Assembly for retaining a toy

• US 20040063383A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Wireless IP Holdings LLC (Retail Ecommerce Ventures LLC), General Wireless Operations Inc. (Retail Ecommerce Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: RadioShack Legacy Corporation
• Inventors: Hui, Wai
• Granted Patent: US 6,913,507 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/454
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/00 Remote-control arrangements specially adapted for toys, e.g. for toy vehicles steering mechanisms for toy vehicles A63H17/36; for model railways A63H19/24, A63H19/28

Abstract

A mobile toy is described. The mobile toy includes a wheel assembly having a hubcap for removably engaging a wheel of the wheel assembly. The mobile toy may also include a transmitter having a charging pad for charging of a radio-controlled embodiment of the toy. The transmitter comprises an indicator showing certain states of the toy as well as a storage compartment for housing items associated with the toy. Additional embodiments include an assembly for retaining the toy on the charging pad during charging of the toy. A kit for storing the components of the radio-controlled embodiment of the toy is also described.

Claims

1. An assembly for releaseably retaining a toy on a controller having a first wall and a second wall perpendicular to the first wall, the assembly comprising:

a button disposed through the first wall of the controller, the button comprising;

a rod disposed through a bore in the first wall, the rod having a rim extending radially from a circumferential surface of the rod, and having a flange extending from the circumferential surface, wherein the flange has a beveled side,

a sleeve positioned coaxially about the rod;

a first spring positioned within the sleeve about a portion of the rod engaging the rim to bias the rod against the first wall; and

an actuator engaging the beveled side of the flange, the actuator having a stepped portion extending there from;

a second spring engaging the actuator and positioned about the stepped portion of the actuator to bias the actuator against the beveled surface of the flange; and

a catch operatively coupled to the actuator, the catch extending through a slot in the second wall and being adapted to engage a corresponding groove formed in the toy;

wherein when the button is engaged, the beveled side of the rod engages the actuator causing the actuator to move, causing the catch to move in a direction substantially parallel to the second wall.

2. An assembly for releaseably retaining a toy on a controller having a first wall and a second wall perpendicular to the first wall, comprising:

a catch disposed through a slot in the second wall, the catch being adapted to engage a corresponding groove formed in the toy; and

a button extending through a bore in the first wall, the button operatively connected to the catch to move the catch in a lateral direction.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the button comprises:

a rod disposed through a bore in the first wall, the rod having a rim extending radially from a circumferential surface of the rod, and having a flange extending from the circumferential surface, wherein the flange has a beveled side,

a sleeve positioned coaxially about the rod;

a first spring positioned within the sleeve about a portion of the rod engaging the rim to bias the rod against the first wall; and

an actuator engaging the beveled side of the flange, the actuator having a stepped portion extending there from;

a second spring engaging the actuator and positioned about the stepped portion of the actuator to bias the actuator against the beveled surface of the flange;

wherein the actuator is adapted to engage the catch.

4. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising a coupler for coupling the actuator to the catch, wherein when the actuator is engaged the catch moves in a lateral direction.

5. A controller for a toy, the controller comprising:

a housing having a first wall and a second wall perpendicular to the first wall, and

a toy release assembly positioned within the housing, the release assembly having an engaging mechanism protruding through the first wall and a release for the engaging mechanism protruding through the second wall.

6. The controller of claim 5, wherein the release assembly comprises:

a button disposed through the first wall of the controller, the button comprising;

a rod disposed through a bore in the first wall, the rod having a rim extending radially from a circumferential surface of the rod, and having a flange extending from the circumferential surface, wherein the flange has a beveled side;

a sleeve positioned coaxially about the rod; and

a first spring positioned within the sleeve about a portion of the rod engaging the rim to bias the rod against the first wall;

an actuator engaging the beveled side of the flange, the actuator having a stepped portion extending there from; and

a second spring engaging the actuator and positioned about a portion of the actuator to bias the actuator against the beveled surface of the flange;

wherein the actuator is adapted to engage the engaging mechanism.

7. The controller of claim 6 wherein the engaging mechasim comprises:

a catch operatively coupled to the actuator, the catch extending through a slot in the second wall and being adapted to engage a corresponding groove formed in the toy;

wherein when the button is engaged, the beveled side of the rod engages the actuator causing the actuator to move, causing the catch to move in a direction substantially parallel to the second wall.

8. The controller of claim 5 further comprising a transmitting circuit housed in the housing.

9. The controller of claim 5 further comprising a charging circuit housed in the housing.

10. The controller of claim 9 further comprising a charging pad coupled to the charging circuit, wherein the charging pad protrudes through the second wall and the engaging mechanism protrudes through the charging pad.

11. The controller of claim 5 further comprising a compartment in the housing for housing items associated with the toy.

12. The controller of claim 11 wherein the compartment is adapted to selectively retain specific items associated with the toy.

13. The controller of claim 10 further comprising a covering over the charging pad.