Toy that can travel and can generate suction

Abstract

There is provided a suction-generating toy, comprising a chassis, a fan, a first limb element for pivoting between first and second rotational positions, a first drive motor, a first primary drive wheel, a first auxiliary wheel that is rotatably connected to the first drive motor, and a first linkage element that includes a first end that is connected to an eccentric portion of the first auxiliary wheel such that as the first auxiliary wheel is driven to rotate by the first drive motor, the first end of the first linkage element moves through a first path of motion, and a second end that is coupled to the first limb element such that as the first end moves through the first path of motion, the first linkage element drives the first limb element to pivot between the first and second rotational positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suction-generating toy, comprising
 a chassis having a bottom surface with at least one opening formed thereon,   a motorized fan element that is fluidly coupled to the at least one opening and that is structured to draw air into the at least one opening for producing a low-pressure region thereabout;   a first limb element that is pivotably attached to the chassis for pivoting between first and second rotational positions; and   a first drive assembly that includes:
 a first drive motor; 
 a first primary drive wheel that is rotatably connected to the first drive motor and that is positioned to engage a surface for propelling the suction-generating toy along the surface; 
 a first auxiliary wheel that is rotatably connected to the first drive motor; and 
 a first linkage element that includes:
 a first end that is connected to an eccentric portion of the first auxiliary wheel such that as the first auxiliary wheel is driven to rotate by the first drive motor, the first end of the first linkage element moves through a first path of motion; and 
 a second end that is coupled to the first limb element such that as the first end moves through the first path of motion, the first linkage element drives the first limb element to pivot between the first and second rotational positions; 
 
   wherein the first drive motor and first primary drive wheel are disposed on a first lateral side of the chassis, relative to a longitudinal axis of the chassis that passes through a center of gravity of the suction-generating toy; and   wherein the first auxiliary wheel and the first linkage element are disposed on a second lateral side of the chassis so as to at least partially offset a weight of the first primary drive wheel about the longitudinal axis of the chassis when the suction-generating toy is in a selected orientation on the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The suction-generating toy of  claim 1 , wherein the first drive motor drives a first output shaft; and
 wherein the first primary drive wheel and first auxiliary wheel are each driven by the first output shaft.   
     
     
         3 . The suction-generating toy of  claim 2 , wherein the first drive motor drives a first output shaft through a first gear arrangement, and the first primary drive wheel is disposed on a first side of the first gear arrangement, and the first auxiliary wheel is disposed on a second side of the first gear arrangement. 
     
     
         4 . The suction-generating toy of  claim 1 , wherein the first auxiliary wheel includes an eccentric pin; and wherein the first end of first linkage element is pivotably connected to the eccentric pin such that the eccentric pin defines the eccentric portion of the first auxiliary wheel. 
     
     
         5 . The suction-generating toy of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second primary drive wheel that is positioned to engage the surface for propelling the suction-generating toy along the surface;   wherein the first primary drive wheel is disposed on a first lateral side of the chassis;   wherein the second primary drive wheel is disposed on a second lateral side of the chassis opposite the first side; and   wherein the second primary drive wheel is longitudinally spaced apart from the first primary drive wheel.   
     
     
         6 . The suction-generating toy of  claim 5 , wherein the first primary drive wheel is positioned forward of the centre of gravity of the suction-generating toy;
 wherein the first auxiliary wheel is positioned forward of the centre of gravity of the suction-generating toy; and   wherein the second primary drive wheel is positioned rearward of the centre of gravity of the suction-generating toy.   
     
     
         7 . The suction-generating toy of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second limb element that is pivotably attached to the chassis for pivoting between third and fourth rotational positions.   
     
     
         8 . The suction-generating toy of  claim 7 , further comprising a second drive assembly, wherein the second drive assembly includes the second primary drive wheel, a second drive motor, a second auxiliary wheel that is rotatably connected to the second drive motor, and a second linkage element that is connected between the second auxiliary wheel and the second limb element; and
 wherein the second primary drive wheel is rotatably connected to the second drive motor.   
     
     
         9 . The suction-generating toy of  claim 8 , wherein the second auxiliary wheel is positioned rearward of the centre of gravity of the suction-generating toy. 
     
     
         10 . The suction-generating toy of  claim 8 , wherein the second linkage element includes:
 a first end that is connected to an eccentric portion of the second auxiliary wheel such that as the second primary drive wheel is driven to rotate by the second drive motor, the first end of the second linkage element moves through a second path of the motion; and   a second end that is coupled to the second limb element such that as the first end of the second linkage element moves through the second path of motion, the second limb element pivots between the third and fourth rotational positions.   
     
     
         11 . The suction-generating toy of  claim 8 , wherein the first drive assembly is disposed on a first longitudinal half of the chassis defined about a lateral axis of the chassis that passes through the center of gravity of the suction-generating toy; and wherein the second drive assembly is disposed on a second longitudinal half of the chassis opposite the first half, and is spaced relative to the lateral axis of the chassis so as to at least partially offset a moment applied by a weight of the first drive assembly about the lateral axis of the chassis when the suction-generating toy is in a selected orientation on the surface. 
     
     
         12 . The suction-generating toy of  claim 7 , wherein the first limb element is pivotably connected to the first longitudinal half of the chassis; and wherein the second limb element is pivotally connected to the second longitudinal half of the chassis. 
     
     
         13 . The suction-generating toy of  claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the first drive motor is on a first side of the longitudinal axis and a second portion of the first drive motor is on a second side of the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14 . The suction-generating toy of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second primary drive wheel that is positioned to engage the surface for propelling the suction-generating toy along the surface;   wherein the first primary drive wheel is disposed on a first lateral side of the chassis;   wherein the second primary drive wheel is disposed on a second lateral side of the chassis opposite the first side; and   wherein the second primary drive wheel is longitudinally spaced apart from the first primary drive wheel,   wherein the first primary drive wheel is positioned forward of the centre of gravity of the suction-generating toy,   wherein the first auxiliary wheel is positioned forward of the centre of gravity of the suction-generating toy, and   wherein the second primary drive wheel is positioned rearward of the centre of gravity of the suction-generating toy   wherein a first portion of the first drive motor is on a first side of the longitudinal axis and a second portion of the first drive motor is on a second side of the longitudinal axis.