Toy vehicle, and wheel device and carriage frame for the toy vehicle

A wheel device for a toy vehicle, in which one of a pair of wheels rolling on a pair of metal rails attracts with a magnet to reduce resistance caused by magnetic force and suppress load on a motor. The wheel device 1 includes a first axle 2, and a first wheel 10 and a second wheel 20 provided on opposite sides of the first axle 2. The first wheel 10 includes a first wheel main body 11 rolling on one of the rails 261 and a first flange 12 guided by the one rail. The second wheel 20 includes a second wheel main body 21 rolling on the other of the rails 261 and a second flange 22 guided by the other rail. The second wheel main body 21 is formed of a magnet.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wheel device for a toy vehicle traveling on a pair of metal rails while attracting with magnets and a toy vehicle including the wheel device.

BACKGROUND ART

A conventional wheel device for a toy vehicle traveling on a pair of metal rails while attracting with magnets has left and right wheels attracting the rails with magnetic forces (e.g., Patent Document 1). A conventional wheel device for a toy vehicle traveling with a motor provided inside the toy vehicle being rotated by power fed from the pair of rails is structured so that metal wheels provided on opposite sides of an axle come in contact with the pair of rails thereby to receive power feeding (e.g., Patent Document 2).Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application National Publication No. 60-500361Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 52-90093

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

When a conventional toy vehicle is traveling a curve, an inner wheel tries to rotate slowly while an outer wheel tries to rotate fast. However, both the wheels are fixed to an axle and therefore rotate at substantially the same speed. As a result, the inner wheel or the outer wheel may slip on the rail. In the case of the above-described conventional wheel device having both the wheels rotating while attracting with the magnets, both the wheels rotate similarly during straight traveling and therefore do not receive very large resistance of magnetic forces during rotation. During curve traveling, however, one of the wheels slips on the rail as described above and therefore the resistance of the magnetic forces is large, which equates to the state under braking. As a result, the toy vehicle is decelerated, a load on the motor increases, and consumption of electricity increases.

The invention of the present application has been accomplished with the above problems in view and it is an object of the invention to provide a wheel device for a toy vehicle which receives, even during curve traveling, as small resistance of magnetic forces as that received during straight traveling to suppress a load applied on a motor by causing one of a pair of wheels rotating on a pair of metal rails to attract with a magnet, and a toy vehicle using the wheel device.

Means for Solving the Problem

To achieve the above object, in a wheel device for a toy vehicle according to a first aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) the wheel device is adapted to be placed on a pair of rails and includes a first axle and first and second wheels provided on opposite sides of the first axle,

(b) the first wheel includes a first wheel main body rolling on one of the rails and a first flange guided by the one rail and the first wheel main body and the first flange are made of a synthetic resin, and

(c) the second wheel includes a second wheel main body rolling on the other of the rails and a second flange guided by the other rail and at least the second wheel main body is formed of a member attracting with a magnetic force.

To achieve the above object, in a wheel device for a toy vehicle according to a second aspect of the invention of the present application, the second wheel main body is formed of a magnet.

To achieve the above object, in a wheel device for a toy vehicle according to a third aspect of the invention of the present application, the second wheel main body is configured by a magnet and a rolling shaft having the magnet therein and formed in the shape of a round shaft.

To achieve the above object, in a wheel device for a toy vehicle according to a fourth aspect of the invention of the present application, the rolling shaft is made of ferromagnetic material.

To achieve the above object, in a wheel device for a toy vehicle according to a fifth aspect of the invention of the present application, the first wheel main body, the first flange, the first axle, and the second flange are made of a synthetic resin.

To achieve the above object, in a wheel device for a toy vehicle according to a sixth aspect of the invention of the present application, the first axle is formed with a gear.

To achieve the above object, in a toy vehicle according to a seventh aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) a toy vehicle main body includes a chassis and carriage frames mounted to a front and a rear of the chassis,

(b) each of the carriage frames is provided with a pair of wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to any one of the first to sixth aspect of the invention, and

(c) the pair of wheel devices is rotatably mounted to the carriage frame so that the second wheel main bodies formed of the members attracting with the magnetic forces come in contact with different rails.

To achieve the above object, in a wheel device for a toy vehicle according to a eighth aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) the device is adapted to be placed on a pair of rails and includes a second axle and third and fourth wheels provided on opposite sides of the second axle,

(b) the third wheel includes a third wheel main body rolling on one of the rails and a third flange guided by the one rail and the third wheel main body and the third flange are made of a synthetic resin,

(c) the fourth wheel includes a fourth wheel main body rolling on the other of the rails and a fourth flange guided by the other rail, and

(d) the fourth wheel main body includes the second axle and formed of a member attracting with a magnetic force.

To achieve the above object, in a wheel device for a toy vehicle according to a ninth aspect of the invention of the present application, the fourth wheel main body is formed of a magnet.

To achieve the above object, in a wheel device for a toy vehicle according to a tenth aspect of the invention of the present application, the fourth wheel main body is formed of a magnet and a rolling shaft having the magnet therein and made of ferromagnetic material in the shape of a round shaft.

To achieve the above object, in a wheel device for a toy vehicle according to a eleventh aspect of the invention of the present application, the third wheel main body, the third flange, and the fourth flange are made of a synthetic resin.

To achieve the above object, in a wheel device for a toy vehicle according to a twelfth aspect of the invention of the present application, the second axle is provided with a conductive ring electrically conductive with the second axle between the third wheel and the fourth wheel.

To achieve the above object, in a toy vehicle according to a thirteenth aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) a toy vehicle main body includes a chassis and carriage frames mounted to a front and a rear of the chassis,

(b) each of the carriage frames is provided with a pair of wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to any one of eighth to twelfth aspect of the invention, and

(c) the pair of wheel devices is rotatably mounted on the carriage frame so that the fourth wheel main bodies formed of the members attracting with the magnetic forces come in contact with different rails.

To achieve the above object, in a toy vehicle according to a fourteenth aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) a toy vehicle main body includes a chassis and carriage frames mounted to a front and a rear of the chassis,

(b) the carriage frame mounted to one of the front and rear portions is provided with a pair of wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the sixth aspect of the invention,

(c) the carriage frame mounted to the other of the front and rear portions is provided with a pair of wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the twelfth aspect of the invention,

(d) the chassis is provided with a drive motor and a gear train for transmitting rotation of the drive motor to the gears of the pair of wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the sixth aspect of the invention, and

(e) the chassis is provided with a first conductive contact coming in sliding contact with one of the conductive rings of the pair of wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the twelfth aspect of the invention and a second conductive contact coming in sliding contact with the other conductive ring, the first conductive contact being electrically connected to one of a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the drive motor and the second conductive contact being electrically connected to the other of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the drive motor.

To achieve the above object, in a toy vehicle according to a fifteenth aspect of the invention of the present application, the second wheel main bodies of the pair of wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the sixth aspect of the invention formed of the members attracting with the magnetic forces and the fourth wheel main bodies of the pair of wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the twelfth aspect of the invention formed of the members attracting with the magnetic forces are arranged so as to alternately come in contact with the different rails.

To achieve the above object, in a toy vehicle according to a sixteenth aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) a toy vehicle main body includes a chassis and carriage frames mounted to a front and a rear of the chassis,

(b) the carriage frame mounted to the front or rear portion is provided with a pair of wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the twelfth aspect of the invention,

(c) the chassis is provided with an electric component, and

(d) the chassis is provided with a first conductive contact coming in sliding contact with one of the conductive rings of the pair of wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the twelfth aspect of the invention and a second conductive contact coming in sliding contact with the other conductive ring, the first conductive contact being electrically connected to one of a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the electric component and the second conductive contact being electrically connected to the other of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the electric component.

To achieve the above object, in a toy vehicle according to a seventeenth aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) a toy vehicle main body includes a chassis and carriage frames mounted to a front and a rear of the chassis,

(b) the carriage frames mounted to the front and rear portions are provided with wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the twelfth aspect of the invention,

(c) the chassis is provided with an electric component, and

(d) the chassis is provided with a third conductive contact coming in sliding contact with the conductive ring of the wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the twelfth aspect of the invention at the front portion and a fourth conductive contact coming in sliding contact with the conductive ring of the wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the twelfth aspect of the invention at the rear portion, the third conductive contact being electrically connected to one of a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the electric component and the fourth conductive contact being electrically connected to the other of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the electric component.

To achieve the above object, in a wheel device for a toy vehicle according to a eighteenth aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) the device is adapted to be placed on a pair of rails and includes an axle and a pair of wheels provided on opposite sides of the axle and

(b) each of the wheels includes a wheel main body having a mounting shaft and a flange, and a magnet ring mounted on the mounting shaft, the magnet ring rolling on the rail and the flange being guided by the rail.

To achieve the above object, in a wheel device for a toy vehicle according to a nineteenth aspect of the invention of the present application, the axle is made of a synthetic resin and the wheel main body is made of ferromagnetic material.

To achieve the above object, in a wheel device for a toy vehicle according to a twentieth aspect of the invention of the present application, the axle is provided with a gear.

To achieve the above object, in a wheel device for a toy vehicle according to a twenty-first aspect of the invention of the present application, of the wheel main body is formed with a support recessed portion in which the axle is rotatably supported.

To achieve the above object, in a wheel device for a toy vehicle according to a twenty-second aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) the device is adapted to be placed on a pair of rails and includes a second axle and third and fourth wheels provided on opposite sides of the second axle,

(b) the third wheel includes a third wheel main body having a mounting shaft and a third flange, and a magnet ring mounted to the mounting shaft, the magnet ring rolling on one of the rails and the third flange being guided by the one rail,

(c) the fourth wheel includes a fourth wheel main body rolling on the other rail and a fourth flange guided by the other rail,

(d) the second axle, the third wheel main body, and the fourth wheel are made of ferromagnetic material,

(e) the third wheel main body is directly mounted on one side of the second axle to be electrically conductive with the second axle, and

(f) the fourth wheel is mounted on the other side of the second axle with an auxiliary member made of a synthetic resin interposed therebetween not to be electrically conductive with the second axle.

To achieve the above object, in a wheel device for a toy vehicle according to a twenty-third aspect of the invention of the present application, the wheel main body is formed with a support recessed portion in which the axle is rotatably supported.

To achieve the above object, in a toy vehicle according to a twenty-fourth aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) a toy vehicle main body includes a chassis and carriage frames mounted to a front and a rear of the chassis,

(b) the carriage frame mounted to one of the front and rear portions is provided with a pair of wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the twentieth aspect of the invention,

(c) the carriage frame mounted to the other of the front and rear portions is provided with a pair of wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the twenty second aspect of the invention,

(d) the chassis is provided with a drive motor and a gear train for transmitting rotation of the drive motor to the gears of the pair of wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the twentieth aspect of the invention, and

(e) the chassis is provided with a first conductive contact coming in sliding contact with one of the second axles of the pair of wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the twenty second aspect of the invention and a second conductive contact coming in sliding contact with the other second axle, the first conductive contact being electrically connected to one of a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the drive motor and the second conductive contact being electrically connected to the other of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the drive motor.

To achieve the above object, in a toy vehicle according to a twenty-fifth aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) a toy vehicle main body includes a chassis and carriage frames mounted to a front and a rear of the chassis,

(b) the carriage frame mounted to the front or rear portion is provided with a pair of wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the twenty-second aspect of the invention,

(c) the chassis is provided with an electric component, and

(d) the chassis is provided with a third conductive contact coming in sliding contact with one of the second axles of the pair of wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the twenty-second aspect of the invention and a fourth conductive contact coming in sliding contact with the other second axle, the third conductive contact being electrically connected to one of a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the electric component and the fourth conductive contact being electrically connected to the other of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the electric component.

To achieve the above object, in a toy vehicle according to a twenty-sixth aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) a toy vehicle main body includes a chassis and carriage frames mounted to a front and a rear of the chassis,

(b) the carriage frames mounted to the front and rear portions are respectively provided with wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the twenty-second aspect of the invention,

(c) the chassis is provided with an electric component, and

(d) the chassis is provided with a third conductive contact coming in sliding contact with the second axle of the wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the twenty-second aspect of the invention mounted to the front carriage frame and a fourth conductive contact coming in sliding contact with the second axle of the wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the twenty-second aspect of the invention mounted to the rear carriage frame, the third conductive contact being electrically connected to one of a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the electric component and the fourth conductive contact being electrically connected to the other of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the electric component.

To achieve the above object, in a carriage frame for a toy vehicle according to a twenty-seventh aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) the carriage frame includes a main frame and a pair of bearing plates mounted to the main frame so that the plates face each other,

(b) the bearing plate is made of ferromagnetic material and provided with a pair of support protruding portions and a protruding chip, and

(c) the support recessed portions of the wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the twenty-first aspect of the invention are rotatably supported on the opposed support protruding portions of the pair of bearing plates.

To achieve the above object, in a carriage frame for a toy vehicle according to a twenty-eighth aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) the carriage frame includes a main frame and a pair of bearing plates mounted to the main frame so that the plates face each other,

(b) the bearing plate is made of ferromagnetic material and provided with a pair of support protruding portions and a protruding chip, and

(c) the support recessed portions of the wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the twenty-third aspect of the invention are rotatably supported on the opposed support protruding portions of the pair of bearing plates.

To achieve the above object, in a toy vehicle according to a twenty-ninth aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) a toy vehicle main body includes a chassis and the carriage frame for a toy vehicle according to the twenty-seventh aspect of the invention mounted to a front portion or a rear portion of the chassis,

(b) the chassis is provided with a drive motor and a gear train for transmitting rotation of the drive motor to the gears of the pair of wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the twenty-second aspect of the invention, and

(c) the chassis is provided with a first conductive contact coming in contact with one of the protruding chips of the carriage frame for a toy vehicle according to the twenty-seventh aspect of the invention and a second conductive contact coming in contact with the other protruding chip of the carriage frame for a toy vehicle according to the twenty-seventh aspect of the invention, the first conductive contact being electrically connected to one of a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the drive motor and the second conductive contact being electrically connected to the other of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the drive motor.

To achieve the above object, in a toy vehicle according to thirtieth aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) a toy vehicle main body includes a chassis and the carriage frame for a toy vehicle according to the twenty-seventh aspect of the invention mounted to a front portion or a rear portion of the chassis,

(b) the chassis is provided with an electric component, and

(c) the chassis is provided with a third conductive contact coming in contact with one of the protruding chips of the carriage frame for a toy vehicle according to the twenty-seventh aspect of the invention and a fourth conductive contact coming in contact with the other protruding chip of the carriage frame for a toy vehicle according to the twenty-seventh aspect of the invention, the third conductive contact being electrically connected to one of a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the electric component and the fourth conductive contact being electrically connected to the other of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the electric component.

To achieve the above object, in a carriage frame for a toy vehicle according to a thirty-first aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) the carriage frame includes a main frame and a pair of bearing plates mounted to the main frame so that the plates face each other,

(b) each of the bearing plates is made of ferromagnetic material and provided with a pair of support protruding portions and a protruding chip,

(c) the wheel device is rotatably supported on the opposed support protruding portions of the pair of bearing plates,

(d) the wheel device is adapted to be placed on a pair of rails and includes an axle and a pair of wheels provided on opposite sides of the axle,

(e) the wheels includes a wheel main body rolling on the rail and a flange guided by the rail,

(f) the axle is made of a synthetic resin and the wheels are made of ferromagnetic material, and

(g) the wheel main body is formed with a support recessed portion to be rotatably supported on the support protruding portion of the bearing plate.

To achieve the above object, in a toy vehicle according to the thirty-second aspect of the invention of the present application,

(a) a toy vehicle main body includes a chassis and the carriage frame for a toy vehicle according to the thirty-first aspect of the invention mounted to a front portion or a rear portion of the chassis,

(b) the chassis is provided with an electric component, and

(c) the chassis is provided with a third conductive contact coming in contact with one of the protruding chips of the carriage frame for a toy vehicle according to the thirty-first aspect of the invention and a fourth conductive contact coming in contact with the other protruding chip of the carriage frame for a toy vehicle according to the thirty-first aspect of the invention, the third conductive contact being electrically connected to one of a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the electric component and the fourth conductive contact being electrically connected to the other of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the electric component.

Effects of the Invention

In the wheel device according to the present invention, one of the pair of wheels rolling on the pair of metal rails attracts with a magnetic force. As a result, the device receives, even during curve traveling, as small resistance of the magnetic force as that received during straight traveling and a load applied on a motor can be suppressed.

In the toy vehicle according to the present invention, the wheel main bodies of the wheel devices having the above effect and formed of the members attracting with the magnetic forces alternately come in contact with different rails. As a result, the toy vehicle can travel while keeping good balance thereof.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of a wheel device for a toy vehicle and a toy vehicle mounted with the wheel device according to the invention of the present application will be described based onFIGS. 1 to 9.FIGS. 1(a) to1(c) are general views of the embodiments of a drive wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention, whereinFIG. 1(a) is a front view,FIG. 1(b) is a sectional view, andFIG. 1(c) is another front sectional view.FIGS. 2(a) and2(b) are exploded perspective views of the drive wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a carriage, whereinFIG. 2(a) is a perspective view from below andFIG. 2(b) is a perspective view from above.FIG. 3is an exploded perspective view of the drive wheel devices and follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.FIGS. 4(a) and4(b) are sectional views of the wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle, whereinFIG. 4(a) is a sectional view of an essential part when the drive wheel devices are mounted andFIG. 4(b) is a sectional view of an essential part when the follower wheel devices are mounted.FIGS. 5(a) and5(b) are assembly drawings ofFIG. 4, whereinFIG. 5(a) is a perspective view from above andFIG. 5(b) is a perspective view from below.FIG. 6is an exploded perspective view of other follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.FIGS. 7(a) and7(b) are assembly drawings ofFIG. 6, whereinFIG. 7(a) is a perspective view from above andFIG. 7(b) is a perspective view from below.FIG. 8is an exploded perspective view of other follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.FIGS. 9(a) and9(b) are assembly drawings ofFIG. 8, whereinFIG. 9(a) is a perspective view from above andFIG. 9(b) is a perspective view from below.

As shown inFIGS. 1(a) to1(c), the wheel device1,1A for a toy vehicle is adapted to be placed on a pair of rails261and formed of a first axle2, and a first wheel10and a second wheel20provided on opposite sides of the first axle2. The first wheel10includes a first wheel main body11rolling on one of the rails261and a first flange12guided by the one rail and the first wheel main body11and the first flange12are made of a synthetic resin. The second wheel20includes a second wheel main body21rolling on the other of the rails261and a second flange22guided by the other rail261and at least the second wheel main body21is formed of a magnet.

The wheel device1,1A for a toy vehicle may be formed by integrally molding the first wheel main body11, the first flange12, the first axle2, and the second flange22of a synthetic resin. The first axle2of the wheel device1,1A for a toy vehicle may be formed with a gear8.

As shown inFIG. 3, a toy vehicle main body102of the toy vehicle101has a chassis103and carriage frames71,71mounted to a front and a rear of the chassis103. The carriage frame71is provided with a pair of wheel devices1,1A for a toy vehicle. The pair of wheel devices1,1A is rotatably mounted to the carriage frame71so that the second wheel main bodies21formed of the magnets are in contact with different rails261.

As shown inFIGS. 3 to 4(b), a wheel device31for a toy vehicle is adapted to be placed on the pair of rails261and formed of a second axle32, and a third wheel40and a fourth wheel50provided on opposite sides of the second axle32. The third wheel40includes a third wheel main body41rolling on one of the rails261and a third flange42guided by the one rail261and the third wheel main body41and the third flange are made of a synthetic resin.

The fourth wheel50includes a fourth wheel main body51rolling on the other of the rails261and a fourth flange52guided by the other rail261. The fourth wheel main body51is formed of a magnet, the fourth flange52is made of a synthetic resin, and the fourth wheel main body51is attached to the fourth flange52. The second axle32is formed of the same member as the fourth wheel main body51. In the wheel device31for a toy vehicle, the second axle32may be provided with a conductive ring60interposed between the third flange42and the fourth flange52.

As shown inFIG. 3, the toy vehicle main body102of the toy vehicle101has the chassis103and the carriage frames71,71mounted to the front and rear of the chassis103. Each of the carriage frames71,71is provided with a pair of wheel devices31for a toy vehicle. The pair of wheel devices31,31are rotatably mounted to the carriage frame71so that the fourth wheel main bodies51formed of the magnets come in contact with different rails261.

As shown inFIG. 3, the toy vehicle main body102of the toy vehicle101has the chassis103and the carriage frames71,71mounted to the front and rear of the chassis103. The carriage frame71mounted to one of the front and rear portions is provided with a pair of wheel devices1for a toy vehicle. The carriage frame71mounted to the other of the front and rear portions is provided with a pair of wheel devices31for a toy vehicle. The chassis103is provided with a drive motor116and a gear train120for transmitting rotation of the drive motor116to the gears8,8of the pair of wheel devices1,1for a toy vehicle. The chassis103is provided with a first conductive contact141which is in sliding contact with one of the conductive rings60of the pair of wheel devices31,31for a toy vehicle and a second conductive contact145which is in sliding contact with the other conductive ring60. The first conductive contact141is electrically connected to one of a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the drive motor116and the second conductive contact145is electrically connected to the other of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the drive motor116.

As shown inFIG. 16, in the toy vehicle101, the second wheel main bodies21of the pair of wheel devices1for a toy vehicle and formed of the magnets and the magnet fourth wheel main bodies51of the pair of wheel devices31for a toy vehicle and formed of the magnets are arranged to alternately come in contact with different rails261.

The drive wheel device, the follower wheel device, and the toy vehicle mounted with them will be described further in detail. As shown inFIGS. 1(a) to2, the drive wheel device1includes the first axle2, the first wheel10, and the second wheel20. The first axle2is made of a synthetic resin and formed into a cylindrical shape. One side face3of the first axle2is formed with a first round shaft recessed portion5coaxial with the first axle2. The other side face6of the first axle2is formed with a second round shaft recessed portion7coaxial with the first axle2and having a larger diameter than the first round shaft recessed portion5. A peripheral face of the first axle2is integrally molded with the gear8. Cog tips of the gear8are curved to form spherical surfaces.

The first wheel10includes the first wheel main body11, the first flange12, and a fitting shaft13and is integrally molded of a synthetic resin. An outer side face15of the first flange12slopes so that a wall thickness reduces from a center toward an outer peripheral edge. The outer side face15of the first flange12is provided with the first wheel main body11substantially coaxial with the first flange12. An inner side face16of the first flange12is provided with the fitting shaft13substantially coaxial with the first flange12. The first wheel10is fitted and fixed into the first round shaft recessed portion5of the first axle2.

The second wheel20includes the second wheel main body21, the second flange22, and a boss portion23. The second wheel main body21is in the shape of a round shaft having substantially the same outer diameter as the first wheel main body11and is formed of the magnet, e.g., a neodymium magnet. An outer side face25of the second flange22slopes so that a wall thickness reduces from a center toward an outer peripheral edge. An inner side face26of the second flange22is provided with the boss portion23substantially coaxial with the second flange22and having substantially the same outer diameter as the first axle2. The second flange22and the boss portion23are integrally molded of a synthetic resin.

The second flange22and the boss portion23are formed, substantially at centers thereof, with a through hole27having substantially the same inner diameter as the second round shaft recessed portion7of the first axle2. The second wheel main body21passes through the through hole27and is fixed with its opposite sides protruding from the second flange22and the boss portion23. The second wheel20is fixed with a protruding portion29of the second wheel main body21protruding from the boss portion23side being fitted in the second round shaft recessed portion7of the first axle2. The gear8is in a substantially middle position between the first flange12and the second flange22.

As described above, the drive wheel device1is made of a synthetic resin excluding the second wheel main body21that is formed of the magnet. Therefore, as shown inFIG. 1(c), the drive wheel device1A may be formed by integrally molding the first wheel10, the first axle2, the boss portion23, and the second flange22with a synthetic resin and arranging the second wheel main body21so that it protrudes from the second flange22.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4(b), the follower wheel device31includes the second axle32, the third wheel40, the fourth wheel50, and the conductive rings60. The second axle32is in the shape of a round shaft having substantially the same outer diameter as the first wheel main body11and is formed of the magnet, for example, a neodymium magnet. The third wheel40includes the third wheel main body41, the third flange42, and a boss portion43and is integrally molded of a synthetic resin. An outer side face45of the third flange42slopes so that a wall thickness reduces from a center toward an outer peripheral edge. The outer side face45of the third flange42is provided with the third wheel main body41substantially coaxial with the third flange42. An inner side face46of the third flange42is provided with the boss portion43substantially coaxial with the third flange42. The boss portion43is formed substantially at a center thereof with a fitting hole47in which one end of the second axle32is to be fitted. The second axle32is formed of the neodymium magnet, has substantially the same outer diameter as the third wheel main body41, and is substantially coaxial with the third wheel main body41.

The fourth wheel50includes the fourth flange52and a boss portion53and is integrally molded of a synthetic resin. An outer side face55of the fourth flange52slopes so that a wall thickness reduces from a center toward an outer peripheral edge. An inner side face56of the fourth flange52is provided with the boss portion53substantially coaxial with the fourth flange52. The fourth flange52and the boss portion53are formed, substantially at centers thereof, with a through hole57having substantially the same inner diameter as the fitting hole47of the third wheel40. The second axle32passes through the through hole57and is fixed with its opposite sides protruding from the fourth flange52and the boss portion53. A protruding portion39of the second axle32protruding from the fourth flange52side forms the fourth wheel main body51of the fourth wheel50. In other words, the fourth wheel main body51forms the second axle32.

The second axle32(fourth wheel main body51) is mounted with the conductive ring60, which is interposed between the third flange42and the fourth flange52. The conductive ring60may be made of any kind of material if it is conductive material. In the embodiment, the conductive ring60is made of phosphor bronze. Although the conductive ring60is fixedly mounted to the second axle32(fourth wheel main body51), it may be rotatably mounted. Although the fourth wheel main body51and the second axle32are made of the same material in the embodiment, the fourth wheel main body51may be made of a first conductive material with a magnetic property, the second axle32may be made of second conductive material having a different outer diameter from the fourth wheel main body51, and the fourth wheel main body51and the second axle32may be provided to be adjacent to each other.

As shown inFIG. 6, a follower wheel device65includes an axle66and a pair of wheels67and is integrally molded of a synthetic resin. Each of the wheels67includes a wheel main body68and a flange69. The above-described drive wheel devices1and the follower wheel devices31,65are rotatably mounted to the carriage frames71of the toy vehicle101as shown inFIGS. 3,6. The drive wheel devices1and the follower wheel devices31,65are mounted into the carriage frames71thereby to form carriages70.

As shown inFIGS. 2(a) and2(b), the carriage frame71includes a substantially rectangular main frame72, a middle member73for partitioning an inside of the main frame72, and substantially U-shaped bearing members75, and so forth, and is integrally molded of a synthetic resin. The main frame72includes a pair of longitudinal members76,76in a longitudinal direction and a pair of lateral members77,77in a lateral direction and provided at opposite ends of the longitudinal members76,76. An outer face78of the lateral member77is formed of a convex curved face in the shape of an arc having a center substantially at a center of the main frame72.

The middle member73is installed to connect substantially central portions of the pair of longitudinal members76,76and in positions lower than the lateral members77,77. As described above, the middle member73forms housing portions81,82for housing the wheel devices1,31,65in the main frame72. Each of the housing portions81,82is provided with the pair of substantially U-shaped bearing members75,75. The bearing members75are provided to be adjacent to an inner face79of the lateral member77and an inner side face74of the middle member73. The bearing members75,75bear the first axle2and the boss portion23of the drive wheel device1, the boss portions43,53of the follower wheel device31, and the axle66of the follower wheel device65so as to be rotatable.

Each of the inner faces79,79of the lateral members77,77of the main frame72is formed of guide grooves85,85on opposite sides of the pair of bearing members75,75. In the guide grooves85,85,85,85, a shaft retaining member90is detachably mounted as shown inFIG. 3. The shaft retaining member90is formed in a substantially H shape, formed with guide protrusions91,91,91,91to be guided by the guide grooves85,85,85,85, and formed, at its lower portion, with shaft retaining protrusions92,92,92,92. As shown inFIG. 4(a), the shaft retaining protrusions92retain the third wheel main body41and the fourth wheel main body51of the follower wheel device31and the wheel main bodies68,68of the follower wheel device65from above to position the follower wheel devices31,65and to prevent them from coming off the carriage frames71.

As shown inFIG. 3, the toy vehicle main body102of the powered toy vehicle101includes the chassis103and a vehicle body105mounted to the chassis103. Formed at each of a front portion and a rear portion of a lower face106of the chassis103is a pair of substantially L-shaped locking members110,110which are facing each other and to which the carriage frame71can be mounted. Each of the locking members110is formed of a sliding contact face111coming in sliding contact with the outer face78of the lateral member77of the carriage frame71and an engaging protruding portion113to be engaged with a lower face77aof the lateral member77. The sliding contact face111is formed of a concave curved face in the shape of an arc having substantially the same curvature as the outer face78of the lateral member77.

As shown inFIG. 3, a pair of drive wheel devices1,1is rotatably mounted onto the bearing members75and the like of the carriage frame71so that the second wheel main bodies21are in opposite positions (coming in contact with different rails) thereby to form the carriage70A on the side of the drive. As shown inFIGS. 5(a) and5(b), if the carriage70A on the side of the drive is positioned and rotated between the locking members110,110of the chassis103, the outer faces78of the lateral members77of the carriage frame71come in sliding contact with the sliding contact faces111,111of the pair of locking members110,110, the lower faces77aof the lateral members77are engaged with the engaging protruding portions113,113of the pair of locking members110,110, and the carriage70A is mounted onto the chassis103so as to be rotatable.

As shown inFIG. 3, a pair of follower wheel devices31,31is rotatably mounted to the bearing members75and the like of the carriage frame71so that the fourth wheel main bodies51are in opposite positions (coming in contact with different rails) and the above-described shaft retaining member90is mounted to the carriage frame71thereby to form the follower-side carriage70B. As shown inFIGS. 5(a) and5(b), the follower-side carriage70B is mounted as well similarly to the carriage70A.

The chassis103is mounted with the drive motor116and the gear train120for transmitting rotation of the drive motor116to the gears8,8of the pair of drive wheel devices1,1. The gear train120consists of a drive gear121mounted to a drive shaft of the drive motor116, a crown gear122engaged with the drive gear121, a small gear123integral with the crown gear122, a large gear125engaged with the small gear123, a small gear126integral with the large gear125, a large gear127engaged with the small gear126, a small gear128integral with the large gear127, a large gear129engaged with the small gear128, a small gear integral with the large gear129, and a final gear130integral with the small gear. Cog tips of the final gear130are curved into spherical surfaces.

The chassis103is mounted with a gear box131in which the crown gear122, the small gear123, the large gear125, the small gear126, the large gear127, the small gear128, the large gear129, the small gear integral with the large gear129, and the final gear130are rotatably mounted. The final gear130is adapted to be placed above the pair of gears8,8of the carriage70A mounted onto the chassis103. The chassis103is formed with an opening133for allowing the final gear130to protrude from the lower face of the chassis103, and the final gear130protruding from the opening133is engaged with the gears8,8of the drive wheel devices1,1mounted onto the carriage70A.

The chassis103is provided with the conductive contacts141,145positioned above the follower wheel devices31,31of the carriage70B. Each of the conductive contacts141,145is a conductive metal sheet and formed with opposite of which being formed with guide chips142,142and a spring receiving protruding chip143is formed to protrude from an upper portion of each of the conductive contacts141,145. In the embodiment, the conductive contacts141,145are made of phosphor bronze. The conductive contacts141,145are mounted onto cylindrical guide members151formed on an upper portion of the chassis103not to be rotatable and to be movable in a vertical direction. In other words, each of the guide members151is formed, at opposite sides thereof, with guide grooves152,152for guiding the guide chips142,142of each of the conductive contacts141,145.

A lower portion of a spring155is mounted to the spring receiving protruding chip143of each of the conductive contacts141,145. The spring155is made of conductive metal and an upper end of the spring155is retained by a spring retaining chip156. The spring retaining chip156is formed of a conductive metal sheet, with opposite sides of the spring retaining chip167being formed with guide protrusions157,157, and is disposed in the guide member151while the guide protrusions157,157are guided by the guide grooves152,152of the guide member151.

As shown inFIG. 4(b), protrusions159for retaining the spring retaining chips156are formed to protrude inside the vehicle body105when the vehicle body105is mounted to the chassis103. The chassis103is formed with openings158for allowing the conductive contacts141,145to protrude from the lower face of the chassis103. Lower ends of the conductive contacts141,145biased downward with resilience of the springs155and protruding from the openings158come in sliding contact with the conductive rings60,60of the follower wheel devices31,31mounted to the carriage70B. One of the spring retaining chips156,156is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the drive motor116through an electric cord and the other of the spring retaining chips156,156is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the drive motor116.

As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, a toy vehicle main body162of a toy passenger vehicle161includes a chassis163and a vehicle body165mounted to the chassis163. Formed at each of a front portion and a rear portion of a lower face166of the chassis163is a pair of substantially L-shaped locking members110,110which are facing each other and to which the carriage frames71can be mounted.

As shown inFIG. 6, the follower wheel devices31,65are rotatably mounted to the bearing members75. . . of the carriage frame71and the above-described shaft retaining member90is mounted to the carriage frame71thereby to form the follower-side carriage70C. As shown inFIG. 7, if the follower-side carriage70C is positioned and rotated between the locking members110,110of the chassis103, the outer faces78of the lateral members77of the carriage frame71come in sliding contact with the sliding contact faces111,111of the pair of locking members110,110, the lower faces77aof the lateral members77are engaged with the engaging protruding portions113,113of the pair of locking members110,110, and the carriage70C is rotatably mounted onto the chassis103. The follower wheel devices31,31of the pair of carriages70C,70C are rotatably mounted to the bearing members75, and the like, of the carriage frames71so that the fourth wheel main bodies51are in opposite positions (coming in contact with different rails)

The chassis163is provided with the conductive contacts141,145positioned above the follower wheel devices31of the carriages70C. The conductive contacts141,145are mounted to cylindrical guide members151formed on an upper portion of the chassis163not to be rotatable and to be movable in a vertical direction. A spring receiving protruding chip143of each of the conductive contacts141,145is mounted with a lower portion of a spring155. An upper end of the spring155is retained by a spring retaining chip156.

As shown inFIG. 4(b), there are formed so as to protrude inside the vehicle body165, protrusions167for retaining the spring retaining chips156when the vehicle body165is mounted to the chassis163. The chassis163is formed with openings168for allowing the conductive contacts141,145to protrude from the lower face of the chassis163. Lower ends of the conductive contacts141,145biased downward with resilience of the springs155and protruding from the openings168come in sliding contact with the conductive rings60,60of the follower wheel devices31,31mounted to the carriages70C. Between one and the other of the spring retaining chips156, an electric component, for instance, a light emitting device such as an LED, and a sound generating device, is connected electrically.

As shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, a toy passenger vehicle171has basically the same structure as the toy passenger vehicle161, but the conductive contacts141,145coming in sliding contact with the conductive rings30of the follower wheel devices31are not provided, because there is no electric component, in the a toy vehicle main body172, actuated by power fed from the rails.

Next, a rail track device according to the present invention will be described based onFIGS. 10 to 16.FIG. 10is a perspective view of an embodiment of the rail track device according to the present invention.FIG. 11is an exploded perspective view ofFIG. 10.FIGS. 12(a) to12(d) are explanatory views of the rail track device, whereinFIG. 12(a) is a plan view,FIG. 12(b) is a sectional view,FIG. 12(c) is a side view, andFIG. 12(d) is a bottom view.FIGS. 13(a) to13(c) are explanatory views of the rail track device in which a state where a bottom plate is detached from the rail track device is viewed from below.FIGS. 14(a) and14(b) are explanatory view illustrating a relationship between a rail track belt and metal rails.FIGS. 15(a) to15(e) are explanatory views showing a method of coupling the rail track devices.FIG. 16is a plan view showing a relationship between the metal rails and the wheel devices.

As shown inFIGS. 10 and 11, the rail track device201includes a rail track belt202made of a synthetic resin and a pair of metal rails261,261to be inserted into a pair of grooves215,216formed in the rail track belt202. Each of the metal rails261is formed with an insertion recessed portion272at one end and an insertion protruding portion281at the other end. The rail track belt202is formed, at one sides of ends thereof, with mounting portions230,231to which magnets250having conductivity are mounted. The magnets250mounted to the mounting portions230,231are provided in such positions as to be inside the insertion recessed portions272of the metal rails261and to be in contact with the metal rails261. The rail track belt202is coupled to the other rail track belt202in such a way that, when an insertion protruding portion281of the metal rail261of the other rail track belt202is inserted into the insertion recessed portion272of the metal rail261, the magnet250attracts the insertion protruding portion281of the other metal rail261thereby to connect the metal rail261to the other metal rail261.

As shown inFIGS. 11,14(a), and14(b), a method of manufacturing the rail track device201includes a first step of inserting the pair of metal rails261into the pair of grooves215,216in the rail track belt202made of a synthetic resin, a second step of folding locking lugs275,278,279, and282of the metal rails261to fix the metal rails261to the rail track belt202, a third step of mounting the magnets250to the mounting portions230,231formed at the one sides of the ends of the rail track belt202, and a fourth step of mounting the bottom plate245to a bottom portion of the rail track belt202.

The rail track device201includes the rail track belt202made of a synthetic resin and the pair of metal rails261,261. The rail track belt202includes an upper face plate203, a right slope plate205provided to be adjacent to a right side of the upper face plate203, a left slope plate206provided to be adjacent to a left side of the upper face plate203, a right side plate207provided to be adjacent to a lower end of the right slope plate205, a left side plate208provided to be adjacent to a lower end of the left slope plate206, a front face plate210provided to be adjacent to a front end of the upper face plate203, and a rear face plate211provided to be adjacent to a rear end of the upper face plate203. The rail track belt202is formed to be hollow and in a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front.

The upper face plate203of the rail track belt202is formed with protrusions213each in the shape of a cross tie. The upper face plate203is formed with the pair of grooves215,216into which the pair of metal rails261,261are inserted. Each of the grooves215,216is formed being surrounded by side faces218,218and a bottom face219into a substantially angular U shape. As shown inFIG. 14(b), the bottom faces219are formed, at predetermined portions thereof, with insertion holes221,222,223,224. The right groove215is formed with the insertion holes221,222,223,224in this order from the front face plate210side and the left groove216is formed with the insertion holes221,222,223,224in this order from the rear face plate211side.

As shown inFIG. 14(b), a back face226of the upper face plate203is formed with a pair of substantially rectangular magnet housing frames230,231. The right magnet housing frame230is formed along the right side plate207and the front face plate210and the left magnet housing frame231is formed along the left side plate208and the rear face plate211. The magnet housing frame230is formed with insertion grooves232,233into which the metal rail261is to be inserted. The magnet housing frame231is formed with insertion grooves235,236into which the metal rail261is to be inserted. The magnet250is pushed mounted into each of the magnet housing frames230,231. The magnets250are formed of a material having conductivity such as neodymium magnets. As shown inFIG. 13(c), formed at predetermined positions of the back face226of the upper face plate203are bosses240each formed with an internal thread portion241and bosses243each formed with a positioning hole242.

As shown inFIG. 11, the rail track belt202has the bottom plate245mounted to a hollow chamber surrounded with the front face plate210, the rear face plate211, the right side plate207, and the left side plate208. The bottom plate245is formed with fitting pins246to be fitted in the positioning holes242of the upper face plate203and through holes247facing the internal thread portions241of the upper face plate203. The bottom plate245is mounted to the rail track belt202by fitting the fitting pins246in the positioning holes242of the upper face plate203and screwing screws248into the internal thread portions241. The magnets250mounted to the magnet housing frames230,231are prevented by the bottom plate245from coming off the magnet housing frames230,231.

Each of the metal rails261is formed to have substantially the same length as the rail track belt202, has contact faces262to come in contact with the bottom face219of the groove215or216, and is formed with a front insertion chip263to be inserted into the insertion hole221and the insertion grooves232,233of the groove215or216, a first middle insertion chip265to be inserted through the insertion hole222of the groove215or216, a second middle insertion chip266to be inserted through the insertion hole223of the groove215or216, and a rear insertion chip267to be inserted through the insertion hole224of the groove215or216.

The front insertion chip263is formed with a contact chip271to come in contact with the bottom plate245and the insertion recessed portion272. The magnets250mounted to the magnet housing frames230,231are housed in the insertion recessed portions272and in contact with the insertion chips263. The first middle insertion chip265is formed with a contact chip273to come in contact with the bottom plate245and the locking lug275to be folded and locked to the back face226of the upper face plate203. The second middle insertion chip266is formed with a contact chip276to come in contact with the bottom plate245and the locking lugs278,279to be folded and locked to the back face226of the upper face plate203. The rear insertion chip267is formed with a contact chip280to come in contact with the bottom plate245, the insertion protruding portion281capable of being inserted into the insertion recessed portion272of the front insertion chip263, and the locking lug282to be folded and locked to the back face226of the upper face plate203.

The pair of metal rails261is pushed into the grooves215,216of the rail track belt202, the rails261in opposite orientations to each other. The contact faces262come in contact with the bottom face219, the front insertion chips263are inserted into the insertion holes221and the insertion grooves232,233of the grooves215,216, the first middle insertion chips265are inserted through the insertion holes222of the grooves215,216, the second middle insertion chips266are inserted through the insertion holes223of the grooves215,216, and the rear insertion chips267are inserted through the insertion holes224of the grooves215,216. The locking lugs275of the first middle insertion chips265are folded and locked to the back face226of the upper face plate203, the locking lugs278,279of the second middle insertion chips266are folded and locked to the back face226of the upper face plate203, and the locking lugs282of the rear insertion chips267are folded and locked to the back face226of the upper face plate203thereby to mount the pair of metal rails261,261to the rail track belt202.

Next, when the magnets250,250are housed in the substantially rectangular magnet housing frames230,231, the magnet250housed in the right magnet housing frame230comes in contact with the metal rail261in the insertion recessed portion272of the right metal rail261and the magnet250housed in the left magnet housing frame231comes in contact with the metal rail261in the insertion recessed portion272of the left metal rail261. The fitting pins246of the bottom plate245are fitted in the positioning holes242of the upper face plate203and the screws248are screwed into the internal thread portions241through the through holes247thereby to mount the bottom plate245to the rail track belt202. With the bottom plate245, the magnets250mounted to the magnet housing frames230,231are fixed.

The insertion protruding portion281of the metal rail261mounted to the left groove216protrudes from the front face plate210and the insertion protruding portion281of the metal rail261mounted to the right groove215protrudes from the rear face plate211. In the metal rail261mounted to the right groove215, an insertion hole290is formed on the front face plate210side by the insertion recessed portion272, and the bottom face219and the side faces218,218of the groove215. In the metal rail261mounted to the left groove216, an insertion hole290is formed on the rear face plate211side by the insertion recessed portion272, and the bottom face219and the side faces218,218of the groove216.

As shown inFIGS. 15(a) to15(e), if the front face plate210of the rail track belt202of the rail track device201is brought in contact with the rear face plate211of the rail track belt202of the other rail track device, the insertion protruding portions281are inserted into the insertion holes290and come in contact with the magnets250. With attracting forces of the magnets250, the rail track devices201are coupled to each other. In this way, the rail track devices201may be coupled in a straight line or ring shape. Because the magnets250have conductivity, it is possible to pass an electric current throughout the metal rails261of the rail track devices201coupled in the straight line or ring shape.

It is possible to place the drive wheel devices1,1and the follower wheel devices31,31of the powered toy vehicle101on the metal rails261,261of the rail track device201. As shown inFIG. 16, the second wheel main bodies21,21and the fourth wheel main bodies51,51formed of the magnets alternately come in contact with the metal rails261,261. A positive electrode of a power source is connected to one (261A) of the metal rails261and a negative electrode of the power source is connected to the other (261B) of the metal rails261.

The electric current flows from one (51A) of the fourth wheel main bodies51which contacts with the metal rail261A to the metal rail261B via the conductive ring60, the first conductive contact141, the spring155, one of the spring retaining chips156, the positive terminal of the drive motor116, the negative terminal of the drive motor116, the other spring retaining chip156, the spring155, the second conductive contact145, the conductive ring60, and the other (51B) of the fourth wheel main bodies51. With this electric current, the drive motor116rotates, the rotation is transmitted to the gears8,8via the gear train120, and the drive wheel devices1,1rotate on the metal rails261,261. As a result, the powered toy vehicle101can travel on the rail track device201.

When the powered toy vehicle101is traveling on a curve, inner wheels try to rotate slowly and outer wheels try to rotate fast. Because the wheels not attracting with the magnets slip on the rails, there is less resistance of magnetic force and less load is applied on the drive motor116as compared with the conventional toy vehicle in which both the wheels rotate while being attracted to the magnets.

The toy passenger vehicle161is coupled to the powered toy vehicle101and the follower wheel devices31,31,65,65of the toy passenger vehicle161can be placed on the metal rails261,261of the rail track device201. The positive electrode of the power source is connected to one (261A) of the metal rails261and the negative electrode of the power source is connected to the other (261B) of the metal rails261.

An electric current flows from one (51C) of the fourth wheel main bodies51in contact with the metal rail261A to the metal rail261B via the conductive ring60, the first conductive contact141, the spring155, one of the spring retaining chips156, the electric components such as the light emitting device, the other spring retaining chip156, the spring155, the second conductive contact145, the conductive ring60, and the other (51D) of the fourth wheel main bodies51. With this electric current, the electric components in the toy vehicle main body162are actuated.

The powered toy vehicle101and the toy passenger vehicles161,171are extremely small and travel on the metal rails261,261at an interval of about 3 mm. Although the powered toy vehicle101and the toy passenger vehicles161,171are extremely lightweight, the second wheel main bodies21of the drive wheel devices1and the fourth wheel main bodies51of the follower wheel devices31in contact with the metal rails261are formed of the magnets. Therefore, the second wheel main bodies21and the fourth wheel main bodies51attract the metal rails261with the magnetic forces, rotation of the drive wheel devices1and the follower wheel devices31is reliably transmitted to the metal rails261without slips, and the vehicles travel even on an upward slope. Moreover, because the second wheel main bodies21of the drive wheel devices1and the fourth wheel main bodies51of the follower wheel devices31are attracting the metal rails261with the magnetic forces, the vehicles do not come off and fall from the metal rails261.

If the insertion protruding portion281of the metal rail261of the other rail track belt202is inserted into the insertion recessed portion272of the rail track belt202of the rail track device201, the insertion protruding portion281of the other metal rail261is attracted to the magnet250and the metal rails261can be connected to the other metal rails261with the magnets250interposed therebetween. In this way, it is possible to couple the other rail track belt202. If the rail track belts202are pulled apart with forces greater than the magnetic forces of the magnets250, connection between the metal rails261and coupling between the rail track belts202of the rail track devices201can be cancelled easily. As seen from the above, the rail track devices201are functional and have simplified structures, because connection of the metal rails261and coupling of the rail track belts202by the magnets250can be carried out simultaneously and canceling of the connection and coupling can also be carried out simultaneously. Therefore, the rail track device201can be reduced in size and weight in such a way that the interval between the metal rails261,261is as short as about 3 mm. Moreover, because the rail track devices201can be reduced in size and weight, the connection and coupling can be satisfactorily carried out with the magnetic forces of the magnets250. The method of manufacturing the rail track device201is extremely easy, because the metal rails261,261can be fixed to the rail track belt202by only inserting the pair of metal rails261,261into the pair of grooves215,216in the rail track belt202and folding the locking lugs275,278,279, and282of the metal rails261,261.

Other embodiments of the wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention and the toy vehicles mounted with the wheel devices will now be described based onFIGS. 17(a) to33(c).FIGS. 17(a) and17(b) are general views of another embodiment of the drive wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention, whereinFIG. 17(a) is a front view andFIG. 17(b) is a sectional view.FIGS. 18(a) to20(b) are general views of the other embodiments of the follower wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention, whereinFIGS. 18(a),19(a),20(a) are front views andFIGS. 18(b),19(b),20(b) are sectional views.FIGS. 21(a) and21(b) are exploded perspective views of the drive wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a carriage, whereinFIG. 21(a) is a perspective view from above andFIG. 21(b) is a perspective view from below.FIGS. 22(a) to24(b) are exploded perspective views of the follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into carriages, whereinFIGS. 22(a),23(a),24(a) are perspective views from above andFIGS. 22(b),23(b),24(b) are perspective views from below.FIG. 25is an exploded perspective view of the drive wheel devices and the follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.FIGS. 26(a) and26(b) are sectional views of the wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle, whereinFIG. 26(a) is a sectional view of an essential part when the drive wheel devices are mounted andFIG. 26(b) is a sectional view of an essential part when the follower wheel devices are mounted.FIGS. 27(a) and27(b) are assembly drawings ofFIG. 25, whereinFIG. 27(a) is a perspective view from above andFIG. 27(b) is a perspective view from below.FIG. 28is an exploded perspective view of other follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.FIGS. 29(a) and29(b) are assembly drawings ofFIG. 28, whereinFIG. 29(a) is a perspective view from above andFIG. 29(b) is a perspective view from below.FIG. 30is an exploded perspective view of other follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.FIGS. 31(a) and31(b) are assembly drawings of FIG.30, whereinFIG. 31(a) is a perspective view from above andFIG. 31(b) is a perspective view from below.FIGS. 32(a) and32(b) are perspective views of a coupler.FIGS. 33(a) to33(c) are explanatory views of the toy vehicles coupled by the couplers.

As shown inFIGS. 17(a),17(b),19(a),19(b), the wheel device301,301A for a toy vehicle is adapted to be placed on a pair of rails561,561and includes a first axle302, and a first wheel310and a second wheel320,320A provided on opposite sides of the first axle302. The first wheel310includes a first wheel main body311rolling on one of the rails561, and a first flange312guided by the one rail561and the first wheel main body311and the first flange312are made of a synthetic resin. The second wheel320,320A includes a second wheel main body321rolling on the other rail561and a second flange322guided by the other rail561and at least the second wheel main body321is formed of a member attracting with a magnetic force.

The second wheel main body321may be formed of a magnet as shown inFIGS. 41(a) and41(b). Preferably, the second wheel main body321includes a magnet328and a rolling shaft330mounted with the magnet328therein and formed in the shape of a round shaft. This is because directly forming a bearing portion is difficult on the magnet328but is easy on the rolling shaft330covering the magnet328. Moreover, the rolling shaft330is preferably made of ferromagnetic material. Although the rolling shaft330attracts the rail561with the magnet328mounted therein, the attracting force increases if the rolling shaft330is made of ferromagnetic material.

The first wheel main body311, the first flange312, the first axle302, and the second flange322of the wheel device301,301A of the toy vehicle may be made of a synthetic resin. The wheel device301of the toy vehicle may be formed with a gear308.

As shown inFIGS. 25 and 30, a toy vehicle main body402, of a toy vehicle401,471has a chassis403,473and carriage frames371,371mounted to front and rear portions of the chassis403,473. The carriage frame371is provided with a pair of wheel devices301,301A for a toy vehicle. The pair of wheel devices301,301A is rotatably mounted onto the carriage frame(s)371,371so that the second wheel main bodies321formed of the members attracting with the magnetic forces come in contact with different rails561.

As shown inFIGS. 18(a) and18(b), a wheel device331for a toy vehicle is adapted to be placed on a pair of rails561and includes a second axle332, and a third wheel340and a fourth wheel350provided on opposite sides of the second axle332. The third wheel340includes a third wheel main body341rolling on one of the rails561and a third flange342guided by the one rail561and the third wheel main body341and the third flange342are made of a synthetic resin. The fourth wheel350includes a fourth wheel main body351rolling on the other rail561and a fourth flange352guided by the other rail561. The fourth wheel main body351includes the second axle332and is formed of a member attracting with a magnetic force.

The fourth wheel main body351may be formed of a magnet as shown inFIGS. 42(a) and41(b). Preferably, the fourth wheel main body351includes a magnet328A and a rolling shaft330A having the magnet328A mounted therein and made of ferromagnetic material in the shape of a round shaft. This is because directly forming a bearing portion is difficult on the magnet328A but is easy on the rolling shaft330A covering the magnet328A. Moreover, the attracting force increases if the rolling shaft330A is made of the ferromagnetic material.

The third wheel main body341, the third flange342, the fourth flange352of the wheel device331of the toy vehicle may be made of a synthetic resin. The wheel device331of the toy vehicle is installed by a conductive ring360electrically conductive with the second axle332between the third wheel340and the fourth wheel350.

As shown inFIG. 28, a toy vehicle main body462of a toy vehicle461has a chassis463and carriage frames371mounted to front and rear portions of the chassis463. The carriage frames371are provided with a pair of wheel devices331of the toy vehicle. The pair of wheel devices331is rotatably mounted onto the carriage frames371so that the fourth wheel main bodies351formed of the members attracting with the magnetic forces come in contact with different rails561.

As shown inFIG. 25, a toy vehicle main body402of a toy vehicle401has a chassis403and carriage frames371,371mounted to front and rear portions of the chassis403. The carriage frame371mounted to one of the front and rear portions is provided with the pair of wheel devices301of the toy vehicle. The carriage frame371mounted to the other of the front and rear portions is provided with the pair of wheel devices331of the toy vehicle. The chassis403is mounted with a drive motor416and a gear train420for transmitting rotation of the drive motor416to the gears308of the pair of wheel devices301of the toy vehicle. The chassis403is mounted with a first conductive contact441coming in sliding contact with one of the conductive rings360of the pair of wheel devices331for a toy vehicle and a second conductive contact445coming in sliding contact with the other conductive ring360. The first conductive contact441is electrically connected to one of a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the drive motor416and the second conductive contact445is electrically connected to the other of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the drive motor416.

The second wheel main bodies321of the pair of wheel devices301of the toy vehicle and formed of the members attracting with the magnetic forces and the fourth wheel main bodies351of the pair of wheel devices331of the toy vehicle and formed of the members attracting with the magnetic forces are arranged to alternately come in contact with different rails561.

As shown inFIG. 25, the toy vehicle main body402of the toy vehicle401has the chassis403and the carriage frames371mounted to the front and rear portions of the chassis403. The carriage frame371mounted to the front or rear portion is provided with the pair of wheel devices331of the toy vehicle. The chassis403is mounted with an electric component416. The chassis403is provided with the first conductive contact441coming in sliding contact with one of the conductive rings360of the pair of wheel devices331for a toy vehicle and the second conductive contact445coming in sliding contact with the other conductive ring360. The first conductive contact441is electrically connected to one of a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the electric component416and the second conductive contact445is electrically connected to the other of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the electric component416.

As shown inFIG. 28, the toy vehicle main body462of the toy vehicle461has the chassis463and the carriage frames371,371mounted to the front and rear portions of the chassis463. The carriage frames371mounted to the front and rear portions are provided with the wheel devices331of the toy vehicle. The chassis463is provided with an electric component446. The chassis463is provided with a third conductive contact441coming in sliding contact with the conductive ring360of the front wheel device331for a toy vehicle and a fourth conductive contact445coming in sliding contact with the conductive ring360of the rear wheel device331of the toy vehicle. The third conductive contact441is electrically connected to one of a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the electric component446and the fourth conductive contact445is electrically connected to the other of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the electric component446.

The drive wheel devices, the follower wheel devices, and the toy vehicles mounted with them will be described in further detail. As shown inFIGS. 17(a),17(b),21(a),21(b), the drive wheel device301includes the first axle302, the first wheel310, and the second wheel320. The first axle302is made of a synthetic resin and formed into a cylindrical shape. One side face303of the first axle302is formed with a first round shaft recessed portion305coaxial with the first axle302. The other side face306of the first axle302is formed with a second round shaft recessed portion307coaxial with the first axle302and having a larger diameter than the first round shaft recessed portion305. A peripheral face of the first axle302is integrally formed with the gear308. Cog tips of the gear308are curved to form spherical surfaces.

The first wheel310includes the first wheel main body311, the first flange312, and a fitting shaft313and is integrally molded of a synthetic resin. An outer side face315of the first flange312slopes so that a wall thickness reduces from a center toward an outer peripheral edge. The outer side face315of the first flange312is provided with the first wheel main body311substantially coaxial with the first flange312. An inner side face316of the first flange312is provided with the fitting shaft313substantially coaxial with the first flange312. A tip end face318of the first wheel main body311is formed with a substantially conical support recessed portion314substantially coaxial with the first wheel main body311. In the fitting shaft313, the first wheel310is fitted and fixed into the first round shaft recessed portion305of the first axle302.

The second wheel320includes the second wheel main body321, the second flange322, and a boss portion323. The second wheel main body321includes the magnet328and the rolling shaft330mounted with the magnet328therein and formed in the shape of the round shaft. The rolling shaft330is preferably made of a ferromagnetic material such as iron and formed in the shape of the round shaft having substantially the same outer diameter as the first wheel main body311. The rolling shaft330is formed therein with a housing recessed portion333coaxial with the rolling shaft330. Substantially at a center of one end face335of the rolling shaft330in an axial direction, a support hole334is formed. The other end face336of the rolling shaft330in the axial direction is formed with an opening337communicating with the housing recessed portion333. In the housing recessed portion333of the rolling shaft330, the magnet328in the shape of a round shaft is housed through the opening337. The magnet328is formed of a neodymium magnet, for example. An outer side face325of the second flange322slopes so that a wall thickness reduces from a center toward an outer peripheral edge. An inner side face326of the second flange322is provided with the boss portion323substantially coaxial with the second flange322and having substantially the same outer diameter as the first axle302. The second flange322and the boss portion323are integrally molded of a synthetic resin.

The second flange322and the boss portion323are formed, substantially at centers thereof, with a through hole327having substantially the same inner diameter as the second round shaft recessed portion307of the first axle302. The second wheel main body321has substantially the same outer diameter as the first wheel main body311, passes through the through hole327, and is fixed with its opposite sides protruding from the second flange322and the boss portion323. The other end face336side of the rolling shaft330of the second wheel320protrudes from the boss portion323side and one end face335side of the rolling shaft330protrudes from the second flange322side. The second wheel320is fixed with a protruding portion329of the rolling shaft330(second wheel main body321) protruding from the boss portion323side being fitted in the second round shaft recessed portion307of the first axle302. The gear308is in a substantially middle position between the first flange312and the second flange322. As described above, the drive wheel device301is made of a synthetic resin excluding the second wheel main body321that is formed of the member attracting with the magnetic force. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 41, the second wheel main body321may be formed of a magnet in the shape of a round shaft and a tip end face324amay be formed with a substantially conical support recessed portion324substantially coaxial with the second wheel main body321.

As shown inFIGS. 19(a),19(b),24(a), and24(b), the wheel device (follower wheel device)301A has a structure where the first axle302, the first wheel310, the second flange322, and the boss portion323are integrally molded of a synthetic resin, and the second wheel main body321is fitted into a round shaft recessed portion307A formed in a side face of the second flange322. The second flange322and the second wheel main body321form the second wheel320A. As described above, the first wheel310has the first wheel main body311and the first flange312, and a tip end face318of the first wheel main body311is formed with a support recessed portion314. The second wheel320A has the second wheel main body321and the second flange322, the magnet328is provided in the second wheel main body321, and a support hole334is formed in one end face335of a rolling shaft330formed in the shape of a round shaft. Although the second wheel main bodies321of the drive wheel device301and the wheel device (follower wheel device)301A are made of ferromagnetic material such as iron, it is essential only that they be the members attracting the metal rails261with the magnetic forces. Therefore, the rolling shaft330may be made of a synthetic resin material.

As shown inFIGS. 18(a),18(b),22(a), and22(b), the follower wheel device331includes the second axle332, the third wheel340, the fourth wheel350, and the conductive ring360. The second axle332is in the shape of a round shaft having substantially the same outer diameter as the first wheel main body311and includes the magnet328A and a rolling shaft330A mounted with the magnet328A therein and formed in the shape of a round shaft. The rolling shaft330A is made of ferromagnetic material such as iron and formed in the shape of the round shaft having substantially the same outer diameter as the first wheel main body311. The rolling shaft330A is formed therein with a housing recessed portion333A coaxial with the rolling shaft330A. Substantially at a center of one end face335A of the rolling shaft330A in an axial direction, a support hole334A is formed. The other end face336A of the rolling shaft330A in the axial direction is formed with an opening337A communicating with the housing recessed portion333A. In the housing recessed portion333A of the rolling shaft330A, the magnet328A in the shape of the round shaft is housed through the opening337A. The magnet328A is formed of a neodymium magnet, for example.

The third wheel340includes the third wheel main body341, the third flange342, and a boss portion343and is integrally molded of a synthetic resin. An outer side face345of the third flange342slopes so that a wall thickness reduces from a center toward an outer peripheral edge. The outer side face345of the third flange342is attached to the third wheel main body341substantially coaxial with the third flange342. An inner side face346of the third flange342is provided with the boss portion343substantially coaxial with the third flange342. The boss portion343is formed, substantially at a center thereof, with a fitting hole347in which the other end face336A side of the second axle332is fitted. A tip end face348of the third wheel main body341is formed with a substantially conical support recessed portion344substantially coaxial with the third wheel main body341. The second axle332has substantially the same outer diameter as the third wheel main body341and is substantially coaxial with the third wheel main body341.

The fourth wheel350includes the fourth flange352and a boss portion353, and the fourth flange352and the boss portion353are integrally molded of a synthetic resin. An outer side face355of the fourth flange352slopes so that a wall thickness reduces from a center toward an outer peripheral edge. An inner side face356of the fourth flange352is provided with the boss portion353substantially coaxial with the fourth flange352. The fourth flange352and the boss portion353are formed, substantially at centers thereof, with a through hole357having substantially the same inner diameter as the fitting hole347of the third wheel340. The second axle332passes through the through hole357and is fixed with its opposite sides protruding from the fourth flange352and the boss portion353. The one end face335A of the second axle332protrudes from the fourth flange352side and a protruding portion329of the second axle332forms the fourth wheel main body351of the fourth wheel350. In other words, the fourth wheel main body351constitutes the second axle332. The fourth wheel main body351, the fourth flange352, and the boss portion353form the fourth wheel350.

Between the third wheel340(boss portion343) and the fourth wheel350(boss portion353) of the second axle332(fourth wheel main body351), the conductive ring360conductive with the second axle332(fourth wheel main body351) is mounted. The conductive ring360may be made of any kind of material, if it is made of a conductive material. In the embodiment, the conductive ring360is made of phosphor bronze. Although the conductive ring360is fixedly mounted to the second axle332(fourth wheel main body351), it may be mounted rotatably. Although the fourth wheel main body351and the second axle332are made of the same material in the embodiment, the fourth wheel main body351may be made of a first conductive material with a magnetic property, the second axle332may be made of second conductive material to have a different outer diameter from the fourth wheel main body351, and the fourth wheel main body351and the second axle332may be provided to be adjacent to each other. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 42, the second axle332(fourth wheel main body351) may be formed of a magnet in the shape of a round shaft and a tip end face354amay be formed with a substantially conical support recessed portion354substantially coaxial with the fourth wheel main body351.

As shown inFIGS. 20(a),20(b),23(a), and23(b), a follower wheel device365includes an axle366and a pair of wheels367and is integrally molded of a synthetic resin. Each of the wheels367includes a wheel main body368and a flange369. A tip end face of the wheel main body368is formed, substantially at a center thereof, with a substantially conical support recessed portion364. The above-described drive wheel devices301and the follower wheel devices301A,331,365are rotatably mounted to the carriage frames371for a toy vehicle as shown inFIGS. 21(a) to24(b). The drive wheel devices301and the follower wheel devices301A,331,365are mounted into the carriage frames371thereby to form carriages.

As shown inFIGS. 21(a) and21(b), the carriage frame371is configured by a substantially rectangular main frame372, a middle member373for partitioning an inside of the main frame372, support protruding portions384, support shafts385, and locking lugs393, and the like, and is integrally molded of a synthetic resin. The main frame372is configured by a pair of longitudinal members376,376in a longitudinal direction and a pair of lateral members377,377in a lateral direction and provided at opposite ends of the longitudinal members376,376. An outer face378of the lateral member377is formed of a convex curved face in the shape of an arc having a center substantially at a center of the main frame372. The outer face378of one of the lateral members377is formed, substantially at a center thereof, with a coupling hole378A.

The middle member373is provided to connect substantially central portions of the pair of longitudinal members376,376and is mounted to lower faces376A,376A of the longitudinal members376,376to be in positions lower than the lateral members377,377. The middle member373forms housing portions381,382for housing the wheel devices301,301A,331,365in the main frame372. The housing portions381,382are provided with the support protruding portions384and the support shafts385facing each other. Each of the support protruding portions384is formed in a substantially conical shape and is fitted in the above-described support recessed portion314of the first wheel main body311, support recessed portion344of the third wheel main body341, or support recessed portion364of the wheel main body368so as to be rotatable. Each of the support shafts385is rotatably fitted in the above-described support hole334of the rolling shaft330or the support hole334A of the rolling shaft330A. The wheel devices301,301A,331,365have their support recessed portions314,344,364, rotatably supported by the support protruding portions384and their support holes334,334A rotatably supported by the support shafts385. Because the support protruding portions384are formed to be larger than the support shafts385and cannot be inserted into the support holes334, which facilitates positioning of the wheel devices301,301A,331,365and prevents mounting to the carriage frames371in a wrong way. In the housing portion381, the support protruding portion384is formed at a support chip386formed on the lower face376A of one of the longitudinal members376. Similarly, in the housing portion381, the support shaft385is formed at a support chip387formed on the lower face376A of the other longitudinal member376. In the housing portion382, the support protruding portion384is formed at a support chip386formed on the lower face376A of the other longitudinal member376. Similarly, in the housing portion382, the support shaft385is formed at a support chip387formed on the lower face376A of the one longitudinal member376. Upper faces377B,377B of the lateral members377,377are formed, substantially at centers thereof, with locking lugs393,393. Upper faces376B,376B of the longitudinal members376,376are formed, substantially at centers thereof, with guide protrusions395,395.

As shown inFIG. 25, the toy vehicle main body402for the powered toy vehicle401includes the chassis403and a vehicle body405mounted to the chassis403. Formed at each of a front portion and a rear portion of the chassis403is a pair of curved locking grooves410,410which are facing each other and to which the carriage frame371can be mounted. The carriage frame371is mounted with the pair of drive wheel devices301,301which are rotatable so that the second wheel main bodies321are in opposite positions (coming in contact with different rails) as described above. The carriage frame371and the pair of drive wheel devices301,301constitute the drive-side carriage370A.

As shown inFIG. 25, the drive-side carriage370A is mounted to the chassis403by locking the locking lugs393,393of the carriage frame371to the locking grooves410,410. When the carriage frame371is mounted to the chassis403, the guide protrusions395,395protrude into guide grooves408,408formed in the chassis403and the guide protrusions395,395can rotate within areas in which they are guided by the guide grooves408,408.

As shown inFIG. 25, the pair of follower wheel devices331,331is rotatably mounted to the carriage frame371so that the fourth wheel main bodies351are in opposite positions (coming in contact with different rails). The carriage frame371and the pair of follower wheel devices331,331constitute the follower-side carriage370B. The follower-side carriage370B is mounted similarly to the carriage370A.

The chassis403is provided with the drive motor416and the gear train420for transmitting rotation of the drive motor416to the gears308,308of the pair of drive wheel devices301,301. The gear train420consists of a drive gear421mounted to a drive shaft of the drive motor416, a crown gear422engaged with the drive gear421, a small gear integral with the crown gear422, a large gear425engaged with the small gear integral with the crown gear422, a small gear426integral with the large gear425, a large gear427engaged with the small gear426, a small gear integral with the large gear427, a large gear429engaged with the small gear integral with the large gear427, a small gear428integral with the large gear429, and a final gear430integral with the small gear428. Cog tips of the final gear430are curved into spherical surfaces.

The chassis403is mounted with a gear box431in which the crown gear422, the small gear integral with the crown gear422, the large gear425, the small gear426, the large gear427, the small gear integral with the large gear427, the large gear429, the small gear428, and the final gear430are rotatably mounted. The final gear430is adapted to be placed above the pair of gears308,308of the carriage370A mounted to the chassis403. The chassis403is formed with an opening433for allowing the final gear430to protrude from the lower face of the chassis403and the final gear430protruding from the opening433is engaged with the gears308,308of the drive wheel devices301,301mounted to the carriage370A.

The chassis403is provided with the conductive contacts441,445positioned above the follower wheel devices331,331of the carriage370B. The conductive contacts441,445are spring members made of conductive metal. The conductive contacts441,445are mounted in cylindrical guide members451,451formed on an upper portion of the chassis403. Upper ends of the conductive contacts441,445come in contact with contact terminals455,456. The contact terminals455,456are formed of conductive metal sheets.

As shown inFIG. 26(b), formed to protrude inside the vehicle body405are protrusions459,459to be inserted into through holes457,458formed in the contact terminals455,456to fix the contact terminals455,456when the vehicle body405is mounted to the chassis403. The chassis403is formed with openings454for allowing the conductive contacts441,445to protrude from the lower face of the chassis403. Lower ends of the conductive contacts441,445protrude from the openings454and come in sliding contact with the conductive rings360,360of the follower wheel devices331,331mounted to the carriage370B. One of the contact terminals455,456is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the drive motor416and the other of the contact terminals455,456is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the drive motor416.

As shown inFIGS. 28,29(a), and29(b), the toy vehicle main body462of the toy passenger vehicle461includes the chassis463and a vehicle body465mounted to the chassis463. Formed at each of a front portion and a rear portion of the chassis463is a pair of curved locking members410,410which are facing each other and to which the carriage frame371can be mounted.

As shown inFIG. 28, the follower wheel devices331,365are rotatably mounted to the carriage frame371to form the follower-side carriage370C. The follower-side carriage370C is mounted to the chassis403by locking the locking lugs393,393of the carriage frame371in the locking grooves410,410. When the carriage frame371is mounted to the chassis463, guide protrusions395,395protrude into guide grooves408,408formed in the chassis463and the guide protrusions395,395are rotatable within areas in which they are guided by the guide grooves408,408. The follower wheel device331of one of the pair of carriages370C,370C and the follower wheel device331of the other are rotatably mounted to the carriage frames371so that the fourth wheel main bodies351are in opposite positions (coming in contact with different rails).

The chassis463is provided with the conductive contacts441,445positioned above the follower wheel devices331of the carriages370C. The conductive contacts441,445are mounted in cylindrical guide members451formed on an upper portion of the chassis463. One of the conductive contacts441,445is electrically connected to a positive terminal of an electronic substrate466provided in the vehicle body465and the other of the conductive contacts441,445is electrically connected to a negative terminal of the electronic substrate466.

The chassis463is formed with openings for allowing lower ends of the conductive contacts441,445to protrude from the lower face of the chassis463. The lower ends of the conductive contacts441,445protruding through the openings come in sliding contact with the conductive rings360,360of the follower wheel devices331,331mounted to the carriages370C. The electronic substrate466is provided with electric components, for example, a light emitting device such as an LED and a sound generating device.

As shown inFIGS. 30,31(a), and31(b), a toy passenger vehicle471has basically the same structure as the toy passenger vehicle461, but a chassis473is not formed with the guide members451,451, because there is no electric component, in a toy vehicle main body472, actuated by power fed from the rails. Therefore, the follower wheel devices301A,365are rotatably mounted to the carriage frame371thereby to form a follower-side carriage370D. The follower-side carriage370D is mounted to the chassis473by locking locking lugs393,393of the carriage frame371in the locking grooves410,410. When the carriage frame371is mounted to the chassis473, guide protrusions395,395protrude into guide grooves408,408formed in the chassis473and the guide protrusions395,395can rotate within areas in which they are guided by the guide grooves408,408. The follower wheel device301A of one of the pair of carriages370D,370D and the follower wheel device301A of the other are rotatably mounted to the carriage frames371so that the second wheels320A are in opposite positions (coming in contact with different rails).

The powered toy vehicle401and the toy passenger vehicles461,471are coupled by a coupler481. As shown inFIGS. 32(a),32(b), the coupler481is integrally formed of a synthetic resin and includes a coupling shaft482and a design member483formed substantially at a center of the coupling shaft482. As shown inFIGS. 33(a) to33(c), the coupling shaft482couples the powered toy vehicle401and the toy passenger vehicle461by detachably inserting one end484of the coupling shaft482into the coupling hole378A of the carriage370B disposed at the rear portion of the powered toy vehicle401and detachably inserting the other end485of the coupling shaft482into the coupling hole378A of the carriage370C disposed at the front portion of the toy passenger vehicle461. The coupling shaft482couples the toy passenger vehicle461and the toy passenger vehicle471by detachably inserting one end484of the coupling shaft482into the coupling hole378A of the carriage370C disposed at the rear portion of the toy passenger vehicle461and detachably inserting the other end485of the coupling shaft482into the coupling hole378A of the carriage370D disposed at the front portion of the toy passenger vehicle471. In this way, it is possible to couple the respective toy vehicles.

Next, a rail track device according to the present invention will be described based onFIGS. 34 to 40(b).FIG. 34is a perspective view of another embodiment of the rail track device according to the present invention.FIG. 35is an exploded perspective view ofFIG. 34.FIGS. 36(a) and36(b) are explanatory views of the rail track device, whereinFIG. 36(a) is a plan view andFIG. 36(b) is a side view.FIGS. 37(a) to37(c) are explanatory views of the rail track device, whereinFIG. 37(a) is a sectional view,FIG. 37(b) is a bottom view, andFIG. 37(c) is a side sectional view.FIGS. 38(a) to38(c) are explanatory views of the rail track device from which a bottom plate is detached and which is viewed from below.FIG. 39is an explanatory view illustrating a relationship between a rail track belt and metal rails.FIGS. 40(a) and40(b) are explanatory views of the metal rail.

As shown inFIGS. 34 and 35, the rail track device501includes a rail track belt502made of a synthetic resin and a pair of metal rails561,561to be inserted into a pair of grooves515,516formed in the rail track belt502. Each of the metal rails561is formed with an insertion recessed portion572at one end and an insertion protruding portion581at the other end. The rail track belt502is formed at one sides of ends thereof with mounting portions530,531to which magnets550having conductivity are mounted. The magnets550mounted to the mounting portions530,531are structured to be located in such positions as to be in contact with the metal rails561. The rail track belt502is structured to be connected to the other rail track belt502in such a way that, when an insertion protruding portion581of the metal rail561of the other rail track belt502is inserted into the insertion recessed portion572of the metal rail561, the other metal rail561come in contact with and is attracted by the magnet550thereby to connect the metal rail561to the other metal rail561.

As shown inFIG. 39, a method of manufacturing the rail track device501includes a first step of inserting the pair of metal rails561,561into the pair of grooves515,516in the rail track belt502made of a synthetic resin, inserting insertion chips563,565,566,567of the pair of metal rails561,561into the insertion holes521,522,523,524in the rail track belt502, and locking locking lugs571,574,575,576,578,579of the insertion chips563,565,566,567to the insertion holes521,522,523,524to fix the pair of metal rails561,561to the rail track belt502, a second step of mounting the magnets550to the mounting portions530,531formed at the one sides of the ends of the rail track belt502, and a third step of mounting the bottom plate545to a bottom portion of the rail track belt502.

As shown inFIGS. 34 and 35, the rail track device501includes the rail track belt502made of a synthetic resin and the pair of metal rails561,561. The rail track belt502is configured by an upper face plate503, a right slope plate505arranged to be connected to a right side of the upper face plate503, a left slope plate506provided to be adjacent to a left side of the upper face plate503, a right side plate507provided to be adjacent to a lower end of the right slope plate505, a left side plate508provided to be adjacent to a lower end of the left slope plate506, a front face plate510provided to be adjacent to a front end of the upper face plate503, and a rear face plate511provided to be adjacent to a rear end of the upper face plate503. The rail track belt502is formed to be hollow and in a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front.

The upper face plate503of the rail track belt502is formed with protrusions513in the shape of a cross tie. The upper face plate503is formed with the pair of grooves515,516into which the pair of metal rails561,561is inserted. Each of the grooves515,516is formed being surrounded by side faces518,518and a bottom face519into a substantially angular U shape. As shown inFIG. 39, the bottom faces519are formed, at predetermine portions thereof, with the insertion holes521,522,523,524. The right groove515is formed with the insertion holes521,522,523,524in this order from the front face plate510side and the left groove516is formed with the insertion holes521,522,523,524in this order from the rear face plate511side.

As shown inFIG. 39, a back face526of the upper face plate503is formed with the pair of substantially L-shaped magnet housing frames530,531. The right magnet housing frame530is formed along the right side plate507and the front face plate510and the left magnet housing frame531is formed along the left side plate508and the rear face plate511. The magnet housing frame530is formed with an insertion groove532into which the metal rail561is to be inserted. The magnet housing frame531is formed with an insertion groove535into which the metal rail561is to be inserted. The magnet550is pushed and mounted into each of the magnet housing frames530,531. The magnets550are formed of material having conductivity such as neodymium magnets. Formed at opposite two positions of the back face526of the upper face plate503are bosses540each formed with an internal thread portion541. Moreover, formed at three positions of the back face526of the upper face plate503are bosses543each formed with a positioning hole542.

As shown inFIG. 35, the rail track belt502has the bottom plate545mounted to a hollow chamber surrounded with the front face plate510, the rear face plate511, the right side plate507, and the left side plate508. The bottom plate545is formed, substantially at a center thereof, with a recessed step portion545a. The bottom plate545is formed, at opposite sides, with fitting pins546to be fitted in the positioning holes542of the upper face plate503. A fitting hole545bin which the boss543is to be fitted is formed at the recessed step portion545a. The bottom plate545is formed with through holes547facing the internal thread portions541of the upper face plate503. The bottom plate545is mounted to the rail track belt502by fitting the fitting pins546in the positioning holes542of the upper face plate503, fitting the boss543in the fitting hole545b, and screwing screws248into the internal thread portions541through the through holes547. The magnets550mounted to the magnet housing frames530,531are prevented by the bottom plate545from coming off the magnet housing frames530,531.

Each of the metal rails561is formed to have substantially the same length as the rail track belt502, has contact faces to come in contact with the bottom face519of the groove515or516, and is formed with a front insertion chip563to be inserted into the insertion hole521and the insertion groove532of the groove515or516, a first middle insertion chip565to be inserted through the insertion hole522of the groove515or516, a second middle insertion chip566to be inserted through the insertion hole523of the groove515or516, and a rear insertion chip567to be inserted through the insertion hole of the groove515or516.

As shown inFIGS. 38(a) to38(c), the front insertion chip is formed with the locking lug571at its rear portion and the insertion recessed portion572at its front portion. The magnets550mounted to the magnet housing frames530,531are in contact with side faces of the front insertion chips563. The first middle insertion chip565is formed with the locking lug574at its front portion and the locking lug575at its rear portion. The second middle insertion chip566is formed with the locking lug576at its front portion and the locking lug578at its rear portion. The rear insertion chip567is formed with the locking lug579at its front portion and is formed, at its rear portion, with the insertion protruding portion581that can be inserted into the insertion recessed portion572of the front insertion chip563.

The pair of metal rails561is pushed into the grooves515,516of the rail track belt502in opposite orientations to each other. The contact faces562come in contact with the bottom face519, the front insertion chips563are inserted into the insertion holes521,532, of the grooves515,516, the first middle insertion chips565are inserted through the insertion holes522of the grooves515,516, the second middle insertion chips566are inserted through the insertion holes523of the grooves515,516, and the rear insertion chips567are inserted through the insertion holes524of the grooves515,516. As shown inFIGS. 40(a), and40(b), when the front insertion chip563is inserted into the insertion hole521, the locking lug571is locked to the back face526of the upper face plate503. When the first middle insertion chip565is inserted into the insertion hole522, the locking lugs574,575are locked to the back face526of the upper face plate503. When the second middle insertion chip566is inserted into the insertion hole523, the locking lugs576,578are locked to the back face526of the upper face plate503. When the rear insertion chip567is inserted into the insertion hole524, the locking lug579is locked to the back face526of the upper face plate503. The rear insertion chip567comes in contact with the magnet housing frames530,531but not with the magnets550. As described above, it is possible to mount the pair of metal rails261,261to the rail track belt502by only inserting the rails into the grooves515,516. If the back face526of the upper face plate503is formed with guide protrusions527,528for guiding the front insertion chips563, the first middle insertion chips565, the second middle insertion chips566, and the rear insertion chips567as shown inFIG. 38(a) to38(c), it is possible to stably retain the metal rails561.

Next, when the magnets550,550are housed in the substantially L-shaped magnet housing frames530,531, the magnet550housed in the right magnet housing frame530comes in contact with the side face of the front insertion chip563of the right metal rail561and the magnet550housed in the left magnet housing frame531comes in contact with the side face of the front insertion chip563of the left metal rail561. The fitting pins546of the bottom plate545are fitted in the positioning holes542of the upper face plate503, the boss543is fitted in the fitting hole545bof the bottom plate545, and the screws248are screwed into the internal thread portions541through the through holes547thereby to mount the bottom plate545to the rail track belt502. With the bottom plate545, the magnets550mounted to the magnet housing frames530,531are fixed.

As shown inFIG. 34, the insertion protruding portion581of the metal rail561mounted to the left groove516protrudes from the front face plate510and the insertion protruding portion581of the metal rail561mounted to the right groove515protrudes from the rear face plate511. In the metal rail561mounted to the right groove515, an insertion hole590is formed on the front face plate510side by the insertion recessed portion572, and the bottom face519and the side faces518,518of the groove515. In the metal rail561mounted to the left groove516, an insertion hole590is formed on the rear face plate511side by the insertion recessed portion572, and the bottom face519and the side faces518,518of the groove516.

As shown inFIGS. 36(a) to37(b), if the front face plate510of the rail track belt502of the rail track device501is brought in contact with the rear face plate511of the rail track belt502of the other rail track device, the insertion protruding portions581are inserted into the insertion holes590and the side faces of the insertion protruding portions581come in contact with the magnets550. With attracting forces of the magnets550, the rail track devices501are coupled to each other and the insertion protruding portions581and the insertion recessed portions572of the metal rails561come in direct contact with each other. In this way, the rail track devices501may be coupled in a straight line or ring shape. Because the metal rails561of the rail track devices501coupled in the straight line or ring shape are in direct contact with each other as described above, it is possible to pass an electric current throughout the rails. Even if the metal rails561are not in direct contact with each other, the metal rails561are electrically connected through the magnets550having conductivity and therefore it is possible to pass an electric current throughout the rails.

It is possible to place the drive wheel devices301,301and the follower wheel devices331,331of the powered toy vehicle401on the metal rails561,561of the rail track device501. As shown inFIG. 16, the second wheel main bodies321,321and the fourth wheel main bodies351,351formed of the members attracting with magnetic forces alternately come in contact with the metal rails561,561. A positive electrode of a power source is connected to one (561A) of the metal rails561and a negative electrode of the power source is connected to the other (561B) of the metal rails561.

The electric current flows from one of the fourth wheel main bodies351(351A) in contact with the metal rail561A to the metal rail561B via the conductive ring360, the first conductive contact441, one of the contact terminals455, the positive terminal of the drive motor416, the negative terminal of the drive motor416, the other contact terminal456, the second conductive contact445, the conductive ring360, and the other of the fourth wheel main bodies351(351B) as shown inFIG. 25. With this electric current, the drive motor416rotates, the rotation is transmitted to the gears308,308via the gear train420, and the drive wheel devices301,301rotate on the metal rails561,561. As a result, the powered toy vehicle401can travel on the rail track device501.

When the powered toy vehicle401is traveling on a curve, inner wheels try to rotate slowly and outer wheels try to rotate fast. Because the wheels not affected by the magnets slip on the rails, there is less resistance of magnetic force and less load is applied on the drive motor416as compared with the conventional toy vehicle in which both the wheels rotate while attracting with the magnets.

The toy passenger vehicle461is coupled to the powered toy vehicle401as described above and the follower wheel devices331,331,365,365of the toy passenger vehicle461can be placed on the metal rails561,561of the rail track device501. The positive electrode of the power source is connected to one of the metal rails561(561A) and the negative electrode of the power source is connected to the other of the metal rails561(561B)

An electric current flows from one (351C) of the fourth wheel main bodies351in contact with the metal rail561A to the metal rail561B via the conductive ring360, the first conductive contact441, the electronic substrate466, the second conductive contact445, the conductive ring360, and the other (351D) of the fourth wheel main bodies351. With this electric current, an electric component of the electronic substrate466is actuated.

The powered toy vehicle401and the toy passenger vehicles461,471are extremely small and travel on the metal rails561,561at an interval of about 3 mm. Although the powered toy vehicle401and the toy passenger vehicles461,471are extremely lightweight, the second wheel main bodies321of the drive wheel devices301and the fourth wheel main bodies351of the follower wheel devices331in contact with the metal rails561are formed of the members attracting with the magnetic forces. Therefore, the second wheel main bodies321and the fourth wheel main bodies351attract the metal rails561with the magnetic forces, rotation of the drive wheel devices301and the follower wheel devices331is reliably transmitted to the metal rails561without slips, and the vehicles travel even an upward slope. Moreover, because the second wheel main bodies321of the drive wheel devices301and the fourth wheel main bodies531of the follower wheel devices331are attracting the metal rails561with the magnetic forces, the vehicles do not come off and fall from the metal rails561.

If the insertion protruding portion581of the metal rail561of the other rail track belt502is inserted into the insertion recessed portion572of the rail track belt502of the rail track device501, the insertion protruding portion581of the other metal rail561comes in contact with and is attracted by the magnet550and the metal rails561can be directly connected to the other metal rails561by the magnets550. In this way, it is possible to couple the other rail track belt502. If the rail track belts502are pulled apart with forces greater than the magnetic forces of the magnets550, connection between the metal rails561and coupling between the rail track belts502of the rail track devices501can be cancelled easily. As seen from the above, the rail track devices501are functional and have simplified structures, because connection of the metal rails561and coupling of the rail track belts502by the magnets550can be carried out simultaneously and canceling of the connection and coupling can also be carried out simultaneously. Therefore, the rail track device501can be reduced in size and weight in such a way that the interval between the metal rails561,561is as short as about 3 mm. Because the rail track device501can be reduced in size and weight, the magnetic forces of the magnets550are sufficient for connection and coupling. The method of manufacturing the rail track device501is extremely easy, because the metal rails561,561can be fixed to the rail track belt502by only inserting the pair of metal rails561,561into the pair of grooves515,516in the rail track belt502.

Other embodiments of the wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention and the toy vehicles mounted with the wheel devices will be described based onFIGS. 43(a) to47.FIGS. 43(a) to43(c) are general views of another embodiment of the drive wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention, whereinFIG. 43(a) is a sectional view,FIG. 43(b) is a front view, andFIG. 43(c) is a perspective view.FIGS. 44(a) to45(c) are general views of other embodiments of the follower wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention, whereinFIGS. 44(a),45(a) are sectional views,FIGS. 44(b),45(b) are front views, andFIGS. 44(c),45(c) are perspective views.FIGS. 46,47are exploded perspective views of the drive wheel devices and the follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into toy vehicles.

The drive wheel device, the follower wheel device, and the toy vehicle mounted with them will be described further in detail. As shown inFIG. 43, the drive wheel device601includes a first axle602, a first wheel610, and a second wheel620. The first axle602is made of a synthetic resin material such as ABS resin and formed into a cylindrical shape. To a peripheral face of the first axle602, a cylindrical member605having a gear608is secured. The cylindrical member605is made of a synthetic resin material such as polyacetal (POM). Cog tips of the gear608are curved to form spherical surfaces.

The first wheel610includes a first wheel main body611and a magnet ring617. The first wheel main body611includes a mounting shaft619, a first flange612, and a fitting shaft613and is integrally molded as a metal member such as an iron member. The first flange612is attached with the mounting shaft619substantially coaxial with the first flange612at an outer side face615thereof. The first flange612is provided, at an inner side face616thereof, with the fitting shaft613substantially coaxial with the first flange612. A tip end face618of the mounting shaft619is formed with a substantially conical support recessed portion614substantially coaxial with the first wheel main body611. To an outer peripheral face of the mounting shaft619, the magnet ring617is fixedly mounted to come in contact with the first flange612. The magnet ring617has a smaller outer diameter than the first flange612. The first wheel610is fixed with its fitting shaft613fitted into the first axle602. Since the second wheel620has the same structure as the first wheel610, description of the second wheel620will not be made here. The magnet rings617,617function as wheels traveling on the rails561,561.

As shown inFIGS. 44(a) to44(c), the follower wheel device631includes a second axle632, a third wheel640, and a fourth wheel650. The second axle632is formed of a metal member such as a copper member into a cylindrical shape and has a similar function to the above-described conductive ring360. The third wheel640includes a third wheel main body641and a magnet ring647. The third wheel main body641includes a mounting shaft649, a third flange642, and a fitting shaft643and is integrally molded as a metal member such as a copper member. The third flange642is attached with the mounting shaft649substantially coaxial with the third flange642at an outer side face645thereof. The third flange642is attached with the fitting shaft643substantially coaxial with the third flange642at an inner side face646thereof. A tip end face648of the mounting shaft649is formed with a substantially conical support recessed portion644substantially coaxial with the third wheel main body641. To an outer peripheral face of the mounting shaft649, the magnet ring647is fixedly mounted to come in contact with the third flange642. The magnet ring647has a smaller outer diameter than the third flange642. The third wheel640is fixed with its fitting shaft643fitted into the second axle632.

