US3753313A

US3753313A - Remote controlled action toy

Info

Publication number: US3753313A
Application number: US00024772A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Bross
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-04-08
Filing date: 1970-04-01
Publication date: 1973-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-21
Also published as: GB1302162A

Abstract

An action toy controlled by a remote control handle device for providing high drive speeds, automatic braking, and automatic steering of the toy by utilizing an extensible resilient traction means attached between the toy and the control handle. The traction means is effective to give the operator control of the toy whether the toy is confined to a predetermined track or is free to move randomly on a surface. The toy may be totally unpowered, or may be self-powered with a driving means and/or power supply means provided in either the control handle or within the action toy itself.

Description

I 1;, Elmte States Patent 1191 1111 3,753,53 Bross Aug. 21, 1973 4] REMOTE CONTROLLED ACTION TOY 2,620,596 12/1952 Abrahamson 46/210 [75] Inventor: Helmut Bross, Altenberg U/Numberg, Germany 2:846:225 8/1958 [73] Assignee: Helmut Bross, Nurnberg, Germany 2,064,309 12/1936 Lohr 46/208 X [22] Filed; Apr. 1 1970 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS pp o 4, 7 354,732 1937 Italy 46/210 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Assistant ExaminerD. L. Weinhold July 12, 1969 Germany P 19 35 461.1 Attorney-Flat, pp & Jacobson Apr. 8, 1969 Germany P 19 17 755.0

Apr. 8, 1969 Germany G 69 l9 975.9 [57] ABSTRACT July 12, i969 Germany G 69 27 595.2 An action y controlled y a remote com-r0] handle 52 vs. 01. 46/202, 46/210 f speeds [5 I 1 Int A63]. 17/26 mg, and automatlc steermg of the toy by ut1l1z1ng an e;; [58] Field of Search"; 415/210, 202, 243, tensble means "F F f *6/12. 273/95 A toy and the control handle. The tractlon means 1s ef eeme to give the operator contrql of the toy whether the [561 UNITED STATES PATENTS unpowered, or may be self-powered with a driving 2,887,823 5/1959 Vaughn 46/210 X means and/ power supply means provided in either 2,667,721 2/1954 Muller 46/2 X the control handle or within the action toy itself. l,791,070 2/l93l Coggon 46/210 7 2,604,727 7/1952 Swenson 46/210 X 6 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures 5 o I t 5 t l 1 iv 5 o 7 I a G:

. 1 REMOTE CONTROLLED ACTION TOY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background ofthe invention will be set forth in two parts, Field of the Invention and Description of the Prior Art.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains generally to the field of controllable action toys, and more particularly to remote controlled action toys, whereby control is effected by means of an extensible resilient traction means in the form of a control line.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR-ART Toy vehicles, boats, airplanes, andother action toys controlled by traction, or a control line, are well known in the art. Generally, these known devices are controlled in driving, braking andsteering'functions at some distance from the toy by mechanical coupling or electrically operated drive means. There are certain obvious disadvantages ofthese prior art toys, however, in that the mechanical or electrical coupling from the control device to the toy is complex and "expensive, and their manipulation is difficult and time consuming.

Such shortcommings of the prior art are particularly objectional "considering that'toys are generally designed to be inexpensive andsiinple in operation.

Additionally, the required controlline used in prior art devices is generally relatively heavy and rigid; normally lying on the ground in more or less unordered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of these foregoing factors and conditions characteristic of prior art action toys, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved remote controlled traction toy not subject to the disadvantages enumerated above and to provide a new and novel means of remotely controlling an action toy.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a remote controlled action toy for which realistic driving, braking, and steering functions are remotely controlled by an extended resilient traction control line.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an action toy whose driving, braking, and steering functions are remotely controlled by a hand-held control device at the free end of an extended resilient control line.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide remotely controlled driving, braking, and steering functions for an action toy by means of an extended resilient control line, whereby the toy can attain high speeds on a straightway, experience automatic braking before reaching a turning curve, and be automatically steered as a result of the'toy reaching the outer limits determined by the extensibility of the resilient control line. r

It is a further object of the invention to provide remote control and steering-functions of an action toy by utilization of simple control means which minimize the manufacturing cost of the toy.

Another object of the invention is' to provide a remotely controlled action toy wherein the extended control line attached to the toy is held in substantially a straight. line between the operator and the toy preventing entanglement of the vehicle with the line both as an automatic feature of the invention and optionally con trollable by the operator.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an action toy which is automatically braked while making a turn, the decelerating energy expended thereby being stored as potential energy, such potential energy being released afterthe toy has made thetum to impart acceleration to the toy as it enters the straightaway.

According to the present invention, an action toy is controlled and manipulated by an extensible traction means in the form of a control line attached between the action toy and a handle means. The toy may be confined to a predetermined track configuration or free to move randomly on a surface. While the application of the present invention is well'suited for action toys such as boats, trains, airplanes and wheeled vehicles, the particular embodiment discussed herein is directed specifically to wheeled toy vehicles. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the related novel techniques disclosed are equally applicable to other forms of action toys, and this disclosure is not to be interpreted as being exclusive of toys other than wheeled vehicles.

It is well recognized in the toy industry that toys which are realistic in their operation and which have the appearance of their realistic counterparts attract and keep the attention of children and adults alike, much more than toys which do not exhibit such realism. However, in order to simulate the braking, turning, accelerating, and decelerating characteristics of a racing vehicle, complex and costly mechanisms for programming such control over the vehicle precludes incorporating such features in a toy. The present invention creates a device for driving toy vehicles by remote control, such device aiding in obtaining high straightaway speeds, automatic braking before reaching a curve,and'an automatic turning function, all of which are highly desirable in simulated racing events.

The extensible control line between the toy vehicle and the control handle represents a traction means acting upon the vehicle preferably in front of and above the center of gravity of the vehicle, such traction means being extensible such that the length of the traction means varies as the distance between the operator and the vehicle varies. The extensible traction means is designed to auto-matically exert a back-tension on the vehicle which increases as the distance between the toy and the operator increases. In this manner, the increased back-tension creates a braking action on the vehicle tending to decelerate the vehicle prior to making a curved turn, returning the toy vehicle in the direction of the operator. The back-tension may be created by the inherent resilient characteristic of the traction means or by means of a storage reel which automatically retracts the traction means as the vehicle approaches the operator.

A coupling member is provided on the vehicle for attachment of one end of the traction means. The traction means may be fixedly attached or rotatably attached to the vehicle by means of the specific coupling member utilized. In order to facilitate replacement of the traction means, either by a new traction means or in the event that the original traction means breaks, a detachable attachment member can be used which is fixedly attached to the end of the traction means and releasably attached to the coupling member on the vehicle. In this manner, the traction means can be easily and quickly removed, allowing a child to play with the toy vehicle in a normal manner.

The extensible traction means may take the form of a thin rubber-like or elastic strand, a non-extensible thin control line adapted to be wound on a retractable reel system, a pneumatic bellows-operated retractable member, or coil-like hardened current carrying wires. Any of the above-mentioned means of providing an extensible traction means may be adapted, by use of a branching member, to provide control of two vehicles simultaneously. Such a dual control system adds considerable pleasure and excitement to the child operator.

When an elastic strand is used for the traction means, longer life from the strand can be expected if a clothspun coating is wound around a center elastic core. By this expedient, protection for the fragile elastic core is gained, while the coiled effect of the spun coating permits retention of the extensible properties of the strand.

In order to provide even more realism, the vehicle may be powered by an electric or mechanical driving system to impart acceleration to the vehicle in addition to that gained by the stored energy in the traction means or that gained by manual or automatic movement of the control handle. When such additional drive means are used, a one-way clutch may be incorporated to enable manual acceleration forces to exceed that offered by the motor, and a slip clutch may be provided to prevent damage to the motor or motor supply when the toy is purposely, forcefully stopped or when an obstruction in the path of the toy hampers continued motion. Devices for transmitting mechanical emergy from the handle to the vehicle can comprise manually actuated mechanical means in the handle, or the free end of the traction means can be moved by hand imparting the actuating mechanical energy to the vehicle without the necessity of providing an electric or mechanical motor means. An example of manually transmitting mechanical energy to the vehicle is by way of moving the free end of the traction means in a circular motion which in turn rotates a crank arm mounted on the vehicle, the manually effectuated circular motion being aided by a swinging weight along the length of the traction means offering aid in sustaining the cranking motion.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention and specific embodiments thereof will be described hereinafter by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements or parts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1 and 2 are top and side views, respectively, of

the play operations which can be performed with a remotely controlled toy vehicle in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are side and top views, respectively, of a toy vehicle having a traction means attached to a coupling member on the outside of the toy vehicle.

FIG. 5 shows a coupling member for attaching a traction means to the toy vehicle.

. FIG. 6 shows a coupling member having a detachable attachment member.

FIG. 7 shows a coupling member with storage space for a non-elastic traction means.

FIG. 8 shows a coupling member with the pulling rubber strand stored inside on a series of rotatable grooved wheels.

FIG. 9 shows a handle with a mechanical traction device for a non-elastic traction means.

FIG. 10 shows a pneumatically elongatable elastic membrane hose for use as a traction means.

FIG. 11 shows an electrically driven toy vehicle.

FIG. 12 shows a rotating electrical contact element.

FIG. 13 shows an electrically driven toy vehicle with a storage device in the vehicle and a rotating contact element at the handle.

FIG. 14 shows an electrically driven toy vehicle, the traction means of which engages a forward and backward moving arc of a track-like section.

FIGS. 15 to 18 show four embodiments of pairs of traction means with two coupling members for control of two action toys by a single operator.

7 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown, by way of example, a traction means 1 attached to a vehicle 2 at a point 3 preferably in front of and above the center of gravity 4 of the toy vehicle 2. The traction means 1 is held and moved by the hand of a child or adult operator at its free end 5. The traction means, while providing a pulling drive force for the vehicle, takes the form of an extensible control line between the toy vehicle and the operator whereby the traction means remains held along a straight line extending from the hand of the operator to the vehicle regardless of the distance the vehicle is away from the operator (within certain limits, depending upon-the traction means physical characteristics). In this manner, the traction means is prevented from slacking when the vehicle and operator are in close proximity avoiding the possibility that the traction means will lie in the path of travel of the vehicle and interfere with its travel or become entangled therewith.

FIG. 2 shows a straight line path 6 through which the free end 5 of the traction means is moved by the operator to impart acceleration to the vehicle 2. Due to the resilient action of the traction means, the vehicle follows a directional path parallel to the straight line path 6 in a somewhat delayed action. That is, a time phase shift is experienced by the vehicle, in that the complete straight line path 6 is completed by the free end 5 of traction means 1 prior to the completion of a corresponding distance of travel by the vehicle 2. The vehicle 2, being of a free rolling type toy vehicle, is free to roll a distance greater than the distance traveled by the free end 5, effectively overshooting" an equivalent length of travel experienced by the free end 5. As the vehicle continues overshooting" its mark, backtension on the vehicle is increased in the direction opposite the initial direction, the traction means assuming the position shown at 1b in FIG. 3.

Thus, the vehicle is caused to execute a turn or curve and return in the direction of free end 5. Absent any further movement of free end 5, the vehicle will soon i come to rest after a sufficient number of back and forth oscillations of the vehicle are made to dissipate the initially imparted energy. Sustained oscillations of the vehicle in a back and forth straight-line path may be maintained by moving the free end 5 intermittently back and forth in the straight-line path 6 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Under this condition, after the vehicle has executed its first turn, the vehicle againgoes past a distance equal to that through which the free end 5 moved, and again due to the phase shift involved, the free end 5 can be moved in its initial direction while the vehicle is caused to decelerate, make a turn, and return to be accelerated by the increased tension in traction means 1, and the cycle continues in this fashion.

It will be appreciated that when the vehicle 2 is near the end of one of its paths of travel (shown at the extreme outer positions in FIGS. 1 and 2), the increased tension due to the storage of potential energy in the resilient traction means acts as an automatic braking system for the vehicle, slowing the vehicle down just prior to the vehicle reaching the turning point 7 of the straight line path shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Accordingly, the vehicle, while experiencing the curve or turn to return to the position of the operator, is slowed to a speed sufficient to maintain balance of the vehicle on its wheels precluding the possibility of overturning the vehicle on the expected sharp turn. Such automatic braking is closely analogous to the real life situation with a human driver in a racing vehicle.

FIGS. 1 and 2 further show a deviation from the straight-line path, indicating that the vehicle can be caused to traverse a variety of simulated track figures at the option of the operator. For example, forward and backward motions of the free end 5 along the figure 8 path 8, produces a path of travel of the vehicle as shown at 9. Again, the vehicle motion is shifted in time relative to the hand motion, and the path of travel of the vehicle is determined by the frictional characteristics of the vehicle and surface, the resilient characteristics of the traction means I, the weight of the vehicle, and the directed motion of the free end 5. Thus the vehicle traverses the path 9 resembling the path 8 of the free end 5 on a magnified scale. It is preferable that the turning points 7 of the straight path of the vehicle are spaced a distance of from 8 to 20 feet. When the action toy is used out of doors, the distance can be increased to some 30 feet.

It is obvious that other paths of travel than the orderly repetitive straight line and figure 8" patterns discussed can be attained at the option of the operator. For example, the free end 5 can be moved so that a random curved path 10 of the free end 5 results in a corresponding magnified random path of the controlled toy vehicle 2. However, if it is desired, the path traversed by the free end 5 may be larger than the path traveled by the vehicle. If the traction means 1 is maintained at an angle'of approximately 80 degrees from the horizontal as shown at la of FIG. 2, the free end 5 can be caused to traverse a random curved path 10, while the vehicle traverses a smaller corresponding random curved path 11, again in a time phase lag relationship.

In the latter-mentioned position of the traction means, the turning points may be spaced as close as several inches.

When the toy vehicle approaches the end point 7 of a prescribed path of travel, a series of automatic control functions is experienced. it will be seen that the extensible characteristics of the traction means provide simultaneously for deceleration of the toy vehicle, storage of the decelerating energy, steering or turning control of the vehicle, and accelerating forces on the vehicle. With the exception of the aforementioned timerelated phase shift between the motion of the free end 5 and the directional motion of the vehicle in relation thereto, the automatic control features are desirable characteristics of the action toy and result as an inherent quality of the novel extensible traction means 1.

As the vehicle approaches the end point 7 of the path of travel, it experiences deceleration as the tension of the extensible traction means increases and energy is stored therein. With a traction force of the traction means equal to less than half the weight of the toy vehicle under minimum load conditions (the inner positions of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 2) and the traction force of the traction means 1 corresponding to at least the weight of the toy vehicle 2 under maximum load conditions (the outer positions of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 2), and as a result of the connection of the traction means 1 to the vehicle in front of the center of gravity 4 of the vehicle 2, an unstable condition exists where the back tension exerted by the traction means tends to rotate the vehicle about the center of gravity 4, forcing the toy vehicle to execute a turning motion, simulating the vehicle turning a curve at a strongly decelerated velocity. To aid in maintaining the vehicle in an upright position while executing a turn, the rear wheels of the vehicle, preferably located behind the center of gravity 4, have a roughened frictional surface in which to engage the road surface, while the front wheels are relatively smooth. Additionally, when the traction means is at maximum length, a small angle 12 between the traction means 1 and the horizontal aids in preventing the front of the toy vehicle from lifting.

It was previously noted that the point of attachment 3 of the vehicle 2 is preferably situated above the center of gravity 4. While this tends to counteract the stability of the vehicle in a turning motion at the maximum load position, the effect of a slight positional offset of the attachment point 3 from the center of gravity 4 has little effect due to the small angle 12 and the relatively large distance that the point of attachment 3 is in front of the center of gravity 4. Because point 3 is above the center of gravity 4, a vehicle which has been inadvertently turned over on its side or back can easily be returned to its original position by a simple lifting motion of the traction means 1. There is no need for the operator to bend down or touch the vehicle to reset it from an overturnedposition.

Upon completing its turn, the vehicle heads back in the direction of the operator, and due to the potential energy stored in the resilient traction means, acceleration is imparted to the vehicle. The free end 5 may then be moved in a predetermined pattern, the pulling energy exerted thereby, accompanied by the stored potential energy of the traction means, accelerates the vehicle to extremely high peak velocity levels.

If desired, the free end 5 may be manually guided along a predetermined course at a low constant speed,

causing the toy vehicle to run in similar, reduced scale curves on the path surface 13. However, as previously set forth, when the free end is moved intermittently back and forth in a straight line path, i.e., with short pauses at the end positions of the paths, extreme accelerations up to three times the gravitational acceleration of the toy, high velocities, and a backward and forward course of up to 30 feet in length can be attained.

Disposed at the point 3 of attachment on the vehicle 2 securing means in the form of a coupling member (FIG. 3) is provided in order to permit a rapid reattachment of the end of the traction means and/or provides a convenient and expedient means for detaching the traction means for use of the toy in a normal manner.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the toy vehicle in a side and top view respectively. In these figures, the traction means 1 is attached to the outside of the toy vehicle 2 at point 3 by means of coupling member 14. Various forms of the coupling member 14 may be used for attachment of the traction means to the vehicle. An example of a suitable coupling member 14 is shown in FIG. 5, wherein a base member 15 threadably mates with a clamping screw 16 having an aperture 17 therein to accept the vehicle end of the traction means 1. When the screw 16 is tightened, the end of the traction means 1 is clamped between the front face 18 of the clamping screw and the face 19 of the base member 15. Attachment to the vehicle body, e.g. to the radiator hood, is made by means of a self-adhesive plate 20, shown in FIG. 5 as carrying a protective cover layer 21. Other means of attaching the base member to the vehicle body are equally suitable, such as a suction cup mount or a permanent magnet.

The coupling member provides quick detachment of the traction means from the vehicle body yet maintains a sufficient attachment contact with the vehicle body to resist the forces exerted upon it under maximum load conditions exerted by the traction means 1.

Other means of attaching the end of the traction means 1 to the coupling member 14 as shown in FIG. 5, are equally convenient to be utilized with the present invention. For example, the end of the traction means after passing through an aperture 17 of the coupling member 14, might be clamped to the coupling member 14 by means of a lever wedge, a pin wedge, a tie loop in the end of the traction means, adhesive tape strips, radially resilient bolts or plugs inserted in an aperture in the vehicle body, or a pin and receptacle combination, none of which are shown in the accompanying drawings but all of which have as their objective to facilitate the attachment and reattachment of the traction means 1 to the vehicle 2 in the event that a traction means 1 necessitates repair or a new traction means is used. In this connection, it is anticipated that the child operator may have a variety of traction means each having different characteristics depending upon the surface used, the weight of the vehicle, and the desired path the vehicle is to traverse.

' In operation, it is highly desirable that the traction means 1 be detached from the coupling member 14 quickly and conveniently without the necessity of complex manipulating procedures. FIG. 6 shows a coupling member 14a having a base member 15a adapted to be secured to the vehicle body by means of a resilient suction cup portion 22 of the base portion 15a in addition to the adhesive plate 20 and protective cover 21 as previously described with reference to FIG. 5. In the embodiment of the coupling member 14a, shown in FIG. 6, a detachable attachment member 23 is shown in the form of a blunted pin 24 having an eyelet 25, through which the traction means 1 is tied. The embodiment of the detachable attachment member and coupling member combination as shown in FIG. 6 serves as an example only and other disengagement-type structures might take the form of conical plugs, mating screws, buttons, or of a dovetail guide. While these alternate forms of attachment members are not shown in the accompanying drawings, the use of any of the described forms is acceptable for the purposes of the present invention.

For ease of operation, the free end 5 of the traction means 1 may be secured to a convenient handle member 26, as shown in FIG. 3. The handle member 26 is designed to be comfortably held by the operator and to add to the enjoyment of the operator. The traction means 1 may be attached to the handle member 26 by means of a coupling member of similar design as the coupler member 14 used for attaching the traction means to the vehicle 2, as previously discussed. For quick and easy replacement of the traction means, a combination of a coupling member 14a and a detachable attachment member 23 similar to the combination shown in FIG. 6 may be used.

As heretofore described, the traction means 1 takes the form of a resilient control line for manipulating the vehicle 2. The resilient characteristics of a traction means 1 may be realized in a variety of possible structural configurations. For example, the traction means 1 may be a thin rubber or elastic strand. On the other hand, a non-elastic filament strand may be used, provided the resilient characteristics of the traction means are preserved. This may be accomplished by providing a retractable reel system upon which the non-elastic strand is wound and unwound, either automatically or at the control of the operator, and yet which is responsive to the forces acting on the traction means 1 as the vehicle 2 varies its distance from the operator.

A non-elastic strand and reel system is shown in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, the reel system housing 27 is substituted for the coupling member 14 (FIG. 5) and is adhesively mounted to the hood of the vehicle by means of the adhesive plate 20a. The non-elastic traction means 1 is fed to the inside of housing 27 through aperture 28. Emerging on the inside of the housing 27, the traction means 1 is wound and stored on a reel 29 rotatably supported in the housing. The required tensioning elasticity and extensible characteristics for the traction means 1 are obtained by a coil spring 30 acting on the reel 29. Thus, it can be seen that the resilient characteristics of the extensible traction means is preserved, and operation of the vehicle in a manner similar to that when the traction means comprises a simple rubber strand is achieved. The retractable reel system shown in FIG. 7 is mountable 0n the hood of the vehicle 2 by means of adhesive plate 20a. However, such a retractable reel system can equally be mounted in the handle 26 (FIG. 3) as a retractable means for taking up the slack in the free end 5 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the traction means 1.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, there is provided a housing 27a and a rubber strand traction means 1 which is guided over rotatable grooved wheels 31 rotatably mounted in housing 27a. The extreme end of the elastic traction means 1 is tied to a fixed point 32 on the interior of housing 27a. After looping around a series of grooved wheels 31, the traction means emerges externally to the housing 27a through aperture 28a, the emerging end of traction means 1 being secured to a detachable attachment member 23a for the purposes heretofore described. As the tension on the traction means increases with increased distance of the vehicle with respect to the operator, the elastic traction means 1 is stretched throughout its lengthy, winding path around the peripheries of the grooved wheels 31 allowing the traction means to be extended. Upon turning of the vehicle 2 after reaching its turning point 7 (FIGS. 1 and 2), the slackened elastic traction means 1 is allowed to retract within housing 27a to be restored on the series of grooved wheels 31. Again, as was indicated in connection with FIG. 7, the housing means 27a may comprise a coupling member 14 for the vehicle or a control handle 26.

Alternate means of providing an extensible traction means are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 shows a non-elastic traction means 1 stored on a reel 29a which is rotatably mounted in a housing 33 and which is rotatable by action of a rack and pinion assembly 34. The bottom end of the reel axle 35 is attached to a twister rubber strand 36 producing the necessary resilient characteristics of the traction means 1. The handle portion 26a comprises two elastically compressible legs 37 which, when squeezed by the hand of the operator, operates the rack and pinion assembly 34 to impart a forward and backward motion to the traction means 1 as it unwinds and winds onto the reel 29a, adjusting the length of the traction means in conformance with the relative position of the vehicle with respect to the operator. In this manner, both manual control of the length of the traction means by operation of the rack and pinion assembly 54 and automatic control due to the effects of the twisted rubber strand 36 are achieved.

FIG. shows an alternate embodiment of the traction means 1 in the form of a bellows-like hose 38 whose length is intermittently changed with a bellowslike pump member 39, the hose 38 having an intrinsic elasticity in the direction in which the hose is expanded. At its front end, the hose is provided with a coupling member 14b having the form of a rotating connector attached to the vehicle 2 precluding the buckling of hose 38 as the vehicle 2 traverses a cyclical path.

In addition to the direct propulsion of the toy vehicle 2 by moving the free end 5 (FIGS. 1-3) of the manually actuated traction means 1, a driving means in the toy vehicle itself or in the handle 26 can aid in complementing the manually applied propelling forces, thus offering certain advantages over toy vehicles operated solely by a manually actuated traction means. Referring to FIG. 11, an additional driving force in the form of an electric

motor drive system

40, 41 makes playing with the toy more stimulating and enjoyable when the toy vehicle is used as a race car vehicle relying on manual guidance of the free end 5 of the traction means 1 to perform steering functions only. If desirable, however, the toy vehicle may include a rotating one-way clutch (not shown) so that the vehicle can be propelled by a motor driving mechanism 40 in the turning portions of the track path, while higher speeds on the straightaway are achieved by manual manipulation of the traction means 1. Both the motor 40 and the power supply 41 source, which may be in the form of a battery, can be placed in the toy vehicle or in the control handle, and an on-off switch, whose operation depends upon the length of the traction means, can be utilized. If it is desired, a portion of the entire motor driving mechanism 40 or the motor driving mechanism 40 as a whole, together with switches 42, can be mounted in the handle with an appropriate electrical or mechanical power transmission means inserted between the handle and the toy vehicle. If the power supply means 41 only is contained within the control handle 26, conductors 45 resembling coiled springs can be used as the traction means 1 and considered as power transmission means for the electric current supplied to the motor 40 in the vehicle 2 itself.

Alternatively, the handle can include the entire motor driving mechanism 40 providing mechanical energy in the form of a rotating motion or of a rhythmic longitudinal motion which is transmitted to the propulsion element of the toy vehicle via the traction means 1.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of the present invention wherein both a resilient traction means 1 and a motor 40 is used in combination to propel and control the vehicle 2. The particular embodiment shown indicates a battery 41 mounted within the vehicle 2 and supplying energy to a motor 40 providing a driving force to the rear wheels 44 of the vehicle 2, the power being supplied to the motor 40 through handle switch 42 .and/or vehicle switch 43. In the event that a switch 42 ismounted in the handle 26 for controlling current to the motor 40, coiled spring-like current carrying cable 45 surrounding traction means 1 carries the current to and from the handle switch 42. Alternatively, the coiled cable 45 has inherent elastic properties which may obviate the necessity of a central elastic traction means 1, if this is desired. When electric current is transmitted through the current-carrying cable 45, an electrical rotatable contact member is required.

FIG. 12 shows such a rotatable contact member 46 which prevents undesirable twisting of the currentcarrying cable 45 as the vehicle 2 travels its repetitive cyclical path. In the embodiment of FIG. 12, a fixed set of contacts 47 lie contiguous to corresponding rotatable contacts 48, the rotatable contacts 48 representing the end of the current-carrying cable 45 being retained within the fixed contact housing 49 by retaining fingers 50. Thus, as the current-carrying cable 45 rotates within the contact housing 49, continuous electrical contact is made between the corresponding conductor pairs 47 and 48.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the battery 41 and handle switch 42 are mounted within the handle 26 which is rotatably decoupled from the traction means 1 by rotatable contact 48a (as described in FIG. 12) mounted on the handle 26. The traction means 1 consists of a long electric cable, which in the configuration shown in FIG. 13, is not restricted to be in a coil-like form, but rather sufficiently flexible to be wound on a reel 51 rotatably mounted within the body of the vehicle 2. A twisted rubber strand 36a is subjected to elastic rotational forces as the traction means 1 (currentcarrying cable) is wound on reel 53. The interior of the vehicle 2 carries fixed contact springs 51 slidably engageable with contact sliders 52 representing the terminating end of traction means 1, thus supplying current to the motor 40 which is in driving relationship with the rear wheels 44. In this manner, the traction means 1 is rendered extensible by the action of the twisted rubber strand 36a, winding the traction means 1 on reel 53, while simultaneously providing electric current to the motor 40 through the commutator assembly 54 consisting of contact springs 51 and contact sliders 52.

