US3590524A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toy vehicle accelerator
Assignee: Mattel Inc
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Filing: 1969-10-27
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Granted: 1971-07-06
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Expires: 1989-10-27
Abstract
Abstract An accelerator for unpowered toy vehicles traveling along a roadway wherein a pair of oppositely turning motor-driven vehicle-engaging rollers are each rotatably mounted on pivoted levers, the levers being biased to swing toward each other and mounted opposite each other adjacent opposite sides of the roadway in order that the rollers temporarily but equally engage opposite sides of the vehicles an thereby stably accelerate the vehicles in a predetermined direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Janos Beny
- 👤 Denis V Bosley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 22:48
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H18/00; A63H18/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A toy for accelerating unpowered toy vehicles along a roadway, comprising: a base with a portion of the road way supported and extending thereabove, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said base opposite each other adjacent opposite sides of the roadway, the levers being biased toward each other; and vehicle propulsion means including a pair of driven vehicleengaging rollers rotatably mounted opposite each other on said levers for temporarily but equally engaging opposite sides of the vehicles to stably accelerate the vehicles in the portion of roadway above said base in a predetermined direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A toy for accelerating unpowered toy vehicles along a roadway, comprising: a base with a portion of the road way supported and extending thereabove, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said base opposite each other adjacent opposite sides of the roadway, the levers being biased toward each other; and vehicle propulsion means including a pair of driven vehicleengaging rollers rotatably mounted opposite each other on said levers for temporarily but equally engaging opposite sides of the vehicles to stably accelerate the vehicles in the portion of roadway above said base in a predetermined direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A toy according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle propulsion means includes motor means for providing rotational power, and mechanical means operatively coupled to said pair of rollers and to said motor means for utilizing said rotational power to rotate said rollers identical speeds in opposite directions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A toy according to claim 2, wherein said levers are biased toward each other by said mechanical means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A toy according to claim 2, wherein said motor means is an electric motor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
A toy according to claim 4, wherein said mechanical means includes a pair of drive gears each disposed on lever supported spindles coaxially with and attached to corresponding ones of said rollers. Said spindles being located adjacent the opposite end of said levers from where said levers are pivoted about respective fixed posts, said mechanical means also including a pair of relatively larger idler gears each rotatably mounted on different ones of said fixed posts and each meshed with corresponding ones of said drive gears and to each other, said drive pinion being meshed with at least one of said idler gears.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A toy according to claim 1, wherein said rollers include tubular shaft mounted annular resilient members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A toy according to claim 1, also including starting means operatively coupled to one of said levers and a movable starting post for allowing the toy vehicles to be accelerated from a standing start.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A toy according to claim 7, wherein said starting means also includes a transverse rod on which a roller disengaging arm and said starting post are orthogally carried, said disengaging arm only contacting and holding aside said one of said levers when said starting means is in a prestart condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A toy according to claim 4, wherein a flywheel is carried by said rotating motor shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A toy according to claim 4, wherein said motor means also includes an electric motor activated by a potential source through a series-connected power switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A toy according to claim 10, wherein an externally provided temporary-contacting operator''s switch is connected in series with said electric motor and said power switch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A toy according to claim 1, wherein a second pair of said levers and a corresponding second one of said vehicle propulsion means are disposed adjacent a second roadway positioned adjacent and parallel the first-mentioned roadway.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-05 | 1975-01-04 | 1975-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-05 | 1979-01-04 | 1979-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-05 | 1983-01-04 | 1983-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |