Self-propelled novelty toy

Abstract

A self-propelled toy includes a toy body, a drive and control module, including a housing, an axle with wheels arranged on opposing ends and an axel drive/driven gear attached to the drive and control module within the housing. A pull-back mechanism arranged in, on or otherwise attached and mechanically connected to the drive and control module Upon pulling back the toy body while maintaining the wheels touching a ground like surface, the pull-back mechanism generates and stores mechanical potential energy in a spring/tensioning motor mechanism, which upon release of the toy body, translates to kinetic energy and with the wheels touching the ground like surface drives the toy body in a direction opposite that of the pull-back direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A self-propelled toy, comprising:
 a toy body;   a drive and control module, including a housing;   an axle with wheels arranged on opposing ends and an axel drive/driven gear attached to the drive and control module within the housing;   a pull-back mechanism arranged in, on or otherwise attached and mechanically connected to the drive and control module, which pull-back mechanism includes a motor drive/driven gear, wherein upon pulling back the toy body while maintaining the wheels touching a ground like surface, the pull-back mechanism generates and stores mechanical potential energy in a spring/tensioning motor mechanism, which upon release of the toy body, translates to kinetic energy and with the wheels touching the ground like surface drives the toy body 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) and at least one sound transducer arranged in the toy body, the controller including an energy source for powering the controller, the at least one LED and the at least one sound transducer.   
     
     
         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, and wherein said at least one LED is arranged in each of said plurality of eyes. 
     
     
         3 . The toy of  claim 2 , wherein the sound transducer is electrically connected to the controller and is controlled by the controller to emit a sound signal when the pull-back mechanism is in a primed state, in a go state or in both states. 
     
     
         4 . The toy of  claim 3 , wherein the sound transducer emits a sound signal when the pull-back mechanism is in the primed state and the go state. 
     
     
         5 . The toy of  claim 4 , wherein the said toy body comprises said sliding or running human sports player, which 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 a pickleball player. 
     
     
         6 . The toy of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensing element for sensing when the pull-back mechanism has generated and stored mechanical energy and/or is releasing stored energy to drive the toy. 
     
     
         7 . The toy of  claim 6 , wherein detected generated stored mechanical energy defines a “primed” logical state, and when toy is released to allow the toy to move forward through use of the stored mechanical energy defines a go state. 
     
     
         8 . The toy of  claim 7 , wherein the LED is activated by the user. 
     
     
         9 . The toy of  claim 7 , wherein the LED is activated when the toy is in the primed state. 
     
     
         10 . The toy of  claim 7 , wherein the LED is activated when the toy is in the go state. 
     
     
         11 . The toy of  claim 7 , wherein a sound generating device is included and is activated by a-user touch. 
     
     
         12 . The toy of  claim 7 , wherein a sound generating device is included and is activated when the toy is in the primed state. 
     
     
         13 . The toy of  claim 7 , wherein a sound generating device is included and is activated when the toy is in the go state. 
     
     
         14 . The toy of  claim 7 , wherein a sound generating device is included and is activated when the toy is in the go state and in the primed state.