GB2030881A - Toy running along track - Google Patents

Abstract

The running toy 1 has a switching arm arranged to trigger an operation for changing the running direction, and a mechanism for effecting the change of running direction when actuated by the swinging arm. On at least one end of the track 70, a mechanism is provided for causing swinging movement of the switching arm to automatically change the running direction of the toy 1. The toy 1 has the form of an animal and incorporates mechanisms for effecting various actions simulating those of the actual animal, e.g. turning of the head 3 or opening of a beak 22, by making use of power provided by the driving wheels 4. The track 70 is formed by a plurality of track pieces, at least one of which is provided with a mechanism for causing swinging of the switching arm. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Toy running along track The present invention relates to apparatus com- prising a toy running along a track. More particularly the toy is adapted to move back and forth along a track in response to reversal of the direction of rotation of a driving wheel or wheels. In a preferred embodiment the toy turns its head upon reversal, and performs various actions when its head turns.

Toys are known which rung along a track formed of a plurality of track pieces. If the track is in the form of an endless or closed loop, the toy need not be provided with a mechanism for reversing the running direction, because the toy runs continuously in only one direction. However, when the track includes a starting end and a terminal end, the toy must be provided with a mechanism for switching the running direction thereof in order that the toy may run continuously in a reciprocating manner along the track. In the case of a toy adapted to run on a track by rotation of the driving wheels, the toy is adapted to run back and forth by alternate reversal of the rotation of the driving wheels. Such switching of the running direction of the toy itself can attract an infant's interest.However, this interest will be very much enhanced if other actions, such as singing or turning of the head portion toward the new running direction, are performed at the time the running direction is switched. In particular, when the toy has the appearance of an animal, it is important and highly desirable that the toy performs various actions simulating those of a real living animal. The commercial value of a running toy having the configuration of an animal will be increased by a combination of such varied actions.

The present invention provides a toy comprising a track and a running toy member having rotatable driving wheels, the running toy member being adapted to run along the track by rotation of the driving wheels. The running toy member includes a body, and a switching arm attached to the lower surface of the body. A lever is operatively connected to the switching arm, and is disposed in the body of the running toy member. A first shaft having a first worm gear disposed thereon is mounted proximal to the lever. Also provided is a driving gear connected to a driving power source. A gear attached to the first shaft and directly meshes with the driving gear.

A driven gear is connected to the driving wheels, and an intermediate gear is provided by which the gear attached to the first shaft meshes with the driven gear. When the lever and the gear attached to the first shaft are brought into relative meshing engagement by swinging movement of the switching arm to move the first shaft in the axial direction, the gear attached to the first shaft is brought into direct meshing engagement with the driven gear connected to the driving wheels, to thus reverse the rotational direction of the driving wheels.

Thus the running toy has a swingable switching arm and an internal mechanism for switching the running direction is adapted to switch the direction of rotation of the driving wheel(s), so that the running toy member may run back and forth along a track having starting and terminal ends.

Preferably a gear is mounted at each end of the track and is adapted to be rotated by a driving wheel of the running toy member. A worm integral with such gear is adapted to be engaged by the switching arm such that the switching arm is swung by the worm which in turn is driven by the gear. In this manner, the switching mechanism in the running toy is actuated afterthe elapse of a predetermined time, so that the switching of the running direction is delayed.

A preferred toy includes a body and a head rotatable with respect to the body. The head has a rackfor engagement with a pinion which in turn engages with a driving wheel. The head is turned through the action of the pinion as the driving wheel is reversed, so that the running toy directs its head in the running direction even when the running direction is changed by reversal of the driving wheel.

In a preferred embodiment a projection mounted on the track is adapted to be moved as desired by means of a manually operable lever into and out of the path of the running toy for optional engagement with the switching arm to swing the latter. Thus, the running direction of the running toy can be changed at any position on the track, as well as at one or both of the ends of the track.

