Patent ID: 6129607
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: A63H

Abstract:
A self-righting remote control vehicle comprising:a chassis;front and rear wheels rotatably mounted on each of the respective left and right sides of the chassis for rotatably supporting the chassis on a supporting surface the vehicle having no other wheels;a body mounted to the chassis including a lower edge margin and having a generally pyramidal shape which tapers to an uppermost apex above said wheels, the body being balanced such that when the vehicle is rolled over, it tends to roll toward one side thereof wherein a portion of at least one of said wheels engages said supporting surface and said lower edge margin does not contact said supporting surface;a first drive for drivably rotating the front and rear wheels on the left side of the chassis;a second drive for drivably rotating the front and rear wheels on the right side of the chassis;a receiver for receiving control signals from a remote control transmitter; anda controller operatively connected to the receiver for selectively and independently controlling said first and second drives responsive to said control signals, said vehicle being operational so that when it rolls over toward said apex, said body may initially contact said supporting surface without any of said wheels in contact with said supporting surface but whereby operation of at least one of said first and second drives eventually causes sufficient movement of said vehicle to return said vehicle to a position wherein at least one wheel thereof engages said supporting surface and thereafter to an upright position in which it is supported on all four wheels.