EP0015217B1 - Spring driving mechanisms for toy vehicles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to spring motors for toy vehicles and more particularly those whose reassembly is effected by subjecting the toy to reciprocating movements on a horizontal plane or the like.

Motors of the kind in question are known of which only one end of the spring is connected to the set of drive wheels of the axle, its other end being fixed. In other engines, the two ends of the spring are associated with axle drive cogs. Locks are then provided so that the spring is banded regardless of the direction of advancement of the toy. An engine of this kind has an axle which is not capable of being tilted laterally with respect to the engine because it pivots in holes in an oscillating stirrup relative to the flanges, which only allows it to be displaced. parallel to itself. The motor comprises an inversion pinion moved against the reaction of a spring when the user presses on the body of the toy so that said pinion engages or not with a pinion carried by the axle of the wheels. Such an engine is for example described in patent FR-A-2093446, but it is of complicated construction which considerably increases its cost price.

There are also other motors of the genre in question, but they do not allow proper winding of their spring so that the distance traveled by the toy is too small.

The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and to allow the production of a spiral spring motor for a toy vehicle, the reassembly of which is carried out over at least one phase of its reciprocating movement, and which presents only a limited number of oranges intended for reassembly so that it is economical.

The toy vehicle engine according to the invention is provided with a body and wheels, this engine comprising two lateral flanges, a driving axle of which at least one bearing is elastically movable relative to one of the flanges and a spiral spring of which the tension is obtained by rolling the toy in at least one direction of movement while resiliently lowering its body relative to the drive axle, said engine also comprising first and second teeth set on the drive axle, a winding wheel linked to the inner end of the spiral spring by its axis and capable of being driven by said first toothing when the bodywork is lowered relative to the axle and a train of cogwheels suitable for propelling the vehicle and still in engagement with the second toothing, said motor further comprising a cage enveloping the spring and provided with an external toothed crown, one of the bearings of the driving axle being fixed on a fla while its other bearing is carried by the end of an elastic arm secured to the other flange, this other flange being provided with longitudinal pins on which the body rests, so that the lowering thereof causes a lateral tilting of the motor and ensures the engagement of the first toothing with a pinion of a winding transmission, the train of toothed wheels always remaining in engagement with the toothed crown, and the module of the pinions of the winding transmission being greater than that of the gear wheels of the propulsion train.

• Fig. est une vue en perspective d'un moteur à ressort conformément à l'invention.
• Fig. est une vue de côté schématique des organes de remontage et d'entraînement de ce moteur.
• Fig.3 et 4 illustrent à grande échelle les positions relatives d'un moteur suivant l'invention et de la carrosserie d'un véhicule-jouet à laquelle il est associé.
• Fig. est une coupe longitudinale d'un moteur établi conformément à une variante préférée de l'invention.
• Fig.6 6 en est une vue par dessus, l'une des roues n'étant pas représentée.
• Fig.7 7 et 8 illustrent schématiquement comment s'effectue le remontage du moteur établi conformément à la présente variante.
• Fig.9 est une vue par derrière du jouet établi conformément à la variante et qui correspond à la représentation de f ig. 4.

The appended drawing, given by way of example, will allow a better understanding of the invention, the characteristics which it presents and the advantages which it is capable of providing:

• Fig. is a perspective view of a spring motor according to the invention.
• Fig. is a schematic side view of the winding and drive members of this motor.
• Fig.3 and 4 illustrate on a large scale the relative positions of an engine according to the invention and the body of a toy vehicle with which it is associated.
• Fig. is a longitudinal section of an engine established in accordance with a preferred variant of the invention.
• Fig. 6 6 is a view from above, one of the wheels not being shown.
• Fig. 7 7 and 8 schematically illustrate how the motor reassembled in accordance with this variant is reassembled.
• Fig.9 is a rear view of the toy established in accordance with the variant and which corresponds to the representation of f ig. 4.

There is shown in fig. 1 and 2 a motor according to the invention comprising a set of gears arranged between two lateral flanges 1 and 2. The flange 1 is cut so as to present a lower arm 1a which an axle 3 passes through with functional clearance at each end of which the drive wheels of a toy vehicle are propped up and propelled by the engine in question. The flanges 1 and 2 being made of a suitable plastic material, the arm 1a has sufficient elasticity to allow the vertical displacement of the axle at the level of the flange 1. Of course this flange has a notch 1 b located above the axle, as well as a stop 1 c against which the axle comes to bear at the end of its travel.

The axle 3 crosses the flange 2 in an opening allowing its free rotation even in an oblique position. Spacers 4 and 5 maintain the two flanges at a determined spacing while securing between them an intermediate plate 6.

On the axle 3 is angularly wedged a pinion 7 with two teeth, one of which 8 with a large module is located against the inside face of the arm 1a of the flange 1, while the other 9 with a fine module is located near the face inside of the other flange 2. This toothing 9 cooperates with a wheel 10 which is integral with a pinion 11 meshing with the toothed crown 12a of a cage 12 inside which is housed a spiral spring 13. The inside of the cage 12 is provided with notches 12b in the which is placed the outer end 13a of the spiral spring 13. So when the latter is tensioned it causes the set of cogs 9-10-11-12a and the axle 3.

The mechanism for banding the spring comprises, in addition to the toothing 8, a sliding pinion 14, the axis 15 of which can move in oblique slots 1d d and 6a formed respectively in the flange 1 and the plate 6. The cage 12 is angularly fixed on an axis 16 relative to which is mounted idly a winding wheel 17 attached to a disc 17a which closes said cage. It is observed that a pawl 18 cooperates with the teeth of the wheel 17 so that it can only rotate in one direction (clockwise in the example shown). The pawl 18 is secured to an elastic finger 18a bearing on a fixed point 1e of the flange 1, while a pin 1f limits the movement of said pawl.

The lower part of the flange 1 is provided with two opposite longitudinal journals referenced respectively 1g g and 1 h while an elastic tab 1i extends perpendicular to said flange in the direction of the other flange from the origin of the journal 1 h. As a variant, this tab could be oriented longitudinally.

As shown in fig.3, the axle 3 receives drive wheels 19, 20 so as to drive a toy vehicle whose body 21 has been shown in broken lines.

To band the spring 13, the lower end of which is engaged in a slot 17b in the hub of the wheel 17, the body 21 is pressed vertically in the direction of the arrow F (FIG. 4). It therefore lowers in the direction of the horizontal plane 22 on which the wheels of the toy vehicle rest. The pins 1 g, 1 h of the flange 1 of the motor being engaged in perforations or relative to open or closed bearings of the body 21, there is a tilting of the motor against the reaction of the leg 1i and of that of the arm 1a so that the axle 3 remains parallel to the plane 22 while the arm 1a is deformed so that the toothing 8 of the pinion 7 comes in 8 'to mesh with the sliding pinion 14 (fig.2). If the vehicle is moved in the direction of travel which corresponds to a movement to the right in fig. and 2, the reaction of the toothing 8 on the teeth of the pinion 14 causes these to engage with those of the wheel 17 which then rotates clockwise by tensioning the spiral spring 13. Of course this advance makes also rotate the gear train 9-10-11-12a so that the cage 12 rotates in the same direction as the wheel 17. On the other hand, the teeth of the aforementioned cogs have a modulus much lower than that of the toothing 8, of the pinion 14 and the wheel 17, the relative movement of the latter relative to the cage 12 bandaging the spring. It should however be noted that the rotation of this cage unwinds the spring very slightly so that the tension thereof is determined by the difference between the number of turns of the wheel 17 and that of said cage.

When the direction of movement of the toy is reversed while leaving its body subjected to the driving action, the toothing 8 rotates counterclockwise so that its action on the pinion 14 displaces its axis 15 in the light 1d in direction of the top thereof so that its teeth are released from those of the wheel 17. The tension of the spring on the latter applies its teeth against the pawl 18, which blocks the _I otation of the winding wheel. On the other hand, the train of cogs 9-10-11-12a is driven in the opposite direction with respect to that corresponding to the anterior movement of the toy vehicle so that the cage 12 rotates counterclockwise. If each round trip of the toy is of equal length, the cage 12 performs exactly the same number of turns in one direction and in the other; its antagonistic action with respect to the tension of the spiral spring is therefore canceled. Otherwise it is at least largely compensated.

