Direction converting device for a running car racer

Claim 1

A direction converting device for running a toy racer which comprises a base, a steering plate connected to wheels of the racer, a longitudinally extending controlling element having a longitudinal axis and engaged with said steering element and being swingably supported adjacent one of its ends on a shaft upwardly extending from said base, a pair of spaced apart magnets at a swingable opposite end of the controlling element, said magnets being symmetrically disposed on the controlling element on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis and having different polarities at their end faces, an electromagnet fixed to the racer base and comprising an iron core opposite to said magnets, said iron core being provided with at least one exciting coil positioned on said extension of said longitudinal axis of said controlling element in said neutral position of said controlling element, said exciting coil being energizable to different polarity for selectively swinging said controlling element leftward or rightward about said shaft, and neutral position retaining means operable on deenergizing said exciting coil for resiliently urging the controlling element through biasing means to its neutral position for running the toy racer in a straight direction, wherein the neutral position retaining means comprises a pair of engaging means pivoted at one end thereof to said base and symmetrically arranged relative to said shaft, and a stopper (38) supported on the controlling element along its longitudinal axis, said pair of engaging means resiliently holding therebetween said stopper.