FR2536668A1 - TURBINE-DRIVEN TOY VEHICLE LAUNCHER - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A SELF-PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE LAUNCHER HAVING TWO FRONT WHEELS 42 AND A REAR WHEEL 46 FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY 14. THE REAR WHEEL IS RELATIVELY HEAVY AND WORKS AS FLYING 50 FOR KINETIC AND BEHAVIOR ENERGY STORAGE A PLURALITY OF RADIAL FINS EXTENDING LATERALLY OUTSIDE ON OPPOSITE SIDES SO THAT THE WHEEL TURNS IN RESPONSE TO A CURRENT OF AIR APPLIED BY A MOUTH IN WHICH A PERSON BLOWS. EACH SET OF FINS INCLUDES A CIRCULAR EXTERIOR WALL, PROVIDED WITH OPENINGS THROUGH THE AIR FROM EACH CAVITY DEFINED BY CONTIGUOUS FINS, WHICH IMPROVES THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CONVERSION OF KINETIC ENERGY INTO ENERGY CONTAINED BY THE AIR CURRENT. PLACED ON A SUPPORT SURFACE AFTER THE WHEEL HAS BEEN GIVEN A HIGH SPEED OF ROTATION, THE VEHICLE IS SELF-PROPELLED UNTIL THE KINETIC ENERGY STORED IN THE WHEEL IS DEPLETED. THE TOY IS PREFERREDLY USED WITH A LAUNCHER WHICH THROWS THE VEHICLE FORWARD BEFORE THE REAR TURNING WHEEL COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE SURFACE OF THE GAME, SO AS TO MAXIMIZE THE USE OF THE KINETIC ENERGY STORED FOR THE PROPULSION OF THE TOY.

Description

1.

  The present invention relates to vehicles

  self-propelled toys comprising a flywheel which is rotated so as to store energy by an air current applied by the user via a mouthpiece and more particularly, a launcher for such vehicles.

  Toy vehicles have always been highly valued

  young children and have taken many forms in

  over the years, some being supplied with air, other

  very using a gyroscopic effect, others using

  to the two preceding cases The patent of the United States of America

  that No. 3,613,303 describes the use of an air balloon to supply air for driving a turbine which, in turn, drives a gear train controlling a

  vehicle drive wheel in contact with the ground.

  The user blows into the balloon and communicates the balloon thus filled with a pipe opening into the

  turbine The force of the air leaving the balloon decreases rapidly

  during its deflation, and the ball itself causes

  resistance to vehicle advancement The United States patent

  United States of America No. 3,650,067 describes toy vehicles

  gyroscopic, oth a steering wheel is rotated and sto-

  cke of kinetic energy intended for the propulsion of the vehicle

  and the maintenance of gyroscopic stability The patent

  of the United States of America No. 3,621,607 describes a vehicle

2 2536668

  self-propelled toy, having a traction wheel of the type vo-

  lant which is rotated by a coiled twine

  around an axis supporting the steering wheel, The United States patent

  United States of America No. 3,789,540 describes a toy vehicle powered by

  dried by compressed air and a launch system o the toy comprising an internal flywheel, driven by air, is placed on a launcher while the flywheel is rotated

  by an air jet supplied by a pump mounted on the mechanism

  launch vehicle When the steering wheel turns with a sufficiently high kinetic energy level, the vehicle is ejected or released from the launch structure and propelled

  by the energy stored in the steering wheel while the vehicle

  the moves on a playing surface The United States patent

  United States of America No. 4,324,063 describes a motorized toy vehicle

  se, self-propelled, and having front and rear wheel means for supporting the vehicle body so that it

  rolls on a playing surface, the rear wheel being relatively

  cumbersome to act while flying and includes a plurality

  generally radial air fins that extend laterally

  on the opposite sides so that the impeller rotates in response to an air current applied through a mouthpiece

  which the user blows When the vehicle is parked

  cé on a playing surface after spinning the wheel,

  the vehicle is self-propelled until the energy cine-

  tick stored in the steering wheel is consumed The steering wheel and the fins rotate inside a wheel housing,

  developing a hissing sound that resembles that of a vehicle

the reaction.

  A disadvantage of toys driven by a tur-

  air hoe, including the self-propelled vehicle having

  port to this description, and represented in the patent

  from the United States of America NO 4 324 063, is that the extremely low efficiency of the air turbine greatly limits the use of the toy by small children, say five to six years old, group of Red in which toys of this type are most appreciated A set comprising a

  air turbine, consisting of a plurality of fins extending

  generally in the radial direction which are arranged between a pair of circular side walls is very ineffective in converting kinetic energy into energy

  enclosed by the air flow, the efficiency of the trans-

  formation being typically of the order of only 2% If we consider the limited capacity of the lungs of a five-year-old child, which can only withstand a pressure of 35 10 4 M Pa for one second, The child is unable to impart, even with multiple separate exhalations, a sufficient speed of rotation to the air-driven steering wheel to propel the vehicle a sufficient distance for it to be a truly interesting game Tests have shown that, except to have a return of '' at least% for the air turbine, a vehicle driven by such a turbine is an unacceptable toy for children

four and five years old.

