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US3701216A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wheel apparatus and rack and pinion launcher enabling repeated strokes and having automatic ejector
Assignee: California R&D Center
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Filing: 1971-12-22
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Granted: 1972-10-31
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Expires: 1991-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A toy apparatus is disclosed in which a launcher is utilized to propel a wheel. The launcher comprises an output shaft upon which the wheel is mounted. The shaft is rotatably driven by a gear train with the input gear thereof being connected to a slidable gear rack. The gear rack is hand manipulated to slide within a guideway formed in the launcher. The input gear is floatingly mounted within the launcher to positively drive the gear train in the forward direction, when the gear rack travels in one direction along the guideway, and to move out of engagement with the gear train when the gear rack moves in the other direction along the guideway. This uncoupling movement enables the gear rack to repeat its drive cycle while the gear train is still moving in the forward direction. In this manner, the gear rack need not be completely withdrawn from the guideway to repeat its drive cycles. These repeated drive cycles greatly increase the rotational speed of the output shaft before actual launching. A wheel ejector is pivotally mounted adjacent the output shaft and is slidingly coupled to the gear rack to pivot and force the wheel off of the shaft when the gear rack is finally withdrawn completely from the guideway.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay Smith
- 👤 Gerald W Schmidt
- 👤 Lawrence T Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:22
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/22; A63F7/24; A63F7/2409; A63F7/2472; A63F9/00; A63F9/16; A63H; A63H29/00; A63H29/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A toy launching apparatus comprising: a housing; an output shaft rotatably mounted within and extending partially out of said housing, the portion of the shaft extending out of the housing having means adapted to support a rotatable member in driving relation therewith; means for rotatably driving said output shaft, said means comprising a gear train, including an input pinion on a shaft, rotatably mounted within said housing coupled to said output shaft, and a gear rack movably mounted in a guideway in said housing and drivingly connected to the input pinion of said gear train, said gear rack being movable in one direction of the guideway to impart a rotary motion to the input pinion and the rest of the gear train, said means further comprising means for uncoupling said input pinion from the rest of said gear train during the movement of said gear rack in the opposite direction of the guideway to enable the gear rack to repeat its driving cycle while said output shaft continues the rotary movement imparted by the previous driving cycle, in order to increase the rotational sPeed of the gear train and said output shaft; and ejector means mounted on said housing responsive to appropriate movement of the gear rack at the end of the driving cycle for automatically forcing the rotatable member off of the output shaft to launch the rotatable member in motion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
A toy launching apparatus comprising: a housing; an output shaft rotatably mounted within and extending partially out of said housing, the portion of the shaft extending out of the housing having means adapted to support a rotatable member in driving relation therewith; means for rotatably driving said output shaft, said means comprising a gear train, including an input pinion on a shaft, rotatably mounted within said housing coupled to said output shaft, and a gear rack movably mounted in a guideway in said housing and drivingly connected to the input pinion of said gear train, said gear rack being movable in one direction of the guideway to impart a rotary motion to the input pinion and the rest of the gear train, said means further comprising means for uncoupling said input pinion from the rest of said gear train during the movement of said gear rack in the opposite direction of the guideway to enable the gear rack to repeat its driving cycle while said output shaft continues the rotary movement imparted by the previous driving cycle, in order to increase the rotational sPeed of the gear train and said output shaft; and ejector means mounted on said housing responsive to appropriate movement of the gear rack at the end of the driving cycle for automatically forcing the rotatable member off of the output shaft to launch the rotatable member in motion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said uncoupling means comprises mounting means for floatingly mounting said input pinion within said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said mounting means comprises a pair of elongated slots formed in said housing for receiving the extremities of said input pinion shaft, said slots being oriented to enable the input pinion to move away from the rest of said gear train.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said ejector means comprises a spring biased extension pivotally mounted on said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein said extension extends adjacent said output shaft, said extension being spring biased to pivot outwardly from said housing to engage said rotatable member and move it axially off the output shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein said ejector means further comprises an arm for slidingly engaging said gear rack, said arm being connected to said extension for keeping said extension adjacent said housing against the bias of said spring while the arm is engaging said gear rack.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein said extension further comprises means for securing the rotatable member against axial movement on said shaft while the shaft is being rotatably driven.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein said rotatable member securing means comprises a hook formed on said extension, said hook adapted to extend over and slidingly engage an annular flange formed on said rotatable member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein said hook is oriented to pull away from said flange as the extension is pivoted outwardly to urge the rotatable member off of said output shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
143 words
A toy apparatus comprising: a launcher having an output shaft for supporting a rotatable member; a rotatable member removably supported on said output shaft with means forming a drive connection between said rotatable member and said shaft; drive means on said launcher operable in one direction for imparting a rotary movement to said shaft and said rotatable member; means on said launcher for uncoupling said drive means from said shaft to enable said drive means to return in the opposite direction in order to repeat its driving cycle while said rotatable member and shaft continue the rotary movement imparted by the previous driving cycle; and means mounted on said launcher responsive to appropriate movement of said drive means at the end of the drive cycle for automatically forcing the rotatable member off of the output shaft to launch the rotatable member in motion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
143 words
A toy apparatus comprising: a launcher having an output shaft for supporting a rotatable member; a rotatable member removably supported on said output shaft with means forming a drive connection between said rotatable member and said shaft; drive means on said launcher operable in one direction for imparting a rotary movement to said shaft and said rotatable member; means on said launcher for uncoupling said drive means from said shaft to enable said drive means to return in the opposite direction in order to repeat its driving cycle while said rotatable member and shaft continue the rotary movement imparted by the previous driving cycle; and means mounted on said launcher responsive to appropriate movement of said drive means at the end of the drive cycle for automatically forcing the rotatable member off of the output shaft to launch the rotatable member in motion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 10 wherein said drive means comprises a gear train rotatably mounted on said launcher and coupled to said output shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein said gear train comprises: an input pinion rotatably mounted on a shaft and drivingly coupled to the rest of said gear train.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 12 wherein said uncoupling means comprises mounting means for floatingly mounting said input pinion within said housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention of claim 13 wherein said mounting means comprises a pair of elongated slots formed in said housing for receiving the extremities of said input pinion shaft, said slots being oriented to enable the input pinion to move away from the rest of the gear train.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention of claim 14 wherein said drive means further comprises a gear rack movably mounted in a guideway and drivingly connected to the input pinion of said gear train, said gear rack being movable in one direction to impart a rotary motion to said input pinion and said gear train.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 15 wherein said gear rack is movable along the guideway in the opposite directiOn to force said input pinion away and out of engagement with the rest of said gear train.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 15 wherein said ejector means comprises a spring biased extension pivotally mounted on said launcher.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 17 wherein said extension extends adjacent said shaft, said extension being spring biased to pivot outwardly from said launcher to engage said rotatable member and move it axially off the shaft.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention of claim 18 wherein said ejector means further comprises an arm for slidingly engaging said gear rack, said arm being connected to said extension for keeping said extension adjacent said launcher against the bias of said spring while the arm is engaging said gear rack.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 19 wherein said extension further comprises means for securing the rotatable member to said shaft while the shaft is being rotatably driven.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 20 wherein said rotatable member securing means comprises a hook formed on said extension, said hook adapted to extend over and engage an annular flange formed on said rotatable member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 21 wherein said hook is oriented to pull away from said flange as the extension is pivoted outwardly to urge the rotatable member off of said shaft.
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) | 1975-10-31 | 1976-05-01 | 1976-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-31 | 1980-05-01 | 1980-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-31 | 1984-05-01 | 1984-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |