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Steering mechanism for a toy vehicle

  • US 7,938,709 B2
  • Filed: 06/26/2008
  • Issued: 05/10/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2008
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A steering mechanism for a toy vehicle having a chassis having opposing right and left sides and opposing front and rear ends, a right road wheel on said right side of said chassis and a left road wheel on said left side of said chassis, a right turning member pivotally mounted to said chassis steerably supporting the right road wheel on chassis and a left turning member pivotally mounted to said chassis steerably supporting the left road wheel, said steering mechanism comprising:

  • a control member extending across said chassis in a width direction, said control member having a right end, a left end and a central portion therebetween, said right and left ends of said control member being operatively connected with said right and left turning members, respectively, said central portion including an elongated slot extending vertically to said control member;

    a magnetic body mounted onto said chassis to pivot on a pivot axis extending longitudinally front and rear in said vehicle;

    wherein said magnet body has a central axis at least generally perpendicular to said pivot axis and two opposite magnetic poles along said central axis at opposing distal ends of said magnetic body on opposite sides of said pivot axis said magnetic body having an outer wall surrounding said central axis and distinct, opposing end walls extending transversely across said outer wall and the central axis, said magnetic body having a different magnetic pole at each of said opposing end walls, and said outer wall surrounding said central axis being cylindrical in shape;

    said magnetic body being supported by a magnet housing pivotally mounted on said chassis and receiving said magnetic body to pivot the magnetic body about said pivot axis, the magnet housing being in the form of a sphere truncated proximal each of the ends of the magnetic body;

    a crank on said pivot axis connected with said magnetic body to pivot with said magnetic body and operatively connected with said central portion to move said control member side to side on said vehicle; and

    coil means fixedly attached to said chassis so as to encircle said magnetic body for pivoting said magnetic body on said pivot axis and thereby pivot said right and left road wheels by passing a selected electric current through said coil means.

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