Vehicle for play purposes, especially radio-controlled RC vehicle

Abstract

Vehicle for toy purposes, in particular a radio-controlled RC vehicle, with at least two wheels (2, 3) on one side (4) and at least two wheels (5, 6) on an opposite other side (7) of the vehicle (1), and at least two belts (10, 11; 12, 13) assigned to the wheels (2, 3) on one side (4) and at least two belts (5, 6) on the other side (7) of the vehicle (1) and at least partially enclosing the wheels (2, 3; 5, 6) on their circumference, characterized by a device (14) for switching the belts (10 to 13) from a wheel mode, in which each wheel (2, 3, 5, 6) is surrounded in a circle by at least one belt (10 to 13), to a track mode, in which belts (10, 11; 12, 13) can simultaneously rotate around several wheels (2, 3; 5, 6) and are formed in an oval shape, and vice versa.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle for toy purposes, in particular a radio-controlled RC vehicle, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Such a vehicle is widely known in practice. Typically, such vehicles either run on wheels or are designed as so-called tracked toy vehicles. The latter is known, for example, from German utility model 298 12 994 U1.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of creating a vehicle of the type mentioned at the beginning which can be used in a more versatile manner.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by a vehicle having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0005] Such a vehicle has at least two wheels on one side and at least two wheels on an opposite other side, and at least two belts assigned to the wheels on one side and at least two belts assigned to the wheels on the other side, which at least partially enclose the wheels circumferentially. According to the invention, a device is also provided for switching the belts from a wheel mode, in which each wheel is surrounded in a circle by at least one belt, to a track mode, in which belts, in particular the belts on each side, are guided around several wheels simultaneously and are formed in an oval shape, and vice versa. Such an oval shape is composed, for example, of partial circular arcs and straight pieces. This has the advantage that the same vehicle can be operated alternately in both wheel mode and track mode, thus providing great versatility.Thus, the vehicle according to the invention can be used without problems both on flat surfaces, such as terraces or streets, preferably in wheeled mode, and on uneven, sandy, or steeply rising surfaces, preferably in tracked mode. This significantly increases the fun of playing with such a vehicle.

[0006] Advantageously, a guideway is provided with a circular track for at least partially accommodating the at least one belt in wheel mode and with a straight track connected thereto for at least partially accommodating the belts in crawler mode. Typically, the guideway on each side has two circular tracks and two straight tracks connecting the circular tracks. Such a guideway therefore enables, in the sense of a dual effect, either the use of the vehicle in wheel mode or the use of the same vehicle in crawler mode. Such a vehicle generally has a guideway with two circular tracks and two straight tracks that connect sections of the circular tracks to form an oval.

[0007] According to an advantageous development, the switching device has at least one switching body arranged in a transition area between the circular and straight tracks of the guideway. Such a switching body enables the belts to be guided relatively easily in the circular track (wheel mode) or partially in the circular track and the associated straight tracks in an oval shape (caterpillar mode). Ultimately, four transition areas are provided per side of the vehicle, namely two transition areas per wheel.

[0008] According to a particularly advantageous development, the at least one switching body is adjustable between a first position, in which the belts are guided by the guide track in wheel mode or in track mode, and a second position, in which the belts are guided by the guide track in track mode or in wheel mode. Such adjustment of the at least one switching body can be carried out with little expenditure of time and short distances between the two positions, so that changing from one mode to the other can be done quickly and mechanically easily.

[0009] According to another refinement, each belt has two free longitudinal ends that are not connected to each other or to the longitudinal ends of other belts in both wheel and track mode. This allows belts on one side of the vehicle to be easily wrapped around a wheel separately (wheel mode), while the belts on one side can also be wrapped together to form an overall oval shape (track mode).

[0010] Advantageously, each belt has at least one laterally projecting web in contact with the guide track. The at least one web thus enables the belt to be guided along the guide track, so that the belts, which are neither closed nor connected to each other in wheel mode nor in track mode, cannot slide off the wheels parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle.

[0011] According to a further development, each belt has elements or links that are flexibly connected to one another at a distance from one another. A belt constructed in this way can therefore easily adapt to the guideway and the wheel diameter. Such belts can therefore be used for widely varying wheel diameters.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, each element of a belt has a laterally projecting web, and adjacent elements are flexibly connected to one another in the area of their webs. This allows such a belt to be guided particularly securely in the guideway, while also allowing forces acting on one web to be distributed more easily across multiple webs.

[0013] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the switching device is designed such that a switching operation can only be carried out when the belt(s) are in a switching position. This further development thus promotes a safely performed switching operation and prevents damage to the preferably mechanical parts involved in the switching process.

[0014] Advantageously, a sensor device connected to the switching device is provided, which detects a switching position of the belt, preferably when at least one free longitudinal end of a belt is located close to or in the transition region of the guide track, and transmits the presence of a switching position to the switching device. This provides a simple way of controlling the switching device so that switching from one mode to the other is possible or prevented depending on the position of the belt(s).

[0015] Embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, wherein all described and / or illustrated features, individually or in any combination, form the subject matter of the present invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their reference back to them. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic plan view of a vehicle for toy purposes, in particular a radio-controlled RC vehicle, in wheel mode; Fig. 2 a schematic plan view of the vehicle according to Fig. 1 in caterpillar mode; Fig. 3 a schematic side view of the vehicle in Fig. 1 seen from the right; Fig. 4 a schematic side view of the vehicle in Fig. 2 seen from the right; Fig. 5 a schematic front view of the vehicle; Fig. 6 is a schematic, perspective partial view of a switching device of the vehicle according to a first embodiment in wheel mode; Fig. 7 a schematic, perspective partial view of the switching device according to Fig. 6 in caterpillar mode; Fig. 8 is a schematic, perspective partial view of the switching device of the vehicle according to a second embodiment in wheel mode; Fig. 9 a schematic, perspective partial view of the switching device according to Fig. 8 in caterpillar mode; Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view of a belt of the vehicle according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2; Fig. 11 a schematic side view of the belt according to Fig. 10; Fig. 12 a schematic view of the belt in the direction of section XII - XII in Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a schematic, partial front view of a wheel of the vehicle; Fig. 14 is a schematic partial view of the switching device of the vehicle according to a third embodiment in crawler mode; Fig. 15 a further schematic partial view of the switching device according to Fig. 14; and Fig. 16 a schematic, perspective view of a part of the switching device according to Fig. 15.

[0016] In Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a vehicle 1 for toy purposes, in particular a radio-controlled RC vehicle, shown in the so-called wheel mode. Vehicle 1 is, for example, a toy vehicle. The vehicle 1 according to Fig. 1 is further shown in a schematic plan view in Fig. 2 is shown in the so-called crawler mode. Wheel mode and crawler mode are defined in more detail below.

[0017] The vehicle 1 has at least two wheels 2, 3 on one side 4 and at least two wheels 5, 6 on an opposite other side 7 of the vehicle. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 the vehicle has two wheels 2, 3 on the side 4, which is arranged on the left in the illustrations, and two wheels 5, 6 on the side 7, which is arranged on the right in the illustrations.

[0018] Furthermore, at least two belts 10, 11 are provided, which are assigned to the wheels 2, 3 of the left side 4, and two belts 12, 13 are provided, which are assigned to the wheels 5, 6 of the right side 7. The aforementioned belts can also be designed and designated as a belt or chain, or as a treadmill or track chain. The belts 10 to 13 at least partially enclose the wheels 2, 3, 5, 6 circumferentially.

[0019] Furthermore, the vehicle 1 has a device 14 for switching the belts 10 to 13 (see for example in the Fig. 6 to 9) from the aforementioned wheel mode (see Fig. 1) into the aforementioned caterpillar mode (see Fig. 2) and vice versa. In wheel mode, each wheel 2, 3, 5, 6 is surrounded by at least one belt in a circular manner like a tire, while in track mode, usually several belts are guided around several wheels simultaneously and are formed in an oval shape. The switching device 14 is more precisely in the Fig. 6 to 9 and 14 to 16.

[0020] Schematic side views according to Fig. 3 illustrate the shape of the vehicle 1 in wheel mode and according to Fig. 4 in crawler mode. A schematic front view of the vehicle 1 is shown as an example in Fig. 5 shown.

[0021] Furthermore, the vehicle 1 has a guideway 15 with a circular track 16 for at least partially receiving the at least one belt 10 to 13 in wheel mode and with a straight track 17 connected thereto for at least partially receiving the belts 10, 11; 12, 13 in crawler mode. The guideway 15 is a closed guideway. Each guideway generally has two circular tracks 16 and two straight tracks 17 connecting the circular tracks 16, as shown by way of example in Fig. 14 is clarified.

[0022] How exactly in the Fig. 6 to 9 and 14 and 15, the switching device 14 has at least one switching body 20, which is arranged in a transition area 21 between the circular and straight track 16, 17 of the guide track 15. The at least one switching body 20 is movable between a first position, in which the belts 10, 11; 12, 13 are guided by the guide track 15 in wheel mode according to Fig. 1 or in caterpillar mode according to Fig. 2 are guided, and a second position in which belts 10, 11; 12, 13 are guided by means of the guide belt 15 in caterpillar mode according to Fig. 2 or in wheel mode according to Fig. 1. The two positions of the switching body 20 are in the Fig. 6, Fig. 7 and in the Fig. 8, Fig. 9, where the wheel mode is in the Fig. 6 and Fig. 8 and the caterpillar mode in the Fig. 7 and Fig. 9. The at least one switching body 20 can act on the belts in the manner of a switch and move from the first to the second position via a sliding or pivoting movement and vice versa.

[0023] The switching device 14 is shown in a schematic perspective partial view according to a first embodiment in wheel mode in Fig. 6 and in caterpillar mode in Fig. 7. A second embodiment of the switching device 14 illustrates Fig. 8 in wheel mode and Fig. 9 in track mode, and a third embodiment of the switching device 14 is shown schematically in the Fig. 14 and Fig. 15. The operation of the at least one switching device 20 will be explained in more detail below.

[0024] A schematic plan view of a belt 10 to 13 of the vehicle 1 is shown in Fig. 10, a schematic side view of the belt according to Fig. 10 in Fig. 11, and a schematic view of the belt in the direction of section XII - XII according to Fig. 10 is in Fig. 12. Each belt 10 to 13 has two free longitudinal ends 22, 23, which are not connected to each other or to the longitudinal ends of other belts in both wheel and track mode. As particularly shown in the Fig. 10 and Fig. 12, each belt 10 to 13 has at least one laterally projecting web 24 in contact with the guide track 15. As described in more detail in Fig. As illustrated in Figure 10, each belt has 10 to 13 elements 25, which can also be designed as links. The elements 25 are flexibly connected to one another at a distance from one another. Each belt is thus composed of a plurality of elements 25. Each element 25 of a belt 10 to 13 has a laterally projecting web 24, as can be seen from Fig. 10, wherein adjacent elements are flexibly connected to one another in the region of their webs 24, for example via connecting webs 26. Each belt extends with its at least one laterally projecting web 24 into the guide track 15. According to the schematic partial view in Fig. 13, the elements 25 are held in the region of their webs 24 within the guide track 15. In this respect, the guide track 15 serves to at least partially accommodate the belts on each side.

[0025] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the switching device 14 is designed such that a switching process can only be carried out when the belt(s) are in a switching position. For this purpose, the vehicle 1 has a sensor device 27 connected to the switching device 14. The sensor device 27 determines a switching position of the belt(s), preferably when at least one free longitudinal end 22, 23 of a belt is arranged close to or in the transition region 21 of the guide track 15. The sensor device 27 transmits the presence of a switching position to the switching device 14, which can then cause an adjustment of the at least one switching body 20.

[0026] As previously mentioned, a first embodiment of the switching device 14 is shown in the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 shown schematically.

[0027] These figures show a perspective partial view of the guideway 15 with a section of the circular track 16 and the straight track 17 in the area of the transition area 21 between the two tracks. Fig. Figure 6 shows the switching body 20 in its upwardly moved position, in which a belt (in the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 not shown) with its web 24 guided in the direction of arrow A along the circular track 16 is guided clockwise further in the circular track 16 with the aid of a concave surface 30 of the switching body 20. In this position, the at least one web 24 therefore slides exclusively along the circular track 16 of the guide track 15, whereby the associated belt is guided accordingly in a circular path, i.e. in wheel mode.

[0028] The same applies to a belt with numerous webs 24 according to Fig. 10, which then, as in Fig. 13 shown schematically, each slide along the guide track 15.

[0029] Fig. Figure 7 shows the switching body 20 in its downwardly moved position, in which a belt (not shown) with its web 24 guided in the direction of arrow A along the circular track 16 is guided clockwise along the straight track 17 by means of a straight surface 31 of the switching body 20. In this position, the at least one web 24 slides further in a straight, namely horizontal, direction starting from the circular track 16 of the guide track 15, whereby the associated belt is guided accordingly in an oval path around two wheels, i.e. in caterpillar mode. Fig. 10 constructed belt, when it is bent, will try to maintain its stretched, in a straight guideway due to inherent elastic forces (restoring forces) Fig. 10 shown position again, so that the belt, if the switching body 20 is not arranged in the movement path of the belt (see Fig. 7), will automatically continue to move in a straight direction, ie in the straight track 17 of the guideway 15 and thus in caterpillar mode. If the switching body 20, as in Fig. 6, however, is arranged in the movement path of the belt, that is the extended position of the switching body 20, the belt is moved over its at least one web, in an embodiment according to Fig. 10 is forced into the circular track 16 via its webs 24. In the latter case, the vehicle is therefore in wheel mode.

[0030] It is pointed out that the at least one switching body 20 in the representation of the vehicle according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is horizontally adjustable in the transverse direction of the vehicle and is located in the wheel mode in the transverse direction inwards, ie offset towards the longitudinal axis 32 of the vehicle 1, and in the track mode in the transverse direction outwards, ie shifted away from the longitudinal axis 32 of the vehicle 1. In this respect, the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 shown switching body 20 is displaceable in the assembled state of the vehicle in the horizontal direction. According to the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 is the switching body shown there, as far as the guide surfaces of the guideway 15 are concerned, in relation to the axis of rotation 33 (compare Fig. 14) of the wheel is arranged radially outward.

[0031] The same applies to the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 shows the second embodiment of the switching device 14. Here, the switching body shown is, as far as the guide surfaces of the guide track 15 are concerned, in relation to the axis of rotation 33 (compare Fig. 14) of the wheel is arranged radially inward.

[0032] Fig. 8 shows the switching body 20 in its downwardly retracted position, in which a belt with its web 24 guided in the direction of arrow B along the circular track 16 is guided counterclockwise further in the circular track 16 with the aid of a curved surface 35 of a guide body 36 and supported by an upper, outer surface 34 of the switching body 20. In this position, the at least one web 24 thus slides exclusively along the circular track 16 of the guide track 15, whereby the associated belt is accordingly guided in a circular path, i.e., in wheel mode.

[0033] Fig. 9 shows the switching body 20 in its upwardly moved position, in which a belt with its web 24 guided in the direction of arrow B along the circular track 16 is guided counterclockwise further in the straight track 17 (see arrow C) by means of an upper, radially outer surface 37 of the switching body 20. In this position, the at least one web 24 again slides from the circular track 16 of the guide track 15 through a gap 40 between the switching body 20 and the guide body 36 in a straight, namely horizontal direction, whereby the associated belt is accordingly guided in an oval path around two wheels, i.e. in track mode.

[0034] In particular Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 illustrate that each web 24 has a protruding tooth 41 on its underside. A drive pinion (not shown) engages in the area of the circular track 16 of the guideway 15 with its teeth (also not shown) in spaces 42 between adjacent teeth 41 of each belt.

[0035] Every wheel in Fig. 13, this is the wheel 5, has a radially projecting outer edge 43. Furthermore, the guideway 15, as in Fig. 13, an outer edge 44 which also projects in the radial direction. These outer edges 43, 44 also prevent the belt or the individual elements 25 of each belt from slipping off the respective wheel in the transverse direction of the vehicle.

[0036] A third embodiment of the switching device 14 is shown schematically in the Fig. 14 and Fig. 15. In the illustration according to Fig. 14, transversely arranged outer parts in the area of the guideway are omitted in order to illustrate the switching device more clearly. In this switching device, two switching bodies 20 are provided for each transition area 21, namely a radially outer and a radially inner switching body 45, 46. In wheel mode, the radially inner switching bodies 46 can be moved downwards, ie in the assembled state of the vehicle according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 inwardly offset position relative to the longitudinal axis 32 and the radially outer switching bodies 45 in their upwardly moved position, ie in the assembled state of the vehicle according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 may be arranged in a position offset outwards in the transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis 32.

[0037] The reverse is true in tracked mode. Here, the radially inner switching bodies 46 for each wheel are arranged in their upwardly displaced position, i.e., in the assembled state of the vehicle, offset transversely outwards with respect to the longitudinal axis 32, whereas the radially outer switching bodies 45 are arranged in their downwardly displaced position, i.e., in the assembled state of the vehicle, offset transversely inwards with respect to the longitudinal axis 32.

[0038] In this case, the two radially outer switching bodies 45 can be arranged on a common switching lever 47 and the two radially inner switching bodies 46 can be arranged on a common switching lever 48 for each wheel and can be actuated jointly via the respective switching lever, as shown in Fig. 15 is indicated.

[0039] The engagement and disengagement positions of the respective gearshift levers, including the associated switching bodies, in the transverse direction of the vehicle can be achieved, for example, via a butterfly-shaped actuating part 50, which has a plurality of inclined contact surfaces 52 on its outer side 51 facing the gearshift levers 47, 48. Upon a rotating or pivoting movement of the actuating part 50 in the direction of the double arrow D, the gearshift levers 47, 48 in contact with the contact surfaces 52 can be pressed or displaced transversely outwards into their working position and, via compression springs (not shown in detail), transversely inwards into their basic position. The inclined contact surfaces 52 are usually arranged and designed such that they act alternately on the gearshift levers 47, 48.It follows that when the shift levers 47 are disengaged in their working position, the shift levers 48 remain in their basic position and vice versa.

[0040] Fig. 15 further illustrates that one shift lever 47 and one shift lever 48 are provided for each wheel, and that two radially outer switching bodies 45 are provided for each shift lever 47 and two radially inner switching bodies 46 are provided for each shift lever 48.

[0041] As previously explained, each belt 10 to 13 has two free longitudinal ends 22, 23, which are not connected to each other or to the longitudinal ends of other belts in both wheel mode and track mode. The longitudinal ends of a belt in wheel mode are usually slightly spaced from each other, with the distance between the longitudinal ends typically being 1 to 8 mm. Likewise, in track mode, the longitudinal ends of one belt are slightly spaced from those of the other belt, with the distance between the longitudinal ends of different belts typically being 1 to 8 mm. Fig. 3 to 5, the arrangement of the spaced-apart longitudinal ends of the belts is indicated by the arrows E. The diameter of the wheels and their mutual spacing is advantageously selected so that each belt in wheel mode encloses the respective wheel almost completely in a circle (see Fig. 3) and two belts connect the two wheels of one side in track mode partially circumferentially to a, for example, Fig. 4 almost completely enclose the oval shape shown.

[0042] It should be noted that the switching device can be designed to be electrically driven, so that in an electrically operated and thus also powered RC vehicle, the belts can be automatically switched from wheel mode to track mode and vice versa simply by pressing a button.

[0043] This creates a vehicle of the type mentioned above that is more versatile, namely by switching between wheeled and tracked modes. The same vehicle can therefore be moved and used in both modes, meaning it can be moved alternately in both modes.

Claims

[1] Vehicle for toy purposes, in particular a radio-controlled RC vehicle, with at least two wheels (2, 3) on one side (4) and at least two wheels (5, 6) on an opposite other side (7) of the vehicle (1), and at least two belts (10, 11; 12, 13) assigned to the wheels (2, 3) of one side (4) and at least two belts (5, 6) of the other side (7) of the vehicle (1) and at least partially enclosing the wheels (2, 3; 5, 6) circumferentially, characterized by a device (14) for switching the belts (10 to 13) from a wheel mode, in which each wheel (2, 3, 5, 6) is surrounded in a circle by at least one belt (10 to 13), to a track mode, in which belts (10, 11; 12, 13) are guided around several wheels (2, 3; 5, 6) at the same time and are formed in an oval shape, and vice versa. [2] Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized bya guideway (15) with a circular track (16) for at least partially receiving the at least one belt (10 to 13) in wheel mode and with a straight track (17) connected thereto for at least partially receiving the belts (10, 11; 12, 13) in track mode. [3] Vehicle according to claim 2, characterized by that the switching device (14) has at least one switching body (20) which is arranged in a transition region (21) between the circular and straight track (16, 17) of the guideway (15). [4] Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized by that the at least one switching body (20) is adjustable between a first position in which the belts (10, 11; 12, 13) are guided by means of the guide track (15) in wheel mode or in crawler mode, and a second position in which the belts (10, 11; 12, 13) are guided by means of the guide track (15) in crawler mode or in wheel mode. [5] Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that each belt (10 to 13) has two free longitudinal ends (22, 23) which are not connected to each other or to longitudinal ends (22, 23) of other belts in both wheel and track mode. [6] Vehicle according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by , each belt (10 to 13) has at least one laterally projecting web (24) in contact with the guide track (15). [7] Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that each belt (10 to 13) has elements (25) which are flexibly connected to one another at a distance from one another. [8] Vehicle according to claims 6 and 7, characterized by , each element (25) of a belt (10 to 13) has a laterally projecting web (24) and adjacent elements (25) are flexibly connected to one another in the region of their webs (24). [9] Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the switching device (14) is designed such that a switching operation can only be carried out when the belt or belts (10 to 13) are in a switching position. [10] Vehicle at least according to claims 3 and 9, characterized by a sensor device (27) connected to the switching device (14), which determines a switching position of the belt or belts (10 to 13), preferably when at least one free end (22, 23) of a belt (10 to 13) is arranged close to or in the transition region (21) of the guide track (15), and transmits the presence of a switching position to the switching device (14).

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