Toy car

• US 5,868,600 A
• Filed: 04/21/1997
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CCP hf (PearlAbyss Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Limited (Sharp World Holdings Limited)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carlson, Jeffrey D.
• Application Number:
  US08/837,680
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 446/437, 446/436, 446/456, 446/462, 446/457, 446/460, 446/466, 446/468, 446/441, 446/442, 180/199, 180/200
• US Class Current: 446/460
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/262 Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/36 Steering-mechanisms for toy vehicles

Abstract

A toy car has a body with front and rear wheels, wheel support members with rightward/leftward travel wheels, and an elevating mechanism for lifting up and down the wheel support members in order to set the rightward/leftward travel wheels with respect to the body in positions higher than the front and rear wheels and positions which is lower than the front and rear wheels and in which the rightward/leftward travel wheels are in contact with the ground. When the wheel support members are in lifting-up positions, the front and rear wheels, not the rightward/leftward travel wheels, are in contact with the ground, and the toy car travels forward or backward. When the wheel support members are in lifting-down positions, the rightward/leftward travel wheels, not the front and rear wheels, are in contact with the ground, the toy car travels rightward or leftward.

Claims

1. A toy car comprising:

a body having front wheels and rear wheels;

a first wheel driver which rotates one of said front wheels and said rear wheels;

a wheel holder including rightward/leftward travel wheels for permitting said toy car to travel rightward and leftward, said rightward/leftward travel wheels having orientations different from orientations of said front and rear wheels;

a second wheel driver which rotates said rightward/leftward travel wheels; and

an elevator for bringing said rightward/leftward travel wheels upwardly in order to enable said toy car to travel on said front and rear wheels, and for bringing said rightward/leftward travel wheels downwardly in order to enable said toy car to travel on said rightward/leftward travel wheels, wherein;

said first wheel driver includes at least one first motor which is rotatable in a normal direction and a reverse direction and a first transmission transmitting the rotation of said at least one first motor to one of said front wheels and said rear wheels;

said second wheel driver includes a second motor which is rotatable in the normal direction and the reverse direction and a second transmission transmitting the rotation of said second motor to said rightward/leftward travel wheels; and

said elevator includes a rotation converter converting rotations, in the normal and reverse directions, of said first motor to rotations in the same direction and driving wheel support members with the converted rotations so that said rightward/leftward travel wheels moves upwardly, and converting rotations, in the normal and reverse directions, of said second motor to rotations in the same direction and for driving said rightward/leftward travel wheels downwardly; and

said first wheel driver includes means for making rotational directions of a right wheel and a left wheel among said front and rear wheels different from each other.

2. A toy car comprising:

a body having front wheels and rear wheels;

a first wheel driver which rotates one of said front wheels and said rear wheels;

a wheel holder including rightward/leftward travel wheels for permitting said toy car to travel rightward and leftward, said rightward/leftward travel wheels having orientations different from orientations of said front and rear wheels;

a second wheel driver which rotates said rightward/leftward travel wheels; and

an elevator for bringing said rightward/leftward travel wheels upwardly in order to enable said toy car to travel on said front and rear wheels, and for bringing said rightward/leftward travel wheels downwardly in order to enable said toy car to travel on said rightward/leftward travel wheels, wherein, said first wheel driver includes at least one first motor which is rotatable in a normal direction and a reverse direction and a first transmission transmitting the rotation of said at least one first motor to one of said front wheels and said rear wheels;

said second wheel driver includes a second motor which is rotatable in the normal direction and the reverse direction and a second transmission transmitting the rotation of said second motor to said rightward/leftward travel wheels; and

said elevator includes a rotation converter converting rotations, in the normal and reverse directions, of said first motor to rotations in the same direction and driving wheel support members with the converted rotations so that said rightward/leftward travel wheels moves upwardly, and converting rotations, in the normal and reverse directions, of said second motor to rotations in the same direction and for driving said wheel support members so that said rightward/leftward travel wheels moves downwardly.

3. The toy car according to claim 2, further comprising:

a control box having an input section, operated by a user, for creating an operation signal, and a sending means for converting said operation signal to a radio signal that is transmitted to said toy car;

a demodulator arranged on said body, for receiving the radio signal from said sending means and demodulating a control signal; and

a controller controlling said first and second wheel drivers and said elevator in accordance with the control signal demodulated by said demodulator.

4. The toy car according to claim 2, wherein:

said first wheel driver and said elevator moves the rightward/leftward travel wheels upwardly while rotating one of the front wheels and the rear wheels, and

said second wheel driver and second elevator moves the rightward/leftward travel wheels downwardly while rotating the rightward/leftward travel wheels.

5. A toy car comprising:

a body having front wheels and rear wheels;

a first wheel driver which rotates one of said front wheels and said rear wheels;

a wheel holder including rightward/leftward travel wheels for permitting said toy car to travel rightward and leftward, said rightward/leftward travel wheels having orientations different from orientations of said front and rear wheels;

a second wheel driver which rotates said rightward/leftward travel wheels; and

an elevator for bringing said rightward/leftward travel wheels upwardly in order to enable said toy car to travel on said front and rear wheels, and for bringing said rightward/leftward travel wheels downwardly in order to enable said toy car to travel on said rightward/leftward travel wheels;

wherein;

said first wheel driver includes at least one first motor which is rotatable in a normal direction and a reverse direction and a first rotation transmission transmitting the rotation of said at least one first motor to one of said front wheels and said rear wheels;

said wheel holder includes two wheel support members arranged at said body horizontally;

each of said wheel support members has two ends, one end being supported on said body by a support shaft and the other end holding one of said rightward/leftward travel wheels; and

said second wheel driver includes a second motor which is rotatable in the normal direction and the reverse direction and a second rotation transmission transmitting the rotation of said second motor to said rightward/leftward travel wheels; and

said elevator rotates each of said wheel support members around said support shaft;

said elevator includes a first changeover mechanism converting rotations, in the normal and reverse directions, of said at least one first motor to rotations in the same direction, and rotating each of said wheel support members with the rotations converted by said first changeover mechanism so that said other end travels upwardly, a second changeover mechanism converting rotations, in the normal and reverse directions, of said second motor to rotations in the same direction, and rotating each of said wheel support members with the rotations converted by said second changeover mechanism so that said other end moves downwardly.

6. The toy car according to claim 5, wherein:

said first changeover mechanism includes a first driving gear which is rotated by said at least one first motor, a first driven gear and a first intermediate gear which are in mesh with each other, and a first planetary gear which is in mesh with said first driving gear, said first planetary gear being in mesh with said first intermediate gear while said at least one first motor is rotating in the normal direction and being in mesh with said first driven gear while said at least one first motor is rotating in the reverse direction; and

said second changeover mechanism includes a second driving gear which is rotated by said second motor, a second driven gear and a second intermediate gear which are in mesh with each other, and a second planetary gear which is in mesh with said second driving gear, said second planetary gear being in mesh with said second intermediate gear while said second motor is rotating in the normal direction and being in mesh with said second driven gear while said second motor is rotating in the reverse direction.

7. The toy car according to claim 5, wherein:

said first wheel driver and said elevator brings the rightward/leftward travel wheels upwardly while rotating one of the front wheels and the rear wheels, and

said second wheel driver and said elevator brings the rightward/leftward travel wheels downwardly while rotating the rightward/leftward travel wheels.

8. A toy car comprising:

a body having front wheels and rear wheels;

a first wheel driver which rotates one of said front wheels and said real wheels;

a wheel holder including rightward/leftward travel wheels for permitting said toy car to travel rightward and leftward, said rightward/leftward travel wheels having orientations different from orientations of said front and rear wheels;

a second wheel driver which rotates said rightward/leftward travel wheels; and

an elevator for bringing said rightward/leftward travel wheels upwardly in order to enable said toy car to travel on said front and rear wheels, and for bringing said rightward/leftward travel wheels downwardly in order to enable said toy car to travel on said rightward/leftward travel wheels;

wherein;

said wheel holder includes two wheel support members arranged at said body horizontally;

each of said wheel support members has two ends, one end being supported on said body by a support shaft and the other end holding one of said rightward/leftward travel wheels; and

said elevator rotates each of said wheel support members around said support shaft;

said rear wheels include a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel that are supported on said body by separate axles; and

said first wheel driver includes rotation means for rotating said first rear wheel in the same direction as a rotational direction of said second rear wheel, body turning means for turning said body by rotating said first rear wheel in a different direction from the rotational direction of said second rear wheel, and a selection means for coupling said first rear wheel selectively to said rotation means and said body turning means.

9. A toy car comprising:

a body;

second wheels oriented first direction;

second wheels oriented in a second direction different from said first direction;

a changeover section holding said second wheels and keeping said second wheels in positions which are switched between first positions in which said second wheels are lower than said first wheels and second positions in which said second wheels are higher than said first wheels; and

a driver driving said second wheels when said changeover section keeps said second wheels in the first positions, and driving said first wheels when said changeover section keeps said second wheels in the second positions;

wherein;

said driver includes a first motor, a first transmission transmitting rotation of said first motor to said first wheels, a second motor, and a second transmission transmitting rotation of said second motor to said second wheels; and

said changeover section drives said second wheels up to said second positions with the rotation of said first motor, and drives said second wheels down to said first positions with the rotation of said second motor; and

said driver includes means for making rotary directions of at least two said first wheels different from each other.

10. A toy car comprising:

a body;

first wheels oriented in a first direction and being capable of supporting the body by themselves;

second wheels oriented in a second direction different from the first direction and being capable of supporting the body by themselves;

a driver which moves at least either of first and second wheels upwardly and downwardly, drives the first wheels when said first wheels are lower than said second wheels to run the body in the first direction, and drives the second wheels when said second wheels are lower than said first wheels to run the body in the second direction;

said driver includes;

a first wheel driver which rotates said first wheels;

a second wheel driver which rotates said second wheels; and

an elevator bringing said second wheels upwardly in order to enable said toy car to travel on said first wheels, and bringing said second wheels downwardly in order to enable said toy car to travel on said second wheels;

wherein

said first wheel driver includes a first motor which is rotatable in a normal direction and a reverse direction and a first transmission transmitting the rotation of said first motor to said first wheels;

said second wheel driver includes a wheel support member which supports said second wheels and a second motor which is rotatable in the normal direction and the reverse direction and second transmission transmitting the rotation of said second motor to said second wheels; and

said elevator converts rotations, in the normal and reverse directions, of said first motor to rotations in the same direction and driving said wheel support members with the converted rotations so that said second wheels moves upwardly, and converts rotations, in the normal and reverse directions, of said second motor to rotations in the same direction and for driving said wheel support members with the converted rotations so that said second wheels moves downwardly.

11. A toy car comprising:

a body;

first wheels oriented in a first direction and being capable of supporting the body by themselves;

second wheels oriented in a second direction different from the first direction and being capable of supporting the body by themselves;

a driver which moves at least either of first and second wheels upwardly and downwardly, drives the first wheels when said first wheels are lower than said second wheels to move the body in the first direction, and drives the second wheels when said second wheels are lower than said first wheels to move the body in the second direction, wherein;

said driver includes;

a first motor which is rotatable in a normal direction and a reverse direction;

a first transmission transmitting the rotation of said first motor to one of the front wheels and the rear wheels;

a second motor which is rotatable in the normal direction and the reverse direction;

a second transmission transmitting the rotation of said second motor to said second wheels; and

an elevator which includes a first changeover mechanism converting rotations, in the normal and reverse directions, of said first motor to rotations in the same direction, and rotates each of said wheel support members with the rotations converted by said first changeover mechanism so that said other end moves upwardly, a second changeover mechanism converting rotations, in the normal and reverse directions, of said second motor to rotations in the same direction, and rotating each of said wheel support members with the rotations converted by said second changeover mechanism so that said other end travels downwardly.

12. The toy car according to claim 11, wherein:

said first changeover mechanism includes a first driving gear which is rotated by said first motor, a first driven gear and a first intermediate gear which are in mesh with each other, and a first planetary gear which is in mesh with said first driving gear, said first planetary gear being in mesh with said first intermediate gear while said at least one first motor is rotating in the normal direction and being in mesh with said first driven gear while said at least one first motor is rotating in the reverse direction; and

said second changeover mechanism includes a second driving gear which is rotated by said second motor, a second driven gear and a second intermediate gear which are in mesh with each other, and a second planetary gear which is in mesh with said second driving gear, said second planetary gear being in mesh with said second intermediate gear while said second motor is rotating in the normal direction and being in mesh with said second driven gear while said second motor is rotating in the reverse direction.

13. The toy car according to claim 11, wherein:

said elevator includes;

a first driven gear to which the rotation of said first motor is transmitted;

a second driven gear to which the rotation of said second motor is transmitted;

first and second pinions which are in mesh with said first and second driven gears;

a sector rack, on an outer circumference of which first and second tooth portions, capable of engaging with and disengaging from said first and second pinions, are formed with being spaced from each other, and which is formed on one of said wheel support members; and

gears formed on those side surfaces of said wheel support members which face each other, and being in mesh with each other.

14. A toy car comprising:

a body;

first wheels oriented in a first direction and being capable of supporting the body by themselves;

second wheels oriented in a second direction different from the first direction and being capable of supporting the body by themselves;

a driver which moves at least either of first and second wheels upwardly and downwardly, drives the first wheels when said first wheels are lower than said second wheels to run the body in the first direction, and drives the second wheels when said second wheels are lower than said first wheels to run the body in the second direction, wherein;

said first wheels include front wheels and rear wheels, said rear wheels have a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel that are supported on said body by separate axles; and

said driver includes rotation means for rotating the first rear wheel in the same direction as a rotational direction of said second rear wheel, body turning means for turning said body by rotating said first rear wheel in a different direction from the rotational direction of said second rear wheel, and a selection means for coupling said first rear wheel selectively to said rotation means and said body turning means.