GB2288987A - A remote control toy - Google Patents

Abstract

A remote control type running toy including a toy main body having a plurality of running modes and a separate controller (1 Figure 1) controlling the toy main body, wherein the toy main body is arranged to receive a battery and has a motor M steering wheels 7 and driving wheels (8 Figure 4), a steering mechanism (12 figure 4) for changing the steering wheels to a direction corresponding to the running mode, and a forward-backward motion changing mechanism 13 for changing a rotational direction of the driving wheels to the direction corresponding to the running mode. The toy also includes a display device for displaying the running mode, a linking mechanism (11 Figure 4) for driving the steering wheel changing mechanism (12), the driving wheel changing mechanism 13 and the running mode display device such that they are linked with each other, a running mechanism 15 for driving the driving wheels in the running mode at that time due to a reversing of the motor, and the controller (1) is provided with an operator (1a) for changing a forward-reverse rotation of the motor. The linking mechanism is suitably a cam 57. The display device may consist of a plurality of LEDs which are sequentially lit corresponding to the running modes. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIP TION A REMOTE CONTROL TOY The present invention relates to a remote control tur.r.irg toy, such as a radio control automobile or truck.

In a conventional remote control running toy, a controller directs the main body of the toy in a plurality of running modes, such as a forward motion, a backward motion, a right turn and a left turn. The child may make a conventional toy move in various running operations, by controlling the main body with the remote control However, in the conventional remote control toy, it is necessary for the child to delicately control a plurality of the operators simultaneousiy. There is a problem that controlling the operator may be difficult, especially for young children.

It is an object of the invention to provide a remote control toy which can change running modes of the toy very easily by controlling a simple operator.

The remote control running toy of the present invention includes a toy having a plurality of running modes and a controller for controlling the toy at a position apart from the toy main body.

The toy is provided with a battery, n motor, steering wheels and driving wheels, a steering mechanism, and a orward-backward motion changing mechanism for changing the rotational direction of the drive wheels.Also on the toy is a running mode display or displaying the running mode, and a linking mechanism for driving the steering wheel changing mechanism, the driving wheel changing mechanism and the running cde displaying mechanism such that they are linked with each other, the running mechanism drives the driving wheel in the running mode at that time due to a reversing @ the motor. The controller is provided with an operator for changing the rotation of te motor between forward and reverse.

The running moae displaying means may be a plurality of LEDs which ar alternately lit corresponding to the running mode.

In the remote control toy @, the steering mechanism, the driving mechanism and the running mode display device are inked to each other through the linking mechanism when the motor rotates normally. The steering mechanism changes the steering wheel to a direction corresponding to the running mode, and the forward backward motion changing mechanism changes the rotatIonal direction of the driving wheels corresponding to the running mode. The running mode is sequentially changed, and is displayed by the running rnode display device.When the motor is reversed, the running mechanism drives the steering wheel in the running mode.

When the motor rotates normally, the toy main body is stopped while the runnIng mode is changed. While stopped, the running mode display shows the running modes, and the motor is reversed by operating the controller so that the toy main body runs in the running mode based on the mode displayed at that time. As a result, only operating one control enables the toy to run in a desired direction.

Further, the remote control toy of the present invention is a simple device because the linking, the steering mechanism, the driving mechanism and the running mode display is a cam mechanism.

The running mode display is a plurality of L7Ds which are sequentially iit, corresponding to the running mode, therefore the running mode at that time can be judged visually easily, based on the position of a iighted iED.

The remote control running toy of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a controller of a remote control type running toy of the present invention Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a body and a running mode displaying mechanism of an toy automobile of the remote control type running toy of the present invention.

vig. 3 is a perspective view showing the running mechanism and a farward-ackward motion changing mechanism assembled in the toy automobile of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a cam mechanism and a steering mechanism assembled in the toy automobile of the present invention.

A remote control running toy according to the present invention will be explained hereinafter with preference to the accompanying drawings.

The remote control running toy according to the present invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 4. This remote control type running toy may be an automobile including a controller 1, and a toy main body 2 radio-controlled by the controller 1. The controller 1 is provided with one operating control button @a The toy automobile 2, shown as a truck, is provided With a power switch 3 at a rear portion thereof and is roide with four LDs 4 (4a, 4b, c, 4d) at a front portion thereof.

An overview of an operation of the remote control type running toy will now be explained The remote control type running toy is adapted to run in one of four running modes: a forward motion, a right turn, a backward motion and a left turn When the power switch 3 is turned on, the LEDs 4 are lit in the order 4a, ab, 4c and 4d, for example every one second, to display the running mode.

When the power switch 3 is turned on, the toy automobile 2 itself remains stopped, and the LEDs 4 are lit in order. In this state, when the operating button la on the controller 1 is pushed, the toy automobile 2 begins to run in a direction corresponding to tne running mode displayed by the lit LED 4 while button la is pushed.

The toy 2 is adapted to: turn right while moving forward when the LED 4a is lit, move forward when the LED 4b is lit, movie backward when the LED 4c is lit, and turn left while moving forward when the LED 4d is lit.

The construction of the toy automobile 2 will now be explained in detail. The toy automobile 2, as shown in Figs. 2 to 4, comprises upper and lower chassis 5, 6, front steering wheels mounted on the lower chassis x, rear driving wheels Z mounted on the lower chassis 5, antenna 9, and bod 10 in a form of a tuck mounted on the upper chassis S. The toy automobile 2 also includes built-in with a battery (not shown), a motor M operated by the battery, a cam mechanism 11 driven by the rotation of the motor M, a steering mechanism 12 which is driven by the cam mechanism ;;I and moves the front wheels 7 to a direction corresponding to the running mode, a forward and backward changing mechanism 13 which is driven by the cam mechanism 11 and changes the rotational direction of the rear wheels 8 to a direction corresponding to the running mode, a running mode display 14 which is driven by the cam mechanism 11 and lights the LEDs 4 to display the running mode, and a running mechanism 15 which rotates the rear wheels 8, reverse rotation of te motor M and causes the toy automobile 2 to run.

In the present invention, the cam, mechanism 11, especially as shown in Fig. 4, consists of gear 50 secured to a shaft of the motor M, gear 52 which is supported rotatably on arm 51 mounted rotatably on the shaft axis of the motor m and ,s engaged with the gear 50, gear 53a capable of being engaged with gear 52, worm 53b rotating integrally with the gear 53a, gear 54a engaged with worm 53b, partial gear 54b rotating integrally with the gear 54a, gear 55 engaged with the partial gear 54b, and eccentric cam 57 secured eccentrically to shaft 56 to which the gear 55 is secured.

According to the present invention, when the motor M moves in the normal rotation (arrow direction in Fig. 4), the arm 51 is rotated forwardly. The gear 52 is then engaged with the gear 53a.

The rotational power of the motor M is transmitted to the shaft 5 through the gears SO, 52 and 53a, the worm 53b, the gear 54a, the partial gear 54b and the gear 55, so that the shaft 56 and the eccentric cam 57 with the shaft So are rotated in the direction shown in Fig. 4. In this case, the partial gear 54b is formed only in approximately a quarter of an outer circumference of a disk, the eccentric cam 57 is rotated intermittently by 0 degrees.

Eccentric cam 57 is stopped for a predetermined time between rotations, for example, every one second at four running mode positions: projecting backward as shown in Fig. 4 (forward motion positIon), the position projecting left (left turning mode position), the position projecting forward (backward motion mode position) and the position projecting right (right turning mode position).

Further, the cam mechanism 11 has a positionIng mechanism 58 for stably positioning the eccentric cam. 57 in the four running mode positions. This positioning mechanism 58 consists of a driving wheel 58a rotating integrally with the gear 5a and the partial gear 54b, and a driven wheel 58b rotating integrally with the gear 55. The driving wheel 58a is constituted such that approximately a quarter of a disk is cut out. The driven wheel 58b is in the form of a star wheel, on which four concave portions 5Sc are disposed at equal intervals around the circumference.The concave portions 58c of the driven wheel SBb are formed with the same curvature as the driving wheel 5Ea When the eccentric cam 57 stops, the concave portions 58c are engaged with a portion of the driving wheel SSa, except for a cutout portion 58d. The eccentric cam 57 is adapted to be held in each of tne running mode ositions.

The cut portion SSd of the driving wheel 58a is an escape portion meshing with the convex portion formed between adjacent concave port Ions Sec to allow driving wheel 58a and driven wheel 58b to rotate about one anocher.

The steering mechanism 12 steers the front wheels 7 as guided by the eccentric cam 57 of the cam mechanism 11, when motor m rotates normally. The steering mechanism includes left and right supporting arms 50 which are rotatably mounted on the lower chassis for supporting the front wheels 7 together with a shaft pin 59, a linkage arm 51 linking the supportIng arms 60 and left and right steering arms 62 extending backward from the linkage arm 61 and retaining and supporting an upper portion of the eccentric cam 57.

According to the present invention, when the eccentric cam 57 is positioned at the forward motion position and the backward motion position, both ot the front wheels 7 are positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, as shown in Fig. 4. When the eccentric cam 57 is in the right turning position, the steering arms 62 are pushed right by the eccentric cam 57, so that the front wheels 7 are. steered to a right oblique direction. When the eccentric cam 57 is in the left turning position, the front wheels 7 are steered to a left obllqiue direction.

The running mode display 14 displays the running mode associated with. the position of the eccentric cam 57 when the motor M rotates normally. Figure 2 shows: the LEDs 4a to d mentioned abov, four switches 63a, 63b, 63c, 53d for lighting on these LEDs 4a to 4d respectively and a LED lighting cam 64 for selectively actuating the switches 63a to 63d in association with the eccentric cam %/.Tho L-D lighting cam 64 Is @ secured to the shaft 5j projecting to an upper side of the upper chassis S and securing the eccentric cam 57, and is adapted to rotate with the eccentric cam 57, that is, intermittently in 90 degree intervals. -ach of the switches 63a to 63d is formed as a type of a ief switch. Sach of t laf switches is wire to the battery through the power switch and is wired to one o the LEDs 4a to 4d.Further, the switches 03a to 63d are arranged so as to enclose the LED lighting cam 64 trom four directions: forward, backward, left and right. The switches 63a to 63d are activated in turn and turned on according to the rotation of the LED lighting cam 64, and accordingly turn on the corresponding LEDs 4a to d.

The running mechanism 15, as shown in Fig. 3, consists of the gear SO, the arm 51 and the gear 52, a gear 70a capable of being engaged with the gear 52, a gear 70b integrally constructed with the gear 70a, a gear 71a engaged with the gear 70b, a gear 71b integrally formed with the gear 71a, a gear 72a engaged with the ear 71b, a gear 72c is urged on a side of a gear 72a by a coil spring 72b and is idle-rotatably connected to the gear 72a, a forward-backward motion changing gear 73 which is engaged with the gear 72e and movable along an axis of the gear 72c (arrow direction in Fig. 3), a gear 74 capable of being engaged with the forwardbackward motion changing gear 73, n forward motion gear 76 which is secured to a rotating shaft 75 supporting the rear wheels 3 and engaged with the gear 4, and a backward motion gear 77 capable of being engaged with the forward-backward motion chaging gear 73.

In the present invention, when the motor M rotates in the reverse direction (arrow direction in rig. 31, the arm 51 rotates backward, and the gear 52 engages wth the gear 70a. As a reslt, the rotational power cf the motor M is transmitted to the forward backward motion changing gear 73 through the gears 50, 52, 70a, 70b, 71a, 71b, 72a and 72c, so that te gear 73 is rotated In the direction of the arrow shown in rig. 3.This forward-backward notion changing gear 73 is adapted to be moved by the forward backward motion changing mechanism 13 in association with the rotation of the eccentric cam 57 In the cam mechanism 11, as described later. When the gear 73 is positioned at a left side, it is engaged with the gear 7 , and causes the toy 2 to run forward by driving the orward motion gear 76 through the gear 74 When the gear 73 is positioned at a right side, it is disengagcd from the gear 74, and causes the toy automobile 2 to run backward by engaging directly with the backward motion gear 77.

The forward-backward motion mechanism 13 consists of a sliding plate 78 mounted on the lower chassis 5 to slide in a front and rear direction and a forward-backward motion changing lever 79, moving the forward-backward motion changing gear 73 due to the action of the sliding plate 78. A cam receiving portion 78a on which. an outer circumference surface or the eccentric cam 57 moves is constructed in a front portion of a lower portion of the sliding plate 78. This cam receiving portion 78a has a cardioid shape in which its rear side is deeper than its front side.Further, the sliding plate 78 is urged rearward through a coil spring 80 mounted on the lower chassis 6 The orward-backward motion changing lever 79 consists of a shaft portion 79a mounted rotatable on the lower chassis 6, an arm portion 79b engaged with a retaining portion 78b of the sliding pate 78, and a driving portion 73e which is engaged with both sides of the forward-backward motion changing gear 73.

During the normal rotation of the motor M, and when the eccentric cam 57 is positioned at the forward motion mode position, tr:e right turning mode position or the left turning mode position, as shown in Fig. 3, the sliding plate 73 is at the rear position due to the force of the coil spring 30. In this position, the torward-backward motion changing gear 73 is at the left side, engaged with the gear 74 and connected to the forward motion gear 76 through the gear 74.When the eccentric cam 57 is positioned at the backward motion mode position, th eccentric cam 57 pushes the cam receiving portion 78a forward, so that t sliding plate 78 is slid forward, and the retaining portion 78b pushes the arm portion 79b, and rotates the forward-backward motion changing lever 79 centered around the shaft portion 79a. Accozdingly, the driving portion 7?c of the forward-backward motion changing lever 79 moves the forward-backward motion changing gear 73 to the right side, so that the forward-backward motion changing gear 73 is disengaged ro the gear 74, and is engaged directly with te backward motion gear 77.

The operation of the remote control running toy of the present invention will now be explained. Where the power switch 3 of the toy automobile 2 is turned on and the operating button la of the controller 1 is not pushed, the motor N rotates normally, the arm 51 is rotated forward and the gear 52 is engaged with the gear '3a, so that the ca: mechanism 11 is actuated. Thereby, the eccentric cam 57 is rotated intermittently by an interval of 90 degrees.

Between these rotation, the cam 57 is stopped for a predetermined time, for example, every one second, at each the four running mode positions: prof ecting backward (the forward motion position), projecting ;eft (the left turning position), prof ecting forward (the backward motion position) and projecting right (the right turning positicn).

The running mode displaying mechanism 14 sequentially turns on the LEDs 4a to d corresponding to the position of cam 57 through the LED lighting cam 64 which rotates with the eccentric cam 57.

ror example, the running mode displaying mechanism 14 turns on: LED 4b when the eccentric cam 57 is positioned at the forward motion position, LED 4a when the eccentric cam 57 is positioned at the right turning position, LED 4c when the eccentric cam 57 is positioned at the backward motion position, and LED 4d when the eccentric cam 57 is positioned at the et turning position.

The steering arms 62 ar engaged with the eccentric cam 57, therefore, the steering mechanism directs both of the front wheels 7 to a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle when the eccentric cam 57 is positioned at the forward motion position or the backward motion position, steers the front wheels 7 to the right oblique direction when the eccentric cam 57 is positioned at the right turning position and steers the front wheels 7 to the left oblique direction when the eccentric cam 57 is positioned at the left rotation position.The forward-backward motion changing mechanism 13, due to sliding plate 78 being engaged with the eccentric car 57, sets the running mechanism 15 into the forward motion driving state when the eccentric cam 57 is positioned at the forward motion position, the right turning posItion or the left turning position. The forward-backward motion changing mechanism 13 sets the running mechanism ;5 to a backward motion driving state when the eccentric cam 57 is positioned at the backward motion position.

When the operating button la of the controller 1 is pushed, a controlling signal is sent to a receiver R through the antenna 9 of the toy automobile 2. While the operating button la is pushed, a reverse signal for the motor M is output from this receiver X, and the motor M rotates in reverse. While the motor M is reversed, the arm 51 is rotated backward, and the gear 52 is engaged with the gear 70a, so that the running mechanism 15 is actuated. The toy 2 will steer based on the direction or the front wheels 7 by the steering mechanism 12 and the state of the forward-backward changing mechanism 13.When the operating button la is pushed, the toy automobile 2 runs in the direction corresponding to the running mode determined just before the operating button la is pushed. The toy automobile 2 moves in the right turn forward direction where t LED 4a is lit, in forward notion where the LED 4b is it, in backward motion where the LED 4c is lit, and in the left turn forward direction where the LSD 4d is lit When the LED 4a to 4t displaying a desired running mode is lit, pushing te operating button la enables the toy automobile 2 to run in a desired direction, so that it is very simple to operate the controller 1. Since the running mode is displayed by a plurality cf the LEDs 4a to 4a corresponding to the running mode, the running mode can be easily judged visually based on the position of the lighter LED.Further, the steering mechanism 12, t forward-backward motion changing mechanism 13 and the running mode displaying mechanism 14 are all linked through the cam mechanism 11, using a single motor M as a power source. As a result, the toy 2 of the present invention can be easily and cheaply constructed.

Although the embodiment disclosed above has been explained as mentioned above, the invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and many variations may be constructed without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in the embodiments disclosed above, the running modes or the toy automobile 2 consist of the total four modes of forward motion, left turn, backward motion and right turn. However, running modes can be suitably added or reduced. More running modes may be added by including two running modes of a right backward turn and a left backward turn. These running modes can be attained by changing the construction of the cam mechanism 11, the steering mechanism 12, the forward-backward motion changing mechanism 13 and the running mode displaying mechanism 14.

In the embodiments disclosed above, a running mode displaying means is constituted b means of a plurality of the LEDs arranged in the front portion of the toy automobile. However, it can be constituted by means of any other means. For example, it is possible to use lamps, or to place the lamps at the front, rear, left or right portion of the toy automobile and lash like blinker type.

In the embodiment disclosed above, a radio control type toy has been explained. Of course, the present invention may be applied to a wIred toy.

Claims (7)

1. A remote control toy comprising a toy main body having a plurality of running modes and a controller for controlling the toy main body at a position apart from the toy main body, the toy main body being provided with a space for a battery, a motor steering wheels and driving wheels, a steering mechanism for changing the steering wheels to a direction corresponding to the running mode, a forward-backward motion changing mechanism for changing a rotational direction of the driving wheels to the direction corresponding to the running mode, running mode displaying means for displaying the running mode, linking means for driving the steering wheels changing mechanism, the driving wheel changing mechanism and the running mode displaying means such that they are linked with each other, a running mechanism for driving the driving wheels in the running mode at that time due to a reversing of the motor, and the controller being provided with an operator for changing a normalreverse rotation of the motor.

2. A remote control toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linking means is a cam mechanism.

3. A remote control toy as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the running mode displaying means is a plurality of LEDs which are sequentially lit corresponding to a running mode.

4. A remote control toy as claimed in claim 3, wherein the LEDs are positioned as headlights, backing lights, left turn signals and right turn signals.

5. A remote control toy as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller has a single operating button.

6. A remote control toy as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the toy main body is provided with a battery.

7. A remote control toy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.