US3557488A - Toy vehicle assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A TOY HYDROFOIL-TYPE HAVING REPLACEABLE AND RELEASABLY ATTACHABLE ELEMENTS. THE CRAFT IS POWERED BY A RUBBER-BAND DRIVE COUPLED TO A PROPELLER? THE PROPELLER IS HELD TO A SLOTTED MOUNTING ON THE CRAFT BODY BY A PIN AND CAP ARRANGEMENT, PERMITTING A FAULTY OR DAMAGED PROPELLER TO BE EASILY REPLACED. FRONT AND REAR HYDROSKIFOILS ARE PROVIDED WITH DETACHABLE WHEEL ASSEMBLIES WHICH REMAIN ATTACHED FOR LAND TRAVEL AND WHICH MAY BE DETACHED FOR WATER OPERATION.

Description

. Jan. 26 1971 E. A. NIELSEN TOY VEHI-CLE ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 14, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A'I'TOHNICYS 1971 E. A. NIELSEN 3,557,488

TOY VEHICLE ASSEMBLY Filed on. 14, 1968 a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/GJZ United States Patent 3,557,488 TOY VEHICLE ASSEMBLY Edwin A. Nielsen, Oceanside, N.Y., assignor to Ideal Toy Corporation, Hollis, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 767,291 Int. Cl. A63h 23/10 US. C]. 4696 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toy hydrofoil-type craft having replaceable and releasably attachable elements. The craft is powered by a rubber-band drive coupled to a propeller; the propeller is held to a slotted mounting on the craft body by a pin and cap arrangement, permitting a faulty or damaged propeller to be easily replaced. Front and rear hydroskifoils are provided with detachable wheel assemblies which remain attached for land travel and which may be detached for water operation.

This invention relates to an assembly for a toy vehicle and more particularly to interchangeable constructions permitting the vehicle to assume various modes for use.

After a period of experimentation and development, designers have concluded that some relatively advanced scientific principles can be applied with considerable success to the toy field. Thus, while toy vehicles which are powered electrically or with other mechanical means have been available for some time, such vehicles which rely on other forms of drive have not heretofore been considered to any great degree.

It has, however, recently been realized that the principles or aerodynamics, for example, could be utilized on such toy vehicles. Specifically, it has been recognized that the teachings of US. Pat. No. 2,972,974 relating to hydrofoils and hydroskifoils can be applied to toy vehicles as well. One aspect of such application involves the variable lift and supporting characteristics of the hydroskifoil as described in co-pending application Serial No. 725,403, filed Apr. 30, 1968.

Although toy vehicles made in accordance with areodynamic principles and the teachings of the above-identified patent, for example, are advantageous and have superior play value, such toys often require certain additional features before they can be considered completely acceptable. For example, it is most desirable if such toys are constructed with sufficient versatility to permit their use in various modes, such as in travel on land, ice, snow or in or on water. Moreover, in view of the excessive Wear and abuse received by such toys, particularly when used by young children, it is desirable to provide interchangeability of essential and vulnerable parts.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to obviate one or more of the aforesaid difficulties.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a hydrofoil-type toy vehicle with detachable and adjustable elements to permit operation in multiple modes.

It is a further object of this invention to provide the basic drive structure with replaceable parts to facilitate returning the toy to an operative condition after damage.

In one particular illustrative embodiment of the invention, a basic vehicle body is provided with a cutout in its underside for receiving therein a front hydroskifoil. As described in the above-mentioned co-pending application, a curved horn member extends downwardly from the vehicle body and is provided with a plurality of graduated notches to receive the rear edge of the front hydroskifoil therein-varying the angular orientation of the front hydroskifoil relative to the horizontal achieves various degrees of lift and support.

Patented Jan. 26, 1971 At the rear of the vehicle body is located a bifurcated tail assembly comprising an upper propeller hub mounting and a lower rudder mounting. The propeller mounting consists of an enlarged hub having vertical slots in its opposite faces. A metallic cap is fitted over the rear hub face and is provided with a small hole through which the propeller mounting pin passes. The propeller is attached to the pin by terminating the pin at the rear of the propeller in an angular bend; the pin also passes through the two slots in the hub mounting and is hook-connected to a rubber-band drive element. In the event that the propeller proves defective or is damaged through use, it can simply be replaced by detaching the rubber-band from the hooked pin ending and withdrawing the pin through the hub slots; the angular ending of the pin can then be bent to remove the damaged propeller, following which a new pin is inserted through the propeller hole, bent and re-introduced through the hub slots.

The lower rudder mounting assembly includes a circular flange adapted to be gripped by two or more arcuate brackets elevated from the surface of the rudder. Being generally made of plastic or other suitably flexible material, the rudder can be attached to the flange by initially attaching one bracket over the flange and then bending the rudder to permit the other bracket to grip the flange as well. When it is so mounted, the rudder can be rotated over 360 degrees, thus permitting the underlying rudder wheel to be operative during land use and, following degrees of rotation, to permit the rudder fin to extend rearwardl (e.g., with the wheel assembly removed).

Both the front and rear hydroskifoils are provided with detachable wheel assemblies, illustratively two for the former and one for the latter. The wheel assembly itself consists of a bifurcated mounting bracket having two tabs extending upwardly therefrom. Each of the tabs is received within corresponding slots in the particular hydroskifoil. Due to the resiliency of the tabs (made of plastic or suitable flexible material), the wheel assemblies are retained in their slotted seats in the absence of any specific withdrawing force. In addition, the wheels themselves are provided with short pin shafts which ride within the apertures in each of two side bracket pieces, thus facilitating ease of removal of the wheels themselves should that prove necessary. Thus, when the vehicle is to be used for Water travel, whether fully or partially submerged, the wheel assemblies can be removed for greater streamlining.

It is therefore a feature of an embodiment of this invention that a toy vehicle includes hydroskifoils having one or more wheel assemblies releasably secured thereto.

It is a further feature of an embodiment of this invention that a hydroskifoil is mounted for rotation on a vehicle body to permit multiple mode operation as well as angular motion.

It is a still further feature of an embodiment of this invention that means are provided for securing a propeller drive to a vehicle whereby the propeller can be simply and rapidly replaced.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a vehicle in accordance with the invention in assembled form;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the vehicle with a portion thereof being shown broken away for clarity;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating three of the multiple positions of the rotatable rudder assem- 3 bly taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows and showing the rudder assembly mounted for rotation about the rudder flange;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows showing the wheel assembly mounting arrangement;

FIG. 6 is a view taken from the line 66 of FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows illustrating the wheels assembly mounted on the rudder;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional vi w taken along the line 77 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows and showing a portion of the propeller assembly;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and showing the front portion of the craft including the front hydroskifoil;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the variable angular mounting of the front hydroskifoil;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged and partially fragmentary exploded view of the propeller assembly and mounting;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a vehicle in accordance with the invention prepared for travel on ice, snow or the like;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a vehicle in accordance with the invention prepared for water travel; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the front hydroskifoil of FIG. 12 with a stabilizing member mounted thereon.

The vehicle illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown with the several wheel assemblies attached theretothe initial portion of this description will deal with the vehicle as so assembled, although it will become apparent hereinbelow that in certain modes of operation, the wheel assemblies will be detached. The basic vehicle includes an overall body 22 and front and rear hydroskifoils 24 and 26 respectively. The front hydroskifoil 24 includes slots 24a and 24b to receive corresponding wheel assemblies therein. The front hydroskifoil 24 is adapted to be received within an irregularly shaped cutout on the underside of body 22at its upper front edge (see also FIG. 8), the hydroskifoil 24 engages the side of the body by means of tabs 2411; its rear edge has projecting tabs 24g adapted to be received within one of multiple slots 22b. When the appropriate slot is selected, based upon the desired lift as described in co-pending application Ser. No. 725,403, a gripping rubber-band 22d holds the hydroskifoil 24 in place by attachment in rear slot 220 of horn 22a and over tabs 24/1.

The rear rudder assembly 26 includes a basic tail portion 26a having arcuate brackets 26g elevated therefrom as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The brackets 26g are adapted to grip rudder mounting flange 22e depending from downwardly projecting tail member 22f, for example by the initial attachment of one bracket 26g followed by the bending of structure 26 until the opposite bracket 26g also grips around flange 22e (FIG. 4). This mounting is not only convenient for purposes of part replacement, but also permits the rotation of assembly 26 for purposes of angular control and mode selection. For example, the assembly 26 as illustrated in FIG. 2 is for travel on land. However, by rotating the assembly 180 degre s as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4, the position indicated in FIG. 12 can be obtainedthis latter position has been determined to be a more eflicient streamlined one for use in partially or completely submerged modes of operation. And whether the vehicle is being used in land or in water, there is considerable advantage in the operators being able to control the direction of movement. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the assembly 26 can be rotat d to a great number of positions to effect either slight or substantial angular control. If the rear hydroskifoil 26 is rotated to the phantom position, whereby its rear edge extends from the upper left to the lower right in FIG. 3,

the vehicle 20 would tend to travel in a substantially clockwise arc. Similarly, if the other phantom positions were assumed, a substantially counter-clockwise motion would obtain.

The basic drive for the vehicle is achieved by means of one or more sturdy rubber-bands 34 connected by means to be described below to propeller 30. The drive connection arrangement includes propeller hub mounting 32 comprising the terminal portion of the upper rear bifurcation of the craft body 22, rubber-band 34 and forward tab 36 over which rubber-band 34 is looped. As can be seen in the enlarged detailed views of FIGS. 7 and 10, the hub 32b includes substantially horizontal wing tabs 32c projecting from opposite sides. In normal use of the craft, a jacket or shroud 28 covers the entire drive arrangement from a point adjacent to the wing tabs 32:: all the way forward to a point whereby the attachment of rubber band 34 over tab 36 is suitably protected. The forward end of shroud 28 includes a recess 28b adapted to be engaged in substantially vertical slot 38 of body 22. It is noted that while recess 28b provides a vertical engagement with slot 38, the recess is cut out from the oblique front surface of shroud 28, thereby giving the appearance of a normal slanted profile (see FIGS. 2, 11 and 12). Shroud 28 is attached to craft 22 by initially inserting its rear tabs 28a beneath wing tabs 322, for example with the left end of shroud 28 elevated upwardly from the position illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. Once these tabs have been engaged, the shroud can then be lowered to the point where recess 28b is received within the slot 38.

One of the features of the present invention includes the replaceability of propeller (and perhaps its accompanying mounting elements) should it become damaged or otherwise unusable. This has been one of the areas in which the prior art has proved deficientoften, the entire toy became unusable when such a critical element was 40 damaged. Referring to FIGS. 2, 7 and 10, propeller 30 is normally retained in its operative position by means of mounting pin 32c. Specific engagement of the pin and propeller is made by means of pin bend or turn-in 32 at the end of propeller passageway 30a, while at the opposite end, pin 320 is provided with a hooked portion around which rubber-band 34 is looped. In normal use, pin 32c passes through an aperture in mounting cap 32a which in turn is seated upon the right hand face of hub 32b. This face of hub 32b is provided with a vertical slot 32d, 3. similar slot appearing at the left hand face through which the hooked portion of pin 320 projects.

In the event that propeller 30 becomes damaged or needs replacement, the first step is to detach rubber-band 34 from the left hand hooked portion of pin 320, thus permitting the pin to have free movement. The operator then can rotate the pin to the position illustrated in FIG. 10 whereby the pin is in a substantially vertical plane. The pin can then simply be withdrawn through the slots 32d in hub 32b, thereby removing the propeller assembly including pin 320, cap 32a and propeller 30. It is contemplated that replacement propellers will be supplied with replacement pins 32c as well. Accordingly, the operator merely has to unbend the pin turn-in 32] and remove the propeller, insert a new pin and create the appropriate attachment turn-in 321 and reverse the detachment process. When the pin has once again been projected through the front slot 32d in hub 32b, rubber-band 34 can be looped around the hook of pin 32c, thereby placing the drive mechanism in operating condition.

As has been stated heretofore, the vehicle of this invention is adapted for use in multiple modes. For example, FIG. 2 illustrates the craft 20 with its elements assembled for land travel; FIG. 11 shows a mode of operation for v ice and snow (with rear fin 26b and front fins 24f acting as a streamlined support members); and FIG. 12 illustrates the vehicle 20 operating beneath the surface of water 42. It is noted that in the modes of operation illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the wheel assemblies have been removed from the front and rear hydroskifoils 24 and 26. Such removal will be at the discretion of the operator, although land travel will be facilitated by use of the wheels, while water travel will be facilitated by their removal; on surfaces such as snow and ice, it will generally be desirable to have the wheel assemblies removed.

The wheel assemblies for the front and rear hydroskifoils can be identical and accordingly, the following discussion is applicable to all such assemblies. Considering the wheel assembly for rear hydroskifoil 26 and referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the assemblies are retained by front and rear tabs within corresponding slots in hydroskifoil surface 26a. The assembly itself comprises a wheel 26c having pin and shaft members 26d projecting outward from the centers thereof. The shafts 26d ride, on each side of wheel 260, within slightly oversized holes 26 in side brackets 26s. These brackets are joined by cross-member 26g from the upper surface of which projects seating hump 26h and front and rear tabs 26: and 26 The assembly is mounted onto the hydroskifoil surface 26a by initially inserting into its corresponding slot rear tab 26 which has a slightly greater horizontal extent; when this insertion has been achieved, the assembly can be rotated upwards such that tab 261' snaps into place above the upper level of hydroskifoil surface 26a. At that point, support hump 26h will have its upper surface contiguous with the lower level of hydroskifoil surface 26a.

Wheel assembly removal is essentially the reverse of the attachment procedure. That is, beginning with the position illustrated in FIG. 5, the operator applies gentle pressure to remove front tab 26i from its corresponding slot. By counterclockwise rotation of the assembly about tab 26j, the assembly will soon reach a point (e.g., when crosspiece 26g is nearly vertical) at which the horizontal portion of tab 261' can simply be dropped through its retaining slot, thereby detaching the entire assembly.

In connection with the partially or completely submerged mode of operation illustrated in FIG. 12, there may be a tendency for the craft to lack complete stability. Accordingly, there is provided a stabilizing member 44 to be attached to the left portion of front hydroskifoil 24. To have the craft 20 perform underwater turns, the stabilizing element 44 may be positioned on the right portion of hydroskifoil 24. Various intricate maneuvers can be obtained by an operator by the variable positioning of stabilizer 44 both in different locations along the front edge of hydroskifoil 24, and in different orientations, such as upside down-these variations will be largely in the control of an operator whose experimental technique will improve with practice.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for a toy vehicle comprising a craft body, a first hydroskifoil mounted on the front portion of said body for variable angular positioning with respect to the longitudinal axis of said body, a rubber-band drive member mounted lengthwise of said body and elevated therefrom, a removable propeller assembly adapted to be driven by said rubber-band drive member, a rudder assembly releasably secured to the rear of said body and including a second hydroskifoil, each of said hydroskifoils having at least one detachable wheel assembly.

2. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said removable propeller assembly includes a supporting hub on said body and having front and rear faces, each of said faces having a slot therein, a propeller, a connecting pin having a hooked end for detachable linking to said rubber-band drive member and a turned-in end for locking said propeller thereto, and an apertured cap mounted on said rear face of said hub for receiving said pin therethrough to provide a surface for rotational movement of said propeller.

3. An assembly in accordance with claim 2 including a forward mounting pin elevated from said body for receiving said rubber-band drive member thereover having a mounting slot therein, said supporting hub having a pair of wing tabs projecting laterally therefrom, and further including a shroud for protective mounting over said rubber-band drive member, said shroud having a pair of rearwardly projecting tabs adapted to be received in mounting engagement with said wing tabs and a recess having a front angular surface and a rear wall for releasable securement with said mounting slot.

4. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said craft body includes a tail support member formed with an underlying and substantially circular flange projecting downward from said tail support member, and wherein said rudder assembly includes a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate brackets elevated from said second hydroskifoil and adapted to grip said flange whereby said rudder assembly is thereby rotatable about said tail support member.

5. An assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said rudder assembly includes a fin connected to the underside of said second hydroskifoil and wherein said vehicle is adapted to be operated in a plurality of modes, a first mode having said fin in a forward position elevated from the travel surface and one of said wheel assemblies riding thereon and a second mode, effected by the degree rotation of said rudder assembly about said tail support member, having said fin in a rear-ward position riding on said travel surface and said wheel assembly detached from said hydroskifoil.

6. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said hydroskifoils includes a pair of seating slots corresponding to each said wheel assembly, said wheel assembly including a bifurcated mounting member having apertured side brackets, an integral wheel member having shafts projecting from opposite surfaces thereof for mounting in said brackets, a crossmember joining said brackets, and a pair of mounting tabs adapted to be received for releasable securement within said seating slots of said hydroskifoils.

7. An assembly in accordance with claim 6 and including a seating hump elevated from said cross-member wherein a first of said tabs includes a substantially horizontal member and the second of said tabs includes an arcuate stub, whereby said wheel assembly is mounted on said hydroskifoil by the insertion of said substantially horizontal member in one of said seating slots and the rotational insertion of said stub into the second of said seating slots, said rotational insertion being limited by contact between said seating hump and said hydroskifoil.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,371,989 3/1921 Butts 244-101 1,407,410 2/ 1922 Hanna 46-93 2,238,464 4/ 1941 Fletcher 11466.5

RUSSELL R. KINSEY, Primary Examiner D. L. WEINHOLD, Assistant Examiner

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