Moving apparatus for vehicle toy-iv

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to toy vehicles and to apparatus for moving toy vehicles.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Unpowered toy vehicles may be moved along a path by initially pushing them by hand or allowing them to initially move down an incline. These methods require a child to repeatedly handle the vehicle after each “run” along its path, to push it or to again place it at the top of an incline. Repeated handling can be annoying and it tends to destroy the entertaining illusion of vehicles moving by themselves.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide simple and economical apparatus for propelling a toy vehicle.

Another object is to provide apparatus for accelerating toy vehicles in a smooth, controlled manner.

In accordance with the present invention, vehicle accelerating apparatus is provided comprising a track section with a slot for receiving a projection on a toy vehicle. A vehicle-engaging member is rotatably mounted adjacent to the slot so it sweeps along the slot at every revolution, thereby propelling the vehicle projection downtrack. The slot constrains the vehicle to motion straight along the track.

In one embodiment of the invention, the rotating member comprises at least one curved, flexible wire. The wire is fixed to a wheel that is rotated around an axis perpendicular to the slot, so that the wire sweeps along the slot at every revolution of the wheel, to engage the vehicle projection and propel it. The flexible construction of the wire allows it to bend when it first engages the vehicle projection, to store energy which is then released to the vehicle. A large plate fixed to the rotating wheel under the wire, prevents excessive backward deflection of the wire.

In one embodiment of the invention, a solid wheel with spiral ridges is rotatably mounted under the slot in the track. The ridges sweep along the slot to move the vehicle projection therealong, and thereby accelerate the vehicle.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of vehicle accelerating apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of vehicle accelerating apparatus constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate apparatus 10 for accelerating a vehicle 12 along a track 14. The vehicle may be unpowered, and the acceleration provided by the apparatus can allow the vehicle to coast a considerable distance. In a small continuous track layout, the vehicle can coast completely around until it again engages the accelerating apparatus 10, so that it is kept moving indefinitely. The apparatus can also be used with powered vehicles where desired, to provide an extra burst of speed.

The track 14, which is mounted on a frame 25, has two side portions 16 and 18 for supporting wheels on each side of the vehicle. The side portions of the track are held a predetermined distance apart by a connecting track portion 20, to form a slot 22 that extends along a length of the track. The vehicle 12 has a projection 24 that extends downwardly through the slot. The walls of the slot, which engage the vehicle projection, help in guiding the vehicle along the track, particularly at sharp curves.

The frame 25 supports vehicle-propelling apparatus, which includes a hub 26 rotatably mounted on the frame and vehicle-engaging means in the form of a flexible wire 28. The wire is bent in a curved shape, and has one end 30 fixed to the hub 26 so the rest of it extends radially outwardly from the hub in a spiral. The hub 30 is mounted with its axis of rotation 32 substantially perpendicular to the track 14, that is, to the plane of the nearest track portion. The axis 32 is located a distance D from the track slot 22 which is equal to about one-half the radial length R of the flexible wire 28, as measured between the axis 32 of the hub and the outermost portion of the wire that can contact the vehicle projection.

A motor 34, which is energized by electric batteries (not shown), is mounted on the frame, and is connected by a belt 36 to the hub to rotate it rapidly in the direction of arrow 38. This direction of rotation causes the convex side of the curved wire 28 to engage the vehicle projection 24. When the wire engages the projection, the wire tends to push the projection downtrack in the direction of arrow 40, while the projection tends to deflect the wire opposite to its direction of rotation.

In order to prevent excessive wire deflection, a plate 42 is mounted on the hub under the wire, the plate having an aperture 44 therein. The extreme outer end 46 of the wire is bent downwardly to enter into the aperture. A circumferentially rearward wall 50 of the aperture holds the wire in a bent form, so it cannot straighten out. The wire 28 may be originally straight, so that it must be bent until its end is engaged by wall 50. This assures a predetermined spring loading of the wire so it is not too readily bent back when it strikes a vehicle projection. A gap 52 is provided in the connecting track portion 20 to allow the wire 28 to move in an area immediately under the slot 22, where it can engage the vehicle projection 24.

The vehicle accelerating apparatus may be connected in series with a slotted track layout, and is designed to receive slowly coasting vehicles to accelerate them to a high speed such as 12 f.p.s. When the vehicle projection enters the area of the slot that is swept by the wire 28, a portion of the wire near its outer end 46 normally will contact the projection. Only a minor component of wire force is directed along the slot so the vehicle is not accelerated rapidly at first. Normally, the wire is initially deflected backward until the wall 48 of the plate aperture stops it.

As the hub 26 and plate 42 rotate, the wire 28 pushes the vehicle projection 24 further along the slot. The component of wire force on the projection continues to increase, since the angle between a perpendicular to the wire and the slot 22 continues to decrease. However, the speed of the wire portion that contacts the projection decreases (because of its smaller radial distance from the hub axis 32) until the projection passes the position 24A. Thereafter, the speed of the wire portion contacting the projection increases, so the vehicle can be moved to a high speed. Near the end of wire contact with a projection, the force with which it presses on the vehicle is low enough so that the wire can move away from wall 48 of the plate aperture toward the opposite wall 50. This can release much of the energy stored by the spring, and allow it to “whip” the vehicle projection along for a maximum final speed.

There is sometimes a possibility that the vehicle will stall at the beginning of the slot area swept by the wire. To reduce this possibility, the sides 16 and 18 of the track are at a slightly higher level at up-path portions, until a sharp incline is reached at position 58 along the track. The incline is located so that when the wire contacts the vehicle projection, it urges

3,585,751 the vehicle with an appreciable, even if small, downpath component. Instead of utilizing a sharp track incline at 58, the hub could be mounted at a slight angle with a perpendicular to the track, so that the wire passes under a vehicle projection until the projection is at a position slightly further downpath than the beginning of the slot portion that lies over the plate 42.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment of the invention wherein spiral ridges 60 and 62 on a rotatably mounted plate 64 are utilized instead of a flexible wire. The ridges are fixed to the plate 64, and function in a manner similar to the wire of the foregoing embodiment, except that they do not deflect backward to store energy. The plate is rotatably mounted adjacent to a slotted track 68, and is rotatably driven by a belt 70 that is driven by a motor (not shown).

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.