Abstract:
The present invention relates to a toy including a carriage ( 12 ), a pair of wheels ( 14 ), a sliding part ( 16 ) mobile along the carriage between extended and retracted positions, a spring stressed between the carriage and the sliding part, and means adapted to i) to progressively store a mechanical energy in the spring by displacement of the sliding part towards the retracted position, and ii) to release the thus-stored energy. The sliding part includes an end ( 32 ) supporting a jaw ( 34 ) and a pad ( 36 ). The carriage includes a protruding part ( 24 ) supporting another jaw ( 28 ) and another pad ( 30 ). The carriage may be oriented relative to the ground between several functionally distinct stable positions, with a default position where the toy rests in stable equilibrium on the two wheels and the pad ( 36 ), and a pulling/grasping position where the toy rests in stable equilibrium on the two wheels and the other pad ( 30 ) and where the second jaws is movable parallel to the ground, further or closer to the first jaw.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a rolling and jumping toy including a pair of wheels arranged on either side of a body of the toy. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Such a type of toy is disclosed for example in the JP 2011/41696 A (Barse). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This document describes a remote-controlled rolling and jumping object mounted on two independent wheels each driven by an individual motor, which allows the toy to move forward, to move rearward, to rotate, to take a jumping position, etc. The toy body includes a frame connected to the wheels and a sliding element guided on slides, with a spring interposed between the frame and the sliding element. A motor displace the sliding element closer to the frame, which as for effect to progressively compress the spring and to store therein an elastic potential energy. The unit is kept in this position by a locking system, which may be liberated to abruptly release the spring and to make the toy jump above the ground by transformation of the potential energy of the spring into kinetic energy, the impact of the sliding part against the ground producing, by reaction, the desired leaping effect. The height of the jump may be adjusted by a variable compression of the spring, allowing to deliver a more or less important energy at the time of the jump. 
     The object of the invention is to improve the toy, while keeping this base structure, by adding it with new functionalities in addition to the function of jumping toy, and this with a minimum of supplementary material means added to the base structure. 
     The object of the invention is also, at the same time, to improve the jumping function by allowing not only to adjust the energy of this jump, but also the jumping direction of the toy, by choosing to favour a high jump (for example to make the toy jump onto a table from the ground), or a long jump (for example to pass an obstacle, the toy ending its travel on the ground). The objects are achieved, according to the invention, by a rolling and jumping toy of the general type disclosed by the above-mentioned JP 2011/41696 A, i.e. a toy including:
         a wheeled-carriage, comprising a carriage and a pair of wheels arranged on either side of the carriage, the wheels being mounted with respect to the carriage so as to rotate about a common axis perpendicular to the main direction of the carriage;   a sliding part, mobile in guided translation along the carriage, between two extreme positions, respectively extended and retracted;   releasable means for locking the position of the sliding part relative to the carriage;   first motor means, adapted to exert on the wheels a torque relative to the carriage;   second motor means, adapted to move the sliding part relative to the carriage;   a spring member stressed between the carriage and the sliding part; and   spring-member control means, adapted i) to progressively store a mechanical energy in the spring member by displacement of the sliding part towards the retracted position under the action of the second motor means, and ii) to release the thus-stored energy, hence driving the sliding part towards the extended position under the effect of a liberation of the locking means.       

     Characteristically of the invention, to achieve the various objects mentioned above:
         the carriage supports a first jaw;   the sliding part includes a protruding distal end supporting a second jaw, located opposite the first jaw, and mobile with the sliding part, as well as a contact pad;   it moreover includes position control means, adapted to pilot in a coordinated manner the first and second motor means so as to move the carriage in rotation relative to ground, selectively between functionally distinct stable positions, comprising:
           a default position, where said pad bears on the ground, the toy resting in stable equilibrium on the two wheels and said pad; and   a pulling/grasping position, where the toy rests in stable equilibrium on the two wheels with the distal end of the sliding part directed towards the ground, and where the second jaw is movable in a controlled manner parallel to the ground, further or closer to the first jaw, as well as, optionally   an inverted pendulum position, where the protruding distal portion of the carriage and the protruding distal end of the sliding part are directed away from the ground, the toy resting in instable equilibrium on its two wheels.   
               

     According to various advantageous subsidiary characteristics:
         the carriage is moreover integral with a protruding distal portion supporting, at a distance from the axis that is higher than the diameter of the wheels, the first jaw as well as another contact pad, and, in the pulling/grasping position, said other pad bears on the ground, the toy resting in stable equilibrium on the two wheels and said other pad;   in the default position, the spring-member control means are adapted to release the energy stored in the spring member so as to cause a leap of the toy above the ground under the effect of the spring-back of the sliding part, transmitted by said pad;   in the pulling/grasping position with the sliding part in the retracted position, the spring-member control means are adapted to release the energy stored in the spring member so as to throw away from the toy an object in contact with the second jaw, under the effect of the spring-back of the sliding part;   in the pulling/grasping position with the sliding part in the extended position, the second motor means are adapted to move progressively the second jaw closer to the first jaw so as to allow the clamping of an object interposed between the first and the second jaws;   in the default position, the second motor means are adapted to move progressively said pad closer to or further from the points of contact of the wheels with the ground, by relative displacement of the sliding part with respect to the carriage between the retracted position and extended position, so as to increase or reduce, respectively, the angle of inclination of the carriage with respect to the surface of the ground;   the toy moreover comprises an optical device with a viewing direction, this optical device being carried by the carriage and being integral with the latter, the increase or the decrease of the angle of inclination of the carriage with respect to the surface of the ground having correlatively for effect to adjust on site the viewing direction of the optical device.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to the appended drawings in which the same references denote identical or functionally similar elements throughout the figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the toy according to the invention, showing the various elements which, combined together, constitute the structure thereof. 
         FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b    are side views illustrating the toy of the invention, in its default position, but according to two different inclinations, respectively. 
         FIGS. 3 a  to 3 d    are side views illustrating the toy in the default position, in the inverted pendulum position, in the pulling position and in the grasping position, respectively. 
         FIGS. 4 a  to 4 d    are similar to  FIGS. 3 a  to 3 d   , in perspective view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In  FIG. 1 , the reference  10  generally denotes the toy according to the invention, which comprises a carriage  12  supported by two wheels  14 . The wheels  14  are mounted on the carriage  12  so as to pivot about a common axis D, and they are driven independently by individual electric motors (not shown), piloted by suitable circuits allowing the toy, according to the direction and speed of rotation of the wheels, to progress along a straight line, to move rearward, to turn about itself or to turn along a curve, etc., such different moves being advantageously controlled by the toy by means of a suitable remote-control. 
     The carriage  12  extends following a main direction Δ, perpendicular to the pivot axis D of the wheels, and it supports a sliding part  16  movable in translation parallel to the axis Δ under the effect of a suitable motor, piloted by the toy control circuits. This sliding part comprises for example two parallel rods  18  guided by respective cylinders  20  integral with the carriage  12 , with interposition between the rods  18  and the cylinders  20  of one or several springs (not visible in the figures) serving as energy storage means, with compression of the spring when the sliding part  16  is moved closer to the carriage  12 , and conversely returning to the sliding part  16  of the energy stored by these springs when the sliding part  16  is released towards an extend position of the carriage/sliding part unit. Moreover, it will be noted that, in the fully extended position of the sliding part, the end of the latter protrudes beyond the circumference of the wheels  14  and can hence come into contact with the ground. 
     The carriage  12  is integral with the body  22  of the toy, which is itself provided with a protuberance  24  protruding beyond the diameter of the wheels  22 . The distal end  26  of the protuberance  24  has, according to a characteristic of the invention, a surface  28  directed towards the rear of the toy (i.e. towards the left with the convention of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), on the same side as the extension of the sliding part  16 . This surface  28  constitutes a first jaw or cheek of a clamping device that will be described hereinafter, in particular with reference to  FIG. 3   d.    
