JPS625639B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention provides a method for moving objects and vehicles, particularly objects and vehicles, by a driver so that the objects and vehicles can be moved from one running path to the other to overtake other vehicles on the rails. It relates to toys and vehicles used in individually controlled games.

With the increasing popularity of toy and vehicle games, such as the well-known "slot car" game, the demand for more realistic effects has increased. To this end, attempts have been made in the past to provide, for example, "slot car" type games with speed control devices that vary the current flowing through the vehicle during the game. To further emphasize this sense of verisimilitude, slot mechanisms in such games were created to cross vehicles from one side of the track to the other in a manner that resembled a real-world change of track. However, in reality, vehicles are restricted to certain scheduled and unchanging paths.

The play value of such previously proposed vehicle games is limited to the adjustment of the running speed, so the operator can move the vehicle from one track to the other without being restricted by the guide grooves of the rails. Attempts were made to provide toys and vehicle games that could be controlled by Such games include, for example, the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,404, which moves a vehicle from one track to another by selectively engaging bumpers along the side walls of the track. A solenoid-operated bumper is used to push the It is known that with such types the movement of the vehicle from one track to the other is not reliable, especially at low speeds, and the operation of the bumper pushing the vehicle is not reliable.

Another attempt to control the vehicle to move the vehicle from one track to another involves supplying current to the weight or vehicle such that it is supplied via contact strips on the track surface. and a relatively complex steering control system responsive to switching off and on. Such devices are described, for example, in US Pat. No. 3,774,340 and US Pat.
It is shown in the specification of No. 3837286. However, in addition to the relative complexity of the steering system, the speed of the vehicle is reduced when the current supply is cut off, so the vehicle can be slowed down and affect the required accuracy.

Other steering devices for toys and vehicles have also been proposed in which the steering of the vehicle is controlled in response to a change in the polarity of the current flowing through the vehicle's electric motor. Such devices are described, for example, in U.S. Pat.
3813812, the problem is solved by completely cutting off the current flowing to the motor, so there is almost no speed loss, but such devices wear out and become constant. It has a large number of moving parts that require inspection. US Patent No.
No. 3,453,970, the wires connecting the electric motor to the vehicle's current collector are used to aid in steering operations, and thus may cause sloppy operation of the vehicle during use. Another polarity conversion device is
3232005, in which the toy vehicle is not operated on the rails, no steering control is provided for changing the route, and irregular running control of the vehicle is prevented. I try to do it.

Another toy and vehicle game proposed to eliminate the limitations of slot car-type devices is disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
No. 3,239,953, a relatively complex steering control system is provided which is remotely controlled by an operator in response to actuation of a solenoid on the toy or vehicle.

The purpose of this invention is to solve the limitations of toy and vehicle games proposed in the past by allowing toys and vehicles to be changed from one running path to another without the restriction of guide grooves or similar. There is a particular thing.

Another object of the present invention is to drive the toy or vehicle in response to the polarity of the current flowing through the electric motor of the toy or vehicle so that the vehicle or the toy does not require a steering mechanism in the front wheels so that the vehicle runs on either one of the tracks. It is an object of the present invention to provide a toy or a vehicle having a relatively simple structure and an economical drive transmission mechanism by enabling steering by selectively driving wheels.

According to one aspect of the invention, one or more toys and vehicles are provided for use in a racing game. A toy or vehicle has a frame, a body attached to the frame, and a plurality of wheels including a pair of drive wheels. The drive wheels are mounted to the frame for individual rotation in laterally spaced vertical planes, and a reversible drive is provided to selectively drive the wheels. The drive transmission mechanism is attached to the frame and connects the output shaft of the electric motor to the drive wheels. In one embodiment, the drive transmission mechanism includes a spur gear on the output shaft of the electric motor and a floating support frame rotatably mounted on the output shaft. The idler support frame supports an idler gear rotatably disposed to mesh with the spur gear, whereby the idler support frame and the idler gear are moved between first and second positions in response to the direction of rotation of the electric motor. so that either one of the drive wheels is driven. The toys and vehicles are preferably used on endless tracks having laterally spaced side walls forming two vehicle tracks therebetween. When a toy or vehicle is operated by only one of the driving wheels driven by each electric motor, the toy or vehicle hits one of these side walls and is guided along the side wall.

The electric power supplied to the electric motors of toys and vehicles is supplied via electrical contact strips provided in the running track of the rails. The power supply is configured to allow the operator to independently control the speed of the vehicle and to independently reverse the polarity of the current to the vehicle's electric motor, thereby allowing the vehicle to change its travel path. Additionally, the vehicle is provided with a relatively simple shock-absorbing front end that absorbs the impact of the vehicle against the side wall when changing paths and directs the front wheels of the vehicle toward the desired path.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, first to FIG. 1, a toy and vehicle game 1 constructed according to the present invention will be described.
0 includes a pair of laterally spaced upright side walls 14,
It includes an endless plastic track 12 having a roadbed or road surface 18 extending between side walls 14 and 16. The roadbed 18 has at least two vehicle tracks 20, 22 on which a plurality of vehicles can be operated.
It is wide enough to form a

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the toy and vehicle game 10 includes operator-controlled vehicles 24, 26 that are substantially identical except for the arrangement of the current collectors, as will be described below. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a leisurely vehicle 28 that travels along the rail 12 at a relatively constant speed.

The vehicles 24, 26 are individually controlled by an operator via a controller 30 that allows the operator to vary the current supplied to the vehicle's electric motor to vary the speed of the vehicle. The controller 30 also allows the operator to change the polarity of the current supplied to each vehicle's electric motor, thereby allowing the operator to switch the vehicle from one track to another. The slower vehicle 28, on the other hand, travels along the rail at a constant speed and becomes an obstacle on the rail, which the operator-controlled vehicle 24, 26 must overtake. Since the front wheels of the slow vehicle 28 are leaning in one direction or the other, the vehicle 28 is normally driven along either an inside-to-outside path depending on the condition of the wheels. The vehicle 28 has an electric motor operated by a battery contained in the vehicle, which electric motor is connected to the rear wheels via a suitably designed direct drive transmission. Preferably, the slow vehicle 28 is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser.
It is of the type illustrated and described in detail in specification No. 747442.

Therefore, reference is made to the description in the above-cited US patent application.

The toy or vehicle 24 is shown in detail in Figures 2-4. As shown, vehicle 24 has a frame or chassis 32 of any suitable configuration and a removable plastic body or shell 34 that can be snapped onto frame 32 in any suitable manner. The pair of front wheels 36 are connected to a buffer front end mechanism 38 which will be described later.
is rotatably attached to the frame 32 via
On the other hand, the rear wheels 40 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 42 rotatably mounted on the frame 32 so as to rotate individually (see FIG. 5). One of the drive wheels 40 is fixed to the shaft 42 by splines or the like, and the other drive wheel 40 is freely rotatably mounted on the shaft 42. Further, both drive wheels can be freely rotatably mounted around the shaft. In either configuration, the wheels can be driven individually.

Each drive wheel 40 in the illustrated embodiment of the invention is constructed from molded plastic material and cast metal material and has an integrally formed inner crown gear 46 so that rotational power is applied to each wheel. In the illustrated embodiment,
The wheel 40 has a boss having an integrally formed crown gear 46 made of die cast metal, with a rubber or similar removable annular member suitably fitted onto the boss.

The power for driving the toys and vehicles is applied by a DC motor 48 attached to the frame 32 in an appropriate manner. The motor 48 is a suitable DC motor,
It has a rotational output member connected to the rotor of the electric motor as usual. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5A, a spur gear or output drive member 52 is secured to and rotated by a shaft 50. The output drive member 52 is connected to a transmission mechanism 56 that is responsive to the direction of rotation of the output drive member 52 (the direction of rotation of the output shaft 50 of the motor 48 based on the polarity of the current supplied to the motor) to selectively drive the drive wheels 40. engaged.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2, 4-6, spur gear 52 is freely rotatably mounted on shaft 50 with legs 60 extending generally radially from shaft 50 on either side of spur gear 52. It has a substantially U-shaped idler gear support frame 58. A shaft 62 to which a floating gear 64 is fixed is rotatably provided at the free end of the leg portion 60 . Idler gear 64 is configured and arranged for continuous driving engagement with spur gear 52 and selective engagement with gear 40, as shown in FIG. As a result of this configuration, when the electric motor 48 is operated, the gear support frame 58 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 5, depending on the polarity of the current applied to the electric motor 48. As a result, gear 6
2 and 64, force is applied to the support frame 58. That is, the gears 52 and 64 are continuously rotated by the operation of the electric motor 48, and the leg portion 60
is freely rotatably attached to the shaft 50, so that the engagement between the gears 52 and 64 causes a resultant force to act on the gear 62 to rotate the leg 60 in the same direction as the gear 52. Thus, when gear 52 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise, legs 60 are driven in the same direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, when gear 52 is rotated clockwise as indicated by arrow X, gear 64 is rotated counterclockwise and leg 60 is rotated clockwise. Ru. This rotation of leg 60 causes gear 64 to drive into engagement with gear 46 of left rear wheel 40 of the vehicle, driving left rear wheel 40 as shown in solid lines in FIG.
Of course, gear 64 and leg 60 are provided to engage gear 46 in front of shaft 42, and wheel 40 is driven in the forward direction.

In the game shown in FIG. As shown by the dotted line in the figure, the goods and vehicles move from the inner running path 20 to the outer running path 22. At this time, the front end of the vehicle engages with the outer wall 14 of the rail, and the vehicle runs on the outer running path 22 along the outer wall 14 with continuous drive of the left wheel.

On the other hand, when the polarity of the current supplied to motor 48 is reversed, frame 60 is rotated counterclockwise to the position shown by the dotted line in FIG. At this time, the gear 64 is rotated in the opposite direction and moves to mesh with the gear 46 of the right drive wheel 40 (ie, the lower wheel 40 in FIG. 6), so this wheel 40 is driven and the left wheel is not rotated. Be free.

When the right wheel of the vehicle is driven in this manner, a biasing force is applied to the vehicle, causing it to move to the left. Therefore, as shown by the vehicle 26 shown in solid line in FIG. , the vehicle is moved towards the left towards the inner roadway 20 . When the front end of the vehicle hits the inner wall 16, the vehicle continues to run along the inner wall 16 in the inner track 20 until the polarity of the current supplied to the motor 48 is again reversed. In this regard, it is noted that because the gear 64 is located in front of the rotational axis of the right wheel 40, the vehicle is propelled forward regardless of the direction of rotation of the output member 52 of the electric motor 48.

Of course, if a vehicle travels at a relatively high speed around a curve on the inner track, the centrifugal force will push the vehicle to the outer track. However, if drive to the right wheel is maintained, the vehicle will be moved inward again to the inside track as previously described.

As clearly shown in FIG.
has an integral inverted U-shaped arm 53 with a free end 55 to which the axle 42 is fixedly or rotatably mounted as described above. These arms 53 are provided inside the gear 46 as shown in FIG. 5A, and a gap is provided in the center of the arms 53 so that the gear 64 meshes with the gear 46. When the engagement of gear 46 with one of gears 64 normally stops rotation of frame 60, the upper edge 57 of the central portion of arm 53 provides a positive stop for the two extreme positions of frame 60. limit the position of In this case, a positive stop or shoulder 59 is provided on arm 53 as shown in FIG.
It can be provided on the inner surface of.

Another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 5A, uses a slightly different type of transmission to selectively drive the right or left drive wheels of a vehicle or vehicle depending on the polarity of the current supplied to the motor. . In this embodiment of the invention, the toy or vehicle has a generally triangular floating frame 60' rotatably mounted on motor shaft 50 adjacent spur gear 52. This idler frame 60' has two rotatably mounted idler gears 64' which are rotated simultaneously so that current is supplied to the electric motor 48 at any time. The gears 64' are laterally spaced so that only one of the gears 64' is momentarily engaged when power is applied to the motor 48.
It meshes with 6. With this configuration, frame 6
0' is gear 52 to drive one of the rear wheels of the vehicle.
is pivoted to the left or right depending on the direction of rotation. This configuration allows for a slightly faster response time for switching drive between the rear wheels. As in the previously mentioned embodiment,
By controlling the polarity of the electric motor, the operator can control the rear drive wheels of the powered vehicle, so that the vehicle can be used in the game of Figure 1 in the same manner as the vehicle described above, and can be used on one track or the other. The operator can change the position of the vehicle from one route to the other.

Rail 1 is used to supply electricity to toys and vehicles.
8 is provided with a plurality of electrical contact strips A, B, C for each track 20, 22. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, each track 20, 22 is provided with three contact strips A, B, C. Since the strips A, B, and C are made of conductive metal material and embedded in the rail 18, the strips A, B, and C are at approximately the same height as the rail surface so that the vehicle can travel on one track. It does not get in the way when moving from one lane to another. Electric current is supplied to these strips A, B, and C as described above, and is collected by a current collector provided in the frame 32 at a predetermined location on the object or vehicle.

