Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
z~
This Invention is directed to a toy yehicle which has a switch
mechanism for changing the d~rectlon of the vehicle. ~urther th~s switch
mechanism includes an e~posure mechanism which only allows the switch mechanism
to ~e operated upon by an external stimulus during alterna~e intervals.
There are at present-man~ toy vehicles on the market for purchase by
the consuming pu~lic. T~e largest ~aJority of these vehicles a~e si~ply support-
ed on free wheeling wheels and rely upon the child using them for ~oth propulsion
power and direction of propulsion. Other toy vehicles such as tralns or cars
riding on tracks or simple w~nd up toys have internal mechanisms which provide
the propulsion power of the toy.
In a further class of toys, such as one currently on the market under
the trademark of BIG LOADER (registered trademark), the vehicles have their own
internal propulsion means and additionally propulsion direction switches which
change the direction of travel of the vehicles.
While these vehicles are interesting to play wlth and are appealing to
different age levels depending upon the sophistication of the vehicle these
vehicles are not known to be useful for the use in games wherein the skill of one
plaver is pitted against the skill of another player.
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BRIEF SUM~IARY OF TTIE I~VENTIO~
In viet~ of ~he abo~e it is an objec~ of this
invention to provld~ a veh~cle which is useful ln ~ames
S pit~cing ~he skill of one player a~ainst ~he skill o
another player such as the game described ln my applica-
tion entitled TOY ~AVING REVERSABLE MOVI~IG OI~JECT filed
concurrently with this a~plica~ion. It is a furth~r
object of this invention to provid~ a ~ehicle which is
not only capable of prol~elllng i~self and reversing
direction o~ mo~ment bu~ is also capable of changing
its direction of movemen~ in response to an outside
stimulus and further being able ~o alterna~e between an
operational ~ode wherein it is capableo~changing direc~ion
lS o moYement upon appl~cation of an olltslde stimulus and
a second mode of opera~ion wherein it is not capable of
changin~ direction upon the applioation of an ou~side
stimulus.
In view o~ the abo~e ob~ct and o~her objects
which will become evid~nt upon ~he r~mainder o this
specification, there is pro~ided a toy vehicle ha~ing a
vehicle body an~ movable support m~an~ movably ~upporting
said vehicle body on a support surfac~; wi~hln the interior
o the body of the ~ehicl~ is a locomotion means for
movin~ said Yehicle along said sup~ort surface; inte~rally
formed with the vehicle is a direction chan~ing means ~or
ch~nging the directionofmovemen~ o~ the vehicle and
further the direction changing means includes a swi~ch
3Q means for controllin~ the dir~ction of tho movement;
associated with the SWitC]I means is an exposure means
which alterna~ely exposes the switch meAns between an
exposed position wherein the switch means can b~ ac~cd
upon by an ex~ernal sti~ulu5 and a protected position
wherein th~ swi~ch means cannot be ac~ed ulon by the
external stimulus.
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The vehicle body carl lnclude scveral sections
includin~ a base section mounted on wheels and a turr~t
sec~ion rota~ably moun~d on ~he base sectlon. The
turret section is operatively connected to the dlrection
changing means so as to rotate ~he ~u~re~ when the vehicle
changes direction. If the ~urret is asymmetrical.having
a differently a~pearin~ o~ard end and .~ ~ear e~d this
allows for the ~urret ' s forward end always to be proj ~cting
tol~ard the direction of tra~el of the ~ehicle while
allowin~ the base sec~ion to simply go backward and forward
because o~ reversal of d~rection of its driYing wheels.
As a guid~ to those operatin~ the vshicle, a
switch position indicatlng means can bc included which
is coordinated with the switch means and indicates to
the operator of the toy when the switch is in a pos ition
such that it can be opera~ed on by an external stim~l~s.
While for the purpose of the embodiment îllustrated the
sl~itch means is shown as a mechanical trip member.; Other
~0 embodiments could u~ilize electrical or other similarly
activated switchin~ means.
BRIEP DESCRIPTIO.N OF THE DRAWINGS
2S This invention will be better understood when
ta~en in Conjunc~iQn with ~he drawings wherein:
Fi~. 1 is an isometric view of the tor Yehicle
o ~he invcntion;
plg, 2 is a side eleYat~onal view in section
of the vehicle shown in Fig. l as viewed from ~he left
sidc o Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is an exploded isometric Yiew of the
mechani~al com~onent~ inside of th~ ~oy;
Fi~, 4 is a partial 5 ide elevational view in
section of certain mechanica1 componen~s o the ~oy
as viewed from the ri~h~ side of Fig, l; and
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Fig. 5 ls a to? plan ~iew of certain of the
~nterio~ ~echanisms of ~h~ toy including a first orien-
~at.lon of these mechaI~lsms in solld line and a second
oricntation of these mechanisms in phantom lin~,
s
The toy of this invention descr~bed in ~he
specification and illustrated in ~h~ drawings uses certain
operative concepts and principles which are set forth in
the appended claims forining a part of this spe,ciEication.
~hose skilled in ~he toy arts will recognize that these
principles and concepts could be u~ilized in a variety
o~ differently appearing or differently describable
- embodiments. Por this reason this invention is not to
be cons~rued as to be l:lmi~d to th~ exact embodiment
described in this specification and shown in the drawings
but is to be construed in li~ht of the appended claims.
~ETAILED DESCRIPTION
The vehicle 18 has two main sections. A base
section 20 and a turret section 22 which 1~ rotatably
mounted as hereinater described on top of the base
section 2~. Projec~ing out o~ the fron~ of the turret
22 is ~ conical member 24 having a helical screw 26 on
~che surfac~3 thereo~ whiCh turns when the vehdcle is
moYing as hereina~ter descri~ed.
The base 20 is composed-o a ~op scc~ion 28
.
and a bottom section 30 and toge~her hey form ~ housing
for numerous gears and oth~r parts. For the sak0 of
simplicity in thls sp~cification generally mos~ of ~he
~ears and axles ~ound in the interior of the base 20
will only be described as to thelr operatlon. The top
and bottom sections 28 and 30 o bas~ 20 con~ain numerous
~rillings and cutouts which serve as mountings or ~earing
sur~aces for these compollents. I~ will be und~rs~ood ~hat
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all of ~he gears, axl~s~ etc. are appr~priately con~en-
tionally mounted withln the base 20.
A motor 32 is connected by suitable wir~n~ 34
to an of~on s~itch 36 and a ba~ery pack 38. When ln
the on position the mo~aT 32 clrives pinion 40 which is
engag~d with a spur gear 42. Integrally formed with
spur ~ear 42 is pinion 44. Pinion 44 ma~es with and
drives spur gear 46. Spur ~ear 46 is fixedly attached
to a~le 48 and also moun~ed to axl~ 48 and integrally
fo.rmed with spur gear 46 is pinlon 50. A drum 52 is
mounted adjacent to pinion 50 on axle 48, however, drum
52 is freewheeing about axle 48 and its rotation on the
axle 48 is theoretically independen~ of both pinion S0
and spur ~ear 46. A small axle 54 projects rom one
side o~ drum 52 towarcl pinion 50. A pinion 56 is moun~ed
on axle 5~ and engages wi~h pinion S0. Thus, as pinion
50 spins a~out axle 48 pinion 56 ls caused to rotate
about axle 54. -
A spur ~ear 58 is mounted to an axle 69.
A large pinion 62 is also attach~d to the axle 60 and
is rotated by axle 60 in res~ons~ to rotation of spur
gcar 58. A spur gear 64 identical in si~e and ~eeth
number with spur gear 58 is mounted below spur gear 5B
~bout an axle 66 and axle G6 is so placed within bottom
sec~ion ~0 that the t~eth o~ spur gear 64 mesh wi~h th~
teeth of spur gear 58. Integrally ~ormed with and
coaxial wi.~h spur gear 64 on axle 66 is a pinlon 68.
Pinion 6B engages w~th a spur gear ? which is integrally
for.~d with a driving whe~l 72 mounted on an axl~ 74,
On ~he op~osite side o~ axle 74 is a second drlving
whecl 75.
Spur gears:58 and 64 are spatlally placed in
relationship to drum S2 such that pinion ~6 is capable
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of meshing wi~h and c~.rivin~ both spur gear 58 and 64.
This ls best seen in ~1~. 4. If drum 52 is fixedly held
in the position s~own in solid line in Fi~. 4 pinion 56
meshes with spur gear 58. If pinion 56 is fixe~ly
held in the position shown in phantom in Fig. 4 pinion
56 me~hes wi~h and drives spur gear 64. Mo~or 42 rotates
as shown by the solid arrol~. This rotation is ~rans~err~d
via pinion 40, spur gear ~2, pinion 44, spur gear 46 ~nd
pinion 5~ to pinion 56. ~Yh~n p.inion 56 is enga~ed with
spur gear 58 spur gear 5~ is caused to rotate in the
direction shown by the solid line. Tllis in ~urn causes
spur gear 64 to rotate in ~he direc~ion shown by solid
- lines and this motion in turn is transferred to pinion
68, spur ~ear 70 and ultimately to dri~ing wheel 72
turnin~ driYin~ wheel 72 in the direc~ion shown by the
solid arrow, If instead of engagement with the s~ur gear
SS, pinion 56 is engaged directly with spur gear 64,
spur gear 64 is driven in ~he direction shown by the
broken ar~ow. This also causes spur gear 58 and large
pinion 62 to rotate in the direction shown by the
broken arrow, the si~nificance which will be de~crlbed
hereinafter, and addltionally causes driving whe~l ~o
rotate in the direction sho~n by the broken nrrow.
This allows for reversaliof the direction of the driving
wheel 72 d~pen~in~ upon whether pinion 56 is enga~ed
wi~h ei~her spur ~ear 58 or spur ge~r 64 and consequently
reversal of the direc~ion o~ ~raYel o ~e~licle 18.
The placement of pinion 56 is gov~rned by the
rotary displacem~nt o~ drum ~2 abou~ axle 48. Dr~ 52
has three small lugs or teeth 76, 78 and 80 on its
surface. A lug retention member 82 fits a~ains~ lugs
76, 78 and 80 respecti~ely. The lugs 76, 78 and 80 are
so placed on the surface o drum 52 that when lu~ 78
is enga~cd with lu~ retention member 8Z ~inion S6 is
en~age~ with spur ~ear 58. When lu~ 80 ls enga~ed with
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lu~ re~en~ion member 82 pinion 56 is engaged with spur
wheel 64. When lug 76 is en~aged with lug retention
member 82 pinion 56 is not engaged wî~h either of spur
gears 58 and 64 and as a consequence ~he ~otion of motor
is not ~ransf~rred to driving wheel 72 and the vehicl~
18 does not moYe.
When ~he vchicle 18 is viewed from the direction
shown in Fi~. 4, the direction of rotation of motor 32
lQ is counterclockwise, By th~ gearin~ hereintofors described
this r~sults in ~he direction of drum 52 to also ~be counter-
clockwise, B~cause pinion 56 is mowlted on axl~ 54 a
counterclockwise momentum is imparted to ~rum 52 by
rotation of pinion 50. This momen'cum holds the lu~s
76~ 78 and 8~ against the surface o lug retcntion member
82 whenever lug retention memb~r 32 is directly in line
with any of these lugs.
Lu~ retention me~ber 82 is fix~dly a~tached to
~he top of a sleeve 84. Sle~vo 84 contains a central
hole ~not separately numbered) allowing sl~eve 84 to be
slipped over an upri~ht shat 86 which in turn is ~ttached
to bottom section 30. As such slee~e 84 is free to pivo~
` abou~ upri~ht shaft 86 allowin~ the lug re~ention member
82 to swing transversely across the surÇace of drum 52,
A c~ntering memb&r 88 is also a~tached t~ sl~eve 84.
Slidably mounted in bot~om section 30 is a slida~le
lockin~ memher 90 having a lobe 92 on one end which
projects out of the bottom sec~ion 30 and ~s accessi~le
to the oper~or of the toy and a pair of ti~es collectively
identified by th~ numeral 94 which project in ~he opposi~e
direction toward centering member 88. Lockin~ member 90
is ~iased away from sleevc ~4 by a spring ~6. When lobe
92 is depressed ~he tlnes ~4 o locking member 90 slip
over cen~erin~ memb~r 88 an~ fixedly hold lu~ retcntion
m~mber 82 in the pa~h of lug 7G and as a consequence of
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this the vehicle 18 is not driven in either direction but
rcmains stationary even though motor 32 is runnin~.
Ex~en~in~ laterally from slce~e 84 near lts
bot~o~ end is an arm 98. ,~s can be seen in Flgs. 3 an~
5, arm 98 ~ro;ects almost ~approximately 70 to 80 degrees)
perpendicular to lug retention membcr 82. Motion of a~m
9~ about ~lle longitudinal axis of vehicl~ 18 produces
essentially transverse movement of the en~ vf lug retention
member 82 across the surface of drum 52 in betwecn the
path o~ lugs 78 and 80 and includin~ an interference
~osition with lug 76. Arm g8 inclu~es an elon~ated channel
1~0 nearest the end which is not a~tached to sleeve 84.
A second arm 102 is slidably mounted in a longitudinal
position with respect to v~hicl~ rm 102 has two
ups~andîng pegs 104 and 106 near the end thereof. Peg
104 fits into chann~l 100 of arm 98.
An upstanding shaft 108 is fixed to bottom
~0 section 3Q in a position as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. A
trans~erse member 110 has a bear~ng s~ction 112 on one
end thereof and bearin~ section 112 fits over shaft 108
allowing transverse member 110 to pivot akout shaft 108.
Pro;ectin~ out of the sicle o trans~erse member 110
to~ard arm 102 is a short arm 114. Arm 114 conta~ns
a channel 116. Channel 116 fits o~er ups~andin~ peg 106.
A tilt mcmber llS is inte~rally for~ed on the bottom o
transverse m~mber 110 and is capable o~ pro~ ecting th~u~h
a hole (not shown) in th~ bot~om of bottom section 30.
Tilt member 118, as hereinafter descrlbed,
can be e~osed below the bot~m surface of bottom sec~ion
30. l~hen it is exposed, this allows tilt member 118 to
by physically moved by a ~orce on the outside of Yehicle
18. Any bac~ and forth movement o~ til~ me~b~r 118 along
the longi~udinal ~xis o~ ve}ldcle 18 i9 transerred to
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transversc member 110. Transverse member 110 in turn
rotates about shaEt lOS causin~ arm 102 to slide 103~
tudinally hack and for~h wit~lin ~he interior o~` hottom
scction 30. This movement is in turn communica~ed to
al~ 9S, slee~e 8~, an~ ultimately to luS reten~;on member
~2. The posi~ion o lu~ retention member ~? iS ihereforo
in a ~ircct resi-onse ~o the lon~itudil-al posi~ion of ~ilt
~emher 113. ~loweYer, if centering member 88 is fixed by
loc~ing membcr 90 both lu~ reteIItion ~e;nber 82 and tilt
l~ ~eMber 118 ar~ hel~ in a locke~ ~osition.
On tlle encl of sxle 4S distal from pinion 50
is a worm ~ear 120. A worm wheel 122.is ~ixedly attached
to an u~ri~,llt a~le 124 which is free to spin in a
lS bearin~ s~lrface (not showll) in bottom section ;0. ~ear
~he lower en~ o~ axle 1 4 is a two-lobed cam t~heel 1_6.
Cam wheel 126 is fi~edly attached to axle 124 anF~ there-
~ore rotates in respect to rotation of axle 12~. ~s
~ereinafore described axle 4~ turns in respcct ~o
'l~ motion of motor 3~. This rotary motion of axle 48 is
trans~errc~l co ca!~ wheel 126 by tlle interaction of ~orm
wheel 1~2 ~ith wor~ ear 120 causing cam wheel 12fi to
rotate.
28 A liftin~, member 128 is ~ournaled at one end
~bout two ~ins collec~i~ely icl~n~i~ied by the numcral
13~ integrrally att~ched to one end of lif~ing member 128.
Pins 1~0 ~it into arpropriat~ bearin~,rs in ~ottom section 3n.
Llftin~ mcml~r lX~ pro~cts ~rom pins 130 ncross the top
0 sur~ace o~ cam wh~el 126 an~ ~hen makes a 9Q bend and `~
b~co~es vcrtical section 13~. Vertical section 132
e~tends down toward the bottom of base sec~ion 30.
Integrally forme(~ on the undersurface of lifting member
12S is ~ cam followcr 1~ which mates with the cam
~5 surfaces o~ cam wheel 126. ~s cam 126 rotat~s liftin~
meTnber 12~ is caused to pil,rot about pins 13û. Extending
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from vertical section 132 of lif~in~ member 12g is liting
exten~ion 136. Lifting ex~enslon 13G passes underneath
transverse m~mber 110 and ~hen projects upwardly until
it culminates at end 138.
An upwarcI and downward mo~ion o-f lifting me~ber
123 is cause~l by the in~eraction of cam follower 134
on the cam surfaces of c~m wIIeel 126 as cam 126 rotat~s.
This upwar~l and downward motion i~ transJr.~ed to trans-
1~ vers~ me~ber 110 by liEting extension 136. Transverse
member 11~ slides up and ~lown abou~ bearing 112 vertically
on shaft 108 causin~ til~ member 118 to aleernately pro-
ject through the bottom o bottom section 30 and then be
retracted into the interior of bottom section 30. As
this happens arm 114 rides uy and down on upstanding pe~
1~6. iIowever~ peg 106 is of sufficient length that arm
114 never is completely free of peg 106. A spring 140
.fits Oil shaEt 108 and w}len top section 23 is fitted to
bo~tom section 30 s~rin~ 140 abu~s against top scction
2~ and biases ~ransverse member 110 toward the bottom
o bo~.tom scction 30. This in turn, ~ecause trans~rse ~ :
member 110 lies across li~tin~ extension 136~ holds cam : :
follower 134 against the cam sur~aces of cam wheel 126. ~ :
A turret li~ting member 142 having two pins
collectively identi:ied by th~ num~ral 144 is moun~e~:to
bottom section 30 about pins 14~. A spring 146 bias~s
~nd 14S of turret lifting member 142 in a downward direction.
End 138 of lifting extension 136 fits ~nderneath~turr~t ~ ~
lifting member 142 near en~ 8. As liting extension : ~ ~ :
136 rises and alls:with respec~ to mo~ion of cam wh~el
126 tllis motion is~com~unicated to turret liftin~ m~ember
142. As:end 13~8 of lifting exter.sion 136 is raised it
pushes up on end;:l48 of turret lifting mcmber 142. :~ :
Turre~ lifting member 142~spins about pins 144 and the :~ -
opposite en~ 150 of turret~liting member 142 drops. As
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lif~ing extension 136 descends in response to ~he position
of cam follower 134 on cam wheel 126 ~prin~ 146 biases
end 150 o turre~ liEting member 142 in an upward ~irection.
The upward ~nd downward motion of end 1~0 of turret
liftin~ member 142 is transferred to a shaft 152 e~tendin~
from the bot~om of a tllrret signalin~ deYice 154.
Un~er the influence of gra~i~yJ shaft 152 rests agains*
turret liftin~ member 142.
Extending down ~hrough the center of ~urre~ Z2
is a large drilling 156. In the center of drillin~ 156
is. a second drillin~ 158. Turre~ signsling devlce 154
is of a smaller dimension than drilling 156 allowin~
turret signalin~ device 154 ~o fit within the interior
of drilling 156. Shaf~ 152 ex~ends from th~ bot~om o
turret si~nalin~ derice 154 ~hough drilling 158 and
abuts against ~urret lifting memb0r 152.
Both the turret signaling derice 154 and its
attached shaft 152 are fr~e to move within their respectiYe
drillings 156 and 158. Since shaft 152 rests on ~urret
lifting member 142 the movement~of turrc~ tin~ member
142 is transferred to turret sl~naling device 154.
8ecause.of the attachm~nt of lifting member 128 about
pins 130 and turret liftin~ member 142 about pins 144,
as tilt mem~er 118 is~lifted up into ~he body of bottom
section 30 turre~ ~lgnallng deYice lS4 :is allow~d to
descend under the ~nfluence o ~ravity into drilli~ 156
and as tilt ~ember 118~descend do~nwards out of ~he body
o~ bottom section 30 turret s~gnaling~device 15~4 is
raised ou~ of the drilling 156. Thus by visually per-
ceiYing the position of turrét~signaling device 154 one
knows the position of til~ memb~r 118, i.e. ~he ~urret
si~naling de~ice 154 i~ up when the tilt member 118 is ::
down and vice versa. ~ :
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A sha~ 160 ex~ends through a hole (no~ shown)
in top section Z8. Mount~d on the bottom of shaft 160
is a crown wheel 162 and mounted on the ~op of sha~ 160
is a spur wheel 164. As such crown wheel 162 is located
S within the body o~ base 20 and spur wheel 164 is h~ld
slightly above the top surface of ~op section 28.
Crown wheel 162 mates with large plnion 62 and thus
the rotation of large pinion 62 is transferred to spur
wheel 164. As hereinaore described spur gear 58 is
capable of being rotated in both a clockwise and a counter-
clockwise direction. T~is movemcntofspur g~ar 5~ is
transferre~ by axle 60 to large pinion 62 whlch in turn
transers ~his motion to spur wheel 164 causing spur
wheel to ~ove both: clockwise and coun~erclockwiss. A
lS large gear 166 res~s on the top surface of top section
28 about an upstandins boss (no~ shown) which extends:
upward from top section 28.: The boss~its into the
centralized hole in the center of large ~ar 166
. maintaining larg~ ~ear 166 cen~ered on bas~ 20. Extending
around the perimeter~of large ~ear 166 are spur te;eth
168. Extending around the top~ surface: o ~large 8ear 166
are crown teeth 170. Spur~:tee:th 168 mesh:w~th crown ~:
wheel 162 and as such the ro~tation o~pinion 62 is
transferred to làrge ~ear 166. A~skir~ 172 extends down
~5 ~rom the boStom of turret 22:and ~its inside of crown
eeeth 170 o~ lar~e gear 166~: This centers turret 22 on
large ~ear 166`and bas~ 20 and all:ows~turret 22:to piro~
about large ~ear 166 and base 20,
~A shaft 174~ex~ends~horizontally through:turret
22 into conical member~4~.: Conical m~mber 24:is:~ixedly~
attached to shaf~ l74 OD :one end ~hcreof and a spur gear ~ :
176 is fixedly attache~ ~o the other end o~ shaft 174,
: Spur~gear;1?6:~ma~:es witX crown~tee~h 170:an~ transmit~
~`~motion~of larg~gear 1:66 to con~cal member 24. Since
large gear 166 spins in e:ither direc~:ion depending upon
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the direction o~ pinion 62, conical ~ember 24 also is
capable of spinning in both direction.
~Yithin the lnt~rior of turret 22 on the side
opposite conical member 24 is a shaf~ 178. Fixedly
attached to shat 178 is spur gear 180 which mates wl~h
crown teeth 170 and rotates shaf~ 178 in resp~ct to its
rotation on large gear 166. Two ratchet wheels 182 and.
184 are also attached to sh~t 178. R~tchet wheel 172
is oriented on shaft 178 so that its tseth~project opposite
to the direction of the teeth on ratchet whe~l:l84. Two
shafts 186 an~ 188 extend parallel within turre~ member
22 to shaf~ 178. Two escape mechanisms l90 and 192 are
mounted about shafts 186 and 188 respecti~ely. Escape
mechanism 190 interac~s with ratchet wheel 182 and~
oscape mechanism 192 interacts wit~ ratchet wheel 184
A spring 194 connects to both o ~he tops of escape
mechanism 190 and 192 as shown in :Fig~.~3 and biases
the escape mechanism into holding posit10ns w~th ~heir :
respective ra~chet wheels.
:
As pTeviously noted large gear 166 is free to
spin~ about a boss extending from the top of to~ section
~8. Re~erring now speci~ically to Fig. 3 if s~ur ~ear
162 is rotated in the direction sho~n in solid lines
this rotation is transferred to large gear 1~6 and
causes large gear 166 to ro~ate on the~top surfac~ of
top section 28:in ~hc direction shown in solid lines.
I~the escape:mecha~nism 1~0 was not interacting~with
3Q ratche~ wheel 182 spur gear 180 also would b~ free to
rotate;~in the~direction~shown in th;e solid lin~
However, as sllown in Pig. 3 spur gear 180 cann~t ~urn
:: in;the~dire:ction shown in ~he solid 1ine b~cause escape
` mechanism l90 is:locked a~ain3t ratche~ wheel 182.: As
a~cons~quence;o~this the:~turret~22 and the components
~ttached to it, i.e. escape ~echanisms 190 and 192~ the
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ratchet wheels 182 and 184 and spur gear 180, are fixedly
held in respect to large gear 166, Thus, the turret 22
is locked to lar~ gear 166 and is forced ~o move 1n ~he
same direction as lar~e gear 1660
Fixedly attached on ~he top surface o~ ~op
sec~ion 28 are two ratchek ~rip pegs 196 and 198 and
two stop pegs 200 and 20Z~ ~s ~he turret 22 turns in
the dir~ction shown in the solid a~row escape mechanism
190 abuts a~ainst ratchet ~rip peg 196 causing the escape
mechanism 190 to pi~ot about axle 1~6 and ree ratchet
wheel 182. This allows spur gear 180 to rotat~in
the direc~ion shown by solid arrow. Just after escape
mechanism 190 contac*s ra~chet trip peg 19~ a turret
s~op peg 204 which exten~s from the turret toward the
top section 28, contacts s~o~ peg 230. This prevents
the turret 22 from any urther moYement in the direction
shown by the sol~d arrow.
When spur wheel 1~62 is caused to rotate ln the
direction shown by ~he brokcn arrow large~gear;l66
reverses direction and~also~urns~in the direction shown
in the broXen ar~ow. Since spur gear 180:is prevent~d ::
from traveling in the directivn shown in the:broXen
2S arrow because o interaction o escape mechanism 192 with
ratchct wheel 184, turret 22 is caused~to spin in th~
direction shown by:the broken arrow. As a consequence
o~ the turret 22 turning in`~his direction turret s~op
peg 204 starts to rotate:away rom stop peg 200 and::escape
mechanism 190 s~ar~s:to rotate~ away:~ro~m:ratchat t~ip:peg
196. The turret 22 ~h~n turns 180 degrees wi~h respect
to the~bas:e 20~unti:1 esca~e mechanism 192 abuts against ~:~
- ratchet ~rip pe~ 198. This liE~s escap~ mechanism 192: ~ :
: from ~the surace:of ratche~wheel;l84 and al}ows spur : : :~
3~ gea~ 180~to turn;in the diraction shown by the broken
~:arrow.~ Shortly th~reafter turret:stop peg 204~abuts
:: :
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-15-
a~ainst stop peg 202 holding turret 22 i~ tHi~ new position.
The turret 22 will remain in this posltion until the
direction of rota~ion of spur gear 58 onco a~ain is roverscd.
At this time large gear 166 and ~urret 22 will again ~urn
in ~he direction shown by the solid arrow as previously
described. Ratchet trip pegs 196 and lgB are so placed
in respect to one another on the surface of body 20 that
they do not interfer with th~ interac~ion of each with
its respecti~e escape mechanism.
As ~ cons~quence of the reversal of d~rection
o~ large gear 16G spur gear 176 also turns in bo~h direc-
tions. The stop pegs 200 and 202 and the turret stop
peg 204 are positioned such tha~ the limits of
travel of the turret 22 about larg gear 166 result ln
conical ~ember 24 being pointed either toward one end
or the other of the ~ehicle l~Q . Further, the s~o~pegs
200 and 202 are so positioned that conical m~mber 24
points..inthe direction of travel o~ the vehiclc 18.
Because spur ~ear 176 reverses d~rection, consequen~ly
the conical member 24 will spin one way when pointed
toward one~end Qf th~ vehicle 18 and spin ~he opposite
way when pointed toward the other ~nd. As the result ,
of this opposite spin of conical member 24 ~he helical
2S screw 26 on the conical member 24 will ~irst turn in
toward the body of the vehicl~ 18 when the rehicle 18
is going in one direc~ion andwill turn out away fr.om:the
body of the vehicle 18 when the vehicl~ 18 is going in : -
the o~po~site direc~ion. Along with th~ reversal of~
direction of the ve~iclcl8this spin of the hel~cal
screw 26 makes for~an interesting vl~ual:efect.
`: :
.
At ~he opposlte end of the vehicle lB is a
:: second axle 206:having two wheel~ coll~ectiYely identified
by the numerals 208 on the ends ther~o. The whecls
~ Z08 are free to spin about axle 206 allowing the vehicl
~ '!
\ ~, ;
,
' ' ~ '
~lZ~:~O~
- 1 6 -
18 to ride o~er a surface in r~spons0 to propulsion by
driYing wheels 72 and 75.
For a more realls~ic effect during thc op~ration
of the vehicl~ 18 shaft 60 contains a three lobed cam
278 on the end opposite of spur gear 62. A flexible
member 280 int~grally formed with top body section 23
extends toward and slightly touches cam 278. Rotatio~
of axle 60 causes cam 278 to flip agalnst flexîble member
280 e~itting a sound imitatin~ a motor-like noise.
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