Bidirectional Drive Wheel Toy Assembly for Inner-Object Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing toy assemblies lack the ability to create a convincing illusion of an inner object moving within a housing, failing to effectively simulate life-like movements and interactions.

Innovation Solution

A toy assembly with a housing and an inner object, featuring a movable housing portion, a motor-driven wheel engaging with a functional element to simulate movement, and a mechanism using tethers and drums to remove housing portions, creating the appearance of the object attempting to escape or interact with the user.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the drive wheel is engaged with the functional element to drive its movement, then the functional element can carry out a function without driving movement of the toy vehicle towards the movable housing portion, but this requires a separate motor connection that increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional element movement capabilityVSAvoidmotor connection structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the motor's rotational output into two separate functional paths: one path drives the drive wheel for vehicle movement, and another path drives the rotary member that engages the functional element. This segmentation allows independent control of functional element movement from vehicle movement, resolving the contradiction by enabling versatile functionality while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular mechanical design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the motor drives the drive wheel in both directions for different functions, then the toy vehicle can move towards the movable housing portion and also drive the functional element, but this limits the ability to independently control functional element movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent functional controlVSAvoiddifferential mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a differential mechanism as an intermediary between the motor and the drive components. This differential allows the motor's single rotational output to be distributed to two independent pathways: one controlling vehicle movement and another controlling the functional element. The intermediary mechanism enables independent control of both functions while avoiding the need for separate motors, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If housing portions are removed to reveal the inner object, then the illusion of life-like behavior is enhanced, but this requires additional mechanisms for controlled removal that increase device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillusion of life-like behaviorVSAvoidhousing removal mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates housing portions that are pre-configured to be removable through controlled mechanisms. These housing portions are designed in advance with features such as latches, hinges, or snap-fit connections that allow them to be selectively removed to reveal the inner object. By preparing the housing structure beforehand with built-in removal capabilities, the patent enhances the life-like illusion without requiring complex real-time modification mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability of the illusion and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The toy assembly effectively simulates the inner object's movements, enhancing the illusion of life-like behavior by revealing the object through controlled removal of housing parts, adding realism and play value.

Implementation Method 1

a motor that is operatively connected to the drive wheel to drive the drive wheel in a first rotational direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

rotation of the drive wheel in the first rotational direction causes the drive wheel to drive movement of the inner projection so as to repeatedly drive the inner projection to move downward so as to impact a support surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical rotation and impact: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentEP4344759B1Toy assembly with inner object in housing that performs function
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 SPIN MASTER LTD
  • EP4344759B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4344759B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4344759B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In an aspect, a toy assembly (10) is provided, and includes a housing (12) and a toy vehicle (109) inside the housing (12). The housing (12) has a movable housing portion (18), and at least one functional element that is movable and is separate from the movable housing portion (18). The toy vehicle (109) has a drive wheel (122) that, when driven in a first rotational direction causes the drive wheel (122) to drive movement of the functional element so as to carry out a function without driving movement of the toy vehicle (109) towards the movable housing portion (18), and when driven in a second rotational direction causes the drive wheel (122) to drive the vehicle (109) towards the movable housing portion (18).