Abstract:
A model vehicle is disclosed wherein a front portion or a rear portion of a chassis may be selectively raised and lowered, the vehicle also capable of being driven and steered using a remote transmitter.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/609,985 filed Sep. 15, 2004, hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to a model vehicle and more particularly to a model vehicle wherein a front or rear of a chassis may be selectively raised and lowered, and driven and steered using a remote control.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The prior art includes model cars and other similar vehicle replicas having wheels which may be driven or the bodies may be selectively raised and lowered under the control of a manually actuated electric motor. Vehicles of the above referred type are of considerable interest to children from ages of five years and up.  
         [0004]     It is desirable to produce a model vehicle which can be selectively driven forwardly and rearwardly; steered; and raised or lowered in respect of the wheels and supporting surface by remote control.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     According to the present invention, a model vehicle which can be selectively driven forwardly and rearwardly; steered; and raised or lowered in respect of the wheels and supporting surface by remote control has surprisingly been discovered.  
         [0006]     In one embodiment, the model vehicle comprises a chassis; a pivoting member pivotally mounted to the chassis; a first set of ground engaging wheels attached to the pivoting member; means for imparting a pivotal movement of the pivoting member in respect of the chassis to cause a raising and lowering of at least a portion of the chassis; means for moving the first set of wheels about respective vertical axes to effect a steering of the vehicle; a second set of ground engaging wheels mounted to the chassis in spaced relation from the first set of wheels; and means for moving the second set of wheels about a respective horizontal axis to cause a driving motion of the vehicle.  
         [0007]     In another embodiment, the model vehicle comprises a chassis; a pivoting member pivotally mounted to the chassis; a first set of ground engaging wheels attached to the pivoting member; means for imparting a pivotal movement of the pivoting member in respect of the chassis to cause a raising and lowering of at least a portion of the chassis; means for rotating the first set of wheels about respective vertical axes to effect a steering of the vehicle; a second set of ground engaging wheels mounted to the chassis in spaced relation from the first set of wheels; means for rotating the second set of wheels about a respective horizontal axis to cause a driving motion of the vehicle; and a controller for selectively controlling the means for imparting a pivotal movement, the means for rotating the first set of wheels, and the means for rotating the second set of wheels.  
         [0008]     In another embodiment, the model vehicle comprises a chassis; a yoke pivotally mounted to the chassis and having a pair of spaced apart arms and a cross-piece interconnecting the arms; at least one ground engaging wheel attached to the arms of the yoke; a first electric drive motor for imparting a pivotal movement of the yoke in respect of the chassis to cause a raising and lowering of at least a portion of the chassis; a second electric drive motor for rotating the at least one ground engaging wheel about a vertical axis to effect a steering of the vehicle; at least one ground engaging wheel mounted to the chassis in spaced relation from the at least one ground engaging wheel attached to the arms of the yoke, said at least one ground engaging wheel mounted to the chassis including a third electric drive motor to cause a rotation thereof about a horizontal axis to cause a driving motion of the vehicle; a source of electrical energy for the electric drive motors; and a remote transmitter for transmitting signals to effect selective energization of the electric drive motors. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an exploded side elevational view of a model vehicle incorporating the features of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the chassis of the model vehicle illustrated in  FIG. 1  with portions broken-away to more clearly illustrate the structure with the front of the associated chassis in a lifted or elevated position;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the chassis of the model vehicle illustrated in  FIG. 2  with portions broken-away for clarity;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary top plan view of the chassis illustrated in  FIG. 3  with the wheels of the vehicle turned to steer the motion of the vehicle in a clockwise direction;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the chassis assembly with elements removed to illustrate the various components thereof;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of still another view of the chassis assembly illustrated in  FIG. 5 ; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a remote transmitter for controlling the operation of the vehicle illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]     The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.  
         [0018]     Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a model vehicle incorporating the features of the invention including a mechanism for effecting the forward and rearward motion of the vehicle; a steering motion of the front wheels; and a hopping action of the front portion of the vehicle.  
         [0019]     More specifically, there is shown in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , a model vehicle generally indicated by reference numeral  10  including a body assembly  12 , ground engaging front wheels  14 ,  14 ′; ground engaging rear wheels  16 ,  16 ′, a source of electrical energy  18  including batteries; and three separately actuated electric drive motors  20 ,  22 ,  24 . It is understood that other drive mechanisms could be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0020]     The body assembly  12  includes a body shell  30 , which may be a replica of an existing well known vehicle, and a chassis  32  formed to replicate the frame, suspension system and certain other features of the running gear. The body shell  30  and the chassis  32  may be typically formed of any suitable material such as a plastic material molded to genuinely represent the commercial vehicle. The plastic components may be glued together and/or assembled by suitable threaded fasteners.  
         [0021]     The suspension of the vehicle  10  is comprised of a front axle assembly and a rear axle assembly. The front axle assembly includes a yoke or pivoting member  34 . The yoke  34  has a pair of spaced apart arms  36 ,  36 ′ pivotally mounted at pivots  38 ,  38 ′ to the chassis  32 . The outermost ends of the arms  36 ,  36 ′ are interconnected by a cross-piece  40  as specifically illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The outermost ends of the arms  36 ,  36 ′ pivotally receive the front wheel axle assemblies  42 ,  42 ′, respectively. The front wheel axle assemblies  42 ,  42 ′ include the ground engaging wheels  14 ,  14 ′, respectively. A tie rod  44  pivotally interconnects the front wheel axle assemblies  42 ,  42 ′. The tie rod  44  includes a depending pair of spaced apart camming surfaces  46 ,  46 ′ which face each other. The space between the camming surfaces  46 ,  46 ′ receives a cam member  48  affixed to a drive shaft of the first electric drive motor  20 .  
         [0022]     The drive motor  20  is reversible to effect selective steering of the front wheels  14 ,  14 ′ through the respective axle assemblies  42 ,  42 ′. It will be noted that pivotal movement of the front wheel assemblies is brought about by the rotation of the camming member  48  within the space between the surfaces  46 ,  46 ′ causing the tie rod  44  to move in one or the other direction. The tie bar  44  is constantly biased to the center point by a set of spring biased arms  50 ,  50 ′. The arms  50 ,  50 ′ are biased to urge the steering wheels  14 ,  14 ′ to steer the vehicle along a straight path.  
         [0023]     The innermost end of the arm  36  of the yoke  34  is provided with an inverted camming surface  52  adapted to be contacted by a cam member  54  affixed to the drive shaft of the second electric drive motor  22 . Rotation of the cam member  54  will cause the yoke  34  to pivot about the pivots  38 ,  38 ′ to effect an up and down hopping motion of the front of the body shell  32  in respect of the front wheels  14 ,  14 ′, as clearly illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0024]     A rear axle assembly rotatably supports to the rear of the chassis  32  and includes a rear axle  58 , rear ground engaging wheels  16 ,  16 ″, the third electric drive motor  24 , and a gear train  64  interconnecting the drive motor  24  to the wheels  16 ,  16 ′.  
         [0025]     The source of electrical energy  18  is provided and typically includes batteries with sufficient energy to cause the energization of the electric drive motors  20 ,  22 , and  24  through suitable electrical conductors. The electric drive motors  20 ,  22 , and  24  are selectively energized through integral receivers upon receiving an energizing signal from a remote transmitter  70  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  illustrates the transmitter  70  which includes switches  72 ,  74 , and  76  to effect drive motions, steering, and hopping motion, respectively, for the vehicle body assembly  12 . An on/off switch  78  is provided to actuate or inactuate the system.  
         [0027]     The invention is more easily comprehended by reference to specific embodiments recited hereinabove which are representative of the invention. It must be understood, however, that the specific embodiments are provided only for the purpose of illustration, and that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated without departing from its spirit and scope.