Radio control device for track-travelling toy

• US 5,050,505 A
• Filed: 07/31/1989
• Issued: 09/24/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TOMY Company Limited
• Original Assignee: TOMY Company Limited
• Inventors: Konno, Sunao
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberleitner, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Mark T.
• Application Number:
  US07/387,079
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 104/304, 104/295, 104/296, 104/297, 104/300, 104/302, 104/307, 104/DIG. 1, 246/3, 246/6 R, 246/6, 246/473, 446/454, 446/455, 446/456, 446/444, 446/445, 340/539, 340/825.72, 341/176, 116/252, 116/299, 116/337, 116/46, 455/352, 455/353, 455/66, 455/354, 455/345, 343/702
• US Class Current: 104/295
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/24 Electric toy railways; Systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A radio control device for a track travelling toy includes a speed change lever which is mechanically coupled to a speed indicator so that as the selected speed changes, the speed indicator changes accordingly. The device further includes a horn activating button, and a directional control lever. The directional control lever is likewise mechanically coupled to a directional indicator.

Claims

1. A radio control device for a track travelling toy having a radio receiver, comprising:

a control box having an interior;

a transmit mechanism including an antenna for transmitting control signals to the receiver, and being disposed in the interior of the control box;

a speed change lever operatively coupled to the transmit mechanism for controlling a speed of the track travelling toy;

indicator means for indicating the speed of the track travelling toy;

means for mechanically coupling the indicator means to the speed change lever, wherein the indicator means is driven by the speed change lever;

a directional control lever pivotally mounted in the control box and being operatively coupled to the transmit mechanism for selecting a direction of movement of the track travelling toy; and

second indicator means for indicating the selected direction of movement of the travelling toy, and second means for mechanically coupling the second indicator means to the directional control lever, wherein the second indicator means comprises a drum rotatably mounted in the control box and visible through a window provided in the control box, and the second mechanical coupling means comprises a link pivotally connected to the directional control lever and having an electrical contact at one end which moves in response to movement of the directional control lever and an elongated slot provided at the opposite end for receiving an eccentric shaft of the drum so that the drum rotates in response to the sliding movement of the link.

2. A radio control device according to claim 1, wherein the speed change lever is rotatably mounted on the control box and includes a moving electrical contact which selectively contacts an electrical contact of the transmit mechanism for controlling a speed signal emitted by the transmit mechanism.

3. A radio control device according to claim 2, wherein the indicator means comprises a cylindrical indicator rotatably mounted in the control box and visible through a window provided in the control box.

4. A radio control device according to claim 3, wherein the means for mechanically coupling the speed change lever to the indicator means includes a first pulley rotatable with the speed change lever and a second pulley rotatable with the cylindrical indicator, and an endless belt carried by the first and second pulleys.

5. A radio control device according to claim 1, wherein the transmit mechanism transmits one of a plurality of signals corresponding to a low speed signal, a high speed signal, and a stopping signal, and the speed change lever includes a moving electrical contact which moves with rotation of the speed change lever, the transmit mechanism including a corresponding electrical contact, the relative positioning of which relative to the moving contact of the speed change lever determining the signal to be transmitted by the transmit mechanism.

6. A radio control device according to claim 1, further comprising a horn activating button extending outwardly from the control box and being operatively coupled to the transmit mechanism for selectively issuing a horn activation signal from the transmit mechanism.

7. A radio control device according to claim 6, further comprising a first sliding plate having a slot formed therein, a contact plate and guide post formed integrally with the horn activating button, the contact plate having a sloped cam surface and being movable through the slot of the first sliding plate, a spring connected to one end of the sliding plate, and an electrical contact provided at the other end of the sliding plate, the sliding plate being movable against the spring in response to downward movement of the horn activating button to move the electrical contact into and out of electrical contact with the transmit mechanism.

8. A radio control device according to claim 1 further comprising a light activating button mounted on the control box, and being operatively coupled to the transmit mechanism for selectively transmitting a light activating signal which activates a light provided on the travelling toy.

9. A radio device according to claim 8 further comprising a second sliding plate having a slot formed therein, a contact plate and guide posts integrally formed with the light activating button, the contact plate having a sloped cam surface and being movable through the slot of the second sliding plate, a second spring connected to one end of the second sliding plate and a second electrical contact provided on the opposite end of the sliding plate so that downward movement of the light activating button imparts sliding movement in the second sliding plate to thereby move the second electrical contact.

10. A radio control device for a track travelling toy having a radio receiver, comprising:

a control box having an interior;

a transmit mechanism including an antenna for transmitting control signals to the receiver, and being disposed in the interior of the control box;

a speed change lever operatively coupled to the transmit mechanism for controlling a speed of the track travelling toy;

indicator means for indicating the speed of the track travelling toy;

means for mechanically coupling the indicator means to the speed change lever, wherein the indicator means is driven by the speed change lever;

a horn activating button extending outwardly from the control box and being operatively coupled to the transmit mechanism for selectively issuing a horn activation signal from the transmit mechanism; and

a first sliding plate having a slot formed therein, a contact plate and guide post formed integrally with the horn activating button, the contact plate having a sloped cam surface and being movable through the slot of the first sliding plate, and an electrical contact provided at the other end of the sliding plate, the sliding plate being movable against the spring in response to downward movement of the horn activating button to move the electrical contact into and out of electrical contact with the transmit mechanism.

11. A radio control device for a track travelling toy having a radio receiver, comprising:

a control box having an interior;

a transmit mechanism including an antenna for transmitting control signals to the receiver, and being disposed in the interior of the control box;

a speed change lever operatively coupled to the transmit mechanism for controlling a speed of the track travelling toy;

indicator means for indicating the speed of the track travelling toy;

means for mechanically coupling the indicator means to the speed change lever, wherein the indicator means is driven by the speed change lever;

a light activating button mounted on the control box, and being operatively coupled to the transmit mechanism for selectively transmitting a light activating signal which activates a light provided on the travelling toy; and

a second sliding plate having a slot formed therein, a contact plate and guide posts integrally formed with the light activating button, the contact plate having a sloped cam surface and being movable through the slot of the second sliding plate, a second spring connected to one end of the second sliding plate and a second electrical contact provided on the opposite end of the sliding plate so that downward movement of the light activating button imparts sliding movement in the second sliding plate to thereby move the second electrical contact.