GB1311709A - Catapult devices for toy vehiles - Google Patents

Abstract

1311709 Toys METTOY CO Ltd 21 Dec 1971 [22 Dec 1970] 60942/70 Heading A6S [Also in Division F2] A catapult to accelerate a toy vehicle entering along a track 4 and leaving along a track 5 comprises a spring motor 3 which is energized by a single manual setting operation, the energy so stored being released in discrete increments as triggered by the arrival in the catapult of a toy vehicle. The spring motor 3 biasses a two-armed drive unit 6 to rotate about the central axis of the catapult. One arm 9 of the drive unit engages a catch 10, while the other arm carries a pivoted spring- biassed pusher plate 7 to engage behind a toy vehicle. When a toy vehicle enters the catapult, it releases the catch 10, the two-armed drive unit 6 rotates, and the pusher plate 7 engages the toy vehicle and drives it around a circular path within the catapult until the arm 9 re-engages the catch 10. Alternatively, the catch 10 can be released by manual operation of a handle 10A. The spring motor 3 consists, as shown, of a constant-tension spring 15 wound around an anchor drum 16 detachably connected to the spindle supporting the two armed drive unit 6, and also reversibly wound around a take-up drum 17 journalled in the motor housing. Alternatively a spiral spring may be used. A knob 20 is held to rotate the motor housing about the axis of the drum 16 and thus wind the spring 15, a pawl spring in the housing coacting with a ring of ratchet teeth 22 around the catapult top to take the reaction of the spring. A pivoted pawl 23 prevents over-run of the drums 16,