CN101437588A

CN101437588A - Transformable toy vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN101437588A
Application number: CNA2007800162184A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 威廉·威利特
Original assignee: Mattel Inc
Current assignee: Mattel Inc
Priority date: 2006-05-04
Filing date: 2007-05-04
Publication date: 2009-05-20

Abstract

A toy vehicle includes a central housing having first and second oppositely disposed sides. A first wheel is rotatably mounted on the first side of the housing and a second wheel is rotatably mounted on the second side of the housing. Each of the fxrst and second wheels has a central hub. Each hub has a center disposed along a common first axis of rotation. A plurality of vanes are attached to the hub and form the first and second wheels. An end of each vane distal to the hub forms a circumferential surface portion of one of the first and second wheels. Each vane is individually and separately manually angularly repositionable about a second vane axis extending transversely with respect to the first axis.

Description

Transformable toy vehicle

The cross reference of related application

The application requires the U.S. Provisional Patent Application the 60/797th of " Mini Shell Shocker RC-Generally Spherical Transforming Toy Vehicle (mini hull shape Warcraft RC-is the spherical form deformation toy car substantially) " by name of submission on May 4th, 2006, No. 790 priority, above-mentioned patent application are incorporated into this by reference in full.

Technical field

The present invention relates to toy car, relate to toy car particularly with unconventional deformation characteristic.More specifically, the present invention relates to those and have only two form deformation toy cars that are used to the wheel that supports and drive.

Summary of the invention

Briefly, the present invention is a kind of toy car, comprising: central housing, this housing have first side and second side of opposed.First wheel is rotatably mounted on first side of described housing, and second wheel is rotatably mounted on second side of described housing.In described first wheel and described second wheel each has central hub.Each wheel hub has the center of arranging along the first shared rotation.A plurality of blades are connected on the described wheel hub and form described first and second wheels.The end away from described wheel hub of each blade forms one circumferential surface portion in described first and second wheels.Each blade can and manually be reset angle about second axis of runner blade respectively by independence, and described second axis of runner blade is with respect to described first axle horizontal expansion.

Description of drawings

Will better understand foregoing invention content of the present invention and specific descriptions hereinafter in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.In order to set forth the present invention, shown presently preferred embodiment among the figure, yet should be understood that meticulous layout and parts that the present invention is not limited to illustrate.

Among the figure:

Fig. 1 is the front perspective view of toy car according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and the toy car of demonstration is in first form;

Fig. 2 is the right perspective view of the toy car of Fig. 1, and the afterbody of toy car places punctured position;

Fig. 3 is the right perspective view of the toy car of Fig. 1, and the afterbody of toy car places extended position;

Fig. 4 is the front perspective view of the toy car of Fig. 1, and toy car is in the 3rd, the paddle wheel form;

Fig. 5 is the right perspective view of the toy car of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a right perspective view before the top of toy car of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is the front perspective view of the toy car of Fig. 1, and the wheel of toy car is in the second wheel form;

Fig. 8 is the right perspective view of the toy car of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is the decomposition diagram of the toy car of Fig. 1;

Figure 10 is the perspective view of the toy car of Fig. 1, among the figure for simplicity wheel be illustrated as hemispherical rather than single blade, and shell is removed to expose inner driving mechanism;

Figure 11 is the profile perspective that the central plane generally along toy car of Figure 10 toy car intercepts;

Figure 12 is the perspective view of blade of the toy car of Fig. 1;

Figure 13 is the profile view generally along the intercepting of the mid-plane of toy car of Fig. 1 toy car, and this toy has alternative driving mechanism, and the toy car of demonstration has and turns to outside blade;

Figure 14 is the profile perspective that the mid-plane generally along toy car of Figure 13 toy car intercepts;

Figure 15 is the schematic diagram of control module 101 on the wireless remote control emitter 105 of toy car shown in Figure 1 and the plate.

The specific embodiment

Some terms that use in hereinafter describing are only for the ease of expressing the unqualified meaning.Word " on ", D score, " left side " and " right side " refer to the direction of corresponding figures the inside.These terms comprise word, the relevant derivative that preamble is mentioned especially and similarly introduce language.

With reference to accompanying drawing, wherein similar Reference numeral indication similar elements in whole accompanying drawings has illustrated the preferred embodiment according to the spherical transformable toy vehicle of cardinal principle of the present invention in Fig. 1-15, and it is totally with Reference numeral 10 indications.This toy car 10 can have power supply, and for example one or more batteries 13 (seeing Figure 10-11) are so that the mobile power that provides of toy car 10 to be provided.In addition, toy car 10 preferably is equipped with control circuit or veneer control module 100 (Figure 15) in Electronic Control housing 11, Electronic Control housing 11 has lid 11a, and toy car 10 is used by the user and the remote controller 105 of toy car 10 isolated common routines comes Long-distance Control.

