Metamorphic radio-controlled traveling toy

• US 4,623,317 A
• Filed: 05/08/1985
• Issued: 11/18/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Bandai
• Original Assignee: Shinsei Kogyo Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nagano, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US06/731,776
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 403/93, 403/96, 403/59, 446/376, 446/378, 446/487, 446/489, 446/289, 446/288, 446/290, 446/291, 446/292, 446/279, 446/320, 446/269, 446/93, 446/95, 446/97, 446/456, 446/280
• US Class Current: 446/289
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 11/10 Figure toys with single- or multiple-axle undercarriages, by which the figures perform a realistic running motion when the toy is moving over the floor
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/04 Mechanical figures imitating the movement of players or workers
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/003 Convertible toys, e.g. robots convertible into rockets or vehicles convertible into planes

Abstract

A metamorphic radio-controlled traveling toy having a traveling element; a leg element; a torso element; a pair of arm elements; and a head element. The traveling element includes a radio receiving unit and a drive and moving unit. The leg element is pivotably attached to the traveling element such that it can perform standing-up and falling-down shape-changing actions. The torso element is slidably attached to the leg element. The arm elements are slidably and rotatably attached to the torso element using cylindrical sleeve-type connecting mechanisms for providing different stop positions of the arm elements during rotational movement and for providing sliding movement of the arm elements away from and to the torso element. The head element is slidably attached to the torso element such that it can be embedded in the torso element in one position and extended from the torso in another position. In the preferred embodiment, the above elements in a closed lowered position form the exterior configuration of a toy vehicle, such as a car or truck, while in another open raised position form the configuration of a robot. The toy can be radio-controlled to operate and travel in the different configurational positions.

Claims

1. A metamorphic radio-controlled traveling toy comprising:

(a) a traveling element, including a radio signal receiving unit for receiving control signals from a remote radio control transmitter and drive and moving means for driving and moving the toy in response to the radio signals received by said radio receiving unit;

(b) a leg element pivotably attached to the traveling element such that the leg element can be lowered and raised in relationship to the traveling element for different configurational positions of the toy;

(c) a torso element slidably attached to the leg element such that the torso element can be moved in relationship to the leg element for different configurational positions of the toy;

(d) an arm element slidably and rotatably attached to the torso element such that the arm element can be moved in relationship to the torso element for different configurational positions of the toy; and

(e) a head element slidably attached to the torso element such that the head element can be moved into the torso element and extended from the torso element for different configurational positions of the toy.

2. The toy of claim 1, wherein said arm element comprises a first arm element connected to one side of said torso element and the toy further comprising a second arm element connected to another side of said torso element.

3. The toy of claim 2, wherein the traveling, leg, torso, arm and head elements form the exterior configuration of a toy vehicle in one configurational position, while in another configurational position, said traveling, leg, torso, arm and head elements form the exterior configuration of a robot.

4. The toy of claim 1, wherein said traveling, leg, torso, arm and head elements are moveably attached to the respective elements such that there is no separation of the elements when changing between the external toy configurations.

5. The toy of claim 1, wherein the traveling element is moveable in the different configurational positions of the leg element, torso element, arm element and head element.

6. The toy of claim 1, further comprising connecting and positioning means for pivotably mounting the leg element to the traveling element and for securing the leg element in a lowered position to the traveling element and in a raised position to the traveling element.

7. The toy of claim 1, further comprising connecting and positioning means for slidably mounting the torso element for movement in a longitudinal direction to the leg element and for securing the torso element in a longitudinally extended direction and in a longitudinally closed direction to the leg element.

8. The toy of claim 1, further comprising connecting and positioning means for slidably connecting the head element to the torso element for movement of the head element into the torso element and outward from the torso element and for securing the head element in its outward position and in its inward position in relationship to the torso element.

9. The toy of claim 1, further comprising connecting and positioning means for connecting the arm element to the torso element for movement of the arm element to and away from and rotationally with respect to the torso element and for securing the arm element in different rotational positions to the torso element.

10. The toy of claim 9, wherein the connecting and positioning means for the arm element to the torso element comprises a substantially cylindrical sleeve housing and support member fixed to the torso element, a sleeve slidably and rotatably received in the sleeve housing and support member, and a shaft extending from the arm element and connected to one end of the rotatable and slidable sleeve.

11. The toy of claim 10, wherein said connecting and positioning means for the arm element to the torso element comprises spring-like positioning members formed on the sleeve housing and support member, the spring-like positioning members having engaging projections extending inwardly of the sleeve housing and support member, and projection pass-through grooves formed on the outer circumference of the sleeve, wherein the engaging projections pass through the grooves when the arm element is actuated and moved inwardly or outwardly from the torso element.

12. The toy of claim 11, wherein said connecting and positioning means for the arm element to the torso element comprises projection pass-through cut-outs formed along the peripheral edges of the sleeve, wherein the engaging projections pass through the cut-outs when the arm element is actuated and rotationally moved from one rotational position to another, and engaging recesses formed at the peripheral edges of the sleeve at the intersection of the projection pass-through cut-out and ends of the projection pass-through grooves, wherein the engaging projections engage respective engaging recesses in accordance with the rotational position and slidable position of the arm element to the torso element.

13. A connecting device for connecting a moveable element to a fixed element in a metamorphic toy comprising:

(a) a fixed body;

(b) a moveable body having an arm shaft;

(c) a piece-receiving means having a substantially cylindrical piece-receiving housing for receiving a cylindrical-shaped piece slidably and rotatably, said piece-receiving means being mounted to the fixed body and having elastic elements, each elastic element being formed by a substantially U-shaped cut-out in the circumference wall of the cylindrical housing and having an engaging projection directed toward a center of the piece-receiving cylindrical housing; and

(d) a substantially cylindrical-shaped piece having one end fixed to an end of the arm shaft of the moveable body, and having a plurality of projection pass-through grooves transversely along the outer cylindrical circumference of the piece for allowing said engaging projections of said elastic elements to pass therethrough, projection pass-through cut-outs at the peripheral edges of the piece for connecting end portions of the projection pass-through grooves, and engaging recesses formed at the intersections of the ends of said grooves and cut-outs deeper than said grooves and said cutouts, said recesses being engageable and disengageable with said engaging projections of said elastic elements in accordance with the rotational position and slidable position of the moveable body to the fixed body.