Articulated, steerable, toy vehicle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An articulated, steerable, toy vehicle comprising:
- a first wheeled vehicle portion;
a second wheeled vehicle portion pivotally coupled with the first wheeled vehicle portion; and
a steering lever having a free first end and an opposing second end pivotally coupled to the second wheeled vehicle portion for rotation of the steering lever about a fixed, at least generally vertical axis located in the second wheeled vehicle portion so as to permit lateral side-to-side movement of the steering lever in at least generally horizontal directions over the pivotally coupled first and second wheeled vehicle portions and operably coupled to the first wheeled vehicle portion through the second wheeled vehicle portion such that lateral side-to-side pivotal movement of the free first end of the steering lever relative to the second wheeled vehicle portion pivots the first wheeled vehicle portion relative to the second wheeled vehicle portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An articulated, steerable, toy vehicle includes a first wheeled vehicle portion and a second wheeled vehicle portion pivotally coupled thereto. A steering lever has a free first end and an opposing second end pivotally coupled to the second wheeled vehicle portion and operably coupled to the first wheeled vehicle portion through the second wheeled vehicle portion. Rotation of the steering lever relative to the second wheeled vehicle portion pivots the first wheeled vehicle portion relative to the second wheeled vehicle portion.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An articulated, steerable, toy vehicle comprising:
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a first wheeled vehicle portion; a second wheeled vehicle portion pivotally coupled with the first wheeled vehicle portion; and a steering lever having a free first end and an opposing second end pivotally coupled to the second wheeled vehicle portion for rotation of the steering lever about a fixed, at least generally vertical axis located in the second wheeled vehicle portion so as to permit lateral side-to-side movement of the steering lever in at least generally horizontal directions over the pivotally coupled first and second wheeled vehicle portions and operably coupled to the first wheeled vehicle portion through the second wheeled vehicle portion such that lateral side-to-side pivotal movement of the free first end of the steering lever relative to the second wheeled vehicle portion pivots the first wheeled vehicle portion relative to the second wheeled vehicle portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 20)
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3. An articulated, steerable, toy vehicle comprising:
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a first wheeled vehicle portion; a second wheeled vehicle portion pivotally coupled with the first wheeled vehicle portion; and a steering lever having a free first end and an opposing second end pivotally coupled to the second wheeled vehicle portion for lateral side-to-side movement of the first free end over the pivotally coupled first and second wheeled vehicle portions and operably coupled to the first wheeled vehicle portion through the second wheeled vehicle portion such that lateral side-to-side pivotal movement of the free first end of the steering lever relative to the second wheeled vehicle portion pivots the first wheeled vehicle portion relative to the second wheeled vehicle portion; and an operable coupling including a geared steering mechanism between the second end of the steering lever and the first wheeled vehicle portion wherein the geared steering mechanism comprises; a first sector gear fixedly connected to the steering lever; at least one idler gear operably engaged with the first sector gear; a second sector gear operably engaged with the idler gear and fixedly connected to the first wheeled vehicle portion; and wherein the first wheeled vehicle portion is pivoted relative to the second wheeled vehicle portion by rotation of the steering lever about an at least substantially vertical first pivot axis. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 12)
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8. An articulated, steerable, toy vehicle comprising:
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a first wheeled vehicle portion; a second wheeled vehicle portion pivotally coupled with the first wheeled vehicle portion; and a steering lever having a free first end and an opposing second end pivotally coupled to the second wheeled vehicle portion for lateral side-to-side movement of the first free end over the pivotally coupled first and second wheeled vehicle portions and operablv coupled to the first wheeled vehicle portion through the second wheeled vehicle portion such that lateral side-to-side pivotal movement of the free first end of the steering lever relative to the second wheeled vehicle portion pivots the first wheeled vehicle portion relative to the second wheeled vehicle portion; and an operable coupling including at least a slip clutch between the second end of the steering lever and the first wheeled vehicle portion wherein the slip clutch comprises; a first clutch member fixedly coupled with the second end of the steering lever to rotate with the steering lever about the first pivot axis; and a second clutch member fixedly coupled with the first wheeled vehicle portion to rotate with the first wheeled vehicle portion about the first axis; at least one of the first and second clutch members including a resilient engagement structure releasable engaging with a portion of the second clutch member to rotate the second clutch member below a threshold torque and to release and rotate with respect to the second clutch member above the threshold torque.
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14. An articulated, steerable, toy vehicle comprising:
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a first wheeled vehicle portion; a second wheeled vehicle portion pivotally coupled with the first wheeled vehicle portion; and a steering lever having a free first end and an opposing second end pivotally coupled to the second wheeled vehicle portion for lateral side-to-side movement of the free first end over the pivotally coupled first and second wheeled vehicle portions and operably coupled to the first wheeled vehicle portion through the second wheeled vehicle portion such that lateral side-to-side pivotal movement of the free first end of the steering lever relative to the second wheeled vehicle portion pivots the first wheeled vehicle portion relative to the second wheeled vehicle portion, wherein the steering lever includes a track extending at least substantially along the length of the steering lever at least to and through the second end of the steering lever. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification