TOY VEHICLE HAVING IMPACT-RESPONSIVE CRASH SIMULATION

摘要

A front portion (12) and rear portion (14) of a toy vehicle (10) are pivotally secured to each other by a pivot (32) and an over-center action spring mechanism (70). The front and rear portions define travel limit stops which secure the front and rear portions in a straight line arrangement in one direction of over-center spring action. Additional limit stops are provided in the opposite direction in which the front and rear portions are pivoted into a crash simulation configuration. In one embodiment, the pivotal attachment of the front and rear portions of the toy vehicle allows pivotal movement in the horizontal position while, in an alternate embodiment, the pivotal attachment between front portion and rear portion of the vehicle allows pivotal movement thereof in the vertical plane. In both instances, the over-center action of the spring mechanism operative upon the pivot provides a maintaining spring force for straight line configuration and for angled crash simulation configuration.