The fourth wheel650includes a fourth wheel main body651, a fourth flange652, and a fitting shaft653and is integrally formed of a metal member such as a copper member. The fourth flange652is installed by the fourth wheel main body651substantially coaxial with the fourth flange652at an outer side face655thereof. The fourth flange652is attached with the fitting shaft653substantially coaxial with the fourth flange652at an inner side face656thereof. A tip end face658of the fourth wheel main body651is formed with a substantially conical support recessed portion654substantially coaxial with the fourth wheel main body651. The fourth flange652has substantially the same outer diameter as the third flange642. The fourth wheel main body651has substantially the same outer diameter as the magnet ring647. The fourth wheel650is mounted to an auxiliary member661. The auxiliary member661is constituted by a cylindrical trunk portion662and a locking flange663formed at one end of the trunk portion662and is integrally molded of a synthetic resin material such as ABS resin. The locking flange663has substantially the same outer diameter as the fourth flange652. The fourth wheel650is fixedly mounted to the auxiliary member661with the fitting shaft653fitted in the trunk portion662on the locking flange663side and the fourth flange652joined to the locking flange663. The auxiliary member661is fixed with the trunk portion662inserted into the second axle632until the locking flange663is locked to an end face of the second axle632. In this way, in the follower wheel device631, the third wheel640and the fourth wheel650are mounted to opposite sides of the second axle632.

As shown inFIGS. 45(a) to45(c), the follower wheel device671includes a second axle672and the pair of fourth wheels650. The second axle672is formed of a synthetic resin material such as ABS resin into a cylindrical shape. Each of the fourth wheels650is fixedly mounted to the second axle672with the fitting shaft653fitted in the second axle672and the fourth flange652joined to an end face of the second axle672.

As shown inFIGS. 46 and 47, the above-described drive wheel device601, and the follower wheel devices631,671are rotatably mounted to the carriage frames371of the toy vehicles. The drive wheel device601, the follower wheel devices631,671are mounted into the carriage frames371to form the carriages.

As shown inFIG. 46, the pair of drive wheel devices601,601is rotatably mounted to the carriage frame371of the powered toy vehicle401so that the first wheel main bodies611are in opposite positions (coming in contact with different rails). The carriage frame371and the pair of drive wheel devices601,601form the drive-side carriage370A.

As shown inFIG. 46, the drive-side carriage370A is mounted to the chassis403by locking the locking lugs393,393of the carriage frame371to the locking grooves410,410. When the carriage frame371is mounted to the chassis403, the guide protrusions395,395protrude into guide grooves408,408formed in the chassis403and the guide protrusions395,395can rotate within areas in which they are guided by the guide grooves408,408.

As shown inFIG. 46, the pair of follower wheel devices631,631is rotatably mounted to the carriage frame371of the powered toy vehicle401so that the third wheel main bodies641are in opposite positions (coming in contact with different rails). The carriage frame371and the pair of follower wheel devices631,631form the follower-side carriage370B. The follower-side carriage370B is mounted similarly to the carriage370A.

The chassis403is provided with the drive motor416and a gear train420A for transmitting rotation of the drive motor to the gears608,608of the pair of drive wheel devices601,601. The gear train420A consists of a drive gear421mounted to a drive shaft of the drive motor416, a crown gear engaged with the drive gear421, a small gear423integral with the crown gear422; a large gear429engaged with the small gear423, a small gear428integral with the large gear429, and a final gear430integral with the small gear428. Cog tips of the final gear430are curved into spherical surfaces.

The chassis403is mounted with a gear box431A with which the gear train420A is rotatably mounted on the chassis403. The final gear430is adapted to be placed above the pair of gears608,608of the carriage370A mounted onto the chassis403. The chassis403is formed with an opening433for allowing the final gear430to protrude through the lower face of the chassis403and the final gear430protruding through the opening433is engaged with the gears608,608of the drive wheel devices601,601mounted to the carriage370A. As shown inFIG. 46, lower ends of the conductive contacts441,445protrude from the openings454to come in sliding contact with the second axles632,632of the follower wheel devices631,631mounted to the carriage370B.

As shown inFIG. 47, in the toy passenger vehicle461, the follower wheel devices631,671are rotatably mounted to the carriage frames371to form the follower-side carriages370C. The follower wheel device631of one of the pair of carriages370C,370C and the follower wheel device631of the other are rotatably mounted to the carriage frames371so that the third wheel main bodies641are in opposite positions (coming in contact with different rails). Lower ends of the conductive contacts441,445come in sliding contact with the second axles632,632of the follower wheel devices631,631mounted to the carriages370C.

The powered toy vehicle401and the toy passenger vehicle461are coupled by a coupler. It is possible to place the drive wheel devices601and the follower wheel devices631of the powered toy vehicle401on the metal rails561,561of the rail track device501. The pair of magnet rings617,617of the drive wheel device601comes in contact with the metal rails561,561while attracting the rails. The one magnet ring647of the follower wheel device631come in contact with the metal rail561while attracting the rail. A positive electrode of a power source is connected to one (561A) of the metal rails561and a negative electrode of the power source is connected to the other (561B) of the metal rails561.

An electric current flows from one (647A) of the magnet rings647of the third wheel main bodies641in contact with the metal rail561A to the metal rail561B via the third wheel main body641, the second axle632, the first conductive contact441, the one contact terminal455, the positive terminal of the drive motor416, the negative terminal of the drive motor416, the other contact terminal456, the second conductive contact445, the second axle632, the third wheel main body641, and the other (647B) of the magnet rings647of the third wheel main bodies641. With this electric current, the drive motor416rotates, the rotation is transmitted to the gears608,608via the gear train420A, and the drive wheel devices601,601rotate on the metal rails561,561. As a result, the powered toy vehicle401can travel on the rail track device501.

The toy passenger vehicle461is coupled to the powered toy vehicle401as described above with the follower wheel devices631,671of the toy passenger vehicle461placed on the metal rails561,561of the rail track device501. The positive electrode of the power source is connected to one (561A) of the metal rails561and the negative electrode of the power source is connected to the other (561B) of the metal rails561. An electric current flows from one (647A) of the magnet rings647of the third wheel main bodies641in contact with the metal rail561A to the metal rail561B via the third wheel main body641, the second axle632, the first conductive contact441, the electronic substrate466, the second conductive contact445, the second axle632, the third wheel main body641, and the other (647B) of the magnet rings647of the third wheel main bodies641. With this electric current, the electric component of the electronic substrate466is actuated.

The powered toy vehicle401and the toy passenger vehicle461are extremely small and travel on the metal rails561,561at an interval of about 3 mm. Although the powered toy vehicle401and the toy passenger vehicle461are extremely lightweight, the first wheels610and the second wheels620of the drive wheel devices601and the third wheels640of the follower wheel devices631in contact with the metal rails561are formed of members attracting with the magnetic forces. Therefore, rotation of the drive wheel devices601and the follower wheel devices631is reliably transmitted to the metal rails561without slips, and the vehicles travel even on an upward slope.

Other embodiments of the wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention and the toy vehicles mounted with the wheel devices will be described based onFIGS. 48(a) to55.FIGS. 48(a) to48(c) are general views of another embodiment of the drive wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention, whereinFIG. 48(a) is a sectional view,FIG. 48(b) is a front view, andFIG. 48(c) is a perspective view.FIGS. 49(a) to50(c) are general views of other embodiments of the follower wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention, whereinFIGS. 49(a), and50(a) are sectional views,FIGS. 49(b),50(b) are front views, andFIGS. 49(c), and50(c) are perspective views.FIGS. 51(a), and51(b) are exploded perspective views of the drive wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a carriage, whereinFIG. 51(a) is a perspective views from above andFIG. 51(b) is an exploded perspective view.FIGS. 52(a), and52(b) are exploded perspective views of the follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a carriage, whereinFIG. 52(a) is a perspective view from above andFIG. 52(b) is an exploded perspective view.FIG. 53is an exploded perspective view of the drive wheel devices and the follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.FIGS. 54(a) to54(e) are sectional views of the wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle, whereinFIG. 54(a) is a side view of the toy vehicle,FIG. 54(b) is a sectional view of the toy vehicle taken along a line A-A,FIG. 54(c) is a sectional view of the toy vehicle taken along a line B-B,FIG. 54(d) is a sectional view of the toy vehicle taken along a line C-C, andFIG. 54(e) is a sectional view of the toy vehicle taken along a line D-D.FIG. 55is an exploded perspective view of other follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.

The drive wheel device, the follower wheel devices, and the toy vehicle mounted with them will be described in detail. As shown inFIGS. 48(a) to48(c), the drive wheel device701includes a first axle702, a first wheel710, and a second wheel720. The first axle702is made of a synthetic resin material such as polyacetal (POM) and formed into a cylindrical shape. Substantially at a center and a peripheral face of the first axle702, a gear708is molded integrally. Cog tips of the gear708are curved to form spherical surfaces.

The first wheel710includes a first wheel main body711and a magnet ring717. The first wheel main body711includes a mounting shaft719, a first flange712, and a fitting shaft713and is integrally molded of a metal member such as a copper member. The first flange712is provided, at an outer side face715thereof, with the mounting shaft719substantially coaxial with the first flange712. The first flange712is attached with the fitting shaft713substantially coaxial with the first flange712at an inner side face716thereof. A tip end face718of the mounting shaft719is formed with a substantially conical support recessed portion714substantially coaxial with the first wheel main body711. To an outer peripheral face of the mounting shaft719, the magnet ring717is fixedly mounted to come in contact with the first flange712. The magnet ring717has a smaller outer diameter than the first flange712. The first wheel710is fixed with its fitting shaft713fitted into the first axle702. Since the second wheel720has the same structure as the first wheel710, description of the second wheel720will not be made here. The magnet rings717,717function as wheels traveling on the rails561,561.

As shown inFIGS. 49(a) to49(c), the follower wheel device731includes a second axle732, a first wheel710, and a second wheel720. The second axle732is made of a synthetic resin material such as polyacetal (POM) into a cylindrical shape. The first wheel710and the second wheel720are fixed with their fitting shafts713fitted in the second axle732. Magnet rings717,717function as wheels traveling on the rails561,561.

As shown inFIGS. 50(a) to50(c), the follower wheel device751includes a second axle752and a pair of fourth wheels760. Each of the fourth wheels760includes a fourth wheel main body761, a fourth flange762, and a fitting shaft763and is integrally molded as a metal member such as a copper member. The fourth flange762is provided, at an outer side face765thereof, with the fourth wheel main body761substantially coaxial with the fourth flange762. The fourth flange762is provided, at an inner side face766thereof, with the fitting shaft763substantially coaxial with the fourth flange762. A tip end face768of the fourth wheel main body761is formed with a substantially conical support recessed portion764substantially coaxial with the fourth wheel main body761. The fourth wheel main body761has substantially the same outer diameter as the magnet ring717. The fourth wheel760is fixedly mounted to the second axle752with the fitting shaft763fitted in the second axle752and the fourth flange762joined to an end face of the second axle752. In this way, in the follower wheel device751, the fourth wheels760are mounted to opposite sides of the second axle752.

As shown inFIGS. 51(a) to52(b), the above-described drive wheel device701and the follower wheel device731are rotatably mounted to the carriage frames771,821of the toy vehicles. The drive wheel devices701are mounted into the carriage frame771to form the carriage770A. The follower wheel devices731are mounted into the carriage frame821to form the carriage770B.

As shown inFIGS. 51(a) and51(b), the carriage frame771is configured by a substantially rectangular main frame772, a middle member773for partitioning an inside of the main frame772, and locking lugs775, and the like, and is integrally molded of a synthetic resin. The main frame772is configured by a pair of longitudinal members776,776in a longitudinal direction and a pair of lateral members777,777in a lateral direction and provided at opposite ends of the longitudinal members776,776. An outer face778of the lateral member777is formed of a convex curved face in the shape of an arc having a center substantially at a center of the main frame772. The outer face778of one of the lateral members777is formed, substantially at a center thereof, with a coupling hole778A.

The middle member773is provided to connect substantially central portions of the pair of longitudinal members776,776and is mounted to lower faces of the longitudinal members776,776to be in positions lower than the lateral members777,777. The middle member773forms housing portions781,782for housing the drive wheel devices701,701in the main frame772. The middle member773is formed with a recessed step portion774at a middle portion to avoid contact with the final gear430and a pair of locking protrusions789,789at each of opposite ends. Into a clearance between each pair of locking protrusions789,789and an inner face of the longitudinal member776, a bearing plate800is inserted and mounted. The bearing plate800is formed by pressing a metal sheet such as a copper sheet. The bearing plate800is formed with a fitting recessed portion801to be fitted over the middle member773substantially at a center of a lower end of the plate800, support protruding portions802,802at opposite sides of a front face of the plate800, and an L-shaped protruding chip805substantially at a center of an upper end of the plate800. The support protruding portions802are formed into substantially conical shapes and rotatably fitted in the support recessed portions714of the above-described drive wheel devices701. The protruding chip805is formed of a spring receiving portion806and a spring insertion portion807into the substantially L shape as described above.

In the drive wheel device701, the support protruding portion802of one of the bearing plates800is rotatably inserted into one of the support recessed portions714and the support protruding portion802of the other bearing plate800is rotatably inserted into the other support recessed portion714. In this way, with the pair of drive wheel devices701,701sandwiched between the pair of bearing plates800,800, the pair of bearing plates800,800are inserted into the clearances between the pairs of locking protrusions789,789and the inner faces of the longitudinal members776. As a result, the drive wheel devices701,701are rotatably mounted to the carriage frame771. In other words, the drive wheel devices701are rotatably mounted to the carriage frame771with their support recessed portions714,714rotatably supported by the support protruding portions802,802of the pair of bearing plates800,800mounted to the carriage frame771. When the bearing plate800is inserted into the clearance between the pair of locking protrusions789,789and the inner face of the longitudinal member776, the fitting recessed portion801is fitted over the middle member773and therefore the bearing plate800is positioned and retained stably. Respective devices of the pair of drive wheel devices701,701are housed respectively in the housing portion781and the housing portion782of the carriage frame771. The lateral members777,777are formed, substantially at centers of upper faces777B,777B thereof, with the locking lugs775,775.

As shown inFIGS. 52(a), and52(b), the carriage frame821is configured by a substantially rectangular main frame822, a middle member823for partitioning an inside of the main frame822, and locking lugs825. . . and is integrally molded of a synthetic resin. The main frame822is configured by a pair of longitudinal members826,826in a longitudinal direction and a pair of lateral members827,827in a lateral direction and provided at opposite ends of the longitudinal members826,826. An outer face828of the lateral member827is formed of a convex curved face in the shape of an arc having a center substantially at a center of the main frame822. The outer face828of one of the lateral members827is formed, substantially at a center thereof, with a coupling hole828A.

The middle member823is provided to connect substantially central portions of the pair of longitudinal members826,826and is mounted to lower faces of the longitudinal members826,826to be in positions lower than the lateral members827,827. The middle member823forms housing portions831,832for housing the follower wheel devices731,731in the main frame822. The middle member823is formed, on an upper face thereof, with a pair of fitting protrusions841,841. The upper face of the middle member823is mounted with a fixing member835. The fixing member835is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, formed with fitting holes836,836to be fitted over the fitting protrusions841,841of the middle member823, and formed to project, at a center of an upper face thereof, with a center shaft837. The fixing member835is fixedly mounted to the middle member823when their fitting holes836,836are fitted over the fitting protrusions841,841of the middle member823. When the fixing member835is mounted to the middle member823, clearances are formed between the fixing member835and inner faces of the longitudinal members826,826. Into the clearances, the bearing plates800are inserted and mounted.

In the follower wheel device731, the support protruding portion802of one of the bearing plates800is rotatably inserted into one of the support recessed portions714and the support protruding portion802of the other bearing plate800is rotatably inserted into the other support recessed portion714. In this way, with the pair of follower wheel devices731,731sandwiched between the pair of bearing plates800,800, the pair of bearing plates800,800are inserted into the clearances between the fixing member835and the inner faces of the longitudinal members776. As a result, the follower wheel devices731,731are rotatably mounted to the carriage frame821. In other words, the follower wheel devices731are rotatably mounted to the carriage frame821with their support recessed portions714,714rotatably supported by the support protruding portions802,802of the pair of bearing plates800,800mounted to the carriage frame821. When the bearing plate800is inserted into the clearance between the fixing member835and the inner face of the longitudinal member776, the fitting recessed portion801is fitted over the middle member823and therefore the bearing plate800is positioned and retained stably. Respective devices of the pair of follower wheel devices731,731are housed respectively in the housing portion831and the housing portion832of the carriage frame821. The lateral members827,827are formed, substantially at centers of upper faces827B,827B thereof, with the locking lugs825,825.

As shown inFIG. 53, a toy vehicle main body852of a powered toy vehicle851includes a chassis853and a vehicle body855mounted to the chassis853. Formed at each of a front portion and a rear portion of the chassis853is a pair of curved locking grooves860,860which are opposed to each other and to which the carriage frames771,821can be mounted.

The drive-side carriage770A is mounted to the chassis853by locking the locking lugs775,775of the carriage frame771in the locking grooves860,860. The follower-side carriage770B is mounted to the chassis853by locking the locking lugs825,825of the carriage frame821in the locking grooves860,860. The carriage770B can rotate about the center shaft837, because the center shaft837formed on the upper face of the fixing member835is pivoted in a bearing hole formed in the lower face of the chassis853.

The chassis853is provided with the drive motor416and the above-described gear train420A. The chassis853is mounted with a gear box856in which the above-described gear train420A is rotatably mounted. The final gear430is adapted to be placed above the pair of gears708,708of the carriage770A mounted to the chassis853. The chassis853is formed with an opening854for allowing the final gear430to protrude from the lower face of the chassis853and the final gear430protruding through the opening854is engaged with the gears708,708of the drive wheel devices701,701mounted to the carriage770A.

The chassis853is provided with the conductive contacts441,445positioned above the bearing plates800,800of the carriage770A. The conductive contacts441,445are spring members made of conductive metal. The conductive contacts441,445are guided by substantially angular U-shaped guide grooves845,845formed on opposite sides of the gear box856and substantially angular U-shaped guide recessed portions857,857formed on opposite sides of the chassis853. Upper ends of the conductive contacts441,445come in contact with conductive contact plates847,848. Lower ends of the conductive contacts441,445are pressed against the spring receiving portions806,806with the spring insertion portions807,807of the bearing plates800,800inserted into lower portions of the conductive contacts441,445. The conductive contact terminals441,445prevent the bearing plates800,800from coming off the carriage frame771and also function as suspensions of the drive wheel device701.

The chassis853is provided with the conductive contacts441,445positioned above the bearing plates800,800of the carriage770B. The conductive contacts441,445are spring members made of conductive metal. The conductive contacts441,445are guided by substantially angular U-shaped guide grooves843,843formed on opposite sides of the guide member842formed at an upper portion of the chassis853. Upper ends of the conductive contacts441,445come in contact with conductive contact plates847,848. Lower ends of the conductive contacts441,445are pressed against the spring receiving portions806,806with the spring insertion portions807,807of the bearing plates800,800inserted into lower portions of the conductive contacts441,445. The conductive contact terminals441,445prevent the bearing plates800,800from coming off the carriage frame821and also function as suspensions of the drive wheel device731.

Inside the vehicle body855, the conductive contact plates847,848are fixedly mounted. The conductive contact plate847is electrically connected to the upper end of the conductive contact441positioned above the carriage770A, the positive terminal of the drive motor416, and the upper end of the conductive contact441positioned above the carriage770B when the vehicle body855is mounted to the chassis853. Similarly, the conductive contact plate848is electrically connected to the upper end of the conductive contact445positioned above the carriage770A, the negative terminal of the drive motor416, and the upper end of the conductive contact445positioned above the carriage770B when the vehicle body855is mounted to the chassis853.

The above-described follower wheel devices731and the follower wheel devices751are rotatably mounted to a carriage frame371and a carriage frame821of a toy passenger vehicle861as shown inFIG. 55. The follower wheel devices731,751are mounted into the carriage frame371to form a carriage770C. The follower wheel devices731,751are mounted into the carriage frame821to form a carriage770D.

A toy vehicle main body862of the toy passenger vehicle861includes a chassis863and a vehicle body865mounted to the chassis863. Formed at each of a front portion and a rear portion of the chassis863is a pair of curved locking grooves868,868which are facing each other and to which the carriage frames371,821can be mounted. The carriage770D is mounted to the chassis863by locking the locking lugs825,825of the carriage frame821in the locking grooves868,868. The carriage770D is mounted to the chassis863by locking the locking lugs825,825of the carriage frame821to the locking grooves868,868. The carriage770D can rotate about the center shaft837, because the center shaft837formed on the upper face of the fixing member835is pivoted in the bearing hole formed in the lower face of the chassis863. The carriage770C is mounted to the chassis863by locking the locking lugs393,393of the carriage frame371to the locking grooves868,868.

The chassis863is provided with the conductive contacts441,445positioned above the bearing plates800,800of the carriage770D. The conductive contacts441,445are spring members made of conductive metal. The conductive contacts441,445are guided by substantially angular U-shaped guide grooves871,871formed on opposite sides of a guide member870formed on an upper portion of the chassis863. Upper ends of the conductive contacts441,445come in contact with conductive contact plates872,873. Lower ends of the conductive contacts441,445are pressed against the spring receiving portions806,806with the spring insertion portions807,807of the bearing plates800,800inserted into lower portions of the conductive contacts441,445. The conductive contact terminals441,445prevent the bearing plates800,800from coming off the carriage frame821and also function as suspensions of the follower wheel device731.

Inside the vehicle body865, the conductive contact plates872,873are fixedly mounted. The conductive contact plate872is electrically connected to the upper end of the conductive contact441positioned above the carriage770D when the vehicle body865is mounted to the chassis863. Similarly, the conductive contact plate873is electrically connected to the upper end of the conductive contact445positioned above the carriage770D when the vehicle body855is mounted to the chassis853. The conductive contact plates872,873are electrically connected to the electric component875such as an LED provided in the vehicle body865.

The powered toy vehicle851and the toy passenger vehicle861are coupled by a coupler. It is possible to place the drive wheel devices701and the follower wheel devices731of the powered toy vehicle851on the metal rails561,561of the rail track device501. The pairs of magnet rings717,717of the drive wheel devices701come in contact with the metal rails561,561while attracting the rails. The pairs of magnet rings717of the follower wheel devices731come in contact with the metal rails561,561while attracting the rails. In this manner, all the wheels of the powered toy vehicle851to which power is transmitted attract the metal rails561,561with magnetic forces. Therefore, all the wheels do not slip on the pair of metal rails561,561. As s result, power of the drive motor416can be reliably transmitted to the pair of metal rails561,561.

A positive electrode of a power source is connected to one (561A) of the metal rails561and a negative electrode of the power source is connected to the other (561B) of the metal rails561. An electric current flows from the magnet rings717,717(717A) of the first wheel main bodies711,711of the carriage770A in contact with the metal rail561A to the metal rail561B via the first wheel main bodies711,711, the bearing plate800, the first conductive contact441, one847of the contact terminals, the positive terminal of the drive motor416, the negative terminal of the drive motor416, the other contact terminal848, the second conductive contact445, the bearing plate800, the first wheel main bodies711,711, and the magnet rings717,717(717B) of the first wheel main bodies711,711. With this electric current, the drive motor416rotates, the rotation is transmitted to the gears708,708via the gear train420A, and the drive wheel devices701,701rotate on the metal rails561,561. As a result, the powered toy vehicle851can travel on the rail track device501.

An electric current flows from the magnet rings717,717(717A) of the first wheel main bodies711,711of the carriage770B in contact with the metal rail561A to the metal rail561B via the first wheel main bodies711,711, the bearing plate800, the first conductive contact441, one847of the contact terminals, the positive terminal of the drive motor416, the negative terminal of the drive motor416, the other contact terminal848, the second conductive contact445, the bearing plate800, the first wheel main bodies711,711, and the magnet rings717,717(717B) of the first wheel main bodies711,711. With this electric current, the drive motor416rotates, the rotation is transmitted to the gears708,708via the gear train420A, and the drive wheel devices701,701rotate on the metal rails561,561. As a result, the powered toy vehicle851can travel on the rail track device501. In other words, the powered toy vehicle851can be powered from both the carriage770A and carriage770B. Especially, the powered toy vehicle851can be powered from any of the four magnet rings717,717in contact with the metal rails561and therefore it is possible to reliably drive the drive motor416without interruption.

The toy passenger vehicle861is coupled to the powered toy vehicle851as described above with the follower wheel devices731,751of the toy passenger vehicle861placed on the metal rails561,561of the rail track device501. The positive electrode of the power source is connected to one (561A) of the metal rails561and the negative electrode of the power source is connected to the other (561B) of the metal rails561. An electric current flows from the magnet ring717(717A) of the first wheel main body711in contact with the metal rail561A and the fourth wheel main body761(761A) to the metal rail561B via the bearing plate800, the first conductive contact441, the conductive contact plate872, the electric component875, the conductive contact plate873, the second conductive contact445, the bearing plate800, the magnet ring717(717B) of the first wheel main body711, and the fourth wheel main body761(761B). With this electric current, the electric component875is actuated.

The powered toy vehicle851and the toy passenger vehicle861are extremely small and travel on the metal rails561,561at an interval of about 3 mm. Although the powered toy vehicle851and the toy passenger vehicle861are extremely lightweight, the wheels of the drive wheel devices701and the follower wheel devices731in contact with the metal rails561are formed of magnets. Therefore, rotation of the drive wheel devices701and the follower wheel devices731is reliably transmitted to the metal rails561without slips and the vehicles travel even on an upward slope.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The wheel device for a toy vehicle and the toy vehicle according to the invention can be used for a toy train that travels on a pair of metal rails.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1(a) to1(c) are general views of embodiments of a drive wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2(a) and2(b) are exploded perspective views of the drive wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a carriage.

FIG. 3is an exploded perspective view of the drive wheel devices and follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.

FIGS. 4(a) and4(b) are sectional views of the wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.

FIG. 6is an exploded perspective view of other follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.

FIG. 8is an exploded perspective view of other follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.

FIG. 10is a perspective view of an embodiment of a rail track device according to the present invention.

FIGS. 12(a) to12(d) are explanatory views of the rail track device.

FIGS. 13(a) to13(c) are explanatory views of the rail track device from which a bottom plate is detached and which is viewed from below.

FIGS. 14(a) and14(b) are explanatory views for explaining a relationship between a rail track belt and metal rails.

FIGS. 15(a) to15(e) are explanatory views showing a method of connecting the rail track devices.

FIG. 16is a plan view showing a relationship between the metal rails and the wheel devices.

FIGS. 17(a) and17(b) are general views of another embodiment of the drive wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention.

FIGS. 18(a) and18(b) are general views of another embodiment of the follower wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention.

FIGS. 19(a) and19(b) are general views of another embodiment of the follower wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention.

FIGS. 20(a) and20(b) are general views of another embodiment of the follower wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention.

FIGS. 21(a) and21(b) are exploded perspective views of the drive wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a carriage.

FIGS. 22(a) and22(b) are exploded perspective views of the follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a carriage.

FIGS. 23(a) and23(b) are exploded perspective views of the follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a carriage.

FIGS. 24(a) and24(b) are exploded perspective views of the follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a carriage.

FIG. 25is an exploded perspective view of the drive wheel devices and the follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.

FIGS. 26(a) and26(b) are sectional views of the wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.

FIG. 28is an exploded perspective view of other follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.

FIG. 30is an exploded perspective view of other follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.

FIGS. 32(a) and32(b) are perspective views of a coupler.

FIGS. 33(a) to33(c) are explanatory views of toy vehicles coupled by the couplers.

FIG. 34is a perspective view of another embodiment of the rail track device according to the present invention.

FIGS. 36(a) and36(b) are explanatory views of the rail track device.

FIGS. 37(a) to37(c) are explanatory views of the rail track device.

FIGS. 38(a) to38(c) are explanatory views of the rail track device from which a bottom plate is detached and which is viewed from below.

FIG. 39is an explanatory view for explaining a relationship between a rail track belt and metal rails.

FIGS. 40(a) and40(b) are explanatory views of the metal rail.

FIGS. 41(a) and41(b) are general views of another embodiment of the drive wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention.

FIGS. 42(a) and42(b) are general views of another embodiment of the follower wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention.

FIGS. 43(a) to43(c) are general views of another embodiment of the drive wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention.

FIGS. 44(a) to44(c) are general views of another embodiment of the follower wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention.

FIGS. 45(a) to45(c) are general views of another embodiment of the follower wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention.

FIG. 46is an exploded perspective view of the drive wheel devices and the follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.

FIG. 47is an exploded perspective view of the drive wheel devices and the follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.

FIGS. 48(a) to48(c) are general views of another embodiment of the drive wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention.

FIGS. 49(a) to49(c) are general views of another embodiment of the follower wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention.

FIGS. 50(a) to50(c) are general views of another embodiment of the follower wheel device for a toy vehicle according to the present invention.

FIGS. 51(a) and51(b) are exploded perspective views of the drive wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a carriage.

FIGS. 52(a) and52(b) are exploded perspective views of the follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a carriage.

FIG. 53is an exploded perspective view of the drive wheel devices and the follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.

FIGS. 54(a) to54(e) are sectional views of the wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.

FIG. 55is an exploded perspective view of other follower wheel devices for a toy vehicle according to the present invention mounted into a toy vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS