Economical Toy Vehicles Powered by Stored Elastic Energy

Abstract

Economical toy vehicles powered by stored elastic energy. In one embodiment, an economical toy vehicle includes: a vehicle body; an axle rotatably attached to the vehicle body; a gear integrally affixed to the axle such that rotation of the gear causes rotation of the axle; at least one slotted member integrally affixed to the axle, the slotted member including at least one slot; a hook-pinion assembly characterized by a hook integrally adjoined to a pinion; where the hook-pinion assembly is rotatably attached to the vehicle body; where the pinion is interlockingly engaged with the gear affixed to the axle; and a rubber band detachably attached to the vehicle body on a first end and detachably attached to the hook at a second end, such that the at least one slot can be used to rotate the axle, consequently resulting in the application of a torsional force to the rubber band.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An economical toy vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle body characterized by a forward end and an aft end;   an axle rotatably attached to the vehicle body;   a gear that is integrally affixed to the axle such that rotation of the gear causes rotation of the axle;   at least one slotted member that is integrally affixed to the axle, the slotted member including at least one slot;   a hook-pinion assembly characterized by a hook integrally adjoined to a pinion;
 wherein the hook-pinion assembly is rotatably attached to the vehicle body; 
 wherein the pinion is interlockingly engaged with the gear that is affixed to the axle; and 
   a rubber band that is detachably attached to the vehicle body on a first end and detachably attached to the hook at a second end, such that the at least one slot can be engaged and thereby used to rotate the axle, consequently resulting in the application of a torsional force to the rubber band.   
     
     
         2 . The economical toy vehicle of  claim 1  further comprising at east one wheel. 
     
     
         3 . The economical toy vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle body is shaped like a drag racer. 
     
     
         4 . The economical toy vehicle of  claim 3  wherein the at least one slotted member is a wheel hub. 
     
     
         5 . The economical toy vehicle of  claim 4  wherein the axle is disposed proximate the aft end of the vehicle body. 
     
     
         6 . The economical toy vehicle of  claim 5  further comprising a rear threaded shaft and associated nut disposed proximate the aft end of the vehicle body. 
     
     
         7 . The economical toy vehicle of  claim 6  further comprising at least one washer coupled to the rear threaded shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The economical toy vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle body comprises plywood. 
     
     
         9 . The economical toy vehicle of  claim 8  wherein at least one wheel comprises a foam piece supported by an inner cardboard based tube. 
     
     
         10 . The economical toy vehicle of  claim 9  where in the gear comprises one of: aluminum, stainless steel, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The economical toy vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the pinion comprises one of: aluminum, stainless steel, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The economical toy vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the hook-pinion assembly includes a threaded housing and is thereby affixed to the vehicle body. 
     
     
         13 . The economical toy vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the threaded housing comprises brass. 
     
     
         14 . The economical toy vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the pinion can be interlockingly engaged with the gear in a first mode, and can be disengaged with the gear in a second mode. 
     
     
         15 . The economical toy vehicle of  claim 14 , further comprising a biasing member configured such that when the rubber band is wound, the pinion engages the gear, and when the rubber band is allowed to relax, the pinion disengages from the gear. 
     
     
         16 . The economical toy vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the biasing member is a spring. 
     
     
         17 . The economical toy vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle body is shaped like one of: a motorcycle and a paddle boat.