Patent Publication Number: US-6663463-B1

Title: Sound activated toy vehicle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to sound activated toy vehicles and, more particularly, to a sound activated toy vehicle including a vehicle accessory on either the chassis or the body of the toy vehicle- wherein the vehicle accessory is moved by mechanical power from the motor. 
     Sound or sonic activated or actuated toy vehicles are fairly well known in the art. Some previously disclosed sound activated vehicles have a sound detector, such as a microphone or crystal, and an electrically operated motor coupled to at least one axle or driveshaft for turning drive wheels. The motor operates in one direction continuously moving the vehicle in that direction, such as generally forward. Another device mounted within the vehicle such as a second motor or a solenoid, is activated or actuated by sound detected by the sound pickup device. The activation of the motor or actuation of the solenoid causes one set of wheels to change steering directions for a predetermined period of time or until another sound is detected. The vehicle continues moving generally forward but is steered slightly left, straight or right by the detection of sound emitted from a remote device, such as a clicker. 
     In another, more complex version of the previously known sound activated vehicles, the vehicle further includes a second sound detector or a sound detector capable of detecting a second sound. Upon detection of the second sound, the vehicle drive motor reverses direction, separately from the steering control. 
     What is not provided by the previously disclosed sound activated vehicles is a vehicle that moves or actuates a vehicle accessory in addition to driving the motor in forward or reverse based upon the detection of a remotely generated sound. Further, what is not provided by the previously disclosed sound activated vehicles is a vehicle that will perform different functions based upon a sequence of remotely generated sounds and when they occur during a preprogrammed or timed operation. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly stated, the present invention comprises a sound activated toy vehicle. The toy vehicle includes a body, a chassis, and a motor. The chassis accommodates the body and has at least a front wheel and a rear wheel. The motor is drivingly connected to at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel. The toy vehicle also includes a sound transducer supported in one of the chassis and body and configured to generate an electrical signal in response to detected sound. The toy vehicle also includes a controller having an input electrically connected to the sound transducer and an output electrically connected to the motor. The controller changes the output to the motor when the electrical signal is received by the input from the sound transducer. The toy vehicle also includes a vehicle accessory having an exterior portion and being supported on at least one of the chassis and the body for movement between a first position and a second position by mechanical power from the motor. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sound activated toy vehicle in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 in combination with a remote sound generating device; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sound activated toy vehicle in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the vehicle of FIG. 3 in combination with a remote sound generating device; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sound activated toy vehicle in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the vehicle of FIG. 5 in combination with a remote sound generating device; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective exploded view of a motor and transmission assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is an electrical schematic diagram of a control circuit in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right,” “left,” “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from respectively, the geometric center of the device discussed and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. Additionally, the word “a” as used in the claims and in the corresponding portions of the specification, means “one or more than one.” 
     In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout. Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown in FIGS. 1-2 a sound activated toy vehicle  50  in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Preferably, the sound activated toy vehicle has the overall appearance of either a police car, a fire rig, a fire truck, an ambulance, a rescue vehicle, an emergency vehicle, a tow truck, a sport utility vehicle, an off-road vehicle or a search light vehicle. But, the sound activated toy vehicle  50  may have other overall appearances without departing from the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1-2, one presently preferred embodiment has the overall appearance of a fire truck with a moveable and foldable hose-boom accessory. 
     The sound activated toy vehicle  50  includes a body  52 , a chassis  54  and a motor  56  (FIG.  7 ). The chassis  54  accommodates the body  52  and has at least a front wheel  58  and a rear wheel  60 . Preferably, the chassis has two front wheels  58  and two rear wheels  60 . The motor  56  is drivingly connected to at least one of the front wheels  58  and rear wheels  60 . Preferably, the motor  56  is drivingly connected to the two rear wheels  60  as described in greater detail below. 
     The sound activated toy vehicle  50  also includes a sound transducer  62  supported in either the chassis  54  or the body  52  and configured to generate an electrical signal in response to detected sound such as a clicking noise, a specific frequency and the like. In the presently preferred embodiment, the sound transducer  62  is a condenser microphone. However, the sound transducer  62  may be other devices, such as Piezoelectric transducers, electromechanical reeds and the like, without departing from the broad scope of the present invention. The sound transducer  62  is mounted in the base of a sound collector configured to have the appearance of an antenna  64  with a slotted or screened sound transducer cover  64   a . The collector/antenna  64  is formed of a resilient material such as a polymeric material capable of bending without breaking and capable of returning to its original orientation by its own resiliency. The collector/antenna  64  is mounted to a hood  65  of the toy vehicle  50  like a real antenna on a real vehicle. The collector  64  is larger in scale and proportion relative to the size of the toy vehicle  50  as compared to the proportional size of a real antenna on a real vehicle. 
     The sound activated toy vehicle  50  also includes a controller U 1  (FIG. 8) having an input P 2 . 0  electrically connected to the sound transducer  62  and an output or outputs P 3 . 0 , P 3 . 1  electrically connected to the motor  56 . The controller U 1  changes at least one of the outputs P 3 . 0 , P 3 . 1  to the motor  56  when an electrical signal is received by the input P 2 . 0  from the sound transducer  62 . A sound generator  66  is preferably electrically connected to another output V 0  of the controller U 1  for generating sounds. The sound generator  66  is preferably a conventional speaker  64 . However, the sound generator  66  may be other known sound generating devices such a Piezoelectric ceramic disks, electromechanical reeds and the like, without departing from the broad scope of the present invention. Yet another output P 3 . 2  of the controller U 1  is connected to a light LTO for illuminating a light bar  68  mounted to the top of the vehicle  50 . 
     The sound activated toy vehicle  50  further includes a vehicle accessory  70  supported on at least one of the chassis  54  and the body  52 . The vehicle accessory  70  has an exterior portion  71  which is exposed (or exposable) on the vehicle  50  and an actuating mechanism  72  configured to move the accessory. The actuating mechanism  72  includes a carriage  74  movably secured to an internal surface of the body  52 . The actuating mechanism  72  also includes a rack  76  having teeth  76   a  and a protrusion  76   b . The rack  76  is mounted for movement, preferably sliding movement, between a first rack position and a second rack position in a volume defined by the carriage  74  and an internal surface of the body  52 . The actuating mechanism  72  also includes a lever  78  having a first arm  80  rotatably coupled to the exterior portion  71  of the vehicle accessory  70 . A torsion spring  82  is located between the first arm  80  and the interior surface of the body  52 . The lever  78  is in contact with the protrusion  76 b on the rack  76  such that tension of the spring  82  against the first arm  80  and the interior surface biases the rack  76  to the first rack position. The exterior portion  71  is moved from a first accessory position to a second accessory position by the rack  76  being moved from the first rack position to the second rack position. The vehicle accessory  70  is preferably one of a foldable extension ladder, a water cannon, a speed indicator/sign, a tow boom, a boom light, a trunk lid, a door, an equipment access panel, and an opening to an interior space. However, the vehicle accessory  70  may be other movable pieces without departing from the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the vehicle accessory  70  is a moveable and foldable hose-boom. 
     The vehicle  50  further comprises a gearbox or transmission  84  having a drive gear  86  (FIG. 7) and a power take-off gear  88  each drivingly coupled to the motor  56 . The power take-off gear  88  is operably coupled with the rack  76  so that when the motor shaft  85  turns in a first rotational direction, the rack  76  moves generally linearly from the first rack position to the second rack position. When the motor shaft  85  turns in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, the rack  76  moves generally linearly from the second rack position to the first rack position. 
     Referring to FIG. 7 in detail, there is shown motor  56  and gearbox  84  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The gear box  84  includes a first gear box cover  101  and a second gear box cover  102  which, together, encase the motor  56 , the drive gear  86  and at least a portion of the power take-off gear  88 . The first and second gear box covers  101 ,  102  are sandwiched together and secured by screws  105 . A first motor cap  103  retains an end of the motor  56  proximate to the motor shaft  85  thereby providing support for the motor  56  within the gear box  84 . A second motor cap  104  secures a motor retaining cover  106  and motor retaining sleeve  107  containing the rest of the motor  56  not supported by the first motor cap  103 . A motor shaft gear  110  is fixedly attached to the motor shaft  85 . The teeth of the motor shaft gear  110  are in mesh with a high speed side  112   b  of a primary speed reducing gear  112 , teeth of a low speed side  112   a  of the primary speed reducing gear  112  are in mesh with teeth of a low speed side  114   b  of a first pressure clutch  114 . The first pressure clutch  114  includes a first clutch spring  115 . The first pressure clutch is mounted on the drive shaft  87  along with the drive gear  86 . The drive gear  86  is fixed to the driveshaft  87  such that when the drive gear  86  turns the drive shaft  87  turns correspondingly. A first clutch pad  116  also mounted on the drive shaft  87  is biased by the first clutch spring  115  to cause the drive gear  86  to frictionally engage the first pressure clutch  114  causing teeth of the main drive gear  86  to engage teeth of a second pressure clutch  118 . The second pressure clutch  118  includes a second pressure clutch pin  119 , a second clutch spring  120  and a second clutch pad  121 . The second pressure clutch  118 , the second clutch spring  120  and the second clutch pad  121  are all mounted on the second pressure clutch pin  119 . The second clutch spring  120  biases the second clutch pad  121  into engagement with the second pressure clutch  118 . The second clutch pad  121  also includes teeth and the teeth of the second clutch pad  121  are in mesh with a high-speed side  122   a  of a secondary speed reducing gear  122 . The secondary speed reducing gear  122  is mounted on a secondary speed-reducer shaft  123  and is allowed to spin freely on the secondary speed-reducer shaft  123 . Teeth of the high-speed side  122   a  of the secondary speed reducing gear  122  are in mesh with the teeth of the power take-off gear  88 . 
     Preferably the first and second gear box covers  101 ,  102  are formed of a polymeric material that is injection molded with preformed threaded holes, retainers, detents, shaft holders and the like. However, the first and second gearbox covers  101 ,  102  may be formed of other materials and by other methods. Preferably, the first and second pressure clutch assemblies  114 - 116 ,  118 - 121 , the drive gear  86 , the motor shaft gear  110 , the primary speed reducing gear  112 , the secondary speed reducing gear  122  and the power take-off gear  88  are all formed from a polymeric material that is substantially rigid, but lightweight. However, the first and second pressure clutch assemblies  114 - 116 ,  118 - 121 , the drive gear  86 , the motor shaft gear  110 , the primary speed reducing gear  112 , the secondary speed reducing gear  122  and the power take-off gear  88  may be formed of other materials without departing from the broad scope of the present invention. Further, while a number of gears and clutches are shown in a particular configuration of the present invention, it should be noted that other combinations of clutches and gears may be utilized without departing from the broad inventive scope herein. 
     Preferably the motor  56  is a DC motor of the known variety capable of operating in first and second opposing rotational directions based upon the polarity of voltage supplied to motor leads  56   a  and  56   b . In operation, when the motor  56  turns in a first direction the motor shaft gear  110  turns the primary speed reducing gear  112  in a first direction which in turn turns the first pressure clutch  114  in the first direction. As long as the torque or back pressure on the drive shaft  87  remains within the tolerance of the first pressure clutch  114 , the first pressure clutch  114  is able to turn the drive gear  86  in the first direction. The drive shaft  87  in turn is able to turn the rear wheels  60  in the first direction thereby moving the entire sound activated toy vehicle  50 . However, should the sound activated toy vehicle  50  encounter an obstacle or some rough surface, torque on the wheels  60  may increase beyond the holding capability of the first pressure clutch  114  and the first clutch spring  115  may allow the first clutch pad  116  to disengage so that the motor  56 , the motor shaft gear  110  and the primary speed reducing gear  112  all still turn in the first direction but do not effect movement on the drive shaft  87  through the first pressure clutch  114  due to slippage. In normal operation the first clutch pad  116  imparts movement on the second pressure clutch  118  thereby turning the second pressure clutch  118  in the first direction which in turn turns the second clutch pad  121  in the first direction. The second clutch pad  121  imparts motion on the secondary speed reducing gear  122  which in turn turns the power take-off gear  88  in the first direction. If the power take-off gear  88  encounters a torque or resistance beyond the rating for the second clutch pad  121  and second pressure clutch spring  120 , the second clutch pad  121  is allowed to slip from the second pressure clutch  118  allowing movement of the second pressure clutch  118  but not imparting movement on the secondary speed reducing gear  122  and the power take-off gear  88 . 
     Similarly, when the motor  56  turns in a second direction the motor shaft gear  110  turns the primary speed reducing gear  112  in a second direction which in turn turns the first pressure clutch  114  in the second direction. As long as the torque or back pressure on the drive shaft  87  remains within the tolerance of the first pressure clutch  114 , the first pressure clutch  114  is able to turn the drive gear  86  in the second direction. The drive shaft  87  in turn is able to turn the rear wheels  60  in the second direction thereby moving the entire sound activated toy vehicle  50 . However, should the sound activated toy vehicle  50  encounter an obstacle or some rough surface, torque on the wheels  60  may increase beyond the holding capability of the first pressure clutch  114  and the first clutch spring  115  may allow the first clutch pad  116  to disengage so that the motor  56 , the motor shaft gear  110  and the primary speed reducing gear  112  all still turn in the second direction but do not effect movement on the drive shaft  87  through the first pressure clutch  114  due to slippage. In normal operation the first clutch pad  116  imparts movement on the second pressure clutch  118  thereby turning the second pressure clutch  118  in the second direction which in turn turns the second clutch pad  121  in the second direction. The second clutch pad  121  imparts motion on the secondary speed reducing gear  122  which in turn turns the power take-off gear  88  in the second direction. If the power take-off gear  88  encounters a torque or resistance beyond the rating for the second clutch pad  121  and second pressure clutch spring  120 , the second clutch pad  121  is allowed to slip from the second pressure clutch  118  allowing movement of the second pressure clutch  118  but not imparting movement on the secondary speed reducing gear  122  and the power take-off gear  88 . 
     Referring again to FIG. 2, the sound activated toy vehicle  50  is preferably used in combination with a remote sound generating device  90 . The remote sound generating device or remote device  90  includes a housing  92  formed by mating half shells  92   a ,  92   b , one shell  92   b  having perforations  93  so as to permit sound waves to pass therethrough. The remote device  90  also includes a mechanical diaphragm  94  within the housing  92 . The diaphragm  94  has a generally central portion  94   a , an outer edge  94   b , and a deflecting surface  94   c  connected to a portion  94   d  of the outer edge  94   b . The outer edge  94   b  of the diaphragm  94  is at least partially secured so as to allow movement of the generally central portion  94   a  of the diaphragm  94 . The remote device  90  further includes a pushbutton  96  protruding through an opening  95  in shell  92   a  of the housing  92 . The pushbutton  96  directly contacts the deflecting surface  94   c  of the diaphragm  94  and is supported such that when the pushbutton  96  is pressed inwardly into the housing  92  by a user,(not shown), the pushbutton  96  moves the deflecting surface  94   c  thereby causing the generally central portion of the diaphragm  94  to move and generate a first sound. Preferably, the pushbutton  96  is coupled to a curved lever  91  to provide additional leverage for deflecting the diaphragm  94 . Preferably, the housing  92  has the overall appearance of a badge such as a policeman&#39;s badge, a fireman&#39;s badge, a paramedic&#39;s badge, a security officer&#39;s badge, or the like. In the presently preferred embodiment the housing  92  has the overall appearance of a fireman&#39;s badge. Of course the sound generating device  90  is not critical to the present invention and could be any sound generating device capable of emitting a clicking or popping sound or some other repeatable sound that is recognizable to a control circuit  66  coupled to the sound transducer  62 . 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment of the control circuit  66  for use with or within the present invention. The control circuit  66  comprises the controller U 1 , a spring biased switch SW 20 , a three-position switch SW 21 , batteries BT 1 , BT 2 , BT 3 , capacitors C 1 -C 9 , resistors R 1 -R 15 , SCRs and/or transistors S 1 -S 10 , inductors L 1 -L 2 , diodes D 1 -D 3 , sound transducer  62 , sound generating device  64 , light LTO and motor  56 . The controller U 1  may be an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a microcontroller, a programmable array logic (PAL), a processor and the like without diverging from the present invention. The controller U 1  includes inputs P 2 . 0 , P 2 . 1  and P 2 . 2  and outputs P 3 . 0 , P 3 . 1 , P 3 . 2 , and V 0 . When the controller U 1  receives an input signal from switch SW 20 , output V 0  energizes the sound generating device  64  and output P 3 . 2  energizes the light LTO through transistors S 9  and S 10 , respectively. Output V 0  is capable of generating a variable output signal which creates a corresponding sound such as a siren or horn. When the controller U 1  receives an input signal from the sound transducer  62 , the controller U 1  drives either output P 3 . 0  or P 3 . 1  in order to turn the motor  56  in a first direction of rotation for a predetermined amount of time or until the controller U 1  receives a second input from sound transducer  62 . When the controller U 1  receives a second input signal from the sound transducer  62 , the controller U 1  drives the other of the outputs P 3 . 0  or P 3 . 1  in order to drive the motor  56  in a second direction of rotation, opposite the first direction of rotation, for a predetermined amount of time or until the controller U 1  receives a third input signal from the sound transducer  62 . 