The invention will be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a toy running along a track; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an inclined track piece forming a part of the track; Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the toy; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a switching mechanism incorporated in the body of the toy; Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the switching mechanism in a pre-operation state; Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the switching mechanism after operation; Figure 7 is a plan view of the end portion of an inclined track piece, showing a mechanism for changing the running direction by engagement of a switching arm with a worm gear mounted on the inclined track piece;; Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the toy, showing how the body and head of the toy are assembled; Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the toy in the state before turning of the head; Figure 10 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 9 showing the state after turning of the head; Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of a manually operable lever mounted on the track for causing a change in the running direction; Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lever shown in Figure 11; and Figure 13 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the changing of the running direction of the toy by means of the manually operable lever.

With reference to Figure 1, the feneral construction of apparatus including a running toy 1 and a track 70 is depicted. The toy 1 has the shape of a bird, and is adapted to make an action simulating a parent bird feeding a young bird, in the following manner The parent bird or toy 1 is adapted to run along the track 70, which is formed by a plurality of track pieces 70a connected in series. The parent bird arriving at one end of the track opens its beak 22 to receive a ball-shaped piece of feed 91 sprung up by resilient means from a bowl 90. Then the parent bird reverses its direction and runs along the track 70 in the opposite direction. The parent bird then climbs an inclined track piece 100 and gives the feed 91 to young birds 120 waiting at the top of the slope.Subsequently, the parent bird makes another turn, descends the inclined track piece 100, and runs along the track 70 to the end where the bowl 90 is placed. After again receiving the feed 91 from the bowl 90, the parent bird repeats the same action. The feed 91 given to the young birds 120 is made to roll along a spiral slope 121, and is returned to the bowl 90 via a chute 122.

Referring now to Figure 2, the inclined track piece 100 forming a part of track 70 includes left and right rails 101, wall plates 102 forming the outer surfaces of the rails 101, and a plurality of connecting pieces 103 interconnecting both wall plates 102. The rails 101 are made separate and extend in parallel relation to each other in a steep slope. The upper surfaces of the rails 101 are provided with longitudinal racks 104. Notches 105 are relatively symmetrically formed at the lower portions of the rails 101 in lateral regions where the racks 104 are not provided. The top 100a of the inclined track piece 100 is generally horizontal. Thus, the tops 101a of the rails 101 are formed to extend substantially horizontally. The racks 104 terminate at the tops 101a. A gear 106 is exposed in alignment with each rack 104 through a window 101b.The gears 106 are mounted at opposite end portions of wall plates 102. A worm gear 108 is provided between both gears 106.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the running toy 1 as viewed from the lower side thereof at an angle to the vertical. The toy 1 has a body 2 in the shape of a bird with a rotatable head 3, and toothed driving wheels 4 having peripheral gear teeth 4a provided on both sides of the lower portion of body 2. Engaging tabs 5 extend forwardly from the front end at both sides of body 2. A switching arm 8 swingable around a pivot pin 8d extends between front and rear openings 6,7 formed in the lower surface of body 2. Engaging portions 8a, 8b formed at both ends of switching arm 8 project downwardly through openings 6,7.

As shown in Figure 4, a forked hook & projects laterally from the centre of the switching arm 8. A swinging member 9 pivoted by a shaft 9a loosely engages at its lower end 9b with the hook & An enlarged portion 9c is integrally formed at the upper end of the member 9. A straight engaging slot 9d is formed in the enlarged portion 9e so as to extend at a particular inclination, one end of slot 9d thus being higher than the other.

As shown in Figures 4 to 6, a switching lever 11 is pivotally mounted for free vertical swinging move ment on a frame 10 of the toy 1 by means of a shaft 12a on a bracket 12. The lever 11 is bent at its pivoted portion through which the pivot shaft 12a passes, and the bent portion 1 ib extending obliquely upwardly from the base portion 1 lea is inserted at its outer end in the engaging slot 9d of the swinging member 9. An engaging piece 1 1c bent at an acute angle is integrally formed at the opposite end of the base portion 1 lea.

Aworm gear 13 is disposed above the switching lever 11. The worm gear 13 is integral with a shaft 14 which is axially slidably carried by the frame 10 and is therefore movable in the axial direction. A spring 15 is fitted onto one end of shaft 14 and is compressed between a stop 14a and the frame portion 10a by which the shaft 14 is supported. Fixed to the other end of shaft 14 extending outwardlyfrom the frame loins a gear 16 driving a smaller diameter gear 18a of a double gear 18 via an intermediate gear 17 mounted on frame 10. The gear 18 is operatively connected to the driving wheels 4 of the top in order to drive the toy. A driving gear 19 is connected to a drive shaft which in turn is coupled to a motor M as shown in Figure 4. The gear 19 meshes with the gear 16.Therefore, in the state shown in Figures 4 and 5, the power of motor M is transmitted to the driving wheels 4 through the driving gear 19, the gear 16, the intermediate gear 17, and the smaller diameter gear 18a of the driven gear 18. The driven gear 18 has a larger diameter gear 1 8b integrally formed with the smaller diameter gear 18a. The gears 18a, 18b are arrayed in the direction of axial movement of the shaft 14.

In operation, the toy 1 runs along the track 70 and reaches the inclined track piece 100. The engaging tabs 5 then mate with the notches 105, so that the tabs 5 engage the under side of the rails 101 while the toy 1 is inclined, and the teeth 4a of the driving wheels 4 come into engage ment with the corresponding racks 104, whereupon the toy 1 starts to ascend along the slope. A the top of inclined track piece 100, the driving wheels 4 are transferred from the racks 104to the gears 106 disposedforwardly of racks 104, so that the teeth 4a of the driving wheels 4 mesh with the gears 106.As a result, the gears 106 are driven by the driving wheels 4, and the toy 1 is kept stationary at the top 1 00a. When the toy 1 thus reaches the top 100a, the switching arm 8 comes into engagement at its end 8a with one end of the worm gear 108, as shown in Figure 7. Then, as the gears 106 are rotated, the rotation of the worm gear 108 acts to swing the switching arm 8 in the direction of arrow A in Figures 4 and 7. As a result of this swinging movement in the direction of arrow A, the swinging member 9 is rotated around the pivot shaft 9a in the direction of arrow B as shown in Figure 4. Consequently, the bent portion 1 1b of the switching lever 11, which has been in engagement with the highest end of the engaging slot 9d of swinging member 9, is moved to the lowest end of the slot 9d, so that switching lever 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow C as indicated in Figure 5. As a result, the engaging piece 11c at the end of switching lever 11 is raised to come into engagement with the worm gear 13. Because the shaft 14 is being rotated by the driving gear 19, the worm gear 13 acts on the switching lever 11 to shift the worm gear 13 in the direction of arrow D (Figure 5). As a result, the shaft 14 slides to compress the spring 15, and the gear 16 attached to the end of shaft 14 leaves intermediate gear 17 to directly mesh with the larger diameter gear 18b of the driven gear 18.Consequently, the driving wheels 4 are reversed, and the running direction of the toy 1 is changed. This state is shown in Figure 6.

In the described operation, the period starting from the commencement of engagement of the worm gear 108 with the engaging portion 8a and ending with the completion of swinging of the switching arm 8 by worm gear 108 to the end of the swinging stroke, and the period of engagement of lever 11 and worm gear 13 with each other, combine to define a delay time. The parent bird gives the feed 91 to the young birds 120 during this delay time.

After giving the feed 91, the toy 1 starts to run in the opposite direction as a result of the reversal of the driving wheels 4.

A worm gear 92 similar to that provided at the top 100a is also disposed at the position of the bowl 90, so as to be engaged by the other engaging portion 8b of the switching arm 8. As a result of such engagement, the engaging piece 1 1c of lever 11 is lowered from the position shown in Figure 6, so that shaft 14 is returned to the starting position shown in Figure 5 by the resilientforceexerted by spring 15.

As a result, the gear 16 meshes indirectly with the driven gear 18 via the gear 17, so that driving wheels 4 are again reversed.

An explanation will now be given of the mechanism for turning the head 3, which turning is effected at the time the running direction is changed. As shown in Figure 8, the head 3 has a cap-like shape and is provided with an internal hollow support shaft 20 which rotatably fits around a stem 21 extending upwardly from body 2. At the opposite side of the head 3 to the beak 22 a rack 23 is formed over the lower semi-circular edge of the head 3, as shown in Figures 9 and 10. The lower edge of the head 3 is recessed upwardly at both ends 23a, 23b of the rack 23 to form recesses 24. At one side of the body 2 an elongate slot 25 of a predetermined length is formed to extend in the same direction as the rack 23. A shaft 27 of a pinion 26 is loosely received by the slot 25.

