Mobile toy having multiple siren sounds and body types

• US 4,993,983 A
• Filed: 07/20/1990
• Issued: 02/19/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TOMY Company Limited
• Original Assignee: TOMY Company Limited
• Inventors: Hatakeyama, Akihisa, Kurita, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KENEALY, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/554,922
• Time in Patent Office: 214 Days
• Field of Search: 446/95, 446/94, 446/129, 446/130, 446/270, 446/272, 446/409, 446/463, 446/470, 446/88, 446/93, 446/436
• US Class Current: 446/94
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/26 Details; Accessories drive mechanisms A63H29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/32 Acoustical or optical signalling devices

Abstract

A mobile toy includes a plurality of body shells, each being shaped to resemble a different vehicle type, a chassis to which any one of the plurality of body shells is selectively and detachably coupled; and siren sound generating means, mounted on the chassis, for producing a plurality of siren sounds, each being selectable to correspond to a selected and coupled one of the plurality of body shells.

Claims

1. A mobile toy comprising:

a plurality of body shells, each being shaped to resemble a different vehicle type;

a chassis to which any one of the plurality of body shells is selectively and detachably coupled;

siren sound generating means, mounted on the chassis, for producing a plurality of siren sounds, each being selectable to correspond to a selected and coupled one of the plurality of body shells; and

a plurality of means for activating said sound generating means, each of said plurality of means activated by a different one of said body shells.

2. A mobile toy according to claim 1, further comprising complimentary coupling means provided on the chassis and the plurality of body shells for detachably coupling any one of the plurality of body shells to the chassis.

3. A mobile toy according to claim 2, wherein the complimentary coupling means includes a plurality of patterned projections and recesses.

4. A mobile toy according to claim 1, further comprising drive means coupled to a plurality of wheels and being carried by the chassis for driving the chassis.

5. A mobile toy according to claim 4, wherein the drive means includes a power source electrically coupled to an electric motor, and transmission gearing coupled to an output of the electric motor for driving at least one of the wheels.

6. A mobile toy according to claim 5, wherein the transmission gearing includes a gear movable into and out of a drive train defined by the transmission gearing and the electric motor, so as to selectively engage and disengage the at least one driven wheel from the electric motor.

7. A mobile toy according to claim 6, further comprising a knob slidable between on and off positions and engaging the movable gear.

8. A mobile toy according to claim 7, further comprising a power on/off switch which is actuated by the knob.

9. A mobile toy according to claim 8, further comprising a second power on/off switch, and being actuated by magnetic force.

10. A mobile toy according to claim 9, further comprising a doll having magnetic material disposed in a base portion of the doll, a pair of electroconductive contact pieces disposed within the chassis, and a pivotal lever mounted for pivotal movement over the pair of electroconductive contact pieces and carrying a permanent magnet at one end thereof, the permanent magnet being attracted to the magnetic material of the doll so as to cause actuation of the second power on/off switch when the doll is placed is proximity to the lever.

11. A mobile toy according to claim 1, wherein the siren sound generating means includes a plurality of sound switches coupled to a voice synthesizing I.C., the type of siren sound produced by the I.C. being determined by a condition of the sound switches.

12. A mobile toy according to claim 11, wherein the sound switches correspond to individual ones of the plurality of body shells so that the sound switches are actuated in accordance with the body shell coupled to the chassis.

13. A mobile toy according to claim 12, wherein each sound switch comprises a contact piece which is normally in an open condition, and a plurality of pivotal levers are mounted in proximity to corresponding ones of the contact pieces.

14. A mobile toy according to claim 13, wherein all but one of the plurality of body shells has a projection disposed in a position different body shell, each projection corresponding to one of the sound switches and engaging corresponding ones of the pivotal levers.

15. A mobile toy according to claim 14, wherein the voice synthesizing I.C. makes a first siren sound when all of the sound switches are in an open position, a second siren sound when one of the sound switches is in a closed position, a third siren sound when two of the sound switches are in closed positions, and a fourth siren sound when three of the sound switches are in closed positions.

16. A mobile toy according to claim 1, further comprising a power source, an electric motor, and a transmission, wherein the chassis includes a driven axle having wheels mounted on opposite ends thereof and the transmission is coupled between the axle and the motor.

17. A mobile toy according to claim 16, wherein the transmission includes a ratchet gear which breaks a drive train defined by the transmission and the motor when the wheels are prevented from rotating.

18. A mobile toy according to claim 16, wherein the transmission includes a slidable gear movable between engaged and disengaged positions so as to engage and disengage the axle from the motor.