Toy fork lift vehicle with improved steering

• US 5,989,096 A
• Filed: 02/11/1997
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rokenbok Toy Company
• Original Assignee: Rokenbok Toy Company
• Inventors: Drechny, Jon M., Barton, William M., Pogue, Lonnie C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carlson, Jeffrey D.
• Application Number:
  US08/797,190
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 446/424, 446/425, 446/427, 446/434, 446/435, 446/441, 446/454, 446/455, 446/456
• US Class Current: 446/425
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/12 with cranes, winches or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/3044 Loading stations, e.g. with conveyors, elevators, cranes cranes, winches or the like per se A63H17/12

Abstract

A remotely-controllable motorized toy vehicle having a highly-maneuverable skid steering system driven by single or dual motors, having a separately motorized lift device pivotally secured to the chassis of the vehicle operative to lift and transport transportable elements, and also having an automatic tow hitch mechanism. The lift and hitching mechanism is coupled to a motorized lift gear train which provides for the sequential actuation of the lift for lifting and transport of the transportable elements and acutation of the hitch mechanism for hitching and unhitching towed vehicles. The vehicle is constructed with a particular wheel track to wheel base ratio providing improved skid steering as well as enhanced manueverability and stability. The mechanisms and gear trains have proper ratios and dimensions providing for the proper sequence of hitch actuation during upward and downward movement of the lift device whereby the hitch is operative only upon extended upward operation of the lift. The remote central control device or station being capable of controlling a plurality of vehicles with control inputs from a plurality of operators.

Claims

1. In combination in a toy vehicle for providing a controlled coupling of the toy vehicle to a movable member,

a chassis,

a first axle mounted on the chassis and having first and second opposite ends,

a second axle mounted on the chassis and having first and second opposite ends,

the distance between the first and second opposite ends defining a wheelbase for the vehicle,

first wheels respectively disposed on the first and second axles in a longitudinal direction at the first end of the axles,

second wheels respectively disposed on the first and second axles in the longitudinal direction at the second ends of the axles,

the distance between the first and the second wheels on each of the axles defining a track,

a first motor having first and second modes of operation and operatively coupled to the first wheels for rotating the first wheels in a first direction in the first mode of operation and for rotating the first wheels in a second direction in the second mode of operation,

a second motor having first and second modes of operation and operatively coupled to the second wheels for rotating the second wheels in the first direction in the first mode of operation and for rotating the second wheels in the second direction in the second mode of operation,

a controller operatively coupled to the first and second motors for producing a forward movement of the vehicle with the first and second motors rotating in the first direction, for producing a rearward movement of the wheels with the first and second motors rotating in the rearward direction, for producing a turning of the vehicle with only one of the motors rotating and for producing a skid steering of the vehicle with one of the motors rotating in the first direction and the other motor rotating in the second direction,

a hitch assembly mounted on the vehicle for attaching the toy vehicle to the movable member,

coupling members responsive to the movement of the fork arms for providing a controlled attachment, and detachment, of the hitch assembly to, and from, the movable member, and

the track and the wheel base in the vehicle having a particular ratio to facilitate stable operation of the vehicle in the forward and rearward movements of the vehicle in the turning of the vehicle and in the skid steering of the vehicle.

2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1,

the ratio of the track to the wheel base in the vehicle being approximately 1.5.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 for use with transportable elements and a bin for receiving the transportable elements,

forklift arms mounted on the chassis at one end of the vehicle and movable in a vertical direction to transfer the transportable elements to the bin, and

a counterweight mounted on the chassis at the opposite end of the vehicle from the forklift arms to balance the weight of the forklift arms and the bin when the forklift arms lift the bin.

4. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 for use with transportable elements for receiving the transportable elements,

forklift arms mounted on the chassis and movable in a direction to lift the transportable elements, and

a third motor operatively coupled to the forklift arms for moving the forklift arms in the direction to lift the transportable elements,

a pair of gripper arms disposed in co-operative relationship with the forklift arms and movable laterally relative to each other to grip the transportable elements, and

a fourth motor operatively coupled to the gripper arms to move the gripper arms laterally to obtain a gripping of the transportable elements by the gripper arms.

5. In a combination as set forth in claim 1,

the vehicle having a particular address,

a plurality of pads each operative to provide first binary indications representing the particular address and second binary indications providing commands for operating the first and second motors in the vehicle, and

a central station for sending the first and second binary indications from the pads to the vehicle.

6. In a combination as set forth in claim 4,

the vehicle having a particular address,

a plurality of manually held pads each manually operative to provide first binary indications representing the particular address and second binary indications providing commands for operating the first, second, third and fourth motors, and

a central station for sending the first and second binary indications from the pads to the vehicle.

7. In combination in a toy vehicle for transporting transportable elements,

a chassis,

wheels mounted on the chassis for selectively moving the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly, turning the vehicle to the right or left and skid steering the vehicle to the right or left, the wheels constituting a pair of forward wheels and a pair of rearward wheels,

motors mounted on the chassis for selectively rotating the wheels to move the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly, turn the vehicle to the right and the left and skid steer the vehicle to the right and the left,

the distance between the forward and rearward wheels defining a wheelbase and the distance between the forward wheels defining a track,

the ratio of the track having a particular ratio relative to the wheelbase to provide for a stable operation of the vehicle even during the skid turning of the vehicle,

pairs of forklift arms mounted on the vehicle to define a substantially parallel four bar assembly and movable to lift and lower the transportable elements,

a counterweight mounted on the vehicle to balance the forklift arms in lifting the transportable elements, and

an additional motor operatively coupled to the pairs of the forklift arms to move the forklift arms in a vertical direction,

a pair of gripper arms disposed on the forklift arms and movable in a lateral direction relative to each other to grip or release the transportable elements, and

a further motor operatively coupled to the gripper arms to move the gripper arms in the lateral direction relative to each other,

a hitch assembly mounted on the vehicle for attaching the toy vehicle to the movable member, and

coupling members responsive to the vertical movement of the fork arms in the substantially parallel four bar assembly for providing a controlled attachment and detachment of the hitch assembly to, and from, the movable member.

8. In combination as set forth in claim 7,

the vehicle having an individual address, the vehicle constituting one of a plurality of vehicles each having an individual address,

a plurality of pads each manually operable to provide first binary indications representing any one of the individual addresses of the vehicles not addressed by any of the other pads and second binary indications providing commands for operating the addressed vehicles, and

a central station for sending the first and second binary indications from each of the pads to the vehicles.

14. In a combination as set forth in claim 7,

a counterweight disposed on the vehicle to balance the vehicle even when the fork lift arms are moving upwardly with the gripper arms gripping the transportable element.

9. In combination in a toy vehicle for transporting transportable elements and for coupling the vehicle to a movable member for movement of the movable member with the vehicle,

a chassis,

a pair of axles mounted on the chassis in a longitudinally displaced relationship to each other,

wheels mounted on the opposite ends of each of the axles in the pair,

motor means mounted on the chassis for providing selective rotations of the wheels to selectively move the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly, turn the vehicle to the right and the left and skid steer the vehicle to the right and to the left,

fork lift arms mounted on the chassis for pivotable movements upwardly and downwardly,

a gripper assembly mounted on the fork lift arms and including a pair of gripper arms movable in a lateral direction relative to each other to grip and release the transportable elements,

a first motor operatively coupled to the fork lift arms for selectively moving the fork lift arms upwardly and downwardly,

a second motor operatively coupled to the gripper assembly for selectively moving the gripper arms in the opposite lateral directions, and

a hitch assembly mounted on the chassis and responsive to the upward and downward movements of the fork lift arms to selectively hitch and unhitch the hitch assembly to the movable member.

10. In a combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein

the fork lift arms are disposed in a spaced relationship to define a substantially parallel four bar assembly and are movable upwardly and downwardly while maintaining the substantially parallel four bar relationship, and

a counterweight disposed on the vehicle to balance the vehicle even when the fork lift arms are moving upwardly in the vertical direction with the gripper arms gripping a transportable element.

11. In a combination as set forth in claim 9,

the gripper arms being operatively coupled to the fork lift arms and the gripper arms being movable laterally in opposite directions in accordance with the operation of the second motor to grip the transportable elements upon a movement of the gripper arms toward each other and to release the transportable elements upon a movement of the gripper arms away from each other.

12. In a combination as set forth in claim 9,

the hitch assembly being responsive to an upward movement of the fork lift arms to unhitch the hitch assembly from the movable member and being responsive to a downward movement of the movable member to hitch the assembly to the movable member.

13. In a combination as set forth in claim 10,

the distance between the wheels on the same axles defining a track and the distance between the axles defining a wheel base and the ratio of the track to the wheel base having a particular value to maintain stability in the vehicle even when the vehicle is skid turning.

15. In a combination as set forth in claim 13,

the gripper arms being operatively coupled to the fork lift arms and including a pair of gripper arms movable laterally in opposite directions in accordance with the operation of the second motor to grip the transportable elements upon a movement of the gripper arms toward each other and to release the transportable elements upon a movement of the gripper arms away from each other,

the hitch assembly being responsive to an upward movement of the fork lifts to unhitch the hitch assembly from the movable member and being responsive to a downward movement of the movable member to hitch the assembly to the movable member, and

a counterweight disposed on the vehicle to balance the vehicle even when the fork arms are moving upwardly with the gripper arms gripping the transportable element.

16. In a combination as set forth in claim 15,

the particular value for the ratio between the value of the track and the value of the wheelbase being approximately 1.5.

17. In a combination as set forth in claim 16,

the fork lift arms comprising two (2) pairs of fork lift arms, each pair of the fork lift arms being pivotable on shafts in a common plane, the shafts for each pair of the fork lift arms being displaced from the shafts for the other pair of the fork lift arms and the shafts for the pairs of the fork lift arms being disposed to provide and maintain the fork lift arms in the substantially parallel four bar assembly during the upward and downward movements of the fork lift arms.

18. In a combination as set forth in claim 9,

the vehicle having a particular address,

a plurality of manually operable hand held pads each manually operable to provide first binary indications representing the particular address and second binary indications providing commands for operating the motor means, the first motor and the second motor, and

a central station for sending the first and second binary indications from each of the pads to the vehicle.

19. In combination in a toy vehicle for transporting transportable elements and for providing a controlled coupling of the toy vehicle to a movable member,

a chassis,

a pair of axles mounted on the chassis in a longitudinally displaced relationship to each other,

wheels mounted on the opposite sides of each of the axles in the pair,

motor means mounted on the chassis and operatively coupled to the wheels for providing selective rotations of the wheels to selectively move the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly, turn the vehicle to the right and the left and skid steer the vehicle to the right and the left,

fork lift arms mounted on the chassis for pivotable movements upwardly and downwardly, the fork lift arms being disposed in a spaced relationship to define a substantially parallel four bar assembly and being movable upwardly and downwardly while maintaining the substantially parallel four bar relationship,

a first motor operatively coupled to the fork lift arms for selectively moving the fork lift arms upwardly and downwardly,

a gripper assembly mounted on the fork lift arms and including a pair of gripper arms for movement in a lateral direction to grip and release the transportable elements,

a second motor operatively coupled to the gripper assembly for selectively moving the gripper arms in opposite lateral directions relative to each other to grip and release the transportable elements, and

a hitch assembly mounted on the chassis and responsive to the upward and downward movements of the fork lift arms to selectively hitch and unhitch the hitch assembly to the movable member.

20. In a combination as set forth in claim 19,

the fork lift arms being disposed at one end of the vehicle, and

a counterweight disposed on the vehicle at the opposite end of the vehicle to balance the effect on the vehicle of moving the fork lift arms upwardly with the transportable elements gripped by the gripper arms.

