U.S. patent number 3,708,913 [Application Number 05/113,300] was granted by the patent office on 1973-01-09 for toy motorcycle.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Marvin Glass & Associates. Invention is credited to Marvin I. Glass, Robert S. McKay, Reuben Terzian.
United States Patent |
3,708,913 |
Terzian , et al. |
January 9, 1973 |
TOY MOTORCYCLE
Abstract
A two-wheeled toy vehicle including a wheel drive motor and
capable of maintaining an upright position during operation without
the assistance of a third wheel or the like. The exemplary
embodiment is configured in the form of a motorcycle and includes
an electric drive motor and batteries therefor located below the
axis of rotation of the wheels to provide the vehicle with an
extremely low center of gravity thereby enhancing its stability
during operation. The vehicle can be operated as a free running
vehicle or, in the alternative, can be provided with a tether of
variable length and with a variable speed control, both of which
can be controlled by a user during operation of the vehicle.
Inventors: |
Terzian; Reuben (Chicago,
IL), McKay; Robert S. (Morton Grove, IL), Glass; Marvin
I. (Chicago, IL) |
Assignee: |
Marvin Glass & Associates
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
22348672 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/113,300 |
Filed: |
February 8, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/440 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H
17/004 (20130101); A63H 30/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63H
17/00 (20060101); A63H 30/00 (20060101); A63h
033/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;46/202,243LV |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mancene; Louis G.
Assistant Examiner: Cutting; Robert F.
Claims
We claim:
1. A two-wheeled toy vehicle having a low width to length ratio and
capable of stable operation during movement without the assistance
of third support comprising: a vehicle frame having an upper and
lower portion; one front and one rear wheel rotatably mounted on
said frame; a motor mounted on said lower portion of said frame and
operatively associated with at least one of said wheels for driving
the same; power receiving means mounted on said lower portion of
said frame for receiving a source of power for powering said motor;
whereby said motor and said power receiving means are so located on
said frame that the center of gravity of the vehicle is
sufficiently low so that the vehicle may tip substantially in one
direction before the center of gravity thereof will move outside
the point of contact of the wheels with a supporting surface.
2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the wheels are rotatably mounted
on the frame means by axle members and the motor and the battery
receiving means are substantially located below the axles.
3. The vehicle of claim 1 including a pair of elements mounted on
said frame, one on each side thereof and normally in an elevated
position with respect to a vehicle supporting surface, said
elements being operative when said vehicle tips to the extent that
its center of gravity moves outside the point of contact of its
wheels with the supporting surface to contact the supporting
surface and rebound therefrom the cause the vehicle to move to an
upright position whereat its center of gravity is within the point
of contact of its wheels with the surface.
4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein said battery receiving means
comprise a pair of battery receiving housings, one on each side of
said vehicle and said pair of elements depend from a respective one
of said battery receiving housings.
5. A toy motorcycle including the vehicle of claim 1 and further
comprising a switch for controlling the application of power to the
motor, said switch including a movable element configured in the
form of a motorcycle kick starter.
6. The motorcycle of claim 5 further including a female electrical
jack forming a part of said switch and located on said frame at a
position to be contacted by said kick starter simulating element;
said female jack element being adapted to receive a male jack
element for alternate connection to
a. an external source of power, and
b. a battery recharging system.
7. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said wheels each have a generally
cylindrical surface.
8. A two-wheeled toy vehicle having a low width to length ratio and
capable of stable operation during movement without the assistance
of a third support comprising:
a. a vehicle frame;
b. one front and one rear wheel rotatably mounted on said frame and
each having a generally cylindrical surface;
c. an electric motor operatively associated with at least one of
said wheels for driving the same, said motor being mounted at a
lowermost point on said frame; and
d. a pair of means each for receiving an electrical battery,
mounted at a lowermost point on said frame, said receiving means
being disposed on opposite sides of said frame;
e. whereby the vehicle, when provided with a battery, has an
extremely low center of gravity.
9. The vehicle of claim 8 further including a pair of means, one on
the underside of each of said battery receiving means, and normally
elevated above the surface on which the vehicle may travel for
engaging the surface on which the vehicle is traveling when the
vehicle tips a predetermined degree for rebounding therefrom to
move the vehicle to an upright position thereby maintaining stable
operation during movement of the vehicle.
10. A two-wheeled vehicle comprising:
a. a vehicle frame;
b. a front wheel rotatably mounted on said frame;
c. a rear wheel rotatably mounted on said frame;
d. an electrical motor mounted on said frame connected to said rear
wheel to rotate the same;
e. a battery housing mounted on said frame in a rearward position
on said frame above the axis of rotation of said rear wheel;
f. whereby when a battery is received in said housing said vehicle
has an extremely rearwardly located center of gravity so that
torque applied to said rear wheel by said motor will cause the
vehicle to do a wheel stand.
11. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the battery receiving housing
is mounted above the rear wheel.
12. The vehicle of claim 11 further including outwardly and
rearwardly extending skids adapted to engage the surface on which
the vehicle is traveling to stabilize operation of the vehicle
during movement thereof.
13. A two-wheeled toy vehicle having a low width to length ratio
and capable of stable operation during movement without the
assistance of a third support comprising: a vehicle frame; one
front and one rear wheel rotatably mounted on said frame; a motor
mounted on said frame and operatively associated with at least one
of said wheels for driving the same; means mounted on said frame
for receiving an electrical battery for powering said motor; said
motor and said receiving means being so located on said frame that
when a battery is received in said receiving means, the center of
gravity of the vehicle is sufficiently low so that the vehicle may
tip substantially in one direction before the center of gravity
thereof will move outside the point of contact of the wheels with a
supporting surface, and a pair of rebounding elements on said
frame, one on each side thereof and normally in an elevated
position with respect to a vehicle supporting surface, said
elements being operative when said vehicle tips to the extent that
its center of gravity moves outside the point of contact of its
wheels with the supporting surface to contact the supporting
surface and rebound therefrom to cause the vehicle to move to an
upright position whereat its center of gravity is within the point
of contact of its wheels with the surface.
14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein said battery receiving means
comprise a pair of battery receiving housings, one on each side of
said vehicle and said pair of elements depend from a respective one
of said battery receiving housings.
15. A two-wheeled toy vehicle having a low width to length ratio
and capable of stable operation during movement without the
assistance of a third support comprising: a vehicle frame; one
front and one rear wheel rotatably mounted on said frame; a motor
mounted on said frame and operatively associated with at least one
of said wheels for driving the same; means mounted on said frame
for receiving an electrical battery for powering said motor; an
electrical switch for controlling the application of power to the
motor, said electrical switch including a movable element
configured in the form of a motorcycle kick starter, and further
including a female electrical jack forming a part of said switch
and located on said frame at a position to be contacted by said
kick starter simulating element; said female jack element being
adapted to receive a male jack element for alternate connection to
an external source of power and a battery recharging system; said
motor and said receiving means being so located on said frame that
when a battery is received in said receiving means the center of
gravity of the vehicle is sufficiently low so that the vehicle may
tip substantially in one direction before the center of gravity
thereof will move outside the point of contact of the wheels with a
supporting surface, and a pair of rebounding elements on said
frame, one on each side thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to toy vehicles.
Over the years, there have been a number of proposals for low width
to length ratio, two-wheeled toy vehicles configured in the form of
motorcycles or the like. Such vehicles frequently have a driving
means to drive the same but unfortunately, have not been as
realistic as is desired insofar as the same have generally required
a balancing support in addition to the two wheels, normally either
in the form of a third wheel or a surface engaging skid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The principal object of the invention is to provide a new and
improved two-wheeled toy vehicle, and more particularly, one that
may be operated by means of a drive motor mounted on the vehicle
itself and which does not require an unrealistic third wheel or
ground engaging skid to maintain stability during operation.
