Provided are methods, apparatus and articles for vehicles, such as or relating to a skid-plate shock absorber, body mounting, chassis assembly, component securing, engine mounting, slipper clutch, and transmission housing that may be employed in the assembly, operation, and control of vehicles.

The present invention includes A toy with an extendable mechanism capable of transforming its original compact shape into a new entity without need to manipulate its parts or add new parts comprising: a hollow sphere (1) formed from two caps; an upper hinge (4) at a top of the hollow sphere (1) that connects two symmetrical caps; two protuberances (5) generally centrally located in each of the caps connected to a central internal spring; a circular hinge (6) connected to a spring and the hinges articulate two cylindrical arms (7) that converge in two circular hinges (8) contained within a central casing (9); and a body-shaped part (10) connected to the central casing (9), such that the body-shaped part (10) projects out from the lower part of the sphere (1), and upon being ejected, the caps close automatically with a spring at the upper hinge (4).

The present invention includes A toy with an extendable mechanism capable of transforming its original compact shape into a new entity without need to manipulate its parts or add new parts comprising: a hollow sphere (1) formed from two caps; an upper hinge (4) at a top of the hollow sphere (1) that connects two symmetrical caps; two protuberances (5) generally centrally located in each of the caps connected to a central internal spring; a circular hinge (6) connected to a spring and the hinges articulate two cylindrical arms (7) that converge in two circular hinges (8) contained within a central casing (9); and a body-shaped part (10) connected to the central casing (9), such that the body-shaped part (10) projects out from the lower part of the sphere (1), and upon being ejected, the caps close automatically with a spring at the upper hinge (4).

A toy vehicle launcher translates a substantially vertical activation movement into a substantially lateral movement that launches a toy vehicle. The end of a lever arm used in the activation engages a vertical channel in a toy vehicle engagement mechanism. The vertical channel allows the end of the lever arm to move vertically within the channel with respect to the toy vehicle engagement mechanism as the lever arm rotates and the toy vehicle engagement mechanism moves laterally. The toy vehicle engagement mechanism engages a guide track in a base of the launcher. The guide track defines a lateral path that the toy vehicle engagement mechanism travels when moving between a loading configuration and a launching configuration. Thus, vertical movement from the activation is reduced in the transfer to the lateral toy vehicle launch.

An action robot includes a head disposed on a body, a head connector connecting the body to the head, a tilting shaft provided in the head connector, a head inner frame fastened to an inner portion of the head and tilted along with the head, the head inner frame including a tilting shaft inserting hole with the tilting shaft inserted thereinto, a path provided in the head connector to communicate with an inner portion of the body, a through hole communicating the path with an internal space of the head, and a wire sequentially passing through the path and the through hole from the inner portion of the body and pull the head inner frame so that the head is tilted in one direction.

An action robot includes a connector configured to connect a body to a movable part, a joint including a rotational body fastened to the movable part, a joint shaft provided to protrude from the rotational body, and a joint shaft supporting part provided in the connector to have a ring shape, the joint shaft being inserted into the joint shaft, a wire connected to the movable part to pull the movable part in a direction in which the joint is bent, a wire path provided in the connector, the wire path including an inlet which is disposed in the body and through which the wire passes, and a supporter disposed in the body to support the wire. An upper end of the supporter overlaps the inlet in a horizontal direction.

In an aspect, a toy assembly is provided, and includes a toy assembly housing, an extensible object inside the toy assembly housing, an extension mechanism, and an extension member power source. The extensible object includes a base, and first and second extension members. The extension mechanism is operable to drive the first and second extension members towards extended positions, and is operatively connected to the second extension member via a lost motion connection. Driving of the extension mechanism by the extension mechanism power source drives the first extension member towards the extended position for the first extension member to break or open the toy assembly housing to expose the extensible object while consuming at least a portion of the lost motion in the lost motion connection. Upon consuming the lost motion, further driving the extension mechanism drives the first and second extension members towards the extended positions.

A toy is disclosed for a segmented tube track kit. The toy comprises a tube, comprised of reversibly attachable tubes. In one embodiment, the tube segments are held together frictionally. In another embodiment, tube segments are held together by locking mechanisms consisting of projections and cutouts. The toy vehicle in the kit has a drive wheel which is forced up away from the body of the car and against the inner walls of the tube by resilient members. In another embodiment, the vehicle has a tumbler wheel at the front of the car.

A toy is disclosed for a segmented tube track kit. The toy comprises a tube, comprised of reversibly attachable tubes. In one embodiment, the tube segments are held together frictionally. In another embodiment, tube segments are held together by locking mechanisms consisting of projections and cutouts. The toy vehicle in the kit has a drive wheel which is forced up away from the body of the car and against the inner walls of the tube by resilient members. In another embodiment, the vehicle has a tumbler wheel at the front of the car.

The present invention comprises two or more rotatable three-dimensional bodies and a linkage between the bodies. By means of the linkage, the rotation of a first body causes a second body to rotate. In at least one of the rotational positions of the two or more bodies, the shapes of the bodies are designed to create a shaped cavity between a first body and a second body. The shaped cavity may be a tunnel, or the shaped cavity may be a recess or niche. As the at least two bodies are rotated, the shaped cavity may appear or disappear or may change shape, position, or orientation as the bodies are rotated.