Patent GB-1423426-A (GB)
Title: Toy vehicle
IPC: A63H17/273
Filed: 1973-02-20
Abstract: 1423426 Toy vehicles MARVIN GLASS & ASSOCIATES 20 Feb 1973 [3 March 1972] 8191/73 Heading A6S [Also in Division F2] A toy vehicle has a simulated body supported on a two-part, relatively-movable frame, the body having at least two parts moved with respect to each other and to the frame by change of relative position of the frame parts, and at least one motor, &c means to move the frame parts relatively to each other and to drive the toy vehicle. In the form shown, the two frame members, &c are in a retracted position and cause the body 12, Fig. 1, to simulate a sports saloon. When the frame members have been moved relatively to extend the length of the vehicle, it simulates a "dragster" car, Fig. 2. In one form, a toy vehicle has a frame consisting of two parts 16, 18, Fig. 3, movable relatively lengthwise of the vehicle, the front frame post 16 carrying the front wheels 20 and the frame part 18 the rear driving wheels 26. A clockwork motor 52, in the rear frame 18 drives through a gear 72, Fig. 4, and a shaft 68 journalled in a slot 70 of the rear.frame 18 to gears 80, 82, Fig. 3, meshing racks 84, 86 extending within and along the front frame 16. The shaft 68 also drives through a step-up ratio gear train 92, 98, &c to rotate a mass 104, acting as a speed governor. The front frame 16, Fig. 7, is connected by links 166 to the vehicle body 12, which is accordingly pulled downward as the front frame moves forwards relatively to the rear frame 18. A simulated motor 126 on the front frame 16 has cams 132 which are engaged by cam surfaces 134 on the two hinged bonnet halves 36, 38 as the body dips, to open the bonnet halves and allow the motor 36 to protrude, Fig. 2. At the same time a pair of links 146, pivoted at their front ends on a transverse bar 136 carried by the rear frame 18, are so turned by pins 158 on each side of the front frame 16 sliding along their angled slots 150 that then raise the rear of the body 12, to which they are pivoted, from the Fig. 5 to the Fig. 7 position. A string 160 between a lug 162 on a pivoted rear panel 42 which, in the Fig. 5 position is closed, and the rear frame 18, also at the same time raises the panel 42 to the Fig. 7 position, revealing a simulated driver 46. On completion of all these movements, the gears 80, 82 run off the racks 84, 86 to smooth portions at their ends, and continue to rotate. The shaft 68 then moves along its slots 70 to disconnect drive to the governor mass 104, thereby allowing the clockwork motor 52, &c to speed up. As this happens, a shaft 58, Fig. 4, and gear 60 driven by the motor 52, &c are slidden along slots 56 to mesh a gear 62 with a gear 64 fast on the rear axle 30, and the vehicle moves off. The clockwork motor can be stopped and started by an axially slidable simulated exhaust 170 having cam surfaces (178, 180), Fig. 10 (not shown), coacting in their "stop" positions respectively with the shaft of the governor mass 104 and with the shaft 58 of the gears 60, 62, the latter being retained in its disengaged position. The vehicle may then be propelled by hand. The vehicle is restored to its initial position by pushing the front and rear frame parts 16, 18 towards each other. In a modified construction, the front and rear frames 216, 218, Fig. 13, are biassed to extend relatively to each other by a separate tension spring 270. Pulling a simulated exhaust pipe 296 rearwardly releases the weighted end 278b of an oscillatable escapement lever 278 coacting with a star wheel on a shaft 282 journalled in the rear frame 218. Step-up ratio gearing 274 driven by a rack 272 on the front frame 216 rotates the star wheel. which thus allows slow forward movement of the front frame. A lever 310. Fig. 14, pivoted on the rear frame, has one end 316 coacting with a cam surface 318 on the front frame 216, and its other end 320 coacting with a detent 264a on the rear axle 230, to prevent rotation of the rear wheels. When the end 316 of the lever 310 slides down the inclined cam surface 318, Fig. 15 (not shown), the other end 320 raised clear of the detent 264a, so that a separate clockwork motor 252, &c can drive the rear axle. This modified construction is provided with a body, simulated motor, simulated driver, &c as described with reference to the first construction.