The shaft 27 is movable along the slot 25, but is prevented from moving in the vertical direction. The pinion 26 is kept in continuous meshing engagement with the teeth 4a of driving wheels 4. Figure 9 shows the toy 1 running in a leftward direction as viewed in the drawing, with the teeth 4a rotatively driving the pinion 26. The driving wheels 4 rotate in the direction of arrow E, while the pinion 26 rotates in the direction of arrow F. As a result, the shaft 27 is pressed toward the left-hand end of the slot 25, and the pinion 26 comes out of one end of the rack 23 and into the adjacent recess 24. With the pinion 26 thus received by the recess 24, an idling state is defined.

If the direction of rotation of the driving wheel 4 has been changed, ie. from rotation in the normal direction to the reverse direction as described hereinabove, the driving wheel 4 is rotated in the direction of arrow G, and accordingly the pinion 26 rotates in the direction of arrow H. As a resu It, the pinion 26 moves along the slot 25 from the left-hand end thereof and meshes with one end 23a of the rack 23. As a result of engagement of the pinion 26 with the rack 23, the head 3 is rotated until the pinion 26 reaches the other end 23b of rack 23. Then the pinion 26 comes into recess 24 adjacent to end 23b, so as to idle. The head 3 is directed in the running direction.

The same operation is made to turn the head 3 in the opposite direction, when the direction of rotation of driving wheels 4 is switched from the direction G to the direction E. Thus the head 3 is always directed in the running direction regardless of the change in running direction of toy 1.

As shown in Figure 9, the beak 22 of toy 1 is defined by an upper jaw 22b and a lower jaw 22a.

The lower jaw 22a has a rearward extension 22c into head 3. The extension 22c is pivoted to the head 3 by means of a pin 29. The lower jaw 22a has protrusions 22d protruding upwardly from the portions of its side walls proximal to the extension 22c. The lower jaw 22a is pivoted at the protrusions 22d to the upper jaw 22b, by means of a shaft 30. The front end of head 3 is open and a stepped retaining portion 32 is formed in the upper edge of the opening. A projection 31 extending rearwardly from the portion of the upper jaw 22b through which the shaft 30 passes abuts the retaining portion 32 from below. The body 2 is provided with a recess 28 for receiving an enlarged diameter portion 22e of the lower jaw 22a.

As the head 3 is turned in the manner described above, the jaws 22a, 22b of the beak 22 are rotated in unison, so that the lower jaw 22a comes out of the recess 28. As a result, the lower jaw 22a makes sliding contact with the outer surface of the body 2, so that the lower jaw 22a is rotated upwardly around the pin 29 in accordance with the change in the level of the outer surface of body 2. Consequently, the shaft 30 by which upper jaw 22b is pivoted is also raised. The projection 31 of upper jaw 22b is constantly restrained and retained by the retaining portion 32, so that the upward movement of shaft 30 causes upward rotation of upper jaw 22b around a pivot defined by the projection 31.The stroke of this rotation of the upper jaw 22b is larger than that of the lower jaw 22b, so that the upper jaw 22b is moved away from lower jaw 22a to open the beak 22 as illustrated in Figure 10. Then, as the driving wheels 4 are reversed again, the pinion 26 again comes into meshing engagement with the rack 23, so that head 3 makes a half-turn to the starting position, with the lower jaw 22b again being received by the recess 28 (Figure 9) to close the beak 22.

Figure 11 shows a track piece 70b forming a part of the track 70. The piece 70b has a flattened track surface 71 in which an elongate slit 72 is formed to extend through the track surface 71 from one side to the other. The slit 72 is formed at an inclination to the longitudinal direction of the track piece 70b. A bracket 73 having bearing holes 73a is integrally suspended from the back of the track surface 71. A manual dperation lever 74 has a curved lever body 74a provided at one end thereof with a projecting tab 74b extending upwardly therefrom. The length and thickness of the tab 74b is selected to correspond to the length and thickness of the slit 72, so that the projecting tab 74 may freely enter and leave the slit 72. A depressing portion 74e is provided at the rear end of the lever body 74a.A shaft 75 is formed integrally with the lever body 74a and extends laterally from the central portion of the body 74a. The shaft 75 is received at both ends by bearing holes 73a in brackets 73, while the body 74a is loosely received by a recess 77 formed in the side wall 76 of the track piece 70b. In this manner, the lever 74 is attached to the back of track piece 70b for vertical swinging movement relative thereto.

When the running toy 1 approaches the track piece 70b incorporating the lever 74 as shown in Figure 13, the switching lever 8 comes into contact with the tab 74b if this tab has been projected upwardly through the slit 72 by depressing the portion 74c with a finger. Because the tab 74b is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction, the switching lever8 is guided and swung by the tab 74b in the direction shown by arrow 1, to thereby trigger the above-described operation for changing the running direction. As a result, the driving wheels 4 are reversed and the running toy 1 makes a turn at this position. Changing of the running direction of the toy 1 can thus be achieved not only at the starting and terminal ends of track 70, but also at any desired position along the track, by placing a track piece 70b having a manual operation lever 74 at the desired position.

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus comprising a track, and a toy having at least one driving wheel and being adapted to run along the track, the toy including a switching arm, a lever operatively connected to the switching arm, a first shaft carrying a first worm gear, a driving gear connected to a motor, a gear attached to the first shaft and directly meshing with the driving gear, a driven gear connected to the driving wheel(s), and an intermediate gear by which the gear attached to the first shaft normally meshes indirectly with the driven gear, the lever and the first worm gear being brought into relative meshing engagement by swinging movement of the switching arm so as to move the first shaft in the axial direction as it rotates, whereby the gear attached to said first shaft is brought into direct meshing engagement with the driven gear connected to the driving wheel(s) to reverse the rotational direction of the driving wheel(s).

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the toy includes a spring arranged to bias the first shaft in one direction and to be compressed as the first shaft is moved in the other direction, in order to re-set the first shaft to its normal position when the lever is disengaged from the first worm gear and thereby to bring the gear attached to the first shaft into indirect meshing engagement with the driven gear via the intermediate gear.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising teeth formed on the peripheral surface of at least one driving wheel of the toy, a gear on a second shaft at one end of the track and adapted to mesh with the said teeth, and a second worm gear disposed on the second shaft and adapted to be engaged by the switching arm, the switching arm being swung by rotation of the second worm gear.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the track includes an inclined track piece provided with at least one rack for meshing engagement with teeth formed on at least one driving wheel of the toy, and the toy includes at least one engaging tab projecting in the running direction thereof, the or each tab being arranged to co-operate with a corresponding notch formed at the lower portion of the inclined track piece, whereby the toy ascends the inclined track piece owing to the support of the weight by the engaging tab(s) and the meshing of the said teeth with the rack.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the toy further comprises a rotatable head having an edge formed with a rack, a pinion driven by constant meshing with teeth formed on a driving wheel of the toy being adapted to mesh with the said rack in order to turn the head.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the said rack is substantially semicircular, the said edge being recessed at both ends of the rack to form recesses which do not engage the pinion, to allow idling of said pinion, the pinion having a shaft received by an elongate slot so that the pinion is movable along the length of the slot, and in which as the said driving wheel is reversed the pinion is moved along the slot into meshing engagement with the said rack.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, in which the toy has upper and lower jaw, the lower jaw is rotatably pivoted at its rear end, the upper jaw is pivoted to the lower jaw at a portion of the lower jaw spaced forwardly from the pivoted rear end thereof, and the upper jaw is retained at its rear end so that the upper jaw is swung with respect to the lower jaw as the lower jaw is swung in a vertical plane.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the toy has a rotatable head, the said jaws being attached to the head, the toy having a body provided with a recess for receiving the lower jaw, the low jaw being slidable out of the recess to swing upwardly around the said rear end pivot as the head is rotated with respect to the body, to swing the upper jaw upwardly away from the lower jaw.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, including a manual operation lever attached to the track, an elongate slit in the track at an inclination to the longitudinal direction of the track piece, and a projecting tab formed on the manual operation lever and adapted to be projected through the slit from the lower side to the upper side of the track, the projecting tab being engageable with the switching arm of the toy member to cause swinging of the switching arm upon engagement with the switching arm.

10. Apparatus comprising a toy and a track substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.