Toy vehicle with adjustable chassis

Abstract

A toy vehicle with an adjustable chassis is disclosed. The toy vehicle comprises a chassis having a left frame rail and a right frame rail. Each of the left and right frame rails is moveable between a first position and a second position. One or more wheels are attached to each of the left and right frame rails and a vehicle body is mounted onto the chassis. Moving the left and right frame rails to their first positions results in the left and right frame rails moving toward each other and toward the vehicle body. Moving the left and right frame rails to their second positions results in the left and right frame rails moving away from each other and away from the vehicle body.

1 . A toy vehicle comprising:
 a chassis having a left frame rail and a right frame rail, each of the left and right frame rails being moveable between a first position and a second position;   a front wheel and a rear wheel attached to each of the left and right frame rails; and   a vehicle body mounted on top of the chassis;   wherein moving the left and right frame rails to their first positions results in the left and right frame rails moving towards each other and upwards toward the vehicle body; and   wherein moving the left and right frame rails to their second positions results in the left and right frame rails moving away from each other and downwards from the vehicle body.   
     
     
         2 . The toy vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis further comprises a front portion and a rear portion, the front and rear portions each having slanted openings for guiding the left and right frame rails as the left and right frame rails move between their first positions and second positions. 
     
     
         3 . The toy vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the left and right frame rails are biased towards their first positions. 
     
     
         4 . The toy vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more springs or elastic members biasing the left and right frame rails toward their first positions. 
     
     
         5 . The toy vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment knob for controlling the movement of the left and right frame rails between their first positions and second positions. 
     
     
         6 . The toy vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein turning the adjustment knob in a first direction moves the left and right frame rails to their first positions and turning the adjustment knob in a second direction moves the left and right frame rails to their second positions. 
     
     
         7 . The toy vehicle of  claim 5 , further comprising a central bar positioned between the left frame rail and the right frame rail, wherein turning the adjustment knob causes the central bar to move the left and right frame rails between their first positions and second positions. 
     
     
         8 . The toy vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein rotational movement of the adjustment knob is translated to linear movement of the central bar. 
     
     
         9 . The toy vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the front wheel and the rear wheel attached to each of the left and right frame rails freely rotate while the left and right frame rails are in their first positions and second positions. 
     
     
         10 . A toy vehicle comprising:
 a chassis having a left frame rail and a right frame rail, the left and right frame rails being moveable between a first position and a second position;   a front wheel and a rear wheel attached to each of the left and right frame rails;   a vehicle body mounted onto of the chassis; and   an adjustment mechanism for simultaneously moving the left and right frame rails between their first positions and second positions.   
     
     
         11 . The toy vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the chassis further comprises a front portion and a rear portion, the front and rear portions each having slanted openings for guiding the left and right frame rails as the left and right frame rails move between their first positions and second positions. 
     
     
         12 . The toy vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the left and right frame rails are biased towards their first positions. 
     
     
         13 . The toy vehicle of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more springs or elastic members biasing the left and right frame rails toward their first positions. 
     
     
         14 . The toy vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is a rotatable adjustment knob. 
     
     
         15 . The toy vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein turning the adjustment knob in a first direction moves the left and right frame rails to their first positions and turning the adjustment knob in a second direction moves the left and right frame rails to their second positions. 
     
     
         16 . The toy vehicle of  claim 14 , further comprising a central bar positioned between the left frame rail and the right frame rail, wherein turning the adjustment knob causes the central bar to move the left and right frame rails between their first positions and second positions. 
     
     
         17 . The toy vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein rotational movement of the adjustment knob is translated to linear movement of the central bar. 
     
     
         18 . The toy vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the front wheel and the rear wheel attached to each of the left and right frame rails freely rotate while the left and right frame rails are in their first positions and second positions. 
     
     
         19 . A toy vehicle comprising:
 a chassis having a front portion and a rear portion, the chassis further supporting a left frame rail and a right frame rail that are each moveable between a first position and a second position, the front and rear portions each having slanted openings for guiding the left and right frame rails as the left and right frame rails move between their first positions and second positions;   a front wheel and a rear wheel attached to each of the left and right frame rails; and   a vehicle body mounted onto the chassis;   wherein moving the left and right frame rails to their first positions results in the left and right frame rails moving inwards toward a center of the chassis and upwards into the vehicle body; and   wherein moving the left and right frame rails to their second positions results in the left and right frame rails moving away from the center of the chassis and downwards from the vehicle body.   
     
     
         20 . The toy vehicle of  claim 19  further comprising:
 an adjustment knob for controlling the movement of the left and right frame rails between their first positions and second positions; 
 one or more springs or elastic members biasing the left and right frame rails toward their first positions; and 
 a central bar positioned between the left frame rail and the right frame rail, wherein rotating the adjustment knob 90 degrees in a first direction results in the central bar moving the left and right frame rails to their second positions and turning the adjustment knob 90 degrees in a second direction opposite the first direction results in the central bar allowing the left and right frame rails to return to their first positions.