US3733744A - Power module for driving vehicle-propelling element,including stationary axle means mounting said element - Google Patents

Power module for driving vehicle-propelling element,including stationary axle means mounting said element Download PDF

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Publication number
US3733744A
US3733744A US00224821A US3733744DA US3733744A US 3733744 A US3733744 A US 3733744A US 00224821 A US00224821 A US 00224821A US 3733744D A US3733744D A US 3733744DA US 3733744 A US3733744 A US 3733744A
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United States
Prior art keywords
housing
power module
battery
module according
drive
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00224821A
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English (en)
Inventor
J Hiltpold
G Soulakis
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Mattel Inc
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Mattel Inc
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    • 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
    • A63H17/22—Scooters with driver figure propelled by their wheels or by movement of the figure
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H29/00—Drive mechanisms for toys in general
    • A63H29/22—Electric drives

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A completely self-contained power module for supplying rotational power to drive wheels, tractor tracks, airplane propellers, and the like, of miniature toy vehicles, the module including in a single housing a rechargeable battery, an electric motor with a drive shaft, switch means for electrically connecting the battery to the motor, a non-rotating axle integrally a part of the modules housing and disposed at a fixed relationship to the motors drive shaft for rotatably carrying the driven wheels, etc., and a means for providing recharging current to the battery, preferably including means for disconnecting the motor from the battery circuit during charging.
  • the present invention pertains generally to the field of toys, and more particularly to a unique replaceable module which provides all necessary components to power a toy vehicle.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide an economical-to-manufacture power module which includes a highly efficient and dimensionally stable power drive chain between its self-contained electric motor and the toys drive wheels mounted thereon.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable power module for toy vehicles which module contains switch means for electrically controlling the electric current supplied to an electric motor housed therein.
  • a power module for self-powered miniature toy vehicles including a battery disposed in a module housing which housing includes integral stationary axle means extending therefrom, and means for removably attaching the housing to a toy vehicle adapted to receive the housing. Also disposed in the housing is an electric motor having a rotatable drive shaft extending externally of the housing. Electrically connected to the battery and to the electric motor are switch means for controlling the activation of the electric motor.
  • the invention also includes drive means with at least one driven element rotatably mounted on the axle means for propelling a toy vehicle, and coupling means for operatively coupling the drive shaft and the driven element.
  • the axle means includes a pair of axially aligned axles extending from opposite sides of the housing, and the drive means includes a pair of driven wheels in the form of drive wheels with integrally formed gears, the wheels being mounted on respective ones of the axles so that the wheel gears mesh with drive pinions mounted at the ends of the electric motor drive shaft.
  • FIG. I is a side elevational view of a toy powered by a detachable power module constructed in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a partial, sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the module portion of the toy of FIG. I.
  • FIG. d is an exploded view of the detachable power module used to power the toy of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. ll there is shown a miniature toy, which for purposes of this description is in the form of a presently popular three-wheeled customized motorcycle 11.
  • the toy is shown to have a spoked front wheel 13 rotatably mounted on a front axle 15 supported by an angularly disposed front fork assembly 17, the upper portion of which is pivotally attached to a steering column 19 rotatably held in a'forward portion of a customized open cockpit 21.
  • the direction of travel of the toy may thus be determined by grasping (and turning) a handlebar 23 integrally molded on the plastic column 19.
  • the cockpit 21 includes a wrap-around windshield 25, a simulated high speed control flap 27, and a housing 29 resembling a customized motorcycle engine.
  • a completely self-contained detachable power module 31 having a pair of oppositely directed and axially aligned fixed rear axles 33. These axles rotatably support respective driven wheels 35, each of which have broad faced low-profile tires 37 mounted thereon.
  • the tires 37 may be fabricated from a material having good traction characteristics such as a styrene butadiene copolymer, and the wheels 35 from an acrylic copolymer, for example.
  • the cockpit and front wheel assemblies of the toy 11 are preferably molded from plastic materials, using conventional molding processes.
  • the rear wheels 35 have axle bores 39 with narrow, slightly decreased diameter retainer portions 41 adapted to snap over an end button portion 43 and be retained by a circular recess 45 in an elongated cylindrical shaft 47 portion of the axles 33.
  • This allows the wheels to be unsnapped for the removal of lint in the gears.
  • the motor shaft pinions to be later described
  • different gear ratios can be used.
  • FIG. 4 A more detailed view of the detachable module 31, its upper and lower casings 53 and 55, and the various components and elements contained therein, may be viewed in the exploded view of the module shown in FIG. 4.
  • the number of techniques which may be employed to removably retain the module 31 in a toy are limitless, much depending upon the toys design and construction.
  • the modules upper casing 53 is provided with outwardly extending dogs 57 which snap into appropriate depressions in the inner walls of the housing 29, the axles 33 protruding through elongated upwardly extending slots in the housing (the slots, not shown, being covered by the rear wheels 35).
  • the lower casing 55 includes a planar bottom portion 59 with upraised side walls 61, and a semi-cylindrical portion 63 with a footing 65 having a bottom face 67 in the plane of the bottom portion 59.
  • An end wall 69 of the portion 63 includes an outwardly extending retaining portion 70, and the side wall 61 and the end wall 69 are provided with a plurality of apertures 71 and a relatively wide notch 73.
  • the apertures 71 are positioned to accept and hold barbed ends 75 of posts 77 depending from the upper casing 53 for purposes of securely, but removably, attaching together the upper and lower casing members.
  • These members, together, define an enclosure which contains the essential components and parts of the unique self-contained power module 31.
  • the enclosure houses a miniature electric motor 79, a miniature rechargeable battery 81, and an on-off electric switch assembly including a negative contact member 83, a positive contact member 85, and a switch activating lever member 87.
  • the motor 79 is of conventional design having an armature 89 mounted on a drive shaft 90, a pair of permanent magnet pole pieces 91 disposed on two sides of but spaced from the armature 89, and a motor case comprising a conductive metal U-shaped member 93 with inwardly bent sides 95 and an end plate 97 of insulative material such as nylon.
  • the motor case is held together by bending four cars 99 extending from the member 93 over cornered depressions 101 in an outer face 103 of the end plate 97.
  • the drive shaft 90 is rotatably supported by a bore 105 in the end plate 97 and at its opposite side, by a bushing piece (not shown) captured in a hole in the member 93.
  • This bushing is essentially of the same configuration and size as a raised disc portion 107 on the end plate 97, coaxially positioned about the shaft 90 to slide into a circular end opening 109 of an upwardly extending slot 111 in the upper casing 53.
  • Electrical contact with an armature winding 113 is through a pair of brush assemblies (not shown) one of which brushes is electrically wired to a contact tab 115 extending over an upper edge 117 of the insulative end plate 97.
  • the electric motor 79 will be activated to drive the shaft 91) when an appropriate electric potential, from the battery 81 for example, is provided between the U-shaped motor case member 93 and the contact tab 115.
  • a small indexing opening 119 (FIG. 4) in the negative contact member 83 is placed over a tit 121 (FIG. 3) depending from an inner surface 123 of the upper casings top portion 125.
  • an elongated metal eyelet 127 is positioned through an opening 129 in a cylindrical protuberance portion 130 of a curved end wall 131.
  • the eyelet 127 also passes through a hole 133 in a bent tab portion 135 of the member 83, before the eyelets opposite ends 137 are bent outwardly and over, as seen in FIG. 4, by an appropriate tool.
  • a tubular end portion 139 of the lower member 87 is then slipped over a split tubular buss 141 extending below the inner casing surface 123 so that a bent lever portion 143 extends away from the surface 123 and a manually manipulatable arm portion 145 extends beyond the end wall 131.
  • the positive contact member 85 may then be placed over an inner end 147 of the motor 79 and keyed thereat by contact tabs 146 registering in depressions 101, so that a charging arm portion 149 extends toward the negative contact member 83.
  • the motor 79 is then placed in a rectangular cavity portion 151 of the upper casing, with the raised disc portion 107 and the bushing piece (not shown) slid into the upper casings end opening 109. In this position, a pair of resilient contact arm portions 153 of the positive contact member 85 extend outwardly into a semicylindrical casing portion 157, which with the portion 63, defines a battery compartment 159.
  • the battery 81 is now placed in the compartment with its positive terminal 161 facing the positive contact member 85. So positioned, the terminal 161 will be in electrical contact with the contact arm portions 153.
  • the lower casing 55 is then placed adjacent and snapped onto the upper casing so that the batterys case 163 (negative terminal) is in electrical contact with a resilient negative contact arm portion 165 of the negative contact member 83.
  • the battery 81 is of the rechargeable type and cylindrical in shape, preferably a nickel-cadmium cell or equivalent.
  • a pair of drive pinions 167 may be fixedly attached to the ends of the drive shaft 90 to engage gears 169 integrally molded on the inner side of the wheels 35, when the wheels are rotatably mounted on the fixed rear axle 33.
  • a switch leg portion 171 of the lever member 87 is positioned (as shown in FIG. 4) in engagement with a lower step 173 of a depending resilient switch portion 175 of a negative contact member 83.
  • the step portion 173 thus keeps a contact end 177 of the negative contact member spaced from the motors contact tab US so that the electrical circuit between the motors input terminals and those of the battery is broken.
  • the drive shaft is geared to and drives a pair of vehicle wheels which are rotatably mounted on a pair of fixed axles integral with the power module's casing.
  • the drive shaft may be mechanically coupled to and drive tractor treads, and propellers, and the like, for toy vehicles of varied descriptions. In all cases, the wheels, etc., are
  • the materials used in fabricating the various components and parts of the invention are not critical and any material generally considered to be suitable for a particular function may be utilized.
  • plastic materials have been designated for some of the components of the power module, other plastic materials and metals may be substituted therefor.
  • certain parts must be electrically insulated from others to maintain circuit integrity.
  • the lever member $7 is preferably fabricated from a non-conductive acetal material, for example. Nylon may be used for the casing, and the resilient metal switch and charging members may be 0 cartridge brass with a hard nickel flash.
  • a power module for self-powered miniature toy vehicles comprising:
  • module housing including integral stationary axle means extending from said housing for mounting at least one driven element thereon, and means for removable attachment of said housing to a toy vehicle adapted to receive said housing;
  • said electric motor disposed in said housing, said electric motor having a rotatable drive shaft extending externally of said housing;
  • switch means associated with said housing electrically connected to said battery and to said electric motor for controlling the activation of said electric motor
  • drive means including at least one driven element for propelling a toy vehicle, said driven element being rotatably mounted on said stationary axle means;
  • coupling means for operatively coupling said drive shaft and said driven element for driving the latter.
  • said switch means includes a manually operated lever extending externally of said housing and having an ON and OFF" position, said switch means activating said electric motor only when said lever is in said ON position.
  • a power module according to claim 4 wherein said battery is a rechargeable battery, and wherein said switch means also includes charging means for allowing said battery to be charged.
  • a power module according to claim 5, wherein said charging means includes a charging plug receptacle and means for moving said lever to said OFF position upon insertion of a charging plug.
  • said drive means includes two driven elements, said elements being drive wheels having axial bores to receive said axles, said bores including slightly reduced diameter narrow retainer portions, and wherein said axles include circular recesses therein adapted to accept said retainer portions of said drive wheels.
  • a power module wherein said drive shaft extends beyond said opposite sides of said housing parallel to said axles, and wherein said coupling means includes a pinion gear fixedly mounted at each end of said drive shaft, said coupling means also including a complementary gear portion integrally a part of and coaxially positioned about said bores of said drive wheels.

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US00224821A 1972-02-09 1972-02-09 Power module for driving vehicle-propelling element,including stationary axle means mounting said element Expired - Lifetime US3733744A (en)

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US22482172A 1972-02-09 1972-02-09

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US3733744A true US3733744A (en) 1973-05-22

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US (1) US3733744A (show.php)
JP (1) JPS4889045A (show.php)
CA (1) CA944562A (show.php)
DE (1) DE2236296A1 (show.php)
GB (1) GB1340641A (show.php)

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3949517A (en) * 1974-10-04 1976-04-13 Lawrence L. Reiner Power supply toy and motorized vehicle
US3953935A (en) * 1974-10-04 1976-05-04 Lawrence L. Reiner Power supply toy
US4043603A (en) * 1975-06-16 1977-08-23 Amt Corporation Vehicle wheel assembly for a toy vehicle
US4193639A (en) * 1978-04-21 1980-03-18 Tonka Corporation Mountable wheel for toy vehicle
US4299051A (en) * 1977-09-09 1981-11-10 Tonka Corporation Mountable wheel for toy vehicle
FR2540395A1 (fr) * 1983-02-09 1984-08-10 Takara Co Ltd Vehicule-jouet electrique a recharge rapide
US4481939A (en) * 1981-01-16 1984-11-13 Bio Mabuchi Co., Ltd. Beauty treatment device
US4767376A (en) * 1985-10-29 1988-08-30 Hanzawa Corporation Toy vehicle
US4881917A (en) * 1987-12-30 1989-11-21 Itla Corporation Remote control steering mechanism
US5714815A (en) * 1995-09-05 1998-02-03 Mattel, Inc. Motor mount assembly
US20010006313A1 (en) * 1999-12-24 2001-07-05 Takashi Kikuchihara Motor and attachment structure
GB2387126A (en) * 2000-11-06 2003-10-08 Tomy Co Ltd Means for attaching a motor to a toy vehicle
US20050200219A1 (en) * 2004-03-12 2005-09-15 Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. Damper support assembly for a supercritical drive shaft
US6971941B2 (en) 2002-01-28 2005-12-06 Tomy Company, Ltd. Attachment for motor for toy
WO2014153292A1 (en) * 2013-03-16 2014-09-25 Capriola Jonathan P Mobile power supply for powered toy blocks
US20170100961A1 (en) * 2014-05-27 2017-04-13 Bluesmart Inc. Active container
USD814414S1 (en) 2013-03-15 2018-04-03 Capriola Corporation Mobile power supply
USD856120S1 (en) 2015-04-30 2019-08-13 Travelpro Bsi, Inc. Container wheel

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0325825Y2 (show.php) * 1985-10-23 1991-06-04
DE3702044C2 (de) * 1987-01-24 1995-01-05 Kurt Hesse Fahrspielzeug
DE3722618A1 (de) * 1987-07-09 1989-01-26 Kurt Hesse Fahrspielzeug

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3949517A (en) * 1974-10-04 1976-04-13 Lawrence L. Reiner Power supply toy and motorized vehicle
US3953935A (en) * 1974-10-04 1976-05-04 Lawrence L. Reiner Power supply toy
US4043603A (en) * 1975-06-16 1977-08-23 Amt Corporation Vehicle wheel assembly for a toy vehicle
US4299051A (en) * 1977-09-09 1981-11-10 Tonka Corporation Mountable wheel for toy vehicle
US4193639A (en) * 1978-04-21 1980-03-18 Tonka Corporation Mountable wheel for toy vehicle
US4481939A (en) * 1981-01-16 1984-11-13 Bio Mabuchi Co., Ltd. Beauty treatment device
FR2540395A1 (fr) * 1983-02-09 1984-08-10 Takara Co Ltd Vehicule-jouet electrique a recharge rapide
US4767376A (en) * 1985-10-29 1988-08-30 Hanzawa Corporation Toy vehicle
US4881917A (en) * 1987-12-30 1989-11-21 Itla Corporation Remote control steering mechanism
US5714815A (en) * 1995-09-05 1998-02-03 Mattel, Inc. Motor mount assembly
US20010006313A1 (en) * 1999-12-24 2001-07-05 Takashi Kikuchihara Motor and attachment structure
US20040066104A1 (en) * 1999-12-24 2004-04-08 Tomy Company, Ltd. Motor and attachment structure
US6798100B2 (en) * 1999-12-24 2004-09-28 Tomy Company, Ltd. Motor and attachment structure
GB2387126A (en) * 2000-11-06 2003-10-08 Tomy Co Ltd Means for attaching a motor to a toy vehicle
GB2387126B (en) * 2000-11-06 2004-03-24 Tomy Co Ltd Attachment structure for motor for toy, toy with the attachment structure for motor and racing vehicle toy
US6783423B2 (en) 2000-11-06 2004-08-31 Tomy Company, Ltd. Attachment structure for motor for toy, toy with the attachment structure for motor and racing vehicle toy
US6971941B2 (en) 2002-01-28 2005-12-06 Tomy Company, Ltd. Attachment for motor for toy
US20050200219A1 (en) * 2004-03-12 2005-09-15 Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. Damper support assembly for a supercritical drive shaft
USD814414S1 (en) 2013-03-15 2018-04-03 Capriola Corporation Mobile power supply
WO2014153292A1 (en) * 2013-03-16 2014-09-25 Capriola Jonathan P Mobile power supply for powered toy blocks
US20170100961A1 (en) * 2014-05-27 2017-04-13 Bluesmart Inc. Active container
USD856120S1 (en) 2015-04-30 2019-08-13 Travelpro Bsi, Inc. Container wheel

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA944562A (en) 1974-04-02
JPS4889045A (show.php) 1973-11-21
GB1340641A (en) 1973-12-12
DE2236296A1 (de) 1973-08-16

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