Jumping mechanism for a radio controlled toy car

Abstract: A jumping mechanism for a radio-controlled toy vehicle comprises a slender opening provided in a chassis (10) of a toy vehicle; a rotary shaft (26) provided on the chassis (10) in a lateral direction, vertical to a longitudinal direction of the opening; a means mechanically connected to a first portion of the rotary shaft (26) for rotating the rotary shaft (26); and at least a rotation arm (20) being mechanically connected to a second portion of the rotary shaft (26) and extending in a vertical direction in relation to the axis of the rotary shaft (26) and having a rotation center positioned over the opening so that the rotation arm (20) rotates in a plane vertical to the axis of the rotary shaft (26) and so that, when the rotation arm (20) is directed downward it passes through the opening of the chassis (10) wherein a top portion of the rotation arm (20) is positioned below the bottom level of the toy vehicle.

Description: The present invention relates to a radio-controlled toy vehicle, and more particularly to a jumping mechanism that enables a toy vehicle to jump in a radio-controllable manner. A radio-controlled toy vehicle generally comprises driving means such as a motor, a gear mechanism for transmitting a driving force of a driving means to a driving wheel, a steering mechanism for steering the toy vehicle, and control means for controlling the above. A radio-controlled toy vehicle thus constructed can be made to move forward and backward and to turn by transmitting a control signal via a radio transmitter. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a jumping mechanism of a simple construction enabling a toy vehicle to jump in a controllable manner. US-A-4363187 describes a toy vehicle having an arm on its underside which can be pivoted downwardly to cause the vehicle to roll over. However, the arm of the rolling mechanism is pivotable about a horizontal axis and is cranked to receive a pin which rotates the arm according to a mechanism mounted on a rotary drive shaft for the vehicle. The rotation arm is not itself mounted on the drive shaft but is operated remotely therefrom. GB-A-2212408 also describes a toy vehicle having an arm on its underside which can be pivoted downwardly to cause the vehicle to roll over. Again, the arm of the rolling mechanism is pivotable about a horizontal axis but is comprised by a single pivoted arm of fixed length which, in an inoperative position, lies along the base of the toy vehicle and pivots downwardly therefrom when operative. DE-C-939499 describes a toy vehicle having an arm on its underside which can be pivoted downwardly to cause the vehicle to roll over. Once again, the arm is of fixed length and in an inoperative position lies along the base of the toy vehicle. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a jumping mechanism enabling a toy vehicle to jump over obstacles. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following descriptions. The present invention provides toy vehicle with a jumping mechanism, comprising a jumping mechanism in a toy vehicle, comprising a chassis of said toy vehicle; an opening portion in said chassis having a slender shape; a rotatable rotary shaft on said chassis and extending in a lateral direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of said opening portion; means mechanically connected to said rotary shaft for rotating same; and a rotation arm mechanically connected to said rotary shaft for rotation thereby, said rotation arm extending in a direction perpendicular to said rotary shaft, and said rotation arm having a rotation centre positioned over said opening portion so that said rotation arm rotates in a plane perpendicular to said rotary shaft and so that when said rotation arm is directed downwardly said rotation arm penetrates said opening portion of the chassis wherein a distal end of said rotation arm is positioned below a bottom level of said toy vehicle; characterised in that the rotation arm comprises a first main arm having a first end mechanically connected to said rotation shaft; a second main arm having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the first main arm thus to be capable of varying an angle of said second main arm relative to said first main arm; and by means connected to the second main arm and operable so that said angle of said second main arm relative to said first main arm becomes larger when said rotation arm becomes directed downward, and so that said angle of said second main arm relative to said first main arm becomes smaller when said rotation arm is directed upwardly. The jumping mechanism is further characterised in that said means connected to the second main arm comprises a rotation plate having a rotation centre mechanically connected to said first end of said first main arm to provide rotation in a vertical plane; and an auxiliary arm having a first end mechanically connected to an eccentric position on said rotation plate said eccentric position being distanced from said rotation centre of said rotation plate, said auxiliary arm having a second end mechanically connected to said second main arm at its position near said first end thereof. The jumping mechanism is characterised in that said rotating means comprises a motor and a rotation transmission gear system connecting said rotary shaft to said motor for transmitting a rotating force of said motor to said rotary shaft; wherein said motor and said transmission gear system are operable independently from a driving system of said toy vehicle. The rotation mechanism may