Steering device for automotive vehicle toy

• US 5,281,184 A
• Filed: 07/28/1992
• Issued: 01/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Hanzawa Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Hanzawa Corporation
• Inventors: Suimon, Yoshio
• Primary Examiner(s): DeMille, Danton D.
• Application Number:
  US07/920,828
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 446/443, 446/454, 446/455, 446/456, 446/444, 446/460, 446/462, 446/463, 446/468, 192/105 BA
• US Class Current: 446/460
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/36 Steering-mechanisms for toy vehicles

Abstract

A steering device for an automotive vehicle toy comprises a motor to be driven by a remote control operation, a steering mechanism having a return spring for biasing steering wheels into a neutral position, and a clutch for transmitting a driving force of the electric motor to the steering mechanism against the return spring. The clutch includes a holding disc, clutch elements engageable with the holding disc such that the clutch elements can be moved in a radial direction of the holding disc by a centrifugal force, and an outer cylindrical member concentrically accommodating the holding disc and the clutch elements in it, and firmly secured to the mechanical reduction gear. A plurality of engaging groove portions are formed in the holding disc at equal spaces through a partition wall. An engaging element engageable with the engaging groove portions is formed on an inner side of that outer peripheral portion of each clutch element which is brought into pressure contact with an inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical member. Each engaging element has a cut portion engageable with the partition wall. The clutch elements are engaged with either the engaging grooves or the partition wall such that the clutch elements are slidable in the radial direction.

Claims

1. A steering device for an automotive vehicle toy comprising a small-sized steering electric motor to be driven forwardly and reversely by a remote control operation, a steering mechanism having a return spring for biasing steering wheels into a neutral position, and a clutch for transmitting, through a mechanical reduction gearing, the driving force of said electric motor to said steering mechanism against the bias of said return spring, said clutch comprising:

a holding disc firmly secured to a rotary shaft of said electric motor;

a plurality of clutch elements engageable with said holding disc such that said clutch elements can be moved in a radial direction of said holding disc by a centrifugal force; and

an outer cylindrical member concentrically accommodating therein said holding disc and said clutch elements, and firmly secured to said mechanical reduction gearing, said outer cylindrical member having an inner peripheral surface, and each of said clutch elements having an outer peripheral surface engageable, by pressure contact, with said inner peripheral surface of said outer cylindrical member; and

wherein;

a plurality of equally spaced peripheral grooves are formed in a peripheral surface of said holding disc, thereby defining an equal plurality of peripheral surface sectors between said peripheral grooves;

each said clutch element includes an engaging element engageable in one of said grooves, each of said engaging elements being provided with a cutout portion sized to receive therein one of said peripheral surface sectors, said clutch elements being selectively arranged relative to said holding disc into one of two alternative configurations, a first configuration wherein said engaging elements are positioned in said grooves, and a second configuration wherein said peripheral surface sectors are received in said cutout portions; and

said clutch elements are slidable in the radial direction in both said configurations.