DE1478476A1 - Vehicle chassis with wheels - Google Patents

Description

DR. MÜLLER-BORi DIPL-ΙΝΘ. 6RALFS DlPL-PHYS. DR. MANITZ DIPL-CHEM. DR. DEUFEL »478476

PATENT LAWYERS

P 14 78 476.0 2ό, UaI ₁ ', 368

Bol / Pa - J 193

IDEAL TOY CORPORATION
184-10 Jamaica Avenue, Hollis, New York, USA

Vehicle chassis with wheels

The invention "relates generally to a toy, and in particular to a small, wheeled chassis which is powered and for several Vehicle bodies can be used.

Both adults and young people are interested in miniaturized replicas of the most varied of objects Collectors found. Those interested in it are available miniature models of trains, airplanes, Cars, boats and the like are available. Especially with regard to small models of all kinds of Vehicles were proposed to be a single universal -Chassis could be used for an interchangeable Assembly with one of several vehicle bodies which are shaped and decorated to be represent different types of known automobiles and trucks. Such known universal chassis and interchangeable bodies, however, are not widely used or popular. There is a

909835/0046

Neue Unterlaoen ca * 7 ,, _A " _{2 No.} , _{3atz 3 aea} Ä _nderütWfle9 . _y . _4th

BRAUNSCHWEIG, AM BURGERPARK θ «(OS31) ZBUB7 β MUNICH 22, ROBERT-KOCH-STa 1«> (Οβ11) 285110

ask for a powered chassis or undercarriage for a vehicle which serves as a basic component for a large number of different types of vehicles can, with the simple and easily feasible measure of removing a vehicle body and replacing it with another one to give the user a small replica of one of very different ones Types of popular vehicles is available.

In general, it is an object of the invention to provide a wheeled and powered Vehicle chassis in which one or more of the above-mentioned objects are achieved. Special will be through the invention a chassis for an interchangeable structure with different types of vehicle bodies created, which is driven by a motor fed by a built-in battery source and can be set so that it takes different directions of travel.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention is a driven, wheeled elongated chassis intended for interchangeable use with various vehicle bodies.

Near the front end of the chassis body is a front wheel set with steerable front and rear wheels attached to this a rear wheel set with non-steerable rear wheels. Between the front and rear wheel sets a battery support for receiving one or more batteries is provided on the chassis body. An engine mount is provided near the rear end of the chassis body, which has two rear mounting brackets. and having contact parts. The engine mount takes

909835/004 6

BATH ORIGINAL

U78476

a battery powered motor which is provided with respective input terminals and a motor shaft which extends transversely to the chassis body. The rear fastening and contact parts are designed in this way. forms that they hold the engine releasably on the engine mount. These rear parts are electrically conductive and are provided with corresponding motor and battery contacts in order to electrically connect one or more batteries in an exciter holding with the input terminals of the motor EU. The motor shaft is connected to the rear wheel set so that it drives it. The arrangement of the battery and motor mounts and the usual parts of the chassis which are required to complete its mechanical and electrical construction is carried out so that the miniature version of the chassis and the corresponding series of vehicle bodies which are interchangeably engaged therewith , is facilitated. This effectively increases the play value and interest in these items, since a series on a relatively small scale is made possible. The construction is also designed according to the invention so that one or both batteries and / or the motor can be easily exchanged for the purpose of replacement and / or to increase the play value of the toy series.

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention are described below, for example with reference to the drawing; in this show:

Fig. 1 is an exploded side view of a powered, wheeled chassis according to the invention, with parts away.

909835/0046

broken, and a typical vehicle body that can be interchangeably assembled with it,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the powered, wheeled chassis in which the engine and the batteries are installed,

Fig. 3 is a section substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 1, seen in the direction of the arrow, in the details of the construction of the battery support are shown,

Fig. 4 is a view taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows showing details of the construction of the engine mount; are,

Fig. 5 is an end view of the chassis, seen from the right side of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram of the excitation circuit for the battery-powered motor, which in the chassis is built in.

The vehicle chassis according to the invention shown in the drawing is used interchangeably with any number of different vehicle bodies, for example the body 12 shown. The illustrated body 12 is only one of a series which are detachably attached to the chassis 10 can, the design of the body is limited only to the extent that it is the chassis with the engine and

909835/0046

U78476

en »Batteries in their respective working positions records. The scale used in the drawing is approximately twice as large as that which is provided for the vehicle according to the invention. At a fishing The overall length of the chassis will be on the order of a few inches. Despite such a reduction in size, the chassis 10 will have the necessary operating properties so that a built-in battery drive is possible and the vehicle can be controlled, while the vehicle body 12 can be decorated and formed so that a small Replica is created which has a good resemblance to its natural size counterpart.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the chassis 10 forms a elongated chassis body 14. A front wheel seat 16 has controllable left and right front wheels 18,20 auf and int attached to the chassis body 14 near the front end thereof. Ia rear part of the chassis, a rear wheel set 22 is attached, which non-steerable left and right rear wheels 24 »26. The terms "left" used in the description and !! right "parts refer to the, location of these Parts, seen in the direction of travel.

Between the front and rear wheel sets 16, 22 and although in a position welohe the {solid body of the vehicle is equivalent to." a battery support 28 is provided, which in the embodiment shown has two next to »? batteries 3Q, 32 lying one on top of the other take up »the Extend the longitudinal direction of the chassis body 14. and duröh the vehicle body series 12, if this with the frame 10 is zuaaemengfbeut, the view essentially are withdrawn.

ORIGINAL INSPECTEP

H78476

Behind the rear wheel set 22 is in the area of the A motor mount 34 is provided in the luggage compartment of the vehicle, which accommodates a battery-operated miniature motor 36, as will be described below is, the motor 36 is drivingly connected to the right rear wheel 26 of the rear wheel set 22. In addition, the motor is located in an excitation circuit bit the batteries 30, 32, which can be closed and interrupted as desired. From the description below and from the foregoing explanation of the general structure, it can be seen that an extraordinarily compact arrangement has been created, which is excellent for miniaturization is suitable and facilitates the removal and replacement of the batteries 30, 32 and the motor 36.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 5 of the front wheel set 16 includes left and right front Befeatigungs- and contact parts 38, 40 of identical construction, which, for example, are made of an electrically conductive material bronze stampings. The left front fastening and contact part 38 comprises a planar base plate 36 a, which rests against the underlying part of the chassis body 14 and is fastened thereto by means of the rivet 42. Bas portion 38 also includes an upstanding federndenj left, front-battery contact 38b, which is mounted in such a position at the corresponding front end of the Batterieauflagers 28 that - er * of the battery 30 is in -Eingriff with the middle Anschlußkleaa. In a similar manner, the right front fastening and contact part 40 is fastened to the chassis body by 14 by the rivet 44 and comprises a planar base plate 40a and an upright, resilient, reoixed, front door battery 40b, which is attached to the corresponding front battery support 28 in such a position that it is connected to the housing of the battery

9Q983S / Ö04S

ORIGINAL INSPECTED

U7847B

terie 32 is in contact to the contacts 38b, 40b to limit laterally and to ensure that these contacts see only move in the longitudinal direction of the chassis 10, the chassis body 14 is with upright, the contacts supporting ribs, such as the Ribs 14a »14b which are associated with the contact 38b and which add structural strength to the structure and prevent the corresponding parts 38,40 from rotating about the rivets 42,44.

The left front wheel 18 of the front wheel set 16 is mounted on a left front axle 44, which extends horizontally and is suspended from a joint 46, which is mounted on a left front Aohszapfen 48. The wheel 18 can therefore rotate about its corresponding horizontal wheel axis, which can be rotated about the vertical control axis which is provided by the axle pin 48 is determined. In a similar manner, the right front wheel 20 is mounted on a right front axle 50, which is attached to a right front joint 52, the is mounted on a right front Aohszapfen 54. Provision is made that the front wheels are 18, 20 in their setting are coordinated about the control axis, which are determined by the Aohszapfen 48, 54, so that the vehicle can follow different directions of travel as set by the user. Particularly Case the joints 46, 52 are provided with corresponding articulated arms 46a, 52a, which are connected to each other by a Tie rod 56 are connected, which extends transversely to the chassis body 14 at the front end thereof. That one end of the tie rod 56 is connected to the link arm 46a through the tie rod bolt 58, and the other end through the tie rod bolt 60 connected. By intervening one of the front wheels 18, 20 and simultaneous Eirw

909835 / 00Ai

H78476

- ο -

set «α the position of the wheels 18, 20 and at the same time adjusting the position of the wheels 18, 20 in relation to It is therefore possible for the vehicle to stow the vehicle drive forward, or take it a course to the left or to let drive through to the right.

The wheels 18, 20 of the front wheel set 16 and the wheels 24, 26 of the rear wheel set 22 are all of essentially identical design. It is therefore sufficient to describe only one of the wheels in detail. The wheel 18, for example, comprises a tire 18a, for example of molded Rubber, and suitable hub caps 18b which are removable may be mounted in the tire 18a, as well as a wheel hub 18c which can be detachably mounted in the tire 18a and is arranged to receive the corresponding axle 44. The construction is like that designed so that the wheels can be disassembled and reassembled by the user.

The rear wheel set 22 includes a rear axle 62 which extends between the battery mount 28 and the engine mount 44 transversely to the chassis body 14. The axle 62 is retained on the chassis by integral bearings or brackets as indicated by reference numerals 14c and 14b and shown in FIGS. The rear wheels 24, 26 are mounted on the rear axle 62, wherein at least one of the wheels is arranged so that it runs free.

According to FIGS. 1-3, the battery support 28 is delimited by flanges which are connected to the chassis body 14 aas are molded in one piece and a left edge flange 14e, a right Radflanseh 14f and several pairs of opposite transverse flanges, for example the

909835/0046

BATH ORIGINAL

U78A76

Flanges 14g, 14h include. According to Fig. 3, the transverse flanges are cut off in a suitable manner so that they generally coincide with the outline of the batteries 30, 32 when these are inserted in the support 28. From Fig. 3 it can also be seen that the chassis body 14 with a central, extending in the longitudinal direction extending reinforcing rib 14i is provided which divides the battery bearing 28 in the middle in two, side by side divides horizontal partitions which accommodate the batteries 30, 32. The batteries 30, 32 are detachable in the Battery support 28 secured by a battery retaining clip 64 made of any suitable material, such as, for example, molded plastic, and is generally shaped to the Corresponds to the shape of the batteries inserted in the support 28. The clamp 64 is provided with clamping lugs 64a, 64b at its opposite ends, which engage in suitable recesses in the longitudinally extending edge flanges 14e, 14f are formed.

The details of the motor mount 34, 36 are best seen in FIGS. The engine mount 34 includes a platform 14j _r which is integrally molded with the chassis body 14 and extends along the center thereof and supports the engine 36 between its ends, as shown in FIG. On the opposite sides of the platform 14j, the vehicle stowage body 14 is retracted with recesses 14k, 14 1 extending in the longitudinal direction, so that they accommodate the left and right rear fastening and contact parts 66, 68 which au * an · electrically conductive material, in front of «u« tv * l · aue Bronxeetlioken, produced and. The parts 66, 68 die-

9O9836 / # oMf ^ ^3ί ^

BATH

- ίο -

for the releasable attachment of the engine 36 to the chassis, are part of the engine mount 34, direct the Motor 36 with respect to rear wheel set 22 * to drive it and provide an electrical connection between batteries 30, 32 and motor 36 as described below.

The motor 36 is a battery-operated small motor with Fractions of a horsepower and is of a well-known design. Such motors are commercially available and include a conductive housing 36a which serves as an input terminal, an insulated end wall 36b, an input terminal 36c extending from the insulating wall 36b and cooperating with the conductive housing 36a to complete the excitation circuit for the motor, a motor shaft 36d extending from the housing 36a on the side facing away from the insulating wall 36b and a shaft pinion 36e attached to the motor shaft 36d. The engine 36 is in that Luggage compartment accommodated in the vehicle's natural size corresponding part and can easily be replaced, can be removed for repair or while playing. Because the internal structure of the engine is well known and is subject to multiple modifications, changes and additions, for the sake of the abbreviation of apart from a further description of the engine.

Regarding the left "and right sintered attachment" and contact parts, you can see ta * ma * left rear contact part 16 comprises a base plate 66a, which is located in the recess Uk of the outer body 14 ■ ittei · der Rent »70» efe »tigrie4" 1 [eieM fig. 4) and

m iTRT "t" pM "" i MJ & M% ß1 * i Mil *** *** r · * ■ "* sttek beeteaendea, aufreemtetefeeadea, resilient latteriekon-

909135/0041

BATH ORIGINAL

U78476

clock 66b is provided. The battery contact 66b lies at the required distance from the battery contact 38b opposite and rests on the housing or opposite pole of the battery 30. In the same way includes the right rear fastening and contact part 68 a base plate 68a, which is arranged in the recess 14 1 and fastened therein by means of one or more rivets 72, and expires at its front end in an upright, with her in one piece, resilient battery contact 68 b. The battery contact 68 b is located the battery contact 40 b opposite in the required distance and is on the middle or pole of the Battery 32 on. The part 66 is also provided with a aufreohtetehonden, resilient end contact 66 ο, which is applied to the input terminal 36 ο, which is derived from the isolated wall 36 b of the motor 36 protrudes £ In the same white the part 68 is combined with a Retaining contact 68 e provided, which is detachably attached to the housing 36 a to the motor on his Hold place and establish electrical contact with the housing 36 a, which than the other Input connection to the motor 36 is used. Provision has also been made to place the motor 36 in the motor mount 34 to align, so that a correct engagement of the motor bit 36 S with the gear drive is guaranteed, which is connected to the rear wheel 26, and to hold the motor in the bearing against the shock and displacement forces that occur during normal use. For this purpose, the part 66 is provided with a retaining clamp 66 d, which has a bulge at its end, which into one in the adjacent end

of the motor 36 formed recess engages. The retaining terminal contact 68 o is provided with an indentation 68 d arranged between the ends, which is also shown in

909835/0046

engages a recess formed in the motor. If necessary, the anchoring can be supplemented, by providing an additional retaining clamp 68 β (see Figs. 1 and 2), which has an indentation, which engages in a recess provided in the adjacent edge of the motor 36.

To complete the drive gear train from the motor 36 to the right rear wheel 26, an intermediate gear set 74 is provided, which is mounted on the part 68, and a large gear 74 a, which meshes with the shaft pinion 36 e, and a small pinion 74 b includes which bit a wheel gear 76 in engagement which is attached to the inside of the rear wheel 26. The pinions 36 e and 74 b are relatively wide compared to the gears in engagement with them, so that a driving gear mesh also with a certain lateral displacement of the motor 36 with respect to the rear wheel set 22 is ensured, as it occurs with normal manufacturing tolerances.

A manually operated switch is provided for the optional closing and interruption of the excitation circuit for the battery powered motor 36. In the illustrated embodiment, the front wheel set 16 includes a conductive Switching disk 76, which on the conductive base plates 38a, 40a of the front fastening and contact parts 38, 40 rests. The indexing disc 76 is attached to a suitable disc actuation member 78 which is attached to the Chassis body 14 is mounted and in a head on the underside of the chassis body at an easy to Actuation of the accessible point ends. A suitable locking device, as shown for example in Fig. 5, the disc 76 and the disc actuator

909835/0046

BATH ORIGINAL

supply part 73 be assigned to this in their the Base plates 38a, 40a to hold the overlapping position and either to close the electrical circuit, or by interrupting the contact with a the base plates to interrupt the excitation circuit. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower side is the tie rod 56 is provided with a plurality of teeth 56 a, which engages a locking finger 78 a, which with the Disc actuator 78 is formed in one piece. According to Fig. 6, the excitation circuit for the motor 36 comprises the Batteries 30, 32 which are connected in series with the input terminals of the motor 36, the circuit is optionally closed and interrupted by means of the switching disk 76, which can be brought into a position overlapping the contacts 38a, 40a by manual actuation of the actuating part 78.

There are various ways of releasably attaching the vehicle body 12 to the chassis 10, so that the chassis with the special shape of the Vehicle body 12 is consistent. In the illustrated embodiment, the chassis 10 is with with this one-piece front body retaining extension 80, which is in a corresponding Engages recess near the front bumper of the vehicle, a rear body retaining lug 82 which engages in a corresponding recess formed in the Vehicle body is formed near the rear bumper thereof, and provided respective left and right body retaining lugs 84, 86, which are in corresponding Engage recesses or cutouts which are formed in the opposite sides of the vehicle body, as shown in FIG. 3. the Vehicle body 12 is made of a suitable plastic

909835/0046

BATH ORIGINAL

manufactured and therefore flexible, so that a snap-in Snug fit with the corresponding lugs 80, 82, 84, 86 the chassis 10 is guaranteed. As explained earlier, many modifications and changes in the structure of the vehicle body are possible. Piping can be made to accurately replicate a full-size vehicle. Of the The main part of the body is made of plastic and its details correspond to the vehicle to be reproduced. The windows are made of clear plastic, and the various accessories (i.e. the bumpers, Ornaments,! Door handles and the like.) Are made of a suitable, chrome-plated metal and are fixed or detachable attached to the vehicle body.

In actual use, it is a simple matter to insert the batteries 30, 32 into the battery support 28 and fasten the clamp 64 over it so that the batteries are in engagement with the corresponding Battery contacts 38 b, 40 b, 66 b and 68 b are held. This is preferably carried out during the Switch 76 is in the off position. The motor 36 is then mounted in the motor mount 34, taking care that the motor is in the correct position in relation to the support and the electrical connections between the housing 36a and the contact 68c and the isolated input terminal 36 ο and their corresponding contact 66 c are established. It should be noted, as can be seen from Fig. 4, that the combined fastening and contact part 66 is completely different from that Housing 36 a of the motor 36 is insulated. The vehicle chassis is; then completed according to the wishes of the user by adding the appropriate vehicle body selected and releasably attached to the chassis.

909835/0046

BATH ORIGINAL

The thus completed vehicle is now ready for Use and can be put into operation by actuating the switch actuating part 78 on the underside of the chassis, whereby the desired direction of travel can be set by the user, that the "in" or the other of the front wheels 18, 20 is gripped and the front wheel set 16 is adjusted.

From the foregoing it can be seen that according to the invention an extremely compact and stable Chassis is created for general use with various vehicle bodies. To manufacture the Chassis only a relatively small number of parts is required, including a body of one suitable molding material, such as styrene, and stamped metal parts, such as parts 38, 40, 66, 68, which are attached to the body in a simple manner Rivets are attached. In many cases, a single stamped piece or part fulfills a number of functions in the mechanical construction and the electrical circuit. The chassis can therefore at relatively low Costs for the single piece to be produced in series.

Claims;

909835 / 0QAS

_BA D

Claims (9)

Patent claims: η.J Driven wheeled chassis for interchangeable assembly with one of several vehicle bodies, characterized by an elongated chassis body, a front wheel set attached near the front end of the chassis body, a rear wheel set attached to the chassis body behind the front wheel set, means which are attached to the chassis body between the front and rear wheel sets are provided to form a battery support for at least one dry battery, means which are provided on the chassis body behind the rear wheel set to form an engine support, a removable, battery-operated motor including a motor shaft, Means for driving connection of the motor shaft with the rear wheel set and means for completing an excitation circuit for the motor including a plurality of battery contacts which are arranged in relation to the battery support so that they are with the door ock battery are engaged. 2. Chassis according to claim 1, characterized in that «that the battery support has a removable Includes retaining clip on the chassis body. 3. Chassis according to claim 1 or 2, characterized g e k e η η shows that the front wheel set comprises left and right front wheels, that left and right axles are provided on which the Vqreerröder can be rotated around the 909835/0046 New documents (Art 7 $ j a- ₂ .Kr. 13 ^ 3 dos Ander «,«, «» * v. 4 U78476 Speaking wheelbases are stored that left and right suspension means including axle journals are provided on which the front wheels are rotatably mounted about the corresponding control axes, and that connecting means connect the left and right suspension means to one another to form the coincident Movement of the front wheels around the control axes. 4. Chassis according to claim 3 »characterized in that the rear wheel set is one on the Chassis body mounted rear axle includes left and right rear wheels on the rear axle are rotatably mounted about a common wheel axle, and that a rear wheel gear is operable with a the rear wheels and the motor shaft is connected. 5. Chassis according to claim 4, characterized by a shaft pinion attached to the motor shaft and an intermediate gear, which is connected to meshes with the rear gear. 6. Chassis according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Motor support comprises two rear fastening and contact parts, the shaft with the corresponding Terminals provided motor runs transversely to the chassis that the rear parts corresponding Have retaining clips that releasably engage the engine and hold it in the engine mount that the rear parts are electrically conductive and have corresponding motor and battery contacts for electrical connection of the batteries in an excitation circuit with the input terminals of the motor, and that Means for driving connection of the motor shaft with the 909835/0046 U78476 - Τ8 - Rear wheels are provided. 7. Chassis according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front wheel set comprises two front fastening and contact parts which are fastened to the chassis body and are electrically conductive, and have corresponding battery contacts for the electrical connection of the batteries in the excitation circuit. 8. Chassis according to one of the preceding claims, characterized. by a Sehalter for optional closing and interruption of the excitation circuit. 9. Chassis according to claims 7, 8 and 9, characterized in that the switch has a Includes switching disc that can be moved into an on and off position, whereby the front mounting and contact parts are electrically connected, and that a switch operating part is provided is, which extends to the underside of the chassis body and effective with the switching disk connected is. 909835/0 0 4 6