Team Durango DESC410R uses a slipperential?

So I was browsing amain hobbies and I come across Team Durango's new short course truck, and I saw it used a combination slipper and center diff and thought hmm.. doesn't mike have a patent on this? It looks to be done a little differently, and I don't know exactly what Mike has a patent for, but it seems very similiar... except it's obviously not as well made. http://www.team-durango.com/race-cars/desc410r/

Thoughts?

[simplechamp]

Technically I think the patent is still pending approval for the RCM Slipperential, not sure exactly how that factors into things. My guess is the design is different enough to not be considered patent infringement. Not like those other overseas guys who made an exact bootleg copy.

Also, the slipper/diff in the Durango SC is for 1/10 scale, and most likely won't work with any vehicles besides the Durango SC, so I don't really see it hurting Mike's sales.

Yeah, I figure that it won't really hurt Mike's sales, but it might cause other manufacturers to catch on with the idea and make their own which could potentially be bad for Mike. I wasn't exactly sure what Mike had the patent/patent pending for so I didn't know if it was infringement or not.

[brushlessboy16]

Its not a slipperential persay, but either a slipper or a differential. not both at the same time.

a quote from that same page..

Because so much power and torque from the 550 motors is being delivered to the Team Durango race-winning, shaft-driven, geared-diff drivetrain, our designers have created a slipper clutch which can be transformed into an oil-filled differential. Simply by removing the centre diff locker nut and adding diff gears (available separately), you can control how power is delivered to the drivetrain by fine-tuning the slipper clutch and centre diff.

[bdebde]

I think it is both... read your quote again, "by fine-tuning the slipper clutch and centre diff."

Yeah, I got the impression that you could use both at the same time from their description, it isn't very clear with the way they wrote it though so maybe it is an either/or sort of thing.

[coolhandcountry]

I think they are making a move on mike :S

[brainanator]

sounds to me that it is basically a locked diff when you get it with a slipper on it. You stick a few gears inside and it becomes a slipper diff.

My interpretation.

[simplechamp]

Yes that's what I got from it too. Don't see why adding gears instead of the diff locker would cause any reason for the slipper to no longer be functional.

[bdebde]

Originally Posted by brainanator

sounds to me that it is basically a locked diff when you get it with a slipper on it. You stick a few gears inside and it becomes a slipper diff.

My interpretation.

Yep, exactly

[coolhandcountry]

Unless the slipper is inside the where the gears are.

[simplechamp]

True, but if you look at the pics the slipper is definitely outside of the case. Looks pretty standard with a spur and a octagonal pad keyed into the spur.