Toy vehicle having growling action

• US 5,292,275 A
• Filed: 08/17/1992
• Issued: 03/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Swisher, Gary R., Robinson, Thomas M., Gray, Kevin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Muir, David N.
• Application Number:
  US07/931,100
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 446/409, 446/410, 446/404, 446/397, 446/437, 446/465, 446/466, 446/470, 446/471, 446/487, 446/427, 446/428, 446/93, 446/94, 446/95, 446/313, 446/337, 446/304
• US Class Current: 446/409
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/06 with tipping bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/268 Musical toy vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/34 Arrangements for imitating the noise of motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds

Abstract

A toy vehicle includes a supporting chassis having a plurality of rolling wheels secured thereto. The chassis supports an audio circuit, a battery and an audio transducer together with a pair of switch contacts configured to provide a growling sound when the switch contacts touch. The chassis further supports an articulated body having a cab portion and rear portion resembling a standard truck joined in a pivotal attachment. A shaft and cam mechanism is coupled to a movable arm in a cooperative arrangement in which pivotal motion of the movable arm closes the switch contacts activating the audio circuit and raising the cab and rear portion of the truck body to bear sets of hidden teeth at the front of the toy vehicle.

Claims

1. A toy vehicle comprising:

a chassis having a plurality of supporting wheels;

sound producing means supported upon said chassis for producing predetermined sounds;

a body having a cab portion, a rear portion pivotally coupled to said chassis, and a pivotal attachment between said cab and rear portions;

pivot means coupled to said rear portion and said chassis for pivoting said rear portion relative to said chassis and raising said cab portion causing pivotal motion between said rear portion and said cab portion; and

switch means coupled to said sound producing means and said pivot means and actuated by said pivot means activating said sound producing means when said rear portion is pivoted away from said chassis;

said cab portion undergoing pivotal motion with respect to said rear portion as it is raised due to said pivotal attachment.

2. A toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pivot means includes:

a rear arm extending from said rear portion;

a shaft coupled to said rear portion and to said arm rotatable therewith;

a switch having an actuator; and

a cam disposed upon said shaft operating said actuator as said shaft is rotated in a first direction in which said rear portion is raised.

3. A toy vehicle as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cab portion defines a first plurality of downwardly extending simulated teeth and wherein said chassis includes means for hiding said first plurality of simulated teeth when said cab portion is not raised.

4. A toy vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein said chassis includes a second plurality of simulated teeth extending upwardly into said cab portion and visible solely when said cab portion is raised.

5. A toy vehicle as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pivotal attachment includes a hinge generally centered with respect to said cab portion and said rear portion.

6. A toy vehicle as set forth in claim 5 wherein said cab portion and said rear portion define a front to back axis of symmetry and wherein said hinge includes a tab extending forwardly from said rear portion along said axis of symmetry having an aperture therein and a pin coupled to said cab portion and passing through said aperture.

7. A toy vehicle as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pivotal attachment includes a hinge positioned proximate one side of said cab portion and said rear portion whereby said cab portion pivots with respect to said rear portion about an offset front-to-back axis.

8. A toy vehicle as set forth in claim 7 wherein said hinge includes a pair of axially aligned front-to-back bores defined in said cab portion and said rear portion and a hinge pin received within said bores.

9. A toy vehicle as set forth in claim 8 wherein said pivot means includes:

a forward arm coupled to said shaft pivotable therewith and having a coupling opening at the forward end thereof; and

a coupling member attached to said cab portion and cooperating with said opening;

said coupling member being offset to the opposite side of said cab portion from that of said hinge.