GB2317839A - Scale model vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to scale models and provides a model vehicle comprising a body having front, rear and side walls, at least one window bearing side wall comprising a plurality of windows, a base part carrying at least two axles and respective wheels, wherein the plurality of windows is formed from a substantially box shaped unitary structure having substantially planar outwardly facing surfaces 600,610 extending across at least two of said plurality of windows. Alternatively, the surfaces may be inwardly facing. The outwardly facing surfaces suitably form a flush fit with the side walls (700,710, Figure 7). The unitary structure may be formed from a tinted or a clear polymer. The toy vehicle may include a door element constructed as a separate planar element (800, Figure 8).

Description

SCALE MODEL VEHICLE The present invention relates to scale model vehicles the methods of construction thereof.

Manufactures and retailers of scale models endeavour to make the models look as authentic as possible. The degree of authenticity can distinguish one product from another and can have a significant bearing upon the success of that product in a market of very discerning purchasers.

Scale models of modern vehicles are required to have windows which form a flush surface with sides of the vehicle in order to have an authentic appearance.

Currently utilised methods of manufacturing scale models use an arrangement in which a plurality of windows are formed as projecting planar surfaces on a unitary structure. The planar features project through a window aperture defined in a wall of the model from the inside of a model and are intended to sit flush with that wall.

However, manufacturing tolerances together with the glue used to bond the window to the shell of the scale model vehicle are such that the windows do not for a flush or surface with the wall.

A further problem of prior art buses resides in the method of construction thereof. Typically the upper section of a scale model comprises a roof portion having dependent side walls with appropriately sized and positioned apertures defined by struts and an open base.

The suitably shaped window members are inserted into and fitted from the inside of the upper section. Due to the small nature of scale models any such insertion is invariably cumbersome, especially in relation to the smaller scale models, and requires the construction of the scale model to be undertaken by a sufficiently dexterous party.

Still further, as a consequence of the die containing relatively narrow channels defining the struts, the latter are more susceptible to defects than other parts of the model thereby reducing the yield of the manufacturing process.

It is an object of the present invention to mitigate at least some of the problems associated with prior art scale models.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a model vehicle comprising a body having front, rear and side walls, at least the front and side walls bearing a plurality of windows, the body comprising a base part carrying at least two axles and respective wheels and a roof part, wherein the plurality of windows is formed from a substantially box shaped unitary structure having substantially planar outwardly facing surfaces extending across at least two windows of said sides, said structure being captured between the roof and base parts.

As a consequence of utilising a substantially box shaped structure having such planar surfaces extending across at least two windows the manufacture of model vehicles is greatly simplified. The windows do not have to accommodate the vertically extending struts and the bus comprises less parts. Typically, utilising less integers to construct a bus detracts from the authenticity of the bus. However, due the planar nature of the windows and the flush fit with side walls, this is not the case.

The above arrangement enables a model of modern vehicles having a very stream-lined appearance to be realised which also has an authentic appearance. As the resulting vehicle appears to be a more authentic copy of the full scale version, it likely to be more appealing to the very discerning potential purchasers of such models.

The vertically extending struts of prior art scale model vehicles provide a means of securing the windows in place during manufacture using a suitable form of adhesive. However, the embodiment of the present invention no longer have vertically extending struts which are moulded as part of the body of the model vehicle.

An aspect of the present invention provides a model vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window bearing side wall comprises an outwardly facing surface and wherein the outwardly facing planar surface is arranged to form a substantially flush fit with the outwardly facing surface of the window bearing side wall.

The flush fit provides an increased degree of authenticity to the model vehicle.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a model vehicle wherein the unitary structure and the side wall carry complementary abutting formations for aiding a flush fit therebetween.

A still further aspect of the present invention provides a model vehicle wherein the roof part having as skirts dependent seated on a ledge of said unitary structure to form a substantially flush fit therebetween.

Suitably an embodiment of the present invention provides a model vehicle wherein the planar structure comprises a free edge, and that free edge and the side wall carry complementary abutting formations for securing the planar structure in place.

In a preferred embodiment, the free edge of the planar structure comprises a recessed step or lip adapted for a close fit with the side wall of the model vehicle.

It will be appreciated that assembling model vehicles using a plurality of individually cast planar structure for each elevation of the model vehicle would take a considerable degree of skill and effort. The increase in skill and effort would invariably lead to concomitant increases in time and cost of manufacture of the scale model vehicle.

Conventionally the roof was supported using a plurality of die-cast aluminium struts. However, the embodiments of the present invention do not use struts for supporting the roof.

Suitably, an embodiment of the present invention provides a model vehicle wherein said unitary structure is adapted to support the roof.

Modern vehicles are often equipped with windows manufactured from tinted glass. Therefore, at least part, and very often the whole, of the window is coloured.

Appropriately, an embodiment of the present invention provides a model vehicle wherein the planar structure is manufactured from one of either tinted copolymer or a substantially clear copolymer.

Preferably, the copolymer is polystyrene.

It is often difficult when casting polystyrene to produce truly vertical members dependent from the unitary structure; such members may represent, for example, doors of a model vehicle.

Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a model vehicle further comprising a separate door element, constructed as a separate substantially planar element, extending between the base part and the roof part of the model vehicle.

As the doors are manufactured as a separate element it is necessary to ensure that means are provided for securing the door in position. Therefore, an embodiment provides a model vehicle wherein the bottom edge of the door element comprises a formation adapted to engage a complementary formation of the base part to thereby secure the door element in position.

Again, a suitable material from which the door can be manufactured is tinted polystyrene.

Typically, the arrangement in prior art scale models whereby planar surfaces project through window apertures uses a series of steps to form the projecting surfaces.

As a consequence of the unitary structure having a relatively uniform cross-section, both the inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces of the unitary structure are shaped such that one surface is the inverse of the other.

When viewed in the inwardly facing direction, the unitary structure comprises a plurality of projecting planar surfaces supported by respective wall elements which are, in turn, linked together to form recessed troughs between the planar elements. When viewed in the outwardly facing direction, the unitary structure comprises a plurality of recessed planar surfaces supported by respective wall elements which are, in turn, linked together to form projecting peaks between the recessed planar elements.

The variation in optical thickness across the unitary structure leads to undesirable optical distortion of images viewed through the windows.

Suitably, an embodiment provides a model vehicle wherein the unitary structure has a substantially uniform thickness across the plurality of windows.

A further embodiment of the present invention comprises a model vehicle comprising a body having front, rear and side walls, at least the front and side walls bearing a plurality of windows, the body comprising a base part carrying at least two axles and respective wheels and a roof part, wherein the plurality of windows is formed from a substantially box shaped unitary structure having substantially planar inwardly facing surfaces extending across at least two windows of said sides, said structure being captured between the roof and base parts.

As the thickness of the planar structure is relatively constant across a window pane, the optical distortions evident at the edges of the windows are eliminated.

The yield of the aluminium die-cast process is related to the number of relatively fine structures present in the mould. The mould for scale models according to the embodiments of the present invention do not have struts. Therefore, the likelihood of the occurrence a defect associated with the die-casting of struts is eliminated.

The cost of manufacturing the mould for the scale models will also be reduced as those mould do not require the intricate narrow channels which typically cause a reduction in yield.

Mould for model slightly cheaper do not have to accommodate narrow channels.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: figure 1 illustrates a partial cross-section of a prior art window arrangement of a scale model vehicle, such as a bus; figures 2a and 2b illustrates left and right side views of a scale model vehicle representing an Optare/Daf bus embodying the present invention; figure 3 shows a front view of the scale model bus; figure 4 shows a rear view of the scale model bus; figure 5 illustrates section BB showing the flush between the windows and the side walls of the bus; figure 6 illustrates section AA depicting the door arrangement of the bus; figure 7 shows a sectional view along lines EE and FF; figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view along line A A; figure 9 shows in cross-section the rear window of a model vehicle; and figures lOa to lOb illustrate the front rear and side surfaces of the a double-decker bus.

Referring to figure 1, there is shown a partial horizontal cross-section through a prior art scale model vehicle, such as a bus, comprising aluminium die-cast side wall and window struts and a clear polystyrene window element for forming the window panes.

It can be seen that the window element forming the window panes comprises a series of planar surfaces projecting through window apertures. The window element uses a series of steps to form the projecting surfaces.

As a consequence of the window element having a relatively uniform cross-section, both the inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces of the window element are shaped such that one surface is the scaled inverse of the other.

When viewed in the inwardly facing direction, the window element comprises a plurality of projecting planar surfaces supported by respective riser or wall elements which are, in turn, linked together to form narrow recessed troughs between the planar surfaces. When viewed in the outwardly facing direction, the window element comprises a plurality of recessed planar surfaces supported by respective wall elements which are, in turn, linked together to form projecting peaks between the recessed planar elements. The variation in optical thickness across the window element leads to regions which cause undesirable optical distortion of images viewed through the windows.

Still referring to figure 1, due to manufacturing tolerances it is difficult to ensure that the depth of a strut matches the depth of the supporting wall element.

Typically, a stepped discontinuity exists between the side wall of the vehicle and the window pane as a consequence of the manufacturing tolerances.

The optical distortion of images and the discontinuity between the side walls and the window pane detract from the overall authenticity of the scale model vehicle. Further, due to the shaped inwardly and outwardly facing windows of the prior art windows, optical distortions results during cooling which, again, detracts from the overall authenticity of the model.

Prior art scale models use a plurality of window elements to produce window panes. Typically, one window element is used to provide the window panes for one elevation of a scale model. In the event of the scale model representing a double-decker bus, separate window are used for each deck. As more window elements have to be fitted to the bus, an increase in the time taken to assemble the scale models ensues.

Figure 2a shows a left-hand side view of a scale model vehicle embodying the present invention. In the instant case the scale model vehicle represents an Optare/Daf bus. The bus comprises a body having on each side wheel arches housing wheels, a roof, a door, front, rear. The substantially U-shaped aperture formed between the base part and the roof part is adapted to accommodated planar faces of unitary structure which form the plurality of windows on at least each of the side elevations of the scale model. There are also illustrated a number of section lines.

Referring back to figure 2a, the planar surfaces carry a number of printed elements which represent or define the individual window panes and associated features thereof, such as the struts between the windows panes and the rubber sealing which, in the real vehicle, seals and hold the window panes in firmly place. Those elements are produced using either pad printing or mask spraying techniques.

It can be seen from figure 3 that the front window pane also carries a plurality of features which are moulded as part of the front skirt member of the unitary structure. Those features represent, in the present embodiment, horizontally stowed front windscreen wipers and associated actuating arms.

Optionally, the moulded features of the front windscreen, such as the windscreen wipers, can be painted an appropriate colour for emphasis.

It will be appreciated that other moulded features may be applied to the other skirts or planar surfaces of the unitary structure so as to represent, for example, the sliding or pivoting ventilation windows so often found on buses.

Referring to figure 5, the planar surfaces or side skirts comprise a free end having a recessed stepped edge 500. The stepped edges are arranged to snugly abut or be secured against complementary formations on the side walls of the bus. The stepped edges and complementary formations are arranged to form a substantially smooth or flush transition between the surface of the side walls and the window panes.

As a consequence of the die-cast model lacking struts and other intricate features which would have had to have been accommodated by suitably shaped prior art windows as per figure 1, a flush fit between the side walls of the scale model and window panes can be realised. The flush surface imbues the scale model with a more authentic appearance which, in turn, increases the appeal of that scale model to collectors of such models.

The stepped portion and edges of the planar surfaces also provide support for the roof of the scale model, that is to say, the planar surfaces also form part of the support structure of the scale model bus.

Figure 6 shows, in sectional view along the centre line CL, that the front surface 600 and rear planar 610 surfaces also depend from respective stepped recessed portions 620 and 630. The free end 635 of the front surface carries a recessed stepped edge. Again, the front and rear stepped portions and the front stepped edge provide additional support for the roof of the scale model.

The support afforded by the unitary structure augments the support provided by the two fixing pins which conventionally extend between and connect the base part and the roof part of a scale model.

Figure 7 shows a sectional view along lines EE and FF. It can be seen clearly that the dependent planar surfaces 700 and 710 have a substantially uniform thickness. The substantially uniform thickness improves the optical transmission characteristics of images through therethrough. This reduces the degree of image distortion typically associated with prior art windows.

With reference to figure 8, there is shown a sectional view along line A-A. The door element 800 is constructed from a separate suitably shaped light tinted polystyrene element. The top and bottom edges of the door element have respective projecting male members which are arranged for mating engagement with a corresponding female members in the base portion of the bus and the roof portion of the unitary structure to hold the door element securely in place.

Again the door comprises printed elements which represent features found on the full scale model of the bus, such as the pivoting double doors by which passengers embark and alight together with associated windows and rubber sealing members.

With reference to figure 9, there is shown the arrangement by which the rear window 900 is formed. The rear surface of the unitary structure is arranged to project through an aperture 910 defined by the side parts 920 of the rear wall and the roof part (not shown).

Referring to figures 10a to lOd, there are shown front, rear, left and right side elevations of a Leyland 'Olympian' Bus. The windows of the lower deck are realised in substantially the same manner as the those of the above embodiments, that is, using a clear polystyrene unitary structure having depending skirt members or planar surfaces which form the basis of the front, rear and side windows. Also, the windows are patterned by pad printing or masked spraying techniques and, optionally, comprise moulded features.

The aluminium die-cast shell of the scale model is constructed using two shell halves; namely a lower deck portion and an upper deck portion. The aluminium shell of the upper deck comprises four window apertures for receiving respective window elements.

Referring more particularly to the windows of the upper deck, they are constructed using respective a relatively large single pane or window element formed from clear polystyrene. Each window element spans a complete respective window aperture. Hence, in this embodiment, the relatively large single panes each constitute a unitary structure.

Each window element comprises at least one pad printed strut defining at least an edge of a window of the bus. With reference to figure 10a, the front window of the upper deck comprises a single pad printed strut which defines the left and right hand edges of the right and left windows. Further, the rubber sealing member is also produced using pad printing.

Although the each window of the upper deck in the above embodiment has been realised using a single relatively large pane which is subsequently patterned or painted so as to represent a plurality of panes, the present invention is not limited thereto. An embodiment could equally well be realised which uses substantially the same technique as those used to construct the windows of the lower deck.

In a further embodiment, image distortion due to shaped front and rear surfaces of the windows may also be mitigated using a clear polystyrene structure comprising outwardly projecting shaped features, representing windows, on one side and a planar surface extending across a plurality of shaped features or windows. The uniform inwardly facing planar surface results in a uniform optical thickness across the whole face of a window. This ensures that the optical path of light travelling through the clear polystyrene is substantially constant across a window pane.

Conventionally, such scale models are manually assembled. Therefore, the greater the numbers of individual components constituting a scale, the greater the assembly time. It will be appreciated that scale models according one embodiment comprises four main elements; namely, the base part, the seats, the unitary window portion and the roof. As a consequence of the struts being printed onto the window as opposed to being die-cast, the time normally expended ensuring correct registry between each window aperture and each window is reduced.

The printing is achieved using a relatively soft rubber pad. Paint is deposited on the printing surface of the pad. The printing surface is arranged to engaged and be pressed against, for example, the side face of the model vehicle. In prior art model, due the discontinuities presented by the struts, the rubber pad would wear at those discontinuities. It will therefore be appreciated that due to the absence of die-cast struts, the rubber pads used in printing do not wear out so readily and therefore need replacing less often.

Further, some paint is deposited using spraying techniques. Invariably masks are required when using such spraying techniques. The mask must take into account the features of the model which need spraying or which need to be protected during spraying. The features included, in prior art models, the die-cast aluminium struts. Therefore, masks for models according to present invention are simplified which leads to an increase in efficiency of manufacturing processes and production of materials used in those processes such as the production of masks.

Although the above embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to scale model buses, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention can equally well be utilised in relation to other scale models, especially those models for which authenticity is of primary concern to any potential purchaser. For example, the present invention can be used to manufacture scale model cars or trains which, in the full scale version, have flush fitting windows that reduce the drag co-efficient of the cars or trains.

The above embodiments have been described in relation to aluminium die-cast models. However, it be readily appreciated that the present invention is not limited thereto and the techniques disclosed herein can equally well be applied to the casting of scale models using other materials.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (1)

1. A model vehicle comprising a body having front, rear and side walls, at least the front and side walls bearing a plurality of windows, the body comprising a base part carrying at least two axles and respective wheels and a roof part, wherein the plurality of windows is formed from a substantially box shaped unitary structure having substantially planar outwardly facing surfaces extending across at least two windows of said sides, said structure being captured between the roof and base parts.

2. A model vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window bearing side wall comprises an outwardly facing surface and wherein the outwardly facing planar surface is arranged to form a substantially flush fit with the outwardly facing surface of the window bearing side wall.

3. A model vehicle as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the unitary structure and the side wall carry complementary abutting formations for aiding a flush fit therebetween.

4. A model vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the roof part having as skirts dependent seated on a ledge of said unitary structure to form a substantially flush fit therebetween.

5. A model vehicle as claimed claim 4, wherein, said unitary structure is adapted to support the roof.

6. A model vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the unitary structure has a substantially uniform thickness across the plurality of windows.

7. A model vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the unitary structure is manufactured from one of either tinted polymer or a substantially clear polymer.

8. A model vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the polymer is polystyrene.

9. A model vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a door element, constructed as a separate substantially planar element, extending between the base part and the roof part.

10. A model vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bottom edge of the door element comprises a formation adapted to engage a complementary formation of the base part to thereby secure the door element in position.

11. A model vehicle as claimed in either of claims 9 or 10, wherein the door element is manufactured from tinted polystyrene.

12. A model vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said unitary structure bears features defining or associated with the plurality of windows.

13. A model vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein the features represent at least one of either window struts, rubber window sealing members, a door, a pair of doubledoors, a pivotable ventilation window, a slidable ventilation window, an emergency exit or horizontally or vertically stowed windscreen wipers.

14. A model vehicle as claimed in either of claims 12 or 13, wherein said features are formed on the unitary structure by either moulded features (except on the planar surfaces) or printed or mask sprayed features or a combination thereof.

15. A model vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein the moulded features are either raised up from or recessed into the unitary structure.

16. A model vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein unitary structure comprises an inwardly facing substantially planar surface extending across at least two of the plurality of windows.

17. A model vehicle comprising a body having front, rear and side walls, at least the front and side walls bearing a plurality of windows, the body comprising a base part carrying at least two axles and respective wheels and a roof part, wherein the plurality of windows is formed from a substantially box shaped unitary structure having substantially planar inwardly facing surfaces extending across at least two windows of said sides, said structure being captured between the roof and base parts.

18. A model vehicle as claimed in claim 17, further comprising the features of any of claims 1 to 16.

20. A model vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.