Toy vehicle with selectively positionable wing

A toy vehicle includes a central vertical longitudinal plane at least one road-contacting front wheel coupled to the chassis to rotate about an axis fixed perpendicularly to the central plane and at least a pair of road-contacting rear wheels coupled to the chassis for rotation about a common rear rotational axis perpendicular to the central plane. Separate rear wheels of the pair are located on either lateral side of the chassis in the central plane. One or more motors are provided and coupled with the rear wheels to selectively drive the rear wheels at least simultaneously in either linear direction, forward or rearward, or simultaneously in opposite linear directions. A support member shaped like a wing is selectively positionable on the chassis and can be fixed in any of at least three different positions, a first position juxtaposed to the chassis, a second position extending generally vertically from the chassis permitting the vehicle to be stably supported upright on the support member and pair of rear wheels with the front wheels above the rear wheels and a third position extending to the rear of the rear wheels preventing the vehicle from being stably supported on only the wing and rear wheels. The vehicle components are arranged so that the rear wheels support at least two-thirds and preferably three-quarters or more the vehicle weight.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Both 4.times.4 and 6.times.4 radio-controlled toy vehicles are known in 
which the vehicle wheels define an envelope that fully surrounds the 
remainder of the vehicle. Such vehicles can be supported on a level 
surface only upon their wheels, regardless of their orientation. Such 
vehicles can be operated on either of two opposing major sides of the 
vehicles, which alternately define upper and lower sides of the vehicle. 
The known 6.times.4 radio-controlled toy vehicle in question can be stably 
supported and operated on any two of its three different adjoining pairs 
of 6 wheels. 
Yet another radio-controlled toy vehicle is known which transforms itself 
under remote control by selectively moving various body components. In 
particular, a panel normally forming a section of the roof can be elevated 
from the roof and rotated rearwardly to form a wing extending off the rear 
end of the vehicle. 
Yet another radio-controlled toy vehicle is known which includes a battery 
pack which can be shifted longitudinally in the vehicle to vary the 
longitudinal location of the vehicle center of gravity closer to or 
farther from the rear wheel to selectively enhance or retard the ability 
of the vehicle to perform a front wheel rise ("wheelie") maneuver. 
Still another radio-controlled vehicle is known having a pair of chassis. 
An inner chassis with its own pair of propulsion treads is located within 
an outer, square, hollow chassis having a separate set of propulsion 
treads. The inner chassis can be made to rotate on the outer chassis by 
remote control from a position fully surrounded by the outer chassis to a 
position 180.degree. outside the chassis and to any position in between. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is a toy vehicle comprising: a chassis having lateral sides 
and an imaginary central plane extending longitudinally and vertically 
through the chassis centered between the lateral sides; at least one road 
contacting front wheel coupled with the chassis for rotation about a front 
rotational axis fixed perpendicular to the central plane; at least a pair 
of road contacting rear wheels coupled to the chassis for rotation about a 
common rear rotational axis, separate perpendicular to the central plane 
rear wheels of the pair being located on either lateral side of the 
chassis and the central plane; motor means for selectively driving the 
rear wheels simultaneously in at least a first linear direction and 
simultaneously in opposite linear directions; and a support member 
selectively positionable on the chassis fixed in any of at least three 
different positions, a first position juxtaposed to the chassis, a second 
position extending generally vertically upward from the chassis above the 
pair of rear wheels and a third position extending generally rearwardly 
from the chassis and behind the pair of rear wheels; wherein the chassis, 
the support member and the road-contacting front and rear wheels are sized 
and positioned such that in the first position of the support member, the 
road-contacting front and rear wheels define an envelope fully surrounding 
the chassis and the support member such that only road-contacting wheels 
contact a planar surface supporting the vehicle in any possible 
orientation of the vehicle; wherein the support member is sized with 
respect to the vehicle and the second position is selected such that the 
vehicle is stably supported on a planar horizontal surface at rest on only 
the pair of road-contacting rear wheels and the support member with the at 
least one road-contacting front wheel located vertically directly above 
the rear wheels; and wherein the support member is located sufficiently 
behind the pair of road-contacting rear wheels in the third position that 
the vehicle cannot be stably supported on a horizontal planar surface at 
rest on only the pair of road-contacting rear wheels and the support 
member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like elements 
throughout. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment toy vehicle of the 
present invention indicated generally at 10 and having opposing major 
sides 100, 102 (see FIG. 2). The vehicle includes a chassis indicated 
generally at 12 having a front 13 lateral sides 14 and 15 and a rear 16. 
At least one and preferably a pair of road-contacting front wheels 18 and 
19 are coupled with the chassis 12 for rotation about a front rotational 
axis 20 which is fixed perpendicular to a central plane 22 which extends 
longitudinally and vertically through the chassis 12 centered between the 
lateral sides 14 and 15 and perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1. 
Preferably, front wheels 18 and 19 are mounted for free independent 
rotation on an axle 21 (in phantom) the center of which is co-linear with 
the front rotational axis 20. At least a pair of road-contacting rear 
wheels 24, 25 are also coupled with the chassis 12 for rotation about a 
common rear rotational axis 26 also perpendicular to the central plane 22. 
The rear wheels 24 and 25 are located on either lateral side 14, 15, 
respectively of the chassis 12 and the central plane 22. 
Motor means, indicated generally at 28 are mounted within the chassis 12 
for selectively driving the rear wheels 24, 25 simultaneously in at least 
a first linear direction (forward or reverse) and, if desired, 
simultaneously in opposite linear directions. More specifically, motor 
means 28 is preferably provided by first and second reversible electric 
motors 30 and 50, respectively. Motors 30, 50, are also preferably located 
on opposite sides of the central plane 22. Each motor 30, 50, is 
preferably drivingly coupled only with the proximal rear wheel 24 or 25, 
respectively. 
The coupling between first electric motor 30 and proximal rear wheel 24 is 
shown in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2. Motor 30 is drivingly coupled with rear 
wheel 24 through a reduction gear train indicated generally at 32. First 
motor 30 mounts a pinion 31 on its drive shaft. As is best seen in FIG. 2, 
the reduction gear train 32 comprises a first pair of joined idler gears 
33, 34 and a final drive gear 37, which is engaged directly by the smaller 
idler gear 34. The outer lateral side of gear 37 supports a generally 
tubular sleeve 38 which can be passed through a journal (not depicted) and 
out the lateral side 14 of the chassis 12. Rear wheel 24 includes a rim 40 
having a central hollow axial tube 41 receiving sleeve 38 and a mounted 
tire 42. Preferably, the sleeve 38 is provided with radially outwardly 
projecting keys 39 which are received in radial slots 41' provided in the 
central tube 41 of rim 40 to drivingly couple the sleeve 38 with the wheel 
24. A sleeve bearing with key ways (not depicted) can be mounted on the 
keyed sleeve to permit smooth rotation of the sleeve in the journal. A 
metal rear axle 34 is preferably extended into the hollow center of the 
tubular collar 38 as a bearing, to maintain alignment and for strength. 
Wheel 24 is preferably secured to the tubular collar 38 by suitable means 
such as a machine screw 46. The second electric motor 50 is drivingly 
coupled with the remaining rear wheel 25 through a second reduction gear 
train 52, both indicated in phantom in FIG. 1. Second electric motor 50 
and second reduction gear train 52 are mirror images of first motor 30 and 
gear train 32 with respect to central plane 22. 
According to an important aspect of the invention, a support member 63, 
preferably in the general form of a wing, is selectively positionable on 
the chassis 12 in any of at least three different positions. Preferably 
wing or support member 63 is part of an assembly 60 which includes a pair 
of arms or struts 61 and 62 which are mirrors of each other with respect 
to the central plane 22 and which are pivotally attached at one end with 
the chassis 12 and which support at their remaining ends, the wing shaped 
63. Wing 63 extends transversely to the longitudinal central plane 22 
overlapping the lateral sides 14 and 15 of the vehicle and at least 
partially laterally overlapping the pair of rear wheels 24 and 25, as is 
indicated in FIG. 1. 
Referring to FIG. 2, the wing 63 is indicated in a first position, in 
solid, juxtaposed to the chassis 12 on major side 100 of the vehicle 10. 
The wing is depicted in phantom in the second position indicated at II in 
which it extends generally vertically upward from the chassis 12 and above 
the pair of rear wheels 24 and 25. FIG. 2 further indicates the wing 63 in 
phantom in a third position at III in which it extends generally 
rearwardly from the chassis 12 preferably above and behind the pair of 
rear wheels 24, 25. 
According to another important aspect of the invention, the chassis 12 wing 
63 and road-contacting front and rear wheels 18, 19 and 24, 25 are sized 
and positioned such that in the first position of the wing shown in solid 
in FIGS. 1 and 2, juxtaposed to the chassis 12, the road-contacting front 
and rear wheels 18, 19 and 24, 25 define an envelope which fully surrounds 
the chassis 12 and wing 63 such that only the road contacting wheels 18, 
19 and 24, 25 contact a planar surface S supporting the vehicle 10 in any 
possible orientation of the vehicle on that surface S, included full 
inversion of the vehicle 10 on surface S' (in phantom in FIG. 2). 
According to a further important aspect of the invention, wing 63 is 
further sized with respect to the vehicle 10 and the second position II of 
the wing 63 is selected such that the vehicle 12 is stably supported at 
rest on a planar horizontal surface S" on only the pair of road-contacting 
rear wheels 24, 25 and the wing 63 with the road-contacting front wheel(s) 
18, 19 located vertically directly above the rear wheels 24, 25. This can 
be seen by rotating FIG. 2 until line S" is horizontal simulating a 
horizontal support surface. 
Finally, according to yet another important aspect of the invention, the 
wing 63 in the third position III is located sufficiently behind the pair 
of road-contacting rear wheels 24, 25 that the vehicle 10 cannot be stably 
supported at rest on a planar horizontal surface S'" extending 
tangentially from the wing 63 to the rear wheels 24, 25, on only the pair 
of road-contacting rear wheels 24, 25 and the wing 63. This is because the 
center of gravity of the vehicle in the third position on a horizontal 
surface S'" is located forward of the rear wheel axis 26, rather than 
directly over or behind that axis as in the second position. However, 
vehicle 10 preferably is powered sufficiently so that the front 13 of 
vehicle 10 can elevate in a "wheelie" orientation with both rear wheels 
24, 25 and wing 63 in contact with support surface S" at least when the 
vehicle 10 is accelerated under full power. 
With the wing 63 located in the first position, the vehicle 10 is operable 
with either the wing side 100 of the chassis up as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 
2 or the opposite side 102 of the chassis up. Furthermore, by sizing the 
wheels and the chassis and wing so that the wheels fully surround the 
chassis 12 and wing 60 in the first position, the vehicle 10 can also be 
made to tumble while moving yet remain able to be driven. While there is a 
remote possibility that the vehicle 10 might come to rest on one of its 
opposing lateral sides, the rear motor 30 or 50 on that lateral side of 
the vehicle can be activated to cause the connected rear wheel to spin. 
This would tend to disrupt the balance of the vehicle 10 causing it to 
fall over on one or the other of its major sides making the vehicle 10 
operable. 
Also seen in one or both of FIGS. 1 and 2 are a PC board 54 (in phantom) 
which contains the circuitry of a radio receiver and of a motor controller 
coupled with the radio receiver. A removable battery power supply 56 (in 
phantom) is supported at the rear 16 of chassis 12. The controller portion 
of the PC board 54 selectively couples the battery power supply 56 in 
forward or reverse drive direction(s) with either motor 30, 50 in response 
to control signals received by the receiver from a remote control radio 
transmitter equipped handset (not depicted). Lastly, an on-off switch 58 
(in phantom) disconnects the battery power supply 56 from the remainder of 
the electrical system to conserve battery power. 
According to yet another important aspect of the invention, the more 
weighty components of the vehicle 10, namely the motors 30, 50, drive 
trains 32, 52 and battery power supply 56 are all located in the rear 16 
of the chassis 12 clustered generally around the rear rotational axis 26 
so that the center of gravity of the vehicle is located within the vehicle 
10 along the central plane 22 longitudinally in line with or very close to 
the rear rotational axis 26. The combination of the chassis 12 and wing 63 
being located within the perimeters of the wheels 18, 19 and 24, 25, the 
wing 63 being in the first position, combined with the relatively light 
weight of the front 13 of the vehicle 10 permits an operator to flip the 
vehicle 10 over so that either of its major sides 100, 102 is located on 
top, quickly and with almost no translational movement of the vehicle 10 
itself simply by running both powered wheels 24, 25 in the same linear 
(forward) direction and abruptly reversing the linear direction of both 
powered wheels 24, 25. 
To achieve this performance, the center of gravity of the vehicle is 
shifted sufficiently rearwardly so that at least two-thirds, more 
desirably at least three-quarters, and preferably about 80% or more of the 
total or gross vehicle weight, including any battery power supply 56 on 
the vehicle 10, is being supported by only the rear road-contacting wheels 
24, 25 when both its front and rear road-contacting wheels 18, 19 and 24, 
25 are on a planar horizontal support surface, like vehicle 10 on surface 
S in FIG. 2. 
This relative static unweighting of the front wheels 18 and 19, even with 
the wing 63 located in the initial position juxtaposed to the chassis 12, 
permits vehicle 10 to be more easily turned on high friction/high traction 
surfaces. The described preferred embodiment vehicle 10 is capable of 
performing 360.degree. spins about the center of its rear rotational axis 
26 and rear road-contacting wheels 24, 25 in contact with a high 
friction/traction surface such as a rug. A low friction front tire helps 
reduce scrubbing friction. 
By selectively positioning the slow friction front tire helps reduce 
scrubbing friction wing 63 in the second position II in FIG. 2, the 
vehicle 10 can be stood on end and moved while it is on end supported only 
by its pair of rear road-contacting wheels 24, 25 and a portion of the 
wing 63 contacting surface S". The vehicle 10 can be elevated to the on 
end position simply by accelerating the vehicle 10 in a forward direction 
sufficiently rapidly with the wing 63 in the second position II. In the 
upright, on-end position of the vehicle 10, the battery power supply 56 is 
located beneath the rear rotational axis 26, further stabilizing the 
vehicle 10 in the upright position. To assist the vehicle 10 to maintain 
itself in the upright position II, the tire 42 of each rear wheel 24 and 
25 is hollow, is made from a relatively soft and resiliently flexible, 
preferably slightly elastic material such as a soft rubber, and is open to 
atmosphere so that the tires may partially collapse under load. In the 
upright position, the weight of the vehicle 10 being supported by the 
tires causes them to flatten over a relatively large area, thereby 
increasing the size of the base supporting vehicle 10 and improving the 
stability of the vehicle in the upright position. By appropriate control 
of the motors 30, 50 with the vehicle 10 in the upright position II, the 
vehicle 10 can be made to drive forward or reverse, turn to the left or 
right or even spin in place about an axis extending generally through the 
rear rotational axis 26 and front rotational axis 20 in the central plane 
22. The vehicle 10 can also be made to "walk" by alternately activating on 
motors 30, 50 briefly causing the vehicle 10 to partially turn on one 
side, and then partially turn in an opposite direction, imitating a walk. 
In the second position, even if the vehicle falls over on its side or it 
top (side 100), one driven wheel will always be in contact with the planar 
supporting surface. 
In the third position III the wing 63, the center of gravity of the vehicle 
is shifted even farther to the rear of the vehicle, further enhancing the 
ability of the vehicle to do a front wheel rise or wheel stand or 
"wheelie" maneuver. However, the wing 63 should be located in the third 
position III extending sufficiently far behind the vehicle 10 that the 
vehicle 10 is no longer stable in an upright position resting upon only 
the rear road-contacting wheels 24, 25 and wing 60 on a planar horizontal 
surface S'". This happens because the center of gravity which is located 
close to the rear rotational axis 26 is nevertheless located sufficiently 
forward of that rear rotational axis 26, that it causes the front end of 
vehicle 10 to drop. 
Preferably, the front wheels 18, 19 are also hollow, open to atmosphere and 
made from a soft rubber or other soft elastomeric material to cushion the 
front end when the vehicle 10 is made to flip over. 
Referring again to FIG. 1 depiction of the preferred embodiment vehicle 10, 
the maximum vehicle width is at the rear of the vehicle between the 
lateral outer sides of the rear road-contacting wheels 24 and 25 and is 
nearly as great (e.g. about 10 inches) as the length of the vehicle (e.g. 
about 11 inches) from the rear surfaces of the rear road-contacting wheels 
to the front surfaces of the front road-contacting wheels. 
As is further depicted in FIG. 2 when the wing 63 is located in the second 
position II, a center line 27 through the front rotational axis 20 and 
common rear rotational axis 26 intersects the horizontal planar surface S" 
supporting the vehicle 10 on the pair of rear wheels 24, 25 in the wing 60 
in the second position II to define a greater angle and a lesser angle 
which together define a full 360.degree. of arc. The lesser angle A 
includes the wing 63 and is between 80.degree. and 100.degree. in 
magnitude and, more desirably, between 80.degree. and 90.degree., to 
locate the front end of the vehicle sufficiently directly over the rear 
wheels to maximize stability of the vehicle 10. 
FIG. 3 depicts diagrammatically in exploded form, one possible mounting of 
one arm 61 of the support assembly 60 to the chassis 12, for selective 
pivotal adjustment of the arm and the associated support member/wing 63. 
An inside stantion 110 is fixedly coupled with the chassis 12 on one side, 
an "inner" side of the arm 61. A preferably metal locating plate 112 is 
located on the other side of the arm between the arm and an outside 
stantion 116, also coupled with the chassis 12. A movable actuator plate 
120 is secured to the outside stantion 116 by an outside cover plate 124 
and fasteners 126 such as screws, which extend through holes in the 
outside cover plate 124 and into the outside stantion 116. A pivot axle 
128 is secured to the inside stantion 110 by suitable means, such as being 
pressed fit through a central opening 110a through the stantion 110, 
through a similar pivot opening 61a of the arm 61, and central openings 
112a through locating plate 112 and 116a through the outside stantion 116. 
A suitable recess 61b is provided in arm 61 to receive a compression 
spring 130 and leaf spring 132 with detent pin 133. Compression spring 130 
biases the leaf bearing detent pin 133 outwardly against locating plate 
112. Locating plate 112 is provided with three openings 113a-113c around 
central opening 112a. Outside stantion 116 is provided with similarly 
positioned openings 117a-c. Actuator plate 120 is provided with three 
projecting pins 121a-121c which are similarly positioned to align with and 
pass through openings 117a-c and 113a-c, respectively. Another compression 
spring 134 is located between the actuator plate 120 and preferably one of 
the outer stantion 116 and the locating plate 112 to bias actuator plate 
120 against outside cover plate 124 and away from detent pin 133 when it 
is located in any of the openings 117a-c/113a-c. Pin 121a and openings 
117a and 113a correspond to the location of the arm 61 and support 
assembly 60 in the first position where wing 63 is juxtaposed to the 
chassis 12. Pin 121b and openings 117b and 113b correspond to the second 
position II of the support assembly 60, wing 63 and arm 61. Pin 121c and 
openings 117c and 113c correspond to the third position III of the support 
assembly 60, wing 63 and arm 61. 
The arm 61 is fixed in any of the three positions by engagement of the 
detent pin 133 with a set of the openings 113a-117a, 113b-117b or 
113c-117c. When it is desired to re-position the support structure 60, 
wing 63 and arm 61, actuator plate 120 is manually pushed towards the arm 
61 such that pins 121a-121c enter openings 117a-117c and 113a-113c, 
dislodging the detent pin 133 from any opening in which it may have been 
secured thereby freeing the arm 61. The arm can be moved to any adjoining 
position. Preferably, a mirror image coupling is provided between the 
second arm 62 and the chassis 12. 
FIG. 4 depicts an alternate pivotal support of an arm 161 of a support 
assembly 160 which does not require a separate actuator to move the arm 
among the at least three possible positions of the assembly 60 and its 
wing/support member 63. An inside stantion 210 is fixed with the chassis 
12. A tubular screw boss 211 projects laterally from the stantion 210 and 
through a pivot opening 161a of the arm. Arm 161 includes a cylindrical 
recess 161b centered with respect to the central opening 161a and a 
transversely projecting annular flange 161c which together with the recess 
161b define a generally cylindrical chamber 161d. The open end of the 
chamber is covered by an outside stantion 216 which is secured to the 
inside stantion by screw 226. Captured within the chamber 161d is a detent 
plate 212. The detent plate 212 is keyed with the inside wall of the 
chamber 161d by suitable means such as one or more keys 161e projecting 
radially inward into the chamber 161d which mate with a like number of key 
holes 212b on the detent plate 212 to permit the plate 212 to move, 
without rotating in cylindrical chamber 161d, towards and away from the 
outside stantion 216. The detent plate 212 is biased towards the outside 
stantion 216 by a compression spring 230. At least one and preferably at 
least a diametrically opposed pair of detents 212c project outwardly from 
the plate 212 towards the outside stantion 216. The detents 212c align 
with any of at least three diametrically positioned pairs of recesses 
217a-217c provided on an inner surface of outside stantion 216 facing the 
detent plate 212 and the detents 212c. Each recess 217a-217c tapers down 
as it projects away from the detent plate 216 and into the stantion 216. 
The opposing transverse walls defining the taper permit the detents 212c 
to cam up and out of any engaged pair of recesses 217a-217c and force the 
detent plate 212 away from the outside stantion 216 when sufficient torque 
is applied to the arm 161. In this way, the mechanism fixedly engages the 
assembly 160 in any of the three predetermined positions but is 
self-camming for release and re-positioning simply by moving the support 
assembly 160 in the appropriate direction with sufficient force. 
A radio-control system, which may be used with respect to the vehicle 10, 
is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,427, which is incorporated by 
reference herein. While separate motors independently driving rear wheels 
on either side of the vehicle 10 are disclosed, single and twin motor 
designs are known which permit selective forward or reverse driving of the 
road wheels on opposing lateral sides of the vehicle through a single 
transmission coupled with the motor or motors and both wheels. While radio 
control is preferred other forms of wireless controls particularly light 
and sound are known and can be used in place of radio controls. Also, hard 
wire control can be used, although not desired, and internal self-control 
e.g., so-called "cam-o-matic" drives can be employed, which mechanically 
programs the operation of the vehicle, as well as the newer, 
electronically programmed drives. 
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be 
made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad 
inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this 
invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it 
is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the 
present invention as defined by the appended claims.