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US 4,595,380 AGranted
Steerable wheeled toy
OwnerRonald G. Magersinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steerable wheeled toy in which each of a set of rear wheels is independently rotatable about a fixed axis in a toy body to provide effective differential movement in which each of a set of front wheels is caster mounted, the front wheels being connected together through a tie rod for co-ordinated follower action and in which a steering column is centrally connected adjacent the rear wheels and has a portion adjacent the body which is flexible but transmits torque to accurately simulate the driving and steering movements of a full size vehicle.
Claims13
A walk behind toy comprising a miniature truck body;
- a rear axle secured in a fixed position to the rear of said body, said rear axle having axially spaced rear wheels operatively attached thereto for independent rotation rotation;
- spaced front wheels each generally forward of one of said rear wheels;
- a bracket secured in a fixed position toward the front end of said truck body and substantially parellel to said rear axle;
- a supporting mechanism for mounting each of said front wheels including a supporting arm pivotally secured to each end of said bracket and a stub shaft secured to said supporting arm and having one of said front wheels operatively attached thereto for independent rotation;
- a tie rod pivotally secured between said supporting arms so that said front wheels are maintained in parallel relationship;
- and a steering column mounted toward the rear of said truck body with a steering wheel affixed to the distal end thereof and flexible torque transmitting means comprising a cylindrical bellows between said column and said body so that rotating said steering wheel imparts torsional force to said body around a vertical axis near said rear axle which correspondingly urges the front of said body to the left or right causing said front wheels to point in the direction of desired movement.
3 more elements
A toy comprising:
- a body having a longitudinal axis;
- axle means secured in a fixed position to the rear of said body, said axle means having axially spaced rear wheels operatively attached thereto for independent rotation;
- follower means toward the front of said body, said follower means comprising spaced front wheels each generally forward of one of said rear wheels, support means for mounting each of said front wheels for rotation about a horizontal axis and mounting each of said front wheels for movement about a vertical axis forwardly of said horizontal axis, and means for maintaining said front wheels in parallel relationship;
- a relatively rigid steering column attached to said body generally along said longitudinal axis and rearwardly of said follower means;
- a steering wheel affixed to the distal end of said steering column;
- quickly disconnectable means comprising a snap joint securing said steering column to said body rearwardly of said follower means allowing pivotal movement of said steering column in the vertical plane that includes said longitudinal axis of said body;
- and
- flexible torque transmitting means between said steering column and said securing means whereby imparting a torsional force from said steering column to said body about a vertical axis rearwardly of said front wheels causes said front wheels to turn simultaneously about their respective vertical axes in the direction of desired movement.
5 more elements
A toy comprising:
- a body;
- axle means secured in a fixed position to the rear of said body, said axle means having axially spaced rear wheels operatively attached thereto for independent rotation;
- follower means toward the front of said body, said follower means comprising spaced front wheels each generally forward of one of said rear wheels, support means for mounting each of said front wheels for rotation about a horizontal axis and mounting each of said front wheels for movement about a vertical axis forwardly of said horizontal axis, and means for maintaining said front wheels in parallel relationship;
- a relatively rigid steering column attached to said body generally along its longitudinal axis and rearwardly of said follower means;
- a steering wheel affixed to the distal end of said steering column;
- means securing said steering column to said body rearwardly of said follower means;
- and
- cylindrical bellows disposed between said steering column and said securing means whereby imparting a torsional force from said steering column to said body about a vertical axis rearwardly of said front wheels causes said front wheels to turn simultaneously about their respective vertical axes in the direction of desired movement.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.