Clutch mechanism for a toy vehicle

Abstract

A unidirectional clutch mechanism for use in a toy vehicle or the like having an inertia motor energized by a spring-return drawstring mechanism having a drive spool receiving the drawstring and the return spring, the drive spool having a drive disc portion with an integral square shank loosely encircled by a clutch disc with a circumferentially disposed slot engaged by an arcuate projection on the surface of the drive disc, the projection being shorter in length to allow relative motion between the discs. The opposite surface of the clutch disc is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed bearing members, each pivotally receiving a pawl of a unitary spring member having a square portion engaging the square shank with spring portions extending therefrom to pivot said pawls upon relative motion between the shank and the clutch disc. A drive gear is rotatably mounted coaxial with the drive disc and clutch disc, the drive gear having a drive disc portion with a cylindrical recess having inwardly extending drive lugs configured to be engaged by the pawls only when the drive disc portion is displaced relative to the clutch disc thereby pivoting the pawls. The drive wheel is coupled to an inertia flywheel and to an intermediate clutch wheel and other clutch means which can be coupled through intermediate gears to either a first or second drive wheel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.