Lap counter for radio controlled vehicles

#The invention relates to a lap counter for radio controlled vehicles.

#Radio controlled vehicles enjoy a considerable popularity. They are controlled by the "driver" by means of a radio transmitting device. In general, one, two or even more functions may be controlled. Normally the driving direction and also the speed are controlled.

#Good radio controlled vehicles have a proportional control of the driving direction which enables the negotiation of curves of any desired radius. A further function which may be proportionally controlled is the speed, both backwards and forwards. Over and above these two functions it is possible to control other functions of such a toy vehicle in a manner similar to that of full size vehicles.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lap counter in accordance with the invention with a single counting device;

#FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of a toy vehicle having a trigger member set at different heights;

#FIG. 4 is an elevation, partly in section of a single counting device;

#FIG. 1 shows a lap counter including two edge members 4 which are so shaped that they define a convergent portion of track followed by a parallel sided portion of track adjacent which is a counting device 1 including two counting stations 1'. Associated with each counting station is a respective actuating member 2, 3 which extend above the adjacent edge member 4 transverse to the track defined between the edge members 4. The space between the two edge members is slightly greater than that of a radio controlled toy vehicle 50. The vehicle is provided with a trigger member 51 extending laterally beyond its framework and positioned so that it will contact one of the actuating members 2 or 3 once the vehicle has entered between and thus been orientated by the edge members 4.

#FIGS. 2 and 3 show two different vehicles 50. The trigger member 51 comprises a coil spring 52 in these exemplary embodiments. The coil spring 52 has an end member 53, e.g. a ball at its free end, whilst it is held at the other end by a receiving portion 54 carried by the vehicle. The receiving portion 54 has a four sided projection which is received as a push fit in a hollow projection 55. The receiving portion 54 has an appropriate height so that a differentiation between two different receiving portions and thus two different vehicles is possible. The trigger member of the vehicles in FIGS. 2 and 3 are set at different heights and will thus contact different actuating members of the lap counter.

#FIGS. 4 to 7 show the construction of a counting device 1. It comprises two counting stations 1' each of which is associated with a respective actuating member 2 or 3. The actuating members extend horizontally above the associated edge member and may or may not extend above the space defined by the edge members depending on the construction of the vehicles and their trigger members. The actuating member 3 is connected to a vertically extending hollow pivotable sleeve 5 at the upper end of which is an actuating cam 6. The actuating member 2 is similarly connected to a shaft 7 which extends within the sleeve 5 and at whose upper end is an actuating cam 8. Associated with the cams 6 and 8 is a respective slider 9 which carries two opposed spikes 10 which cooperate with a rotatable spiked wheel constructed in the manner of a ratchet or escapement wheel. If either of the actuating members is contacted by a trigger member its associated shaft 5 or 7 is rotated and this rotation is converted into linear movement of the respective slider 9 by the cam 6 or 8 and the respective spiked wheel 11 is rotated by one unit. The actuating members are returned to their neutral position by return springs 32 and the sliders by further return springs, which are not shown.