Toy vehicle having side to side bouncing motion

Abstract

A device and method for creating side-to-side movements in a toy is claimed. The device includes a frame. The frame is supported by suspension elements that extend downwardly from the frame. If the device is configured as a vehicle, the suspension elements terminate at their low ends with wheels. Some of the suspension elements are pivotably connected to the right side of the frame. Alternately, some of the suspension elements are pivotably connected to the left side of the frame. A mechanism is provided that rotates the suspension elements on the right side of the frame and the suspension elements on the left side of the frame in an alternating pattern. As the suspension elements on the right side of the frame and the left side of the frame are rotated, the suspension elements extend below the frame and increase the distance between the frame and the wheels suspended below the frame. Since the suspension elements on the right and left of the frame are extending in an alternating pattern, the left and right sides of the frame rise and fall at different times. This causes the frame to have the desired side-to-side movement.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A model vehicle assembly, comprising: 
 a frame;    two left side suspension elements coupled to said frame;    two right side suspension elements coupled to said frame;    four wheels, wherein a wheel is coupled to each of said left side suspension elements and each of said right side suspension elements, whereby said left side suspension elements support two of said wheels a first distance below said frame and said right side suspension elements support two of said wheels a second distance below said frame; and    a mechanism for alternately manipulating said left side suspension elements and said right side suspension elements to alternately change said first distance and said second distance, respectively.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said left side suspension elements and each of said right side suspension elements have a first end and a second end, and are coupled to said frame at pivot points between said first end and said second end.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said mechanism alternately rotates said left side suspension elements and said right side suspension elements about their respective pivot points.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said mechanism includes an electric motor and a transmission.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said transmission engages said left side suspension elements and said right side suspension elements, thereby creating reciprocating motion in said left side suspension elements and said right side suspension elements.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said transmission has a left side, a right side and two wedge elements, a separate wedge element being located on said left side and said right side of said transmission, wherein said transmission creates reciprocating vertical motion in said wedge elements.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein said left side suspension elements abut against one of said wedge elements and are displaced by that wedge element as said transmission creates reciprocating vertical motion in that wedge element.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein said right side suspension elements abut against one of said wedge elements and are displaced by that wedge element as said transmission creates reciprocating vertical motion in that wedge element.  
     
     
         9 . A toy vehicle, comprising: 
 a frame having a left side and a right side;    four wheels suspended from said frame, wherein two of said wheels are suspended from said left side of said frame and two of said wheels are suspended from said right side of said frame;    a mechanism for selectively elevating said frame relative said four wheel, wherein said mechanism alternately elevates said left side of said frame and said right side of said frame.    
     
     
         10 . The toy vehicle according to  claim 9 , further including a plurality of suspension elements, two of said suspension elements being pivotably connected to the left side of said frame and two of said suspension elements being pivotably connected to the right side of said frame, wherein said wheels are suspended from said frame by said suspension elements.  
     
     
         11 . The toy vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein said mechanism pivots the suspension elements on the left side of the frame and pivots the suspension elements on the right side of said frame in an alternating pattern.  
     
     
         13 . The toy vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein said mechanism includes an electric motor and a transmission.  
     
     
         14 . The toy vehicle according to  claim 13 , wherein said transmission has a left side, a right side and two wedge elements, a separate wedge element being located on said left side and said right side of said transmission, wherein said transmission creates reciprocating vertical motion in wedge elements.  
     
     
         15 . The toy vehicle according to  claim 14 , wherein the suspension elements on the left side of the frame abut against one of said wedge elements and are displaced by that wedge element as said transmission creates reciprocating vertical motion in that wedge element.  
     
     
         16 . The toy vehicle according to  claim 14 , wherein the suspension elements on the right side of the frame abut against one of said wedge elements and are displaced by that wedge element as said transmission creates reciprocating vertical motion in that wedge element.  
     
     
         17 . A method of creating side-to-side movement in a toy, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a toy having a frame supported by a plurality of suspension elements that extend downwardly a predetermined distance from said frame, wherein some of said suspension elements extend from a left side of said frame and some of said suspension elements extend from a right side of said frame;    periodically altering said predetermined distance that said suspension elements extend from said frame, wherein the suspension elements on the right side of the frame and the suspension elements on the left side of the frame are extended in an alternating pattern, thereby creating a repeating side-to-side movement in said frame.    
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said toy is a vehicle and each of said suspension elements terminates at one end with a wheel.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein each of said suspension elements is coupled to said frame with a pivot and said step of periodically altering said predetermined distance includes rotating the suspension elements about their pivots.