Strips A, B, and C of each track are paired with each other, ie, strip A of one track is electrically connected to strip A of the other track, and strip B of the other track is electrically connected to strip A of the other track. The strips C are also connected to each other. Strip C is connected to ground, and strips A and B are provided to supply current individually and control the polarity of the current to each vehicle, so that the two vehicles can travel on the same path and each can be controlled. To this end, the collectors and vehicles are arranged such that each vehicle is associated with only one set of track segments. For example, vehicle 24 draws current from strip B, and vehicle 26 draws current only from strip A.

As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle 24 is provided with two collectors 111 and 112.
12 is arranged to correspond to the grounded strip C. Similarly, the vehicle 26 shown in FIG. 3A is provided with collectors 112 and 114, and the collector 1
12 is provided in the same position as the corresponding collector of the vehicle 24 to contact the grounded strip C. 3
The two current collectors are suitably mounted on the vehicle as is well known to those skilled in the art and are electrically connected to the motor 48 of each vehicle in a manner well known. Electric collector 11 of vehicle 24
1 is provided on the vehicle so as to engage with the strip B regardless of the road on which the vehicle is traveling. As shown in FIG. 3, the collector 111 is provided at the center of the frame 32 of the vehicle. On the other hand, the collector 11 of the vehicle 26
4 is located off-center from the centerline of the vehicle body and spaced apart from the associated current collector 112. This collector 114 is arranged to engage strip A regardless of the road on which the vehicle travels. This arrangement allows each operator to control the current supply and polarity to strips A, B to control each vehicle 24, 26 regardless of the path occupied by the vehicle.

The toy and vehicle game control device 30 shown in FIG. 1 is schematically shown in FIG. This control device 3
0 has controllers 124, 126 that allow the player to control each vehicle 24, 26. In fact, the control device 30 has a plug 128 and a transformer 130 for connecting the control device 30 to an AC power source. Power is provided from transformer 130 through a half-wave rectifier 132 having two diodes connected as shown to provide current to controllers 124 and 126 individually. Each controller 124, 126 is provided as a handheld device and includes a trigger-actuated variable resistor 134 and a single pole double throw switch 136. The current from the controller 124 is connected to the variable resistor 134.
The current from controller 126 is supplied to strip A through variable resistor 134. The variable resistor 134 may be of any suitable construction to allow the operator to vary the current supplied to each strip and therefore each vehicle in order to vary the speed of the vehicle.

The polarity of the current supplied to the toys and vehicles is different and is individually controlled by the switch 136, so the polarity of the current supplied to the electric motor 48 of each vehicle is controlled by the switch 136 so that it is controlled by each controller.
It changes depending on the state in which 6 is placed. This configuration allows each player using the controllers 124, 126 to control the speed of the vehicle along the track 12, and easily adjust the vehicle's position along the track by changing the polarity of the current supplied to the vehicle. can be changed. As mentioned above, the polarity of the current supplied to each toy or vehicle's electric motor determines which two rear drive wheels are driven and thus determines the path along which the vehicle will be driven.

As shown in FIG. 1, the polarity of the current supplied to the vehicle drives the outside or right wheels of the vehicle when required to switch the vehicle from the outside track to the inside track, as shown by vehicle 26. This causes the vehicle to move to the left onto the inside track. Similarly, when it is desired to move the vehicle outwards, the inside or left wheel of the vehicle is driven by appropriate selection of the polarity of the current supplied to the vehicle's electric motor, so that the vehicle is directed to the right. The vehicle is then moved to the outer lane. Therefore, the operator has complete control over both the speed of the vehicle and the path along which the vehicle is traveling.

As stated above, the toy or vehicle of the present invention has shock absorbing front ends 38 which are of the same construction and operate as described in the above-referenced U.S. patents. A detailed explanation thereof will be omitted here.

Therefore, players can completely control the running speed of each toy or vehicle, and can switch from one track to the other in order to overtake each other or to overtake a slower vehicle running along the track at a constant speed. It will be appreciated that a relatively simple construction of a toy or vehicle game is provided that has the ability to individually transform the toy or vehicle onto the road. This is accomplished without complicating multi-part steering mechanisms, solenoid bumpers, or steering mechanisms. Furthermore, this is achieved by a simple change in the polarity of the current flowing to the electric motor of the toy or vehicle, and occurs in the previously proposed configuration in which a change in driving path is made as a result of cutting off the power to the electric motor of the toy or vehicle. Collateral losses in speed are eliminated.

Although the illustrated embodiment of the invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It is to be understood that this may be done by the trader.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a toy or vehicle configured according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the toy or vehicle that has come to be used in the game of Fig. 1, and Fig.
The figure is a bottom view of one of the toys and vehicles shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3A is a bottom view of one of the toys and vehicles shown in Figure 1.
Fig. 4 is a plan view with the toys shown in Fig. 2 and the vehicle body removed; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in Fig. 2;
The figure is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 of another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a plan view similar to FIG. 4 showing another position of the drive transmission mechanism of the vehicle, and FIG. 7 is the same as FIG. 1 is an electric circuit diagram of an electric control device used for toys and vehicle games. In the diagram, 12...Rail, 14, 16...Side wall, 20,2
2...Travel road, 24, 26, 28...Vehicle, 30
... Control device, 32 ... Frame, 34 ... Body, 36 ... Front wheel, 40 ... Rear wheel, 46 ... Crown gear, 48 ... Electric motor, 52 ... Spur gear, 5
6... Transmission mechanism, 58... Gear support frame, 6
4...Idle gear, 111,112...Collector, 1
24, 126...controller, 130...transformer, 1
32... Rectifier, 134... Variable resistor, 136
...Switch, A, B, C... Strip.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A vehicle frame, a pair of laterally spaced selectively driven rear drive wheels mounted on the vehicle in a laterally spaced relation to each other for independent rotation in a vertical plane; a reversibly rotatable drive motor; an output gear connected to the drive motor to be rotated by the drive motor; a frame gear in driving engagement with the output gear to selectively drive one of the rear drive wheels depending on the rotational direction of the output gear; In a toy or vehicle equipped with a gear train, the gear train selectively drives one of the rear drive wheels in the forward movement direction of the vehicle in a first position and selectively drives the other rear drive wheel in the forward movement direction in a second position. A gear is movably attached to the frame to move between the first and second positions according to the direction of rotation of the output gear so that the undriven rear drive wheel is a free wheel, and the rear drive wheel is directly driven. first and second drive gears provided on the frame for selective engagement with gears that are engaged and movably mounted in the first and second positions; and vertically aligned with the rotational axis of the output gear. a gear support member rotatably attached to the vehicle between the rear drive wheels on an axis arranged at so that the support member rotates in response to rotation of the output gear to engage the movable gear with one or the other of the drive gears, thereby selectively driving the rear drive wheels in the direction of forward movement of the vehicle; A toy or vehicle characterized in that a rear drive wheel that is not driven is a free wheel. 2. A patent characterized in that the output gear is a spur gear and the movable gear is a single floating gear rotatably provided on a gear support member on an axis extending substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the spur gear. A toy or vehicle according to claim 1. 3. The output gear is a spur gear, and the movable gear is a pair of laterally spaced floating gears rotatably provided on a gear support member on an axis extending substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the spur gear, The drive gear and the idler gear are respectively related to each other so as to selectively drive and engage with the rotation of the gear support member in response to the rotation direction of the output gear, thereby selectively driving the rear drive wheels. The toy or vehicle according to claim 1. 4 a guide rail having a pair of upright and laterally spaced side walls, a frame, a body mounted to the frame, and a pair of rear drives mounted to the frame for independent rotation in laterally spaced vertical planes; A ring and
A reversible electric motor has an output shaft and is attached to the frame, and each rear drive wheel is configured to drive one of the rear drive wheels in the forward direction regardless of the rotational direction of the electric motor, and the other rear drive wheel is a free wheel. at least one toy or vehicle having a drive transmission mechanism mounted on a frame for selectively driving and coupling an electric motor to a drive wheel; at least one transmission member rotatably mounted to the frame for movement; and at least one transmission member associated with each rear drive wheel and directly adapted to drive either of the rear drive wheels in a forward direction when engaged by the movable transmission member. In a toy or vehicle game having a pair of direct drive gear trains in driving engagement, the movably mounted transmission member is rotatably mounted to the vehicle for rotation in a plane substantially perpendicular to the output shaft. and a gear support frame having at least one idler gear that is rotatably disposed and drive-engaged with the output shaft, and drives one of the rear drive wheels in the forward direction so that the other rear drive wheel is free. A toy characterized in that a gear support frame is provided with an idler gear for selectively engaging either the first or second position of a direct drive gear train of a transmission member movably mounted such as a wheel. and vehicle games. 5. The drive gear train is a crown gear that is directly connected to the rear drive wheels and faces each other and is laterally spaced from the idler gear provided therebetween. Toys and vehicle games described in Section 4.