CA2610600A1 - Remote controlled toy vehicle - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a remote controlled toy vehicle and more particularly to a toy vehicle which is used in conjunction with a number of like vehicles and which can be steered and caused to launch a harmless projectile at another vehicle by remote control.
An impact detector is provided on the vehicle for detecting a hit by a projectile launched from other vehicles. The number of hits on the vehicle and preferably the identity of the other vehicles which scored the hits are displayed on a score board.

The vehicle of the invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the vehicle;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the interior of the vehicle; and Figure 3 is perspective view of the interior of the vehicle after it has launched a ball.
Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings.
With reference to the drawings, the toy vehicle of the invention, generally 10, includes a platform 12 on which the hardware and software are located. A dome 14 covers the platform and conceals the hard and software when the vehicle is operating.

The vehicle is propelled by wheels 16, 18 on opposite sides of the platform.
The wheels are rotated by separate electric motors 16a and 18a which rotate both clockwise and counter-clockwise for forward and back ward movement of the vehicle and also at different rates of rotation so that the vehicle can be steered to the right and to the left by adjusting the relative rates of rotation of the wheels. A number of batteries 20 are provided on the platform for activating the motors, the receiver and other electrical components on the vehicle described below.

A conventional joystick (not illustrated) remote from the toy vehicle contains a trans-mitter for generating a radio signal which communicates with the receiver (not illustrated) on the platform of the vehicle. The joystick controls the operation of the two motors.

Transmitters and receivers suitable for this purpose are well known and are described in a number of U.S. patents such as no. 4,213,270 to Oda and no. 6,609,945 B2 to Jimenez et al.

A projectile launcher 22 is mounted on the platform. The launcher has a tube 24 which simulates the barrel of a gun and provides a passage through which projectiles are fired from the vehicle.

The projectile launcher must be suitable for use by young people and many such launch-ers are well know in the art. The most suitable projectile launcher is a conventional paint gun which discharges cap-sules of paint which burst when they strike a surface.
The gun can be readily adapted to discharge the projectiles discussed below and can be mounted on the platform of the toy vehicle of the invention. Compressed carbon dioxide stored in tanks 26 activate the gun-Examples of other launchers which use compressed gases such as carbon dioxide as a propellant are described in U.S. patents no. 5,787,869; and no. 6,220,237 B1 both to Johnson et al as well as no. 5,878,735 to Johnson. U.S. patents no. 5,735,256 to Monk and no. 6,361,393 B1

2 to Seymour also describe toy launchers for projectiles.

The projectiles are small soft balls 30 having a calibre preferably in the range of 0.65 to 0.68 in. and a hardness of 18 to 40 on the Shore A scale. Preferably the projectiles are composed of polymeric material which can be energized to glow in the dark. The projectiles can be lubricated by silicone to minimize jamming in the tube.

The projectiles are stored in a hopper 32 prior to firing. The projectiles may be loaded into the hopper through an opening 34 in the dome. The projectiles fall one at a time through a cylinder 36 into the launcher where they are fired.

The trigger or push button on the joystick generates a radio signal which activates the projectile launcher for firing the projectiles. The projectiles are propelled one at a time from the tube when the trigger or push button on the joy stick is depressed. .

To assist in the aiming of the projectile launcher, a spotlight (not illustrated) can be mounted on the dome for illuminating the area in front of the tube of the launcher.

An impact indicator (not illustrated) is also mounted on the platform for detecting when a projectile has hit the vehicle. The impact indicator activates a light on the vehicle and also a display which indicates the number of hits and also the identity of the other vehicle which scored each hit. The display can be on the vehicle itself or on a scoreboard.

The scoreboard is preferably separate from the vehicle and is activated by radio signals from the impact indicator on each vehicle. The scoreboard accordingly indicates the number of

3 hits on each the toy vehicles and the source of each hit The scoreboard can also have an timer for recording the time when the hits occurred and for timing the length of each game.

There are a number of impact indicators which are suitable for detecting and commun-icating hits on a vehicle. U.S. patents no. 5,092,607 to Ramsay et al, no.
5,575,479 to Ayres and no. 4,440,400 to Neuberger all describe impact indicators which are suitable for this purpose.

It will be understood, of course, that modifications can be made in the structure and function of the toy vehicle described herein without departing from the scope and purview of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

4

Claims

I claim:

1. In combination:

(a) a plurality of toy vehicles each having (i) means for causing said vehicles to move forward and backward, (ii) means for steering said vehicles, (iii) a tube through which a first projectile can be fired, and (iv) sensing means for sensing when said toy vehicle has been hit by a second said projectile from another said toy vehicle;

(b) a receiver in association with each said toy vehicle for receiving radio signals for controlling the movement and direction of movement of said vehicle and for controlling the firing of said first projectile;

(c) a transmitter for generating said radio signals and in radio communication with a separate said receiver for controlling said toy vehicle associated with said separate receiver; and (d) score keeping means for displaying the number of said hits on each said toy vehicle.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each said toy vehicle is provided with a source of light which directs a beam of light in the same direction as the direction in which said one projectile travels when fired from said barrel, 3. The combination of claim 1 further including a joy stick for causing each said transmitter to generate said radio signals.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said projectile glows in the dark.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said score keeping means is an electronic scoreboard remote from said vehicles.

6. The combination of claim 1 further including means for generating an audible sound at the time of each said hit.

7. The combination of claim 1 further including a light which illuminates on each said vehicle when the latter said vehicle has been hit by a projectile.

1. A plurality of toy vehicles controlled remotely including:

(a) first and second toy vehicles each having (i) means for causing said vehicles to move forward and backward, (ii) means for steering said vehicles, (iii) a barrel through which at least one projectile can be fired, and (iv) sensing means for sensing when said projectile from one of said toy vehicles hits the other said toy vehicle;

(b) first and second receivers in association with said first and second toy vehicles, res-pectively, for receiving radio signals for separately controlling the movement and direction of movement of said vehicle and for separately controlling the firing of said projectiles (c) first and second transmitters for generating said radio signals; and (d) score keeping means for displaying the number of said hits on each said toy vehicle.