US 7,887,074 B2Granted

Rocker arm assembly for a model vehicle

AssigneeTraxxas, L.P.

InventorsBrent Whitfield Byers, Jon Kenneth Lampert, Clark David Anderson

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A rocker arm for a model vehicle is provided, comprising a first portion and second portion each having an input and an output arm and each having an opening for receiving a pivot member about which the portions rotate. The first and second portions are secured for rotation together about a rotational axis through the respective openings and are spaced apart generally along the rotational axis. The rocker arm further comprises a suspension input coupling member that extends between the input arms of the first and second portions, where the input arms are spaced along the input coupling member, and a suspension output coupling member that extends between the outputs arms of the first and second portions, where the output arms are spaced along the output coupling member.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A rocker arm for a model vehicle, comprising:

a first portion of the rocker arm, the first portion having a first pivot opening for receiving a pivot member about which the first portion rotates, an input arm extending from the first pivot opening, and an output arm extending from the first pivot opening;
a second portion of the rocker arm, the second portion having a second pivot opening for receiving a pivot member about which the second portion rotates, an input arm extending from the second pivot opening, and an output arm extending from the second pivot opening;
wherein the first portion and second portion of the rocker arm are secured for rotation together about a rotational axis extending through the respective pivot openings of the first portion and the second portion;
wherein each input arm of the first portion and the second portion of the rocker arm has a respective input aperture spaced from the pivot openings, and each output arm of the first portion and the second portion has a respective output aperture spaced from the pivot openings;
wherein the input arms of the first portion and the second portion of the rocker arm are spaced apart in the general direction of the rotational axis to align the input apertures for receiving a suspension input coupling member;
wherein the output arms of the first portion and the second portion of the rocker arm are spaced apart in the general direction of the rotational axis to align the output apertures for receiving a suspension output coupling member;
and
a first boss extending between the first portion and the second portion of the rocker arm at a location spaced from the first pivot opening, the second pivot opening, the input apertures, and the output apertures for limiting relative rotation of the first portion and the second portion about the rotational axis.

5 more elements

A rocker arm for a toy model vehicle, comprising:

a first portion of the rocker arm, the first portion having a first pivot opening for receiving a pivot member about which the first portion rotates, an input arm extending from the first pivot opening, and an output arm extending from the first pivot opening;
a second portion of the rocker arm, the second portion having a second pivot opening for receiving a pivot member about which the second portion rotates, an input arm extending from the second pivot opening, and an output arm extending from the second pivot opening;
wherein the first portion and the second portion of the rocker arm are secured for rotation together about a rotational axis extending through the respective first pivot opening and the second pivot opening of the first portion and the second portion, respectively;
a suspension input coupling member extending in the general direction of the rotational axis between the input arms of the first portion and second portion, the input arm of the first portion is spaced apart from the input arm of the second portion along the suspension input coupling member, wherein the suspension input coupling member comprises an input screw;
a suspension output coupling member extending in the general direction of the rotational axis between the output arms of the first portion and the second portion, the output arm of the first portion is spaced apart from the output arm of the second portion along the suspension output coupling member, wherein the suspension output coupling member comprises an output screw;
wherein the input arm of the first portion and the input arm of the second portion each has a respective input aperture spaced from the respective first pivot opening and the second pivot opening, and wherein one end of the input screw threadably engages at least one input aperture of either the first portion or the second portion;
wherein the output arm of the first portion and the output arm of the second portion each has a respective output aperture spaced from the respective first pivot opening and from the second pivot opening, and wherein one end of the output screw threadably engages the output aperture of either the first portion or the output aperture of the second portion;
at least one first boss extending between the first portion and the second portion at a location spaced from the first pivot opening, the second pivot opening, the suspension input coupling member, and the suspension output coupling member for limiting relative rotation of the first portion and the second portion about the rotational axis;
wherein the first boss comprises one or more first seating surfaces to seat the first portion and the second portion of the rocker arm together;
wherein the first portion is secured to the second portion by at least a first boss post extending from the first seating surface located on either the first portion or the second portion to engage at least a portion of the opposing second portion or the first portion;
a second boss extending between the first portion and the second portion of the rocker arm, and surrounding at least a portion of the first pivot opening or the second pivot opening;
wherein the second boss comprises one or more second seating surfaces to seat the first portion and the second portion of the rocker arm together;
a third boss surrounding at least a portion of at least one of the input apertures or the output apertures of the first portion or the second portion of the rocker arm;
and
wherein the third boss comprises one or more third seating surfaces to seat the first portion and the second portion of the rocker arm together.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/132,163Filed 3 Jun 2008 · division
Priority: 7 Apr 2005
Published: US 2009/0036021 A15 Feb 2009
Granted: 15 Feb 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

A63H 17/26
Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; ; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor: details; Accessories
Y10T 29/49464
Gear making: assembling of gear into force transmitting device
Y10T 29/49465
Gear making: gear mounting
A63H
Toys

Family

Application60/669,664Us provisional application · filed 7 Apr 2005
Application11/348,671Parent of this division · filed 6 Feb 2006
US 2009/0036021 A1Pre-grant publication · published 5 Feb 2009
US 2006/0264151 A1Published application
US 7,883,099 B2Related patent
US 7,887,074 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.