US3757459A - Powered dragster having lateral stability coacting with track - Google Patents

Powered dragster having lateral stability coacting with track Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3757459A
US3757459A US00209794A US3757459DA US3757459A US 3757459 A US3757459 A US 3757459A US 00209794 A US00209794 A US 00209794A US 3757459D A US3757459D A US 3757459DA US 3757459 A US3757459 A US 3757459A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
vehicle
toy
running surface
track
driven wheels
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00209794A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
G Buck
J Bales
B Prodger
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3757459A publication Critical patent/US3757459A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • 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
    • A63H17/004—Stunt-cars, e.g. lifting front wheels, roll-over or invertible cars
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K85/00—Artificial bait for fishing
    • A01K85/005—Artificial bait for fishing without hooks
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H18/00—Highways or trackways for toys; Propulsion by special interaction between vehicle and track
    • A63H18/08—Highways or trackways for toys; Propulsion by special interaction between vehicle and track with mechanical means for guiding or steering

Definitions

  • the present invention pertains generally to the field of toys and more particularly to simulated high performance racing car toys having relatively high torque producing, self-contained motors.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy resembling a high performance dragster capable of simulating the high acceleration characteristics of such actual racing machines.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide an economical to fabricate miniature vehicle toy incorporating means producing lateral stability on either a broad flat surface or on conventional elongate track with upstanding side walls.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a rugged, highly-powered toy vehicle which may controllaby be made to simulate a high performance sprint-type racing vehicle doing what are commonly called wheelies.
  • a toy resembling a high performance dragster vehicle for use on a relatively flat running surface includes a toy vehicle body with suspension and wheel assemblies, the body resembling a dragster racing car and the wheel assemblies including a pair of front wheels at the front portion of the body and a pair of driven wheels supporting the rear portion thereof.
  • the body carries motor means including a coupling arrangement operatively coupling torque developed by the motor means to the driven wheels, the torque applied to the driven wheels tending to cause the front wheels to rise above and lose contact with the running surface.
  • Affixed to the rear portion of the body is lateral stability means for contacting the running surface only when the front wheels leave the surface and thereby tending to return the front wheels to the running surface.
  • the lateral stability means may include an arm pivotally attached at its upper end to the rear of the toy's body, and the leg may include a transverse arm portion registering between the sidewalls of the track to provide lateral stability during the period of time the front wheels are not in contact with the running surface.
  • FIG. I is a side elevational view in section of an embodiment of the present invention, with the front wheels in contact with the running surface;
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, showing the vehicle of FIG. 1 accelerating and the front wheels rising above the running surface;
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional illustration of the toy of FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3;
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the toy taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional illustration taken along line 55 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lateral stability member or leg attached to the rear of the vehicle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of a detachable weight in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a side elevational view in section of the front portion of the toy vehicle utilizing the weighted member of FIG. 7.
  • a toy vehicle body 13 having a front portion 15 and a rear portion 17.
  • the body 13 generally resembles a high performance dragster vehicle and is assembled using separately fabricated components including a lower body portion or chassis 19, an upper body portion 21, and a simulated high performance engine 23 positioned on the upper body portion 21.
  • the upper body portion 21 is shown having depending spacing columns 25 to support the portion 21 above the chassis 19.
  • the body portion and the chassis are bonded together along their length by sonic welding or an adhesive. This strengthens the assembly against front end impact.
  • the simulated engine 23 is held in place by a vertically disposed screw or rivet 27 extending through apertures 29, 31, and 33, respectively. More importantly, the rivet 27, along with a vertical post 35 extending down into the aperture 31 in the body member 13, serves to help the vehicles body to support leverage forces placed thereon by an enclosed spring motor, to be later described.
  • Front wheels 37 of the vehicle are freely rotatably mounted on axle elements or drive screws 39 extending horizontally from a front suspension member 41 integrally formed with the upper body portion 21 of the toy vehicle body 13 (see FIG. 4).
  • Located in the rear portion 17 of the toy 11 are a pair of relatively larger driven wheels 43 fixedly attached to a rotatable drive shaft 45, best viewed in FIG. 3.
  • the wheels 43 preferably are fitted with flat ring-like resilient members 47 of a material such as rubber, for example, to resemble racing slicks generally used on such dragster machines.
  • a relatively small drive pinion 49 Affixed to the drive shaft 45 is a relatively small drive pinion 49.
  • the pinion is positioned within the body 13 and the shaft extends through the body at holes 51 which act as bearings.
  • Meshably engaged with the pinion 49 is a relatively larger first intermediate gear 53 fixedly mounted on a shaft 55, this shaft also holding a second intermediate gear 57 that is somewhat smaller than the gear 53.
  • the intermediate gear shaft 55 is supported in inclined elongated slots 59 in the inner wall of the body 13, the function of which will be described in detail later.
  • the gear 57 is positioned to mesh at all times with a relatively large motor output gear 61 rigidly mounted on a motor shaft 63.
  • the wheels 43 are driven by a spring-type mechanical motor 64 which includes a spool or drum 65 coaxially fixed to the shaft 63 so as to rotate with it and with the gear 61.
  • a cord 67 is attached to the outer surface 69 of the drum and is wound thereabout between the gear 61 and an annular end plate 70.
  • a spiral spring 71 is also attached to the drum 65 that is wound about the shaft 63 and is anchored at its other end to body 13.
  • the motor 64 is energized by grasping a ring 72 attached to the cord 67 and pulling the cord in the direction indicated by arrow 73 relative to the toy 11, as shown in FIG. 1. This action rotates the drum 65 in the direction 75, and at the same time, rotates the shaft 63, the motor output gear 61, and winds up the spring 71. As the gear 61 rotates, it causes the second intermediate gear 57 to move in the direction shown by arrow 77 and also causes the intermediate shaft 55 to rise in the slot 59 so that the first intermediate gear 53 leaves engagement with the drive pinion 49. Once the spring 71 is sufficiently wound about the shaft 63, the cord 67 is released.
  • the toy vehicle 11 is preferably operated on a flat surface such as a sidewalk or floor 85, for example, but it is particularly adapted to run along a flat elongate track such as herein identified by numeral 86.
  • the track 86 has a relatively flat surface 87 along which the wheels 37 and 43 of the toy travel.
  • the track may be fabricated from any material generally considered suitable for this application, such as a flexible plastic material, for example, and any conventional process such as an extruding process may be used.
  • the track 86 is also provided with upstanding vehicle retaining sidewalls 89 along the sides of the running surface 87. This type of track generally is manufactured in linear sections with appropriate means for connecting a number of such track sections end-to-end.
  • a lower surface 91 includes a pair of identical longitudinally extending L-shaped sections 93 which define a relatively narrow but broad channel 95 adapted to accept flat elongate channel engaging tabs, not shown.
  • a more detailed description of the track sections and their channel engaging tabs may be obtained by referring to US. Pat. No. 3,487,999 which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
  • the realistic operation and appearance of a toy vehicle are significant factors in the marketing of this type toy.
  • the latter aspect has been accomplished by the design of the toy 11 as illustrated in the drawings.
  • the motor 64 provides an amount of torque to the driven wheels 43, through the gearing arrangement, to cause the toy to pivot about the drive shaft 49, as indicated by arrow 97, and thereby raise the front portion 15 of the vehicle and lift the toy's front wheels 37 from the running surface 87.
  • This action closely resembles the operation of full sized dragsters at initial acceleration.
  • the leg 101 roughly resembles the letter H with side portions 103, a cross brace 105, upper journals 107, and lower guide arms 109.
  • the journals 107 are cylindrical and extend horizontally in the same plane with and parallel to the cylindrical guide arms 109.
  • the leg 101 may be rigidly affixed to the rear of the toy 11 and extend downwardly at a predetermined angle to a point above the running surface 87 so that the arm 109 will not contact this plane until the front wheels leave the surface.
  • the journals 107 are pivotally held in associated horizontally disposed cup bearings 111 integrally molded in the inner wall of the rear body portion 17.
  • the leg member 101 extends through an opening 113 in the rear of the vehicle 11, which opening acts to restrict the degree of rotation the leg may traverse. For example, when all the wheels of the toy are in contact with the running surface 87, the member 101 may be nearly vertical and extend toward but not contact the surface 87.
  • FIG. 2 Upon the motor 64 being energized and the vehicle released, the toy will tend to perform a wheelie and thus rotate in the direction 97.
  • This sequential action is illustrated in FIG. 2 where a first dashed outline 115 indicates the position of the toy prior to rotation; a second dashed line 117 indicating the first contact of the trailing leg member 101 with the surface 87; and maximum rotation of the toy, as limited by the leg 101 engaging the upper edge of the opening 113, is shown by the solid outline.
  • the trailing leg 101 may be of molded plastic, or, if additional weight is desired at the rear of the toy, this component may be fabricated from any suitable metal or metal alloy.
  • the leg upon contacting the running surface, tends to cause the front end of the vehicle to descend to the roadway to again provide lateral stability.
  • the arm portions 109 which extend parallel to the track surface 87 between the side walls 89. Any tendency for the toy to move to either side is prevented by one of these arms contacting an adjacent side wall, as best shown in FIG. 5.
  • the lateral stability member 101 not only limits the vertical rotation of the toy under acceleration conditions, but also prevents lateral instability by tending to cause the front wheels to return to the track surface and by registering within the tracks side walls.
  • the forward portion of the chassis 19 is provided with holes 119 to accommodate a pair of bent tabs 121 of an elongate detachable weight member 123, shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
  • the member 123 is attached below the chassis 19 by fitting an upstanding curved front portion 125 of the weight at the front end 127 of the toy 11 and by pushing the tabs 121 through the holes 119.
  • the curvature of the front portion 125 generally conforms with the configuration of the vehicles front end to assure reliable attachment of the member 123.
  • the function of the weight is to prevent or limit the tendency of the front wheels 37 to leave the running surface. Thus, if for any reason it is desired that the toy not do wheelies," the weight member 123 may be easily snapped on to the chassis 19.
  • the vehicle may take the form of a three wheeled tricycle. Accordingly, it is intended that the foregoing disclosure and drawings shall be considered only as illustrations of the principles of this invention.
  • a toy vehicle having a body and wheel assemblies, said body resembling a dragster racing car, said wheel assemblies including at least one wheel at the front portion of said body and a pair of driven wheels supporting the rear portion of said body;
  • said motor means carried by said body, said means including a coupling arrangement operatively coupling torque developed by said means to said driven wheels, said motor means being capable of delivering an amount of torque to said driven wheels to cause said front wheel to rise above and lose contact with said running surface when the vehicle is supported thereon with said track and vehicle in generally horizontal position;
  • said stability means comprising a generally downwardly extending leg pivotally mounted at its upper end to said body.
  • leg in cludes a horizontally extending portion disposed adjacent its lower end and having a length dimension transversally of the longitudinal dimension of said body approximately that of the width of said running surface of said track between said sidewalls.
  • said lateral stability means includes means for restricting the pivotal movement of said leg relative to said body to limit the distance said front wheel may rise above said running surface.
  • a toy according to claim 1 including a weight member detachably mounted on said front portion of said body.
  • a toy according to claim I wherein said front wheel is relatively smaller than said driven wheels, said driven wheels each including a flat rubber ring disposed about its periphery simulating racing slicks.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Marine Sciences & Fisheries (AREA)
  • Animal Husbandry (AREA)
  • Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
US00209794A 1971-12-20 1971-12-20 Powered dragster having lateral stability coacting with track Expired - Lifetime US3757459A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US20979471A 1971-12-20 1971-12-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3757459A true US3757459A (en) 1973-09-11

Family

ID=22780309

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00209794A Expired - Lifetime US3757459A (en) 1971-12-20 1971-12-20 Powered dragster having lateral stability coacting with track

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US3757459A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
JP (1) JPS561112B2 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
AR (1) AR199552A1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
BR (1) BR7203954D0 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
CA (1) CA946155A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
DE (1) DE2229547A1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
GB (1) GB1337103A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
IT (1) IT959174B (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3914898A (en) * 1974-11-25 1975-10-28 Mattel Inc Spoiler-jack for vehicle toy
US4073087A (en) * 1976-01-30 1978-02-14 Ideal Toy Corporation Toy vehicle having parachute attached thereto
US4135328A (en) * 1977-01-21 1979-01-23 Mattel, Inc. Clutch mechanism for a toy vehicle
US4183174A (en) * 1978-06-22 1980-01-15 George Barris Toy stunt vehicle
US4201011A (en) * 1978-07-05 1980-05-06 Mattel, Inc. Toy motorcycle
US4406084A (en) * 1982-04-19 1983-09-27 Arco Industries Ltd. Toy car with rubber band motor
US4409753A (en) * 1982-04-30 1983-10-18 Arco Industries Ltd. Powered toy boat
US4473969A (en) * 1980-04-21 1984-10-02 Wilson Paul A Housing for spring wound toy
US4485587A (en) * 1983-01-07 1984-12-04 Gordon Barlow Design Reversing mechanism for a toy motor driven wheeled vehicle
US4501567A (en) * 1983-05-03 1985-02-26 Cathell Philip W Elongated wand-type wind-up and trigger-released separable actuator for motorized toy
US5643036A (en) * 1994-11-18 1997-07-01 Lcd International, L.L.C. Toy vehicle and energizer-launcher
US5938238A (en) * 1997-09-10 1999-08-17 Lamb Components, Inc. Pneumatic lift control device
US6620022B1 (en) 2002-05-30 2003-09-16 Connector Set Limited Partnership Drive mechanism for toy racing car
US8590909B2 (en) 2012-04-06 2013-11-26 John Calvert Wheelie bar for leaf spring equipped cars
US20140051327A1 (en) * 2011-04-29 2014-02-20 Mattel, Inc. Wheelie toy vehicle
US9427671B2 (en) 2014-05-30 2016-08-30 Mattel, Inc. Toy vehicle launcher and toy track for use therewith
US9682327B2 (en) 2014-08-05 2017-06-20 Mattel, Inc. Toy launcher

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES8606001A1 (es) * 1983-08-29 1986-04-16 Schaper Mfg Co Un vehiculo de juguete
GB2186049A (en) * 1986-02-04 1987-08-05 Yat Ming Ind Factory Limited A spring motor

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB165966A (en) * 1920-04-10 1921-07-11 Frank Allen Mitchell Improvements in and relating to driving mechanism for toys
GB217576A (en) * 1923-06-15 1924-10-30 Fischer & Co H Toys
US2834608A (en) * 1956-07-25 1958-05-13 John B Wixson Motor vehicle undercarriage protective device
US3474566A (en) * 1967-05-05 1969-10-28 Placo Prod Co Driving mechanism for toy vehicles
US3594949A (en) * 1970-03-06 1971-07-27 Mattel Inc Toy vehicle having simulated headlights with on-off control
US3611630A (en) * 1970-05-04 1971-10-12 Tonka Corp Wheeled toy vehicle

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB165966A (en) * 1920-04-10 1921-07-11 Frank Allen Mitchell Improvements in and relating to driving mechanism for toys
GB217576A (en) * 1923-06-15 1924-10-30 Fischer & Co H Toys
US2834608A (en) * 1956-07-25 1958-05-13 John B Wixson Motor vehicle undercarriage protective device
US3474566A (en) * 1967-05-05 1969-10-28 Placo Prod Co Driving mechanism for toy vehicles
US3594949A (en) * 1970-03-06 1971-07-27 Mattel Inc Toy vehicle having simulated headlights with on-off control
US3611630A (en) * 1970-05-04 1971-10-12 Tonka Corp Wheeled toy vehicle

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3914898A (en) * 1974-11-25 1975-10-28 Mattel Inc Spoiler-jack for vehicle toy
US4073087A (en) * 1976-01-30 1978-02-14 Ideal Toy Corporation Toy vehicle having parachute attached thereto
US4135328A (en) * 1977-01-21 1979-01-23 Mattel, Inc. Clutch mechanism for a toy vehicle
US4183174A (en) * 1978-06-22 1980-01-15 George Barris Toy stunt vehicle
US4201011A (en) * 1978-07-05 1980-05-06 Mattel, Inc. Toy motorcycle
US4473969A (en) * 1980-04-21 1984-10-02 Wilson Paul A Housing for spring wound toy
US4406084A (en) * 1982-04-19 1983-09-27 Arco Industries Ltd. Toy car with rubber band motor
US4409753A (en) * 1982-04-30 1983-10-18 Arco Industries Ltd. Powered toy boat
US4485587A (en) * 1983-01-07 1984-12-04 Gordon Barlow Design Reversing mechanism for a toy motor driven wheeled vehicle
US4501567A (en) * 1983-05-03 1985-02-26 Cathell Philip W Elongated wand-type wind-up and trigger-released separable actuator for motorized toy
US5643036A (en) * 1994-11-18 1997-07-01 Lcd International, L.L.C. Toy vehicle and energizer-launcher
US5938238A (en) * 1997-09-10 1999-08-17 Lamb Components, Inc. Pneumatic lift control device
US6620022B1 (en) 2002-05-30 2003-09-16 Connector Set Limited Partnership Drive mechanism for toy racing car
US20140051327A1 (en) * 2011-04-29 2014-02-20 Mattel, Inc. Wheelie toy vehicle
US8590909B2 (en) 2012-04-06 2013-11-26 John Calvert Wheelie bar for leaf spring equipped cars
US9427671B2 (en) 2014-05-30 2016-08-30 Mattel, Inc. Toy vehicle launcher and toy track for use therewith
US9682327B2 (en) 2014-08-05 2017-06-20 Mattel, Inc. Toy launcher

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2229547A1 (de) 1973-07-05
BR7203954D0 (pt) 1974-04-25
JPS561112B2 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1981-01-12
AR199552A1 (es) 1974-09-13
GB1337103A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1973-11-14
IT959174B (it) 1973-11-10
CA946155A (en) 1974-04-30
JPS4869637A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1973-09-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3757459A (en) Powered dragster having lateral stability coacting with track
US4216612A (en) Toy vehicle
US4201011A (en) Toy motorcycle
US3667156A (en) Motor-driven rolling toy
US4767376A (en) Toy vehicle
US3798832A (en) Toy vehicle and associated conditioning means therefor
US3682477A (en) Rodent racing device
WO2000021626A1 (fr) Dispositif de marche
US4224759A (en) Animated pull toy
US4536168A (en) Toy vehicle playset
JPH048074B2 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
US3721042A (en) Toy vehicle with adjustable body
US3653149A (en) Simulated high performance miniature toy vehicle
US3708913A (en) Toy motorcycle
GB2151148A (en) Toy vehicle sound producer
US3238665A (en) Movable element wheeled action toy
US3707805A (en) Toy vehicle remote winding apparatus
US3940879A (en) Walking doll
US3702037A (en) Toy vehicle system featuring pivotable toy vehicle
US4450650A (en) Action play toy
US4385466A (en) Rollable toy
US4445297A (en) Toy motorcycle with lighting mechanism
US2587052A (en) Automatically turning wheeled toy
GB2029246A (en) Toy vehicle with magnetic wheels
US2908997A (en) Musical toy vehicle