Rechargeable system for movable toy

• US 6,762,586 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silverlit Toys Manufactory Limited (Silverlit Toys)
• Original Assignee: Silverlit Toys Manufactory Limited (Silverlit Toys)
• Inventors: Choi, Kei Fung
• Primary Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US10/290,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20040090206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 446/429, 446/275, 446/433, 446/435, 463/59, 463/62
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 18/12 Electric current supply to toy vehicles through the track
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/22 Electric drives power supply through track A63H18/12
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/20 Vehicles specially adapted for children, e.g. toy vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/32 by charging in short intervals along the itinerary, e.g. during short stops
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A remote controlled toy vehicle with a rechargable battery operates with rechargeable system. A station has an outlet on or in adjacency with a surface on which the remotely controllable toy is movable, and electrical outlet contacts. The remote controlled toy has inlet contacts for electrically engaging the outlet contacts when steered to the station. When the toy is steered under remote control to the station and the outlet contacts and inlet contacts electrically engage, a rechargeable current is passible from the electrical outlet contacts to the electrical inlet contacts. The station is part of a bypass track and the toy vehicle is normally directed to travel on the track and bypass the station.

Claims

1. A rechargeable system for a movable toy comprising:

a) a station having electrical station contacts for receiving a movable toy;

b) a toy having electrical toy contacts for electrically longitudinally engaging the station contacts when steered to the station;

c) a mechanism for steering the toy to engage the station contacts;

d) a rechargeable battery with the toy for powering motive means with the toy to move the toy;

e) a receiver with the toy for receiving a programming signal to effect operation of the steering mechanism such that the toy is steerable by remote control;

f) a transmitter for sending a programmable signal to the receiver; and

g) the toy being steerable under remote control to the station by signals from the transmitter to the receiver whereby the station contacts and toy contacts electrically engage along side portions of the station contacts and the toy contacts by way of a longitudinal movement of the toy contacts with respect to the station contacts, and a rechargeable current is passible from the station contacts to the toy contacts, thereby enabling recharging of the rechargeable battery.

3. A rechargeable system as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein steering of the toy includes means for receiving at least one of an RF, programmable, voice, or IF controllable signal from a remote controller operable by a user of the toy.

4. A chargeable system as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the toy is a wheeled vehicle.

5. A rechargeable system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the wheeled vehicle is a 4-wheeled vehicle.

6. A rechargeable system as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein there are spaced toy contacts longitudinally directed along at least a part of the length of a toy vehicle, and wherein the toy contacts are located below a base for the toy vehicle.

7. A rechargeable system as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the station contacts an located on or along the longitudinal rail, the station contacts being directed longitudinally, and the rail being for receiving a vehicle steered to the station with the rail being located longitudinally and substantially centrally between transverse wheels of the vehicle.

8. A rechargeable system as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 including biasing means relatively between the electrical station contacts and the electrical toy contacts on the toy such that the contacts are urged relatively towards each other thereby to facilitate effective contact with each other when in adjacency to each other.

9. A rechargeable system as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 including a stop for stopping the toy movement when the toy is in a recharge mode and including means for deactivating the stop and permitting the toy to move from the station.

10. A rechargeable system as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the station is located as part of a track, and is located on a bypass to a normal track route, and the toy is a vehicle normally directed to travel on the track and bypass the station, and wherein the steering of the vehicle to the bypass permits the vehicle to be received at the station.

11. A rechargeable system as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the toy is a vehicle including at least one gearbox for operating at least one motive means on the toy, the motive means including a wheel for driving the vehicle into and from the station.

12. A rechargeable system as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 including means to permit multiple vehicles, preferably serially, to enter the station, and wherein when a second vehicle enters the station for recharging a first vehicle is urged to exit the station.

2. A rechargeable system for a movable toy comprising:

a) a station having outlet on or in adjacency with a surface on which a movable toy is movable, the station having an electrical station contacts;

b) a toy having electrical toy contacts for electrically longitudinally engaging the station contacts when steered to the station;

c) a mechanism for steering the toy to engage the station contacts;

d) a rechargeable battery with the toy for powering motive means with the toy to move the toy on the surface; and

e) the arrangement being such that when the toy is steered to the station, the station contacts and the toy contacts electrically engage along side portions of the station contacts and the toy contacts by way of a longitudinal movement of the toy contacts with respect to the station contacts, and a rechargeable current is passible from the station contacts to the toy contacts, thereby enabling recharging of the rechargeable battery.

13. A rechargeable system for a movable toy vehicle comprising:

a) a station having electrical station contacts, and means for providing recharging power through the outlets;

b) a toy vehicle having toy contacts for electrically longitudinally engaging the station contacts when steered to the station and thereby to receive the recharging power;

c) the toy vehicle being steerable under remote control through a transmitter receiver system thereby to engage the station contacts along side portions of the station contacts and the toy contacts by way of a longitudinal movement of the toy contacts with respect to the station contacts; and

d) a rechargeable battery with the toy vehicle for powering motive means to move the toy.

15. A rechargeable system as claimed in either claim 13 or 14 wherein steering of the toy includes means for receiving at least one of an RF, programmable, voice, or IF controllable signal from a remote controller operable by a user of the toy.

16. A rechargeable system as claimed in either claim 13 or 14 wherein the toy is a 4-wheeled vehicle, and wherein the toy vehicle includes at least one gearbox for operating at least on motive means on the toy, and the motive means includes a wheel for driving the vehicle into and from the station.

