Method of modifying a driveline of a toy vehicle, modified toy vehicle driveline, and kit for modifying a driveline of a toy vehicle

Abstract

A method of modifying a driveline of a toy vehicle is provided. The first step involves disengaging a first end of an original drive shaft of the toy vehicle from a gearbox of the toy vehicle, where the gearbox is in a location such that it limits the travel of the suspension of the toy truck beuase it can come into contact with the differential. The second step involves disengaging a second end of the original drive shaft of the toy vehicle from a transfer box. The third step includes removing the original drive shaft from the toy vehicle. The fourth step involves dismounting the gearbox from the first and second longitudinal beams of the chassis. Next, the transfer box is dismounted from the first and second longitudinal beams of the chassis. The gearbox is then remounted to the first longitudinal beam with a first bracket and to the second longitudinal beam with a second bracket such that the gearbox is positioned at an offset from a central longitudinal axis of the chassis, and located such that the gearbox is positioned away from the differential on the opposite side of the central longitudinal axis. The transfer box is then remounted to the chassis in a position that is 180 degrees relative to the original mounting position. Next, a first end of a replacement drive shaft assembly is attached to the gearbox and a second end of the replacement drive shaft assembly is attached to the transfer box. Finally, the propeller shaft is reengaged with the transfer box. A modified toy vehicle driveline and a kit for modifying a toy vehicle driveline are also provided.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of modifying a driveline of a toy vehicle comprising the steps of:
 a. disengaging a first end of an original drive shaft of the toy vehicle from a gearbox of the toy vehicle, said gearbox being arranged at an offset from a central longitudinal axis of a chassis, and located proximate to a first longitudinal beam of the chassis relative to a second longitudinal beam of the chassis, while a differential of the vehicle is also arranged proximate to the first longitudinal beam relative to the second longitudinal beam such that the gearbox is positioned above the differential on the same side of the central longitudinal axis;   b. disengaging a second end of the original drive shaft of the toy vehicle from a transfer box, said transfer box having a first end connected to the first longitudinal beam of the chassis and a second end connected to the second longitudinal beam of the chassis;   c. removing the original drive shaft from the toy vehicle;   d. dismounting the gearbox from the first and second longitudinal beams of the chassis;   e. dismounting the transfer box from the first and second longitudinal beams of the chassis, said step further including disengaging a propeller shaft that connects the transfer box to said differential from said transfer box;   f. remounting the gearbox to the first longitudinal beam with a first bracket and to the second longitudinal beam with a second bracket such that the gearbox is positioned at an offset from a central longitudinal axis of the chassis, and located proximate to the second longitudinal beam of the chassis relative to the first longitudinal beam of the chassis such that the gearbox is positioned away from the differential on the opposite side of the central longitudinal axis;   g. remounting the transfer box to said chassis wherein the first end of the transfer box is connected to the second longitudinal beam and the second end of the transfer box is connected to the first longitudinal beam of the chassis in a position that is 180 degrees relative to the original mounting position;   h. attaching a first end of a replacement drive shaft assembly to the gearbox and a second end of the replacement drive shaft assembly to the transfer box; and   i. reengaging the propeller shaft to the transfer box.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of disengaging a propeller shaft from said transfer box includes disengaging a first propeller shaft that connects the transfer box to a front differential from the transfer box, and disengaging a second propeller shaft that connects the transfer box to a rear differential from the transfer box. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of reengaging the propeller shaft to the transfer box includes reengaging the first propeller shaft to the transfer box, and reengaging the second propeller shaft to the transfer box. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of attaching the first end of the replacement drive shaft assembly to the gearbox and the second end of the replacement drive shaft assembly to the transfer box further comprises:
 a. attaching a first universal joint arranged at a first end of the drive shaft to the gearbox, and   b. attaching a second universal joint arranged at a second end of the drive shaft to the transfer box.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of remounting the gearbox further comprises the steps of:
 a. attaching a first end portion of the first bracket to the first longitudinal beam;   b. attaching a second end portion of the first bracket to a first side of the gearbox of the toy vehicle, said first and second end portions of said first bracket including a central portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion having a length selected based on a desired offset of the gearbox from the first longitudinal beam of the chassis; and   c. attaching a second side of the gearbox to a second bracket and attaching said second bracket to the second longitudinal beam.   
     
     
         6 . A modified toy vehicle driveline comprising:
 a. a gearbox mounted to a first longitudinal beam of a chassis of the toy vehicle by a first bracket and mounted to a second longitudinal beam of the chassis by a second bracket, said gearbox being positioned at an offset from a central longitudinal axis of the chassis, and located proximate to the second longitudinal beam of the chassis relative to the first longitudinal beam such that the gearbox is positioned away from a differential on the opposite side of the central longitudinal axis;   b. a transfer box having a first end connected to the second longitudinal beam and a second end connected to the first longitudinal beam of the chassis;   c. a replacement drive shaft assembly having a first end rotatably connected to said gearbox and a second end rotatably connected to said transfer box; and   d. a differential connected to an axle for imparting rotary motion to a pair of wheels at opposing ends of the axle, and   e. a propeller shaft having a first end rotatably connected to the transfer box and a second end rotatably connected to the differential.   
     
     
         7 . The modified toy vehicle driveline according to  claim 6  wherein said differential comprises a front differential connected to a front axle and a rear differential connected to a rear axle, and said propeller comprises a front propeller connecting said transfer box to said front differential and a rear propeller connecting said transfer box to said rear differential. 
     
     
         8 . The modified toy vehicle driveline according to  claim 6  wherein said first bracket includes a first end portion for attaching to the first longitudinal beam of the chassis of the toy vehicle, and a second end portion for attaching to a first side of a gearbox of the toy vehicle, said first bracket further including a central portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion. 
     
     
         9 . The modified toy vehicle driveline according to  claim 8  wherein a length of the central portion of the first bracket is selected based on a desired offset of the gearbox from the second longitudinal beam of the chassis. 
     
     
         10 . The modified toy vehicle driveline according to  claim 6  wherein the replacement drive shaft assembly further comprises a first universal joint arranged at a first end of the drive shaft and a second universal joint arranged at a second end of the drive shaft, said first universal joint for attaching the replacement drive shaft assembly to the gearbox and said second universal joint for attaching the replacement drive shaft assembly to the transfer box. 
     
     
         11 . A kit for modifying a driveline of a toy vehicle comprising:
 a. A replacement drive shaft assembly having a drive shaft,   b. a first bracket having a first end portion for attaching to a first longitudinal beam of a chassis of the toy vehicle, and a second end portion for attaching to a first side of a gearbox of the toy vehicle, said first bracket further including a central portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion.   c. a second bracket for attaching the gearbox to a second longitudinal beam of the chassis of the toy vehicle.   
     
     
         12 . The kit according to  claim 11  wherein a length of the central portion of the first bracket is selected based on a desired offset of the gearbox from the first longitudinal beam of the chassis. 
     
     
         13 . The kit according to  claim 11  wherein the replacement drive shaft assembly further comprises a first universal joint arranged at a first end of the drive shaft and a second universal joint arranged at a second end of the drive shaft, said first universal joint for attaching the replacement drive shaft assembly to the gearbox and said second universal joint for attaching the replacement drive shaft assembly to the transfer box.