Back to results
US 7,658,662 B2Granted
Automatic locking system for dumping toy
AssigneeMEGA Brands Inc.
InventorsDaniel Tremblay, Stephane Cyr, Richard Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A toy having a pivoting member such as a dump bucket or bed, with an automatic locking system on the pivoting member. An embodiment of the present invention provides toy having a chassis, a pivoting member pivotably and slideably mounted on the chassis, and a latch mechanism. The pivoting member pivots with respect to a pivot axis and slides in a direction radial to the pivot axis from a first position to a second position. The latch mechanism engages the chassis with the pivoting member in the first position and prevents the pivoting member from pivoting, and disengages the chassis from the pivoting member in the second position to allow the pivoting member to pivot.
Claims19
A toy comprising:
- a chassis having a forward portion and a rearward portion;
- a pivoting member pivotably and slideably mounted on the rearward portion of the chassis, wherein the pivoting member pivots with respect to a pivot axis and slides in a direction radial to the pivot axis from a first pivot point at a first position to a second pivot point at a second position, wherein the second pivot point is disposed more rearward than the first pivot point, and wherein a line connecting the first pivot point with the second pivot point is inclined in a direction from the first pivot point to the second pivot point when the toy is viewed from a side elevation resting on a horizontal surface;
- and
- a latch mechanism that engages the chassis with the pivoting member in the first position and prevents the pivoting member from pivoting, and disengages the chassis from the pivoting member in the second position to allow the pivoting member to pivot, wherein the latch mechanism comprises:
- one of a latch and a latch receiver disposed on the pivoting member a first horizontal distance apart from the pivot axis on a side of the pivot axis opposite to a rearward end of the pivoting member, and
- the other of the latch and the latch receiver disposed on the chassis a second horizontal distance apart from the first pivot point,
- wherein the first horizontal distance is greater than the second horizontal distance such that the one of the latch and the latch receiver engages the other of the latch and the latch receiver when the pivot axis is disposed at the first pivot point,
- wherein the other of the latch and the latch receiver is disposed on the chassis a third horizontal distance apart from the second pivot point, and
- wherein the third horizontal distance is greater than the first horizontal distance such that the one of the latch and the latch receiver disengages from the other of the latch and the latch receiver when the pivot axis is disposed at the second pivot point.
6 more elements
A dumping toy comprising:
- a bucket having a forward end and a rearward end;
- a pivot pin attached to a portion of the bucket closer to the rearward end than the forward end;
- a chassis defining a slot, wherein the pivot pin is pivotably and slideably mounted within the slot, wherein the slot extends longitudinally in a direction radial to the axis of the pivot pin, wherein the slot has a first end closer to the forward end than the rearward end and a second end opposite to the first end, and wherein the slot is inclined in a direction from the first end to the second end when the toy is viewed from a side elevation resting on a horizontal surface;
- and
- a latch mechanism that engages the chassis with the bucket when the pivot pin is disposed at the first end of the slot and prevents the bucket from pivoting, and disengages the chassis from the bucket when the pivot pin is disposed at the second end of the slot and allows the bucket to pivot, the latch mechanism comprising:
- one of a latch and a latch receiver disposed on the bucket a first horizontal distance apart from the pivot pin on a side of the pivot pin opposite to the rearward end, and
- the other of the latch and the latch receiver disposed on the chassis a second horizontal distance apart from the first end of the slot,
- wherein the first horizontal distance is greater than the second horizontal distance such that the one of the latch and the latch receiver engages the other of the latch and the latch receiver when the pivot pin is disposed at the first end of the slot,
- wherein the other of the latch and the latch receiver is disposed on the chassis a third horizontal distance apart from the second end of the slot, and
- wherein the third horizontal distance is greater than the first horizontal distance such that the one of the latch and the latch receiver disengages from the other of the latch and the latch receiver when the pivot pin is disposed at the second end of the slot.
7 more elements
A dumping toy vehicle comprising:
- a bucket having a forward end and a rearward end;
- a pivot pin attached to the bucket closer to the rearward end than the forward end;
- a chassis defining an oblong slot, wherein the pivot pin is pivotably and slideably mounted within the slot, wherein the slot extends longitudinally in a direction radial to the axis of the pivot pin, wherein the slot has a first end closer to the forward end than the rearward end and a second end opposite to the first end, and wherein the slot is inclined in a direction from the first end to the second end with respect to a horizontal surface on which the toy rests;
- a latch mechanism that engages the chassis with the bucket when the pivot pin is disposed at the first end of the slot and prevents the bucket from pivoting, and disengages the chassis from the bucket when the pivot pin is disposed at the second end of the slot and allows the bucket to pivot, the latch mechanism comprising:
- one of a latch and a latch receiver disposed on the bucket a first horizontal distance apart from the pivot pin on a side of the pivot pin opposite to the rearward end, and
- the other of the latch and the latch receiver disposed on the chassis a second horizontal distance apart from the first end of the slot,
- wherein the first horizontal distance is greater than the second horizontal distance such that the one of the latch and the latch receiver engages the other of the latch and the latch receiver when the pivot pin is disposed at the first end of the slot,
- wherein the other of the latch and the latch receiver is disposed on the chassis a third horizontal distance apart from the second end of the slot, and
- wherein the third horizontal distance is greater than the first horizontal distance such that the one of the latch and the latch receiver disengages from the other of the latch and the latch receiver when the pivot pin is disposed at the second end of the slot;
- and
- wheels rotatably mounted on the chassis, wherein the wheels rest on the horizontal surface.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.