Articulated toy vehicle

An articulated toy vehicle of adjustable length capable of negotiating a terrain having varying contours comprising:

• A. a tractor section provided with front and rear wheel axles, and at least first and second trailer sections, each having a wheel axle;
• B. a battery-operated motor mounted on said tractor section;
• C. A multi-section drive shaft whose first shaft section is mounted for rotation on said tractor section at right angles to the front and rear wheel axles, whose second shaft section is mounted for rotation on said first trailer section at right angles to the wheel axle thereof, and whose third shaft section is mounted for rotation on said second trailer section at right angles to the wheel axle thereof;
• D. a snap-fit universal joint detachably coupling the rear end of the first drive shaft section to the front end of the second drive shaft section, thereby linking the tractor section to the first trailer section, and a snap-fit universal joint detachably coupling the rear end of the second drive shaft section to the front end of the third drive shaft section, thereby linking the first trailer section to the second trailer section whereby the tractor section and the first and second trailer sections are capable of assuming a sinuous formation to conform to the varying contours of the terrain;
• E. means operatively coupling the motor to the front end of the first section of the drive shaft to cause said first shaft section and the second and third shaft sections coupled thereto to rotate;
• and
• F. means operatively coupling said first shaft section to at least one of said front and rear wheel axles in said tractor section and said second shaft section to the wheel axle in said first trailer section and said third shaft section to the wheel axle in said second trailer section, whereby the vehicle traction is distributed between said tractor section and said first and second trailer sections.