  By using the toy described in U.S. Patent No. 4,324,063 the user maintains

  mouthpiece and blows into and out of it

  that a sufficient speed of rotation and kinetic energy

  health have been developed in the rotating steering wheel, the vehicle is simply placed on a playing surface on

  which it is propelled forward by a traction tire

  tion mounted on the steering wheel and in contact with the playing surface During the period passing, the exit from the mouth of the user and the pose on the playing surface which can

  be relatively long considering the limited dexterity

  of a young child, a significant fraction of the energy

  stored is dissipated, which limits the distance that the

  ture can travel before the stored energy is used up

in the steering wheel.

  An object of the present invention is a vehicle

  the improved motorized toy of the type comprising a motor

  steering wheel for storing kinetic energy for

  give some self-propulsion to the vehicle when it

  is released on a playing surface.

  Another object of the present invention is an improved toy vehicle of the character described above or 4, the energy contained by a current of air coming from a

  mouth where sou Jf the person is more ef-

  ficably transformed into kinetic energy than in vehicles of the prior art of a similar nature, so as to propel the vehicle over a greater distance on a playing surface. Another object of the present invention is a vehicle - improved toy of the nature described in which a better efficiency is obtained with a construction

relatively simple, inexpensive.

  A more particular object of the present invention is an improved launching device for a toy vehicle of the character described above, where a mouthpiece mounted on the launcher communicates with a mouthpiece provided on

  the vehicle body so that a person can suffer

  fler into the mouth of the launcher and rotate a steering wheel located inside the vehicle, and o a spring loaded plunger is actuated when the vehicle is released by the launcher to impart a launching movement towards

  the front important to the vehicle before its steering wheel in

  tation is brought into contact with a playing surface.

  Previous items as well as other items

  of the present invention are achieved in a vehicle

  improved self-propelled toy comprising at least three wheels to support the vehicle body so that it rolls on a playing surface A plurality of air fins are

  provided on opposite sides of a relative traction wheel

  heavy to turn this wheel in reverse

  response to a draft which is applied via

  re of a nozzle mounted on the vehicle body The extremi-

  external nozzle of the nozzle is intended to receive the

  of a person directly or from a mouthpiece

  re mounted on an associated launching device, and the adju-

  tage directs the air towards the fins so as to

  the wheel which acts while flying to store the cine-

  tick to propel the vehicle on a playing surface on which it is placed Each set of fins is enclosed in the traction wheel and an outer wall

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  circular with a plurality of openings, each of which

  it communicates with a respective cavity defined by

  Contiguous fins, which cooperate with inclined surfaces

  born on opposite sides of the traction wheel so as to change the direction of the air flow hitting the fins so that it comes out of the openings, which results in an increase in the efficiency of the transformation of kinetic energy in energy contained by the air current.

  The vehicle can be used alone or with a ian-

  heart, which improves the speed and distance of

  course The launcher includes a means which allows

  detachably attach the vehicle with its drive wheel Ine-

  clear of a support surface so that it

  can rotate freely, and impart movement

  vehicle advance before the drive wheel

  comes into contact with a high traction surface.

  launcher view The launcher and vehicle include a

  looks portable that can be conveniently kept on the go

  user to blow into the outer end

  re of a mouth mounted on the rear end of the lan-

  heart, the inner end receiving a nozzle mounted on the vehicle, and can then be placed on the playing surface

  to conveniently release and launch the vehicle.

  The present invention will be well understood during

  the following description made in conjunction with the drawings below

joints in which:

  Figure 1 is a side plan view of a vehicle

  motorized toy trainer constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the toy vehicle of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional side view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a rear view of the toy vehicle of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a plan view of the air turbine, left side 8, of the drive wheel of the toy vehicle; Figure 7 is a sectional view of the air-flywheel turbine assembly, showing the circulation of air during its entry and exit from the turbine; Figure 8 is an exploded view of the air-flywheel turbine assembly;

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the chas-

  located in the toy vehicle of Figure 1; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a launcher for use with the toy vehicle of Figures 1 to 9; Figure 11 is a plan view of the launcher of Figure 1; Figure 12 is a front view of the launcher; Figure 13 is a rear view of the launcher; Figure 14 is a side sectional view taken along line 14-14 of Figure 11; Figure 15 is an exploded view of the launcher of Figure 10; Figure 16 is a partial top view of the base of the launcher of Figure 10; Figure 17 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 17-17 of Figure 16; Figure 18 is a bottom view of the base of the

  launcher, on a large scale, so as to show the construct-

  tion of the release spring; and Figure 19 is a sectional view taken along

  of line 19-19 of figure 11, on a large scale, of my-

  to show the release of the ergot.

  Now in connection with the drawings, we have

  shown in Figure 1, a self-propelled motorized toy vehicle

  drive built according to the characteristics of this

  invention The vehicle has the overall reference 10 and

  takes an elongated, aerodynamic hollow body 12, which is preferably made of impact-resistant molded plastic material and comprising an upper wall 14 sloping towards

  front and rear, with a raised windshield

7 2536668

  vation 16 on the extreme rear part of the wall La

  upper wall has an opening generally rec-

  tangular 18 at the rear of the windshield 16, which extends substantially up to the rear end 20 of the vehicle The vehicle body comprises a pair of opposite side walls in one piece 22 and 24 and a rear wall in one part 26 The lower side of the vehicle body is generally open so as to receive a chassis having

  overall reference 28 in figure 9 The chassis of the

  lo hicule consists of a generally rectangular set

  re in one piece 30, preferably in molded plastic material, and comprises a front projection 30 A provided with an opening 30 B for receiving screws which is arranged on the longitudinal axis of the chassis and a pair of tabs projecting towards the 'rear 30 C and 30 D as seen in Figure 4 A nozzle 32 is

  mounted longitudinally on the extreme rear wall

  re 30 E of the frame and is projecting outwardly thereof so as to form an entry surface intended to receive the lips and the mouth of a person for him

  allow air to be blown into the hollow body of the

  hicule when this one is used without its launcher As we see it best in figure 3, the chassis is kept installed inside the hollow body of the vehicle by

  the legs 30 C and 30 D projecting rearward and extending

  dant in openings 34 and 36 formed in the rear wall 26 of the vehicle body in which they are engaged and by a screw 38 extending in the opening B of the front projection 30 A and screwed into a boss 40

  formed inside the upper wall 12.

  The vehicle body also includes cavi-

  wheel tees in the side walls 22 and 24 nearby

  tee at the front end of the body, one of which is shown

  felt in 24 A of figure 1, cavities intended to receive

  a pair of front wheels 42 mounted on a transverse axle

  sal 44 The axle is supported in recesses formed at the lower edge of the two side walls and is received there with play and is, on the other hand, secured by the front projection 30 A of the chassis The front axle can float in the direction side so as to avoid jamming

  front wheels turning freely, At an extreme rear part

  In the rear of the vehicle body, another pair of wheel cavities, one of which is shown at 24 B in FIG. 1, receives a pair of rear wheels 46, these wheels being given

  born that they are not used to support the body of the vehicle

  the, except during the initial acceleration period when the vehicle is mounted in the launcher, are only intended to give the vehicle a realistic appearance, do not turn and are therefore simply mounted on the body with a

  stud or other fixing means (not shown).

  At the rear end of the vehicle, light-

  In front of the rear wheels 46 is mounted a traction wheel 50 resembling a relatively heavy flywheel, provided with a rubber traction tire 52 which is

  received in a peripheral groove 54 made in its center

  to be in engine contact with the ground, or other surface

  this game, on which the vehicle is placed The traction wheel

  tion 50 is relatively heavy or dense, being preferably

  this in nickel-plated brass, and serves as a flywheel to store the energy

  kinetic gie used in the propulsion of the vehicle,

  that once the wheel turns at a relatively high speed

  the vehicle is then placed and released on a playing surface The traction wheel 50 is preferably

  made on an automatic lathe from a wool rod

  tone, and if it is machined with precision does not require any balancing to behave satisfactorily in the toy vehicle As can be seen in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, the steering wheel 50 has parallel lateral surfaces 50 A and 50 B which extend inwards from its periphery, then widen downwards and outwards in a conical shape so as to form surfaces

  sloping 50 C and 50 D which end substantially at one or

  relatively large central axial groove 50 E.

  The flywheel 50 is driven by a pair of turbos

  nes 56 mounted on its opposite sides, each turbine forming a single piece of molded plastic material which comprises a cylindrical boss 58 dimensioned so as to be received

9 2536668

  by press fitting into opening 50 E of the steering wheel

  , a plurality of air fins 60 extending generally-

  in the radial direction and comprising extremely

  my curved exteriors which are intended to receive a current of propelling air and whose inner edge has a profile which corresponds to the contour of the paired surface of the

  steering wheel 50, and an outer circular outer wall 62 mu

  denies the same plurality of openings 64 generally in form

  me of U communicating each with a cavity of the same shape

  defined by the part of the adjoining fins located inside

  laughing in a circle defined by the radial ends of the openings The flywheel 50 and its air turbines are mounted

  inside the chassis 28 on an axis 68 extending transversely

  versally which is placed between the lateral members of the chassis 30 and extends into openings 70 of comparable size which are formed in the center of the end walls 56 The openings 70 are considerably smaller than a central opening 58 A made in the boss 58 , so that there is minimal contact support of the flywheel / turbine assembly with the axle; contact is not made

  that near the ends of the axle adjacent to the members

  lateral flanges 30 of the chassis 28 When the chassis is mounted in the vehicle body as described above, the central plane of the traction tire 52 is in a vertical plane, extending longitudinally in the axis

from the vehicle body.

  The flywheel 50 is driven to rotate at a relatively high speed when the fins 60 are struck by a high speed air stream from the nozzle 32 The front end of the nozzle 32 is divided into a pair of '' spaced outlet openings 32 A and 32 B which are arranged on opposite sides of the flywheel 50 and each aligned with a respective turbine so as to direct the air streams on the curved outer end portions

  EO fins and causing the rotation of the flywheel 50 when

  a person blows into the outer end of the em-

  plug 32 The air entering the cavity defined by a

  re of contiguous fins is deflected downwards by the co-ac-

  b tion of the shape of the fins and the conical surface SOD of the flywheel, and exits through openings: i; ures 64 practiced in the side wall 56, Ainsila turbine uses the known principle that energy can be taken from an air stream by simply changing the direction of air flow; in this case, the direction is changed by about 140 'and gives a multiplication by about five of the efficiency compared to that of an air turbine having, simply curved fins not coomportant Lportant means

  îo allowing the air direction to be changed More particularly

  The construction described gives a conversion yield of approximately 10%, a yield which allows a young person

  child to obtain sufficiently high rotational speeds

  designed to drive the vehicle a sufficient distance to maintain its interest, with an inexpensive assembly which consists only of three parts that are easily manufactured and assembled, that is to say the flywheel 50 and the two turbines 56 that can be mounted precisely on the flywheel by simply tightening them together The construction is much simpler and less expensive to manufacture than the turbine and the associated wheel casing of the vehicle described

  in U.S. Patent No. 4,324,063.

  When air is blown on the fins 60

  turbines from nozzle 32, the provers

  very quickly start the rotation of the

  lant and traction wheel 52 and at the start of rotation there is a whistling sound which resembles that of a jet engine When sufficient rotational speed and kinetic energy have been developed by the flywheel

  rotation 50 an Elderly child can obtain ro

  tation close to 20,000 rpm after three breaths

  separate flages the toy vehicle can then be placed

  on a playing surface or released by a launcher

  appropriate tire (described later) and the traction tire 52, when it comes into contact with the surface, propels the vehicle in a direction longitudinal to the

  body 12 until the flywheel energy is consumed.

  The toy vehicle looks like a car

11 2536668

  reaction, which can be implemented according to various forms of bodywork, and the sound provided by the rotation of the air turbines gives an additional animation for a realistic toy The vehicle is relatively simple to build, economical to manufacture in serial production and has operating characteristics which will maintain the interest of a young child, Although the child can grasp the vehicle 10,

  blow into the nozzle 32 so as to give a rotation

  fast traction wheel, then placing the vehicle on the playing surface, the performance of the vehicle can be improved, and this use is therefore preferred, when using a vehicle launching device, embodiment shown in Figures 10 to 19 A launcher 100 includes an elongated base structure

  fitted with a pair of vertical side walls 102, parallel-

  the spaced apart from each other which are connected by a lower wall extending transversely and forming a pair of contiguous tracks 104 and in one piece with their associated side walls and a ridged platform 106 disposed between the tracks, whose upper surface is

  located slightly below the level of runways 104 The former

  front end of platform 106 ends below

  that of tracks 104 and, as we see best in figure

  re 15, at its rear end the upper surface of the lower wall is lowered relative to the tracks 104 and even to the upper surface of the platform and this

  surface in turn has a generally rectangular area

  area 110, also forming a cavity, at the rear end

  rière of the lower wall The rear ends of the side walls 102 are flared upwards, above all for aesthetic reasons and mechanical resistance, and form a same part with a vertical structure 112

  extending transversely to the base and having a ca-

  nal 114 having opposite ends closed on one part

  depth, this channel being dimensioned so as to

  sliding a pair of legs 116 and 118 which

  are in one piece with a trigger bar 120 The former

  12 q lower end of the outer surface of the legs 116

  and 118 is tilted at 116 A and 118 A, respectively, and-

  above the inclined part are notches 116 B and 118 Bces notches serving to hold the latching bar mounted inside the channel 114 by extending in respective openings 122 and 124 (figure 19) formed

  in the extreme walls of channel 114 and coming into con-

  tact with the upper edge of these openings.

  Extending backwards from the element

  112 and in one piece with this is a pair of pa-

  parallel side kings, extending vertically to a

  some distance from each other 126 and 128, the sur-

  outer faces extend downward in the direction of the support surface and whose inner surfaces extend downward and form a single piece with a platform 130 which is arranged parallel to the support surface The walls 126 and 128 have respective elongated openings 132 and 134 which extend so

  to receive respectively projections extending laterally-

  ment, 136 and 138, of an oval-shaped mouth 140, the openings being slightly longer than the projections 136 and 138 so as to allow limited longitudinal movement of the mouth relative to the base The end

  before the mouth 140 is dimensioned so as to receive

  see the nozzle 32 of the toy 10 and has an internal stop

  lower 142 which comes into contact with the inlet end of the nozzle 32 of the vehicle when the latter is in the engaged position on the launcher 100

  The platform 130 has a recessed part al-

  length 144 of semi-circular shape which is arranged along the central longitudinal axis of the launcher, at the same distance

  walls 126 and 128, this hollow part being partial-

  closed at its front end by a thin wall 146

  in which a semi-circular opening is formed

  trale 148 with a diameter smaller than that of the visible part

  tée 144 As we can see best in figure 16, the part

  semi-circular hollow 144 has a pair of slots al-

  lengths 150 and 152 which are formed in its side walls

13 2536668

  the opposites and a small rectangular opening 154 at its bottom near its arch portion, The hollow portion 144 is intended to receive an assembly comprising a housing

* hollow cylindrical 156, a compression spring 158 dimen-

  fitted so as to be freely received inside the housing and a plunger 160 comprising a shoulder 162 having a diameter slightly larger than that of the spring, dividing its length into a rear portion 164 which extends into the spring 158 and a front part 166 which extends to

  from the accommodation The diver's housing-156 is now

  naked in the hollow part 144 by a pair of ears extending

  in opposite directions 156 A and 156 B which are

  més on its external surface and engage in the slots 152 and 150, respectively, and by a leg 156 C

  extending from its lower surface near the former

  rear end and engaging in the opening 154, At its front end, the housing has an overhanging part 156 D which extends over the upper part of the wall 146 and

  with the opening in the wall forms an opening

  re in which extends the front end 166 of the plunger so as to maintain the shoulder 162 of the plunger behind the wall 146 In the triggered condition of the plunger, the end of its front part 166 is positioned in alignment substantially vertical with the front edge of

  the surface 108 of the lower wall of the launcher

  geur extends over a narrow shelf 170 which is in one piece

  this with the wall 146 and extends transversely to the element 112 and is slightly shorter than the distance separating

  the interior surfaces of the side walls 102.

  The rear end of runways 104 ends at

  a wall 172 extending transversely, vertically oriented

  in one piece with a rectangular opening

  space 174 intended to receive from the rear side of

  the wall 172 the lug 176 of a tripping assembly comprising

  taking a trigger 178 that spans the

  same distance on each side of a central support element

  port 180, at one end of which the lug is fixed and of the other end of which an axis 182 is integral, and from which, 14. in turn, extend a pair of spring elements

  flat 184 and 186 The interlocking mechanism is pre-

  ference molded to constitute a single piece of suitable plastic material, the spring elements 184 and 186 having dimensions which allow them to be given elastic properties As can be seen in FIG. 18, the axis

  182 is supported at its opposite ends in openings

  semicircular tures 188 and 190 formed in the inner edge

  walls 126 and 128, respectively, and the trigger member 178 is positioned within the channel 114 so as to be immediately below the

  legs 116 and 118 of the trigger bar 120 The rme-

  trigger mechanism is maintained in 1-a mounting position by a flat cover 192 which is fixed to the base by

  a pair of studs 194 and 196, which are received by mount-

  press press in cylindrical openings 198 and 120 formed in the base outside the spring elements 184 and 186 When the cover is in place, a pair of

  ribs 202 and 204 formed on its inner surface come

  respectively come into contact with the outer edge of

  axis 82, and spring elements 184 and 186 are supported

  ted by the upper end of respective stops 206

  and 208 formed on the inner surface of the rear wall

  re launcher As we can see best in figure 10, the ex-

  front end of lug 176 is placed in a sensitive plane

  also vertically containing the front end of the

  plunger 166 and the front edge of the lowered area 108.

  The construction of the launcher 100 having been described,

  we will now refer to FIG. 14 for a description

  tion of the functioning of the launcher of the toy vehicle l O Before launching, the vehicle is mounted in the launcher: the lower edge of the rear wall 30 E of the vehicle exerts a cam effect in the downward direction with the front edge inclined by the lug 176 while at the same time the outer surface of the rear wall 30 E urges the plunger 166 into its housing 156 so as to compress the spring 158 which it contains During this process, the lug 176 moves towards - the bottom despite the action of the flat springs 184 and 186, and when the rear wall 30 E of the vehicle has passed over the upper edge of the lug, the latter suddenly returns

  back and its rear edge comes into contact with the over-

  inner face of the wall 30 E At the same time, the inlet end of the nozzle 32 enters the front end, or outlet end, of the mouth 140 of the launcher, the dimensions of the vehicle and of the launcher being such than,

  when the vehicle is in the engaged position, the ex-

  rear end of nozzle 32 is very close to the stop

  inner 142 of the mouth of the launcher, and the pneumati-

  that traction 52 be placed above and slightly out of contact with the surface 110 of the bottom wall of the

  launcher, just aft of platform 106.

  While in motion, the launcher with the vehicle engaged

  above is held by hand in the mouth of the user

  tor, the light pressure applied to the inlet end of the mouthpiece 140 by the lips of the user having the effect that the mouthpiece moves forward in the slots 132 and 134 so as to bring the stop 144 to be in essentially airtight contact with the inlet end of the mouth 32 of the vehicle. Thus, when air is blown into the pipe formed by the mouth and the nozzle 32 to be introduced. in turbines 56, these cause the beginning of the rotation of the

  steering wheel 50 and traction tire 52 When a

  sufficient rotation and sufficient kinetic energy

  developed in the rotating flywheel 50, which is indi-

  qué by the height of the whistling produced by the air

  loading from the openings 64 in the end walls of the turbines, the launcher 100 is placed on a playing surface and the trigger bar is promptly pressed, which causes the lower ends of the legs 116 and 118 to drive the trigger element 178 towards

  low despite the action of the flat springs 186 and 184 and loosely

  releasing the lug 176 from the rear wall 30 E of the vehicle The release of the lug also has the effect of releasing the plunger 166, the energy stored in the compressed spring

  giving the vehicle forward movement just when

  15. 16 l o, the tire 52 is brought into contact with the platform 106, the streaks of the platform minimizing the slippage between the tire and the launcher, promoting a rapid departure and the conservation of the stored kinetic energy in the rotating steering wheel The vehicle is stabilized during launch by contacting the front wheels 42

  with tracks 104, which are slightly inclined to the ex-

  front end to provide a smooth transition

  re and effective traction tire between the platform

  l Q striated shape 106 and the playing surface on which the vehicle

  cule will continue on its way, road during which the vehicle

  le is stabilized by the gyroscopic effect of the steering wheel 50

  laterally heavy, turning quickly -

  Although the launcher described is designed and sized

  to be used in conjunction with the vehicle 10

  having been described, it can be used to impart a mo-

  significantly before other types of vehicles-

  toys having a width such that their wheels will be

  carried by the tracks 104, and comprising a rear wall having a configuration allowing it to come into contact with

  the plunger 156 and its attachment by the bolt 176 That is

  that is, the vehicle does not need to be powered by

  air or be self-propelled to achieve direct thrust

  forward which the trigger lock arrangement allows

chement and diver.

  It is important to note that the arming of the

  geur can only be effectively obtained if the vehicle

  or other device to be launched has a structure of pa-

  king or similar structure of which a surface can be filled

  born in contact with the plunger and the opposite surface to be hooked by the lug; this aspect, as well as the narrowness of the vertical spacing between the lug and the plunger and

  the small diameter of the plunger and its front end

  melted, essentially prevent the use per se of the plunger, loaded by spring for launching objects

  other than a wheeled vehicle, such as a pencil or missile-

  similar The trigger bar 120 does not assume any

  function unless the hook on lug 176 is in contact

17 2536668

  tact with the object to be thrown and solicits it against the dive

  spring loaded geur, which means that, to launch a pencil or similar object, the child must

  - grasp the base of the launcher with one hand, put the end

  front half of the plunger 166 in contact with one end of the

  pencil and drag the diver back despite the ac-

  tion of the compression spring, then letting go of the pencil, a difficult procedure even for an adult, and even if it is successful then causing a safe launching Thus, thanks to the arrangement and the coaction of the lug and the plunger, the launcher operates safely when it is

  used for the function for which it is intended and a

  curious fant can not try to use it otherwise.

  The present invention is not limited to the examples

  ples of realization which have just been described, it is on the contrary susceptible of modifications and variants

  which will appear to those skilled in the art.