Specifically with reference to Fig. 1-8, chassis and the first and second

hemispherical wheels

14 and 16 that provided by central shell 12 are provided this toy car 10.Especially, shell 12 also has first and second side 12a and the 12b of opposed.First wheel 14 is rotatably installed on the first side 12a of housing 12, and second wheel 16 is rotatably installed on the second side 12b of housing 12.Especially, each

wheel

14,16 all has a polygonal central shell or central hub 20, and preferably is installed in the circumferential edges of wheel hub 20 by a plurality of (being 7 in the embodiment shown) or the individual vanes 18 of side forms.Each blade 18 forms the first round 14 and second away from the end of wheel hub 20 and takes turns one circumferential surface portion in 16.Each central hub 20 has the center, and it arranges that along the first common rotation 20 ' first rotation 20 ' is the common rotation axis of two wheel hubs 20 substantially.Preferably, each

wheel

14,16 comprises a plurality of identical blades 18, and each blade all is installed on and extends through among the smooth periphery wall of preferably heptagonal wheel hub 20 or the surperficial 20a one.Preferably, each blade 18 can rotate around second axis of runner blade 18 ', and laterally and substantially radially extends out from first axle 20 '.

The mode that toy car 10 is configured to hereinafter describe in detail, independent and between first limit position of rotation and opposite second limit position of rotation, manually reset angle dividually to allow the first round 14 and second to take turns each blade 18 on 16 around second axis of runner blade 18 ' of blade 18, on first limit position of rotation, each blade 18 all is bent to form the first spherical form, preferably the cardinal principle spherical morphology 24 shown in Fig. 1-3; At second limit position of rotation, promptly rotate on the position of about 180 degree with the primary importance direction, bending blade forms second form 26 shown in Fig. 6-8, wherein, each

wheel

14,16 all is the hemispheric form of cardinal principle, the big openend that this form has cup-like interior and formed by the inside of each

hemispherical wheel

14,16, each

hemispherical wheel

14,16 from shell 12 and other wheel towards the outside.Rotate form 24 times at first of blade 18, first wheel and

second wheel

14,16 are roughly cup-shaped, and its openend inwardly toward each other.Second at blade 18 is rotated form 26 times, and first wheel and

second wheel

14,16 are the cardinal principle cup-shaped, and its openend outwards away from each other.Blade is preferably along its length and crooked on length, thereby first and

second wheels

14,16 form hemisphere in first and second position of

rotation

24 and 26.

Car 10 can also further be configured to the third form, " paddle wheel " form 25, shown in Figure 4 and 5, wherein blade 18 is set on the position between first and

second forms

24,26, and it is preferred on the centre position between first form and

second form

24,26, that is, along equidirectional around wheel hub 20, this direction is that blade 18 is rotated between first and

second forms

24,26 around second axis 18 ', all departs from 90 directions of spending with first and second position of

rotation

24,26.

Referring now to Figure 12, each blade 18 preferably includes brake apparatus or pin 18a, and its preferred cross-sections is square, and it can be used to manually be provided with each blade, under any one form that toy car 10 is placed first, second and the 3rd form 14,15,16.Particularly, pin 18a preferably includes around the resilient bushing (not shown) of this pin 18a.Pin 18a and lining are pressed in the hole (not drawing among the figure) of the complementation on the face 20a of wheel hub 20, thereby lining is used for blade 18 is fixed on specific required form, yet because its elasticity, blade 18 also can rotate in the hole when being handled by the user.By the method, just controlling blade 18 in the mode of similar brake apparatus effectively is fixed on required form for pin 18a, lining and hole, yet allows blade 18 to rotate to different forms when needed again.Because pin 18a is square profile preferably, four leaf positions just can be arranged, promptly 0 °, 90 °, 180 ° and 270 °.Here 0 ° of definition be relative inwardly spherical morphology 24 as Fig. 1-3; 90 ° of the 3rd position of rotation that provide the 3rd " paddle wheel " form 25 of Fig. 4-5; And 270 ° provide among Fig. 6-8 second, outside second position of rotation of the form 26 of cup-shaped wheel form.Although so preferred, also in the spirit and scope of the invention, pin 18a has different shapes to comprise the polygonal cross-section that is not limited to greater or less than 4 sides to following content, so that blade can have the different orientation greater or less than 4 respectively.

In the above under the setting of Jie Shaoing, when the user wishes to readjust toy car 10, the user must rotate each blade 18 respectively and reach specific form.It should be noted that, although having only three

forms

24,25,26 is here described especially, by by different blade 18 is rotated to different angles being arranged each other simply, rather than each blade is all rotated on the identical position, can also realize the form of any number.Although the preferred configuration of adopting pin 18, lining and the hole introduced above, following situation is also in purport of the present invention and scope, blade 18 is can select to fix/rotate with different modes, it comprises cross or star or polygonal hole and pin design, the perhaps arrestment mechanism that has a plurality of contact braking surfaces of spring bias voltage that but is not limited to mirror image.In addition, although preferably blade 18 is fixed in the wheel hub 20, simultaneously at manual rotating vane 18 by flexible pin 18a and hole are set, following method also is a part of the present invention, pin 18a and Kong Jun do not provide enough compliance can also rotate after being connected on the wheel hub to allow blade 18, and manual angle is reset and comprised that pin is manually pulled up in permission and any angle of allowing with pin and pore structure inserts in the hole pin once more.

Although preferably, pin 18a is the part of blade 18, and the hole is on wheel hub, and the present invention also comprises opposite configuration, and wherein plunger radially outward stretches out from wheel hub 20 substantially, and is provided with porose above the blade 18.

Blade 18 can be made by any suitable material.If desired, each blade 18 can be molded as solid support bar by foam polymerization material.The blade of this foamed polymer not only self has resilient flexibility, for shell 12 provides suitable buffering, and can be car 10 enough buoyancy is provided, so that it can travel on the water.

Refer again to Fig. 1-8, under any form of first, second and the

third form

24,26,25, preferably, the pass nodular afterbody 28 that has supported the reaction wheel 30 that rotates freely crosses out from shell 12, direction preferably with

wheel

14,16 one-tenth substantially or the direction of approximate tangent line.Afterbody 28 has pivot at least the first terminal 27a be connected to shell 12 and opposed, near the second terminal 27b of wheel 30.Afterbody 28 is made of at least two joint segments, thereby first section 29a is rotatably coupled to housing 12, and at least the second section 29b is rotatably coupled to first section 29a.Preferably, the centripetal force that the reaction that afterbody 28 rotates by

wheel

14,16 causes moves between punctured bit 28a and extension bit 28b, and is used for stablizing car 10 at

wheel

14,16 along the rotation that the rotation of pushing ahead direction suppresses shell 12.Afterbody 28 is preferably flexible, make afterbody 28 at punctured position 28a at least in part substantially on housing 12; At extended position 28b, afterbody 28 stretches out from shell 12, makes that at least the second is terminal spaced apart with shell 12, surpasses the circumference range of wheel 14,16.In addition, at punctured position 28a, afterbody 28 can place first and second to take turns between 14,16 the open end, even blade 18 is on primary importance 24.

With reference to Fig. 9-11, shown to be used for the preferred drive mechanism of wheels 14,16.It should be noted that at first the

wheel

14,16 among Figure 10-12 is shown as hemispherical, rather than the blade that separates owing to the cause of simplifying.Driving mechanism comprises overall respectively first and second drive chains with 40,50 indications, and they are driven by first and

second motors

42,52 respectively, are arranged in the gear-box 22, and this gear-box is placed in the shell 12.Preferably, first drive chain 40 drives the first round 14, and second drive chain is independent of first drive chain 40 and the first round 14 and drives second and take turns 16.It should be noted that first and second drive chains are identical in fact, therefore hereinafter only specifically describe first drive chain 40.

First motor 42 is energized to rotate the first output shaft 42a and the first pinion 44a.The first pinion 44a is first gear of first reducing gear train 44, and first reducing gear train 44 drives first motor 42 and is connected to first wheel 14.First reducing gear train 44, details comprise many pitch wheels of description separately that do not have here shown in Fig. 9-11.First reducing gear train 44 finally makes pin 46 rotations, and this pin drives with the first round 14 and is connected.Pin 46 preferably is positioned in the complementary keyhole 20b on the socket 20c of wheel hub 20, and this socket extends internally towards the center of toy car 10.Use the method, pin 46 and wheel hub 20 are rotatably connected by key, first motor 42 and the first round 14 are driven be connected.Use the method, first and

second take turns

14,16 can be respectively opened or was driven independently by first and second motors independently in 42,53 minutes, so that by with identical direction substantially identical speed encourage first and

second motors

42,52 just can drive toy car 10 forward or backward, perhaps by with different directions or identical direction but different first and

second motors

42,52 of speed excitation make the dolly turning.

Although preferably above-described actuator configuration is used other actuator configuration, first and

second take turns

14,16 alternative actuator configuration as what drive dolly 10, drop in the spirit and scope of the invention too.For example, the drive chain that can adopt motor and have habitual usually disengage gears (throw-out gear).Use the method, when motor when first direction drives, two wheels are together along a direction rotation (toy car is travelled forward), when motor makes the wheel of toy car one side rotate along a direction when second direction drives, operation by disengage gears simultaneously, make the wheel of toy car opposite side or round about the rotation, perhaps motionless, thus make toy car to turn.

Figure 13 and 14 has shown alternative driving mechanism.Alternative driving mechanism is most of similar with above-described driving mechanism, except first and second reducing gear trains 44 ', 54 ' configuration mode slightly different, and the position difference in toy car 10.It is similar substantially that first and second drive chains 44 ', 54 ' function and front are described, and wherein first and second drive chains 44 ', 54 ' drive first and

second motors

42,52 respectively and are connected to first and second and take turns 14,16.Therefore, first and

second drive chains

44,54 no longer are described in detail in detail here.

As shown in figure 15, toy car 10 preferred disposition of the foregoing description are for operationally to control by wireless remote control emitter 105.Radio (wireless) signal that toy car 10 preferably sends by wireless remote control emitter 105 is operationally controlled.Yet the controller of other type also can use, and comprises the wireless controller controller of vice activation (for example infrared, ultrasonic and/or) and even the cable controller etc. of other type.Preferably, (on-board) control module 100 and first and

second motors

42,52 is operably connected on the plate, and be configured to receive and to handle the control signal of being sent by remote control source 105, there is the operation of certain space distance and Long-distance Control first and

second motors

42,52 in the remote control source from toy car 10.

Toy car 10 is provided with control module 100, and this control module 100 is installed on the custom circuit plate 101.Control module 100 comprises controller 102, preferably has the related elements of wireless signal receiver 102b and microprocessor 102a and any necessity, as

memory.Motor

42 and 52 is reversible, and control electronic circuit 42 ' and 52 ' by microprocessor 102a by motor and control, this electronic circuit optionally is connected

motor

42,52 by (for example one or more disposable or rechargeable battery 13) under the control of microprocessor 102a with power supply 106.

In operation, wireless remote control emitter 105 sends signal to toy car 10, and signal is received by wireless signal receiver 102b.Wireless signal receiver 102b communicates by letter and is operably connected with CD-

ROM drive motor

42,52 by microprocessor 102b, with the speed and motor-driven of control toy car 10.Advance the running of CD-

ROM drive motor

42,52 to be used for advancing and handling toy car 10 by separately also independently controlling each motor 42,52.CD-

ROM drive motor

42,52 and control module 100 parts all are conventional equipments known in the art, and are optional for overall understanding of the present invention about the detailed description of their structure and operation.Yet typical CD-ROM drive motor can comprise brushless electric machine, preferably can provide every volt minimum 1360 rpms.

In use, toy car 10 travels from the teeth outwards by the rotation on arbitrary direction of rotation of first and/or second wheel 14,16.Can be by rotating or reorientate first and second and take turns the blade 18 on 14,16 and toy car 10 is out of shape around second axis 18 ' is manual between primary importance 24 and the 3rd position 26, at primary importance 24 toy cars 10 is spherical form substantially, and 26 whole central housings 12 are opened in the 3rd position.In addition, take

turns

14,16 along forward or rightabout driving when making shell 12 rotation first and second, afterbody 28 can place extended position 28b respectively or partly be wound on the central housing 12 at punctured position 28a.The blade 18 of toy car 10 also can be arranged on (Fig. 4) on the centre position 25, makes first and second to take

turns

14,16 as paddle wheel, or on any other position of rotation between first and second 24,26.Although, three forms the 24,25, the 26th of the

wheel

14,16 that all blade 18 is preferential on two

wheels

14,16 when adopting consistent angle orientation, preferred, in fact each blade 18 that should understand each

wheel

14,16 can place any angle position of the connection permission of blade 18/ wheel hub 20 by hand, thereby allow the angle orientation of the blade 18 on each

wheel

14,16 to mix, also allow the angle orientation of the blade 18 between wheel and wheel and on each wheel to mix, thereby allow the wheel design of more novelties.For example, four orientation that can be placed in 0 degree or 180 degree in the blade 18, and remaining blade 18 can alternately be put between these four blades and place 90 degree.Certainly, the structure of dress even number blade 18 will allow the angle orientation symmetry of the blade 18 on given wheel to change on each

wheel

14,16.

