Amphibious self-powered miniature car with unusual climbing capability

A self-propelled amphibious miniature toy vehicle for operation along the surface of a pool of water and on a steep, irregular nonwater surface, and for use with electrical battery means that comprise an elongated dry-cell battery having a longitudinal axis;

• said vehicle having, when such battery means are in use therewith, major weight components positioned to provide a generally symmetrical, compact, balanced and relatively low arrangement, while also providing adequate nonwater-surface clearance in the area between the front and rear wheels;
• said vehicle comprising:
• a frame;
• wheel means mounted to the frame for rolling rotation and extending below the frame to effect propulsion of the vehicle along such nonwater surface;
• an electric motor mounted to the frame and operatively connected to drive at least one of the wheel means;
• and
• cleated tires mounted to the wheel means, the cleats being adapted and sufficiently pronounced to propel the vehicle along such a water surface when generally the bottom half of each wheel means is submerged in such water and generally the top half of each wheel means is above such water;
• and wherein:
• the overall flotation characteristics of the vehicle are such that when the vehicle is placed in a sufficiently deep pool of water the vehicle floats with generally the bottom half of each wheel means submerged in such water and generally the top half of each wheel means above such water;
• the frame defines a chassis having upright walls defining an interior compartment;
• the wheel means comprise front wheel means and rear wheel means mounted to the chassis for said rolling rotation about respective mutually parallel but spaced-apart front and rear axes, the distance between the front and rear axes being generally two inches;
• the electric motor is mounted in the interior compartment, and has a driveshaft;
• and
• the vehicle further comprises:
• means mounted in the interior compartment to releasably support such electrical battery means in the compartment with such longitudinal axis of such battery means extending substantially front-to-back of the vehicle and exttending at least substantially the full distance between the front and rear axes;
• means on the chassis for electrically connecting such battery means, when supported in the supporting means, to the motor, so that such battery means power the motor;
• and
• transmission means mounted in the interior compartment and comprising a speed-reduction mechanism connecting the motor driveshaft to both said front and said rear wheel means to transmit rotation from the driveshaft to the wheel means with reduced speed and with increased power;
• at least major portions of the transmission means, the motor, and such battery means, when such battery means are supported in the supporting means, being at approximately the same height as the front and rear wheel means;
• and
• the transmission means, the motor, and such battery means, when such battery means are supported in the supporting means, substantially fully occupying the interior compartment.

An amphibious miniature wheeled toy vehicle for use with electrical battery means that comprise an elongated dry-cell battery having a longitudinal axis, and for operation along the surface of a pool of water as well as on a steep, irregular nonwater surface;

• said vehicle having, when such battery means are in use therewith, major weight components positioned to provide a generally symmetrical, compact, balanced and relatively low arrangement;
• said vehicle comprising:
• a chassis having upright walls defining an interior compartment;
• wheel means that include front wheel means and rear wheel means mounted to the chassis for rolling rotation about respective mutually parallel but spaced-apart from and rear axes, the distance between the front and rear axes being generally about two inches;
• an electric motor that is mounted in the interior compartment, and that has a driveshaft;
• means mounted in the interior compartment to releasably support such electrical battery means in the compartment with such longitudinal axis of such battery means extending substantially front-to-back of the vehicle and extending at least substantially the full distance between the front and rear axes;
• means on the chassis for electrically connecting such battery means, when supported in the supporting means, to the motor, so that such battery means power the motor;
• and
• transmission means mounted in the interior compartment and comprising a speed-reduction mechanism connecting the motor driveshaft to both said front and said rear wheel means to transmit rotation from the driveshaft to the wheel means with reduced speed and with increased power;
• at least major portions of the transmission means, the motor, and such battery means, when such battery means are supported in the supporting means, being at approximately the same height as the front and rear wheel means;
• and
• the transmission means, the motor and such battery means, when such battery means are supported in the supporting means, substantially fully occupying the interior compartment.

An amphibious miniature toy vehicle, for use with an electrical battery to power the vehicle, and for operation along the surface of a pool of water and on a steep, irregular nonwater surface, for use with electrical battery means that comprise an elongated dry-cell battery having a longitudinal axis;

• said vehicle having, when such battery means are in use therewith, major weight components positioned to provide a generally symmetrical, compact, balanced and relatively low arrangement;
• said vehicle comprising:
• a frame, which is so configured that when the vehicle operates in such a pool of water some of such water enters the frame;
• wheel means mounted to the frame for rolling rotation and extending below the frame to effect propulsion of the vehicle along such nonwater surface;
• an electric motor mounted to the frame and operatively connected to drive at least one of the wheel means;
• means for operatively mounting such an electrical battery on the frame to power the motor;
• and
• corrosion-resistant electrically conductive contact means fixed to the frame, electrically connected to the motor, and positioned to contact the terminals of such a battery when such a battery is mounted in the frame, to effect operative electrical connection between such a battery and the motor;
• said contact means including an electrical on-off switch that is fixed to the frame and that has a self-wiping action that protects the switch against any corrosion that may result from exposure of the switch to such water;
• and wherein:
• the frame defines a chassis having upright walls defining an interior compartment;
• the wheel means comprise front wheel means and rear wheel means mounted to the chassis for said 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;
• the electric motor is mounted in the interior compartment, and has a driveshaft;
• the battery-mounting means are mounted in the interior compartment and adapted to releasably support such electrical battery means in the compartment with such longitudinal axis of such battery means extending substantially front-to-back of the vehicle and extending at least substantially the full distance between the front and rear axes;
• the conductive contact means serve as means on the chassis for electrically connecting such battery means, when supported in the supporting means, to the motor, so that such battery means power the motor;
• and
• the vehicle further comprises:
• transmission means mounted in the interior compartment and comprising a speed-reduction mechanism connecting the motor driveshaft to both said front and said rear wheel means to transmit rotation from the driveshaft to the wheel means with reduced speed and with increased power;
• at least major portions of the transmission means, the motor, and such battery means, when such battery means are supported in the supporting means, being at approximately the same height as the front and rear wheel means;
• and
• the transmission means, the motor, and such battery means, when such battery means are supported in the supporting means, substantially fully occupying the interior compartment.

An miniature amphibious wheeled toy vehicle for use with electrical battery means that comprise an elongated dry-cell battery having a longitudinal axis, and for operation along the surface of a pool of water as well as on a steep, irregular nonwater surface;

• said vehicle having, when such battery means are in use therewith, major weight components positioned to provide a generally symmetrical, compact, balanced and relatively low arrangement;
• said vehicle comprising:
• a chassis having an extended rectangular bottom surface and raised walls at both sides, and at front and rear;
• and defining an interior compartment;
• a flotation chamber affixed to the chassis and generally coextensive with the rectangular bottom surface of the chassis, and adapted and sized to contribute significantly to flotation of the vehicle in such water, but not communicating with the interior compartment;
• and having:
• walls that are substantially extensions of the walls of the chassis,
• an extended rectangular floor,
• means defining a drain hole, and
• a sealing plug removably seated in the hole;
• substantially hollow front wheel means and substantially hollow rear wheel means mounted to the chassis 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;
• four cleated tires, one mounted to each wheel means, respectively, the cleats being adapted and sufficiently pronounced to propel the vehicle along such a water surface when approximately the bottom half of each wheel means is submerged in such water and approximately the top half of each wheel means is above such water;
• an electric motor mounted in the interior compartment, and having a driveshaft;
• means mounted in the interior compartment to releasably support such electrical battery means in the compartment with such longitudinal axis of such battery means extending substantially front-to-back of the vehicle and extending at least substantially the full distance between the front and rear axes;
• means on the chassis for electrically connecting such battery means, when supported in the supporting means, to the motor, so that such battery means power the motor;
• said connecting means comprising:
• corrosion-resistant electrically conductive contact means, electrically connected to the motor and positioned to contact the terminals of such a battery when such a battery is mounted in the frame, to effect operative electrical connection between such a battery and the motor;
• said contact means including an electrical on-off switch that is fixed to the frame and that has a self-wiping action that protects the switch against any corrosion that may result from exposure of the switch to such water;
• and
• transmission means mounted in the interior compartment and comprising a speed-reduction mechanism connecting the motor driveshaft to both said front and said rear wheel means to transmit rotation from the driveshaft to the wheel means with reduced speed and with increased power;
• at least major portions of the transmission means, the motor, and such battery means, when such battery means are supported in the supporting means, being at approximately the same height as the front and rear wheel means;
• and
• the transmission means, the motor, and such battery means, when such battery means are supported in the supporting means, substantially fully occupying the interior compartment.

A self-propelled amphibious miniature toy vehicle for operation along the surface of a pool of water and on a steep, irregular nonwater surface, said vehicle having major weight components positioned to provide weight in a generally balanced and relatively low arrangement;

• said vehicle comprising:
• a frame;
• hollow wheel means mounted to the frame for rolling rotation and extending below the frame to effect propulsion of the vehicle along such nonwater surface, the volume-to-weight ratio of each of said wheel means being sufficiently high to contribute significantly to flotation of the vehicle in water;
• and
• an electric motor mounted to the frame and operatively connected to drive at least one of the wheel means;
• and wherein:
• the hollow wheel means comprise hollow front wheel means and hollow rear wheel means mounted to the frame for said 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, each of said wheel means having high-friction peripheral surfaces with inside edges located respectively adjacent to opposite sides of said frame;
• the electric motor has a driveshaft which extends from the motor;
• and
• the vehicle further comprises:
• means mounted to the frame to releasably support electrical battery means, the battery means being adjacent to the electric motor and at approximately the same height as said front and rear wheel means, and wherein said frame, said motor and said battery means do not protrude any appreciable distance below the level of said front and rear axes in the area between said front and rear wheel means;
• means for electrically connecting such battery means, when supported in the supporting means, to the motor, so that the battery means power the motor;
• at least one worm rotatably mounted to the frame and powered from the driveshaft;
• and
• at least one worm gear rotatably mounted to the frame, and driving at least one of the wheel means, and being meshed with and directly driven from the worm.

A self-propelled amphibious miniature toy vehicle for operation along the surface of a pool of water and on a steep, irregular nonwater surface, said vehicle having major weight components positioned to provide weight in a generally 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;
• wheel means mounted to the frame for rolling rotation and extending below the frame to effect propulsion of the vehicle along such nonwater surface;
• an electric motor mounted to the frame and operatively connected to drive at least one of the wheel means;
• and
• cleated tires mounted to the wheel means, the cleats being adapted and sufficiently pronounced to propel the vehicle along such a water surface when generally the bottom half of each wheel means is submerged in such water and generally the top half of each wheel means is above such water;
• and wherein:
• the overall flotation characteristics of the vehicle are such that when the vehicle is placed in a sufficiently deep pool of water the vehicle floats with generally the bottom half of each wheel means submerged in such water and generally the top half of each wheel means above such water;
• the wheel means comprise front wheel means and rear wheel means mounted to the frame for said 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, each of said wheel means having high-friction peripheral surfaces with inside edges located respectively adjacent to opposite sides of said frame;
• the electric motor has a driveshaft which extends from the motor;
• and
• the vehicle further comprises:
• means mounted to the frame to releasably support electrical battery means, the battery means being adjacent to the electric motor and at approximately the same height as said front and rear wheel means, and wherein said frame, said motor and said battery means do not protrude any appreciable distance below the level of said front and rear axes in the area between said front and rear wheel means;
• means for electrically connecting such battery means, when supported in the supporting means, to the motor, so that the battery means power the motor;
• at least one worm rotatably mounted to the frame and powered from the driveshaft;
• at least one worm gear rotatably mounted to the frame, and driving at least one of the wheel means, and being meshed with and directly driven from the worm;
• and
• cleated tires mounted to the wheel means, the cleats being adapted and sufficiently pronounced to propel the vehicle along such a water surface when approximately the bottom half of each wheel means is submerged in such water and approximately the top half of each wheel means is above such water.

A self-propelled amphibious miniature toy vehicle for operation along the surface of a pool of water and on a steep, irregular nonwater surface, said vehicle having major weight components positioned to provide weight in a generally balanced and relatively low arrangement;

• said vehicle comprising:
• a frame;
• wheel means mounted to the frame for rolling rotation and extending below the frame to effect propulsion of the vehicle along such nonwater surface;
• an electric motor mounted to the frame and operatively connected to drive at least one of the wheel means;
• and
• a separate flotation chamber affixed to the frame and adapted and sized to contribute significantly to flotation of the vehicle in such water;
• and wherein:
• the wheel means comprise 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, each of said wheel means having high-friction peripheral surfaces with inside edges located respectively adjacent to opposite sides of said frame;
• the electric motor has a driveshaft which extends from the motor;
• and
• the vehicle further comprises:
• means mounted to the frame to releasably support electrical battery means, the battery means being adjacent to the electric motor and at approximately the same height as said front and rear wheel means, and wherein said frame, said motor and said battery means do not protrude any appreciable distance below the level of said front and rear axes in the area between said front and rear wheel means;
• means for electrically connecting such battery means, when supported in the supporting means, to the motor, so that the battery means power the motor;
• at least one worm rotatably mounted to the frame and powered from the driveshaft;
• and
• at least one worm gear rotatably mounted to the frame, and driving at least one of the wheel means, and being meshed with and directly driven from the worm.

A self-propelled amphibious miniature toy vehicle for operation along the surface of a pool of water and on a steep, irregular nonwater surface, having major weight components positioned to provide weight in a generally balanced and relatively low arrangement;

• said vehicle comprising:
• a frame;
• wheel means mounted to the frame for rolling rotation and extending below the frame to effect propulsion of the vehicle along such nonwater surface;
• an electric motor mounted to the frame and operatively connected to drive at least one of the wheel means;
• and
• a separate flotation chamber affixed to the frame and adapted and sized to contribute significantly to flotation of the vehicle in such water;
• and wherein:
• the wheel means comprise front wheel means and rear wheel means mounted to the frame for said 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, each of said wheel means having high-friction peripheral surfaces with inside edges located respectively adjacent to opposite sides of said frame;
• the electric motor has a driveshaft which extends from the motor;
• the battery-mounted means are mounted to the frame and adapted to releasably support such electrical battery, the battery being adjacent to the electric motor and at approximately the same height as said front and rear wheel means, and wherein said frame, said motor and said battery do not protrude any appreciable distance below the level of said front and rear axes in the area between said front and rear wheel means;
• the contact means serve as means for electrically connecting such battery to power the motor;
• and
• the vehicle further comprises:
• at least one worm rotatably mounted to the frame, and driven from the driveshaft;
• at least one worm gear rotatably mounted to the frame, and driving at least one of the wheel means, and being meshed with and directly driven from the worm.