Abstract:
An articulated toy vehicle is capable of straight and curved motion on a surface or through water. A front and rear assemblies are supported by wheels and are joined at a steering knuckle capable of positioning the assemblies in a vertical posture when the vehicle is moving along a straight path, and positioning the rear assembly in a non-vertical posture when the vehicle is moving along a curved path. A drive motor is mounted within and engaged with one of the wheels for driving the vehicle. A steering motor is mounted within the vehicle for setting the assemblies on a selected mutual angle to provide curved and straight line motion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of provisional application, Ser. No. 29/249991, filed on Oct. 30, 2006. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
       [0005]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    1. Field of the Present Disclosure 
         [0007]    This disclosure relates generally to toy vehicles, and in particular, to an articulated, toy vehicle with in-wheel drive, tilt mechanism and steering by setting an angle between two sections of the vehicle. 
         [0008]    2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
         [0009]    The following art defines critical aspects of the present state of this field: 
         [0010]    Kennedy et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,044, discloses an articulated toy vehicle capable of negotiating a difficult terrain such as a terrain characterized by successive troughs and peaks and other irregularities. The articulated vehicle is composed of a wheeled tractor section and a series of wheeled trailer sections linked thereto by means of a motor-driven, multi-section drive shaft, each section of which is operatively coupled to a wheel axle of a respective vehicle section. The drive shaft sections are intercoupled by detachable universal joints whereby as the vehicle traverses the difficult terrain, it assumes a sinuous formation conforming to the varying contours of the terrain to provide a distributed traction making it possible for the vehicle to overcome the difficulties presented by the terrain. 
         [0011]    Legal, U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,055, discloses a motorized wheel assembly provided for a wheelchair in which there is a seat for receiving the occupant attached to a vertical shaft with a single central wheel mounted at the bottom of the shaft for rotation about a horizontal axis transverse to the chair and defining a direction of forward movement of the wheel forwardly of the chair. On the shaft is carried a battery and control unit for supplying power to the drive motor of the, wheel mounted on the hub of the wheel. An outrigger frame includes a sleeve slidable on the shaft and a plurality of arms extending outwardly from the sleeve each arm carrying a castor wheel to prevent toppling of the device. Steering is achieved by the feet of the user applied to the outrigger frame to rotate the chair and the drive wheel about a vertical axis. The wheel is of the motor in a hub design which is achieved by providing a cylindrical housing surrounding the motor with at least one annular bearing on the outer peripheral surface of the housing carrying the rim of the wheel which directly surrounds the housing. An output shaft at one end of the housing drives the rim through a coupling extending around the housing. 
         [0012]    Klawitter, U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,263, discloses an articulated toy vehicle operable by a child including a cab and a trailer pivotally connected to the cab. A pair of non-steerable front wheels are mounted to the cab to be driven by pedals. A pair of back wheels are mounted to the trailer. A steering mechanism is provided which pivots the trailer relative to the cab to turn the vehicle. 
         [0013]    Heinen, U.S. Pat. No. 7,059,437, discloses an electric motor in a wheel, control, measuring and operating devices in the wheel for operating the electric motor, and a data communication link in the wheel. At least two of such wheels may be attached to one vehicle and coordinated. A wheel strut is attached to the wheel using an attachment that is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The wheel strut is able to rotate the wheel using the attachment. 
         [0014]    The prior art teaches articulated toy vehicles and also drive means contained within or as part of a drive wheel and these features are considered to be important to the utility of the present invention. However, the present invention distinguishes over the prior art in providing a tilting means and valuable utility therefore in an articulated toy vehicle. Important advances in the technology are taught in the present application in the apparatus for driving, for tilting, and for steering the presently described apparatus. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    This disclosure teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below. 
         [0016]    An articulated toy vehicle is capable of moving over a straight or curved path. A front and rear assemblies, supported by wheels, and are joined at a steering knuckle capable of positioning the assemblies in a vertical posture when the vehicle is moving along a straight path, and also positioning the rear assembly in a non-vertical posture when the vehicle is moving along a curved path. A drive motor is mounted within and engaged with a rear one of the wheels for propelling the vehicle. A steering motor is mounted within the steering knuckle for setting the assemblies at a selected mutual angle thereby inducing curved or straight line motion. The vehicle is preferably radio controlled so that it may be driven over a course including hard surface, mud, sand and through water. Paddles on the drive wheel are used for amphibious operation. 
         [0017]    A primary objective inherent in the above described apparatus and method of use is to provide advantages not taught by the prior art. 
         [0018]    Another objective is to provide a toy vehicle that is propelled by a motor mounted within one of the wheels. 
         [0019]    A further objective is to provide such a vehicle that is steered by positioning a rear portion relative to a front portion of the vehicle. 
         [0020]    A still further objective is to provide such a vehicle that can traverse a variety of terrain types including solid surfaces, sand, mud and also through water. 
         [0021]    A still further objective is to provide such a vehicle that tilts the rear portion when navigating a curved path in order to provide improved traction or paddling power. 
         [0022]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the presently described apparatus and method of its use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0023]    Illustrated in the accompanying drawing(s) is at least one of the best mode embodiments of the present invention In such drawing(s): 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is an front elevational view of the presently described apparatus; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view thereof; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view thereof; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a partial section view thereof taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2 , with an axle and motor housing not sectioned. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    The above described drawing figures illustrate the described apparatus and its method of use in at least one of its preferred, best mode embodiment, which is further defined in detail in the following description. Those having ordinary skill in the art may be able to make alterations and modifications to what is described herein without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, it must be understood that what is illustrated is set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as a limitation in the scope of the present apparatus and method of use. 
         [0029]    Described now in detail is an articulated three-wheeled toy vehicle which, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , includes a front assembly  12  and a rear assembly  18 . The front assembly  12  is supported by a pair of front wheels  40  attached by wheel struts  16  as best seen in  FIG. 1 . The vehicle may have a cab  14  and other decorative features as shown and such features may be changed without loss of the novel features of the present invention. The rear assembly  18  supports a single rear wheel  50  mounted in a fork  22  as best seen in  FIG. 3 . The front  12  and rear  18  assemblies are joined at a steering knuckle  20  in such a manner that the rear assembly  18  is able to rotate laterally with respect to the front assembly  12 , to one side or the other of the vehicle&#39;s longitudinal centerline  28 . When the rear assembly  18  is displaced from the centerline  28 , the rear wheel  50  tilts to one side; and because wheel  50  has a circular cross-section it is able to maintain traction when navigating turns. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a horizontal pivot pin  32  couples the steering knuckle  20  with the rear fork  22  so that the rear wheel  50  is able to move vertically about the pivot pin  32 . Preferably, a shock absorber  36  is mounted between the steering knuckle  20  and the fork  22 , so as to place a downward force on rear wheel  50  to improve traction. Shock absorber  36  also limits the vertical rotation of wheel  50  about pivot pin  32 . 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , steering knuckle  20  comprises an upper portion  20 A which is part of the rear assembly  18 , and a lower portion  20 B which is part of the front assembly  12 . Steering motor  30  is mounted within upper portion  20 A and its motor shaft  31  extends downwardly into lower portion  20 B where it is engaged so that when shaft  31  is rotated by motor  30 , rear assembly  18  is caused to be laterally displaced with respect to centerline  28 . Upper portion  20 A slides on lower portion  20 B at intersecting line  33 . Therefore, the vehicle is steered, as lateral displacement of the rear wheel  50  places a turning moment on front assembly  12 . It is shown that motor shaft  31  is inclined at an angle A which is preferably about 45° off horizontal, but may be between 30° and 60° off horizontal as shown in  FIG. 2  by axis  28   a , as this range of angles has been shown to provide the best operation of the presently described vehicle. Because of angle A, and complimentary tilt angle of intersecting line  33 , lateral displacement of rear wheel  50  from centerline  28  causes it to tilt as stated above. This provides improved traction in a turn because the tilted wheel  50  brings the wheel&#39;s paddle-like vanes  58  into greater contact with the terrain. 
         [0032]    Propulsion of the vehicle is provided by rear wheel  50 . In the preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , rear wheel  50  is hollow and rotates freely on fixed axle  56 . A drive motor  60  is fixedly mounted in motor case  62  which, in turn, is fixedly mounted on axle  56 . Axle  56  is fixedly engaged at opposing ends with the legs of rear fork  22 . Pinion gear  64  is engaged with and rotated by drive motor  60 . An internal tooth ring gear  70  is mounted within, or molded inside, wheel  50  and is engaged with the pinion gear  64  so that rotation of motor  60  and pinion gear  64  rotates wheel  50 . The ring gear  70  may be merely a circular series of slots arranged on the interior surface of the rear wheel  70  so as to mate with the pinion gear  64 . The motor  60  receives power from a battery  25  which is carried within rear assembly  18  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Small diameter wires (not shown) leading from battery  25  to both steering motor  30  and drive motor  60 . A radio signal receiver and switching circuit board  26  functions with the battery and motor circuit for remote control operation of the vehicle. 
         [0033]    In the preferred embodiment, the wheels  40  and  50  are sealed so as to provide buoyancy for amphibious operation of the vehicle. As previously noted and shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a plurality of paddle-like vanes  58  extend around both sides of the rear wheel  50 , to assist in propelling the vehicle through water. Preferably, the vanes  58  extend in a arcuate manner as shown in  FIG. 3  so as to better engage soft terrain, such as sand and mud, and especially through water. 
         [0034]    The enablements described in detail above are considered novel over the prior art of record and are considered critical to the operation of at least one aspect of the apparatus and its method of use and to the achievement of the above described objectives. The words used in this specification to describe the instant embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification: structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word or words describing the element. 
         [0035]    The definitions of the words or drawing elements described herein are meant to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements described and its various embodiments or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. 
         [0036]    Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope intended and its various embodiments. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. This disclosure is thus meant to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and also what incorporates the essential ideas. 
         [0037]    The scope of this description is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that each named inventor believes that the claimed subject matter is what is intended to be patented.