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US3634969A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dune buggy toy
Assignee: Mattel Inc
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Filing: 1971-03-19
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Granted: 1972-01-18
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Expires: 1991-03-19
Abstract
Abstract A toy vehicle resembling a dune buggy and designed to give the appearance of movement over rough terrain when the vehicle is either motor driven or free wheeled along the ground. The vehicle has an open passenger compartment containing a pair of seat that can receive dolls, a mechanism coupled to the rear axle that simultaneously pivots both seats from one side to the other as the vehicle rolls along the ground so that the vehicle appears to be tilting from side to side in the opposite direction. A gearshift lever in the passenger compartment can be operated to slide a switch member. When the switch member is slid to one side, it turns off an electric motor and also slides a worm gear out of engagement with a screw on the motor shaft, so that the vehicle is free wheeling when the motor is turned off.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald C Harlting
- 👤 Berne E Danielsen
- 👤 Eilfred Nagus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:54
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H17/00; A63H17/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A toy vehicle comprising: a toy vehicle frame; an electrically energizable motor mounted on said frame; current source means for supplying current to said motor; a transmission member coupled to said motor to be rotated by it; an axle rotatably mounted on said frame, said axle having spline means thereon; a wheel fixed to said axle to rollably support it and to be driven by it; a gear slideably mounted on said axle and slideably engaged with said spline means thereon; contact means for closing and opening to energize and deenergize said motor, respectively; and switch means including a switch member movable to a first position to close said contact means and slide said gear along said axle into engagement with said transmission member, and movable to a second position to open said contact means and slide said gear out of engagement with said transmission member, whereby to permit free wheeling of the vehicle when the motor is not energized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A toy vehicle comprising: a toy vehicle frame; an electrically energizable motor mounted on said frame; current source means for supplying current to said motor; a transmission member coupled to said motor to be rotated by it; an axle rotatably mounted on said frame, said axle having spline means thereon; a wheel fixed to said axle to rollably support it and to be driven by it; a gear slideably mounted on said axle and slideably engaged with said spline means thereon; contact means for closing and opening to energize and deenergize said motor, respectively; and switch means including a switch member movable to a first position to close said contact means and slide said gear along said axle into engagement with said transmission member, and movable to a second position to open said contact means and slide said gear out of engagement with said transmission member, whereby to permit free wheeling of the vehicle when the motor is not energized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The toy vehicle described in claim 1 wherein: said current source means includes a battery holder; said contact means includes a contact electrically coupled to said motor and mounted for deflection towards and away from the terminal of a battery within said battery holder; and said switch member is engaged with said contact to deflect and release it so it moves away from and against said battery terminal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The toy vehicle described in claim 1 wherein: said frame defines an open passenger compartment; and including an on-off lever pivotally mounted on said frame about an axis extending substantially along the length of the vehicle, and having a forward end resembling a gearshift lever and extending into said front passenger compartment and a rear end engaged with said switch member to shift it between said first and second positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
142 words
A toy vehicle comprising: a toy vehicle frame; an axle rotatably mounted on said frame; a wheel fixed to said axle; a motor mounted on said frame; a screw coupled to said motor to be rotated by it; a worm wheel slideably mounted on said axle, to slide between a position in engagement with said screw and a position out of engagement with it, said axle and worm wheel having engaging means rotatably coupling them at least when said worm wheel is in said position wherein it engages said screw; a seat; means for coupling said seat to said axle to move said seat relative to said frame; and manually operable means for sliding said worm wheel on said axle, whereby said seat moves when the vehicle rolls on the ground regardless of whether the vehicle is motor driven or free wheeling.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
142 words
A toy vehicle comprising: a toy vehicle frame; an axle rotatably mounted on said frame; a wheel fixed to said axle; a motor mounted on said frame; a screw coupled to said motor to be rotated by it; a worm wheel slideably mounted on said axle, to slide between a position in engagement with said screw and a position out of engagement with it, said axle and worm wheel having engaging means rotatably coupling them at least when said worm wheel is in said position wherein it engages said screw; a seat; means for coupling said seat to said axle to move said seat relative to said frame; and manually operable means for sliding said worm wheel on said axle, whereby said seat moves when the vehicle rolls on the ground regardless of whether the vehicle is motor driven or free wheeling.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The toy vehicle described in claim 4 wherein: said manually operable means is coupled to said motor to turn it on and off as said worm wheel is respectively slid into and out of engagement with said screw.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