After a certain number of back-and-forth movements, the body 21 is released, causing the elastic return to the initial position of the motor relative to the axle 3 so that the energy stored by the spring is transmitted to this axle which becomes motor. via the gear train 9-10-11-12a. It will be noted that the relaxation of the spring only takes place at the level of the cage 12 because the reaction generated by the inner end of the spring on the hub of the wheel 17 tends to rotate it in a direction such that the one of its teeth bears against the pawl.

In the event of prolonged reassembly, the spring cannot be subjected to an exaggerated tension which risks causing it to break, because above a certain value thereof, its end 13a slips in relation to the cage 12 by jumping from a notch 12b to the other.

It will be noted that despite the inclination of the pinion 7 in the lowered position of the bodywork 21, its teeth 8 and 9 can mesh sufficiently with the sliding pinion 14 and the wheel 10 respectively thanks to the module of the teeth 8 and the pinion 14 and to the clearance general which can be admitted by such a mechanism.

There is shown in fig. 5 and 6 an engine established in accordance with a preferred variant. Between the flange 1 and the plate 6 pivots an axis 23 on which is fixed a pinion 24 which meshes continuously with a second sliding pinion 25 whose axis 26 is placed in a slot 6b. This axis extends only in the direction of the plate so that the pinion is mounted in cantilever with respect to it.

It will be noted that the pinion 14 is in accordance with the present variant, mounted in the same way, that is to say that its axis 25 only protrudes in the direction of the flange 1 to penetrate into the lumen 1 d. Thus the facing faces of the pinions 14 and 25 are completely smooth and rub against one another.

The pinion 17 has a width at least equal to the sum of that of the sliding pinions 14 and 25.

It is observed that the end of the arm 1a carries a terminal lug 1j while the flange is provided with a corresponding projection 1k. In position of rest the lug is below the projection 1 k. When the user presses on the body, this projection tends to approach the plane 22 on which the toy rests. As it protrudes inside the notch 1b by an amount greater than the distance which separates the tip of the lug from the edge considered of this notch, the projection comes to cooperate with the lug to very slightly deform the elastic arm 1a so as to come below the lug (fig. 7). When the toy is released, the elasticity of the arm returns the projection to its initial position (fig. 5). It is thus ensured that the meshing of the pinions is effected positively at the bottom of the teeth.

• Lorsque la carrosserie a été abaissée dans les conditions indiquées ci-dessus et qu'on déplace le jouet dans le sens de la flèche F1, le pignon 8 vient en prise avec celui 24 et avec le pignon 14. Par suite de la rotation du pignon 8 l'axe 15 est plaqué dans le bas de l'encoche 1d ce qui correspond à la position d'engrènement du baladeur 14 avec la roue de remontage 17. Le pignon 24 tournant dans le sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre, il agit sur le second baladeur 25 de manière à déplacer son axe 26 contre l'extrémité supérieure de la lumière 6b si bien que ce baladeur 25 ne peut pas agir sur la roue de remontage 17.

The motor is reassembled as follows:

• When the bodywork has been lowered under the conditions indicated above and the toy is moved in the direction of the arrow F1, the pinion 8 engages with that 24 and with the pinion 14. As a result of the rotation of the pinion 8 the axis 15 is pressed into the bottom of the notch 1d which corresponds to the engagement position of the player 14 with the winding wheel 17. The pinion 24 rotating counter-clockwise, it acts on the second player 25 so as to move its axis 26 against the upper end of the light 6b so that this player 25 cannot act on the winding wheel 17.

