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  Toy vehicleUSPTO Application #: 20070293121Title: Toy vehicle Abstract: The invention relates to a toy vehicle with one or more wheels to allow the same to move along a surface. At least one item is provided to be selectively positionable on the vehicle, typically on an elongate member positioned around at least part of the side, front and/or end of the vehicle. The selective positioning of the item on the vehicle allows the path of movement and/or number of wheels in contact with the surface to be adjusted depending on the selected location of the item on the toy vehicle at that time. (end of abstract)
Agent: Woodard, Emhardt, Moriarty, Mcnett & Henry LLP - Indianapolis, IN, US Inventor: Robert Kay USPTO Applicaton #: 20070293121 - Class: 446279 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070293121. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001]The present application claims foreign priority under 35 USC .sctn.119(a) or 365(b) to United Kingdom Application No. 0611690.9, filed Jun. 14, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]The invention to which this application relates is a toy model vehicle, typically, but not necessarily exclusively, of the sort which includes propulsion means which allows the vehicle to be moved under the force of the propulsion means in at least one direction across the surface. [0003]The provision of toy vehicles is well known and typically the same are of a scaled down replica of either a real vehicle or of a fanciful design. The vehicles can be provided with at least two wheels to allow the vehicle to be moved across the surface and in many instances, can be provided with a motor connected to at least one of the wheels to cause the propulsion of the vehicle across the said surface and therefore avoid the need for the child playing with the toy to push the vehicle. It is also known to provide vehicles which can be controlled remotely by radio frequency or infrared control means which include the ability to direct the vehicle forwards or backwards and/or to turn. [0004]There have been many variations on toy vehicles over the years and one known type of vehicle comprises a vehicle with propulsion means to which a coin can be positioned at the rear of the vehicle. The provision of this coin adds extra weight to the rear of the vehicle and can cause the front two wheels of the vehicle to leave the ground such that the vehicle moves forward along the surface but only the rear two wheels are in contact with the surface. While this vehicle is known to be effective in providing only contact of the rear two wheels with the surface, the effect which is created is limited and therefore the appeal of this type of vehicle quickly diminishes to the child. SUMMARY [0005]The aim of the present invention is to provide an improved toy vehicle which allows selected variation in operation of the vehicle as it moves along the surface. [0006]In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a toy vehicle and a further item, said toy vehicle movable along a surface and wherein attachment means are provided to allow the item to be selectively attached at a location on or adjacent to the external surface of the vehicle and retained in attachment as the vehicle moves. [0007]Typically the item is suspended via the attachment means so as to be out of contact with the surface. Typically the item is positioned to lie outside the periphery of the vehicle. [0008]In one embodiment, the attachment means comprises an elongate member which is positioned around at least part of the vehicle and the item includes engagement means which can be selectively attached to the member bar at a desired position thereon. [0009]In one embodiment, an exposed portion of the elongate member is U-shaped and is selectively positionable by the user with respect to the vehicle. In one embodiment the selectable positions are at the rear of the vehicle, to the front of the vehicle or above the vehicle. In one embodiment, the positioning of the member is achieved via a pivotal movement around the axis of attachment of the member to the vehicle and, if required, designated stops can be provided to allow the member to be retained at specific angular positions with respect to the vehicle. [0010]Typically the item is provided in the form of a model character and the engagement or gripping means may be formed as one of the hands or feet of the said character. Typically, at least the gripping means are formed of a resilient material which is sufficiently resilient so as to allow the same to be expanded or moved to pass over at least part of the member and then return to a position to exert a gripping effect on the member and thereby retain the item. [0011]In one embodiment, an alternative or additional gripping means can be provided on the item and these may be positioned so that the same are not immediately apparent to the child in use. [0012]In one embodiment, the item can be articulated so that in addition to the selected positioning of the item at a location on the member, the relative configuration of the item with respect to the member can be altered and this alteration may further adjust the operation of the vehicle as it moves along the surface. [0013]The selective positioning of the item with respect to the member and the selective articulation of the item, allow the operation of the vehicle to be altered dependent on the particular articulation and position of the item with respect to the vehicle. For example, if the item is positioned at one side of the vehicle then only the two wheels of the vehicle which are adjacent that side may contact the surface as the vehicle moves along the same. Alternatively, if the item is at the front or rear of the vehicle, then only the two wheels adjacent the item at the front or rear respectively will contact the surface as the vehicle moves along. Yet further, if the item is positioned at a particular corner of the vehicle, then it may be the case that only one of the wheels of the vehicle will contact the surface, with the wheel being that which lies adjacent to the item. The selective contact of different wheels with the surface causes the travel, speed of travel and/or direction of travel to be altered such that the child can vary the passage of the vehicle along the surface by selective positioning of the item. [0014]Typically the item is manufactured of a material which is of sufficient weight to cause part of the vehicle and one or more of the wheels to leave the surface as it moves and furthermore, the positioning of the item at the periphery or outboard of the vehicle body, further emphasises the effect of the weight of the item. [0015]In one embodiment, the item is slidingly movable along the member so as to allow the selective positioning of the item without the need to remove the gripping means from the bar when a position is to be changed. Furthermore, in one embodiment, and especially if the vehicle is a remote control vehicle, the member and item may include a drive means such as, for example, a rack and pinion arrangement, which allows the item to be driven in movement along the member to a selected position. In one embodiment the movement may be as a result of user actuation of a switch or operation of the remote control for the vehicle to transmit a signal to cause movement of the item. [0016]It should therefore be appreciated that the effect which is created, is particularly effective when the vehicle is moving but the particular manner of movement of the vehicle along the surface is not critical. Thus, the particular movement force can be manual, provided by a push/pull motor or a remote control system and the same effect can be created. [0017]In one embodiment the item position can be moved with respect to the vehicle as the vehicle moves along the surface. [0018]In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a toy vehicle including a body and one or more wheels to allow the vehicle to be moved along the surface wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of locations with which at least one item may be selectively located so as to influence the movement of the vehicle along the surface. [0019]In a further aspect there is provided an item for use with a toy vehicle wherein said item includes at least one attachment means so as to allow said item to be selectively attached to said vehicle. [0020]Typically the item has at least one portion which can be selectively moved with respect to the remainder of the vehicle. [0021]In one embodiment the item is provided with portions which are of a heavier weight than other portions of the item, these portions may be movable with respect to the remainder of the vehicle so as to increase the influence which the same have on the movement of the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Continue reading... Full patent description for Toy vehicle Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Toy vehicle patent application. Patent Applications in related categories: 20080242192 - Remote control snowboard - A radio controlled snowboard system having a steerable snowboard and an erect figurine. The erect figurine is pivotally attachable to the steerable snowboard. The steerable snowboard includes a plurality of steering edges and a steering system configured to control the movement of the snowboard by relative weight transitions relative to ... ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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