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US3659378A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Motor driven toy vehicles
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-01-23
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Granted: 1972-05-02
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Expires: 1990-01-23
Abstract
Abstract Motor driven toy vehicles which may assume the form of different vehicle bodies, each having a chassis with a base-plate at the bottom thereof provided with a generally rectangular opening into which may be inserted different and interchangeable module casings containing drive mechanisms for the vehicles. These mechanisms may assume different forms although they are composed essentially of a small direct-current motor, a dry cell for energizing the motor and a switch mechanism for controlling the connections therebetween. One embodiment of module makes possible the movement of the vehicle in forward and backward directions from a position of rest. Another embodiment permits energization of the motor in a single direction only which compels movement of the vehicle in diverse and haphazard directions by combining the steering control for the vehicle with the traction drive therefor.
Inventors
- 👤 Duncan Tong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:32
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H17/00; A63H17/26; A63H17/36; A63H17/395
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
296 words
A self-powered and untethered motor-driven wheeled toy vehicle composed of a vehicle body and chassis and comprising a. a base-plate at the bottom of said chassis provided with an elongated opening disposed substantially along the longitudinal axis of said base-plate, b. a pair of rotatable wheels mounted on said chassis adjacent to the front end of said Base-plate, c. a second pair of rotatable wheels mounted on said chassis adjacent to the rear end of said base-plate, d. a pair of completely detachable self-contained and selfpowered interchangeable module casings adapted to be mounted on said chassis for engagement with said base-plate at the opposite ends of said opening between said pairs of wheels, e. each module casing containing a single small rotary direct current electric motor having a rotary shaft, a dry-cell battery, and integrally mounted switching means for controlling the energization of said motor by said battery, f. said switching means in one of said module casings adapted to energize said motor in opposite directions with a mechanical transmission system extending from said rotary shaft of the motor adapted to be detachably connected to at least one of said rotatable wheels to actuate said toy vehicle in opposite directions, g. said switching means in the second one of said module casings adapted to energize the motor in a single direction, h. a housing at the front end of said second module casing, rotatable on a vertical axis, and supporting traction wheels extending below said first-mentioned rotatable wheels at the front end of said base-plate, and i. a second mechanical transmission system in the second module casing extending from the rotary shaft of the motor therein to said traction wheels on said rotary housing for imparting differential movements thereto, to attain combined tractive and steering actuations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
296 words
A self-powered and untethered motor-driven wheeled toy vehicle composed of a vehicle body and chassis and comprising a. a base-plate at the bottom of said chassis provided with an elongated opening disposed substantially along the longitudinal axis of said base-plate, b. a pair of rotatable wheels mounted on said chassis adjacent to the front end of said Base-plate, c. a second pair of rotatable wheels mounted on said chassis adjacent to the rear end of said base-plate, d. a pair of completely detachable self-contained and selfpowered interchangeable module casings adapted to be mounted on said chassis for engagement with said base-plate at the opposite ends of said opening between said pairs of wheels, e. each module casing containing a single small rotary direct current electric motor having a rotary shaft, a dry-cell battery, and integrally mounted switching means for controlling the energization of said motor by said battery, f. said switching means in one of said module casings adapted to energize said motor in opposite directions with a mechanical transmission system extending from said rotary shaft of the motor adapted to be detachably connected to at least one of said rotatable wheels to actuate said toy vehicle in opposite directions, g. said switching means in the second one of said module casings adapted to energize the motor in a single direction, h. a housing at the front end of said second module casing, rotatable on a vertical axis, and supporting traction wheels extending below said first-mentioned rotatable wheels at the front end of said base-plate, and i. a second mechanical transmission system in the second module casing extending from the rotary shaft of the motor therein to said traction wheels on said rotary housing for imparting differential movements thereto, to attain combined tractive and steering actuations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
138 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated opening in said base-plate is of generally rectangular outline, and wherein each module casing is of corresponding outline in horizontal section adapted to fit within said opening, said casing having a lug projecting from one end thereof for engagement with the inner face of said base-plate and adapted for support thereby, and a flexible tongue extending downwardly from the upper portion of the opposite end of said casing and provided with an outwardly directed supporting lug adjacent to the free end thereof for permitting movement of said last-mentioned lug in an inward direction for passage into said opening preparatory to springing back in an outward direction for support by said base-plate at the opposite end of said opening from the point of support of said first-mentioned lug.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the portions of said lugs adapted to rest on the opposite edges of said opening in said base-plate are in a common horizontal plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as set forth in claim 3, including stop members on said chassis above the opening in said base plate to confine each module casing securely within said chassis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
137 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated opening in said base-plate is of generally rectangular outline, and said first-mentioned module casing is of corresponding outline in horizontal section adapted to fit within said opening, said casing having a lug projecting from the rear end thereof for engagement with the inner face of said base-plate and adapted for support thereby at the rear edge of said opening, and a flexible tongue extending downwardly from the upper portion of the front end of said casing and provided with an outwardly directed supporting lug adjacent to the free end thereof for permitting movement of said last-mentioned lug in an inward direction for passage into said opening preparatory to springing back in an outward direction for support by said base-plate at the front edge of said opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A device as set forth in claim 5, including a. a rotatable axle for the second pair of wheels, b. a gear wheel fixedly mounted on said axle adjacent to one end thereof, and c. said first-mentioned mechanical transmission system extending from said rotary shaft terminating in a driving gear extending laterally of said first module casing adjacent to the rear end thereof and in coupling engagement with said gear whEel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
A device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first module casing is divided into a plurality of compartments with the mechanical transmission system being housed in the rearmost compartment, the motor being disposed in a compartment forwardly thereof, the battery in a front compartment, and the switching means in a compartment below the rear portion of said battery compartment and forwardly of said motor compartment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said first module casing with its plurality of compartments is constituted by a pair of interengaging molded plastic shells with externally disposed integral projections on one shell in coupled relation with externally disposed openings in the other shell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as set forth in claim 8, wherein only said battery compartment is open to facilitate the insertion and removal of the battery.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A device as set forth in claim 9, wherein said motor is disposed with its rotary axis extending longitudinally of the axis of the module casing and said transmission system in the rearmost compartment comprises a pair of displaced shafts with transmission gears fixed thereon and journaled at the opposite lateral walls of one of said shells.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the lateral walls of the other plastic shell confine the opposite ends of said shafts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as set forth in claim 11, including vertical ribs molded integrally on the internal walls of said other plastic shell for securely retaining the opposite ends of said shafts in place.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device as set forth in claim 12, wherein semi-circular seats are provided in the transverse walls at the opposite ends of said motor compartment for receiving the opposite ends of the motor housing, and a transverse projection extending from the inner wall of said other shell presses against the motor housing for confining the latter within its compartment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said switching means includes a central lever projecting laterally from said module casing and is provided with three positions to control the forward and reverse movements of the vehicle in addition to a neutral position whereat the motor is deenergized.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said externally disposed projections on one shell comprise a pair of lugs extending forwardly of said compartment for said switching means, and a single centrally disposed lug extending rearwardly from the upper edge of the back wall of the rearmost compartment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device as set forth in claim 15, wherein the bottom of said other shell is provided with molded openings at the bottom of the battery compartment for receiving said pair of lugs and said supporting lug at the rear end of the module casing is provided with an opening for receiving said single lug of said one shell.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
137 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated opening in said base-plate is of generally rectangular outline, and said second module casing is of corresponding outline in horizontal section adapted to fit within said opening, said casing having a lug projecting from the front end thereof for engagement with the inner face of said base-plate and adapted for support thereby at the front edge of said opening, and a flexible tongue extending downwardly from the upper portion of the rear end of said casing and provided with an outwardly directed supporting lug adjacent to the free end thereof for permitting movement of said last-mentioned lug in an inward direction for passage into said opening preparatory to springing back in an outward direction for support by said base-plate at the rear edge of said opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
66 words
A device as set forth in claim 17, wherein said module casing is divided into a plurality of compartments with the rearmost compartment open at the top thereof for the reception of the dry-cell battery, the intermediate compartment forwardly thereof containing the motor disposed on a vertical axis, and the second transmission system extending between the motor and traction wheels disposed forwardly of said intermediate compartment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
103 words
A device as set forth in claim 18, wherein said second transmission system comprises a plurality of vertically disposed shafts with interengaging gear wheels affixed thereto and terminating in said rotary housing at the lower end of the last vertical shaft at the forward end of said second module casing, an axle extending through said housing for mounting said actuating wheels at the opposite ends thereof, and a pinion on said axle in meshing engagement with an annular gear wheel on said last vertical shaft for imparting said differential movements to said axle and said housing for both propelling and steering said vehicle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as set forth in claim 18, including a pivoted switch mounted between said rear and intermediate compartments and projecting below the bottom of said second module casing for controlling the connections between said battery and motor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-02 | 1975-11-01 | 1976-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-02 | 1979-11-01 | 1980-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-02 | 1983-11-01 | 1984-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |