Abstract:
A conversion kit and method for converting a non-powered vehicle model to a powered vehicle, in particular, a radio-controlled vehicle is disclosed. The conversion kit can include a chassis plate, a steering assembly having mountable connection to the chassis plate, a rear assembly having mountable connection to the chassis plate, a device for powering the vehicle model, and a device for attaching the chassis plate to a model shell. Also disclosed is a product produced by the conversion kit and/or method of the present invention.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/504,337 filed Sep. 19, 2003 entitled MODEL CONVERSION KIT AND METHOD which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to model vehicles, and more specifically to converting a model vehicle to a powered vehicle. 
   Powered model vehicles, in particular radio-controlled vehicles, typically have little connection with non-powered model vehicles, such as plastic models, particularly with respect to the level of detail usually associated with non-powered model vehicles. In addition, the variety in types of vehicles commercially offered as non-powered model vehicles far exceeds the variety in types of vehicles commercially offered as powered or radio-controlled vehicles. Current products that provide a bridge between powered or radio-controlled vehicles and model vehicles are toy-like in appearance and function. A product is needed in which a non-powered model vehicle may be converted to a powered model vehicle. 
   Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a conversion kit for converting a non-powered model vehicle to a powered model vehicle. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a conversion kit for converting a non-powered model vehicle to a radio-controlled vehicle. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a conversion kit, to convert a non-powered model vehicle to a powered or radio-controlled model vehicle, that provides for a finished product that is simple in design, easy to assemble, and has a low cost to manufacture. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a conversion kit that can be adapted to a wide range of currently-available non-powered model vehicles. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide a conversion kit that can result in a powered vehicle that can provide better performance than similarly-sized radio-controlled vehicles. 
   A yet still further object of the present invention is to provide a conversion kit that can produce a powered vehicle that can be driven in protected or unprotected conditions, at slow speeds or speeds exceeding twenty miles/hour. 
   A yet still further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable motor mount that allows adjustments of gear ratios. 
   A yet still further object of the present invention is to provide an effective full suspension with a simple design. 
   A yet still further object of the present invention is to provide superior driving control through full ball joint steering with 0°-30° of front pick-up. 
   A yet still further object of the present invention is to provide a conversion kit that can accommodate many non-powered model vehicle body styles. 
   A yet still further object of the present invention is to provide a conversion kit that can accommodate various chassis length and width. 
   A yet still further object of the present invention is to provide a conversion kit that can accommodate for a range of desired non-powered model vehicle uses from classis look to racing speed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The objects set forth above as well as further and other objects are achieved by the present invention. The solutions and advantages of the present invention are achieved by the illustrative embodiment described herein below. 
   The present invention includes a conversion kit for converting a non-powered vehicle model to a powered vehicle, in particular, a radio-controlled vehicle. The conversion kit can include, but is not limited to, a chassis plate, a steering assembly having mountable connection to the chassis plate, a rear assembly having mountable connection to the chassis plate, a means for powering the non-powered vehicle model, and a means for attaching the chassis plate to a model shell of the non-powered vehicle model. Optionally, the present invention can include a means for controlling movement of the powered vehicle. 
   The present invention also includes a method for converting a non-powered vehicle model that has a vehicle shell to a powered vehicle. The method includes the steps of detaching the vehicle shell from the non-powered vehicle model, attaching a rear assembly onto a chassis plate, attaching a steering assembly onto the chassis plate, attaching a means for powering the non-powered vehicle model onto the chassis plate, and attaching the chassis plate onto the underside of the vehicle shell. Optionally, the method can include the step of attaching a means for controlling the movement of the powered vehicle. 
   For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and detailed description. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appended claims. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is a pictorial, schematic view of the major parts of a conversion kit and powered vehicle model of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of rear assembly parts of the conversion kit and a method of rear assembly construction of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a pictorial view of front assembly parts of the conversion kit and the method of steering assembly construction of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a pictorial view of the parts of a non-powered vehicle model that are used along with the conversion kit to create the powered vehicle of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a chassis assembly of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of a chassis plate of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a front bulkhead of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of first and second steering arms of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of a right rear bulkhead of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of a left rear bulkhead of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram of a rear wheel of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram of a rear upper plate of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is now described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the illustrative embodiment of the present invention is shown. The following configuration description is presented for illustrative purposes only. Any non-powered vehicle model may be suitable for use of the conversion kit and method of the present invention, and for producing the powered vehicle of the present invention. In particular, the invention is not limited to automobile models or even to wheeled models, but can be adapted to any model by changing the dimensions of the components of the conversion kit as desired. The dimensions and details that follow are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to limit the invention to these dimensions and details. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , conversion kit  10 A and powered vehicle  10  of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention can include, but are not limited to, conventional vehicle shell  11 , chassis plate assembly  11 A that provides the housing for the means for powering  60  conventional vehicle shell  11 , non-powered vehicle model size-dependent chassis plate  35 , steering assembly  30 A, rear assembly  20 , means for powering  60  the non-powered vehicle model  110 B such as, for example, conventional motor, made by, for example, GWS®, and means for attaching chassis plate  35  to conventional vehicle shell  11  such as first adhering surface  103  and second adhering surface  103 B, for example VELCRO® strips. Model vehicle kits, such as those supplied by REVELL®, AMT®, and ERTL®, contain conventional vehicle shell  11  and conventional rims/hubcaps  13 . Conversion kit  10 A may optionally include a means for controlling  61  the powered vehicle  10  such as, for example a CIRRUS® CS-10BB, having electrical connection  62  with means for powering  60 . Note that throughout the following discussion, various types of conventional screws that are described are available from suppliers such as, for example, DU-BRO®, RR ROBINSON RACING®, and TEAM LOSI®. Screw sizes can vary depending on the size of the model. For a 1/24 or 1/25 scale model, screws, ball joints, nuts, and threaded rods are generally 2-56 in various lengths, while set screws and some threaded rods are 4-40 in various lengths. The invention is not limited to these specifications, types and sizes of screws, or manufacturers. 
   Continuing to primarily refer to  FIG. 1 , powered vehicle  10  of the present invention is prepared according to the steps of the method of the present invention which include, but are not limited to, detaching conventional vehicle shell  11  from non-powered vehicle model  10 B, attaching rear assembly  20  ( FIG. 2 ) to rear wheel assembly mount  35 A ( FIG. 5 ), attaching steering assembly  30 A ( FIG. 1 ) to steering assembly mount  35 B ( FIG. 5 ), attaching means for powering  60  non-powered vehicle model  10 B such as, for example, conventional motor, to chassis plate  35  ( FIG. 5 ), and attaching chassis plate  35  onto underside  11 B of conventional vehicle shell  11 . 
   Referring now primarily to  FIG. 2 , the parts required for and method of rear assembly  20  of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention are shown. For example, the method can include, but is not limited to, the steps of sliding tube  25 , made of, for example, brass, and available from, for example, K+S®, into right rear bulkhead  31  ( FIG. 9 ) and securing it with tube screw  98 . The method can also include the steps of sliding left rear bulkhead  33  ( FIG. 10 ) onto the other sides of tube  25 , securing rear upper plate  23  ( FIG. 12 ) to right rear bulkhead  31  at right bulkhead recess  97 A, and securing left rear bulkhead  33  at left bulkhead recess  97 B with bulkhead screws  97 . The method can further include the steps of securing this completed assembly to rear wheel assembly mount  35 A ( FIG. 5 ) with rear chassis screws  29 , sliding spur gear  21 , available, for example, from JR®, onto shaft  27 , available, for example, from Du-Bro®, made of, for example, steel, and sliding the assembly is slid into tube  25 . 
   Continuing to refer primarily to  FIG. 2 , the method can still further include the steps of securing the means for powering  60 , such as, for example, conventional motor, to left bulkhead inner side  58  ( FIG. 10 ) with motor screws  30 , and joining conventional rims/hubcap  13  and wheel  19  ( FIG. 11 ), for example, by conventional double-sided tape  101  that is wrapped around the outer circumference of conventional rims/hubcap  13  and wheel  19 . The method can still further include the steps of placing tire  17 , available, for example, from ABC Hobby, around conventional rims/hubcap  13  and wheel  19 , securing tire  17  in place by conventional double-sided tape  101  forming tire assembly  104 , and attaching tire assembly  104  to shaft  27  by inserting wheel screw  29 A, for example a set screw, in wheel  19 . This procedure is followed for both rear tires. The method can still further include the steps of adjusting the alignment of tires  17  and shaft  27  by loosening tube screw  98 , moving brass tube  25 , and retightening tube screw  98 , and when tires  17  are evenly spaced with respect to the center of chassis plate  35 , gluing spur gear  21  to shaft  27  with a self-penetrating glue such as, for example, thin Cyanoacrylate. 
   Referring now primarily to  FIG. 3 , the parts required and method of construction steering assembly  30 A ( FIG. 1 ) of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention are shown. The method of construction can include the steps of threading steering rods  71 A and  71 B, made from, for example, steel, through and centering them in front bulkhead  73  ( FIG. 7 ), and securing steering rods  71 A and  71 B in front bulkhead  73  by top rod screw  74  and bottom rod screw  75 , such as, for example, a set screw. The method can further include the steps of threading steering rods  71 A and  71 B onto lower ball joints  77 , available from, for example, DU-BRO®, to form an assembly, and securing the assembly to steering assembly mount  35 B ( FIG. 6 ) with front screws  79 , for example round-head screws. The method can still further include the steps of pressing axle  81 , made of, for example, brass, available from, for example DU-BRO®, into ball bearing  83 , available, for example, from Dynamite, to form an assembly, and gluing the assembly into wheel  19  from the non-powered vehicle model  10 B. The method can still further include the steps of securing axle  81  in first and second steering arms  87 A and  87 B ( FIG. 8 ) with conventional liquid thread lock, and connecting conventional rims/hubcap  13 , wheel  19 , and tire  17  as described above. 
   Continuing to refer to  FIG. 3 , the method can still further include the steps of inserting screws  93  into lower ball joints  77  and upper ball joints  77 A and first and second steering arms  87 A and  87 B as shown, threading upper threaded rod  95  into upper ball joints  77 A as described above, to form an assembly, and securing the assembly to first and second steering arms  87 A and  87 B with bulkhead screws  97  that pass through lower ball joints  77  and upper ball joints  77 A, and ultimately through nuts  99 . 
   Referring now primarily to  FIG. 4 , the parts of a non-powered vehicle model  10 B that can be used for completing the powered vehicle  10  of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention are shown. In particular, conventional vehicle shell  11  is mounted atop chassis plate  35  ( FIG. 1 ) that has been fitted with the inner workings required to convert a non-powered model vehicle  10 B to a powered vehicle  10 . Conventional rims/hubcaps  13  can also be used to create the same style in a powered vehicle  10  that is provided in the non-powered model vehicle  10 B. 
   Referring now primarily to  FIG. 5 , a schematic diagram of the chassis assembly is shown. The chassis assembly includes chassis plate  35 , right chassis plate wing  35 E, left chassis plate wing  35 C, steering assembly mount  35 B, and rear wheel assembly mount  35 A. Upon steering assembly mount  35 B are mounted, among other things, front bulkhead  73  and first and second steering arms  87 A and  87 B according to the method described in  FIG. 3 . Upon rear wheel assembly mount  35 A are mounted left bulkhead inner side  58  and right rear bulkhead  31 , upon which are mounted rear upper plate  23 , and to which are mounted wheel  19 , according to the method shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   Referring now primarily to  FIG. 6 , details of chassis plate  35  of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention are shown. Chassis plate  35  is dimensioned illustratively for a wide range of currently available 1/24 and 1/25 scale models. The invention is not limited to these dimensions, which are provided for illustrative purposes only. Nor is the invention limited to 1/24 and 1/25 scale models, but can obviously be up- or down-sized depending on the size and shape of the non-powered vehicle model  10 B of the user&#39;s choice. Center chassis plate  35 D, right and left chassis plate wings  35 E and  35 C, steering assembly mount  35 B and rear wheel assembly mount  35 A can be formed of continuous material such as, for example, plastic, or can be provided as separate parts that are made to adhere to each other either fixedly or removably. Steering assembly mount  35 B can include, but is not limited to, front chassis wing  36 A and front attachment recess  36 , which may be any shape and size, or may be multiple recesses, so long as they accommodate the mounting of steering assembly  30 A ( FIG. 1 ). Front chassis wing  36 A forms front angle  36 B with steering assembly mount  35 B. Right and left chassis plate wings  35 E and  35 C form center angle  42  with center chassis plate  35 D. Both front angle  36 B and center angle  42  are preferably 140°, but the invention is not limited to that angle. Rear wheel assembly mount  35 A preferably includes two mounting recesses  38 , but can include any number and shape of mounting recesses  38  to accommodate the mounting of rear assembly  20  ( FIG. 1 ). 
   Referring now to  FIG. 7 , illustrative dimensions are shown for front bulkhead  73 . Front bulkhead  73  is not limited to these dimensions nor this size and shape. Relative positioning of steering rods  71 A and  71 B accommodate mounting on steering assembly mount  35 B. Front bulkhead face  72  can include, but isn&#39;t limited to, first threaded rod recess  48  (that extends through the depth of front bulkhead  73 ) to accommodate steering rod  71 A and second threaded rod recess  46  (that also extends through the depth of front bulkhead  73 ) to accommodate steering rod  71 B. Front bulkhead top  74 A includes rod position recess  44  to accommodate rod screw  74 . 
   Referring now primarily to  FIG. 8 , first and second steering arms  87 A and  87 B are shown in detail. In particular, lower steering rods  71 A and  71 B ( FIG. 3 ) are mounted around lower rod recess  111 , while upper threaded rod  95  ( FIG. 3 ) is mounted at upper recess  115 . Axle  81  ( FIG. 3 ) is positioned in axle recess  113 . 
   Referring now primarily to  FIG. 9 , right rear bulkhead  31  is shown in detail. In particular, tube  25  ( FIG. 2 ) is positioned within right tube recess  123 . Bulkhead screw  97  ( FIG. 2 ) is fitted into right bulkhead recess  97 A, and retightening tube screw  98  ( FIG. 2 ) is fitted into retightening recess  121  for maintaining the position of tube  25 . 
   Referring now primarily to  FIG. 10 , left rear bulkhead  33  is shown in detail. In particular, motor screws  30  ( FIG. 2 ) mount means for powering  60  ( FIG. 2 ) onto left bulkhead inner side  58  ( FIG. 2 ) in upper and lower mount recesses  131  and  133 , and motor gear  60 A ( FIG. 2 ) is fitted into motor mount recess  135 . Bulkhead screw  97  ( FIG. 2 ) is fitted into left bulkhead recess  97 B, and tube  25  ( FIG. 2 ) is positioned within left tube recess  141 . 
   Referring now primarily to  FIG. 11 , rear wheel  19  is shown in detail. In particular, shaft  27  ( FIG. 2 ) is positioned through shaft recess  143 , and wheel screw  29 A ( FIG. 2 ) and wheel recess  145  hold wheel  19  in position. 
   Referring now primarily to  FIG. 12 , rear upper plate  23  is shown in detail. In particular, left mounting recess  147  and right mounting recess  149  retain rear upper plate  23  in position above tube  25  ( FIG. 2 ) through bulkhead screws  97  ( FIG. 2 ) that are fitted into right bulkhead recess  97 A and left bulkhead recess  97 B. 
     FIGS. 5-12  present illustrative measurements that can be useful in constructing the powered vehicle  10  of the present invention. The present disclosure does not preclude a conversion kit that may be constructed of parts having different sizes from the sizes in  FIGS. 5-12 , and/or with some parts combined and/or eliminated entirely. The present invention is not limited to the measurements provided, nor to the exact parts disclosed. Nor is the invention limited to the exact method of construction of the powered vehicle  10  using the conversion kit of the present invention. 
   Although the invention has been described with respect to various embodiments, it should be realized that this invention is also capable of a wide variety of further and other embodiments within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.