Patent Publication Number: US-2007111635-A1

Title: Powered toy

Description:
The invention to which this application relates is a toy which can be provided with a propulsion force, to move the toy in at least one direction, with the propulsion force initially generated by relative movement between at least first and second parts of the toy.  
      The provision of toys which can be moved under a propulsion force, such as for example a toy vehicle, is well known. One known form of generating the propulsion force is to provide a power source within the toy which, when the power source is switched on, provides a power supply to a motor in the toy which is connected to at least one part such as a wheel of the toy, to move the same. However, these toys tend to be relatively expensive and obviously require the provision of the power source.  
      Another form which is known is to provide a toy vehicle with a motor mounted therein, and the propulsion force can be generated by movement of the toy in the reverse direction to that in which the vehicle will ultimately move under the propulsion force applied thereto. The movement in the reverse direction causes a spring in the motor to be wound up and the toy can then be held by the person until they wish the toy to move in the opposite direction. At that time, the person releases the vehicle and the unwinding of the spring in the motor drives at least one of the wheels of the toy to move the same forward. This form of toy is well known but the same is relatively limited in terms of ongoing enjoyment which can be gained as the toy vehicle appearance cannot be adapted.  
      The aim of the present invention is to provide a toy in which a propulsion force can be provided and to provide the toy in a manner which allows the same to be adaptable and allows greater interaction with the toy by the person playing with the same.  
      In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a toy vehicle said toy having a body formed from at least two parts, and a propulsion force generating means which, when charged exerts a movement force on the toy vehicle and wherein the propulsion force generating means is charged by relative movement between the said first and second parts following which the toy vehicle can be placed on a surface along which the same is propelled when released.  
      Typically, the relative movement is rotational and preferably is rotational about an axis formed along and/or parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body of the toy.  
      In one embodiment, the said first and second parts are separable. In one embodiment the parts are movable to a first position in which relative rotation between the parts is possible, and a second position in which the first and second parts are mechanically located to form the toy body for play and in which position the propulsion force can be applied.  
      In one embodiment the propulsion force is applied to cause movement of the toy vehicle across the surface, typically by connecting the propulsion force generating means to at least one wheel of the toy which contacts with the surface.  
      In one embodiment, the propulsion force generating means is a motor including a coil spring, said coil spring being wound up by the relative movement of the first and second parts and, when released, the unwinding of the spring generates the propulsion force.  
      In one embodiment, the toy includes a plurality of wheels for contact with a surface to aid the movement of the toy along said surface under the influence of the propulsion force, said motor being connected to at least one of the wheels to provide the propulsion force thereon.  
      In one embodiment, the first and second parts are provided with matching engagement means to allow the location of the first and second parts together.  
      In one embodiment, at least a part of the engagement means is rotatable so as to wind the spring of the motor via a gear system. In one embodiment, the engagement means comprises a male spigot in one of the first or second parts of the toy and a female port in the other of the first or second parts of the toy and the spigot is rotatable with respect to the force generating means with a transmission of rotation to charge the same achieved via a gear system.  
      In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit of toy parts, said kit comprising one or more pieces of a first part of the toy and one or more pieces of a second part of the toy, engagement means provided to allow selected first and second parts to be connected together to form a toy vehicle and wherein the parts are provided with engagement means, which are common for the pieces of the first part type and for the pieces of the second part respectively so as to allow the engagement of selected first and second parts from the kit and when engaged, relative movement of the first and second parts causes the charging of the propulsion force generating means provided in the toy vehicle.  
      Typically the external appearance of the pieces of the kit differ from piece to piece but by the provision of common engagement means, so any of the pieces of the first and second part types can be selected to be joined together and the generation of the propulsion force can still be achieved as, regardless of the external appearance of the particular selected pieces of the first and second parts, the relative rotation of the selected first and second parts which result in the winding of the spring in the propulsion force generating means to change the same. Thus the function of the toy will be constant, even though the external appearance of the toy which is formed can be altered by selecting different first and second parts pieces to join together.  
      In one embodiment, the motor is linked to at least one of the rear wheels of the vehicle to provide the propulsion force thereon.  
      In whichever embodiment the engagement means can include an assembly which ensures that when relative rotation between the parts in one direction occurs charging of the propulsion force generating means can occur. Also, the propulsion force generating means can include a limiter to prevent over rotation from causing damage.  
      In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming and propelling a toy model vehicle across a surface, said method comprising the step of forming the toy by engaging first and second parts at an interface via engagement means, at least one of said parts including at least one wheel connected to be driven by a propulsion force generating means located in said part, engaging said first and second parts in a first position, and moving said parts rotatably about a longitudinal axis of a spigot depending from one part into a port in the other part, said spigot engaged to allow the rotational movement between the parts to be transmitted to the propulsion force generating means to charge the same, moving the first and second parts to a second position in which the same cannot be relatively rotated and selectively releasing the at least one wheel to be driven, to allow the propulsion force from the propulsion force generating means to rotate the at least one wheel and hence drive the toy vehicle across said surface.  
      Typically the method can be repeated for each occasion upon which the toy vehicle is to be propelled across a surface. 
    
    
      Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:— 
       FIG. 1   a  illustrates two embodiments of a toy vehicle in accordance with the invention ready for use;  
       FIG. 1   b  illustrates two embodiments which differ from  FIG. 1   a  but using the same parts;  
       FIGS. 2   a  to  e  illustrate the manner in which the first and second parts of the toy, in one embodiment, can be brought together and moved in order to generate a propulsion force;  
       FIGS. 3   a  and  b  illustrate plan views in a schematic manner, of the underside of a toy vehicle in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;  
       FIGS. 4   a - c  illustrate the respective positions at various stages of the first and second parts of a toy vehicle in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention;  
       FIGS. 5   a  and  b  illustrate views of the interface surfaces between the first and second parts of  FIGS. 4   a - c ; and  
       FIGS. 6   a  and  b  illustrate underside views showing the propulsion force generating means and engagement means of the toy of  FIGS. 4   a  to  c.   
    
    
      Referring firstly to  FIG. 1 , there are illustrated two toy vehicles  2 ,  2 ′ in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Each of said toy vehicles has first and second parts  4 ,  6 , and  4 ′,  6 ′ respectively forming the front and back of the toy vehicle. In this embodiment, each of the parts includes a set of wheels  8  and has an outer appearance depicting a particular style of the front or back of the toy vehicle. Also illustrated with regard to  FIG. 1   a  and  1   b  is the fact that the first and second parts  2 ,  2 ′;  4 ,  4 ′ can be interchanged so that for example, in  FIG. 1   a  the first toy vehicle  2  has with a first visual appearance formed by the parts  4  and  6  and the second vehicle  2 ′ has a second visual appearance formed by the parts  4 ′,  6 ′. However, referring now to  FIG. 1   b  the person playing with the toys in this particular example, has interchanged and connected first and second parts such that the toy vehicle  2  is formed by the first and second parts  4 ′,  6 , and the toy vehicle  2 ′ is formed by the first and second parts  4 ,  6 ′ so as to provide two toy vehicles which have an unusual appearance but which will still operate in accordance with the invention, whichever combination of the pieces of the first type  4  with the second type  6  are used.  
       FIGS. 2   a  to  e  illustrate the utilisation of the toy vehicle formed from first and second parts  4 ′,  6 ′, with a propulsion force. In  FIG. 2   a , the two parts  4 ′ and  6 ′ are shown separated and engagement means are partially shown. The engagement means include a spigot  10  which is provided to be moved into a slot (not shown) in the part  4 ′ in the direction of arrow  12 . The movement of the parts  4 ′ and  6 ′ together move the same to a position shown in  FIG. 2   b . It is preferred that this engagement is a first engagement position which allows relative rotation of the parts  4 ′ and  6 ′ as shown in  FIG. 2   c  about longitudinal axis  11 . This relative rotation causes spigot  10  to rotate with respect to the part  6  and also contact a propulsion force generating means located in the body in a manner which will be described subsequently. Thus, the relative rotation of parts  4 ′ and  6 ′, serves to wind the propulsion force generating means to create a propulsion force on the vehicle. Once this has been achieved, the parts  4 ′ and  6 ′ are then preferably further moved together to a second engagement position in which the parts form a unitary body of the toy vehicle as shown in  FIG. 2   d.    
