GB2063084A - Amusement device - Google Patents

Abstract

An amusement device, has a trackway (22) having an unloading station (24) and a transfer station (26), a gear is associated with said trackway (22) at said transfer station (26), and a powered vehicle (20) is provided with a compartment (33) for receiving a playing piece (30) and wheels, at least one of which is driven. A loading station (28) is spaced from said trackway (22) and has a transfer chute (60) on one side and a loading chute (68) on the other side terminating near said transfer station (26) for depositing said playing piece (30) into said vehicle compartment (33). A loading device (66) is rotatably mounted at said loading station (28) for transferring said playing piece (30) from said transfer chute (60) through said transfer station (26) to said loading chute (60) only as said loading device (66) rotates. A transfer device (54) has a receptacle (56) for said playing piece (30) for transferring it from said unloading station (24) to said transfer chute (60). A gearing system operatively connects said gear and said loading device (60) and said transfer device (54) to permit said vehicle (20) to operate said loading device (66) and said transfer device (54). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Amusement device The present invention relates to an amusement device featuring a powered vehicle which moves along a trackway through several stations. The powered vehicle has a compartment for carrying playing pieces, for example, passengers, between a loading station and an unloading station. A device is provided for transferring the playing pieces from the unloading station to the loading station.

According to the present invention there is provided an amusement device, comprising a continuous trackway including an unloading section and a transfer section provided with a gear mechanism, a vehicle having a compartment for receiving a play ing piece, and providing with wheels at least one of which is powered so as to propel the vehicle along the trackway, an unloading station extending from the unloading section ofthetrackway and provided with a mechanism for unloading a playing piece from the compartment of the vehicle onto the unloading station and releasably storing the playing piece at the unloading station, a transfer station extending from the transfer section and provided with a mechanism for stopping the movement of the vehicle at the transfer section while permitting the powered wheel of the vehicle to drivingly engage the gear mechanism atthe transfer station until a playing piece is deposited in the compartment of the vehicle at which time the movement of the vehicle along the trackway continues, a loading station spaced from the trackway and provided with a chute extending to the vicinity of the transfer station, the loading station including a loading devicefortransferring a playing piece from the station to the chute only as the device is rotated, a transfer device for releasing a playing piece stored at the unloading station and transferring same to the loading station, and a mechanism operatively connecting the loading device and the transfer device to the gear mechanism at the transfer section of the trackway permitting the powered wheel of the vehicle to operate the loading and transfer devices.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of the toy vehicle and trackway of the present invention, illustrating the passenger loading station, the passenger transfer station, and the passenger unloading station; Figure2 is a top plan view of the toy vehicle and trackway, illustrating the various movements of the loading,transfer and unloading stations; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the powered toy vehicle carrying a passenger; Figure 4 is a rear view partly in section illustrating a passenger about to enter the powered vehicle at the passenger loading station;; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4, illustrating the mechanism for allowing the powered vehicle to move forward afterthe passenger is loaded onto the powered vehicle; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the passenger unloading station; Figure 7 is a side elevational view partly in section illustrating the interaction between the passenger transfer station and the passenger unloading station; Figure 8 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating certain of the mechanisms for operating the transfer and passenger loading stations; Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrat ing the gearing mechanisms for operating the transfer and loading mechanisms; Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the transfer station operating mechanisms;; Figure 17 is a top plan view illustrating the cooperation between the passenger loading and transfer stations in moving the passenger from the transfer station to the loading station; Figure 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of Figure 11, illustrating the movement of the passenger from the transfer station to the loading station; Figure 13 is a top plan view illustrating the movement of the passenger at the loading station; Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14-14 of Figure 13, illustrating certain of the components of the passenger loading station.

The amusement device of the present invention, as illustrated in Figure 1, consists of a powered vehicle 20 and a trackway 22. The trackway 22 includes an unloading station 24 and a transfer station 26. A loading station 28 cooperates with the transfer station 26 to load a playing piece, for example, the passenger 30, into the powered vehicle 20.

Figure 3 illustrates the powered vehicle 20. The powered vehicle 20 has a switch 32 for connecting a source of energy, for example, batteries, to a motor within vehicle 20. Powered vehicle 20 has front wheels 34 driven by the motor, and freely rotating rear wheels 36. A projection 38 extends from one side of the powered vehicle 20 in the vicinity of one of the rear wheels 36. The vehicle 20 has a passenger compartment 33 which is open on a side 35 which is opposite the side of the powered vehicle 20 which has projection 38. The vehicle 20 also has a pivotal projection 37 located on the same side of vehicle 30 as open side 35.

