FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to toys generally and more particularly to toy vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various types of toy vehicles are known. There is described in applicants ¹ earlier U.S. Patent 4,971,591 a vehicle with vacuum traction, which has the capability of climbing walls and includes slidable vacuum apparatus mounted on a chassis and arranged for slidable vacuum seal engagement with a support surface. The references listed in U.S. Patent 4,971,591 describe additional prior art of interest in the field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an improved toy car which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and has enhanced play value.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a toy vehicle including a chassis, wheels engaging a support surface, electric motor apparatus for driving the wheels to provide motion of the toy car along the support surface, slidable vacuum engagement apparatus mounted on the chassis for selectable operative engagement with the support surface and manually operable apparatus for enabling a user to selectable cause operative engagement of the vacuum engagement apparatus with the support surface.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the

present invention, the manually operable apparatus includes a mechanism for selectably retracting the vacuum engagement apparatus from the support surface.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a toy vehicle including a chassis, wheels engaging a support surface, electric motor apparatus for driving the wheels to provide motion of the toy car along the support surface, and slidable vacuum engagement apparatus mounted on the chassis for operative engagement with the support surface, and wherein the slidable vacuum engagement apparatus comprises a vacuum cup formed of a resilient material and defining an open end arranged to face the support surface and slidable vacuum cup cover apparatus including a peripheral ring element onto which is mounted a slidable intermediate surface element, the peripheral ring element serving to retain the slidable intermediate* ^' fcurface element over the open end of the vacuum cup.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the peripheral ring element is formed of a resilient foam material.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the peripheral ring element is formed with. a tapered inner facing surface so as to enable it to accommodate different shapes of the vacuum cup during different operational states thereof.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the peripheral ring element is mounted

directly onto the vacuum cup and is not otherwise supported t>y the vehicle.

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a toy vehicle including a chassis, wheels engaging a support surface, electric motor apparatus for driving the wheels to provide motion of the toy car along the support surface and slidable vacuum engagement apparatus mounted on the chassis for selectable operative engagement with the support surface, the slidable vacuum engagement apparatus comprising a vacuum pump including a resiliently defor able housing associated with one way valve apparatus and apparatus for repeatedly compressing the housing so as to repeatedly remove air therefrom through the one way valve apparatus.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the one-way valve apparatus comprises a flap associated with an air outlet from said housing such that egress of air through the outlet is permitted but ingress of air is blocked by the flap.

There is additionally provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a toy vehicle including a chassis, wheels engaging a support surface, electric motor apparatus for driving the wheels to provide motion of the toy car along the support surface and slidable vacuum engagement apparatus mounted on the chassis for selectable operative engagement with the support surface, the slidable vacuum engagement apparatus comprising a vacuum pump which is operated by the electric motor apparatus.

There is further provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a toy vehicle including a chassis, wheels engaging a support surface, electric motor apparatus for driving the wheels to provide motion of the toy car along the support surface and slidable vacuum engagement apparatus mounted on the chassis for selectable operative engagement with the support surface, the wheels and the slidable vacuum engagement apparatus being operative to enable the vehicle to proceed from travel along a generally horizontal surface to travel along a generally vertical surface without requiring user intervention.

It is noted that instead of wheels, any other suitable means for drivingly engaging a support surface, such as treads, may be employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a generalized illustration of a toy vehicle constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 2A and 2B are respective pictorial illustrations of slidable vacuum engagement apparatus employed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C are side view illustrations of the vehicle in three operative orientations of the slidable vacuum engagement apparatus;

Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C are partially cut away side view illustrations of the engagement of the vacuum cup and slidable vacuum cup cover apparatus including a peripheral ring, in the three operative orientations of the slidable vacuum engagement apparatus illustrated respectively in Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C;

Figs. 5A, 5B and 5C illustrate three stages in the cycle of operation of the vacuum pump illustrated in Figs. 2A and 2B;

Figs. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E illustrate five typical stages in the operation of the vehicle of the present invention in proceeding from travel along a generally horizontal surface to travel along a generally vertical surface;

Figs. 6F and 6G illustrate two stages in the operation of the vehicle of the present invention in traveling on its rear

wheels along a generally horizontal surface into driving engagement with a generally vertical surface;

Fig. 7 is an exploded view illustration of part of apparatus for providing selectable engagement of the slidable vacuum engagement apparatus with a support surface;

Figs. 8A and 8B are illustrations of a detail of the apparatus of Fig. 7 in two different operative engagements;

Figs. 9A and 9B are side view illustrations of the apparatus for providing selectable engagement of the slidable vacuum engagement apparatus with a support surface in respective raised and lowered orientations; and

Fig. 10 is a pictorial illustration of part of the drive train of a toy vehicle constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein a single motor powers the vacuum pump and the vehicle wheels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which illustrates generally a toy vehicle constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The toy vehicle comprises a chassis 10 onto which are mounted wheels 12. It is appreciated that any desired fanciful body may be mounted onto the chassis. An electric motor 14 is mounted on the chassis and is provided with a source of electric power, such as an internal or external battery pack (not shown) . The electric motor 14 drives the wheels 12 via a gear train 16. Two or four wheel drive may be provided as desired.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided slidable vacuum engagement apparatus 20 which is mounted onto the chassis and enables the vehicle to operate on vertical support surfaces. In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the slidable vacuum engagement apparatus 20 may be operated by a separate electric motor, although alternatively, motor 14 may be employed for driving both the vacuum apparatus 20 and the drive wheels 12, as illustrated in Fig. 10. Fig. 10 also illustrates the use of treads 13 as means for drivingly engaging a support surface.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2A, 2B, 5A - 5C and 7, which illustrate selectably positionable slidable vacuum engagement apparatus 20 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As seen in Figs. 2A and 2B, the apparatus 20 comprises

a base member 30 which includes first and second mounting apertures 32 and 34 for vertically displaceable mounting thereof onto the vehicle chassis, as illustrated in Figs. 9A and 9B. Base member 30 also includes electric motor mounting portions 36, 37, 38 and 39 onto which may be mounted an electric motor 40.

Electric motor 40 is arranged to have an output drive shaft 42 formed with gear teeth formed thereon. A cam drive shaft assembly 44 is mounted on portions 46 and 48 of base member 30 and includes a gear 50 which engages output drive shaft 42, a shaft 52 onto which the gear 50 is fixed and an eccentric drive element 54 which is fixed to shaft 52 for rotation therewith and is operative to provide periodic displacement of a vacuum pump housing 56.

A vacuum pump is defined by vacuum pump housing 56, which is preferably a molded rubber cap element and which is preferably associated with a reinforcing disk 58, which is engaged by drive element 54 and has enhanced resistance to wear. Vacuum pump housing 56 is sealingly seated over a vacuum pump base portion 60, forming part of base member 30 and which includes a peripheral upstanding rim 62 and an air inlet 64 which is coupled via a hollow suction cup mounting shaft 66 (Fig. 5A) to the interior of a suction cup 68 which includes a shaft portion 70 which is seated over shaft 66. Associated with air inlet 64 is a one way valve comprising a flap 71 (Fig. 5A) which is arranged to only permit ingress of air via shaft 66 to the interior of the vacuum pump housing 56.

Base portion 60 also includes an air egress port 72 with which is associated a flap 74 (Fig. 5A) of resilient

material so as to define a one-way air outlet valve, which does not permit air ingress to the interior of housing 56.

As seen particularly in Fig. 7, disposed on the underside of base member 30 are cam protrusions 76. A manually operable cam engagement lever 78 is provided, having a manually engagable handle portion 80 and a disc-like base portion 82 having apertures 84.

As can be seen in Figs. 8A and 8B, depending on the azi uthal orientation of lever 78, the protrusions 76 either seat in apertures 84 or do not. When the apertures 84 do not underlie the protrusions 76, the base member 30 is forced upwardly against the urging of springs 90, which are mounted about shafts 92 formed on chassis 10 as seen in Figs. 9A and 9B, thus raising base member 30 and the vacuum pump and vacuum cup 68 relative to the chassis 10 and to the vehicle wheels 12.

In this manner, by manually adjusting the azimuthal rotation of lever 78, the vacuum cup 68 may be selectably brought into engagement with a support surface or retracted therefrom. Three orientations of the vacuum engagement apparatus are shown in Figs. 3A - 3C. In Fig. 3A, the retracted orientation is shown and in Fig. 3B, the extended orientation is shown and it is seen that the vacuum engagement apparatus extends somewhat below the vehicle wheels 12. Fig. 3C illustrates the orientation of the vacuum engagement apparatus as the result of application of vacuum at cup 68 when in operative engagement with a support surface 110. It is seen that the vacuum cup 68 flattens out such that it holds the wheels 12 in driving frictional engagement with

the support surface 110.

Referring once again to Fig. 2B, it is seen that in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, associated with the vacuum cup 68 is a slidable cover assembly 100, preferably comprising a retaining rim 102, having a tapered inner surface and being formed of a foamed flexible material such as foam rubber, and a slidable cover sheet 104 retained by the rim 102 onto vacuum cup 68. Cover sheet 104 must be apertured and may be apertured as illustrated and is preferably formed of a friction resistant material such as mylar.

Reference is now made to Figs. 4A - 4C which illustrate the relative orientations of vacuum cup 68, retaining rim 102 and sheet 104 for the corresponding three orientations illustrated in Figs 3A - 3C. It is seen that when out of engagement with a support surface, as illustrated in Figs. 3A and 4A, the rim 102 is supported on the vacuum cup 68. When the vacuum engagement

." ^• I apparatus engages a support surface 110, the relative orientations are as shown in Figs. 3B and 4B. Upon application of vacuum, the vacuum cup 68 flattens, as seen in Figs. 3C and 4C. It is seen that the tapered configuration of rim 102 accommodates this flattening.

Reference is now made to Figs. 5A, 5B and 5C, which illustrate the operation of the vacuum pump illustrated in Figs. 2A and 2B. As seen in Fig. 5A, when the vacuum pump housing 56 is an uncompressed state, flap 71 is open permitting ingress of air from the vacuum cup via shaft 66. Subsequent compression of the housing 56, produced by engagement of eccentric drive element 54 with reinforcing element 58 of housing 56, causes air to be

forced out of the interior of the housing 56 via outlet 72, when flap 74 is open. It is noted that no air can enter shaft 66 since flap 71 is closed.

Subsequent disengagement of eccentric drive element 54 from element 58, as illustrated in Fig. 5C, permits the natural resiliency of housing 56 to cause the housing 56 to reassume its at rest configuration, as shown in Fig. 5A, and thus to draw in air from the vacuum cup 68 via shaft 66 and open flap 71, as indicated by arrow 79. Air cannot be drawn in via outlet 72 due to the action of flap 74.

It is a particular feature of the vacuum engagement apparatus that when a good seal is established by the vacuum cup 68, the housing 56 tends to remain in its collapsed orientation as shown in Fig. 5C and thus is not contacted by eccentric drive element 54, thereby lowering the power drain on the electric motor.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that the toy vehicle can automatically transfer from movement along a generally horizontal surface to movement along a generally vertical surface. The sequence of steps is illustrated in Figs. 6A - 6E. It is appreciated that this feature is enabled by the provision of a body configuration including a back body surface 112 which extends rearwardly to generally the same extent as do wheels 12.

As seen in Figs. 6F and 6G, the vehicle can also move on its rear wheels alone into engagement with a vertical surface.

It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that

the present invention is not limited by what nas oeen particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims which follow: