US3892086A - Flipper mechanism for toy vehicles - Google Patents

Flipper mechanism for toy vehicles Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3892086A
US3892086A US387092A US38709273A US3892086A US 3892086 A US3892086 A US 3892086A US 387092 A US387092 A US 387092A US 38709273 A US38709273 A US 38709273A US 3892086 A US3892086 A US 3892086A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
toy vehicle
movable member
stationary
target area
stationary member
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
US387092A
Inventor
Derek J Gay
William H Smedley
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.)
Mattel Inc
Original Assignee
Mattel Inc
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 Mattel Inc filed Critical Mattel Inc
Priority to US387092A priority Critical patent/US3892086A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3892086A publication Critical patent/US3892086A/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
    • A63H17/02—Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; ; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor convertible into other forms under the action of impact or shock, e.g. arrangements for imitating accidents

Definitions

  • This invention relates to toy vehicles and more particularly to a novel flipper device for upsetting toy vehicles.
  • Toy vehicles have been very popular with children for a number of years. In the past few years, toy racing vehicles having a small electric motor and a rechargeable battery have been marketed with great success. These motorized toy racing vehicles travel at a relatively high speed on racing tracks that usually include a number of deflecting means or switching means to provide increased entertainment to the racing set. While these racing sets simulate adult races, they do not simulate the upsetting of racing cars when such cars collide.
  • the present invention provides a novel flipper device for upsetting toy vehicles.
  • the flipper device is adapted to be attached to the rear end of a motorized toy vehicle and the flipper device includes a target area which may be hit by the front end of another toy vehicle.
  • the flipper device is comprised of a stationary bracket, a rotatably mounted movable bracket, and a rubber band for providing the necessary force to ensure that the movable bracket is rotated from the stationary bracket so as to upset the toy vehicle.
  • FIG. I is a perspective view of a toy racing vehicle having a flipper device mounted thereon in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the flipper device of FIG. I shown in its actuated and unactuated state, in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded plan view of the flipper device of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view ofa turned-over toy racing car with the flipper device actuated in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. I there is shown a perspective view of a toy vehicle in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Attached to the rear end of the toy vehicle 10 is a flipper mechanism II having a target area 12.
  • the toy vehicle 10 is of the wellknown SIZZLERS-type having an electric motor and a rechargeable battery.
  • FIG. 2 there is shown a perspective view of the flipper mechanism II of FIG. I, in its unactuated state and in its actuated state as illustrated by the dashed lines.
  • the flipper mechanism 11 is basically comprised of a stationary bracket 13, a movable bracket 17 and a rubber band I8.
  • the flipper mechanism Il may be attached to the underside of the toy vehilce 10 by means of mounting pins I4 and 15.
  • the stationary bracket 13 and the movable bracket 17 may be constructed of plastic, metal or other suitable material.
  • FIG. 3 there is shown an exploded plan view of the flipper mechanism II of FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the movable bracket 17 may be mounted to the stationary bracket 13 by means of the retaining lug 20b of the stationary bracket 13 and the opening 200 of the movable bracket 17.
  • a rubber band 18 may then be placed over a hook 19b of the stationary bracket 13 and stretched so that the other end of the rubber band may be placed over the hook of the movable bracket 17.
  • the rubber band may be further held in place by means of a pair of grooves 22 and 23 of the movable bracket 17.
  • the movable bracket I7 is then rotatably mounted on the stationary bracket 13.
  • the flipper mechanism 10 is held in its unactuated state by placing a L-shaped member 21b of the stationary bracket I3 under a surface 21a of the movable bracket I7.
  • the L-shaped member 21b and the surface 21a comprise the trigger mechanism of the flipper mechanism 11.
  • FIGS. 2 and 4 when a toy vehicle comes up from behind the toy vehicle 10 and hits the target area 12 of the flipper mechanism II, the surface 21a of the movable bracket 17 is urged away from the L-shaped member 21b of the stationary bracket 13. The movable bracket 17 is then free to ro tate from the stationary bracket I3 by means of the energy in the rubber band 18, as illustrated by the position of the movable bracket 17'.
  • FIG. 4 there is shown a plan view of a turned-over toy vehicle 10 with the flipper mechanism 11 in its actuated state. Further illustrated in FIG. 4, is the mounting of the flipping mechanism 11 in the toy vehicle 10.
  • the pair of mounting pins I4, I5 may be inserted into a pair of openings 16a and 16b of the toy vehicle 10 and may be retained there by means of an interference fit.
  • a flipper mechanism for a toy vehicle comprising:
  • actuating means for flipping a toy vehicle upon impact of said target area by an external source
  • said actuating means including a stationary member, a movable member, and a spring means, said movable member including said target area and being rotatably mounted to said stationary member.
  • said stationary member having an L-shaped tab and said movable member having an underside surface in the flipper mechanisms unactuated state, the L- shaped tab receiving the underside surface of said movable member, said spring means connecting said stationary member to said movable member and upon impact of said target area by an external source, said underside surface is urged away from said L-shaped tab under the force of said spring means to allow the movable member to rotate away from said stationary member;
  • a flipper mechanism for a toy vehicle comprising: a target area;
  • actuating means for flipping a toy vehicle upon impact of said target area by an external source, said actuating means including a stationary member, a movable member, and spring means, said movable member being rotatably mounted to said stationary member by means of an L-shaped tab of said stationary member that is mounted within an opening of said movable member, said spring means con necting said stationary member to said movable as to rotate said movable member away from said actuating means.
  • said stationary member including a hook member
  • said movable member including a hook member and a pair of grooves, one end of said spring means being held by said hook member of said stationary member with the other end of said spring means being held by said hook member of said movable member, with the middle portion of said spring means being retained within said pair of grooves;

Landscapes

  • Toys (AREA)

Abstract

A flipper device for upsetting a toy vehicle. The flipper device is adapted to be attached to the rear end of a motorized toy vehicle and the flipper device includes a target area which may be hit by the front end of another toy vehicle. The flipper device is comprised of a stationary bracket, a rotatably mounted movable bracket, and a rubber band for providing the necessary force to ensure that the movable bracket is rotated from the stationary bracket so as to upset the toy vehicle.

Description

United States Patent Gay et al.
( 1 July 1, 1975 46/213 46/20l 46/2ll e .m V 2 56 99 2,587,052 2,757,482 8/1956 Brown et al. 3,000,137
Y O T R O F. M E N A H C E MS m C Pl PH UE Fv M U [75] Inventors: Derek J. Gay, Palos Verdes Peninsula; William Smedley, Los Primary Barry Shay Angeles both of Cahf' Assistant Examiner.l. Q. Lever [73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif. Anomey, 8 or Firm-MaX Shirk [22] Filed: Aug. 9, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT A flipper device for upsetting a toy vehicle. The flip- [211 App]. No.: 387,092
per device is adapted to be attached to the rear end of ti 7 IMH B112 6 y v 6 hh O & M Z w .04 "2 4 m w HI-4 0 H2 mu4 mmh Hr U a n e L C s k UMF UH 555 sary force to ensure that the movable bracket is ro- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS tated from the stationary bracket so as to upset the toy vehicle.
2/1932 Westberg..........,.. 46/211 1/1938 46/2ll 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures FLIPPER MECHANISM FOR TOY VEHICLES FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to toy vehicles and more particularly to a novel flipper device for upsetting toy vehicles.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Toy vehicles have been very popular with children for a number of years. In the past few years, toy racing vehicles having a small electric motor and a rechargeable battery have been marketed with great success. These motorized toy racing vehicles travel at a relatively high speed on racing tracks that usually include a number of deflecting means or switching means to provide increased entertainment to the racing set. While these racing sets simulate adult races, they do not simulate the upsetting of racing cars when such cars collide.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel flipper device to simulate the upsetting of a racing car.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flipper device that may be attached to a conventional toy racing car.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a flipping device that may be attached to the rear end of a first toy racing car so that it may be actuated by a second toy racing car that is attempting to pass the first toy racing car.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the objects set forth above, the present invention provides a novel flipper device for upsetting toy vehicles. The flipper device is adapted to be attached to the rear end of a motorized toy vehicle and the flipper device includes a target area which may be hit by the front end of another toy vehicle. The flipper device is comprised of a stationary bracket, a rotatably mounted movable bracket, and a rubber band for providing the necessary force to ensure that the movable bracket is rotated from the stationary bracket so as to upset the toy vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Additional objects, advantages and characteristic features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
FIG. I is a perspective view of a toy racing vehicle having a flipper device mounted thereon in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the flipper device of FIG. I shown in its actuated and unactuated state, in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded plan view of the flipper device of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a plan view ofa turned-over toy racing car with the flipper device actuated in accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. I, there is shown a perspective view of a toy vehicle in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Attached to the rear end of the toy vehicle 10 is a flipper mechanism II having a target area 12. The toy vehicle 10 is of the wellknown SIZZLERS-type having an electric motor and a rechargeable battery.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of the flipper mechanism II of FIG. I, in its unactuated state and in its actuated state as illustrated by the dashed lines. The flipper mechanism 11 is basically comprised of a stationary bracket 13, a movable bracket 17 and a rubber band I8. The flipper mechanism Il may be attached to the underside of the toy vehilce 10 by means of mounting pins I4 and 15. The stationary bracket 13 and the movable bracket 17 may be constructed of plastic, metal or other suitable material.
Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown an exploded plan view of the flipper mechanism II of FIGS. 1 and 2. The movable bracket 17 may be mounted to the stationary bracket 13 by means of the retaining lug 20b of the stationary bracket 13 and the opening 200 of the movable bracket 17. A rubber band 18 may then be placed over a hook 19b of the stationary bracket 13 and stretched so that the other end of the rubber band may be placed over the hook of the movable bracket 17. The rubber band may be further held in place by means of a pair of grooves 22 and 23 of the movable bracket 17. Thus, the movable bracket I7 is then rotatably mounted on the stationary bracket 13. The flipper mechanism 10 is held in its unactuated state by placing a L-shaped member 21b of the stationary bracket I3 under a surface 21a of the movable bracket I7. The L-shaped member 21b and the surface 21a comprise the trigger mechanism of the flipper mechanism 11. Referring now also to FIGS. 2 and 4, when a toy vehicle comes up from behind the toy vehicle 10 and hits the target area 12 of the flipper mechanism II, the surface 21a of the movable bracket 17 is urged away from the L-shaped member 21b of the stationary bracket 13. The movable bracket 17 is then free to ro tate from the stationary bracket I3 by means of the energy in the rubber band 18, as illustrated by the position of the movable bracket 17'.
Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a plan view of a turned-over toy vehicle 10 with the flipper mechanism 11 in its actuated state. Further illustrated in FIG. 4, is the mounting of the flipping mechanism 11 in the toy vehicle 10. The pair of mounting pins I4, I5 may be inserted into a pair of openings 16a and 16b of the toy vehicle 10 and may be retained there by means of an interference fit.
Thus, although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to a particular embodiment, for example, a rubber band as a means for retaining the movable bracket to the stationary bracket, nevertheless, various changes and modifications obvious to a person skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, for example, a spring to urge the movable bracket away from the stationary bracket, are deemed to lie within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
I. A flipper mechanism for a toy vehicle comprising:
a target area;
actuating means for flipping a toy vehicle upon impact of said target area by an external source, said actuating means including a stationary member, a movable member, and a spring means, said movable member including said target area and being rotatably mounted to said stationary member. said stationary member having an L-shaped tab and said movable member having an underside surface in the flipper mechanisms unactuated state, the L- shaped tab receiving the underside surface of said movable member, said spring means connecting said stationary member to said movable member and upon impact of said target area by an external source, said underside surface is urged away from said L-shaped tab under the force of said spring means to allow the movable member to rotate away from said stationary member; and
means for removably mounting the flipper mechanism to one of the ends of said toy vehicle.
2. A flipper mechanism for a toy vehicle comprising: a target area;
actuating means for flipping a toy vehicle upon impact of said target area by an external source, said actuating means including a stationary member, a movable member, and spring means, said movable member being rotatably mounted to said stationary member by means of an L-shaped tab of said stationary member that is mounted within an opening of said movable member, said spring means con necting said stationary member to said movable as to rotate said movable member away from said actuating means. said stationary member including a hook member, said movable member including a hook member and a pair of grooves, one end of said spring means being held by said hook member of said stationary member with the other end of said spring means being held by said hook member of said movable member, with the middle portion of said spring means being retained within said pair of grooves; and
means for removably mounting the flipper mechanism to one of the ends of said toy vehicle.

Claims (3)

1. A flipper mechanism for a toy vehicle comprising: a target area; actuating means for flipping a toy vehicle upon impact of said target area by an external source, said actuating means including a stationary member, a movable member, and a spring means, said movable member including said target area and being rotatably mounted to said stationary member, said stationary member having an L-shaped tab and said movable member having an underside surface in the flipper mechanism''s unactuated state, the L-shaped tab receiving the underside surface of said movable member, said spring means connecting said stationary member to said movable member and upon impact of said target area by an external source, said underside surface is urged away from said L-shaped tab under the force of said spring means to allow the movable member to rotate away from said stationary mEmber; and means for removably mounting the flipper mechanism to one of the ends of said toy vehicle.
2. A flipper mechanism for a toy vehicle comprising: a target area; actuating means for flipping a toy vehicle upon impact of said target area by an external source, said actuating means including a stationary member, a movable member, and spring means, said movable member being rotatably mounted to said stationary member by means of an L-shaped tab of said stationary member that is mounted within an opening of said movable member, said spring means connecting said stationary member to said movable member so as to rotate said movable member away from said stationary member upon actuation of said actuating means; and means for removably mounting the flipper mechanism to one of the ends of said toy vehicle.
3. A flipper mechanism for a toy vehicle comprising: a target area; actuating means for flipping a toy vehicle upon impact of said target area by an external source, said actuating means including a stationary member, a movable member, rotatably mounted to said stationary member, and a spring means connecting said stationary member to said movable member so as to rotate said movable member away from said actuating means, said stationary member including a hook member, said movable member including a hook member and a pair of grooves, one end of said spring means being held by said hook member of said stationary member with the other end of said spring means being held by said hook member of said movable member, with the middle portion of said spring means being retained within said pair of grooves; and means for removably mounting the flipper mechanism to one of the ends of said toy vehicle.
US387092A 1973-08-09 1973-08-09 Flipper mechanism for toy vehicles Expired - Lifetime US3892086A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US387092A US3892086A (en) 1973-08-09 1973-08-09 Flipper mechanism for toy vehicles

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US387092A US3892086A (en) 1973-08-09 1973-08-09 Flipper mechanism for toy vehicles

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3892086A true US3892086A (en) 1975-07-01

Family

ID=23528423

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US387092A Expired - Lifetime US3892086A (en) 1973-08-09 1973-08-09 Flipper mechanism for toy vehicles

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US3892086A (en)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4147351A (en) * 1977-01-20 1979-04-03 Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc. Crash van chase
US4490124A (en) * 1982-09-30 1984-12-25 Takara Co., Ltd. Running toy
US4508521A (en) * 1982-10-21 1985-04-02 Marvin Glass & Associates Impact responsive toy
US4543073A (en) * 1983-11-30 1985-09-24 Takara Co., Ltd. Self-propelled reconfigurable running toy
US4565537A (en) * 1982-10-21 1986-01-21 Marvin Glass & Associates Impact responsive toy
US6672937B1 (en) * 2002-12-23 2004-01-06 Stephen J. Motosko Miniature toy vehicle
US6780077B2 (en) 2001-11-01 2004-08-24 Mattel, Inc. Master and slave toy vehicle pair
US20050148282A1 (en) * 2003-11-12 2005-07-07 Moll Joseph T. Toy Vehicle
WO2012083010A2 (en) * 2010-12-16 2012-06-21 Mattel, Inc. Toy vehicle with flipping mechanism
US20130252510A1 (en) * 2012-03-23 2013-09-26 Matthew S. Wallace Self-righting mechanism for a radio-controlled car
US20150050859A1 (en) * 2012-02-24 2015-02-19 Sin-Kyu CHOE Transformable toy car and playing device using same
US9573072B2 (en) * 2014-10-28 2017-02-21 Alpha Group Co., Ltd. Flipping and transforming toy vehicle capable of gripping toys
KR20210083762A (en) * 2019-12-27 2021-07-07 주식회사 초이락컨텐츠컴퍼니 Driving toys

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1846823A (en) * 1929-08-01 1932-02-23 Louis Marx & Company Toy
US2104365A (en) * 1935-08-21 1938-01-04 Fuchs Karl Steerable and reversible toy vehicle
US2587052A (en) * 1949-03-09 1952-02-26 Marx & Co Louis Automatically turning wheeled toy
US2757482A (en) * 1954-11-26 1956-08-07 Frank R Brown Selectively self-wrecking toy vehicle
US3000137A (en) * 1960-09-16 1961-09-19 Henry E Vine Self upsetting toy vehicle

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1846823A (en) * 1929-08-01 1932-02-23 Louis Marx & Company Toy
US2104365A (en) * 1935-08-21 1938-01-04 Fuchs Karl Steerable and reversible toy vehicle
US2587052A (en) * 1949-03-09 1952-02-26 Marx & Co Louis Automatically turning wheeled toy
US2757482A (en) * 1954-11-26 1956-08-07 Frank R Brown Selectively self-wrecking toy vehicle
US3000137A (en) * 1960-09-16 1961-09-19 Henry E Vine Self upsetting toy vehicle

Cited By (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4147351A (en) * 1977-01-20 1979-04-03 Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc. Crash van chase
US4490124A (en) * 1982-09-30 1984-12-25 Takara Co., Ltd. Running toy
US4508521A (en) * 1982-10-21 1985-04-02 Marvin Glass & Associates Impact responsive toy
US4565537A (en) * 1982-10-21 1986-01-21 Marvin Glass & Associates Impact responsive toy
US4543073A (en) * 1983-11-30 1985-09-24 Takara Co., Ltd. Self-propelled reconfigurable running toy
US6780077B2 (en) 2001-11-01 2004-08-24 Mattel, Inc. Master and slave toy vehicle pair
US6672937B1 (en) * 2002-12-23 2004-01-06 Stephen J. Motosko Miniature toy vehicle
US20050148282A1 (en) * 2003-11-12 2005-07-07 Moll Joseph T. Toy Vehicle
US7172488B2 (en) 2003-11-12 2007-02-06 Mattel, Inc. Toy vehicle
US7662017B2 (en) 2003-11-12 2010-02-16 Mattel, Inc. Toy vehicle
WO2012083010A2 (en) * 2010-12-16 2012-06-21 Mattel, Inc. Toy vehicle with flipping mechanism
WO2012083010A3 (en) * 2010-12-16 2012-10-04 Mattel, Inc. Toy vehicle with flipping mechanism
US8900031B2 (en) 2010-12-16 2014-12-02 Mattel, Inc. Toy vehicle with flipping mechanism
US20150050859A1 (en) * 2012-02-24 2015-02-19 Sin-Kyu CHOE Transformable toy car and playing device using same
US9370725B2 (en) * 2012-02-24 2016-06-21 Shin-Kyu Choi Transformable toy car and playing device using same
US9744435B2 (en) 2012-02-24 2017-08-29 Shin-Kyu Choi Transformer toy car and playing device using same
EP3409333A1 (en) * 2012-02-24 2018-12-05 Choi, Shin-Kyu Transformable toy car
US10258867B2 (en) 2012-02-24 2019-04-16 Shin-Kyu Choi Transformer toy car and playing device using same
US10434400B2 (en) 2012-02-24 2019-10-08 Shin-Kyu Choi Transformer toy car and playing device using same
US20130252510A1 (en) * 2012-03-23 2013-09-26 Matthew S. Wallace Self-righting mechanism for a radio-controlled car
US8974265B2 (en) * 2012-03-23 2015-03-10 D.T. Mattson Enterprises, Inc. Self-righting mechanism for a radio-controlled car
US9573072B2 (en) * 2014-10-28 2017-02-21 Alpha Group Co., Ltd. Flipping and transforming toy vehicle capable of gripping toys
KR20210083762A (en) * 2019-12-27 2021-07-07 주식회사 초이락컨텐츠컴퍼니 Driving toys

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3892086A (en) Flipper mechanism for toy vehicles
US4661080A (en) Toy racing set with exploding raceway
US4568307A (en) Push toy vehicle with operable mouth
US4108437A (en) Toy vehicle starting and launching set
US4171592A (en) Toy moving car operated by a wireless electric device
US4732569A (en) Toy vehicle launcher
CA1184766A (en) Toy vehicle accelerator
US4715602A (en) Racing game apparatus
US3859752A (en) Toy vehicle having means for canting wheels on collision
US5916007A (en) Magnetically tripped spring wound vehicles
US3984939A (en) Toy automobile
US3797164A (en) Toy vehicle launching station
US4466214A (en) Impact responsive toy vehicle
EP3476452B1 (en) Toy with ejectable fitting
US4762511A (en) Toy crash vehicle with skewable front wheels
US4734076A (en) Toy vehicle play setting
US3657457A (en) Apparatus for testing driving skill
US4147351A (en) Crash van chase
US3238665A (en) Movable element wheeled action toy
WO1984000503A1 (en) Talking figure play set
US3702037A (en) Toy vehicle system featuring pivotable toy vehicle
CN205323217U (en) Magnetism centre gripping upset toy car
US4693693A (en) Toy crash vehicle
US4291878A (en) Starting gate for a multiple-track toy vehicle racing set
US3703048A (en) Toy robot