Self-propelled novelty toy

Abstract

A self-propelled toy, includes a “drive and control” module and a housing in the shape of a dinosaur, animal or human sliding sports player. An axle with wheels is attached to the drive and control module in the housing. A pull-back mechanism includes a motor drive/driven gear that drivingly connects to the axle drive/driven gear, wherein upon pulling back the toy body with the wheels touching the ground, the pull-back mechanism generates and stores mechanical potential energy. Upon release of the toy body, kinetic energy drives the toy in a direction opposite that of the pull-back direction. A controller is connected to the pull-back mechanism and is electrically connected to at least one light emitting diode (LED) in the toy body. When the toy is released to allow the toy to move forward, the LED is powered to generate a light signal and optionally a sound transducer generates a sound.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A self-propelled toy, comprising:
 a toy body;   a “drive and control” module, including a housing;   a connector for connecting the drive and control module to, and disconnecting the drive and control module from, the toy body;   an axle with wheels on opposing ends and an axel drive/driven gear, attached to the drive and control module housing;   a pull-back mechanism arranged in or on the drive and control module housing that includes a motor drive/driven gear  62  that drivingly connects to the axel drive/driven gear, wherein upon pulling back the toy body with the wheels touching the ground, the pull-back mechanism generates and stores mechanical potential energy, which upon release of the toy body, translates to kinetic energy to drive the toy in a direction opposite that of the pull-back direction; and   a controller arranged on or in the drive and control module housing, connected to the pull-back mechanism and electrically connected to at least one light emitting diode (LED) in the toy body, the controller including a microcontroller, or other logical elements and a rechargeable energy source for powering the microcontroller or other logical elements, and the at least one LED;   wherein the controller includes at least one sensing element for sensing when the pull-back mechanism has generated and stored mechanical energy, defining a “primed” logical state, and when toy is released to allow the toy to move forward, defining a “go” state; and   wherein, if in the primed state and the go state, the at least one LED is powered to generate a light signal.   
     
     
         2 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein said toy body is any of a mammal, a reptile, a fish, a dinosaur and a sliding or running human sports player, all with a plurality of eyes, wherein said at least one LED is in each eye of said plurality of eyes of each said toy body. 
     
     
         3 . The toy of  claim 2 , further including a sound transducer electrically connected to the controller that emits a sound signal when in the primed stated and the go state. 
     
     
         4 . The toy of  claim 3 , wherein said toy body is any of a mammal, a reptile, a fish, a dinosaur and a sliding or running human sports player, all with a mouth in each said toy body, and wherein a sound transducer is arranged in each mouth of each said toy body. 
     
     
         5 . The toy of  claim 4 , wherein the sound transducer emits a sound signal when in the primed stated and the go state. 
     
     
         6 . The toy of  claim 2 , wherein the said toy body comprising said sliding or running human sports player, is selected from the group of consisting of a sliding soccer/baseball/softball player, a runner, a skier, a basketball player, a football player, a hockey player, a tennis player, and/or a pickleball player. 
     
     
         7 . The toy of  claim 4 , wherein the said toy body comprising said sliding or running human sports player, is selected from the group of consisting of a sliding soccer/baseball/softball player, a runner, a skier, a basketball player, a football player, a hockey player, a tennis player, and/or a pickleball player.