Remote control toy

• US 5,816,352 A
• Filed: 08/29/1996
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian A. Hacker
• Original Assignee: Brian A. Hacker
• Inventors: Hacker, Brian A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LERNER, AVRAHAM H
• Application Number:
  US08/704,985
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 446/456, 446/460, 280/95.1, 280/93, 180/430, 180/167
• US Class Current: 180/167
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 25/00 Autocar-like self-drivers; Runways therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/36 Steering-mechanisms for toy vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/38 actuated by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/395 steered by program
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/20 Vehicles specially adapted for children, e.g. toy vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A battery-powered toy vehicle permitting conversion between rider control and remote radio control is provided. A steering assembly attached to the underside of the toy vehicle is capable of being both remotely controlled by a radio controlled steering actuator, and rider controlled by a steering wheel. A switch effects the mechanism for converting between radio-control and steering wheel control.

Claims

1. A toy apparatus which comprises:

a) a toy vehicle;

b) an electrical circuit in the toy vehicle having a power source and a remote control steering actuator and a remote control drive actuator;

c) a remotely controllable steering assembly attached to the toy vehicle and electrically connected to the remote control steering actuator of the electrical circuit said steering assembly comprising;

i. a steering motor;

ii. a torque transfer cable connected at a first end to the steering motor;

iii. a steering gear assembly connected to a second end of the torque transfer cable; and

iv. a steering column connected to a pair of front wheels on the toy vehicle and connected axially to the steering gear assembly; and

d) a remotely controllable drive assembly attached to the toy vehicle and electrically connected to the remote control drive actuator of the electrical circuit; and

e) a remote controller for transmitting radio frequency signals to be received by the remote control steering actuator and remote control drive actuator thereby remotely controlling the steering assembly and the drive assembly.

2. A toy apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the steering assembly further comprises:

a) a steering motor;

b) a torque transfer cable connected at a first end to the steering motor;

c) a steering gear assembly connected to a second end of the torque transfer cable; and

d) a steering armature connected between the steering gear assembly and a pair of front wheels on the toy vehicle.

3. A toy apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the steering armature further comprises:

a) a first body portion;

b) a second body portion;

c) a first arm connected at one end to the first body portion and at a remaining end to the second body portion; and

d) a second arm pivotally connecting the second body portion at a first end and pivotally connected at a second end to the pair of front wheels on the toy vehicle.

4. A toy apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the steering gear assembly further comprises:

a) an external gear housing;

b) an internal gear located with the external gear housing and connected to the torque transfer cable at an outside diameter and having a toothed axial aperture;

c) a coupling gear which has an external toothed surface which intermeshes within the toothed axial aperture of the internal gear and further has an axial channel which receives the steering column, furthermore, the coupling gear has a transverse linking aperture which fully penetrates the coupling gear; and

wherein the steering column further has a transverse linking aperture that is capable of coaxially lining up with the linking aperture of the coupling gear;

whereby a pin is inserted through the linking aperture and the steering column transverse aperture to effectively couple the coupling gear to the steering column.

5. A toy apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the electrical circuit further has a switch whereby the riding toy vehicle is converted from a remotely controlled toy vehicle to a rider controlled toy vehicle.

6. A toy apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the steering assembly further comprises:

a steering armature connected between the steering gear assembly and a pair of front wheels on the toy vehicle.

7. A toy apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the steering armature further comprises:

a) a first body portion;

b) a second body portion;

c) a first arm connected at one end to the first body portion and at a remaining end to the second body portion; and

d) a second arm pivotally connecting the second body portion at a first end and pivotally connected at a second end to the pair of front wheels on the toy vehicle.

8. A toy apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the steering gear assembly further comprises:

a) an external gear housing;

b) an internal gear located with the external gear housing and connected to the torque transfer cable at an outside diameter and having a toothed axial aperture;

c) a coupling gear which has an external toothed surface which intermeshes within the toothed axial aperture of the internal gear and further has an axial channel which receives the steering column, furthermore, the coupling gear has a transverse linking aperture which fully penetrates the coupling gear; and

wherein the steering column further has a transverse linking aperture that is capable of coaxially lining up with the lining aperture of the coupling gear; and

whereby a pin is inserted through the linking aperture and the steering column transverse aperture to effectively couple the coupling gear to the steering column.

9. A toy apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the steering gear assembly further comprises:

a) an external gear housing;

b) an internal gear located with the external gear housing and connected to the torque transfer cable at an outside diameter and having a toothed axial aperture; and

c) the steering has an external toothed surface which intermeshes within the toothed axial aperture of the internal gear.

10. A toy apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the toy vehicle further includes a steering disabling assembly comprising a steering column having at least one indentation for receiving a corresponding at least one shaft key, and a steering wheel which has an axial aperture for receiving the steering column, and further having at least one groove sized to receive the corresponding at least one shaft key.

11. A toy apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the toy vehicle further includes a steering disabling assembly comprising a steering column having at least one indentation for receiving a corresponding at least one shaft key, and a steering wheel which has an axial aperture for receiving the steering column, and further having at least one groove sized to receive the corresponding at least one shaft key.

12. A toy apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the toy vehicle further includes a steering disabling assembly comprising a steering column having at least one indentation for receiving a corresponding at least one shaft key, and a steering wheel which has an axial aperture for receiving the steering column, and further having at least one groove sized to receive the corresponding at least one shaft key.

13. A riding toy apparatus which comprises:

a) a riding toy vehicle;

b) an electrical circuit in the toy vehicle having a power source and a remote control steering actuator and a remote control drive actuator;

c) a remotely controllable steering assembly attached to the riding toy vehicle and electrically connected to the remote control steering actuator of the electrical circuit;

d) a remotely controllable drive assembly attached to the riding toy vehicle and electrically connected to the remote control drive actuator of the electrical circuit;

e) a steering disabling assembly comprising a steering column having at least one indentation for receiving a corresponding at least one shaft key, and a steering wheel which has an axial aperture for receiving the steering column, and further having at least one groove sized to receive the corresponding at least one shaft key; and

f) a remote controller for transmitting radio frequency signals to be received by the remote control steering actuator and remote control drive actuator thereby remotely controlling the steering assembly and the drive assembly.

14. A riding toy apparatus as in claim 13 wherein the steering assembly further comprises:

a) a steering motor;

b) a torque transfer cable connected at a first end to the steering motor;

c) a steering gear assembly connected to a second end of the torque transfer cable; and

d) a steering armature connecting the steering gear assembly to a pair of front wheels on the toy vehicle comprising;

i. a first body portion;

ii. a second body portion;

iii. a first arm connected at one end to the first body portion and at a remaining end to the second body portion; and

iv. a second arm pivotally connecting the second body portion at a first end and pivotally connected at a second end to the pair of front wheels on the toy vehicle.

15. A riding toy apparatus which comprises:

a) a riding toy vehicle;

b) an electrical circuit in the toy vehicle having a power source and a remote control steering actuator and a remote control drive actuator;

c) a remotely controllable steering assembly attached to the riding toy vehicle and electrically connected to the remote control steering actuator of the electrical circuit, said steering assembly comprising;

i) a steering motor;

ii) a torque transfer cable connected at a first end to the steering motor;

iii) a steering gear assembly connected to a second end of the torque transfer cable; and

iv) a steering column connected to a pair of front wheels on the riding toy vehicle and connected axially to the steering gear assembly;

d) a remotely controllable drive assembly attached to the riding toy vehicle and electrically connected to the remote control drive actuator of the electrical circuit;

e) a steering disabling assembly comprising a steering column having at least one indentation for receiving a corresponding at least one shaft key, and a steering wheel which has an axial aperture for receiving the steering column, and further having at least one groove sized to receive the corresponding at least one shaft key; and

f) a remote controller for transmitting radio frequency signals to be received by the remote control steering actuator and remote control drive actuator thereby remotely controlling the steering assembly and the drive assembly.

16. A riding toy apparatus as in claim 15 wherein the steering gear assembly further comprises:

a) an external gear housing;

b) an internal gear located with the external gear housing and connected to the torque transfer cable at an outside diameter and having a toothed axial aperture;

c) a coupling gear which has an external toothed surface which intermeshes within the toothed axial aperture of the internal gear and further has an axial channel which receives the steering column, furthermore, the coupling gear has a transverse linking aperture which fully penetrates the coupling gear; and

wherein the steering column further has a transverse linking aperture that is capable of coaxially lining up with the lining aperture of the coupling gear; and

whereby a pin is inserted through the linking aperture and the steering column transverse aperture to effectively couple the coupling gear to the steering column.