Wheeled miniature toy vehicle with control element that is squeeze-operated at sides
First Claim
1. In an electrical-battery-powered mechanical toy vehicle for self-powered forward motion, the combination of:
- a chassis having left and right sides;
a drive mechanism, mounted to the chassis, that controls operation of the toy vehicle;
a shifting element comprising an extended member that has two ends, and that is disposed for motion between;
at least one stable position in which one of the two ends extends toward one of the said sides of the chassis, at least to a position where it is accessible at that side and is there transversely manipulable by finger pressure applied thereto, said one position corresponding to self-powered forward motion of the vehicle, andat least one other stable position in which the opposite of the two ends extends toward the other side of the chassis, at least to a position where it is accessible at that side and is there transversely manipulable by finger pressure applied thereto;
the shifting element being responsive to manipulation when it is in either position, to move it toward the other position, whereby such electrical battery can power the mechanism when the shifting element is in said one position; and
front and rear wheels, mounted for rotation at both the left and right sides of the chassis, and protruding from the chassis respectively forwardly and rearwardly of the shifting element to guard the respective ends of the shifting element against contact with nearby objects.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Accessible at both sides of this toy vehicle is a shifter element that enables a user to control the vehicle using only one hand, and without picking the vehicle up or even obstructing its forward travel. The shifter element may be used to turn the vehicle on or off. If the vehicle has two or more operating modes the shifter may be used to select between the modes. The shifter thus enhances the play fantasy, since "real" vehicles start and stop without being raised from the street by their drivers. The shifter element moves transversely relative to the vehicle. In one position the element protrudes at one side of the vehicle, and if pushed inwardly there the element moves toward the other side of the vehicle. In the other position the element protrudes at the other side of the toy; if pushed inwardly it moves toward the first side. In operation, laterally protruding wheels at the corners of the vehicle protect the shifter element from actuation by nearby objects; yet the element is readily operated by squeezing either of its ends against the opposite side of the vehicle.
9 Citations
16 Claims
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1. In an electrical-battery-powered mechanical toy vehicle for self-powered forward motion, the combination of:
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a chassis having left and right sides; a drive mechanism, mounted to the chassis, that controls operation of the toy vehicle; a shifting element comprising an extended member that has two ends, and that is disposed for motion between; at least one stable position in which one of the two ends extends toward one of the said sides of the chassis, at least to a position where it is accessible at that side and is there transversely manipulable by finger pressure applied thereto, said one position corresponding to self-powered forward motion of the vehicle, and at least one other stable position in which the opposite of the two ends extends toward the other side of the chassis, at least to a position where it is accessible at that side and is there transversely manipulable by finger pressure applied thereto; the shifting element being responsive to manipulation when it is in either position, to move it toward the other position, whereby such electrical battery can power the mechanism when the shifting element is in said one position; and front and rear wheels, mounted for rotation at both the left and right sides of the chassis, and protruding from the chassis respectively forwardly and rearwardly of the shifting element to guard the respective ends of the shifting element against contact with nearby objects. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification