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 Title: |
US5820439:
Gyro stabilized remote controlled toy motorcycle
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Hair, III, James M.; San Ramon, CA
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| Assignee: |
Shoot the Moon Products, Inc., Pleasanton, CA
other patents from SHOOT THE MOON PRODUCTS, INC. (745556) (approx. 4)
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| Published / Filed: |
1998-10-13
/ 1997-01-28
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| Application Number: |
US1997000789881
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
A63H 17/16;
A63H 17/36;
Core:
A63H 17/00;
IPC-7:
A63H 1/00;
A63H 17/16;
A63H 17/36;
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| ECLA Code: |
A63H17/16; A63H17/36;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
446/233;
446/440;
446/468;
Original:
446/233;
446/440;
446/468;
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| Field of Search: |
446/440,468,233,288
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| Priority Number: |
| 1997-01-28 |
US1997000789881 |
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| Abstract: |
Gyro stabilized remote controlled toy motorcycle having good stability and controllability without using ground contacting auxiliary wheels or the like. The motorcycle comprises a chassis supporting a fixed angle rear wheel drive and associated motor and a castered front wheel. A gyro wheel having an axis nominally parallel to the axis of the rear wheel is mounted in a gimbal with a vertical axis in the forward part of the chassis and connected to the front wheel fork and post to turn the front wheel responsive to the rotation of the gimbal relative to the chassis. The chassis further includes a radio receiver, battery power and a steering device, such as a motor and slip clutch for torquing the gyro wheel gimbal. To turn in a first direction the gyro gimbal is torqued in the opposite direction, initially causing the front wheel to also turn in the opposite direction. As the motorcycle and the gyro lean into the turn, a correcting torque is generated by the gyro and caster of the front wheel, overcoming the initial steering torque to maintain the proper steering angle and balance for the motorcycle. Various embodiments are disclosed.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Blakely, Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Hafer, Robert A.; Fossum, Laura
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
Show legal status actions
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| Family: |
None
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First Claim:
Show all 25 claims |
What is claimed is:
1. A toy motorcycle responsive to steering commands to steer the motorcycle in a commanded left turn or right turn steering direction comprising:
- a rear wheel having a nonsteerable axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to a fore and aft orientation of the motorcycle and a drive system for causing rotation of the rear wheel;
- a front wheel supported for rotation on a steering post, the steering post being rotatable to cause the axis of rotation of the front wheel to swing to either side of a position wherein the axis of the front wheel is substantially parallel to the axis of the rear wheel, the steering post being inclined in an aft direction with respect to vertical to tend to turn the front wheel in the direction the motorcycle is leaning to encourage the motorcycle toward an upright position when in motion;
- a gyro wheel and gyro wheel drive motor mounted in a gimbal having a substantially vertical axis, the gimbal being rotatable about the vertical axis to cause the axis of rotation of the gyro wheel to swing to either side of a position wherein the axis of the gyro wheel is parallel to the axis of the rear wheel, the gyro wheel drive motor rotating the gyro wheel in the same direction as the rear wheel of the motorcycle;
- the gimbal being coupled to the steering post to rotate the steering post in the same direction as the gimbal; and,
- a torquing device controllably torquing the gimbal in accordance with the motorcycle steering commands and in a direction to initially turn the front wheel of the motorcycle in a direction opposite to the commanded steering direction, the configuration of said front wheel and said steering post in combination with the gyro wheel thereafter providing a natural stability for the toy motorcycle in the turn when the toy motorcycle is in motion.
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| Background / Summary: |
Show background / summary
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 25 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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