US3481071A - Remote control toy - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2, 1 969 A. w. HINKSO N 3,481,071 I REMOTE CONTROL TOY Filed March 16. 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ARTHUR W. HINKSON ATTORNEY Dec. 2, 1969 A. w. HINKSON REMOTE CONTROL TOY Filed March 16. 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 GAS GAS FIG.6

v INVENTOR; 7i ARTHUR w. HiNKSON m H 4%. 77 F526;? ATTORNEY Dec. 2, 1969 A. w. I-I-IINKSON I 3,

REMOTE CONTROL TOY Filed March 16. 1966 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 52

INVENTOR. ARTHUR W. HENKSON BY M5149 ATTORN EY 3,481,071 REMOTE CONTROL TOY Arthur William Hinkson, 45 Jervis Ave., Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735 Filed Mar. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 534,743

Int. Cl. A63h 33/26 I U.S. Cl. 46-240 11 Claims This invention relates in general to remotely controlled toys, and more particularly to a toy vehicle, boat, or the like which is moved about a board by manipulation of a mechanism.

A main object of this invention is to provide an amusement device having a board on which a toy boat, vehicle, figure, or the like may be directed by the manipulation of seemingly un-connected controls.

Another object of this invention is to provide an amusement device or toy which gives rise to a unique sensation of the remote control of an object on a board.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mechanically activated remotely controlled vehicle, boat, figure, or the like which may be maneuvered over a board according to the skill of an operator.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a mechanical linkage to remotely move a toy about a board, the linkage reaching the entire operating surface of the board and greatly magnifying the control motions of an operator.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive toy which provides a greater pleasure, thrill of use, and requirement of skill than other more costly, elaborate, and complex amusement devices.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a remotely controlled toy vehicle which may be driven mechanically on a board by a remote control device which presents the natural appearance to an operator of an automobile steering wheel.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a parallel bar mechanism which expands and contracts, known as a lazy tong mechanism, below a board to move a toy on the board about the board by means of a magnet, the lazy tong mechanism having a free and a secured end, the magnet being fixed to the free end of the lazy tong mechanism and control means being attached near the secured end of the mechanism to amplify movements of the control means.

Many other objects, advantages, and features of invention reside in the particular contruction, combination, and arrangement of parts involved in the embodir FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a toy boat which may be used with this invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the board of the first embodiment of this invention with the bottom cover removed;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3 with the bottom cover shown in place;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a second embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a fragment of the board of the second embodiment of my invention with portions of the board broken away about the control unit and with the bottom cover removed from the board;

FIG. 9 is a section taken on line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section through a United States Patent 0 3,481,071 Patented Dec. 2, 1969 modified control unit for the second embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of a fragment of a board with the modified control unit of FIG. 10 mounted thereon;

FIG. 12 is a section taken on line 1212 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 13 is a section taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 8 with the bottom cover shown in position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGS. 1-5 show the first embodiment of my invention which has a board 20 of plastic, fiberboard, or the like. Board 20 has a bottom cover 21 fixed under it by screws 22 which enter brackets 23. A parallel bar or lazy tong mechanism 24 is pivotally secured by a screw 25 to a boss 26 near one corner of board 20. Two long restraining links 27 and 28 are connected to the pivot 29 nearest screw 25. The pivotally mounted links 30 and 31 are attached to board 20 by screws 32 and 33. Control links 34 and 35 have ends attached, respectively, to the pivot 36 between links 27 and 30 and the pivot 37 between links 30 and 31.

Two control disks 38 and 39 are rotatably secured on board 20 by screws or rivets 40 and 41. Arcuate slots 42 and 43 are cut in board 20 below the disks 38 and 39. Screws or the like 44 and 45 extend from disks 38 and 39 to control links 34 and 35.

As shown in FIG. 4, mechanism 24 terminates in a pivot point 46 below which is fixed a glide type bearing 47 which slides freely on bottom cover 21. Mounted on a flat spring 48 above pivot 46 is a magnet 49. Spring 48 holds magnet 49 against the underside of board 20. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a small boat 50 of wood or a like material having a magnetic element 51 glued below it is placed on board 20.

The first embodiment of my invention is used as follows. The boat 50, a toy lighthouse 53, a breakwater 54, buoys 55 and 56, and like objects, are removed from the attached box 57 and placed on the effective area 58 marked on board 20. Area 58 may be painted to simulate Water if desired. Turning the control disks 38 and 39 moves the magnet 49 below the effective area 58 by means of the mechanism 24. Thus manipulation of disks 38 and 39 can move boat 50 about the objects on board 20.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it may be seen that the restraining links 27 and 28 are of great length. Thus when only disk 38 is moved, disk 39 being stationary, pivot point 29 will move on the circumference of a relatively large circle in substantially a straight line. Therefore, it may be seen that the selective manipulation of disk 38 or 39 moves magnet 49 in substantially straight paths at right angles to each other. Simultaneous manipulation of the control disks 38 and 39 moves the magnet 49 and thereby boat 50 along a path at a resultant angle. Magnet 49 is restrained to move only under effective area 58 by the length of the arcuate slots 42 and 43 Which limit rotation of disks 38 and 39.

The forces required to move mechanism 24 and boat 50 are very small. For this reason the motion of the control disks 38 and 39 may be greatly magnified by the mechanism 24. This magnification of the control motions gives the user of this embodiment of my invention the sensation that there is no understandable mechanical connection between the control disks 38 and 39 and boat 50 to provide a unique experience of remote control.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 13, the second embodiment of my invention has a board 60 below which there is fixed a bottom cover 61. An effective area 62 marked on board 60 has toy automobile accessories 63 and 64, and houses and garages 65 and 6-6 placed on'it.

When these articles are not being used, they may be kept in the box 59 fixed to board 60. One or more raised parking areas 67 and 68 are glued to board in area 62. Toy automobiles 69 and 70 each have free turning rear wheels 71 and a magnetic element 72 in their front ends. A lazy tong mechanism 74 has a magnet 75 fixed over its endmost pivot point 76 by a spring member 77. Thus as mechanism 74 moves magnet 75 about below the effective area, it draws a toy automobile along over board 60.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, a long restraining link 78 is pivotally fixed by a screw 79 to boss 80 of board 60. A control unit, generally designated by the reference numeral 81, has a housing 82 fixed to board 60. A hollow shaft 83 is rotatably fixed in housing 82 by means of a collar 84 or the like. Shaft 83 has a wheel 85 fixed to its outer end and a crank arm 86 fixed to extend downward from its inner end through a slot 87 in board 60. A link 88 is fixed to arm 86 and is pivotally connected to the fixed end of mechanism 74 through a straight slot 89 in the offset guide plate 90. Guide plate 90 is fixed below board 60 by screws 91. Thus it may be seen that rotation of wheel 85 moves the fixed end of mechanism 74 laterally to move the free end of mechanism 74 and magnet 75 laterally in the same direction as wheel 85 is turned.

Referring further to FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, a center shaft 92 extends through shaft 83 and has a plate or disk 93 fixed to its outer end within an opening 94 in the center of wheel 85. A downward projection 95 from the inner end of shaft 92 extends through slot 99 to be fixed to restraining link 78. The free end of restraining link 78 is connected to the first pivot point 96 of mechanism 74. A tension spring 97 urges the free end of link 78 upward to retract the mechanism 74 longitudinally. Thus pressure on plate 93 moves magnet '75 outward and relaxation of this pressure allows spring 97 to move it inward. The Wheel 85 and disk 93 of control unit 81 are very natural to use. The wheel 85 is grasped by the fingers of both hands with the thumbs resting on disk 93.

In this manner the user of the second embodiment of my invention may drive a car 69 or 70 about area 62 in a very realistic manner. Since the movements of control wheel 85 and plate 93 are greatly magnified by mechanism 74, a unique sensation is obtained to the extent that it is hard to believe that a mechanical linkage exists between the controls and a driven toy car. One car may be parked by moving it against a raised parking area 67 or 68 and then shifting magnet under another car.

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 show a modification of the second embodiment of my invention. Wheel 100 of control unit 101 is fixed to outer shaft 102 which is rotatably mounted in housing 103. A lazy tong mechanism 104 has one end pivotally fixed to boss 105 by a screw 106. A square or splined shaft 108 extends through shaft 102 and has a crank 109 fixed to it. The free end of crank 109 extends through opening 115 in board 107 and is connected to the first pivot point 110 of mechanism 104 by a suitable bracket 111. The outer end of shaft 108 has a plate (not shown) fixed to it within wheel 100 similar to plate 93 within wheel 85. A tension spring 114 tends to retract mechanism 104 longitudinally. Thus rotation of wheel 100 moves the free end of mechanism 104 laterally while depression of its plate moves it longitudinally. Since opening 115 is rectangular and limits movement of the end of crank 109 to a rectangular area, opening 115 limits the much greater movement of the free end (not shown) of mechanism 104 to a rectangular elfective area.

The lazy tong mechanism of this invention may have a greater or lesser number of pivot points or quadrilateral sections depending on the particular configuration of a given embodiment of my invention. In all cases, however, the mechanism should amplify the control motions imparted to it to give rise to the unique sense of remote control provided by my invention.

I claim:

1. An amusement device comprising, in combination, a board, a first pivot means, lazy tongs mechanism disposed below said board, said mechanism having a pivoted end attached to said first pivot means and an outer free end, an element attached to the free end of said mechanism under said board, a second pivot means on said mechanism near but displaced from said pivoted end, a hand-activated control means connected to said second pivot means to move said mechanism in two directions in a plane parallel to said board, said control means moving one of said pivots about the other of said pivots, said lazy tongs mechanism magnifying motion imparted to said mechanism by said control means to move said element below an area of said board, and a toy disposed on said board, said element and said toy being magnetically attracted to each other, said toy being drawn about said board by movement of said element.

2. The combination according to claim 1 with the addition of a bottom cover parallel to said board below said board, at least the free end of said mechanism resting on and sliding on said bottom cover.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said element is a magnet and with the addition of spring means supporting said magnet above the free end of said mechanism and holding said magnet against the underside of said board.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said hand-activated control means has a first shaft mounted on said board substantialy parallel to said mechanism, a hand turned wheel on said first shaft, a crank on said first shaft, and means connecting said crank to said mechanism imparting lateral motion to said mechanism when said control wheel is turned.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said first shaft is hollow and with the addition of a second shaft slidably extending through said first shaft, a control disk on said second shaft in the center of said control wheel, a projection of said second shaft engaging said mechanism, and spring means retracting said mechanism so that pressure on said control disk extends said mechanism against said spring means.

6. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said first shaft is hollow and with the addition of a second shaft slidably extending through said first shaft and rotating with said first shaft, said crank being mounted on said second shaft, said means connecting said crank to said mechanism, a control disk on said second shaft in the center of said control wheel, and spring means urging said control disk away from said control wheel so that pressure on said control disk extends said mechanism against said spring means and rotation of said control wheel imparts lateral motion to said mechanism.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said mechanism has a pivot point near said attached end of said mechanism, and with the addition of means constraining the attached end of said mechanism to lateral motion, a restraining link having a pivotally mounted and a free end, the free end of said restraining link being connected to said pivot point near the attached end of said mechanism, a housing mounted on said board to the side of the attached end of said mechanism, a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in said housing having inner and outer ends, a wheel on the outer end of said hollow shaft, a crank on the inner end of said hollow shaft extending below said board, a connecting link extending from said crank to the attached end of said mechanism, a central shaft slidably disposed within said hollow shaft having inner and outer ends, a downward projection from the inner end of said central shaft connected to said restraining link, a central disk on the outer end of said central shaft in the center of said wheel, spring means urging said restraining link to retract said mechanism longitudinally, rotation of said wheel in a given direction moving said magnet laterally in the same direction and pressure on said central disk extending said mechanism against said spring means.

8. An amusement device comprising, in combination, a board, a lazy tongs mechanism disposed below said board, said mechanism having an attached and a free end, an element attached to the free end of said mechanism under said board, hand-activated control means connected to said mechanism near said attached end moving said mechanism in two directions in a plane parallel to said board, said mechanism magnifying motion imparted to said mechanism by said control means to move said element below the area of said board, a toy disposed on said board, said element and said toy being magnetically attracted to each other, said toy being drawn about on said board by movement of said element, said mechanism having a pivot point near said attached end, and said control means having two restraining links connected to said pivot point, said restraining links being substantially at right angles to each other, said mechanism substantially bisecting the angle between said restraining links, said control means having hand-activated means connected to the outwardly disposed ends of said restraining links moving said restraining links longitudinally.

9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein said hand-activated means connected to the outwardly disposed ends of said restraining links comprise pivotally mounted means attached to said board and to the outwardly disposed ends of said restraining links, and means to manually pivot said pivotally mounted means.

10. The combination according to claim 9 wherein said pivotally mounted means are pivotally mounted links substantially at right angles to said restraining links, and wherein said means to manually pivot said pivotally mounted links comprise control disks rotatably mounted on said board, said board containing openings below said disks, and control links attached to said control disks through the openings in said board and to said restraining links, manual rotation of said control disks longitudinally moving said restraining links.

11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein said board is substantially square, the attached end of said mechanism is attached to said board near one corner of said board, and said restraining links extend substantially to corners of said board adjacent to said corner near which said mechanism is attached.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,651,140 9/1953 Kovac 46--240 ROBERT PESHO'CK, Primary Examiner ROBERT F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner

Claims (1)

1. AN AMUSEMENT DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A BOARD, A FIRST PIVOT MEANS, LAZY TONGS MECHANISM DISPOSED BELOW SAID BOARD, SAID MECHANISM HAVING A PIVOTED END ATTACHED TO SAID FIRST PIVOT MEANS AND AN OUTER FREE END, AN ELEMENT ATTACHED TO THE FREE END OF SAID MECHANISM UNDER SAID BOARD, A SECOND PIVOT MEANS ON SAID MECHANISM NEAR BUT DISPLACED FROM SAID PIVOTED END, A HAND-ACTIVATED CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND PIVOT MEANS TO MOVE SAID MECHANISM IN TWO DIRECTIONS IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO SAID BOARD, SAID CONTROL MEANS MOVING ONE OF SAID PIVOTS ABOUT THE OTHER OF SAID PIVOTS, SAID LAZY TONGS MECHANISM MAGNIFYING MOTION IMPARTED TO SAID MECHANISM BY SAID CONTROL MEANS TO MOVE SAID ELEMENT BELOW AN AREA OF SAID BOARD, AND A TOY DISPOSED ON SAID BOARD, SAID ELEMENT AND SAID TOY BEING MAGNETICALLY ATTRACTED TO EACH OTHER, SAID TOY BEING DRAWN ABOUT SAID BOARD BY MOVEMENT OF SAID ELEMENT.

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