Patent ID: 6350173
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: A63H

Abstract:
A toy vehicle, comprising:a chassis; first and second wheels pivotally mounted to the chassis; and a steering mechanism mounted on the chassis and operatively connected to the fist and second wheels for steering the wheels, the steering mechanism including a steering module having; a) a coil disposed on the chassis, the coil having a first end and a second end with a central axis extending between the first and second ends thereof; b) a first slide bar disposed adjacent the first end of the coil mounted so as to be moveable perpendicular to the central axis of the coil, the first slide bar having a first end operatively connected to the first wheel and a second end operatively connected to the second wheel whereby movement of the first slide bar results in pivoting movement of the first and second wheels; c) first and second magnets mounted on the first slide bar and moveable therewith perpendicular to the central axis of the coil, the first and second magnets each including a north pole and a south pole, the north pole of the first magnet facing the first end of the coil and the south pole of the second magnet facing the first end of the coil; wherein the steering mechanism further includes an actuating bar mounted on the chassis for movement perpendicular to the central axis of the coil, the actuating bar are operatively having a first end operatively connected to the first wheel and a second end operatively connected to the second wheel, and the first slide bar and the actuating bar are operatively engaged whereby movement of the first slide bar causes movement of the actuating bar perpendicular to the central axis of the coil; and wherein the wheels are each rotatable about a respective rotation axis, and wherein the coil, the first slide bar and the first and second magnets are all disposed either entirely forward or entirely rearward of the rotation axes.