US3202109A

US3202109A - Miniature racing car

Info

Publication number: US3202109A
Application number: US390321A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward R Stewart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-08-18
Filing date: 1964-08-18
Publication date: 1965-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1982-08-24

Description

Aug- 24, 1965 E. R. STEWART 3,202,109

MINIATURE RACING CAR Filed Aug. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l rraewfyf Allg- 24, 1965 E. R. STEWART 3,202,109

MINIATURE RACING CAR Filed Aug. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,262,109 lVIINl-ATURE RACING CAR Edward R. Stewart, 8522 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Aug. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 390,321 19 Claims. (Cl. IWB- 60) My invention relates to toy cars and the like, and more particularly to an improved miniature car of the slot racer type.

In recent years, electric motor-driven miniature racing cars, and particularly those adapted for running over tracks of various forms, have become increasingly popular toys. Generally, such cars are of the slot racer type including a guide pin riding in a slot to guide the car and electrical pick up arms sliding along electrical conductors for supplying current to the cars motor. The magnitude ofthe voltage applied to the cars motor controls the motors speed of operation and hence the rate at which the car travels along the slot in the track. Thus, `by regulating the voltage applied to the conductors, the car may be started, speeded up, slowed and stopped. Unfortunately, in presently available slot racing cars, regulation of the applied voltage is the only means of controlling the cars rate of travel. This does not allow for accurate or rapid stopping orslowing of the car since even after the voltage supply is terminated the car continues to move due to its own'momentum. In practice, this makes it extremely dithcult to control present slot racing cars, particularly during turning, the common result being that during racing the cars often leave the tracks at the turns. This inevitably means the end of the race for the particular racer involved, materially detracts from the enjoyment of the game, and is very hard on the racing cars, sometimes resulting in permanent damage thereto.

The diiiculty in controlling the slot racing cars, particularly during turning, is generally increased by the rather crude chassis design prevalent in present slot racers. During turning, as well as when traversing even a slight hill, the wheels of the present slot racers tend to leave the track, sometimes resulting in derailrnent of the associated car.

In View of the foregoing, it is a general object of my invention to provide an improved miniature racing car which overcomes the above problems.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved miniature racing car which may be accurately started, speeded up, slowed and stopped at the will of its operator.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved motor-driven miniature racing car having a novel brake construction which is automatically operable with operation of the motor of the car.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved chassis construction for miniature racing cars.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved miniature racing car which is inexpensive, simple in design, and easy to manufacture and maintain.

The foregoing as well as other objects and advantages of my invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of my invention.

In the drawings:

` body over the frame12.

FIGURE l is a sectional, side view illustrating the inner 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

` FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, sectional front View taken f. ICC

along the lines 3 3 in FIGURE 2 illustrating the mounting for the motor and brake assemblies to the frame construction for my miniature racing car;

FIGURE 3a is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along the lines 3a-3a in FIGURE 1 illustrating the construction of the track over whichracing car rides;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the brake band and associated bifurcated support plate of the brake assembly `of the miniature racing car illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of the brake apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1 with the brake disengaged to allow tree running of the racing car;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation. of the brake assembly of FIGURE `1 with the `brake on to prevent forward movement of the racing car;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional side View of the brake apparatus and rear end section of my miniature racing car employing a modified form of brake band;

FIGURE 8 is a perspectiveview of the modied form of brake band illustrated in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional side view of `a modiiied brake apparatus and motor drive mounting assembly for my miniature racing car; and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional top view of the modified brake apparatus and motor mount illustrated in FIGURE 9.

In FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, my miniature racing car is represented generallyby the numeral 10 and comprises a rframe 12 and a car body 14, front and rear wheel supporting axles 16 and ,18, an electric motor 20 and a brake assembly 22 all supported bythe frame.

To provide such support, the frame 12 comprises front and rear

axle supporting frames

24 and 26 having generally

parallel side arms

28, 36 and 32, 34, respectively. The front axle 16 passes through holes in the side arms 2S and 3i) with

front wheels

36 and 38 stationed at the l ends of the axle and separated `from the side arms by 'spacers 4d. The rear axle 18 passes through holes in the and 34 and extend from just forward of the front axle 16 along the sides of the car, curving upward over the rear axle 1S to therear of the car.` Car body cross pieces 48 and Sil are fixed tothe side arms 2S and 30 adjacent the front and rear axles to provide support for the car (See FIGURES 1 and 3.)

The

side arms

32 and 34, on the other hand, extend within and along the

side arms

28 and 30 from the rear of the car` forward to a position just behind the front wheels 36 and 3S and are pivotally coupled to the

side arms

28 and 30 substantially midway between the front and rear axles by

pins

52 and 54, respectively. The rear frame 26 is also resiliently coupled to the front frame 24. This is accomplished by a compression spring 56 extending around a vertical pin 58 lixed at its lower end toa cross piece 60 between the rear ends of the

arms

32 and 34 and passing at its upper end through a hole in a cross piece 62 Xed between the rear ends of the arms 28 and 3i). The spring presses upwardly on the cross arm 62 and downwardly on the cross arm 60 to continuously urge the rear ends of the front and rearframes 24 and `26 apart. The pivotal and resilient coupling of the front and rear frames thus alfords` spring-biased scissor-like movement betweenthe front and rear frames relative tothe pins 50` and 52, allowing the front and rear wheels to move up and down independent of each other, and tends to maintain the front and rear wheels in contact` with the track over which my racing; car moves,

a v thereby allowing my car to rapidly travel over hills and valleys without its wheels leaving the track and materially improving my cars road-hugging 4capabilities around turns.

In the form of my racing car illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3, the electric motor 20 is pivotally coupled to the forward end of the rear frame 26 for limited vertical rocking movement relative to the rear axle 18. Such support for the motor is provided by a flat support plate 62 fixed to the lower side of the motor 20. The support plate 62 is pivotally coupled to the front portions of the

side arms

32 and 34 by

pins

68 and 78 passing through aligned holes in the side arms and a pair of

flanges

64 and 66 extending upward from the sides of the support plate.

The drive shaft of the motor 2t) is represented by the numeral 72 and extends rearward from the motor in a generally horizontal plane toward the rear axle 18. Fixed to the end of the drive shaft 72 is a pinion gear 74 which meshes with a ring gear 76 carried by the rear axle 18.

Surrounding the ring gear 76 is a brake band 78 best seen in FIGURE 4. The brake band 78 is generally of spiral shape with the end radially closest the center of the spiral, i.e. its inner end, provided with a hole 8l) through which the drive shaft 72 projects. The end furthest from the center of the spiral, i.e., outer end of the band, is split and bent over to provide clips 82 for looping around and xing the outer end of the band to a pair of cross arms 84 extending laterally from a bifurcated support plate 86 supported by the drive shaft. The position of the support plate along the drive shaft is xed yby a collar 88. The outer end of the brake band is thus solidly anchored to the drive shaft while the inner Vend of the band is carried by the drive shaft just for- Ward of the pinion gear 74.

When the motor 20 is not operating, the weight of the motor moves the drive shaft 72 and the pinion gear 7d downwardly along the ring gear 76. This carries the inner end of the brake band 78 downward and wraps the band tightly around the ring gear. The brake band 78 thus provides end support for the drive shaft and, when tightly wrapped around the ring gear, prevents rotation of the rear axle 18. This condition is most clearly illustrated in FIGURE 6.

When the motor 20 is energized to rotate the drive shaft 72 in the direction indicated by the arrow 89, the pinion gear 78 initially rotates over the teeth ofthe stationary ring gear 76. Since the motor 20 is pivotally coupled at its forward end, the initial rotation of the pinion gear 74 allows the pinion gear to effectively climb up the ring gear. This loosens the brake band 78 around the ring gear and permits the pinion gear to drive the ring gear and hence the rear axle 18 and rear wheels in a forward direction. Continued rotation of the pinion gear 74 with the drive shaft 72 continues to tend to raise the pinion gear withrespect to the rear axle 18, this being the normal reaction accompanying the force tending to move the forward side of the ring gear down. The of condition of the brake assembly 22 with the motor running is most clearly illustrated in FIGURE 5.

K As in conventional miniature racing cars, the electric motor 2f) is of the direct current type having a rotational speed which varies with the magnitude of the voltage applied to the motor. In this regard, current is supplied to and returned from the motor by electrical pick ups 9i) and 92, each including a wire 93 connected to the motor 2t) and bristles 94 for yriding along electrical conductors imbedded in the track over which the racer travels (see FIGURE 3a). In the illustrated form` of my racer the wires terminate 'at side brackets 95 extending from a 'vertical guide blade 97 for guiding my car. The guide blade 97 is adapted to pivot with a pin 99 pivotally connected to the front of the frame 24 to follow a slot in the track. The bristles 94 are electrically connected to the ends of the wires 93 and extend under the brackets rearwardly to ride along the electrical conductors imbedded in the track.

Once the motor 2@ is running and the brake assembly 22 is disengaged, the value of the voltage applied to the electric motor by the

wiper arms

98 and 92 regulates the rotational velocity of the drive shaft 72 and hence the forward velocity of my racing car. When it is desired to increase the speed of the car, the voltage supplied to the motor 2e is increased. When it is desired to slow the car, the voltage is decreased accordingly. As the voltage supplied to the motor 2? is decreased and the rotational velocity of the drive shaft is reduced, the climb of the pinion gear 74- over the ring gear 76 relative to the rear axle 18 reduces. As the pinion gear 74 moves slightly downwardly relative to the rear axle 18, the brake band 78 moves inwardly around the outer surface of the ring gear 76 to increase the frictional drag of the brake band on the ring gear. This immediately produces an accurately controlled slowing of my racing car to allow the car to come to a controlled halt or take a turn at a controlled and safe speed. lf further slowing of my racing car is desired, the Voltage supplied to the motor 20 is further reduced, with a corresponding downward movement of the pinion gear 74 and tightening of the brake band 78 about the ring gear 76. If it is desired to rapidly stop my racing car, the voltage supply is simply terminated. This halts rotation of the pinion gear, effects a rapid, downward movement of the pinion gear relative to the rear axle 18 with a turning of the ring gear 76, produces an immediate tightening of the brake band 78 around the ring gear and a sudden skidding halt of the car.

FIGURE '7 illustrates a modified forrn of brake band 'i8' providing for accurate speed control of my racing car with operation of the motor 29. As best seen in FlGURE 8, the brake band is generally of spiral shape with the inner end provided with a hole 96 through which the drive shaft projects. The outer end of the band is turned upwardly and then split to permit the drive shaft to pass between the two upwardly projectingl portions. The upper ends of these portions are bent over to provide clips 98 which engage the upper surface of a cross piece 1li@ extending between the

side arms

28 and 3? of the front frame 24.

Somewhat modified forms of the motor drive and brake assemblies for my racing car are illustrated in FIGURES -9 and lO. As represented, the electric motor 2li is fixed to a support plate 182 secured, in turn, to a sleeve 14M around the rear axle 1S. The motor 2u is thus laterally supported between the

side arms

32 and 34 of the rear yframe 26 for rotation about the rear `axle 18. The rotation of the motor 28 about the rear axle 18 is limited by a light compression spring 186 disposed around a vgenerally vertically extending screw 198. The lower end of the screw 1438 passes through a cross piece between the side arms 3@ and 34 of the rear frame 26 while the upper threaded end screws into and through a plate 112 secured to and extending from the top of the motor 20. Turning of the screw 108 controls the extension of the screw through the plate 112 and hence the compression of the spring 186 urging the motor upward about the rear axle 18.

In this position, the drive shaft 72 of the motor 26 extends horizontally toward the side arm 3@ of the front frame 24 and is provided with a pinion gear 74 which continuously meshes with a spur gear 76 carried by the rear axle 18.

Surrounding the spur gear 76 is a brake band 11d. The upper end of the brake band is fixed by a pin 116 to the Vside of the motor 2G while the lower end of the brake band is fixed by a pin 118 to the `side arm 541- of the rear frame 26.

When the motor 28" is not operating, the weight of the motor 2-9 moves the drive shaft 72 and the pinion gear 74 downwardly. This, in turn, carries the upper end of the brake band 78 downwardly to wrap the brake band tivhtly around the spur gear '76 thereby preventing any rotation of the rear axle 18 and the

rear wheels

42 and 44. Y

When the motor 20 is energized it rotates the drive shaft 72 and pinion gear 'M' in the directions indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 9. This causes the pinion gear to initially climb upwardly over the teeth of the spur gear 76 thereby loosening the brake band 114 from the spur gear and permitting free driving rotation of the spur gear to drive my racing car forward. The accurate speed control of my racing car both in speeding up, slowing down and stopping is as previously described with the voltage supplie-d to the motor 2G determining the rotational v-elocity of the pinion gear '74', the pinion gears upward and downward movements relative to the rear axle and hence the tightening and loosening of the brake band 114 around the spur gear 7 6.

In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that my invention provides an improved miniature racing car which is capable of being started, speeded up, slowed and stopped with good accuracy and which includes a novel brake construction automatically operable with operation of the motor of the car. Further, my invention provides a new chassis suspension for miniature racing cars which enhances the roadhugging capabilities of miniature cars. My invention also provides a miniature racing car which is inexpensive, simple in design, and easy to manufacture and maintain.

In the foregoing, specific examples of my racing cars have been described in detail. Modifications and changes, however, may occur to those vskilled in the art without departing from the :spirit of my invention. Therefore, I intend that my invention be limited in scope only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a miniature racing car:

an axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

an axle drive gear connected to said axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

` a pinion gear connected to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

means supporting saiddrive means with said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drive gear to rotate said drive gear and said axle in response to operation of said drive. means rotating said drive shaft and further supporting said drive means and drive shaft for movement relative to said axle with rotation of said pinion gear;

and brake means automatically operable with said drive means for normally preventing rotation of said axle and responsive to said movement of said drive means and drive shaft relative to said axle for allowing rotation of said axle. p

, 2. In a miniature racing car:

an axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

an axle drive gear connected to said axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear connected to said drive shaft for rotation therewith; t

means supporting said drive means with said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drive gear to t srotate `said drive gear and said axle in response to `operation of said drive means rotating said drive shaft and further supporting said drive means and drive shaft for movement relative to said axle with rotation of said pinion gear;

and brake means automatically operable with said drive means and including means connected to said axle and said drive means for normally preventing the rotation of said axle and responsive to said movement of said drive means and drive shaft relative to said axle for allowing rotation of said axle.

`3. In a miniature racing car:

an axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

i an axle drive gear connected to said axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

`a pinion gear connected to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

means` supporting said drive means with said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drive gear t0 rotate said drive gear and said axle in response to operation of said drive means rotaing said driveshaft and further supporting said drive means and drive shaft for movement relative to said axle with rotation of said pinion gear;

a brake band around said axle for normally preventing rotation of said axle;

and means connected one end of said brake band to said drive means for movement therewith such that brake band loosens around said axle with said movement of said drive means relative to said axle to allow rotation of said axle. i

4. In a miniature racing car:

an axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

an axle drive gear connected to said axle;4

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear connected to said drive Shaft for rotation therewith;

.a brake band around said axle `for preventing `rotation of said axle when said drive means is not in operation, one end of said brake band being connected to said drive means;

and means supporting said drive means for limited movement relative to said axle with said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drive gear to initially roll on said drive gear and move` said drive means relative to said axle to loosen said brake band around said axle and `to then rotatesaid drive gear, all in response to operation of said drive means rotating said drive shaft. g t i i i t t 5. In a miniature racing car:

