GB1592099A - Toy vehicle - Google Patents

Description

PATENT SPECIFICATION ( 11)

1 592 099 ( 21) Application No 26648/78 ( 62) ( 31) ( 33) ( 44) ( 51) ( 52) ( 22) Filed 24 Oct 1977 ( 19) Divided out of No 1 592 097 Convention Application No 735998 ( 32) Filed 27 Oct 1976 in United States of America (US) Complete Specification published 1 July 1981

INT CL 3 A 63 H 17/40 Index at acceptance A 6 S 19 A 1 A 19 D 1 OD 19 DIOX 19 D 3 B 19 D 3 C 19 D 4 19 D 6 ( 54) A TOY VEHICLE ( 71) I, TOBIN WOLF, of 285 Aycrigg Avenue, Passaic, New Jersey 07055, United States of America; a citizen of United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a reversing system for a toy vehicle.

According to the invention there is provided a toy vehicle having wheel means which comprises, in combination, (a) a chassis, (b) a motor, responsive to a source of power, mounted on said chassis for rotating said wheel means in a first direction, (c) impact responsive switch means, mounted on said chassis and responsive to impact thereon for switching from a first condition to a second condition for reversing said direction of rotation of said wheel means, and (d) means responsive to a predetermined radiant energy signal for switching said switch means to said first condition for driving said wheel means in said first direction.

A printed circuit device in the form of a disc is used wherein wipers wipe along conductive areas on the printed circuit device as it rotates The printed circuit device is formed in such a way that upon movement thereof through 1800, e g in response to an impact, the current to the motor which provides movement to the vehicle along the axis of the vehicle is reversed, thereby enabling the vehicle to travel in a reverse direction.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the reversing function may be actuated by a frontal collision of the vehicle wherein a switch element in the form of a bumper is moved by the collision to reverse the position of contacts on a printed circuit board and thereby reverse the direction of current flow through the motor providing axial movement This reverse movement is changed to forward movement upon a further operation of said switch element in response to a predetermined radiant energy signal.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a remotely controlled toy vehicle which is capable of changing its direction 55 of movement in response to a frontal collision.

The present invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 60 Figure 1 is a top view of a sound controlled toy vehicle which is given by way of illustration and does not form part of the present invention; Figure 2 is a view taken along the line 65 2-2 of Figure 3; Figure 3 is a bottom view of a sound controlled toy vehicle; Figure 4 is an electronic circuit for controlling the motors 3 and 11 of Figures 70 1-3; Figure 5 is a second embodiment of the electronic circuit; Figure 6 is a device capable of providing a sound frequency from a remote location 75 capable of commencing operation of the turning electronic circuit of Figures 4 and 5; Figure 7 is an embodiment of a switch structure with associated contact elements; Figure 8 A is an embodiment of an elec 80 tronic circuit for providing forward and reverse operation to a sound controlled toy vehicle utilizing the structure of Figure 7; Figure 8 B is a further embodiment of the electric circuit to be used in combination 85 with the circuit of Figure 8 A to provide turning as well as independent forward and reverse operation; Figure 9 is an embodiment of the switch structure shown in Figure 7 for use in the 90 circuit of Figure 8 A to provide sequential right, left, forward and reverse operation without addition of the circuit of Figure 8 B; Figure 10 is a top view with the worm 95 gear 15 removed of the forward end of a remotely controlled toy vehicle according to the present invention, which provides reversal upon collision; Figure 11 is a partial side view as in 100 C\ es\ 1,592,099 Figure 10 with the worm gear 15 in place; Figure 12 A is a top view of the worm gear and rotary steering switch of Figures and 11; Figure 12 B is a bottom view as in Figure 12 A; Figure 13 is a partial electrical schematic diagram in accordance with the embodiment of Figures 10 to 12; Figure 14 is a top view of the forward end of the vehicle to provide reversal upon collision; and Figure 15 is a partial electric circuit diagram of the embodiment of Figure 14.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3 which do not form part of the present invention, there is shown a vehicle having a chassis 1 having a battery 2 in the center portion thereof At the rear of the vehicle is the vehicle axial drive mechanism which comprises the drive motor 3 having a pulley 4 mounted on the shaft of the motor 3 and driving pulley 5 by means of a belt 6 The pulley 5 drives the worm gear 7 (Fig 1) which is meshed with the output gear 8 (Fig 3) to provide rotation to the wheels via the rear wheel shaft 9 The output gear 8 is keyed to the rear wheel shaft 9 to provide such rotation Worm gear 7, output gear 8 and pulleys 4 and 5 can be eliminated and replaced by a direct friction drive between the motor shaft and the rear wheel 10.

The forward end of the vehicle of Figures 1 to 3 includes the steering mechanism which includes the steering motor 11 which is also operated from the battery 2 and which has a pinion gear 12 positioned on the shaft of the motor 11, the pinion gear driving a spur gear 13 which in turn drives a worm gear 14 The worm gear 14 drives the output gear 15 which has a central shaft 16 integral therewith and rotatably journaled in the chassis 1 (not shown) The shaft 16 has affixed to one side thereof the crank 17 as shown in Figure 2, the crank also being clearly shown in Figure 3 A crank pin 18 is secured to the crank 17 and engages the slot in a link 19 best shown in Figure 3 The opposite ends of the link 19 are pivotally affixed to the steering arms 20 and 21 by pins 22 and 23 The steering arms 20 and 21 are pivotally mounted on the chassis 1 by the pins 24 and 25 and the front wheels 26 and 27 are rotatably mounted to the shafts 28 and 29 which are affixed to the steering arms.

It can thus be seen that a 3600 rotation of the crank pin in the slot 30 will steer the vehicle through the sequence of axial, right, axial left and then again axial, the axial direction being forward or reverse along the axis of the vehicle.

The motor and gearing mechanism for changing the direction of the wheels 26 and 27 is controlled by means of the cam 31 which is affixed to the gear 15 and acts upon the switch blades 32, 33 and 34 (Figs.

1 and 4) which are insulated from each other by the insulators 35 and 36, said 70 assembly constituting a three bladed switch affixed to the chassis 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 4 The cam 31 is shown in a rest position and the blades 32 and 33 are in contact, completing the circuit to the drive 75 motor 3 as shown in Figures 1 and 4 so that the vehicle is proceeding in either a straight, full left or full right direction.

A signal transmitted from a remote location of a frequency that can be picked up 80 by the microphone of Figure 4 will, for reasons to be explained hereinbelow, cause current to flow to and rotate the shaft of the steering motor 11 and thereby rotate the cam 31 by rotation of gears 12, 13, 14 and 85 15, thereby causing the blades 32 and 33 to separate due to the leftward movement of the blade 33 as shown in Figure 4 and will also cause blades 33 and 34 to contact each other Thus, the drive motor 3 is 90 stopped while the contacting blades 33 and 34 keep the steering motor 11 running while simultaneously short circuiting the anode and cathode of the SCR Q 2 When cam 31 has rotated 900, the blade 33 falls into 95 a subsequent notch in the cam 31 and blades 33 and 34 are separated as the blades 32 and 33 make contact Now the steering motor 11 has stopped and, as drive motor 3 resumes operation, the circuit is ready for 100 the next remote command signal.

In this manner, a vehicle proceeding on a straight course will respond to a signal of proper frequency by stopping and turning its front wheels to a new direction, then 105 resuming movement in that new direction until another sharp audible sound will cause the vehicle to stop, steer to a straight ahead direction and resume movement in that direction 110 If desired, the drive motor 3 can continue to run while the steering motor 11 operates.

Thus, the toy will be driven continuously while it steers This is accomplished by the embodiment of the circuit as shown in 115 Figure 5 In the Figure 5 embodiment, blade 32 has been removed and the wire from drive motor 3 is connected directly to the negative battery terminal and will run continuously when the main switch 37 is 120 closed.

