Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1~415~7
The present invention relates to toy vehicles for
use in a toy vehicle game. More particularly the invention
relates to toy vehicles which are separately controlled by
the players to enable them to turn out from one lane to the
other and pass other vehicles on the track.
With the ever increasing popularity of toy vehicle
games, such as for example the well known "slot car" games,
there is an increasing demand for more realistic action.
To this end attempts have been made in the past to provide
"slot car" type games with speed control systems, as for
example by varying current flow to the vehicles in the game.
To further enhance such realism the slot arrangements in
such games also provide for crossing the vehicles from one
side of the track to another, to simulate an actual changing
of lanes. However, the vehicle is in fact constrained to
a fi~ed predetermined and unvariable path.
Since the play value of such previously proposed
vehicle games is limited to the regulation of speed of
travel, attempts have been made to provide toy vehicle
games which enable an operator to control movement of the
vehicle from one lane to the other without the constraint
of a guide slot in the track. Such systems include for
example the type shown in U. S. Patent No. 3,797,40~, where-
in solenoid actuated bumpers are used -to physically push
the vehicle from one lane to the other by selectively enyag-
ing the bumpers along the side walls of the track. It is
believed that this type of system will not insure movement
of the vehicle from one lane to the other, particularly at
slow speeds, and the bumper movements for pushing the
vehicle are not realistic.
Other attempts to provide for vehicle control for
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moving the vehicle from one lane to the other involve rela-
tively complicated steering control mechanisms which respond
to the switching on and off o~ current to the toy vehicle
as supplied through contact strips in the track surface.
~ Such systems are disclosed for example in U.S. Patent Nos .
3,774,340 and 3,837,286. However, in addition to the
relative complexity of the steering arrangements, the
vehicles will of course lose speed when the current supply
is shut off, so that the vehicle will slow down and the
realistic effect desired to be produced is affected.
Still other steering systems have been provided in
toy vehicles wherein the vehicle's steering is controlled
in response to a reversal of the polarity of the current
flow to the electrical drive motor in the vehicle. Such
systems are disclosed for example in U.S. Patent Nos.
3,453,970 and 3,813,812, which avoid the problem of stopping
current flow completely to the motor so that there is little
or no loss of speed, but their steering systems contain
numerous moving parts which will wear and require constant
attention. In Patent No. 3,453,970 to Hansen, the electri-
cal wires connecting the motor to the current collectors of
the vehicle are used to aid in the steering operation and
thus may well work loose during use of the vehicle. Another
reversing polarity system is shown in U. S. Patent No.
- 3,232,005 wherein the toy vehicle does not operate on a
track and the steering control is not provided for switching
lanes~ but rather to provide an apparently random travel
control for the vehicle.
Still another toy vehicle game which has been suggest~
ed to avoid the constraints of slot car ty~e systems, is
disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 3,239,953 wherein a relatively
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- 114154~
complex steering control is provided which is responsive
to the actuation of a solenoid mounted in the toy vehicle
and is controlled remotely by the players.
It is an object of the present invention to over-
come the limitations of previously proposed toy vehicle
games wherein toy vehicles are permitted to turn out and
move from one lane to the other without the restraint of a
guide slot or the like.
Still another object of the present invention is to
provide a toy vehicle which is adapted to move along a guide
track and change from one lane to the other, under the
control of a player.
A still further object of the present invention is to
provide a toy vehicle for use in a game in which separate
vehicles can be separately controlled by the players to
move from one lane to the other and pass one another.
A still further object of the present invention-is to
provide a toy vehicle having a relatively simple drive
transmission responsive to the polarity of current flow to
an electrical motor in the vehicle, to drive the vehicle in
one or the other of the lanes of the track.
A still further object of the present invention is to
provide a toy vehicle having a relatively simple drive
transmission system which enables one or the other of its
two rear drive wheels to be driven in response to the
polarity of current supplied to the electrical motor in
the vehicleO
Another object of the present invention is to provide
a toy vehicle of the character described which is relative-
ly simple in construction and durable in operation.
Yet another object of the present invention is to
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il41~7
provide a toy vehicle which is relatively simple andeconomical to manufacture.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention,
a toy vehicle is provided which includes a frame, a body
mounted on the frame, and a plurality of ground engaging
wheels, including a pair of drive wheels. The drive wheels
are mounted in the frame for independent rotation in later-
ally spaced vertical planes and a reversible electric motor
is also provided for selectively driving the wheels. A
drive transmission is mounted in the frame to connect the
output of the electrical motor to the drive wheels. This
drive transmission includes at least one transmission ele~
ment which is movably mounted in the frame for movement
between first and second positions in response to the dir-
ection of rotation of the drive motor thereby to drive one
or the other of the drive wheels. Preferably, two of the
toy vehicles are used on an endless track having lateFally
spaced side walls defining two vehicle lanes therebetween.
When the vehicles are operated with only one or the other
of t~eir drive wheels driven from their respective motors,
the vehicles will move into engagement with and be guided
along one of these side walls.
The power supply to the electrical motors of the
vehicles is provided through electrical contact strips
located in the lanes of the vehicle track. This power
supply system is constructed to enable the operators to
separately control the speed of the vehicles and also to
separately reverse the polarity of current flow to the
electrical motors of the vehicles, whereby the vehicles
will change lanes. In addition the vehicles are provided
with a relatively simple shock absorbing front end sys~em
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1141547
which absorbs the impact of the vehicle against the side
walls during a lane change and directs the front wheels
of the vehicle in the desired path of travel.
The above, and other objects, features and advantages
of this invention will be apparent in the following detail-
ed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which
are to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings,
wherein;
Figure 1 is a plan view of a toy vehicle game in
which the toy vehicles of the present invention are used;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a toy
vehicle adapted for use with the game of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a bottom view of one of the toy vehicles
illustrated in Figure l;
Figure 3A is a bottom vlew of the front end portion
of a second vehicle used in the game of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the toy vehicle shown
in Figure 2, but with the body removed;
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of
Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a top plan view, similar to Figure ~, but
showing another position of the drive transmissions of the
vehicle;
Figure 7 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram of
the electrical control system used for the toy ~ehicle game
of Figure l;
Figure 8 is an enlarged view illustrating the impact
of a vehicle against one of the side walls of the track
during a lane change;
Figure 9 is a plan view, similar to Figure ~, of a
toy vehicle according to one embodiment of the present
invention; and
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~41547
Figure 10 is a longitudinal side view of the toy
vehicle illustrated in Figure 9;
Re~erring now to the drawings in detail, and initially
to Figure 1 thereof, a toy vehicle game 10 in which the toy
vehicles of the present invention are to be used, includes an
endless plastic track 12 having a pair of laterally spaced
upstanding side walls 14, 16 and a road bed or tread surface
18 extending therebetween. ~he road bed 18 has a width
sufficient to define at least two vehicle lanes 20, 22 there-
on along which a plurality of vehicles can be operated.
In the illustrative embodiment the toy vehicle game
includes operator controlled vehicles 24, 26 which are of
substantial identical construction except for the arrange-
ment of their current collectors as described hereinafter.
In addition, a drone car 28, which moves along the track at
a relatively constant speed is also provided.
Vehicles 24, 26 are separately controlled-by the player
through a control system 30 which enables the players to vary
current supply to the electrical motors in the vehicles,
thereby to vary the vehicle speed. The controllers also
enable the players to change the polarity of current supplied
to the respective vehicle motors, whereby the vehicles can be
switched by the players from one lane to the other~ The
drone car 28 on the other hand moves along the vehicle track
at a constant speed providing an obstacle along the track
which the player controlled cars 24, 26 must pass. The
front wheels of the drone car are preferably canted in one
direction or the other so that the drone will normally be
driven in either the inner or the outer lane depending on
the position of the wheels. This vehicle includes an electric
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114~5'~7
-
motor operated by a battery contained within the vehicle,
and connected through a direct drive transmission of any
convenient construction to the rear wheels thereof. Pre-
ferably, drone vehicle 28 is of the type illustrated and
described in detail in United States Patent No. 4,078,738
and commonly assigned herewith.
