U.S. patent number 3,600,851 [Application Number 05/029,384] was granted by the patent office on 1971-08-24 for toy vehicle.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ideal Toy Corporation. Invention is credited to Edwin Nielsen.
United States Patent |
3,600,851 |
Nielsen |
August 24, 1971 |
TOY VEHICLE
Abstract
A battery-operated toy vehicle with a programmed automatic
front-wheel assembly steering mechanism. The vehicle includes a
chassis with an insert plate mounting a motor cradle and a battery
cradle, a motor and batteries for driving the vehicle, a gear train
for imparting motion to the rear wheels of the vehicle, a
front-wheel assembly and drive train means for programming and
providing steering action to the front-wheel assembly from the
motion of the rear wheels.
Inventors: |
Nielsen; Edwin (N/A, NY) |
Assignee: |
Corporation; Ideal Toy
(NY)
|
Family
ID: |
21848734 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/029,384 |
Filed: |
April 27, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/436 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H
17/395 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63H
17/00 (20060101); A63H 17/395 (20060101); A63H
029/22 () |
Field of
Search: |
;46/213,244R,244D
;74/436 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mancene; Louis G.
Assistant Examiner: Cutting; Robert F.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. For use in programming the direction of movement of a toy
vehicle of the type including a chassis, drive means mounted on the
chassis for propelling the vehicle and a steering member mounted on
the chassis for movement between a plurality of steering positions,
a programming means comprising: a programming cam, a Geneva
mechanism for providing interrupted, rotative movement for said cam
including dwell periods and indexing periods, a cam follower
operatively connected to said cam and said Geneva mechanism for
translating said interrupted, rotative movement with said periods
into movement for positioning said steering member for a long
period in one of its steering positions and for a short period in
another of its steering positions.
2. For use in programming the direction of movement of a toy
vehicle of the type including a chassis, drive means mounted on the
chassis for propelling the vehicle and a steering member mounted on
the chassis for movement between a number of steering positions, a
steering mechanism comprising: a programming means, means for
driving said programming means, which provides interrupted rotative
movement including dwell periods and indexing periods and cam means
translating said interrupted rotative movement with said periods
into movement for positioning said steering member for a long
period in one of its steering positions and for a short period in
another of its steering positions, said cam means including a cam
follower and said programming means including a replaceable cam and
a Geneva mechanism having a Geneva wheel, said Geneva wheel and
said cam being coaxial and removably attached for rotating together
and for replacement of said cam, said cam follower being
operatively connected to said steering mechanism at one of its ends
and contacting said cam at the other of its ends.
3. A drive train for a vehicle chassis having a front-wheel turning
assembly, a rear-wheel assembly, a motor and a drive connection
between said motor and one of said wheel assemblies, said drive
train comprising a Geneva mechanism operatively connected to the
motor and a cam follower assembly operatively connected to turn
said front-wheel turning assembly and operable therewith to alter
the orientation of the vehicle chassis, said cam follower assembly
including a cam follower and said Geneva mechanism including a cam
for contacting and rotating relative to said cam follower and
thereby imparting motion thereto said Geneva mechanism further
including a Geneva wheel attached to said cam and rotatable
therewith.
4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein a pinion gear is
provided to impart motion to said Geneva wheel, said pinion gear
having a pin and collar upstanding therefrom and said Geneva wheel
defining pin-receiving index slots and collar-receiving dwell
slots, said dwell slots and said collar defining a clearance
therebetween.
5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein the rear-wheel
assembly is driven by the motor and said Geneva mechanism further
includes a rear-wheel axle worm gear for driving said pinion gear.
Description
The present invention relates generally to toys, and in particular,
to a chassis therefor including an automatic steering
mechanism.
Battery-powered toy vehicles or the like are easily operated on a
track having a usual guide groove therein by permitting a depending
guide or track follower on such a vehicle to extend into the guide
groove and thus cause the vehicle to follow the guide groove
curvature and otherwise perform on the track. To increase the play
value of the vehicle, it is desirable that provision be made for
operating the vehicle on a floor, table or other such conventional
riding surface which, of course, does not have a guide groove.
Thus, it is customary for use on conventional riding surfaces to
provide the vehicle with appropriate steering structure to hold the
front wheels in one of several positions and to move them between
those positions. In this manner the vehicle is forced to follow a
prescribed path, either circular or straight on the conventional
riding surface. In known toy vehicles, designed for use without a
track, the play value of the toy vehicle is somewhat restricted in
that the steering structure on the vehicle holds the front wheels
in only one position and changes of that position usually involve
removing the vehicle from its riding surface and manually altering
the position or, in the alternative, the manual substitution of
different cams in an involved mechanism to selectively choose and
hold a different position for the front wheels.
Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a toy
vehicle having an improved steering mechanism overcoming the
foregoing and other shortcomings of the prior art.
Specifically, it is an object to provide an improved steering
mechanism for a toy vehicle which is primarily adapted to provide a
multiplicity of front-wheel positions in a programmed, prescribed
path, either circular or straight, or both, on a conventional
riding surface.
It is a further specific object of the present invention to provide
an improved steering mechanism including steering control structure
adapted to providing a plurality of complex paths for the vehicle
by the inclusion of a plurality of complex, path-providing,
interchangeable elements, with each forcing the vehicle to follow a
prescribed path including both left-circular, right-circular, and
straight-path segments on a conventional riding surface.
A toy vehicle demonstrating objects and advantages of the present
invention includes a usual chassis with an insert plate having a
front-wheel assembly mounted adjacent one end thereof and a
rear-wheel assembly including right and left rear wheels and a rear
axle adjacent the other end, the rear axle being driven by a
conventional toy vehicle motor. The insert plate mounts a motor,
batteries, a gear train between the motor and rear axle, a
front-wheel assembly and a drive train for programming and
providing motion for the steering action of the front-wheel
assembly. The drive train includes a worm gear on the rear axle for
driving a pinion gear having an upstanding pin and collar. The
upstanding pin and collar are arranged and constructed to drive a
Geneva wheel, upon which is mounted a removable main cam, secured
to the Geneva wheel by a cap. A cam follower assembly is pivoted on
a bottom plate of the vehicle, underlying the insert plate. The
rear end of the cam follower assembly engages the main cam. At its
other or forward end, the cam follower assembly engages a tie rod
of the front-wheel assembly such that movement of the cam follower
assembly will cause side motion of the tie rod and attendant
turning motion of the front wheels. The cam follower assembly
further includes a spring for biasing the cam follower against the
main cam. Thus, by providing a toy vehicle structure including
conventional rear-wheel driving means, a front-wheel assembly
including a usual pair of left and right wheels and a tie rod
connected therebetween to provide pivotal movement of the pair of
front wheels in unison, a Geneva mechanism having a programming
main cam operatively connected to the rear wheels and a cam
follower assembly for controlling the motion of the tie rod, a toy
vehicle with increased play value is provided. The main cam of the
structure is attached in a removable fashion so that it is
interchangeable with other main cams for altering the steering
program.
The above brief description, as well as further objects, features
and advantages of the present invention will be more fully
appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a
presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in
accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, showing
a chassis embodying features of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the chassis of FIG. 1 with parts broken
away to illustrate a portion of the Geneva mechanism according to
the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational sectional view taken along the line
3-3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a bottom view, with parts broken away, showing the
mechanism of the present invention and particularly the main cam of
the Geneva mechanism and its cam follower assembly;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the electrical system useful with a toy
vehicle according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is an isometric exploded view of a drive train including a
Geneva mechanism useful in the present invention; and
FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a typical path programmed
and controlled by a drive train according to the present invention
with the main cam and cam follower shown diagrammatically along the
path at characteristic locations to illustrate the programming
action thereof.
Reference is now made to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1
through 6, wherein there is shown a vehicle chassis embodying
features of the present invention, the chassis being generally
designated by the reference numeral 10. The chassis 10 is
constructed to be detachably secured to any one of a number of
small-scale or miniature replicas of a wide variety of vehicle
bodies. The scale in the illustrative drawings is approximately
twice that contemplated for vehicles embodying features of the
present invention. In a typical construction, the overall length of
the chassis will be of the order of inches. Notwithstanding such
miniaturization, the chassis 10 will have the necessary functional
attributes to enable the provision of a self-contained battery
drive and the capability of steering the vehicle in a preprogrammed
manner.
Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1 through 4, the chassis 10 is
seen to include an elongated insert plate 12 having front and rear
ends. A front-wheel assembly, generally designated by the reference
numeral 14 and having left and right front steerable wheels 16, 18,
is mounted on the insert plate 12 adjacent to the front end
thereof. Disposed rearwardly of the front-wheel assembly 14 is a
rear-wheel assembly, generally designated by the reference numeral
20, which includes nonsteerable left and right rear wheels 22, 24.
The reference throughout the specification to "left" and "right"
components is intended to orient such components as viewed from the
position of the driver when seated in the vehicle.
Intermediate the front and rear-wheel assemblies 14, 20, and in a
position corresponding to the main body of the vehicle, there is
provided a battery cradle, generally designated by the reference
numeral 26, which in this illustrative assembly is constructed to
receive side-by-side batteries 28, 30. The batteries extend
lengthwise of the insert plate 12 and are substantially hidden from
view by the vehicle body (not shown) when it is assembled with the
chassis 10.
Disposed rearwardly of the rear-wheel assembly 20 in the trunk
region of the vehicle, there is provided a motor cradle, generally
designated by the reference numeral 32, which receives a
battery-operated miniature motor 34. As will be subsequently
described, the motor 34 is operatively connected to the right rear
wheel 24 of the rear-wheel assembly 20 for imparting drive thereto.
Also, the motor is connected in an energization circuit (FIG. 5)
with the batteries 28 30, the circuit capable of being selectively
completed and interrupted.
Circuit control is provided by an on-off switch 15 (shown in its
"off" position in FIG. 4), the switch 15 being movable in the
direction designated by the arrow 15' to provide the "on" position.
The switch 15 is coaxially attached to switchplate 15a (FIGS. 2 and
5) to complete the motor-battery circuit. Motion of the switch 15
in direction 15' provides corresponding motion 15' to the plate 15a
as shown in FIG. 5 to electrically complete the circuit.
A bottom plate, generally designated 13, defines a lower housing
for the chassis 10 and further defines an opening 13a for the
on-off switch 15 and an opening 17 for the main cam 46 (FIG. 4) to
be described subsequently. Therefore, it may be seen that the
entire chassis 10 including front and rear-wheel assemblies 18, 20,
motor 34, the drive train, and the batteries 28, 30, are carried on
the insert plate 12 with only the cam follower 48 being mounted
externally on the bottom plate 13.
As best seen in FIGS. 2 through 4 and 6, the features leading to
the improved play value of a vehicle constructed according to the
present invention reside in the cooperative provision with the
foregoing generally conventional structures, a drive train
including a Geneva mechanism, generally designated 36, and a cam
follower assembly, generally designated 38. The Geneva mechanism
includes a worm gear 86 on the rear axle 78, a pinion gear 40, from
which is upstanding a Geneva pin 42 and a collar 42a for engagement
with a Geneva wheel 44. Removably mounted on the Geneva wheel is a
main cam 46 protruding through bottom plate 13. The cam follower
assembly 38 includes a cam follower 48 whose respective ends are
for engagement with the main cam 46, and tie rod 50 of the
front-wheel assembly, a cam follower pivot 48' for mounting the cam
follower 48 on bottom plate 13, and a spring 52 for biasing the cam
follower 48 in the direction of engagement with the main cam
46.
As the description proceeds and from the foregoing explanation of
the general arrangement, it will be appreciated that there is
provided an exceptionally compact construction lending itself to
programmed steering of a toy vehicle along a multiposition path,
the program of the steering being selectively changeable by
selective replacement of a single element of the vehicle drive
train mechanism.
As seen best in FIGS. 1 through 4, the front-wheel assembly 14
includes left and right front mounting and contacting members 54,
56 which are of nearly identical construction and are fabricated of
an electrically conductive material, such as bronze stampings. The
left front mounting and contacting member 54 includes a planar base
54a which rests against and is secured to the underlying portion of
the insert plate 12 and is secured thereto as by rivet 58. The
member 54 further includes an upstanding resilient left front
battery contact 54b which is positioned at the corresponding
forward end of the battery cradle 26 in position to engage the
center terminal of the battery 28. Similarly, the right front
mounting and contacting member 56 is secured to the insert plate 12
by rivet 60 and includes a planar base 56a and an upstanding
resilient right front battery contact 56b located at the
corresponding forward end of the battery cradle 26 in position to
contact the center terminal of the battery 30.
The left front wheel 16 of the front-wheel assembly 14 is journaled
on a left front axle 62 which extends horizontally and is attached
to a knuckle 64 (FIG 3) journaled on a left front kingpin 66. Thus,
the wheel 16 is capable of rotating about its corresponding
horizontal wheel axis, and may be turned about the vertical
steering axis defined by the kingpin 66 (which also serves to avoid
rotation of member 54). Similarly, the right front wheel 18 is
journaled on a right front axle 68 which is secured to a right
front knuckle 70 (not shown) journaled on a right front kingpin 72.
Provision is made for coordinating the front wheels 16, 18 for
adjustment about the steering axes defined by the kingpins 66, 72
so that the vehicle may take different courses as programmed by the
main cam 46. Specifically, the knuckles 64, 70 have respective
knuckle arms 64a, 70a, which are interconnected by a tie rod 50
extending transversely of the insert plate 12 across the front end
thereof. One end of the tie rod 50 is connected to the knuckle arm
64a by the tie rod pin 74 and the other end of the tie rod 50 is
connected to the knuckle arm 70a by tie rod pin 76. Thus, the
attitude of the wheels 16, 18 in relation to the chassis can be
changed by moving the tie rod 50 in either a left or right
direction and it is thereby possible to have the vehicle move on a
straight path, traverse a course to the left, or traverse a course
to the right.
The wheels 16, 18 of the front-wheel assembly 16 and the wheels 22,
24 of the rear-wheel assembly 20 are all substantially identical in
construction and conventional for toy vehicles of this type.
The rear-wheel assembly 20 includes a rear axle 78 which extends
transversely of the chassis intermediate the battery cradle 26 and
the motor cradle 32. The axle 78 is retained on the chassis by
integral bearings 79 or journals, such as are conventional for
vehicles of this type. The left and right rear wheels 22, 24 are
journaled on the rear axle 78 with at least the left rear wheel 22
being arranged to freewheel.
The battery cradle 26, details of which are best seen in FIGS. 1,
2, and 3, is defined by flanges molded integrally with the insert
plate 12 of the chassis including a left marginal flange 12e, a
right marginal flange 12f and a transverse flange 12g. With
reference to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the insert plate 12 is
provided with a central, longitudinally extending reinforcing rib
12i which medially partitions the battery cradle 26 into two
side-by-side compartments adapted to receive the batteries 28, 30.
The batteries 28, 30 are releasably secured in the battery cradle
26 by battery holddown and motor-contacting clips 80, 82 which are
fabricated of electrically conducting material, preferably bronze
stampings. The clips 80, 82 in cooperation with side clip 83 serve
to releasably secure the motor 34 to the chassis, orient the motor
34 relative to the rear-wheel assembly 20 to establish drive
thereto, and establish electrical connections between the batteries
28, 30 and the motor 34 as shown in FIG. 5. The motor 34 is of the
fractional horsepower battery-operated type and is of generally
known construction. Such motors are commercially available from a
number of sources.
The motor cradle 32 further mounts a gear train 84 from the motor
34 to the right rear wheel 24. The gear train includes gears of
various diameters well known in the art in order to provide drive
from the motor shaft 84a to a wheel gear 84b coaxial with the right
wheel 24.
Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 through 4 and 6, a drive train
for programming and controlling the front wheel assembly steering
mechanism according to the present invention is shown as including
a Geneva mechanism 36 and a cam follower assembly 38. The Geneva
mechanism 36 includes a worm gear 86 disposed approximately
centrally of the rear-wheel axle 78, the worm gear 86 meshing with
pinion gear 40 in approximately a 30:1 reduction to provide
rotation thereof. The pinion gear 40 includes an upstanding pin 42
and an upstanding collar 42a for engaging a Geneva wheel 44.
Removably secured to and coaxial with the Geneva wheel is a main
cam 46 which is retained in place by a retaining cap 44a extending
from the Geneva wheel 44. The retaining cap 44a has retaining cap
lugs 44b, 44c extending laterally thereof for accomplishing the
retaining function. The main cam 46 defines at its central portion
an opening 46a, the opening including lug-receiving slots 46b, 46c
and lug tracks 46d, 46e. It may be seen therefore, that the lugs
44b, 44c are intended for insertion to the lug-receiving slots 46b,
46c and for movement along the tracks 46d, 46e to motion-limiting
lug walls 46f, 46g of the main cam to lock the main cam 46 in
place.
The cam follower assembly 38 includes cam follower 48 defining a
cam contacting follower tip 48a, a tie rod arm 48b and a pivot at
48' so that the cam follower 48 moves about the point 48' relative
to the bottom plate 13. The tie rod arm 48b of the cam follower
defines a tie rod slot 48c for receiving a downwardly protruding
pin 50a from the tie rod 50.
Operation of the entire Geneva mechanism 36 and the motion imparted
thereby to the cam follower assembly 38 may be described as follows
with particular reference to FIG. 6: As the worm gear 86 rotates
with the rear-wheel axle 78 in the direction 77 shown, a motion
designated by the arrow 94 is imparted to the pinion gear 40. As
the pinion gear 40 rotates in direction 94, a similar motion is
assumed by the pinion gear collar 42a and the pin 42. The Geneva
wheel 44 is constructed to define both dwell slots 44d and index
slots 44e, the collar 42a of the pinion gear riding in successive
dwell slots 44d and the pin 42 of the pinion gear 40 intended for
insertion to successive indexing slots 44e. As the pinion gear 40
rotates, the collar 42a rotates in a dwell slot 44d until the pin
42 is rotated to a position for insertion to an indexing slot 44e.
When the pin 42 arrives at the entrance position of an indexing
slot 44e, it may be seen that the partially truncated collar 42a
will be in a position out of the dwell slot 44d. At this pint, a
rapid indexing (approximately 45.degree.) of the Geneva wheel 44
will take place as the pinion gear 40 continues to rotate. Such
indexing imparts rapid motion in the direction 96 to the Geneva
wheel 44 until the pin 42 has rotated to a position where it passes
out from the indexing slot 44e. At this point, the collar 42a will
again be passed into the next successive dwell slot 44d, at which
point the Geneva wheel 44 will cease moving until the pin 42 is
inserted to the next successive indexing slot 44e. Repetitions of
such motions continue to occur with alternate dwell periods and
rapid indexing periods provided to the Geneva wheel 44. Since the
main cam 46 is attached to the Geneva wheel 44 with lugs 44b, 44c
bearing against lug walls 46f, 46g, the alternating dwell and rapid
indexing motion of the Geneva wheel 44 is imparted positively to
the main cam 46. It may be seen further from FIG. 6 that the main
cam 46 defines edge surface portions 100, 200, 300 of varying depth
and length for producing the follower actions labeled 100', 200',
and 300' in FIG. 7. The timing of such action by the cam follower
tip 48a is programmed by the alternate motion and timing in
direction 98 of the main cam 46 as dictated by the motion of the
Geneva wheel 44 and the balance of the Geneva mechanism 36.
To further describe the Geneva mechanism 36, the structure of the
Geneva mechanism elements in the illustrative embodiment are shown
with the pinion 40 having a dwell ratio of approximately 2 to 1.
That is, the dwell-causing collar 42a is in contact with a dwell
slot 44d for twice as much of the pinion gear rotation as the pin
42 is in contact with an indexing slot 44e. Stated differently, the
collar 42a is active for 240.degree. of a single rotation of the
pinion gear 40 and the pin 42 is active for 120.degree..
Construction of the Geneva wheel 44 is such that the indexing slots
44e occur every 45.degree. along the periphery of the Geneva wheel.
Also, the main cam 46 is designed to include edge surface portions
100, 200, and 300 with the portions 100 subtending an arc of
30.degree. along the periphery of the main cam, portions 200
subtending an arc of 15.degree. and the portions 300 subtending an
arc of 30.degree.. Particular reference to FIGS. 4, 6, and 7
indicate that the closest edge surface portions to the center of
the main cam 46 are portions labeled 100, the furthest portions
from the center are those labeled 300 and the intermediate surface
portions are labeled 200. When the cam follower tip 48a is
contacting the deepest surface portions 100, the cam follower tip
48a will be at its furthest extent to the left of the vehicle. The
tie rod arm 48b of the cam follower 48 will therefore be at the
position B' denoted by ghost lines in the drawing of FIG. 4. This
B' position is the furthest right position for the tie rod arm 48b
and the tie rod 50. In this position, therefore, the vehicle
front-wheel assembly will be steered to the right since the
rightward motion of tie rod 50 pivots the knuckle arms 70a and 64a
about the kingpins 72 and 66, respectively. Likewise, the wheels
18, 16 are thereby turned to a rightwardly steering position for
the vehicle.
Conversely, when the cam follower tip 48a is contacting the surface
portions 300 (furthest away from the center of the main cam 46),
the tie rod arm 48b of the cam follower 48 is moved to the position
denoted by ghost lines C' in FIG. 4. Such action produces leftward
motion of the tie rod 50 causing the vehicle to turn to the left.
It may be seen clearly that the straight-ahead position of the tie
rod arm 48b of the cam follower 48 is the position shown in FIG. 4
and denoted by the label A'. Such straight-ahead orientation of the
elements shown is assumed when the cam follower tip 48a is
contacting an intermediate depth portion 200 on the main cam
46.
In order to provide a clear understanding of the construction of a
toy vehicle according to the present invention, a brief description
of the operation will now be provided. At the beginning of the
operational cycle it is assumed that the collar 42a is inserted to
a dwell slot 44d of the Geneva wheel 44 and in the midposition
thereof, so that the pinion gear 40 is rotating without imparting
any motion to the Geneva wheel. This is considered, therefore, the
midposition of the dwell period since the collar 42a rotates with a
clearance relationship to the dwell slot 44d. At that point, the
pin is on the opposite side of the axis of the pinion gear 40 from
the structural center of the collar 42a. Also, in the assumed
initial position, the toy vehicle chassis 10 is at the midpoint of
its straight path as shown at point A.sub.1, in the lower right
segment of the total path 150 programmed for the vehicle. The
initial position for the cam follower tip 48a relative to the main
cam 46 is at the middle of an edge portion 200 designated A.sub.1
'.
As the motor continues to operate through gear train 84 to rotate
the rear-wheel axle 78, the worm gear 86 will rotate in direction
77 and cause, with a 30-to-1 reduction, the rotation of pinion gear
40 in direction 94. Since the pin 42 is 60.degree. from insertion
to an indexing slot 44e, or one-third rotation therefrom, it will
require approximately 10 full rotations of the rear-wheel axle 78
to reach that insertion point. During that one-third rotation of
the pinion gear 40, the Geneva wheel 44 will remain stationary,
thus maintaining a straight path for the vehicle, which was its
orientation initially.
As soon as the pin 42 enters the indexing slot 44e, the Geneva
wheel 44 begins rapid indexing for approximately 45.degree. of its
rotation. During the rapid indexing, the main cam 46 also rapidly
rotates 45.degree., thus moving the cam follower tip 48a (relative
to the main cam 46) past the midpoint C.sub.1 ' of the next
successive edge surface portion 300 to the midpoint A.sub.2 ' of
the following edge portion 200. As discussed previously, the edge
portion 300 defines a left-turn orientation for the front wheels
16, 18. The positions of the main cam 46 and cam follower tip 48a,
as shown in the position labeled 300' in the drawing of FIG. 7, are
therefore passed quickly during indexing and the vehicle chassis 10
quickly proceeds past position c.sub.1, in the path 150.
After the rapid indexing of 45.degree. rotation by the main cam 46
and the Geneva wheel 44, the pin 42 will be in a position to exit
from the indexing slot 44e which it had entered. During the
indexing period, the pinion gear 40 had rotated by an amount equal
to 120.degree. of rotation which corresponds to 10 full rotations
of the rear wheels 22, 24. As the pin 42 exits from the indexing
slot 44e, the vehicle chassis 10 is in the position A.sub.2 of the
total vehicle path 150 in FIG. 7. The Geneva mechanism now assumes
a period of dwell as the collar 42a enters a dwell slot 44d,
causing the vehicle chassis, and particularly the front wheels
thereof to maintain a straight position for 20 full rotations of
the rear wheels and two-thirds of a rotation of the pinion gear 40.
The vehicle maintains the straight position until the pin 42 again
enters an indexing slot 44e causing the main cam 46 to rapidly
index approximately 45.degree. to point A.sub.3 ' in FIG. 6. During
the indexing, the cam follower tip 48a passes the midposition
B.sub.1 ' of an edge portion 100, which dictates a right turn for
the chassis 10. The chassis, therefore, quickly traverses a right
run through point B.sub.1 of path 150 (cam follower tip 48a and
main cam 46 positions for B.sub.1 shown in FIG. 7 as 100'). With
point A.sub.3 ' contacting the cam follower tip 48a at the end of
the indexing, the vehicle will then assume a straight path and hold
the straight path during the ensuing dwell period of the Geneva
mechanism. The straight path will be maintained during the dwell
period for approximately 20 full rotations of the rear wheels. The
path 150 of the vehicle chassis 10 then continues through points
C.sub.2, A.sub.4, etc. corresponding to main cam surface portion
midpoints C.sub.2 ', A.sub.4 ', etc. in the same manner with
alternate dwell and indexing periods.
In accordance with the foregoing description of structure and
operation, a toy vehicle chassis 10 has been described as using
programmed and controlled steering operation. By interchanging main
cam 46 with others of various designs and edge surface
configurations, the path 150 may be altered almost without limit.
For instance, the illustrative main cam 46 described herein
provided intermediate-depth edge portions 200 to correspond with
dwell periods. It may be seen that arcs of turn having much greater
extent than those shown in path 150 may be obtained by
synchronizing dwell periods of the Geneva wheel with other edge
surface portions 100, 300. Also, the Geneva wheel can be replaced
by a mutilated gear or other programming means to provide
intermittent motion.
Furthermore, it should be understood that the toy vehicle may be
used to simulate typical city driving where long straight runs and
rapid turns are the rule. Also, the simulation of toy boats and
planes is accomplished with the present invention by merely using a
different body configuration for attachment to the chassis
shown.
* * * * *