Hopping mechanism for model car

• US 6,036,575 A
• Filed: 01/19/1999
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: J. Lloyd International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Craft House Corporation
• Inventors: Rehkemper, Steven F., Rehkemper, Jeffrey G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Muir, D. Neal
• Application Number:
  US09/233,673
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 446/437, 446/431, 446/443, 446/448, 446/454, 446/461, 446/460, 446/463, 446/466
• US Class Current: 446/466
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/004 Stunt-cars, e.g. lifting front wheels, roll-over or invertible cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/262 Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/00 Remote-control arrangements specially adapted for toys, e.g. for toy vehicles steering mechanisms for toy vehicles A63H17/36; for model railways A63H19/24, A63H19/28

Abstract

A model car having a mechanism driven by a reversible electric motor for selectively raising and lowering the front or rear of the car.

Claims

1. A model car assembly including:

a chassis;

a first set of ground engaging wheels;

a second set of ground engaging wheels;

a first set of axle arms having outer and inner ends, said axle arms rotatably receiving said first set of ground engaging wheels at the outer ends of said first set of axle arms;

a first pivotal mounting means intermediate the outer and inner ends of said first set of axle arms for pivotally mounting said first set of axle arms to said chassis;

a second set of axle arms having outer and inner ends, said axle arms rotatably receiving said second set of ground engaging wheels at the outer ends of said second set of axle arms;

a second pivotal mounting means intermediate the outer and inner ends of said second set of axle arms for pivotally mounting said second set of axle arms to said chassis;

a reversible drive motor;

a first cam member engaging said first set of axle arms between inner end thereof and said first pivotal mounting means;

a second cam member engaging said second set of axle arms between the inner end thereof and said second pivotal mounting means; and

a gear train coupled to said drive motor to drive said first cam member when caused to operate in a first direction and to drive said second cam member when caused to operate in a direction opposite to the first direction.

2. A model car assembly including:

a chassis;

a first set of arms having outer and inner ends, said arms receiving ground engaging means at the outer ends thereof;

a first pivotal mounting intermediate the outer and inner ends of said first set of arms for pivotally mounting said first set of arms to said chassis;

a second set of arms having outer and inner ends, said arms receiving ground engaging means at the outer ends thereof;

a second pivotal mounting intermediate the outer and inner ends of said second set of arms for pivotally mounting said second set of arms to said chassis;

a reversible drive motor;

a first cam member engaging said first set of arms between inner end thereof and said first pivotal mounting;

a second cam member engaging said second set of arms between the inner end thereof and said second pivotal mounting; and

a gear train coupled to said drive motor to drive said first cam member when caused to operate in a first direction and to drive said second cam member when caused to operate in a direction opposite to the first direction.

3. A model car assembly including:

a chassis having a first end and a second end;

a first arm pivotally mounted to said chassis;

a second arm pivotally mounted to said chassis;

a reversible drive motor having switch means for selectively driving said motor in a first direction or a second direction;

a first cam member coupled to said chassis and engaging said first arm;

a second cam member coupled to said chassis and engaging said second arm; and

a gear train coupling said drive motor to said first cam member and said second cam member whereby energization of said motor in a first direction effectively drives said first cam member and energization of said motor in a second direction effectively drives said second cam member to selectively cause upward movement of the first end and the second end of said chassis.