Automobile model

• US 10,709,994 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2015
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Autoart Japan Corporation, Gateway Autoart Limited
• Original Assignee: Gateway Autoart Limited
• Inventors: Kwan, Kelvin Yuetming
• Primary Examiner(s): Baldori, Joseph B
• Application Number:
  US15/124,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20170014724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,939 Days
• Field of Search: 446465, 446469, 446470, 446471
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/262 Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis

Abstract

In the present invention, a resin body has fixed thereto a metal reinforcing member that has a frame part to which side sills of the body abut; therefore while the body is molded from resin to facilitate machining of the details, the metal reinforcing member makes the body (in particular, the portions of the side sills located just below doors) less likely to bend. This configuration allows the doors to be opened and closed stably and, through the metal, gives a sense of weight to the automobile model that can be felt when held by the user.

Claims

1. A car model comprising:

a body formed of a resin;

a reinforcing member which is formed of a metal and is to be fixed to the body; and

a chassis to be fixed to the reinforcing member,

wherein the body has at least one door which is openably attached thereto with a hinge such that the at least one door can be opened and closed, and a side sill that protrudes below a bottom of the at least one door,

the reinforcing member has a frame portion comprising a side surface that is disposed transverse to a planar surface of the chassis when the chassis is fixed to the reinforcing member, and wherein the side sill of the body abuts the side surface of the frame portion when the reinforcing member is fixed to the body such that, with the reinforcing member fixed to the body, the side surface of the frame portion of the reinforcing member inhibits flexing of the side sill when the at least one door is open and closed and, with the reinforcing member fixed to the body, the side surface of the frame portion extends from a first area on a first side of the at least one door to a second area on a second side of the at least one door, the side surface having a recess in an area in which the at least one door opens and closes wherein a width of the side surface in the recess area is reduced as compared with a width of the side surface in the first and second areas.

2. The car model according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member further has a plurality of wheel houses and is fixed to the body in positions of the wheel houses.

3. The car model according to claim 2, wherein the car model further comprises left and right front wheels disposed on opposite ends of a front axle and left and right rear wheels disposed on opposite ends of a rear axle and wherein the reinforcing member is configured to extend (a) from a region on a front side of the car model in which the left front wheel is present to a region on a rear side of the car model in which the left rear wheel is present, (b) from a region on the front side of the car model in which the right front wheel is present to a region on the rear side of the car model in which the right rear wheel is present, (c) from the region on the front side of the car model in which the left front wheel is present to the region on the front side of the car model in which a the right front wheel is present, and (d) from the region on the rear side of the car model where the left rear wheel is present to the region on the rear side of the car model where the right rear wheel is present.

4. The car model according to claim 1,

wherein the reinforcing member has a plurality of wheel houses and is fixed to the body in positions of the wheel houses, and

wherein the model further comprises a plurality of wheels disposed on opposite ends of an axle, and

wherein, when the model is assembled with the chassis fixed to the reinforcing member, the axle is disposed above the planar surface of the chassis with respective first portions of the plurality of wheels accommodated in the plurality of wheel houses and with respective second portions of the plurality of wheels protruding through respective notches in the chassis.

5. The car model according to claim 4, wherein the car model further comprises left and right front wheels disposed on opposite ends of a front axle and left and right rear wheels disposed on opposite ends of a rear axle and wherein the reinforcing member is configured to extend (a) from a region on a front side of the car model in which the left front wheel is present to a region on a rear side of the car model in which the left rear wheel is present, (b) from a region on the front side of the car model in which the right front wheel is present to a region on the rear side of the car model in which the right rear wheel is present, (c) from the region on the front side of the car model in which the left front wheel is present to the region on the front side of the car model in which the right front wheel is present, and (d) from the region on the rear side of the car model where the left rear wheel is present to the region on the rear side of the car model where the right rear wheel is present.

6. The car model according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of wheel houses of the reinforcing member has the shape of a curve, and wherein the car model comprises means for fastening each of the plurality of wheelhouses to the body at apices of the respective curves of the wheel houses.

7. The car model according to claim 6, wherein the means for fastening consists of a plurality of fastening holes disposed at the apices of the respective curves.

8. The car model according to claim 1, wherein the car model further comprises left and right front wheels disposed on opposite ends of a front axle and left and right rear wheels disposed on opposite ends of a rear axle and wherein the reinforcing member is configured to extend (a) from a region on a front side of the car model in which the left front wheel is present to a region on a rear side of the car model in which the left rear wheel is present, (b) from a region on the front side of the car model in which the right front wheel is present to a region on the rear side of the car model in which the right rear wheel is present, (c) from the region on the front side of the car model in which the left front wheel is present to the region on the front side of the car model in which the right front wheel is present, and (d) from the region on the rear side of the car model where the left rear wheel is present to the region on the rear side of the car model where the right rear wheel is present.

9. The car model according to claim 1, wherein the body is a unitary structure.

10. The car model according to claim 9, wherein the body is molded from the resin.

11. The car model according to claim 9, wherein, with the body fixed to the frame, the body sits atop the frame.