Patent ID: 6364736
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: A63H

Abstract:
A wheeled toy vehicle comprising:a chassis having end walls, side walls, and top and bottom walls defining at least one interior compartment; a first axle having first wheels mounted to each longitudinal end thereof, mounted to the chassis for rolling rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof; a second axle having second wheels mounted to each longitudinal end thereof, mounted to the chassis for rolling rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof; said chassis defining a battery compartment for supporting an electrical battery oriented such that a longitudinal axis thereof extends generally longitudinally of the chassis between the first and second axles; an electric motor mounted in the interior compartment of the chassis and having a drive shaft extending generally longitudinally at least from said motor substantially to said first axle; a worm operatively coupled to said motor shaft so as to be rotated thereby; an output gear selectively operatively coupled to the worm so as to be driven by the worm, said output gear being coaxially mounted to said first axle; a hub structure fixedly mounted to said first axle; said output gear being axially slidable relative to said first axle from a first position in which said output gear is axially offset from and disengaged from said hub structure, disengaged from said worm, and rotatable relative to said first axle, and a second position in which said output gear is operatively engaged with said hub structure and operatively engaged with said worm for transmitting rotation of said worm to said hub structure, thereby to rotate said first axle and said first wheels mounted thereto; a mode selecting structure mounted so as to be laterally slidable relative to said drive shaft, said mode selecting structure being engaged with said output gear so that lateral displacement of said mode selecting structure displaces said output gear axially along said first axle into and out of engagement with said hub structure, said output gear being rotatable relative to said mode selecting structure; and electrical contact structure for selectively transmitting electric power from a battery said in battery compartment to said motor.