172 words
A toy vehicle comprising: a toy vehicle frame having forward and rearward end portions; a motor mounted on said frame and having a transmission member coupled to its motor shaft; an axle rotatably mounted on said rearward end portion of said frame, said axle having spline means thereon; a wheel fixed to said axle; a gear mounted on said axle and slideably engaged with said spline means; a switching member slideably mounted on said rearward end portion of said frame to slide substantially laterally thereon between first and second positions, said switching member having a pair of arm portions at opposite faces of said gear, to slide said gear between a first position wherein it is engaged with said transmission member and a second position wherein it is disengaged from it, when said switching member is respectively slid between its first and second positions; and means coupling said switching member to said motor to turn it on and off when said switching member is slid to its first and second positions, respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
172 words
A toy vehicle comprising: a toy vehicle frame having forward and rearward end portions; a motor mounted on said frame and having a transmission member coupled to its motor shaft; an axle rotatably mounted on said rearward end portion of said frame, said axle having spline means thereon; a wheel fixed to said axle; a gear mounted on said axle and slideably engaged with said spline means; a switching member slideably mounted on said rearward end portion of said frame to slide substantially laterally thereon between first and second positions, said switching member having a pair of arm portions at opposite faces of said gear, to slide said gear between a first position wherein it is engaged with said transmission member and a second position wherein it is disengaged from it, when said switching member is respectively slid between its first and second positions; and means coupling said switching member to said motor to turn it on and off when said switching member is slid to its first and second positions, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
185 words
A tOy vehicle comprising: a toy vehicle frame with an open passenger compartment, and with forward and rearward ends; a shaft rotatably mounted on said frame about a laterally extending axis; at least one wheel coupled to said shaft; a cam member on said shaft; a seat member within said passenger compartment; and a seat lever mounted on said frame to pivot at least about a longitudinal axis which extends along the length of said frame, said seat lever having a forward end portion supporting said seat member and a rearward end portion forming a cam follower and engaged with said cam to be moved substantially up and down by it, said rearward end portion extending with a lateral directional component from said longitudinal axis so that up and down movement of said cam follower causes pivoting of said seat member about said longitudinal axis; said seat member including a bottom part for supporting the weight of a doll, a back for holding the doll in an upright seated position, and a pair of sidewalls for restraining the doll from sliding sidewardly off the seat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
185 words
A tOy vehicle comprising: a toy vehicle frame with an open passenger compartment, and with forward and rearward ends; a shaft rotatably mounted on said frame about a laterally extending axis; at least one wheel coupled to said shaft; a cam member on said shaft; a seat member within said passenger compartment; and a seat lever mounted on said frame to pivot at least about a longitudinal axis which extends along the length of said frame, said seat lever having a forward end portion supporting said seat member and a rearward end portion forming a cam follower and engaged with said cam to be moved substantially up and down by it, said rearward end portion extending with a lateral directional component from said longitudinal axis so that up and down movement of said cam follower causes pivoting of said seat member about said longitudinal axis; said seat member including a bottom part for supporting the weight of a doll, a back for holding the doll in an upright seated position, and a pair of sidewalls for restraining the doll from sliding sidewardly off the seat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
122 words
A toy vehicle comprising: a toy vehicle frame with forward and rearward end portions; an axle rotatably mounted on said frame; a wheel fixed to said axle; a pair of cams fixed to said axle; a pair of seats for holding a pair of dolls; and a pair of seat levers pivotally mounted on said frame, each having one end engaged with one of said cams and another end coupled to one of said seats so that said seats rock as said frame rolls on the ground; said cams positioned on said axle to rock both of said seats simultaneously to either side, whereby the vehicle frame appears to be swaying from side to side opposite to the swaying of the dolls.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
122 words
A toy vehicle comprising: a toy vehicle frame with forward and rearward end portions; an axle rotatably mounted on said frame; a wheel fixed to said axle; a pair of cams fixed to said axle; a pair of seats for holding a pair of dolls; and a pair of seat levers pivotally mounted on said frame, each having one end engaged with one of said cams and another end coupled to one of said seats so that said seats rock as said frame rolls on the ground; said cams positioned on said axle to rock both of said seats simultaneously to either side, whereby the vehicle frame appears to be swaying from side to side opposite to the swaying of the dolls.
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) | 1975-01-17 | 1975-07-19 | 1976-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-17 | 1979-07-19 | 1980-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-17 | 1983-07-19 | 1984-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |