Abstract:
A toy motorcycle body supports a pair of front-to-back extending chassis shafts in a pivotal attachment. A front wheel and a rear wheel are each formed of respective wheel halves and supported by the pivotable chassis shafts. The chassis shafts each support respective lever cams which cooperate with a pivotally supported lever actuated by the user. The chassis shafts also support a pair of spring cams which cooperate with a return spring. The action of the spring upon the spring cams pivots the chassis shafts to place the front and rear wheel halves together configuring the toy motorcycle as a conventional motorcycle. The manipulation of the pivotally supported lever by the user overcomes the spring force and pivots the chassis shafts so as to move the respective wheel halves to a split outwardly extending configuration to mimic a hovering device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to toys and toy figures and particularly to those which are capable of being configured in alternate configurations and appearances. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Toys which are configurable between alternate appearances and configurations are well known in the art. Such toys are characterized by a first configuration such as a toy vehicle or the like. Typically, such toys are formed of a plurality of articulated elements movable in various combinations and directions to assume a first configuration and appearance. Such toys are further characterized by the ability to move the plurality of articulated elements to form a second configuration usually exhibiting a different appearance such as a robot or the like. One of the important characteristics of such configurable toys is the use of elements which are capable of moving to assume an alternate shape of the toy. In most such configurable toys, the elements are formed of molded plastic and usually exhibit a highly stylized appearance. For maximum play value and amusement, the configurations are generally chosen to exhibit a substantially different type of toy. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,203 issued to Murakami sets forth a FORM-CONVERTIBLE TOY ROBOT which includes a plurality of body parts such as head, arms, shoulders, thighs and legs to form a robot which are variously articulated to reconfigure the toy into a toy motorcycle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,391 issued to Hoshino et al. sets forth a TOY HAVING TWO MODES OF LOCOMOTION in which a rotatable fly wheel motor is positioned within a toy motorcycle. The toy motorcycle is formed of a plurality of movable elements which may be moved to alternate configurations and thereby form a fanciful creature. The second mode of appearance is also characterized by an alternative mode of propulsion using the appendages. 
     U.S. Pat. Des. No. 281,087 and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 281,001 both issued to Ohno and both entitled RECONFIGURABLE TOY VEHICLE set forth similar designs for a toy vehicle which is alternately configurable as a robot. 
     U.S. Pat. Des. No. 281,088 issued to Murakami sets forth a TOY ROBOT CONVERTIBLE INTO AUTOBIKE which is substantially identical to the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,203. 
     U.S. Pat. Des. No. 285,466 issued to Ohno sets forth a RECONFIGURABLE TOY VEHICLE having a first appearance and configuration simulating a military toy vehicle commonly known as a “jeep” and an alternate configuration resembling a fanciful robot. 
     U.S. Pat. Des. No. 286,800 issued to Maruyama sets forth a RECONFIGURABLE TOY HAWK having a spherical toy formed of a plurality of articulated members which reconfigure to a fanciful depiction of a hawk-like creature. 
     U.S. Pat. Des. No. 296,801 issued to Matsumoto and entitled RECONFIGURABLE TOY AUTO BIKE and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 301,359 issued to Shinohara entitled RECONFIGURABLE TOY BIKE sets forth toy motorcycles which are reconfigurable into fanciful robot-like creatures. U.S. Pat. Des. No. 303,412 issued to Matsuda sets forth a RECONFIGURABLE TOY JEEP/HELICOPTER having a first configuration resembling a helicopter like vehicle and a second configuration resembling a military vehicle known as a jeep. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,993 issued to Ohno sets forth a RECONFIGURABLE TOY ASSEMBLY having alternate configurations resembling a robot and a pick-up truck like toy vehicle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,948 issued to Obara sets forth a RECONFIGURABLE TOY ASSEMBLY capable of forming a tractor-trailer toy vehicle and a robot. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,046 issued to Ohno sets forth a REVERSIBLE TRANSFORMABLE TOY BLOCK ASSEMBLY sets forth a toy vehicle formed of multiply articulated components which are reconfigurable to form a robot. 
     Several design patents show various different appearance designs for toy motorcycles. For example, U.S. Pat. Des. No. 276,251 issued to Wykimura and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 340,757 issued to Chen each entitled TOY MOTORCYCLE shown different appearances for toy motorcycles. 
     Additional toy motorcycle designs are shown in U.S. Pat. Des. No. 281,795 issued to Shimomura and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 280,750 issued to Toshimasa and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 281,796 issued to Shimomura and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 280,751 issued to Toshimasa all of which are entitled TOY MOTORCYCLE. 
     U.S. Pat. Des. No. 276,059 and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 276,060 both issued to Smollar et al. and both entitled TOY MOTORCYCLE show similar appearance toy motorcycles. 
     While the foregoing described prior art device have to some extent improved the art and in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in art for evermore amusing, entertaining and improved toy motorcycles configurable in alternate toy shapes and configurations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved toy motorcycle. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy motorcycle which is configurable into an alternate toy. It is a still more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy motorcycle which is alternately configurable as a hovercycle. 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a toy motorcycle configurable between a motorcycle configuration and a hovercycle configuration, the toy motorcycle comprising: a body having a chassis box therein; a pair of chassis shafts pivotally supported by the chassis box each shaft having a front end and a rear end; a pair of front fork halves each supported by the front ends of the chassis shafts; a pair of front wheel halves each supported by the front fork halves; a pair of rear fork halves each supported by the rear ends of the chassis shafts; a pair of rear wheel halves each supported by the rear fork halves; and means for pivoting the chassis shafts between a first position, in which the front and rear fork halves and the front and rear wheel halves are in contact defining the motorcycle configuration, and a second position in which the front and rear fork halves and the front and rear wheel halves extend outwardly defining the hovercycle configuration. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which: 
     FIG. 1 sets forth a side elevation view of the present invention toy motorcycle in its motorcycle configuration; 
     FIG. 2 sets forth a bottom plan view of the present invention toy motorcycle configured in its alternate hovercycle configuration; 
     FIG. 3 sets forth a partial side elevation view of the internal support mechanism of the present invention toy motorcycle; 
     FIG. 4 sets forth a partial section view of the present invention motorcycle taken along section line  4 — 4  in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 sets forth a partial section view of the present invention toy motor cycle taken along section lines  5 — 5  in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 sets forth a partial section view of the present invention toy motorcycle taken along section lines  5 — 5  in FIG. 3 showing the present invention toy motorcycle in its hovercycle configuration. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 sets forth a side elevation view of a toy motorcycle constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral  10 . Motorcycle  10  includes a body  11  preferably formed of a molded plastic material or the like. Motorcycle  10  further includes a chassis shaft  20  having an elongated cylindrical shape extending through body  11 . Motorcycle  10  further includes a front fork  14  and a front wheel  12  supported by chassis shaft  20  together with a rear wheel  13  and a rear fork  15  also supported by shaft  20 . As is better seen in FIG. 2 below, front wheel  12  is formed of wheel halves  22  and  32  while rear wheel  13  is similarly formed of wheel halves  24  and  34 . In addition, front fork  14  and rear fork  15  are formed of fork halves  21  and  31  and  23  and  33  respectfully (also seen in FIG.  2 ). A lever  15  is pivotally supported by body  11  in the manner set forth below in greater detail. Lever  15  includes and outer end  16  which is movable with respect to body  11  upwardly in the direction indicated by arrow  17  to the dash-line position indicated in FIG.  1 . 
     In accordance with the present invention, motorcycle  10  when configured in its motorcycle configuration shown in FIG. 1 is capable of conventional toy motorcycle play by the child user. Thus, motorcycle  10  may be rolled about on front wheel  12  and rear wheel  13  as the child user plays with the toy motorcycle. In accordance with a further advantage of the present invention, end  16  of lever  15  may be pivoted upwardly in the direction indicated by arrow  17  to transform motorcycle  10  to its hovercycle configuration shown in FIG.  2 . As the child user releases end  16  of lever  15 , motorcycle returns to the conventional motorcycle configuration of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 2 sets forth a bottom view of toy motorcycle  10  configured in is alternate configuration in which motorcycle  10  forms a hovercycle. A hovercycle is a fanciful device in which a plurality of downwardly directed power driven fans or propellers produce sufficient downward force to levitate the vehicle. While toy motorcycle  10  is not operational in this manner, the alternate configuration of the present invention toy motorcycle shown in FIG. 2 does provide a fanciful depiction of this hovercycle. 
     More specifically, motor cycle  10  includes a body  11  supporting a pair of chassis shafts  20  and  30  which are rotatably supported by body  11  in the manner described below. Suffice it to note here, that chassis shaft  20  extends through body  11  in a front-to-back orientation and supports a pair of fork halves  21  and  23  at each end thereof. Fork half  21  supports a wheel half  22  which is rotatably secured to fork half  21  by a conventional fastener  41 . Fastener  41  serves as a rotation axle in the manner best seen in FIG.  6 . Wheel half  22  further defines an annular groove  25  and an annular surface  27 . Similarly, fork half  23  rotatably supports a wheel half  24  using a fastener axle  43 . Wheel half  24  defines an annular groove  26  and an annular surface  28 . 
     In a similar fashion, chassis shaft  30  supports fork halves  31  and  33  at each end thereof. Fork half  31  supports a wheel half  32  using a fastener  40  as a rotation axle. Wheel half  32  further defines an annular rib  35  and an annular surface  37 . Fork half  33  further supports a wheel half  34  in a rotatable attachment using fastener  42  as an axle and fastener. Wheel half  34  further defines a rib  36  and an annular surface  38 . 
     An elongated lever  15  having an end  16  is supported within body  11  in the manner shown in FIG.  3 . 
     In the hovercycle configuration of motorcycle  10  shown in FIG. 2, the outward pivotal movements of chassis shafts  20  and  30  induced by movement of lever  15  in the manner set forth below in FIGS. 5 and 6 splits the respective wheel halves of front wheel  12  and rear wheel  13  into outwardly extending simulated hover producing devices replicated by wheel halves  22  and  32  in front and wheel halves  24  and  34  in the rear of motorcycle  10 . Thus, in this configuration, body  11  appears to be supported by a quartet of downwardly directed hover producing apparatus for fanciful play by the child user. 
     To further enhance the standard motorcycle appearance of toy motorcycle  10 , wheel half  22  defines an annular groove  25  while wheel half  32  defines an annular rib  35 . When wheel halves  22  and  32  are joined at surfaces  27  and  37  to form front wheel  12  (seen in FIG. 1) rib  35  is received within groove  25  to further enhance this joining of wheel halves to form a standard appearing front wheel. Similarly, wheel half  24  defines an annular groove  26  while wheel half  34  defines an annular rib  36 . Thus, wheel halves  24  and  34  join to form wheel  13  as rib  36  is received within groove  26  allowing surfaces  28  and  38  to be in flush contact. 
     FIG. 3 sets forth a partially sectioned side elevation view of motorcycle  10  configured in its motorcycle configuration in which body  11  is shown in dashed outline to allow illustration of the internal support mechanism of the toy motorcycle. Body  11  supports a chassis box  45  which in turn defines a front journal  47  and a rear journal  46 . An elongated chassis shaft  20  is rotatably supported within journals  46  and  47  and defines a pair of flanges  50  and  52  to maintain the positioning of chassis shaft within chassis box  45 . Chassis shaft  20  supports a fork half  21  which in turn supports a wheel half  22 . Chassis shaft  20  also supports a fork half  23  which in turn supports a wheel half  24 . 
     A lever  15  having an end  16  and an end  29  is pivotally supported upon body  11  in the manner best seen in FIG. 4 by a pivot mechanism  18 . Thus, the pivotal support of lever  15  allows end  16  to be moved upwardly in the direction indicated by arrow  17  causing a corresponding downward movement of end  29  in the direction indicated by arrow  19 . 
     As is better seen in FIG. 2, body  11  supports a pair of chassis shafts  20  and  30  in a generally parallel arrangement. Chassis shaft  20  further defines a spring cam  51  and a lever cam  55 . Chassis box  45  further defines an upwardly extending stop  53  while chassis shaft  20  defines a stop tab  54 . Stop tab  54  and stop  53  cooperate to limit the pivotal movement of chassis shaft  20  within chassis box  45  in the inwardly pivoting movement to the position shown in FIG.  3 . 
     Chassis box  45  further includes a shaft  48  which in turn supports a spring  49 . Spring  49  engages spring cam  51  of shaft  20  producing a spring force which urges rotation of shaft  20  toward the inward position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 corresponding to the standard motorcycle configuration of toy motorcycle  10 . A second spring cam  61  is supported by shaft  30  (seen in FIG.  4 ). A second lever cam  65  is also supported by chassis shaft  30  (seen in FIG.  5 ). Of importance to note in FIG. 3, is the operation by which the upward movement of end  16  of lever  15  in the direction of arrow  17  forces end  29  of lever  15  downwardly in the direction of arrow  19  against lever cams  55  and  65 . With temporary reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be noted that this movement of lever  15  and the resulting outward rotations of chassis shafts  20  and  30  (seen in FIG. 5) forces the respective wheel halves of front wheel  12  and rear wheel  13  outwardly to the alternate configuration shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. 
     FIG. 4 sets forth a partial section view of toy motorcycle  10  taken along section lines  4 — 4  in FIG.  3 . As described above, body  11  supports a chassis box  45  within which a shaft  48  is supported. Shaft  48  supports a portion of spring  19 . A shaft  78  is also supported within chassis box  45  and further supports spring  49 . A chassis shaft  20  is rotatably supported within chassis box  45  and includes a stop tab  54  and a spring cam  51 . Similarly, a chassis  30  is rotatably supported within chassis box  45  and includes a stop tab  64  and a spring cam  61 . The upwardly extending end portions of spring  49  exert a force against spring cams  51  and  61  which urge rotation of chassis shafts  20  and  30  in the directions indicated by arrows  75  and  76 . 
     A rear wheel  13  is formed of a pair of wheel halves  24  and  34  supported by chassis shafts  20  and  30  respectively in the manner shown in FIG.  2 . Wheel half  24  defines a groove  26  and a surface  28 . Correspondingly, wheel half  34  defines a rib  36  received within groove  26  and a surface  38  received upon surface  28  of wheel half  24 . In this manner, rear wheel  13  is formed of a pair of rotatable wheel halves  24  and  34 . 
     Body  11  further includes a pivot mechanism  18  which pivotally supports a lever  15  in the manner set forth above in FIG.  3 . 
     Thus, in the section view of FIG. 4, the cooperation between spring  49  and spring cams  51  and  61  is operative upon chassis shafts  20  and  30  to maintain toy motorcycle  10  in its standard configuration as illustrated in FIG.  1 . It will be apparent that a residual spring force is provided by spring  49  tending to maintain the closure of wheel halves  34  and  24 . While not shown in FIG. 4, it will be understood that the similar attachment of wheel halves  22  and  32  which form front wheel  12  are also maintained in their closed position by the action of spring  49  upon spring cams  51  and  61 . 
     FIG. 5 sets forth a partial section view of toy motorcycle  10  taken along section lines  5 — 5  in FIG.  3 . As described above, toy motorcycle  10  includes a chassis box  45  having supporting journals  47  and  77  formed therein. Chassis box  45  further defines a pair of upwardly extending stops  53  and  63 . A chassis shaft  20  is rotatably supported within journal  47  of chassis box  45  and maintained in position by a flange  52 . Chassis shaft  20  further includes a lever cam  55  having a curved outer surface and extending inwardly from chassis shaft  20 . A chassis shaft  30  is rotatably supported within journal  47  and includes a flange  62  maintaining the position of chassis shaft  30  within chassis box  45 . Chassis shaft  30  further includes an inwardly extending lever cam  65  having a curved outer surface and a flange  62  maintaining the position of chassis shaft  30 . Chassis shafts  20  and  30  define respective stop tabs  54  and  64 . Tabs  54  and  64  cooperate with stops  53  and  63  respectively to limit the pivoting movement of chassis shafts  20  and  30  in the directions indicated by arrows  80  and  81 . 
     Front wheel  12  is formed of a pair of wheel halves  22  and  32  supported upon chassis shafts  20  and  30  respectively in the manner shown in FIG.  2 . As described above, the pivotal position of shafts  20  and  30  is urged toward the closed configuration of FIG. 1 by the action of spring  49  against spring cams  51  and  61 . Returning to FIG. 5, the rotational direction urged upon chassis shafts  20  and  30  corresponds to arrows  80  and  81 . Accordingly, wheel halves  22  and  32  are maintained in closure to form front wheel  12 . 
     In accordance with the present invention, the user is able to reconfigure toy motorcycle  10  by forcing end  29  of lever  15  downwardly against lever cams  55  and  65  in the manner seen in FIG.  6 . This downward force upon lever cams  55  and  65  produces a corresponding rotation of chassis shafts  20  and  30  in the directions indicated by arrows  82  and  83 . Thus, as end  29  of lever  15  is forced downwardly upon lever cams  55  and  65 , motorcycle  10  is reconfigured in the manner shown in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 6 sets forth the section view of FIG. 5 following the above described movement of lever  15  causing reconfiguration of motorcycle  10  to its hovercycle configuration. Also shown in FIG. 6, are partial section views of wheel halves  22  and  32 . 
     More specifically, motorcycle  10  includes a chassis box  45  supported within body  11  (seen in FIG.  1 ). Chassis box  45  defines a pair of journals  47  and  77  which rotatably support chassis shafts  20  and  30 . Chassis box  45  further includes a pair of upwardly extending stops  53  and  63 . Chassis shaft  20  includes a flange  52  and a lever cam  55 . Chassis shaft  20  further supports a fork half  21  which in turn supports a wheel half  22  using a fastener axle  41 . Wheel half  22  defines an annular groove  25  and an annular surface  27 . 
     Chassis shaft  30  includes a flange  62  and a lever cam  65 . Chassis shaft  30  further supports a fork half  31  which in turn rotatably supports a wheel half  32  using fastener axle  40 . Wheel half  32  defines an annular rib  35  and an annular surface  37 . Chassis shafts  20  and  30  further define stop tabs  54  and  64  respectively. 
     A lever  15  includes an end  29  and is pivotally supported within body  11  in the manner shown in FIG.  3 . In operation, as the above described movement of lever  15  is implemented as the user forces end  16  of lever  15  upwardly in the direction indicated by arrow  17  in FIG. 3, a corresponding downward movement of end  29  in the direction indicated by arrow  71  occurs. This downward movement forces lever cams  55  and  65  to pivot downwardly as indicated by arrows  84  and  85 . A corresponding pivotal movement of chassis shafts  20  and  30  results causing wheel halves  22  and  32  to pivot outwardly and upwardly in the directions indicated by arrows  72  and  73  respectively. At this point, motorcycle  10  has been reconfigured to the hover cycle shown in FIG.  2 . It will be recalled that the cooperation of spring cams  51  and  61  together with spring  49  in the manner shown in FIG. 4 urges shafts  20  and  30  toward the closed configuration of FIG.  5 . Thus, it will be understood that the outward pivotal movement of wheel halves  22  and  32  shown in FIG. 6 is accomplished to the opposition to spring  49  (seen in FIG.  4 ). Thus, when the user releases lever  15 , the action of spring  49  and spring cams  51  and  61  (seen in FIG. 4) returns motorcycle  10  to closed configuration shown in FIG.  1 . 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.