Wheel having a translucent aspect

• US 20060076735A1
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Proch, Nathan, Veloo, Doraisamy, Neo, Tian Boo
• Application Number:
  US10/961,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20060076735A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/298
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/262 Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis

Abstract

Disclosed is a wheel for a scale vehicle, the wheel comprising a first portion with a first surface and a second portion, distinct from and substantially adjacent said first portion, where said first surface is at least partially visible through at least a part of said second portion.

Claims

1. A wheel for a scale vehicle, the wheel comprising:

a first portion with a first surface; and

a second portion, distinct from and substantially adjacent said first portion, where said first surface is at least partially visible through at least a part of said second portion.

2. The wheel of claim 1 wherein said first portion and said second portion are co-molded.

3. The wheel of claim 1 wherein said first surface has a feature.

4. The wheel of claim 3 wherein said feature includes a texture.

5. The wheel of claim 3 wherein said feature includes text.

6. The wheel of claim 3 wherein said feature includes a symbol.

7. The wheel of claim 3 wherein said feature includes a flat surface.

8. The wheel of claim 3 wherein said feature includes a protrusion.

9. The wheel of claim 1 wherein said first portion and said second portion comprise a common material.

10. The wheel of claim 1 wherein said first portion comprises a first material, and said second portion comprises a second material, different from said first material.

11. The wheel of claim 1 wherein said first portion is at least part of an inner hub, and said second portion is at least part of a tire.

12. The wheel of claim 1 further comprising at least two spokes in said first material forming at least two voids.

13. The wheel of claim 1 wherein said first portion includes a through hole configured to act as a bearing surface on a shaft.

14. A toy vehicle having the wheel of claim 1.

15. A scale vehicle having the wheel of claim 1.

16. The scale vehicle of claim 15, wherein said vehicle includes a laser etched human readable code.

17. A package comprising the scale vehicle of claim 16 and a card for a card game.

18. The wheel of claim 1 wherein said second portion has a higher light transmission than said first portion.

19. The wheel of claim 18 wherein said second portion has a higher light transmission at selected frequencies than said first portion.

20. The wheel of claim 1 wherein said second portion is at least partially translucent.

21. The wheel of claim 1 wherein said second portion is at least partially transparent.

22. A wheel for a scale vehicle, the wheel comprising:

a first portion with a first surface; and

a second portion, distinct from and substantially adjacent said first portion, where a feature of said first surface is at least partially visible through at least a part of said second portion and said part of said second portion has a higher light transmissivity than said feature of said first portion.

23. The wheel of claim 22, wherein said part of said second portion is a first color and said first surface is a different color.

24. The wheel of claim 22, wherein the second portion extends around the first portion.

25. The wheel of claim 22, wherein the second portion is an outer portion and the first portion is an inner portion.

26. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a wheel for a scale vehicle, the wheel comprising;

an inner portion comprising a first material suitable for a bearing surface; and

an outer portion, distinct from said inner portion, comprising a second, translucent, material.

27. The article of claim 26 wherein said first portion and said second portion comprise a common material.

28. The article of claim 26 wherein said first portion comprises a first material, and said second portion comprises a second material, different from said first material.

29. The article of claim 26, wherein said vehicle includes a laser etched human readable code.

30. A package comprising the article of claim 26 and a card for a card game, said card game having elements that relate to said scale vehicle.

31. The article of claim 26 wherein said second portion has a higher light transmission than said first portion.

32. The article of claim 26 wherein a feature of said inner portion is visible through said outer portion, and said feature includes at least one of a protrusion or a recess.

33. A process of manufacturing a wheel for a scale vehicle, comprising:

forming a first portion comprising a first material, said first portion having a feature; and

forming a second portion comprising a second material, said second portion positioned substantially around said first portion, said second material having a higher light transmissivity than said first material so that said feature is visible through said second portion.

34. The process of claim 33 wherein said first portion has a hole therethrough, said hole configured to act as a bearing surface for a shaft.

35. The process of claim 33 wherein said first portion and said second portion are co-molded.

36. A process, comprising:

co-molding a plastic translucent outer portion and a plastic inner portion to form a wheel for a toy vehicle.

37. The process of claim 36 further comprising laser etching a human readable code on said toy vehicle, where said code can be used with an electronic interface device to provide content related to said toy vehicle based on said code.

38. The process of claim 36 wherein said inner and outer portion are co-molded in a single molding step.

39. A wheel for a scale vehicle comprising:

a first portion defining a wheel; and

a second portion defining an outer portion of the wheel; and

a means for viewing the first portion through the second portion.