Concealed attack vehicle system

• US 7,121,917 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2004
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MGA Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MGA Entertainment Incorporated
• Inventors: Caspi, Yuval, Hardouin, Christopher, Bloomfield, Kevin M., Shapiro, Ami N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ricci, John A.
• Application Number:
  US10/884,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20060003666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 446/269, 446/270, 446/275, 446/279, 446/288, 446/456, 446/462, 446/470
• US Class Current: 446/470
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/045 shaped as armoured cars, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/26 Details; Accessories drive mechanisms A63H29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A remotely controlled concealed attack toy vehicle has a relatively normal appearance when the hood is closed; and arrangements are provided for raising the hood, and an armed attack figure is also raised, to present a threatening posture. The vehicle may have two rear drive wheels, which are independently operable by separate motors in the forward or reverse directions to permit rapid swiveling. A third idler wheel may be provided toward the front of the vehicle. A third motor may be provided to raise and lower the hood and the action figure, with an optional lost motion mechanism for delayed raising of the attack figure.

Claims

1. A remotely controlled concealed attack toy vehicle system comprising:

a three wheeled vehicle including first and second drive wheels mounted toward the rear of said vehicle and an idler wheel mounted toward the front of said vehicle;

a hood of substantially innocuous appearance mounted toward the front of the vehicle;

an armed attack figure bearing weapons mounted on the front of the chassis, concealed by said hood when it is in a closed configuration;

said figure being spaced from said hood;

a first motor for driving said first drive wheel in the forward or reverse direction;

a second motor for driving said second drive wheel in the forward or reverse direction;

a third motor for raising said hood and for raising said attack figure to a threatening posture;

sound transmitters for simulating firing of weapons held by said attack figure or mounted on said vehicle; and

a remote controller for applying control signals to the attack vehicle to (1) selectively actuate the first, second and third motors in the forward or reverse directions, (2) to actuate said sound transmitters; and

(3) to raise and lower the hood and the armed attack figure.

2. A remotely controlled concealed attack vehicle system as defined in claim 1 wherein a rotatable shaft is provided, said third motor is coupled to drive said shaft through a gear reduction mechanism, and said hood is coupled to the ends of said shaft for raising and lowering as said third motor is operated;

and said figure has a linkage coupled to said shaft for upward movement as the shaft is rotated by said third motor.

3. A remotely controlled concealed attack vehicle system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a lost motion mechanism for delaying movement of said attack figure until after said hood is at least partially raised.

4. An attack toy vehicle system comprising:

a three wheeled vehicle including first and second drive wheels mounted toward the rear of said vehicle and an idler wheel mounted toward the front of said vehicle;

a hood mounted toward the front of the vehicle;

an armed attack figure bearing weapons mounted on the front of the chassis, concealed by said hood when it is in a closed configuration;

said figure being spaced from said hood;

a first motor for driving said first drive wheel in the forward or reverse direction;

a second motor for driving said second drive wheel in the forward or reverse direction;

a third motor for raising said hood and for raising said attack figure to a threatening posture; and

at least one sound transmitter for simulating firing of weapons held by said attack figure or mounted on said vehicle.

5. An attack vehicle system as defined in claim 4 wherein a rotatable shaft is provided, said third motor being coupled to drive said shaft through a gear reduction mechanism, and said hood is coupled to the ends of said shaft for raising and lowering as said third motor is operated;

and wherein said figure has a linkage coupled to said shaft for upward movement as the shaft is rotated by said third motor.

6. An attack vehicle system as defined in claim 4 further comprising a lost motion mechanism for delaying movement of said attack figure until after said hood is at least partially raised.

7. An attack vehicle as defined in claim 4 wherein additional simulated weapons are mounted on the outside of said vehicle.

8. An attack toy vehicle system comprising:

a wheeled vehicle;

a hood mounted toward the front of the vehicle;

an armed attack figure mounted toward the front of the vehicle concealed by said hood when it is in a closed configuration;

said figure being spaced from said hood; and

an electromechanical mechanism for raising said hood and for raising said attack figure to a threatening posture, comprising a motor coupled to drive a rotatable shaft through a gear reduction mechanism, said hood being coupled to said shaft for raising and lowering as said motor is operated, said figure having a linkage coupled to said shaft for upward movement as the shaft is rotated by said motor.

9. An attack vehicle system as defined in claim 8 further comprising a lost motion mechanism for delaying movement of said attack figure until after said hood is at least partially raised.

10. An attack vehicle system as defined in claim 8 further including a remote controller for sending signals to raise the hood and the action figure and to drive the wheels of said wheeled vehicle.

11. An attack vehicle system as defined in claim 8 wherein said action figure has two pivot points, one being fixed to the chassis of said vehicle, and the other being movable.

12. An attack vehicle system as defined in claim 8 wherein said vehicle has two independently driven rear wheels and one swivelable front wheel which is less than one half the size of said rear wheels.

13. An attack vehicle system as defined in claim 8 wherein said figure is equipped with weapons.

14. An attack vehicle system as defined in claim 8 further comprising weapons mounted on the outside of said vehicle.

15. An attack vehicle system as defined in claim 8 wherein radio controlled communication circuitry is provided between a remote controller and said vehicle.

16. An attack vehicle system as defined in claim 15 wherein said circuitry includes a remote controller with two joysticks for controlling forward and reverse actuation of two rear wheels of said vehicle.

17. An attack vehicle system as defined in claim 8 wherein said hood is flexible so that it may be flexed to permit removal from said vehicle.

18. An attack vehicle system as defined in claim 8 wherein said electromechanical mechanism rotates a pivot actuation part which mates with a corresponding actuation part on said hood to facilitate raising said hood, and permits the removal of said hood.

19. An attack vehicle system as defined in claim 8 wherein said system includes a remote controller for raising and lowering said hood and said attack figure.