Flat Spiral Or Torsion Spring Patents (Class 446/464)
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Patent number: 12025106Abstract: The present application relates to the technical field of a wheel, and particularly to a stored energy transmission mechanism and stored energy-driven wheel. In particular, a stored energy transmission mechanism is integrated with a rotating component, which is used to drive the rotating component. The stored energy transmission mechanism includes a center shaft, an elastic component, a transmission cover, a flywheel, and a flywheel seat. The elastic component is sleeved outside the center shaft and positioned in the transmission cover, with one end being fixedly connected with the center shaft and the other end being fixedly connected with the transmission. When the transmission cover is rotated and fitted with the center shaft, it can tighten the elastic component to store energy.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2022Date of Patent: July 2, 2024Assignee: ROYALBABY CYCLE BEIJING CO., LTD.Inventors: Lixin Tong, Mengjing Chen
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Patent number: 9387411Abstract: The educational toy car includes a framework having a pair of rear wheels and a pair of front wheels. The front wheels are pivotably connected as well as rotatably connected with the framework, and rotate in concert with one another via a steering tie rod. The framework includes an engine block with a plurality of piston members that work in concert to visibly rotate a transmission member located elsewhere in the framework. The transmission member connects to a drive gear that includes a drive shaft extending rearwardly within the framework, and to in mechanical connection with a rear differential. The rear differential is in mechanical connection with the pair of rear wheels. The pair of rear wheels are rotatably connected with the framework, and are rotated upon movement of the piston members or the transmission member or the drive shaft or the rear differential.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2013Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Inventor: Timothy Thompson
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Publication number: 20140227942Abstract: An eccentric wheel structure of a wind up toy car includes a base, a casing and a wind up motor. The wind up motor is disposed between the base and the casing. The wind up motor includes a wheel axle and two wheels. The wheel axle is inserted through the wind up motor. The two wheels are coupled to two sides of the wheel axle. Particularly, the two wheels are eccentric relative to the wheel axle. When the wheel axle is turned, the wind up toy car is staggered to move by the two eccentric wheels. Compared to a traditional wind up toy car that is erect to move, the present invention is more funny and special.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2013Publication date: August 14, 2014Inventor: TA-WEI HSU
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Patent number: 8696402Abstract: A windup toy vehicle is provided. In some embodiments, the vehicle may include a body and a wheel assembly that is connected to the body and that defines an axis about which the wheel assembly spins. The vehicle also may include a spring extending at least generally along the axis and having a first end and a second end that are respectively fixed and pivotable with respect to the wheel assembly. An arm may be coupled to the spring at the second end such that the arm and the second end pivot as a unit. The vehicle further may include a stop supported by the body and configured to block the arm from spinning with respect to the body.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Slotter, LLCInventors: Canyon Robins, Duncan G. Robins
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Publication number: 20120302130Abstract: A windup toy vehicle is provided. In some embodiments, the vehicle may include a body and a wheel assembly that is connected to the body and that defines an axis about which the wheel assembly spins. The vehicle also may include a spring extending at least generally along the axis and having a first end and a second end that are respectively fixed and pivotable with respect to the wheel assembly. An arm may be coupled to the spring at the second end such that the arm and the second end pivot as a unit. The vehicle further may include a stop supported by the body and configured to block the arm from spinning with respect to the body.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: Slotter LLCInventors: Canyon Robins, Duncan G. Robins
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Publication number: 20110053453Abstract: An educational and entertaining toy vehicle that includes a body member that is designed for including a mechanical music box. The music box is designed so it is coupled via a ratchet clutch and gears to at least one vehicle wheel. The forward rotation of such wheels drives the music box. Reversing the vehicle winds a spring. This spring drives the music box and vehicle forward on release. The release of said spring is controlled by a speed regulator. The toy vehicle of this invention includes rubber like material on the surfaces of the wheels with debossed numerals, letters or symbols. These replaceable rubber like tires provide increased friction and a means for printing such debossed characters when the vehicle is moved. The toy vehicle is further enhanced by including a toy figure that is representative of the included tune.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Inventor: Donald L. Green
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Publication number: 20080166947Abstract: The present invention relates to a spring-powered toy vehicle with a front body portion, a separable rear body portion, rotating wheels and a spring propulsion system. When the rear body portion is pulled away from the front body portion and released, the spring will pull the rear body portion back into the front body portion, thereby causing the vehicle to move forward. Parallel vehicle guides prevent the rear movable body portion from pulling away in a non-axial direction, thus guiding the propelled toy vehicle in a straight line. Other aspects provide interchangeable and replaceable springs, and body portions. Additionally, vehicle choices include autos, trucks, motorcycles, planes, and construction equipment. A launcher is included that provides a stable platform for launching the vehicles and additionally imparts, through a peg and notch assembly and a spring-loaded plunger, additional kinetic energy for propulsion.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Inventors: Michael Bernstein, Gabriel Carlson
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Patent number: 6805609Abstract: A toy car comprises a base, a plurality of wheels arranged to support the base for rolling movement over a surface, a spring-powered drive train carried by the base and operatively coupled to at least one of the wheels and having at least one rotatable drive gear, a post shiftably mounted to the base and moveable between a first position and a second position and including a camming surface, and a pawl carried by the base and including a camming surface. The camming surface of the post and the camming surface of the pawl are arranged to shift the pawl into engagement with the teeth of the drive gear in response to movement of the post to the first position, and the pawl is arranged to shift away from the drive gear in response to movement of the post to the second position.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2003Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.Inventors: William M. Paukert, Douglas A. Schultheis
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Patent number: 6722940Abstract: Torsion Spring Powered Toy Vehicle comprised of a chassis, a torsion spring assembly attached to the top side of the chassis, the torsion spring assembly consisting of a flat plate having a pair of centrally located perpendicular tabs, a torsion spring and an integral spring axle and lever arm retaining post a front and rear axle and attached wheels. The rear axle has a centrally located string receiving pin mounted to the axle so that when the user forces back the lever arm and attaches the string loop to the axle pin and turns the rear wheel set counter clockwise thereby winding the string about the rear axle and then releases the vehicle, the vehicle is propelled forward when the the torsion spring forces the lever arm to return to a rest position thereby causing the string to unwind thereby causing the rear wheels to rotate in a clockwise fashion.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Inventor: Curtis E. Weikel
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Patent number: 6565411Abstract: A key activated toy vehicle includes a body having a front end, a rear end and an exterior. The toy vehicle also includes a chassis that accommodates the body. At least one of the body and the chassis defines an opening to an interior of the toy vehicle. The toy vehicle includes a spring supported within the vehicle so as to be compressed by a key inserted through the opening and to propel the toy vehicle away from the key upon decompressing. The toy vehicle includes a moveable part being supported on one of the chassis and the body for movement between a first position and a second position. The toy vehicle includes an actuator mechanism operably coupled with the spring and moveably mounted within the vehicle so as to be coupled with the moveable part to move the part from the first position to the second position.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2002Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Mary Ellen Gertrude Fosbenner, Robert Jude Henry, Matthew Felix Agostini, William Francis Michael Dougherty, Gregory John Sisolak
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Patent number: 6196894Abstract: The disclosure describes a spring motor, in combination with a toy vehicle, that easily can be manufactured and wound up by moving the vehicle in reciprocating forward and backward movements. The motor is operable in rewind and run modes, and includes first and second spring gears; a spring having a first end yieldably engaged to the first spring gear and a second end connected to the second spring gear; a rear wheel axle having first and second drive pinions thereon, wherein the first drive pinion is meshed with the first spring gear; a rewind gear which is meshed with the second drive pinion of the rear wheel axle; a fixed gear that is meshed with the rewind gear; and a floating gear which is meshed with the fixed gear, wherein during the rewind mode the floating gear is meshed with the second spring gear, but during the run mode is disengaged from the second spring gear. A retaining lock is used to maintain the meshing of the second spring gear with the floating gear to prevent unwinding of the spring.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 1999Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Inventors: Melvin R. Kennedy, Dietmar Nagel
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Patent number: 5916007Abstract: An entertainment apparatus includes a chassis, support wheels rotatably secured to the chassis, a back-wind spring powered motor mounted to the chassis and drivably connected to at least one of the support wheels, so that the motor is wound by rolling the chassis backward on the support wheels, and a locking mechanism including a structure for releasibly locking the motor against unwinding and a structure for releasing the motor to deliver torque to and thereby rotate the at least one support wheel and accelerate the apparatus across a support surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1997Date of Patent: June 29, 1999Inventor: John G. Maxim
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Patent number: 5762534Abstract: An automatic opening/closing mechanism is disclosed. It includes a coil spring, a pushing member, a driven member and a contact board which are disposed in a cylinder under a decorative article. A shaft is disposed at a center of the coil spring. One end of the shaft is connected with one end face of the pushing member. The pushing member has a disc-like shape. The other end face of the pushing member is disposed with several slope teeth which are slidably engaged with several slope recesses of one end of the driven member. The other end of the driven member abuts against the contact board. Two electric contacts are disposed beside the contact board. The power of coil spring is gradually released to rotate the pushing member so as to upward push the driven member for lifting the contact board to contact with the electric contacts and close the circuit. At this time, a bulb or a music box is turned on to emit light or music.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 1997Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Inventor: Yi-Chen Lo
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Patent number: 5638922Abstract: The present invention is a pull-back, windup type spring drive unit with two output shafts capable of transmitting driving force to the front-wheels and rear-wheels. This unit is provided with: a frame; front-wheel and rear wheel output shafts; a drive gear; a spring; a windup gear mechanism; first and second running gear mechanisms connectable to the front-wheel and rear-wheel shafts; and a constant speed mechanism. When one of the output shafts is rotated for winding, switching gear of the windup gear mechanism moves to a mesh position and the rotation of the output shaft for winding is transmitted to the drive gear to wind up the spring. When the drive gear is rotated for running, switching gears of the respective running gear mechanism move to the respective mesh positions to transmit the rotation of the drive gear to each of the output shafts.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 1995Date of Patent: June 17, 1997Assignee: Seikoken Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Ryota Morikawa
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Patent number: 5523131Abstract: A table top item, for example, a small cup, is made mobile by operation of a concealed spring-back rolling motor after the motor has been manually energized. A conventional spring-back motor, as used in automobiles models, is the motor for the table novelty device. Other items can be mobilized, for example, ashtrays, candy dishes, condiment holders, toothpick holders, etc. For a cup, a tilt is added to the cup body to prevent spillage of liquid contents when the cup decelerates in its travel. In use, a sending person grasps the novelty device and drags it backwards across a table top surface so as to rotate the motor wheels in the direction that "winds up" the motor.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 1994Date of Patent: June 4, 1996Assignee: Innovative Premiums Inc.Inventors: Linda R. F. Isaacs, Judah Isaacs
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Patent number: 5316514Abstract: A toy vehicle and launcher system includes a motor-driven toy vehicle having a wind-up spring-driven motor to provide forward motion thereof. The launcher is adapted to mount the vehicle and has a releasable latch for precluding forward motion of the vehicle. A biasing spring provides the vehicle with forward motion immediately upon release of the latch. Preferably, the launcher is configured and dimensioned to be releasably mounted on a human limb so that the longitudinal axis of the vehicle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the limb, thereby making the launcher a foot-operated or arm-operated launcher.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1992Date of Patent: May 31, 1994Assignee: Matchbox Toys (USA) Ltd.Inventors: Steven Ellman, Fredric Ellman, Julius Ellman, John C. Fusi
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Patent number: 5203559Abstract: Game apparatus comprising of at least one self-standing upright playpiece and a self-powered striker self-movable along a supporting surface so as to engage and knock over the playpiece. The striker may be aimed toward the playpiece from a stationary position and then caused to move forwardly in the aimed direction toward the playpiece. This allows even young children to take their time to aim the playpiece and not have to try to aim or direct it while it is already moving forwardly. There may be a plurality of the playpieces, each shaped as a fish or other character. The illustrated striker is in the form of a shark having a side-to-side oscillating tail. The striker may engage and knock over the playpieces with its nose, and also with its oscillating tail as it goes by the playpieces.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 1992Date of Patent: April 20, 1993Inventor: Adolph E. Goldfarb
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Patent number: 5188198Abstract: A power spring drive apparatus having a power spring on a power spring wind up shaft, an output shaft, and a gear train for winding the power spring and for transferring the rotational force of a wound power spring to the output shaft. The apparatus is in a housing case formed of first and second synthetic resin cases connected together by pins and receiving holes. The housing case has a power spring housing section with a window between the section and externally of the housing. One end of the power spring has a neck shape and extends through the window and is fastened to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1992Date of Patent: February 23, 1993Assignee: K.K. Sankyo Seiki SeisakushoInventors: Kenji Muramatsu, Hiroyuki Iwashita
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Patent number: 5176223Abstract: The present invention is concerns with a spring drive used as a driving power source for a moving toy. The spring drive has a windup pinion of which at least the top of one end is formed at its rotation axis as a small diameter end having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the body thereof, and a supporting member having a supporting surface for supporting the windup pinion at the small diameter end. The windup pinion is freely rotatively supported at its small diameter end on the supporting surface of the supporting member, the friction force acting against the rotation of the pinion, is decreased.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1991Date of Patent: January 5, 1993Assignee: GearTech Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shunichi Ito
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Patent number: 5131882Abstract: A circular or annular shaped rolling toy which can be designed to simulate the appearance of a circular or annular shaped product so that it can be used to promote the sale of the product. In one form of the invention, a small motor is provided to propel the toy.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 1990Date of Patent: July 21, 1992Assignee: Namkung Promotions, Inc.Inventor: Jerrilyn Kiyokane
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Patent number: 5103936Abstract: A thin spiral spring drive unit, in particular for a toy car, employs a crown gear in a gear train between an output shaft and a drive shaft on which a spiral spring is wound as a source of the driving force. The unit can be assembled with a small number of component parts, in a simple structure and at lower cost. Simply by changing the direction of the output shaft when it is assembled into a gear box, the direction of rotation of the output shaft may be changed. The crown gear in the drive unit is arranged at a position substantially centeral to the width of a gear box. A pinion is arranged at two positions where the crown gear intersects with the output shaft to be meshed with the crown gear by means of a positioning mechanism. The crown gear is provided on its periphery with a windup gear and with a driving pinion on the shaft thereof so that the windup gear is engaged with a gear at the time of winding while it is directly engaged with a driving gear at the time of driving.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1990Date of Patent: April 14, 1992Assignee: Seikoken Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Ryota Morikawa
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Patent number: 4881621Abstract: This invention relates to a spiral spring power source for a toy, which can select a method of winding a power spiral spring 7 by a pulling string type winding cord 25 and a method of winding the power spiral spring 7 by a winding key 43 by removing a mechanism relative to the winding yarn 25, can alter the pulling direction of the winding cord 25 at 360.degree. in case of the method with the winding cord 25, can drive the output shaft through a gear set when uncoiling the energized power spiral spring 7, but can produce outputs not at one position but at a plurality of positions to be connected to a plurality of gears selected from the gear set.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1988Date of Patent: November 21, 1989Assignee: Marusan Co., Ltd.Inventor: Minoru Ishida
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Patent number: 4842567Abstract: A spiral-spring type driving unit is disclosed, including a gear train formed essentially of a gear housing, three rotary shafts and six gears; and a spiral spring serves as a prime mover of a toy vehicle. The spiral spring of the driving unit is wound up so as to store a sufficient energy therein when the toy vehicle is moved backward by a relatively short distance by an external force. The toy vehicle can move forward by a relatively long distance under the influence of a resilient force of the thus tightened spiral spring when the spiral spring is unwound. The winding-up operation of the spiral spring is conducted by the means of a ring-like external gear serving as an idle gear in the gear train of the driving unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1987Date of Patent: June 27, 1989Inventor: Hideyuki Hiraide
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Patent number: 4832156Abstract: A braking device is provided to reduce the speed at which a shiftable spring motor runs down. The braking device includes a pallet which is mounted so that it can oscillate, the pallet having a pair or arms which cooperate with the teeth of an escape wheel 13 which rotates as the spring runs down. The pallet is connected to a pendulum weight. The depth of engagement of the arms of the pallet in the teeth of the escape wheel as well as the amplitude of oscillation of the pallet and/or the pendulum weight connected therewith allow the braking action to be changed and hence the speed at which the motor runs down in one of a plurality of selectable shift positions.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1988Date of Patent: May 23, 1989Inventor: Helmut Darda
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Patent number: 4817936Abstract: A windup spring toy contained within a divisible housing can be wound up via an external winder. Upon release and after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed, the housing divides, allowing the windup toy to emerge.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1988Date of Patent: April 4, 1989Assignee: Takara Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takashi Matsuda
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Patent number: 4786269Abstract: A four-wheel drive toy vehicle having a spring-wound motor capable of travelling over hills and other obstacles. The vehicle is provided with front and rear traction wheel sets whose axles extend across the chassis which support the body. Each axle has a pinion thereon which engages the front section of a two-section coupling gear that meshes with the input gear of a flat spiral spring motor whose output gear engages the rear section of the coupling gear. The input gear is coupled to the input of the spring through a one-way clutch whereby when the vehicle is grasped by the player and pulled back along the ground, the input gear is caused to turn by both pinions to thereby wind up the spring; and when the vehicle is released, the output gear which is turned by the unwinding spring then acts to drive both pinions to advance the vehicle in the foward direction. One of the pinions is coupled by a gear train to a governor which acts to regulate the speed of wheel rotation.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1982Date of Patent: November 22, 1988Assignee: Lewco Toys, Ltd.Inventors: Dietmar Nagel, Melvin R. Kennedy, Avi Arad
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Patent number: 4764149Abstract: A spring driven two-wheel toy vehicle in which the weights of the spring drive unit and the transmission gears are distributed such that the toy is laterally well-balanced. In order to simplify assembly, a frame is provided with integrally formed shafts to which various transmission gears are affixed and is integrally provided with steering shaft support bearings. Two transmission gear mechanisms are engaged with the spring drive unit. One on each side for independently transmitting a torque from the drive wheel to the drive unit by one, and transmitting a torque from the drive unit to the drive wheel by the other.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1987Date of Patent: August 16, 1988Assignee: Takara Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hitoshi Yoneyama
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Patent number: 4736943Abstract: A windup spring using toy having a divisible container of a single form in its undivided state and including a winder, and a windup spring drive toy to be contained within the container, having a windup spring drive unit therein, which is wound up by the winder of the container when the windup spring drive toy is contained within the container. The windup spring using toy further includes provisions for holding the windup spring drive toy onto the container when the windup spring drive toy is contained within the container, and provisions for releasing the holding of the windup spring drive toy in the container by the output energy of the windup spring drive unit, whereby, on putting the windup spring using toy on a floor after winding up the windup spring, the container divides into two and the windup spring drive toy suddenly appears and starts to run on the floor.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1986Date of Patent: April 12, 1988Assignee: Takara Co., Ltd.Inventors: Satori Fukuda, Takashi Matsuda
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Patent number: 4715475Abstract: The two-speed drive mechanism for toys of the present invention comprises, in order to utilize the spiral spring releasing force as the source of driving power, a mechanism element interconnecting through a gear mechanism a spiral spring shaft fixed with one end of the spiral spring and an output shaft for taking out the power; a mechanism element for deciding to change or not to change the rotational speed by acting or not acting on the output shaft of the aforementioned mechanism element; and an interconnecting gear group for interconnecting the spiral spring shaft and the aforementioned elements so that the working time of the latter mechanism element may be effected later by certain rotations than the point of time the spiral spring begins to rotate (when releasing).Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 1986Date of Patent: December 29, 1987Inventor: Ishida Minoru
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Patent number: 4710148Abstract: A toy vehicle having a chassis and interchangeable wheel drive units detachably mounted in container portions of the chassis. The wheel drive units has a unit body and a pair of wheels rotatably mounted to the unit body via a rotary shaft.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1986Date of Patent: December 1, 1987Assignee: Takara Co., Ltd.Inventor: Junichi Nagaoka
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Patent number: 4710147Abstract: A four-wheel drive unit for a toy vehicle, comprising a windup spring drive mechanism including a first axle, a gear mechanism having a second axle and a link shaft which rotatably connects the first axle to the second axle via link gears so that the gear mechanism may pivot around the axis of the link shaft with reference to the drive mechanism, and the first and the second axles may be rotated in the same direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1986Date of Patent: December 1, 1987Assignee: Takara Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroshi Wakase
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Patent number: 4683986Abstract: A spring drive mechanism has a spiral spring positioned in a spring encasement as a power source. Its ends are connected, on the one hand, to a spring encasement gear and, on the other hand, to a spring shaft gear. For the purpose of winding up the spring, the spring encasement gear is in mesh with a first drive pinion and the spring shaft gear is in mesh with a second drive pinion. These drive pinions has a stress-free connection to a wind down/wind up shaft across a unidirectional torque transmitters which each permits rotation in one direction; the directions being opposite. A reverse pinion has one pinion sprocket is mesh with the spring shaft gear. The other pinion sprocket is in mesh with the drive pinion in the wind up position. In this position, the spring drive mechanism is blocked in such a way that the tensioned driving spring cannot release.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 1985Date of Patent: August 4, 1987Inventors: Helmut Darda, Reinhold Schoch
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Patent number: 4684355Abstract: A toy automobile having selective drive wheels comprising a body, a chassis and pairs of front and rear wheels, in which either a front wheel windup spring drive unit or a freewheel holder along with a front axle is detachably arranged in a front space of the chassis, and in which either a rear wheel windup spring drive unit or a freewheel holder along with a rear axle is detachably arranged in a rear space of the chassis, whereby a selection between front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, four-wheel drive or four-freewheel is made possible.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1986Date of Patent: August 4, 1987Assignee: Takara Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shigeki Urakawa, Noriyuki Inomata
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Patent number: 4662477Abstract: A drive mechanism using a spiral spring as a driving force for driving toy motorcars and other running toys comprises a frame having a mounting hole for easily assembling a spiral spring within the frame permitting all the components required for constructing the mechanism, except for a spiral spring, to be preassembled completely and the spiral spring may later be conveniently inserted from outside the frame, the spiral spring in the first embodiment having at its fore end an engaging part while in the second embodiment no such end engaging part is required, permitting a very easy assembling of the spiral spring.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 1985Date of Patent: May 5, 1987Inventor: Ishida Minoru
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Patent number: 4648487Abstract: A drive wheel has a power spring within a drum housing formed on one side of the casing. The drive wheel includes a sun gear and a fixed pinion rotatably mounted about a shaft of the sun gear, the power spring being coupled between the sun gear and the fixed position of the drum housing. The fixed gear is fixedly connected to the vehicle body and the sun gear is rotatably mounted centrally of the casing. Spring winding and release gear trains are mounted in cooperative association with the sun gear and fixed pinion and provided with respective shift gears movable generally in the radial direction or perpendicular direction to the rotation of the shaft. An idle gear always meshing with the shift gear of the spring winding gear train is provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1985Date of Patent: March 10, 1987Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha BandaiInventor: Shigeo Kimura
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Patent number: 4623039Abstract: Disclosed herein is a spring drive for use in a moving toy which comprises a windup pinion 5, a spring windup shaft 7 having a gear 6 meshing with the pinion 5, a large gear 8 provided around the spring windup shaft 7, a drive pinion 9 always meshing with the large gear 8, and a spur gear 20 integrally formed with the drive pinion 9, wherein a stepped portion 10 having a larger diameter than that of the gear 6 is formed between the gear 6 of the spring windup shaft and the large gear 8, and one end of the windup pinion 5 is supported by the stepped portion 10 and the spur gear 20 integrally formed with the drive pinion 9, thereby omitting an intermediate partition frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1984Date of Patent: November 18, 1986Assignee: Nikken Industries Corp.Inventor: Shunichi Itoh
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Patent number: 4582171Abstract: A unique drive mechanism for a toy vehicle is disclosed which can be selectively enabled to cause the toy to come to an abrupt halt after a powered run, and which can cause the toy to realistically imitate a "spin out" of a full scale vehicle. The drive train includes a first gear directly rotated by a coiled spring, a second gear coupled in driving engagement with the vehicle's wheels, and a third gear shiftable between an engaged position coupling the first and second gears, and a cleared position wherein the second gear can rotate independently of the first gear. The third gear can be locked in its engaged position by a pivotal, gravity biased locking mechanism. The selective, locked engagement of the first, second and third gears causes the vehicle to come to an abrupt halt after the coil spring has fully unwound at the completion of a powered run.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 1984Date of Patent: April 15, 1986Assignee: Kusan, Inc.Inventor: Dennis Jezierski
