US4214402A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toy assembly with reconfigurable parts and removable appendages
Assignee: Takara Co Ltd
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Filing: 1978-10-10
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Granted: 1980-07-29
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Expires: 1998-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A toy assembly capable of locomotion on a solid surface and having reconfigurable component parts is disclosed. A fuselage of an airplane or rocket includes a front section configured to simulate a mobile cockpit which can be launched from the remainder of the fuselage by a spring loaded latching mechanism. Two interchangeable tail sections are provided for coupling to the fuselage. A first tail section includes a power source and a control switch to actuate an electric motor located in a center section of the fuselage. An electrical cable connects a second tail section to the first tail section whereby the toy is remotely controllable from the control switch. A multi-piece wing section is attached to either side of the fuselage. Each wing section includes a side member which, when detached from the wing provides an operable toy dart gun. The component parts of the wing sections are reconfigurable to provide other toy assemblies.
Inventors
- 👤 Iwakichi Ogawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:34
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H17/00; A63H17/002; A63H27/00; A63H27/14; A63H33/00; A63H33/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A reconfigurable toy vehicle comprising: a main body section including a rear body section and having at least one wheel for locomotion, the main body section incorporating an electric motor and at least one electric energy cell providing power for the motor, the motor being operatively connected to the wheel to drive the same, the main body section further incorporating control means for energizing the motor and for selectively causing the wheel to turn in one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction; a front body section removably mounted to the main body section, the front body section configured to simulate another vehicle, whereby the front body section when removed from the toy vehicle comprises a second separate toy; a pair of side body members each having a hollow main section and a removable nose cone mounted thereto, the hollow main section configured to simulate a main body of a boat, the two nose cones being attachable to a front and a rear side of either hollow main section when the same is removed from the toy vehicle, the assembled hollow main section and the two nose cones comprising a separate toy boat, and a pair of toy handguns, each handgun being removably attachable to a side of each hollow main section of the side body members to simulate wings for the toy vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
A reconfigurable toy vehicle comprising: a main body section including a rear body section and having at least one wheel for locomotion, the main body section incorporating an electric motor and at least one electric energy cell providing power for the motor, the motor being operatively connected to the wheel to drive the same, the main body section further incorporating control means for energizing the motor and for selectively causing the wheel to turn in one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction; a front body section removably mounted to the main body section, the front body section configured to simulate another vehicle, whereby the front body section when removed from the toy vehicle comprises a second separate toy; a pair of side body members each having a hollow main section and a removable nose cone mounted thereto, the hollow main section configured to simulate a main body of a boat, the two nose cones being attachable to a front and a rear side of either hollow main section when the same is removed from the toy vehicle, the assembled hollow main section and the two nose cones comprising a separate toy boat, and a pair of toy handguns, each handgun being removably attachable to a side of each hollow main section of the side body members to simulate wings for the toy vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the rear body section is removably attached to the main body section by magnetic means, the energy cell is located in the rear body section and the magnetic means also provide for transmission of electric power from the rear body section to the electric motor contained in the main body section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the removable mounting of the front body section to the main body section is accomplished by spring loaded means, the spring loaded means adapted for selectively ejecting the front body section whereby the separate toy is launched.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The invention of claim 1 further comprising a humanoid doll, and wherein the main body section includes a seat for the humanoid doll and spring loaded means for selectively ejecting the humanoid doll together with the seat to fall into the front body section whereby the humanoid doll simulating a commander of the toy vehicle is transferred into the separate toy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The invention of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of wheels removably attachable to each handgun when the handgun is removed from the toy vehicle, and wherein each handgun is configured to simulate a main body section of a travelling toy gun assembly and is provided with means for seating the humanoid doll whereby the handgun removed from the toy vehicle and assembled with the plurality of wheels becomes a separate travelling toy gun assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein each handgun is an operable toy dart gun.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
129 words
A toy airplane assembly capable of reconfiguration into subcombination toys, the airplane assembly comprising: a main fuselage section; a front section removably mounted to the main fuselage section and configured to simulate an airplane nose section and a secondary vehicle, a first rear section removably mounted to the main fuselage section, and a pair of wings, one wing being removably mounted on either side of the main fuselage section, each wing comprising a center section, a nose cone removably mounted to the front of the center section, at least one simulated stabilizing surface mounted to the rear of the center section, and a side section mounted to the center section, the side section when removed from the toy airplane assembly being a toy handgun capable of ejecting toy projectiles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
A toy airplane assembly capable of reconfiguration into subcombination toys, the airplane assembly comprising: a main fuselage section; a front section removably mounted to the main fuselage section and configured to simulate an airplane nose section and a secondary vehicle, a first rear section removably mounted to the main fuselage section, and a pair of wings, one wing being removably mounted on either side of the main fuselage section, each wing comprising a center section, a nose cone removably mounted to the front of the center section, at least one simulated stabilizing surface mounted to the rear of the center section, and a side section mounted to the center section, the side section when removed from the toy airplane assembly being a toy handgun capable of ejecting toy projectiles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein the main fuselage section has drive means capable of propelling the toy airplane assembly on a substantially solid surface and wherein the main fuselage section incorporates an electric motor capable of driving the drive means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein the first rear section incorporates an electric power source to energize the electric motor and switch means for selectively supplying power to the electric motor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 9 further comprising at least one toy missile launcher capable of retaining and launching toy missiles, the missile launcher being removably mounted to the first rear section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
The invention of claim 9 further comprising a second rear section capable of being mounted to the main fuselage section when the first rear section is removed therefrom, the second rear section having means for transmission of power from the power source located within the first rear section to the electric motor whereby the locomotion of the toy plane assembly is remotely controlled.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein the means for transmission of power include a cable and a plurality of magnetically coupled contact elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
The invention of claim 12 wherein the drive means comprise a pair of wheels mounted to provide rotational movement relative to a substantially horizontally disposed axle of rotation, the pair of wheels being operably attached to the electric motor through a crown gear having a vertically disposed axle of rotation, whereby both the rotational movement of the wheels on a horizontal axis and a rotational movement of the axle of the wheels on a vertical axis may be energized by the electric motor resulting in the airplane assembly's capability to change direction of motion when an obstacle is encountered in the path of its motion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
92 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein the center sections of the wings are configured to simulate a cockpit of an airplane and wherein the two center sections, the two side sections, the plurality of simulated stabilizing surfaces and one nose cone section when removed from the airplane assembly are reconfigurable to provide a second airplane in which the two center sections are assembled one after the other in a straight line disposition and thereby comprise a fuselage having tandemly disposed dual cockpits, and in which second airplane the side sections comprise wings.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
The invention of claim 14 further comprising at least two toy missile launchers capable of retaining and launching toy missiles, the two missile launchers being removably mounted to the first rear section of the toy airplane assembly, the two missile launchers also capable of being removably mounted to a tail section of the second airplane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
97 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein the center sections of the wings are configured to simulate a cockpit of an airplane and wherein the two center sections, the two side sections, the two nose cones and the simulated stabilizing surfaces when removed from the airplane assembly are reconfigurable to provide another airplane in which the two center sections each having one nose cone mounted thereto are assembled in a parallel disposition to one another and provide a fuselage of the other airplane having parallelly disposed dual cockpits and in which other airplane the side sections comprise wings.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
The invention of claim 16 further comprising at least two toy missile launchers capable of retaining and launching toy missiles, the two toy missile launchers being removably mounted to the first rear section of the toy airplane assembly, the two missile launchers also capable of being removably mounted to the wings of the other airplane.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a toy airplane including a fuselage and having an electric motor to drive at least one wheel an improvement comprising: a center section of the fuselage housing the electric motor and the wheel driven thereby; a front cockpit section removably attached to the center section, the front cockpit section having a plurality of wheels and configured to form a secondary vehicle when separated from the toy airplane; a first tail section removably attached to the center section, the first tail section including a power source to energize the electric motor and a control switch to turn on the electric motor; a second tail section removably attachable to the center section of the fuselage when the first tail section is removed therefrom, the second tail section having a cable and a plurality of contact means for drawing power from the power source located in the first tail section and for transmitting power to the electric motor housed in the center section whereby the toy airplane may be remotely controlled by the switch located in the first tail section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a toy airplane including a fuselage and having an electric motor to drive at least one wheel an improvement comprising: a center section of the fuselage housing the electric motor and the wheel driven thereby; a front cockpit section removably attached to the center section, the front cockpit section having a plurality of wheels and configured to form a secondary vehicle when separated from the toy airplane; a first tail section removably attached to the center section, the first tail section including a power source to energize the electric motor and a control switch to turn on the electric motor; a second tail section removably attachable to the center section of the fuselage when the first tail section is removed therefrom, the second tail section having a cable and a plurality of contact means for drawing power from the power source located in the first tail section and for transmitting power to the electric motor housed in the center section whereby the toy airplane may be remotely controlled by the switch located in the first tail section.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
In the toy airplane of claim 18 a further improvement comprising spring loaded means for selectively retaining and launching the front cockpit section of the fuselage thereby simulating the launching of the secondary vehicle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
In the toy airplane of claim 18 a further improvement comprising a seat located in the fuselage, a humanoid doll adapted for seating in the seat and spring loaded means for selectively ejecting the humanoid doll from the seat.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
In the toy airplane of claim 18 a further improvement comprising a pair of wings, each wing comprising a center section, a pointed front section removably mounted to the center section and a side section removably mounted to the center section, the side section configured to simulate a toy handgun.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
In the toy airplane of claim 21 a further improvement wherein the side section is an operable dart launching handgun.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
88 words
In the toy airplane of claim 21 a further improvement wherein the center sections of the wings are configured to simulate the cockpit of an airplane and wherein the two center sections, the two side sections and at least one of the two pointed front sections are reconfigurable to provide at the option of the user of the invention one of an airplane having parallelly positioned dual cockpits and an airplane having tandemly positioned dual cockpits where in both of the reconfigured airplanes the side sections comprise wings.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
In the toy airplane of claim 21 a further improvement comprising a plurality of wheel assemblies mountable to each side section of the wing when the side section is removed from the toy airplane, whereby the side section having the plurality of wheels mounted thereto comprises a separate travelling toy gun assembly.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
191 words
A reconfigurable toy vehicle comprising: a main body section including a rear body section and having at least one wheel for locomotion; a front body section removably mounted to the main body section, the front body section configured to simulate another vehicle and having at least one wheel for locomotion and a cavity adapted to accommodate a toy doll, spring means incorporated in the main body section for ejecting at the option of a player the front body section whereby a second separate toy vehicle is launched; a pair of side body members each having a hollow main section and a removable nose cone mounted thereto, the hollow main section configured to simulate a main body of a boat, the two nose cones being attachable to a front and rear side of either hollow main section when the same is removed from the toy vehicle, the assembled hollow main section and the two nose cones comprising a separate toy boat, and a pair of toy handguns, each handgun being removably attachable to a side of each hollow main section of the side body members to simulate wings for the toy vehicle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
191 words
A reconfigurable toy vehicle comprising: a main body section including a rear body section and having at least one wheel for locomotion; a front body section removably mounted to the main body section, the front body section configured to simulate another vehicle and having at least one wheel for locomotion and a cavity adapted to accommodate a toy doll, spring means incorporated in the main body section for ejecting at the option of a player the front body section whereby a second separate toy vehicle is launched; a pair of side body members each having a hollow main section and a removable nose cone mounted thereto, the hollow main section configured to simulate a main body of a boat, the two nose cones being attachable to a front and rear side of either hollow main section when the same is removed from the toy vehicle, the assembled hollow main section and the two nose cones comprising a separate toy boat, and a pair of toy handguns, each handgun being removably attachable to a side of each hollow main section of the side body members to simulate wings for the toy vehicle.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
92 words
The invention of claim 25 wherein the rear body section is removably attached to the main body section, the main body section incorporates an electric motor operatively connected to the wheel of the main body section, the rear body section incorporates at least one electric battery operatively connected to the motor when the main and rear body sections are assembled, and the rear body section incorporates switch means for energizing the electric motor at the option of a player whereby the toy vehicle is capable of propelling itself on a support surface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention of claim 25 wherein the main body section includes a removably mounted seat, a toy doll capable of being seated upon the seat, and spring means for ejecting the seat together with the doll into the cavity of the front body section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4057929A
Cited
US4132028A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-07-29 | 1984-01-28 | 1984-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-07-29 | 1988-01-28 | 1988-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-07-29 | 1992-01-28 | 1992-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |