US3684046A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toy vehicle with steerable drive assembly
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-10-01
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Granted: 1972-08-15
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Expires: 1990-10-01
Abstract
Abstract A toy vehicle to be ridden by a child has a body to be straddled by the rider, a pair of freely rotatable rear wheels, and a steerable unitary drive assembly that comprises a frame turnably mounted at the front of the body, a single drive wheel rotatably mounted within the frame and driven through reduction gearing by an electric motor also mounted within the frame and powered by batteries preferably held in casings mounted at the opposite sides of the turnable frame, and a pair of freely rotatable outrigger wheels mounted at opposite sides of the frame, preferably on fixed axles projecting from bow members of the frame that embrace the battery-holding casings, and which are normally spaced from the supporting surface so as to engage the latter only to prevent toppling of the vehicle, as when making a sharp turn.
Inventors
- 👤 Manny Begleiter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 02:45
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
285 words
In a toy vehicle having a body and a pair of laterally spaced apart wheels mounted adjacent one end of the body so as to be freely rotatable about a fixed axis; a steerable unitary drive assembly for the vehicle comprising a frame mounted adjacent the opposite end of said body and being turnable relative to the latter for steering of the vehicle, said frame including parallel, spaced apart side walls and a partiTion located between said side walls and arranged parallel thereto, a single drive wheel located between said partition and one of said side walls and having an axle journalled at its ends in said side walls so that said drive wheel projects downwardly from said frame for driving engagement with a support surface, an electric motor also mounted between said partition and one side wall and having a drive shaft extending through said partition into a space between the latter and the other of said side walls, gear means located in said space and including gears on said drive shaft and said axle, respectively, for rotating said drive wheel in response to operation of said motor, battery means for powering said motor, switch means for controlling the operation of said motor by said battery means, said frame further including bow members extending outwardly from said side walls and each having a fixed axle projecting outwardly from its middle and rotatably carrying a respective outrigger wheel which is freely rotatable and positioned vertically with respect to said drive wheel so as to be normally raised from the support surface engaged by said drive wheel, and casings for holding said battery mans secured to said side walls of the frame within said bow members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
285 words
In a toy vehicle having a body and a pair of laterally spaced apart wheels mounted adjacent one end of the body so as to be freely rotatable about a fixed axis; a steerable unitary drive assembly for the vehicle comprising a frame mounted adjacent the opposite end of said body and being turnable relative to the latter for steering of the vehicle, said frame including parallel, spaced apart side walls and a partiTion located between said side walls and arranged parallel thereto, a single drive wheel located between said partition and one of said side walls and having an axle journalled at its ends in said side walls so that said drive wheel projects downwardly from said frame for driving engagement with a support surface, an electric motor also mounted between said partition and one side wall and having a drive shaft extending through said partition into a space between the latter and the other of said side walls, gear means located in said space and including gears on said drive shaft and said axle, respectively, for rotating said drive wheel in response to operation of said motor, battery means for powering said motor, switch means for controlling the operation of said motor by said battery means, said frame further including bow members extending outwardly from said side walls and each having a fixed axle projecting outwardly from its middle and rotatably carrying a respective outrigger wheel which is freely rotatable and positioned vertically with respect to said drive wheel so as to be normally raised from the support surface engaged by said drive wheel, and casings for holding said battery mans secured to said side walls of the frame within said bow members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
248 words
In a toy vehicle having a body and a pair of laterally spaced apart wheels mounted adjacent one end of the body so as to be freely rotatable about a fixed axis; a steerable unitary drive assembly for the vehicle comprising a frame mounted adjacent the opposite end of said body and being turnable relative to the latter for steering of the vehicle, a single drive wheel rotatably projecting downwardly from said frame for driving engagement with a support surface, an electric motor, gear means connected to said motor and drive wheel to rotate the latter in response to operation of said motor, a pair of freely rotatble outrigger wheels mounted at opposite sides of said frame and positioned vertically with respect to said drive wheel so as to be normally raised from the support surface engaged by said drive wheel, battery means for powering said motor, switch means for controlling the operation of said motor by said battery means, and casings for holding said battery means, and in which said frame includes parallel, spaced apart side walls and bow members extending outwardly from said side walls and each having a fixed axle projecting outwardly from its middle and rotatably carrying the respective one of said outrigger wheels, and further in which said drive wheel, motor and gear means are located between said side walls of the frame and said casings for the battery means are secured to said side walls within said bow members of the frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
248 words
In a toy vehicle having a body and a pair of laterally spaced apart wheels mounted adjacent one end of the body so as to be freely rotatable about a fixed axis; a steerable unitary drive assembly for the vehicle comprising a frame mounted adjacent the opposite end of said body and being turnable relative to the latter for steering of the vehicle, a single drive wheel rotatably projecting downwardly from said frame for driving engagement with a support surface, an electric motor, gear means connected to said motor and drive wheel to rotate the latter in response to operation of said motor, a pair of freely rotatble outrigger wheels mounted at opposite sides of said frame and positioned vertically with respect to said drive wheel so as to be normally raised from the support surface engaged by said drive wheel, battery means for powering said motor, switch means for controlling the operation of said motor by said battery means, and casings for holding said battery means, and in which said frame includes parallel, spaced apart side walls and bow members extending outwardly from said side walls and each having a fixed axle projecting outwardly from its middle and rotatably carrying the respective one of said outrigger wheels, and further in which said drive wheel, motor and gear means are located between said side walls of the frame and said casings for the battery means are secured to said side walls within said bow members of the frame.
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) | 1975-08-15 | 1976-02-14 | 1976-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-15 | 1980-02-14 | 1980-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-15 | 1984-02-14 | 1984-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |