US3849931A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Direction seeking toy vehicle
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-07-27
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Granted: 1974-11-26
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Expires: 1993-07-27
Abstract
Abstract The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is directed to an electrically operated direction seeking toy vehicle powered by a self contained battery unit either containing a single or a multiplicity of dry cell batteries therein. The direction seeking toy vehicle has a body member formed of sides, top, posterior aspect and an anterior aspect. The configuration of these components are arranged to give the general appearance of a particular type of vehicle, such as moon rover, or toy mutt, or the like, Drive wheel means are rotatably secured to the body member and arranged to transport the body member in both a turning and straight line maneuvering direction. The drive wheels may include a plurality of rotative wheels which are arranged in groups to have a tractor belt of resilient material wrapped about selected ones of the groups of the drive wheels. By energizing the desired groups of drive wheels with the drive motor means the direction of travel, either straight line or turning, is accomplished. When both drive motor means associated with each side of the drive wheel means are energized, this energization being of substantially the same energy level to effect substantially the same rate of motor rotation, the drive wheels will cause the body member to move forwardly in a straight line. Variations in motor speed with respect to one motor of one side of the vehicle with respect to the other motor on the other side of the vehicle will cause the vehicle to turn. Relay means are secured within the vehicle interior and are utilized to have a relay coil associated therewith connected in series with an electrically operated photo electric cell. The photo electric cell is of the type which has a relatively high electrical resistance when no light beam is directed to impinge upon the cell. However, impingement of light on the cell causes it to change its electrical resistance to a substantially low resistance, thereby allowing the series connected relay coil to be energized. Energization of the relay coil will cause actuation of its associated movable relay contact to energize the desired one of a pair of battery operated electric motors. The photo cells associated with the body member are located at the anterior aspect of the vehicle and are spaced apart by means of a longitudinally directed divider member so that a light beam directed toward the vehicle from one side or the other side thereof will not interfere with operation of the photo electric cell not intended to be energized fully.
Inventors
- 👤 J Gulley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 01:47
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H17/00; A63H17/14; A63H30/00; A63H30/02; A63H30/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
616 words
An electrically operated direction seeking toy vehicle to be powered by self contained battery means, comprising in combination: a body member having spaced apart sides, a top, a posterior, aspect, and an anterior aspect, forming an outer configuration to give the general appearance of a particular type of vehicle being designed to travel over various kinds of terrains such as rocks or grass and the like, said anterior aspect of said body member including a longitudinally disposed divider member extending forwardly of the forwardmost part of said anterior aspect; drive wheel means rotatably secured to said body member and arranged to transport said body member in both turning and straight line maneuvering, said drive wheel means being formed of a pair of independent drive wheel units, one drive wheel unit associated with each side of said body member, each of said drive wheel units including a pair of front and rear tractor drive wheel units, each tractor drive unit including a pair of independent wheel members and a resilient gripping tractor belt passing over each of said pair of independent wheel members to Effect simultaneous rotation thereof, each of said drive wheel units being operated to rotate at the same speed for effecting straight line travel of said direction seeking toy vehicle, and each of said drive wheel units being operated at different speeds with respect to one another to effect a turning action of said direction seeking toy vehicle, said turning maneuvering action being effected as a result of an external light control signal to be directed toward the direction seeking toy vehicle; drive motor means coupled to said drive wheel means to transfer motive power thereto when said drive motor means is electrically energized, said drive motor means including a pair of independently energized electric battery powered drive motor units, each of said battery powered drive motor units being coupled to its associated said front and rear tractor drive units to provide means for driving said tractor drive units at a speed which is proportional to the speed of rotation of their associated battery powered motor drive unit; relay means secured within said interior portion of said body member and arranged to be energized by self contained battery means when they are positioned within said body member in suitable receiving brackets; photo electric responsive means secured to said anterior aspect of said body member to be receptive of external light beam energy which is directed toward said anterior aspect of said body member; and said battery powered drive motor units each is formed so as to include a double ended shaft extending in opposite directions from a drive motor housing, each end of said double ended shaft having a gear connection coupled to each one of said front and rear tractor drive units, said front and rear tractor drive units including a gear shaft extending inwardly of said body member, with said gear shafts of one set of front and rear tractor drive units facing the gear shafts of the tractor drive units being coupled to the double ended gear shafts of the associated drive motor units; whereby the direction of travel of said direction seeking toy is controlled in response to the direction from which external light beams impinge upon the anterior aspect of said body member, such that a light beam directed in alignment with said longitudinally disposed divider member will cause said direction seeking toy vehicle to travel forwardly in a straight line whereas a light beam directed toward said anterior aspect from one side or the other side of said longitudinally directed divider member will cause said direction seeking toy vehicle to turn toward the direction of the light source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
616 words
An electrically operated direction seeking toy vehicle to be powered by self contained battery means, comprising in combination: a body member having spaced apart sides, a top, a posterior, aspect, and an anterior aspect, forming an outer configuration to give the general appearance of a particular type of vehicle being designed to travel over various kinds of terrains such as rocks or grass and the like, said anterior aspect of said body member including a longitudinally disposed divider member extending forwardly of the forwardmost part of said anterior aspect; drive wheel means rotatably secured to said body member and arranged to transport said body member in both turning and straight line maneuvering, said drive wheel means being formed of a pair of independent drive wheel units, one drive wheel unit associated with each side of said body member, each of said drive wheel units including a pair of front and rear tractor drive wheel units, each tractor drive unit including a pair of independent wheel members and a resilient gripping tractor belt passing over each of said pair of independent wheel members to Effect simultaneous rotation thereof, each of said drive wheel units being operated to rotate at the same speed for effecting straight line travel of said direction seeking toy vehicle, and each of said drive wheel units being operated at different speeds with respect to one another to effect a turning action of said direction seeking toy vehicle, said turning maneuvering action being effected as a result of an external light control signal to be directed toward the direction seeking toy vehicle; drive motor means coupled to said drive wheel means to transfer motive power thereto when said drive motor means is electrically energized, said drive motor means including a pair of independently energized electric battery powered drive motor units, each of said battery powered drive motor units being coupled to its associated said front and rear tractor drive units to provide means for driving said tractor drive units at a speed which is proportional to the speed of rotation of their associated battery powered motor drive unit; relay means secured within said interior portion of said body member and arranged to be energized by self contained battery means when they are positioned within said body member in suitable receiving brackets; photo electric responsive means secured to said anterior aspect of said body member to be receptive of external light beam energy which is directed toward said anterior aspect of said body member; and said battery powered drive motor units each is formed so as to include a double ended shaft extending in opposite directions from a drive motor housing, each end of said double ended shaft having a gear connection coupled to each one of said front and rear tractor drive units, said front and rear tractor drive units including a gear shaft extending inwardly of said body member, with said gear shafts of one set of front and rear tractor drive units facing the gear shafts of the tractor drive units being coupled to the double ended gear shafts of the associated drive motor units; whereby the direction of travel of said direction seeking toy is controlled in response to the direction from which external light beams impinge upon the anterior aspect of said body member, such that a light beam directed in alignment with said longitudinally disposed divider member will cause said direction seeking toy vehicle to travel forwardly in a straight line whereas a light beam directed toward said anterior aspect from one side or the other side of said longitudinally directed divider member will cause said direction seeking toy vehicle to turn toward the direction of the light source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The electrically operated direction seeking toy vehicle to be powered by self contained battery means, as set forth in claim 1, further characterized by said relay means comprising a pair of independent relay coils which are associated with independent movable relay contacts, each of said independent movable contacts being actuated to a circuit closed condition upon energization of their associated said relay coil, this energization being effective as a result of actuation of energization of said photo electric responsive means geared to the anterior aspect of said body member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
The electrically operated direction seeking toy vehicle to be powered by self contained battery means, as set forth in claim 2, further characterized by said photo electric responsive means comprising a pair of spaced apart discrete photo electric cells, said pair of spaced apart discrete photo electric cells being mounted on said anterior aspect on opposite sides of said longitudinally disposed divider member, said longitudinally disposed divider member serving to isolate one of said photo electric cell from the other of said photo electric cell so that the direction of a light beam directed toward the anterior aspect of said body member can be detected easily without passing interference from one said photo cell to the other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
The electrically operated direction seeking toy vehiCle to be powered by self contained battery means, as set forth in claim 3, further characterized by said pair of independent relay means being operated by said pair of spaced apart discrete photo electric cells and adapted to be energized by means of a separate battery power unit when the associated photo electric cell changes its electrical state to effect such energization.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
108 words
The electrically operated direction seeking toy vehicle to be powered by self contained battery means, as set forth in claim 4, further characterized by said photo electric cells being of the type which provide a relatively high electrical resistance condition during the absence of light beams, thereby maintaining said relay coil in a de-energized condition, and wherein said photo electric cells provide a relatively low electrical resistance condition during the presence of light beams, thereby maintaining said relay coil energized to effect actuation of its associated movable contacts for energizing its associated battery power drive unit, thereby providing means for effecting motivation of the direction seeking toy vehicle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3130803A
Cited
US3406481A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |