Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    This invention relates to Wheel Assembly for a Toy (Inventor: Wai Hui), Assembly for Retaining a Toy (Inventor: Wai Hui), Transmitter for Radio-Controlled Toy (Inventor: Art Harrelson), and Radio Frequency Toy Controller Design (Inventor: Wai Hui) filed on the same day herewith.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates generally to mobile toys, and more particularly to certain improvements in such toys.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    Many different types of toys are known and have become widespread and popular over the years. In particular, radio-controlled toys, such as radio-controlled cars, have become very popular with children over the years. A disadvantage of such toy cars, however, is that generally speaking they are fixed in design and cannot be changed. This means that a child can often become bored with them after a period of time. Furthermore, many children express satisfaction with being able to build or work on a toy themselves. Yet, many radio-controlled cars are complex and have components which are complicated and not easily adapted to be built or switched out by children. What is needed is a radio-controlled toy having easily interchangeable components such that a child may be able to build or customize their own toys.  
           [0004]    Additionally, radio transmitters used by radio-controlled toys are often complex and difficult to operate. Some transmitters are used to charge the radio-controlled toys for use by providing a charging means on the transmitter for connecting to the toy. Often, it is difficult to tell whether charging has been completed, thereby wasting valuable power associated with the charging means. Therefore, what is needed is a transmitter having an easy to understand control panel.  
           [0005]    A third aspect of this invention relates to an assembly for retaining a radio-controlled toy on a transmitter while it is being charged. It is often difficult to align the toy with the charging mechanism used to charge the toy. Furthermore, upon alignment, it is difficult to maintain a good connection between the charging mechanism and the toy, which can lead to intermittent, and therefore, inefficient charging. Therefore, what is needed, is an easy to use and reliable means for aligning and retaining the toy on the transmitter during charging. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy car according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rear wheel assembly associated with the toy car of FIG. 1.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the wheel assembly of FIG. 2.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a front wheel assembly associated with the toy car of FIG. 1.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the wheel assembly of FIG. 4.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a hubcap of the wheel assembly of FIGS. 2 and 4.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a toy car and a transmitter according to another aspect of the invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the toy car and transmitter of FIG. 7.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the transmitter of FIG. 7.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 10 is a partial bottom sectional view of the transmitter taken along the line  10 - 10  depicted in FIG. 8.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 11 is a partial side sectional view of the transmitter taken along the line  11 - 11  depicted in FIG. 8.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a kit to be used with the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]    Referring to FIG. 1, a toy car is generally referred to by reference numeral  10 . The car  10  comprises a body  12  for connecting to a chassis  14 . The body  12  may connect to the chassis  14  in a variety of ways including but not limited to a conventional pressure fit or a snap connection. Thus, the body  12  is interchangeable with the chassis  14 .  
         [0019]    Removable Hubcaps  
         [0020]    The chassis  14  includes a rear axle arrangement (not depicted) for supporting a pair of substantially similar rear wheel assemblies  16  (one of which is shown) to provide the car  10  with mobility. The chassis  14  further includes a front independent suspension arrangement (not depicted) for supporting a pair of substantially similar front wheel assemblies  18  (one of which is shown).  
         [0021]    For clarity of description, one wheel assembly  16  will be described. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and  6 , the wheel assembly  16  comprises a wheel  20  fixed to the axle arrangement for rotation therewith. The wheel assembly  16  further comprises a hubcap  24  adapted to be quick-detachable to the wheel  20 . It is understood that quick-detachable means that the hubcap  24  may be attached to and detached from the wheel  20  without the use of tools. The wheel assembly  16  further comprises a tire  26  adapted to be quick-detachable to the wheel  20 .  
