GB2196870A - A toy vehicle remote control unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The remote control unit comprises a housing (10), an electrical switch (14) in the housing, and an electrical lead (15) connected at one end to the switch and having at its other end a push-fittable electrical connector, e.g. a jack plug (18) for detachably connecting the lead to a complementary connector on a toy vehicle. The lead can be retracted into the housing by a take- up reel (16) when not in use. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A toy vehicle remote control unit This invention relates to a toy vehicle remote control unit.

According to the invention, there is provided a remote control unit comprising a housing, electrical switch means supported by the housing and an electrical lead connected at one end to the switch means and having at its other end a push-fittable electrical connector for detachably connecting the lead to a complementary connector on a toy vehicle.

Preferred and/or optional features of the invention are set forth in claims 2-6.

The use of a detachable push-fittable connector, such as a jack plug, allows the lead to be easily attached and detached from the toy vehicle. This avoids damage to the electrical connection if the lead is pulled. Moreover, the control unit can be used in combination with a number of different toy vehicles, enabling a user to purchase a set of different vehicles for which he only needs to buy one control unit.

The feature of claim 5 provides for easy storage of the lead when the control unit is not in use.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a remote control unit according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the remote control unit shown therein comprises a housing 10 defining a battery compartment 11, having a removable cover 9, and a cylindrical chamber 12. A switch 14 is mounted in the housing between the compartment 11 and chamber 12 and is connected to an electrical lead 15 in an appropriate and conventional manner for operating a toy vehicle.

The lead 15 is fed through an end of a flanged take-up reel 16 rotatably supported in chamber 12 and through a hole in the periphery of the reel 16 before passing out through an opening defined in a sleeve portion 17 of the housing.

The end of the lead 1 5 is connected to a push-fittable electrical connector, such as jackplug 18 or a jack-plug socket (not shown), for detachable connection to a complementary connector in a toy vehicle.

When not in use the lead 15 can be wound onto the reel 16 in the chamber 12 by a cranked handle 19 connected externally of the housing to a spindle of the reel 16.

The above embodiment is given by way of example only and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

1. A toy vehicle remote control unit comprising a housing, electrical switch means supported by the housing and an electrical lead connected at one end to the switch means and having at its other end a push-fittabie electrical connector for detachably connecting the lead to a complementary connector on a toy vehicle.

2. The control unit of claim 1, wherein the housing is designed to accommodate one or more batteries.

3. The control unit of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the connector is a jack plug or socket.

4. The control unit of anyone of the preceding claims, further comprising means for retracting or substantially retracting the lead into the housing.

5. The control unit of claim 4, wherein said means comprises a take-up reel rotatably supported within the housing and a handle externally of the housing for rotating the reel.

6. The control unit of claim 5, wherein the part of the housing in which the reel is supported is of cylindrical shape.

7. A toy vehicle remote control unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

8. A control unit as set forth in anyone of the preceding claims in combination with a toy vehicle having a complementary electrical con nector which detachably receives the electrical connector of the control unit.

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

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A toy vehicle remote control unit This invention relates to a toy vehicle remote control unit. According to the invention, there is provided a remote control unit comprising a housing, electrical switch means supported by the housing and an electrical lead connected at one end to the switch means and having at its other end a push-fittable electrical connector for detachably connecting the lead to a complementary connector on a toy vehicle. Preferred and/or optional features of the invention are set forth in claims 2-6. The use of a detachable push-fittable connector, such as a jack plug, allows the lead to be easily attached and detached from the toy vehicle. This avoids damage to the electrical connection if the lead is pulled. Moreover, the control unit can be used in combination with a number of different toy vehicles, enabling a user to purchase a set of different vehicles for which he only needs to buy one control unit. The feature of claim 5 provides for easy storage of the lead when the control unit is not in use. The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a remote control unit according to the invention. Referring to the drawing, the remote control unit shown therein comprises a housing 10 defining a battery compartment 11, having a removable cover 9, and a cylindrical chamber 12. A switch 14 is mounted in the housing between the compartment 11 and chamber 12 and is connected to an electrical lead 15 in an appropriate and conventional manner for operating a toy vehicle. The lead 15 is fed through an end of a flanged take-up reel 16 rotatably supported in chamber 12 and through a hole in the periphery of the reel 16 before passing out through an opening defined in a sleeve portion 17 of the housing. The end of the lead 1 5 is connected to a push-fittable electrical connector, such as jackplug 18 or a jack-plug socket (not shown), for detachable connection to a complementary connector in a toy vehicle. When not in use the lead 15 can be wound onto the reel 16 in the chamber 12 by a cranked handle 19 connected externally of the housing to a spindle of the reel 16. The above embodiment is given by way of example only and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. CLAIMS

1. A toy vehicle remote control unit comprising a housing, electrical switch means supported by the housing and an electrical lead connected at one end to the switch means and having at its other end a push-fittabie electrical connector for detachably connecting the lead to a complementary connector on a toy vehicle.

2. The control unit of claim 1, wherein the housing is designed to accommodate one or more batteries.

3. The control unit of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the connector is a jack plug or socket.

4. The control unit of anyone of the preceding claims, further comprising means for retracting or substantially retracting the lead into the housing.

5. The control unit of claim 4, wherein said means comprises a take-up reel rotatably supported within the housing and a handle externally of the housing for rotating the reel.

6. The control unit of claim 5, wherein the part of the housing in which the reel is supported is of cylindrical shape.

7. A toy vehicle remote control unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

8. A control unit as set forth in anyone of the preceding claims in combination with a toy vehicle having a complementary electrical con nector which detachably receives the electrical connector of the control unit.