US20080096462A1 - Suspension Structure and Model Vehicle - Google Patents

Suspension Structure and Model Vehicle Download PDF

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Publication number
US20080096462A1
US20080096462A1 US10/587,484 US58748407A US2008096462A1 US 20080096462 A1 US20080096462 A1 US 20080096462A1 US 58748407 A US58748407 A US 58748407A US 2008096462 A1 US2008096462 A1 US 2008096462A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
suspension structure
bar
pivot shaft
vehicle body
section
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/587,484
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English (en)
Inventor
Shigeki Araki
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tamiya Inc
Original Assignee
Tamiya Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tamiya Inc filed Critical Tamiya Inc
Assigned to TAMIYA, INC. reassignment TAMIYA, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ARAKI, SHIGEKI
Publication of US20080096462A1 publication Critical patent/US20080096462A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H17/00—Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; ; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor
    • A63H17/26—Details; Accessories
    • A63H17/262—Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H17/00—Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; ; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor
    • A63H17/14—Endless-track automobiles or trucks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2202/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of spring, damper or actuator
    • B60G2202/10—Type of spring
    • B60G2202/13—Torsion spring
    • B60G2202/134—Torsion spring comprising a transversal torsion bar and/or tube

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a suspension structure for use in a model vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a suspension structure having a torsion bar for use in a model tank.
  • a conventional model tank suspension structure utilizes the torsional elasticity of a plate spring that is fitted to a pivot shaft of a swing arm.
  • FIGS. 7 to 9 show a conventional model tank having such a suspension structure.
  • FIG. 7 is a structural side view of a conventional model tank.
  • the vehicle body of a model tank 100 is equipped with tracks, sprocket wheels, road wheels, etc., which are not shown in FIG. 7 .
  • the road wheels are attached to the inner surface of the vehicle body bottom 101 through a suspension structure.
  • the suspension structure 102 is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 .
  • Plate spring securing members 103 each formed into an L-shaped sectional configuration by sheet metal working are disposed parallel to each other and secured to the vehicle body bottom 101 .
  • a plurality of metallic plate springs 105 are attached to the plate spring securing members 103 through respective openings provided in the plate spring securing members 103 .
  • One end of each plate spring 105 is inserted into a slit of a pivot shaft 106 . It should be noted that the other ends of the plate springs 105 are restrained from moving axially by respective stoppers 109 formed on the plate spring securing members 103 .
  • a swing arm 108 is attached to the other end of each pivot shaft 106 .
  • a road wheel (not shown) is attached to the distal end of the swing arm 108 .
  • the conventional suspension structure 102 involves a complicated manufacturing process and takes time and labor to process and assemble the components because the plate spring securing members 103 are made by sheet metal working, and hence suffers from an increase in production cost.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a suspension structure for use in a model vehicle that is easy to process and assemble and hence capable of reducing the production cost and also provide a model vehicle.
  • the suspension structure 1 includes a bar-like member 20 having torsional elasticity, a securing section 75 that secures one end of the bar-like member 20 to a vehicle body 71 of the model vehicle, a pivot shaft 30 attached to the other end of the bar-like member 20 , a swing arm 50 attached at the proximal end thereof to the pivot shaft 30 , and a wheel (road wheel) 74 attached to the distal end of the swing arm 50 .
  • a first annular section 21 is formed at one end of the bar-like member 20 .
  • the securing section 75 is a circular columnar projection section 75 projecting from the vehicle body 71 .
  • the first annular section 21 is fitted to the projection section 75 , thereby securing one end of the bar-like member 20 to the vehicle body 71 .
  • the pivot shaft 30 has a slit 32 into which the other end of the bar-like member 20 is inserted.
  • the bar-like member 20 has at the other end thereof a second annular section 22 that is inserted into the slit 32 .
  • the suspension structure 1 further includes a securing ring 40 that prevents the second annular section 22 inserted into the slit 32 from falling out of the slit 32 .
  • the pivot shaft 30 has a projection (ridge) 31 that prevents the securing ring 40 from falling off the distal end of the pivot shaft 30 .
  • the suspension structure 1 further includes a securing ring retainer 77 that slidably supports the securing ring 40 with respect to the vehicle body 71 .
  • the securing ring retainer 77 has a curved surface that abuts against the securing ring 40 .
  • the suspension structure 1 further includes a restraining section 76 that restrains the securing ring 40 from moving axially of the pivot shaft 30 .
  • the invention set forth in claim 10 provides a model vehicle 70 having the suspension structure 1 .
  • the model vehicle 70 has the suspension structure 1 for a right wheel and the suspension structure 1 for a left wheel.
  • the suspension structure 1 for a right wheel and the suspension structure 1 for a left wheel are disposed alternately.
  • the suspension structure and the model vehicle according to the present invention are easy to process and assemble because the component configuration is simple, and hence enable the production cost to be reduced. Unlike the conventional practice, the present invention dispenses with plate springs and press forming dies for forming securing members, which leads to an initial cost reduction.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a model tank having a suspension structure according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the suspension structure according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded side view of the suspension structure according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a top view showing a state where a bar-like member is attached to the bottom of a vehicle body.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the suspension structure according to the present invention that has been assembled.
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the assembled state of the suspension structure according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a structural side view of a conventional model tank.
  • FIG. 8 is a plan view of a suspension structure used in the model tank shown in FIG. 7 .
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the suspension structure shown in FIG. 8 .
  • suspension structure is applied to the suspension of a model tank
  • present invention is not necessarily limited to model tanks but is also applicable to other model vehicles such as tracked vehicles and automobiles.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a model tank 70 to which the present invention is applied.
  • the model tank 70 is modeled after “Leopard 2 ”.
  • the model tank 70 has a vehicle body 71 , a turret 72 rotatably provided on the top of the vehicle body 71 , and a gun 73 vertically movably provided on the turret 72 .
  • a plurality of road wheels 74 are provided on each side of the vehicle body 71 .
  • the suspension structure 1 according to the present invention supports each road wheel 74 vertically movably to serve as a suspension for the road wheel 74 .
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the suspension structure 1 .
  • the suspension structure 1 according to the present invention is attached to the inner bottom surface of the vehicle body 71 , which is made of a resin.
  • a bar-like member (torsion bar) 20 is formed of a steel wire and has predetermined torsional elasticity. At both ends of the bar-like member 20 , the steel wire is bent into an annular shape to form a first annular section 21 and a second annular section 22 .
  • a pivot shaft 30 is cylindrical and attached to the second annular section 22 .
  • the pivot shaft 30 is formed at one end thereof with a slit 32 into which the second annular section 22 is inserted.
  • the second annular section 22 is secured to the pivot shaft 30 by inserting the second annular section 22 into the slit 32 from one end of the pivot shaft 30 .
  • a metallic securing ring 40 is attached to the pivot shaft 30 .
  • the securing ring 40 prevents the second annular section 22 from falling out of the slit 32 .
  • the pivot shaft 30 has at one end thereof a ridge 31 provided over the entire circumference to prevent the securing ring 40 from falling off the end of the pivot shaft 30 at which the slit 32 is provided.
  • the ridge 31 abuts against the securing ring 40 to prevent falling off of the securing ring 40 .
  • a swing arm 50 is attached at the proximal end thereof to the other end of the pivot shaft 30 so as to pivot within a predetermined range together with the pivot shaft 30 .
  • a road wheel 74 (not shown) is rotatably attached to the distal end of the swing arm 50 .
  • One side of the vehicle body 71 is formed with a tubular opening 76 that accommodates the pivot shaft 30 .
  • the inner bottom surface of the vehicle body 71 which is made of a resin, is integrally formed with a circular columnar projection section 75 projecting upward from the bottom surface.
  • the outer diameter of the projection section 75 is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the first annular section 21 , so that the first annular section 21 is fittable to the projection section 75 .
  • a securing member 60 is attached to the distal end of the projection section 75 to prevent falling off of the first annular section 21 .
  • the securing member 60 is brought into abutment against the first annular section 21 and secured to the projection section 75 with a screw (not shown).
  • a screw not shown
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state where one end of the bar-like member 20 is attached to the inner bottom surface of the vehicle body 71 .
  • a part of the vehicle body 71 in the vicinity of the tubular opening 76 is integrally formed with a securing ring retainer 77 projecting upward from the vehicle body 71 and having a curved surface that abuts against a curved surface of the securing ring 40 .
  • the securing ring 40 is slidably supported by the securing ring retainer 77 .
  • a restraining section (restraining wall) 78 is integrally formed with the vehicle body 71 so as to extend perpendicular to both side surfaces of the securing ring retainer 77 , i.e. the axial direction of the pivot shaft 30 , and abut against the lower portions of both side surfaces of the securing ring 40 to restrain the securing ring 40 from moving axially of the pivot shaft 30 .
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 show the above-described suspension structure 1 installed on the bottom of the vehicle body 71 .
  • the swing arm 50 is attached to the bar-like member 20 through the pivot shaft 30 .
  • the swing arm 50 is rotatable within a range allowed by the torsional elasticity of the bar-like member 20 .
  • an upward force is applied to the road wheel 74 .
  • the force causes the distal end of the swing arm 50 to move upward. That is, the pivot shaft 30 rotates about the bar-like member 20 as an axis of rotation.
  • the bar-like member 20 is twisted because one end thereof is fixed to the bottom of the vehicle body 71 , thereby absorbing the force applied to the road wheel 74 .
  • the applied force disappears.
  • the bar-like member 20 is deformed so as to untwist, causing the pivot shaft 30 and the swing arm 50 to rotate in the opposite direction to the above.
  • the road wheel 74 moves downward.
  • suspension structure 1 is attached to all the road wheels 74 of the model tank 70 shown in FIG. 1 . That is, suspension structures 1 for road wheels 74 attached to the right side of the vehicle body 71 and those for road wheels 74 attached to the left side of the vehicle body 71 are installed on the inner bottom surface of the vehicle body 71 alternately and parallel to each other, although not shown in the figures.

Landscapes

  • Toys (AREA)
  • Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
US10/587,484 2004-01-30 2005-01-27 Suspension Structure and Model Vehicle Abandoned US20080096462A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2004022575A JP2005211379A (ja) 2004-01-30 2004-01-30 サスペンション構造及び模型車両
JP2004-022575 2004-01-30
PCT/JP2005/001111 WO2005072843A1 (ja) 2004-01-30 2005-01-27 サスペンション構造及び模型車両

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20080096462A1 true US20080096462A1 (en) 2008-04-24

Family

ID=34823837

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/587,484 Abandoned US20080096462A1 (en) 2004-01-30 2005-01-27 Suspension Structure and Model Vehicle

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20080096462A1 (enExample)
EP (1) EP1723994B1 (enExample)
JP (1) JP2005211379A (enExample)
DE (1) DE602005023421D1 (enExample)
WO (1) WO2005072843A1 (enExample)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD715376S1 (en) 2013-10-01 2014-10-14 Mega Brands Inc. Construction set element
US9375649B2 (en) 2014-08-05 2016-06-28 Mattel, Inc. Toy vehicle

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2033493A (en) * 1934-01-25 1936-03-10 Straussler Mechanization Ltd Suspension of road wheels of vehicles
US3202441A (en) * 1963-11-27 1965-08-24 Ford Motor Co Torsion spring vehicle suspension
US4213269A (en) * 1978-03-03 1980-07-22 Grogg Charles J Sr Amusement vehicle
US4521033A (en) * 1982-05-11 1985-06-04 Steyr-Daimler-Puch Aktiengesellschaft Assembly comprising a frame, unsteered wheels and spring suspension of a motor vehicle
US4562893A (en) * 1983-12-19 1986-01-07 Hedstrom Corporation Toy vehicle
US5016912A (en) * 1989-02-22 1991-05-21 Dbx Corporation Trailer suspension apparatus
US5909780A (en) * 1994-08-22 1999-06-08 Ani Mining Services Ltd Vehicle for underground mine shafts
US20020163165A1 (en) * 2000-12-12 2002-11-07 Adema Daniel R. Vehicle suspension

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1249552A (en) * 1968-01-08 1971-10-13 Mattel Inc Axles for toy vehicles
JPS5650495U (enExample) * 1979-09-22 1981-05-06
JPH0236559Y2 (enExample) * 1984-10-18 1990-10-04
JPH0330955U (enExample) * 1989-08-03 1991-03-26
JP2000352411A (ja) * 1999-06-11 2000-12-19 Showa Alum Corp アーム用部材
DE29922520U1 (de) * 1999-12-22 2000-03-02 Conrad GmbH, 90562 Kalchreuth Mehrachsiges Modell-Lastfahrzeug
DE20105614U1 (de) * 2001-03-29 2002-08-08 Conrad GmbH, 90562 Kalchreuth Modell-Fahrwerk eines Lkw

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2033493A (en) * 1934-01-25 1936-03-10 Straussler Mechanization Ltd Suspension of road wheels of vehicles
US3202441A (en) * 1963-11-27 1965-08-24 Ford Motor Co Torsion spring vehicle suspension
US4213269A (en) * 1978-03-03 1980-07-22 Grogg Charles J Sr Amusement vehicle
US4521033A (en) * 1982-05-11 1985-06-04 Steyr-Daimler-Puch Aktiengesellschaft Assembly comprising a frame, unsteered wheels and spring suspension of a motor vehicle
US4562893A (en) * 1983-12-19 1986-01-07 Hedstrom Corporation Toy vehicle
US5016912A (en) * 1989-02-22 1991-05-21 Dbx Corporation Trailer suspension apparatus
US5909780A (en) * 1994-08-22 1999-06-08 Ani Mining Services Ltd Vehicle for underground mine shafts
US20020163165A1 (en) * 2000-12-12 2002-11-07 Adema Daniel R. Vehicle suspension

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD715376S1 (en) 2013-10-01 2014-10-14 Mega Brands Inc. Construction set element
US9375649B2 (en) 2014-08-05 2016-06-28 Mattel, Inc. Toy vehicle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1723994A1 (en) 2006-11-22
DE602005023421D1 (de) 2010-10-21
WO2005072843A1 (ja) 2005-08-11
EP1723994A4 (en) 2008-12-31
EP1723994B1 (en) 2010-09-08
JP2005211379A (ja) 2005-08-11

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: TAMIYA, INC., JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ARAKI, SHIGEKI;REEL/FRAME:019742/0665

Effective date: 20070726

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION