GB2391822A

GB2391822A - Toy train with wooden body

Info

Publication number: GB2391822A
Application number: GB0219080A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tung Hoi Li
Original assignee: EARLY LEARNING CT
Current assignee: EARLY LEARNING CT
Priority date: 2002-08-16
Filing date: 2002-08-16
Publication date: 2004-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2022-08-16
Also published as: GB0219080D0; GB2391822B

Abstract

A toy train 10 comprising a wooden body 11 and a metal, e.g. mild steel, or plastics chassis 12. The chassis 12 has at least two pairs of wheels and is movable between a first and second position relative to the body. Moving the chassis from the first position to the second serves to switch on a sound source 17' disposed within the chassis, by way of an actuator 123. The toy train can also be associated with a track, the track having magnetic portions which also serve to activate the sound source 17' when the actuator 123 passes through the magnetic field created by them. The sound source 17' may be replaced by, or used in combination with, a light source. The actuator 123 may be located within the chassis 12 or body 11 of the train. Optionally, biassing means, e.g. a spring, serve to return the chassis to its first position after it has been moved into the second position, so that sound is only produced when the train is in its second position. It is envisaged that the wooden body 11 of the train will create a pleasing tactile sensation to the user.

Description

2391 822

TOY TRAIN

The present invcnton relates lo toy trains, In particular those which provide sound and/or light effects. Toy vchcles, such as trains, which produce sound cffUcts have been available for a tcw years. In most cases, the electronics for the sound have been placed In to' a plastic train body which Is then placed on to a wooden or diccast chassis.

ITS 1 1(766 describes a sounding tlevce for toys which comprises a diapllragn, an abutment in contact with the diaphragm and a rotary striker to strike the abutment and activate the sound effect. This device is used in animal toys to produce sound eficcts.

IJS (iOSt)237 discloses an interactive toy train which is able to activate a sound and light signal.

However, the train is constructed in a convcutonal manucr anal thus will be r clativcly fragile and prone to breakapc.

1 he upper portion fir body of existing trains Is handled most by a child angst also is most likely to be damaged by lolling items or knocked against other toys or surfaces. In instances where the body is made of plastic this can result in the Casio becoming cracked or spht open. This can lead to the electronics for the sound being damaged In the process or exposed to the churl who may tamper with them. Thus, when plastic bodies are used the lifetime of the train may be reduced anal there is a certain degree of risk to the chill from splintered plastic body shells or from ingestion or otherwise of the electronic components Furthenorc, plastics and in particular metals are materials which present a rattler cold and unwelcomulg sensation when hantllccl by a chills.

It is an object of the prcsctt nvcntton tat Reduce a toy train which presents an appeahng tactile sensation to children. It Is also an object to produce a toy tram which contains an integrated sound anl/or light unit whicl1 can he acti\'atctl when a chl<l presses down on the toy. A further aim is to provide a said toy train Which Is rc.'lent and resistant to abuse by chklrcn It is als<' an aun to I,r.>vide a toy tram having a high equality feel anti appearance. It Is also an aim to a..,.,.. . ':' À À:.

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- - provide a toy train which is cheap and easy to manufacture ancl which is capable of mass production. T he toy trunk of the present nventon therclore seeks to overcome the drawbacks of the known By trains as discussed above. The toy train satisfies sonic or all ol the above oblects According k, one aspect of the present Invention there is provided a toy train commenting: a wooden body arid a metal and/or plastics chassis, tile chassis having two or more pairs of wheels and In which a part or all of the chassis can be dsplacecl between a first position and a second p-,stion relative to the body; a sound and/or light source; disposed within the chassis; and an actuator for the source, said actuator being disposed within the body and/or chassis; wherein the body and the part or all of the chassis can be displaced relative to cacl1 other Tom the first position in which the source Is Inactive to the secontl Boston In which the source Is activated by the actuator.

According to another aspect of the present Invention there is provlclcd a toy train and a track system wherein the track has magnetic portions at selected locations and wherein the toy train comprises: a wooden body and a metal and/or plastics chassis; a sound and/or liy,ht source located within the chassis; and a magnetically actuable actuator tor the source; in whleh the source IS activated Into operation by the aerator wher1 the actuator passes through the,naL,,netic field created by the wagletc portions of the track.

According', to a further aspect of the present Invention there is prowled a toy train corllprlsing: a wooden 'body anti a plast'c.s all/or metal chassis, the chassis 'having two or',,o,re pairs of wheels; a sound ancl/or light source Jisposel withy the chassis; anal an actuator for the source; wherein the at least one of the pairs of wheels can he displaced relative to the chassis such that the actuator Is causerl to move lice, a first pus on In which the source Is Inactive to a second lo,ston ilk which the source Is actvatel.

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- 3- Wooden train bodies present a much more appeahng surface to children when they are picking up or moving, a train around. Wootl Is a Marc tactile material than either plastic or metal which tend to be rather cold to the touch. The wooden upper body of the tram thus provides the fool of quality anti robustness that Is lacking In known toys. Morcover, wood Is a material which can he chc wcJ upon more safely by chritiren than either plastic or metal. 'I'hc toy train thus has the acivantagc ol'beng robust and resilient and enjoys a lousier lifetime than existing toy trains. s tJsng a plastics or metal material for the chassis, which children tencl to touch less often than the upper body, also means that the chassis can he easily mass produced and attached to any suitable wooden uglier body. The present invention also provides a relatively simple means ol'opcratrng the sound and/or light source of the train.

The electronics providing the sound and/or light upon activation are conventorial. Likewise, arty conventional mode ol'actuation may be employed. However, dcspte the number of known toy trains, it has not previously been recognised that a durable quality product can be producect utilising all the electronic stimuli, such as sound anti l',ht effects, by using a wooden upper body and a mass produced chassis. This train is thus quite durable anti safe whilst Incorporating these stimuli. Furthermore, to clatc, toy bodcs leave been fabricated either exclusively from wood or from plastics an:l/or metal. Tile toy train of the present nveriton thus has the significant ailvantage that it readily lends Itself to mass production.

The chassis may be de-cast or mouLled from metal or may be extrusion molded throw plastics.

In preferred emhodinents, the chassis may be made of mild steel or thermoplastics. Sutahic metals for the chassis can include mild steel. One advantage of the chassis being made of mild steel is that it is lightweight, strong, has a high strengtil-to-wcit ratio and Is nontoxic.

Prcferahly, when the body and the pan' or all ot'tlc chassis arc displaced relative to each other l'rt>m the sccontl position to the first position the sound and/-,r light source Is leactrvatef.

In a pret''crred embotlrnont, the tram further comprises biassing means to hulas tl-c hardy and the chassis In to the first positron so that it Is deactivated. The basso means may Include a compression, spring, a leaf spring or a rcslrcut material such as a rcslrcrit plastic or rubber. The rcslent plastic nay take the tong ot a washer arountl the actuator or snply a block disposed bchvcen the body and the chassis.

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- - Preferably, the actuator Is substantially Reposed within the body. Alternatvcly, the actuator may be substantially disposed within the chassis. Positioning, the actuator inside the body or the chassis means that it Is within the ntenor of the trout which pre\cuts it being accidentally damaged by a chilcl.

In preferrer embodiments, when tle sound source Is activated, a single sound having a predetermined time period Is emittecl. Altematvely, when the sound source Is activated, one or I more sounds may be cited. when the sound source Is actvatetl, sountl is emitted continuously by the sounl source.

Emboclinents of the invention will now be described, by way of cxanple only, with reference to the following figuecs In which: Figure I StlOWS a stale view of a train in accordance With a first cmbolrncut the present invention, the lower portion of the train Heinz; shown as a cutaway section; Figure 2A shows plan view of the chassis of the train 1 Figure 1; I igure 2B shows a front view of the chassis of the tran1 In I;igure I with wheels removed; Figure 3A shows a side view of a chassis ot the train In Figure I Wittl wheels removed; I: igure 313 shows a cross-secton along; zinc 13-B of Figure 3A; Figure 4 shows a partial cross-scctonal sate vcw ot a train in accordance with a seconct cmhccliment the present nvcnton; Figure 5 slows a front vice of the train of tngure 4; F'gurc (j shows a plan view of the traits of l;gurc 4; Figures 7\, 7B and 7(' show respcctvely a side view, a plan vex, arid a rear view Off a chassis of a try 1 accl,ce \vtl, tl1C llicsellt to, À, À 4

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-5- Figure 8A shows a cross-sectonal view of the chassis of Figure 7A, and I;ig,ure 813 shows a cross-scctonal view of the chassis at figure 713. ! Figures I to 3 silow a toy trau1 10 having a body 1 1 and a chassis 12. The body 1 1 and chassis 1 2 are held together by a pair or bolts 13 which pass through apertures 14 in the chassis 12 and arc received by threaded portions (not shown) In the body 11. I he chassis 12 has three pairs -if wheels I 5, each pair of whecis bemg secured to supposing cuds of an associated axle 16, 16'. 1 The chassis 12 has a first internal compartnent 17 which accommodates the electronics and hardware of a sound source 17'. The sound source 17' has a switch 18, a first 1,C:B 19 on which I associated electronics arc mounted, and a speaker 20. 1 he switch 18 is located just above a rear axle 16' of the chassis 12. Power is supplied to the sound source 17' by a battery 21 located in a battery compartment 22. T he battery compartment 22 has a cover 23 which Is secured in position i by a screw 24, allowing access for the changing of batteries. A second l'(B 25, mounted within the battery compartmcut 22, controls the power output fi-om the batteries.

I he front and rear cods of chassis 12 are each provided with a magnet 26 which encircles a metal pin 27, the magnet tscif being surrounded by a niagnct cover 2X. The magnet 26 and metal pin 27 arrancnents act as magnetic couplers enahlng the train 1() to be coupled to other trains or wagons. in operation, the rear axle 16' of the chassis 12 can be brought into contact with switch 18 by the exertion of downward pressure on the body I I of the trai n 1(). This <represses the switch 18 which in turn activates the sound source 17' into operation.

I;gurcs 4 to 8 illustrate a second embocl''ncnt of the Prescott invention in which a train 1 10 has a hotly I I I having a chassis having Iront post I 1 2 wlicl1 Is integral with the hocly I I () anal a rear portion 113 which can be separatcci fro',' the hotly I J(). The fiont portion ofthc chassis 1 12 has a two pairs of whecis 1 14, each pair Beirut, attached k, an associated axle 1 15. l he rear pot 1 13 ofthc chassis takes the ton,, tat a bog,eyuntt which can be ccnuccted and ctsctnnectett lo and trom the holly 11().

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The rear portion of the chassis] 13 has a two pairs of whecis 1 16, each pair being attached to an associated axic I 17. Tile rear portion 1 13 has act a sound source I 18 located hi an internal conpartnent 1 19. I he sound source I I Includes a micro switch 120 whole Is mounted on a PCB! 121 which infuses the associated sound elcctrorlcs, the PUE} 121 being further connecteci to a speaker 122. The ncr, switch 12() Is locatcci below an actuator 123, which In the illustrated cmloclmcnt takes the form of a pin with a Instoconcal head which is surrounded by a collar 124. The collar 124 protrudes upwardly and is rcccivel U] a corresponding aperture 125 in the lower portion of the body I I I lower Is supplied to the sound source I I K by a battery 126 which is located In a battery compartment 127. T he battery compartment 127 has a cover 12X which is secured In position by a screw 129, allowing access for the changirl of hattencs. A stop 1 3Q Is provrdecl -,n an upper surface of the rear portion 1 13 Phc stop 13() Is received within a stop I apcrturc i 31 provided on a lower portion of the body I I 1.

In use, the body I I I of tilC tram I I () may be pressed In a generally downward moverncrit. This drsplaccs the hQ<:Iy I I I towards the rearportion 1 13 of the chassis thereby causing the actuator 123 to press against the micro SW'tC}I 120. T his action actvatcs the sourly source I 18. The stop 1.30 and its corresponded stop aperture I 3 I prevent the actuator 123 depressing too hard against the micro SW'tcil thereby prcventng da'agc to the switching system.

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Claims

1. A toy train comprising: a wooden body and a plastic and/or metal chassis, the chassis having two or more pairs of wheels and in which a part or all of the chassis can be displaced between a first position and a second position relative to the body; a sound source disposed within the chassis; and an actuator for the sound source, said actuator being disposed within the body andlor chassis; wherein the body and the part or all ofthe chassis can be displaced relative to each other from the first position in which the sound source is inactive to the second position in which sound source is activated by the actuator.

2. A toy train and a track system wherein the track has magnetic portions at selected locations and wherein the toy train comprises: a wooden body and a metal and/or plastics chassis; a sound and/or light source located within the chassis; and a magnetically actuable actuator for the source; in which the source is activated into operation by the actuator when the actuator passes through the magnetic field created by the magnetic portions of the track.

3. A toy train comprising: a wooden body and a plastics andlor metal chassis, the chassis having two or more pairs of wheels; a sound and/or light source disposed within the chassis; and an actuator for the source; wherein at least one of the pairs of wheels can be displaced relative to the chassis such that the actuator is caused to move from a first position in which the source is inactive to a second position in which the source is activated.

4. A toy train as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the chassis is made of mild steel or thermoplastics.

5. A toy train as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sound and/or light source Is deactivated when the body and the part or all of the chassis are displaced relative to each other from the second position to the first position.

6. A toy train as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the train further comprises biassing means to bias the body and the chassis in to the first position so that it is deactivated.

7. A toy train as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the actuator is substantially disposed within the body.

8. A toy train as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein when the sound source is activated, a single sound having a predetermined time period is emitted.

9. A toy train substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures I to 7C of the accompanying drawings.