said input mechanism and on the second drive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 4919639
    Abstract: In a toy vehicle having a chassis travelling by means of wheels on a driving surface and a body which can be fastened thereon, the vehicle chassis has fixed on the side towards the body at a distance adjacent to each other a number of pegs and the vehicle body has fixed on the side towards the chassis at the same distance and in relation to the pegs a number of sleeves which can be pushed onto the pegs of the vehicle chassis so they are frictionally engaged for the purpose of interchangeable application of any desired body on the same vehicle chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Inventor: Kurt Hesse
  • 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: 4869700
    Abstract: The toy combination includes a self-powered toy vehicle with driven wheels adjacent the front thereof and a toy trailer with non-driven wheels and with a receptacle on the trailer in front of its wheels releasably receiving the rear of the toy vehicle. The toy vehicle and trailer include cooperative details for locating and interlocking them together when the rear of the vehicle is received in the receptacle. The toy vehicle and trailer are configured such that the toy combination formed thereby resembles a tractor-trailer type truck whose front wheels comprise the driven wheels of the toy vehicle and whose rear wheels comprise the wheels of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Lionel Trains, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor G. Reiling, Jr., Brian L. Dean, Daniel J. Cooney
  • Patent number: 4813906
    Abstract: A running toy having a chassis with a plurality of pivotably connected portions and a power source for moving the chassis over a surface including uneven portions and obstructions. Each of the pivotably connected portions of the chassis has mounted thereon gears which engage the gears on an adjacent pivotably connected portion so that a driving force provided by the power source is transmitted to the gears of each of the pivotably connected portions in a manner so as to move the running toy. The gears on each of the pivotably connected portions are mounted so that the gears on adjacent pivotably connected portions remain engaged regardless of the pivotable relationship between adjacent portions of the chassis. At least one of the gears on each of the pivotably connected portions has mounted thereon a hub and drive wheel. Because the chassis comprises pivotably connected portions, the running toy can traverse uneven surfaces and obstacles having a wide variety of heights and inclinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Matsuyama, Koichi Sasagawa
  • Patent number: 4773889
    Abstract: A toy vehicle wheel that changes from a generally cylindrical periphery with an initial diameter and axial width to a greater diameter periphery. The wheel has a hollow shell of rubber or some other flexible material and opposed sidewalls of the wheel are moveable relative to each other to compress the axial width and increase the diameter. Across a substantial portion of the initial axial width a number of slits extend so that the periphery is serrated when it is enlarged. In one form, an axial screw engages a sidewall to rotate the wheel in its initial quiescent condition along a relatively unobstructed surface, but, upon encountering an obstruction, will draw the one sidewall toward the other. Variations provide for containing the axial screw within the compressed wheel or permitting it to extend out of a sidewall. Other forms provide for movement of the sidewalls relative to each other with bayonet locking in a desired condition and for spring bias in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventors: Donald A. Rosenwinkel, Wayne A. Kuna
  • Patent number: 4767376
    Abstract: A self-righting flywheel motor operated toy vehicle includes attitude restoration components at the rear thereof, the vehicle having the center of gravity thereof along the longitudinal centerline thereof. A first component includes an attitude restoration plate configured in the form of a spoiler member attached at the rear of the vehicle above the rear wheels and having a width greater than the distance between the outer sides of the wheels for enabling the maintaining of a slight elevational angle of the vehicle when on either side, with a corner of the driving wheel on that side in contact with the surface. The force of the driving wheel tends to self-right the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Hanzawa Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuneo Hanzawa