US3786597A

US3786597A - Amusement device

Info

Publication number: US3786597A
Application number: US00274027A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Sano
Original assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co Ltd
Priority date: 1972-07-21
Filing date: 1972-07-21
Publication date: 1974-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-22

Abstract

An amusement device featuring a vehicle provided with a motor and a source of energy for running same, one or more driving wheels operatively connected to the motor for propelling the vehicle, one or more guide wheels rotatably mounted to the front of the vehicle for steering same and a control panel mounted centrally of the vehicle featuring a plurality of buttons to be selectively depressed by the child for operatively connecting the motor and the source of energy and reversing the direction of the motor to reverse the direction of the driving wheel permitting the vehicle to remain stationary, move forward and move in reverse, as desired, and also rotating the guide wheel permitting the vehicle to move in a straight path and turn in either direction, as desired.

Description

United States Patent [191 Sano [ 1 AMUSEMENT DEVICE [75] Inventor: Hiroshi Sano, Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo,

Japan 221 Filed: July 21,1972

211 Appl.No.:274,027

[451 Jan. 22, 1974 Primary Examiner-Louis G, Mancene Assistant ExaminerRobert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or FirmHarry John Staas et al.

[57] ABSTRACT An amusement device featuring a vehicle provided with a motor and a source of energy for running same, one or more driving wheels operatively connected to the motor for propelling the vehicle, one or more guide wheels rotatably mounted to the front of the vehicle for steering same and a control panel mounted centrally of the vehicle featuring a plurality of buttons to be selectively depressed by the child for operatively connecting the motor and the source of energy and reversing the direction of the motor to reverse the direction of the driving wheel permitting the vehicle to remain stationary, move forward and move in reverse, as desired, and also rotating the guide wheel permitting the vehicle to move in a straight path and turn in either direction, as desired.

5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJMPF TF4 SHEET 2 BF 4 FIG. 2

FIG. '"r

AMUSEMENT DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION vehicle. In the prior art, toys of this general class usu- 1 ally do not contain a central control system readily available to the child for performing all of these functions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The toy vehicle of the present invention is provided with a control panel easily accessible to the child, for example, on the top of the roof thereof, permitting the vehicle, by the selective depressing of buttons on the panel, to remain stationary, to move forward, to move in reverse, to move in a straight line, to move to the right and to move to the left. More particularly, the vehicle contains a conventional miniature electrical motor operatively connected to a battery for turning one or more driving wheels at the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle is further provided with one or more guid ing wheels at the front thereof which are suitably mounted for rotation so as to permit steering thereof. The control panel is mounted on the top of the vehicle and includes six buttons which are selectively dcpressed by the child as it is desired to change the movement of the vehicle. The electrical circuit is opened as one button is depressed causing the vehicle to stop. As a second button is depressed, a predetermined circuit is closed energizing the motor permitting the vehicle to move backwards while depressing a third button which reverses the motor and causes the vehicle to move forward. Depressing a fourth button straightens the front guide wheels. Depressing a fifth button rotates the wheels to the right while depressing a sixth button rotates the wheels to the left, permitting the child to steer the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view illustrating a toy vehicle and trailer assembly embodying the present invention, particularly the control panel mounted on the roof of the vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view in section illustrating in particular the construction of the control panel;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the vehicle with a portion of the casing removed so as to illustrate in particular the motor and the gear train for turning the driving wheel;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the vehicle with its casing and the upper portion of the control panel removed so as to illustrate in particular the construction of the sliding plates located below the control panel buttons for rotating the front guide wheels and alternating the circuit for reversing the polarity of the motor which in turn regulates the direction of travel of the vehicle driving wheel;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle and the control panel illustrating still further the rela tionship of the panel buttons and the sliding plates;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the electrical conducting plate which together with one of the sliding plates reverses the direction of the motor;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view partly in section illustrating the front row of buttons and their mating sliding plate for operating the front guide wheels;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view partly in section illustrating the rear row of buttons and their mating sliding plate for operating the circuits for determining the di- 0 rection of travel of the vehicle driving wheel;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the control panel components; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of one of the front steering wheels.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The vehicle of the present invention is designated generally by reference numeral 10, and, as illustrated in FIG. I, may be hitched to a trailer 12. The vehicle 10 includes a chassis 14 within which the operable components are mounted. As illustrated in FIG. 3, within the bottom of the chassis I4 is a compartment 16 within which the batteries 18 are located. Appropri ate electrical contact members are mounted within the compartment 16 and designated by the reference numeral 20.