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Patent number: 4568308Abstract: A two-speed action spring drive which automatically changes the gears from very slow to fast moving state is disclosed. In this device the gear meshing with a driving gear group and the gear meshing with a reducing gear group are linked together by a detachable means which can idle these gears when an excessive force acts thereon.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1983Date of Patent: February 4, 1986Assignee: Nikken Industries Corp.Inventor: Shunichi Itoh
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Patent number: 4541815Abstract: A toy vehicle has a gear box containing a clock spring which is wound by pushing the vehicle backward. A two part toggle-linkage system connects the gear box to the frame. When the clock spring is wound, the resulting spring bias urges the toggle-linkage system to one over center position which locks the gear box in order to preserve the energy stored in the wound spring. When the toggle-linkage system is pressed near its center, it moves over center to another position, which unlocks the gear box and releases the energy stored in the wound spring in order to propel the vehicle. When the vehicle is next moved backward, the toggle-linkage returns to the locked position which once again locks the gear box.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 1984Date of Patent: September 17, 1985Assignee: James S. W. LeeInventors: James S. W. Lee, Kwong-Wai Chow, Alfred T. Y. Lau, Ming-Ngar Chow
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Patent number: 4519789Abstract: A combination toy vehicle (10), a jump (14) for the vehicle, a tower (12) holding a swinging hoop (24) having a flame design adjacent the end of the jump, and a landing ramp (16) for the vehicle. The toy vehicle includes a shift lever (110, 110A) to hold the vehicle stationary when a motor in the vehicle is wound, and which upon release, allows the vehicle to move forward over the jump, through the swinging hoop, if in motion, and land on the landing ramp thereby simulating the vehicle leaping through a flaming stunt hoop.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1983Date of Patent: May 28, 1985Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Wayne R. Halford, Larry H. Renger, James J. Dooley
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Patent number: 4516954Abstract: A toy vehicle has a gear box containing a clock spring which is wound by pushing the vehicle backward. A two part toggle-linkage system connects the gear box to the frame. When the clock spring is wound, the resulting spring bias urges the toggle-linkage system to one over center position which locks the gear box in order to preserve the energy stored in the wound spring. When the toggle-linkage system is pressed near its center, it moves over center to another position, which unlocks the gear box and releases the energy stored in the wound spring in order to propel the vehicle. When the vehicle is next moved backward, the toggle-linkage returns to the locked position which once again locks the gear box.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1983Date of Patent: May 14, 1985Assignee: James S. LeeInventors: Kwong-Wai Chow, Alfred T. Y. Lau, Ming-Ngar Chow, James S. W. Lee
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Patent number: 4508517Abstract: A toy vehicle device includes a pair of interconnected wheeled vehicle housings. The two housings are connected by a member for conjoint movement in parallel to one another and for swinging movement of one vehicle about the other. One of the vehicles includes a propulsion mechanism for propelling both vehicles over a supporting surface. One of the vehicles also includes a mechanism for causing one vehicle to swing about the other vehicle. In one embodiment of the present invention, the mechanism for swinging one vehicle about the other includes a rotatable bar mounted on a first vehicle to periodically contact the supporting surface and pivot the first vehicle with respect thereto so that the first vehicle makes a sharp U-turn. Thus, the second vehicle, connected to the first vehicle by the member, swings in a wider arc about the first vehicle when the first vehicle undergoes a sharp U-turn. This action simulates in an entertaining manner a chase sequence between two vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 1983Date of Patent: April 2, 1985Assignee: Marvin Glass & AssociatesInventor: Ralph J. Kulesza
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Patent number: 4496330Abstract: A powered miniature toy vehicle having: an upper body member, a lower frame member of approximately 50 mm in length, a front wheel and axle assembly, a rear wheel and axle assembly, and a spring motor assembly. The ratio of the length of the motor assembly to the length of the lower frame member is approximately 0.5 and is approximately equal to the ratio of the total weight of the front wheel assembly, the rear wheel assembly and the motor assembly to the overall weight of the toy vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1983Date of Patent: January 29, 1985Assignee: Takara Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masumi Terui
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Patent number: 4493672Abstract: A toy vehicle assembly that can be self-propelled by a spring motor and is designed to permit the front wheels to be lifted off of the traveling surface by the addition of a weighted member. The weighted member is positioned on a pivotable bracket which is adjustable relative to the main frame of the vehicle to thereby permit a modification in the mode of travel of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1983Date of Patent: January 15, 1985Assignee: Takara Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masumi Terui
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Patent number: 4493671Abstract: A toy vehicle having a spring-operated clockworks motor which is charged by a pumping action, the vehicle having a chassis on whose front and rear ends are supported front and rear wheel axles, and a body resting on the chassis. The front of the body is hinged to the front end of the chassis, a stop being provided whereby the back of the body is liftable with respect to the rear end of the chassis within fixed limits. The clockworks motor, which includes a spiral spring, is mounted on the chassis and is operatively coupled to the rear wheel axle, the motor having a spring-biased crank arm which engages the underside of the body and acts to normally raise the back thereof to its upper limit. The crank arm is operatively coupled to the spiral spring whereby by repeatedly depressing the back of the pivoted body while holding the vehicle to prevent rotation of the rear wheels, the crank is reciprocated to produce a rotary motion to wind the spring and thereby charge the motor.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1981Date of Patent: January 15, 1985Assignee: Buddy L CorporationInventors: Melvin R. Kennedy, Dietmar Nagel, Avi Arad
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Patent number: 4490124Abstract: The invention relates to a running toy having a self-contained motor assembly. The running toy is provided with a pivoting member and a mechanism by which it is actuated in response to the motion of part of the motor assembly to make the running toy somersault when the running toy is traveling along a support surface. The somersault may be rearward or forward. The pivoting member may be manually locked so that the motor will not actuate it.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1983Date of Patent: December 25, 1984Assignee: Takara Co., Ltd.Inventor: Iwakichi Ogawa
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Patent number: 4473969Abstract: Housing apparatus for a spring wound toy that includes a wrist band supported housing having a platform for supporting a spring wound toy, for example, a toy racing car, a cover hingedly mounted on the platform and resiliently urged to an open position, and a retractable ramp mounted on the housing. The lock member is a manually operated lock member, resiliently retained in a position to retain the cover in a closed position and upon being moved first releases the cover to permit it to move to an open position and then operates a toy release device to allow the toy to move off the platform. A cover slot, that in a cover closed position opens to the platform, is provided to have the toy winding stem extended therethrough and additionally to aid in restraining motion of the toy within the closure provided by the cover and platform.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1980Date of Patent: October 2, 1984Inventor: Paul A. Wilson
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Patent number: 4470219Abstract: The miniature vehicle toy is provided having a wheel assembly, a chassis member, a prime mover assembly and a body member. The wheel assembly can be fastened to the chassis member by the snap-mounting of the prime mover assembly between a keeper member and pawl member that are integrally molded onto the chassis member.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 1983Date of Patent: September 11, 1984Assignee: Takara Co., Ltd.Inventor: Katsuhiro Sugimoto
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Patent number: 4469197Abstract: A drive mechanism for toy running vehicles comprises a frame member having a circular recess for receiving a coil spring therein, a gear, a pinion, and a gear mechanism for connecting the gear and the pinion within the recess with a drive shaft having wheels mounted thereon, a cover for the frame, another frame snap-engaged with the first mentioned frame and a spring in the recess. The inner end of the spring is inserted through a guide slot formed in the first frame and wound within the recess, the inner peripheral wall face of which has a plurality of small recesses for receiving the outer end of the wound spring.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 1982Date of Patent: September 4, 1984Inventor: Minoru Ishida
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Patent number: 4463831Abstract: An improved spring wound prime mover capable of use with toys is provided. A plastic resin housing member comprises a pair of housing shells having complementary locking pawls and keeper members to permit a snap together assembly. The housing member further supports a spring member that can be selectively connected to a gear train assembly having a first and second gear ratio. The first gear ratio includes gears with a higher degree of mechanical strength than those engaged in the second gear ratio whereby a durable gear transmission is provided that can run smooth for driving the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1982Date of Patent: August 7, 1984Assignee: Takara Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroshi Wakase