Wall racer toy vehicles
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A toy vehicle comprising:
- a chassis comprising an undersurface and skirts extending from at least two opposite sides of the undersurface, the chassis configured to mount on at least one wheel that is configured to move on a surface;
a first motor that is configured to receive current from a battery, the first motor driving the at least one wheel; and
a second motor that is configured to receive current from the battery, the second motor being configured to drive a fan that draws air from an intake duct between the undersurface and the surface into a fan duct, an area of the undersurface being more than an area of the fan duct, a pressure difference between a pressure of the air flowing into the fan and a pressure of ambient air inducing a downforce urging the chassis towards the surface, the intake duct having distinct portions comprising a structurally smooth entry portion, flat transition portion, and an exit portion directly connected to the fan duct, the flat transition portion being smoothly connected between the structurally smooth entry portion and the exit portion.
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Abstract
A motorized toy vehicle or Wall Racer that is capable of operating on vertical and inverted horizontal surfaces such as walls and ceilings, while being manufacturable at reasonable cost and operable on batteries having sufficient lifetime as to be enjoyable. One or more battery-powered fans draw air from around all or defined portions of the periphery of the chassis of the Wall Racer through a carefully-shaped duct, so that the air in the portion of the duct immediately adjacent the surface flows at high velocity and low pressure; the relatively greater pressure of the surrounding air urges the vehicle against the surface, allowing it to operate on vertical surfaces, such as walls, or inverted on horizontal surfaces, such as ceilings.
38 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A toy vehicle comprising:
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a chassis comprising an undersurface and skirts extending from at least two opposite sides of the undersurface, the chassis configured to mount on at least one wheel that is configured to move on a surface; a first motor that is configured to receive current from a battery, the first motor driving the at least one wheel; and a second motor that is configured to receive current from the battery, the second motor being configured to drive a fan that draws air from an intake duct between the undersurface and the surface into a fan duct, an area of the undersurface being more than an area of the fan duct, a pressure difference between a pressure of the air flowing into the fan and a pressure of ambient air inducing a downforce urging the chassis towards the surface, the intake duct having distinct portions comprising a structurally smooth entry portion, flat transition portion, and an exit portion directly connected to the fan duct, the flat transition portion being smoothly connected between the structurally smooth entry portion and the exit portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A toy vehicle comprising:
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a chassis comprising an undersurface and skirts extending from at least two opposite sides of the undersurface; a fan connected to a fan duct to receive free flowing air drawn in by an intake duct that is connected to the fan duct and is configured to be located between the undersurface and a substantially flat vertical surface in contact with the toy vehicle, the undersurface being a top surface of the intake duct and being substantially flat for most of an entire length of the intake duct, the receiving of the air by the fan inducing a downforce urging the chassis towards the substantially flat vertical surface in contact with the toy vehicle, the fan configured to be initiated when a switch is activated, the intake duct having distinct portions comprising a structurally smooth entry portion, a flat transition portion, and an exit portion directly connected to the fan duct, the flat transition portion being smoothly connected between the structurally smooth entry portion and the exit portion, and a first wheel and a second wheel, the first wheel being displaced longitudinally with respect to the second wheel, the first wheel and the second wheel configured to be steered by a remote transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A battery powered, remotely-controlled toy vehicle configured for operation on a substantially flat vertical surface, comprising:
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a chassis having an undersurface and having flexible skirts extending along at least two opposite sides of the undersurface of the chassis; at least one wheel mounted on the chassis; a receiver responsive to a control signal from a remote transmitter; at least one battery; at least one motor being supplied with current from the at least one battery responsive to signals provided from the receiver, the at least one wheel being controllably driven by the at least one motor; a fan drive motor being supplied with current from the at least one battery; a fan driven by the fan drive motor, wherein the fan draws air from an intake duct between the undersurface of the chassis and the substantially flat vertical surface into a fan duct, wherein the undersurface of the chassis is larger in area than the area of the fan duct, wherein when the vehicle is placed on the substantially flat vertical surface with the at least one wheel in contact with the substantially flat vertical surface and the fan is operational, a differential pressure between a pressure of the air flowing into the fan and a pressure of ambient air induces a downforce urging the chassis toward the substantially flat vertical surface, the intake duct having distinct portions comprising a structurally smooth entry portion, a flat transition portion, and an exit portion directly connected to the fan duct, the flat transition portion being smoothly connected between the structurally smooth entry portion and the exit portion.
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Specification