17. A rechargeable system as claimed in either claim 13 or 14 including biasing means relatively between the station contacts and the toy contacts on the toy such that the contacts are urged relatively towards each other thereby to facilitate effective contact with each other when in adjacency to each other.

18. A rechargeable system as claimed in either claim 13 or 14 wherein the station is located as part of a track and the toy vehicle is normally directed to travel on the track and bypass the station, and wherein the steering of the vehicle to the bypass permits the vehicle to be received at the station.

14. A rechargeable system for a movable toy vehicle comprising:

a) a station having an outlet on or in adjacency with a surface on which a movable toy vehicle is movable, the station having electrical station contacts located on or along a longitudinal rail;

b) a toy vehicle having toy contacts for electrically longitudinally engaging the station contacts when steered to the station;

c) a mechanism for steering the toy vehicle to engage the station contacts;

d) a rechargeable battery with the toy vehicle for powering motive means with the toy to move the toy on the surface;

e) spaced toy contacts longitudinally directed along at least a part of the length of a toy vehicle, and wherein the toy contacts are located below a base for the toy vehicle; and

f) the station contacts being directed longitudinally, and the rail being for receiving the toy vehicle when steered to the station with the rail being located longitudinally and substantially centrally between transverse wheels of the vehicle.

19. A toy with a rechargeable battery for operating with rechargeable system for the toy vehicle comprising:

a) a station having an outlet on or in adjacency with a surface on which a toy is movable, the station having electrical station contacts;

b) a toy having electrical toy contacts for electrically longitudinally engaging the station contacts when steered to the station;

c) a mechanism for steering the toy to engage the electrical station contacts; and

d) the arrangement being such that when the toy is steered to the station and the station contacts and toy contacts electrically engage along side portions of the station contacts and the toy contacts by way of a longitudinal movement of the toy contacts with respect to the station contacts, a rechargeable current is passible from the station contacts to the toy contacts, thereby enabling recharging of the rechargeable battery.

20. A toy vehicle and rechargeable system as claimed in claim 19 wherein steering of the toy vehicle includes means for receiving at least one of and RF, programmable, voice, or IF controllable signal from a remote controller operable by a user of the toy.

21. A rechargeable system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the toy is a 4-wheeled vehicle, and wherein the toy vehicle includes at least one gearbox for operating at least one motive means on the toy, and the motive means includes a wheel for driving the vehicle into and from the station.

22. A rechargeable system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the station is located as part of a track, and is located on a bypass to a normal track route, and the toy vehicle is normally directed to travel on the track and bypass the station, and wherein the steering of the vehicle to the bypass permits the vehicle to be received at the station wherein steering of the toy includes means for receiving at least one of an RF, programmable, voice, or IF controllable signal from a remote controller operable by a user of the toy.

23. A toy vehicle with a rechargeable battery for operating with rechargeable system for the toy vehicle comprising:

a) a station having an outlet on or in adjacency with a surface on which a toy is movable, the station having an electrical station contacts;

b) a toy having electrical toy contacts for electrically longitudinally engaging the station contacts when steered to the station;

c) a mechanism for steering the toy to engage the electrical station contacts;

d) the arrangement being such that when the toy is steered to the station, the station contacts and toy contacts electrically engage along side portions of the station contacts and the toy contacts by way of a longitudinal movement of the toy contacts with respect to the station contacts, and a rechargeable current is passible form the station contacts to the toy contacts, thereby enabling recharging of the rechargeable battery;

e) the station being part of a track and the toy vehicle normally being directed to travel on the tract and bypass the station, and wherein the steering of the vehicle to a bypass in the track permits the vehicle to be received at the station.

24. A recharge station for use in combination with a toy vehicle track and a toy vehicle to be recharged, the toy vehicle having toy electrical contacts substantially longitudinally disposed along at least a portion of the toy vehicle, the recharge station having station electrical contacts substantially longitudinally disposed along at least a portion of the recharge station, the station electrical contacts being engageable with the toy electrical contacts along a plurality of lateral engaging positions between the toy electrical contacts and the station electrical contacts by way of a longitudinal movement of the toy electrical contacts with respect to the station electrical contacts.

25. In a recharge station for use in combination with a toy vehicle track and a toy vehicle to be recharged, the toy vehicle having toy electrical contacts, the recharge station having station electrical contacts, the station electrical contacts engageable with the toy electrical contacts, the improvement comprising, in combination:

a) substantially longitudinally disposing the toy electrical contacts along at least a portion of the toy vehicle, the toy electrical contacts having toy electrical contacts side portions; and

b) substantially longitudinally disposing the station electrical contacts along at least a portion of the recharge station, the station electrical contacts having station electrical contacts side portions,

whereby engagement between the toy electrical contacts and the station electrical contacts occurs along the toy electrical contacts side portions and the station electrical contact side portions by way of a longitudinal movement of the toy electrical contacts with respect to the station electrical contacts.

26. In the recharge station of claim 25, the improvement further comprising remotely controlling the longitudinal movement of the toy electrical contacts.

27. A rechargeable system for a movable toy vehicle to be recharged, the rechargeable system comprising:

a recharge station having station electrical contacts substantially longitudinally disposed along at least a portion of the recharge station; and

a toy vehicle having toy electrical contacts substantially longitudinally disposed along at least a portion of the toy vehicle,

the station electrical contacts being engageable with the toy electrical contacts along different lateral engaging positions between the toy electrical contacts and the station electrical contacts by way of a longitudinal movement of the toy electrical contacts with respect to the station electrical contacts.