Dual sound toy train set

• US 5,085,610 A
• Filed: 05/16/1991
• Issued: 02/04/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Franke, Joseph W., Engel, Robert W., Piyevsky, Alex R., Unalp, Enis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US07/700,834
• Time in Patent Office: 264 Days
• Field of Search: 446/175, 446/193, 446/446, 446/447, 446/467, 104/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 446/175
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/10 electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/14 Arrangements for imitating locomotive features, e.g. whistling, signalling, puffing
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A dual sound toy train set includes a toy track formed in a continuous loop and having guiding rails on either side thereof. An electrically powered toy train engine is coupled to the track and includes an internal battery power source, an electric drive motor and a motor control unit. An ultrasonic microphone is supported upon the toy train engine and operatively coupled to the motor control unit. A sound unit includes a housing supporting a pair of air bellows having one way inlet valves attached thereto. A movable pump handle is operative to collapse the air bellows and produce pressurized air streams which are coupled by hollow tubes to an ultrasound whistle and an audible sound whistle. The audible sound whistle produces exciting play sounds similar to those produced by conventional locomotives. The ultrasonic energy produced by the ultrasound whistle is received by the microphone on the toy train engine and is used to alternately energize and deenergize the electric drive of the toy train to start and stop the toy train.

Claims

1. A dual sound toy comprising:

a track;

a toy vehicle movable on said track having battery-powered propulsion means;

control means responsive to a first inaudible sound frequency within said toy for causing said propulsion means to alternate between operative or inoperative states each time said first sound energy is received; and

sound producing means for simultaneously producing sound energy at said first sound frequency and sound energy at a second audible sound frequency.

2. A dual sound toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein said toy vehicle includes a toy train engine and wherein said track defines a train track.

3. A dual sound toy as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first sound frequency is an ultrasound frequency and said second sound frequency imitates a locomotive whistle sound.

4. A dual sound toy as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sound producing means include:

first and second collapsible air bellows for producing first and second air streams when compressed;

an ultrasonic whistle for producing inaudible sounds;

an audible whistle for producing audible train whistle sounds;

means coupling said first air bellows to said ultrasonic whistle;

means coupling said second air bellows to said audible whistle; and

handle means for simultaneously compressing said fist and second air bellows.

5. A dual sound toy as set forth in claim 4 wherein said handle means include a pivotably mounted movable handle and a link arm coupled to said first and second air bellows.

6. A dual sound toy as set forth in claim 5 wherein said handle means include a return spring urging said handle away from said link arm.

7. A dual sound toy as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first and second air bellows are supported in a side-by-side arrangement defining a space therebetween and wherein said link arm spans the space therebetween.

8. A dual sound toy as set forth in claim 7 wherein said handle defines a motion path between said first and second air bellows.

9. A dual sound toy train set comprising:

a toy train having a battery-powered propulsion means and an ultrasonic sound energy responsive control system for alternatively propelling and stopping said toy train each time ultrasonic sound energy is received;

a first air bellows and ultrasonic whistle coupled thereto;

a second air bellows and an audible train whistle coupled thereto;

a mechanical coupling arm link secured to said first and second air bellows; and

a handle pivotally movable against said arm link to simultaneously compress said first and second air bellows and cause said ultrasonic whistle and said audible train whistle to operate.

10. A dual sound toy train set as set forth in claim 9 having a return spring coupled to said handle urging said handle away from pivotal motion compressing said air bellows.