Abstract:
A traveling toy wherein an eccentric vibrator is coupled to a driving shaft, a brush inclining rearwards is secured to the lower surface of the toy proper, the toy proper is oscillated by the rotation of the vibrator, and the oscillations are transmitted to the brush, thereby causing the toy to run.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a traveling toy. More particularly, it relates to a traveling toy in which the toy body is oscillated by the rotation of an eccentric rotor so that it may be caused to run by the oscillations. 
     In some conventional traveling toys, a motor is driven by electric power of, e.g., a battery, and running wheels are rotated by the driving force of the motor, thereby causing the toy to travel. In others, running wheels are rotated through gears by utiliing the rotational inertia of a rotary member, thereby causing the toy to travel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of this invention is to provide a traveling toy which can run with a simple mechanism requiring neither running wheels nor a complicated power transmission system such as gears and belts for rotating the running wheels. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a traveling toy which can readily execute a change of direction together with random motions. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a traveling toy which, when formed into e.g. a helicopter, permits propellers or the like accessories to freely rotate and in which, even when the rotations of the accessories are stopped by fingers, a driving mechanism and other mechanisms do not malfunction. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide a traveling toy which can be fabricated at low cost. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These objects and features of this invention will become apparent from the detailed description taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of this invention directed to a toy vehicle, 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the internal mechanism of the embodiment in FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the bottom part of the embodiment in FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 4 is a view showing another embodiment of this invention, 
     FIG. 5 is a view showing still another embodiment of this invention, and 
     FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B) illustrate embodiments of toy members for use in combination with the traveling toy of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate an embodiment of a traveling toy according to this invention. The embodiment is directed to a vehicle. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a base plate 1 is overlaid with a vehicular body frame 2. 
     As seen from FIG. 2, a motor M is disposed on the upper surface of the base plate 1. A motor shaft 3 protrudes from the motor M. Secured to the front end of the motor shaft 3 is an eccentric type vibrator 4 which is substantially sectoral. 
     A power source E for driving the motor M is also arranged on the base plate 1. The battery E is connected to the motor M through a switch Sw. 
     On the other hand, a brush plate 6 is secured to substantially the central part of the lower surface of the base plate 1 as shown in FIG. 3. In the brush plate 6, a brush 5 is planted in a manner to incline approximately 10° rearwards. This brush corresponds to running wheels of conventional traveling toys. 
     At a rear end part of the lower surface of the base plate 1, there is disposed a steering mechanism 7 for changing the advancing direction of the toy. The steering mechanism 7 is composed of a plate 8 which is pivotally supported in parallel with the base plate 1, a rubber member 9 which is longer than the bristles of the brush 5, which is flexible and which is protuberantly provided at the rear end of the plate 8 perpendicularly to a traveling floor F or to the base plate 1, and an operating knob 10 which is mounted on the plate 8 and which serves to turn this plate. 
     The rubber member 9 has its lower end bent by the weight of the toy proper and comes into contact with the traveling floor F. In a case where the toy travels, it can change the advancing direction owing to the friction between the lower end part of the rubber member and the traveling floor and the alteration of the position of the plate by turning. 
     The operation of the traveling toy having the above construction will now be explained. When the switch Sw is closed to drive the motor M, the vibrator 4 secured to the front end of the motor shaft 3 is rotated at high speed. Since the vibrator 4 is formed in an eccentric shape, the toy proper undergoes slight oscillations owing to the rotation. The brush 5 disposed on the lower surface of the base plate 1 is also oscillated by the oscillations for the toy proper, and a component of force of propelling the toy is caused owing to the rearward inclination of the brush 5, so that the toy executes the traveling operation. 
     Although no illustration is made in the drawings, when the toy is rendered operative while it is placed on a rail formed with a slot snugly fitting the brush, it can run along the rail. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of this invention, in which a proper frame 21 in the shape of a helicopter is put on a base plate 20. The vibrating mechanism which includes the power source E, the motor M and the vibrator is secured to the proper frame 21. Tubes 22 with fitting apertures are protuberantly disposed at upper, side and rear parts of the proper frame 21, respectively. Propellers 23 are rotatably and freely supported in the tubes 22 by, for example, pins. 
     With this construction, when the toy proper is oscillated by the rotation of the vibrator, the propellers 23 are also rotated. The traveling toy is attractive and interesting owing to the running of the toy proper and the rotations of the ornamental members 23. Inasmuch as the propellers 23 are merely fitted in the tubes 22 through the pins or the like, they can be simply attached or detached. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates still another embodiment of this invention. The vibrating mechanism is disposed in a cylindrical proper 30 as in the preceding embodiment, and a brush 31 is arranged at the bottom of the proper. An ornamental member 32 or 33 as shown in FIG. 6(A) or FIG. 6(B) is placed on the upper surface 31a of the cylindrical proper which is horizontal. Under this state, the toy is caused to travel. 
     The ornamental member 32 depicted in FIG. 6(A) consists of a plate 34 which is to be put on the flat upper surface 31a, a rod 35 which is vertically fixed on the plate 34, and a ball 36 which is placed on a recessed part at the upper end of the rod 35. The ornamental member 32 oscillates with the oscillations of the cylinder proper 30, whereby the ball 36 rotates. 
     The ornamental member 33 depicted in FIG. 6(B) consists of a plate 37, a post 39 which is vertically fixed on the plate 37, and small balls 38 which are suspended from the upper end of the post 39 by several strings. As the cylindrical proper 30 oscillates, the small balls 38 revolve round the post 39. In this manner, according to this embodiment, a unique traveling toy is obtained owing to the running of the cylindrical proper and the motion of the ornamental member placed thereon.