Ulllted States Patent [19]
`Perego
`
`[54] MOTORIZED WHEEL ASSEMBLY ANI) TOY
`VEHICLE WITH SUCH WHEEL ASSEMBLY
`
`[75] Inventor: Gianluca perego, Arcore, Italy
`
`[73] AssIgnee: Peg Perego PInes S.p.A., Arcore, Italy
`
`[21] App1_NO_;08/786,092
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`[22]
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`Filed:
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`Jan. 17, 1997
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`Forelgn Appllcatlon Prlorlty Data
`[30]
`Jan. 23, 1996
`[IT]
`Italy ............................... .. MI96U0051
`Jan. 23, 1996
`[IT]
`Italy ............................... .. MI96U0050
`
`[51]
`
`Int. Cl.6 ........................... .. B60K 1/00; B60K 17/30;
`B62D 11/04
`180/65 5_ 180/252_ 180/6 6
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`’
`’
`'
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`[52] U S C]
`,'
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`' """"""""""""" "
`[58] Fleld of searchlms 3
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`6
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`’
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`’
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`[56]
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`.
`References Clted
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2 122 924 7/1938 Ammen et al
`
`280/95
`
`US005924506A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,924,506
`Jul. 20, 1999
`
`4,699,433 10/1987 Kopp ...................................... .. 301/6.6
`4,805,712
`2/1989 Singleton
`.. 180/907
`5,224,563
`7/1993 IiZuka et a1.
`180/65.3
`5,311,957
`5/1994 McLaurin et a1.
`180/253
`5,482,125
`1/1996 Pagett ................................... .. 180/632
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2132954 7/1984 United Kingdom ................. .. 180/907
`2188889 10/1987 United Kingdom ................. .. 180/907
`
`Primary Examiner—Lanna Mai
`
`Assistant Examiner_Bridget Avery
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—MCG19W and Tu?le, P-C
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`
`_
`_
`A Wheel assembly (42) for toy vehicles comprises a Wheel
`(13) rotatably mounted on a pivot (25) having a support (49)
`for supporting it on a vehicle chassis and an electric poWer
`unit (44) connected to the Wheel to set it in rotation. The
`poWer unit (44) is mounted stationary on the pivot and ends
`toWards the Wheel With a motor-driven cup-shaped element
`(46) Which rotates coaXially to the pivot (25) and Which is
`received in a corresponding housing (43) provided on the
`internal face of the Wheel and blocked to prevent it from
`
`2,581,554
`
`1/1952 Radford . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 301/66
`
`rotatmg Wlthm 1t‘
`
`3,004,795 10/1961 Atkin . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 301/66
`
`4,483,405 11/1984 Noda et a1. ............................ .. 180/6.5
`
`17 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 20, 1999
`Jul. 20, 1999
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`Sheet 1 of5
`Sheet 1 of 5
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 20, 1999
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`Sheet 2 of5
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`5,924,506
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`Fig. 2
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 20, 1999
`Jul. 20, 1999
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`Sheet 3 of 5
`Sheet 3 0f 5
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`Ss es
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`5,924,506
`5,924,506
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`Jul. 20, 1999
`Jul. 20, 1999
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`Sheet 4 of5
`Sheet 4 of 5
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`5,924,506
`5,924,506
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`Jul. 20, 1999
`Jul. 20, 1999
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`Sheet 5 of5
`Sheet 5 of 5
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`

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`1
`MOTORIZED WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND TOY
`VEHICLE WITH SUCH WHEEL ASSEMBLY
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention refers to a motorized Wheel assembly
`suitable for use in a toy vehicle, for example an electric toy
`car, in Which the child can sit. Moreover, the invention refers
`to a toy vehicle With such Wheel assembly.
`The general scope of this invention is to provide a
`motoriZed Wheel Which is simple in structure and to
`assemble and limited in cost, suitable for use in the ?eld of
`toy vehicles. Such Wheel is suitable for producing a toy
`four-Wheel drive, and/or four-Wheel steering, vehicle With
`limited cost and complexity.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`This scope is achieved according to the invention by
`providing a Wheel assembly for toy vehicles, comprising a
`Wheel rotatably mounted on a pivot having means for
`supporting it on a vehicle chassis and an electric poWer unit
`connected to the Wheel to set it in rotation, characteriZed by
`the fact that the poWer unit is mounted stationary on the
`pivot and ends toWards the Wheel With a motor driven
`cup-shaped element Which rotates coaxially to the pivot and
`Which is received in a corresponding housing provided on
`the internal face of the Wheel and blocked to prevent it from
`rotating Within it.
`This scope is further achieved by providing a children’s
`vehicle comprising a chassis, four Wheels and a kinematic
`steering mechanism, characteriZed by the fact that the driv
`ing Wheels are achieved With a Wheel assembly of the
`aforesaid type.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The innovative principles of this invention and its advan
`tages With respect to the knoWn technique Will be more
`clearly evident from the folloWing description of a possible
`exempli?cative and non-restrictive embodiment applying
`such principles, With reference to the accompanying
`draWings, in Which:
`FIG. 1 shoWs an exploded partial cutaWay vieW of a
`motoriZed Wheel made according to the invention;
`FIG. 2 shoWs a partial cutaWay vieW of the Wheel of FIG.
`1 in the assembled condition;
`FIGS. 3 and 4 shoW vieWs taken from opposing faces of
`a part of the Wheel of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 5 shoWs a schematic plan vieW of a toy vehicle,
`using the Wheels of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 6 shoWs a schematic vieW of a kinematic steering
`mechanism of the vehicle of FIG. 5.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`With reference to the ?gures, FIG. 1 shoWs a Wheel
`assembly 42 Which comprises a Wheel 13 (for example in
`moulded plastic) the internal face of Which is provided With
`a housing 43 for receiving a poWer unit 44, composed of a
`portion 45, stationary With respect to the chassis of the
`vehicle, and a rotating portion or cup 46 integral With the
`Wheel.
`Advantageously, the Wheel assembly also comprises a
`drum brake composed of a drum 47 received in the housing
`43 and a brake shoe 48 received in the stationary portion 45.
`The stationary portion 45 comprises an electric motor 16
`Which rotates a drive spindle 100 With an output pinion gear
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`51 protruding so as to be received and ?t into a croWn Wheel
`52 provided inside the rotating portion 46.
`As can also be clearly seen in FIG. 2, the Wheel 13,
`stationary portion 45, rotating portion 46 and drum 47 are
`disposed coaxially on a pivot 25 for rotation of the Wheel.
`The pivot 25 is in turn supported by a support 49 integral
`With the vehicle. As Will be explained further on, for
`example the support 49 can comprise a kinematic steering
`mechanism for steering the Wheel.
`Advantageously, the Wheel 13, stationary portion 45,
`rotating portion 46 and drum 47 are packed on the pivot 25
`by tightening a check nut 53 screWed onto the free end of the
`pivot 25 to push the elements on the pivot toWards a stop
`element on the other end of the pivot. To prevent relative
`rotation of the drum 47 and the rotating portion 46 With
`respect to the Wheel 13, the housing 43 comprises recesses
`54, 55 Which receive, With interference, projections 56, 57
`protruding respectively from the rotating portion 46 and
`from, the drum 47. Conversely, to prevent rotation of the
`stationary portion 45, the stationary portion 45 is advanta
`geously provided With a housing 58 Which, as Will be
`explained in greater detail further on, partially receives the
`support 49.
`As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the stationary
`portion has a radial housing 59 in Which slides the brake
`shoe under the thrust of a cam 60 operated by a lever 61. The
`lever 61 can be rotated, against the action of a spring (not
`shoWn), betWeen the inactive position shoWn by the con
`tinuous line in FIG. 3 and the braked position shoWn by the
`“chain” in the same ?gure. The lever is operated by a tie rod
`connected to its free end. Such tie rod (not shoWn) Will
`advantageously be a sheathed ?exible cable, operated by a
`lever or by a brake pedal of the vehicle on Which the Wheel
`is mounted.
`Upon rotation of the lever, the brake shoe shifts radially
`to come into contact With the internal peripheral edge of the
`drum and brake the Wheel. For this purpose, the brake shoe
`is lined With friction material 65.
`As can be clearly seen by comparison betWeen FIGS. 2
`and 4 (the stationary portion of the motor 45 being generi
`cally cutaWay in FIG. 2 along the line II—II of FIG. 4), the
`pinion 51 is operated by the motor 16 through a reduction
`unit contained in the stationary portion and composed of a
`pinion 62 integral With the driving shaft, an intermediate
`gear 63 and a gear 64 integral With the output pinion 51.
`A Wheel assembly as described can be advantageously
`used to produce a driving, as Well as a steering, Wheel. In
`particular, a four-Wheel steering vehicle is consequently
`easy to produce With limited costs, limited complexity and
`a high degree of sturdiness.
`FIG. 5 shoWs a schematiZed vieW of a similar vehicle, for
`example a toy “off-road” vehicle.
`The toy vehicle, generically indicated by reference 10,
`comprises a body or chassis 11 (schematiZed by the broken
`line, since it can be of any type Whatsoever), Which supports
`a kinematic steering mechanism 12, as can be more clearly
`seen in FIG. 6, the kinematic steering mechanism is com
`posed of a front articulated quadrilateral 17 and a rear
`quadrilateral 18 connected by a transmission rod 19, pivoted
`on 20. The vehicle has a steering Wheel 14 connected to the
`kinematic mechanism 12 by means of a rack 15 to simul
`taneously control the steering of the four Wheels 13.
`The body of the vehicle can obviously be of any kind
`Whatsoever, as can the various accessories and elements of
`the vehicle (seats, battery compartment, starting and stop
`ping controls, etc.). Since all this is easily imaginable by the
`expert in the ?eld, it Will not be described in greater detail
`herein.
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`

`

`3
`The front and rear quadrilaterals comprise bearing rods
`21, 31 integral With the vehicle, and control rods 23, 33
`articulated to the bearing rods by means of arms 22, 32.
`Disposed at each end of the bearing rod 21 (the end disposed
`on the outside of the pivoting point 29 of the articulating
`arm), and pivoted according to a vertical axis 24, is a pivot
`25 onto Which a front Wheel 13 is ?tted. The pivot 25 is
`integral With one end of a bell crank lever 26 having its
`opposite end constrained, by means of a pin 27, to slide
`Within a slot 28 provided in the corresponding arm 28,
`parallel to its extension, to form a link.
`Disposed half Way along the connecting rod 23 is the rack
`15 Which ?ts onto the axle of the steering Wheel (With a
`suitable articulation), according to a knoWn and not further
`described arrangement. Upon rotation of the steering Wheel,
`the connecting rod consequently slides either to the right or
`to the left, deforming the parallelogram formed by the arms
`22, so that the bell crank levers 26 are pulled along by their
`sliding couplings in the arms 22 and rotate the pivots 25
`around the axes 24. In the full steering lock position, the pin
`27 of the external lever reaches the end of the slot 28 closest
`to the bearing rod 21, While the pin 27 of the internal lever
`reaches the end of the slot 28 furthest from the bearing rod
`21.
`The rear steering assembly or mechanism 18 also com
`prises an articulated quadrilateral, composed of a bearing
`rod 31 integral With the chassis of the vehicle, tWo articu
`lating arms 32 and a connecting rod 33. Disposed at each end
`of the bearing rod 30, pivoted according to a vertical axis 34,
`is a pivot 35 on Which a rear Wheel 13 is ?tted. The pivot 35
`is integral With one end of a bell crank lever 36 having its
`opposite end constrained, by means of a pin 37, to slide in
`a slot 38 provided in a rear extension 30 in the corresponding
`arm 32, parallelly to its extension, to form a link.
`The rear bell crank levers 36 are substantially specular to
`the front bell crank levers 26.
`Although FIGS. 1 to 4 shoW parts of the front steering, the
`application of the motoriZed Wheel to the rear steering is
`obvious.
`The transmission rod 19 has one end connected to the
`front connecting rod 23 and the other end connected to the
`rear connecting rod 33. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 6, the
`connections of the tWo ends of the transmission rod to the
`connecting rods are made rotatable and slidable to permit the
`rotation of the rod 19 With respect to the connecting rods 23,
`33.
`Thanks to the intermediate pivoting 20 of the transmission
`rod, upon rotation of the steering Wheel the front connecting
`rod slides, causing the rear connecting rod to slide in the
`opposite direction. The rear bell cranks 36 thus rotate the
`rear Wheels in the opposite direction to the front Wheels,
`thereby achieving the function of four-Wheel steering. In
`other Words, the rack 15 and the transmission rod 19 form
`a steering control mechanism Which makes it possible to
`control the synchronous movement of the tWo connecting
`rods and achieve the simultaneous steering of the tWo pairs
`of Wheels.
`As can be seen in FIG. 5, the kinematic steering mecha
`nism is made and proportioned in such a Way that the Wheels
`on one side of the vehicle are arranged substantially tangent
`to the same circumference 40, 41. The tWo circumferences
`thus identi?ed are concentric.
`As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the end of each bearing
`rod is received in the housing 58 With side play Which alloWs
`the steering of the Wheel, While the end of the bell crank
`lever 26 (or 36), Which is pivoted on the vertical section of
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`the pivot 25 (or 35) is received in a slot 66 in the housing 58
`so as to move integrally With the stationary portion of the
`Wheel assembly and control the steering of the latter.
`The Wheel assembly is assembled, by simply ?tting the
`stationary portion 45 and the Wheel 13 onto the pivot, in
`sequence, the Wheel having the drum and the rotating
`portion 46 ?tted into the housing 43, and tightening the nut
`53. The stationary portion is thus coupled onto the bell crank
`lever 26 (or 36) Which makes the bell crank lever integral
`With the pivot 25 (or 35).
`At this point it is clear that the intended scopes have been
`achieved by providing a sturdy and inexpensive Wheel
`assembly containing the entire motoriZation of the Wheel. It
`is thus easy to produce, for example, a four-Wheel drive
`vehicle. It is also clear that, due exclusively to the particular
`structure of the driving Wheels made in this Way, it is
`possible to construct a kinematic steering mechanism for a
`toy four-Wheel drive and four-Wheel steering vehicle, Which
`Would otherWise be too complicated and expensive.
`Advantageously, the great majority of the elements of the
`Wheel assembly can be moulded from plastic.
`The foregoing description of an embodiment applying the
`innovative principles of this invention is obviously given by
`Way of example in order to illustrate such innovative prin
`ciples and should not therefore be understood as a limitation
`to the sphere of the invention claimed herein. For example,
`the proportions of the various elements can vary according
`to particular practical or aesthetical requirements.
`Moreover, the vertical articulation of the pivot supporting
`the Wheel can be made differently from the one shoWn, or be
`omitted completely Whenever the Wheel is not steering.
`The term “cup”, used to indicate the rotating portion 46,
`is understood to mean even a simple toothed ring ?xed into
`the Wheel. Alternatively, the cup can also be supported by
`the stationary unit and become secured to the Wheel, for
`example, When the stationary unit is ?tted onto the pivot.
`The supporting rods can also be made from the chassis of
`the vehicle itself.
`Lastly, the stop element Which enables the various ele
`ments to be packed onto the pivot of the Wheel can be made
`differently (for example, by radial protrusions on the pivot)
`from the bearing shoWn Which is made by bending the pivot
`into an L-shape.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A vehicle comprising:
`a chassis;
`a plurality of Wheels each having a rotation axis;
`a separate pivot rotatably connected to each of said
`Wheels;
`a separate pivot support means for pivotally connecting
`each of said pivots to said chassis;
`a separate cup ?xed to said each Wheel and rotatable With
`said respective Wheel about said respective pivot;
`a separate poWer unit mounted stationary on each said
`pivot and having a drive spindle for driving said
`respective cup in rotation coaxially about said respec
`tive pivot, each said drive spindle being spaced from
`said respective rotation axis;
`a kinematic steering mechanism for steering the vehicle.
`2. Vehicle as claimed in claim 1, Wherein:
`said kinematic steering mechanism comprises:
`a front steering mechanism, Which comprises a ?rst
`articulated quadrilateral composed of a bearing rod,
`integral With the chassis of the vehicle, tWo articu
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`lating arms and a connecting rod, a pivot ?tted With
`a front driving Wheel being pivoted, according to a
`vertical axis, at each end of the bearing rod, in a more
`external position With respect to the articulating
`arms, the pivot being integral With one end of a bell
`crank lever, an opposite end of said bell crank lever
`being constrained to slide along the corresponding
`arm;
`a rear steering mechanism, Which comprises a second
`articulated quadrilateral composed of a bearing rod,
`integral With the chassis of the vehicle, tWo articu
`lating arms and a connecting rod, a pivot ?tted With
`a rear driving Wheel being pivoted, according to a
`vertical axis, at each end of the bearing rod, in a more
`external position With respect to the articulating
`arms, the pivot being integral With one end of a bell
`crank lever, an opposite end of said bell crank lever
`being constrained to slide along the corresponding
`arm;
`a steering control mechanism connected to the tWo
`connecting rods to control synchronous movement
`of the tWo connecting rods and achieve simultaneous
`steering of the tWo pairs of Wheels.
`3. Vehicle as claimed in claim 2, Wherein:
`said steering control mechanism comprises:
`a rack connected to one of the connecting rods to
`control movement of said one connecting rod to the
`right and to the left and achieve steering of the pair
`of Wheels connected to said one connecting rod;
`a transmission rod connected betWeen the connecting
`rods for corresponding movement of the other of the
`tWo connecting rods to the right and to the left upon
`movement of said one connecting rod and achieve
`steering of the pair of Wheels connected to said other
`connecting rod in a direction complementary to that
`of the other pair of Wheels.
`4. Vehicle as claimed in claim 2, Wherein;
`said opposite end of each said bell crank lever is con
`strained to slide along the respective arm by means of
`a pin sliding in a slot provided in the arm and extending
`parallel to the length of the arm.
`5. Vehicle as claimed in claim 2, Wherein:
`said bell crank levers of the front steering mechanism are
`substantially specular to the bell crank levers of the rear
`steering mechanism, the second bell crank levers being
`constrained to slide along their respective arms in
`correspondence With a portion of the arms Which
`extends posteriorly to their pivoting With the rear
`bearing rod.
`6. Vehicle as claimed in claim 3, Wherein:
`said transmission rod is pivoted to the chassis betWeen the
`connecting rods.
`7. Vehicle as claimed in claim 1, Wherein:
`in any steering conditions the Wheels on the same side of
`the vehicle are substantially tangent to the same cir
`cumference and the tWo circumferences thus de?ned
`are substantially concentric.
`8. AWheel assembly for a vehicle, the assembly compris
`ing:
`a Wheel having a rotation axis;
`a pivot rotatably connected to said Wheel;
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`pivot support means for pivotally connecting said pivot to
`the vehicle;
`a cup ?xed to said Wheel and rotatable about said pivot
`With said Wheel;
`a poWer unit mounted stationary on said pivot and having
`a drive spindle for driving said cup in rotation coaxially
`about said pivot, said drive spindle being spaced from
`said rotation axis.
`9. An assembly in accordance With claim 8, Wherein:
`said Wheel is driven through a periphery of said cup;
`said Wheel is rotatable on said pivot about said rotation
`axis.
`10. An assembly in accordance With claim 8, Wherein:
`a drum element ?xed to said Wheel and substantially
`coaxial to said pivot;
`said poWer unit includes a brake shoe radially movable
`With respect to said pivot to contact said drum element.
`11. An assembly in accordance With claim 10, Wherein:
`said Wheel includes an internal face forming a housing;
`said cup and said drum element are arranged in said
`housing.
`12. An assembly in accordance With claim 8, Wherein:
`said poWer unit includes a housing, and said housing of
`said poWer unit receives a portion of said pivot support
`means for blocking rotation of said poWer unit about
`said pivot.
`13. An assembly in accordance With claim 8, Wherein:
`said pivot support means includes elements of a kinematic
`steering mechanism.
`14. An assembly in accordance With claim 13, Wherein:
`said pivot is formed into an L-shape to obtain vertical
`pivoting ends in said kinematic steering mechanism.
`15. A Wheel assembly for a vehicle, the assembly com
`prising:
`a Wheel having a rotation axis;
`a pivot rotatably connected to said Wheel;
`pivot support means for pivotally connecting said pivot to
`the vehicle;
`a cup ?xed to said Wheel and rotatable about said pivot
`With said Wheel;
`a croWn gear provided on an internal peripheral Wall of
`said cup;
`a poWer unit mounted stationary on said pivot and having
`a drive pinion engaging said croWn gear, said poWer
`unit driving said Wheel in rotation about said pivot
`through said drive pinion and said croWn gear.
`16. An assembly in accordance With claim 15, Wherein:
`said cup is ?tted on said pivot separately from said poWer
`unit.
`17. An assembly in accordance With claim 16, Wherein:
`said poWer unit, said cup and said Wheel are packed
`together on said pivot;
`said pivot includes a stop element on one end of said pivot
`and said pivot includes a tightening element on another
`end of said pivot for axially exerting pressure against
`said Wheel.
`
`