Assembly for retaining a toy

• US 6,913,507 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Wireless IP Holdings LLC (Retail Ecommerce Ventures LLC), General Wireless Operations Inc. (Retail Ecommerce Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: RadioShack Legacy Corporation
• Inventors: Hui, Wai
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Francis, Faye
• Application Number:
  US10/260,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20040063383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 446/429, 446/441, 446/444, 446/462, 446/484, 446/435, 446/430, 446/454, 446/455, 446/456
• US Class Current: 446/429
• 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 mobile toy is described. The mobile toy includes a wheel assembly having a hubcap for removably engaging a wheel of the wheel assembly. The mobile toy may also include a transmitter having a charging pad for charging of a radio-controlled embodiment of the toy. The transmitter comprises an indicator showing certain states of the toy as well as a storage compartment for housing items associated with the toy. Additional embodiments include an assembly for retaining the toy on the charging pad during charging of the toy. A kit for storing the components of the radio-controlled embodiment of the toy is also described.

Claims

1. A controller having an assembly for releaseably retaining a toy on the controller, the assembly comprising:

a button disposed through a first wall of the controller, the button comprising;

a rod disposed through a bore in the first wall, the rod having a rim extending radially from a circumferential surface of the rod, and having a flange extending from the circumferential surface, wherein the flange has a beveled side;

a sleeve positioned coaxially about the rod;

a first spring positioned within the sleeve about a portion of the rod engaging the rim to bias the rod against the first wall;

an actuator engaging the beveled side of the flange, the actuator having a stepped portion extending there from;

a second spring engaging the actuator and positioned about the stepped portion of the actuator to bias the actuator against the beveled surface of the flange; and

a catch operatively coupled to the actuator, the catch extending through a slot in a second wall of the controller, the catch being adapted to engage a corresponding groove formed in the toy;

wherein when the button is engaged, the beveled side of the rod engages the actuator causing the actuator to move, causing the catch to move in a direction substantially parallel to the second wall.

2. A controller for a toy, the controller comprising:

a housing having a first wall and a second wall perpendicular to the first wall; and

a toy release assembly, the release assembly having an engaging mechanism protruding through the first wall of the housing and a release for the engaging mechanism protruding through the second wall of the housing;

wherein the toy release assembly comprises;

a button disposed through the first wall of the controller, the button comprising;

a rod disposed through a bore in the first wall, the rod having a rim extending radially from a circumferential surface of the rod, and having a flange extending from the circumferential surface, wherein the flange has a beveled side;

a sleeve positioned coaxially about the rod;

a first spring positioned within the sleeve about a portion of the rod engaging the rim to bias the rod against the first wall;

an actuator engaging the beveled side of the flange, the actuator having a stepped portion extending there from; and

a second spring engaging the actuator and positioned about a portion of the actuator to bias the actuator against the beveled surface of the flange;

wherein the actuator is adapted to engage the engaging mechanism.

3. The controller of claim 2 wherein the engaging mechanism comprises:

a catch operatively coupled to the actuator, the catch extending through a slot in the second wall and being adapted to engage a corresponding groove formed in the toy;

wherein when the button is engaged, the beveled side of the rod engages the actuator causing the actuator to move, causing the catch to move in a direction substantially parallel to the second wall.

4. A controller for a toy, the controller comprising:

a housing having a first wall and a second wall perpendicular to the first wall; and

a toy release assembly, the release assembly having an engaging mechanism protruding through the first wall of the housing and a release for the engaging mechanism protruding through the second wall of the housing;

wherein the housing further comprises a charging circuit housed in the housing.

5. The controller of claim 4 further comprising a charging pad coupled to the charging circuit, wherein the charging pad protrudes through the second wall and the engaging mechanism protrudes through the charging pad.

6. The controller of claim 5 further comprising a covering over the charging pad.