On the contrary, when at the end of the movement following the arrow F1 which corresponds to that of advancement of the toy, the latter is moved back, which of course causes the reversal of the direction of rotation of the pinion 8, the action of its teeth tends to push upwards in its light the axis 15 of the sliding wheel 14 which thus emerges from the winding wheel 17. The pinion 24 changes direction of ration which causes the lowering of the axis 26 at the bottom light 6b so that the second player 25 then meshes with the winding wheel 17.

It goes without saying that when the directions of movement are reversed, the pawl 18 blocks the winding wheel 17 so that the spring does not relax.

Finally, note as shown in fig. 9, that the pinion 8 is provided frustoconical so as to facilitate its engagement with the pinion 24 and the sliding gear 14.

The wheel drive control is carried out strictly as described with reference to FIGS. to to 4 by means of the gear train 9-10-11-12a.

Claims (8)

1. Driving mechanism for toy vehicles provided with a body (21) and wheels, this driving mechanism having two side plates (1, 2), a drive axle (3) of which at least one bearing is elastically movable relative to one of the side plates and a spiral spring (13) whose tension is produced by rolling the toy in at least one direction of displacement while elastically lowering its body relative to the drive axle (3), the said driving machanism also having a first and a second toothed wheel (8, 9), fixed on the drive axle, a winding wheel (17) connected to the inside end of the spiral spring via its axis (16) and drivable by the said first toothed wheel (8) when the body is lowered in relation to the axle (3) and a train of toothed wheels (10, 11) able to provide the propulsion of the vehicle and always in mesh with the said second toothed wheel, characterised in that the said driving mechanism also comprises a cage (12) which surrounds the spring (13) and which is fitted with an external toothed ring (12a), in that one of the bearings of the drive axle (3) is fixed onto one side plate (2) whilst its other bearing is carried by the extremity of an elastic arm (1a) which is attached to the other side plate (1), in that this other side plate (1) is provided with longitudinal pins (1g, 1h), on which the body is supported in such a way that the lowering of the latter causes a lateral rocking movement of the driving mechanism and ensures the engagement of the first toothed wheel (8) with a pinion of a winding-transmission, in that the train of toothed propulsion wheels (10, 11) always remains in mesh with the toothed ring (12a), and in that the modulus of the pinions (14, 17, 24, 25) of the winding-transmission is greater than that of the toothed wheels of the propulsion train.

2. Driving mechanism according to Claim 1, characterised in that a stop (1c) is provided to limit the clearance of the axle (3).

3. Driving mechanism according to Claim 2, characterised in that an elastic strap (1i) completes the elastic effect of the arm (1a) to ensure the return to normal position of the driving mechanism and of the body (21) respectively when the vertical pressure exerted upon the latter is relaxed.

4. Driving mechanism according to Claim 3, characterised in that the toothed wheel (8) of the pinion (7) supported by the axle and which meshes with the different winding wheels of the spring is in the shape of a truncates cone in order to improve the meshing of its teeth with that of said wheels.

5. Driving mechanism according to Claim 4, characterised in that the arm (1a) which supports one of the sides of the axle is fitted with a terminal pin (1j) able to cooperate with a projection (1k) from the corresponding side plate (1) so as to determine two distincts positions of the axle.

6. Driving mechanism according to Claim 1, characterised in that the pinion of the winding-transmission is a sliding pinion (14) which always pulls in the same direction the winding wheel (17) connected to the inner end of the spiral spring (13) by its axle (16), said wheel cooperating with a pawl (18) to avoid it rotating in the opposite direction to the winding direction.

7. Driving mechanism according to Claim 6, characterised in that the toothed wheel (8) supported by the axle meshes with a toothed wheel (24) which is permanently meshed with a second sliding pinion (25) when the body (21) is lowered so that the tension of the spring (13) is also exerted during the to-and-fro direction opposite to that of the winding up by the first sliding gear pinion (14), said second sliding pinion (25) comprising means to disengage itself from the winding wheel (17) when the first pinion (14) meshes with it.

8. Driving mechanism according to Claim 7, characterised in that the two sliding pinions (14, 25) each have only one shaft end (15, 26) which trunions into a hole (6b, 1d) provided in an intermediate plate (6) and in the corresponding side plate (1) respectively.

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