21. In a combination as set forth in claim 20,

the distance between the wheels on the same axle being defining a track and the distance between the axles being defining a wheelbase and the ratio of the track to the wheelbase being approximately 1.5.

22. In a combination as set forth in claim 19,

the vehicle having a particular address,

a plurality of manually hands held pads each manually operative to provide first binary indications representing the particular address and second binary indications providing commands for operating the motor means, the first motor and the second motor, and

a central station for sending the first and second binary indications from the pads to the vehicle.

23. In combination:

a remotely-controlled toy lift vehicle including an elongated chassis;

a first work arm mounted rotationally from a first location on said chassis for rotation from a first to second position;

a driver arm mounted movably from a second location on said chassis;

a drive motor mounted on said chassis; and

a drive mechanism coupled between said motor and said first arm and said driver arm and operative, upon activation of said motor for rotation in one direction, to rotate said first arm through a predetermined arc from said first position to a selected position without moving said drive arm, and further operative, upon continued rotation of said motor in said one direction, to move said driver arm.

24. In combination:

a remotely-controlled toy vehicle including a chassis having a longitudinal track;

an elongated linkage member received slidably in said track and formed with forward and rearward extremities configured with a forward follower and a rearward catch;

a first work arm mounted rotatably on one end from a forward portion of said chassis and projecting therefrom to be rotated between first and second positions;

a drive motor on said chassis;

a gear train coupled with said motor and including a gear meshed with said linkage member and operative upon activation of said motor in one direction, to initially rotate said first arm through a predetermined arc while leaving said linkage member at rest and to, upon continued activation of said motor in said one direction, drive said linkage member in an activation direction in said track; and

a driver arm movably mounted rearwardly on said chassis and including a drive arm in the path of said catch to be moved by said linkage member as it moves forwardly and rearwardly in said track.

25. In combination as recited in claim 24:

said first work arm including a shaft having a cam for driving a follower positioned in the path of said cam and carried from said linkage member for movement of said linkage member in said track as said first work arm is rotated about said shaft.

26. In combination as set forth in claim 24:

said motor being operative upon activation in said one direction to rotate said first arm and drive said linkage member in said track through a predetermined path to an unhitching position, said linkage member including a catch;

a hitch pin having a drive tab movably mounted on said chassis and having a hitching position and an unhitching position; and

said driver movably mounted from said chassis and including a follower disposed in the path of said catch to, as said linkage member is moved to said unhitching position, be engaged by said catch to drive said driver from a hitching to an unhitching position, said driver further including a driver engageable with said hitch pin as said drive is rotated to said unhitching position to move said hitch pin from said hitching to said unhitching position.

27. In combination as set forth in claim 24 that includes:

a spring device coupled between said chassis and said linkage member to bias said linkage member to a rearwardly position.

28. In a combination as set forth in claim 24 including:

support wheels carrying said chassis; and

a drive motor device mounted on said chassis to drive said wheels.

29. In combination for moving a holding member and for coupling to a movable member for movement with the movable member,

a toy vehicle having a chassis,

motive means mounted on the chassis for moving the toy vehicle in different directions,

a fork lift assembly including fork lift arms mounted on the chassis for pivotable movement upwardly and downwardly relative to the chassis,

means operatively coupled to the fork lift arms for moving the fork lift arms upwardly and downwardly relative to the chassis,

a gripper assembly including a pair of gripper arms mounted on the fork lift arms for lateral movement relative to the fork lift arms and, including a pair of gripper members, the gripper assembly being supported by the fork lift arms for movement upwardly and downwardly with the fork lift arms,

means operatively coupled to the gripper arms for moving the gripper arms laterally in a first direction to provide for a retention of the holding member by the gripper members and movable laterally in a second direction opposite to the first direction to provide for a release of the holding member by the gripper members, and

a hitch assembly mounted on the chassis and responsive to the upward and downward movements of the fork lift arms to selectively hitch and unhitch the hitch assembly to the movable member.

30. In a combination as set forth in claim 29,

means included in the hitch assembly for biasing the hitch assembly to the hitched relationship with the movable member.

31. In a combination as set forth in claim 29,

the gripper assembly being operative to move the gripper arms in first opposite lateral directions relative to each other to positions providing for a gripping of the holding member by the gripper members and being operative to move the gripper arms in second opposite lateral directions relative to each other to positions providing for a release of the holding member by the gripper members.

32. In a combination as set forth in claim 29,

the fork lift assembly including first and second shafts disposed on the chassis in vertically spaced relationship to each other and including a first pair of fork lift arms mounted in the first shaft for rotation upwardly and downwardly and including a second pair of fork lift arms mounted on the second shaft for rotation upwardly and downwardly.

33. In a combination as set forth in claim 32,

each of the fork lift arms in the first and second pairs having first and second opposite ends,

the first and second shafts being operatively coupled respectively to the first ends of the first and second pairs of the fork lift arms, and

third and fourth shafts respectively coupled to the second ends of the first and second pairs of the fork lift arms, and

the gripper assembly being operatively coupled respectively to the second ends of the first and second pairs of the fork lifts arms.

34. In a combination as set forth in claim 29,

a counterweight disposed on the vehicle to balance the vehicle even when the fork lift arms are moving upwardly with the gripper members gripping the holding member.

35. In a combination as set forth in claim 30,

the gripper assembly being operative to move the gripper arms in first opposite lateral directions relative to each other to positions providing for a gripping of the holding member by the gripper members and being operative to move the gripper arms in second opposite lateral directions relative to each other to a position providing for a release of the holding member by the gripper members;

the fork lift assembly including first and second shafts disposed on the chassis in vertically spaced relationship to each other and including a first pair of fork lift arms mounted on the first shaft for rotation upwardly and downwardly and including a second pair of fork lift arms mounted on the second shaft for rotation upwardly and downwardly;

each of the fork lift arms in the first and second pairs having first and second opposite ends,

the first and second shafts being operatively coupled respectively to the first ends of the first and second pairs of the fork lift arms,

third and fourth shafts respectively coupled to the second ends of the first and second pairs of shafts,

the gripper assembly being operatively coupled respectively to the second ends of the first and second pairs of shafts, and

a counterweight disposed on the vehicle to balance the vehicle even when the fork lift arms are moving upwardly with the gripper members gripping the holding member.

36. In combination for moving a holding member and for providing a controlled coupling of the toy vehicle to a movable member,

a toy vehicle having a chassis and having a pair of axles mounted on the chassis in a longitudinally displaced relationship to each other and having wheels mounted on the opposite sides of each of the axles in the pair,

motive means mounted on the chassis and operatively coupled to the wheels for providing selective rotations of the wheels to move the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly and to turn the vehicle to the right and left,

a fork lift assembly mounted on the chassis for pivotable movement upwardly and downwardly,

first means operatively coupled to the fork lift assembly for moving the fork lift assembly upwardly and downwardly,

a gripper assembly including a pair of gripper arms mounted on the fork lift assembly for lateral movement relative to each other and relative to the fork lift assembly and including a pair of gripper members supported by the gripper arms for gripping the holding member in first lateral dispositions of the gripper arms for movement of the holding member upwardly and downwardly with the fork lift assembly and for releasing the holding member in second lateral dispositions of the gripper arms,

second means operatively coupled to the gripper assembly for moving the gripper arms laterally relative to each other and relative to the fork lift assembly to the first and second lateral dispositions of the gripper arms, and

a hitch assembly mounted on the chassis and responsive to the upward and downward movements of the fork lift arms to selectively hitch and unhitch the hitch assembly to the movable member.

37. In a combination as set forth in claim 36,

the gripper assembly being operative to move the gripper arms in first opposite lateral directions relative to each other to positions providing for a gripping of the holding member by the gripper members and the gripper arms being operative in second opposite lateral directions relative to each other to positions providing for a release of the holding member by the gripper members.

38. In a combination as set forth in claim 36,

the gripper assembly being disposed at a first end of the vehicle, and

a counterweight disposed on the vehicle at a second end opposite the first end to balance the effect produced by the movement of the gripper assembly upwardly with the holding member retained by the gripper members.

39. In a combination as set forth in claim 36,

the vehicle having a particular address,

a pad for producing signals representing the particular address of the vehicle, representing movements of the vehicle, representing movements of the fork lift assembly and representing movements of the gripper arms on the gripper assembly, and

means responsive in the vehicle to the signals produced in the pad and representing the particular address for obtaining an operation of the motive means, the first means and the second means in accordance with the signals produced in the pad.

40. In a combination as set forth in claim 36,

the fork lift assembly including shafts disposed on the chassis and including fork lift arms mounted on the shafts for rotation, the shafts and the fork lift arms being disposed relative to one another to define a parallelogram.

41. In a combination as set forth in claim 36,

the gripper arms being movable in first opposite lateral directions relative to each other to positions providing for a gripping of the holding member by the gripper members and in second opposite lateral directions relative to each other to positions providing for a release of the holding member by the gripper members.

42. In a combination as set forth in claim 37,

the gripper assembly being disposed at a first end of the vehicle,

a counterweight disposed on the vehicle at a second end opposite the first end to balance the effect produced by the movement of the gripper assembly upwardly with the holding member retained by the gripper members,

the vehicle having a particular address,

a pad for producing signals representing the particular address of the vehicle, representing movements of the vehicle, representing movements of the fork lift assembly and representing movements of the gripper arms on the gripper assembly, and

means responsive in the vehicle to the signals produced in the pad and representing the particular address for obtaining an operation of the motive means, the first means and the second means in accordance with the signals produced in the pad,

the fork lift assembly including shafts disposed on the chassis and including fork lift arms mounted on the shafts for rotation, the shafts and the fork lift arms being disposed relative to one another to define a parallelogram, and

the gripper arms being movable in first opposite lateral directions relative to each other to positions providing for a gripping of the holding member by the gripper members and in second opposite lateral directions relative to each other to positions providing for a release of the holding member by the gripper members.

43. In a combination as set forth in claim 42,

the fork lift assembly including first and second shafts rotatably disposed on the chassis, including a first pair of fork lift arms having first and second ends and disposed at the first ends on the first shaft and, including a second pair of fork lift arms having first and second ends and disposed at the first ends on the second shaft,

the gripper arms being disposed on the second ends of the first and second pairs of fork lift arms,

the first and second shafts and the first and second pairs of the fork lift arms defining parallelogram relationships.

44. In combination for coupling a movable member constructed to be coupled by a hitch pin for movement,

a vehicle having a chassis and having wheels mounted on the chassis for rotation,

motive means for rotating the wheels to provide for movements of the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly and to provide for turning movements of the vehicle in opposition directions,

a shaft mounted on the chassis for rotation in first and second opposite directions,

a fork lift assembly operatively coupled to the shaft for movement of the fork lift assembly upwardly and downwardly in accordance with the rotation of the shaft respectively in the first and second opposite directions, and

a hitch pin assembly constructed to receive a hitch pin and responsive to the rotation of the shaft in the first direction for providing for a movement of the hitch pin into coupled relationship with the movable member and responsive to the rotation of the shaft in the second direction for providing for a movement of the hitch pin into a decoupled relationship with the movable member for a movement of the vehicle and the movable member independently of each other.

45. In a combination as set forth in claim 44,

means in the hitch pin assembly for biasing the hitch pin assembly to the decoupled relationship with respect to the movable member.

46. In a combination as set forth in claim 44,

a cam coupled to the shaft for rotation with the shaft, means in the hitch assembly for biasing the hitch assembly to the unhitched relationship, and

means responsive to the rotation of the cam in a particular direction for freeing the hitch assembly to move the hitch pin against the biasing action of the biasing means into the coupled relationship with the movable member.

47. In a combination as set forth in claim 44,

a coupling member,

a cam rotatable with the shaft and releasably coupled to the coupling member to provide for a release of the cam from the coupling member upon the rotation of the cam in a particular direction,

biasing means,

a linkage plate operatively coupled to the biasing means and the coupling member for obtaining a movement of the linkage plate by the biasing member upon the release of the cam from the coupling member, and

means operatively coupled to the linkage plate for providing for a movement of the hitch pin relative to the movable member in accordance with the movement of the linkage plate by the biasing means.

48. In a combination as recited in claim 44,

the fork lift assembly including shafts rotatably mounted on the chassis and a fork lift arm rotatable with the shaft and defining at least one parallelogram with the shaft.

49. In a combination as set forth in claim 48,

a coupling member,

a cam rotatable with the shaft and releasably coupled to the coupling member to provide for a release of the cam from the coupling member upon the rotation of the cam in a particular direction,

biasing means,

a linkage plate operatively coupled to the biasing means and the coupling member for obtaining a movement of the linkage plate by the biasing member upon the release of the cam from the coupling member, and

means operatively coupled to the linkage plate for providing for a movement of the hitch pin relative to the movable member in accordance with the movement of the linkage plate by the biasing means.

50. In a combination as set forth in claim 47,

the fork lift assembly including first and second shafts rotatably disposed on the chassis,

a first pair of fork lift arms having first and second ends and disposed at the first ends of the first shaft,

a second pair of fork lift arms having first and second ends and disposed at the first ends on the second shaft,

the gripper arms being disposed on the second ends of the first and second pairs of the fork lift arms, and

the first and second shafts and the first and second pairs of the fork lift arms defining parallelogram relationships.

51. In combination in a toy vehicle for transporting transportable elements and for coupling the vehicle to a movable member,

a chassis,

a pair of axles mounted on the chassis in a longitudinally displaced relationship to each other,

wheels mounted on the opposite ends of each of the axles in the pair, the distance between the pair of axles defining a wheelbase and the distance between the wheels on each of the axles defining a track,

motor means mounted on the chassis for providing selective rotations of the wheels to selectively move the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly, turn the vehicle to the right and the left and skid steer the vehicle to the right and to the left,

a fork lift assembly mounted on the chassis and including fork lift arms for pivotable movements upwardly and downwardly,

a gripper assembly mounted on the fork lift arms and including a pair of gripper arms movable in a lateral direction relative to each other to grip and release the transportable elements,

a first motor operatively coupled to the fork lift assembly for selectively moving the fork lift arms upwardly and downwardly,

a second motor operatively coupled to the gripper assembly for selectively moving the gripper arms in the opposite lateral directions,

a counter weight mounted on the chassis at the opposite end of the vehicle from the forklift arms to balance the weight of the forklift arms in moving upwardly and downwardly,

a hitch assembly mounted on the chassis and including coupling members responsive to the upward and downward movements of the fork lift arms to selectively hitch and unhitch the hitch assembly to the movable member,

the vehicle having a particular address,

a plurality of hand held pads each manually operative to provide first binary indications representing the particular address and second binary indications providing commands for operating the motor means, the first motor and the second motor, and

a central station for sending the first and second binary indications from the pads to the vehicle.

52. In a combination as set forth in claim 51,

the ratio of the track to the wheel base being approximately 1.5.