         [0022]    The hubcap  24  comprises a front portion  28  and a rear portion  30 . The front portion  28  of the hubcap  24  may comprise a variety of different designs depending on the desired aesthetical nature of the hubcap. The rear portion  30  is the portion of the hubcap  24  that interfaces with the wheel  20 . The rear portion  30  comprises at least one protrusion  32  extending away from the rear portion for engaging at least one corresponding bore  34  disposed through the wheel  20  to attach the hubcap  24  to the wheel. It will be understood that the hubcap  24  may comprise any number of protrusions  32  and the wheel  20  may comprise any number of corresponding bores  34 . The engagement between the protrusion  32  and the bore  34  may comprise a variety of connections, such as a conventional snap connection. Furthermore, although the hubcap  24  is described as being quick-detachable to the wheel  20 , the hubcap  24  may alternatively be attached to the wheel  20  in such a manner as to require the use of a tool for removal.  
         [0023]    A circumferential edge of the hubcap  24  has a tab  36  extending radially outward from the hubcap. The tab  36  comprises a beveled side  38  sloping from the rear portion  30  of the hubcap  24  towards the front portion  28  of the hubcap. When the hubcap  24  is attached to the wheel  18 , the tab  36  provides a means for disengaging the hubcap  24  from the wheel  20  in a quick-detachable manner.  
         [0024]    Furthermore, a concentric bore  40  is formed through the hubcap  24  for receiving a corresponding hub  42  extending outwardly from the wheel  20 . Such an arrangement provides a means for aligning the hubcap  24  with the wheel  20  during attachment of the hubcap to the wheel.  
         [0025]    To further aid in alignment, the wheel  20  may comprise a rim  44  extruded along the radial outward side of the wheel. A slot  46  is formed in the rim  44  to receive the tab  36  during attachment. Thus, the bore  40  and the hub  42  along with the tab  36  and the slot  46  cooperate to provide a means for aligning the hubcap  24  and the wheel  20  during attachment of the hubcap to the wheel.  
         [0026]    The tires  26  comprise an outer circumferential surface  50  and an inner circumferential surface  52 . A variety of tread patterns may be formed on the outer surface  50  of the tires  26 . The inner surface  52  comprises a channeled groove  54  formed to fit to an extruded ring  56  extending along a circumferential surface  58  of the wheel  20 . Thus, the groove  54  and the ring  56  cooperate to provide a means for laterally retaining the tire  26  on the wheel  20 . Furthermore, the tire  26  may be formed of an elastic material, such as rubber, so that the elastic properties of the tire radially retains the tire on the wheel  20 .  
         [0027]    Referring now to the front wheel assemblies  18 , one of which is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a shaft  60  of the independent suspension arrangement is adapted to receive a wheel  62  via a bore  64  formed through the wheel and an annular flange  66  of the wheel. The flange  66  extends in an outward direction from the wheel  62  in a coaxial relationship with the shaft  60 . The shaft  60  is riveted at one end to provide a means for retaining the wheel  62  to the chassis  14 . The remaining aspects of the wheel assembly  18  are substantially similar to the wheel assembly  16  described above and are therefore given the same reference numerals.  
         [0028]    In operation, the hubcap  24  is aligned for attachment to the wheel  20  by aligning the hub  42  of the wheel with the corresponding bore  40  formed through the hubcap. The hubcap  24  may be similarly aligned for attachment to the wheel  62  by aligning the riveted end of the shaft  60  and the annular flange  66  with the corresponding bore  40  formed through the hubcap. The hubcap  24  may be further aligned with the wheel  20  by aligning the tab  36  with the corresponding slot  46  formed in the rim  44 . Upon alignment, the hubcap  24  may be pressure fit to the wheel  20  by applying pressure to the hubcap in a direction towards the wheel.  
         [0029]    If detachment of the hubcap  24  from the wheel  20  is desired, the hubcap may be detached by engaging the beveled side  38  of the tab  36  via a thin object, such as a fingernail or the like, and applying pressure on the tab in a direction away from the wheel. Thus, the hubcap  24  may be quick-detachably connected to the wheel  20 . Such detachability allows a user to use many different types of hubcaps  24  with the car  10 .  
         [0030]    Once the hubcap  24  has been attached to the wheel  20 , the tire  26  may be attached to the wheel to complete the wheel assembly  16 . The tire  26  may be fitted to the wheel by aligning the groove  54  with the ring  56  of the wheel  20 . Thus, like the hubcaps  24 , the tires  26  may be quick-detachably connected to the wheel  20 , which allows the user to use many different types of tires  26  with the car  10 .  
         [0031]    Transmitter  
         [0032]    Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in an alternative embodiment, a radio-controlled toy car  70  is depicted, which requires the use of a wireless controller, or alternatively described as a transmitter,  72  to transmit radio signals for operation of the car in a conventional manner. The car  70  is substantially similar to the car  10  described previously except that the car  70  is adapted to receive radio signals for operation thereof. The transmitter  72  comprises an antenna  73  to send radio signals to a corresponding antenna  74  disposed on the car  70 . It will be understood that the antenna  74  is operatively connected to a wireless receiver (not depicted) to receive the radio signals from the transmitter  72 . In some embodiments, the antenna  74  may comprise a telescoping arrangement.  
         [0033]    The transmitter  72  comprises a housing  76  having a front  78 , a side  80 , and a top  82 . The front  78  of the housing  76  comprises a control panel, such as a pair of controls  84 , which may be actuated by a user to control movement of the car  70  via a control circuit (not shown) within the transmitter  72 . The controls  84  are housed within raised portions  85  of the housing  76 . The front  78  of the housing  76  further comprises a switch  86  for activating the control circuit and a charging circuit located within the transmitter  72  to be described with reference to FIG. 9. A transparent indicator casing  90  is disposed above the switch  86  for housing a three-way indicator, such as an LED, also to be described with reference to FIG. 9. Furthermore, a release button  91  is disposed on the front  78  of the housing  76  and proximate to the controls  84  for providing a means for releasing the car  70  from the transmitter  72  to be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.  
         [0034]    A recess  92  may be formed in the side  80  of the housing  76  for releasably retaining a tool  94 , such as a screwdriver, associated with the car  70 . The tool  94  may be releasably retained via a conventional pressure fit. It will be understood that the tool  94  may be releasably retained within the housing  76  in a variety of ways. Furthermore, the recess  92  may be formed in a variety of locations within the housing  76 .  
         [0035]    The top  82  of the housing  76  comprises a charging pad  96  for charging a battery (not shown) housed within the car  70 . A pair of slots  98  are formed through the charging pad  96  for allowing a plug  100  associated with the charging circuit to pass there through for engaging a corresponding jack (not shown) associated with the car  70 . An additional slot  102  is formed through the charging pad  96  for allowing a spring  103  to pass there through for supporting the car  70  on the charging pad. A further additional slot  104  is formed through the charging pad  96  for allowing a catch  106  operatively connected to the release button  91  to pass there through. The catch  106  is adapted to engage a corresponding groove (not shown) formed on the underside of the car  70  to releasably retain the car on the transmitter  72  in a manner to be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. The catch  106  also aids in aligning the car  70  on the charging pad  96  during placement of the car on the charging pad for charging.  
         [0036]    A flange  108  and a lip  110  are disposed on and extend away from the charging pad  96  to provide a further means for aligning the car  70  on the charging pad during placement of the car on the charging pad for charging.  
         [0037]    A cover  112  is operatively connected to the housing  76  for enclosing the charging pad  96  and the antenna  73  during nonuse. The housing  76  of the transmitter  72  comprises a step-down portion  113  for accommodating movement of the cover  112  from an open position to a closed position. A protrusion  114  extends from the step-down portion  113  for receiving a corresponding bore  116  formed through a flange  117  of the cover  112  for connecting the cover to the housing  76 . It will be understood that the opposite portion of the cover  112  comprises a substantially similar arrangement.  
         [0038]    A stepped flange  118  further extends from the charging pad  96  and is adapted to engage a lip  119  of the cover  112  to secure the cover in a closed position.  
         [0039]    Referring to FIG. 9, there is illustrated a schematic circuit for the transmitter  72 . The circuit comprises a charging circuit  120  for transferring power to the rechargeable battery (not shown) of the car  70 , and a transmitting circuit  121  for sending radio signals to the car. The charging circuit  120  may be activated by manipulation of the switch  86  by the user. The charging circuit  120  utilizes a transistor Q 4  to control the flow of current through a current limiting resistor R 15 . The transistor Q 4  is in turn controlled by a timer transistor Q 8 , which ends the current transmission at a predetermined cutoff time. The predetermined time is controlled by a resistor/capacitor combination that is connected to the gate of the resistor Q 8 . The drain of the transistor Q 8  is connected to the base of a transistor Q 7  and the collector of a transistor Q 5 . It is understood that while specific resistor types (e.g., bipolar junction transistors and field effect transistors) are utilized in the present illustration, different types of transistors may be substituted.  
         [0040]    An indicator, which for purposes of illustration is a multi-color light emitting diode (LED) able to produce red or green light, may be connected to the circuit and used to indicate a state of the circuit. A first anode (for red light) of the LED is connected to the base of a transistor Q 6  and a second anode (for green light) of the LED is connected to ground through a diode D 7  and a resistor R 10 . The LED&#39;s common cathode is connected to a power source  122 . The behavior of the charging circuit and its various states may be indicated by means of the LED as follows.  
         [0041]    Prior to activation of the circuit  120 , the LED will not be illuminated, thus indicating that the transmitter is off. Upon activation of the circuit  120  but prior to charging of the car  70 , current will pass through the second anode of the LED, producing green light and indicating that the transmitter is on. Upon contact between the plug  100  and the corresponding jack of the car  70 , current will pass through the first anode of the LED, producing red light and indicating that the transmitter is charging the car. Finally, upon expiration of the predetermined cutoff time, the LED may revert back to the green color to indicate completion of charging of the car  70 . The various states of the circuit, and therefore the transmitter, are displayed to the user via the indicator casing  90  (FIGS. 7 and 8).  
         [0042]    Release Assembly  
         [0043]    Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the transmitter  72  may house a release assembly  130  for releasably retaining the car  70  on the charging pad  96 . The release assembly  130  includes the release button  91 , which is disposed through a bore  132  formed in the housing  76  of the transmitter  72 . The button  91  comprises a rod  134  extending from the exterior of the housing  76  through the bore  132  and into an annular recess  136  defined by a sleeve structure  138  within the housing  76 .  
         [0044]    A rim  140  is formed integrally with the rod  134  and extends around a portion of the rod  134 . It will be understood that the rim  140  may alternatively be a separate component that attaches to the rod  134  in a coaxial relationship with the rod. A coil spring  142  is coaxially positioned about a portion of the rod  134  adjacent to the rim  140  and into the annular recess  136 . The rim  140  engages the spring  142  to provide a means for biasing the rod  134  against the inside surface of the housing  76  via a stop  143  associated with the rod. The diameter of the sleeve  138  is substantially the same as the diameter of the spring  142 . Therefore, the rim  140 , the spring  142 , and the rod  134  are stably maintained in the sleeve  138  formed within the transmitter  72 .  
         [0045]    The button  91  further comprises a flange  144  having a beveled surface  146  for engaging an actuator  148  associated with the button. The actuator  148  comprises a stepped portion  150  having a coiled spring  152  positioned coaxially there about. The spring  152  abuts a fixed surface  154  and provides a means for biasing the actuator  148  against the flange  144 . It will be understood that the fixed surface  154  is formed of additional structure  155  that is not pertinent and will not be discussed.  
         [0046]    The actuator  148  is coupled to a catch  156  via a coupling device  158 . The coupling device  158  is adapted to impart opposing motion, in a lateral direction, between the actuator  148  and the catch  156  upon depression of the button  91 . The catch  156  comprises an elongated surface  160  at its distal end for engaging and retaining the car  70  on the transmitter  72 . The catch  156  extends from the transmitter  72  in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the button  91 . The resulting orientation of the catch  156  and the button  91  is ergonomically advantageous as it minimizes the user&#39;s movement to depress the button and remove the car  70  from the transmitter  72 .  
         [0047]    In operation, the car  70  may be charged for use by aligning the catch  156  with the corresponding groove formed on the car and applying pressure to the car in a direction towards the transmitter  72  to snap the car into the charging position. If further alignment is necessary, the flange  108  and the lip  110  may be used to align the car  70  on the charging pad  96 . Upon arranging the car  70  on the charging pad  96 , the charging circuit may be activated by actuating the switch  86 . Upon activation, the indicator emits a red color, which can be seen via the indicator casing  90 , to indicate charging of the car  70 .  
         [0048]    When charging of the car  70  is completed, as indicated by the indicator emitting a green color, the car may be released from the charging pad  96  by depressing the release button  91  and pulling the car in a direction away from the transmitter  72 . By releasably retaining the car  70  on the transmitter  72  via the release assembly  130 , difficulties associated with charging radio-controlled cars, such as unstable connections, can be avoided. Upon release of the car  70  from the transmitter  72 , the car may be controlled via the transmitter in a conventional manner by manipulation of the controls  84 .  
         [0049]    Toy Kit  
         [0050]    In another embodiment of the present invention, a kit  160  for providing various unassembled components of the car  70  is depicted in FIG. 12. The kit  160  may include any of the components discussed above, including the body  12 , the chassis  14 , the wheels  20  and  62 , the removable hubcaps  24 , the tires  26 , the transmitter  72 , and the tool  94 . The kit may further comprise a rear axle gear  162  and an axle  163 , a transfer gear  164 , a motor clip and screw assembly  166 , and a motor with drive gear  168 . It will be understood that the motor with drive gear  168  provides power to the car  70 . Furthermore, a wrist strap  170  may be included for attaching to the transmitter  72  to prevent accidental dropping of the transmitter.  
         [0051]    In operation, according to one embodiment, the car  70  may be assembled by first assembling the front wheel assemblies  18  in the manner described above. The motor with drive gear  168  may then be inserted into a motor compartment  172  disposed in the chassis  14 . Upon insertion of the motor  168 , the motor retaining clip and screw assembly  166  may be fitted over the motor by engaging a pair of hooks  174  with a rod  176  secured to the chassis  14 , and further threading a screw  178  of the assembly to a corresponding threaded bore  180  disposed through the chassis. The tool  94  may be used to aid insertion of the screw  178  into the bore  180 . The transfer gear  164  may then be inserted onto a portion of the rod  176  extending from the chassis  14  via a bore  182  disposed through the gear  164 . Upon attachment of the transfer gear  164 , the axle  163  may be snap-fitted into a corresponding groove  184  of the chassis  14 , thereby also assembling the axle gear  162  on the chassis. Thus, the drive gear of the motor  168  engages with the transfer gear  164 , which thereby engages with the axle gear  162 . Next, the rear wheel assemblies may be assembled in the manner described above. Finally, the antenna (not shown) may be threaded through a bore  186  formed through the body  12  and the body snap-fitted to the chassis  14 . It will be understood that the above steps of assembly are for example only and the assembly of the car  70  may comprise a different order of steps. It will be further understood that the above components of the kit  160  may comprise a housing (not shown) for maintaining the components of the kit in an enclosed space.  
         [0052]    The kit  160  may be further modified by providing additional bodies  12  for providing the user with the option of interchanging body styles with the chassis  14 . Furthermore, the body  12  and the hubcaps  24  may resemble actual body and hubcap styles to associate the car  70  with actual cars.  
         [0053]    In addition to the utility of operating the car  70 , the user gains the added utility of assembling the car using the above-described components of the kit  160 .  
         [0054]    It is understood that the above spatial references, such as “radial,” “lateral,” “inward,” and “outward,” are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the specific orientation or location of the structures described above.  
         [0055]    Though the invention has been described with respect to a specific preferred embodiment, many variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the present application. It is therefore the intention that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art to include all such variations and modifications.

Technology Category: 1