GB2252054A - A wheeled toy - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy 10 comprises a wheeled base having a support 14 for receiving a second toy 16. A wheel 12 of the base is connected to the support 14 such that, on rotation of the wheel 12, the support 14 is moved with respect to the wheeled base to cause movement of the second toy 16 with respect to the toy 10. The support 14 can be arranged to rotate with respect to the wheeled base about a vertical axis 26, either through 360 DEG or through an arc of less than 180 DEG , or to rock about a horizontal axis (36) arranged perpendicular to the wheel axles. <IMAGE>

Description

A TOY The invention relates to a toy, particularly but not exclusively to a toy vehicle.

It is widely accepted that children can derive a lot of pleasure from toys which are designed to receive and support other toys. For example, toy vehicles are often provided with figures which can be placed into and carried by the toy vehicle. It is an object of the invention to increase a child's enjoyment of such a toy by arranging for the figure to be movable within the vehicle without significantly increasing the cost of the toy.

Accordingly, the invention provides a toy comprising a wheeled base having a support for receiving a second toy, wherein at least one wheel of the base is connected to the support such that, on rotation of the at least one wheel, the support is moved with respect to the wheeled base to cause movement of the second toy with respect to the toy.

According to a first preferable embodiment of the invention, the movement imparted to the support by rotation of the at least one wheel is that of rotation about a vertical axis, the direction of rotation being determined by the direction of rotation of the at least one wheel.

According to a second preferable embodiment of the invention, the movement imparted to the support is that of rotation about a vertical axis, but the rotation is limited to an arc of less than 180-; preferably substantially 120-. Preferably, continuus rotation of the at least one wheel in one direction results in rotation of the support in a first direction through the said arc followed by rotation of the support in the opposite direction through the said arc.

According to a third preferable embodiment of the invention, the movement imparted to the support is that of rocking about a horizontal axis, preferably a horizontal axis perpendicular to the axle of the at least one wheel.

The invention described above can provide an attractive and enjoyable toy for use by a child.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure l(a) is a schematic underneath view of a first embodiment of a toy according to the invention; Figure l(b) is a sectional side view of the toy of Figure 1(a); Figure 2(a) is a schematic underneath view of a second embodiment of a toy according to the invention; Figure 2(b) is a sectional side view of the toy of Figure 2(a); Figure 3(a) is a schematic underneath view of a third embodiment of a toy according to the invention; and Figure 3(b) is a sectional side view of the toy of Figure 3(a).

Figures l(a) and l(b) show a toy vehicle 10 having four wheels 12 on which the vehicle runs. The vehicle 10 also has a support 14 which is shaped so as to receive and support a second toy 16, in this case a toy figure.

The axle 18 of one pair of wheels 12, in this case the front wheels, comprises a worm 20 which communicates with a worm wheel 22 mounted underneath the body of the vehicle. The worm wheel 22 communicates with a gear 24 fixedly attached to the underside of the support 14 which is rotatably mounted in the body of the vehicle 10. The exact form of mounting is not shown in detail and does not form part of the invention.

As the vehicle 10 is moved forwardly, e.g. across a floor surface, the front wheels 12 rotate thus causing the axle 18 and the worm 20 to rotate. The worm wheel 22 is thus rotated and the gear 24 is forced to rotate, causing the support 14 to rotate about a vertical axis 26 (Fig. l(b)). Clearly the direction of rotation of the front wheels 12 will determine the direction of rotation of the support 14. Continued rotation of the front wheels 12 in any one direction will cause the toy figure 16 supported by the support 14 to revolve about the vertical axis 26.

Naturally, the worm 20 could be arranged on either side or positioned at any convenient point along either axle Further gears could be interposed between the worm wheel 22 and the gear 24 attached to the support 14 to adjust the rate at which the support 14 revolves at a given angular velocity of the vehicle wheels 12.

The embodiment shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b) incorporates many of the same features as that shown in Figures l(a) and l(b). Corresponding features have been given corresponding reference numerals. In this second embodiment, however, the axle 18 carries a helical cam 28 arranged substantially centrally of the axle 18. A rocker 30 is pivotally fixed to the underside of the vehicle and arranged to lie substantially horizontally and pivot about a substantially horizontal axis. A cam follower 32 extends from either side of the rocker 30 towards the cam 28 so that, when the cam 28 is rotated, the cam followers 32 alternately contact the cam 28.

The rocker 30 also comprises an arcuate toothed portion 34 which meshes with the gear 24 located beneath the support 14.

As the front wheels 12 rotate, the axle 18 and the cam 28 rotate. The cam 28 alternately contacts and presses against the cam followers 32, thus causing the rocker 30 to rock about the horizontal axis. The arcuate portion 34 thus rocks back and forth and by its meshing with the gear 24 causes the support 14 to rotate about the vertical axis 26 through an arc of substantialy 120-.

Continued rotation of the front wheels 12 results in repeated rotation of the support 14 and the toy figure 16 through the specified arc.

The cam and rocker arrangement 28,32 can of course be applied to the rear axle of the toy vehicle. The arc of rotation and the speed of rotation can be adjusted by suitable profiling of the cam 28.

In Figures 3(a) and 3(b), features already described with respect to the embodiments detailed above have been allocated identical reference numerals. In this embodiment, the support 14' is rectangular in shape and mounted so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis 36 arranged perpendicular to the axle 18 of the front wheels 12. Cams 38 are arranged on the axle 18 on either side of the axis 36 and protruding in mutually opposing directions. The cams 38 are arranged to contact the support 14' alternately so as to rock the support 14' from side to side. Continuous rotation of the front wheels 12 will result in the support 14' and the toy figure 16 being rocked from side to side.

Naturally, the cams 38 could be arranged on either axle and the frequency of rocking could be altered by the appropriate provision of a different number of cams 38 about the relevant axle.

The above-described embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention but are merely illustrative.

Claims (15)

Claims: -

1. A toy comprising a wheeled base having a support for receiving a second toy, wherein at least one wheel of the base is connected to the support such that, on rotation of the at least one wheel, the support is moved with respect to the wheeled base to cause movement of the second toy with respect to the toy.

2. A toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movement imparted to the support by rotation of the at least one wheel is that of rotation about a vertical axis.

3. A toy as claimed in claim 2, wherein the direction of rotation of the support about the vertical axis is determined by the direction of rotation of the at least one wheel.

4. A toy as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the axle of the at least one wheel comprises a worm connected to a worm wheel which rotates the support about a vertical axis.

5. A toy as claimed in claim 4, wherein further gear wheels are interposed between the worm wheel and the support.

6. A toy as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rotation of the support about the vertical axis is limited to an arc of less than 180g.

7. A toy as claimed in claim 6, wherein the angle of the arc is substantially 120

8. A toy as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein continuous rotation of the at least one wheel in one direction results in rotation of the support in a first direction about the vertical axis through the said arc followed by rotation of the support in the opposite direction through the said arc.

9. A toy as claimed in claim 8, wherein the axle of the at least one wheel comprises a cam arrangement adapted to impart a rocking movement to a rocker, the rocker being connected to the support such that the support is rotated through the said arc.

10. A toy as claimed in claim 9, wherein the rocker comprises two cam followers attached to opposite sides of the rocker and the cam arrangement is adapted to alternately contact the two cam followers.

11. A toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movement imparted to the support by rotation of the at least one wheel is that of rocking about a horizontal axis.

12. A toy as claimed in claim 11, wherein the said horizontal axis lies perpendicular to the axle of the at least one wheel.

13. A toy as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein the axle of the at least one wheel comprises cam means which alternately contact opposite sides of the support to cause rocking motion about the horizontal axis.

14. A toy as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the toy is a toy vehicle and the second toy is a toy figure.

15. A toy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.