초록 ▼

A music box subassembly and a vehicle structure which incorporates the music box subassembly in such a way that the vehicle structure is useful both as a toy vehicle and also as a collectible music box. The vehicle structure offers selectable operating options. In one operating option, the music pla

A music box subassembly and a vehicle structure which incorporates the music box subassembly in such a way that the vehicle structure is useful both as a toy vehicle and also as a collectible music box. The vehicle structure offers selectable operating options. In one operating option, the music plays as the vehicle rolls, and in the other operating option, the vehicle “freewheels”, without playing music which makes it attractive as a toy vehicle. Moreover, the vehicle structure is designed to incorporate a music box which is capable of producing rich, resonant sound of high quality, and to drive the music box with a precision designed to take advantage of the sound producing qualities of the music box. Also, the vehicle structure is designed to produce rich, resonant sound of high tonal quality music in a relatively compact package, which is attractive in both the toy and collectible art. Additionally, the vehicle structure is designed to facilitate assembly of the music box, and incorporation of the music box into a vehicle body.

대표청구항 ▼

A vehicle structure comprising a body with an internal cavity, a plurality of wheels connected with said body and adapted to enable said body portion to roll in forward and reverse directions along a surface, and a music generating device disposed in said internal cavity of said body; said body havi

A vehicle structure comprising a body with an internal cavity, a plurality of wheels connected with said body and adapted to enable said body portion to roll in forward and reverse directions along a surface, and a music generating device disposed in said internal cavity of said body; said body having a fanciful external configuration; said music generating device including a relatively rigid cylindrical member which is rotatable about a central axis thereof to enable said music generating device to generate music, and a first drive device which is rotatable about said central axis, said first drive device adapted to be engaged with said rigid cylindrical member to rotate said rigid cylindrical member therewith about said central axis; a second drive device which is connected with at least one of said wheels, said second drive device being adapted selectively to engage said first drive device and to rotate said first drive device and said cylindrical member in one direction about said central axis when said one of said wheels rolls in at least one of said forward and reverse directions along the surface; said first and second drive devices being relatively moveable between first and second orientations relative to each other, biasing means for biasing said first and second drive devices to said first orientation, said first and second drive devices being moveable to said second orientation against the force of said biasing means; said second drive device being adapted to engage said first drive device and to rotate said first drive device and said cylindrical member in said one direction about said central axis when said first and second drive devices are in said second orientation and said one of said wheels rolls along the surface.