TOY VEHICLE WHEEL AND AXLE ASSEMBLY

A toy vehicle with a chassis carrying an axle for rotation has a hollow wheel mounted for rotation on the axle. Openings extend through the peripheral wall of the wheel that normally contacts a supporting surface. Inside the wheel a spider is secured to the axle for rotation with a number of legs spaced from the axle. A claw is attached to each of the legs for pivotal movement relative to the leg with the free end of the claw substantially within the wheel. Pivotal movement of the claw relative to the leg is permitted by a "living hinge" which also biases the claw to remain in the wheel. The hollow wheel is normally driven on a smooth surface through engagement with the spider-claw subassembly. However, when the wheel encounters a rough surface or obstruction that tends to cause the wheel to slip, the claws emerge and engage the surface and the vehicle clambers across the obstruction.