Toy vehicle having fanciful facial expression

• US 20070178804A1
• Filed: 11/07/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Andrews, Mike, Mayer, Mark, Trageser, Mark, Down, Chris, Hippely, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,833,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/465
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/005 with self-moving head or facial features with a choice of features A63H3/365; movable eyes A63H3/40
• 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 17/395 steered by program

Abstract

A toy vehicle includes a body supported by a plurality of wheels. The body also includes a roof and rear window supporting a plurality of user inputs. Within the toy vehicle body, a microprocessor controlled drive and steering mechanism is operative. The operation of the microprocessor is set by the user inputs. The body further supports a movable bumper mouth and movable eyes and eyebrows behind the windshield.

Claims

1. A toy vehicle comprising:

a body having a windshield aperture, a windshield, a rear window, a plurality of wheels, drive means and steering means;

a pair of moveable eye pupils and means for supporting and moving said eye pupils behind said windshield;

a pair of moveable eyebrows and means for supporting and moving said eyebrows behind said windshield;

a deformable front bumper defining a mouth aperture therein and means for supporting and deforming said front bumper upon said body;

a controller operatively coupled to said drive means and said steering means to move and steer said toy vehicle upon a play surface and to control said means for moving and supporting said eye pupils and said means for supporting said eyebrows to create facial expressions for said toy vehicle; and

a plurality of user inputs supported on said rear window for providing user programming inputs to said controller.

2. The toy vehicle set forth in claim 1 wherein said controller accumulates input commands from said user inputs to establish a sequence of execution for said toy vehicle.

3. The toy vehicle set forth in claim 2 wherein said body further includes an opaque backing sheet covering said windshield aperture, said opaque backing sheet being supported behind said movable eye pupils.

4. The toy vehicle set forth in claim 3 wherein said user inputs include a plurality of depressible buttons.

5. The toy vehicle set forth in claim 4 wherein said controller controls said means for supporting and deforming said front bumper.

6. The toy vehicle set forth in claim 1 wherein said controller controls said means for supporting and deforming said front bumper.

7. The toy vehicle set forth in claim 1 wherein said user inputs include a plurality of depressible buttons.

8. A toy vehicle comprising:

a body having a windshield, a windshield aperture, a deformable bumper having a mouth aperture formed therein, drive wheels and steerable wheels;

a pair of movable eye pupils supported in said windshield;

a pair of movable eyebrows supported in said windshield;

battery-powered drive means supported within said body having wheel drive means for rotating said drive wheels, steering means for steering said steerable wheels, eye means for moving said eye pupils and said eyebrows;

control means for controlling said drive means execute a sequence of movements by said wheel drive means, said steering means, and said eye means; and

user programming input means for establishing said sequence of movements.

9. The toy vehicle set forth in claim 8 wherein said body further includes an opaque backing sheet covering said windshield aperture, said opaque backing sheet being supported behind said movable eye pupils.

10. The toy vehicle set forth in claim 8 wherein said controller accumulates input commands from said user inputs to establish a sequence of execution for said toy vehicle.

11. The toy vehicle set forth in claim 8 wherein said user inputs include a plurality of depressible buttons.