Toy vehicle 24 is illustrated in detail in Figures
2-4. As seen therein the vehicle includes a frame or chassis
3~ of any convenient construction, and a removable plastic
body or shell 34 which may be snap fit on frame 32 in any
convenient manner. A pair of front wheels 36 are rotatably
mounted on the frame, through a shock absorbing front end
system 38, described more fully hereinafter, while the rear
- wheels 40 are rotatably mounted for independent rotation on
a shaft 42 rotatably mounted in frame 32. (See Figure 5).
One of the drive wheels 40 is fi:~ed on shaft 42 by a spline
44 or the like, while the other of the wheels is freely
rotatably mounted on the shaft. Alternatively both wheels
can be freely rotatably mounted on the shaft or axle 48.
With either arrangement the wheels can be separately and
independently driven.
Each of the drive wheels ~0 is formed from either a
molded plastic material or from a cast metal material, and
has on its inner s~de an integral spur gear 46 formed there-
on by which rotary power is supplied to the respective
wheels.
The power for driving the toy vehicle is supplied from
a D.C. electric motor 48 mounted on frame 32 in any conven-
ient manner. The electric motor is of conventional D. C.
114~547
construction and includes a rotary output member or shaft
50 connected to the rotor of the motor in the usual manner.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 a spur gear or
output drive element 52 is secured to shaft 50 for rotation
thereby. This output member is drivingly engaged with the
transmission system 5~ which is responsive to the direction
of rotation or the output drive element (i.e. the direction
of rotation of output shaft S0 of motor 48, due to the
polarity of current supplied to the motor) to selectively
drive the drive wheels 40.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 4-6,
transmission system 56 includes a crown gear 58 having
downwardly extending teeth 60 and a central collar 62. A
mounting pin 64 extends through collar 62 and is secured at
its lower end 66 in frame 32 so that crown gear 58 is ~reely
rotatably mounted thereon. A movable transmission element
including a sleeve or gear support member 68 is rotatably
mounted on collar 62. A pair o~ spur gears 70, 72 are in
turn rotatably mounted on sleeve 68 for rotation along axes
extending generally perpendicularly to the axis of rotation
of crown gear 580 These gears 70,72 are positioned at an
angle to each other (see Figure 4) in engagement with crown
gear 580 As a result of this arrangement when the rnotor 48
is operated crown gear 58, due to its engagement with the
spur gear 52, will be rotated in either a clockwise or
counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figures ~ and 6,
depending upon the polarity of the current supplied to motor
480 At the same time gears 70, 72 will be continuously
rotated by the crown gear. Howe-ver, because gears 70, 72
3~ are mounted on the rotatable sleeve 68, the engagement
between the gears 58, 70, 72 will cause sleeve 68, and thus
~4~547
gears 70, 72 to rotate axially about pin 64 and collar 62,
in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction according to
the direction of rotation of the crown gear. As a result,
as seen in Figure 4, when crown gear 58 is rotated in a
clockwise direction indicated by the arrow X gears 70, 72
will also ke moved in a clockwise direction so that gear
70 engages the gear 46 of the lower wheel 40 in the vehicle
shown in Figure 4. Thus the right drive wheel of the vehicle
will be driven, while the left drive wheel will be free to
rotate.
In the game illustrated in Figure 1 when vehicle 24 is
in the outside lane and power is supplied to i~s right wheel
40 in this manner, as a result of the polarity of current
supplied to the motor 48, the toy vehicle will be caused to
move from the outer lane to the inner lane, as is shown in
Figure 1 occurring with the vehicle 26. When this occurs
the front end of the vehicle will engage the inner wall 16
of the track and the continued drive of its right wheel will
cause the vehicle to move along wall 16 in the inner lane
20 of the trackO Of course, if the vehicle is moving at a
relatively high rate of speed as it goes about a curve in
the track it may be propelled bv centrifugal ~orce into the
outer lane. However, if the drive to the right hancl wheel
is maintained it will move inwardly again to the inner lane
as previously described.
On the other hand, when the polarity of current supplied
to the motor 48 is reversed crown gear 58 will rotate in a
counterclockwise direction, as illustrated by the arrow Y in
Figure 6. When this occurs gears 70, 72 will be driven in
an opposite direction and sleeve 68 will be caused to rotate
~4~ '7
in the same direction as gear 58. This will engage gear 72
with gear 46 of the left drive wheel 40 (i.e. the upper
wheel 40 in Figure 6) so that this wheel is driven while
the right wheel is free to rotate.
When the left wheel of the vehicle is driven in this
manner, a bias is applied to the vehicle which will cause
it to move to the right. Thus, as illustrated in Figure 1
by the vehicle 24 shown in dotted lines, when the vehicle is
in the inner lane 20 of track 12 and the polarity of the
current flo~ to the motor 48 is changed so that its left
wheel 40 is driven, the vehicle will be biased towards its
right into outer lane 22. When the front end of the vehicle
hits outer wall 14 it will continue to move along that outer
wall in outer lane 22 until the polarity of current supplied
to the motor 48 is again reversed. In this regard it is noted
that because of the arrangement of gears 52, 58, 70 and 72
the vehicle will always be propelled in a forward direction
regardless of the direction of rotation of the output element
52 of the motor.
A toy vehicle according to the present invention is
illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, and includes another form of
transmission system which also will selectively drive the
right or left hand drive wheels of the toy vehicle according
to the polarity of current supplied to the electric motor.
In this embodiment of the invention the toy vehicle also
includes a frame 32 and a drive motor 48. The drive motor
includes an output shaft 90 having a worm gear 92 mounted
thereon which is connected through a transmission 94 to
selectively drive either of the left or right wheels 40.
Transmission 94 also includes a movable transmission element,
but in this case the movable transmission element is a single
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~14~5~7
spur gear 96. This gear has a shaft 98 secured thereto
and extending from opposite sides of the gear into slots
100 formed in upstanding flanges 102 on frame 32. By this
arrangement, depending upon the polarity of current supplied
to motor 48, spur gear 96 will move to a forward position
illustrated in solid lines in Figure 10 or a rearward posi-
tion at the opposite end of slot 100, illustrated in dottedlines in Figure 10. Additional gears 104,106 are rotatably
mounted in flanges 102 at these extreme opposite positions
of gear 96 to be selectively engaged with the gear 96
depending upon the direction of rotation of the output ele-
ment 92 or shaft 90 of the motor 48. These gears 104, 106
are rigidly connected through shafts 108 to gears 110 of
- transmission 94. By this arrangement drive wheels 40 will
always be driven in a forward direction regardless of the
position of the gear 96 and the direction of rotation of
motor 48. And, by controlling the polarity of the motor, the
operators can control which of the rear drive wheels of the
vehicle will be supplied with power, so that the vehicle can
be used in the game of Figure 1, in the same manner as the
vehicles previously described, to enable the operators to
cause the vehicles to change position from one lane to the
other. It is noted that for the left wheel of the vehicle
shown in Figure 9 an additional gear 110' is provided
rotatably mounted on the vehicle frame and operatively engaged
between gear 110 and the gear 46 of the left wheel, so that
when the gear 10~ is driven, the left wheel ~0 is driven in
a forward direction.
In order to supply current to the toy vehicles the track
surface 18 is provided with a plurality of electrical contact
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~14~547
strips in each of the lanes 20, 22. In the illustrative
embodiment each lane is provided with three contact strips
A, B and C respectively. The strips are formed of an
electrically conductive metallic material and are embedded
- in the track so that they are substantially flush with ~he
surface of the track and present no obstacle to movement of
the vehicles from one lane to the other. Current is supplied
to these strips, as described hereinafter, and is collected
by current collectors mounted on the frame 32 of the toy
vehicles in predetermined locations.
The contact strips in each lane are paired with each
other, i.e., the A strip in one lane is electrically connect-
ed to the A strip in the other lane, the B strips are connect-
ed to each other and the C strips are connected to each other.
The C strips are connected to electrical ground and the A and
B strips are provided to separately supply current and control
polarity of the current to the respective vehicles, so that
two vehicles can operate in the same lane and still be separ-
ately controlled. For this reason the current collector and
the vehicles are arranged to associate the respective vehicles
with only one of the pairs of contact strips. For example,
vehicle 24 will obtain current from strips B, while vehicle
26 will obtain current only from strips A.
As illustrated in Figure 3 vehicle 24 is provided with
two current collectors 111, 112 with the current collector
112 thereof positio-ned to contact ground strip C. Similarly
vehicle 26, illustrated in Figure 3A, has current collectors
112, 114 mounted thereon with current collector 112 located
in the same position as the corresponding collector of
vehicle 24 for also contacting the ground strip C. These
11~3L54~
current collectors are mounted on the vehicle in any conven-
ient manner known in the art, and are electrically connected
in a known manner to motor 48 of their respective vehicles.
Current collector 111 of vehicle 24 is mounted on the vehic]e
to engage contact strips B regardless of which lane the
vehicle is in. As seen in Figure 3 this current collector
is located centrally of the vehicle frame. On the other
hand, the current collector 114 of vehicle 26 is located off
center from the center line of the vehicle body and in s~aced
relation to its acsociated current collector 112. This
current collector is positioned to engage contact strips A
regardless of the lane in which the vehicle is moving. By
this arrangement, each of the operators can separately
control current supply and polarity to contact strips A, B
to control a respective one of the vehicles 24, 26 regardless
i of the lane occupied by the vehicle.
The control system 30 for the toy vehicle game illustra--
ted in Figure 1, is shown schematically in Figure 7. This
control system includes respective controllers124, 126 by
which the players can control the vehicles 24, 26 respective-
ly. Essentially the control system includes a plug 128 by
which the system can be connected to an electrical AC power
source, and it includes a transformer 130~ Power is supplied
from the transformer 130 through a halfwave rectifier 132
including two diodes connected as shown to separately supply
current to the controllers 124, 126~ Each controller is
provided as a hand held unit and includes a variable resistor
13~, operated as a trigger on the unit, as well as a single
pole double throw switch 136. Current from controller 124 is
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~141547
supplied through its variable resistor 134 to the contact
strips B and current from the controller 126 is supplied
through its variable resistor to the contact strips A. The
variable resistors may be of any convenient construction to
permit the operators to vary the current supplied to their
respective contact strips, and thus their respective vehicles,
in order to vary the speed of the vehicles.
The polarity of the current supplied to the toy vehicles
is separately and independently controlled by switches 136 so
that the polarity of current supplied to motor 48 of the
respective vehicles, as controlled by the respective controll-
ers, will vary in accordance with the position in which the
switches 136 are placed. By this arrangement each player,
using his controller 126 or 124, can control the speed of his
vehicle along the track 12 and he can also variably position
his vehicle along the track simply by changing the polarity
of current supplied to the vehicle. As described above the
polarity of the current supplied to the motor of the respec
tive toy vehicles will determine which of the two rear drive
wheels is powered, and this will determine which lane the
vehicle will be driven to.
As illustrated in Figure 1, when it is desired to switch
a vehicle from the outer lane to the inner lane, as shown
with vehicle 26, the polarity of current supplied to the
vehicle is selected to drive the outer or right wheel of the
vehicle thereby moving the vehicle leftwardly into the inner
lane. Likewise, when it is desired to move the vehicle
outwardly the inner or left wheel of the vehicle is driven, by
properly selecting the polari~y of current supplied to the
motor of the vehicle, so that the vehicle will move toward
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11~15 ~7
the right and into the outer lane. Thus the operators have
complete control over both the speed of the vehicle and the
lane in which the vehicle will moYe.
In the illustrative embodiment when a drone car 28
having a constant speed of movement is utilized an obstacle
is provided in the outer lane of the track which the players
must pass in order to continue moving along the track. This
enhances the play value of the game as all players will have
to pass the drone car during the-game at some stage of
operation of the game, and this introduc2s a further variable
factor into the game requiring an additional degree of skill
and vehicle control in order to win the "race".
As mentioned~ the toy vehicles of the present invention
include shock absorbing front ends 38. In the embodiment
of the invention illustrated in Figure 3 the front end 38
includes a wheel support plate 130 pivotally mounted by a
pivot pin 132 or the like on frame 32 of the vehicle, The
plate includes bosses 134 of any convenient form which
rotatably mount a shaft 136 on which the front wheels 138
of the toy vehicle are secured. Plate 130 is held in its
centered position, so that the front wheels of the vehicle
will normall~ direct the vehicle in a straight line, by a
spring arrangement 140 which includes an integral tongue
142 formed with the plastic plate 130. This tongue is
captured between a pair of posts or abutmen~ mernbers 1~4
formed in frame 3~O By this arrangement plate 130, and
thus wheels 138, are resiliently held in their cen-tered
position. ~owever, when the vehicle changes lanes and
impacts against one of the side walls (for example the
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1141547
outer walls 14, shown in Figure 8) the plate 130 will pivot
in response to that impact and the shock of that impact will
be absorbed by the spring element or tongue 142. At the
same time the pi-~otal movement of the plate will turn wheels
138 therewith and direct them along the desired path of
travel, thereby insuring that the vehicle will move into
alignment with the contact strips of the track~ as quickly
and rapidly as possible. To assist in the shock absorbing
feature of the invention plate 130 is provided with enlarged
bumper elements 146 which extend outwardly beyond the frame
of the vehicle so that the bumper elements engage the side
wall of the track before the vehicle or any portion thereof.
As seen in Figure 3A tongue 142 is defined between slots
148 formed in plate 130 on opposite sides of the tongue.
These slots have outer edges 150 ~hich will engage against
posts 144 in the event plate 130 is pivoted a sufficient
distance. The engagement of the side edges 150 of the slots
against the posts 144 will limit the pivotal movement of the
plate beyond a predetermined maximum position.
Another embodiment of the front end shock absorbing
system of the present invention is illustrated in Figur~ 9
and 10. In this form of the invention the shock absorbing
front end includes a plate or wheel support element 160
pivotally mounted by a pivot pin 162 or the like on frame 32
of the vehicle. Plate 160 includes upstanding bosses 164
which rotatably mount a shaft 166 on which the front wheels
138 of the toy vehicle are secured. The plate is held in its
normally centered position by a coil spring 168 connected
at its opposite ends to plate 160 and to a post 170 on frame
32. The coil spring is located along the axial center line
of the plate and vehicle to hold the plate in its normally
- 16 -
- 1~41547
centered position. When the toy vehicle having a front end
of this construction impacts against the side wall of the
track plate 160 will pivot in the same manner as previously
described with respect to plate 130 to align the wheels with
the side walls of the track and insure rapid return of the
vehicle into alignment with the contact strips of the lane
to which it has moved. Preferably in this embodiment of
the invention frame 32 is provided with a lip or stop surface
172, of arcuate configuration as shown in Figure 9, which
acts as a stop surface cooperating with rear edge 174 of
plate 150 to limit the amount of pivotal movement permitted
to plate 160.
Accordingly it is seen that a relatively simply construc-
ted toy vehicle is provided for use in a game in which
players have complete independent control over the speed of
operation of the toy vehicles, including the ability to cause
the toy vehicles to shift independently from one lane to
the other in order to pass each other or to pass a drone car
moving along the track in a constant speed. This is achieved
without the complexities of multiple element steering systems
or solenoid bumper and steering arrangements. Moreover, it
is accomplished with a simple chanye in polarity of the
current flow to the toy vehicle's motor and eliminates the
attendant loss of speed which occurs with previously pro-
posed structures wherein lane changes are provided as a
result of shutting off of power to the vehicle motor.
Although illustrative embodiments cf the present inven~
tion have been described herein with reference to the
accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, but that
various changes and modifications may be effected therein by
one skilled ir. the art without departing from the scope or
spirit of this invention.