     The protuberance  24  also carries at its distal end  26  a bearing element such as a ridge  30  that may form a first pad of contact with the ground in a configuration that will be explained hereinafter, in particular with reference to  FIGS. 3 c    and  3   d.    
     Besides, the distal end  32  of the sliding part  16 , which protrudes beyond the diameter of the wheels  22 , is provided with an element  34  forming the second jaw, arranged substantially opposite the surface  28  forming the first jaw. In the figure, this element  34  has been illustrated as a removable bow, but this particular form is given only by way of non-limitative example. 
      The distal end  32  of the sliding part  16  also comprises an element  36  such as a surface or a ridge directed towards the ground in the configuration of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and which forms a second contact pad, liable to form a ground-bearing point for the toy, in the position illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The toy may also be provided with one or several optical devices  38  ( FIG. 4 a   ), such as a camera or a light, whose optical axis δ forms a fixed angle with respect to the main direction Δ of the carriage and of the toy body integral with this carriage. This device allows, for example, when the toy rolls, to light the front of the toy and/or to pick-up a video image of the site of operation, viewed from the toy. 
       FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b    (as well as  FIG. 3 a   , similar to  FIG. 2 a   ) illustrate a so-called “default” position among several positions that the toy is liable to take, the other positions being described hereinafter with reference to FIGS.  3   b  to  3   d.    
     In this position, the toy rests on the ground  42  through three bearing points: the two contact points  44  of the wheels  14 , and the second contact pad  36  at the distal end of the sliding part  16 . 
     As mentioned above, the sliding part  16  forms a telescopic unit with the carriage  12 , and it can hence move in translation between an extended position  40  ( FIG. 2 a   ) and a retracted position  40 ′ ( FIG. 2 b   ) under the action of a motor specifically piloted to ensure this translation. 
     The displacement of the sliding part  16  produces a displacement of the ground-bearing point of the second pad  36 , and correlatively a modification of the inclination of the carriage axis Δ, and thus the inclination of the toy and of the different elements that are linked thereto: it is in particular possible to adjust that way the orientation on site of the axis δ of the camera  38 , the azimuth orientation resulting from the rotation of the toy about itself when the two wheels  14  are driven in opposite directions. 
     On the other hand, the default position  40  or  40 ′ is that in which the toy is ready to jump (jumper position), by abrupt spring-back of the springs mounted between the sliding part and the carriage and that will have been previously compressed. 
     Characteristically of the invention, it is possible to favour a long jump or a high jump by positioning the toy with a more or less great inclination of the axis Δ: for example, the position  40  of  FIG. 2 a    with an axis Δ slightly inclined will favour the length of the jump, whereas the position  40 ′ of  FIG. 2 b    with a axis Δ far more inclined upward will favour the height of the jump.  FIGS. 3 a  to 3 d   , as well as  FIGS. 4 a  to 4 d    that are similar but in perspective view, illustrate the different positions that the toy of the invention can take. 
       FIGS. 3 a  and 4 a    correspond to the “default” position that has just been described with reference to  FIGS. 2 a    and  2   b.    
     It is a naturally stable position, where the toy rests on the ground through three bearing points (the contact points  44  of the wheels and the second pad  36 ). This position allows in particular rolling on the ground, rotations, passage of obstacles, etc., and also constitutes the preparatory position for jumping, as described hereinabove, by abrupt release of the spring energy (schematised by arrow  46 ) via the second pad  36 , this energy being transmitted, by inertia and reaction of the ground, to the toy body to cause the latter to leap. 
       FIGS. 3 b  and 4 b    illustrate another, so-called “inverted pendulum” position  48 , where the protuberance  24  of the toy body is directed upward, as the distal end  32  of the sliding part  16 . 
     In this position  48 , there is no third bearing point, and the toy rests only on the two points  44  of contact of the wheels  14  with the ground. Besides, the relative position of the sliding part  16  with respect to the carriage  12  is not particularly important in this inverted pendulum position, where the jaws  28  and  34  have no operating purpose, neither have the contact pads  30  and  36 , no energy release being further provided in this position. 
     The inverted pendulum position  48  may be reached from the position  40  by rotation of the toy body (arrow  50 ), this rotation resulting from a command of abrupt rearward acceleration: by inertia, the wheels almost not move and this is hence the body  22  that pivots about the axis D. 
     In this position  48 , the centre of gravity of the toy is located above the axis D, so that the position is naturally instable and can be maintained only by a control of the wheel-piloting motor by feedback of the signal delivered for example by an orientation sensor or an inertial sensor incorporated in the toy body. 
     This position  48  may be an intermediate position, waiting for the selection of an action or the switching to another position (such as the positions illustrated in  FIGS. 3 c  and 3 d   ), or a full-fledged playing position, with possibility of rolling, rotation, etc., still with a feedback-control from the inertial sensor to maintain the toy body in equilibrium in the illustrated position, during these sequences of displacement. 
       FIGS. 3 c  and 4 c    illustrate another, so-called “pulling” or “kicker”, position of the toy. This position  52  is obtained from the default position  40  or the inverted pendulum position  48  by pivoting the body (arrow  54 ) in the same way as to reach the position  48 , i.e. by an abrupt command of rear acceleration causing, by inertia, the toy body to pivot about the axis D, the wheels almost not moving. 
     This position is a naturally stable position, because the toy rests on the ground through three bearing points, i.e. the two contact points  44  of the wheels  14  and the first pad  30  of the protuberance  24  integral with the toy body and the carriage, which pad has come into contact with the ground at the end of the rotation  54 . 
     It will however be noted that, in an alternative embodiment, the protruding portion or protuberance  24  of the toy body (and hence the first contact pad  30 ) could be omitted, the third bearing point being then consisted by the protruding distal end of the sliding part  16 , or by the stirrup forming the second jaw  34 , if such a stirrup is mounted at the end of the sliding part. 
     In the position  52 , the second pad  36  and the second jaw  34  are placed opposite to each other, which allows to orient them towards an object (symbolized by the cube  56 ) which may serve as a projectile when the energy of the springs is abruptly released after these latter have been compressed by translation of the sliding part  16  from its extended position to its retracted position. The release of the springs and the abrupt return of the sliding part to the extended position has for effect to transmit the energy of the springs to the object  56  via the second pad  36  and/or the second jaws  34  (arrows  58 ). It will be noted that the process of compression/spring-back of the springs is the same as for the jumping function, but herein the energy stored by the springs is transmitted to an external object to propel it remote from the toy, instead of the toy being propelled by reaction of the ground. 
       FIGS. 3 d  and 4 d    still illustrate another possible, so-called “grasping” or “grabber&#39;”, position of the toy. 
     This position  60  is generally the same as that of the pulling position  52 , to the only difference that the sliding part  16  is now in its extended position instead of being in its retracted position, and that there will be no use of the abrupt release of energy. Indeed, in the grasping position  60 , the variable stroke of the sliding part (during the compression of the springs) is used to grasp an object (symbolized by the cylinder  62 ), this action resulting from the progressive translation of the second jaw  34  towards the first jaw  28  (arrow  64 ), here to move the sliding part  16  from its extended position towards its retracted position. It will be noted that the clamping remains moderated, the energy developed by the motor for the translation of the sliding part  16  being essentially absorbed by the springs. As illustrated, it is also possible to provide as the second jaw  34  a flexible bow, whose elasticity will allow to avoid any excessive compression of the object  62 . The gasped object will then be able to be displaced, put at another place (by releasing the clamping by a reverse move of the sliding part  16 ), etc. 
     It will be noted that, although the two just-described positions are denoted “pulling” or “grasping” positions, such designations are not in any way limitative, and that other interactions than pulling or grasping are perfectly conceivable. This position ( 52  or  62 ) must be considered simply as a particular position allowing interactions that are similar to or different from the default position, and as a position in which the toy rests in stable equilibrium on the two wheels with the distal end of the sliding part directed towards the ground, with the second jaw movable in a controlled manner parallel to the ground, further or closer to the first jaw.