Three wheeled wireless controlled toy stunt vehicle

• US 6,648,722 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Obb, Llc
• Original Assignee: The Obb, Llc
• Inventors: Ferro, James Michael, Kislevitz, Noah Luther, Kislevitz, Androc Luther, Lynders, Michael John, Kislevitz, Adam Luther
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, Bena B.
• Application Number:
  US10/231,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20030082990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 446/437, 446/93, 446/95, 446/431, 446/442, 446/443, 446/448, 446/454, 446/456, 446/457, 446/460, 446/461, 446/465, 446/466-470
• US Class Current: 446/437
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/004 Stunt-cars, e.g. lifting front wheels, roll-over or invertible cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/18 Tricycles, e.g. with moving figures
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/262 Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/40 Toy vehicles automatically steering or reversing by collision with an obstacle
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A three wheeled wireless controlled toy stunt vehicle capable of both highly elastic impact and less elastic impact with obstacles struck while the vehicle is in motion is disclosed. Two wheels are separately driven, and have tires with interiors that are vented to atmosphere. The third wheel has a tire with an interior that is sealed and pressurized. The pressurized tire is capable of highly elastic impact when it strikes obstacles while the toy vehicle is in motion. The non-pressurized tires are characterized by a less elastic impact with obstacles. The third wheel has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the drive wheels. All components of the vehicle are contained within the two planes tangent to the three wheels, such that the toy vehicle may be operated on either of its two major sides.

Claims

1. A three wheeled wireless controlled toy stunt vehicle comprising:

a chassis having a first major side and a second major side opposite the first major side, the chassis further including a main body portion supporting two drive wheels with at least one arm projecting from the main body portion and supporting a third wheel for free rotation;

two independently controlled drive motors within the chassis; and

a battery power source connected to the chassis, the drive motors receiving power from the battery power source;

the two drive wheels located on opposite lateral sides of the chassis proximal one longitudinal end of the chassis, each of the drive wheels being operably coupled with a separate one of the two drive motors;

the third wheel being located at an opposite longitudinal end of the chassis generally centered with respect to a longitudinal central plane through the chassis and through the major sides of the chassis, the longitudinal central plane separating the two drive wheels from one another; and

the drive wheels and the third wheel being of a size with respect to a remainder of the vehicle such that outer surfaces of the drive wheels and of the third wheel contact a supporting surface when the toy vehicle is oriented with either the first major side or the second major side facing toward the supporting surface.

2. The toy stunt vehicle of claim 1 wherein the third wheel has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of either of the two drive wheels.

3. A three wheeled wireless controlled toy stunt vehicle comprising:

a chassis having a first major side and a second major side opposite the first major side;

two independently controlled drive motors within the chassis;

a battery power source connected to the chassis, the drive motors receiving power from the battery power source;

a radio receiver;

a signal processor circuit and a motor controller circuit operably coupled with one another and the radio receiver and operably coupling each of the drive motors with the battery power source;

an antenna operatively coupled to the radio receiver;

two drive wheels located on opposite lateral sides of the chassis proximal one longitudinal end of the chassis, each of the drive wheels being operably coupled with a separate one of the two drive motors; and

a third wheel locate at an opposite longitudinal end of the chassis generally centered with respect to a longitudinal central plane through the chassis and through the major sides of the chassis, the longitudinal central plane separating the two drive wheels from one another;

the drive wheels an the third wheel being of a size with respect to a remainder of the vehicle such that outer surfaces of the drive wheels and of the third wheel contact a supporting surface when the toy vehicle is oriented with either the first major side or the second major side facing toward the supporting surface.

4. A three wheeled wireless controlled toy stunt vehicle comprising:

a chassis having a first major side and a second major side opposite the first major side;

two independently controlled drive motors within the chassis;

a battery power source connected to the chassis, the drive motors receiving power from the battery power source;

two drive wheels located on opposite lateral sides of the chassis proximal one longitudinal end of the chassis, each of the drive wheels being operably coupled with a separate one of the two drive motors; and

a third wheel located at an opposite longitudinal end of the chassis generally centered with respect to a longitudinal central plane through the chassis and through the major sides of the chassis, the longitudinal central plane separating the two drive wheels from one another;

the drive wheels an the third wheel being of a size with respect to a remainder of the vehicle such that outer surface of the drive wheels and of the third wheel contact a supporting surface when the toy vehicle is oriented with either the first major side or the second major side facing toward the supporting surface; and

wherein the third wheel includes a hollow tire defining an interior space, the interior space being sealed and pressurized.

5. The toy stunt vehicle of claim 4 wherein the drive wheels are hollow, defining an interior space within the drive wheels, the interior space of the drive wheels being vented to atmosphere.

6. The toy stunt vehicle of claim 4 further comprising a valve operably coupled with the tire of the third wheel to adjust pressure within the tire of the third wheel.

7. A three wheeled wireless controlled toy stunt vehicle comprising:

a chassis having a first major side and a second major side opposite the first major side;

two independently controlled drive motors within the chassis;

a battery power source connected to the chassis, the drive motors receiving power from the battery power source;

two drive wheels located on opposite lateral sides of the chassis proximal one longitudinal end of the chassis, each of the drive wheels being operably coupled with a separate one of the two drive motors; and

a third wheel locate at an opposite longitudinal end of the chassis generally centered with respect to a longitudinal central plane through the chassis and through the major sides of the chassis, the longitudinal central plane separating the two drive wheels from one another;

wherein the drive wheels and the third wheel are of a size with respect to a remainder of the vehicle such that outer surfaces of the drive wheels and of the third wheel contact a supporting surface when the toy vehicle is oriented with either the first major side or the second major side facing toward the supporting surface; and

wherein the battery power source is located at least proximal the one longitudinal end of the chassis.

8. The toy stunt vehicle of claim 7 wherein the drive wheels are mounted to rotate along a common axis and wherein the battery power source is located at the one longitudinal end on a side of the common axis opposite from the third wheel.

9. A combination comprising a remote control unit having manually-operated control elements and a three wheeled wireless controlled toy stunt vehicle, the vehicle including:

a chassis having a first major side and a second major side opposite the first major side;

two independently controlled drive motors within the chassis;

a battery power source connected to the chassis, the drive motors receiving power from the battery power source;

a radio receiver configured to received command signals from the remote control unit;

a signal processor circuit and a motor controller circuit operably coupled with one another and the radio receiver and operably coupling each of the drive motors with the battery power source;

an antenna operatively coupled to the radio receiver;

two drive wheels located on opposite lateral sides of the chassis proximal one longitudinal end of the chassis, each of the drive wheels being operably coupled with a separate one of the two drive motors; and

a third wheel located at an opposite longitudinal end of the chassis generally centered with respect to a longitudinal central plane through the chassis and through the major sides of the chassis, the longitudinal central plane separating the two drive wheels from one another;

wherein the drive wheels and the third wheel are of a size with respect to a remainder of the vehicle such that outer surfaces of the drive wheels and of the third wheel contact a supporting surface when, the toy vehicle is oriented with either the first major side or the second major side facing toward the supporting surface; and

wherein manipulation of the control elements produces a predictable and repeatable effect on the drive motors and the toy vehicle.