FIG. 14 shows a vehicle 2 attached by means of traction means 1 to an overhead arch 55 under which the vehicle is adapted to pass. The overhead arch 55 expands the width of a track-like section 56 which guides the vehicle 2 in a path under the overhead arch 55. The point of attachment 57 to the overhead arch 55 provides a fixed securing point for the free end 5 of the traction means 1. As the overhead arch is subjected to forces causing it to swing back and forth intermittently in the direction of arrow 58, the vehicle traverses a path corresponding to the straight path indicated by arrow 50 except on a much magnified scale. In this manner, the toy vehicle exhibits the same braking, accelerating, and steering functions as previously discussed with reference to the manually formed straight path 6 indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Additional enjoyment in operating the present invention can be attained by operating two vehicles simultaneously. FIGS. -18 show four different configurations of a dual traction means, the vehicle end of each of the traction means segments 1a and 1b being attached to

respective coupling members

14a and 14b in any prescribed manner as heretofore disclosed. Each of the

coupling members

14a, 14b is attached to separate toy vehicles so that a single operator has control over both vehicles simultaneously. In FIG. 16, a branching member 59 is provided, the branching member 59 being slidably displaceable along the length of the traction means pair la and lb determining the relative distance between vehicles.

In FIG. 17, an elongated handle 60 is shown at the free ends 5a and 5b of individual traction means In and lb allowing the operator to manipulate the elongated handle to control the relative position of the two toy vehicles more individually then with the arrangement as shown in FIGS. 15 or 16.

A slight deviation from the arrangement of FIG. 17 is shown in FIG. 18, wherein a third traction means portion 10 is shown attached to the center tab 61 of elongated handle 60. A handle 26a is shown at the free end 5 of the traction means 1 for grasping by the operator. By using the traction means arrangement as shown in FIG. 18, the operator has little control over the relative position between the two vehicles such that interesting and randomly unpredictable maneuvers of the vehicles take place.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that the present invention provides a new and entertaining toy that very closely simulates the accelerating, braking, and steering functions of an actual racing car, wherein an extremely high velocity is attained in the straightaway, and yet the vehicle maintains its stability in the curves by the automatic braking and steering functions afforded the vehicle by means of the extensible traction means.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it is to be understood that many variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Accordingly, it is intended that the foregoing disclosure and drawings be considered only as illustrations of the principles of this invention and are not to be construed in a limiting sense. The invention is accordingly to be considered as inclusive of all modifications and variationscoming within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A toy according to claim 6, wherein said resilient member is a coil spring.

2. A toy according to claim 6, wherein said resilient member is a twisted elastic strand having first and second strand ends, said first strand end being fixedly secured to said reel and said second strand end being fixedly secured to a point on the interior of said housmg.

3. A toy according to claim 6, wherein said resilient member is an elastic strand wound in tandem around a plurality of said reels, said reels being in the form of grooved wheels and rotatably mounted within said housing.

4. A toy according to claim 6, wherein said coupling member comprises a handle member attached to said second end of said traction means for grasping by said operator.

5. A toy according to claim 6, wherein said housing comprises the body of said toy.

6. A remote controlled action toy comprising an extensible traction means having a first end attached to the action toy and a second end free to be manipulated by an operator, a resilient member operatively associated with said traction means, said resilient member producing the extensible quality of said traction means and increasing the tension in said traction means in relation to the distance between said action toy and said operator, at least one coupling member attached to said extensible traction means, said at least one coupling member comprising a housing having an aperture through which one of said extensible traction means ends is threaded, at least one reel rotatably mounted in said housing upon which said traction means is wound so that said resilient member biases said reel to take up the slack of said traction means.

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Claims

1. A toy according to claim 6, wherein said resilient member is a coil spring.

2. A toy according to claim 6, wherein said resilient member is a twisted elastic strand having first and second strand ends, said first strand end being fixeDly secured to said reel and said second strand end being fixedly secured to a point on the interior of said housing.