Toy vehicle with adjustably positioned wheels
US5762533A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 4, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jun 9, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 4, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA63H17/262
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A toy vehicle has a chassis, two axles, two pairs of wheels and four identical wheel support housings. Each wheel is mounted on a separate end of a separate one of the two axles by one of the wheel support housings. The wheels are mounted for rotation on the housings, which are mounted off center on the axles so as to rotate eccentrically around the axles with the wheels. Wheels on either lateral side of the chassis are driven by separate propulsion motors driving separate gear trains in the chassis to propel the vehicle. Collars around the axles and pairs of gears within the wheel support housings themselves couple the wheels with the gear trains. The axles are rotated together through a third shaft driven by a separate accessory motor to vary the eccentric position of the wheel support housings and thereby alter the appearance and performance of the vehicle. Slip clutches with angled, mating faces, effectively coupling the axles with the third shaft. The faces are spring biased together and remain engaged over limited ranges of angular movement. This permits each slip clutch to act as a suspension for the wheel support housings and the wheels supported on each axle protecting tho…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.