Patent US3712397A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3712397A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toy vehicle
Assignee: California R&D Center
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Filing: 1971-08-09
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Granted: 1973-01-23
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Expires: 1991-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A toy vehicle, simulating an all-terrain vehicle, is disclosed in which the vehicle body is supported on three pairs of coaxial wheels. The middle pair of wheels, which is the driving pair, is adapted to be individually braked to enable the vehicle to corner about the locked wheel. This wheel braking is accomplished by raising either side of the vehicle body with respect to the axle supporting the drive wheels to move the drive wheel out of engagement with a drive pinion and into locking engagement with a stationary gear sector mounted on the body. The relative positioning of the drive wheel axle with respect to the body is controlled by a pair of hand levers pivotally mounted on the housing and connected at their extremities to both ends of the drive wheel axle.
Inventors
- 👤 J Smith
- 👤 G Schmidt
- 👤 L Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:00
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D11/00; B62D11/02; B62D11/06; B62D11/08; B62D61/00; B62D61/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A toy vehicle simulating an all-terrain vehicle comprising: a body having a seat portion and a console; a pair of coaxial drive wheels rotatably mounted below said body for supporting and motivating said body, each drive wheel comprising a wheel portion, and a wheel gear coaxially mounted with and integrally connected to said wheel portion; means for rotatably driving each of said drive wheels, each of said drive means comprising a pinion gear rotatably mounted in said body and adapted to interengage the wheel gear of the respective drive wheel; means for locking each of said drive wheels against rotation, each of said wheel locking means comprising a gear sector fixedly mounted to said body and adapted to interengage the wheel gear of the respective drive wheel; and means for selectively disengaging each drive wheel from its respective drive pinion and subsequently engaging said selected drive wheel with its respective locking gear sector to enable said vehicle to turn about an axis created by the locked wheel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A toy vehicle simulating an all-terrain vehicle comprising: a body having a seat portion and a console; a pair of coaxial drive wheels rotatably mounted below said body for supporting and motivating said body, each drive wheel comprising a wheel portion, and a wheel gear coaxially mounted with and integrally connected to said wheel portion; means for rotatably driving each of said drive wheels, each of said drive means comprising a pinion gear rotatably mounted in said body and adapted to interengage the wheel gear of the respective drive wheel; means for locking each of said drive wheels against rotation, each of said wheel locking means comprising a gear sector fixedly mounted to said body and adapted to interengage the wheel gear of the respective drive wheel; and means for selectively disengaging each drive wheel from its respective drive pinion and subsequently engaging said selected drive wheel with its respective locking gear sector to enable said vehicle to turn about an axis created by the locked wheel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively disengaging and engaging said drive wheel gears from its respective drive pinions and gear sectors comprises: an axle pivotally mounted within said body, said axle having said drive wheels rotatably mounted on the outer extremities thereof; and means for raising each side of the vehicle body with respect to each end of said axle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said raising means comprises a pair of levers pivotally mounted to said vehicle body, one end of each lever extending through said console, the other end of each lever being pivotally connected to an outer extremity of said axle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 3 further comprising means for preventing both wheel gears from simultaneously disengaging said pinion gears.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein said means for preventing both wheel gears from simultaneously disengaging said pinion gears comprises: a bar interconnected at its ends to both of said levers; and a flange extending downwardly from said body to a point directly above the center section of said bar to prevent the bar from being raised simultaneously from both ends thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein said vehicle further comprises a front and rear pairs of coaxially mounted wheels for supporting said vehicle body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein said front and rear pairs of wheels are journaled within elongated slots formed in the sides of the vehicle body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said pinion gears are mounted on a drive shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein said drive shaft is drivingly connected to a motor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 9 wherein said motor is an electric motor electrIcally connected to a battery through a circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 10 further including means for opening and closing said motor-battery circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein said circuit opening and closing means comprises a pair of contacts mounted on a foot pedal, said contacts being connected to wires interconnecting said battery to said electric motor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The invention of claim 12 wherein said contacts are adapted to be interconnected by a spring biased metal strip which is biased against said foot pedal to maintain said pedal in a raised position where said circuit is open, whereby upon depressing said pedal against the bias of the metal strip, both contacts engage the metal strip to close the circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein said drive shaft extends through and is keyed to an output gear of a gear train and said motor includes a shaft which extends through and is keyed to an input gear of the gear train.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 14 wherein said gear train includes a housing floatingly mounted within said body.
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) | 1976-01-23 | 1976-07-24 | 1977-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-23 | 1980-07-24 | 1981-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-23 | 1984-07-24 | 1985-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |