Abstract:
A travelling toy having a ramp member to which a toy vehicle is selectively secured, and a base member pivotally secured to the ramp member. The base member is pivotable back and forth between two positions. A ratchet device converts the two-directional pivotal motion of the base member relative to the ramp member into one-directional rotational motion of a flywheel within the toy vehicle. A releasing device selectively releases the toy vehicle from the ramp member after the driving force has been accumulated in the flywheel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a travelling toy, and more particularly to a travelling toy having a launcher that generates and transfers driving force to a toy vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Toy vehicles are well known in the art, and generally include a flywheel drive mechanism connected through a driving axle to at least one driving wheel. Driving force is accumulated in the flywheel drive mechanism for transfer to the driving wheel. The toy vehicle is then driven upon a driving surface through frictional contact between the driving wheel and the driving surface. Two types of prior art devices are used to accumulate driving force in the flywheel drive mechanism of toy vehicles. 
     One type of prior art device that is used to accumulate driving force in the flywheel drive mechanism of toy vehicles includes a manual flywheel. Driving force is accumulated in the flywheel drive mechanism of the toy vehicle by bringing the driving wheel of the toy vehicle into pressure contact with the manual flywheel. However, the manual flywheel device has several disadvantages. For example, the manual flywheel device is large and cumbersome Also, the manual flywheel device is difficult to use because the body of the toy vehicle must be held down so that the driving wheel is maintained in pressure contact with the manual flywheel. Consequently, two-handed operation is required. 
     Another type of prior art device used to accumulate driving force in the flywheel drive mechanism of toy vehicles is a long rack belt. The long rack belt is brought into mesh with a driving gear mounted on the driving wheel of the toy vehicle, and then is pulled quickly to accumulate driving force in the flywheel drive mechanism of the toy vehicle. Consequently, two-handed operation is required. Also, the long rack belt is only suitable for a two-wheeled toy vehicle or the like in which the driving wheels and the driving gear are exposed to the exterior of the toy vehicle. The long rack belt cannot be used with a four-wheeled toy vehicle or the like in which a driving gear cannot be exposed to the exterior of the body of the toy vehicle. That is, because the driving wheel of a four-wheeled toy vehicle does not project from the vehicle body, the driving gear cannot be exposed so as to be brought into mesh with the long rack belt. In addition, a four-wheeled toy vehicle has no space for insertion of the long rack belt. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a travelling toy that includes a driving force accumulating device that is small and easy to use. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a travelling toy having a driving force accumulating device that does not require two-handed operation. 
     In order to achieve the foregoing and other objects, in accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, a travelling toy having a launcher and a toy vehicle with a flywheel, comprises: a ramp member having an opening; a base member pivotally connected to the ramp member about a pivot shaft; a rack piece mounted on the base member; a first gear rotatably secured to the ramp member so as to be engageable from the opening; transmission gears in mesh with one another and rotatably secured to the ramp member, one of said transmission gears being in mesh with the rack piece and other of the transmission gears being selectively in mesh with the first gear; a transfer gear rotatably secured to the toy vehicle and in mesh with the flywheel of the toy vehicle; and a driving gear in mesh with the transfer gear and rotatably secured to the toy vehicle, the driving gear being engageable with the first gear. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent with reference to the following detailed description and drawings. However, the drawings and description are merely illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the present invention. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a travelling toy according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and shows the toy vehicle retained by the launcher; and 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and shows the toy vehicle released from the launch tower. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a travelling toy according to the present invention. Launcher 1 includes a ramp member 2 and a base member 3. Ramp member 2 and base member 3 include a grip portion 4a and a nipping portion 4b, and are pivotally connected at a central portion by a pivot shaft 5 and shaped so as to form a clip. A box-shaped launch tower 6 is included on the outside surface of ramp member 2. A release button 7 projects from the upper surface (as shown in FIG. 1) of launch tower 6. 
     FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and shows a toy vehicle 25 retained by launcher 1. 
     A rack piece 10 is mounted on the inner surface of base member 3 and forms an arc centered about pivot shaft 5. Alternatively, rack piece 10 may be a generally straight rack pivotally mounted on the inner surface of bar member 3 and biased into mesh. A torsion spring 11 is wound around pivot shaft 5, with the ends of torsion spring 11 respectively contacting the inside surface of ramp member 2 and the inside surface of base member 3. Torsion spring 11 biases grip portions 4a away from one another, while biasing nipping portions 4b into contact with one another. Alternatively, torsion spring 11 may be a coil spring, a leaf spring or the like. When grip portions 4a are pressed toward one another against the bias of torsion spring 11, nipping portions 4b are brought out of contact with one another. The player may use nipping portions 4b to clip launcher 1 to a pocket in his or her clothes, or to papers and the like. Alternatively, the nipping portion 4b of base member 3 may be omitted. 
     A gear housing 12 is included on the inside of ramp member 2, and rotatively mounts a pinion 13, a gear 14, a pinion 15, a gear 16 and a gear 19. Gear 14 and pinion 13 are coaxial and integrally formed, as are pinion 15 and gear 16. Alternatively, gear 14 and pinion 13 may be coaxial and separately formed, as may pinion 15 and gear 16. 
     Rack piece 10 is normally in mesh with pinion 13, consequently, pinion 13 and gear 14 rotate in the counterclockwise and clockwise directions (relative to the perspective shown in FIG. 2) as grip portions 4a are respectively brought toward each other and released. Gear housing 12 includes a bearing hole 17 which is elongated and which retains a gear shaft 18 on which pinion 15 and gear 16 are mounted. Pinion 15 meshes with gear 14, and consequently pinion 15 and gear 16 rotate in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions (relative to the perspective shown in FIG. 2) as grip portions 4a are respectively brought toward each other and released. Bearing hole 17 is elongated in a vertical direction (as shown in FIG. 2) so that when grip portions 4a are brought toward each other, gear shaft 18 moves from the lower end (as shown in FIG. 2) of bearing hole 17 to the upper end of bearing hole 17 and into mesh with gear 19, thereby causing gear 19 to rotate counterclockwise (relative to the perspective in FIG. 2). 
     On the other hand, when grip portions 4a are released after having been brought toward one another, gear 16 moves down bearing hole 17 away from gear 19, so that only counterclockwise rotation is transmitted to gear 19. Therefore, gear 19 forms a ratchet with gear 16 and is adapted to rotate in one direction through engagement and disengagement with gear 16 because of the motion of gear 16 within bearing hole 17. By repeatedly bringing grip portions 4a toward each other and releasing, gear 19 can rotate counterclockwise continuously. An opening 20 is formed in ramp member 2, and gear 19 is mounted in gear housing 12 so as to project upward from opening 20. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and shows toy vehicle 25 released from launch tower 6. 
     Push button 7 projects from launch tower 6 and includes a retaining tang 8. Push button 7 also includes a generally V-shaped elastic piece 7a (phantom line in FIG. 3), the lower end of which abuts with a lug 12a of gear housing 12. Alternatively, push button 7, retaining tang 8 and V-shaped elastic piece 7a may be separate pieces, rather than having a one piece construction. Also, V-shaped elastic piece 7a may be a coil spring, a torsion spring or the like. A stop piece 9 projects from launch tower 6 in a position above (as shown in FIG. 3) retaining piece 8. 
     Toy vehicle 25 includes a fitting hole 30 into which stop piece 9 is inserted, and a retaining tang 29 which is brought into engagement with retaining tang 8. Toy vehicle 25 also includes rear driving wheels, a driving axle, and driving gear 27. A flywheel drive mechanism 26 of known structure is rotatably connected to driving gear 27 through a transfer gear (not shown). Gear 27 projects downwardly from the underside of toy vehicle 25 and is in mesh with gear 19 when toy vehicle 25 is attached to launch tower 6. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, retaining tang 29 is sandwiched between stop piece 9 and retaining tang 8, and gear 27 is in mesh with gear 19. Alternatively, gear 27 may be flush with the underside of toy vehicle 25, with gear 19 projecting into engagement with gear 27. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the rear driving wheels of toy vehicle 25 are not in contact with the surface of ramp member 2 when toy vehicle 25 is attached to launch tower 6, and thus the rear driving wheels are free to rotate. 
     With toy vehicle 25 attached to launch tower 6, grip portions 4a are repeatedly forced toward each other and then released. Consequently, driving gear 27 is rotated by gear 19 and a flywheel (not shown) within flywheel drive mechanism 26 rotates at high speed to accumulate driving force. Then, upon depression of release button 7, retaining tang 8 moves down and is disengaged from retaining tang 29, and toy vehicle 25 rolls down ramp member 2 until the rear driving wheels contact the surface of ramp member 2. Once the driving wheels of toy vehicle 25 contact the surface of ramp member 2, the driving force accumulated in the flywheel drive mechanism drives toy vehicle 25 down the ramp member and onto a driving surface (not shown). 
     All of the operations required, e.g., squeezing and releasing grip portions 4a toward each other and pushing release button 7, can be accomplished with the use of one hand. Thus, the travelling toy of the present invention is easy to operate. 
     Numerous modifications and adaptations of the present invention will be apparent to those so skilled in the art and thus, it is intended by the following claims to cover all modifications and adaptations which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.