also comprise a driving motor, a rotation transmission gear system mechanically connecting said driving motor and said rotation shaft for transmitting a rotation force of said driving motor to said rotation shaft; and a rotation transmission controller being mechanically connected to said rotary shaft for controlling transmission of said rotation force. Preferred embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a plane view illustrative of the jumping mechanism provided in a radio-controlled toy vehicle according a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrative of a side view illustrative of the jumping mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrative of a control unit for controlling the jumping mechanism and placed in a radio-controlled toy vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrative of a control unit of a transmitter for transmitting a control signal to a control unit placed in a radio-controlled toy vehicle according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrative of the operation of the rotation arm of the jumping mechanism placed in a radio-controlled toy vehicle according to the first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 is a plane view illustrative of the jumping mechanism provided in a radio-controlled toy vehicle according a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrative of a side view illustrative of the jumping mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrative of a control unit for controlling the jumping mechanism and placed in a radio-controlled toy vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention. A first embodiment of the present invention will be described wherein a radio controlled toy vehicle with a jumping mechanism is provided. With reference to FIG. 1, the jumping mechanism is provided on a chassis 10 of the radio controlled toy vehicle. The chassis 10 is provided with a pair of front wheels 12 connected to each other through a rotary shaft 17a and a pair of rear wheels 13 connected to each other through a driving shaft 17. The chassis 10 is formed with a slender opening portion 11 extending in the longitudinal direction at the center. A rotary shaft 26 is further provided across the slender opening portion 11 in a lateral direction. A rotation arm 20 is mechanically connected to the rotary shaft 26 and can pivot through the slender opening portion 11. A rotation mechanism 30 is provided for rotating the rotation arm 20 around the rotary shaft 26. In addition, a driving motor 14 is provided at a rear end of the chassis 10 for generation of a driving power for traveling the toy vehicle forward or backward. A gear 15 is connected to a shaft of the driving motor 14. A gear 16 is provided on a driving shaft 17 connecting the rear wheels 13. The gear 16 is mechanically engaged with said gear 15 so that the driving power of the driving motor 14 is transmitted through the gears 15 and 16 and the driving shaft 17 to the rear wheels 13. A magnetic steering unit 40 is provided at a front end of the chassis 10 for turning the front wheels 12 into leftward and rightward directions and for steering the vehicle. A control unit not illustrated is further provided on the chassis 10 for controlling the operations of the toy vehicle. As a modification, it is possible to optionally provide a plurality of additional gears between the gears 15 and 16 for adjusting the gear ratio. With reference to FIG. 1, the rotation arm 20 comprises a main arm 27 and an auxiliary arm 28. The main arm 27 further comprises a first member 21 and a second member 22 pivotally connected to the first member 21. The first member 21 has a first end mechanically and pivotally connected to the shaft 26 for rotation around the shaft 26 and supported on the chassis 10. The first member 21 has a second end mechanically and pivotally connected via a fulcrum 23 to a first end of the second member 22 so that the second member 22 rotates around the fulcrum 23. The second member 22 has a second end which is provided with a laterally extending bar so that the second member 22 is T-shaped in the plane view. The slender opening portion 11 is further formed at its opposite ends with laterally extending opening portions so that the slender opening portion 11 and the laterally extending opening portions form an H-shaped opening portion. The laterally extending bar provided to the second member 22 is smaller in length than the laterally extending opening portions so that the laterally extending bar may pass through the laterally extending opening portions. The auxiliary arm portion 28 comprises two pairs of rotation plates 24 and third members 25. Each of the third members 25 has a first end secured to the rotation plate 24 and a second end secured to the second member 22. Each of the rotation plates 24 is positioned in the slender opening portion 11 and supported by the shaft 26 at its eccentric position. The driving unit 30 comprises a motor 31, a gear 32 having a rotation center mechanically connected to a shaft of the motor 31, a counter gear 33 mechanically engaged with the gear 32, and a gear 34 mechanically engaged with the counter gear 33 and having a rotation center mechanically connected to the rotary shaft 26. As a modification, it is possible to optionally provide a plurality of additional gears between the gears 33 and 34 for adjusting a gear ratio. With reference to FIG. 3, the control unit comprises the following elements. A battery 50 is provided, for example, on a bottom of the chassis 10 for supplying a power. An antenna 51 is provided for receiving control signals having been transmitted from a transmitter to be described below with reference to FIG. 4. A super reproduction receiver circuit 52 is provided and electrically connected to the antenna 51 for receiving and reproducing control signals once received by the antenna 51. A control IC 53 is provided and electrically connected to the super reproduction receiver circuit 52 for fetching the reproduced control signals from the super reproduction receiver circuit 52 and generating steering signals, driving signals and jumping signals. A steering driving amplifier 54 is provided and electrically connected to the control IC 53 for fetching the steering signals from the control IC 53 and amplifying the steering signals. A driving motor driving amplifier 55 is provided and electrically connected to the control IC 53 for fetching the driving signals from the control IC 53 and amplifying the driving signals. A motor driving amplifier 56 is provided and electrically connected to the control IC 53 for fetching the jumping signals from the control IC 53 and amplifying the jumping signals. The magnetic steering unit 40 is electrically connected to the steering driving amplifier 54 for receiving the amplified steering signals so that the magnetic steering unit 40 performs the steering operations in accordance with the received steering signals. The driving motor 14 is electrically connected to the driving motor driving amplifier 55 for receiving the amplified driving signals so that the driving motor 14 rotates in accordance with the received driving signals. The motor 31 for the jumping mechanism is electrically connected to the motor driving amplifier 56 for receiving the amplified jumping signals so that the motor 31 rotates in accordance with the received jumping signals. As described above, the motor 31 for the jumping mechanism may be controlled separately from the driving motor 14 for traveling the radio-controlled toy vehicle. Notwithstanding, the driving motor driving amplifier 55 and the motor drive amplifier 56 are electrically connected to each other for associative operations thereof so that the motor driving amplifier 56 is operable only when received a rotation-enable signal from the driving motor driving amplifier 55. Namely, in the first embodiment, the jumping mechanism is operable only when the radio-controlled toy car travels in the forward direction. The transmitter includes a battery 60 for supplying a power and an automatic power save circuit 61 for automatically cutting off the power when the vehicle is not in operation for a predetermined time period. The transmitter further includes a control switch 62 for providing instructions of forward and reverse travels, leftward and rightward turns and jump motions of the toy car. The transmitter furthermore includes a control IC 63 for generating a control signal according to the signal from the control switch 62. The transmitter still further includes a radio frequency oscillator 66 for oscillating a radio frequency based on a clock of a crystal oscillator 65 and a radio frequency modulator 64 for modulating a control signal by a radio frequency, and a filter 67 for filtering the modulated signal, and an antenna 68 for transmitting the filtered signal to the antenna of the toy vehicle. When a signal instructing a toy vehicle to move forward is transmitted by the transmitter and received by the control unit on the toy vehicle, then a command for starting the driving motor 14 is transmitted from the control IC 53 to the driving motor driving amplifier 55. As a result, the driving motor 14 starts and the toy vehicle moves forward. At the same time, an enabling signal is transmitted from the driving motor driving amplifier 55 to the motor driving amplifier 56 whereby the jumping mechanism becomes operable. When a signal instructing a toy vehicle to jump is transmitted from the transmitter, then a command for starting the motor 31 is transmitted from the control IC 53 to the motor driving amplifier 56. As a result, the gear 32, the counter gear 33, the gear 34, and the rotation shaft 26 are set in motion by the motor 31, and further the rotation arm 20 begins to rotate. The rotation arm 20 having been folded in its resting position above the chassis 10 becomes linearly extended as it moves below the chassis through the open portion and towards the driving surface as shown in FIG. 5. The folded rotation arm 20 linearly extends through the concerted operation of the main arm portion 27, the rotation plate 24, the auxiliary arm portion 28 and the rotation shaft 26. Furthermore, the third member 25 provided on the rotation plate 24 is connected to the second member 22 of the main arm portion 27. Therefore, the auxiliary arm portion 28 is connected to the center of the rotation plate 24 which eccentric position is connected to the rotation shaft 26 which is connected to the main arm 27. The auxiliary arm portion 28 rotates together with the main arm 27 around the rotation shaft 26. When the rotation arm 20 is positioned above the chassis 10, the second member 22, pivotably secured to the first member of the main arm portion 27, folds towards the first member 21, and further the main arm portion 27 is folded at the fulcrum 23. By contrast, when the rotation arm 20 is directed below the chassis 10, the auxiliary arm portion 28 pushes the second member 22 outward to extend the main arm 27 linearly. At the same time when the rotation arm 20 folded linearly extends, the end portion of the second member 22 of the main arm portion 27 is made into contact with the ground, so that the rotation arm kicks down upon the ground thereby causing the toy vehicle to jump. Moreover, the second member 22 of the main arm portion 27 is T-shaped bar as illustrated in FIG. 2. This provides stability to the jumping motion of the toy vehicle. When the vehicle lands, the rotation arm 20 is folded by the action of the auxiliary arm portion 28 described above. A second embodiment of the present invention is described in detail by referring to the drawings. The structure of the toy vehicle is different from that in the first embodiment in the following matters. In the second embodiment, the rotary shaft 26 rotates by a driving motor 14. In addition, a rotation transmission controller 99 is further provided for controlling the starting of the jumping mechanism. The following descriptions focus on the structural difference of the toy vehicle of this embodiment from that in the first embodiment. The rotation arm 20 is secured to one end of the shaft 26 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and supported on the chassis 10. At the other end of the rotation shaft 26 a gear 95 is provided with a recessed portion 97. The recessed portion 97 will be described below. The gear 95 is connected to the driving motor 14 via a rotation transmission gear system 80. The rotation transmission gear system 80 comprises a plurality of gears 81 through 85. The gear 85 is mechanically engaged with a gear 86 provided on the driving shaft 17 to transmit the rotational force of the driving motor 14 to the gear 95. In this way, the driving motor 14 and the rotation arm 20 can be connected via a plurality of gears and the power of the driving motor 14 can be utilized for both the jumping and driving functions of the vehicle. It should be noted, however, that the actual coupling method and number of gears making up the rotation transmission gear system 80 can be varied, taking such factors as the desired gear ratio and length of the chassis 10 into considerations. As long as the gear 95 is engaged with the gear 81 constituting the rotation transmission gear system 80, the rotation arm 20 remains to rotate when the toy vehicle travels. Therefore, the above-described recessed portion 97 is provided on the gear 95 so that it is not engaged with gear 81 of the driving force transmission unit 80 when the toy vehicle is on the normal travel. Since the recessed portion 97 is provided, the rotation transmission controller 99 is provided to rotate the gear 95 at a predetermined degree in order to couple it with the rotation transmission gear system 80. The rotation transmission controller 99 comprises an auxiliary motor 90, a gear 91 connected to the shaft of the auxiliary motor 90, a gear 92 mechanically engaged with the gear 91 and a gear 94 provided on the same shaft 98 as gear 92. By actuating the auxiliary motor, the gear 95 can be coupled with the rotation transmission gear system 80 and the toy vehicle can be made to jump by the resulting movement of the rotation shaft 26 and rotation arm 20. According to the present embodiment, the gear 95 is rotated by the driving motor 14. In order to prevent the simultaneous rotation of the entire jump start unit 99 at the time of jumping, a one-way clutch 93 is provided. In other words, provision of the one-way clutch 93 on the gear 94 makes the driving power of the jump start motor 90 transmit via the rotation of the shaft 98 rotated by the gear 92 to the gear 94. On the other hand, in jumping, the gear 95 rotates by the driving motor 14 whereby the gear 94 in the jump start unit 99 rotates in an opposite direction to that in use of the jump start motor 90, for which reason the one-way clutch 93 is in the idling state whereby the driving power of the driving motor 14 is not transmitted to the gear 92. FIG. 8 is illustrative of a control unit of the toy car in this embodiment. The structure of the control unit is different from that in the first embodiment in further providing a one shot driving circuit 57 between the control IC 53 and the motor driving amplifier 56 for controlling the jump start motor. In accordance with the signal from the transmitter, a jump command is generated from the control IC and then inputted into the one shot driving circuit 57 before a control signal is supplied from the one shot driving circuit 57 to the motor driving amplifier 56 for rotation of the jump start motor at a predetermined angle whereby the gear 95 is engaged with the rotation transmission gear system 80. When the gear 95 is engaged with the rotation transmission gear system 80, the rotation arm 20 rotates to have the toy car jump. The gear 95 rotates one time, the recessed portion 97 faces to the rotation transmission gear system 80 whereby the gear 95 is disengaged from the rotation transmission gear system 80. As a result, the driving power of the driving motor 14 is not transmitted to the gear 95 whereby the rotation of the rotation arm 20 is discontinued. In this second embodiment, the rotation arm 20 rotates by the driving power of the jumping start motor 90 for jumping motion with a large power. On the other hand, the jumping start motor 90 is required to rotate the gear 95 at only a predetermined angle. This allows the use of a small motor whereby resulting in a reduction in weight of the toy vehicle. This further allows the toy car to jump in the distance. Whereas any further modifications of the present invention will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art, to which the invention pertains, it is to be understood that embodiments as shown and described by way of illustrations are by no means intended to be considered in a limiting sense.

Claims: Toy vehicle with jumping mechanism, comprising a chassis (10) of said toy vehicle; an opening portion (11) in said chassis having a slender shape; a rotatable rotary shaft (26) on said chassis and extending in a lateral direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of said opening portion (11); means (30) mechanically connected to said rotary shaft (26) for rotating same; and a rotation arm (20) mechanically connected to said rotary shaft for rotation thereby, said rotation arm (20) extending in a direction perpendicular to said rotary shaft, and said rotation arm having a rotation centre positioned over said opening portion (11) so that said rotation arm rotates in a plane perpendicular to said rotary shaft (26) and so that when said rotation arm is directed downwardly said rotation arm (20) penetrates said opening portion (11) of the chassis wherein a distal end of said rotation arm is positioned below a bottom level of said toy vehicle, characterised in that the rotation arm (20) comprises a first main arm (21) having a first end mechanically connected to said rotation shaft (26) a second main arm (22) having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the first main arm (21) thus to be capable of varying an angle of said second main arm (22) relative to said first main arm (21); and by means (24, 25) connected to the second main arm (22) and operable so that said angle of said second main arm (22) relative to said first main arm (21) becomes larger when said rotation arm (20) becomes directed downward, and so that said angle of said second main arm (22) relative to said first main arm (21) becomes smaller when said rotation arm (20) is directed upwardly. Toy vehicle as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that said means (24, 25) comprises a rotation plate (24) having a rotation centre mechanically connected to said first end of said first main arm (21) to provide rotation in a vertical plane; and an auxiliary arm (25) having a first end mechanically connected to an eccentric position on said rotation plate (24) said eccentric position being distanced from said rotation centre of said rotation plate (24), said auxiliary arm (25) having a second end mechanically connected to said second main arm (22) at its position near said first end thereof. Toy vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that said rotating means (30) comprises a motor (31) and a rotation transmission gear system (32, 33, 34) connecting said rotary shaft (26) to said motor (31) for transmitting a rotating force of said motor (31) to said rotary shaft (26); wherein said motor (31) and said transmission gear system (32, 33, 34) are operable independently from a driving system (14, 15, 16) of said toy vehicle. Toy vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that said rotating means (30, 99) comprises a driving motor (14) a rotation transmission gear system (15, 16, 80) mechanically connecting said driving motor (14) and said rotation shaft (26) for transmitting a rotation force of said driving motor to said rotation shaft; and a rotation transmission controller (99) being mechanically connected to said rotary shaft (26) for controlling transmission of said rotation force. Toy vehicle as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that said rotation transmission controller (99) comprises an auxiliary motor (90) a first rotation transmission gear (91) having a rotation centre being mechanically connected to said auxiliary motor (90); and at least a second rotation transmission gear (25), being drivingly connected to said first gear (91) and having a rotation centre mechanically connected to said rotary shaft (26) for transmitting a rotation of said auxiliary motor (90) to said rotation shaft (26) in co-operation with said first transmission gear (91), said second transmission gear (95) being mechanically engaged with said rotation transmission gear system (15, 16, 18), said second transmission gear (95) having a peripheral portion which is partially provided with a recessed portion (97) so that said second transmission gear (95) is disengaged through said recessed portion (97) so that said second transmission gear (95) is disengaged through said recessed portion (97) from said rotation transmission gear system (15, 16, 80) to prevent transmission of rotation of said rotation transmission gear system to said rotary shaft (26). Toy vehicle as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that said first rotation transmission gear (91) is further provided with a one-way clutch (93) so that only rotation of said auxiliary motor (90) is transmitted to said second rotation transmission gear (95).

Inventors: ISHIMOTO ZENICHI, ISHIMOTO, ZENICHI, Ishimoto, Zenichi, c/o Nikko Co., Ltd.
Applicants: NIKKO KK, NIKKO CO., LTD.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A63H17
IPC codes: A63H29, A63H17, A63H30