ROCKER ARM ASSEMBLY FOR A MODEL VEHICLE

• US 20090036021A1
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Traxxas LP (Traxxas)
• Original Assignee: Traxxas LP (Traxxas)
• Inventors: Lampert, Jon Kenneth, Byers, Brent Whitfield, Anderson, Clark David
• Granted Patent: US 7,887,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/469
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/26 Details; Accessories drive mechanisms A63H29/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49464 Assembling of gear into force transmitting device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49465 Gear mounting

Abstract

A rocker arm for a model vehicle is provided, comprising a first portion and second portion each having an input and an output arm and each having an opening for receiving a pivot member about which the portions rotate. The first and second portions are secured for rotation together about a rotational axis through the respective openings and are spaced apart generally along the rotational axis. The rocker arm further comprises a suspension input coupling member that extends between the input arms of the first and second portions, where the input arms are spaced along the input coupling member, and a suspension output coupling member that extends between the outputs arms of the first and second portions, where the output arms are spaced along the output coupling member.

Claims

1. A rocker arm for a model vehicle, comprising:

a first portion of the rocker arm, the first portion having a pivot opening for receiving a pivot member about which the first portion rotates, an input arm extending from the pivot opening, and an output arm extending from the pivot opening;

a second portion of the rocker arm, the second portion having a pivot opening for receiving a pivot member about which the second portion rotates, an input arm extending from the pivot opening, and an output arm extending from the pivot opening;

wherein the first portion and second portion of the rocker arm are secured for rotation together about a rotational axis extending through the respective pivot openings of the first and second portions;

wherein the input arms of the first and second portions of the rocker arm are spaced apart in the general direction of the rotational axis;

wherein the output arms of the first and second portions of the rocker arm are spaced apart in the general direction of the rotational axis;

a suspension input coupling member extending between the input arms of the first and second portions, the input arms of the first and second portions spaced apart along the suspension input coupling member; and

a suspension output coupling member extending between the output arms of the first and second portions, the output arms of the first and second portions spaced apart along the suspension output coupling member.

2. The rocker arm of claim 1, wherein the suspension input coupling member is configured to couple to a push rod.

3. The rocker arm of claim 1, wherein the suspension output coupling member is configured to couple to a damper.

4. The rocker arm of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions of the rocker arm seat together at one or more seating surfaces adjacent the pivot openings of the first and second portions.

5. The rocker arm of claim 1, further comprising at least one boss extending between the first and second portions of the rocker arm, the at least one boss limiting relative rotation of the first and second portions.

6. The rocker arm of claim 4, wherein the seating surfaces comprise the at least one boss limiting relative rotation of the first and second portions of the rocker arm.

7. The rocker arm of claim 5, wherein the at least one boss couples the first and second portions of the rocker arm at one or more locations spaced from the pivot openings.

8. The rocker arm of claim 1, further comprising at least one boss extending between the first and second portions of the rocker arm at a location spaced from the pivot openings to resist buckling of at least one of the first and second portions.

9. The rocker arm of claim 1, wherein the suspension input and output coupling members each comprise respective input and output screws, wherein the input and output arms of the first and second portions of the rocker arm each have a respective input and output aperture spaced from the respective pivot opening, and wherein one end of the input screw threadably engages at least one input aperture of the first and second portions and one end of the output screw threadably engages at least one output aperture of the first and second portions.

10. The rocker arm of claim 1, wherein the suspension input and output coupling members couple the rocker arm to a ball joint of a push rod and a ball joint of a damper.

11. The rocker arm of claim 1, wherein the suspension input coupling member couples the rocker arm to a push rod and the suspension output coupling member couples the rocker arm to a damper.

12. The rocker arm of claim 11, wherein the suspension input and output coupling members allow both pivoting and rotation of the push rod and damper relative to the rocker arm.

13. The rocker arm of claim 1, further comprising a ball bearing secured within each pivot opening of the first and second portions of the rocker arm.

14. The rocker arm of claim 1, wherein the input and output arms of the first and second portions of the rocker arm support the respective suspension input and output coupling members in double-shear.

15. The rocker arm of claim 10, wherein the input and output arms of the first and second portions of the rocker arm each have respective input and output apertures spaced from the respective pivot opening, wherein the suspension input and output coupling members are secured to the first and second portions of the rocker arm at the apertures, wherein the suspension input and output coupling members couple the rocker arm to a ball joint of a push rod and a ball joint of a damper, and further comprising at least one raised boss surrounding at least a portion of at least one of the apertures of the first and second portions of the rocker arm, for engaging at least a portion of at least one of the ball joints.

16. The rocker arm of claim 1, further comprising a web extending between the input and output arms of at least one of the first and second portions of the rocker arm.