If be equipped with buoyant blade 18 and afterbody 28, and chassis/housing 12 seals in addition, and toy car 10 is travelled on the water surface.Preferably travelled on the water in 25 o'clock although mediate at toy car 10 in addition, toy car 10 travels on dry ground during in any position at blade 18 and also is fine.In addition, can expect that toy car 10 can travel on the water when blade 18 is in any position, these positions include but not limited to first or the

second place

24,26, although not as the 3rd position 25 effective.

Although the long-range control of toy car is preferred, should notes motion or a series of motion that toy car can be predesignated with execution by factory pre-programmed, or be arranged to move to form these predefines by the programming of user selection ground.Alternatively or additionally, but toy car equipped with sensors also, button for example, proximity sensor etc.,, if or when contact or when perceiving barrier, these sensing elements will be controlled toy car and turn to or turn around to leave those its any direction of just travelling automatically.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that under the situation that does not depart from wide inventive concept of the present invention, the foregoing description can change.Therefore should be appreciated that, the invention is not restricted to specific embodiment disclosed herein, but tend to cover the spirit and scope of the invention that appended claims limit.

Claims

1. a toy car (10), comprising: central housing (12), this housing have first and second sides (12a, 12b) of opposed; First wheel (14) is rotatably mounted on first side of described housing; With second wheel (16), be rotatably mounted on second side of described housing, in described first wheel and described second wheel each has central hub (20), each wheel hub has the center of arranging along the first shared rotation (20 '), in described first wheel and described second wheel each also has a plurality of blades (18), it is connected on the described wheel hub and forms described first and second wheels, and the end away from described wheel hub of each blade forms one circumferential surface portion in described first and second wheels, it is characterized in that each blade can be by independent and manually reset angle about second axis of runner blade (18 ') respectively, described second axis of runner blade is with respect to described first axle horizontal expansion.

2. toy car as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bending blade, make first position of rotation (24) at described blade, described first and second wheels are cup-shaped substantially, openend inwardly toward each other, and at second position of rotation (26) of described blade, described first and second wheels are cup-shaped substantially, and openend outwards away from each other.

3. toy car as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first and second wheels are hemispherical substantially at described first and second position of rotation.

4. toy car as claimed in claim 2, wherein said blade optionally rotate at least one the middle position of rotation (25) between first position of rotation and second position of rotation.

5. transformable toy vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein in intermediary, described wheel change paddle wheel into, wherein said blade each from described first position of rotation and described second position of rotation all rotated about 90 degree.

6. toy car as claimed in claim 1 also comprises at least the first motor (42), and this first motor is operably connected to described at least first wheel, to drive described at least first wheel.

7. toy car as claimed in claim 6 also comprises at least the second motor (52), and this second motor is operably connected to described at least second wheel, is urged to less described second wheel to be independent of described first wheel.

8. toy car as claimed in claim 1, wherein each blade pass is crossed rotatable braking jockey (18a) and is connected on the described wheel hub, thereby makes each blade optionally manually be arranged at any one that centers in a plurality of discrete angle position of second axis.

9. toy car as claimed in claim 1, also comprise control module (100), it is operably connected with described first and second motors, and be configured to receive and handle from the control signal that transmits with the isolated remote source of described toy car (105), with the operation of described first and second motors of remote control.

10. toy car as claimed in claim 1, also comprise the afterbody (28) that engages movably with described housing, described afterbody has freedom second end (27b) of at least the first end (27a) and opposed, and described afterbody can move between punctured bit (28a) and extension bit (28b).

11. toy car as claimed in claim 10, first end of wherein said afterbody is rotatably connected to described housing.

12. toy car as claimed in claim 11, wherein said afterbody is flexible, make described afterbody when described punctured bit, be wound at least in part on the described housing substantially, and when described extension bit, stretch out, make that described at least second end and described housing are spaced apart from described housing.

13. toy car as claimed in claim 12, wherein said afterbody is formed by at least two hinge segment, makes the section of winning (29a) be rotatably connected to described housing, and at least the second section (29b) is rotatably connected to described first section.

14. toy car as claimed in claim 13 wherein when described blade is placed in primary importance, is placed between the openend of described first wheel and second wheel at the described afterbody of described punctured bit.

15. toy car as claimed in claim 10, wherein said afterbody can float on the water.

16. toy car as claimed in claim 10, wherein said afterbody comprise at least one tail wheel (30) near second end, it is at least at the described extended position contact surface of described afterbody.