Toy vehicle

Abstract

The toy vehicle includes a chassis, a body, a parallelogram extension assembly, and an actuation assembly. The parallelogram extension assembly moveably couples the body to the chassis such that the body can move forward in a substantially arc-shaped path from a position substantially above the chassis to a relatively forward position. The actuation assembly is mechanically coupled to the parallelogram extension assembly and is configured to cause the parallelogram extension assembly to move the body forward by activating the actuation assembly.

1 . A toy vehicle, comprising:
 a chassis;   a body selectively moveable from a retracted mode relative to the chassis to an extended mode relative to the chassis;   a front linkage member with a first end pivotably coupled to the chassis and a second end pivotably coupled to the body;   a rear linkage member with a first end pivotably coupled to the chassis, a second end pivotably coupled to the body, and an intermediate pivot therebetween;   an actuation member having a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotably coupled to the intermediate pivot of the rear linkage member; and   an actuation lever having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate pivot therebetween, the intermediate pivot of the actuation lever being pivotably connected to the chassis, and the first end of the actuation lever being pivotably connected to the second end of the actuation member.   
   
   
       2 . The toy vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein an actuation force imparted to the second end of the actuation lever rotates the actuation lever about the intermediate pivot of the actuation lever, thus pushing the actuation member toward the rear linkage, thereby rotating the rear linkage about the first end of the rear linkage to move the body from the retracted mode to the extended mode. 
   
   
       3 . The toy vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the front linkage and the rear linkage remain substantially parallel as the body is in the retracted mode, as the body is in the extended mode, and as the body moves between the retracted mode and the extended mode. 
   
   
       4 . The toy vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the front linkage member and rear linkage member cooperate to keep the chassis and the body substantially parallel as the body moves between the retracted mode and the extended mode. 
   
   
       5 . The toy vehicle of  claim 2 , further including a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the chassis. 
   
   
       6 . The toy vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the body further comprises a mouth, the mouth being concealed and closed when the body is in the retracted mode, and the mouth being revealed and open when the body is in the extended mode. 
   
   
       7 . The toy vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the mouth is gradually revealed and opened during movement of the body from the extended mode to the retracted mode. 
   
   
       8 . A toy vehicle, comprising:
 a chassis;   a body;   a front linkage member pivotably coupled to the chassis and to the body;   a rear linkage member pivotably coupled to the chassis and to the body;   an actuation member pivotably coupled to the rear linkage member; and   an actuation lever pivotably coupled to the chassis and to the actuation member;   
     wherein actuation of the actuation lever causes the actuation member, the front linkage, and the rear linkage to cooperate to move the body in a substantially arc-shaped path from a position substantially above the chassis to a relatively forward position. 
   
   
       9 . The toy vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the front linkage and the rear linkage remain substantially parallel as the body is in the position substantially above the chassis, as the body is in the relatively forward position, and as the body moves in a substantially arc-shaped path from the position substantially above the chassis to the relatively forward position. 
   
   
       10 . The toy vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the front linkage member and rear linkage member cooperate to keep the chassis and the body substantially parallel as the body moves from the position substantially above the chassis to the relatively forward position. 
   
   
       11 . The toy vehicle of  claim 8 , further including a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the chassis. 
   
   
       12 . The toy vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the body further comprises a mouth, the mouth being concealed and closed when the body is in the position substantially above the chassis, and the mouth being revealed and open when the body is in the relatively forward position. 
   
   
       13 . The toy vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the mouth is gradually revealed and opened during movement of the body from the position substantially above the chassis to the relatively forward position. 
   
   
       14 . A toy vehicle having a forward end and a rearward end, the toy vehicle comprising:
 a chassis;   a body;   a parallelogram extension assembly moveably coupling the body to the chassis such that the body selectively moves forward in a substantially arc-shaped path from a position substantially above the chassis to a relatively forward position; and   an actuation assembly mechanically coupled to the parallelogram extension assembly and configured to cause the parallelogram extension assembly to move the body forward, the actuation assembly including an actuation lever that causes the parallelogram linkage to move the body forward responsive to the actuation lever moving rearward.   
   
   
       15 . The toy vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the parallelogram extension assembly includes a front linkage member with a first end pivotably coupled to the chassis and a second end pivotably coupled to the body; and a rear linkage member with a first end pivotably coupled to the chassis, a second end pivotably coupled to the body, and an intermediate pivot therebetween. 
   
   
       16 . The toy vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the front linkage and the rear linkage remain substantially parallel as the body is in the position substantially above the chassis, as the body is in the relatively forward position, and as the body moves in a substantially arc-shaped path from the position substantially above the chassis to the relatively forward position. 
   
   
       17 . The toy vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the actuation assembly includes an actuation member having a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotably coupled to the intermediate pivot of the rear linkage member; and wherein the actuation lever has a first end, a second end, and an intermediate pivot therebetween, the intermediate pivot of the actuation lever being pivotably connected to the chassis, and the first end of the actuation lever being pivotably connected to the second end of the actuation member. 
   
   
       18 . The toy vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the parallelogram extension assembly keeps the chassis and the body substantially parallel as the body moves from the position substantially above the chassis to the relatively forward position. 
   
   
       19 . The toy vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the body further comprises a mouth, the mouth being concealed and closed when the body is in the position substantially above the chassis, and the mouth being revealed and open when the body is in the relatively forward position. 
   
   
       20 . The toy vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein the mouth is gradually revealed and opened as the body moves in a substantially arc-shaped path from the position substantially above the chassis to the relatively forward position.