CA1115057A - Toy vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A toy vehicle is disclosed which may resemble a jeep.
The toy vehicle may include a chassis, an inside compartment, wheels and a top. The inside compartment may have seats, wall panels and a floor. The compartment may serve to enclose various raw edges of the chassis. The top may include support posts which rest on the chassis.

Description

5~57 Th:Ls applicatlon Ls a divisional of application S.N. 301,529 filed 20 April 1978 and is directed to a toy vehicle having a top including a plurality of downwardly extending posts supported by the bottom portion of the chassis for ~ugged con-struction. The parent application is directed to a~toy vehicle having a passenger compartment serving to protect sharp edges along the bottom portion of the chassis and the upper portion of the side walls of the chassis.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The presen~ invention relates generally to toys and more particularly to the construction of miniature toy vehicles.
In the past, a variety of toy vehicles have been ~ ' available in various sizes, shapes and colors. Toy vehicles have been available of a size and construction adequate to permit a child to climb into the vehicle and peddle the vehicle down the sidewalk.
Other toy vehicles have'been provided on which the child may set while he scoots across the floor. The latter typically being of a tricycle type. Still other toys have been provided which are primarily for handing. The child may grasp the vehicle by one' hand and move the vehicle along a surface as though the toy were being driven. Ruggedness has been an important attribute in' children's toys. Children have been known to sit on, stand'on, stamp on, and otherwise roughly treat toys.
' SaEety has been of paramount interest in toy vehicles. In the past, some problem has been encountered particu-larly with toy vehicles constructed of metal sheet having raw metal edges which are inherently sharp and thus may cause cuts and/or scratches lf the toy is not properly handled. One meth~d of .

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overcom:Lng such sharp edges has been to bend or curl the metal so as to make the sharp edge inaccessible.
EfEiciency in assembly is an important attribute for any manufactured article. This is particularly¦true today when manufacturing costs are on a continuing upward~rlse.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present toy vehicle may include a chassis, a passenger compartment and a top. The chassis, preferably of metal, may have a bottom pan and upwardly extending sides. A plurality of wheel wells may be defined in the sides and bottom of the `chassis. The chassis may be formed by cutting and stamping sheet metal into the ?

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desired shape. The passenger compartment may be molded of an impact resistant plastic material and may have the general appearance of the inside of an automobile, including seats, transmisslon counsel and the like. The top likewise may be constructed of an impact resistant plastic material and may be molded into the desired shape. The toy vehicle may have a pl~rality of wheelR rotatably mounted on axel shafts so that a child in play may move the vehicle about on its wheels in a manner realistically resembling mo~ement of a full-sized auto-mobile.
The present invention provides a toy vehicle which isrugged ln construction~ efficient in assembly and has added safety features. The various parts of the vehicle may be co-ordinated in such a manner that only a very few fastening devlces, such as pegs or screws are necessary, in the construction of the toy vehicle. The toy vehicle may have a top which serves to hold various other portions of the vehicle, such as the passenger compartment and dashboard in place. One embodiment of the present invention is a toy vehicle havi~g a construction which is parti- ;
cularly rugged. In such embodiment, the top includes a plurality of downwardly extending post~ which are supported by the bottom portion of the chassi~. The pre~ent toy vehicle may include a further important feature in which various raw edges may be protected from exposure in a novel msnner. For example, in one embodiment, a passenger compartmen~ serves to protect sharp edges both along the bottom portion of the chassis, such as around the wheel wells, and around the upper portion of the side walls of the chassis.

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-In the drawing~:
Figure I shows an exploded per~pectlve view of one embodiment of the present in~ention;
Figure II shows a side vlew of the aæsembled toy vehicle;
Figure III i8 a front view of the toy vehicle of Figure II;
Figure IV i8 a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV ?
of Figure III;
Figure V i~ a ~op view;
Figure VI is a bottom view;
Figure VII is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII ~n Figure V9 Figure VIII i8 a per~pective view of a front wheel well of the toy vehicle;
Figure IX i8 a view of a rear wheel well.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The toy vehicle 10 of the present invention, a preferr0d embodiment of which is shown 1D Figures I-IX of the drawings, may include a lower body shell or chassis 11, a pas~enger compartment :~
20 12, a top 13 9 a hood 14 and a combination bumper grill 15. The :
to~ vehicle 10 ~ay further include a plurality of wheels 18 and corresponding axels 19.
The chassis or lower body shell 11 (Figure I) may be constructed of sheet material preferably metal and lncludes a . -bottom or belly pan 21, a palr of side panel~ Z2, 23 and a rear ; -panel 24. The chassi3 11 may be formed by any ~uitable manner such as by cutting and stamping. The cha~sis 11 may be formed from a single sheet or alternatively may be formed from two or ~:

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: - ~. :. . : ~ ., more sheets appropriately secured together in the finished form such as by tabs 25. In other words, the bottom 21 ~ay be formed of one sheet and the panels 22, 23 and 24 formed from a separate sheet. The panels 22, 23 and 24 may lncl~de suitable slots through which tabs 25 may extend thereby securing the panels 22-24 to the bottom 21.
The panels 22 and 23 may be mirror images of each o~her and the description will be dlrected primarily to wall 22. Like numerals will designate like portions on both panels 22 and-23.

Panel 22 may include 6uitable decorative shaping such as ridge 26 outlining wheel well and rocker panel portions of side 22. The side panels 22, 23 and rear panel 24 may each include an upper ra~ edge 27 and 29, respectively. In other words, the edges 27 and 29 may merely extend upwardly and need not be curled.
The side panels 22, 23 and bottom 21 may have suitable openings defined therein, such as to provide front wheel well 31 and rear wheel well 32. The wheel well 31 may include an upwardly extending flange 34 at bottom pan 21 and inwardly extending flange 36 at side panel 22. The flange 34 may have an opening 37 defined therein through which axle 19 may extend. The rear wheel well 32 ~ay likewlse include an upwardly extending flange 39 at bottom 21 and an inwardly extending flange 40 at side panel 22. The side panel 22 may have an inwardly extending upper portion 41 with a pair of slots 42 and 43 defined therein. Panel 22 may further have an inwardly extending front flange 44 with an opening 46 ~-defined therein.
The passenger compart~en~ or inner body shell 12 ~ay be of a size uitable for snug insertion into the chassis 11. The ~ :

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passenger compartment 12 may be ~lolded of a plastic material and typically may lnclude front passenger sea~ 48, driver's seat 49 and rear, inwardly facing passenger seats 51, 52. The passenger compartment includes side walls 53, 54 and rear wall 55. The walls 53-55 and the seats 48, 49, 51 and 52 may be provided with a shaped or textured surface resembling upholstry in an automobile.
The walls 52 and 53 have a guide member 59 for engagement with dash }6. The passenger compartment 12 may further inc}ude floor 60 and a transmission counsel 57, with a gearshift 58. The side walls 53, 54 and rear wall 55 each have an upper lip or channel 61, 62 and 63, respectively. The lips 61-63 may each be sub stantially U-shaped in cross-section and are adapted for overlying the upwardly extending flanges or raw edges 27 and 29, respectively.
The passenger compartment 12 may further include wheel well portions such as 67, 68. The front wheel well portion 67 may include a radial wall 71 and an inner wall 72. The rear portion of radial wall 71 and inner wall 72 may provide a lip or channel which overlies and encases the upwardly extending flange 34 in the assembled toy vehicle. The forward portion 54a of wall 54 may lie im~ediately ad~acent the inwardly e~tending flanges 36 of chassis ~all 23 ln sufficiently close proximity to protect the raw edge of flange 36. In a similar manner, rear wheel well portion 68 may inelude an inn~r downwardly extending wall 74 which ` -may overlie flange 39. The rear portion 54b of compartmeQt wall 54 abuts flange 40 of chss~is 12.
The top 13 (Figures I and V) of toy vehicle 10 may have a plural~ty of downwardly extending posts 78, 79, 80 and 81. The top 13 further may include a bar-like s~ructure resembling a ~ 5 --windshleld frame 84. The window frame 84 may include a pair of uprights 85, 86 and an inner connecting horizontal member 87.
The top 13 includes a rear cover portion 89 and a bar 91 inter-connecting the windshield frame 84 and rear cover 89. The forward port~on of the top 13 when viewed from above, has the appearance of a "T" and defines an opening 92 having a vertical component 93 and a horizontal component 94. Such opening may serve special purposes 8S hereinafter described. The top 13 may be co~po~ed of any suitable materlal such a~ a hi8h impact pla~tic and may be shaped a~ by moldlng.
The hood 14 (Figures I and VII~ may include a surface portion 96, a front downwardly extending flange 97, a side down-wardly ex~ending flange 98 and a rear downwardly extending flange 99. The front flange 97 desirably includes a pair of spaced tabs 101 and 102 for purposes hereinafter described~ The side flanges 98 may each include a rear, hook-shaped tab 104 and a forwardly spaced tab 105. The tab 105 may have an opening 106 therein for purposes herelnafter described.
The bumper grill assembly 15 (Pigure I, III and IV) may have a forwardly facing surface in which ls molded a bumper 107, a grill 108 and a plurality of headlights 109. The bumper 107 has a pair of openlngs defined therein, 111 and 112 which align with openings 46 in lower body shell 11. A pair of pockets or cavlties 113 and 114 extend rearwardly ad~acent the upper portion of bumper grill 15. The cavities 113 and 114 are suitable for receptlon of the tabs 101 and 102.
The dashboard 16 (Figure~ I and VII) may include an upper surface member 116 and a downwardly extending surface member 117.

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~ 7 The surface member 117 may have speedometer dials, clock and the like molded into the surface thereofO A steering wheel 119 ~nd steerlng wheel shaft 120 may be mounted on the dash 16. The dash 16 may have a forwardly extending flange 121 for extending beneath hood 14. The dash 16 has a pair of openings 122 and 123 defined therein. The openings 122 and 123 are suitable for reception of the posts 78 and 7g of top 130 The dash 16 has a channel 125 a~
each side such a~ for reception of guide 59 of sidewall 53.
The toy vehiole may Include a tall llght 127 which may be a molded portion of compartmen~ 12 or may be independantly a~tached to chassis 11.
ASSEMBLY OF TXE TOY VE~ICLE
The toy vehlcle may be assembled by first attaching bumper grill 15 to shell 11. A peg 133 is inserted through opening 112 in bumper grill 15 and opening.46 in body shell 11 thereby locking bumper grill 15 to the chassis or lower body shell 11, The inner ~.
shell or passenger compartment 12 i9 inserted into the lower body ~ -shell 11 in such a manner that the flange por~ions 27, 28 and 29 :; .
of shell 11 are posi~ioned ~nto the U-shaped cavities of lip members 61, 62 and 63 of inner shell 12. The lips 61-63 thereby protect and conceal the raw edges of 27 and 29. The dssh 16 i8 mounted in its appropriate location with regard to the lnner shell 11. The top 13 i8 next placed in posl~ion wlth the post 78 extending through opening 122, post 79 extending through opening 123, post 80 extending through opening 124 and post 81 extending through opening 125. A peg such as 131 (See Figure VII) is in~erted throu~h opening 30 in bottom pan 21, ~hrough opening 59 ~. in lnner shell 12 and into ~he opening 82 ln post 79. The peg 131 ', ~' -thus locks the top 13, inner shell 12 and outer shell 11 together.
In a similar manner, pegs are inserted to lock the remaining posts 78, 80 and 81.
The hood 14 may be mounted by inserting flange 104 in~o slot 42 and pivo~ing the hood forwardly and downwardly until the tab 105 is inserted through 810t 43. The tab 105 may then be twisted from beneath thereby locking the hood 14 to the outer shell 11. Tabs 101 and 102 ~Flgure IV) are inserted into cavities 113 and 144, thus, locking the upper portion of bumper grill 15 against forward movement. Finally, the axle 19 may be inserted through openings 37 in lower body shell 11 and wheel~ 18 monnted thereon. The wheels 18 may be locked with respect to axle 19 by a ~uitable washer cap type retainer (not shown) or by frictional engagement.
In the assembled condition, the toy may be rolled about on its wheels. The opening 92 may be utili~ed for insertlng a doll into the driver~ seat or into the pasRenger~ seat. Since the posts 78 through 81 of top 13 extend downward into the vehicle to a supporting position ad~acent tbe pan 21, the toy can support a sub~tantial weight from above) thus it is sapable of supporting added weight if the child ssts or ~tands on the toy.
Variou~ modifications, o~ course, can be made without departing from the broader ~cope of the present invention.

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Claims (6)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A toy vehicle comprising wheels, a chassis, simu-lated passenger compartment and cab roof, said chassis including a bottom pan, upwardly extending sides, and a plurality of wheel wells, said cab roof including a plurality of substantially ver-tically oriented, downwardly extending posts, said posts extending to a position adjacent said bottom pan, said posts serving to support said cab roof directly on said bottom pan, said posts securing said passenger compartment to said chassis whereby any external forces applied to the cab roof are transmitted through said posts to said bottom pan.

2. The toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein said chassis is constructed of metal sheet material.

3. The toy vehicle of claim 2 wherein said chassis has raw metal edges and wherein said passenger compartment pro-tects substantially all of said raw metal edges from exposure.

4. The toy vehicle of claim 2 wherein said sheet metal chassis has raw metal edges both along the upper portion of said sides and along said wheel wells, and wherein said passenger com-partment protects both said upper metal edges and said wheel well edges.

5. The toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein said vehicle includes peg fastening means which extend through said bottom pan and into said posts.

6. The toy vehicle of claim 5 wherein said vehicle further includes a dash board, said dash board having at least two openings defined therein for alignment with and receipt of said posts, said posts serving to entrap said dash board between said top and said passenger compartment.