Flywheel Powered Toy That Can Operate Both as a Vehicle and as a Top

A toy assembly having a body symmetrically balanced around a first axis. The body has wheels upon which the body can roll. A flywheel is disposed within the body that rotates about the first axis in a plane that is perpendicular to said first axis. The flywheel preserves angular momentum. At least one gear is provided within the body that transfers rotational energy between the flywheel and at least one of the wheels. The toy assembly can roll as a vehicle or spin as a top depending on whether it is placed on a flat surface or balanced on a salient point.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

In general, the present invention relates to toy vehicles and toy tops. More particularly, the present invention elates to toy vehicles and toy tops that contain flywheels that preserve angular momentum and power the toy into movement.

2. Prior Art Description

There are many toys that contain mechanical assemblies that cause some part of the toy to spin for a prolonged period of time. One such mechanical assembly is a flywheel. A flywheel is a wheel that has a large mass and a large diameter, relative the size and weight of the toy. The flywheel is caused to spin by a user manually manipulating the toy in some manner. Once the toy is released, the flywheel has significant momentum that keeps the flywheel spinning for a prolonged period of time. The flywheel can be connected to a gearbox, for example, wherein the flywheel is used to supply rotational energy to some other aspect of the toy.

One of the most common uses of flywheels in toys, is the use of a flywheel in a toy car to help propel the toy car. In such a toy, the flywheel is used to drive one or more wheels of the vehicle, therein causing the vehicle to roll. In a toy car, the flywheel can be oriented vertically, such as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 2,677,216 to Hein and U.S. Pat. No. 4,443,967 to Jones. Alternatively, the flywheel can be oriented horizontally, such as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,175 to Angier and U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,041 to Chang.

When a flywheel is used in a toy vehicle, the shape of the toy vehicle dictates the location of the flywheel. Since the toy vehicle rolls in a stable configuration on four wheels, there is little concern for weight distribution or balance in regard to the placement of the flywheel. The flywheel is typically placed in the largest area available within the design. In this manner, the largest flywheel possible can be used, therein providing the most power to the toy vehicle.

In addition to toy vehicles, flywheels have also been used in toy tops where balance is a concern. Traditionally, a toy top has a solid body that spins, wherein the spinning body of the top creates a flywheel. Due to gyroscopic effects, the toy remains spinning upright until it slows enough that gravity overcomes the gyroscopic effect. However, there are many toy top designs that have been created that are not solid. Rather, the toy top has a shell that does not spin. Inside the shell is a flywheel that spins to provide gyroscopic stabilization. Such prior art is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,284 to Christen.

Although flywheels have been used in toy tops and flywheels have been used in toy vehicles, no known design has ever combined features of a toy top into the features of a toy vehicle. By combining the features of a toy vehicle and a toy top, a toy can be created that can both be propelled by the power of a flywheel and spin in place using the gyroscopic effects of the flywheel. Such a toy is presented by the present invention and described and claimed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a toy assembly that can perform both as a toy vehicle and as a spinning toy top. The toy assembly has a body that is symmetrically balanced around a first axis. In this manner, the body can spin in a stable manner about the first axis.

The body of the toy assembly has wheels upon which it can roll. A flywheel is disposed within the body. The flywheel has a weighted wheel that rotates about the first axis in a plane that is perpendicular to the imaginary axis. As the flywheel spins, it retains rotational energy and creates gyroscopic effects.

At least one gear is used within the body to transfer rotational energy between the flywheel and at least one of the wheels. In this manner, the wheels can be used to turn the flywheel and the flywheel can be used to turn the wheels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the present invention toy assembly can be configured in many ways, only two exemplary embodiments are illustrated. The exemplary embodiments are selected in order to set forth some of the best modes contemplated for the invention. The illustrated embodiment, however, are merely exemplary and should not be considered a limitation when interpreting the scope of the appended claims.

Referring toFIG. 1in conjunction withFIG. 2andFIG. 3, a toy assembly10is shown. The toy assembly10is both a toy vehicle and a toy top, as will be explained. The toy assembly10has a body11that is balanced about an imaginary vertical axis13. In this manner, the body11can spin evenly about the imaginary vertical axis13.

The body11of the toy assembly10includes a base platform12. The base platform12is symmetrically weighted so as to be balanced about the imaginary vertical axis13. Accordingly, the base platform12has a center of gravity that is aligned with the imaginary vertical axis13. The base platform12has a top surface14and an opposite bottom surface16. There is a relief18formed in the bottom surface16of the base platform12. The relief18is oriented on the imaginary vertical axis13. The purpose of the relief18is later explained.

The base platform12is supported by two axles20,22and two sets of wheels24,26. The front set of wheels26spin freely on the front axle22. The rear set of wheels24are bound to the rear axle20and turn only when the rear axle20turns. A bevel gear28is coupled to the rear axle20for use in turning the rear axle20.

A support plate30is provided that mounts to the top surface14of the base platform12. The front axle22and the rear axle20are held in place by being interposed between the support plate30and the base platform12. The support plate30retains a spur gear32that engages the bevel gear28on the rear axle20. As such, when the spur gear32turns, the bevel gear28and the rear axle20turn. The assemblage34of the support plate30and the spur gear32has a center of gravity that also aligns with the imaginary vertical axis13.

A flywheel40is provided. In the shown embodiment, the flywheel40has a weighted wheel42that exists in a first plane that is perpendicular to the imaginary vertical axis13. It should be understood that the flywheel40can also be oriented vertically, provided the center of gravity for the weighted wheel42aligns with the imaginary vertical axis13.

In the shown embodiment, the weighted wheel42is balanced about a central axle44. The central axle44is aligned with the imaginary vertical axis13. The weighted wheel42is affixed to the central axle44and rotates with the central axle44. A pinion gear46is also affixed to the center axle44under the weighted wheel42. The pinion gear46rotates with the center axle44and the flywheel40. The pinion gear46engages the spur gear32. As such, when the rear wheel set24turns, the rear axle20turns and the bevel gear28turns. The bevel gear28engages the spur gear32and causes the spur gear32to turn. The spur gear32engages the pinion gear46and causes the pinion gear46to turn. The pinion gear46turns the central axle44, which causes the flywheel40to turn. The same transfer of rotational energy also works in reverse, wherein the rotation of the flywheel40can provide rotational energy to the rear set of wheels24.

A housing50is provided that mounts to the base platform12over the flywheel40. The housing50is balanced about the imaginary vertical axis13. The housing50has a wide base51that tapers to an apex52. The housing50has an exterior surface56upon which various graphics can be printed. A projection54is provided on the exterior surface56of the housing50at the apex52. The projection54extends along the imaginary vertical axis13. The projection54is shaped and sized to engage the relief18at the bottom of another toy assembly10, as is later explained. In the shown embodiment, the housing50has a hemispherical shape. Such a shape is exemplary. Other shapes can be used provided that the housing50is balanced to spin and has a center of gravity that is positioned along the imaginary vertical axis13.

The wide base51of the housing50mounts to the base platform12, wherein the housing50and the base platform12define an internal chamber58. The support plate30, spur gear32, and flywheel40are all disposed within the interior chamber58. When fully assembly, the imaginary vertical axis13passes through the center of the toy assembly10from the projection54at the apex52through the relief18on the base platform12. The overall toy assembly10has a center of gravity that is disposed along that imaginary vertical axis13. Furthermore, the toy assembly10is symmetrically balanced about the imaginary vertical axis13so that it can evenly spin.

As has been explained, rotational energy is transferred between the rear set of wheels24and the flywheel40. When the toy assembly10is manually pushed along the ground, the rear set of wheels24are caused to rotate. The rotation of the rear set of wheels24causes the flywheel40to spin. Due to the size differentials between the bevel gear28, the spur gear32and the pinion gear46, the flywheel40is caused to spin at a faster rate than the rear set of wheels24. Once the toy assembly10is released, momentum keeps the toy assembly10rolling forward for a short distance. However, angular momentum is preserved in the spinning flywheel40. The flywheel40transfers rotational energy back to the rear set of wheels24. Accordingly, the toy assembly10will continue to roll forward until the flywheel40stops spinning. Accordingly, the toy assembly10can operate in a vehicle mode.

Referring toFIG. 4andFIG. 5in conjunction withFIG. 1,FIG. 2andFIG. 3, it can be seen that the toy assembly10can also operate in spinning top mode. Within the toy assembly10, the weighted wheel42is positioned in a plane that is parallel to the plane defined by the two sets of wheels24,26. When the two sets of wheels24,26are placed on a horizontal surface, the two sets of wheels24,26are arranged in a common horizontal plane. As the flywheel40spins, the weighted wheel42creates gyroscopic effects. The gyroscopic effects bias the rotation into its initial plane of rotation. Accordingly, if the flywheel40is providing rotational energy by pushing the toy assembly10along a horizontal surface, the gyroscopic effects bias the weighted wheel42into a horizontal orientation.

The toy assembly10has a center of gravity that is positioned above the bottom relief18and below the top projection54. Furthermore, the weight distribution of the toy assembly10is designed to be symmetric about the imaginary axis13that passes through the bottom relief18, the top projection54, and the center of gravity. In this manner, the toy assembly10is able to spin and balance like a top either on the bottom relief18or on the top projection54.

The toy assembly10can be pushed along a surface to rotate the rear set of wheels24and to provide rotational energy to the internal flywheel40. Once the flywheel40is spinning, the toy assembly10can be lifted and placed atop any salient point that fits into the relief18on the bottom surface16of the base platform12. The relief18is in vertical alignment with the center of gravity. Consequently, the toy assembly10will balance upon the salient point. Once on the salient point, balance is maintained by the gyroscopic effects of the spinning flywheel40. Due to friction between the spinning flywheel40and the remaining components, the remaining components, including the housing50will also begin to spin.

The projection54atop the toy assembly10serves as a salient point. Accordingly, two or more identical toy assemblies10can be provided. One toy assembly10can be balanced atop another toy assembly10. The construction will remain stable for as long as each of the toy assemblies10creates gyroscopic effects large enough to maintain balance.

In the embodiment previously described, the flywheel40within each toy assembly10is set into rotational movement by pushing the toy assembly10along the ground and rotating the various wheels24,26. Referring toFIG. 6, it can be seen that a rip cord60can be supplied. An opening62is provided for the rip cord60that enables the rip cord60to engage the flywheel within the toy. In this manner, the internal flywheel can be set spinning by inserting and pulling the ripcord60.

It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated and described are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to those embodiments. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.