` an axle drive gear connected to said axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear connected to said drive shaft for rotation therewith; f

a brake band around said axle for preventing rotation of said axle when `said drive means is not in operation, one end of said brake band being connected to said drive means and an opposite; end connected to said frame; i a

and means supporting said drive means for limited movement relative to said axle withisaid pinion gear t continuously meshingtwith said drive gear to initially roll on said drive gear `and move said drive means relative to said axle to loosen said brake band around t said `axle and to then rotate said drive gear, all in response to operation of said drive means rotating said drive shaft.

6. In a miniature racing car:

`brake means automatically operative with operation of `said drive means for normally preventing rotation of said axle and including ,a brake band around and tightly engaging an outer surface of said drive` gear with one end of said brakeband connected to said drive means;

and means supporting said drive means for limited movement relative to said `axlewith said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drive gear to initially roll over said drive gear and move said drive means relative to said axle to loosen said brake hand around said drive gear and to thenrotate said drive gear,

all in response to operation of said drive means rotating said drive shaft.

7. In a miniautre racing car:

an axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

,an axle drive gear connected to said axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear connected to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

brake means automatically operative with operation of said drive means for normally preventing rotation of said axle and including a generally spiral-shaped brake band around and tightly engaging an outer surface of said drive gear with an inner end connected to said drive shaft adjacent said pinion and an outer end connected to said drive shaft on the side of said inner end remote from said pinion;

and means supporting saidl drive means for limited movement relative to said axle with said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drive gear to initially roll over said drive gear and move said drive means relative so said axle to loosen said brake band around said drive gear and to then rotate said drive gear, all in response to operation of said drive means rotating said drive shaft.

8'. In a miniature racing car:

a car body-support frame;

an axle supported by said frame; an axle drive gear connected to said axle; operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

' a pinion gear connected to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

brake Ameans automatically operative with operation of said drive means for normally preventing rotation of said axle and including a generally spiral-shaped brake band around and tightly engaging an outer surface of said drive gear with an inner end connected to said drive shaft adjacent said pinion gear and an outer end connected to said frame on aside of said inner end remote from said pinion;

and means supporting said drive means for limited operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear xed to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

a brake band around said axle for preventing rotation of said axle when said drive means is not in operation, one end of said brake bandbeing connected to said drive means;

and means supporting said drive means and drive shaft for limited generally vertical movement, said drive vshaft lying in a generally horizontal plane, and said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drive gear to initially roll over said drive gear and move said drive means relative to said axle to loosen said brake band around said axle and to then rotate said drive gear, all in response to operation of said drive means rotating said drive shaft.

10. In a miniature racing car:

a car body-supporting frame;

. an axle supported by said frame; a drive gear connected to said axle;

a brake band around said axle for preventing rotation of said axle whensaid drive means is not in operation, one end of said brake band being ixed to said drive shaft;

and means hinged to said frame on one side of said axle to support said drive means and drive shaft for generally vertical rocking movement, said drive shaft lying in a generally horizontal plane, `and said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drive gear to initially roll over said drive gear and move said drive means upward to loosen said brake band around said axle and to then rotate said drive gear, all in response to operation of said drive means rotating said drive shaft.

lll. In a miniature racing car:

a car body-support frame;

an axle supported by said frame;

a drive gear connected to said axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear fixed to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

a brake band around said axle for preventing rotation of said axle when said drive means is not in operation, one end of said brake band being connected to said drive means;

and support means mounted for rotation about said axle for supporting said drive means and drive shaft for generally vertical rocking movement relative to said axle, said drive shaft lying in a generally horizontal plane, and said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drive gear to initially roll over said drive gear and move said drive means upv/ard relative to said axle to loosen said brake band around said axle and to then rotate said drive gear, all in response to operation of said drive means rotating said drive shaft.

12. In a miniature racing car:

a car body-support frame;

an axle supported by said frame;

a drive gear connected to said axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear fixed to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

support means mounted for rotation about said axle for supporting said drive means and drive shaft for generally vertical rocking movement relative to said axle, said drive shaft lying in a generally horizontal plane, and said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drive gear to initially roll over said drive gear and move said drive means upward relative to said axle to loosen said brake band around said axle and to then rotate said drive gear, all in response to operation of said drive means rotating said drive shaft;

and means between said frame and said drive means for balancing said drive means upwardly relative to said axle.

13, A miniature racing car comprising:

a front axle having wheels :at the ends thereof;

a rear axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

:a body-supporting frame including an elongated front frame supporting said front axle and extending from said front axle over :and rearward beyond said rear axle `and an elongated rear frame supporting said rear axle and extending under said front frame rearward -beyond said rear axle and forward between said front .and rear axles;

means pivotally connecting said rear frame to said front frame between said front :and rear axles;

spring means 'between said front and rear frames to the rear of said rear axle for urging said front and rear frames apart at that point;

a ,drive gear connected to said rear axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive and means lfor supporting said drive mean-s for limited movement relative to said axle with said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drive 4gear to initially roll over said -drive gear and move said drive .means relative to said axle to loosen said brake band around said axle and to then rotate said drive gear, all in response to operation of said drive means rotating said drive shaft.

L14. A miniature racing car comprising:

a front axle having wheels .at the ends thereof;

.a rear -axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

a body-supporting f-rame including an elongated front frame supporting said front axle and extending from said Ifront axle over and rearward beyond said rear axle and .an elongated rear frame supporting said rea-r .axle and extending under said front frame rearward bey-ond said rear axle and forward between said front and rear axles;

means pivotally connecting said rear frame to said front frame midway between said front and rear axles;

spring means between said front and rear frames to the rear of said rear axle yfor urging said front and rear frames apart at that point;

a drive gear lixed to said rear axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear iixed to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

a brake band around said axle for preventing rotation of said axle .when said drive means is not in operation, yone end of said brake .band being .connected to said drive means;

and means hinged to the forward end of said rear frame for supporting said drive means and drive shaft for vertical rocking movement, said drive shaft lying in .a

" generally horizontal plane, and said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drive gear to initially roll over said drive gear and move said drive means relative to said axle to loosen said brake band around .said axle and to then rotate said drive gear, all in response to operation of said drive means rotating said drive shaft.

115. A miniature racing car comprising:

la front axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

a yrear axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

a body-supporting frame including an elongated front frame supporting said front axle and extending from said front axle over and rearward beyond .said rear axle .and an elongated rear frame supporting said rear .axle and extending under said front frame re-arward beyond said rear axle and forward between said front and rear axles;

means pivotally connecting said rear frame to said front frame between said front and rear axles;

spring means between said front .and rear frames to the rear of said rear axle for urging said front and rear frames apart at that point;

.a drive gear yfixed to said rear axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear fixed to said drive shaft for rotation therewith; a brake band around said -axle for preventing rotation of said axle when said drive means is not in operation, one end of said brake band being connected to said drive means;

supporting vsaid drive means and said drive shaft for vertical rocking movement relative to said axle, said ydrive shaft lying in a rgenerally horizontal plane, and said pinion .gear continuously mesh-ing with said drive gear to initially roll over said drive gear and move said drive means relativeto said axle to loosen said brake `band .around said .axle and to rotate said drive gear, all in response to rotation of said drive shaft by said drive means.

`16. A miniature racing oar comprising:

:a front axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

a rear axle having Wheels at the ends thereof;

la body-supporting frame including an elongated front frame .supporting said front axle and extending from said Ifront .axle over and rearward beyond said rear axle and an elongated rear frame supporting said rear .axle and extending under said front frame rearward beyond said rear .axle .and forward between said front and rear axles;

means pivotally connecting sai-d rear frame to said 4front frame between said front and rear axles;

spring means between said front and rear frames to the rear of said rear axle -for urging said front and rear lframes .apart at that point;

a drive gear fixed to said rear axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion `gear fixed to said drive shaft for rotation therewith; f'

a ibrake band .around said axle for preventing rotation of said .axle when said drive means is not in operation, one end of said brake band being connected to said drive means;

means mounted for rotation about .said axle for supporting said drive means and said drive shaft for vertical rocking movement relative to said axle, said drive .shaft lying in a generally horizontal plane, and said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drive gear to initially roll over said drive gear and move said drive means relative to said axle to loosen said brake band :around said axle and to rotate said drive gear, all in response to rotation of said drive shaft by said drive means;

and spring means fixed between said fear frame and said drive means for urging sai-d drive means upward relative to said axle.

`17. A miniature racing car comprising:

a front axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

a rear axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

la body-supporting frame including .an elongated front -frarne supporting said front .axle and extending from .said front axle `over and rearward beyond said rear axle and an elongated rear .frame supporting said rear axle and extending under .said front frame rearward beyond said rear axle and forward between said yfront and rear axles;

and spring means between said front and rear frames to the rear of said rear .axle for urging said front and rear frames apart at that point.

18. In a miniature racing car:

an .axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft for turning in response to operation of said drive means;

means supporting said drive means vfor limited transverse movement relative to said axle;

torque transmission means between said axle and said drive shaft for turning said axle and for moving said drive means relative to .said axle in response to operation of said drive means;

and brake means automatically operable with said drive means for normally Vpreventing rotation of said axle and responsive `to said movement -of said drive 1 1 means transverse to said axle for allowing rotation of said axle. 19. In a miniature racing car: an axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

Voperator controlled drive means for turning said axle;

means supporting said drive means for limited transverse movement relative to `said axle with operation of said drive means; and

brake means automatically operable with said drive means for normally preventing rotation of said axle and responsive to .movement of said drive means 12 v transverse to lsaid axle for allowing rotation of said axle.

i References Cited bythe lxaimiunex"V 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,539,360 1/51 Bartlett 104-63 3,159,109 12/64 Braverman 104--148 3,163,123 12/64 Ziroli 104-60 10 ARTHUR L. LA PONT, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CGRRECTION Patent No. 3,202,109 August Z4, 1965 Edward R. Stewart It is hereby certified that error appears in the above inumbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 14, for "Connected" read Connecting line 16, before "brake" insert said Column 7, line 21, for "so" read to line 68, for "body-supporting" read body-support column l0, line 44, for "fear" read rear Signed and sealed this 22nd day of March 1966.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. IN A MINIATURE RACING CAR: AN AXLE HAVING WHEELS AT THE ENDS THEREOF; AN AXLE DRIVE GEAR CONNECTED TO SAID AXLE OPERATOR CONTROLLED DRIVE MEANS INCLUDING A DRIVE SHAGT; A PINION GEAR CONNECTED TO SAID DRIVE SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH MEANS SUPPORTING SAIUD DRIVE MEANS WITH SAID PINION GEAR CONTINUOUSLY MESHING WITH SAI DDRIVE GEAR TO ROTATE SAID DRIVE GEAR AND SAID AXLE IN RESPONSE TO OPERATION OF SAID DRIVE MEANS ROTATING SAID DRIVE SHAFT AND FURTHER SUPPORTING SAID DRIVE MEANS AND DRIVE SHAFT FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID AXLE WITH ROTATION OF SAID PINION GEAR; AND BRAKE MEANS AUTOMATICALLY OPERABLE WITH SAID DRIVE MEANS FOR NORMALLY PREVENTING ROTATION OF SAID AXLE AND RESPONSIVE TO SAID MOVEMENT OF SAID DRIVE MEANS AND DRIVE SHAFT RELATIVE TO SAID AXLE FOR ALLOWING ROTATION OF AXLE.