Self-propelled Continuously Moving Toy

Abstract

A self-propelled toy that moves about a planar surface, changing direction whenever an obstacle too large to drive over is contacted. The toy is comprised of a rigid, hollow shell having a driving means, within which the driving means provides the necessary torque on the shell for forward and turning motion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to the field of toys, and in particular to a self-propelled toy that moves continuously along a planar surface. Whenever the toy body contacts an obstacle in its path, a driving means causes the toy body to begin its motion in a different direction away from the obstacle, thus insuring continuous movement of the toy.

In the past, several rolling, self-propelled sphere-shaped toys have been displayed which drive the toy in a random fashion about a planar surface. However, whenever an obstacle was encountered by the toy body, usually the toy would become stopped against the obstacle and would then have to be retrieved by the person playing with the toy. Such would be a common occurrence in a typical playroom or living room area whenever the toy encountered furniture or similar objects. Thus the path and location of the toy would have to be constantly monitored and corrected in order to keep it continuously moving about a play area. Applicants' invention alleviates the problem of interruptions in the continuous movement of the toy by providing a self-propelled toy that when encountering or contacting an obstacle over which it cannot pass will allow the toy to easily change its direction of movement up to 180.degree. so that it will move away from the obstacle insuring continuous movement. Observation of the toy during direction change is also a source of amusement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A self-propelled toy comprising a rigid, hollow envelope separable into two sections, and a driving means having three supporting means supportable on the inside of said body, the first supporting means including a driving wheel, and a torque means coupled to the driving wheel which rotates the drive wheel. The driving means is supported at three points or areas against the inner surface of the toy rigid body and may be comprised of a frame structure having three wheels one of which is connected to a motor. The center of gravity of the driving means is kept below the center of the envelope and relatively low with respect to the frame for increased stability of the driving means. In operation, the driving means is propelled along the inner surface of the rigid toy envelope thus causing the envelope to rotate across the planar surface. When an obstacle is encountered so that the rigid outer envelope cannot continue to rotate in the same direction, the driving means begins to climb up the interior wall surface until a position is reached where the steepness of the incline is such that the driving means will no longer move upward (the horizontal driving and retarding forces being in equilibrium) reaching a position at which torque from the single driving wheel will cause the driving frame structure to rotate thus changing the direction of the driving means until one is reached that allows the driving means and the entire envelope to move forward together.

It is an object of this invention to provide a rolling toy that moves continuously about a planar surface changing direction whenever a blocking obstacle is encountered.

It is another object of this invention to provide a rolling toy that can change direction when contacting an obstacle.

And yet another object of this invention is to provide a rolling envelope having a driving means within that propels and rotates the envelope, and provides turning moments to redirect the envelope whenever an obstacle is contacted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the applicants' toy.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of applicants' toy.

FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway elevation view of applicants' toy in contact with an obstacle.

FIG. 4 is a partial elevation view of applicants' invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1, and 2, applicants' toy envelope 10 is shown divided into two hemispheres 12 and 14 which fit tightly together along lip 44. Each hemisphere 12 and 14 is translucent in this embodiment in order to show driving means 16 inside the toy spherical envelope 10. The driving means is comprised of three supporting means 20, 22 and 24 which are two wheels and a front supporting member respectively, coupled to frame 18 through axles 36, 34, and 30. The driving means is essentially a three-wheeled vehicle driven by a small D.C. electric motor 32 which is coupled to wheel 20 through axle 36. Although shown as a direct drive, a reduction gearing may be provided between motor 32 and wheel 20. The energy for motor 32 is provided by a battery 26 which may be of any appropriate voltage coupled through "On-Off" switch 38 by contact wires 28. The left wheel axle 34 is rotatably coupled to frame 18 through apertures (not shown) in rear frame sections 46 and 48. The forward support member 24 is spherical to allow not only forward movement but yaw movement relative to the longitudinal center line of the driving means 18 and is rotatably coupled to opposite sides of U-shaped axle-support members 31 which are each fixed to the frame 18 at one end and to axle 30 at the opposite end. The electric motor 32 is secured to rear support section 50. Drive wheel 20 is driven by motor 32 through axle 36 which is directly coupled to the motor shaft and is supported through an aperture (not shown) in rear frame section 52.

FIG. 3 shows driving means 16 (without motor, battery, or switch) having a center of gravity 42 which is designed to be as low as possible with respect to the frame 18 to prevent the driving vehicle 16 from turning over as it drives up the inner surface of envelope 14 whenever an obstacle 40 is contacted that the toy cannot roll over.

After an obstacle 40 is contacted, the driving vehicle 16, because it is driven by only one wheel 20, will tend to rotate (FIG. 4) about the center of gravity 42, rotating sliding front support member 24 in a lateral direction. The center of gravity 42 will shift within the envelope adding a tilting moment to the driving vehicle. The rotation and upward movement of the driving vehicle 16 will continue until a direction is established that allows the envelope to move uninterrupted by the obstacle. This will cause a change in direction of the envelope's path. The weight of the driving vehicle and the driving means will cause the envelope to begin rolling and the envelope will continue in the same direction until another obstacle is encountered. Again in FIG. 4, the driving means has been shown without motor, battery or switch for clarity.

To begin operation of the toy, the envelope is separated (FIG. 1) and the switch is placed in the "On" position thus starting motor 32. The envelope portions are tightly joined and the toy is placed on a planar surface ready for operation.

A decorative or animated housing may be placed over the vehicle frame such as a cat or mouse body or the like. The envelope shape, although shown as a sphere could be ellipsoidal as long as there is sufficient curvature to allow rotation of the envelope and inner movement of the vehicle.

Although the power source has been shown to be electricity, a mechanical, spring-driven motor could be utilized.

The "On-Off" switch for the driving means may be a magnetic or a light sensitive switch remotely actuated by a magnet or light actuated from outside the envelope, to avoid the necessity of opening and closing the envelope to start and stop the toy.

The path of the toy may be made to be irregular and random by providing a cam actuated, random path generator on the driving wheel of the driving means. For additional amusement, flashing lights and/or different pitched sounds or noise can be added to the driving means inside the envelope.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

What is claimed Is:

1. A toy for uninterrupted movement

about a surface which changes direction whenever an obstacle

too large to pass over is contacted comprising:

a hollow enclosed curved envelope having an inner and outer surface; and

an envelope driving means frictionally engaged to and pivotally moveable relative to the engaged inside envelope surface, having at least a first, second and a third supporting means on said inner surface,

said first supporting means including torque means pivotally moveable to and rotatably engageable with said inner surface for propelling and providing a rotational moment on said driving means, whereby the envelope is rollable about a planar surface and will change direction and continue rolling whenever an obstacle is contacted by said envelope.

2. A motorized toy as in claim 1, wherein:

said driving means including a frame, said first,

second and third supporting means coupled to said frame.

3. A motorized toy as in claim 2 including:

rotational energy means,

said first supporting means including a first wheel and a first axle fixedly coupled to said wheel and rotatably coupled to said frame and said energy means.

4. A motorized toy as in claim 3, wherein:

said second supporting means includes a second wheel and a second axle, said second axle coupled to said second wheel and frame.

5. A motorized toy as in claim 4, wherein:

said third supporting means including a supporting member coupled to said frame at one end along the longitudinal axis of said frame, said first and second wheels coupled at the opposite end of said frame.

6. A motorized toy as in claim 5, wherein:

the center of gravity of said driving means is between the frame and the envelope contact areas of the first, second and third supporting means.

7. A motorized toy as in claim 6, wherein:

said envelope is separable into a first portion and a second portion.

8. A motorized toy as in claim 7, wherein:

said envelope is spherical; and

said driving means includes an electric motor , a circuit means, a battery coupled to said motor by said circuit means, and said motor, "On-Off" switch means.

9. A motor as in claim 7, wherein:

said energy source is a spring-wound actuated motor.