MXPA00011788A - Toy vehicle having impact-responsive crash simulation - Google Patents

Abstract

A front portion (12) and rear portion (14) of a toy vehicle (10) are pivotally secured to each other by a pivot (32) and an over-center action spring mechanism (70). The front and rear portions define travel limit stops which secure the front and rear portions in a straight line arrangement in one direction of over-center spring action. Additional limit stops are provided in the opposite direction in which the front and rear portions are pivoted into a crash simulation configuration. In one embodiment, the pivotal attachment of the front and rear portions of the toy vehicle allows pivotal movement in the horizontal position while, in an alternate embodiment, the pivotal attachment between front portion and rear portion of the vehicle allows pivotal movement thereof in the vertical plane. In both instances, the over-center action of the spring mechanism operative upon the pivot provides a maintaining spring force for straight line configuration and for angled crash simulation configuration.

Description

TOY VEHICLE. THAT HAS A SIMULATION OF COLLISION SENSITIVE TO IMPACT SPECIFICATION Field of the Invention This invention relates, generally, to toy vehicles and, particularly, to those that have a characteristic which imitates a vehicle collision, altering the appearance of this toy vehicle, immediately following an impact. .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Toy vehicles are well known in the art and have been supplied in a seemingly endless variety of configurations, sizes, colors and characteristics. Such toy vehicles are usually either self-energized or non-energized and freewheeling. Self-energized toy vehicles use a power source, such as a battery motor, a spring-loaded rope motor, or an inertial storage motor, often using a heavy flywheel to store energy. Toy vehicles that are not energized, free-wheeling are usually adapted to roll easily and smoothly and are sometimes complicated and careful in their details.

Practitioners in toy techniques have found that the value and appearance of toy vehicles can be dramatically increased by the provision of various types of game sets and sets of tracks, which emphasize or supplement the value of the game itself. toy vehicles. The game sets typically use some form of stay or installation within which the toy vehicle can be used. Examples of such game sets are found in simulated parking garages, car washes, fire stations, police stations or train stations. Track sets typically use some kind of track or guide to carry or guide the toy vehicle around the track. In the case of freewheeling vehicles, the lack of an internal energy source is overcome by using track assemblies that have a launcher or impeller to impart energy to the toy vehicle. The basic activity of such track sets is to travel through the path defined by the track of the toy vehicle. A relatively new feature of toy vehicle track sets and game sets is the use of track and play scenarios that increase the potential for collisions between two or more toy vehicles crossing the track. While the Common type of collision feature in a track set of a toy vehicle employs an intersection that causes the trip of a toy vehicle to cross the path of another toy vehicle. The variations of this theme that produces the collision are found in the obstacles within the track, as well as the activities of the race or several loops or jumps. As a further variant of the track sets and playsets of the toy vehicle, which include a collision characteristic or collision potential, practitioners have supplied the so-called "collision carts", in which spring-loaded mechanisms, or their equivalents, are structured inside the toy vehicle, often driven by impact against a front or rear bumper. The characteristic is activated in the impact and typically causes the toy vehicle to launch or roll or fly apart the lost components, specially configured to fly from the vehicle. Additional features that simulate vehicle collisions, use deformable bodies together with the internal support structure, which changes the dimension in response to the deformation caused by the impact, which simulates a vehicle that has made a collision, which will be presented. U.S. Patent No. 2,597,094, issued to Gutmann, illustrates a OPERATED TOY THAT MAKES IMPACT, which it has a frame and a body, made of a plurality of pivotally coupled components. The components are elements with internal pivots, adapted to separate or move apart by the pivoting movements, under the thrust of the springs together with a releasable retaining member, adapted to be released by an impact. U.S. Patent No. 3,000,137, issued to Vine, illustrates a TOY VEHICLE THAT CAN SELF-DUMP, WHICH HAS A TOY VEHICLE and a frame that supports a spring-loaded pivot arm, which has a release mechanism driven by an impact to the front bumper. On impact, the trigger releases the pivot arm that, under spring force, pivots down against the underlying surface, causing the car to be flipped or flipped. U.S. Patent No. 3,037,772, issued to Bonanno, illustrates an EXPLODING TOY VEHICLE, which has a pair of side surfaces, a pair of end surfaces and a top and bottom surface, which forms a vehicle resembling a closed rail cart. Within the interior of the toy vehicle, a spring loaded arm engages in a locked position against the spring force. On impact, the spring arm is released and the energy stored inside the spring, it rapidly pivots the arm, causing the various panels to fly apart. U.S. Patent No. 4,571,197, issued to Kulesza et al., Illustrates a TOILET SENSITIVE VEHICLE, formed in two separable halves, which generally corresponds to the front and rear of the vehicle. A torsion spring orients the ends, which can be joined, of the halves, to separate each one and to fly when receiving the impact. U.S. Patent No. 4,693,693 and its US Patent No. 4,588,395, each with a TOY COLLISION VEHICLE title and each issued to Kennedy et al., Show toy vehicles having a deformable body and components. of the body secured pivotally, which in the impact are thrown. The deformable portion of the body is caused to disintegrate in appearance when the internal support structure of the deformable body contracts. U.S. Patent No. 4,762,511, issued to Lee et al, shows a TOY COLLISION VEHICLE WITH TORQUE FRONTAL WHEELS which have a pair of front wheels, pivotally supported on the body and which can be moved from a straight line alignment to an angular misalignment, with respect to an impact with an object at the front end of the vehicle.

U.S. Patent No. 4,911,669, issued to Parker, illustrates a SIMULATED EXPLOSION TOY VEHICLE, having a frame supporting a body, to form the interior of the vehicle. Inside, an ejection seat mechanism is provided, which responds to frontal impacts to launch a toy figure that simulates an operator launched from the vehicle. U.S. Patent No. 5,380,231, issued to Brovelli, illustrates a TOW TO BE DISASSEMBLED WHEN RECEIVING AN IMPACT, having a body that supports a plurality of peel-off elements, together with a mounting to support each peel-away element in a predetermined position in the body. The resilient ejection mechanism, coupled between the body and each releasable element and spring-oriented in the detachable direction, is controlled by a movable latch, which is released at impact. The head also rotates as the torso moves. U.S. Patent No. 5,259,808, issued to Garr, illustrates a LAUNCH TOY VEHICLE having a body and a pivot mechanism, with first and second ends. The first end of the pivot mechanism is rotatably mounted to the body, while the second end can pivot freely. The action of the pivot of l ^^ a ^^ Wfe ^ Mi ^^^ M ^ a - ^^ - aMM ^ u ^^^^ M body with respect to the pivot mechanism provides a launching action of the vehicle. US Patent: No. 5,141,468, issued to Suzuki, illustrates a TRAVELING TOY, WHICH HAS A LAUNCHER, while US Patent No. 5,131,880, issued to Nesbit et al, shows a TOY CART APPARATUS WHICH CAN BE USED. CHOCAR and US Patent No. 4,413,445, issued to Kulesza et al, shows a VEHICLE DEVICE OF TOY, all of which show a structure generally related to the present invention. While prior art devices, described above, have improved the technique and, in some cases, have been commercially successful, however, there remains a continuing need in the art for a toy vehicle, simple, cost efficient and easy to operate. manufacture, that has a collision simulation, sensitive to impact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle, having a collision simulation, which responds to the impact against the vehicle. It is still a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle, responsive to impact, which simulates a deformation or damage of a collision, altering the configuration of the vehicle in response to an impact. According to the present invention, a collision simulation is provided in a toy vehicle, comprising: a front portion, a rear portion, a pivot element, pivotally joining the front and rear portions, to rotate between a configuration in line, characteristic of the game of a normal toy vehicle, and an angled configuration, characteristic of the collision damage, and spring elements on the center, coupled to the front and rear portions, to orient the front and rear portions towards any of the configurations and away from any intermediate positionBRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The characteristics of the present invention, believed to be novel, are pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with other objects and advantages thereof, can be better understood with reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a top view, partially in section, of a toy vehicle, constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a top view of the toy vehicle of the present invention, showing its alteration for the simulation of a collision; Figure 3 illustrates the top view of the toy vehicle of the present invention, shown in the Figure 2, which has the external body removed to exhibit its interior components; Figure 4 illustrates a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the toy vehicle of the present invention, in its normal or non-deformed configuration; Figure 5 illustrates a side elevational view of the toy vehicle of Figure 4, in its configuration after the collision; and Figure 6 illustrates a bottom view, partially in section, of the toy vehicle of the present invention, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figure 1 illustrates a top view, partially in section, of a toy vehicle, constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally with the reference number 10. The toy vehicle 10 is formed of middle pivot portions, which can be configured either in the straight line position of Figure 1 or in the angled configuration, which simulates a collision, shown in FIG. Figure 2. The vehicle 10 includes a front portion 11 and a rear portion 12, pivotally coupled by a displaced pivot 32. The front portion 11 includes a windshield 20, side surfaces, 13 and 14, and side windows, 23 and 31. The back portion 12 includes side surfaces, 15 and 16, together with a roof 21, supported by a pair of door posts 22 and 30. The side window 23 further defines a recessed portion 24, which is offset from and movable within the post 22 of the rear portion 121. As shown in Figure 1 below in greater detail, the pivot 32 pivotally couples the front portion 11. and the rear portion 12 at a point offset from the centerline of the toy vehicle 10. The side window 23 is further supported by an edge member 25, while the windshield 20 supports a leading edge 26 of the roof 21. In the configuration shown in Figure 1, the toy vehicle 10 is configured in its generally normal-looking state, in which the front portion 11 and the front portion 11 and the rear portion 12, are substantially in line and in which the window A-wlui-iÉdai? -á l lateral 31 meets the door post 30? and in which the post 22 overlaps the recessed portion 24 of the side window 23. In this configuration, a small amount of spring pressure is provided by a spring 70 (shown in Figure 3), which operates in a way over the center to push the trailing edge of the side window 31 against the post 30 and maintain the straight line configuration of Figure 1. The recessed portion 24 of the side window 23 facilitates the alternative configuration of the toy vehicle 10, shown in Figure 2. In essence, the recessed portion 24 allows the window 23 to pass into the post 22. The provision of the pivot 32 in a displacement of the center line of the toy vehicle 10 also facilitates the shock simulation action of the toy vehicle 10, in which this toy vehicle changes from the alignment shown in Figure 1 to the collision simulation of Figure 2. Due to the front portion 11, operated by the spring on the center and the rear portion, the toy vehicle 10 is stable in any of the straight line position, shown in Figure 1, or the collision simulation position, shown in Figure 2, but rapidly changes the configuration in a straight line to the collision simulation configuration in the impact against another vehicle or an object.

Figure 2 illustrates a top view of a toy vehicle 10 in the aforementioned collision simulation configuration. By reviewing this view, the front portion 11 and the rear portion 12 remain pivotally coupled by the pivot 32, following the impact. However, it will be appreciated that the front portion 11 and the rear portion 12 have pivoted with each other, forcing the side window 23 past the post 22 and opening the gasket of the side window 31 and the post 30. More specifically, the vehicle of toy 10 includes a front portion 11 and a rear portion 12, pivotally coupled by a displacement pin 32. The front portion 11 includes a windshield 20, the side surfaces 13 and 14 and the side windows 23 and 31. The rear portion 12 includes the side surfaces 15, and 16, together with a roof 21, supported by a pair of posts, 22 and 30, door. The side window 23 further defines a recessed portion 24, which is displaced from and movable within the post 22 of the rear portion 12. As illustrated below in Figure 3 in greater detail, the pivot 32 pivotally couples the front portion. 