Four wheel drive toy vehicle

• US 4,443,968 A
• Filed: 05/17/1982
• Issued: 04/24/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SOMA Traders LD South SEAS Center Tower 1 6/F 75 MODY Road TST East Kowloon Hong Kong
• Original Assignee: Soma Traders Limited
• Inventors: Law, N. Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US06/378,878
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 46/251, 46/252, 46/253, 46/254, 46/256, 46/201, 46/217, 46/262, 46/230
• US Class Current: 446/462
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 31/02 Screw-spindle mechanisms

Abstract

A miniature self-powered four wheel drive vehicle is disclosed which will climb grades of about 50°. The vehicle is powered by a small electric motor positioned over the front wheel axle and having its center of mass in front of the axle, and a AA battery located behind and perpendicular to the motor. A propeller shaft extends the length of the vehicle and has a crown gear which engages a pinion on the motor drive shaft and two worm gears each of which engages a spur gear on the front and rear axles. Traction and climbing characteristics are enhanced by overscale tires having highly pronounced treads. An optional 1.5 light bulb and light distributor simulates headlights.

Claims

1. A miniature self-powered, four wheel drive vehicle comprising:

(a) a frame;

(b) front wheel means and rear wheel means mounted to the frame for rotation about mutually parallel front and rear axes spaced about two inches apart, each of the wheel means having high friction peripheral surfaces;

(c) an electric motor mounted on the front of the frame so that its center of mass is not behind the front axis and having a driveshaft extending outwardly therefrom toward one side of the frame in a direction which is parallel to the front axis;

(d) pinion attached to an outwardly extending end of the driveshaft;

(e) a first spur gear attached to the front wheel means and positioned near the side of the frame toward which the driveshaft extends;

(f) a second spur gear attached to the rear wheel means and also positioned near the side of the frame toward which the driveshaft extends;

(g) a propeller shaft having opposite ends thereof supported by opposite ends of the frame and positioned perpendicular to and above the wheel axes and near the side of the frame toward which the drive shaft extends and having a crown gear at one end positioned to engage the pinion, a first worm gear positioned to engage the first spur gear and a second worm gear positioned to engage the second spur gear;

(h) battery holder means attached to the frame for releasably holding a standard AA size battery perpendicular to the wheel axes and approximately centered on the frame; and

(i) means for electrically connecting the battery to the motor.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 also comprising tires mounted to the wheel means, the tires having a plurality of radially projecting teeth.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 also comprising a cover sized to conceal the motor, gears and propeller shaft and to hold the worm gears in engagement wiith the spur gears.

4. The vehicle of claims 1 or 3 also comprising a toy vehicle body mounted on the frame.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 also comprising

(a) a light bulb mounted to the frame;

and

(b) means for electrically connecting the light bulb to the battery mounting means so that a battery located within the battery mounting means may energize the light bulb.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 also comprising a toy vehicle body mounted to the frame and a substantially transparent light distributor positioned so that light emitted from the light bulb will be transmitted through the light distributor.