Rearwardly ofthe battery compartment I6 is located the main axle 22 to which a main driving gear 24 is rigidly securedv Non-functional rear wheels 26 are also secured to the axle 22 along with a gear wheel 28, the purpose of which will be described in detail hereinafter.

A conventional electric motor 30 is suitably positioned within the chassis 14, the shaft thereof being provided with a gear wheel 32. The frame 34 provided within the chassis [4 supports a gear train comprising the gear 36 to which a smaller gear 38 is secured, a gear wheel 40 to which the smaller gear wheel 42 is secured, the gears being appropriately journaled within the frame 34. As will be apparent, as the motor 30 is energized, the gear wheel 32 rotates meshing with the teeth of the gear 36 turning same. The gear 38 is turn meshes with the teeth of the gear 40 turning same. Finally, the rotating gear wheel 42 meshes with the teeth of the gear 28 which is rigidly secured to the axle 22 causing same to rotate, in turn, rotating the driving wheel 24.

Suitably mounted within the chassis 14 is a first sliding plate generally designated by the reference numeral 44, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The sliding plate 44 contains a slot 46 through which the mounting member 48 passes, thus permitting the plate to move sideways. On each side of the sliding plate 44 and formed as an integral part thereofis an arm 50 containing an opening 52. Each of the front wheels 54, as seen in FIG. I0, is provided with a first vertical rod 56 mounted within the opening 58 provided within the chassis l4 and a second vertical rod 60 mounted within the opening 52 of the arm 50 of the plate 44. As will be apparent, as the plate 44 slides back and forth the front wheels 54 are turned from side to side about the rods 56.

A second plate 62 is also mounted for sliding movement with respect to the chassis 14, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The plate 62 is provided with an opening 63 through which mounting member 49 protrudes. Extending outwardly from plate 62 are resilient electrical contact arms 64.

Also mounted on the chassis 14 is a plate 66 provided with a first electrical conducting section 68 and a second electrical conducting section 70 between which is located an insulating medium 72, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

When the plate 62 is moved to one side such that one of the electrical contact members 64 touches the electrical conductive surface 68, a conventional circuit is closed energizing the motor 30. In particular, the circuit comprises the electrical contact 74 of the battery housing 16 (FIG. 4), the wire 76 which leads into the electrical contact member 64, the electrical conductive strip 70 against which the contact 64 rests and the wire 78 connecting the mid portion of the strip 70 with the terminal 80 of the motor (FIG. 3). The circuit is com' pleted by the other terminal 82 of the motor 30 which is connected by the wire 84 to the conducting strip 68, the electrical contact member 64 and the wire 86 which connects the contact memher 64 to the other terminal 88 of the battery housing.

As will be apparent, as the plate 62 slides in the oppo site direction, the circuit is reversed and the polarity of the motor 30 reversed causing the shaft of the motor 30 to rotate in the opposite direction. Also, it will be apparent that when the electrical contact members 64 engage the insulating member 72 in the position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the circuit is opened at which time the motor 30 is not energized and the vehicle is stationary.

The

sliding plates

44 and 62 are designed to assume three distinct positions. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the

plates

44 and 62 are provided with three separate generally V-shaped indentations 90 into which the corresponding prongs 92 of the resilient member 94 fit.

The

plates

44 and 62 are further provided with rectangular openings 94 and on each side thereof cut-out portions 96, the purpose of which will be described in detail hereinafter A bracket 98 provided with six depending slots I00, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, S and 9, is suitably mounted to the chassis l4. Fitted within the bracket 98 is a cushion I02 of sponge material having six corresponding openings I04 through which the six corresponding buttons 106 and I06 pass. As will be apparent, the sponge-like member 102 functions to normally bias the buttons I06 and I06 upwardly. The buttons 106 terminate downwardly in prongs designed to cooperate with the

openings

94 and 96 in the

sliding plates

44 and 62.

As will now be apparent, control of the turning movements of the vehicle I0 is governed by the front row of buttons I06 in the following manner. As the center button I06B is depressed, its lower prong being generally V-shaped, as illustrated in FIG. 7, forces the plate 44 to assume its middle position, as illustrated in FIG. 4. In this position, the front wheels 54 are positioned straightforward. As the left-hand button 106A is depressed, its lower prong, also illustrated in FIG. 7, forces the plate 44 to move to the right causing the front wheels 54 to rotate to the left or counterclockwise about the rods 56. The reverse action occurs as the button I06C is depressed turning the wheels clockwise,

In similar manner, the rear row of buttons I06 oper ate to start the motor so as to propel the vehicle I0 and also to determine the direction of travel of same. In particular, as the central button I06E is depressed, its V-shaped configuration, illustrated in FIG. 8, causes the second plate 62 to be aligned in the position illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein the circuit is inoperative. Thus, the vehicle 10 is stationary. When it is desired that the vehicle 10 move forward, the button 106D is depressed, as illustrated in FIG. 8, this action causing the plate 62 to move to the right at which time the motor 30 is energized causing, as previously described. the drive wheel 24 to propel the vehicle 10 in forward direction. In similar manner, as the other button 106F is depressed, the plate 62 is moved in the opposite direction activating the previously described circuit resulting in reversing the direction of rotation of the driv ing wheel 24 causing the vehicle I0 to move in reverse.

As will be apparent, the present invention may com prise a unitary vehicle, or, as illustrated in FIG. I, may be used to tow a trailer 12 or other piece of equipment.

I claim:

I. A toy vehicle, comprising:

a motor and a source of energy for running sameprovided within said vehicle;

driving wheel means operatively connected to said motor and mounted to said vehicle for propelling same along a surface;

guide wheel means operatively mounted to said vehicle for rotation to steer same along a surface, said guide wheel means including at least two rods, one of said rods being mounted to said vehicle; and

a control panel mounted on said vehicle, said panel including means for operatively connecting said motor and said source of energy and for reversing the direction of said motor to reverse the direction of said driving wheel means, as desired, said control panel further including means for rotating said guide wheel means to change the direction of movement of said vehicle, as desired, comprising a plate slidably mounted on said vehicle, the other of said rods of said guide wheel means being mounted to said plate, a plurality of buttons mounted for movement with respect to said control panel, said plate further being provided with a plurality of openings complementary with respect to the ends of said buttons such that as the ends of certain of said buttons are depressed within said openings said plate slides so as to rotate said guide wheel means about said rod mounted to said vehicle.

2. A vehicle as in claim I, wherein said means operatively connecting said motor and said source of energy and for reversing the direction of said motor comprises a second plate slidably mounted in said vehicle, an electrical circuit connecting said motor and source of energy, means associated with said second plate for reversing said circuit as said second plate is moved, a second plurality of buttons mounted for movement within said control panel, said second plate further being provided with a plurality of openings complementary with respect to the ends of said second plurality of buttons such that as certain of the ends of said second plurality of buttons are depressed said second plate slides reversing said circuit.

3. A toy vehicle as in claim 1, wherein there are three said buttons and three said openings, said buttons and openings being aligned with each other, such that as the end of the middle of said buttons is depressed within the middle of said openings said guide wheel means is aligned with said vehicle, the ends of said remaining buttons being provided with sloping surfaces while their corresponding openings are offset therefrom such that as said remaining buttons are depressed said sloping surfaces thereof engage the edges of said plate defining said openings causing said plate to slide.

4. A toy vehicle as in claim 2, wherein there are three of said second plurality of buttons and three of said openings within said second plate,said buttons and openings being aligned with each other, such that as the end of the middle of said buttons is depressed within the middle of said openings said electrical circuit connecting said motor and source of energy is broken such that said motor is inoperative, the ends of said remaining buttons being provided with sloping surfaces while their corresponding openings within said second plate are off set therefrom such that as said remaining buttons are depressed said sloping surfaces thereof engage the edges of said plate defining said openings causing said plate to slide.

5. A toy vehicle, comprising:

a motor and a source of energy for running same provided within said vehicle;

guide wheel means operatively mounted to said vehicle for rotation to steer same along a surface; and control panel mounted on said vehicle, said panel including means for operatively connecting said motor and said source of energy and reversing the direction of said motor to reverse the direction of said driving wheel means, as desired, comprising a plate slidably mounted in said vehicle, an electrical circuit connecting said motor and said source of energy, means associated with said plate for reversing said circuit as said plate is moved, a plurality of butons mounted for movement within said control panel, said plate further being provided with a plurality of openings complementary with respect to the ends of said buttons such that as the ends of certain of said buttons are depressed within said openings said plate slides reversing said circuit, said control panel further including means for rotating said guide wheel means to change the direction of movement of said vehicle, as desired.

Claims

1. A toy vehicle, comprising: a motor and a source of energy for running same provided within said vehicle; driving wheel means operatively connected to said motor and mounted to said vehicle for propelling same along a surface; guide wheel means operatively mounted to said vehicle for rotation to steer same along a surface, said guide wheel means including at least two rods, one of said rods being mounted to said vehicle; and a control panel mounted on said vehicle, said panel including means for operatively connecting said motor and said source of energy and for reversing the direction of said motor to reverse the direction of said driving wheel means, as desired, said control panel further including means for rotating said guide wheel means to change the direction of movement of said vehicle, as desired, comprising a plate slidably mounted on said vehicle, the other of said rods of said guide wheel means being mounted to said plate, a plurality of buttons mounted for movement with respect to said control panel, said plate further being provided with a plurality of openings complementary with respect to the ends of said buttons such that as the ends of certain of said buttons are depressed within said openings said plate slides so as to rotate said guide wheel means about said rod mounted to said vehicle.

2. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said means operatively connecting said motor and said source of energy and for reversing the direction of said motor comprises a second plate slidably mounted in said vehicle, an electrical circuit connecting said motor and source of energy, means associated with said second plate for reversing said circuit as said second plate is moved, a second plurality of buttons mounted for movement within said control panel, said second plate further being provided with a plurality of openings complementary with respect to the ends of said second plurality of buttons such that as certain of the ends of said second plurality of buttons are depressed said second plate slides reversing said circuit.

3. A toy vehicle as in claim 1, wherein there are three said buttons and three said openings, said buttons and openings being aligned with each other, such that as the end of the middle of said buttons is depressed within the middle of said openings said guide wheel means is aligned with said vehicle, the ends of said remaining buttons being provided with sloping surfaces while their corresponding openings are off set therefrom such that as said remaining buttons are depressed said sloping surfaces thereof engage the edges of said plate defining said openings causing said plate to slide.

5. A toy vehicle, comprising: a motor and a source of energy for running same provided within said vehicle; driving wheel means operatively connected to said motor and mounted to said vehicle for propelling same along a surface; guide wheel means operatively mounted to said vehicle for rotation to steer same along a surface; and a control panel mounted on said vehicle, said panel including means for operatively connecting said motor and said source of energy and reversing the direction of said motor to reverse the direction of said driving wheel means, as desIred, comprising a plate slidably mounted in said vehicle, an electrical circuit connecting said motor and said source of energy, means associated with said plate for reversing said circuit as said plate is moved, a plurality of butons mounted for movement within said control panel, said plate further being provided with a plurality of openings complementary with respect to the ends of said buttons such that as the ends of certain of said buttons are depressed within said openings said plate slides reversing said circuit, said control panel further including means for rotating said guide wheel means to change the direction of movement of said vehicle, as desired.