Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02503725 2005-04-26
WO 2004/041383 PCT/US2003/034375
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Improved Remotely Controlled Toy Vehicles With Lights)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to toy vehicles and, more
particularly, to remotely
controlled toy vehicles configured to transform and/or perform unusual stunts.
[0003] Remotely controlled toy vehicles are well known. One subset of these
vehicles are
configured to faithfully replicate known or otherwise conventional vehicles to
allow users to pretend
they are driving real vehicles. Another subset of such vehicles are more
fanciful and designed for
unusual performance capability, typically being capable of performing
maneuvers that could or
would not be performed by or with real vehicles. Some such vehicles are
provided with lights to
enhance the amusement value of such toys. Purchasers are attracted to and
manufactures try to
provide remotely controlled toy vehicles having new features and/or
capabilities not previously
provided in such vehicles for enhanced play value in such vehicles.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A remotely controlled toy vehicle including at least an on-board power
supply, at least a
plurality of wheels supporting the vehicle for itinerant movement, at least
one motor operably
coupled to at least one of the wheels to provide at least part of the
itinerant movement of the vehicle,
a controller circuit configured to selectively supply power from the power
supply to the at least one
motor in response to commands from a transmitter remote from the vehicle to
move the toy vehicle
and at least one light source, characterized by the controller circuit being
configured to selectively
supply power to illuminate the at least one light in response to a signal
indicating the vehicle is
performing a particular maneuver.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of
preferred
embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in
conjunction with the
appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is
shown in the drawings an
embodiment which is presently preferred. It should be understood, however,
that the invention is
not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
[0006] In the drawings:
CA 02503725 2005-04-26
WO 2004/041383 PCT/US2003/034375
[0007] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first longitudinal end of a toy
vehicle incorporating the
present invention;
[0008] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a second longitudinal end of the toy
vehicle of Fig. l,
showing a pivotal mount of a lateral chassis portion to a central chassis
portion;
[0009] Fig. 2A is a detail view showing a torsional spring biasing the lateral
chassis portion
against the central chassis portion;
[0010] Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the toy vehicle of Fig. 1 in a
particular stunt
performing configuration;
[0011] Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the electrical components of the toy
vehicle of Figs. 1-3; and
[0012] Fig. 5 is a graph showing an exemplary variable illumination cycle for
the light sources
of the toy vehicle of Figs. 1-3
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Certain terminology is used in the following description for
convenience only and is not
limiting. The words "right", "left", "top", "bottom", and the like designate
directions in the
drawings to which reference is made. The words "inner", "outer", "interior"
and "exterior" refer to
directions towards and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the
toy vehicle or
designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words above
specifically mentioned,
derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning.
[0014] Referring now to the figures, there is shown a preferred embodiment of
a toy vehicle
indicated generally at 10, in accordance with the present invention. The
vehicle 10 has a first
longitudinal end 12 in the foreground in Fig. 1, a second, opposing
longitudinal end 14, a first lateral
side 16 and a second, opposing lateral side 18. Vehicle 10 further has a first
major planar side 20
and a second, opposing major planar side 22. The vehicle 10 has a hinged
chassis indicated
generally at 26 that includes a central chassis portion 30 with first cover 31
and first and second
lateral chassis portions 40 and 70, respectively. The first lateral chassis
portion 40 is pivotally
coupled with the central chassis portion 30 on the first lateral side 16 of
the vehicle 10. The second
lateral chassis portion 70 is a mirror image of the first lateral chassis
portion 40 and is pivotally
coupled with the central chassis portion, 30 on the second lateral side 18 of
the vehicle 10. A
plurality, in particular, two road wheels 42 and 44 are rotatably supported
from the first chassis
portion 40. Another plurality of identical wheels 42, 44 is rotatably
supported from the second
chassis portion 70. The first and second lateral chassis portions 40, 70 axe
coupled with the central
2
CA 02503725 2005-04-26
WO 2004/041383 PCT/US2003/034375
chassis portion so as to pivot with respect to the central chassis portion 30
in a common plane,
which is generally parallel to the plane of Fig. 3.
[0015] Since the first and second chassis portions 40 and 70 are mirror
images, only the first
chassis portion 40 will be described in further detail. The first lateral
chassis portion 40 includes a
reversible electric motor 46 enclosed within a first cover 50 on the first
chassis portion 40. The
motor 46 is drivingly coupled with at least one and preferably with.each of
the road wheels 42, 44
supported on the lateral chassis portion to rotate the driven wheels in the
same direction through a
gear train (not seen in any of the figures) within the chassis portion 40. The
gear train is
substantially identical to that shown in IJ.S. Patent No. 6,598,098,
incorporated by reference herein,
with a central driven gear driven directly by the motor pinion, a pair of spur
gears driven by the
central drive gear and a pair of wheel gears driven by the spur gears, each
wheel gear including a
splined drive shaft non-rotatably received in one of the wheels 42, 44.
[0016] The first longitudinal end 12 of the first lateral chassis portion 40
is coupled with the first
longitudinal end 12 of the central chassis portion 30 through a link 54 (best
seen in Fig. 3). Link 54
has a proximal end pivotally coupled to the central chassis portion 30 to
pivot about a pivot axis
transverse to the major planes of the vehicle. The distal end of the link 54
is also provided with a
transverse guide member in the form of a protruding pin or pin equivalent 56,
which is received in
and slides along a longitudinally extending slot 52 on an inner lateral side
of the first lateral chassis
portion 40.
[0017] Fig. 2 depicts the direct pivotal mounting of the first lateral chassis
portion 40 with the
central chassis portion 30 at the second longitudinal end 14 of the vehicle.
The mounting of the
second lateral portion 70 is a mirror image. A pivot member (e.g. pin) 62 is
transverse to the major
plane of the vehicle 10 and extends through overlapping flanges 30a, 30b of
the central chassis
portion 30 and 40a, 40b of the first lateral chassis portion 40. As indicated
in detail Fig. 2A, a
torsional coil spring 64 is positioned around pivot member 62. A first tang
(not illustrated) of the
spring 64 is engaged with a flange of the first lateral chassis portion 40. A
second, opposing tang
(not illustrated), is similarly engaged with a flange element of the central
chassis portion 30. The
torsional coil spring 64 is located to bias the first lateral chassis portion
40 inward towards the
central chassis portion 30 and the inward position shown in Fig. 1. The bias
of the spring 64,
however, can be overcome during operation of the vehicle 10 to cause one or
both lateral chassis
portions 40, 70, to pivot outwardly from the central chassis portion 30, as is
illustrated in Fig. 3.
[0018] A power supply 38, preferably a rechargeable battery pack, is
preferably located at the
extreme second longitudinal end 14 of the vehicle 10 on the end of the central
chassis portion 30 to
3
CA 02503725 2005-04-26
WO 2004/041383 PCT/US2003/034375
shift the center of gravity of the vehicle 10 closer towards the second
longitudinal end 14 of the
vehicle to assist the vehicle 10 in performing certain types of stunts,
particularly the stunt shown in
Fig. 3. In the embodiment illustrated, the battery power supply 38 is
accessible via a battery box
door 39 pivotably mounted to the chassis 30.
[0019] Referring to Figs. l and 3, each lateral chassis portion 40, 70 is
provided with a
transparent cover 60 at the first longitudinal end of the chassis portion 40,
70 over a light source,
preferably a high intensity light emitting diode ("LED") 36 (see Fig. 1).
Preferably too, each link 54
is formed from a transparent polymer material and also includes a high
intensity LED 36 as seen in
Fig. 3 at its proximal end where it is pivotally coupled by link 54 with the
central chassis portion 30.
(0020] Control of itinerant movement of the vehicle 10 is conventional. The
vehicle includes
control circuitry 100 indicated in block diagram form in Fig. 4, preferably
located in the central
chassis portion 30, which and including a wireless; preferably radio frequency
(RF) receiver 102,
preprogrammed microprocessor or microcontroller 104 operably coupled with
receiver 102 and with
first and second propulsion/steering motor control circuits 106, 106',
preferably identical, each
driving a separate one of the preferably identical motors 46, 46'. The
operation of the motors 46,
46' are controlled by the microprocessor 104 in response to control signals
received by the receiver
102 from a remote control unit 112 generating and transmitting wireless
maneuver control signals.
The vehicle 10 is propelled by controlling each motor 46, 46' to rotate the
various road wheels 42,
44 in the same direction at the same speed and is steered by controlling the
motors to drive the
wheels on either lateral side 16, 18 of either lateral chassis portion 40, 70
differently, either in
different directions or at different speeds or both. By rotating the wheels
42, 44 on opposite lateral
sides 16, 18 in opposite directions, the vehicle 10 can be made to spin in
place. Centrifugal force
causes the free longitudinal end of each lateral chassis portion 40, 70 at the
first longitudinal end 12
of the vehicle 10 to spread apart. The spreading apart of the lateral chassis
portions 40, 70 causes a
further shift of the center of gravity of the vehicle 10 towards the second
longitudinal end 14 so that,
if the vehicle 10 continues to be spun in place, it will raise its first
longitudinal end 12 and spin
about its second longitudinal end 14 in an upright manner as seen in Fig. 3.
As can be seen in Fig.
3, vehicle 10 tends to be supported on the corners and sidewalls of its road
wheels 44 at the second
end 14 of the vehicle 10 during such maneuvers.
[0021] While the light sources 36 conventionally might be hard wired with the
battery power
supply 38 to be constantly on when on-off switch 110 is set to the ON
position, closing the circuitry
through the battery 38, according to the present invention, the light sources
36 preferably are
individually coupled into circuit using a switch (e.g., a transistor not
separately depicted) controlled
4
CA 02503725 2005-04-26
WO 2004/041383 PCT/US2003/034375
by the microprocessor 104. In this way illumination of each light source 36
can be individually and
selectively controlled with the microprocessor 104. Further according to the
invention, the control
circuitry 100 can be configured to operate the light sources 36 in more than
one mode of operation.
The control circuitry 100 and, more preferably, the microprocessor 104, is
configured to operate the
light sources 36 in at least two different modes of operation.
[0022] This can be done in a number of ways. The invention is characterized by
the control
circuit 100 being configured to selectively supply power to illuminate at
least orie light 36 in
response to a signal indicating the vehicle 10 is performing a particular
maneuver. As explained
above, vehicle 10 performs a particular stunt in which it stands up on its
second end 14 and spins in
place with its lateral chassis portions 40, 70 pivoted away from the central
chassis portion 30.
Preferably, vehicle 10 is provided with a momentary closure switch 80 (Fig. 4)
positioned to change
states when at least one of the lateral chassis portions 40, 70 is pivoted
away from the central chassis
portion 30, which occurs when the vehicle 10 is performing some type of spin
maneuver. The signal
is thus generated by. a switch (80) adapted to detect a position of at least
one of the lateral chassis
portions 50, 70 relative to the central chassis portion30.
[0023] The microprocessor 104 is preferably configured to operate LED's 36 in
two different
modes depending upon the state of switch 80, as communicated to the
microprocessor 104 by a
signal generated by the switch 80 and sent to the microprocessor 104 along
line 82. Unless the
lateral chassis portion 40 or 70 is pivoted away from the central chassis
portion 30, switch 80 is in a
first state and the microprocessor 104 responds to that state in a first mode
of operation of the LED's
36, for example illuminating some (e.g. the lateral chassis mounted pair) or
all of the LED's
continuously. When the switch 80 is in another state indicating that at least
one of the operably
coupled lateral chassis portions 40, 70 is pivoted away from the central
chassis portion 30, the
microprocessor 104 operates in another mode, for example flashing some (e.g.,
either the link pair or
the lateral chassis pair) or all of the LED's 36.
[0024] Fig. 5 graphically depicts a suggested sequence of operating the light
sources 36, which
includes flashing all of the LED's 36 in a varying manner over time. To do
this, power to at least
one light 36 is modulated as a function of time to vary a level of
illumination intensity provided by
the at least one light. Fig. 5 is a chart of LED illumination intensity over
time. Preferably, the
variation in operation, i.e., the illumination intensity of the LED, changes
in consecutive time period
blocks indicated T1, T2, etc. While they are illustrated as being equal, they
need not be. In the first
block, T1 (e.g. about five seconds), the LED's 36 are varied from zero to
fifty percent of maximum
intensity and back to zero twice at a uniform rate over the period (i.e., as
depicted over five seconds)
5
CA 02503725 2005-04-26
WO 2004/041383 PCT/US2003/034375
or, if desired, over a substantial portion (e.g. about four seconds) of the
period. If switch 80 remains
in the second state after the end of the first period T1, the microprocessor
104 enters the second time
period T2 and second mode of illumination during which the LED's 36 are varied
from zero to
seventy-five percent of maximum intensity and back four times at a constant
rate over the period T2.
If the switch 80 remains in the second state after period T2 (i.e. more than
10 seconds), the third
period T3 and third mode are entered in which the intensity is varied from
zero to a maximum eight
times at a uniform rate. If the fourth consecutive time period T4 is entered,
the LED's 36 are
illuminated constantly at full intensity for the full period. If the fifth
period TS is entered; the LED's
are turned off for the length of the period. Thus, T4 and TS together
constitute one on-off cycle. If
a sixth period, T6, is entered, the LED's 36 are operated intermittently with
a full off period between
pairs of consecutive spikes of one-hundred percent illumination as depicted or
between individual
spikes of illumination (not separately shown) to create a strobe effect. As
consecutive time periods
continue to be entered, other modes of illumination can be created.
Alternatively, previous
practiced modes can be repeated or the last mode repeated indefinitely. Other
possible modes
include varying intensity levels down to a non-zero level and illuminating the
light sources in series
or in various pairs or randomly. The microprocessor 104 might utilize a stored
look-up table to
control the different illumination modes.
[0025] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could
be made to the
embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept
thereof. For
example, instead of responding to a sensed state of the vehicle, the
microprocessor can be
programmed to respond to different commanded operations, for example
illuminating in a first mode
when commanded to go forward, in another mode when commanded to reverse, in
still another
mode for turning, yet another mode when stopped and yet another mode when
spinning in place. If
the vehicle is capable of transforming itself as described, for example, in US
Patent Nos. 5,762,533;
5,474,486 and 5,332,469 or is capable of performing unusual stunts as
described, for example, in US
Patent Nos. 5,429,543; 5,667,420; 5,882,241 or 6,024,627, the mode of
illumination can change in
response to commands to perform the transformation or perform the stunt. It is
understood,
therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments
disclosed, but it is intended
to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as
defined by the
appended claims.
6
