Self-propelling rolling toy
First Claim
1. A self-propelling rolling toy comprising:
- a transparent spherical outer casing;
a coupling rod provided in and coupled non-rotatably to said outer casing;
a horizontal transmission shaft mounted rotatably in said outer casing along an axis of said outer casing, said transmission shaft having an operating end that is operable from an outer side of said outer casing;
an inner body mounted rotatably on said transmission shaft inside said outer casing;
clutch means provided on said inner body and said coupling rod, and operable to lock selectively said inner body to said coupling rod; and
a winding-type driving unit disposed in said inner body and includinga spiral energy spring which has an innermost end coupled to said transmission shaft and an outermost end coupled to said inner body,a ratchet and pawl unit provided on said transmission shaft, anda gear set which couples said ratchet and pawl unit and said coupling rod;
said ratchet and pawl unit preventing rotation of said transmission shaft from being transmitted to said coupling rod when said operating end of said transmission shaft is rotated in a first direction while said clutch means locks said inner body to said coupling rod to permit winding of said spiral energy spring for storing operating energy;
said ratchet and pawl unit permitting rotation of said transmission shaft in a second direction opposite to the first direction due to the operating energy of said spiral energy spring to be transferred to said outer casing via said gear set and said coupling rod to result in rotation of said outer casing relative to said inner body and in rolling movement of said outer casing when said outer casing is placed on a ground surface while said clutch means unlocks said inner body from said coupling rod;
resistance to rotation of said outer casing relative to said inner body while said clutch means unlocks said inner body from said coupling rod resulting in rotation of said inner body in said outer casing about said transmission shaft due to the operating energy of said spiral energy spring.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self-propelling rolling toy includes a transparent spherical outer casing, a coupling rod provided in and coupled non-rotatably to the outer casing, a horizontal transmission shaft mounted rotatably in the outer casing, an inner body mounted rotatably on the shaft inside the outer casing, a clutch operable to lock selectively the inner body to the coupling rod, and a winding-type driving unit disposed in the inner body. The driving unit includes a spiral energy spring with an innermost end coupled to the shaft and an outermost end coupled to the inner body, a ratchet and pawl unit provided on the shaft, and a gear set which couples the ratchet and pawl unit and the coupling rod. The ratchet and pawl unit prevents rotation of the shaft from being transmitted to the coupling rod when the shaft is rotated in a first direction while the inner body is locked to the coupling rod to permit winding of the spring, and permits rotation of the shaft in an opposite second direction due to operating energy stored in the spring to be transferred to the outer casing while the inner body is unlocked from the coupling rod.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A self-propelling rolling toy comprising:
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a transparent spherical outer casing; a coupling rod provided in and coupled non-rotatably to said outer casing; a horizontal transmission shaft mounted rotatably in said outer casing along an axis of said outer casing, said transmission shaft having an operating end that is operable from an outer side of said outer casing; an inner body mounted rotatably on said transmission shaft inside said outer casing; clutch means provided on said inner body and said coupling rod, and operable to lock selectively said inner body to said coupling rod; and a winding-type driving unit disposed in said inner body and including a spiral energy spring which has an innermost end coupled to said transmission shaft and an outermost end coupled to said inner body, a ratchet and pawl unit provided on said transmission shaft, and a gear set which couples said ratchet and pawl unit and said coupling rod; said ratchet and pawl unit preventing rotation of said transmission shaft from being transmitted to said coupling rod when said operating end of said transmission shaft is rotated in a first direction while said clutch means locks said inner body to said coupling rod to permit winding of said spiral energy spring for storing operating energy; said ratchet and pawl unit permitting rotation of said transmission shaft in a second direction opposite to the first direction due to the operating energy of said spiral energy spring to be transferred to said outer casing via said gear set and said coupling rod to result in rotation of said outer casing relative to said inner body and in rolling movement of said outer casing when said outer casing is placed on a ground surface while said clutch means unlocks said inner body from said coupling rod; resistance to rotation of said outer casing relative to said inner body while said clutch means unlocks said inner body from said coupling rod resulting in rotation of said inner body in said outer casing about said transmission shaft due to the operating energy of said spiral energy spring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification