Toy vehicle having fanciful facial expression

• US 8,162,717 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2010
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Hippely, Keith, Andrews, Mike, Down, Chris, Mayer, Mark, Trageser, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): RICCI, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US12/944,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20110086575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 446/269, 446/280, 446/337, 446/342, 446/343, 446/436, 446/462, 446/465, 446/470
• US Class Current: 446/465
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/005 with self-moving head or facial features with a choice of features A63H3/365; movable eyes A63H3/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/262 Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/266 Movable parts other than toy figures, driven by the wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/395 steered by program

Abstract

A toy vehicle includes a body supported by a plurality of wheels. The body also includes a roof and rear window supporting a plurality of user inputs. Within the toy vehicle body, a microprocessor controller drive and steering mechanism is operative. The operation of the microprocessor is set by the user inputs. The body further supports a movable bumper mouth and movable eyes and eyebrows behind the windshield.

Claims

1. A toy vehicle, comprising:

a body having a windshield aperture, a windshield disposed in the windshield aperture, a plurality of wheels coupled to the body, and a drive mechanism coupled to at least one wheel to steer the at least one wheel;

a pair of movable eyes disposed proximate to the windshield aperture and behind the windshield; and

a movement mechanism for supporting and moving the eyes relative to the windshield aperture, the movement mechanism being actuated by the drive mechanism as the drive mechanism steers the at least one wheel, the eyes moving relative to the windshield aperture when the at least one wheel is steered.

2. The toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein the body includes a backing sheet disposed proximate to the windshield aperture, and the eyes are located between the windshield and the backing sheet.

3. The toy vehicle of claim 2, wherein the backing sheet is located behind the eyes and includes an opening formed therein, and a portion of the movement mechanism extends through the opening in the backing sheet.

4. The toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein the body includes a roof portion and an actuator coupled to the roof portion, the actuator being movable relative to the roof portion, the actuator being coupled to the eyes so that movement of the actuator causes movement of the eyes.

5. The toy vehicle of claim 4, wherein the actuator is coupled to the movement mechanism.

6. The toy vehicle of claim 5, wherein the movement mechanism includes a substantially horizontal traveler and a substantially vertical riser coupled to the traveler, the riser being engaged with the actuator.

7. The toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism includes a traveler mounted for movement forward and rearward relative to the body, and a riser coupled to the traveler, the riser being coupled to an eye support member so that movement of the traveler and the riser moves the eye support member and the eyes.

8. The toy vehicle of claim 7, wherein the riser extends upward and has an upper end, the riser including a socket mechanism proximate to its upper end, the socket mechanism being engageable with the eye support member so that movement of the riser moves the eye support member and the eyes.

9. A toy vehicle, comprising:

a body having an aperture, a windshield covering the aperture, a backing member proximate to the aperture, and at least one wheel coupled to the body;

an eye coupled to the body and located proximate to the aperture, the eye being located between the windshield and the backing member; and

a drive mechanism disposed in the body, the drive mechanism being connected to the eye to move the eye relative to the aperture and connected to the at least one wheel to steer the at least one wheel relative to the body, wherein the eye and the at least one wheel move simultaneously.

10. The toy vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a movement mechanism that includes a traveler mounted for movement forward and rearward relative to the body, and a riser coupled to the traveler, the riser being coupled to an eye support member so that movement of the traveler and the riser moves the eye support member and the eye.

11. The toy vehicle of claim 10, wherein the body includes a roof portion, the movement mechanism includes an actuator movably coupled to the roof portion, the actuator being coupled to the eye support member so that movement of the actuator moves the eye support member and the eye.

12. The toy vehicle of claim 10, wherein the riser extends upward and has an upper end, the riser including a socket mechanism proximate to its upper end, the socket mechanism being engageable with the eye support member so that movement of the riser moves the eye support member and the eye.

13. The toy vehicle of claim 10, further comprising:

a chassis, wherein

the drive mechanism is operable to move the at least one wheel and the eye relative to the chassis simultaneously.

14. The toy vehicle of claim 13, wherein the chassis has two front wheels coupled thereto, the drive mechanism includes a steering link mounted for side-to-side movement relative to the chassis, and the steering link is coupled to the front wheels and configured to move the front wheels relative to the chassis.

15. A toy vehicle, comprising:

a body having an aperture and at least one wheel coupled to the body;

an eye coupled to the body and located proximate to the aperture; and

a drive mechanism disposed in the body, the drive mechanism includes a traveler that moves forward and rearward relative to the body and a riser coupled to the traveler, the riser being engaged with a support member coupled to the eye, and movement of the traveler results movement of the support member and the eye, wherein the drive mechanism is connected to the at least one wheel to steer the at least one wheel relative to the body, and the eye and the at least one wheel move simultaneously.

16. The toy vehicle of claim 15, wherein the body includes a roof portion, a movement mechanism that includes an actuator movably coupled to the roof portion, the actuator being coupled to the eye support member so that movement of the actuator moves the eye support member and the eye.

17. The toy vehicle of claim 16, wherein movement of the actuator rearward raises the eye, movement of the actuator forward lowers the eye, and movement of the actuator side-to-side moves the eye side-to-side.

18. The toy vehicle of claim 15, wherein the body includes a backing plate disposed behind the aperture, and the backing plate is located behind the eye.

19. The toy vehicle of claim 18, wherein the body includes a windshield located in the aperture, and the eye is located between the windshield and the backing plate.

20. The toy vehicle of claim 15, wherein the riser extends upward and has an upper end, the riser including a socket mechanism, the socket mechanism being engageable with the support member so that movement of the riser moves the support member and the eye.