Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
10928~8
This application relates to a remote control toy
vehicle, and is a division of application Serial No. 289,508
filed October 26, 1977.
More specifically, the invention consists of a
toy having plural support elements which comprises, in
combination, (a) a chassis, (b) a motor mounted on said
chassis, (c) driving means controlled by said motor, (d)
positioning means driven by said driving means for positioning
said support elements, and (e) motor means responsive to a
predetermined movement of said positioning means for control-
ling operation of said motor.
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by
way of example and not by way of limitation in the accompany-
ing drawings. The drawings also illustrate features claimed
in the parent application and in a further divisional
application Serial No.3Y~)3~filed concurrently herewith.
'~?
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
.
FIGURE 1 is a top view of a sound controlled toy
vehicle;
FIGURE 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of
Figure 3;
FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of a sound controlled toy
vehicle;
FIGURE 4 i5 an electronic circuit for controlling
the motors 3 and 11 of FIGURES 1-3;
FIGURE 5 is a second example of an electronic
circuit;
FIGURE 6 is a device capable of providing a sound
frequency from a remote location capable of commencing
operation of the turnlng electronic circuit of FIGURES 4 and 5;
FIGURE 7 is an embodiment of a switch structure
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with associated contact elements;
FIGURE 8a is an embodiment of an electronic circuit
for providing forward and reverse operation to a sound
controlled toy vehicle utilizing the structure of FIGURE 7;
FIGURE 8a is a further embodiment of the electric
circuit to be used in combination with the circuit of FIGURE
8b to provide turning as well as independent forward and
reverse operation;
FIGURE 9 is an embodiment of the switch structure
shown in FIGURE 7 for use in the circuit of FIGURE 8a to
provide sequential right, left, forward and reverse operation
without addition of the circuit of FIGURE 8b;
FIGURE 10 is a top view with the worm gear 15
removed of the forward end of the vehicle in accordance with
a still further example to provide reversal upon collision;
FIGURE 11 is a partial side view as in FIGURE 10
with the worm gear 15 in place;
FIGURE 12a is a top view of the worm gear and
rotary steering switch of FIGURES lC and 11;
FIGURE 12b is a bottom view as in FIGURE 12a;
FIGURE 13 is a partial electrical schematic diagram
in accordance with the embodiment of FIGURES 10 to 12;
FIGURE 14 is a top view of the forward end of the
vehicle in accordance with a sixth example to provide
reversal upon collision; and
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1~92818
FIGURE 15 is a partial electric circuit diagram of the
embodiment of FIGURE 14.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFER~D EMBODIMENTS:
Referring now to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a vehicle
chassis 1 having a battery 2 in the center portion thereof. At
the rear of the vehicle is the vehicle axial drive mechanism
which comprises the drive motor 3 having a pulley 4 mounted on
the shaft of the motor 3 and driving pulley 5 by means of a belt
6. The pulley 5 drives the worm gear 7 (Fig. 1) which is meshed
with the output gear 8 (Fig. 3) to provide rotation to the wheels
10 via the rear wheel shaft 9. The output gear 8 is keyed to the
rear wheel shaft 9 to provide such rotation. Worm gear 7, output
gear 8 and pulleys 4 and 5 can be eliminated and replaced by a
direct friction drive between the motor shaft and the rear
wheel 10.
,
The forward end of the vehicle of Figures 1 to 3 includes
the steering mechanism which includes the steering motor 11 which
is also operated from the battery 2 and which has a pinion gear 12
positioned on the shaft of the motor 11, the pinion gear driving
O a spur gear 13 which in turn drives a worm gear 14. The worm gear
14 drives the output gear 15 which has a central shaft 16 integral
therewith and rotatably journaled in the chassis 1 (not shown).
The shaft 16 has affixed to one side thereof the crank 17 as
shown in Figure 2, the crank also being clearly shown in Figure ~.
A crank pin 1~ is secured to the crank 17 and engages the slot 30
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in a link 19 best shown in Figure 3. The opposite ends of the
link 19 are pivotally affixed to the steering arms 20 and 21 by
pin~ 22 and 23. The steering arms 20 and 21 are pivotally mounted
on the chassis 1 by the pins 24 and 25 and the front wheels 26
and 27 are rotatably mounted to the shafts 28 and 29 which are
affixed to the ste ring arms.
It can thus be seen that a 360 rotation of the crank pin
in the slot 30 will steer the vehicle through the sequence of
axial, right, axial and left and then again axial, the axial di-
rection being forward or reverse along the axis of the vehicle.
The motor and gearing mechanism for changing the direction
of the wheels 26 and 27 is controlled by means of the cam 31 which
is affixed to the gear 15 and acts upon the switch blades 32, 33
and 34 (Figs. 1 and 4) which are insulated from each other by the
insulators 35 and 36, said assembly constituting a three bladed
switch affixed to the chassis 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 4. The
cam 31 is shown in a rest position and the blades 32 and 33 are
in contact, completing the circuit to the drive motor 3 as shown
in Figures 1 and 4 so that the vehicle is proceeding in either a
straight, full left or full right direction.
A signal transmitted from a remote location of a frequency
that can be picked up by the microphone of Figure 4 will, for
reasons to be explained hereinbelow, cause current to flow to and
rotate the shaft of the steerin~ ~otor 11 and thereby rotatè the
cam 31 by rotation of gears 12, 13, 14 and 15, thereby causing
the blades 32 and 33 to separate due to the leftward movement of
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the ~lade 33 as shown in Figure 4 and will also cause blades 33
and 34 to cont~ct each other. Thus, the drive motOr 3 is stopped
while the contacting blades 33 and 34 keep the steering motor 11
running while simultaneously short circuiting the anode and cathod~
of the SCR Ql. when cam 31 has rotated 90O, the blade 33 falls
into a subsequent notch in the cam 31 and blades 33 and 34 are
separated as the blades 32 and 33 make contact. Now the steering
motor 11 has stopped and, as drive motor 3 resumes operation,
the circuit is ready for the next remote command signal.
In this manner, a vehicle proceeding on a stright course
will respond to a signal of proper frequency by stopping and
: turning its front wheels to a new direction,~then resuming move-
ment in that new direction until another sharp audible sound will
cause the vehicle to stop, steer to a straight.ahead direction
and resume movement in that direction.
If desirèd, the drive motor 3 can continue to run while
: the steering motor 11 operates. Thus, the toy will be driven con-
tinuously while it steers. This is accomplished by the embodi-
ment of the circuit as sh~wn in Figure 5. In the Figure 5 embodi-
ment, blade 32 has been removed and the wire from drive motor 3
is connected directly to the negative batteryterminal and will
run continuously when the main switch 37 is closed.
; As stated previously, a proper frequency signal may be
generated in the audible sonic range by clapping hands or a
single hand held device as shown in Figure 6 may be used. In
the device of Figure 6 a sound is generated by pulling back on
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the flat spring 38 and releasing it to strike the diaph-agm 39.
~he cup or cone 40 will serve to direct the sound toward the
vehicle. Of course, the device of Figure 6 is designed to pro-
vide an audible signal in the frequency range to which the micro-
phone of Figure 4 is responsive so that the circuit will operate
properly. It should be understood that other devices can be used
which produce sonic signals, supersonic or non-audible sound
waves, such as appropriate well known dog calling whistles or
radio frequencies, the only additional requirement being that the
microphone or other appropriate receiving device be capable of
receiving and operating with the remote transmitted sound frequenc
signal.
Referring now to Figure 4 and its operation, power is ap-
plied by closing switch 37. The switch actuated by cam 31 is nor-
mally positioned as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5, therefore drive
motor 3 is running. This causes the vehicle to move in an axial
direction, assuming that the wheels are initially positioned for
forward movement. A signal of appropriate frequency and intensity
is now provided. This is picked up by the microphone as shown
in Figure 4, the microphone preferably being a crystal r.~icrophone
(as stated above, other receiving devices can be used, which con-
verts a sonic signal to an electrical signal) which is amplified
by transistOr Ql and applied to the gate of the SCR or silicon
controlled rectifier Q2. This turns on the SCR and causes current
to pass through and operate the steering motor 11 from the battery
2. This also causes discharge of the previously charged capacitor
C3. The motor 11 drives the steering mechanism and rotates cam 3
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as described hereinabove to cause blades 33 and 34 to contact
each other. This causes a short ci.cuit to be provided between
the anode and cathode of the SCR, thereby rendering it non-con-
ductive while continuing to apply battery voltage to motor 11 via
blades 33 and 34 until cam 31 allows blades 33 and 34 to separate
by having blades 33 fall into the next notch therein, thereby ro-
tating wheels 26 and 27. Motor 11 now comes to a stop and re-
mains stopped until the SCR is triggered by the next sound fre-
quency signal. Capacitor C3 is in a discharged state before
blades 33 and 34 are separated and recharges to the full battery
voltage as motor 11 coasts to a stop. By virture of this dis-
charged state and the subsequent charging, capacitor ~3 acts to
suppress the arc that would be created by the separation of blades
33 and 34. Thus, capacitor C3 eliminates induced voltage tran-
sients in the circuit and prevents spurious triggering of the SCR.
Capacitor C3 also acts as a filter across the SCR to limit the
rate of voltage application to the SCR, said rate, if excessive,
causing self-triggering of the SCR.
Referring now to Figures 7 and 8a, there is shown another
embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment r the two motor
system can be used to cause a reversal of direction. In accordanc~
with this em~odiment, a printed circuit disc 41 is provided having
etched thereon the three conductive patterns noted as 42, 43 and
44. It should be understood that though a printed circuit is
shown, any other type of device such as conductive metal stampings
affixed to a non-conductive disc, etc., can be used so long as
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they provide the same function. As described above, a sound
frequency command will actuate motor 52 and rotate disc 41
through the reduction gears composed of worm gear 53 and output
gear 54. The disc 41 is secured to the output gear 54 which
may be rotatably journalled anywhere on the vehicle chassis,
since it is not coupled to the steering mechanism. Blades 45
and 45 lie in the turning path of the conductive pattern 42. It
is apparent that in each 1800 of the rotation of disc 41, the
SCR will be short circuited by the pattern 42 and then reset.
The blades 47, 48 and 49 and 50 lie in the turning path of the
eonductive patterns 43 and a4 with each 1800 rotation of disc 41.
Sueh 180 rotation will alternately connect and reverse the con-
neetion of drive motor 3' to the positive and negative terminals
of` the battery~ Thus, with each sound frequency command, the
vehicle can be reversed in direction.
It is apparent that a toy may combine the systems for re-
versal shown in Figure 8a with a system for steering as shown in
Figure 5. This embodiment is shown in the combination of Figures
8a and 8b. In Figure Bb the cam 31 of Figure 5 is replaced by a
printed circuit disc 31', which is affixed to the output gear 15
and has etched thereon the conductive pattern shown. The blades
33' and 34' lie in the turning path of the conductive pattern 31'
and hence will function in the same manner as cam 31 with blades
33 and 34 in Figure 5. Since the electronic circuits of ~igures
8a and 8b are sensitive to different sonic frequencies, a child
may both steer and reverse the vehicle at will by generating the
appropriate frequency. This can be accomplished by use of two
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signals or sonic generators that generate different frequencies
and two circuits, each sensitive to different frequencies by
virtue of frequency filters 51 and 51' shown in Figures 8a and 8b.
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It should be understood that in Figure 7, the connecting
conductors 57 and 58 of the patterns 43 and 44 are shown dotted.
This is to indicate that they may be on the underside of disc 41
with co~nection through aperture in the disc to prevent the momen-
tary short circuiting of the batteries as the contacts 47, 48
pass over these connectors.
Sequential steering as well as reversal may be accomplished
by replacing the p;-inted circuit disc 41 in Figure 8a with the
printed circuit disc 59 shown in Figure 9. Disc 59 is affixed
t~ the output gear 15 and is therefore c~upled to the steering
mechanism in the same manner as cam 31 in Figures 1, 2 and 3. It
is apparent that printed circuit disc 59 is a modification of
prin'ed circuit disc 41 in combination with printed circuit disc
31'. The conductive patterns 61 and 62 perform the same electrical
reversing functions as conductive patterns 43 and 44 or disc 41,
but conductive pattern 61, which determines the forward movement
of the vehicle has been extended to cover a sector of approximately
2400. conductive pattern 60 is the same as conductive pattern 31'
in Figure 8b and serves the same function. Therefore, with each
sound frequency signal, the disc 61 will rotate 90o and move the
vehicle through a sequence of axial forward, left forward, axial
reverse, right for~ard, and then axial forward again.
The afore describea reversing systems have some disadvantagt
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In the embodiment of Figure 9 it is apparent that when the vehicle
is turning to the right, the operator must cycle the steering
mechanism through forward and left before the vehicle can be
reversed.
In the combination embodiment using two different fre-
quencies, the vehicle can be reversed at will, but this requires
nearly doubling the control system, and the cost is objectionable.
; Accordingly, by means of the embodiment of Figures 10 to
13, a system for reversing the vehicle when it strikes a wall or
other obstacle, and then causing it to go forward again, at will,
by a sonic signal operating the steering mechanism is provided.
Refe~rring now to Figures 10 to 12,there is shown a vehicle
as in the prior embodiments with the addition of the bumper 63,
affixed to a slide 64, said slide being constrained to move axially
between guides 65 and 66.Guides 65 and 66 form "T" slots that pre-
vent upward as well as non-axial movement of the slide. Affixed
to the slide 64 are two contacts 67 and 68, said contacts pressing
upon the small printed circuit board 69. These contacts and printed
circuit boards are also shown in the circuit diagram in Figure 13.
;o The printed circuit board 69 is connected to the battery.
via leads 80 and 81 while the slide contacts 67 and 68 are con-
nected to the rear driving motor 3. In the normal or forward posi-
tion,the slide contacts 67 and 68 are in contact with the printed
circuit portions 84 and 85. It is apparent that when the bumper
63 striXes an obstruction, the slide contacts 67 and 68 are moved
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1~92818
inwardly across the printed circuit board 69, and the contacts
67 and 68 will be positioned on portions 82 and 83 of the printed
circuit 69 so that the polarity to the motor leads is reversed,
thus reversing the veh~icle. The slide contacts 67 and 68 are
returned to the normal or forward position by the action of cam
7~ against the cam follower 71 as described hereinbelow.
,..
Affixed to the underside of the worm gear 15 is a cam 70
having four lobes (see Figure 12b), said lobes being so oriented
with the rotary switch 31' that when the steering mechanism is at
O rest, the cam follower 71 is opposite a valley in the cam. Thus,
when the vehicle strikes an obstacle, the cam follower 71 moves
into a depression in the cam and the vehicle xeverses. Operation
of the steering mechanism by a sound signal will rotate the cam 70
by gOo, thus turning the front wheels while simultaneously return-
ing the slide 64 to its outward position with contacts 67 and 68
on portions 84 and 85 of printed circuit 69, thereby again rever-
sing the direction of the vehicle.
In this manner the vehicle striking of an obstacle will
cause reversal of its direction and cause it to continue in the
0 rearward direction until a sonic signal actuates the steering
mechanism to turn cam 70 and push out cam follower 71, again re-.
versing the vehicle. Thus the vehicle will simultaneously move
forward and turn away from the obstruction in a seemingly magical
manner.
: . .
Figure 14 is another embodiment of the invention that
eliminates the need for moving wires. In this er~odiment, two
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U-shaped contacts 72 and 73 traverse the printed circuit board 74
which replaces the clrcuit board 69 of the prior embodiment 74.
The printed circuit board and contacts are also shown in the par-
tial ele~trical schematic diagram of Figure 15. Here, too, it
i5 apparent that,as the sliding contacts move inward from portions
86, 87, 88 and 89 to portions 86, 90, 91 and 89, the polarity of
the motor leads 92 and 93 is reversed. Leads 94 and 95 go to
the battery. Thus, again the vehicle will reverse when striking
an obstruction and then,in reacting to a sonic signal, move for-
0 ward as it turns away from the obstruction.
While the preferred embodiments utilize sound frequencies,it should be understood that any receivable radiation can be used,
such as radio frequency, light frequency, etc Accordingly, such
control signals are included herein and can be substituted for
one or more sound control devices in any combination.
Though the invention has been described with respect to
specific preferred embodiments thereof, many variations and modi-
fications will immediately become apparent to those skilled in
the art. It is therefore the intention that the appended claims
O be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art
to include all such variations and modifications.
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