GB2451636A

GB2451636A - Toy vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2451636A
Application number: GB0715271A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Kai; Eva Hui; Ming Tang; Christopher Mark Cunningham
Original assignee: MARKETING STORE WORLDWIDE CONS
Current assignee: MARKETING STORE WORLDWIDE CONS
Priority date: 2007-08-07
Filing date: 2007-08-07
Publication date: 2009-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 2027-08-07
Also published as: GB2462376B; GB2462376A; GB0913824D0; GB0715271D0; GB2451636B

Abstract

A toy vehicle 1 comprises an electronic device 2 and a control arrangement. The toy vehicle 1 is mechanically powered using a pullback gearbox 3, a wind-up mechanism or a flywheel arrangement. The control arrangement is adapted to control the electronic device 2 in dependence of a state of the toy vehicle 1, such as forward or backwards motion, being stationary, etc. The electronic device 2 is preferably a sound emitter, with the control arrangement being arranged to control the sound emitter to produce a first sound effect when the vehicle 1 is in a first state and a second sound effect when the vehicle 1 is in a second state. The actuation arrangement for the electric device 2 may comprise a friction clutch 5 attached to a secondary gear box axle 10 of the pullback gearbox 3. The vehicle may take the form of a car, truck, van, boat, aeroplane or motorcycle. The electric device 2 may also comprise light sources, LEDs, LCD displays, a counter or a stopwatch. A control arrangement is also disclosed using an actuation arrangement coupled to a gearbox axle and a switch arrangement. A toy vehicle that makes two different sounds when being primed and when released is disclosed.

Description

Toy pullback vehicle The present invention relates to a toy pullback vehicle, such as a toy pullback car.

Pullback cars have been popular toys amongst children for generations. A pullback car has an internal arrangement that stores energy as the car is "primed" by pulling it back with its wheels in contact with a surface, the stored energy being used subsequently to drive the wheels and hence to propel the car forward when the car is released from the primed state. The mechanism required to achieve this is well known in the art.

According to a iirst aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toy pullback vehicle comprising an electronic device and a control arrangement, the control arrangement being adapted to control the electronic device in dependence a state of the toy vehicle.

The electronic device may comprise a sound enhitter.

The control arrangement may be arranged to control the electronic device to perform a first operation when the vehicle is in a first state and a second operation when the vehicle is in a second state.

The first operation may comprise the sound emitter producing a first sound effect and the second operation may comprise the sound emitter producing a second sound effect.

The first state may comprise or be a state in which the vehicle is at least partly primed before being released.

The second state may comprise or be a state in which the vehicle is being propelled forward from a primed state after being released.

At least one state may comprise a state in which the vehicle is being primed.

At least one state may comprise a state in which the vehicle is at least partly primed, before being released.

At least one state may comprise a state in which the vehicle is moving backwards.

S

At least one state niay comprise a state in which the vehicle is moving forwards.

At least one state may comprise a condition in which the vehicle is stationary.

The control arrangement may be adapted to control the electronic device in dependence upon a property of the vehicle.

The property may coniprise the type of vehicle, such as whether it is a car, boat, truck, motorbike or aeroplane.

The property may comprise the brand or make or niarque of the vehicle.

The control arrangement may be adapted to control a volume of sound emitted from the sound emitter.

The control arrangenient may be adapted to control the volume in dependence upon a manner in which the vehicle is primed.

The control arrangement may be adapted to control the volume in dependence upon at least one oi a pressure applied during priming of the vehicle; the speed at which the vehicle is pulled back during priming of the vehicle.

The toy pullback vehicle may comprise electronic circuitry adapted to control the electronic device, and wherein the control arrangement comprises an actuation arrangement and a switch arrangement, the actuation arrangement being arranged to actuate the switch arrangement in dependence upon the state of vehicle, and the switch arrangenient being arranged to control the electronic circuitry.

The actuation arrangement may comprise an actuation element and a spring element, the actuation element being arranged to rotate freely around a secondary gearbox axle of the vehicle, and the spring element being attached to the secondary gearbox axle and arranged in sufficient contact with the actuation element to cause the actuation element to rotate with the spring element at least up to a certain level of resistance from the actuation element.

The secondary axle niay be an extension of an axle of a gear internal to a pullback gearbox of the vehicle.

The actuation arrangement may comprise a friction clutch arrangement.

The switch arrangement may comprise an electrically-conductive spring member arranged to niake an electrical contact when actuated by the actuation arrangement.

The actuation arrangement may be a mechanical actuation arrangement adapted to actuate the switch arrangement automatically in dependence upon the state of vehicle.

The toy pullback vehicle may comprise a mechanical gearbox for transferring energy to an energy storage arrangement when the vehicle is primed by moving it backwards with its driven wheels in gripping contact with a surface and for releasing the stored energy to drive the wheels when the vehicle is released from an at least partly primed stated.

The electronic device may comprise at least one of: a light emitting diode, a liquid crystal display screen, a light emitting device, a counter, and a stopwatch.

The vehicle may be adapted to be propelled only by mechanical means.

The vehicle may be a car.

The vehicle may be a van.

The vehicle may be a truck.

The vehicle niay be a boat.

The vehicle may be an aeroplane.

The vehicle may be a motorbike.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toy pullback vehicle adapted to emit a first sound effect when the vehicle is being primed and a second sound effect when the vehicle is released.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toy vehicle comprising: a mechanical arrangement adapted to store energy during a priming operation and subsequently to use the energy stored during the priming operation to propel the vehicle forward; an electronic device; and a control arrangement adapted to control the electronic device in dependence a state of the toy vehicle.

The mechanical arrangement may comprise a flywheel arrangement for storing energy.

The mechanical arrangement niay comprise a wind-up arrangement for storing energy.

The mechanical arrangement may comprise a pullback gearbox arrangement for storing energy.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control arrangement for use in a toy vehicle, the control arrangement comprising an actuation arrangement and a switch arrangement, the actuation arrangenient being arranged to actuate the switch arrangement, wherein the actuation arrangenient comprises an actuation element and a spring element, the actuation element being arranged in use to rotate freely around an axle of the toy vehicle, and the spring element being attached in use to the axle and arranged in sufficient contact with the actuation element to cause the actuation element to rotate with the spring element at least up to a certain level of resistance from the actuation element.

The actuation element may coniprise a first projection arranged in use to actuate the switch arrangement.

The first projection may be arranged in use to limit rotation in a first rotational direction.

The actuation element may comprise a second projection arranged in use to limit rotation in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction.

Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I shows an exploded perspective view of parts of a toy pullback vehicle embodying the present invention before assembly; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of parts of a toy pullback vehicle embodying the present invention when partially assembled: Figure 3 shows a side view of parts of a friction clutch switch for a toy pullback vehicle embodying the present invention; and Figure 4 shows circuitry for use in an embodiment of the present invention.

As mentioned above, the conventional function of a toy pullback car is simply to provide a forward motion to the car after being released from a primed state. However, the present applicant has appreciated that the addition of sound can greatly enhance the user experience of such a toy car, for example mimicking noises that a real car would make.

Further, the applicant has appreciated that it would be desirable to provide sounds emanating from the car that are linked directly with the state of the car. For example, the noise could change according to whether the car is in a "primed" state, or is in a "released" state and being propelled forward; in the former state the car might make a revving sound of some sort, while in the latter state the car might niake a driving sound.

Such sounds could also be different depending on the brand or type of car being emulated.

These effects would enhance the pleasure and experience of using the toy, and it is the aim of an embodiment of'the present application to provide such a toy pullback car.

A toy pullback car I enibodying the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4.

The car I comprises a pullback gearbox 3, a main gearbox axle 4, a secondary gearbox axle 10, a spring element 6, an actuation element 5, a circuit board 2, a switch element 7, and wheels 9.

The gearbox 3 is connected operatively to the main gearbox axle 4, which is in turn is connected to the wheels 9.

In operation, the car I is primed by pulling it back along a surface. This drives the wheels and in turn the main gearbox axle 4, and this rotation stores energy in the gearbox 3 using a known arrangement.

The secondary gearbox axle 10 protrudes out of the gearbox 3 as an extension of an axle on one of the internal gears of the gearbox 3. In this embodiment, the gearbox 3 is adapted such that the secondary gearbox axle 10 rotates in an opposite sense to the main gearbox axle 4, preferably at a slower rate. Toy pullback car gearboxes of this type, with an internal axle arranged to protrude from its casing, are known in the art.

The actuation element 5 has a generally annular form, closed on one side except for an opening adapted to receive through it the niain gearbox axle 4. The actuation element 5 is provided with a First projection 11 and a second projection 12. The spring element 6 is positioned during assembly within the annulus of the actuation element 5. The spring element 6 is adapted to urge radially outwardly on an inner surface of the annulus of the actuation element 5. The spring element 6 is preferably formed of plastic, but other materials would be suitable. A side view of the actuation element 5 and spring element 6 within ills shown in Figure 3.

The spring clement 6 is attached to the secondary gearbox axle 10 to the extent that the spring element 6 rotates with the secondary gearbox axle 10, whilst the actuation element 5 is free to rotate around the secondary gearbox axle 10.

The actuation element 5 and the spring clement 6 together form a type of friction clutch, the spring element 6 providing a degree of gripping force on the actuation element 5 so as to cause the actuation element 5 to rotate with the spring element 6 so long as the actuation element 5 is providing less than a predetermined level of resistance against the rotational force provided by the spring element 6. When the level of resistance increases beyond the predetermined level, the spring element 6 is able to slip, substantially silently, within the actuation element 5.

The circuit board 2 is provided with a protruding part 13 passing underneath the switch element 7, as well as suitable circuitry 8 (illustrated in Figure 4) comprising an integrated circuit chip programmed to provide the desired sounds using a speaker marked as "SPK". The example shown in Figure 4 makes use of the readily-available SN67d03 chip, which is a "One Channel Direct Drive Speech Controller", but other circuitry designs would be readily apparent to the skilled person.

The switch element 7 is in the form of an electrically-conductive leaf spring, and connects electrically with the circuitry 8 provided on the circuit board 2. Electrical tracking also electrically connects with the circuitry 8 on the circuit board 2, the tracking extending along the protruding part 13. The tracking is arranged such that, when the switch element 7 is depressed, an electrical contact is made between the tracking (or an electrical contact disposed thereon) and the switch element 7, effectively closing a switch marked as "SW" in Figure 4; the switch "SW" is formed by the switch element 7 in cooperation with the tracking on the protruding part 13.

The car I is assembled such that the switch element 7 and protruding part 13 are disposed between the first projection lithe second projection 12.

With such an arrangement, when the car I is primed by pulling it back along a surface in the usual way, the main gearbox axle 4 is caused to rotate clockwise (as depicted in Figures 1 and 2), with the gearing arrangement in the gearbox 3 causing the secondary gearbox axle 10 to rotate anticlockwise as mentioned previously.

This causes the actuation element S also to rotate anticlockwisc, driven by the spring element 6 acting on it, which results in the first projection 11 making contact with and pressing down on the switch element 7. This causes the switch element 7 to make contact with the electrical tracking on the protruding part 13, or an electrical contact provided thereon, eflectively to close the switch marked as "SW" in Figure 4. This results in circuitry provided on the circuit board 2 causing a first sound to be emitted from the speaker marked as "SPK" in Figure 4, for example a revving sound to mimic that of a real car as it is being readied to accelerate ofi As the car 1 continues to be pulled back for further priming, the actuation element 5 is prevented from rotating any further by the first projection I I acting on the switch element 7 and protruding part 13. However, the spring element 6 is able to continue rotating within the actuation element 5 by slipping, so that the car can be further primed.

When the car I is held in a primed state, the friction or other gripping force between the spring element 6 and the actuation element 5 is sufficient to keep the first projection 11 pressing down on the switch element 7 to keep the switch "SW" closed.

When the car I is released from the primed state, the niain gearbox axle 4 is driven anticlockwise (as depicted in Figures 1 and 2), with the gearing arrangement in the gearbox 3 causing the secondary gearbox axle 10 to rotate clockwise.

This causes the actuation element 5 also to rotate clockwise, driven by the spring element 6 acting on it, which results in the first projection II moving away from the protruding part 13, in turn allowing the switch element 7 to lift off the tracking (or contact) on the protruding part 13. This breaks the contact between the switch element 7 and the electrical tracking on the protruding part 13, to open the circuit again. This causes the circuitry provided on the circuit board 2 to cause a second sound to be emitted from the speaker (marked as "SPK" in Figure 4), for example to mimic the engine sound of a real car as it accelerates off As the car I continues to be propelled forward, the actuation element 5 is prevented from rotating clockwise any further by the second projection 12 acting on the underside of the protruding part 1 3. However, the spring element 6 is able to continue rotating within the actuation element 5 by slipping, so that the car can continue to be propelled forward.

As described above, an embodiment of the present invention enables a first sound to be activated by pulling the toy back and a second to be activated by releasing the toy. An embodiment of the present invention, however, is not limited to the use of two sounds; more can be provided.

The switch mechanism used in an embodiment of the present invention adds to the user experience and pleasure of using the toy by linking sound with motion, while the switch clutch functions silently so it does not disrupt the user's experience.

It will be appreciated that the concept described above in relation to a toy car can be applied to any type of toy vehicle, such as vans, trucks, boats, aeroplanes, motorbikes, tanks and so on. Sounds appropriate to the type of vehicle concerned would be used.

For many vehicles, the sound and niotion of the vehicles are intrinsically linked, and are together an important feature of the vehicles.

The first sound can continue to play on a loop until the vehicle is released. Once released, the circuitry can play a second sound for as long as is required. The sounds can be directly related to the direction of the toy, its speed, and its brand, for example.

The switch may also activate more than one sound at different stages of the toy vehicles use.

The friction clutch switch in an embodiment of the present invention may activate an electronic circuit to produce sounds from a speaker, as described above, but it will be appreciated that the switch may just as readily activate other electronic devices, such as a light, an LED, an LCD screen, a counter, a stopwatch, and so on.

Also, instead of or as well as the control arrangement switching the electronic device (speaker) between a number of discrete states (sound efiects), an analogue manner of control could also be provided. For example, in the case of the electronic device being a speaker, the volume of sound emitted from the speaker could be controlled by the control arrangement, for example in dependence upon a pressure applied by the actuation element 5 on the switch element 7 in the above-described embodiment during priming, and/or in dependence upon time elapsed, and/or in dependence upon some other property. This provides added realism.

Although the invention has been described above in relation to a toy pullback vehicle, it will be appreciated that the same or a similar control arrangement can be applied to other types of mechanically-driven toy vehicles, such as wind-up vehicles and flywheel vehicles the former are prinied by winding them up while the latter are primed by pushing them forward repeatedly to "charge" the flywheel with kinetic energy. The skilled person would readily understand how to apply the teaching disclosed herein to those other types of toy vehicle.

Other modifications within the scope of the present invention as set out in the appended claims would be readily apparent to the skilled person.

Claims

CLAIMS: I. A toy pullback vehicle comprising an electronic device and a control arrangement, the control arrangement being adapted to control the electronic device in dependence a state of the toy vehicle.
2. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in claim I, wherein the electronic device comprises a sound emitter.
3. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the control arrangenient is arranged to control the electronic device to perform a first operation when the vehicle is in a first state and a second operation when the vehicle is in a second state.
4. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in claim 3, when dependent on claim 2, wherein the first operation comprises the sound emitter emitting a first sound effect and the second operation comprises the sound emitter emitting a second sound effect.
5. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the first state comprises a state in which the vehicle is at least partly primed before being released.
6. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the second state comprises a state in which the vehicle is being propelled forward from a primed state after being released.
7. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one state comprises a state in which the vehicle is being primed.
8. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one state comprises a state in which the vehicle is at least partly primed, before being released.
9. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one state comprises a state in which the vehicle is moving backwards.
10. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one state comprises a state in which the vehicle is moving forwards.
II. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one state comprises a condition in which the vehicle is stationary.
12. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the control arrangement is adapted to control the electronic device in dependence upon a property of the vehicle.
13. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein the property comprises the type of vehicle, such as whether it is a car, boat, truck, motorbike or aeroplane.
14. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the property comprises the brand or make or marque of the vehicle.
15. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in claim 2, or any one of claims 3 to 14 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the control arrangement is adapted to control a volume of sound emitted from the sound emitter.
16. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in claim 15, wherein the control arrangement is adapted to control the volume in dependence upon a manner in which the vehicle is primed.
17. A toy pullback vehicle as clainied in claim 16, wherein the control arrangement is adapted to control the volume in dependence upon at least one o! a pressure applied during priming of the vehicle; the speed at which the vehicle is pulled back during priming of the vehicle.
1 8. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising electronic circuitry adapted to control the electronic device, and wherein the control arrangement comprises an actuation arrangement and a switch arrangement, the actuation arrangement being arranged to actuate the switch arrangement in dependence upon the state of vehicle, and the switch arrangement being arranged to control the electronic circuitry.
19. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in claim 18, wherein the actuation arrangement comprises an actuation element and a spring element, the actuation element being arranged to rotate freely around a secondary gearbox axle of the vehicle, and the spring element being attached to the secondary gearbox axle and arranged in sufficient contact with the actuation element to cause the actuation element to rotate with the spring clement at least up to a certain level of resistance froni the actuation element.
20. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in claim 19, wherein the secondary axle is an extension of an axle of a gear internal to a pullback gearbox of the vehicle.
21. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in claim 18, 19 or 20, wherein the actuation arrangement comprises a friction clutch arrangement.
22. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the switch arrangement comprises an electrically- conductive spring member arranged to make an electrical contact when actuated by the actuation arrangement.
23. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 22, wherein the actuation arrangement is a mechanical actuation arrangement adapted to actuate the switch arrangement automatically in dependence upon the state of vehicle.
24. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a mechanical gearbox for transferring energy to an energy storage arrangement when the vehicle is primed by moving it backwards with its driven wheels in gripping contact with a surface and for releasing the stored energy to drive the wheels when the vehicle is released froni an at least partly primed stated.
25. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of a light enhitting diode, a liquid crystal display screen, a light emitting device, a counter, and a stopwatch.
26. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vehicle is adapted to be propelled only by mechanical means.
27. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vehicle is a car.
28. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any one of claims I to 26, wherein the vehicle is a van.
29. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any one of claims I to 26, wherein the vehicle is a tmck.
30. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the vehicle is a boat.
31. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any one of claims I to 26, wherein the vehicle is an aeroplane.
32. A toy pullback vehicle as claimed in any one of claims I to 26, wherein the vehicle is a motorbike.
33. A toy pullback vehicle adapted to emit a first sound effect when the vehicle is being primed and a second sound effect when the vehicle is released.
34. A toy vehicle comprising: a mechanical arrangement adapted to store energy during a priming operation and subsequently to use the energy stored during the priming operation to propel the vehicle forward; an electronic device; and a control arrangement adapted to control the electronic device in dependence a state of the toy vehicle.
35. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 34, wherein the mechanical arrangement comprises a flywheel arrangement for storing energy.
36. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 34 or 35, wherein the mechanical arrangement comprises a wind-up arrangement fbr storing energy.
37. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 34, 35 or 36, wherein the mechanical arrangement comprises a pullback gearbox arrangement for storing energy. 1 0
38. A control arrangement for use in a toy vehicle, the control arrangement coniprising an actuation arrangement and a switch arrangement, the actuation arrangement being arranged to actuate the switch arrangement, wherein the actuation arrangement comprises an actuation element and a spring element, the actuation element being arranged in use to rotate freely around an axle of the toy vehicle, and the spring element being attached in use to the axle and arranged in sufficient contact with the actuation element to cause the actuation element to rotate with the spring element at least up to a certain level of resistance from the actuation element.
39. A control arrangement as claimed in claim 38, wherein the actuation element comprises a first projection arranged in use to actuate the switch arrangement.
40. A control arrangement as claimed in claim 39, wherein the first projection is arranged in use to limit rotation in a first rotational direction.
41. A control arrangement as claimed in claim 40, wherein the actuation element comprises a second projection arranged in use to limit rotation in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction.
42. A toy pullback vehicle substantially as hereinhefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
43. A toy vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
44. A control arrangement for use in a toy vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.