# US 4,393,620 A · Rocket train toy assembly

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- Number: US 4,393,620 A
- Document ID: US4393620A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/288,948
- Filed: 1981-07-31
- Granted: 1983-07-19
- Earliest claimed: 1981-07-31
- Assignees: Takara Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Kazuya Murakami
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4393620A

## CPC

- A63H 33/003: {Convertible toys, e.g. robots convertible into rockets or vehicles convertible into planes}
- A63H: TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS

## Abstract

The present invention is directed to a reconfigurable toy which is capable of simulating a locomotive train in one position and through a timed release being reconfigured into a rocket plane configuration in a second position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A reconfigurable toy comprising:
a first housing member having a longitudinal axis configured to simulate a portion of a surface vehicle in an initial position;
a second housing member configured to simulate the front portion of a surface vehicle and relatively movable along the longitudinal axis from the first housing member, a portion of the second housing member is pivotally movable to reconfigure the front portion of the surface vehicle configuration into the nose portion of an aeronautical vehicle when placed in a second position;
first and second outer wall members are pivotally mounted to the first housing member and are simulated to complement a surface vehicle configuration in an initial position and to extend away from the first housing member to a second position to provide a set of wings for an aeronautical vehicle configuration;
means for biasing the outer wall members and the portion of the second housing member to an aeronautical vehicle configuration when placed into an initial position of a surface vehicle, and
means for activating the reconfiguration by releasing the outer wall members and portion of the second housing member to be moved by the biasing means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The invention of claim 1 further including a rear portion of the first housing member that can be pivotally configured into a tail wing assembly.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The invention of claim 2 wherein the second housing member includes a pair of biased wings.

### Claim 4

A reconfigurable toy comprising:
a first housing member having a longitudinal axis configured to simulate a portion of a locomotive train in an initial position;
a second housing member configured to simulate the front portion of a locomotive train and relatively movable along the longitudinal axis from the first housing member, a portion of the second housing member is pivotally movable to reconfigure the front portion of the locomotive configuration into the nose portion of a rocket plane when placed in a second position;
first and second outer wall members are pivotally mounted to the first housing member and are simulated to complement a locomotive train configuration in an initial position and to extend away from the first housing member to a second position to provide a set of wings for a rocket plane configuration;
means for biasing the outer wall members and the portion of the second housing member to a rocket plane configuration when placed into an initial position of a locomotive train, and
means for activating the reconfiguration by releasing the outer wall members and portion of the second housing member to be moved by the biasing means.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The invention of claim 4 wherein the means for activating includes timing means for providing a controlled movement of the second housing member against the biasing means for a predetermined time period.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The invention of claim 5 wherein the timing means includes a rack and pinion gear, the rack mounted on one of the first or second housing members and the pinion gear mounted on the other.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The invention of claim 5 wherein the pinion gear is connected to a transmission gear assembly and a camming release mechanism.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The invention of claim 4 further including a rear portion of the first housing member that can be pivotally configured into a tail wing assembly.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The invention of claim 4 wherein the outer wall members further include means for firing projectiles.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

The invention of claim 4 wherein the second housing member includes a pair of biased wings.

### Claim 11 (depends on 4)

The invention of claim 4 wherein the outer wall members are also laterally movable relative to the first housing member.

### Claim 12 (depends on 4)

The invention of claim 4 wherein the portion of the second housing member is pivotally movable to extend upward and forward of the second housing member to provide a juxtaposition of the lower edge with the upper edge.