      In one embodiment, the propulsion force generating means is attached to provide a propulsion force on one or more wheels  8  and in order to ensure that the propulsion force is only released to act when desired, the rear wheels  8 ′ of the vehicle can be clamped onto the surface under the downward force of a hand  13  on the toy which hand is removed when the propulsion force is to be released. Alternatively, and as illustrated in  FIG. 2   d , a catch mechanism  14  can be provided which, when in position, causes the propulsion force to be restrained and, when propulsion of the vehicle is required, the catch mechanism can be released by pressing down on the back of the vehicle as illustrated in  FIG. 2   d  to release the catch  14  and hence allow the vehicle to move under the influence of the propulsion force as illustrated in  FIG. 2   e  in the direction of arrow  16 .  
      Also illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a - c  is how the propulsion force is generated by the rotation of the parts about 180 degrees as it will be appreciated that in  FIGS. 2   a  and  b , the part  6 ′ is located in an upside down manner with regard to the part  4 ′ and by twisting part  6 ′ through 180 degrees, as illustrated in FIG.  2   c , the part  6 ′ can be brought to the correct orientation with regard to the part  4 ′ as illustrated in  FIGS. 2   d  and  e  as well as winding the force generating means.  
       FIGS. 3   a  and  b  illustrate the underside of a toy in the form of a vehicle in accordance with the invention in a schematic manner. It will be seen that the parts  4 ,  6 , have wheels  8  and there is provided on part  6  a spigot  10  as part of the engagement means which is received within a slot  20  which forms the other part of the engagement means.  
      In  FIG. 3   a , the parts  4 ,  6  are shown partially engaged and in this position, the parts can be relatively rotated similar to that shown in  FIG. 2   c  about the rotational axis formed by the spigot and slot  22 . The spigot  10  is located via a gear transmission system  24  to a propulsion force generating means  26  in the form of a motor which includes therein, a coil spring (not shown). The gear transmission system  24  transmits rotation of the spigot  10  to rotation of a shaft  28  which in turn causes the winding and tightening of the coil spring in the motor  26 .  
      The propulsion force generating means in the form of the motor  26  is connected to at least one, but in this case, both wheels  8  of the part  6  via axle  30 . Thus, the rotation of the spigot  10  causes the charging of the toy vehicle and storage of a propulsion force in the motor  26  by winding the spring. The catch mechanism  14  can be provided to then retain the spring in the charged or wound position and the two parts  4 ,  6  can be moved together into a second engaged position as indicated in  FIG. 3   b  via arrow  32  such that the parts  4  and  6  respectively form the unitary toy vehicle body. In that position, the toy then acts as a single item and the catch mechanism  14  can be released with the wheels  8  in contact with a surface. The release of the propulsion force causes driven rotation of the wheels via the axle  30  as the spring unwinds and thereby propels the toy across the surface.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 4   a  to  c , there is illustrated a further embodiment of the invention. In this case, the toy vehicle  2  is formed from first and second parts  4 ,  6 , and the propulsion generating means is provided in the part  6  and connected to the wheels  8  of that part so as to drive the same when the propulsion force is released and the propulsion force generating means is charged. The Figures show, in more detail, the engagements means which comprise a spigot  10  in part  6  and a port  34  provided in part  4  as shown in  FIG. 5   b.    
      The spigot includes a series of protrusions  36  spaced 180 degrees apart and the spigot extends out of a retainer  38  which is provided in a fixed position and which includes a series of annular protrusions and indents  19  which allow the guided rotation of the first and second parts  4  and  6  in a first position shown in  FIG. 4   b , with protrusions  17  on the port  34  locating with an annular indent  19 , and also helps to secure the parts in a second position shown in  FIG. 4   c  by the protrusions  17  locating in the other of the indents  19 .  
       FIG. 4   a  shows the first and second parts  4 ,  6 , spaced apart and therefore allows particular pieces of the first and second parts to be independently selected. Once selected the parts  4 , 6  are brought together as indicated by arrow  32  to a first position as shown in  FIG. 4   b . In this position, the spigot is inserted into the port  34  to a sufficient length that relative rotation of parts  4 ,  6 , about the longitudinal axis  11 , causes rotation of the spigot  10  and hence charging of the propulsion force generating means connected thereto.  
      It will also be seen how location pegs  40  are provided, in this case, on part  4  and, as is shown in  FIG. 5   a , matching location ports  42  are provided on the part  6 . Thus, when the first and second parts  4 ,  6  are further moved together to the second position shown in  FIG. 4   c , the location pegs  40  are inserted into respective location ports  42  and serve to lock the first and second parts  4 ,  6  in a fixed position with respect to each other such that no relative rotation is possible. In this position, the wheels of the part  6 , can be released wither by removing a downward force on the wheels against the surface  44  or by releasing a catch, and the wheels  8  are then driven by the release of the propulsion force to rotate and hence move the vehicle  2  along the surface  44  in direction  46 .  
       FIGS. 5   a  and  b  illustrate end views of the faces of parts  4 ,  6  which form the interface  48  of the first and second parts  4 ,  6  and show the location means  40 ,  42  respectively and the port  34  and spigot  10  of the engagement means. Also shown, in the port  34 , is a first part  48  into which the distal end  50  of the spigot  10  locates so as to provide location of the spigot in the port, and, between that part  48  and the face  50  of the part  4 , there is provided a catch  52  which is formed of a size to locate with one or other of the protrusions  36  on the spigot  10 . This therefore means that when the parts  4  and  6  are relatively rotated, the protrusion  36  locates on catch  52  such that the rotation causes the resilient means in the propulsion force generating means which is connected to be wound by the spigot, is charged, such that for example if the resilient means is a coil spring, the same is coiled increasingly tightly, and hence allows the propulsion force generating means to be charged.  
      When the parts  4  and  6  are pushed together into the respective second position shown in  FIG. 4   c , the location means  40 ,  42  engage and then maintain the first and second parts  4 ,  6  in a located position and therefore prevent reverse rotation from occurring and the wheels  8  of the part  6 , can be pressed onto the surface  44  to prevent the propulsion force generating means being discharged inadvertently.  
       FIGS. 6   a  and  b  illustrate a plan view of the underside of the parts  4 ,  6  with covering plates removed and show the propulsion force generating means  26 , in one form, in which there is provided a series of gears  24 , shown for illustrative purposes, which show how rotation of the spigot  10  rotates the gear wheel  54  which in turn causes rotation of gear wheels  56  as part of the gear transmission system  24  within the propulsion force generating means  26 . The resilient means (not shown) within the propulsion force generating means is connected via a shaft  58  to the wheels  8  so as to cause, when released from a charged position, rotation of the wheels  8  and hence drive of the toy vehicle  2  in the direction  46  as shown in  FIG. 4   c.    
       FIG. 6   b  illustrates the components  60 ,  62  which form the port  34  into which the spigot locates. Component  60  includes a catch  52  to locate with protrusions  36  and protrusions  17  to locate with annular indents  19  on the retainer  38  of part  6  and the component  62  includes an aperture  48  into which the free end  50  of the spigot  10  locates. Component  62  can be sprung loaded so as to allow the same to be resilient and have a greater tolerance in terms of the ability for the spigot free end to be located therein.  
      It should be appreciated that a series of pieces of the first and second parts type can be provided as a kit, with a set of pieces of first parts  4  and a set of pieces of second parts  6 , each of which has a different external appearance and selected first and second parts can be selectively interchanged by the child and connected. As the engagement means and the propulsion force generating means will typically be common throughout the first parts and throughout the second parts respectively so the same means of generating the propulsion force can be achieved.  
      Although the invention is described with reference to a toy vehicle, it should be appreciated that the invention can be incorporated in any form of toy regardless of the external appearance of the same. Thus, for example, the propulsion force which is generated, may not in fact be used to move the toy across a surface but instead may be used to cause movement of a part of the toy, with regard to the remainder of the toy.