Autonomous, gravity-assisted motorized racer configured to travel through non-straight tube segments

Abstract

A portable, lightweight racer vehicle. The racer includes a body, a motor and a battery powering the motor, a motorized wheel, a first wheel, and a spring-loaded wheel to cause the motorized wheel to maintain contact with a surface upon which the motorized wheel rotates. The first wheel is larger than the motorized wheel and the spring-loaded wheel. A tube section includes a first half section having a pair of interlocking fingers and a pair of notches; and a second half section having a pair of interlocking fingers and a pair of notches. The two halves are removably snap-fit or press-fit together by joining the pair of interlocking fingers of the first half section with the pair of notches of the second half section while simultaneously joining the pair of interlocking fingers of the second half section with the pair of notches of the first half section. A splitter pipe includes a body having an input port and at least two output ports, and a remotely controlled valve between the input port and the at least two output ports. The splitter pipe is non-opaque, and an inner diameter of the input port does not exceed 2 inches.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT / US2017 / 028565, filed Apr. 20, 2017, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 325,293, filed Apr. 20, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]Aspects of the present disclosure relate to autonomous, gravity-assisted motorized toy racers and tube assemblies through which the toy racers run.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Kids love to race cars. Conventionally, cars are raced on tracks, which can be assembled together to form a variety of configurations. The tracks are open, which means that the cars frequently come off the tracks, and there is a practical limit or constraint on how convoluted the track can be formed due to the reliance upon gravity and that the car can succumb to gravity and come off the track, particularly when ascending vertically, undergoing a twisting or rotational...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]A tube assembly is disclosed that includes curved tubes or tube segments that are connected together, and they can be connected and rotated in virtually an unlimited number of configurations. Variations on the tube segments, as well as support post or structures to support the assembled tube configuration, are also disclosed. The tubes or tube segments can snap together to prevent horizontal sliding.

[0005]An autonomous, gravity-assisted motorized toy racer vehicle is also disclosed having a form factor and geometry that allows the vehicle to be able to navigate autonomously inside the tubes without getting stuck, while maintaining drive contact with the inside of the tubes surface (even if sideways or upside down relative to earth). By “autonomous” it is meant that the racer vehicle does not require any manual human energy to impart forward momentum to the vehicle. The autonomous vehicle disclosed herein can be operated by remote control, or it can be automatically controlled.

[0006]The tube segments are assembled together to form a tube assembly to form a desired racing path for the racer vehicle. Thus, there are at least two play components: construction and play. The tube assembly provides the construction component, and racing the motorized racer vehicle through the tubes provides the play component. The racer vehicle includes a battery and a motor powered by the battery. The motor is connected to a wheel that propels the racer vehicle through the tubes, but the racer vehicle also gains speed from gravity when heading in a direction back toward earth. The motorized component allows the racer vehicle to go in a direction opposite earth or transverse to earth.

[0009]Lights and sound will make this product even more innovative, fun and wild.

[0010]Because the tubes can be transparent or semi-transparent (non-opaque) and clear or in color, the illuminated racer vehicle is visible through the tube segments. Because sound travels well and bounces around in and through the pipes, the sound of the vehicle as it races through the tubes and around turns will provide an aural experience in addition to the visual experience due to the transparent tubes. The visual experience is enhanced when the racer vehicle is raced through the tube assembly in a darkened room.

[0012]An accelerometer connected to the lights and sounds controller can further enhance visual and aural and other sensory special effects. The system as a whole contributes to a fun, engaging, educational, and exciting (re)-construction and play experience.

Problems solved by technology

The tracks are open, which means that the cars frequently come off the tracks, and there is a practical limit or constraint on how convoluted the track can be formed due to the reliance upon gravity and that the car can succumb to gravity and come off the track, particularly when ascending vertically, undergoing a twisting or rotational motion, or looping around a loop section of the track.

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