Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF 'I'HE INVENTI_
Field o:E Invention: This invention occupies the
field of t~y vehi.cle launchers wherein self-propelled toy
vehicles are initially restrained and then released tc be
driven under their own power.
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SUMMARY OF Tl-E INVENI'ION
The present invention comprises a launching mechanism
for a self-propelled toy vehicle, said launching mechanism
being embodied, in -the preferred form of this invention, in
a wrist~mounted housing.
Briefly stated, the launching mechanism of the present
invention includes two keepers, one to engage a spring-urged
dome and hold it in closed position against its spring action,
and the other to engage a forwardly biased ~spring-urged) toy
vehicle and hold it in stationary position against its spring
bias. The keepers are themselves spring biased to hold them
in engagment, respectively, with the dome and the toy vehicle.
A lost motion or -time delay element is provided in
connection with the second keeper, whereby release of the
toy vehicle is arranged to occur subsequent in time to the
release of the dome. In one form of this invention, a cam
linkage provides the lost motion or time delay feature.
In the operation of the launching mechanism herein
described and claimed, the release of the toy vehicle does
not automatically occur after release of the dome. Instead,
release of the toy vehicle is controlled by the child
operating the device; he may release the vehicle immediately
following release of the dome or he may delay releasing the
vehicle until such time as he may choose to do so.
An important feature of the present invention resides
in the control it affords to a child. Specifically, the entire
mechanism may be mounted on the wrist of one hand while the
entire operation of the mechanism is conducted by the fingers
of the other hand. I'he child may orient the mechanism and
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direct the toy vehicle by simply adjusting the position of the wrist on
which the mechanis~ is mountecl. Gnce the device is properly oriented it
may be operated without disturbing its orientation. By the same token, the
device may be reactivated by simply replacing the toy vehicle in its housing
and closing same. This again can be done with one hand while the device
remains positioned on the wrist of the other hand.
In summary, the present invention provides a launching mechanism
for power-driven toy vehicles, comprising: ~a) a housing structure adapted
to house a power-driven toy vehicle, ~b) said housing structure having a
base providing a supporting platform for the toy vehicle and a dome pro-
viding an enclosure for the toy vehicle, ~c) said dome being pivotally
mounted on the base and pivotally movable between closed and open positions,
~d) a spring operative between the dome and the base to urge the dome into
open position, and ~e) a control member on said base having a first keeper
element to engage and hold the dome in closed position and a second keeper
element to engage and hold the toy vehicle in stationary position, (f) said
control member being manually movable relative to the base to disengage
the first keeper element from the dome and thereby to release the dome
for spring-urged movement into open position, and to disengage the second
keeper element from the toy vehicle and thereby to release the toy vehicle
to be driven off the base.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTI~N OF THE DRAWING
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the launching
mechanism for power-driven toy vehicles as herein described
and claimed, showing same mounted on a child's wrist and in
operation with respect to a table top serving as a runway
for the toy vehicle.
Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through
said launching mechanism.
Figure 3 is a transverse section therethrough.
Figure 4 is a view of said launching mechanism looking
upwardly from the bottom.
Figure 5 is a rear view of said launching mechanism.
Figure 6 is an enlarged side view in longitudinal
section showing said launching mechanism in vehicle-retaining
position (phantom lines) and also showing said launching
mechanism in vehicle releasing posi.tion (solid lines).
Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the
several component parts of the launching mechanism, lncluding
its base, its dome, and the wrist mountin~ means.
Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view
showing the keeper mechanism for restraining the toy vehicle,
said keeper mechanism being shown in two positions, the
restraining position (solid lines) and the release position
(phantom lines).
Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view
showing the pivotal molmting means for the dome.
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Figure lO i5 an enlarged fragmentary section showing a
detail of said pivotal mounting means.
Figure 11 is an enlarged view, partly in longitudinal
section, showing a spring power-driven toy vehicle suitable
for use in connection with the present invention.
Figure 12 is an enlarged view, par~ly in horizontal
section, showing the drive mechanism of said toy vehicle.
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DESCKIPTIO~ OF PREF~RRED FORM OF THIS INVENTION
Referring now to the details of the invention as
illustrated in the drawing it will be understood that self-
propelled toy vehicle 10 may be powered by any conventional
means such as a sprlng motor or a battery operated motor.
In the preferred form of this invention the toy vehicle is
spring-powered as described in Fig. 12 of the drawing.
Stem 12 is used to wind coil spring 14 which drives the
vehicle through a gear train 16. It will be observed that
winding stem 12 and more particularly its knob 12a projects
outwardly from the housing of the device and this will enable
the spring to be wound while the vehicle is enclosed within
the housing. Alternatively, of course, the spring may be wound
before the vehicle is placed within the housing.
The invention comprises the following elements: a
base 18 adapted to be mounted on the wrist 20 of one hand,
a strap 22 adapted to adjustably secure the base to the wrist,
said base 18 including a platform 24 for the toy vehicle 10,
a dome 26 which is adapted to function as an enclosure or
housing for the toy vehicle, a ramp 28 for the toy vehicle,
said ramp bein~ adapted to extend outwardly from the base when
in operative position and being adapted for retraction into the
base when inoperative, and a control member 30 which is provided
with a pair of keepers 32 and 34 respectlvely, one to engage
and hold the dome in closed position, and the other adapted
to engage and hold the toy vehicle in stationary position.