     When three-position switch  21  is in a first position, only batteries BT 1  and BT 2  are connected in series thereby providing a first voltage to the controller U 1  at voltage supply pin VDD. When three-position switch  21  is in a second position, none of the batteries are connected to the circuit and no voltage is provided to the controller U 1  at voltage pin VDD. When three-position switch SW 21  is in a third position, all three batteries BT 1 , BT 2 , BT 3  are in series thereby providing a second voltage to the controller U 1  at voltage pin VDD. When the controller U 1  receives the first voltage at voltage pin VDD, the controller U 1  does not operate the outputs P 3 . 0 , P 3 . 1  that control the motor  56  regardless of the state of the other inputs P 2 . 0 , P 2 . 1 . When the controller U  1  receives the second voltage at voltage pin VDD, the controller U 1  is able to operate the outputs P 3 . 0 , P 3 . 1  to thereby control the motor  56  in either the first or the second direction of rotation. 
     While the control circuit  66  is shown with the electrical components described herein, other combinations of control devices and other control circuits may be utilized without departing from the present invention. 
     FIGS. 3-4 show a sound activated toy vehicle  150  in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The sound activated toy vehicle  150  has the overall appearance of a police car. The sound activated toy vehicle  150  includes a body  152 , a chassis  154  and a motor  56  (FIG.  7 ). The motor  56  and gear box  84  are identical to those described above regarding the first preferred embodiment. The chassis  154  accommodates the body  152  and, preferably, has two front wheels  158  and two rear wheels  160 . The motor  56  maybe drivingly connected to at least one of the front wheels  158  and rear wheels  160 , but is preferably drivingly connected to the two rear wheels  160  in the same way as the first vehicle  50 . 
     The sound activated toy vehicle  150  also includes sound transducer  62  supported in either the chassis  154  or the body  152  and configured to generate an electrical signal in response to detected sound such as a clicking noise, a specific frequency, and the like. As in the first embodiment, sound transducer  62  is a condenser microphone. However, the sound transducer  62  may be other devices such as Piezoelectric transducers, electromechanical reeds and the like without departing from the broad scope of the present invention. The sound transducer  62  is again mounted in sound collector with antenna  64  having slotted or screened sound transducer cover  64   a . The collector/antenna  64  is again mounted to a hood  165  of the toy vehicle  150  like a real antenna on a real vehicle. 
     Transducer  62  is again coupled to control circuit  66  having the controller U 1  described above (FIG. 8) identical to that described for the first preferred embodiment. 
     The sound activated toy vehicle  150  further includes a vehicle accessory  170  supported on at least one of the chassis  154  and the body  152 . The vehicle accessory  170  is preferably a moveable speed indicator  171   b  mounted under a moveable trunk lid  171   a  of the sound activated toy vehicle  150 . However, the vehicle accessory  170  may be other movable pieces without departing from the present invention. The vehicle accessory  170  has an exterior portion  171  visible on the vehicle and an actuating mechanism  172 . The actuating mechanism  172  includes a carriage  174  movably secured to an internal surface of the body  152 . The actuating mechanism  172  also includes a rack  176  having teeth  176   a  and a protrusion  176   b . The actuating mechanism  172  is moveable between a first rack position and a second rack position. The rack  176  is located in a volume defined by the carriage  174  and the internal surface of the body  152 . The rack  176  is in sliding relationship within the volume defined by the carriage  174  and the internal surface of the body  152 . The actuating mechanism  172  also includes a lever  178  having a first arm  180  rotatably coupled to the exterior portion  171  of the vehicle accessory  170 . A spring  182  is located between the first arm  180  and the interior surface of the body  152 . The lever  178  is in contact with the protrusion  176   b  on the rack  176  such that tension of the spring  182  against the first arm  180  and the interior surface biases the rack  176  to the first rack position. The exterior portion  171  is moved from a first accessory position to a second accessory position by the rack  176  being moved from the first rack position to the second rack position. 
     The chassis  154  further comprises a gearbox  84  having a drive gear  86  (FIG. 7) and a power take-off gear  88  each drivingly coupled to a shaft  85  of the motor  56  identically to the gearbox  84  described above regarding the first preferred embodiment. The power take-off gear  88  is operably coupled with the rack  176  so that when the motor shaft  85  turns in a first rotational direction, the rack  176  moves generally linearly from the first rack position to the second rack position. When the motor shaft  85  turns in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, the rack  176  moves generally linearly from the second rack position to the first rack position. 
     The sound activated toy vehicle  150  is preferably used in combination with a remote sound generating device  190 . The remote sound generating device or remote device  190  is identical to device  90  but for a slightly different configuration of housing  192 . Preferably, the housing  192  has the overall appearance of a policeman&#39;s badge. 
     FIGS. 5-6 show a sound activated toy vehicle  250  in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. The sound activated toy vehicle  250  has the overall appearance of an ambulance. The sound activated toy vehicle  250  includes a body  252 , a chassis  254  and a motor  56  (FIG.  7 ). The motor  56  and gear box  84  are identical to those described above regarding the first preferred embodiment. The chassis  254  accommodates the body  252  and has a front wheel  258  and a rear wheel  260 . Preferably, the chassis has two front wheels  258  and two rear wheels  260 . The motor is drivingly connected to at least one of the front wheels  258  and rear wheels  260 , but the motor  56  is preferably drivingly connected to the rear wheels  260  as described in greater detail below. 
     The sound activated toy vehicle  250  also includes a sound transducer  62  supported in either the chassis  254  or the body  252  and configured to generate an electrical signal in response to detected sound such as a clicking noise, a specific frequency, and the like. In the presently preferred embodiment, the sound transducer  62  is a condenser microphone. However, the sound transducer  62  may be other devices such as Piezoelectric transducers, electromechanical reeds and the like without departing from the broad scope of the present invention. The sound transducer  62  is mounted in an antenna  64  having a microphone or sound transducer cover  64   a . The antenna  64  is formed of a resilient material such as a polymeric material capable of bending without breaking and capable of returning to its original orientation by its own resiliency. The antenna  64  is mounted to a hood  265  of the toy vehicle  250  like a real antenna on a real vehicle. The antenna  64  is larger in scale and proportion relative to the size of the toy vehicle  250  as compared to the proportional size of a real antenna on a real vehicle. 
     The sound activated toy vehicle  250  also includes the control circuit  66  having the controller U 1  described above (FIG. 8) identical to that described for the first preferred embodiment. The sound activated toy vehicle  250  further includes a vehicle accessory  270  supported on at least one of the chassis  254  and the body  252 . The vehicle accessory  270  has an exterior portion  271  and an actuating mechanism  272 . The actuating mechanism  272  includes a carriage  274  movably secured to an internal surface (not shown clearly) of the body  252 . The actuating mechanism  272  also includes a rack  276  having teeth  276   a  and a protrusion  276   b . The actuating mechanism  272  is moveable between a first rack position and a second rack position. The rack  276  is located in a volume defined by the carriage  274  and the internal surface  252   b  of the body  252 . The rack  276  is in sliding relationship within the volume defined by the carriage  274  and the internal surface of the body  252 . The actuating mechanism  272  also includes a lever  278  having a first arm  280  rotatably coupled to the exterior portion  271  of the vehicle accessory  270 . A spring  282  is located between the first arm  280  and the interior surface of the body  252 . The lever  278  is in contact with the protrusion  276   b  on the rack  276  such that tension of the spring  282  against the first arm  280  and the interior surface biases the rack  276  to the first rack position. The exterior portion  271  is moved from a first accessory position to a second accessory position by the rack  276  being moved from the first rack position to the second rack position. The vehicle accessory  270  is preferably a rotatable or moveable window  271   a  movably mounted in the side of the sound activated toy vehicle  250 . However, the vehicle accessory  270  may be other movable pieces without departing from the present invention. 
     The chassis  254  further comprises a gearbox  84  having a drive gear  86  (FIG. 7) and a power take-off gear  88  each drivingly coupled to a shaft  85  of the motor  56  identically to the gearbox  84  described above regarding the first preferred embodiment. The power take-off gear  88  is operably coupled with the rack  276  so that when the motor shaft  85  turns in a first rotational direction, the rack  276  moves generally linearly from the first rack position to the second rack position. When the motor shaft  85  of the motor turns in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, the rack  176  moves generally linearly from the second rack position to the first rack position. 
     The sound activated toy vehicle  250  is preferably used in combination with a remote sound generating device  290 . The remote sound generating device  290  is identical to device  90  but for a slightly different configuration of housing  292 . Preferably, the housing  292  has the overall appearance of a paramedic&#39;s badge. 
     From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention comprises a sound activated toy vehicle including a vehicle accessory on either the chassis or the body wherein the vehicle accessory is moved by mechanical power from the motor. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.