U.S. patent application number 11/176789 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-11 for play set for toy vehicles made from foamed material.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kelly Preece. Invention is credited to Jared Young.
Application Number | 20070010161 11/176789 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37618848 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070010161 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Young; Jared |
January 11, 2007 |
Play set for toy vehicles made from foamed material
Abstract
It is the general object of the present invention to provide a
toy vehicle play set that will inspire children's imaginations,
while allowing for a fun and safe toy. More particular, it is the
object of the present invention to provide a play set for toy
vehicles made from a foamed material.
Inventors: |
Young; Jared; (Spanish Fork,
UT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Kelly Preece
1194 South 1700 East
Salt Lake City
UT
84105
US
|
Assignee: |
Kelly Preece
|
Family ID: |
37618848 |
Appl. No.: |
11/176789 |
Filed: |
July 7, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/168 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 18/00 20130101;
A63H 33/42 20130101; G09B 25/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/168 |
International
Class: |
A63H 29/08 20060101
A63H029/08 |
Claims
1. A play set made out of a foam material for use with toy
vehicles.
2. A play set according to claim 1, comprising: a flat base; at
least one ramp, formed by shaping an angle in said foamed material,
with the vertex of the said angle connected to said flat base and
said ramp, and said angle being acute; a plurality of roads,
trails, and paths formed into said foamed material for use with
said toy vehicles.
3. A play set according to claim 2 wherein said plurality of roads,
trails, and paths comprise of straight sections, curved sections,
and hill sections.
4. A play set according to claim 1, comprising: at least one tunnel
formed through the said foamed material wherein portions of said
plurality of roads, trails, and paths go through the said tunnel;
at least one cave like formation; at least one flat area.
5. A play set according to claim 1 covered in a coating wherein
said coating provides details of landscape and/or provides means to
make the foam more durable.
6. A removable bridge portion comprising: two ends; said ends
comprising of a flat bottom portion such that said removable bridge
can be rested on said flat area of said play set; said ends further
comprising of a angled portion formed by shaping an angle between
said flat bottom portion, with the vertex of the angle being
connected to said flat bottom portion and said angled portion, and
said angle being acute.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Toy vehicles and toy vehicle tracks and play sets are a
popular category of toys. To date, most toy vehicle play sets are
made by connecting track pieces, and attempt, in one means or
another, to propel the toy vehicle along the track. Although
watching a toy vehicle roll down a track is exciting, it takes the
control of the vehicle out of the child's hand. This limits the fun
of steering and controlling where and when toy vehicles will go on
the play set, and thus does not inspire creativity or imagination.
Furthermore, most toy vehicle play sets are made of a hardened
plastic material. The plastic material facilitates the ability of
the toy vehicle to roll freely through the play set; however, the
hard plastic can often have sharp edges, and mating track pieces
can pose a pinch danger while assembling and using the play
set.
[0002] Foamed material is a common construction material for many
types of toys. Foamed material has been used extensively for toys,
which may require a soft or safe material, such as foam toy
footballs and basketballs. The foamed material has the advantage of
being sturdy enough to simulate a solid object; however, foam is
also soft enough to provide a cushion or damping effect, which
makes for a safer toy. One of the most popular examples of a foamed
toy is that of a foamed football. While a real football may be to
heavy for a child to throw, a foamed football is not. A real
football may injure a child trying to catch, while a foamed
football is light enough and soft enough to prevent injury.
[0003] In light of the success and popularity of toy vehicle play
sets, and further considering 1--the limitations of the prior art
briefly described concerning the toy vehicle play sets, and 2--said
advantages of using foamed material in a child's toy, there exists
a need for an improved and different type of toy vehicle play
set.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0004] FIG. 1 sets forth an overall view of a mountain terrain
version of the foamed play set for use with toy vehicles. The
structure is made from a foamed material, which is shaped in such a
way to be used as a play set for toy vehicles. The structure has a
flat base (1), which allows the play set to rest on a flat surface
while in use. On the said flat base, there exists at least one ramp
(6), which angles directly up from said flat surface, thus allowing
a toy vehicle to move smoothly from the said flat surface and onto
the foamed play set. Formed into the play set are a series of
roads, paths, or trails (4). Some roads, paths, or trails may be on
an incline, thus simulating a hill to allow a freewheeled toy
vehicle to roll by way of gravity along the road, path, or trail.
The road, paths, or trails are made up of straight sections, as
well as curved and winding portions to provide variety to the play
set. The road, paths, or trails, along with the simulated landscape
of the toy, can be shaped such to form tunnels (2) for toy vehicles
to move through while rolling along the said roads, paths, or
trails. The play set structure will have formed into it a series of
caves like formations (3). These caves will be used as a hiding
place for toy vehicles while the play set is in use, and also to be
used as a storage mechanism for toy vehicles while the play set is
not in use. Said caves may be located anywhere on the play set
where there exists a space large enough to capacitate a cave.
[0005] The structure will also have at least one flat section (5)
for use as a parking section or helicopter toy vehicle-landing pad.
Said flat section will also be utilized in conjunction with the
foamed bridge shown in FIG. 2. Both ends of the bridge will be
comprised of a flat base (2), with a ramp starting from said flat
base and going to level of the bridge necessary to make the bridge
sturdy enough to serve as a bridge from one play set to a second
play set. One end of the foamed bridge will be able to rest on said
flat section of one play set, and the second end of the foamed
bridge will be able to rest on said flat section of a second play
set, thus allowing toy vehicles to cross over from one play set to
a second play set.
[0006] A coating that will enhance the landscape features and also
provide the foam with more durability may cover the foam material
of the play set.
[0007] The preferred embodiment of the play set may contain some or
all of the features described and shown in FIG. 1; however, the
landscape or theme of the play set can be formed into any structure
that would facilitate the use of toy vehicles. Given the general
principle of the play set, several theme variations may include,
but are not limited to: cityscapes, planets, mountain terrain,
rivers and bodies of water, desserts, and replicas of national and
world monuments.
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