Steering device for miniature vehicle

• US 6,272,946 B1
• Filed: 12/13/1999
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philippe Roux
• Original Assignee: Philippe Roux
• Inventors: Roux, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Application Number:
  US09/402,871
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 744/98, 446/451, 446/454, 446/468, 464/30, 464/39, 280/93.513, 280/93.514
• US Class Current: 74/498
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/38 actuated by hand

Abstract

A steering device for moving and directing a miniature vehicle provided with at least one leading wheel, the steering device has a control member arranged outside the miniature vehicle to be remote-manipulated by the user, a transmission for transmitting inside the miniature vehicle any movement produced on the control member, and a support component for deflecting each leading wheel controlled by the transmission. The steering device has converting members for gearing down any primary movement actuating the transmission into a secondary movement for deflecting each leading wheel. The steering device is applicable to toys, in particular miniature vehicles remote-controlled by a control member with dimensions and positioning corresponding to the child'"'"'s morphology.

Claims

1. A driving device for moving and steering a miniature vehicle with at least one steered wheel comprising:

a control member arranged outside the miniature vehicle that is remote-manipulated by the user;

transmission means transferring inside said miniature vehicle any movement produced on the control member, wherein the control member is mechanically coupled to the transmission means;

means for deflecting the at least one steered wheel which is controlled by said transmission means; and

at least two mobile members interacting by driving, wherein one of said mobile members includes a wheel interdependent with the transmission means and the other of the mobile members includes a rudder bar mounted to pivot relative to the miniature vehicle and interdependent with the deflection means.

2. The driving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two mobile members interact in driving by meshing.

3. The driving device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rudder bar includes a notched sector meshing with a toothing cut on the wheel forming a pinion.

4. The driving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two mobile members interact in driving by adhesion.

5. The driving device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rudder bar includes a sector interacting by adhesion with the wheel.

6. The driving device as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the two mobile members comprises an adhesive coating on the surface intended to come into contact with the associated mobile member.

7. The driving device as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the two mobile members possesses a rough zone on the surface intended to come into contact with the associated mobile member.

8. The driving device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising safety means limiting the torque transmitted by the control member.

9. The driving device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the safety means comprise:

a static component interdependent with the transmission means;

a mobile component moving relative to the static component in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said transmission means, said mobile component including an irregular support surface interlocking with a counter-support surface of complementary shape, made on a support member interdependent with the transmission means; and

an elastic restoring means holding said support surface and counter-support surface in contact.

10. The driving device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the support member interdependent with the transmission means is constituted by the control member.

11. The driving device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the support member interdependent with the transmission means is constituted by the mobile member.

12. The driving device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the support surface and counter-support surface extend substantially orthogonally to the axis of rotation of the transmission means.

13. The driving device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the support surface and counter-support surface include a symmetrical and regular relief portion extending radially relative to the point through which the axis of rotation of the transmission means passes.

14. The driving device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the support surface and counter-support surface include an annular shape and comprise a plurality of radial flutings oriented relative to the point through which the axis of rotation of the transmission means passes.

15. The driving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile members are arranged inside a leaktight housing.

16. The driving device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the safety means are arranged inside a leaktight housing.

17. The driving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission means comprise an articulation mechanism forming a cardan joint.

18. The driving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission means comprise at least one flexible rod.

19. The driving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control member and at least part of the transmission means are removable mounted.

20. The driving device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the assembly means comprise a mechanism forming a mandrel, interdependent with a first portion of the transmission means and interact by gripping with an end of a second portion of said transmission means.

21. A driving device for moving and steering a miniature vehicle with at least one steered wheel comprising:

a control member arranged outside the miniature vehicle that is remote-manipulated by the user;

transmission means transferring inside said miniature vehicle any movement produced on the control member;

means for deflecting the at least one steered wheel which is controlled by said transmission means;

at least two mobile members interacting by driving, wherein one of said mobile members includes a wheel interdependent with the transmission means and the other of the mobile members includes a rudder bar mounted to pivot relative to the miniature vehicle and interdependent with the deflection means; and

safety means limiting the torque transmitted by the control member, wherein the safety means include a static component interdependent with the transmission means, a mobile component moving relative to the static component in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said transmission means, said mobile component including an irregular support surface interlocking with a counter-support surface of complementary shape, made on a support member interdependent with the transmission means, and an elastic restoring means holding said support surface and counter-support surface in contact.

22. A driving device for moving and steering a miniature vehicle with at least one steered wheel comprising:

a control member arranged outside the miniature vehicle that is remote-manipulated by the user;

transmission means transferring inside said miniature vehicle any movement imparted on the control member;

deflecting means for deflecting the at least one steered wheel controlled by said transmission means;

at least two mobile members interacting by driving, wherein one of said mobile members includes pinion means formed with said deflecting means and the other of said mobile members includes a crossbar means formed with said deflecting means and pivotally mounted around a vertical axis with respect to a chassis of said minature vehicle, the crossbar means including at least two members extending orthogonally with respect to a rotation axis along separate planes and in opposite directions; and

reduction means including a toothed circular segment mounted at an end of an upper portion meshing with said pinion means, wherein a lower portion includes a connection point for the crossbar means.