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US 7,234,990 B2Granted
Remote-controlled toy vehicle having multi-mode drive mechanism
AssigneeMattle, Inc.
InventorsVladimir Leonov, Nathan Bloch, Donald L. Balkie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A remote-controlled toy vehicle includes a plurality of road wheels supporting the toy vehicle for movement. A driving motor is selectively reversible between first and second directions of rotation and is drivingly connected to at least one of the road wheels through a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism operates in at least two modes, such that operation of the driving motor in either of its opposing directions of rotation causes rotation of the at least one road wheel to propel the toy vehicle in only a forward vehicle direction. A second motor can provide braking action or a third mode of forward vehicle propulsion.
Claims37
A remote-controlled toy vehicle having a first end and a second end, the toy vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of road wheels supporting the toy vehicle for movement across a support surface;
- a driving motor selectively reversible between first and second directions of rotation;
- and
- a drive mechanism drivingly connecting the driving motor to at least one of the plurality of road wheels, such that operation of the driving motor in either of the first and second directions of rotation causes rotation of the at least one road wheel to propel the toy vehicle in only a forward vehicle direction, the drive mechanism including a driving train and a drive output, the driving train being reversible in direction of rotation with reversal of the driving motor, the drive output coupling the driving train with the at least one road wheel and rotating in only one direction regardless of the direction of rotation of the driving motor and the driving train, the drive mechanism further including first and second one-way clutches installed such that, when the driving motor rotates in the first direction of rotation, the first clutch provides driving engagement between the driving motor and the at least one road wheel and the second clutch slips between the driving motor and the at least one road wheel, and, when the driving motor rotates in the second direction of rotation, the second clutch provides driving engagement between the driving motor and the at least one road wheel and the first clutch slips between the driving motor and the at least one road wheel.
1 more element
A remote-controlled toy vehicle having a first end and a second end, the toy vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of road wheels supporting the toy vehicle for movement across a support surface;
- a driving motor selectively reversible between first and second directions of rotation;
- a drive mechanism drivingly connecting the driving motor to at least one of the plurality of road wheels, such that operation of the driving motor in either of the first and second directions of rotation causes rotation of the at least one road wheel to propel the toy vehicle in only a forward vehicle direction;
- a combined gear operatively engaged with the drive mechanism;
- and
- a braking motor operably coupled to the combined gear and selectively powered so as to rotate in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the combined gear to apply a resistive load to the combined gear for slowing of the drive mechanism and the toy vehicle.
3 more elements
A remote-controlled toy vehicle having a first end and a second end, the toy vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of road wheels supporting the toy vehicle for movement across a support surface;
- a driving motor selectively reversible between first and second directions of rotation;
- and
- a drive mechanism drivingly connecting the driving motor to at least one of the plurality of road wheels, such that operation of the driving motor in either of the first and second directions of rotation causes rotation of the at least one road wheel to propel the toy vehicle in only a forward vehicle direction:
- a steering mechanism pivotably mounted to the toy vehicle proximate the first end, a first road wheel of the plurality being rotatably supported from the toy vehicle on the steering mechanism;
- an actuator operably coupled with the steering mechanism so as to pivot the steering mechanism and first road wheel and turn the toy vehicle;
- and
- a slip clutch disposed between the actuator and the steering mechanism to permit disengagement of the actuator from the steering mechanism.
5 more elements
A remote-controlled toy vehicle having a first end and a second end, the toy vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of road wheels supporting the toy vehicle for movement across a support surface;
- a drive output drivingly coupled with at least one road wheel of the plurality of road wheels to rotate the at least one road wheel;
- a first motor coupled with the drive output through a first train;
- and
- a second motor coupled with the drive output through a second train, each of the first and second motors being selectively reversible between first and second directions of rotation;
- wherein selective rotation of one motor of the first and second motors in the first rotational direction while the other motor of the first and second motors is unpowered causes rotation of the at least one road wheel to propel the toy vehicle in a forward vehicle direction and rotation of the other motor in the first rotational direction of the other motor, such that energization of the other motor in the second rotational direction of the other motor while the toy vehicle is traveling in the forward vehicle direction applies a resistive load to the drive output to slow the toy vehicle.
3 more elements
A remote-controlled toy vehicle having a first end and a second end, the toy vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of road wheels supporting the toy vehicle for movement across a support surface;
- a drive output drivingly coupled with at least one road wheel of the plurality of road wheels to rotate the at least one road wheel;
- a first motor coupled with the drive output through a first train;
- and
- a second motor coupled with the drive output through a second train, each of the first and second motors being selectively reversible between first and second directions of rotation;
- wherein selective rotation of either of the first and second motors in the first rotational direction while the other motor of the first and second motors is unpowered causes rotation of the at least one road wheel to propel the toy vehicle in a forward vehicle direction and rotation of the other motor in the first rotational direction of the other motor.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.