Claims (18)

  1 Launcher for motorized toy vehicle comprising   both a front and rear wheel means for supporting a vehicle body in order to allow it to roll over a playing surface, the body having an extreme rear wall   first arranged transversely in the general vertical direction   cal, having a lower edge situated above the part of the rear wheel means coming into contact with the playing surface, characterized in that it comprises: an elongated base, which can be placed on a   playing surface, having front and rear ends and com-   carrying a pair of spaced parallel tracks extending   from the rear end to the front end of the base, a means of lateral limiting rails arranged along the outer edges of the tracks, and a wall element   vertical arranged at the rear end and transverse- lying on the slopes;   spring loaded plunger means,   carried on the vertical wall element and projecting towards   the front on this element, and vertically offset relative   port to the slopes so that the outer surface of the   rear end king of the toy vehicle could come in   be tactful with him and be pulled back against the spring;   a trigger means supported by the element   vertical wall, projecting forward on this wall and disposed vertically between the base and the plunger means and intended to come into removable contact with the inner surface of the lower edge of the rear end wall of the toy vehicle so as to maintain the plunger means in the loaded state; and   a means of expansion supported on the vertical wall   wedge and operational when it is actuated so as to disengage the triggering means of the extreme rear wall of the toy vehicle, whence it follows that the spring loaded plunger means is caused to propel the toy vellicle towards the before along the tracks and on a playing surface, 19 2536668   2 Launcher for toy vehicle as claimed   cation l, characterized in that the plunger means and the   trigger means are arranged in a vertical plane   common callus passing through the longitudinal axis of the base.   3 D Launcher for toy vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the detent means comprises a trigger bar arranged above the wall   vertical and transversely to the base for an action convenient for the trigger.   4 Launcher for motorized toy vehicle with a spaced body and front wheels and a single rear wheel centered on the longitudinal axis of the body, mounted   rotating on a transverse axis to the body to support   ter the vehicle and run it on a playing surface, the rear wheel comprising an air turbine means for   cause it to rotate in response to an applied draft   qué by means of a nozzle mounted on an extreme rear part of the body and having an inlet and an outlet, the body having a wall   rear end generally arranged vertically   cal, having a lower edge situated above the part of the rear wheel coming into contact with the playing surface, characterized in that it comprises: an elongated base, capable of being placed on a playing surface, comprising a wall lower having   front and rear ends, a pair of tracks extends   from back to front along side edges   opposite of the bottom wall and spaced so as to re-   cevoir the front wheels spaced from the toy vehicle, and a vertical wall element which is arranged at the rear end and transverse to the tracks;   a spring loaded plunger means   tee on the vertical wall element, projecting forward on this element and offset vertically with respect to the lower p king so that the outer surface of the end wall can come into contact with it and that it is stressed towards Varrière against the spring; a trigger means supported by the element 20 of vertical wall, projecting forwardly on this wall element and disposed vertically between the bottom wall and the plunger means and intended to come into contact in a removable manner with the surface inside the lower edge of the rear end wall of the toy vehicle so as to maintain the plunger means in the loaded state;   a mouth supported by the vertical wall   the having an outlet orifice placed so as to receive the inlet orifice of the mouth mounted on the vehicle   when this vehicle is triggered by the triggering means   ment so as to direct a current of air in the nozzle mounted on the vehicle and on the air turbine means of the vehicle to cause the rotation of the rear wheel in   forward direction when air is blown in the second mouthpiece; and   a means of expansion supported by the green wall   tical and operational when operated in such a way   disengage the triggering means from the rear wall   of the vehicle, from which it follows that the spring loaded plunger means is brought to propel the vehicle towards   forward along the tracks and on a playing surface.   S v Launcher for toy vehicle according to the res   dication 4, characterized in that the plunger means and   the trigger means are arranged in a vertical plane   common callus passing through the longitudinal axis of the base.   6 v Launcher for toy vehicle as claimed   cation 4, characterized in that the detent Dyen comprises a trigger bar arranged above the wall   vertical and transversely to the base for an action- convenient way of relaxation,   7 Launcher for toy vehicle as claimed   cation 6, characterized in that the mouthpiece is arranged horizontally along the longitudinal axis of the base and placed vertically between the plunger means and the bar of relaxation.   8 Launcher for toy vehicle as claimed   cation 4 characterized in that at least a first part of the upper surface of the lower wall near the rear end of the base is moved vertically relative to the triggering means by a distance such that, when the vehicle is triggered by the triggering means, the rear wheel of the vehicle is not in contact with the first part to allow it to turn   be free when the vehicle is triggered by the lan- heart.   9, Launcher for toy vehicle as claimed   cation 8, characterized in that at least a second part of the upper surface of the lower part of the base,   at the front of the first part, is moved vertically-   relative to the trigger means according to a dis-   shorter than the first part so that when   that the vehicle is released by actuation of the release means   latching and propelled forward by means of plunging   geurthe rear wheel comes into contact with the second   tie from the top surface to the bottom wall.   z Toy vehicle launcher according to the   dication 9, characterized in that the second part of the   upper surface of the lower wall is ribbed trans-   versally to reinforce the friction contact between   the rear wheel of the vehicle and the second part.   11 Combination of a wheeled toy vehicle   turbine-driven and a launcher, characterized in that it comprises: a) a toy vehicle having a body, spaced front wheels and a rear driving wheel which is centered on the longitudinal axis of the body, mounted in rotation   on an axis transverse to the body to support the vehicle   3 Q cule during its rolling movement on a surface of   game, the rear drive wheel comprising a steering wheel   ckage of energy and an air turbine means to cause   the rotation of the steering wheel in response to an applied draft   qué by means of turbine through a nozzle   mounted on an extreme rear part of the body and   carrying an inlet and an outlet, the body having an extreme rear wall generally arranged   vertically with a bottom edge located above 21st 22 25666   above the part of the rear wheel coming into contact with the playing surface; and   b) a launcher comprising means for supporting   ter and detachably trigger the toy vehicle in a predetermined position on the launcher, the launcher with the toy vehicle engaged on it can be   placed on a playing surface for launching the vehicle   the toy, a mouthpiece having an outlet orifice placed   so as to receive the inlet opening of the nozzle when   that the vehicle is engaged on the launcher and an orifi-   this inlet into which a user can blow air to cause the rotation of the air turbine means, and an expansion means causing, when actuated, the release of the trigger means in order to allow propulsion towards the front of the vehicle first by the   coming into contact of the rear wheel with the support means portf then with the playing surface.   12 v Combination according to claim 11, charac-   characterized in that the launcher further comprises a spring loaded plunger, mounted on the launcher and comprising a spring intended to be compressed during the movement from the front to the rear of the plunger when the vehicle is   engaged on the launcher and to be released during the action-   expansion means for the propulsion of the vehicle forward.   13 D Combination according to claim 11, charac-   characterized in that the support means and the launching of the launcher comprises:   an elongated base with a lower wall   re having front and rear ends, a pair of tracks extending along the side-opposite edges of the wall   lower spaced at a distance to receive   see the front wheels of the vehicle, and a vertical wall element disposed at the rear end and transversely to the bottom wall;   a spring loaded plunger means,   tee on the vertical wall element, projecting forward   on this element and offset vertically with respect to the   lower king so that the outer surface of the extreme rear wall of the vehicle can come into contact   with him and to be pulled back against the res-   goes out; a trigger means supported on the vertical wall element and projecting forward on   this element and arranged vertically between the lower wall   and the plunger means and intended to come into con-   tact removably with the inner surface of the lower edge of the extreme rear wall of the vehicle so as to maintain the plunger means in the loaded state, and   a means of expansion supported by the vertical wall   wedge and causing when it is actuated the disengagement of the triggering means outside the rear end wall   of the vehicle, from which it follows that the plunger means   spring driven drives the vehicle to   at the front along the tracks and on a playing surface.   14 Combination according to claim 13, charac-   terrified in that the plunger means and the de-   latching-are positioned in a common vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the base,   Combination according to claim 13, charac-   characterized in that the detent means comprises a trigger bar disposed above the vertical wall and transversely to the base for convenient actuation of the detent means,   16 Combination according to claim 15, charac-   terized in that the mouthpiece is arranged horizontally   along the longitudinal axis of the base and placed verti-   between the plunger means and the trigger bar.   17 Combination according to claim 13, charac-   terized in that at least a first part of the upper surface of the lower wall close to the rear end of the Dase is offset vertically with respect to   by means of expansion along a distance such that, when   that the vehicle is triggered by the trigger means   ment, the rear wheel 'of the vehicle is out of contact with 23. 24 the first part so as to allow this wheel to turn freely when the vehicle is engaged on the launcher.   18 Combination according to claim 17, characterized in that at least a second part of the upper surface of the lower wall of the base at the front of the first part is vertically offset   with respect to the triggering means following a distance   this shorter than the first part so that when   that the vehicle is released by actuation of the triggering means and propelled forward by the means of   plunger, the rear wheel comes into contact with the second   part of the upper surface of the lower wall.   19 Combination according to claim 18,   characterized in that the second part of the surface   the lower wall is striated transversely-   ment to strengthen the friction contact between the rear wheel of the vehicle and the second part,