Patent ID: 7234992

Claim:
A remotely controlled toy vehicle comprising: at least an on-board power supply, at least a plurality of wheels supporting the vehicle for itinerant movement, at least one motor operably coupled to at least one of the wheels to provide at least part of the itinerant movement of the vehicle, a controller circuit configured to selectively supply power from the power supply to the at least one motor in response to commands from a transmitter remote from the vehicle to move the toy vehicle, at least one light source, the controller circuit being configured to selectively supply power to illuminate the at least one light source in response to a signal indicating the vehicle is performing a particular maneuver, a hinged, three part chassis having a first longitudinal end and a second, opposing longitudinal end and including a central chassis portion having opposing first and second lateral sides, a first lateral chassis portion pivotally coupled with the central chassis portion on the first lateral side of the central chassis portion, and a second lateral chassis portion pivotally coupled to the central chassis portion on a second lateral side of the central chassis portion, wherein the first and second lateral chassis portions are coupled so as to pivot with respect to the central chassis portion in a common plane, and wherein the signal is generated by a switch adapted to detect a position of at least one of the lateral chassis portions relative to the central chassis portion.