Figure 2 illustrates the movement of passengers 30 from powered vehicle 20 to passenger unloading station 24 to passenger transfer station 26 to passenger loading station 28 and back to powered vehicle 20. As indicated by the arrow, powered vehicle 20 moves along track 22 in a clockwise direction.

Passenger unloading station 24 includes a track portion 40 having a raised wall section 42 (best seen in Figure 6). Passenger unloading station 24 also includes a chute 44 having guide walls 45, and a gate 46.

Returning to Figure 2, as powered vehicle 20 arrives at unloading station 24, projection 38 engages the raised wall section 42 of track portion 40.

This causes the powered vehicle 20 to tilt so that the passenger 30 sides out of the passenger compartment 33 through the open side 35. The passenger 30 slides onto chute 44 which is at a slight incline so that the passenger 30 will slide down chute 44 until the passenger 30 abuts gate 46. As the passenger 30 slides down chute 44 powered vehicle 20 continues in a clockwise direction around trackway 22. When powered vehicle 20 arrives at transfer station 26 it stops to await the loading of a passenger 30.

One part of the transfer station 26 is best illustrated in Figure 8. Transfer station 26 includes a track portion 48 and drive portions 50 and 52. Transfer station 26 also includes a rotatable transfer device 54 which drivingly engages drive portion 50. Transfer device 54 is shown in the drawings as a giraffe but any suitable embodiment may be employed.

Track portion 48 of transfer station 26 includes drive gears 46 which engage the driven front wheels 34 of powered vehicle 20. Thus, powered vehicle 20 provides the power, through drive gears 49, to drive the entire amusement device. The transfer station 26 further includes a wall 47 and an abutment 51 projecting from wall 47. When powered vehicle 20 arrives at the transfer station 26 pivotal projection 37 on powered vehicle 20 contacts the abutment 51 so that powered vehicle 20 is stopped with its front wheels 34 positioned in contact with drive gears 49.

Thus, front wheels 34 of powered vehicle 20 drive the drive gears 49 which in turn drive the drive portions 50 and 52. Drive portion 50 is connected to transfer device 54 so that the transfer device 54 may be rotated in a complete circle.

As best seen in Figure 1,the passenger transfer station 26 also comprises a gondola 56 which is pivotally connected to the transfer device 54. The gondola 56 is used to transport a passenger 30 between the unloading station 24 and the loading station 28.

As stated above, after a passenger 30 has been unloaded at unloading station 24 the passenger 30 rests in engagement with gate 46. When the powered vehicle 20 arrives at transfer station 26 the front wheels 34 of the powered vehicle 20 drive the drive gears 49. The drive gears 49 are connected as explained hereinafter to operate the drive portion 50 so that transfer device 54 moves in a clockwise direction. As the transfer device 54 rotates toward gate 46, it pivots downwardly so that gondola 56 is at approximately the same level as gate 46.

The interaction between transfer station 26 and unloading station 24 will now be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. The gondola 56 has a projection 58 which protrudes from the bottom of the gondola. As the gondola 56 nears the loading station 24 it is kept in a vertical orientation since it is pivoted from the transfer device 54 about pivot 55.

The projection 58 contacts gate 46 causing gate 46 to pivot out of the way of the passenger 30. Thus, passenger 30 drops into the gondola 56. Then the transfer device 54 continues in a clockwise motion while pivoting upwardly. As the projection 58 of the gondola 56 moves out of contact with gate 46 the gate 46 is caused to pivot back into its rest position by gravity so that it will block the next passenger 30 which slides down chute 44.

As shown by the arrows in Figure 2,thetransfer device 54 moves the passenger 30 to the loading station 28. Loading station 28 comprises a transfer chute 60, a rotating loading device 66, and a loading chute 68.

As best seen in Figures 11 and 12, transfer chute 60 has a U-shaped cam portion 62 and guide walls 64. The transfer device 54, including gondola 56, is rotated toward the transfer chute 60, and the projection 58 on gondola 56 engages the U-shaped cam portion 62 of transfer chute 60. As the projection 58 travels along the cam portion 62, the gondola 56 is caused to rotate slightly about pivot 55, thereby causing the passenger 30 to slide out of the gondola 56 onto the transfer chute 60. As shown by the arrows in Figure 2, the passenger 30 then slides down transfer chute 60 toward the rotating loading device 66.

The rotating loading device 66 is best illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, and comprises two ornamental figures 70 and 72 and a U-shaped compartment 74.

The rotating loading device 66 is drivingly connected to drive portion 52 (Figure 8) at connection point 76.

As illustrated in Figure 14, the ornamental figures 70 and 72 are loosely connected to a rotating platen 78 so that the figures 70 and 72 wobble as the platen 78 is rotated.

The rotating loading device 66 is driven at the same time and in the same manner as the transfer device 54. Thus, when the front wheels 34 of the powered vehicle 20 contact the drive gears 49 the rotating platen 78 of the rotating loading device 66 is caused to rotate by way of the connection point 76.

As the rotating platen 78 is rotated, the U-shaped compartment is periodically aligned with the transfer chute 60 and the loading chute 68. After the passenger 30 slides out of the gondola 56 and down the transfer chute 60, as shown in Figure 2, the passenger 30 will abut a wall 80 of the rotating platen 78 until platen 78 rotates the U-shaped compartment 74 into alignment with the transfer chute 60. When this occurs, the passenger 30 slides into the U-shaped compartment 74, as seen in Figures 13. The U-shaped compartment is then rotated in a counterclockwise direction until it aligns with loading chute 68, at which time the passenger 30 slides from the U-shaped compartment 74 down the loading chute 68 into the passenger compartment 33 of powered vehicle 20.

The loading of the passenger 30 into the powered vehicle 20 is best illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 4 illustrates a passenger 30 in a position just prior to entering the passenger compartment 33 of powered vehicle 20. As can be seen in Figure 4, the pivotal projection 37 of the powered vehicle 20 is in contact with abutment 51 of the transfer station 26.

The pivotal projection 37 is attached to a spring (not shown) biased base 81 of passenger compartment 33. When the passenger 30 moves in the direction indication by the arrow in Figure 4, the passenger drops into the passenger compartment 33 thereby causing spring biased base 81 to be depressed. This in turn causes pivotal projection 37 to disengage abutment 51. Thus, powered vehicle 20 resumes clockwise movement around trackway 22. As vehicle 20 moves away from transfer station 26 the driven front wheels 34 disengage drive gears 49, thereby causing the transfer device 54 and rotating platen 78 to cease rotation. The powered vehicle 20 continues to the passenger unloading station 24, and the entire procedure is repeated.

Figure 5 illustrates one embodiment of the playing piece 30 used in the amusement device of the present invention. The playing piece 30, which is configured as a passenger, includes a hollow body 83 and a ball bearing 85. The ball bearing 85 allows the passenger 30 to slide readily over the various chutes and other surfaces in the amusement device.

It should be noted that it is not necessary to employ the particular passenger shown in Figure 5, nor is it necessary to employ a passenger at all, since the amusement device of the present invention could transfer cargo or other objects.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the relationship of the driving mechanisms which are used to move the transfer device 54 and the rotating platen 78. In Figure 9, arrows 87 illustrate the direction of movement of the driven front wheels 34 of powered vehicle 20. The wheels 34 engage drive gears 49 which in turn cause drive shaft 89 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Drive shaft 89 has a gear 90 connected to an end opposite drive gears 49 which is positioned to engage and drive crown gear 91. A pinion 92 is positioned on top of crown gear 91 and engages transfer gear 93. A connection 94 is mounted on the top of transfer gear 93 for engagagement with transfer shaft 95. Transfer shaft 95 has a toothed connection 96 for drivingly engaging transfer device 54. Transfer gear 93 also engages pinion 97 which is drivingly connected to crown gear 98.Crown gear 98 engages pinion 99 at one end of a drive shaft 100. A pinion 101,for driving a crown gear 102, is mounted at the opposite end of drive shaft 100. A toothed connection 103, mounted on crown gear 102, is used to drive rotating platen 78 through connection 76.

Figure 10 illustrates the mechanical connections of the transfer device 54, which is shown as a giraffe in the drawings. The transfer device 54 includes a base 104 having an aperture 105. A tapered connection 106 protrudes below the base 104 through aperture 105 and is locked in a slot 107 which is coaxial with toothed connection 96 (Figure 8). A cam surface 108 is mounted on tapered connection 106. A toothed connection 109 extends partially through tapered connection 106 for engaging toothed connection 96.

A washer 110 allows sliding movement between cam surface 108 and a surface 111 mounted on toothed connection 109. Thus, as toothed connection 96 is rotated by the gearing shown in Figure 9, toothed connection 109 and base 104 are also rotated. Cam surface 108 is held in place by tapered connection 106. As the transfer device 54 is rotated an extension 112 of the transfer device 54 (which is shown in the drawings as the neck of the giraffe) is caused to pivot up and down. As the transfer device 54 is rotated a cam follower 113 located in the neck 112 of the giraffe follows the cam surface 108. Thus, when the cam follower 113 rides on the wide portion 114 of cam surface 108 the neck 112 of the transfer device 54 will be held in an erect position. As the cam follower travels around the edge of the cam surface 108, the neck 112 of the transfer device is caused to dip down so that the gondola 56 can load the passenger 30 into the gondola at the unloading station 24 when cam follower 113 is located art a narrow portion 115 of cam surface 108. Thus, through the use of the cam and cam follower the extension 112 of transfer device 54 is caused to pivot as the transfer device 54 is rotated.

Claims (13)

1. An amusement device, comprising: a continuous trackway including an unloading section and a transfer section, said transfer section including gear means; a vehicle having a compartment for receiving a playing piece, and provided with wheels at least one of which is powered so as to propel said vehicle along said trackway, an unloading station extending from said unloading section and provided with means for unloading a playing piece from said compartment of said vehicle onto said unloading station and releasably storing said playing piece at said unloading station;; a transfer station extending from said transfer section and provided with means for stopping the movement of said vehicle at said transfer section while permitting said powered wheel of said vehicle to drivingly engage said gear means of said transfer section until a playing piece is deposited in said compartment of said vehicle at which time the movement of said vehicle continues; a loading station spaced from said trackway and provided with a chute extending to the vicinity of said transfer station, said loading station also including a loading device for transferring a playing piece from said station to said chute only as said device is rotated; a transfer device for releasing a playing piece stored at said unloading station and transferring same to said loading station; and a mechanism operatively connecting said loading device and said transfer device to said gear means at said transfer section of said trackway permitting said powered wheel of said vehicle to operate said loading and transfer devices.

2. An amusement device as in claim 1, wherein said powered vehicle includes a first projection extending from one side thereof and a pivotal projection extending from the other side thereof.

3. An amusement device as in claim 2, wherein said means for unloading a playing piece at said unloading station comprises a first wall section extending vertically from the side of said unloading track section such that when said powered vehicle moves over said unloading track section said first projection contacts said first wall section causing said powered vehicle to tilt, thereby unloading a playint piece carried thereby onto said unloading station.

4. An amusement device as in claim 3, wherein said means for releasably storing said playing piece at said unloading station comprises a pivotal gate having a second projection extending therefrom.

5. A toy train amusement device as set forth in claims 1 or 4, wherein said means for stopping the movement of said vehicle at said transfer section comprises a second wall section extending from said transfer section and an abutment extending from said second wall section, and wherein said abutment contacts said pivotal projection when said passenger compartment is empty and wherein the weight of one of the toy passengers pivots said pivotal projection out of contact with said abutment.

6. An amusement device as in claim 5, wherein said transfer device comprises: a first drive shaft driven by said gear means when said at least one driven wheel engages said gear means; a base member rotated by said first drive shaft; an extension member hingedly connected to said base member; a gondola pivotably connected to the end of said extension member opposite said base member, said gondola having a seat and having a seat projection extending from said seat for contacting said second projection when said base member is rotated such that said gondola is located adjacent said pivotal gate, whereby said pivotable gate is pivoted out of the way of said passenger and said passenger is loaded into said gondola.

7. An amusement device as in claim 6, wherein said loading station further comprises: a loading chute extending from one side of said rotating loading device, said chute extending from another side of said rotating loading device and including a cam portion positioned such that as said base member of said transfer device rotates said gondola towards said loading station said seat projection contacts said cam portion thereby causing said gondola to pivot such that said playing piece slides out of said gondola and onto said chute.

8. An amusement device in claim 7, wherein said transfer device further comprises a second drive shaft driven by said first drive shaft and wherein said rotating loading means is driven by said second drive shaft.

9. An amusement device as in claim 8, wherein said rotating loading device comprises a rotating platen having a U-shaped compartment positioned at the periphery of said rotating platen such that when said U-shaped compartment is aligned with said chute a playing piece can slide into said U-shaped compartment and when said U-shaped compartment is aligned with said loading chute a playing piece can slide from said U-shaped compartment down said loading chute.

10. An amusement device as in claim 1,wherein said transfer device comprises: a first drive shaft driven by said gear means when said at least one driven wheel engages said gear means and a base member rotated by said first drive shaft.

11. An amusement device as in claim 10, wherein said transfer device further comprises a second drive shaft driven by said first drive shaft and wherein said rotating loading device is driven by said second drive shaft.

12. An amusement device as in claim 1, wherein said playing piece is configured as a passenger, and wherein said transfer device is configured as a giraffe.

13. An amusement device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.