GB2031287A - Sonically controlled vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A sonically controllable toy vehicle includes a motor 4 and stands on two running wheels 3 and a scanning wheel arranged at the three corners of a triangle. A clutch mechanism includes a clutch gear 6 which is responsive to an audio command to move between a driving condition and a scanning condition. When the clutch gear 6 is in the driving condition it engages the gear 7 thereby causing the running wheels 3 to be driven and the scanning wheel to be held stationary. When the clutch gear 6 is in the scanning condition it engages the gear 8 thereby causing the wheel to scan in the range from +45 DEG to -45 DEG from the straight- ahead position; the running wheels 3 remaining stationary. The vehicle has the facility that the clutch mechanism is triggered by a received audio tone above a prescribed level, and that once the clutch mechanism has been triggered, repeated triggering within a short time period thereafter will not have any effect. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A vehicle TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a wheeled vehicle which is responsive to a sonic command.

In this specification the term "vehicle" is intended to cover any type of wheeled structure which is adapted to travel over a surface, and includes a toy which may be a miniature replica of.

a real vehicle or creature or an imaginary creature.

One particular application of the invention is to a vehicle which can be controlled by the human voice so as to change direction when required.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle including at least one running wheel and scanning wheel, a power source and a clutch mechanism responsive to a sonic command to switch the vehicle between a driving condition and a scanning condition.

In this Specification the term "running wheel" means the wheel contacting the surface over which the vehicle travels, such as for example the road wheel of an automobile. The term "driving condition" is the condition when the running wheel is being rotated by the power source and the scanning wheel is acting as a conventional running wheel. The term "scanning condition" is the condition when the running wheel is not being driven by the power source, and the scanning wheel is being driven by the power source to rotate about an axis perpendicular to its axis of rotation when acting as a running wheel. In other words, the scanning wheel scans or rotates through a preselected scanning range.When the vehicle is in its driving condition the scanning wheel is retained in a desired position within its scanning range thereby defining whether the vehicle subsequently- travels in a straight line or in a curved path of a preselected curvature within the aforementioned scanning range.

The clutch mechanism may be actuated by an electric signal which is produced by said sonic command. In a preferred embodimentofthe invention of the vehicle includes an amplifier arranged to produce said electric signal in response to a sonic command having a volume above a preselected value. This amplifier may be arranged to become inoperative for a short time period after producing said electric signal. This is to prevent the clutch mechanism from responding to the sound produced by switching the vehicle between said driving and scanning conditions.

The amplifier may include at least one low-pass input stage and a monostable stage supplied by said low-pass stage. Preferably the output stage of the amplifier is a current amplifier.

Preferably, the clutch mechanism includes a clutch gear which is movable between two positions to drive either said running wheel or said scanning wheel of the vehicle. This movement of the clutch gear may be responsive to rotation of an eccentric cam, and the clutch mechanism may include drive means to rotate said cam and retaining means which is normally located in a hold position to prevent rotation of said cam. This retaining means is responsive to said sonic command to allow said cam to be driven between two cam positions thereby locating the clutch gear in either one of said two aforementioned positions.This retaining means may comprise a retaining gear rotatable with said cam, and a retaining arm operable to engage said retaining gear when the retaining gear is in either one of two preselected rotatable positions; this retaining arm being movable in response to said sonic command to release said retaining gear.

Conveniently, the retaining arm is movable in response to a magnetic force produced by the aforementioned amplifier.

In another embodiment of the invention, the clutch mechanism includes drive means to rotate the cam, and switching means to switch off the drive means when the cam has been rotated to either one of two preselected positions. This switching means may include a switching circuit, and preferably a monostable feedback circuit. This embodiment may include means to actuate the circuit so as to switch off the drive means, and preferably this actuating means comprises two contact members which are responsive to rotation of the cam. One of these contact members may be resilient, and this resilient contact member may be actuated by a gear rotatable with the cam so as to contact the other contact member to actuate the circuit so as to switch off the drive means.

FIGURES IN THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a wheeled toy constituting one vehicle of the invention, FIGURE 2 is a block schematic diagram illustrating the major features of the toy, FIGURE 3 is a circuit diagram of an amplifier forming part of the toy, FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating the power source and clutch mechanism of the toy, FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the diagram of Figure 4, FIGURES 6 to 8 illustrate waveforms of sonic commands, FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the transmission to the scanning wheel of the toy, FIGURE 10 is a plan view of Figure 9, FIGURES 11 to 13 are diagrammatic illustrations of the operation of the clutch mechanism, FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of one clutch mechanism of the invention, FIGURES 1 5 to 1 9 are diagrammatic.

illustrations of the operation of the clutch mechanism of Figure 14, FIGURE 20 is a diagrammatic plan view of the positioning of the wheels of the toy, FIGURE 21 is a side elevation partly in section of part of a microphone of the toy, FIGURE 22 is a side elevation of another clutch mechanism of the invention, FIGURE 23 is a plan view of the clutch mechanism of Figure 22, FIGURE 24 is a perspective view of part of the clutch mechanism of Figures 22 and 23, FIGURE 25 is a diagrammatic illustration of actuating means for the clutch mechanism of Figures 22 to 24, and FIGURE 26 is the circuit diagram of a circuit actuated by the actuating means of Figure 25.

FIGURE 27 is a perspective view of the clutch mechanism of Figure 14, and FIGURE 28 is a perspective view of the clutch mechanism of Figures 22 and 23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Referring to Figures 1 and 2, multi-directional manoeuvrability is achieved by means of a rudder wheel 2 and driving wheels 3. During a stationary or NO--GO condition, the driving wheels 3 are stationary and the rudder wheel 2 scans horizontally within the range from +450 to 450 from the straight-ahead position illustrated in Figure 1. When the toy is changed to the GO condition by receiving a sonic instruction, the driving wheels 3 commence turning and drive the toy forwardly in a direction determined by the position taken up by the rudder wheel 2.

Referring to Figure 3, the circuit for receiving and processing the sonic signal includes a first amplification stage comprising a collector biassed transistor Q1 and a feedback capacitor C2.

Because of the Miller effect this first amplification stage constitutes a low-pass path for an input signal. From experiments carried out is has been found that unwanted noise comes from friction caused by movement of the toy (under 100Hz), and noise caused by friction between gears in the toy mechanism (up to 5KHz). In order to provide an improved signal to noise ratio the band-width of the circuit was taken as 300Hz to 600 Hz.

The second stage of the circuit, including the transistor 02, is the same as the first stage, and the forward end of the capacitor C1 is the input to the circuit presenting an input impedence of approximately 2 kilo ohms. These two stages taken together provide an amplification of approximately 56 dB such that an audio tone instruction given approximately six feet from the toy will saturate the collector of the transistor Q2.

The transistors Q3 and 04 are monostable.

Normally the bias provided by the resistor R6 saturates Q3 (0.4 Vmax xVce) so that Q3 is on and Q4 is off. Once a signal has cut off the transistor Q3 thereby switching off Q3, the collector voltage on 03 will rise thereby causing the collector voltage on the transistor 04 to drop thereby switching on Q4. When in this condition the transistors Q3 and Q4 by-pass the coupling net work C6-R 10 and increase the cut-off on 03 until 04 is saturated. Then, the base voltage on 03 rises at a rate defined by the time constant (R6+ R10) x C until 03 is switched on and 04 is switched off thereby causing the circuit to return to its normal state.

The transistor Os is intended for current amplification. When Q3 and Q4 are activated, most of the Q4 collector current flows through the base-emitter junction of OS thereby producing a power gain for the clutch mechanism. The resistor R9 is a leak resistor, and the cut-off current of Q4 will not consume any current from Q5. The diode D1 is included to provide reverse current protection for 05.

The basic principle of the circuit is that when the absolute volume of the received audio tone is above a preselected value, then the circuit will be triggered.

The wave form of the human voice when issuing commands like "go" or"turn" are rather complex as shown in the oscillographs of Figures 6 to 8. After amplification by the transistors 01 and Q2, the low ampiitude part of the signal is amplified almost linearly, but the high amplitude part becomes saturated. The frequency of a signal is dependent upon the slope or steepness of its wave form which is itself dependent upon the degree of saturation of the signal. Consequently the greater degree of saturation of the said higher part of the signal, the higher the frequency of said high part. Consequently the higher frequehcy portions of the signal will pass more easily through the capacitor C5 and cut-off the transistor Q3. Therefore the transistors 01.Q2 and Q3 constitute a low pass circuit.

Once the circuit has been triggered, repeated triggering of the circuit within a short time period will not have any effect. The wave form of the human voice consists of quanta or lumps. When the circuit is in its monostable condition it is insensitive to the signal received during its monostable period, and consequently the circuit is a very practical "human voice-electrical pulse" sampling circuit.

The capacitor C5 is selected in relation to the input characteristics of the transistor 03, and is determined by experiment. The value of C5 could be varied from plus or minus 100%, and one suitable value is 470 PF to avoid input loading on the transistor 02. The interface, to be hereinafter descussed, has a maximum load of 5 ohms, and 600 mA when subjected to 3 volts.

Referring to Figure 4, the "engine" of the toy includes a motor 4, gears 5, 6 and 8, a driving gear 7 and a rotation gear 9. The gears 5, 6 and 8 each include a larger diameter gear wheel 5a, 6a, 8a fixedly connected to a smailer diameter gear pinion Sb, 6b, 8b respectively, The gear wheel 5a is driven by a pinion 4a which is driven by the motor 4. The gear wheel 6a is driven by the pinion Sb, and the gear 9 is driven by the pinion 8b.

When the gears 6 and 7, and 6 and 8 are in engagement, the gear 7 and the gear wheel 8a are driven by the pinion 6b. The rotational speed of the motor 4 is geared down in a ratio of 4.8 by the gear 5, and then geared down by a ratio of 3:8 by the gear 6. Referring to Figure 5, one end of the axle 41 of the gear 6 is fixed in a round hole on a side wall of the gear box 11, and the other end of the axle is semi-fixed in a slot 1 8 in another side wall of the gear box 11. This gear 6 operates as a clutch and when pushed into contact with the gear 8 rotation of the gear 6 is transmitted to the gear 8 and is separated from the driving gear 7. In contrast, when the gear 6 is pushed into contact with the driving gear 7 the gear 6 is disconnected from the gear 8, and the driving gear 7 is rotated together with the driving wheels 3 coaxial with the driving gear 7.

Each of the gears 7 and 8 have 38 teeth, and consequently the speed change down from the motor 4 to the driving gear 7 is 4.8 x 3.8 x 3.8 = 69.31.

The gear 8 meshes with the rotation gear 9 which has 48 teeth and an N-shaped crank 13 on its rotational axis, as shown in Figure 5. In consequence, the speed change down from the motor 4 to the rotation gear 9 is 4.8 x 3.8 x 3.8 x 4.8=332.70.

A conventional speed range of a commercial electric motor energised by a three volt supply is in the range from 4,500 rpm to 7,000 rpm.

Assume that the battery commences working at 60% of the starting voltage, and assume a motor speed of 5.500 rpm, then the speed of the driving gear 7 and the driving wheels 3 is 79.4 rpm or 1.32 rps, and the speed of the rotation gear 9 is 16.5 rpm or 0.28 rps. This speed of 1 6.5 rpm is transmitted to the rudder wheel 2.

Referring to Figure 9, a horizontal bar 10 connects the N-shaped crank 1 3 on the rotation gear 9 to a vertical bar 1 5 on the rudder wheel 2.

This horizontal bar 10 transmits the rotation of the rotation gear 9 to the rudder wheel 2 so as to provide the scanning movement of the rudder wheel 2.

Referring to Figure 10, the rudder wheel 2 scans up to + or --450 from the centre line parallel to the horizontal bar 10, and the locus of the Nshaped crank 13 is about a circle of 1 Omm diameter. The crank 1 3 consequently has a transverse dimension of 5mm.

The scanning motion cycle of the rudder wheel 2 is 1/0.28 = 3.6 seconds. It has been found by experiment that a half cycle of 2.5 seconds is a threshold, i.e. if the rudder wheel 2 has a scanning half cycle below this value then human voice control becomes less accurate mostly due to the effect of random noise. If the scanning half cycle becomes greater than 5 seconds, then the continuity and precision of the human voice will be lost; i.e. it becomes too easy for commanding.

The scanning range can also be adjusted by adjusting the separation of the crank 13 and the vertical axis of the rudder wheel 2.

A conventional movable toy usually moves at a speed in the range from 9 cm per second to 15 cm per second. Since a 32 mm diameter driving wheel has been chosen, the moving speed is 1 3.3 cm per second which is of course within the aforementioned conventional speed range.

Figures 11 to 13 interpretthe function of the clutch mechanism of the toy. When the gear pinion Sb turns counterclockwise to drive the clutch gear wheel 6a below it, a force 20 towards the right is exerted on the gear wheel 6a at the meshing region 14. Referring to Figure 12, this rightward force is proportional to.1 , and inversely proportional to 1212. Taking 11 as 10 mm, 1;12 as approximately 1.5 and the clutch gear wheel 6a rotational speed as 3rps, a satisfactory clutch action is achieved. Under normal load conditions, this clutch action could be completed within ten teeth of gearing, and within approximately 50 milliseconds.

Figure 11 also illustrates an equivalence spring 19, which is connected to a semi-fixed end of the clutch action to overcome the counter force produced by reverse motion.

On engaging the clutch there is a risk that the engagement may generate a sharp noise which will interfere with the sonic-electronic control. To overcome this, the spring 19 extends perpendicularly to the clutching direction of the clutch gear shaft to a fixed member on the clutch side wall as illustrated in Figure 13. This spring 19 smooths the clutching action and consequently reduces the aforementioned sharp noise. The following experiment data has been obtained: Gears :38 : 10 teeth ratio, about 20 mm diameter: 6 mm diameter Gear pitch : 0.5 mm Gearworkingdepth :0.75 mm Clutching separation : 2.5 mm Angle 0": 390 When the toy is stationary, then the driving wheels 3 are stationary and the rudder wheel 2 is scanning.In this condition the clutch gear 6 contacts the gear 8 to rotate the gear 9 thereby causing the rudder wheel 2 to scan.

On receipt of a vocal command, the clutch gear 6 is moved out of contact with the gear 8 and into contact with the driving gear 7. In this condition, the rudder wheel 2 stops scanning, and the clutch gear 6 rotates the driving gear 7 to drive the driving wheels 3.

On receipt of a further vocal command the clutch gear 6 returns into contact with the gear 8 to stop the driving wheels 3 and to recommence scanning the rudder wheel 2.

Figures 14 and 27 illustrate a clutch control to move the clutch gear 6 between the aforementioned two positions. The arrangement includes a cam 26, a hook gear 25 and a conductiong gear 27 which are rigidly connected together but rotatably mounted on the shaft of the clutch gear 6. A crane 24 having an iron plate 23 on one end is hooked at its other end over the hook gear 25 to prevent rotation thereof. The cam 26 is biassed against a fixed stopper 29 thereby positioning the axis of the clutch gear 6 and the conducting gear 27 has 38 teeth and two untoothed portions on both ends of a diameter.

The conducting gear 27 meshes with the drive pinion 28 of gear 5 illustrated in Figures 4 and 5; this pinion 28 having ten teeth. The cam 26 is mounted eccentrically about the shaft of the clutch gear 6.

Figures 15 to 19 illustrate the dynamics of this three co-axial gear clutch. Initially, the crane 24 hooks the hook gear 25 to prevent rotation of the gear 25, and hence also the cam 26 and the gear 27, and the pinion 28 is coupled to an untoothed portion of the conducting gear 27. In this condition illustrated in Figure 15, due to the configuration of the cam 26 the clutch separation has reached its maximum, and the clutch gear 6 is coupled to the gear 8.

The receipt of a vocal command generates the electric signal in the coil wound round the iron core 22. The corresponding magnetic field induced in the iron core 22 attracts the iron plate 23 thereby pivoting clockwise the crane 24 to release the hook gear 25. Consequently the cam 26, and the gears 25 and 27 commence to tum counterclockwise due to the rotational force exerted by the pinion 28 on the conducting gear 27, as illustrated in Figures 1 Sa, 1 Sb and 1 5c. The aforementioned magnetic attraction exerted on the iron plate 23 lasts for about 100 milliseconds, after which the crane 24 returns to its initial condition. During this period the conducting gear 27 rotates a distance corresponding to approximately 2 to 3 teeth, and meshes directly with the pinion 28 as seen in Figure 1 6a.In response to rotation of the pinion 28, the cam 26 rotates causing the clutch separation to decrease until the next untoothed portion of the conducting gear 27 is met by the pinion 28. In this position, the hook gear 25 has rotated to a new hooking position when it is hooked by the crane 24 as shown in Figure 1 9. In consequence, the gear set consisting of the cam 26, the hook gear 25 and the conductor gear 27 stops rotating with the clutch separation at a minimum. At this clutch condition, the biassing of the cam 26 against the stopper 29 couples the clutch gear 6 to the gear 7.

On the arrival of the next electric signal in response to the next vocal command, the magnetic field in the iron core 22 pivots upwardly the crane 24 for a short period to allow the gears 25 and 27 and the cam 26 to rotate in response to the drive received from the pinion 28. As a result of this rotation the stopper 29 is acted on by the long-axis portion of the cam 26, and the hook gear 25 rotates until it is re-engaged by the crane 24 thereby stopping its rotation. At this instant the clutch separation has returned to its maximum, and the clutch gear 6 is coupled to the gear 8.

The clutch axis has a diameter of 2.00 mm, and the centre of the gear set has a hole of 2.1 mm thereby retaining the axial friction to a minimum, and preventing excessive consumption of power from the motor. The separation of the iron plate 23 from the iron core 22 is approximately 1 mm, and the lever amplification coefficient is approximately 2.5. The crane 24 will pivot 2 mm up and down, which is perfectly satisfactory for the aforementioned purpose.

The wire coil wound round the iron core 22 has an impedence of 6 ohms, and has a 3 volt rating.

The conducting gear 27 uses 38 teeth, and 5 to 7 of these teeth are cut out into slots. The cam 26 is a circle of 14 mm diameter, and is mounted eccentrically so as to have a long radius of 9 mm and a short radius of 5 mm extending from its axis of rotation.

Referring to Figure 20, the operational data is:- rudder wheel 2 scanning angle : + 450 moving speed : 13 cm per second driving wheels 3 : 32 mm diameter, 14 mm thick rudder wheel 2 :26 mm diameter, 6 mm thick wheel separation distance (from the axis of rudder wheel 2 to the axis of the driving wheel 3): 11 cm 02 value: 100 to 150 The directional indicator 1 is an extension of the vertical bar 1 5 projecting from the rudder wheel 2 as illustrated in Figure 9.

Referring to Figure 21, a microphone for receiving audio tone instructions and transmitting them to the electronic circuit includes a microphone chamber. This microphone chamber has openings in an upper cabinet 30 which is sealed underneath by a board assembly 32. A microphone 33 is embedded in a plastics sponge 31 in the chamber thereby reducing a considerable amount of the vibration caused by movement of the toy, and of the noise caused by the gearing.

Figures 22 and 28 illustrate an alternative clutch axis control system to that shown in Figure 1 4. Referring to Figure 22, a motor drive clutch axis control system uses a small motor 35, a gear 36 having 48 teeth, and an eccentrically mounted cam 37 which is coaxial with the gear 36. The clutch axis 41 is biassed against the cam 37. The motor 35 has an internal impedence of at least 6 ohms, or an impedence of 3 ohms when being energised by a supply of 1.5 volts. The speed of the motor 35 is reduced buy a factor of 4.8 by means of the gear 36, and the clutch axis is pushed against by the cam 37. Two diametrically opposed protuberances 38 are located on the gear 36 as illustrated in Figure 24.

A working diagram of this clutch axis control system is illustrated in Figures 25 (a) to (e). Under normal operational conditions, the separation between a fixed contactor 39 and a spring 40 is approximately 1 mm. Initially the cam 37 locates the clutch axis 41 so that the clutch gear 6 is coupled to the gear 8. On receiving an electric signal in response to a vocal command, the motor 35 is energised and drives the gear 36 as shown in Figure 25 (c) to push the protuberance 38B against the spring 40 to move the spring 40 away from the fixed contactor 39. On further rotation of the gear 36 the protuberance 38B leaves the spring 40 allowing the spring 40 to return under its own resilience to make instantaneous contact with the contactor39.A monostable feedback circuit illustrated in Figure 26 is responsive to this contact of the spring 40 and contactor 39 to cut off the power supply to the motor 35 thereby stopping rotation of the cam 37 to couple the clutch gear 6 to the gear 7. On the next vocal command, the motor 35 is re-energised to drive the gear 36, and the protuberances 38A actuate the spring 40 to contact the contactor 39 and cause the feedback circuit to de-energise the motor 35. This stops the rotation of the cam 37 to couple the clutch gear 6 to the gear 8. The gear 36, and the feedback circuit are arranged so that the cam 37 is rotated one half-turn each time the motor 35 is operated so as to place the clutch gear 6 in either one of the two aforementioned positions.Referring to Figure 26 the spring 40 is connected to the terminal V+, the contactor 39 is connected to the resistor R1 1 and then to the base of the transistor Q3. Immediately on contact of the spring 40 and the contactor 39, the transistor Q3 is switched on to recover the monostable circuit. The resistor RI 1 is included to protect the base-emitter junction of Q3 from excessive current, and the cyclic period of the monostable circuit is 200 milliseconds.

The aforementioned two clutch control systems i.e. the electromagnetic system and the motor system entail a similar cost and provide a similar standard or performance.

The toy can have any suitable appearance such as a bug with its antenna or eyes as an indicator, or a car having. its windscreen wipers or other components as an indicator.

As previously mentioned, once the current of Figure 3 has been triggered, further triggering within a short time period of say a fraction of a second will not have any effect. This is to prevent the circuit from being triggered by sounds produced by the clutch gear 6 changing position.

Claims (20)

1. A vehicle including at least one running wheel and scanning wheel, a power source and a clutch mechanism responsive to a sonic command to switch the vehicle between a driving condition and a scanning condition.

2. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 1, in which the clutch mechanism is actuated by an electric signal produced by said sonic command.

3. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 2, including an amplifier arranged to produce said electric signal in response to a sonic command having a volume above a preselected value.

4. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 3, in which the amplifier is arranged to become inoperative for a short time period after producing said electric signal.

5. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, in which the amplifier includes at least one low-pass input stage.

6. An amplifier as claimed in Claim 5, including a monostable stage supplied by said low-pass stage.

7. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, in which the output stage of the amplifier is a current amplifier.

8. A vehicle as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the clutch mechanism includes a clutch gear movable between two positions to drive either said running wheel or said scanning wheel.

9. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 8, in which the said movement of the clutch gear is responsive to the rotation of an eccentric cam.

10. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 9, including drive means to rotate said cam, retaining means normally located in a hold position to prevent rotation of said cam, in which the retaining means is responsive to said sonic command to allow said cam to be driven between two cam positions.

11. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 10, in which the retaining means comprises a retaining gear rotatable with said cam, and a retaining arm operable to engage said retaining gear when in either one of two preselected rotatable positions; said retaining arm being movable in response to said sonic command to release said retaining gear.

12. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 11, in which the retaining arm is movable in response to a magnetic force produced by said sonic command.

13. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 9, including drive means to rotate said cam, and switching means to switch off said drive means when the cam has been rotated to either one of two 'preselected positons.

14. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 13, in which said switching means includes a switching circuit.

15. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 14, in which said switching circuit is a monostable feedback circuit.

16. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 14 or Claim 1 5, including means to actuate said circuit to switch off said drive means.

1 7. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 16, in whidh said actuating means comprises two contact members responsive to rotation of said cam.

18. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 7, in which a resilient one of said contact members is actuated by a gear rotatable with said cam to contact the other contact member so as to actuate the circuit.

19. A vehicle substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 27.9.79.

New claim

20. A toy vehicle comprising: a support; running means mounted on the support for enabling the vehicle to move along a surface; a steering member independent of said running means for contacting the surface along which the vehicle is to be moved, said steering member being mounted on the support for rotation about a generally vertical axis for movement through an arc of about 90 degrees and being rotatable into and out of any one of a plurality of operative positions relative to the support; means mounted in a fixed position on the support and responsive to an acoustic command emanating from a location remote from said support for providing a signal to operate a clutch; said clutch being responsive to said signal, and including a clutch gear movable between two positions either to drive the running means or to rotate the steering member while the vehicle is stopped.