As stated previously, a proper frequency signal may be generated in the audible sonic range by clapping hands or a single hand held device as shown in Figure 6 may be 125 used In the device of Figure 6 a sound generated by pulling back on the flat spring 38 and releasing it to strike the diaphragm 39 The cup or cone 40, will serve to direct the sound toward the vehicle Of course, the 130 1,592,099 device of Figure 6 is designed to provide an audible signal in the frequency range to which the microphone of Figure 4 is responsive so that the circuit will operate properly.

It should be understood that other devices can be used which produce sonic signals, supersonic or non-audible sound waves, such as appropriate well known dog calling whistles or radio frequencies, the only additional requirement being that the microphone or other appropriate receiving device be capable of receiving and operating with the remote transmitted sound frequency signal.

Referring now to Figure 4 and its operation, power is applied by closing switch 37.

The switch actuated by cam 31 is normally positioned as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5, therefore drive motor 3 is running This causes the vehicle to move in an axial direction, assuming that the wheels are initially positioned for forward movement A signal of appropriate frequency and intensity is now provided This is picked up by the microphone as shown in Figure 4, the microphone preferably being a crystal microphone (as stated above, other receiving devices can be used, which converts a sonic signal to an electrical signal) which is amplified by transistor Q 1 and applied to the gate of the SCR or silicon controlled rectifier Q 2 This turns on the SCR and causes current to pass through and operate the steering motor 11 from the battery 2 This also causes discharge of the previously charged capacitor C 3 The motor 11 drives the steering mechanism and rotates cam 31 as described hereinabove to cause blades 33 and 34 to contact each other This causes a short circuit to be provided between the anode and cathode of the SCR, thereby rendering it non-conductive while continuing to apply battery voltage to motor 11 via blades 33 and 34 until cam 31 allows blades 33 and 34 to separate by having blades 33 fall into the next notch therein, thereby rotating wheels 26 and 27 Motor 11 now comes to a stop and remains stopped until the SCR is triggered by the next sound frequency signal Capacitor C 3 is in a discharged state before blades 33 and 34 are separated and recharges to the full battery voltage as motor 11 coasts to a stop By virtue of this discharged state and the subsequent charging, capacitor C 3 acts to suppress the arc that would be created by the separation of blades 33 and 34 Thus, capacitor C 3 eliminates induced voltage transients in the circuit and prevents spurious triggering of the SCR.

Capacitor C 3 also acts as a filter across the SCR to limit the rate of voltage application to the SCR, said rate, if excessive, causing self-triggering of the SCR.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8 A, there is shown a switch structure and electronic circuit for a toy vehicle having the two motor system which can be used to cause a reversal of direction A printed circuit disc 41 is provided having etched thereon the three conductive patterns noted as 42, 43 and 44 It should be understood that though 70 a printed circuit is shown, any other type of device such as conductive metal stampings affixed to a non-conductive disc, etc, can be used so long as they provide the same function As described above, a sound frequency 75 command will actuate motor 52 and rotate disc 41 through the reduction gears composed of worm gear 53 and output gear 54.

The disc 41 is secured to the output gear 54 which may be rotatably journalled anywhere 80 on the vehicle chassis, since it is not coupled to the steering mechanism Blades 45 and 45 lie in the turning path of the conductive pattern 42 It is apparent that in each 1800 of the rotation of disc 41, the SCR will be 85 short circuited by the pattern 42 and then reset The blades 47, 48 and 49 and 50 lie in the turning path of the conductive patterns 43 and 44 with each 1800 rotation of disc 41 Since 1800 rotation will alternately 90 connect and reverse the connection of drive motor 31 to the positive and negative terminals of the battery Thus, with each sound frequency command, the vehicle can be reversed in direction 95 It is apparent that a toy may combine the systems for reversal shown in Figure 8 A with a system for steering as shown in Figure 5 This embodiment is shown in the combination of Figures 8 A and 8 B In 100 Figure 8 B the cam 31 of Figure 5 is replaced by a printed circuit disc 311, which is affixed to the output gear 15 and has etched thereon the conductive pattern shown The blades 331 and 34 ' lie in the turning path 105 of the conductive pattern 311 and hence will function in the same manner as cam 31 with blades 33 and 34 in Figure 5 Since the electronic circuits of Figures 8 A and 8 B are sensitive to different sonic frequencies, 110 a child may both steer and reverse the vehicle at will by generating the appropriate frequency This can be accomplished by use of two signals or sonic generators that generate different frequencies and two cir 115 cuits, each sensitive to different frequencies by virtue of frequency filters 51 and 51 ' shown in Figures 8 a and 8 b.

It should be understood that in Figure 7, the connecting conductors 57 and 58 of the 120 patterns 43 and 44 are shown dotted This is to indicate that they may be on the underside of disc 41 with connection through aperture in the disc to prevent the momentary short circuiting of the batteries 125 as the contacts 47, 48 pass over these connectors.

Sequential steering as well as reversal may be accomplished by replacing the printed circuit disc 41 in Figure 8 A with the printed 130 1,592,099 circuit disc 59 shown in Figure 9 Disc 59 is affixed to the output gear 15 and is therefore coupled to the steering mechanism in the same manner as cam 31 in Figures 1, 2 and 3 It is apparent that printed circuit disc 59 is a modification of printed circuit disc 41 in combination with printed circuit disc 311 The conductive patterns 61 and 62 perform the same electrical reversing functions as conductive patterns 43 and 44 or disc 41, but conductive pattern 61, which determines the forward movement of the vehicle has been extended to cover a sector of approximately 2400 Conductive pattern 60 is the same as conductive pattern 311 in Figure 8 b and serves the same function.

Therefore, with each sound frequency signal, the disc 61 will rotate 90 and move the vehicle through a sequence of axial forward, left forward, axial reverse, right forward, and then axial forward again.

The afore described reversing systems have some disadvantages In the embodiment of Figure 9 it is apparent that when the vehicle is turning to the right, the operator must cycle the steering mechanism through forward and left before the vehicle can be reversed.

In the combination embodiment using two different frequencies, the vehicle can be reversed at will, but this requires nearly doubling the control system, and the cost is objectionable.

Accordingly, the present invention as illustrated in Figures 10 to 13, provides a system for reversing the vehicle when it strikes a wall or other obstacle, and then causing it to go forward again, at will, by a sonic signal operating the steering mechanism.

Referring now to Figures 10 to 12, there is shown a vehicle as in the prior embodiments with the addition of the bumper 63, affixed to a slide 64, said slide being constrained to move axially between guides 65 and 66 Guides 65 and 66 form "T" slots that prevent upward as well as non-axial movement of the slide Affixed to the slide 64 are two contacts 67 and 68, said contacts pressing upon the small printed circuit board 69 These contacts and printed circuit boards are also shown in the circuit diagram in Figure 13.

The printed circuit board 69 is connected to the battery via leads 80 and 81 while the slide contacts 67 and 68 are connected to the rear driving motor 3 In the normal or forward position, the slide contacts 67 and 68 are in contact with the printed circuit portions 84 and 85 It is apparent that when the bumper 63 strikes an obstruction, the slide contacts 67 and 68 are moved inwardly across the printed circuit board 69, and the contacts 67 and 68 will be positioned on portions 82 and 83 of the printed circuit 69 so that the polarity of 'the motor leads is reversed, thus reversing the vehicle The slide contacts 67 and 68 are returned to the normal or forward position by the action of cam 70 against the cam follower 71 as described hereinbelow 70 Affixed to the underside of the worm gear is a cam 70 having four lobes (see Figure 12 B), said lobes being so oriented with the rotary switch 311 that when the steering mechanism is at rest, the cam follower 71 is 75 opposite a calley in the cam Thus, when the vehicle strikes an obstacle, the cam follower 71 moves into a depression in the cam and the vehicle reverses Operation of the steering mechanism by a sound signal 80 will rotate the cam 70 by 90 , thus turning the front wheels while simultaneously returning the slide 64 to its outward position with contacts 67 and 68 on portions 84 and 85 of printed circuit 69, thereby again reversing 85 the direction of the vehicle.

In this manner the vehicle striking of an obstacle will cause reversal of its direction and cause it to continue in the rearward direction until a sonic signal actuates the 90 steering mechanism to turn cam 70 and push out cam follower 71, again reversing the vehicle Thus the vehicle will simultaneously move forward and turn away from the obstruction in a seemingly magical manner 95 Figure 14 is another embodiment of the invention that eliminates the need for moving wires In this embodiment, two U-shaped contacts 72 and 73 traverse the printed circuit board 74 which replaces the circuit 100 board 69 of the prior embodiment 74 The printed circuit board and contacts are also shown in the partial electrical schematic diagram of Figure 15 Here, too, it is apparent that, as the sliding contacts move inward 105 from portions 86, 87, 88 and 89 to portions 86, 90, 91 and 89, the polarity of the motor leads 92 and 93 is reversed Leads 94 and go to the battery Thus, again the vehicle will reverse when striking an obstruction 110 and then, in reacting to a sonic signal, move forward as it turns away from the obstruction.

While the preferred embodiments utilise sound frequencies, it should be understood 115 that any receivable radiation can be used, such as radio frequency, light frequency, etc.

Accordingly, such control signals are included herein and can be substituted for one or more sound control devices in any 120 combination.

The present application has been divided out of our copending Application No.

44111/77 (Serial No 1,592,097) in which there is described and claimed a remotely 125 controlled toy vehicle having plural groundcontacting support elements which comprises in combination, (a) means defining an electrically conductive pattern, 130 1,592,099 (b) electrical contact means contacting said pattern, (c) means responsive to a signal in a selected frequency band for rotating said means defining an electrically conductive pattern, and (d) control means responsive to rotation of said means defining an electrically conductive pattern and coupled to said contact means for controlling the direction of travel of said toy vehicle.

Claims (7)

WHAT I CLAIM IS: -

1 A toy vehicle having wheel means which comprises, in combination, (a) a chassis, (b) a motor, responsive to a source of power, mounted on said chassis for rotating said wheel means in a first direction, (c) impact responsive switch means, mounted on said chassis and responsive to impact thereon for switching from a first condition to a second condition for reversing said direction of rotation of said wheel means, and (d) means responsive to a predetermined radiant energy signal for switching said switch means to said first condition for driving said wheel means in said first direction.

2 A toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein said impact responsive switch means includes means to reverse the direction of rotation of said wheel means.

3 A toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein said impact responsive means includes bumper means slidable axially along said chassis, a pair of contact secured to said bumper means and movable therewith, a surface including an electrically conductive circuit pattern thereon, said contacts each contacting said pattern, whereby, in a first predetermined position of said contacts on said surface, said circuit pattern causes said motor to run in a first direction and, in a second predetermined position of said contacts on said surface, said circuit pattern causes said motor to turn in the opposite direction.

4 A toy as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means responsive in (d) includes a cam rotatable responsive to said further predetermined operation and a cam follower responsive to rotation of said cam to move said bumper means outwardly from said chassis whereby said contacts are placed in said first predetermined position.

A toy as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cam includes a plurality of lobes defining plural peaks and valleys, said cam follower being positioned in a said valley when said bumper slides inwardly into said chassis, said cam follower being at a peak after a said predetermined operation.

6 A toy as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means responsive in (d) further includes a disc carrying said cam and remote controlled means for rotating said disc.

7 A toy as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means responsive in (d) further includes a disc carrying said cam and remote controlled means for rotating said disc.

POTTS, KERR & CO, Chartered Patent Agents, Hamilton Square, Birkenhead, Merseyside L 41 6 BR, and 27 Sheet Street, Windsor, Berkshire SL 4 l BY.

Printedfor Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Burgess & Son (Abingdon), Ltd -1981.

Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC 2 A l AY, from which copies may be obtained.