Ultracompact miniature toy vehicle with four-wheel drive and unusual climbing capability

A miniature electrically self-powered wheeled toy vehicle for use with electrical battery means comprising an elongated dry-cell battery, and capable of climbing over operating surfaces that are rough and that include obstacles as well as climbing up operating surfaces that include steep inclines, said vehicle having major weight components positioned to provide a generally symmetrical, compact, balanced, and relatively low arrangement, while also providing adequate ground clearance in the area between the front and rear wheels, said vehicle comprising:

• a frame having a right edge and a left edge;
• front wheel means and rear wheel means mounted to the frame for rolling rotation about respective mutually parallel but spaced-apart front and rear axes, the distance between the front and rear axes being generally about two inches;
• an electric motor mounted adjacent to one of said edges of the frame, and having a driveshaft which is perpendicular to the two axes and extends both fore and aft from the motor;
• means mounted to the frame to releasably support such an elongated dry-cell battery alongside the motor and adjacent the other of said edges of the frame in a position with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the driveshaft, the length of such battery extending substantially the full distance between said front and rear axes;
• the motor and such battery side-by-side substantially occupying the full width between said right and left edges of the frame;
• said motor being positioned between said axes and being substantially shorter than the distance between said axes to provide a pair of transmission spaces, one fore and one aft of the motor;
• means for electrically connecting such battery, when supported in the supporting means, to the motor, so that such battery powers the motor;
• and
• a pair of transmission means, each at least partially disposed in one of said transmission spaces and each comprising a speed reduction mechanism connecting one end of the driveshaft to one of the wheel means to transmit rotation from the driveshaft to such wheel means with reduced speed and with increased power;
• at least a major portion of such battery, said motor and said transmission means being at approximately the same height as said front and rear wheel means;
• and
• said frame, said motor, such battery and said transmission means not protruding any appreciable distance below the level of said front and rear axes in the area between said front and rear wheel means.