Pivotable handheld remote control device

Abstract

A hand-held remote control device includes a left hand grip portion and a substantially mirror image right hand grip portion, the two portions being pivotable with respect to one another to activate a signal generator to remotely control an operation of an amusement device such as reconfiguration of or stunt by a toy vehicle.

1 . A hand-held controller configured to control an operation of an amusement device, the controller comprising a multi-part housing including at least a left-hand grip portion and a right-hand grip portion, wherein the left-hand grip portion and the right-hand grip portion are substantially the same size and are pivotable with respect to each other to control the operation of the amusement device.  
     
     
         2 . The controller of  claim 1  being configured to operate remotely from the amusement device.  
     
     
         3 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein the operation controlled by pivotal movement of the right-hand grip and left-hand grip portions is a physical movement of the amusement device.  
     
     
         4 . (canceled)  
     
     
         5 . The controller of  claim 1  further comprising an electrical signal generator configured to respond to pivotal movement of the left-hand grip portion relative to the right-hand grip portion from a neutral position into at least a first pivoted position.  
     
     
         6 . The controller of  claim 5  wherein the electrical signal generator is configured to respond to pivotal movement of the left-hand grip portion relative to the right-hand grip portion from a neutral position into a second pivoted position different from the first position.  
     
     
         7 . The controller of  claim 5  further comprising control circuitry activated by the electrical signal generator to generate a control signal to control the operation of the amusement device.  
     
     
         8 . The controller of  claim 7  further comprising an antenna operably connected to the control circuitry.  
     
     
         9 . The controller of  claim 7  further comprising a hard-wired connection between the hand-held controller and the amusement device, the control signal being communicated from the control circuitry to the amusement device by the hard-wired connection.  
     
     
         10 . The controller of  claim 1  being configured to further control operation of a propulsion mechanism in the amusement device.  
     
     
         11 . The controller of  claim 1  being configured to further control operation of a steering mechanism in the amusement device.  
     
     
         12 . A combination comprising the controller of  claim 1  and a toy vehicle amusement device remotely controllable with the controller.  
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 12  further comprising a first electrical switch and a second electrical switch to control at least forward motion and steering of the toy vehicle.  
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 12  further comprising an electrical signal generator configured to change states with pivotal movement of the left- and right-hand grip portions with respect to each other, to initiate a control signal to the toy vehicle.  
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 14  wherein the control signal causes rearward motion of the toy vehicle.  
     
     
         16 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein the grip portions are alignable side-by-side to define a common plane and wherein the grip portions are pivotable with respect to one another in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane.  
     
     
         17 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein the grip portions are alignable side-by-side to define a common plane and wherein the grip portions are pivotable with respect to one another in a direction generally parallel to the plane.  
     
     
         18 . (canceled)