US3121971A

US3121971A - Magnetically controlled toy vehicle

Info

Publication number: US3121971A
Application number: US132444A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nyc Wladimir
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-08-18
Filing date: 1961-08-18
Publication date: 1964-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1981-02-25

Description

'Feb. 25, 1964 w. NYC

MAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED TOY VEHICLE Filed Aug. 18. 1961 INVENTOR. WmmM/n Nye United States Patent 3,121,971 MAGNETICALLY CGNTRQLLED TGY VEHICLE Wladirnir Nye, 3125 U St., Sacramento 17, Calif. Filed Aug. 18, 1961, Ser. No. 132,444 6 Claims. (Cl. 46-236) This invention relates to toy vehicles and more particularly to a means of maneuvering them.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for maneuvering of toy vehicles in a simple and efrlcient manner so that a person of any age may enjoy it.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the toy vehicle with a device to maneuver itself without outside help in such a manner so that the spectators will be amazed and puzzled at its antics.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a magnetically maneuvered toy vehicle that can be produced, packaged and sold in large quantities at a comparatively low cost.

3,121,971 Patented Feb. 25, 1964 the terminals on either side it is in neutral 14 but when the terminal rod 6 is moved forward so that the terminal rod contacts meet the forward battery terminals, the Vehicle is put in reverse 15 and when it is moved back to the other two terminals it puts the vehicle in forward motion 18. The terminal rod 6 is made to move when one of two contact rods 8 strikes a specially placed object, possibly in the form of a pebble. When the Vehicle is going forward the left contact rod (L) strikes a small object 21 which brings the terminal rod into neutral position 14. When the same left contact rod (L) strikes a slightly larger object 22 it forces the terminal rod to move forward 15 and comes in contact with the forward battery terminals, putting the vehicle in reverse. As the vehicle is traveling in reverse the right contact rod (R) strikes a small object 24 that places the terminal rod into neutral position 17, and then into forward position 18 after the striking of another object that moves the terminal rod in the other direction. Although the motor does not work while the vehicle is in neutral position the V momentum carries the vehicle far enough for one of the Still additional objects, benefits, and advantages of this invention will become evident from a study of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the present invention for a magnetically controlled toy vehicle shown in elevation and partly broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the terminal and contact rods showing from 1345 how the vehicle enters from forward drive to reverse after the left contact rod (L) strikes object;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the terminal rod and contact rods showing from 1648 how the vehicle enters from reverse into forward after the right contact rod (R) strikes an object;

FIGURE 5 is a plan of a portion of the cardboard sheet showing the wire track concealed within the cardboard sheet and specially placed objects which the contact rod strikes.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, a magnetically controlled toy vehicle made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a toy vehicle operated by a battery driven electric motor 1 with its steering controlled by magnets. A front magnet 2 is connected under the front axle 3 that has a vertical axis 4 extending from the center of it to the body of the vehicle. This vertical axis 4 makes it possible for the front axle 3 to rotate around it, allowing the vehicle to be steered. Under the rear end of the toy vehicle is a stabilizer magnet 5 to prevent the rear end from swaying from side to side and to make better turns. When the vehicle is in'motion these magnets glide over a wire made of magnetically attracted metal that is concealed within a sheet of cardboard. The magnets under the vehicle keep it on course and control the steering. Another method of steering the toy vehicle with magnets is to use round magnets for wheels. This method could require two tracks within the sheet of cardboard unless only one magnet wheel is used on a vehicle, as for example a motorbike.

A terminal rod 6 is connected to a connecting rod 7 that has a contact rod 8 on each side of it. They are left contact rod (L) and right contact rod (R) and both point in opposite directions. The terminal rod 6 has two wires leading to it from the motor to form two contacts 10 on it. On each side of the terminal rod 6 there are two terminals 11 and 12 from the battery connected cross wise to each other so that the terminals on one side are first plus and then minus and on the other side are minus then plus. When the terminal rod 6 is not in contact with contact rods 8 to strike a larger object putting the vehicle either in reverse or forward. When there .are a number of wires joining as in FIGURE 5 there is the possibility that when the vehicle returns backward along wire 23 after being set in reverse by object 22 that it would return to its starting position on wire 20. To prevent this from occurring wire 20 is terminated a short distance in front of wire 23 just far enough so that the magnets under the vehicle do not engage With wire 20 upon returning.

The operation of this device will now be readily understood. When the vehicle starts oif at the track 20 the magnets are attracted by the wire within the cardboard, thus the vehicle shall follow the wire although it is not visible to the spectators. When the wire curves as wire 20 in FIGURE 5 the front magnet 2 turns the front axle 3 accordingly making a correct turn. An object 21 placed on the left of the vehicles route is struck by the left contact rod (L) FIGURE 3, 13 moving the terminal rod 6 into neutral position 14. Further up, 14, another object 22 on the same side but slightly larger puts the vehicle in reverse 15 via left contact rod (L). As the vehicle is traveling backwards a gap between

wire

20 and 23 assures that the vehicle will not return back along wire 24) but shall continue on wire 23 where object 24 puts the vehicle in neutral 16 via right contact rod (R). The object 25 is struck by right contact rod (R) 17 placing the vehicle in forward 18.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing and while various changes may be made in the detail constrnction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus completely and fully described the invention, what is now claimed as new and desired to be pro tected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A magnetically controlled toy vehicle comprising:

(a) an elongated toy vehicle frame supported on ground engaging wheels;

(12) a battery powered electric motor mounted on said frame adapted to drive said wheels;

(0) reversible switch means interposed between said battery and said motor for reversing the direction of rotation of said motor;

(d) a track of magnetically attracted material beneath said vehicle frame;

(e) magnetic means on said frame attractable to said track for guiding said frame along the path of said track;

(7) a pair of rockable contact rods depending from 3 4 said frame on opposite sides of said track, means conmanner as to follow said wire track and steer said necting said contact rods to said switch means to front axle accordingly, the other of said magnets reverse said switch means in dependence upon the being a stabilizer magnet and connected under the degree of angularity of said contact rods; and rear end of the vehicle and also following said track;

(g) a plurality of objects disposed in predetermined 10- 5 (h) a pair of contact rods joined together by the said cations on opposite sides of said track in interfering connecting rod to which also is joined the said terrelation with said contact rods, each of said objects minal rod such that when either of the said contact being capable of angularly rocking the interfering one rods strikes an object the said terminal rod will tilt of said rods. in the opposite direction; and,

2. The device of claim 1 further characterized by an (i) a set of two battery terminals located on opposite additional track of magnetically attracted 6 material 10- sides of the said terminal rod, both sets being concated beneath said vehicle frame, said additional track nected cross-wise to each other so that the said conbeing arcuate and terminating adjacent one end in subtacts on said terminal rod connected to said motor stantially tangential relation with respect to said first track. may meet either set of said battery terminals to re- 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said one end of said verse the current in said motor. additional track is spaced from said first track a prede- 5, The toy vehicle of claim 4, said pair of contact rods termined distance. consisting of two low lying oblique rods both pointing 4. A magnetically controlled toy vehicle comprising, in i opposite di tio combination: 6. The toy vehicle of claim 4, said Wire track being (a) a battery driven electric motor; concealed within a sheet of cardboard.

(b) a terminal rod;

(0) two contacts on said terminal rod electrically con- References Cited in the file of this patent nected to said motoir; UNITED STATES PATENTS (d) a connectmg 2,486,273 Gibson Oct. 25, 1949 (e) a front axle pivotal about a vertical axis; (1) a Wire track made of magnetically attracted material; q j T (g) a pair of magnets, one of said magnets being a FOREIGN PATLNS front magnet and afiixed to said front axle in such a 492,654 Italy Mar. 29, 1954 2,690,626 Gay an. Oct. 5, 1954

Claims

1. A MAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED TOY VEHICLE COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED TOY VEHICLE FRAME SUPPORTED ON GROUND ENGAGING WHEELS; (B) A BATTERY POWERED ELECTRIC MOTOR MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME ADAPTED TO DRIVE SAID WHEELS; (C) REVERSIBLE SWITCH MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID BATTERY AND SAID MOTOR FOR REVERSING THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF SAID MOTOR; (D) A TRACK OF MAGNETICALLY ATTRACTED MATERIAL BENEATH SAID VEHICLE FRAME; (E) MAGNETIC MEANS ON SAID FRAME ATTRACTABLE TO SAID TRACK FOR GUIDING SAID FRAME ALONG THE PATH OF SAID TRACK; (F) A PAIR OF ROCKABLE CONTACT RODS DEPENDING FROM SAID FRAME ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID TRACK, MEANS CONNECTING SAID CONTACT RODS TO SAID SWITCH MEANS TO REVERSE SAID SWITCH MEANS IN DEPENDENCE UPON THE DEGREE OF ANGULARITY OF SAID CONTACT RODS; AND (G) A PLURALITY OF OBJECTS DISPOSED IN PREDETERMINED LOCATIONS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID TRACK IN INTERFERING RELATION WITH SAID CONTACT RODS, EACH OF SAID OBJECTS BEING CAPABLE OF ANGULARLY ROCKING THE INTERFERING ONE OF SAID RODS.