US 4,655,724 AGranted

Toy vehicle and steering and drive mechanism therefor

AssigneeSoma International Ltd.

InventorNin. Y. Law

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Abstract

A steering and drive system for toy vehicles is disclosed. Independent gear trains for wheels on opposite sides of the toy vehicle are utilized in combination with a single reversible motor to either rotate all wheels in the same direction to move the vehicle in a straight line or, by reversing the direction of the motor, to rotate wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle in opposite directions causing the vehicle to turn. Wheels on one side of the vehicle are connected to a main gear and the direction of rotation of such wheels is completely dependent upon the polarity of an electric power source applied to the motor. Wheels on the opposite side of the vehicle are indirectly connected to the main gear by a movable control gear which is urged to engage either an auxiliary gear or a second side drive gear so that the wheels rotate in only a single direction regardless of the direction of the motor.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A toy vehicle and steering and drive mechanism therefor comprising:

(a) a first and second wheel positioned substantially opposite each other;
(b) a reversible electric motor having a drive shaft extending therefrom, the rotational direction of which is responsive to the polarity of an electrical power source connected thereto;
(c) a main drive gear operatively connected to the drive shaft and adapted to rotate in forward and reverse directions depending on the polarity of the power source, said main gear operatively connected to the first wheel whereby reversing the polarity of the power source causes the first wheel to rotate in opposite directions;
and
(d) second side drive gear indirectly connected to the main gear by a direction control means positioned, sized and configured so that the second side drive gear always rotates in single direction regardless of the rotational direction of the main gear and the polarity of the power source, said second side drive gear operatively connected to the second wheel whereby operation of the motor in a forward direction causes the first and second wheels to rotate in the same direction and the vehicle to move in a straight line and reversing the polarity of the power source causes the motor to operate in a reverse direction and the first and second wheels to rotate in opposite directions causing the vehicle to turn.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.