Sound activated toy vehicle

• US 6,663,463 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2002
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Sisolak, Gregory John, Agostini, Matthew Felix, Fosbenner, Mary Ellen Gertrude, Dougherty, William Francis Michael, Henry, Robert Jude
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, Bena B.
• Application Number:
  US10/164,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20030228826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 446/175, 446/270, 446/275, 446/397, 446/409, 446/410, 446/431, 446/432, 446/434, 446/436, 446/438, 446/437, 446/448, 446/454, 446/456, 446/457, 446/460, 446/465, 446/484
• US Class Current: 446/409
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/00 Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; convertible into other toys A63H33/003; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor traffic games with figures moved by players A63F9/14

Abstract

A sound activated toy vehicle includes a body, a chassis, and a motor. The chassis accommodates the body and has at least a front wheel and a rear wheel. The motor is drivingly connected to at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel. The toy vehicle also includes a sound transducer configured to generate an electrical signal in response to detected sound. The toy vehicle also includes a controller having an input electrically connected to the sound transducer and an output electrically connected to the motor. The controller changes the output to the motor when the electrical signal is received by the input from the sound transducer. The toy vehicle also includes a vehicle accessory having an exterior portion. The vehicle accessory is mounted for movement between a first position and a second position by mechanical power from the motor.

Claims

1. A sound activated toy vehicle, the toy vehicle comprising:

a body;

a chassis that accommodates the body and has at least a front wheel and a rear wheel;

a motor drivingly connected to at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel;

a sound transducer supported in one of the chassis and body and configured to generate an electrical signal in response to detected sound;

a controller having an input electrically connected to the sound transducer and an output electrically connected to the motor, the controller changing the output to the motor when the electrical signal is received by the input from the sound transducer;

a vehicle accessory having an exterior portion and being supported for movement on at least one of the chassis and the body between a first position and a second position by mechanical power from the motor; and

a sound generator electrically connected to another output of the controller.

2. The sound activated toy vehicle according to claim 1 further comprising a light electrically connected to another output of the controller.

3. The sound activated toy vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle accessory is one of a folding extension ladder, a water cannon, a speed indicator, a tow boom, a boom light, a trunk lid, a door, an equipment access panel and an opening to an interior space.

4. The sound activated toy vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the body is one of a police car, a fire rig, a fire truck, a tow truck, a sport utility vehicle, an ambulance, an off-road vehicle and a searchlight vehicle.

5. A sound activated toy vehicle the toy vehicle comprising:

a body;

a chassis that accommodates the body and has at least a front wheel and a rear wheel;

a motor configured drivingly connected to at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel;

a sound transducer supported in one of the chassis and body and configured to generate an electrical signal in response to detected sound;

a controller having an input electrically connected to the sound transducer and an output electrically connected to the motor, the controller changing the output to the motor when the electrical signal is received by the input from the sound transducer;

a vehicle accessory having an exterior portion and being supported for movement on at least one of the chassis and the body between a first position and a second position by mechanical power from the motor;

wherein the vehicle accessory includes an actuating mechanism having;

a carriage movably secured to an internal surface of the body;

a rack having teeth and a protrusion, the rack being slideably supported in a volume defined by the carriage and an internal surface of the body; and

a spring being in operative engagement with the protrusion on the rack so as to bias the rack to a first rack position;

wherein the exterior portion of the vehicle accessory is operatively coupled to the rack and being movable between a first accessory position and a second accessory position with movement of the rack from the first rack position to a second rack position.

6. The sound activated toy vehicle according to claim 5 wherein the exterior portion includes a first piece pivotally connected to the body.

7. The sound activated toy vehicle according to claim 6 wherein the exterior portion further includes a second piece pivotally connected to the first piece.

8. A sound activated toy vehicle, the toy vehicle comprising:

a body;

a chassis that accommodates the body and has at least a front wheel and a rear wheel;

a motor drivingly connected to at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel;

a sound transducer supported in one of the chassis and body and configured to generate an electrical signal in response to detected sound;

a controller having an input electrically connected to the sound transducer and an output electrically connected to the motor, the controller changing the output to the motor when the electrical signal is received by the input from the sound transducer; and

a vehicle accessory having an exterior portion and being supported for movement on at least one of the chassis and the body between a first position and a second position by mechanical power from the motor;

wherein the vehicle accessory includes an actuating mechanism having;

a carriage movably secured to an internal surface of the body;

a rack having teeth and a protrusion, the rack being slidably supported in a volume defined by the carriage and an internal surface of the body; and

a spring being in operative engagement with the protrusion on the rack so as to bias the rack to a first rack position;

wherein the exterior portion of the vehicle accessory is operatively coupled to the rack and being movable between a first accessory position and a second accessory position with movement of the rack from the first rack position to a second rack position; and

wherein the chassis further comprises a gear box having a drive gear and a power take-off gear each drivingly coupled to a shaft of the motor, the power take-off gear being operably coupled with the rack so that when the motor shaft turns in a first direction the rack moves from the first rack position to the second rack position.

9. The sound activated toy vehicle according to claim 8 wherein when the motor shaft turns in a second direction opposite the first direction, the rack moves from the second rack position to the first rack position.

10. A sound activated toy vehicle in combination with a remote sound generating device, the toy vehicle comprising:

a body;

a chassis that accommodates the body and has at least a front wheel and a rear wheel;

a motor configured drivingly connected to at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel;

a sound transducer supported in one of the chassis and body and configured to generate an electrical signal in response to detected sound;

a controller having an input electrically connected to the sound transducer and an output electrically connected to the motor, the controller changing the output to the motor when the electrical signal is received by the input from the sound transducer;

a vehicle accessory having an exterior portion and being supported for movement on at least one of the chassis and the body between a first position and a second position by mechanical power from the motor; and

the remote device including;

a housing having perforations so as to permit sound waves to pass;

a mechanical diaphragm within the housing having a generally central portion, an outer edge and a deflecting surface connected to a portion of the outer edge, the outer edge of the diaphragm being at least partially secured so as to allow movement of the generally central portion; and

a pushbutton protruding through the housing, the pushbutton being operatively coupled with the deflecting surface of the diaphragm and supported such that when the pushbutton is pressed inwardly into the housing by a user, the pushbutton moves the deflecting surface thereby causing the generally central portion of the diaphragm to move and generate a first sound.

11. The sound activated toy vehicle according to claim 10 wherein the housing has the form of a badge.