U.S. patent application number 11/850731 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-13 for toy vehicle with pivoting action.
This patent application is currently assigned to MGA Entertainment, Inc.. Invention is credited to Brady Lang.
Application Number | 20080064296 11/850731 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39170294 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080064296 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lang; Brady |
March 13, 2008 |
Toy Vehicle with Pivoting Action
Abstract
A pivoting mechanism for a vehicle such as a radio control toy
vehicle includes a rotating element loosely mounted on a wheel axle
and extending slightly beyond the wheel radius. When the vehicle
moves forward, the rotating element rotates up out of the way and
does not create substantial friction with the ground. When the
vehicle moves in reverse, the rotating element catches the ground,
which causes the rotating element to kick up underneath the vehicle
into a generally downward position, thus raising the vehicle up
onto the rotating element rather its associated wheel, which causes
the vehicle to turn sharply about the rotating element. A stop
prevents the rotating element from rotating past its vertically
downward position. When the vehicle moves forward again, the
rotating element automatically rotates up again out of the way so
that the vehicle drives forward in a substantially straight
line.
Inventors: |
Lang; Brady; (North
Hollywood, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW OFFICE OF JOEL VOELZKE
24772 SADDLE PEAK ROAD
MALIBU
CA
90265
US
|
Assignee: |
MGA Entertainment, Inc.
Van Nuys
CA
|
Family ID: |
39170294 |
Appl. No.: |
11/850731 |
Filed: |
September 6, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60844502 |
Sep 13, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
446/456 ;
446/460 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 17/36 20130101;
A63H 30/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/456 ;
446/460 |
International
Class: |
A63H 17/36 20060101
A63H017/36; A63H 17/39 20060101 A63H017/39; A63H 30/00 20060101
A63H030/00 |
Claims
1. A mobile toy vehicle with a pivoting apparatus adapted to move
over a travel surface, the vehicle comprising: a body; a plurality
of wheels rotatably attached to the body; a rotating element,
mounted on an axle of at least one of said wheels, separate from
said wheels and not biased toward any rotational position; wherein
said rotating element is adapted to rotate from a first position to
a second and engagement position in which it contacts the travel
surface with sufficient friction to induce a change in vehicle
motion.
2. The mobile toy vehicle of claim 1 further comprising: at least
one fixed stop; wherein said rotating element, when rotated toward
said engagement position, is limited to a maximum rotation by the
presence and location of said stop.
3. The mobile toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein said rotating element
has an insubstantial amount of frictional contact with said axle
such that the rotating element, when in the first position, rotates
freely on the axle to contact the travel surface.
4. The mobile toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein said rotating element
has sufficient frictional contact with said axle such that the
rotating element rotates with the wheel associated with said axle
about the axle for at least a portion of a revolution.
5. The mobile toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein: said one of said
wheels has an outer perimeter surface which contacts said travel
surface; and said rotating element has a rounded contact surface
which extends beyond the outer perimeter surface of the wheel and
contacts the travel surface when rotated into said engagement
position.
6. The mobile toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein said rotating element
is radial in shape, having a radius between 1% and 10% greater than
a radius of said one of said wheels.
7. The mobile toy vehicle of claim 1, in combination with a remote
control transmitter for controlling operation of the vehicle, the
transmitter having no control for controlling direction of the
vehicle other than a forward control and a backward control.
8. A vehicle adapted to move over a travel surface, the vehicle
having an apparatus for turning the vehicle comprising: a contact
member which rotates about an axle of said vehicle, the contact
member not biased toward any rotational position thereabout;
wherein rotation of said contact device into and out of substantial
frictional contact with said travel surface is controlled by
direction of motion of said vehicle.
9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the contact member is rotated
into substantial frictional contact with the travel surface when
the vehicle is moving forward.
10. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the contact member is rotated
into substantial frictional contact with the travel surface when
the vehicle is moving backward.
