US3241263A

US3241263A - Remotely controlled toy car

Info

Publication number: US3241263A
Application number: US275564A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard L Branstner
Original assignee: AMT Corp
Current assignee: AMT Corp
Priority date: 1963-04-25
Filing date: 1963-04-25
Publication date: 1966-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 1983-03-22

Description

March 22, 1966 R. L. BRANSTNER 3,241,263

REMOTELY CONTROLLED TOY CAR Filed April 25, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGI A INVENTOR. RICHARD L. BRANSTNER iiisia March 1966 R. L. BRANSTNER REMOTELY CONTROLLED TOY CAR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1963 FIG. 4

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Ullllllllh FIG. 5

INVENTOR. RICHARD L. BRANSTNER A TOR March 22, 1966 R. BRANSTNER REMOTELY CONTROLLED TOY CAR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 25, 1963 INVENTOR. RICHARD L. BRANSTNER United States Patent 3,241,263 REMOTELY CONTROLLED TOY CAR Richard L. Branstner, Birmingham, Mich, assignor to AMT Corporation, Troy, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 275,564

12 Claims. (Cl. 46244) The present invention pertains to the art of remotely controlled toys and more particularly to a remotely controlled toy car adapted to travel along a trackway.

In copending application, Serial No. 183,511, filed March 29, 1962, and assigned to the assignee of this application, there is described an improved remotely controlled toy car which is adapted to travel along a trackway and includes a means for allowing transverse steeringof the car with respect to the trackway.

The present invention is particularly applicable for use on such a transversely steerable, remotely controlled toy car and it will be discussed with particular reference thereto; however, it is to be appreciated that the invention has broader applications and may be used with other types of remotely controlled either steerable or nonsteerable toy cars.

In the above-mentioned copending application, the improved remotely controlled toy car is connected to a dolly riding within a submerged trackway of a base member having a relatively fiat upper surface. The connection means between the car and the dolly includes a swing able link member that is pivotally connected about a vertical axis onto both the car and the dolly so that the car can be steered transversely of the trackway by swinging the link member. A difiiculty of this arrangement is that the plane of the trackway and the surface on which the car operates had to be at all times generally flat and parallel. This limited the realism of operation.

The present invention pertains to an improvement of the remotely controlled toy car described in the abovementioned copending application which improvement not only allows transverse steering of the car with respect to the trackway, but also, allows vertical or rocking movement of the car with respect to the trackway. In this manner, the remotely controlled toy car has more possible directions of movement and its operation is more complex and interesting.

In accordance with the present invention there is providedfirst means for connecting the link member onto the dolly and second means for connecting the link member onto the car wherein each of the first and second means allows controlled pivotal movement of the link member at least about a horizontal axis. In this manner, the rigid link member allows the car to move vertically upward with respect to the dolly and, thus, with respect to the submerged trackway.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided means for allowing vertical movement of the car with respect to the base member and upwardly protruding portions on the base member and adjacent the trackway for shifting the car vertically upwardly as the car passes thereover.

The primary object of the present invention is the pro vision of a remotely controlled toy car of the type adapted to travel along a trackway capable of movement closely simulating the movement of a real automobile.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a remotely controlled toy car of the type adapted to travel along a trackway which car can be steered transversely with respect to the trackway and which car can simultaneously move upwardly with respect to the trackway.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a remotely controlled toy car which car can be steered transversely to a limited extent and which car can also move vertically upwardly to a limited extent so that the car can move in a combination of these two directions but only within certain predetermined limits.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a remotely controlled toy car of the type adapted to travel along a trackway which car can universally shift with respect to the trackway in both a vertical and a transverse direction within certain predetermined limits.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a base member having a relatively fiat upper surface and adapted to receive a trackway which guides a remotely controlled toy car traveling along the trackway wherein the base member has upwardly protruding portions over which the car can travel.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a base member of the type mentioned above wherein the car traveling on the upper surfaceof the base member is adapted to be steered transversely with respect to the trackway so that the car may be selectively driven over the protruding portions or around these portions as desired.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description used to illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention as read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial side elevational view showing, somewhat schematically, the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a partial line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a pictorial view illustrating, somewhat schematically, the preferred embodiment of the present invention:

FIGURE 5 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4 and showing the remotely controlled car in position;

FIGURE 6 is a partial, cross-sectional view similar to the view in FIGURE 5 showing the remotelycontrolled car in the position indicated by .line 6-6 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 7 is a partial, cross-sectional view similar to the view in FIGURE 5 showing the remotely controlled car in the position indicated by line 77 of FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting same, FIGURE 1 shows a remotely controlled toy car A adapted to ride along the upper surface of an appropriate base member B, which base member is preferably constructed of a plastic material. On base member B there is provided a trackway C having an upwardly opened slot 10 and adapted to receive an appropriately constructed dolly D which has a post 12 extending upwardly through slot 10. A means E is provided for interconnecting car A and dolly D and the improved construotion of this means E forms a primary aspect of the present invention.

As so far described, the operation of the remotely controllled toy car A does not differ substantially from the remotely controlled toy car shown in the copendin-g application 183,511, filed March 29, .1962. Car A is driven by an appropriate electrical means which receives energy from rails located within the submerged trackway C. The details of the electrical connections between the rails and the car through the dolly D are not shown because these features of remotely controlled toy car are not directly involved in the present invention. As the plan view taken generally along car moves along the upper surface of base member B, dolly D is pulled along by the connecting means E which as disclosed in the above-mentioned copending application is a swingable link pivoted at the car and at the dolly about a vertical axis. By this swingable feature of means E, the car can be steered transversely with respect to the traokway by an internally mounted steering actuator. The toy car shown in the above-mentioned copending application has no provisions for allowing controlled movement of the car vertically upward with respect to the base member B.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improvement in a remotely controlled toy car of the type adapted to pull a dolly along a trackway which improvement includes, basically, a rigid link member, first means for connecting the link member onto the dolly D and second means for connecting the link member onto car A whereby the first and second means allow pivotal movement of the link member about generally horizontal axes. This pivotal movement about horizontal axes allows vertical movement of the car with respect to the base member B. Although a variety of structural embodiments could be incorporated to accomplish the present invention, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention the connecting means E comprises a rigid link member 20 which is pivotally secured onto dolly D by a first means 22 comprising oppositely extending pins or

trunnions

24, 26 protruding outwardly from post cap 28 and defining a pivotal axis x. As is best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the rigid link member 20 includes

arms

30, 32 and a neck 34 which are so joined to form link member 20 int-o a wishbone configuration.

T-he rigid link member 20, opposite the first pivot means 22, is provided with a second pivot means it), which, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, includes a ball 42 appropriately joined onto the end of neck 34 and extending outwardly therefrom which ball is received within a socket 44 connected onto a chassis 46 of car A by means of a mounting plate 48 and appropriately positioned screws 50. The dimensions of the ball 42 and socket 44 are such that the ball is freely swiveled within the socket. A lubricant may be used between the ball and socket to lubricate the movement of the ball.

As so far described, the ball 42 would have universal movement within socket 44; however, for reasons to be hereinafter described in detail, the preferred embodiment of the invention includes appropriate means for limiting the swivel movement of ball 42. Although a variety of structural embodiments could be incorporated for this purpose, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention as is best shown in FIGURES -2 and 3, the wishbone or rigid link 20 is provided with a downwardly extending stop lug 54 adapted to coact with recess 56 and

inclined Walls

58, 60 on the mounting plate 48.

In operation of the invention as so far described, the rigid link member 20 connects dolly D and car A. At the upper end of post 12, the link 20 may pivot around a vertical axis by rotating post cap 28 on the upper end of post 12 and, simultaneously, the rigid link 20 may vpivot'about a substantially horizontal axis x so that the link member can move in angular direction upwardly with respect to the base member B. Accordingly, at the connection between the dolly D and the rigid link member 20, the two members can pivot with respect to each other around a vertical axis and a "horizontal axis which axes are substantially perpendicular to each other.

Another important aspect of the present invention as so far explained is the provision of the ball and

socket

42, 44 which are the basic operating elements of the second pivotal means 40 which ball and socket allows both upw r movem nt of chassis 46 with respect to the base member B and transverse movement of the chassis 46 with respect to base member B as is shown in the phantom lines of FIGURE 2 and FIGURE 3 respectively. It is also appreciated, that provision of a ball and socket connection at means 46 on one end of the rigid link 20, allows the chassis 46 pivotal movement about an axis longitudinal of the trackway so that the car may assume various angular positions with respect to the base memher.

In consideration of the function of stop lug 54, it is noted that the lug is adapted to coact with recess 56 to limit the amount of upward pivotal movement which the chassis can have with respect to base member B. In the phantom lines of FIGURE 2, the chassis 46 is moved upwardly until the lug 54 contacts the recess 56; at which position of lug 54, the chassis cannot move further upwardly with respect to base member B. The primary object for limiting the upward movement of car A is to prevent the rigid link member 20 from pivoting upwardly over the center line of post 12 which could cause the car to stilt in an upward position with the front end of the car raised off the base member B. It is appreciated, that lug 54 may be eliminated without departing from the intended spirit and scope of the present invention; however, it is also realized that a means for limiting the amount of upward pivotal movement of the link 20 is very advantageous in practice.

As is illustrated in FIGURE 3, lug 54 limits the amount of pivotal movement of ball 42 around a vertical axis through the ball. As ball 42 pivots about a vertical axis in either direction, lug 54. contacts one side of recess 56 and, thus, limits the pivotal movement. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the amount of pivotal movement of ball 42 about a vertical axis is limited so that the dolly D always remains longitudinally behind the ball 42. Accordingly, when the car A is reversed, the dolly D cannot be forced into a position forward of ball 42 in which position some difficulty could occur as the car is again shifted into forward drive.

In essence, lug 54 prevents link 20 from shifting 90 or more in an upward direction and, also, limits the transverse swinging movement of link 20 to less than 90 in either the right or the left transverse direction. Of course, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the movement of link member 20 is more restricted than is actually necessary so that accurate control is maintained on the movement of the car A on the base member B. Control of the movement of car A with respect to base member B is accomplished by providing a rigid link connecting the dolly and car, which link is then provided with controlled pivotal connections that allow only the desired pivotal movement.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, there is illustrated a base member B having a trackway C with a slot 10 therein extending along a predetermined path at the upper relatively flat surface of the base member B. This base member is constructed in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, which is made possible by the construction of the interconnecting means E in accordance with the present invention as described above. Basically, base member B is provided with a plurality of randomly arranged upwardly projecting or protruding portions which are positioned adjacent slot 10 so that the car A may be steered over these portions. In accordance with this aspect of the present invention, it is proposed to provide base member B with various configurations of upwardly protruding portions.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, upwardly protruding

portions

70, 72 are formed into inclined blocks secured to the upper surface of base member B with one block on each s de of slot 10. As the car A travels along slot 10, the wheels of the car ride over

blocks

70, 72 as is shown in FIGURE 5 which causes the rigid link member 20 to pivot upwardly with respect to the first pivot means 22 and downwardly with respect to the second pivot means 40. Consequently, the car A moves vertically upwardly with respect to base member B as the car travels over the

inclined block

70, 72.

In accordance with another aspect of the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a further upwardly protruding portion 74 is provided on base member B adjacent slot which protruding portion takes the form of a ramp having inclined entrant and exit ends. By appropriate steering of the car A, it is possible to move the car transversely with respect to the slot 10 so that one wheel of the car rides over ramp 74. This is shown in FIGURE 7 wherein it is noted that the rigid link allows both vertically upward movement of car A with respect to base member B and, also, angular displacement of the car about a longitudinal axis. This controlled, compound movement is accomplished by providing the ball and socket at connection means 40.

Further, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the base member B is provided with another upwardly protruding portion 76 taking the form of a bank along one turn of the slot 10. As the car travels along slot 10 adjacent the bank 76, one wheel of the car will ride upwardly onto the bank causing the car to tilt with respect to the base member and, simultaneously, move upwardly with respect to the base member. This controlled, compound movement of car A is allowed by constructing means E in accordance with the present invention. Movement of the car A along bank 76 is shown in FIGURE 6 wherein it is also noted that the car is shifted transversely with respect to the dolly D. This figure illustrates the infinitely variable shifting of car A with respect to base member B which is allowed and controlled by constructing the interconnecting means E in accordance with the present invention.

It is appreciated that multifarious protruding portions could be provided on the upper surface of base member B and that these portions could be so arranged to construct a driving course for car A having a variety of patterns.

The present invention has been described in connection with certain structural embodiments which embodiments may be modified without departing from the intended spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In the combination of a remotely controlled toy car, a trackway extending in a predetermined path, a dolly adapted to move along said trackway and means interconnecting said dolly and said car, the improvement comprising: said means including a rigid link member, first means for connecting said link member onto said dolly and second means for connecting said link member onto said car, said first means and said second means a1- lowing controlled pivotal movement of said rigid link member about spaced horizontal axes.

2. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said first means and said second means also allow pivotal move ment around spaced generally parallel vertical axes.

3. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a pivot pin mounted horizontally on said dolly and a means for mounting said rigid link member onto said pin.

4. The improvement as defined in claim 3 including a means for mounting said pivot pin to rotate about a vertical axis.

5. The improvement as defined in claim 3 wherein said second means comprises a means for allowing swivel movement between said car and said rigid link member.

6. The improvement as defined in claim 5 wherein said swivel means includes a socket secured onto said car and a ball secured onto said rigid link member.

7. The improvement as defined in claim 6 including a stop means for limiting the swivel movement of said ball with respect to said socket.

8. The improvement as defined in claim 1 including stop means for limiting the amount of angular movement of said rigid link member about said horizontal axes.

9. The improvement as defined in claim 8 wherein said stop means comprises an abutment on said rigid link member and an abutment on said car whereby said abutments coact to limit the angular movement of said link member with respect to the horizontal axes.

10. The improvement as defined in claim 8 wherein said stop means includes a lug on said rigid link member and a recess on said car and larger than said lug, said lug adapted to extend into said recess to limit the angular movement of said rigid link member about said horizontal axes.

l1. In the combination of a remotely controlled toy car, a trackway extending in a predetermined path, a dolly adapted to move along said trackway and means interconnecting said dolly and said car for permitting transverse movement of said car with respect to said dolly, the improvement comprising: said means including a rigid link member, a cap rotatable about a vertical axis and secured onto said dolly, a ball on a first end of said rigid link member, a socket on said car and adapted to swivelly receive said ball, a pivot pin mounted onto said cap to define a horizontal axis, means for pivotally connecting the second end of said rigid link member onto said pivot pin so that said link member pivots around said horizontal axis, and means on said rigid link member for limiting the swivel movement of said ball in said socket.

12. In the combination of a remotely controlled toy car, a base member having a relatively flat upper surface for drivingly receiving said car, a trackway in said base member and extending in a predetermined path, means for driving said car on said upper surface of said base member and along said trackway, and means for steering said car with respect to said trackway, the improvement comprising: means for allowing vertical movement of all portions of said car with respect to said base member and an upwardly protruding portion on said base memher and adjacent said trackway for shifting said car vertically upwardly as said car passes thereover, said upwardly protruding portion spaced transversely from said trackway a distance greater than one half of the width of said car.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,630,765 3/495 3 Small 46240 X 2,791,065 5/ 1957 Stanetzki 46240 2,812,617 11/1957 Lon-garzo 46- 243 X DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN THE COMBINATION OF A REMOTELY CONTROLLED TOY EAR, A TRACKWAY EXTENDING IN A PREDETERMINED PATH, A DOLLY ADAPTED TO MOVE ALONG SAID TRACKWAY AND MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID DOLLY AND SAID CAR, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: SAID MEANS INCLUDING A RIGID LINK MEMBER, FIRST MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID LINK MEMBER ONTO SAID DOLLY AND SECOND MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID LINK MEMBER