Abstract:
A direct drive slot car having a chassis, and a motor having a motor shaft connecting directly to a set of wheels. The motor shaft is operatively engaged with the motor without a gear train or a separate rear axle. The motor shaft rotates the set of wheels in response to the motor being energized.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Slot car toys may have started as simple miniature motorized toy cars traveling along tracks for young children, but over the years, loyal legions of fans continue to embrace these toys. Nowadays, a growing number of old fans who wish to continue to bring these toys into their retirement or adult lives, while sharing this fond memory with their children, whether they are young children or teenagers—a racing toy for all ages. 
         [0002]    Traditionally, slot cars have always been designed with a gear train between the motor and the driving wheels in one of three configurations as seen in  FIGS. 1-3 : 
         [0003]    For example, in  FIG. 1 , an inline style&#39;where the motor shaft is orientated at 90 degrees to the rear axle and the turning moment is connected by a contrate or crown gear and pinion to connect the motor to the rear axle. 
         [0004]    For example, in  FIG. 2 , a sidewinder style—where the motor is mounted in front of the rear axle and drive is provided by a spur gear and pinion to connect the motor to the axle. 
         [0005]    In another prior technology example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , an anglewinder style—where the motor is set an angle to the rear axle and drives, again through a spur gear and pinion. 
         [0006]    When the slot cars started circa late 1950&#39;s/early 1960&#39;s, they are mostly made out of plastic and simple constructions. For example, these slot cars may be fitted with an aftermarket motor that is secured purely by sandwiching it between the upper and lower plastic body parts which are then screwed together. The motor bearings are also the only support for the axle (motor shaft). The wheels are plastic and push fit on the end of the motor shaft. Due to their unsophisticated design, they no longer meet the needs of modern day slot car racing, which demands high quality construction and finish. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Embodiments of the invention minimize the diameter of the driven spur gear. Further embodiments of the invention provide a direct drive slot car device manufactured from modern materials and featuring a number of specifically designed, and novel components. Components including the chassis and motor enable the car to run efficiently without the traditional method of utilizing a pinion and spur/crown gear reduction system to enable drive to the driving wheels. 
         [0008]    Aspects of the invention further eliminate the need for a gear train allowing the car to run smoothly without the need for either a gear train or a separate rear axle. The motor shaft itself becomes the rear axle and provides turning moment to the rear wheels. Moreover, embodiments of the invention are developed to simplify construction of the slot car and also to simplify maintenance and use of the car for novice racers. Removal of the gear train ensures that there are no implications in operation in terms of worn gears or incorrect fitting and meshing of replacement of gears. This essentially removes one of the major maintenance and performance implications of using such a product by eliminating the gear train altogether. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an inline rear motor drive slot car design as used in the prior art. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a sidewinder rear motor drive slot car design as used in the prior art. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an anglewinder rear motor drive slot car design as used in the prior art. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are explosive views of a motor according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are schematics of a motor according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a top view of a direct drive slot car without a cover according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a top view of a chassis of a direct drive slot car without a cover as stamped according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a top view of the chassis of  FIG. 9  ready for assembly according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a top view of a direct drive slot car without wheels and cover according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a direct drive slot car without wheels and cover according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a side view of a direct drive slot car without wheel and cover according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  is a top view of a direct drive slot car without a cover according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  is a bottom view of a direct drive slot car without a cover according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  is a top view of a direct drive slot car without a cover according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  is a front elevation view of a direct drive slot car without a cover according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 18  is a side elevation view of a direct drive slot car without a cover according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 19  is a back view of a direct drive slot car without a cover according to another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Embodiments of the invention overcome the prior technology&#39;s limitation of relying on different kinds of gears to achieve rear-wheel drive in toy slot cars. Referring to  FIG. 4 , an explosive view showing a direct drive motor  400  used in a direct drive slot car system according to one embodiment of the invention. In particular,  FIG. 4  illustrates the right hand side of the direct drive motor  400  (hereinafter “motor”). In one example, the motor  400  may be a direct current (DC) motor. For example, the motor  400  includes a housing  402  as a body for the motor  400 . In one example, the housing  402  may be made of a deep drawn mild steel body having a thickness of about 0.013 inches. In another example, it may feature properties of 1 phosphor bronze (oilite) bearing bush. Other materials may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The motor  400  also includes a magnet pair  404 . In one example, the magnet pair  404  includes a pair of magnets having a north and south polarity in a semi-circle shape. 
         [0028]    The motor  400  further includes an armature assembly  406 . The armature assembly  406  includes, for example, three pole laminated iron stacks, three segment commutators, enamel coated wires, and two brass thrust washers. Other materials for the armature assembly  406  may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The armature assembly  406  may also include a shaft  408 , and the shaft  408  may be a hard steel shaft with a size of about 2 mm or 0.079 inches long. The motor  400  further includes a right insulator  410 . In one example, the right insulator  410  may be made of copper/CAR8 on motor brushes mounted on beryllium copper springs. The right insulator  410  may also include high temperature plastic molded insulator with solderable external connection tabs. In another example, the motor  400  may include a right end cap  412 . For example, the right end cap  412  may be made of press formed steel end cap of about 0.013 inches and may feature properties of 1 phosphor bronze (oilite) bearing bush. It is to be understood that these parts may be combined or consolidated without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
         [0029]    Moreover, in one aspect of the invention, it may be noted that the armature assembly  406  of the motor  400  becomes and fulfils the function of the rear axle of a direct drive slot car. This feature eliminates the main “occurring” fault in all slot cars, which was the wearing and failure of transmission gears. The design of the motor, such as the motor  400  shown in  FIG. 4 , simplifies the transmission layout by eliminating the gear train. In addition to eliminating this problem it also simplifies assembly and minimizes cost by omitting said gears. 
         [0030]    Similarly,  FIG. 5  is an explosive diagram illustrating the left hand side of the motor  400 . What is different from  FIG. 4  is an left insulator  510  and a left end cap  512  of the motor  400 . Furthermore,  FIGS. 6 and 7  show schematics of the motor  400 . Furthermore, embodiments of the invention incorporate such chassis (to be described further below) to support the motor  400  on one the one side, bolted to the chassis with two screws and on the other side, the motor is supported by the means of an oilite bearing surrounding the shaft  408  and affixed to the chassis “pillar block”. 
         [0031]    Aspects of the invention further include a uniquely designed chassis shown in  FIGS. 8-19  that incorporate the motor  400  securely and conveniently to deliver the benefits of the design. For example, referring to  FIG. 8 , an assembled top view of a chassis  800 . For example, the chassis  800  includes a right section  802 , a left section  804  and a center section  806 . Also depicted in  FIG. 8  are wheels  808  and the motor  400 . In  FIG. 8 , the chassis  800  may be made of stainless steel through known stamped and pressed manufacturing methods. For example, the chassis  800  may be made from approximately 0.025 inches thick sheet of stainless steel. This thickness or material is used in view of the lightweight characteristics as well as the strength needed for the slot car racing. Other materials may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of aspects of the invention. 
         [0032]    Referring again to  FIG. 8 , the right section  802  and the left section  804  of the chassis  800  are, respectively, used to support a right front wheel (not shown here) and a left front wheel (not shown here). The center section  806  of the chassis  800  may be used to support the motor  400  to the rear section thereof.  FIGS. 9-10  illustrate disassembled top views of the chassis  800 . For example,  FIG. 9  shows the chassis  800  as stamped. For example, in  FIG. 9 , mounting tabs  902  of the chassis  800  are shown as stamped from the dye or mold presses. On the other hand,  FIG. 10  shows the mounting tabs  902  in a ready-to-assemble position, waiting to be engaged with the remaining parts of the chassis  800 . Furthermore,  FIG. 9  shows a number of interlocking pairs  904  having corresponding and matching locking mechanisms between the right section  802  or the left section  804  to the center section  806 . 
         [0033]    In a further embodiment, the chassis  800  is designed work with the motor  400 , which may provide the correct torque characteristics to enable it to efficiently drive the slot car with sufficient torque to ensure that a reduction gear train is not required for correct function. 
         [0034]    Aspects of the invention, as further illustrated in  FIG. 8 , enable the shaft  408  of the motor  400  to be securely affixed to the rear of the chassis  800  such that the shaft  408  becomes and fulfils the function of the rear axle and that the chassis is so designed as to support the motor on one side. In this construction, the motor  400  is bolted or screwed to the chassis with two screws and on the other side, the motor is supported by the means of an oilite bearing surrounding the shaft  408  and affixed to the “pillar block” of the chassis  800 . 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIGS. 11-18 , a series of views showing the chassis  800  with an electrical pick up braids  1102 . In one embodiment, the braids  1102  are housed in a slot guide injection molded plastic housing. Referring to  FIG. 12 , a perspective view of an assembled slot car without the wheels and the cover. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the mounting tabs with a set of screws  1202  are used to secure the motor  400  to the chassis  800  to the rear of the chassis  800 , hence providing a direct drive to rear wheels (not shown). Referring also to  FIG. 16 , a rod  1602  is used along with the interlocking pairs to provide engagements between the center section  806 , the right section  802  and the left section  804 . Referring also to  FIG. 18 , a side elevation view shows the chassis  800  with a front wheel  1702  and the rear wheel  808 . In one example, the rear wheels  808  include aluminum wheel rims with microcellular synthetic sponge rubber tires. Other materials may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
         [0036]    Aspects of the invention offer and perform all the functions of existing slot cars but does so without a gear train. Without the gears, gear mesh will not be disturbed while changing wheels or tires. This convenience is further appreciated by novice racers due to the ease of maintenance of the slot cars. 
         [0037]    Moreover, the chassis  800  provides a separate and complete construction from the body or cover (not shown) of the slot car. This provides flexibilities and a close-to-real-life racing atmosphere as racers could change the design as well as having different decals of sponsors of the cover without significantly altering the chassis. This design allows a wide range of different bodies to be mounted on the completed chassis. 
         [0038]    Alternatively embodiment of the invention further includes the chassis  800  be engaged with the motor  400  via 2×2 mm screws and on the other side by a fixed bronze bearing which the shaft  408  runs through, this also stabilizes the motor  400  within the chassis  800 . The chassis  800  may be a modular unit in its own right which does not depend on a section of the body being affixed to said chassis  800  in order to retain the motor  400 . As such, embodiments of the invention provide the advantages of transmitting the higher power of the specially designed motor  400  to the slot car. In another embodiment, the chassis  800  does not rely on sections of a body (one section of the chassis  800  being the underpan) to sandwich the motor in a suitable way to prevent movement of said motor. The chassis  800  with elements described above provides ways to secure the motor  400  without a body in prior technology and design. 
         [0039]    When introducing elements of aspects of the invention or the embodiments thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
         [0040]    Having described aspects of the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims. As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope and spirit of aspects of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.