Toy vehicle having variable drive

• US 4,540,380 A
• Filed: 03/13/1984
• Issued: 09/10/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nagel/Kennedy & Associates
• Original Assignee: Nagel/Kennedy & Associates
• Inventors: Kennedy, Melvin R., Nagel, Dietmar, Arad, Abraham
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US06/588,968
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 446/463, 446/462, 446/457, 446/459, 446/461, 446/464, 446/431, 446/436, 105/119
• US Class Current: 446/463
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 31/08 Gear-control mechanisms; Gears for imparting a reciprocating motion

Abstract

A miniature toy vehicle powered by a single battery operated motor that, through a shiftable transmission, drives the vehicle in a low speed, four-wheel drive mode or in a high speed, two-wheel drive mode. When the motor is in the off position, the transmission is disengaged from the wheels so that the vehicle can free wheel.

Claims

1. A miniature toy vehicle comprising a chassis, a first axle rotably mounted to said chassis, a first pair of wheels installed on said first axle, a second axle rotably mounted to said chassis, a second pair of wheels installed on said second axle, a motor means mounted to said chassis, a transmission means mounted to said chassis and drivingly connected to said motor means and an activating means mounted to said chassis, said transmission comprising a first low speed gear rotably mounted on said first axle, a first clutch means, mounted on said first axle and selectively engaging said first low speed gear with said first axle, a second low speed gear rotably mounted on said second axle, a drive gear installed on said second axle, a second clutch means mounted on said second axle and selectively engaging said second low speed gear with said drive gear, a first spur gear drivingly engaged with said motor means, a first worm co-axially mounted with said first spur gear and drivingly connected to said first low speed gear, a second spur gear drivingly engaged with said motor means, a second worm co-axially mounted with said second spur gear and drivingly engaged with said second low speed gear, an intermediate gear selectively engaged with said second low speed gear, a high speed gear interconnected with said intermediate gear and continuously engaged with said drive gear, and shifting means connected to said first and second low speed gears and adapted to selectively engage and disengage said first and second clutch means;

said transmission having a first configuration wherein said shifting means is positioned to cause said first clutch means and said second clutch means to be engaged for four-wheel drive operation; and

a second configuration wherein said shifting means is positioned to cause said first clutch means to be disengaged allowing said first pair of wheels to free-wheel and to cause said second clutch means to be disengaged while urging said second low speed gear into engagement with said intermediate gear to drive said second pair of wheels at high speed.

2. A miniature toy vehicle as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said shifting means has a third configuration such that said first clutch means and said second clutch means are disengaged and said second low speed gear is not engaged with said intermediate gear for free-wheel operation of said toy vehicle.

3. A miniature toy vehicle as disclosed in claims 1 or 2 wherein said motor means comprises an electric motor driven by a battery source mounted on said chassis, said motor having a drive shaft extending beyond both ends of said motor, said drive shaft having a first pinion mounted on one end and drivingly engaged with said first spur gear and a second pinion mounted on a second end and drivingly engaged with said second spur gear.

4. A miniature toy vehicle as disclosed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the shifting means comprises a symmetrical fork pivoted about an axis by said activating means.

5. A miniature toy vehicle as disclosed in claim 2 wherein said activating means simultaneoulsy operates to supply power to said motor means and to shift said shifting means into said first, second and third configurations.

6. A miniature toy vehicle comprising a chassis, a first axle rotatably mouted to said chassis, a first pair of wheels installed on said first axle, a second axle rotatably mounted to said chassis, a second pair of wheels installed on said second axle, motor means mounted to said chassis, transmission means mounted on said chassis and drivingly connected to said motor means and activating means mounted to said chassis, said transmission comprising a first clutch including a stationary member mounted on said first axle and a movable member integrally formed with a first low speed gear and rotatably mounted on said first axle, a second clutch including a stationary member mounted on said second axle and a movable member integrally formed with a second low speed gear and rotatably mounted on said second axle, means for translating power to said first and second low speed gears, a drive gear integrally formed with said stationary member of said second clutch and mounted on said second axle, a high speed gear continuously engaged with said drive gear, an intermediate gear interconnected with said high speed gear and selectively engaged with said second low speed gear, and shifting means operatively connected to said first and second low speed gears and including guide means adapted to pivotally mount said shifting means to said chassis for axial movement of said shifting means about said guide means, said transmission having a first configuration wherein said shifting means is pivoted about said guide means axially shifting said first low speed gear and said movable member of said first clutch into engagement with said stationary member of said first clutch and simultaneously axially shifting said second low speed gear and said movable member of said second clutch into engagement with said stationary member of said second clutch for four-wheel drive operation;

and, a second configuration wherein said shifting means is pivoted about said guide means axially shifting said first low speed gear and said movable member of said first clutch out of engagement with said stationary member of said first clutch and simultaneously shifting said second low speed gear and said movable member of said second clutch out of engagement with said stationary member of said second clutch and into engagement with said intermediate gear to drive said second pair of wheels at high speed while allowing said first pair of wheels to free-wheel.

7. A miniature toy vehicle as disclosed in claim 6 wherein said transmission has a third configuration such that said shifting means is pivoted about said guide means axially shifting said first low speed gear and said movable member of said first clutch out of engagement with said stationary member of said first clutch and simultaneously shifting said second low speed gear and said movable member of said second clutch out of engagement with said stationary member of said second clutch for free wheel operation.