The exemplary embodiment of the invention achieves the foregoing
object by means of a construction wherein an electric drive motor
and the batteries therefor are nestled as low as possible on the
vehicle frame with the batteries being lowermost and disposed on
opposite sides of the frame to provide an extremely low center of
gravity. To further assist stability, the peripheral surface of the
wheels is generally cylindrical with little or no curvature
adjacent the edges.
A modified embodiment of the invention includes a construction
wherein the batteries are located rearwardly of the rear wheel so
that the center of gravity of the vehicle is such that the torque
applied to the rear wheel by the electric motor will cause the
vehicle to do a wheel stand or so-called "wheelie."
One embodiment of the invention additionally contemplates the use
of an external power source coupled with a tether extending from a
pylon. With the external source, a speed control system is employed
along with a variable length tether which may be controlled by a
user of the device so that the path and speed of the vehicle as it
moves about the pylon may be selectively changed as desired.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent
from the following specification taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle made according to the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 3 is a vertical section of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.
1;
FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken approximately along the line
4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.
1;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the first
embodiment of the vehicle;
FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.
2;
FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a portion of the vehicle illustrated
in FIG. 2;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a tether system for the
vehicle;
FIG. 10 is a horizontal section of a portion of the tether
system;
FIG. 11 is a vertical section taken approximately along the line
11--11 of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the tether
system;
FIG. 13 is a vertical section of a speed control employed with the
tether system;
FIG. 14 is a horizontal section taken approximately along the line
14--14 of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a vertical section of a pylon used in the tether
system;
FIG. 16 is a horizontal section of the pylon illustrated in FIG.
15;
FIG. 17 is another horizontal section of the pylon illustrated in
FIG. 15;
FIG. 18 is a vertical section of a lap counter associated with the
pylon employed in the tether system;
FIG. 19 is a horizontal section of the lap counter; and
FIG. 20 is a sectional view of a jack employed in the tether system
for providing the vehicle with power from an external source.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
One embodiment of a two-wheeled vehicle made according to the
invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3-6 and is seen to comprise
a toy motorcycle having a front wheel 50 mounted on an axle 52
received in a fork 54. Also provided is a rear wheel 56 mounted on
an axle 58 which in turn is received in apertures 60 in rearwardly
extending arms 62 of a mounting frame, generally designated 64
(FIG. 5). The wheels 50 and 56 constitute the sole surface engaging
elements of the vehicle and in order to provide stability, are
generally cylindrical in shape, that is, with small radius corners
66 as best seen in FIG. 4.
The rear wheel 56 is driven and includes an integrally formed spur
gear 68 on one side thereof. The spur gear 68 is in engagement with
a combination spur and crown gear 70 pivotally mounted on a pin 72
which is received in apertures 74 in the frame 64. The crown gear
portion of the combination gear 70 is in turn meshed with a small
spur gear 76 mounted on the output shaft 78 of the electrical motor
80. The motor 80 is received in a generally cylindrical recess
defined by facing cavities 82 at the lowermost end of a pair of
upwardly extending arms 84 on the frame 64 at a location generally
below the axles 52 and 58.
Returning to the combination gear 70, the hub of the same mounts a
radially extending stub 86 which is adapted to engage a spring 88
once during each revolution of the gear 70. The spring 88 is
mounted on the underside of a plastic sounding member 90 by means
of a rivet 92 and the sounding member 90 is disposed within a
molding 94 simulating the gas tank for the vehicle. The gas tank 94
in conjunction with the sounding member 90 define a sounding
chamber and as a result, as the gear 70 is rotated and the stub 86
engages the spring 88, a staccato sound is generated to simulate
the sound of a motorcycle engine.
The upwardly extending arms 84 have inturned upper ends 96 which
are adapted to be received in grooves 98 in a block 100 to securely
locate the same between the arms 84. The block 100 includes a bore
102 for pivotally receiving a screw 104 which may be threaded into
an opening 106 in the bight of the fork 54. The head of the screw
104 is adapted to engage a handle grip assembly 108 having a
downwardly open channel base 110. A bar 112 is adapted to be
received in the channel and by means of screws 114 passed through
spacing sleeves 116 and received in threaded apertures 118, is
secured to the bight of the fork 54 so that pivotal motion imparted
to the handlebar assembly 108 will be transmitted to the fork 54 to
control the angular position of the front wheel 50.
The frame 64 further includes a pair of opposed upwardly extending
arms 120 having outturned ends 122 for purposes to be seen and is
completed by an upturned front end 124 having an aperture 126 for
receiving a circular projection 128 on the forwardmost end of the
motor 80. A complementary upturned element 130 may be struck out
from the base of the frame 64 to engage the underside of a similar
projection 132 on the motor 80 as best seen in FIG. 3.
The motorcycle further includes a decorative housing, generally
designated 134, including an upper opening 136 through which the
spring 88 may project to be periodically engaged by the stub 86 for
noise making purposes. Additionally provided is another opening 138
through which the upwardly extending arms 84 may extend. Extending
from the rear of the housing 134 is a fender simulating element 140
which includes a partial stiffening web 142 terminating at its
front edge in a threaded boss 144. The boss 144 may receive a screw
146 for securing a seat 148 and the gas tank 94 to the housing
134.
The housing further includes, on opposite sides near the rear end
thereof, horizontally elongated slots 147 for receiving the
outturned ends 122 of the arms 120 to secure the frame 64 in the
housing 134. The housing 134 is also flanked by integrally formed
partial battery housings 149 for receiving batteries 150. Also
provided is a pan-like element 152 which serves to complete a
housing for the batteries 150 in conjunction with the partial
housings 149. The pan 152 includes a small slot 154 in its
forwardmost end which is adapted to receive a forwardly projecting
tab 156 on the housing 134 as well as space slots 158 on its rear
side for receiving similar tabs not shown. The forwardmost end of
the pan 152 further includes a pair of projections 160 (only one of
which is shown) on either side thereof which are configured to be
spaced a distance of about one-eight inch above any supporting
surface on which the vehicle may run.
Conductor elements 162, 164 and 166 may be suitably mounted within
the pan 152 to electrically cooperate with the batteries 150 and
conductors not shown to provide an electrical circuit to the motor
80 in conjunction with a jack element 168. In particular, the
conductor 164 includes a ring 170 which is adapted to be aligned
with an aperture 172 in the housing 134 to be electrically
connected to one side of the jack 168. The jack 168 is retained by
means of a nut 173 which is in electrical contact with the other
side of the jack 168. The other side of the jack 168 is
electrically isolated by means of insulating discs 174 from the
housing 134 which, in the exemplary embodiment, is formed of metal
and forms part of the power path for the motor 80.
A metal 176 configured along the lines of a conventional kick
starter for a motorcycle is pivotally mounted at 178 through the
housing 134. As best seen in FIG. 6, the kick starter 176 may be
pivoted to contact the nut 173 to complete a circuit to energize
the motor 80. As will be seen, a jack 168 not only serves as part
of an electrical switch for the motor and its internal power supply
is provided by the batteries 150, but also provides a means for
connection of the motorcycle to an external source of power and
further permits connection of a battery recharger to the motorcycle
for recharging the batteries 50 if they are of the type that can be
recharged.
The foregoing construction provides an extremely stable two-wheeled
vehicle. In particular, the cylindrical formation of the wheels
coupled with the low center of gravity resulting from the location
of the relatively heavy elements as the batteries and the motor
result in a construction wherein the vehicle may tip substantially
to one side without the center of gravity moving outside of the
point of contact of the wheels on the surface on which the vehicle
is traveling. As a result, the downward force located at the center
of gravity due to the weight of the vehicle will generally be
sufficient to overcome any force, as for example, a centrifugal
force tending to cause the vehicle to tip and will therefore return
the vehicle to an upright position in most instances when it begins
to tip.
Further, the opposite outboard disposition of the batteries tends
to provide a balancing function not unlike that of the balance bar
employed by a tightrope walker while the tabs 160 operate to
reacquire stability should the vehicle tip sufficiently that the
force at the center of gravity thereof moves outside the point of
contact on the surface on which the vehicle is traveling. For
example, if the vehicle continues to tip, one of the tabs 160 will
strike the vehicle supporting surface with a downward force. The
resulting reaction of the supporting surface against the tab 160
will result in a force being applied to the latter in an upward
direction sufficient to cause the vehicle to straighten upwardly
sufficiently to move the center of gravity within the point of
contact of the wheels on the surface. The effect is not unlike that
of an object rebounding from the surface with which it has made
contact and once the center of gravity has been moved inwardly with
the point of contact with the surface, stability will again be
maintained as mentioned previously.
Turning now to FIGS. 2, 7 and 8, another embodiment of the
motorcycle will be described. In general, the same is similar to
that just described with the exception that the housing 180
(roughly corresponding to the housing 134) is not flanked by
partial battery housings such as those shown at 149 so that the
various elements employed to provide a battery housing as the
battery housing 134 may be omitted. The housing 180 also includes
at its side a pair of L-shaped lugs 182 defining a wire receiving
track 184 for a Y-shaped skid wire 186. In addition, the housing
180 terminates in rearwardly extending arms 188 having a length
sufficient to extend beyond the rear wheel 56. The arms 188 may be
interiorly dished as at 190 to house the frame arms 62 and at their
end journal a roller 192 for purposes to be seen. The housing 180
is completed by eyelets 194 flanking both sides of the rear fender
near the uppermost portion thereof and a pair of apertured lugs 196
(only one of which is shown) near the innermost end of the arms
188.
The housing may receive a so-called "banana" seat 198 having an
apertured boss 200 on its rear side. The banana seat 198 may be
secured to the housing 180 by means of a screw, not shown,
extending through an aperture 202 in the seat to be threadedly
received in a boss 204 on the housing 180. The embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 2, 7 and 8 is completed by a wire roll bar 206
which is adapted to flank the banana seat 198 and be received in
the eyelets 194 and the apertured lugs 196. The length of the roll
bar 206 is greater than that of the seat 198 so that a battery pack
208 may be partially mounted thereon by means of a slot 210 in its
upper end through which the roll bar 206 may extend. The lower end
of the battery pack 208 includes an apertured tab 212 which may
receive a screw 214 threadedly received in the boss 200 to securely
mount the battery pack 208 in place. Suitable wiring, not shown,
may be provided to connect the battery pack 208 to the motor.
As a result of the foregoing construction, it will be appreciated
that the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2, 7 and 8 has its center
of gravity located just ahead of the rear wheel and above the axis
of rotation thereof due to the weight of the batteries in the
battery pack 208. Thus, when the motor is energized, the reactive
torque imparted to the motorcycle itself coupled with the
rearwardly located center of gravity will cause the motorcycle to
do a wheel stand or so-called "wheelie" as illustrated in FIG. 7 at
which time the stability will be maintained by the wire skid 186.
If used without the skid 186, the roller 192 acts to limit pivotal
movement of the vehicle about the rear wheel during a wheel
stand.
Turning now to FIG. 9, a tether system for either one of the
vehicles will be described. In particular, there is provided a
pylon designated 220 from which a tether 222 may extend to be
connected to the vehicle. A speed control device, generally
designated 224, is also connected to a portion of the tether 222
which extends into a timing mechanism, generally designated 226 and
passes through a shallow tunnel 228 to the pylon 220. By operation
of an actuator 230 on the speed control device 224, power applied
to the motor vehicle may be regulated so as to alter the vehicle
speed. Furthermore, by manipulating the speed control device 224 in
such a way as to shorten or increase the length of the tether 222
extending therefrom to the timing mechanism 226, the radial
position of the vehicle relative to the pylon may be changed.
Referring to FIGS. 9-12, the timing device 226 will now be
described. In particular, the same includes a base 232 mounting
upright housing 234 which in turn pivotally mounts a checkered flag
236. As best seen in FIG. 12, the flag 236 is mounted on a
flagstaff 238 pivotally mounted to the housing 234 at 240. At the
lower end of the flagstaff there are provided two outwardly
projecting tabs 242 and 244. The housing 234 in turn mounts three
lugs 246, 248 and 250 with the lugs 246 and 248 limiting pivotal
movement of the flag 236 to about 90.degree.. The lug 250 is
adapted to be engaged by a pointer 252 on a timer control knob 254
which is operatively associated with the timing mechanism as will
be seen.
As best seen in FIG. 10, the rear side of the housing 234 includes
an aperture 256 through which the tether 222 may enter the same to
freely pass therethrough into the base 232 and through an opening
258 through the tunnel 228 to the pylon 220. Also passing through
the tunnel 228 are electrical conductors 260 which extend to
contacts of a cam operated switch 262.
Mounted within the housing 234 in any suitable manner is a
conventional spring motor 264 which serves as the timing mechanism.
The same includes a main control shaft 266 which mounts the knob
254 on one end thereof and a cam 268 on the other end thereof. The
overall arrangement is such that when the knob 254 is in the
position illustrated in FIG. 12, the cam 268 will not be in
engagement with the contacts of the switch 262 and the same will be
in a normally open position as illustrated in FIG. 11. However,
when the knob 254 is rotated in a clockwise direction as seen in
FIG. 12, the spring motor 264 will be wound and the cam 268 will
engage the one contact of the switch 262 to close the same to
complete a circuit for purposes to be seen.
Such rotation of the knob 254 will also result in the pointer 252
engaging projection 242 on the staff 238 to rotate the flag 236
90.degree. from the position shown in FIGS. 9 and 12. When the knob
254 is released, the energy stored in the spring motor 264 as a
result of the rotation of the knob 254 will cause the knob 254 to
begin to rotate at a low rate in a counterclockwise direction. As
the pointer 252 approaches the stop lug 250, the same will engage
the projection 244 on the flag-staff 238 to raise the checkered
flag 236 signifying that a race of a given time period has been
completed. At the same time, the cam 268 will be removed from
engagement with the contacts of the switch 262 thereby breaking the
circuit which may be used to deenergize the vehicle motor. The flag
236 may also be oriented manually so that the projection 242 will
block the pointer 252 for continuous operation.
Turning now to FIGS. 13 and 14, the speed control 224 will be
described. The same includes a generally tubular housing 270 sized
and shaped that it may be easily grasped in one hand and the lower
side of the same includes an eye 272 to which the tether 222 may be
secured. Projecting upwardly through an opening 274 in the top of
the housing is a control rod 276 mounting the actuator 230. Within
the housing 270, the rod 276 mounts an electrical contact 278 and a
spring 280 is interposed between the lower edge of the housing 270
and the contact 278 to normally bias the rod upwardly. The contact
278 is in engagement with a cylinder of electrically resistive
material 282 mounted on a support rod 284 within the housing 270.
Electrical conductors are fed into the housing 270 in any suitable
manner with one being connected to the contact 278 and the other
being connected to the lowermost end of the cylinder 282. As a
result, a simple rheostat is formed with the amount of resistance
provided thereby being controlled by the relative position of the
rod 276 within the housing 270. Typically, when the manual actuator
230 is released, maximum resistance is provided while when fully
depressed, minimum resistance is provided. Accordingly, the user of
the device may control the resistance in a circuit by appropriately
depressing or releasing the manual actuator 230 with the thumb. The
rheostat thus formed is an electrical circuit with the motor for
the vehicle and a power source so that vehicle speed may be
controlled.
Turning now to FIGS. 15-19, the pylon 220 will be described. In
particular, the same includes a base 300 connected to the tunnel
228 and which houses a plurality of batteries 302 to serve as an
auxiliary source of power for the vehicle. The base 300 mounts an
upright, cylindrical post 304 which in turn rotatably mounts at its
upper end a horizontally extending arm 306. Near the upper end of
the post 304 there are provided a pair of slip ring conductors 308
which are electrically engaged by a pair of brushes 310 mounted
within the arm 306 and have conductors extending therefrom to the
vehicle in a manner to be described in greater detail
hereinafter.
The tunnel 228 at its point of entry into the base 300 includes an
opening 312 through which the tether 222 freely passes. Near the
lower end of the upright 304 there is provided another opening 314
and the tether 222 freely extends through the same to emerge from
the upper end of the upright 304 to be passed along the arm 306 and
emerge from an aperture 316 therein from which it freely passes for
connection to the vehicle.
Thus, the radial position of the vehicle relative to the pylon 220
may be controlled by the speed control 224 in the following manner.
When the vehicle is to travel closer to the pylon 220, the operator
may simply pull on the speed control thereby causing the tether 222
to be drawn through the pylon 220, the tunnel 228 and the timer 226
to shorten the length of the same extending from the arm 306. When
the vehicle is to travel at an increased radial distance from the
pylon 222, the operator releases tension on the tether by moving
the speed control 224 closer to the timer 226 whereby the
centrifugal force applied to the vehicle will cause the same to
move radially outwardly from the pylon, drawing the tether 222
along until tension is restored.
Also housed within the pylon 220 is a lap counter and to this end,
the arm 306 is provided with a depending projection 320 which
extends below the lowermost side of the arm 306 to actuate the lap
counter each time the arm 306 is rotated through a complete
revolution.
The lap counter basically comprises a housing portion 322 mounted
on the base 300 and having an upper slot-like opening 324. Mounted
within the housing 322 is a lap units wheel 326 having 10 pointed
prongs 328 and 10 corresponding digits printed thereon. The
rotatable mounting of the units wheel 326 is such that one of the
prongs 328 extends through the slot 324 to a point where it may be
engaged by the depending projection 320 on the arm 306 each time
the arm 306 is rotated. The indicia are arranged on the wheel 326
so as to be visible through a rectangular opening 330 in the
housing to indicate the units number of laps.
Additionally, there is provided a tens lap counter wheel 331 which
includes peripherally extending prongs 332 to the extent of ten in
number. The same additionally bears suitable indicia which may be
visible through an opening 334 in the housing 322.
The wheel 331 is slightly displaced in the plane of the wheel 326
and is arranged such that a tens carry prong 336 on the latter will
engage one of the prongs 332 each time the units wheel 326 has gone
through a complete revolution.
To connect the batteries 302 within the base 300 to the vehicle, a
male jack element 340 is provided which is electrically connected
to the brushes 310. The jack 340 additionally mounts an insulating
cup 342 of sufficient size so as to cover the nut 173 on the female
jack 168 on the vehicle whereby the kick starter switch element 176
cannot make electrical contact therewith. As a result, the
selfcontained source of power within the vehicle is effectively
disconnected from the motor thereof while power may be applied from
the external batteries 302 when the jack 340 is operatively
associated with the female jack 168. The speed control 224 and the
timer 226 may be electrically connected in series with the
batteries 302 to ultimately provide control of the application of
power to the vehicle from the batteries 302.
According to one embodiment, the tether and the electrical
conductors extending from the speed control 224 to the vehicle may
be one and the same if the female jack 168 is constructed to grasp
the male jack 140 with sufficient force that the vehicle cannot
break the connection due to centrifugal force. If this construction
is employed, a great deal of slack in one of the conductors must be
provided to accommodate movement of the tether relative to the
fixed switch 162 in the timer. Alternately, the tether and
electrical conductors may be formed separately with the tether
connected to the vehicle by means of an eye (not shown). In this
case, both conductors should have a sufficiently longer length than
the tether for essentially the same reason.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the invention
provides two unique forms of two-wheeled vehicles for use as toys.
According to one such embodiment, the extremely low center of
gravity insures stability without the use of a third wheel or the
like while according to the other embodiment, the extreme rearward
location of the center of gravity permits the simulation of the
typical motorcycle trick known as a "wheelie." The tethering system
enhances both vehicles in terms of the fact that it permits races
to be run along with lap counting and timing from a speed and
position control of the vehicle, etc.
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