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
Engineering 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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
Data Source
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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).