Chassis for a track-guided toy vehicle

• US 7,837,532 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Reuter, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): DENNIS, MICHAEL DAVID
• Application Number:
  US11/335,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20060172659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 446/444, 446/432, 446/446, 463/58, 463/61, 463/62, 463/63
• US Class Current: 446/444
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/14 Endless-track automobiles or trucks
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/262 Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/36 Steering-mechanisms for toy vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 18/08 with mechanical means for guiding or steering

Abstract

A chassis is provided for a track-guided toy vehicle which is supported on a front axle and a rear axle and has a guide wedge that is movable about a first vertical pivot axle and cooperates with a groove in the raceway. The rear axle is driven by an electric motor, with the rear axle and the electric motor together forming an assembly. Steering capability of the vehicle, is optimized by arranging the assembly to be movable about a second vertical pivot axle. The assembly is operatively connected via a control unit to the chassis-mounted guide wedge.

Claims

1. Chassis arrangement for a track-guided toy vehicle, the chassis arrangement comprising:

a front axle;

a rear axle;

a pivot arm having electrical current consumers configured for contacting current rails of a raceway;

a control unit;

an electric motor driving only the rear axle; and

a guide wedge mounted on said pivot arm, movable about a first vertical pivot axis and engaging in a groove in the raceway in a front area of the chassis arrangement;

wherein the rear axle and the electric motor together form an assembly, arranged to be movable about a second vertical pivot axis and operatively connected to the guide wedge via the control unit;

the control unit having a lever mechanism with five articulated joints, the lever mechanism configured to be operative between the assembly and the guide wedge, the lever mechanism further having a first longitudinal control arm operatively connected to the assembly, a second longitudinal control arm operatively connected to the guide wedge, and a two-armed lever transverse control arm, the first and second longitudinal control arms being connected to the two-armed lever transverse control arm.

2. Chassis as recited in claim 1, wherein the transverse control arm is configured to be movable about a third vertical pivot axis mounted on a receptacle section of the chassis arrangement.

3. Chassis arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the lever mechanism is arranged outside a central longitudinal plane of the chassis arrangement.

4. Chassis arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the two-armed lever transverse control arm is configured to be movable about a third vertical pivot axis mounted on a receptacle section of the chassis arrangement.