Toy robot apparatus and method

Abstract

A toy robot capable of simulating walking motion with robotic legs and/or feet that rise and fall with respect to the ground. Some preferred embodiments of the toy robot are capable of changing directions effectively by using independent motors in each of two robotic feet. In another aspect of the present invention, a toy robot can include several different interchangeable arm mechanisms capable of complex motions and/or functions. The toy robot is preferably controlled by a remote control unit capable of communicating with the toy robot in order to control the walking motion of the toy robot and the motions and functions of the arm mechanisms.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A toy robot capable of walking across a surface, the toy robot comprising: 
 a motor;    a crank shaft coupled to the motor;    a left foot housing and a right foot housing;    a link assembly connected to the motor, the link assembly including 
 a left support member rotatably coupled between the motor and the left foot housing;  
 a right support member rotatably coupled between the motor and the right foot housing;  
   the crank shaft alternately moving the link assembly between 
 a first position in which the left foot housing is in a lowered position with respect to the surface and the right foot housing is in a raised position with respect to the surface; and  
 a second position in which the left foot housing is in a raised position with respect to the surface and the right foot housing is in a lowered position with respect to the surface.  
   
     
     
         2 . The toy robot of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one left wheel;    at least one right wheel; and    the link assembly further comprising 
 a left control member rotatably coupled between the crank shaft and the at least one left wheel;  
 a right control member rotatably coupled between the crank shaft and the at least one right wheel.  
   
     
     
         3 . The toy robot of  claim 2 , wherein the left foot housing substantially covers the at least one left wheel and the right foot housing substantially covers the at least one right wheel.  
     
     
         4 . The toy robot of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 when the link assembly is in the first position, the at least one left wheel is in contact with the surface and the at least one right wheel is not in contact with the surface; and    when the link assembly is in the second position, the at least one left wheel is not in contact with the surface and the at least one right wheel is in contact with the surface.    
     
     
         5 . The toy robot of  claim 2 , further comprising a left lost motion linkage connected between the left control member and the at least one left wheel and a right lost motion linkage connected between the right control member and the at least one right wheel.  
     
     
         6 . The toy robot of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a left drive motor connected between the left control member and the at least one left wheel; and    a right drive motor operating independently of the left drive motor and connected between the right control member and the at least one left wheel.    
     
     
         7 . A toy robot comprising: 
 a torso having a shoulder attachment plate; and    a plurality of arm mechanisms attachable to and detachable from the torso, each one of the plurality of arm mechanisms including 
 a first end having an arm attachment plate attachable to and detachable from the shoulder attachment plate by at least one releasable fastener; and  
 a second end having at least one of grasping levers, a cup structure adapted to receive a ball, a toy bullet shooter, a toy missile launcher, a disc launcher, an exploding device, at least one rotatable drill, a movable blade, and at least one claw lever.  
   
     
     
         8 . The toy robot of  claim 7 , wherein the second end has grasping levers movable between an open position and a closed position in which the grasping levers can hold an object.  
     
     
         9 . The toy robot of  claim 7 , wherein the second end has a cup structure, the cup structure includes at least one magnet, and at least a portion of the ball is metallic and attracted to the at least one magnet.  
     
     
         10 . The toy robot of  claim 7 , wherein the second end has a toy bullet shooter, the toy bullet shooter includes a body portion for storing a plurality of toy bullets, and the toy bullet shooter can fire the plurality of toy bullets from the body portion in succession.  
     
     
         11 . The toy robot of  claim 7 , wherein the second end has a toy missile launcher including a spring mechanism to launch at least one toy missile.  
     
     
         12 . The toy robot of  claim 7 , wherein the second end has a disc launcher, the disc launcher includes a storage portion for storing a plurality of discs, and the disc launcher can fire the plurality of discs from the storage portion in succession.  
     
     
         13 . The toy robot of  claim 7 , wherein the second end has an exploding device retainer and the exploding device retainer includes an opening to receive an exploding device and an actuating mechanism.  
     
     
         14 . The toy robot of  claim 7 , wherein the second end has at least one rotatable drill and the at least one rotatable drill includes a first rotatable drill that rotates about a first axis and a second rotatable drill that rotates about a second axis at an angle with respect to the first axis.  
     
     
         15 . The toy robot of  claim 7 , wherein the second end has a movable blade, the movable blade is shaped like an axe, and the movable blade rotates about an axis.  
     
     
         16 . The toy robot of  claim 7 , wherein the second end has at least one claw lever, each one of the at least one claw lever being movable up and down in succession, and the at least one claw lever being movable in and out of a body portion of the arm mechanism.  
     
     
         17 . A toy robot capable of grasping an object, the toy robot comprising: 
 a torso having a shoulder attachment plate; and    an arm mechanism including 
 a first end having an arm attachment plate connected to the shoulder attachment plate;  
 a body portion having 
 a drive motor with a rotatable shaft;  
 a first gear connected to the rotatable shaft; and  
 a second gear connected to the rotatable shaft; and  
 
 a second end having at least two grasping levers connected to the first gear and movable to open and closed positions by rotation of the first gear, and a rotatable plate connected to the second gear to rotate the at least two grasping levers.  
   
     
     
         18 . The toy robot of  claim 17 , further comprising a spring connected between the first gear and the at least two grasping levers in order to bias the at least two grasping levers toward one another in a closed position.  
     
     
         19 . The toy robot of  claim 17 , further comprising a first worm gear connected to a second gear shaft and positioned to engage the second gear and a second worm gear connected to a first gear shaft and positioned to engage the first gear.  
     
     
         20 . The toy robot of  claim 19 , further comprising a drive gear connected to the rotatable shaft, a first rotation transfer gear connected to the second gear shaft, a second rotation transfer gear connected to the first gear shaft, and a motor gear in engagement with the drive gear, the motor gear movable between a first position in which the drive gear engages the first rotation transfer gear and a second position in which the drive gear engages the second rotation transfer gear.  
     
     
         21 . A toy robot capable of receiving and throwing a ball, the toy robot comprising: 
 a torso having a shoulder attachment plate; and    an arm mechanism including 
 a first end having an arm attachment plate connected to the shoulder attachment plate;  
 a second end having a cup adapted to receive the ball; and  
 a body portion having 
 a slide bar; and  
 a link connected to the slide bar, the link movable between a retracted position with respect to the cup and a second position in which the slide bar is extended into the cup.  
 
   
     
     
         22 . The toy robot of  claim 21 , wherein the ball includes at least one metallic portion and the cup includes at least one magnet.  
     
     
         23 . The toy robot of  claim 21 , wherein the ball is polyhedral shaped and the cup is polyhedral shaped to receive the polyhedral shaped ball.  
     
     
         24 . The toy robot of  claim 21 , further comprising a spring connected to the slide bar to bias the slide bar toward the cup.  
     
     
         25 . A toy robot capable of launching a plurality of toy missiles, the toy robot comprising: 
 a torso including a toy missile launcher attachment plate; and    a toy missile launcher connected to the toy missile launcher attachment plate, the toy missile launcher including 
 a magazine having 
 a pipe; and  
 at least one support plate connected to the pipe to releasably support a plurality of toy missiles; and  
 
 a firing drive having 
 an output shaft positionable substantially over the pipe; and  
 a release pin positioned to contact each one of the plurality of toy missiles in the magazine as the output shaft rotates.  
 
   
     
     
         26 . The toy robot of  claim 25 , wherein the output shaft has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the pipe so that the pipe rotates when the output shaft rotates.  
     
     
         27 . The toy robot of  claim 25 , wherein each one of the plurality of toy missiles includes a tip biased by a spring.  
     
     
         28 . The toy robot of  claim 25 , wherein each one of the plurality of toy missiles includes a stopper releasably securable to one of the at least one support plates.  
     
     
         29 . The toy robot of  claim 25 , wherein the firing drive includes a motor that rotates the output shaft.  
     
     
         30 . The toy robot of  claim 25 , further comprising a safety catch connected to the output shaft to prevent the magazine from unintentionally releasing from the firing drive.