WO2007147284A1

WO2007147284A1 - A controllable toy vehicle and track

Info

Publication number: WO2007147284A1
Application number: PCT/CN2006/001329
Authority: WO
Inventors: Geoff Atcheson
Original assignee: Smartrtoys Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-06-14
Filing date: 2006-06-14
Publication date: 2007-12-27

Abstract

A controllable toy vehicle (1) for travel through a track (2) at least partly confining the vehicle (1) is disclosed. The vehicle (1) comprises a main body portion, at least one controllable motor (15, 16) and at least one driven wheel (8) protruding from the main body and receiving drive directly or indirectly from the motor (15, 16). The driven wheel (8) bears against an adjacent side (20) of the track (2) and the friction reduced biasing means (3, 6) protrudes from another side (12) of the main body portion to bear against another side (21) of the track (2) and bias the driven wheel (8) into engagement with the adjacent side (20) of the track. At least one stabilising means (4, 5, 9, 10) is provided to inhibit rotation of the vehicle (1) out of a plane through the driven wheel (8) and the biasing means (3, 6).

Description

A CONTROLLABLE TOY VEHICLE AND TRACK

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a controllable toy vehicle and a track for use with such a vehicle and, in particular, although not necessarily solely, a vehicle and track combination for racing toy cars.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

A number of toy vehicles and tracks for such vehicles are known in the market already. A first example of such vehicles include simple gravity powered vehicles that may run along a track made of segments, joined at their ends to form a desired overall track. This may include a loop or other non-planar variations to the track however play is limited to ensuring sufficient gravity power is supplied to reach the end of the track. Further, such toys are generally intended for use with a single vehicle not in competition with another.

A second type of vehicle may include those of the traditional "slot car" type. These use a track laid out, generally on a substantially flat surface, that allows two vehicles to run side by side in a race, powered by current supplied through a metal slot or groove in the track. This provides significantly more game play, particularly as this can be competitive, but has disadvantages in that the vehicles often leave the track and the arrangement of the track is mostly restricted to a planar surface. Although some rises may be accommodated, these cannot be too significant without the vehicle losing traction and dislodging from the track.

A third type of vehicle available presently is a remote controlled vehicle more in the form of a typical car with its own power supply, steering mechanism etc. These are generally intended for use outside of track constraints and although some competitive racing may be done, such vehicles are not intended for use with complex track formations and are similarly limited in their ability to climb up substantial inclines by the limitations of traction and power. Although a variety of variations on such vehicles have been produced, each seems to suffer from the limitations of not being able to be used in a complex three dimensional track configuration.

OBJECT OF THEINVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a toy vehicle for use with track components that allows a user to provide a complex track shape. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in the first aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in A controllable toy vehicle for travel through a track at least partly confining said vehicle, the vehicle comprising: a main body portion; at least one controllable motor; at least one driven wheel protruding from said main body and receiving drive directly or indirectly from said motor, said at least one driven wheel bearing against an adjacent side of said track; at least one friction reduced biasing means protruding from another side of said main body portion to bear against another side of said track and bias said driven wheel into engagement with said adjacent side of said track ; and at least one stabilising means to inhibit rotation of said vehicle out of a plane through said driven wheel and said biasing means. Preferably at least one friction reduced biasing means protrudes from an opposed side of the main body with respect to the driven wheel, and the another side of said track is an opposed side of said track with respect to the adjacent side of the track.

Preferably said main body portion is generally in the form of an automobile. Preferably the main body is articulated about at least one axis so as to allow the vehicle to traverse comers, curves and perturbations in the track geometry.

Preferably said at least one driven wheel comprises a plurality of driven wheels.

Preferably said friction reduced biasing means is also in the form of a wheel having an opposite rotation to said at least one driven wheel.

Preferably said friction reduced biasing means in the form of a wheel is also a driven wheel on an opposed side of the vehicle.

Preferably said adjacent side and opposed sides comprise an underside and an upper side of the vehicle respectively. Preferably said vehicle includes a plurality of motors to allow independent drive to different driving wheels.

Preferably said stabilising means comprise further driven or freely rotating wheels. Preferably at least one of said driven wheel or said friction reduced biasing means includes a suspension element to adjust for variations in the distance between said adjacent and opposed sides of said track.

Accordingly, in a second aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a toy vehicle and track combination comprising: a track having at least one portion of substantially enclosed track providing interior surfaces on sides of a vehicle travelling within said enclosed portion; a toy vehicle having a driven wheel bearing against an adjacent side of said enclosed track portion, a friction reduced biasing means bearing against another side of said enclosed track portion and stabilising means to retain the intended orientation of said vehicle; and wherein said track and vehicle are configured and dimensioned to simultaneously allow said driven wheel and said biasing means to bear against their respective sides of said track portion to allow said vehicle to travel between said sides when said track portion is directed on an incline.

Preferably said enclosed track portion is in the form of a substantially regular cross sectional tube.

Preferably said track portion includes other portions or sections of less incline which are not fully enclosed. Preferably said portions of track that are not fully enclosed include means to inhibit the vehicle leaving a track boundary.

Preferably the main body is articulated about at least one axis in a manner so as to allow the vehicle to traverse corners, curves and perturbations in the track geometry.

BRIEF DESCRPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a cut-away perspective view of a toy vehicle in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the vehicle of Fig 1 in conjunction with a portion of track;

Fig. 3 a shows a side elevation of a vehicle in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3b shows a plan view of the embodiment of the vehicle as depicted in Fig. Fig. 4 shows a plan view of a vehicle in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 shows a side elevation of a portion of track in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a yet further portion of the track in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7a shows an elevation view of a vehicle in accordance with a yet another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7b shows a plan view of the embodiment of the vehicle as depicted by Fig. 7a;

Fig. 8a shows an view elevation and plan view of yet a further embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 8b shows a plan view of the embodiment of the vehicle as depicted by Fig. 8a. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to examples of a controllable toy vehicle and track. To facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference is made in the description to the accompanying drawings whereby the controllable toy vehicle and track is illustrated hi preferred embodiments. The invention will generally be described with reference to a car or similarly styled vehicle, although it will rapidly be appreciated that the vehicle may resemble any type of vehicle including cars, motorcycles or fanciful vehicles such as spaceships, rockets or other styles.

The invention relates to a vehicle 1 for use in conjunction with a track 2 in which game play may be increased by increasing the complexity of track arrangements on and through which the vehicle may travel.

The vehicles 1 as described will generally be described in terms of those in which the speed and direction of motion may be controlled by remote control. Directional control may be in the form of steering of the vehicle or can be provided additionally by the track itself. However, simplified apparatus may not provide any steering components and rely solely on the track itself to provide the necessary guidance. This may include guidance through providing a substantially enclosed track such that the vehicle only has a single possible path or through the use of slots or similar such as traditional slot cars. Although the preference is to allow the vehicle as much independent movement as possible for the sake of competitive racing, other types of systems are not excluded.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, at least a first embodiment of the vehicle 1 and track 2 are shown. In Figure 1, the first embodiment of the vehicle 1 is shown having a plurality of wheels (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10) arranged adjacent and protruding from an upper 12 and lower side 14 of the vehicle 1. Drive means in the form of two motors 15 and 16 are provided together with a drive train involving various drive shafts and or gears to each of the wheels. The specific form of the drive chain is unimportant provided it imparts drive to the desired wheels in a suitable fashion.

As will become more apparent with other embodiments, the essential characteristics of the vehicle are that it has at least one single driven wheel such as, for example, wheel 8 in Figure 1. The remaining wheels act as biasing means or stabilisers for the vehicle. When the vehicle is placed in a confined track section such as in Figure 2, the track may be dimensioned such that a surface 20, against the driven wheel, is opposed by a further surface 21 on an opposed side of the vehicle that is simultaneously in contact with a biasing means formed in this instance by wheels 3 and 6. Should any section of track be inclined such that the vehicle must drive upwardly against its own weight, the wheels 3 and 6 act to ensure the at least one driven wheel 8 maintains sufficient traction against its adjacent surface 20 to drive the vehicle through the track section.

It will be appreciated that the biasing means does not have to be in the form of a wheel or wheels. However, while ensuring sufficient force is applied transverse to the plane of the track surfaces 20, 21 to provide traction to the wheel 8, it should also minimise frictional forces in being pushed along its adjacent surface 21. Hence a wheel or similar low friction device is preferred. Other friction reduced biasing means could be used such as runners that may be typically used on sledge or ski-like devices or a ball freely rotating in all directions may be used protruding from that surface 12 of the vehicle 1. It must be understood that the term "friction reduced" is directed to the characteristic that the friction reduced biasing means does not cause drag of the vehicle with respect to the track. Those skilled in the art of course will appreciate that in embodiments whereby the friction reduced biasing means is a wheel, the wheel may have a relatively high friction coefficient with respect to the track, however the wheel would be free to rotate about its axis of rotation and as such, the friction-reduced characteristic would still be present as the free rotation would be provided in a reduced traction manner, thus allowing the vehicle to move relative to the track.

It will also be appreciated that the driven wheel and the friction reduced biasing means need not impart forces in opposite directions for example in alternate embodiments due to the geometry of the track through which the vehicle is to pass may be of irregular or non-symmetrical shape and thus, the force may be imparted in other opposed direction yet non-linear.

Additional wheels or other friction reduced means may be provided on the vehicle for stability. It will be appreciated that the driven wheel 8 and the biasing means such as wheel 6 must remain at a substantially constant distance from each other transverse to the surface of the track. Hence rotation of the vehicle out of that transverse plane will reduce the force applied to the driven wheel by the biasing means and may cause the vehicle to slip down the incline. The remaining wheels such as wheels 4, 5, 9 and 10 retain the orientation of the vehicle by acting as stabilisers.

In this first embodiment, all the wheels may be driven such that each acts as a driven wheel, a biasing means for a wheel on an opposed side of the vehicle and as a stabiliser to maintain the vehicle's orientation. To drive on opposed inside surfaces of the track, it is necessary for the wheels on one side 7, 8, 9, 10, such as the lower side 14, to be driven to rotate in the same direction. Those on the opposed side 12 being wheels 3, 4, 5 and 6 should drive with an opposite rotational direction.

This embodiment of the vehicle uses two motors 15 and 16. Each provides drive to wheels on a side of the vehicle being the left and right sides as shown in the orientation in Figures 1 and 2. In providing drive in this manner, some steering can be provided to the vehicle by allowing either faster relative rotation of the wheel or wheels of the left or right sides of the vehicle or rotation which produces the effect of propulsion in opposite directions to each of the respective sides of the vehicle with respect to each other to turn the vehicle. Of course, alternative steering mechanisms could also be used. It is intended that the vehicle be able to climb a substantially vertical track section to allow a more three dimensional track to be built and configured. However, when not on an incline that requires the confines of an opposed surface to provide sufficient traction with gravity alone being sufficient, the track may include open sections with no upper surface constraining the vehicle and thereby allow side by side racing of two competing vehicles. If desired, the track could provide sufficient width in the inclined sections for vehicles to travel side by side although this complicates the transition sections as will be explained later. In alternate embodiments, although not depicted in the present embodiment, the vehicle 1 may be articulated between wheels 3, 6, 7 and 8 and wheels 4, 5, 9 and 10 so as to allow the vehicle 1 to readily traverse corners, in particular abrupt corners of the track. It will of course be appreciated that the vehicle 1 may be articulated about more than one axis so that the vehicle 1 is able to traverse complex curves and corners provided by the shape and geometry of the track.

Referring to Figure 2, the constrained section of track is shown as being generally in the shape of a rectangular cross sectional tube. However, a circular cross sectional tube would also satisfy the conditions with the wheels touching at their outer corners. Wheels in the shape of spheres on the end of the axes may be desirable to work in a cylindrical track of this type.

Additional complications occur in providing a track and vehicle to traverse all manner of curves to generate a track free from constraints in the angles it may achieve.

Referring to the side elevation of a portion of track as shown in Figure 5, particular care may be taken in the design of the track sections 50 and 51 to accommodate a vehicle similar to that shown in Figure 1. It will be appreciated that to traverse these sections, the track should provide a substantially identical transverse cross section between the upper and lower surfaces throughout the curve to maintain contact with the wheels of the vehicle. Furthermore, the curvature may be limited to avoid the convex lower surface 52 or upper surface 53 contacting the lower or upper surfaces of the vehicle intermediate of the sets of wheels. The vehicle may jam on a curve that is too sharp unless the body shape accommodates this. In other embodiments, however, as discussed above with reference to Figure 1, the vehicle may be articulated about at least one axis which allows for the vehicle to traverse corners or curves in the track having reduced radii.

Another consideration is with the vehicle. To traverse the sections 50 and 51 as shown, the wheels in contact with the upper and lower surfaces, if driven rather than free running, should drive at different speeds to drive the vehicle through the curve. Whereas the vehicle shown in Figure 1 utilised two motors to allow steerage on the horizontal plane, it may be necessary to independently drive all the wheels to allow differential speeds in the vertical plane as well. As mentioned previously, this is only necessary for driven wheels. If some wheels merely act as a biasing means to create sufficient traction for the wheels on an opposed side of the vehicle, they can be provided as freely rotating wheels and will simply follow the vehicle at the desired speed to navigate the curve.

An alternative form of vehicle is shown in Figure 3. This vehicle provides at least one driven wheel 31 powered by a motor 32. A biasing means 34 is provided in the form of a wheel on the opposed (upper) side of the vehicle. To maintain stability, a further wheel 33 is provided such that the vehicle is held in the track by the three points of contact of the three wheels. To simplify track design and high tolerances on the manufacture of the curved sections as shown in Figure 5, at least one, or perhaps all of the wheels or biasing means may include a spring or suspension element 35. This may allow some slight variation in the transverse distance 36 being the vertical distance between the top of wheel 34 and the bottom of wheel 31. The spring should be sufficient to still allow the biasing means 34 to provide sufficient force to wheel 31 to generate enough traction to climb the desired inclined or vertical sections of track throughout the length of its intended travel in accommodating variations in the distance 36.

Of course this embodiment is not very stable in the transverse direction 37 shown in the plane view however, may still operate within a track confined at the sides such that the track generates steerage by guiding the vehicle and supporting the vehicle. For example, such a vehicle may navigate a tubular track of circular cross section as the typical directions of up, down, left and right become more redundant. The vehicle may spiral within the tube as it desires.

A more conventional orientation for a vehicle is shown in Figure 4. In this orientation, the rear axle uses two wheels 41 and 42 to provide greater stability. The front wheel 43 may provide steerage through a driven linkage 45 as is already known in other toy vehicles. The configuration may be somewhat similar to a three wheeled motorcycle. A biasing means 44 to allow the vehicle to climb steep inclines or vertical sections may be provided in the same manner as the wheel 34 in the embodiment of Figure 3. Again, the biasing means and/or the driven wheels may be provided with suspensions elements to account for track variations.

Referring to Figure 6, a further track section 60 is shown to show some of the alternative configurations of the track. The section 60 has a substantially horizontal lower surface 61 that then transitions into a tubular portion 62 for a steep incline. The portion 61 may be broader to allow for competing vehicles on the track to race side by side and then enter a constrained portion whereby the leading vehicle may enter the tube portion 62 and a subsequent vehicle will have to follow in single file. The broader open section having the base 61 may also provide side walls 63 and 64 to stop vehicles leaving the track entirely. Such side portions may be configured to not only keep vehicles within the track but to assist in returning them to an upright orientation should a vehicle run off the side walls with some momentum. Such side walls to direct vehicles inwardly and reduce or avoid them overturning are already known in the art and not further explained herein. A yet further embodiment of a vehicle is shown in Figure 7. In this embodiment, the vehicle body 70 may be driven by two driven wheels 71, 72 powered by a motor 79. Biasing means in the form of one free-running wheel 73 on the opposed surface of the vehicle is provided and again, as with previous embodiments, these may include suspension elements 76. As shown in plan view of Figure 7b, the use of a biasing means adds stability to the vehicle to resist rotation away from the surfaces on which the vehicle is running in the plane of the axes of these wheels. Additional wheels 74 and 75 may be provided to add stability in the plane through wheels 74, 71 and 75. These additional wheels may also have suspension elements in the form of being mounted at the end of coiled springs 77 and 78 or similar. These springs may allow the wheels to maintain contact with the adjacent surface of the track through various curves whereby the vehicle may otherwise become unstable. The use of coiled springs may also allow these wheels to move transversely when negotiating left and right hand curves as the spring can allow biased movement of the wheel in any desired direction.

A more preferred embodiment is shown in Figure 8. In this embodiment, the biasing means 83 and 84 are positioned either side of an axis through driven wheels 81 and 82. As the vehicle negotiates a curve in the vertical plane, the slight offset of the biasing means from a vertical line taken through the wheels 81 and 82 stops the vehicle rotating along its length and causing the driving wheel to slip. Similarly, the offset of the wheels 81 and 82 from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle provides support in the transverse direction. Additional stabilisers in the form of spherical wheels 85 and 86 may also be provided. Preferably, the stabilisers and at least one of either of the set of driven wheels 81 and 82 or the biasing means 83 and 84 are provided with suspension elements that accommodate variations in the distance between track surfaces at various points of the track while still being stiff enough to provide sufficient force to the drive wheels to generate traction up an incline.

Thus it can be seen that this invention provides a vehicle that is able to drive between two opposed surfaces of a track and maintain contact with both simultaneously. In doing so, the vehicle may drive up steep inclines or even vertical tube sections of track to allow greater variation in the configuration of the track. Other less inclined portions of the track may be provided in more conventional formats and may not require any opposed surface as the vehicle gains traction through gravity. The vehicle itself may be in the form of a car or similar styled vehicle with only the additional biasing means protruding from an upper surface detracting from its conventional appearance. Otherwise more fanciful vehicles may be used. The use of suspension may reduce constraints on track design and manufacture to accommodate variations in the distance between the opposed track surfaces through curves or similar.

If preferred, a plurality of driven wheels may be used with each acting as a driven wheel as well as possibly a biasing means for a wheel contacting an opposed side of the track and/or a stabilising means to keep the vehicle's orientation as it moves through curves or similar. If desired, individual drive mechanisms may be used for each driven wheel in the form of individual motors, which may also provide steerage, or through the drive trains with the use of differentials to allow some variation in the speed of different wheels around corners and curves.

This invention has been described by means of preferred embodiments which should not be considered limiting to the generality of the description itself. Specific integers referred to throughout the description are deemed to include known equivalents where appropriate. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous alternate embodiments or variations thereof may exist whilst remaining within the general inventive concept and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A controllable toy vehicle for travel through a track at least partly confining said vehicle, the vehicle comprising: a main body portion; at least one controllable motor; at least one driven wheel protruding from said main body and receiving drive directly or indirectly from said motor, said at least one driven wheel bearing against an adjacent side of said track; - at least one friction reduced biasing means protruding from another side of said main body portion to bear against another side of said track and bias said driven wheel into engagement with said adjacent side of said track ; and at least one stabilising means to inhibit rotation of said vehicle out of a plane through said driven wheel and said biasing means.

2. A controllable toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one friction reduced biasing means protrudes from an opposed side of the main body with respect to the driven wheel, and the another side of said track is an opposed side of said track with respect to the adjacent side of the track.

3. A controllable toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main body portion is generally in the form of an automobile.

4. A controllable toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body is articulated about at least one axis in a manner so as to allow the vehicle to traverse corners, curves and perturbations in the track geometry.

5. A controllable toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one driven wheel comprises a plurality of driven wheels.

6. A controllable toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said friction reduced biasing means is also in the form of a wheel having a opposite rotation to said at least one driven wheel.

7. A controllable toy vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein said friction reduced biasing means in the form of a wheel is also a driven wheel on an opposed side of the vehicle.

8. A controllable toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adjacent side and opposed sides comprise an underside and an upper side of the vehicle respectively.

9. A controllable toy vehicle as claimed in claim 5 wherein said vehicle includes a plurality of motors to allow independent drive to different driving wheels.

10. A controllable toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stabilising means comprise further driven or freely rotating wheels.

11. A controllable toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said driven wheel or said friction reduced biasing means includes a suspension element to adjust for variations in the distance between said adjacent and opposed sides of said track.

12. A toy vehicle and track combination comprising: a track having at least one portion of substantially enclosed track providing interior surfaces on sides of a vehicle travelling within said enclosed portion; a toy vehicle having a driven wheel bearing against an adjacent side of said enclosed track portion, a friction reduced biasing means bearing against another side of said enclosed track portion and stabilising means to retain the intended orientation of said vehicle; and wherein said track and vehicle are configured and dimensioned to simultaneously allow said driven wheel and said biasing means to bear against their respective sides of said track portion to allow said vehicle to travel between said sides when said track portion is directed on an incline.

13. A toy vehicle and track combination as claimed in claim 12 wherein said enclosed track portion is in the form of a substantially regular cross sectional tube.

14. A toy vehicle and track combination as claimed in claim 12 wherein said track portion includes other portions or sections of less incline which are not fully enclosed.

15. A toy vehicle and track combination as claimed in claim 14 wherein said portions of track that are not fully enclosed include means to inhibit the vehicle leaving a track boundary.

16. A toy vehicle and track combination as claimed in claim 12, wherein the main body is articulated about at least one axis in a manner so as to allow the vehicle to traverse corners, curves and perturbations in the track geometry.