Carrier vehicle for collecting objects from a surface

Abstract

A carrier vehicle for collecting objects from a surface is provided herein. The carrier vehicle has a vehicle body with at least one opening formed for receiving at least one object. The vehicle body also has a storage region for holding the at least one object; and a collector assembly that guides the at least one object into the storage region. The collector assembly has a rotatable input member with a plurality of object guide members connected thereto for rotating therewith. Each object guide member is resilient and laterally flexible such that as the object guide members rotate with the input member and the at least one object enters into the opening, at least some of the plurality of object guide members laterally deform around the at least one object and capture the at least one object for guiding the at least one object towards the storage region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carrier vehicle for collecting at least one object on a surface, the carrier vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle body having:
 at least one opening formed thereon, the at least one opening being sized to receive the at least one object therethrough; and 
 a storage region for holding the at least one object; and 
   a collector assembly that is structured for guiding the at least one object into the storage region of the vehicle body, the collector assembly including:
 an input member that is rotatably connected to the vehicle body for rotating about a first axis in at least a first rotational direction; and 
 a plurality of object guide members that are connected to the input member for rotating therewith, each of the plurality of object guide members including at least one lateral side, the plurality of object guide members being resilient and laterally flexible such that as the plurality of object guide members are driven to rotate in the first rotational direction and the at least one object is received through the at least one opening, at least some of the plurality of object guide members laterally deform around the at least one object and capture the at least one object for guiding the at least one object towards the storage region. 
   
     
     
         2 . The carrier vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising: a drive element that is operatively connected to the input member for driving the input member to rotate in at least the first rotational direction. 
     
     
         3 . The carrier vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of object guide members are structured such that the mutually facing lateral sides of the plurality of object guide members engage opposing lateral sides of the at least one object, as the at least one object is received through the at least one opening, such that the at least one object is guided towards the storage region. 
     
     
         4 . The carrier vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of object guide members are arranged such that at least two adjacent, object guide members of the plurality of object guide members frictionally engage the opposing lateral sides of the at least one object. 
     
     
         5 . The carrier vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one lateral side of each of the plurality of object guide members includes a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein at least one object guide member of the plurality of object guide members includes a plurality of teeth circumferentially positioned about an outer perimeter of the at least one object guide member; and
 wherein the plurality of teeth are shaped to engage the at least one object as the plurality of object guide members are driven to rotate in the first rotational direction, for further guiding the at least one vehicle towards the storage region.   
     
     
         7 . The carrier vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of teeth includes a leading edge that extends towards the first rotational direction. 
     
     
         8 . The carrier vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the leading edge of each of the plurality of teeth has an arcuate form. 
     
     
         9 . The carrier vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the leading edge of at least one tooth of the plurality of teeth has a positive rake angle relative to a radial line that extends from the center of the at least one object guide member to a root of the at least one tooth. 
     
     
         10 . The carrier vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of teeth are spaced evenly about the outer perimeter of the at least one object guide member. 
     
     
         11 . The carrier vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one object guide member includes a plurality of gullets formed on the outer perimeter of the at least one object guide member; and wherein each gullet of the plurality of gullets is disposed between two adjacent teeth of the plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         12 . The carrier vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein each gullet of the plurality of gullets has a circular cross-section and is positioned at a root of one tooth of the two adjacent teeth. 
     
     
         13 . The carrier vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of teeth of each object guide member are angularly offset relative to the plurality of teeth of at least one other object guide member of the plurality of object guide members. 
     
     
         14 . The carrier vehicle of  claim 2 , further comprising a first set of wheels; and
 wherein the first set of wheels are rotatably connected to the vehicle body for supporting the carrier vehicle on the surface.   
     
     
         15 . The carrier vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the drive element is operably connected to the input member such that the input member is driven to rotate in the first rotational direction independent of a rotation of the first set of wheels of the first wheel assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The carrier vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the drive element and the first set of wheels are both included in a first wheel assembly;
 wherein the first set of wheels are rotationally coupled to the input member of the collector assembly via the drive element; and   wherein the drive element is structured such that the input member is driven to rotate in at least the first rotational direction as the first set of wheels rotate relative to the vehicle body.   
     
     
         17 . The carrier vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the carrier vehicle is structured as a push vehicle such that the first set of wheels of the first wheel assembly can be driven to rotate relative to the vehicle body by a user pushing the carrier vehicle along the surface. 
     
     
         18 . A toy vehicle kit, comprising:
 at least one toy object; and   a carrier vehicle for collecting the at least one toy object on a surface, the carrier vehicle including:   a vehicle body with:
 at least one opening formed thereon, the at least one opening being sized to receive the at least one object therethrough; and 
 a storage region for holding the at least one object; and 
   a collector assembly that is structured for guiding the at least one object into the storage region of the vehicle body, the collector assembly including:
 an input member that is rotatably connected to the vehicle body for rotating about a first axis in at least a first rotational direction; and 
 a plurality of object guide members that are connected to the input member for rotating therewith, each of the plurality of object guide members including at least one lateral side, the plurality of object guide members being laterally flexible such that as the plurality of object guide members are driven to rotate in the first rotational direction and the at least one object is received through the at least one opening, at least some of the plurality of object guide members laterally deform around the at least one object and capture the at least one object between mutually facing lateral sides of the plurality of object guide members for guiding the at least one object towards the storage region. 
   
     
     
         19 . The toy vehicle kit of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one toy object is at least one toy vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . The toy vehicle kit of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one toy vehicle is sized such that a width of the at least one toy vehicle is greater than a distance between the mutually facing lateral side of the plurality of object guide members.