Trim adjustment for toy vehicle steering

• US 8,002,606 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Cheng, Chung Ming, Wong, Chun Wing
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baldori; Joseph B
• Application Number:
  US12/229,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20090247044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 446/129, 446/454, 446/465, 446/468, 446/469
• US Class Current: 446/468
• 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

Abstract

A toy vehicle includes a chassis, a right turning member that supports a right steerable road wheel and a left turning member that supports a left steerable road wheel. A rigid steering link extends across the chassis and has right and left ends that are operably connected to the right and left turning members. An actuator provides a pivoting motion on a horizontal axis extending longitudinally forward and rearward in the vehicle. The motion provided by the actuator moves the steering link side to side across the vehicle. The right and left road wheels are pivoted by the motion of the steering link. An adjustable trim mechanism includes a bias member that helps to maintain a neutral position of the steering link and a trim adjustment that modifies a position on the chassis at which the steering link and road wheels are maintained in the neutral position.

Claims

1. In a toy vehicle including a chassis having opposing right and left sides and opposing front and rear ends, a right steerable road wheel on said right side of said chassis, a left steerable road wheel on said left side of said chassis, a right turning member supporting said right steerable road wheel and a left turning member supporting said left steerable road wheel, each of said right and left turning members being pivotally mounted to said chassis to pivotally support a separate one of said steerable road wheels from said chassis, a rigid steering link extending across said chassis in a width direction, said steering link having a right end, a left end and a central portion therebetween, said right and left ends of said steering link being operatively connected with said right and left turning members, respectively, an actuator mounted onto said chassis and moving said steering link linearly side to side on said vehicle, wherein said right and left road wheels are pivoted by the motion of said steering link, the improvement comprising:

an adjustable trim mechanism mounted to said chassis, said trim mechanism comprising;

a bias member resiliently engaging a portion of said steering link to maintain a neutral position of said steering link when said actuator is not imparting motion on said steering link; and

a trim adjustment member repositionably mounted on said chassis, wherein repositioning said trim adjustment modifies a position on said chassis at which said steering link and road wheels are maintained in said neutral position;

wherein said trim mechanism includes a plate mountable onto said chassis and wherein said bias member vertically extends from a tab of said plate; and

wherein said plate is separate from said steering link and immovably secured to said chassis and wherein said steering link is positioned between said plate and said actuator on said chassis and is movable with respect to the plate and the chassis.

2. The toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein said central portion of said steering link includes a projection and a portion of said bias member at least partially surrounds said projection.

3. The toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein an extension projects from a surface of said trim adjustment member, said extension extending at least into an opening within the plate.

4. The toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein said steering link is located proximate a front end of said chassis with respect to said actuator.

5. The steering arrangement of claim 4, wherein said central portion of said steering link includes an arch defining a passageway therethrough and said arch and said passageway generally orthogonally extend from said steering link.

6. The toy vehicle of claim 1, said actuator further comprising:

a magnetic body mounted onto said chassis to pivot on an axis extending longitudinally forward and rearward in said vehicle;

wherein said magnet body includes two opposite magnetic poles at opposing distal ends of the magnetic body on opposite sides of said axis; and

a crank on said axis connected with said magnetic body to pivot with said magnetic body and operatively connected with said central portion to move said steering link side to side on said vehicle.

7. The toy vehicle of claim 6, said actuator further comprising:

a first coil half and a second coil half, said first and second coil halves being positionable in a spaced-apart manner onto said chassis.

8. The toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein said steering link glides sideways across said chassis.