GB2033766A

GB2033766A - Catapulting toy vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2033766A
Application number: GB7904394A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TECNOGIOCATTOLI SpA
Current assignee: TECNOGIOCATTOLI SpA
Priority date: 1978-11-17
Filing date: 1979-02-07
Publication date: 1980-05-29
Also published as: FR2441401A1; IT7805270A0; IT1174719B; JPS5568379A; DE2905707A1

Abstract

A toy vehicle adapted to simulate a crash, comprising a body under which a catapulting unit 3 with a spring 4 is pivoted on pivot means said unit being capable of angular movements from a set or load position to a release or unhooked position in a plane perpendicular to the support plane of the vehicle, characterised by the feature that a slide unit 5 is associated with the catapulting unit and movable under the said body in a direction perpendicular to the pivot means of the catapulting unit, and by the feature that said slide unit has a hooked portion 6 to retain the catapulting unit in the load position, and has a free end portion projecting from the front of the vehicle so as to be engageable by obstacles and determining rectilinear movement of the slide unit in the direction of unhooking or releasing of the catapulting unit. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Catapulting toy vehicle The present invention relates to an improved toy vehicle which includes catapulting devices e.g. to simulate a crash, running off the road and accidents in general.

A toy car is known which has a catapulting effect determined by a self-moving spring in a plane perpendicular to the support plane of the toy to engage on the plane itself and to project the toy upwards when it crashes against an obstacle. In practice, the catapulting unit is closed in the "load" position against the action of the appropriate spring by means of a suction cup which is fitted under the toy and is such as to release said unit following an impact. Such an arrangement is not, however, very satisfactory since the suction cup does not easily guarantee a reliable holding of the catapulting unit, and it also loses its effectiveness quickly as a result of the wear to which it is subject.

An object of the present invention is to provide a catapulting toy vehicle with reliable working, with the catapulting unit being able to be hooked and unhooked by means of a mechanical device so as to eliminate the use of the suction cup and the disadvantages thereof.

For this purpose, the said mechanical device comprises a hooked member which is slidably movable and which has one end projecting from the front part of the toy vehicle; said catapulting unit being held in an engaged, hooked position by means of resilient means and being movable in the unhooked condition when the end of the slide projecting from the front hits against an obstacle.

Accordingly, according to the present invention there is provided a toy vehicle adapted to simulate a crash, comprising a body under which a catapulting unit with a spring is pivoted on pivot means, said unit being capable of angular movements from a set or load position to a release or unhooked position in a plane perpendicular to the support plane of the vehicle, characterised by the feature that a slide unit is associated with the catapulting unit and movable under the said body in a direction perpendicular to the pivot means of the catapulting unit, and by the feature that said slide unit has a hooked portion to retain the catapulting unit in the load position, and has a free end portion projecting from the front of the vehicle so as to be engageable by obstacles and determining rectilinear movement of the slide unit in the direction of unhooking or releasing of the catapulting unit.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy car; Figures 2 and 3 are longitudinal sections of the toy with the catapulting unit hooked in the "load position" and in the unhooked condition; and Figure 4 is an underneath plan of the toy.

A toy car is shown having a body 1 formed in known manner and under which a catapulting unit 3 is pivoted on a pivot or tackle 2 formed as a tongue and which is subject to stress by means of a spring 4. Spring 4 is provided to move the catapulting unit 3 into the release position as shown in Fig. 3.

A slide 5 is fitted and guided under the body 1, in a direction perpendicular to the tackle 2 on which the catapulting device 3 is pivoted. The slide 5 has a hooking portion 6 on one part and an end piece 7 on the other part which piece 7 projects from the front of the toy.

The slide 5 is biassed by means of a resilient means or spring device 8 so as to be constantly urged forward so that its end piece 7 should always project from the front of the body 1 except when the slide is moved in the opposite direction in opposition to the spring 8 when its end piece hits against an obstacle.

Movements of the slide unit 5 are limited by means of a pin or peg 9 which is fixed to the body 1 of the toy and projects through an oblong slot 10 which is formed in the slide unit 5 and which also has the function of being hit by the catapulting unit 3 when this moves into the released or unhooked position.

In order to set the toy's catapulting device as described above, it suffices to move the unit 3 in opposition to the action of the appropriate spring and to hook the unit 3 into a "load" position engaged with the end piece of the hooked part 6 of the slide unit 5-as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

With the unit 3 so located, when the toy car strikes an obstacle with the end piece 7 of the slide unit 5, this unit 5 moves backwards thus unhooking the catapulting unit 3 which, under stress from the appropriate spring, pivots on its own tackle 2 and, upon engaging on the supporting surface, projects the toy violently upwards. The dynamics of an accident are thus simulated and this is made even more life-like by way of the noise produced by the impact of the unit 3 on the striking peg 9 and/or by the bursting of explosive cap which may be fitted onto the said peg or on to the said catapulting unit.

1. A toy vehicle adapted to simulate a crash, comprising a body under which a catapulting unit with a spring is pivoted on pivot means, said unit being capable of angular movements from a set or load position to a release or unhooked position in a plane perpendicular to the support plane of the vehicle, characterised by the feature that a slide unit is associated with the catapulting unit and mov

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Catapulting toy vehicle The present invention relates to an improved toy vehicle which includes catapulting devices e.g. to simulate a crash, running off the road and accidents in general. A toy car is known which has a catapulting effect determined by a self-moving spring in a plane perpendicular to the support plane of the toy to engage on the plane itself and to project the toy upwards when it crashes against an obstacle. In practice, the catapulting unit is closed in the "load" position against the action of the appropriate spring by means of a suction cup which is fitted under the toy and is such as to release said unit following an impact. Such an arrangement is not, however, very satisfactory since the suction cup does not easily guarantee a reliable holding of the catapulting unit, and it also loses its effectiveness quickly as a result of the wear to which it is subject. An object of the present invention is to provide a catapulting toy vehicle with reliable working, with the catapulting unit being able to be hooked and unhooked by means of a mechanical device so as to eliminate the use of the suction cup and the disadvantages thereof. For this purpose, the said mechanical device comprises a hooked member which is slidably movable and which has one end projecting from the front part of the toy vehicle; said catapulting unit being held in an engaged, hooked position by means of resilient means and being movable in the unhooked condition when the end of the slide projecting from the front hits against an obstacle. Accordingly, according to the present invention there is provided a toy vehicle adapted to simulate a crash, comprising a body under which a catapulting unit with a spring is pivoted on pivot means, said unit being capable of angular movements from a set or load position to a release or unhooked position in a plane perpendicular to the support plane of the vehicle, characterised by the feature that a slide unit is associated with the catapulting unit and movable under the said body in a direction perpendicular to the pivot means of the catapulting unit, and by the feature that said slide unit has a hooked portion to retain the catapulting unit in the load position, and has a free end portion projecting from the front of the vehicle so as to be engageable by obstacles and determining rectilinear movement of the slide unit in the direction of unhooking or releasing of the catapulting unit. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy car; Figures 2 and 3 are longitudinal sections of the toy with the catapulting unit hooked in the "load position" and in the unhooked condition; and Figure 4 is an underneath plan of the toy. A toy car is shown having a body 1 formed in known manner and under which a catapulting unit 3 is pivoted on a pivot or tackle 2 formed as a tongue and which is subject to stress by means of a spring 4. Spring 4 is provided to move the catapulting unit 3 into the release position as shown in Fig. 3. A slide 5 is fitted and guided under the body 1, in a direction perpendicular to the tackle 2 on which the catapulting device 3 is pivoted. The slide 5 has a hooking portion 6 on one part and an end piece 7 on the other part which piece 7 projects from the front of the toy. The slide 5 is biassed by means of a resilient means or spring device 8 so as to be constantly urged forward so that its end piece 7 should always project from the front of the body 1 except when the slide is moved in the opposite direction in opposition to the spring 8 when its end piece hits against an obstacle. Movements of the slide unit 5 are limited by means of a pin or peg 9 which is fixed to the body 1 of the toy and projects through an oblong slot 10 which is formed in the slide unit 5 and which also has the function of being hit by the catapulting unit 3 when this moves into the released or unhooked position. In order to set the toy's catapulting device as described above, it suffices to move the unit 3 in opposition to the action of the appropriate spring and to hook the unit 3 into a "load" position engaged with the end piece of the hooked part 6 of the slide unit 5-as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. With the unit 3 so located, when the toy car strikes an obstacle with the end piece 7 of the slide unit 5, this unit 5 moves backwards thus unhooking the catapulting unit 3 which, under stress from the appropriate spring, pivots on its own tackle 2 and, upon engaging on the supporting surface, projects the toy violently upwards. The dynamics of an accident are thus simulated and this is made even more life-like by way of the noise produced by the impact of the unit 3 on the striking peg 9 and/or by the bursting of explosive cap which may be fitted onto the said peg or on to the said catapulting unit. CLAIMS

1. A toy vehicle adapted to simulate a crash, comprising a body under which a catapulting unit with a spring is pivoted on pivot means, said unit being capable of angular movements from a set or load position to a release or unhooked position in a plane perpendicular to the support plane of the vehicle, characterised by the feature that a slide unit is associated with the catapulting unit and mov able under the said body in a direction perpendicular to the pivot means of the catapulting unit, and by the feature that said slide unit has a hooked portion to retain the catapulting unit in the load position, and has a free end portion projecting from the front of the vehicle so as to be engageable by obstacles and determining rectilinear movement of the slide unit in the direction of unhooking or releasing of the catapulting unit.

2. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1, in which the slide unit is biassed by a spring or like resilient means to urge it into a position with its end portion extending outside the body of the toy.

3. A toy vehicles claimed in claim 1, in which the slide unit has a slot in which a peg is housed which restricts the movements of the slide unit itself; said peg acting also as a means against which the catapulting unit strikes when it is unhooked and moves in the released position.

4. A toy vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.