11 to the rear portion 12, of the centerline of the toy vehicle 10. The side window 23 is further supported by an edge member 25, while the windshield 20 supports a leading edge 26 of the roof 21. -auU ^ riüÁidÉlM In operation, with the toy vehicle 10 initially aligned, as shown in Figure 1, for normal operation in a straight line, the force of the spring 70 (seen in Figure 3) maintains the straight-line arrangement of Figure 1 , until an impact occurs. Upon impact with another vehicle or object, the displaced position of the center of the pivot 32 results in an absorption of the impact by the front portion 11 and the rear portion 12, which exceeds the force of the spring 70 (seen in Figure 3) and moves the portions 11 and 12 through the resistance on the center of the spring, after which the spring rapidly moves the front portion 11 and the rear portion 12 together, in the directions indicated by the arrows 40 and 42. Concurrently, the The central portion of the front portion 11 and the rear portion 12, move in the direction indicated by the arrow 41. As a result, the window 23 is moved inside the rear portion 12, while the side window 31 is angled towards outside, away from the post 30. The toy vehicle 10 can be restored to its normal configuration, simply by forcing the front portion 11 and the rear portion 12 back into line alignment. Figure 1. During this process, the force of the spring 70 (seen in Figure 3) is overcome and brought to its opposite position displaced from the center. In that position, the spring 70 maintains an orientation force, which pushes the toy vehicle 10 towards the straight line position and forcing the side window 31 against the post 30. Figure 3 illustrates a top plan view of the toy vehicle 10, having a front portion 11 and a rear portion 12 removed to allow the description of the pivoting mechanism of the toy vehicle of the present invention. The toy vehicle 10 includes a front frame 50, which supports the front portion 11 (seen in Figure 2) together with the rear frame 80, which supports the rear portion 12 (also seen in Figure 2). The front frame 50 and the rear frame 80 are pivotally joined by the pivot 32, which is offset from the center line of the toy vehicle 10. The pivot 32 defines an opening 62 formed in the front frame 50 and the pivot pin 61, which extends upwards from the rear frame 80 and which passes through the opening 62. The front frame 50 further includes a pair of bearings, 55 and 56, which receives a shaft 51, which supports the wheels 53 and 54. forms an opening 52 in the front portion of the front frame 50. This opening 52 is used in securing the front portion 11 to the front frame 50 using a conventional fastener (not shown).

AiU --- ^ A The rear frame 80 includes a pair of bearings, 83 and 84, which support an axis 82, which, in turn, supports the wheels 85 and 86. An opening 81 is formed in the rear part of the rear frame 80, which facilitates joining the back portion using a conventional fastener (not shown). The front frame 50 further supports a post 60 having a spring 70 supported there. This spring 70 includes an arm 71 positioned against a post 73 formed in the rear frame 80 and a hook end arm 72 secured to an opening 63, formed in the front frame 50. In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the position of the spring 70 with respect to the front frame 50 and the rear frame 80, facilitates a spring action on the center by the spring 70, in which the maximum force of the spring in any direction exists close to, but not in alignment in line straight, from the toy vehicle 10, as seen in Figure 1. Thus, in the position shown in Figure 3, the toy vehicle is angled, showing the collision simulation configuration of the toy vehicle. In this position, the spring 70 pushes the front frame 50 and the rear frame 80 to the unaligned, or angled, position shown in Figure 3. As mentioned above, the limit of this spring orientation movement is provided by the configuration of the front portion 11 and the rear portion 12, as this front portion 11 abuts against the post 22 (see Figure 2). In the reverse direction, as the front frame 50 and the rear frame 80 are restored to the straight line position, by the pivoting movement in the directions indicated by the arrows 75 and 76, the front frame 50 and the rear frame 80 pivot about the pivot 32, overcoming the force of the spring 70. According to the pressure action characteristic of the spring 70, the opposite maximum force moves in the directions indicated by the arrows 75 and 76, occurs just before the pivot movement that aligns the toy vehicle 10 in the straight line position of Figure 1. Next, the relative movement of the opening 63 with respect to the post 73 and the post 60, causes the spring to press on and begin to push the frame front 50 and rear frame 80 in the directions indicated by arrows 75 and 76. This pressing action on the center forces window 31 against post 30 (see Fig. a 2) and keep the toy vehicle in straight line alignment until it receives an impact. Thus, toy vehicle 10 can be operated in a straight line or is capable of rapidly pivoting in an action under pressure to an angled configuration that simulates a collision, which operates within the horizontal plane of the vehicle. Figure 4 illustrates a side view, in partial section, of an alternative embodiment of the toy vehicle of the present invention, generally with the reference numeral 90. The toy vehicle 90 provides an embodiment of the present invention, in which the The front portion and the rear portion of the toy vehicle can pivot in a vertical plane, rather than in the horizontal plane shown in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3. More specifically, the toy vehicle 90 includes a front portion 91 and a rear portion 92, pivotally joined by a hinge 104. This hinge 104 is secured on each side of the roof portions 93 and 109 of the front portion 91 and the rear portion 92, respectively, A pivot 102 provides the hinge action for the hinge 104 and includes a pin 103. A flange 105 is secured to the front portion of the hinge 104 and thus engages the roof portion 109. A post 113 extends downwardly within the rear portion 92 and receives an arm 112 of a spring 110 about the center. This spring 110 further includes an arm 111, which engages an aperture 106 formed in the flange 105. The front portion 91 further includes an inner post 121 and a pivot 124. As best seen in the Figure 6, pivot 124 and post 121 support a spring 122 and a door opener 123. The latter is operative in the manner shown in Figure 6, to push the doors 99 and 100 (door 99, seen in Figure 6) to the open position. The structure of the door opening mechanism within the toy vehicle 90 is shown below in Figure 6 in greater detail. However, it is sufficient to note here that the toy vehicle 10 pivots within the vertical plane on impact, the cam 120 is forced up against the door opener 123, causing the door opener to pivot against the spring 122 and force the doors 99 and 100 to open. In the straight line configuration, shown in Figure 4, the spring 110 supplies an operative spring force for urging the pivoting movement between the front portion 91 and the rear portion 92, about the pin 103 of the hinge 104 in the direction indicated by the arrow 15. More importantly, the force of the spring, provided by the spring 110, and the relative positions of the arms 111 and 112, together with the flange 105, provide a spring action on the center for the spring 110. In accordance with this action of the spring on the center, the spring 110 acts to maintain an orientation of the spring in the direction of the arrow 115, which forces the roof portions 93 and 109 together along a seam 108 between them, when the toy vehicle 90 is configured in its straight line or in normal action. Conversely, however, and further in accordance with the action of the spring on the center, as the front portion 91 and the rear portion 92 are pivoted in the directions indicated by the arrows 125 and 126, respectively, against the force of the spring 110, the movement of the flange 105 brings the spring 110 through a resistance force, to the initial pivoting movements, which push the closure of the front portion 91 and the rear portion 92 in the direction indicated by the arrow 115 to a spring force, directed oppositely, in the direction indicated by the arrow 116. This action on the center of the spring 110 provides a drastic pressure action to the pivot of the front portion 91 and the rear portion 92, which allows the vehicle of toy 90 assume the simulation position of the collision, shown in Figure 5. Thus, the spring 110 supplies a spring force together with the flange 105 which locks the toy vehicle 90 in any of the straight line configuration, shown in Figure 4, or the collision simulation configuration, shown in Figure 5. Figure 5 shows a side view, in partial section, of the toy vehicle 90, in the collision simulation configuration. As mentioned before, the reconfiguration of the toy vehicle 90 from the position in a straight line, shown in Figure 4, to the rotated collision simulation configuration, shown in Figure 5, occurs in response to impact against the toy vehicle 90, sufficient to change the spring 110 to its spring condition on the opposite center. More specifically, the toy vehicle 90 includes a front portion 91 and a rear portion 92, pivotally joined by a hinge 104. This hinge 104 is secured to each side of the roof portions, 93 and 109, of the front portion 91 and the rear portion 92, respectively. A pivot 102 supplies the hinge action for the hinge 104 and includes a pin 103. A flange 105 is secured to the forward portion of the hinge 104 and thus engages the roof portion 109. A post 113 extends downwardly within of the rear portion and receives an arm 112 of a spring 110 about the center. The spring 110 further includes an arm 111 that engages an aperture 106 formed in the flange 105. The front portion 91 further includes an inner post 121 and a pivot 124. As best seen in Figure 6, the pivot 124 and the post 121, support a spring 122 and a door opener 123. The latter is operative in the manner shown in Figure 6, to push the doors 99 and 100 (the door 99 is seen in Figure 6) to the open position.

In the position simulating the collision, shown in Figure 5, the front portion 91 and the rear portion 92 are pivoted by the spring 110 around the pin 103 to bend the hinge 104. The folding of the hinge 104 and the pivot movement of the front portion 91 and the rear portion 92, are limited by the contact of the flange 105 against a side of the hinge 104. Thus, in the position shown in Figure 5, the simultaneous action of the two mechanisms within the vehicle of toy 90, has taken place. First, the action on the center, described above, of the spring 110, has produced a spring force, which pushes the arm 111 in the direction indicated by the arrow 116 in Figure 4. This force pivots the front portion 91 with respect to to the rear portion 92, until the flange 105 reaches the travel limit position. Next, the spring 110 provides sufficient force to maintain the angular position, shown in Figure 5. The second operating mechanism within the toy vehicle 90, involves upward movement of the cam 120 as the rear portion 92 pivots to supplying a force exerted on the door openers 123 and 13 (the last seen in Figure 6), which force the doors 99 and 100 to the open position, shown in Figures 5 and 6. In the collision simulation configuration of Figure 5, doors 99 and 100 (the last view in the Figure 6) are forced out and pass the panels 107 and 117. Due to the pressing action on the center of the spring 110, this reconfiguration of the toy vehicle 90 occurs very quickly and any impact disturbing the straight line, shown in Figure 4, simply by pivoting the front portion 91 and the rear portion 92 in the directions indicated by the arrows 128 and 129, which exceed the force of the spring 110 and nine fold the spring 110 to the position on the center, shown in Figure 4. Figure 6 shows a bottom view, in partial section, of the toy vehicle 90. As described above, the toy vehicle 90 includes a front portion 91 and a rear portion 92, pivotally coupled. by a hinge 104, which has a pivot 102 formed. Each side of the hinge 104 is secured to the lower surface of the roof portions 93 and 109, using conventional fasteners. The back portion 91 supports a body portion 130, while the back portion 92 supports a body portion 131 secured by the fasteners 136 and 137, respectively. As already also described above, the front portion 91 includes a roof portion 109 and the I r 'I-MI - -'- "* - * -"' - - - - »'-' - ***. * > »- ** .. ..... .- -. , «." Lái «a. . ^ "MilH ^ back portion 92 includes a roof portion 93. The roof portions, 93 and 109, are joined along a seam 108. The toy vehicle 90 further includes a pair of mechanisms, 123 and 133, of door opening, on each side of the vehicle, operating on doors 100 and 99, respectively. The openers, 123 and 133, of doors, are mirror image structures, each commonly coupled to a spring 151 by the arms 152 and 153, respectively. Thus, the door opener 12 includes a door bracket 140 having a pivot support post 141, which pivotally supports the bracket 140 within the front portion 91, to supply the pivot 124 (seen in Figure 5). The door bracket 140 further includes an extension cam arm 142 and an accessory 143. This accessory 143 is attached to the interior of the door 100. The door opener 133 includes a door bracket 160, which has a support post 161 of pivot, a cam spleen 162 and an accessory 163. This accessory 163 is secured to the interior surface of the door 99. In the closed position, shown in the representation in solid lines in Figure 6, the door 100 is joined to the panel 107 for forming a seam 101. An overlap seal 134 supplies a limit stop for the door 100 and aligns this door 100 with the panel 107. Similarly, the door 99 forms a seam 154 with the panel 117, and is limited in its travel to the interior by an obstruction 135. A post 150 extends vertically within the front portion 91 and receives the helical portion of a spring 151. This spring 151 supplies a force to the outside against the brackets 140 and 160, which push the pivoting movement about the posts 141 and 161, respectively, in the directions indicated by the arrows 145 and 146. With temporary return to Figure 5, it will be seen that the cam 120 extends outward from the rear portion 92. The function of the cam 120 is to open the doors 100 and 99, as the rear portion 92 is pivoted around the pivot 102, which raises the cam 120 between the cam arms, which open the door (cam arms 142 and 162). Returning to Figure 6, and assuming initially the straight line configuration of the toy vehicle 90, as shown in Figure 4, the spring 110 directs the flange 105 up against the hinge 104, which places the roof portions, 109 and 93, abutting along the seam 108. Concurrently, the straight line alignment of the front portion 91 and the rear portion 92, cam 120 pivots (seen in Figure 4) down and away from arms 142 and 162 of ^^^^? ^ -atu ^ cam. In the absence of the cam 120, between the cam arms, the spring 151 pivots the brackets 140 and 160 of the door in the direction indicated by the arrows 145 and 146, to close the door 100 and the door 99. In response to a sufficient impact to overcome the force on the center of the spring 110, the pivot of the front portion 91 and the rear portion 92, shown in Figure 5, takes place. It will be recalled that the spring 110 supplies a force on the center which acts to resist this pivoting movement until passing over the center, after which the spring aids the continued pivoting movement. As the front portion 91 and the rear portion 92 pivot,. the seam 108 is separated and the cam 120 (seen in Figure 5) is pivoted upwardly between the cam arms 142 and 162. The cam surfaces of the cam 120 force the cam arms 142 and 162 outwardly in the opposite direction of the arrows 145 and 146. The force outwardly on the cam arms 142 and 162 pivots the brackets 140 and 160 around the arms. posts 141 and 161, respectively, causing doors 100 and 99 to pivot open, to the line positions in dashes, shown in Figure 6. With doors 100 and 99 pivoted outwardly, seams 101 and 154 are now open and the panels 107 and 117 can pass inside the front portion 91 under the doors that pivot outwards. In Next, the action on the center of the spring 110 holds the toy vehicle 90 in the position shown in Figure 5. A toy vehicle having a simulation of a collision, sensitive to impact, which uses an accessory of pivot between the front portion and the rear portion of the toy vehicle together with the action spring on the center. This spring on the center and the pivot attachment can be provided to cause the pivoting movement between the front and rear portions in any of the planes, horizontally or vertically, as desired. In addition, the operating apparatus in the toy vehicle, which is driven by the spring on the center through the body of the vehicle, is operative to move other body panels in a pivoting motion to further add realism to the simulation of a collision. While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the object of the appended claims is to cover all those changes and modifications that are within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. CLAIMS 1. A toy vehicle, which simulates a collision, this vehicle comprises: a frontal portion; a posterior portion; a pivot element, pivotally joining the front and rear portions, for the pivot between an in-line configuration, characteristic of the play of a normal toy vehicle, and an angled configuration, characteristic of the damage of a collision; and a spring element on the center, coupled to the front and rear portions, to orient these portions, front and rear, to any of the configurations and away from any intermediate position.
2. 2. The toy vehicle, defined in claim 1, having a center line, in which the pivot member joins the front portion to the rear portion, in a position displaced from the center line, to cause impact to the toy vehicle and Force this vehicle from the online configuration to the angled configuration. ^^ ¡^ ^
3. 3. The toy vehicle, defined in claim 2, wherein the spring element on the center includes: a pole, within one of the front and rear portions; and a helical spring, having a central helix received in the post and having a first arm coupled to the front portion and a second arm coupled to the rear portion.
4. 4. The toy vehicle, defined in claim 3, wherein the toy vehicle can be moved in a generally horizontal plane.
5. 5. The toy vehicle, defined in claim 4, wherein the pivot member allows the front and rear portions to pivot in a horizontal plane.
6. 6. The toy vehicle, defined in claim 4, wherein the pivot member allows the front and rear portions to pivot in a vertical plane.
7. 7. The toy vehicle, defined in claim 1, in which this toy vehicle can be moved in a generally horizontal plane.
8. 8. The toy vehicle, defined in claim 7, wherein the pivot member allows the front and rear portions to pivot in a horizontal plane.
9. 9. The toy vehicle, defined in claim 1, wherein the pivot member allows the front and rear portions to pivot in a vertical plane. - '* - •• ^ * --- - ... ...... ^ .. ^ ..., ^^. ^^ - ^^ í. ^ £ ... ........... .1 .. Mm ~, ~