53. In combination for use with a holding member and for coupling to a movable member for movement with the movable member,

a toy vehicle having a chassis and axles mounted on the chassis in longitudinally displaced relationship and wheels mounted on each of the axles in laterally displaced relationship,

first motive means mounted on the chassis for moving the toy vehicle in different directions including spin turning the vehicle,

a fork lift assembly including fork lift arms mounted on the chassis for pivotable movement upwardly and downwardly relative to the chassis,

second motive means operatively coupled to the fork lift arms for moving the fork lift arms upwardly and downwardly relative to the chassis,

a gripper assembly supported by the fork lift arms for movement upwardly and downwardly with the fork lift arms relative to the chassis, the gripper assembly including a pair of gripper arms mounted on the fork lift arms for lateral movement relative to the fork lift arms,

third motive means operatively coupled to the gripper arms for moving the gripper arms laterally in a first direction to provide for a retention of the holding member by the gripper arms and movable laterally in a second direction opposite to the first direction to provide for a release of the holding member by the gripper arms,

a hitch assembly mounted on the chassis and responsive to the upward and downward movements of the fork lift arms to selectively hitch and unhitch the hitch assembly to the movable member,

a counterweight disposed on the vehicle to balance the weight of the fork lift arms in moving upwardly and downwardly,

the distance between the wheels on each axle defining a track and the distance between the axles defining a wheel base and the ratio of the track to the wheel having a value to maintain stability in the vehicle even when the vehicle is skid turning.

54. In a combination as set forth in claim 53,

the ratio of the track to the wheel base being approximately 1.5.

55. In combination for use with a holding member and for coupling to a movable member for movement with the movable member,

a toy vehicle having a chassis and axles mounted on the chassis in longitudinally displaced relationship and wheels mounted on the axles in laterally displaced relationship,

first motive means mounted on the chassis for moving the toy vehicle in different directions,

a fork lift assembly including fork lift arms mounted on the chassis for pivotable movement upwardly and downwardly relative to the chassis,

second motive means operatively coupled to the fork lift arms for moving the fork lift arms upwardly and downwardly relative to the chassis,

a gripper assembly supported by the fork lift arms for movement upwardly and downwardly with the fork lift arms relative to the chassis, the gripper assembly including a pair of gripper arms mounted on the fork lift arms for lateral movement relative to the fork lift arms,

third motive means operatively coupled to the gripper arms for moving the gripper arms laterally in a first direction to provide for a retention of the holding member by the gripper arms and movable laterally in a second direction opposite to the first direction to provide for a release of the holding member by the gripper arms,

a hitch assembly mounted on the chassis and responsive to the upward and downward movements of the fork lift arms to selectively hitch and unhitch the hitch assembly to the movable member,

a counterweight disposed on the vehicle to balance the weight of the fork lift arms when the fork lift arms are moving upwardly and downwardly,

the distance between the wheels on each axle defining a track and the distance between the axles defining a wheel base and the ratio of the track to the wheel having a value to maintain stability in the vehicle even when the vehicle is skid turning,

the vehicle having a particular address, and

means for addressing the vehicle with the particular address and for providing commands to the vehicle for selectively operating the first, second and third motive means to move the vehicle in any direction including skid turning the vehicle, to move the lift arms upwardly and downwardly relative to the vehicle and to move the gripper arms selectively in the first and second lateral directions.

56. In a combination as set forth in claim 55,

the fork lift arms including first and second pairs disposed relative to one another to define a four-bar parallelogram.

57. In a combination as set forth in claim 55,

the counterweight being disposed in longitudinally displaced relationship to the fork lift arms and the gripper arms and being displaced rearwardly from the fork lift arms and the gripper arms.

58. In a combination as set forth in claim 55, including,

the fork lift assembly including shafts disposed on the chassis and including fork lift arms mounted on the shafts for rotation and the fork lift arms and the shafts being disposed relative to one another to define a parallelogram,

a pad for producing signals representing the particular address, representing desired movements of the vehicle, representing desired movements of the fork lift arms in the fork lift assembly and representing desired movements of the gripper arms on the gripper assembly, and

means responsive in the vehicle to the signals produced in the pad and representing the particular address for obtaining the desired operation of the first motive means for the vehicle, the second motive means for the fork lift arms and the third motive means for the gripper arms.

59. In a combination as set forth in claim 58,

the ratio of the track to the wheel base being approximately 1.5.