Removable toy motor module

• US 4,732,049 A
• Filed: 06/09/1986
• Issued: 03/22/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Filoseta, Miva, Faris, Edwin, Meggs, Keith, Beny, Janos
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brittain, James R.
• Application Number:
  US06/872,361
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 74/421 R, 74/421 A, 74/406, 74/333, 74/640, 310/1, 310/83, 310/92, 81/57.14, 81/473, 81/475, 81/474, 446/156, 446/163, 446/90, 446/158, 446/457, 446/358
• US Class Current: 74/421.00A
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/22 Electric drives power supply through track A63H18/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/20 involving more than two intermeshing members
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/10 Structural association with clutches, brakes, gears, pulleys or mechanical starters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19684 Motor and gearing

Abstract

A removable toy motor module which can be used with a variety of figure toys and toy accessories. The motor module uses a battery powered motor which drives an output gear extending from a motor housing. The output gear can be used to drive a variety of accessories and the motor module can be easily attached to the harness of a figure toy. A battery cover may be rotated with respect to the housing for the purpose of turning the motor on and off. Gears located in the housing engage the motor to the output gear. A clutch ratchet and gear-clutch drum are designed to disengage if the torsion transmitted to the output gear exceeds a predetermined value, providing a built-in safety feature. A compression spring is used to minimize damage to the output gear in case the motor module is dropped. An O-ring disposed around the output gear provides a seal allowing the motor module to be used in water.

Claims

1. A removable toy motor module for use with a figure toy and toy accessories, comprising:

a hollow housing;

a cover removably engaged to said housing;

an output gear extending through an aperture in said housing;

a shaft rotatably mounted within said housing and slidably engaged to said output gear;

motor means located within said housing for driving said output gear;

seal means disposed about said output gear for providing a seal between said output gear and said housing;

gear means located within said housing for operably engaging said output gear to said motor means; and

spring means disposed around said shaft for biasing said output gear generally in a direction along the longitudinal axis of said shaft away from said gear means and through said aperture in said housing, said gear means including;

(a) a pinion gear attached to said motor;

(b) a first spur gear cluster rotatably coupled to said shaft, said first spur gear cluster engaging said pinion gear;

(c) a second spur gear cluster rotatably mounted within said housing, said second spur gear cluster engaging said first spur gear cluster;

(d) a gear clutch drum disposed around said shaft, said gear clutch drum engaging said second gear spur cluster; and

(e) a clutch ratchet attached to said shaft, said clutch ratchet operably engaging said gear clutch drum.

2. A removable toy motor module for use with a figure toy and toy accessories, comprising:

a hollow housing;

a cover rotatably engaged to said housing;

an output gear extending through an aperture in said housing;

a shaft rotatably mounted within said housing and slidably engaged to said output gear;

motor means located within said housing for driving said output gear;

gear means located within said housing for operably engaging said output gear to said motor means;

clutch means disposed about said shaft for engaging said gear means to said output gear and disengaging said gear means from said output gear, said clutch means including (a) a gear clutch drum disposed around said shaft, said gear clutch drum engaging said gear means, and (b) a clutch ratchet attached to said shaft, said clutch ratchet operably engaging said gear clutch drum; and

spring means disposed around said shaft for biasing said output gear through said aperture in said housing.

3. The motor module of claim 2 further comprising seal means for providing a seal between said output gear and said housing.

4. The motor module of claim 3 wherein said gear means comprises:

a pinion gear attached to said motor;

a first spur gear cluster rotatably coupled to said shaft, said first spur gear cluster engaging said pinion gear; and

a second spur gear cluster rotatably mounted within said housing, said second spur gear cluster engaging said first spur gear cluster.

5. The motor module of claim 7 further comprising at least one extension from said housing.

6. A removable toy motor module for use with a figure toy and toy accessories, comprising:

a hollow housing having at least one extension therefrom;

a generally cylindrically-shaped hollow cover romovably and rotatably engaged to said housing;

an output gear extending through an aperture in said housing, said output gear rotatably engaging said aperture;

a shaft rotatably mounted within said housing, one end of said shaft rotatably engaging said housing and the other end of said shaft slidably engaging said output gear;

motor means located within said housing for driving said output gear;

a pinion gear attached to said motor;

a first spur cluster rotatably coupled to said shaft, said first spur cluster engaging said pinion gear;

a second spur gear cluster rotatably mounted within said housing, said second spur gear cluster engaging said first spur gear cluster;

a gear clutch drum disposed around said shaft, said gear clutch drum engaging said second gear spur cluster;

a clutch ratchet attached to said shaft, said clutch ratchet operably engaging said gear clutch drum;

spring means disposed around said shaft and between said output gear and said clutch ratchet for biasing said output gear generally in a direction along the longitudinal axis of said shaft away from said clutch ratchet and through said aperture in said housing; and

seal means disposed around said output gear for providing a seal between said output gear and said housing.