Toy vehicle
First Claim
1. A toy vehicle having a gear box including a housing containing a spring, means responsive to backward motion of said vehicle for operation said gear box to store energy in said spring during a first mode of operation, means responsive to a selection of a second mode of operation for releasing the energy stored in said spring through said gear box for driving said vehicle in a forward direction, said gear box winding said spring responsive to a rotation of gears in a first direction when operating said first mode and for rotating said gears in a second direction when operating in said second mode, said invention being characterized by a toggle linkage means comprising said housing of said gear box having one end pivotally attached to said toy vehicle at one point and a trigger lever arm having one end pivotally attached to said toy vehicle at a point which is remote from the one point, a second end of said gear box housing engaging another end of said trigger lever arm to form an over center toggle linkage means, the relative lengths of said gear box housing and said trigger lever arm being such that said toggle linkage moves back and forth between two over-center positions, said spring urging said toggle linkage to one of said two over-center positions when operating in said first mode and a manual selection means moving said toggle linkage to the other of said two over-center positions for operating in said second mode.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A toy vehicle has a gear box containing a clock spring which is wound by pushing the vehicle backward. A two part toggle-linkage system connects the gear box to the frame. When the clock spring is wound, the resulting spring bias urges the toggle-linkage system to one over center position which locks the gear box in order to preserve the energy stored in the wound spring. When the toggle-linkage system is pressed near its center, it moves over center to another position, which unlocks the gear box and releases the energy stored in the wound spring in order to propel the vehicle. When the vehicle is next moved backward, the toggle-linkage returns to the locked position which once again locks the gear box.
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Citations
9 Claims
- 1. A toy vehicle having a gear box including a housing containing a spring, means responsive to backward motion of said vehicle for operation said gear box to store energy in said spring during a first mode of operation, means responsive to a selection of a second mode of operation for releasing the energy stored in said spring through said gear box for driving said vehicle in a forward direction, said gear box winding said spring responsive to a rotation of gears in a first direction when operating said first mode and for rotating said gears in a second direction when operating in said second mode, said invention being characterized by a toggle linkage means comprising said housing of said gear box having one end pivotally attached to said toy vehicle at one point and a trigger lever arm having one end pivotally attached to said toy vehicle at a point which is remote from the one point, a second end of said gear box housing engaging another end of said trigger lever arm to form an over center toggle linkage means, the relative lengths of said gear box housing and said trigger lever arm being such that said toggle linkage moves back and forth between two over-center positions, said spring urging said toggle linkage to one of said two over-center positions when operating in said first mode and a manual selection means moving said toggle linkage to the other of said two over-center positions for operating in said second mode.
- 6. A toy wheeled vehicle comprising spring menas, transmission means with a reverse gear means responsive to rolling said vehicle backward for transmitting energy through said transmission for storing and locking energy in said spring, the invention being characterized by toggle-linkage means, spring tension caused by said energy stored in said spring urging said toggle-linkage to an operated position, means responsive to a manipulation of said toggle-linkage from said operated position for unlocking and releasing said energy stored in said spring by engaging said reverse gear, and means responsive to said release of said energy stored in said spring for propelling said vehicle in a forward direction.
Specification