GB891681A - Improvements in or relating to toy motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

891,681. Toy vehicles. MECCANO Ltd. April 8, 1960 [Feb. 1, 1960], No. 12500/60. Class 132(3) The axle 4 for the front wheels of a toy motor vehicle is supported in slotted lugs 2, the slots each having a depression in which the axle is normally held in position by a blade spring 6 secured to the floor 1 of the vehicle. The spring has a hole to clear a spigot 8 by which the vehicle body (not shown) is mounted on the floor. Light downward pressure on one or other wing of the vehicle causes the axle first to assume the dotted line position, Fig. 1. The end of the axle at which the pressure is applied then moves rearwardly up the inclined portion of the slot. Correspondingly the other end of the axle moves forwardly along the horizontal portion of the slot in the lug on the other side of the floor and the axle pivots about lugs 9 which extend downwardly from the spring 6. With the downward pressure maintained on the vehicle, the axle remains pivoted and the vehicle follows an arcuate path. On removal of the pressure, the spring urges the axle into the depressions in the slots and the vehicle moves in a straight line. The spring may be slotted longitudinally from each end to provide individual spring limbs for the opposite ends of each of the axles. The lugs 9 may be replaced by lugs bent up from the floor or by spigots formed on a die cast floor. In a further modification, Fig. 6, the forwardly extending horizontal portions of the axle slots are omitted and the axle 4 rests against a rearwardly inclined single lug 12. The uppermost ends of the slots are formed with recesses tending to retain the axle ends in the upper positions when displaced by downward pressure on the vehicle body. A spigot or spigots may depend from the body of the vehicle to co-operate with the axle 4 in place of the lugs or spigots provided on the spring or floor.