| WO/2004/056436 | RADIO−CONTROLLED MOTORCYCLE TOY |
| JP2004254727 | TOY TWO-WHEELER FOR RIDING |
| WO/2001/064502 | TRAILER FOR BALANCING VEHICLES |
Buchanan, James Matthew (39 Burrowdale Avenue, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 0PS, GB)
| 1. | A two wheeled vehicle for use on a track having a slot running there along, the vehicle comprising: a chassis; a front wheel pivotally connected to the chassis to allow the front wheel to turn into a corner; a rear wheel connected to the chassis; drive means mounted on the chassis and in driving engagement with the rear wheel ; and guide means, secured to a forward portion of the vehicle, to be received in the slot. |
| 2. | A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the guide comprises a blade extending beneath the front wheel. |
| 3. | A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the guide comprises a blade extending beneath a forward portion of the chassis. |
| 4. | A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide is pivotally mounted to the chassis. |
| 5. | A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the front wheel is secured to a front fork assembly which is pivotally attached to the chassis. |
| 6. | A vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the guide is mounted on the front fork assembly. |
| 7. | A vehicle according to either claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the front fork assembly is resiliently biassed in a direction towards the track in use. |
| 8. | A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive means comprises a motor having a drive shaft with a pinion gear which driveably engages with a toothed rim on the rear wheel. |
| 9. | A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the drive means comprises a motor having a drive shaft with a pinion gear which driveably engages with a toothed hub on the rear wheel. |
| 10. | A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rear wheel is rotatably mounted on an arm which is pivotally attached to the chassis and which is resiliently biassed in a direction towards the track in use. |
| 11. | A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising stabilising means for preventing the vehicle from falling over when in use. |
| 12. | A vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the stabilising means extend away from the vehicle on each side of the vehicle. |
| 13. | A vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the stabilising means include a portion on each side of the vehicle and which is substantially parallel to the track in use. |
| 14. | A vehicle according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the stabilising means is mounted on the front fork assembly. |
| 15. | A vehicle according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the stabilising means is mounted on the chassis or the arm on which the rear wheel is mounted. |
| 16. | A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the stabilising means is connected to the guide so as to be pivotable therewith. |
| 17. | A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising corner stabilising means operable when travelling around a corner to bias the vehicle so as to lean towards the inside of the corner. |
| 18. | A vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the corner stabilising means comprises an arm mounted so as to be movable with the front wheel relative to the chassis and extending rearwardly from the front wheel, first magnetic means mounted on the arm, second magnetic means of like polarity to the first magnetic means and mounted on the chassis on each side of the vehicle, whereby upon entering a corner the first magnetic means is moved towards the second magnetic means on the side of the vehicle adjacent to the outside of the corner and the repulsive force between the first and second magnetic means biasses the chassis to lean towards the inside of the corner. |
| 19. | A vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the corner stabilising means comprises a cam mounted on the chassis for, when cornering, engagement with the front wheel so as to cause the vehicle to lean towards the inside of the corner. |
| 20. | A vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the corner stabilising means are operable electronically. |
Model racing toys are known which comprise a track with one or more slots, each slot having electrified rails. Model vehicles for racing on the track have a guide extending from the underside of the vehicle which fits in and travels along the slot. Electrical contacts, typically in the form of brushes, are mounted on the vehicle for contacting the electrified rails to provide power to a motor in the vehicle to drive it along the track.
In the past, only model vehicles having three or more wheels, such as cars, have been provided since they are inherently stable and can easily be kept on the track even at relatively high speed.
Two wheeled vehicles, such as model motor bikes, have not been produced due to a number of problems. In particular, having only two wheels makes the vehicle inherently unstable and prone to toppling over and coming off the track when cornering.
In addition, a rider on a real motorbike will lean the bike towards the inside of the corner, but, due to centrifugal forces, a model motorbike will tend to lean towards the outside of the corner, which is unrealistic and therefore undesirable to consumers.
The present invention aims to provide a two-wheeled model vehicle that overcomes one or more of the problems above.
The present invention provides a two wheeled vehicle for use on a track having a slot running therealong, the vehicle comprising: a chassis; a front wheel pivotally connected to the chassis to allow the front wheel to turn into a corner; a rear wheel connected to the chassis; drive means mounted on the chassis and in driving engagement with the rear wheel ; and guide means, secured to a forward portion of the vehicle, to be received in the slot.
The guide may comprise a blade extending either beneath the front wheel or, alternatively, may include a blade extending beneath a forward portion of the chassis.
The guide may be pivotally attached to the chassis or, alternatively, may be secured to a front fork assembly which itself is pivotally attached to the chassis.
The front fork assembly may be resiliently biassed in a direction towards the track in use. The front wheel may be rotatable or non-rotatable but, if the front wheel is arranged to be in contact with the track in use, it is preferably rotatable.
In one embodiment, the drive means comprises a motor having a drive shaft with a pinion gear which driveably engages with a toothed rim on the rear wheel. The pinion gear may, alternatively, driveably engage with a toothed hub on the rear wheel.
The rear wheel is preferably rotatably mounted on an arm which is pivotally attached to the chassis. The arm may be resiliently biassed in a direction towards the track in use.
Preferably the vehicle further comprises stabilising means for ensuring that the vehicle does not topple over when in use. Preferably, the stabilising means are connected to the chassis, but they may alternatively be connected to the guide, the front fork assembly or even the arm on which the rear wheel is mounted.
In a preferred embodiment, the stabilising means includes a portion on each side of the vehicle which extends in a direction which is substantially parallel to the track in use.
The stabilising means may be formed from wire or, alternatively, may be shaped so as to provide one or more contact points at the outer extremes of the stabiliser away from the vehicle.
The vehicle may further comprise a corner stabilising means operable when travelling around a corner to bias the vehicle so as to lean towards the inside of the corner.
In a one embodiment, the corner stabilising means comprises an arm mounted so as to be movable with the front wheel relative to the chassis and extending rearwardly from the front wheel, first magnetic means mounted on the arm, second magnetic means of like plurality to the first magnetic means and mounted to the chassis on each side of the vehicle, whereby upon entering a corner the first magnetic means is moved towards the second magnetic means on the side of the vehicle adjacent to the outside of the corner and the repulsive force between the first and second magnetic means biases the chassis to lean towards the inside of the corner.
Alternatively, the corner stabilising means may include a cam which, when the vehicle is cornering, is in engagement with the front wheel such that, upon entering a corner, the relative movement between the front wheel and the corner causes the vehicle to lean towards the inside of the corner.
In a further alternative, the corner stabilising means may be operable electronically on entering a corner so as to alter the balance of the vehicle to cause the vehicle to lean into a corner.
Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one example of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the vehicle of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view from below and one side of a vehicle having a different stabilising means; Figure 4 is a view from below and one side of a vehicle having a further different stabilising means; Figure 5 is a schematic partially cut away view showing the front suspension; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the rear end of a vehicle, with the seat removed, showing the rear suspension; Figure 7 is a perspective view showing one example of a drive arrangement; Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a further example of a drive arrangement; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a further example of the present invention; and Figure 10 is an underneath plan view of the vehicle of Figure 10.
Figure 1 shows a two-wheeled model vehicle 10 having a chassis 11, a front wheel 12, a rear wheel 13, a stabilising means 14 and a guide 15.
The front wheel 12 is connected to the chassis 11 by a set of front forks 16 which are pivotally connected to the chassis 11. The rear wheel 13 is connected to the chassis 11 by an arm 17 which is pivotally connected to the chassis at a pivot axis 18.
In this example, the guide 15 takes the form of a blade 19 which is pivotally connected to the underside of the chassis via a spigot 22 (see Figure 2).
The stabilising means 14 extends away from the vehicle, on each side of the vehicle, to provide lateral support to the vehicle both when it is in motion and when stationary. The underneath view shown in Figure 2 illustrates how the guide also comprises a contact plate 20 on which brushes 21 are provided. In use, the brushes 21 are caused to run along electrified rails in the track to provide power to a motor 22 mounted on the chassis 11. The contact plate may be removable together with the brushes and may take the form described in our British patent application No. 0316437.4.
In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the stabilising means is formed from wire. The wire passes from a rear mounting point 26 away from the vehicle on one side.
The stabilising means is shaped so that a portion 25 of the wire is substantially parallel
to the track in use, and is then shaped so as to pass through a front mounting point 24 and continue out on the opposite side of the vehicle to form a substantially similar shape, before returning to a further rear mounting point 26 on the opposite side of the vehicle.
In this example, the front 24 and rear 26 mounting points are connected to the guide and, as such, are rotatable therewith about the spigot 23. A magnet holder 27 is positioned behind the guide means and this retains a magnet (not shown) which, in use, attracts the vehicle 10 towards the electrified rails on the track to improve the stability of the vehicle and the contact between the brushes and the rails.
Figures 3 and 4 show a further example of a stabilising means 14 attached to the guide means. In both examples, the stabilising means 14 is formed from a plastics material. Figure 3 shows a"bat-wing"stabilising means having an arm 28 extending from each side of the vehicle, each arm having a rearward projection 29 and a smaller forward projection 30. Figure 4 shows a stabilising means comprising only the arm 28, without additional projections.
Figure 5 shows a partially cut away view of the front forks 16, each of which has an upper portion 31 and a lower portion 32, the upper portion 31 having a reduced diameter portion (not shown) which is slidably mounted within the lower portion 32. A biassing means 33, in this example a helical spring, is mounted between the upper and lower portions, about the reduced diameter portion to bias the lower portion of the front fork, and therefore the front wheel 12, towards the track. The front suspension provides better cornering stability, better contact against the electrified rails and improves stability at any jumps in the track.
As shown in Figure 6, rear suspension may also be provided. This is achieved by providing a spring 34 between the arm 17 which carries the rear wheel 13 and an extension piece 35 of the chassis 11. The rear suspension allows the rear wheel 13 to follow the contours of the track more closely and provides better traction. It also contributes to better stability when cornering and going over jumps.
As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the motor 22 drives the rear wheel 13 directly. A drive shaft 40 extends from the rear of the motor 22 and is provided with a pinion gear 41 which engages with, in Figure 7, a toothed hub 42 on the rear wheel and, in Figure 8, a toothed rim 43 on the rear wheel.
Drive can also be achieved in other ways, for example, through a chain in the same way as a conventional road going motorbike, with a cog on the rear wheel, driven from the main drive gear and chain. When rear suspension is used, the motor 22 is
preferably mounted on the rear arm 17 so that it is free to pivot ensuring that the pinion gear 41 remains in contact with the rear wheel 13.
Although the guide blade 19 is shown connected to a forward portion of the chassis, it could be provided somewhat further back, so long as it is beneath the forward half of the vehicle 10. Although not shown, the guide blade 19 may be connected to the front forks 16 or, as shown in figures 9 and 10, to the front wheel itself, although the position shown in Figures 1 to 8 is preferred.
One of the most desirable features in a two wheeled slot racing vehicle is the ability to move more realistically and, in particular, to lean towards the inside of the corner rather than the outside.
One means for achieving this effect is shown in Figures 9 and 10. A magnetic corner stabilising means comprises an arm 50 extending rearwardly from a mount 51 connected to the front wheel. The mount also includes a guide blade fixed to the front wheel so to turn with the wheel. At the rearmost end of the arm, two magnets 53 are secured. Preferably the magnets are slightly angled, as best seen in Figure 9, so as to face the underside of footrests 54, in which further magnets 55 are secured.
The uppermost faces of the magnets 53 in the arm have the same polarity as the magnets 55 in the footrests so that there is a repulsive force between them.
When the vehicle is travelling in a substantially straight line, the arm 50 is centred and aligned with the rest of the vehicle, such that each of the magnets 53 in the arm is approximately the same distance from its corresponding magnet 55 in the footrests, thereby creating an equilibrium state. However, when entering a corner, the guide blade 52 is turned into the corner, causing the arm 50 to pivot relative to the chassis 11 and the footrests. The magnet 53 which is on the side of the vehicle on the outside of the vehicle is thus moved closer to its corresponding magnet 55 in the footrests, increasing the repulsive force therebetween. This biases the chassis 11 to lean towards the inside of the corner, rather than the outside, providing a more realistic effect in use.
Whilst shown attached to the front wheel, the magnetic corner stabilising means could be attached to the guide blade 52 when the guide blade is pivotably mounted beneath a front portion of the chassis 11 as shown in Figures 1 to 8. The magnets in the footrests could be provided in other appropriate locations on the chassis, depending upon the actual location of the guide blade.
In use, a rider (not shown) may be provided on the vehicle 10, with its feet resting on or secured to the footrests 54.