Motorized toy wheel launcher for launching a toy wheel

• US 20060046609A1
• Filed: 07/13/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jakks Pacific, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jakks Pacific, Inc.
• Inventors: Vetuskey, Brendon, Bui, C.P., Laurienzo, Dominio
• Application Number:
  US11/181,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20060046609A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/435
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/008 Launching devices for motorless toy vehicles start mechanisms for trackways A63H18/026; for toy aircraft A63H27/14
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/18 Tricycles, e.g. with moving figures
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/262 Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/266 Movable parts other than toy figures, driven by the wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/44 Toy garages for receiving toy vehicles; Filling stations
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/24 Details or accessories for drive mechanisms, e.g. means for winding-up or starting toy engines
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/3061 Washing-machines

Abstract

A motorized toy wheel launcher for launching a toy wheel is described. The motorized toy wheel launcher comprises a housing with a motor encased within the housing. The motor includes a rotor, with an actuator communicatively connected with the motor. A gear system including a plurality of gears is connected with the rotor. A driving element is connected with the gear system and configured to engage a receiving element of a detachably attachable wheel to form a drive connection. When the driving element engages the receiving element of the detachably attachable wheel, the detachably attachable wheel is rotatably accelerated in one direction, and wherein once the driving element ceases to accelerate the receiving element, the receiving element disengages from the driving element and releases the detachably attachable wheel, thereby causing the detachably attachable wheel to spin away from the motorized toy launcher.

Claims

1. A motorized toy wheel launcher for launching a toy wheel, comprising:

a housing;

a motor encased within the housing and having a rotor;

an actuator communicatively connected with the motor;

a driving element connected with the rotor and configured to engage a receiving element of a detachably attachable wheel to form a drive connection, such that when the driving element forcedly engages the receiving element of the detachably attachable wheel, the detachably attachable wheel is rotatably accelerated in one direction, and wherein once the driving element ceases to accelerate the receiving element, the receiving element disengages from the driving element and releases the detachably attachable wheel, whereby upon actuation of the actuator, the motor spins the rotor to spin the driving element, thereby accelerating an attached detachably attachable wheel, such that de-actuation of the actuator causes the detachably attachable wheel to become disengaged from the driving element and spin away from the motorized toy launcher.

2. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a gear system connecting the rotor with the driving element, the gear system including a plurality of gears.

3. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a power source compartment attached with the housing, the power source compartment being configured to contain a power source therein and electrically connect with the power source to provide electricity to the motor.

4. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 3, further comprising a brake apparatus attached with the actuator, the brake apparatus formed to engage with the gear system such that as the actuator is actuated, the brake apparatus disengages from the gear system to provide for gear system operation, and when the actuator is de-actuated, the brake apparatus engages with the gear system to inhibit the gear system'"'"'s operation.

5. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 4, wherein the housing includes a bottom portion and further comprises a surface switch attached with the bottom portion of the housing, with a portion of the surface switch extending beyond the bottom portion such that placement of the launcher upon a surface actuates the surface switch to electrically connect the motor with the power source compartment.

6. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 5, further comprising an actuator switch encased within the housing and connected with the actuator, such that actuation of the actuator actuates the actuator switch to electrically connect the motor with the power source compartment.

7. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a driving element switch connected with the driving element such that attachment of a detachably attachable wheel with the driving element actuates the driving element switch to electrically connect the motor with the power source compartment.

8. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 7, wherein all three of the surface switch, actuator switch, and driving element switch are electrically connected such that actuation of all three provides for electrical connection of the motor with the power source compartment.

9. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a tachometer connected with the gear system such that spinning the plurality of gears causes the tachometer to register a reading representative of rotational velocity of the rotor.

10. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a sleeve and pivot bar positioned between the driving element and the driving element switch, the sleeve positioned around the driving element and being formed such that attaching a detachably attachable wheel with the driving element causes a depression of the sleeve, thereby causing the pivot bar to pivot and actuate the driving element switch.

11. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a brake drum positioned between the gear system and the brake apparatus, such that as the actuator is actuated, the brake apparatus disengages from the brake drum and thereby the gear system to provide for gear system operation, and when the actuator is de-actuated, the brake apparatus engages with the brake drum and thereby the gear system to decelerate the gear system'"'"'s operation.

12. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 11, wherein the driving element comprises two helical protrusions extending outward in parallel configuration from a shaft about an axis, the axis running parallel to and centered in the shaft, and wherein the receiving element of the detachably attachable wheel is similarly configured with two helical protrusions extending outward in parallel configuration about an axis, the axis running perpendicular to a rotational motion of the detachably attachable wheel, and wherein the two helical protrusions of each of the driving element and receiving element has an edge that runs parallel to the axis of the respective driving element and receiving element, such that the edge of the driving element rests flush against the edge of the receiving element, forming a drive connection which allows the rotation of the driving element to rotate the receiving element.

13. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 12, wherein the edge of the driving element and the edge of the receiving element are formed as matching interlocking shapes, such that when the edge of the driving element is matched with the edge of the receiving element, an interlocking drive connection is formed.

14. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 13, wherein the edge of the driving element and the edge of the receiving element are formed into a hook shape, such that when the hook-shaped edge of the driving element is matched up with the hook-shaped edge of the receiving element, an interlocking drive connection is formed.

15. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 14, wherein the housing includes a handle, and wherein both the handle and the actuator are formed such that a portion of the actuator protrudes from the handle for access by a user.

16. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 15, further comprising a wheel guard connected with and extending from the housing, the wheel guard forming a barrier between a portion of an attached detachably attachable wheel and a user grasping the handle.

17. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 16, further comprising a detachably attachable wheel for connecting with the driving element, the detachably attachable wheel having a receiving element formed to engage with and be rotatably driven by the driving element.

18. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 17, wherein the detachably attachable wheel is formed to be used with a device other than a motorized toy wheel launcher.

19. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 18, wherein the device other than a motorized toy wheel launcher is a hand launcher for launching the detachably attachable wheel.

20. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a power source compartment attached with the housing, the power source compartment being configured to contain a power source therein and electrically connect with the power source to provide electricity to the motor.

21. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a brake apparatus attached with the actuator, the brake apparatus formed to engage with the gear system such that as the actuator is actuated, the brake apparatus disengages from the gear system to provide for gear system operation, and when the actuator is de-actuated, the brake apparatus engages with the gear system to inhibit the gear system'"'"'s operation.

22. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a bottom portion and further comprises a surface switch attached with the bottom portion of the housing, with a portion of the surface switch extending beyond the bottom portion such that placement of the launcher upon a surface actuates the surface switch to electrically connect the motor with the power source compartment.

23. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an actuator switch encased within the housing and connected with the actuator, such that actuation of the actuator actuates the actuator switch to electrically connect the motor with the power source compartment.

24. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a driving element switch connected with the driving element such that attachment of a detachably attachable wheel with the driving element actuates the driving element switch to electrically connect the motor with the power source compartment.

25. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 24, further comprising a sleeve and pivot bar positioned between the driving element and the driving element switch, the sleeve positioned around the driving element and being formed such that attaching a detachably attachable wheel with the driving element causes a depression of the sleeve, thereby causing the pivot bar to pivot and actuate the driving element switch.

26. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a tachometer connected with the gear system such that spinning the plurality of gears causes the tachometer to register a reading representative of rotational velocity of the rotor.

27. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a brake drum positioned between the gear system and the brake apparatus, such that as the actuator is actuated, the brake apparatus disengages from the brake drum and thereby the gear system to provide for gear system operation, and when the actuator is de-actuated, the brake apparatus engages with the brake drum and thereby the gear system to decelerate the gear system'"'"'s operation.

28. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a detachably attachable wheel for connecting with the driving element, the detachably attachable wheel having a receiving element formed to engage with and be rotatably driven by the driving element.

29. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 28, wherein the driving element comprises two helical protrusions extending outward in parallel configuration from a shaft about an axis, the axis running parallel to and centered in the shaft, and wherein the receiving element of the detachably attachable wheel is similarly configured with two helical protrusions extending outward in parallel configuration about an axis, the axis running perpendicular to a rotational motion of the detachably attachable wheel, and wherein the two helical protrusions of each of the driving element and receiving element has an edge that runs parallel to the axis of the respective driving element and receiving element, such that the edge of the driving element rests flush against the edge of the receiving element, forming a drive connection which allows the rotation of the driving element to rotate the receiving element.

30. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 29, wherein the edge of the driving element and the edge of the receiving element are formed as matching interlocking shapes, such that when the edge of the driving element is matched with the edge of the receiving element, an interlocking drive connection is formed.

31. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 29, wherein the edge of the driving element and the edge of the receiving element are formed into a hook shape, such that when the hook-shaped edge of the driving element is matched up with the hook-shaped edge of the receiving element, an interlocking drive connection is formed.

32. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 28, wherein the detachably attachable wheel is formed to be used with a device other than a motorized toy wheel launcher.

33. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 32 wherein the device other than a motorized toy wheel launcher is a hand launcher for launching the detachably attachable wheel.

34. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a handle, and wherein both the handle and the actuator are formed such that a portion of the actuator protrudes from the handle for access by a user.

35. A motorized toy wheel launcher as set forth in claim 34, further comprising a wheel guard connected with and extending from the housing, the wheel guard forming a barrier between a portion of an attached detachably attachable wheel and a user grasping the handle.

36. A method for forming a motorized toy wheel launcher for launching a toy wheel, the method comprising acts of:

forming a housing;

encasing a motor encased within the housing, the motor having a rotor;

communicatively connecting an actuator with the motor;

connecting a driving element with the rotor, the driving element configured to engage a receiving element of a detachably attachable wheel to form a drive connection, such that when the driving element forcedly engages the receiving element of the detachably attachable wheel, the detachably attachable wheel is rotatably accelerated in one direction, and wherein once the driving element ceases to accelerate the receiving element, the receiving element disengages from the driving element and releases the detachably attachable wheel, whereby upon actuation of the actuator, the motor spins the rotor to spin the driving element, thereby accelerating an attached detachably attachable wheel, such that de-actuation of the actuator causes the detachably attachable wheel to become disengaged from the driving element and spin away from the motorized toy launcher.