It ~ill be observed, see Figs. 9 and 10, that dome 26 is
provided at its back end with a pair of bushings or bearings
36 and 38 respectively which are rotatably mounted on a pair
of stud shafts 40 and 42 respectively on base l~. This enables
the dome to pivot between closed position (phantom lines) and
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open position (solid lines) as illustrated in Fig. ~. A
torsion spring 44 on stud 46 interengages a projection 48 on
the dome and a section 50 on the base to urge the dome into
open position. See Fig. 10.
At its forward end dome 26 is provided with a detent 52,
this detent being adapted ~o engage keeper 32 at the for~7ard
end of control member 30. It will now be seen that con~rol
member 30 is slidably mounted in base 18 below platform 24.
One end of a coiled tension spring 56 engages a hook 58 on the
control member 30 and the opposite end of said spring 56
.engages a bar 60 on the base. It is by this means that the
control member 30 is spring urged rearwardly in the base
(rightwardly as viewed in Fig. 1). Control member 30 is
provided with an end piece 62 which functions as a finger
rest to enable the cnild playing with the toy to push the
control member forwardly against the bias ~f spring 56.
; It will now be understood that when dome 26 is
manually swung downwardly into closed position, its detent
52 engages keeper 32 against the action of spring 56. See,
for example, Fig. 2. To release the dome for spring urged
movement into open position, all that need be done is to
press against end piece 62 to move the contro~ member
forwardly a distance sufficient to disengage keeper 32 from
detent 52. The action of torsion spriny 44 will cause the
dome to swing upwardly into open position. See Fig. 6.
Toy vehicle 10 is itself provided with a de~ent 70
which extends transversely of the longitudinal axis of the
vehicle. This detent is engageable by keeper 34 on the
control member 30. ~en detent 70 and keeper 34 are
interengaged, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the vehicle is held
in stationary position on platform 24 of base 18. Keeper 34
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is mounted on slide 72 which is transversely slidable between
flanges 74 on base 18. Projecting downwardly from slide 72 is
a pin 76 which engages a channel 78 formed in control me~.ber 30.
Channel 73 extends, in part, longitudinally of control member 30
and, in part, at an angle thereto of approximately 45 degrees.
Channel 78 (reference being here made ~o the edges which define
the channel) functions in the manner of a cam and pin 76 engages
said channel and functions in the manner of a cam follower.
~en the control member 30 is caused to move forwardly against
the action of spring 56, as long as pin 76 occupies the
longitudinal section 78a of channel 78, pin 76 (and the rest of
the assembly therewith, slide 72 and keeper 343 remains stationary.
However when pin 76 is engaged by the angled section 78b of
channel 7~ said pin and the other members 34, 72 of the pin
assembly, are caused to move laterally of the longitudinal axis
of control member 30. See Fig. 8 where keeper 34 is shown in
solid lines to occupy one lateral position and in phantom in
another lateral position. When keeper 34 is in its solid line
position in Fig. 8 it engages detent 70 on the toy vehicle and
confines the toy vehicle in stationary position. When keeper 34
is moved rotatably into its phantom position in Fig, 8 it dis-
engages detent 70 and releases the toy vehicle for forward
movement under its own power.
The operation of the launching mechanism will now be
understood. Toy vehicle 10 is placed on platform 24 of base 18
and dome ?6 is swung downwardly against the torsion of spring 44
until its detent 52 engages keeper 32. If the spring motor was
not previously wound it should now be wound by means of stem 12
and knob 12a on said stem which protrude outwardly from the
dome through a slot 26a formed therein. Detent 70 on the vehicle
will engage keeper 34 on the control member and the vehicle
will be held in stationa~y position. Control member 30 may now
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be moved forwardly against the action of spring 56 by pushing
upon end piece 62, the extent of such forward movement to be
sufficient to close keeper 32 to disengage detent 52. The dome
will now swing upwardly under the influence of spring 44 and the
way will thereby be cleared for egress of the toy vehicle. Control
member 30 may now be pushed forwardly beyond the point of dis-
engagement of detent 52 and until keeper 34 is caused to move
laterally out o engagement with detent 70. The toy vehicle is
now freed for forward movement under its own propulsion
One of the features of the present invention resides in
its ability to control the direction of movement of the toy
vehicle. This objective is achieved by simply holding the
wrist on which the device is mounted in such position as to
face the toy vehicle in the direction in which it is desired to
have it run. To make sure that the vehicle maintains its
appointed course, at least initially, ramp 28 is provided in
base 18. This ramp may be pushed forwardly to its operative
position as shown in Fig. 1. It is provided with a pair of
side rails 28a and 28b which serve to guide the vehicle in the
appointed direction. Ramp 28 also performs the additional
function of bridging the gap between platform 24 and a suit-
able horizontal surface such as table top 80. See ~ig. 6.
The foregoing is illustrative of a preferred form of this
invention and it will be understood that other forms are equally
contemplated within the scope of the appended claims. Specifi-
cally, the invention is not limited to any particular keeper-
detent mechanism. Any catch mechanism which is adapted for
two stage operation, that is, with a time lag between operations,
would be suited for the purposes of this invention.
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