Importance

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Abstract

Several types of toy vehicles are provided which automatically lean when negotiating turns. One such vehicle is a radio-controlled toy motorcycle, which carries two outriggers with supports that extend downward from the typical positions of a rider's feet. Each outrigger pivots about two independent axes, to bank the toy for negotiating turns. The outriggers are cam-operated from the same radio-controlled steering mechanism which operates the front fork of the toy to turn it. An articulated toy rider has arms which follow the handlebar motions, and legs which follow the outrigger supports--to suggest the illusion that the rider is supporting the motorcycle with his foot on turns. The radio receiver and control electronics, as well as electric motors to drive the rear wheel and the steering mechanism, are powered by dry cells advantageously mounted in the mufflers. Another automatically banking toy vehicle may have the configuration of an airplane, with an undercarriage comprising at least two wheels side-by-side that remain upright and in contact with the supporting surface. A mechanism tilts the entire airframe to left or right, toward the inside of each turn, with respect to the undercarriage. Another automatically banking toy may have the configuration of a four-wheeled car or (with concealed wheels) boat, with a mechanism that lifts the two wheels on one side or the other out of contact with the supporting surface, simulating the behavior of a real boat or car in a very tight, rapid turn.

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First Claim