US 12,005,369 B2
RC vehicle with convertible wheel having expandable and retractable blades
Robert J. Marino, Altadena, CA (US); Scott Hart Derman, Sherman Oaks, CA (US); Erich William Weidetz, Sherman Oaks, CA (US); Min Jin Kim, Los Angeles, CA (US); and Zack Bieber, Wellington, CO (US)
Assigned to JAKKS PACIFIC INC., Santa Monica, CA (US)
Filed by Jakks Pacific Inc., Santa Monica, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/550,800.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/125,330, filed on Dec. 14, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0184513 A1, Jun. 16, 2022
Int. Cl. A63H 17/18 (2006.01); A63H 17/00 (2006.01); A63H 17/26 (2006.01)
CPC A63H 17/18 (2013.01) [A63H 17/004 (2013.01); A63H 17/266 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A remote control (RC) vehicle with a convertible wheel having expandable and retractable blades, comprising;
a housing component, the housing component having at least one arm extending therefrom and a pair of turning wheels operably connected thereto, the pair of turning wheels being operable for turning between left and right positions; and
a convertible wheel rotatably connected to the at least one arm, the convertible wheel having a plurality of expandable and retractable blades movably attached with the convertible wheel at both a sliding connection point and a pivotal connection point, the convertible wheel being operable for driving the RC vehicle in a forward and reverse direction and causing the plurality of blades to selectively transition between a retracted state and an expanded state by slidably moving at the sliding connection point while rotating about the pivotal connection point;
wherein the convertible wheel includes a first motor housed within the convertible wheel, the first motor being operably connected with the plurality of blades to cause the blades to transition between the retracted and expanded states;
further comprising first and second wheel covers attached to the convertible wheel, and wherein the plurality of blades are pivotally connected to the first and second wheel covers to form the corresponding pivotal connection point; and
further comprising left and right blade slot components housed within the convertible wheel and being operably connected between the first motor and the plurality of blades such that operation of the first motor causes the left and right blade slot components to rotate and force the plurality of blades to transition between the retracted and expanded states.