Patent US5207442A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5207442A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toy vehicle with track and roller drive train
Assignee: Champion Toy Co
•
Filing: 1991-03-22
•
Granted: 1993-05-04
•
Expires: 2011-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A toy vehicle for a child includes a track and roller drive train for propelling the vehicle. Each of a pair of pedal arms is pivotally mounted at its forward end and has a split track mounted at the rear end thereof which rides on a roller mounted on either side of the axle. As the pedal arms are reciprocated by a rider, the tracks drive the rollers and axle with the gap between ramps of the track allowing the track to straddle the axle at the bottom of each stroke. The track may be generally curvilinear, or compound angled to balance the torque generated by each stroke in either the forward or rearward direction, and to also provide a smoother driving action through substantially 180° of axle rotation with each stroke.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Gray
- 👤 LeRoy Stienbarger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:50
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62M; B62M1/00; B62M1/24; B62M1/26; B62K; B62K9/00; B62K9/02; B62M15/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18056; Y10T74/18232; Y10T74/1824
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
In a self-propelled vehicle, the vehicle being adapted to support a rider thereon as it is propelled, the vehicle having a drive axle rotatably mounted to a supporting framework, the axle having a pair of wheels rotatably mounted thereto, each of said wheels being mounted generally at an outboard end of said axle and said axle extending substantially in a straight line between said wheels, the improvement comprising a track and roller drive linkage including at least one roller and one track interconnected between the drive axle and the framework and mounted inboard of said wheels, each roller being mounted to the axle and each track being mounted to the framework, and means for propelling the vehicle by imparting relative movement between said track and said roller.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a self-propelled vehicle, the vehicle being adapted to support a rider thereon as it is propelled, the vehicle having a drive axle rotatably mounted to a supporting framework, the axle having a pair of wheels rotatably mounted thereto, each of said wheels being mounted generally at an outboard end of said axle and said axle extending substantially in a straight line between said wheels, the improvement comprising a track and roller drive linkage including at least one roller and one track interconnected between the drive axle and the framework and mounted inboard of said wheels, each roller being mounted to the axle and each track being mounted to the framework, and means for propelling the vehicle by imparting relative movement between said track and said roller.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicle of claim 1 wherein each track is comprised of a pair of ramps, and a gap between said ramps for straddling the axle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The vehicle of claim 2 wherein each track is pivotally mounted to the framework so that as it is pivoted about its mount relative movement is imparted between the track and roller and the vehicle is thereby propelled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The vehicle of claim 3 wherein the track and roller drive linkage includes a pair of rollers mounted to the axle and a track associated with each of said rollers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The vehicle of claim 4 wherein said rollers are mounted substantially on opposite sides of the axle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The vehicle of claim 5 wherein each track and roller has means for driving the axle through substantially 180°.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the axle driving means includes a non-linear track.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the track has a curvilinear roller surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the track has a compound angled roller surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The vehicle of claim 6 wherein each track is mounted substantially near the rearward end of a pedal arm and the forward end of the pedal arm comprises the pivotal mount to the framework.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
113 words
A self-propelled vehicle, the vehicle being adapted to support a rider thereon as it is propelled, the vehicle having a supporting framework, a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted to a drive axle, and a drive train interconnected between the supporting framework and the drive axle, said drive axle extending substantially in a straight line between said plurality of wheels, said drive train being connected to the drive axle at a point between said plurality of wheels, and said drive train including a pair of rollers mounted to the axle, each of said rollers having an associated track, and means for imparting relative motion between said tracks and rollers to thereby drive the vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
A self-propelled vehicle, the vehicle being adapted to support a rider thereon as it is propelled, the vehicle having a supporting framework, a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted to a drive axle, and a drive train interconnected between the supporting framework and the drive axle, said drive axle extending substantially in a straight line between said plurality of wheels, said drive train being connected to the drive axle at a point between said plurality of wheels, and said drive train including a pair of rollers mounted to the axle, each of said rollers having an associated track, and means for imparting relative motion between said tracks and rollers to thereby drive the vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the motion imparting means further comprises a pair of pivotally mounted arms, each of said tracks being supported substantially near the end of an associated pivotally mounted arm, and further comprising a pedal means associated with each of said arms to aid the rider in pivoting said arms to thereby cause relative movement between the tracks and rollers and drive the vehicle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicle of claim 12 wherein each of said tracks has means for straddling the axle as the arms are pivoted.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vehicle of claim 14 wherein said drive train has means for balancing the torque required to pivot the arms for either forward or rearward movement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vehicle of claim 14 wherein said axle straddling means comprises a pair of separated ramps, said ramps straddling the axle as the track is pivoted downwardly by its associated arm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The vehicle of claim 15 wherein said torque balancing means comprises a non-linear roller surface for each of said tracks.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the track has a curvilinear roller surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the track has a compound angled roller surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The vehicle of claim 12 wherein said drive train further comprises means for rotating the axle approximately 180° either in the forward or rearward direction for each full pivot of either arm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vehicle of claim 19 wherein each of said tracks comprises a pair of separated ramps, said ramps straddling the axle as the track is pivoted downwardly by its associated arm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The vehicle of claim 20 wherein said 180° rotating means comprises a non-linear roller surface for each of said tracks.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The vehicle of claim 21 wherein the track has a curvilinear roller surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The vehicle of claim 21 wherein the track has a compound angled roller surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
134 words
A self-propelled vehicle, the vehicle being adapted to support a rider thereon as it is propelled, the vehicle including a framework with a pair of drive wheels rotatably supported by a drive axle, and a track and roller drive train interconnected between the framework and the drive axle, said drive train including a pair of rollers mounted to the drive axle and spaced substantially opposite each other, each of said rollers having an associated track mounted near the end of a pedal arm, the forward ends of said pedal arms being pivotally mounted to the framework and having a pair of pedals mounted thereon, each of said tracks being comprised of a pair of ramps separated by a gap so that as the pedal arms are alternately pivoted downward the ramps straddle the axle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
134 words
A self-propelled vehicle, the vehicle being adapted to support a rider thereon as it is propelled, the vehicle including a framework with a pair of drive wheels rotatably supported by a drive axle, and a track and roller drive train interconnected between the framework and the drive axle, said drive train including a pair of rollers mounted to the drive axle and spaced substantially opposite each other, each of said rollers having an associated track mounted near the end of a pedal arm, the forward ends of said pedal arms being pivotally mounted to the framework and having a pair of pedals mounted thereon, each of said tracks being comprised of a pair of ramps separated by a gap so that as the pedal arms are alternately pivoted downward the ramps straddle the axle.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
The vehicle of claim 24 wherein said ramps have non-linear roller surfaces to provide rotation of the axle for substantially 180° for each full stroke of each pedal arm in either the forward or rearward direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US594980A
Cited
GB189824085A
Cited
AT437B
Cited
FR353813A
Cited
AT43735B
Cited
US2108868A
Cited
FR867669A
Cited
CH271550A
Cited
US4258485A
Cited
US4880249A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-03 | 1996-11-02 | 1997-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-03 | 2000-11-02 | 2001-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-03 | 2004-11-02 | 2005-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |