The specific embodiment
Fig. 1 shows a part of an exemplary toy car runway device 10.Runway device 10 comprises one or more runway section 12 that toy car can travel thereon.Runway device 10 also comprises turn booster 16, and it accelerates the toy car on the runway.For succinct purpose, shown in Fig. 1 only is the runway part of adjoining turn booster 16.Specifically, Fig. 1 demonstrates approach section (inbound section) 12a that guiding enters the runway of turn booster 16, and the section of leaving (outbound section) 12b of turn booster 16 is left in guiding.Should be understood that, and in fact can in the scope that does not depart from the present invention's disclosure, adopt any amount of different runways design.These designs comprise endless track and the open runway of sealing.And, although Fig. 1 only illustrates a single turn booster, should be understood that, that in fact identical runway device can use turn booster and the straight line booster of any combination.
Booster 16 comprises entrance 20, and toy car can enter booster from the approach section of runway via this entrance.Booster also comprises outlet 22, and toy car leaves booster via this outlet and arrives the section of leaving of runway.Booster also comprises a bend part 24 between outlet and entrance.When toy car was advanced from the inlet to the outlet, the bend of turn booster partly guided this toy car by turning.
Entrance and exit can also comprise the approach section of respectively line up with runway and the rolling surface of the section of leaving (rolling surface).Like this, toy car can be easily advances to the porch from the approach section of runway, then enters the section of leaving of this runway from export house.Entrance, outlet and/or bend part selectively comprise and sidewall and/or other induction elements enter or leave turning with helping toy car.And entrance, outlet and/or bend part can comprise the top of the vehicle route of at least part of sealing turn booster.
In an illustrated embodiment, entrance 20 is positioned at the left side of turn booster, and exports 22 right sides that are positioned at this turn booster.Such configuration makes toy car turn to the right hand.Be understandable that, turn booster can be designed so that optionally that also toy car is to left hand turn.
Turn booster 16 comprises a pivot 30, and this pivot allows optionally to regulate the angle between entrance and exit.In other words, operating described turn booster can make toy car turn with different angles.Fig. 1 shows that turn booster 16 is configured to about 120 degree.Fig. 1 also shows that with chain-dotted line turn booster 16 is configured to about 90 degree and about 180 degree.Should be understood that, that described turn booster can be designed to angle between entrance and the outlet and can be adjusted to approximately 90 degree and about almost arbitrarily angled between 180 degree.In other words, turn booster 16 has the controllability of about 90 degree.In a further embodiment, this turn booster can be adapted in the angle of larger, less and/or different range and regulate, and perhaps this turn booster can have uncontrollable fixed angle.
Fig. 2 A illustrates the transversal end face configuration of 180 degree of booster 16.This turn booster comprises substrate 40 (base plate), and it comprises entrance 20.This turn booster also comprises variable plate (variable plate) 42, and it comprises outlet 22.When toy car was advanced from entrance to outlet, it at first rolled through substrate 40, then rolled through variable plate 42.
Pivot 30 can make described variable plate move relative to substrate.In the embodiment that illustrates, pivot 30 comprises the axis of centres 50, and this axis of centres is positioned at the fixing position of relative substrate.Pivot also comprises guider 52, and this guider is positioned at the fixing position of relatively variable plate.Guider 52 is configured to rotationally engagement shaft 50, and guider can rotate around described axle like this.The pivot configuration that should be understood that, other also falls in the middle of the scope of the present invention's disclosure, and pivot 30 is used for as a nonrestrictive example.Although do not require, described turn booster can comprise one or more stop mechanism or indicator, in order to assist setting described turn booster for required angle.
In the embodiment that illustrates, described variable plate (variable plate) is slightly higher than substrate.In order to roll and the toy car that comes is received on the variable plate from substrate, this variable plate can comprise the edge with tapering, although this is optional.In addition, can help keep when toy car is transferred to variable plate from substrate control to toy car with a top cover or internal guide.
When the angle between the entrance and exit diminished, described variable plate covered more substrates.In other words, when the adjustment turn booster made toy car turn with different angles, this variable plate slided at substrate.Can recognize this point by comparison diagram 2B to Fig. 2 A.
Fixation wall 60 extends upward above substrate, and variable wall 62 extends upward above variable plate.Shown in Fig. 2 A, when turn booster was configured to relatively large angle, described fixation wall can help the first of guiding toy vehicle by turning.Along with the toy car conversion enters the second portion of turning, described variable plate can help guiding toy vehicle.
Shown in Fig. 2 B, when the angle of turn booster diminishes, the sideway swivel in fixation wall of variable wall energy.Like this, when turn booster was arranged to different angles, fixation wall and variable wall can be cooperated with each other with guiding toy vehicle.When turn booster was set to 180 degree angle, this fixation wall roughly defined first 90 degree of turning for this turning, and variable plate roughly defines last 90 degree of turning for this turning.When turn booster was arranged to an angle of 90 degrees and is spent, this fixation wall was almost completely covered by variable plate, and variable plate defines most turning.
As Fig. 1 was clearly shown that, variable plate portion can be covered by variable top 66, and the substrate portion top 68 that can be fixed covers.Along with the Angulation changes of turn booster, variable top can be in the fixed top slip underneath.Top and/or described wall energy enough help guiding toy vehicle around revolution.
In other embodiments, the relative direction of entrance and exit can be fixed.As non-limiting example, the angle between the described entrance and exit can stuck-at-1 80 degree.Such configuration is turned guiding toy vehicle by complete U-type, thus toy car can advance and enter turn booster with a direction, and advance and leave turn booster with opposite direction.In another embodiment, the angle between the described entrance and exit can be fixed on 90 degree.Such configuration energy so that toy car by right-angled bend.As another embodiment, the angle between entrance and the outlet can be fixed on 120 degree.Should be understood that, that the angle between entrance and the outlet almost can be fixed to any other angle, comprises the angle less than 90 degree.
Turn booster can comprise the booster element, and it applies power to toy car.When toy car was advanced to outlet and left by the entrance of turn booster, applied force can improve the speed of toy car.Like this, compare with the general booster that straight line portion along runway accelerates toy car, this turn booster can be used for along the turn fractions of runway toy car being accelerated.
Shown in Fig. 3 A, 3B and 3C, described booster element can adopt the form of action bars (paddle) 70, and it applies acceleration to the afterbody of toy car 72.Specifically, action bars can rotate in an arc of outlet at the entrance from turn booster.Although optional, when being used for each time making at the turning toy car to accelerate, turn booster 16 is set as rotation action bars 70 in the arcs of about 360 degree.The rotating shaft of action bars can be along axle 50 location.Action bars starts from resting position, is pulled open (cocked back away from the entrance) at this position operation bar from the porch, thereby does not hinder entering of toy car.When action bars activated, it promptly rotated after the toy car that enters.To such an extent as to the rotation of action bars enough catch up with soon toy car and promotes from behind toy car.Action bars rotates continuously until stop in its original position.Should be understood that, that action bars 70 is to be used for toy car is applied a non-limiting example of the booster element of power.In certain embodiments, the top that the booster element can comprise when toy car is propelled, design is used for covering toy car, thereby help to keep the control of toy car and prevent toy car from its on the surface of rolling lift.
Openly can adopt various different institutions to activate the booster element according to of the present invention.As non-limiting example, when toy car process trigger, trigger can activate described booster element.In an example shown, this trigger comprises the mechanicalness valve, and it can detect toy car and when roll across pressure plare 80.The weight of toy car makes pressure plare being moved by the mode that valve detects.In a further embodiment, this trigger can comprise
Selectable motion sensor, mechanical type knife switch or other can activate the device of booster.
Although be not essential in all embodiments, described booster element can be mechanically connected on the electro-motor, and this motor can rotate (spin up) described booster rapidly, thus catch up with through toy car and from behind with its promotion.In other embodiment, the booster element can be load on spring, and the potential energy that trigger can discharge by causing spring its storage activates described booster element.In these cases, can optionally come spring is applied elastic force again with electro-motor.
In utilizing the embodiment of electro-motor, motor can be battery-powered, or power with the external communication electricity.As shown in Figure 1, turn booster 16 comprises the motor frame 90 that is positioned at below the toy car track, and it is used for loading motor.In other embodiment, motor can be positioned at the side in the top of toy car track or toy car path.
Different from the exemplary toy car booster that rotates continuously when waiting for toy car is that the turn booster that the present invention discloses only just activated when toy car moves to the position that will accelerate.So then saved widely the energy that needs the operation booster.General toy vehicle booster can adopt for a long time speed-raising to rotate (spin up) or slow down and rotate the self actuating system that (spin down) comes full use the present invention to disclose.In addition, make general booster speed-raising rotate or slow down and rotate the wearing and tearing of not expecting that may cause motor.
Yet the toy vehicle booster outside the present invention discloses can be configured to utilize self actuating of the present invention system.For example, a kind of very conventional booster can be set to respond through the enforcement of the toy car of setting the trigger point and self actuating.Can select to set the distance between trigger point and booster, thereby booster has the enough time rotation of raising speed.The speed that the booster speed-raising is rotated and deceleration is rotated has determined the satisfaction to this configuration at least in part.
Fig. 4 to 12 has shown the downside take the turn booster 16 of Fig. 1 as the turn booster of example.Shown turn booster comprises the limiting examples of cock disk mechanism 100, and described cock disk mechanism 100 pulls open the booster action bars, thereby it can accelerate to toy car 101 along the bend of turn booster.Be understood that cock disk mechanism 100 can use with other turn boosters except turn booster shown in Figure 1 16, and turn booster 16 shown in Figure 1 can comprise other cock disk mechanisms except cock disk mechanism 100.
Cock disk mechanism 100 is configured to pull open booster action bars 102 in ready position, as shown in Figure 4.At this ready position, booster action bars 102 has been stored spring 104 preloads of mechanical energy.In other words, this spring has applied the power of impelling the booster action bars to rotate.Fig. 4 has shown a kind of helical spring of traditional type, although it is not to be essential.Rubber strip or almost any other spring-like element may be used to be booster action bars preload.
Trigger assembly 106 can prevent that action bars from rotating under the effect from the energy of spring 104.Trigger assembly 106 almost can take not deviate from any form of scope disclosed in this invention.In the embodiment shown, trigger assembly comprises the gripper 108 that shutter spring pressure plare 110 is mechanically connected to gear wheel 112.Gear wheel 112 is connected to the booster action bars, thereby when gear wheel rotated, this booster action bars also rotated.In the embodiment shown, the booster action bars is coaxial with gear wheel.Spring 104 is connected between gear wheel and the static anchor, thereby impels gear wheel and booster action bars to rotate.Gripper optionally prevents the rotation of gear wheel and booster action bars.This set is not to be necessary.Almost any machinery, electronics, magnetic or other mechanisms can optionally be used for preventing the rotation of booster action bars.
In the embodiment shown, gripper 108 can move between locked position of coupler and open position, and on described locked position of coupler, it prevents the rotation of booster action bars, and on described open position, it does not hinder the rotation of booster action bars.Locked position of coupler as shown in Figure 9, open position is as shown in figure 10.In the embodiment shown, gripper 108 optionally meshes gear wheel 112, and this gear wheel is connected to the booster action bars.When engaged, this gripper prevents the rotation of gear wheel, thereby prevents the rotation of booster action bars.When breaking away from engagement, this gripper no longer prevents the rotation of gear wheel, thereby allows spring to cause the rotation of gear wheel and booster action bars.
Gripper 108 can be moved to open position by shutter spring pressure plare 110, thereby allows spring 104 to rotate described gear wheel and booster action bars.As shown in Figure 9, when being in locked position of coupler, gripper 108 meshes gear wheels 112, thereby prevents the rotation of gear wheel.As shown in figure 10, when toy car 101 when shutter spring pressure plare 110 rolls, the weight of toy car causes shutter spring pressure plare 110 to push down an end of gripper, thus gripper turns to open position around pivot 114.The other end of gripper and gear wheel 112 break away from engagement.When gripper and gear wheel disengaging engagement, no longer limit the booster action bars and under the motive force effect of spring, move.
Thereby Fig. 5 has shown the toy car 101 that gripper is moved to open position in 110 rollings of shutter spring pressure plare.As shown in Figure 6, after gripper moved to open position, under the bias effect of spring 104, gear wheel 112 and booster action bars 102 freely rotated.Spring causes booster action bars quick rotation, thereby rotates to toy car 101 back, and promotes toy car and walk around bend, shown in Fig. 6 to 8.
In Fig. 7, spring 104 shrinks fully.In case the booster action bars arrives orientation shown in Figure 7, just can not be under the motive force effect of spring 104 and rotate.After spring turned to position shown in Figure 7 with the booster action bars, adopting gear mechanism 120 was that spring 104 loads, thereby the booster action bars is ready to accelerate for the next toy car that enters turn booster.
Gear mechanism 120 comprises the electro-motor 122 of rotational driving gear 124.This electro-motor is by battery-powered, by the alternating current energy supply from the outside, perhaps by other suitable energy energy supplies.The part 126 of driven wheel engagement gear wheel, thus when driven wheel 124 rotates, thereby being spring 104, the gear wheel rotation loads.The part 126 of gear wheel comprises the tooth with respect to the complementary configuration of driven wheel.But other configure also in scope disclosed in this invention.Can rotate any mode cooperative ground configuration driven gear and the gear wheel of gear wheel to allow electro-motor.
The direction that gear mechanism rotates gear wheel and booster action bars is identical with the direction that spring rotates this gear wheel and booster action bars, although this is not essential among all embodiment.
Fig. 7 and 8 has shown the gear wheel 112 that rotates under the energy of electro-motor 122, this gear wheel 112 is that spring 104 loads.In case gear mechanism has begun the rotation of gear wheel, it is rotated further this gear wheel until spring is in the position of its preload, as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 11 and 12 has shown the non-limiting example of the mechanism that can be used for opening and closing electro-motor 122, and this mechanism can be used for opening and closing electro-motor 122, thereby only when spring 104 need to be loaded, electro-motor 122 is rotational driving gears 124.In other words, pulled open and spring when being preloaded lotus the electro-motor autoshutdown when the booster action bars.In this way, can save energy.
Especially, Figure 11 and 12 has shown the switch 130 that opens and closes electro-motor 122.Gear wheel 112 comprises the part of the radius with prolongation, and this part can be known as " starting zone (onzone) ".This starts regional starting switch 130, thereby causes that driven wheel rotates gear wheel 112.Start the size in zone and position so that near point that spring 104 is fully compressed or this some starting switch, as shown in figure 12; And be preloaded lotus and trigger assembly at spring and meshed gear wheel and do not start this switch near with the some place that prevents from rotating under its energy at spring or this point, as shown in figure 11.
Gear wheel also comprises the part with less radius, and this part can be known as " closing closed region (off zone) ".When this gear wheel rotates, close closed region through switch 130 and not with its startup under the effect from the ability of spring.In this way, when the booster action bars was the toy car acceleration along bend, switch did not hinder the rotation of this gear wheel and booster action bars.
Gear wheel 112 can comprise the part 140 without any tooth.The size of this part and position can be corresponding to when this gear wheel rotate under the effect from the energy of spring, the part of this gear wheel that moves under the effect of driven wheel.In this way, driven wheel does not limit freely rotating of gear wheel.
Although used specific embodiments that the present invention is described, should be understood that, that spirit of the present invention and protection domain are not limited to these embodiments.Protection scope of the present invention is provided by appended claim.The scope and the theme within the hint expression that fall into the equivalents of claim should be included within the scope of claim.