11. A vehicle adapted to move over a travel surface, the vehicle
having an apparatus for turning the vehicle comprising: a
frictional device loosely and rotatably mounted to the vehicle, the
frictional device having a first position which creates a point of
sufficiently high friction with the contact travel surface to turn
the vehicle and a second position which creates a point of friction
with the travel surface lower than the first position; and means
for rotating said frictional device such that, when the frictional
device is rotated into the first position, the vehicle turns about
the point of sufficiently high friction between the vehicle and the
travel surface; wherein rotation of the frictional device is
controlled by direction of motion of the vehicle.
12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein said frictional device is
loosely and rotatably mounted to the vehicle about an axle.
13. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein said frictional device, when
rotated into the first position, contacts the travel surface,
creating the point of contact and sufficiently high friction about
which the vehicle turns.
14. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein said frictional device, when
rotated into the first position, causes a wheel of the vehicle to
be the point of contact and sufficiently high friction with the
travel surface about which the vehicle turns.
15. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein rotation of the frictional
device between said first and second positions is the only means of
directional control.
16. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the frictional device is
rotated into the first position of sufficiently high friction with
the travel surface when the vehicle is moving backward.
17. The vehicle of claim 11 further comprising at least one fixed
stop, wherein said frictional device, when rotated into said first
position, is limited to a maximum rotation by the presence and
location of said fixed stop.
18. A radio control toy vehicle comprising: a vehicle body and a
plurality of wheels for contacting the ground over which the
vehicle travels; means for causing a frictional element to
automatically contact the ground on one side of the vehicle when
the vehicle moves in a reverse direction, the frictional element
contacting the ground with sufficient friction to cause the vehicle
to turn; and means for automatically causing the frictional element
to substantially cease frictional contact with the ground when the
vehicle moves in a forward direction, thus allowing the vehicle to
move forward in a substantially straight line.
19. The radio control toy vehicle of claim 18 wherein: said
frictional element is rotatably and coaxially mounted with one of
said vehicle wheels, said frictional element having a radius
slightly greater than a radius of said one of said wheels; and said
vehicle has a detent which prevents rotation of said frictional
element significantly past a vertical position when said vehicle
travels in reverse.
20. The radio control toy vehicle of claim 19 wherein said
frictional element is a generally pie-shaped piece mounted inside
of said one of said wheels relative to the vehicle body.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. provisional
patent application Ser. No. 60/844,502 filed Sep. 13, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to the field of toy vehicles. More
particularly, this invention relates to the field of a toy vehicle
with pivoting action.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Remotely controlled (RC) toy vehicles provide amusement for
children and adults alike. Such toys usually includes the vehicle
itself and a hand held controller/transmitter that transmits
commands to the vehicle. Those commands sent to the unit usually
include commands to drive forward and to drive in reverse, a
steering command for causing the vehicle to turn to the left or to
the right, and possibly other commands for speed control or for
activating special features on the vehicle. The steering control on
the hand held transmitter often includes a steering wheel type
device, with the steering direction and the amount by which the
vehicle's wheels turn being controlled by whether the user turns
the steering wheel to the left or to the right, and by how far.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a mechanism for turning a toy
vehicle such as a battery operated RC vehicle which is simple in
both its construction and in its operation. The invention is
particularly well suited for use in RC toy vehicles for very young
children, for whom the controls should be very simple. According to
the invention a simple pivoting mechanism allows the vehicle to
move in one direction such as a forward direction, and to
automatically perform a turn when moving in the opposite direction.
In a preferred embodiment, the vehicle moves forward in a
substantially straight line, and when placed in reverse the vehicle
automatically pivots, thus turning the vehicle. In this way the RC
transmitter unit can have simply forward and reverse drive
commands, but does not need to include a separate steering
command.
[0007] According to a preferred embodiment, depending upon the
direction of vehicle motion, a mechanism with a contact member
engages or disengages the surface over which the vehicle travels,
creating a pivot point about which the vehicle rotates. The
mechanism includes a rotating element loosely fixed to the body of
the vehicle about one of the wheel axles next to the wheel. When
the element rotates and engages the travel surface, it generates
sufficiently high friction to pivot and turn the vehicle. This
allows the vehicle to change directions without requiring the angle
of the wheels relative to the vehicle body to change.
[0008] When moving in one direction, preferably the forward
direction, the element rotates freely on the axle into a first
position. In this position the element freely either rotates out of
the way, or lightly contacts the travel surface without creating
substantial friction. When moving in the opposite direction, the
element rotates toward a second position herein referred to also as
an engagement position. In this position, the element contacts the
travel surface and generates a substantial amount of friction, much
more relative to the first position.
[0009] The second position is determined by the presence and
location of a fixed stop. The element rotates up to and against the
fixed stop, which limits maximum rotation by its presence and
location. The size, shape and location of the element will depend
upon vehicle requirements and design factors. In a first embodiment
the element is radial in shape, or generally pie-shaped, and having
a rounded outer peripheral surface. When co-axially mounted, such
element will have a radius slightly greater than the adjacent wheel
and the contact surface of the element extends beyond the outer
perimeter surface of the wheel. When rotated into and out of this
second or engagement position, the contact surface of the element
is rotated into and out of substantial frictional contact with the
travel surface when the vehicle is moving. In the second position,
the friction created causes a change in vehicle velocity. In
addition, it causes a change in vehicle motion by creating a point
of contact about which the vehicle turns. When in the second
position, the outer perimeter contact surface of the wheel is
lifted away from the travel surface.
[0010] The present invention provides a turning mechanism for a toy
remotely controlled vehicle that is extremely simple and
inexpensive to incorporate. It also provides a novel and amusing
turning mechanism that presents unique challenges to users, such as
the challenge of navigating the toy vehicle through a defined
course using only the forward drive command and the reverse/turn
command
[0011] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be further
described below with reference to the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view looking at the bottom of a toy
vehicle having a pivoting mechanism according to a first embodiment
of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the toy vehicle of FIG. 1
with the front wheel shown in shadow to reveal the pivoting
mechanism, showing the mechanism in the position it takes during
forward travel of the vehicle.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the toy vehicle of FIG. 1
with the front wheel shown in shadow to reveal the pivoting
mechanism, showing the mechanism in the position it takes during
reverse travel of the vehicle.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a simplified side elevation view of the inside of
the right front wheel of the vehicle of FIG. 1 including the
pivoting mechanism.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a simplified side elevation view of the inside of
the right front wheel of a vehicle according to a second embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a toy
vehicle 10 having a pivoting mechanism according to a first
embodiment of the present invention. The mechanism includes a
rotating frictional element 20 co-axially located and adjacent to
the inside of a wheel 12. Viewed from the underside of the body,
the rotating element 20 rotates freely back and forth about wheel
axle 26. Rotation is in accordance with the direction of motion
over the travel surface. Herein, travel surface refers to any
surface over which the vehicle travels. In a preferred embodiment
rotating element 20 is not biased toward any particular rotation
orientation.
[0018] Wheel 12 is depicted as a rim with a tire but could be any
type of wheel. Wheel 12 has an outer peripheral surface 13 that
contacts the travel surface. Rotating element 20 may be mounted on
axle 26 with only an insubstantial amount of friction, which means
the element rotates substantially freely about the axle. Axle
rotation alone would not create sufficient friction by itself to
consistently rotate the element about the axle. Alternatively,
rotating element 20 may be mounted on axle 26 with enough friction
that when vehicle 10 travels in the forward direction, rotating
element 20 rotates up and off the travel surface as will be shown
and explained further with reference to FIG. 2.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the toy vehicle, with the
front right wheel 12 shown in shadow to reveal details of the
pivoting mechanism when the vehicle is moving in the forward
direction. The molded plastic body of the vehicle includes two
stops, namely, forward direction stop 24 and reverse direction stop
22. When the vehicle is moving in the forward direction as shown by
the rotational direction arrow, rotating frictional element 20
rotates about vehicle axle 26 with enough friction to rotate the
element up and out of the way against forward direction stop 24,
but with not so much friction as to interfere with the free
movement of the vehicle in the forward direction.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows the same elements as in FIG. 2, but with the
vehicle shown traveling in the reverse direction as shown by the
rotational direction arrow. Due to the slight friction of rotating
frictional element 20 about axis 26, or simply due to gravity if
there is little or no friction with axle 26, rotating frictional
element 20 now rotates until its leading edge contacts the travel
surface, then continues rotating downward as the vehicle continues
moving backward until rotating element 20 rotates against reverse
direction stop 22. In this position element 20, which has a radius
slightly larger than the radius of wheel 12, lifts wheel 12 off the
ground. The radius of element 20 is preferably 1-20% larger than
the radius of the wheel, and more preferably 1-10% larger than the
radius of the wheel. In one sense, element 20 jacks the vehicle up
slightly at one wheel. Rotating frictional element 20 creates
significant frictional contact with the travel surface such that
when reverse power is applied, via either the front wheels or the
rear wheels whichever are the driven wheels, vehicle 10 pivots at
least somewhat about the area of contact between rotating
frictional element 20 and the travel surface. If rotating
frictional element 20 is made of a high friction material such as
rubber, or has a high friction contact surface, the pivoting action
will be pronounced. If, on the other hand, rotating frictional
element 20 is made of a low friction material such as polyethylene
or other plastic, and especially if the vehicle is traveling over a
low friction surface such as a hardwood floor, rotating frictional
element 20 will drag somewhat over the travel surface without
creating as pronounced a pivoting action. The vehicle will,
however, still turn even if there is only a relatively small amount
of friction between element 20 and the travel surface.
[0021] In this embodiment, rotating element 20 rotates with the
wheel associated about the wheel axle with sufficient friction such
that rotating element 20 rotates about the axle for at least a
portion of a revolution, until it bumps against first stop 22 in a
first direction or against second stop 24 in a second
direction.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 looking
from the vehicle side outward, but without the body element
present. Adjacent to the inside 14 of wheel 12, rotating frictional
element 20 is rotatably fixed upon axle 26 and maintains the
approximate position shown when wheel rotation is in the forward
direction when there is virtually no friction between element 20
and axle 26. The leading edge of contact surface 21 is located
slightly behind the vertical centerline of the wheel. When the
wheel rotates in the reverse direction, even a small amount of
friction between contact surface 21 of rotating frictional element
20 and travel surface 30 will cause element 20 to rotate downward
and lift wheel 12 off the ground.
[0023] Depending on design, the pivoting mechanism need not be
located strictly adjacent to a wheel in order to perform and
function. FIG. 5 depicts a second embodiment of the pivoting action
mechanism, shown in a side view and without the vehicle for
illustration purposes. Here, the pivoting mechanism is similar in
size and shape, but is fixed to a secondary axle 140 other than the
wheel axle, the secondary axle being located on an extension of the
body of the vehicle or some other mechanism. Stop 122 is fixed to
the extension of the vehicle body. The action and operation of the
mechanism is the similar to that of the embodiment shown in the
first embodiment, but an alternative mounting is utilized. When the
direction of rotation is the reverse direction, the rotating
element will rotate toward and up against stop 122, similar to as
shown in the previous embodiment.
[0024] The scope of the design function of this mechanism is not
necessarily limited to only the embodiments described herein, but
may be applied to other designs as well. For example, an embodiment
of similar design may control rotation of a wheel such that it
becomes a point of contact with the travel surface about which the
vehicle turns. That is, the wheel automatically locks in the
reverse direction, and spins freely in the forward direction. The
wheel itself therefore would serve the same function as the
rotating element. As another example, the design of the body may
integrate the stop into it in such a fashion that the stop and its
function may not be recognized as a separate entity. In additional
embodiments, the rotating element may limit maximum rotation by use
of matched parts and shapes, or possibly by simple detents in the
body, or by locating the stop on the rotating element itself.
[0025] The term "present invention" used herein should not be
construed to refer to a single invention comprised of a single or
multiple elements. As used herein the term encompasses a number of
distinct embodiments of the same invention. Although the present
invention has thus been described in detail with regard to the
suggested embodiments and drawings thereof, it should be apparent
to those skilled in the art that various adaptations and
modifications of the present invention may be accomplished without
departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Examples
of this were detailed in the Summary above. Accordingly, it is to
be understood that the detailed description and the accompanying
drawings as set forth herein and above are not intended to limit
the breadth of the present invention, which should be inferred only
from the following claims and their appropriately construed legal
equivalents.
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