Remote control electronic toy and teaching aid

Abstract

Disclosed is a toy like system using snap together parts and modules that easily demonstrates the principles required in making a remote controlled vehicle. The system comprises a wireless microphone comprising a touch tone key pad for transmission of both speech and touch tones; a mounting base that allows attachment of modules on both upper and lower faces; a reusable electronic module that contains a touch tone decoder circuit and has means for attaching to other electronic modules; and a reusable electronic module that contains motor driving and steering circuits and has means for attaching to other electronic modules. Thus, the present invention discloses a system comprising a base member with base-attachable modules, which together function to allow for the construction of a remote controlled vehicle using standard touch tone frequencies.

1 . A quick connect toy vehicle, the quick connect toy vehicle comprising, in combination: 
 a plurality of interconnectable electronic components, the interconnectable electronic components for forming electronic circuitry;    a substantially planar base member, the base member comprising a first base face, a second base face, and a plurality of snap-fitting, module-receiving connector members, the snap-fitting, module-receiving connector members each comprising a male module-receiving portion, the male module-receiving portions extending outwardly from the first base face, the snap-fitting module-receiving connector members comprising at least one conductive male connector, the conductive male connector being in electrical communication with a conductive female connector member, the conductive female connector member extending outwardly from the second base face opposite the conductive male connector; and    a plurality of modules, each module comprising a substantially planar interface portion and a plurality of snap-fitting module connector members, the interface portion comprising a first module face and a second module face, the snap-fitting module connector members each comprising a female connector portion and a male connector portion, the female connector portions being in electrical communication with the male connector portions, the female connector portions extending outwardly from the first module face, the male connector portions extending outwardly from the second module face, the female connector portions of at least one first module being cooperatively associated with the male module-receiving portions to snap-fittingly receive and matingly engage the male module-receiving portions to releasably secure, interlockingly couple and mechanically attach the module to the base member, the female connector portions of at least one second module being cooperatively associated with male connector portions of the first module to snap-fittingly receive and matingly engage the male connector portions to releasably secure, interlockingly couple, mechanically attach and electronically connect the first and second modules to one another, at least one third module, the third module comprising roller means for movement, the third module being cooperatively associated with the female connector member to snap-fittingly receive and matingly engage the female connector member to releasably secure, interlockingly couple, mechanically attach and electronically connect the third module to the base member.    
   
   
       2 . The quick connect toy vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the base member, the interface portion, and a plurality of male module-receiving connector members are constructed from electrically non-conductive material.  
   
   
       3 . The quick connect toy vehicle of  claim 2  wherein the non-conductive material is selected from the group consisting of plastic, wood, paperboard, cardboard, and rubber, the base member comprising a foraminous portion with a matrix of openings therein.  
   
   
       4 . The quick connect toy vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the roller means for movement is defined by an axle assembly, the axle assembly comprising at least one axle member, each axle member having a pair of rotatable wheels cooperatively associated therewith.  
   
   
       5 . The quick connect toy vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the third module comprises at least one DC motor, the DC motor being securely mounted to the third module.  
   
   
       6 . The quick connect toy vehicle of  claim 5  wherein the DC motor mechanically operates the third module via a first select mechanical connection, the first select mechanical connection being selected from the group consisting of a direct connection and a geared ratio connection.  
   
   
       7 . The quick connect toy vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the snap-fitting module-receiving connector members comprises a plurality of conductive male connectors, the conductive male connectors each being in electrical communication with a female connector member, the female connector members extending outwardly from the second base face opposite the conductive male connectors, the quick connect toy comprising a solenoid, the solenoid comprising at least one male solenoid connector member, the male solenoid connector member being cooperatively associated with at least one female connector member to snap-fittingly receive and matingly engage the female connector member to releasably secure, interlockingly couple, mechanically attach and electronically connect the solenoid to the base member.  
   
   
       8 . The quick connect toy vehicle of  claim 7  wherein the third module comprises electronic steering means, the electronic steering means for steering the roller means for movement, the electronic steering means enabled via a second select mechanical connection, the second select mechanical connection being selected from the group consisting of a direct mechanical connection, a geared ratio connection, and a solenoid connection.  
   
   
       9 . The quick connect toy vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the snap-fitting, module-receiving connector members and the snap-fitting module connector members comprise select metal male connector structure and select metal female connector structure, the select metal male connector structure selected from the group consisting of snaps, pegs, pins, posts, pedestals, and plugs; the select metal female connector structure being selected from the group consisting of sockets, receptacles, grommets, rings, and tubes.  
   
   
       10 . The quick connect toy vehicle of  claim 1  wherein at least one module comprises electronic voltage reversal means, the electronic voltage reversal means for reversing motor voltage and steering voltage, the electronic voltage reversal means comprising snap-fitting means, the snap-fitting means being cooperatively associated with a select toy structure to snap-fittingly receive and matingly engage the select toy structure to releasably secure, interlockingly couple, mechanically attach and electronically connect the electronic voltage reversal means to the select toy structure, the select toy structure being selected from the group consisting of the base member and at least one module.  
   
   
       11 . A quick connect electronic circuit system, the quick connect electronic circuit system comprising, in combination: 
 a plurality of interconnectable electronic components, the interconnectable electronic components for forming an electronic circuit;    a base member, the base member comprising a first base face, a second base face, and a plurality of snap-fitting, module-receiving connector members, the snap-fitting, module-receiving connector members each comprising a male module-receiving portion, the male module-receiving portions extending outwardly from the first base face, the snap-fitting module-receiving connector members comprising at least one conductive male connector, the conductive male connector being in electrical communication with a female connector member, the female connector extending outwardly from the second base face opposite the conductive male connector; and    a plurality of modules, each module comprising a substantially planar interface portion and a plurality of snap-fitting module connector members, the interface portion comprising a first module face and a second module face, the snap-fitting module connector members each comprising a female connector portion and a male connector portion, the female connector portions being in electrical communication with the male connector portions, the female connector portions extending outwardly from the first module face, the male connector portions extending outwardly from the second module face, the female connector portions of at least one first module being cooperatively associated with the male module-receiving portions to snap-fittingly receive and matingly engage the male module-receiving portions to releasably secure, interlockingly couple and mechanically attach the module to the base member, the female connector portions of at least one second module being cooperatively associated with male connector portions of the first module to snap-fittingly receive and matingly engage the male connector portions to releasably secure, interlockingly couple, mechanically attach and electronically connect the first and second modules to one another, at least one third module, the third module comprising a decoding circuit, the decoding circuit for decoding standard touch tone frequencies to provide a binary output, the binary output correspondingly relating to a touch tone frequency pair, the touch tone frequency pair being present at a module input connector, the electronic components being in electrical communication with a plurality of select connector members, the select connector members being selected from the group consisting of the module-receiving connector members and the module connector members.    
   
   
       12 . A wireless microphone, the wireless microphone comprising an oscillator and a microphone, the oscillator for frequency modulating a select signal, the select signal being selected from within the standard commercial FM band of 88 megahertz to 108 megahertz, the microphone comprising a key pad, the key pad for generating at least one standard telephonic touch tone pair of frequencies.  
   
   
       13 . A quick connect electronic circuit system, the quick connect electronic system comprising, in combination: 
 a plurality of interconnectable electronic components, the interconnectable electronic components for forming an electronic circuit;    a base member, the base member comprising a first base face, a second base face, and a plurality of snap-fitting, module-receiving connector members, the snap-fitting, module-receiving connector members each comprising a male module-receiving portion, the male module-receiving portions extending outwardly from the first base face, the snap-fitting module-receiving connector members comprising at least one conductive male connector, the conductive male connector being in electrical communication with a female connector member, the female connector extending outwardly from the second base face opposite the conductive male connector; and    a plurality of modules, each module comprising a substantially planar interface portion and a plurality of snap-fitting module connector members, the interface portion comprising a first module face and a second module face, the snap-fitting module connector members each comprising a female connector portion and a male connector portion, the female connector portions being in electrical communication with the male connector portions, the female connector portions extending outwardly from the first module face, the male connector portions extending outwardly from the second module face, the female connector portions of at least one first module being cooperatively associated with the male module-receiving portions to snap-fittingly receive and matingly engage the male module-receiving portions to releasably secure, interlockingly couple and mechanically attach the module to the base member, the female connector portions of at least one second module being cooperatively associated with male connector portions of the first module to snap-fittingly receive and matingly engage the male connector portions to releasably secure, interlockingly couple, mechanically attach and electronically connect the first and second modules to one another, the modules thus being mounted on the base member and electronically connected to one another to form a movable and steerable vehicle, the movable and steerable vehicle being remotely movable and steerable by touch tone frequency signals, the touch tone frequency signals emanating from remotely located touch tone transmitting means.    
   
   
       14 . The quick connect electronic circuit system of  claim 13  wherein the touch tone transmitting means is defined by a wireless microphone, the wireless microphone comprising an oscillator and a microphone, the oscillator for frequency modulating a select signal, the select signal being selected from within the standard commercial FM band of 88 megahertz to 108 megahertz, the microphone comprising a key pad, the key pad for generating at least one standard telephonic touch tone pair of frequencies.  
   
   
       15 . The quick connect electronic circuit system of  claim 13  wherein the base member, the interface portion, and a plurality of male module-receiving connector members are constructed from electrically non-conductive material.  
   
   
       16 . The quick connect electronic circuit system of  claim 13  wherein at least one module comprises electronic voltage reversal means, the electronic voltage reversal means for reversing motor voltage and steering voltage, the electronic voltage reversal means comprising snap-fitting means, the snap-fitting means being cooperatively associated with a select toy structure to snap-fittingly receive and matingly engage the select toy structure to releasably secure, interlockingly couple, mechanically attach and electronically connect the electronic voltage reversal means to the select circuit structure, the select circuit structure being selected from the group consisting of the base member and at least one module.  
   
   
       17 . A remote control toy system, the remote control toy system comprising a remotely controllable toy and touch tone transmitting means, the remotely controllable toy comprising a plurality of remotely controllable movable portions, frequency receiving means, frequency decoding means, electronic circuitry and power source means, the movable portions being remotely controllable via a plurality of user-selected touch tone frequencies, each touch tone frequency for controlling at least one movable portion, the touch tone frequencies being remotely transmittable to and receivable by the frequency receiving means, the frequency decoding means operably connected to the frequency receiving means, the movable portions, and the power source means via the electronic circuitry for controlling the movable portions.  
   
   
       18 . The remote control toy system of  claim 17  wherein the touch tone frequencies are standard telephonic touch tone frequencies.  
   
   
       19 . The remote control toy system of  claim 18  wherein the remotely controllable movable portions, frequency receiving means, frequency decoding means, electronic circuitry and power source means are housed within modules, the modules comprising snap-fitting, module-receiving connector members and snap-fitting module connector members, the connector members for snap-fittingly receiving and matingly engaging adjacent modules to one another to releasably secure, interlockingly couple, mechanically attach and electronically connect adjacent modules.  
   
   
       20 . The remote control toy system of  claim 19  wherein the modules are mounted on a base member and electronically connected to one another to form a movable and steerable vehicle, the movable and steerable vehicle being remotely movable and steerable by the touch tone frequencies, the touch tone frequencies emanating from the touch tone transmitting means.  
   
   
       21 . The remote control toy system of  claim 20  wherein the touch tone transmitting means is defined by a wireless microphone, the wireless microphone comprising an oscillator and a microphone, the oscillator for frequency modulating a select signal, the select signal being selected from within the standard commercial FM band of 88 megahertz to 108 megahertz, the microphone comprising a key pad, the key pad for generating at least one standard telephonic touch tone pair of frequencies.