U.S. patent application number 10/159669 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-04 for inverting toy vehicle playset.
Invention is credited to Reale, John, Sheltman, David A..
Application Number | 20030224697 10/159669 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29582984 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030224697 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sheltman, David A. ; et
al. |
December 4, 2003 |
Inverting toy vehicle playset
Abstract
A continuous loop toy vehicle trackset supports a booster and a
plurality of toy vehicles. The trackset is formed of spaced apart
track rails forming a gap therebetween. The toy vehicles are open
wheeled and able to roll upon the track rails in either a right
side up or inverted configuration. In the inverted configuration,
the top surface of the toy vehicle is able to extend into the gap
between the track rails. A staging lane facilitates introduction of
additional toy vehicles to the trackset.
Inventors: |
Sheltman, David A.; (Long
Beach, CA) ; Reale, John; (Manhattan Beach,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROY A. EKSTRAND
MATTEL, INC.
333 CONTINENTAL BLVD
MI 1518
EL SEGUNDO
CA
90245
US
|
Family ID: |
29582984 |
Appl. No.: |
10/159669 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/444 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 18/00 20130101;
A63H 18/028 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/444 |
International
Class: |
A63H 018/00 |
Claims
That which is claimed is:
1. A toy vehicle playset comprising: a trackset forming a closed
circuit travel path and having a portion formed by a pair of spaced
apart track rails each defining a wheel receiving surface and a gap
therebetween; a toy vehicle having a body defining an upper side
and a lower side and a plurality of wheels, said upper and lower
sides each exposing a portion of said wheels; and a toy vehicle
booster within said trackset for accelerating said toy vehicle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application discloses apparatus described and claimed
in a co-pending application (attorney docket 14875) entitled
Staging Mechanism for Toy Vehicle Playset which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference and which is assigned to the
assignee of the present application.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to toy vehicle playsets and
particularly to those utilizing closed trackways having toy vehicle
boosters operated therein to propel free wheeling toy vehicles
about various loops and curves in the trackway in a continuous
travel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Toy vehicle playsets are well known in the art and have
enjoyed great popularity for many years. Not surprisingly,
practitioners in art have provided a virtually endless variety of
toy vehicle playsets having various types of tracks and trackways
and various types of toy vehicles operative thereon.
[0004] Perhaps one of the most common and popular types of toy
vehicle playsets utilizes a closed loop track defining a plurality
of curves and loop portions within which one or more toy vehicle
boosters are operated. A typical toy vehicle booster utilizes one
or more rotating wheels which engage the sides or top portions of
the toy vehicle entering the booster and due to their motor-driven
rotation accelerate the toy vehicle through the playset trackway.
To improve the amusement, excitement and appeal of toy vehicle
playsets, practitioners of the toy arts have endeavored to provide
various stunt apparatus within playsets. Examples of such stunt
apparatus include inverting loops, spiral paths, jumps of various
kinds as well as obstacles or interfering elements which attach or
impede passing toy vehicles.
[0005] The toy vehicles themselves are generally free wheeling in
such booster activated playsets and comprise relatively simple toy
vehicle bodies having a plurality of supporting freely rolling
wheels.
[0006] Despite substantial variation and great effort by
practitioners of the toy arts in providing evermore improved and
interesting toy vehicle playsets, there remains nonetheless a
continuing need in the art for ever more interesting, exciting and
innovative toy vehicle playsets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention
to provide an improved toy vehicle playset. It is a more particular
object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle
playset having additional exciting play features not found in the
present art.
[0008] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a
toy vehicle playset comprising: a trackset forming a closed circuit
travel path and having a portion formed by a pair of spaced apart
track rails each defining a wheel receiving surface and a gap
therebetween; a toy vehicle having a body defining an upper side
and a lower side and a plurality of wheels, the upper and lower
sides each exposing a portion of the wheels; and a toy vehicle
booster within the trackset for accelerating the toy vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The features of the present invention, which are believed to
be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.
The invention, together with further objects and advantages
thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like
elements and in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of an inverting toy
vehicle playset constructed in accordance with the present
invention and having a plurality of toy vehicles operative
thereon;
[0011] FIG. 2 sets forth a section view of the trackset of FIG. 1
taken along section lines 2-2 therein having an illustrative toy
vehicle in its rightside up configuration;
[0012] FIG. 3 sets forth the section view of FIG. 2 having an
illustrative toy vehicle in its upside down configuration;
[0013] FIG. 4 sets forth an enlarged partial perspective view of
the staging lane portion of the present invention inverting toy
vehicle playset;
[0014] FIG. 5 sets forth a simplified top view of the staging
apparatus of the present invention inverting toy vehicle playset
showing a toy vehicle staged for entrance to the trackway;
[0015] FIG. 6 shows a simplified top view of the staging portion of
the present invention inverting toy vehicle playset inserting a
staged toy vehicle into the toy vehicle trackway.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of an inverting toy
vehicle playset constructed in accordance with the present
invention and generally referenced by numeral 10. Playset 10
includes a closed loop trackset 11 fabricated in the manner set
forth below in greater detail. Suffice it to note here that
trackset 11 includes a straight portion 12 coupled to a reversing
loop 13 which in turn is coupled to a multiply curved ramp 14. A
toy vehicle scoop 16 is supported in a spaced relationship from
curved ramp 14 to form a gap 15 therebetween. Scoop 16 is coupled
to a staging lane mechanism 20 described below in greater detail.
Suffice it to note here that staging lane mechanism 20 includes a
through lane coupled to scoop 16 which in turn is coupled to a
battery powered booster stage 30. Booster stage 30 is constructed
in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques and includes
one or more rotating elastic wheels which engage toy vehicles
passing into booster stage 30 and accelerate the toy vehicles. A
reversing loop 17 is coupled to the output of booster stage 30
which in turn is coupled to a downwardly angled slide 18. Slide 18
terminates at gap 15 and is thus spaced from a downwardly angled
curved ramp 19. The latter is coupled to straight portion 12
completing the circuit of trackset 11.
[0017] In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of toy
vehicles such as toy vehicle 40 and toy vehicle 50 are able to
simultaneously traverse trackset 11. The travel path for toy
vehicles 40 and 50 may be illustrated considering toy vehicle 40.
Toy vehicle 40 is moving upon straight portion 12 in the direction
indicated by arrow 41. Thereafter, toy vehicle 40 is reversed in
the direction indicated by arrow 42 by loop 13 and travels through
curved ramp 14 in the direction indicated by arrow 43. At the end
of ramp 14, toy vehicle 40 is carried by its momentum across gap 15
in the direction indicated by arrow 44 to be caught by scoop 16.
Scoop 16 guides toy vehicle 40 through the through lane of staging
lane mechanism 20 into booster stage 30. Thereafter, toy vehicle 40
is accelerated by booster stage 30 into loop 17 and reversed in the
direction indicated by arrow 45. Toy vehicle 40 then moves
downwardly on slide 18 in the direction indicated by arrow 46
jumping gap 15 and thereafter landing on ramp 19. Finally, toy
vehicle 40 travels down ramp 19 in the direction indicated by arrow
47 and is guided to straight portion 12 completing a circuit.
[0018] In accordance with an important aspect of the present
invention set forth below in FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be noted that
toy vehicle 40 and toy vehicle 50 are oppositely oriented as they
traverse different positions of trackset 11. This is accomplished
by providing the combination of the structure of trackset 11 and
the open wheel construction of toy vehicles 40 and 50. The ability
of toy vehicles 40 and 50 to travel upon trackset 11 in either a
right side up or upside down configuration is illustrated in FIGS.
2 and 3 below.
[0019] FIGS. 2 and 3 set forth identical section views of a portion
of trackset 11 taken along section lines 2-2 in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2,
toy vehicle 40 is shown in its right side up configuration as it
traverses a section of trackset 11 while in FIG. 3, toy vehicle 40
is shown upside down traversing the same track portion.
[0020] More specifically, trackset 11 includes a pair of parallel
track rails 60 and 62 each having upper surfaces 61 and 63
respectively. Trackset 11 further includes a gap 64 formed between
track rails 60 and 62.
[0021] A toy vehicle 40 includes a body 55 defining a top surface
56 and a bottom surface 57. Toy vehicle 40 further includes a pair
of front wheels 70 and 71 and a pair of rear wheels 72 and 73.
Wheels 70 through 73 are freely rolling wheels and are preferably
powered wheels. In addition, the configuration of top surface 56
and bottom surface 57 of body 55 provide an open wheel exposure of
both the upper portions and lower portions of wheels 70 through 73.
In this manner, toy vehicle 40 is able to travel upon trackset 11
in the right side configuration shown in FIG. 2 or the inverted
configuration shown in FIG. 3.
[0022] Thus, in the right side upon configuration of toy vehicle 40
shown in FIG. 2, it will be noted that the bottom portions of
wheels 70 through 73 roll upon surfaces 61 and 63 supporting toy
vehicle 40 upon surfaces 61 and 63 in a right side up
configuration.
[0023] Figure sets forth the section view of FIG. 2 having toy
vehicle 40 riding upon trackset 11 in its inverted configuration.
The important aspect with respect to the present invention, is
found in the ability of gap 64 between track rails 60 and 62 to
accommodate upward extension of the top portion of toy vehicle 40
when in its in inverted configuration.
[0024] More specifically, trackset 11 includes a pair of parallel
track rails 60 and 62 each having upper surfaces 61 and 63
respectively. Trackset 11 further includes a gap 64 formed between
track rails 60 and 62.
[0025] A toy vehicle 40 includes a body 55 defining a top surface
56 and a bottom surface 57. Toy vehicle 40 further includes a pair
of front wheels 70 and 71 and a pair of rear wheels 72 and 73.
Wheels 70 through 73 are freely rolling wheels and are preferably
powered wheels. In addition, the configuration of top surface 56
and bottom surface 57 of body 55 provide an open wheel exposure of
both the upper portions and lower portions of wheels 70 through 73.
In this manner, toy vehicle 40 is able to travel upon trackset 11
in the right side configuration shown in FIG. 2 or the inverted
configuration shown in FIG. 3.
[0026] Thus, it will be seen that gap 64 readily accommodates the
downward extension of toy surface 56 of toy vehicle body 55 when
toy vehicle 40 is inverted. It will be noted that in both
configurations, right side up and upside down toy vehicle wheels 70
through 73 ride upon surfaces 61 and 63 of track rails 60 and 62
respectively.
[0027] FIG. 4 sets forth an enlarged perspective view of the
staging lane and booster apparatus of the present invention
inverting toy vehicle playset. As described above, trackset 11
includes a scoop 16 receiving a toy vehicle traversing gap 15
formed in trackset 11. Scoop 16 is downwardly angled and is tapered
toward an exit opening 31. Staging lane mechanism 20 is supported
in close proximity to exit opening 31 and includes a sliding
carriage 35 which in turn supports a through way lane 36 and a
staging lane 37. Carriage 35 is shown in the staged position in
which through way lane 36 is aligned with exit opening 31. In this
stage position, a second toy vehicle may be supported upon staging
lane 37 as shown in FIG. 5 below. Through way lane 36 is coupled to
booster 30 which in turn is coupled to trackset 11.
[0028] Thus, with a toy vehicle supported within staging lane 37,
and with through way ramp 36 aligned with exit opening 31 of scoop
16, toy vehicles are able to pass from gap 15 through scoop 16 and
through way ramp 36 into booster 30 and continue through trackset
11. When the user desires to introduce the staged vehicle in
staging lane 37, the user simply slides carriage 35 in the
direction indicated by arrow 38 moving ramp 36 away from exit
opening 31 and aligning staging lane 37 with booster 30. Once lane
37 has moved into a alignment with booster 30, the incline of
staging lane 37 allows the staged toy vehicle to move downwardly
into booster stage 30 and to be accelerated therethrough. In this
manner, a succession of toy vehicles may be staged and at the
desired time introduced to the flow of toy vehicles.
[0029] FIG. 5 sets forth a simplified top view of staging lane
mechanism 20 showing a vehicle in the staged position. Staging lane
mechanism 20 includes a movable carriage 35 having a though way
ramp 36 and a staging lane 37 supported thereon. A staging wall 39
extends across staging lane 37 to retain a toy vehicle 50
positioned upon staging lane 37. Through way ramp 36 is aligned
with exit opening 31 of scoop 16 and booster stage 30. Thus, toy
vehicles are able to pass through staging lane mechanism 20 using
ramp 36 to pass from exit opening 31 of scoop 16 into booster stage
30 so long as carriage 35 remains in its staged position. Wall 39
retains toy vehicle 50 and the apparatus is stable.
[0030] When the user desires to introduce toy vehicle 50 into the
trackset, the user simply slides carriage 35 in the direction
indicated by arrow 38 to align staging lane 37 and vehicle 50 with
booster stage 30.
[0031] FIG. 6 sets forth the configuration of staging lane
mechanism 20 as staged toy vehicle 50 is aligned with booster 30
and introduced into the trackset. It will be noted that in the
position shown in FIG. 6, the movement of carriage 35 aligning
staging lane 37 with booster 30 also moves toy vehicle 50 past
staging wall 39. This releases toy vehicle 50 and allows it to
travel to booster 30.
[0032] While particular embodiments of the invention have been
shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art
that changes and modifications may be made without departing from
the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the
appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as
fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
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