U.S. patent number 3,707,802 [Application Number 05/108,496] was granted by the patent office on 1973-01-02 for delayed starting indicator apparatus and toy starting system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Mattel, Inc.. Invention is credited to Joseph H. Bales, Denis V. Bosley, Brian S. Prodger, Kurt Ruppel, William F. Summerfield, James I. Tucker, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,707,802 |
Tucker, Jr. , et
al. |
January 2, 1973 |
DELAYED STARTING INDICATOR APPARATUS AND TOY STARTING SYSTEM
Abstract
A starting system having a delayed starting indicator apparatus
comprised of a housing, a movable indicating element, a resetting
element and a premature start indicator mechanism. The indicator
apparatus simulates a "Christmas Tree" starting device commonly
used for drag races. As the movable indicating element drops within
the housing in a retarded fashion, spaced, paired openings in the
housing make visible a sequential showing of color including a
different color to indicate the beginning of the race. The
premature start indicator mechanism causes a still different color
to appear by offsetting the indicating element. The apparatus is
easy to manipulate, simply constructed, rugged, inexpensive to
manufacture and exciting to use.
Inventors: |
Tucker, Jr.; James I.
(Manhattan Beach, CA), Bales; Joseph H. (Huntington Beach,
CA), Bosley; Denis V. (Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA),
Prodger; Brian S. (Torrance, CA), Ruppel; Kurt (Redondo
Beach, CA), Summerfield; William F. (Huntington Beach,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Mattel, Inc. (Hawthorne,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
22322549 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/108,496 |
Filed: |
January 21, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/429;
463/59 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H
18/026 (20130101); A63H 18/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63H
18/00 (20060101); A63H 18/14 (20060101); A63H
18/02 (20060101); A63h 033/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;46/1K,202
;273/148R,86B |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mancene; Louis G.
Assistant Examiner: Lever; J. Q.
Claims
We claim:
1. A toy vehicle timer and launching system comprising:
a toy vehicle launcher comprised of:
a supporting base, including a pathway;
a pusher arm slideably connected to said supporting base and
movable along said pathway for engaging a toy vehicle;
an elastic band connected to said supporting base and to said
engaging means for imparting motion to said engaging means; and
means for latching said pusher arm to selectively prevent movement
of said pusher arm; and
a delayed starting indicator apparatus connected to said toy
vehicle launcher and comprised of:
an indicating element having a display surface of various colors
movable between a first and second positions;
a housing having a front surface with spaced openings for
sequentially viewing said display surface, and a back surface with
guide means for directing and retarding movement of said indicating
element as it travels from said first position to said second
position;
a resetting element including a handle to activate said resetting
element and a bar to engage said indicating element, said
indicating element movable from said first position to said second
position by the force of gravity and movable from said second
position by the force of gravity and movable from said second
position to said first position by the movement of said resetting
element; and
a movable motion limiter for altering said indicating element's
second position upon engagement of said toy vehicle launcher with
said movable motion limiter.
2. A toy vehicle timer and launching system comprising:
a toy vehicle launcher; and
a delayed starging indicator apparatus connected to said toy
vehicle launcher and comprised of:
an indicating element having a display surface of various colors
movable between a first and second positions;
a housing having a front surface with spaced openings for
sequentially viewing said display surface, and a back surface with
guide means for directing and retarding movement of said indicating
element as it travels from said first position to said second
position;
a resetting element including a handle to activate said resetting
element and a bar to engage said indicating element, said
indicating element movable from said first position to said second
position by the force of gravity and movable from said second
position by the force of gravity and movable from said second
position to said first position by the movement of said resetting
element; and
a movable motion limiter for altering said indicating element's
second position upon engagement of said toy vehicle launcher with
said movable motion limiter.
3. A toy vehicle timer and launching system comprising:
a toy vehicle launcher comprised of:
a supporting base, including a pathway;
a pusher arm slideably connected to said supporting base and
movable along said pathway for engaging a toy vehicle;
an elastic band connected to said supporting base and to said
engaging means for imparting motion to said engaging means; and
means for latching said pusher arm to selectively prevent movement
of said pusher arm; and
a delayed starting indicator for providing first and second
indicia, said indicator connected to said toy vehicle launcher and
having a movable motion limiter for altering said indicia upon
engagement of said toy vehicle launcher with said movable motion
limiter to display said second indicia.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toy vehicle starting system and,
more particularly, to a starting system having a delayed starting
indicator apparatus simulating a real race starting mechanism,
commonly referred to as a "Christmas Tree" starting mechanism. The
apparatus is simply constructed and inexpensive to manufacture and
includes provisions for indicating a premature start of one of the
racing vehicles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Small toy vehicles have become exceedingly popular among small
children. These vehicles are usually sold in sets including
extruded synthetic resin track sections which allow various track
layouts to be constructed. A very popular form of toy vehicles are
miniature automobiles having metal bodies and riding on freely
rotatable wheels, as more clearly described in U.S. Pat. No.
3,510,981 to H. W. La Branche et al. The track sections are of
brightly colored material having a running surface and two
oppositely disposed guide flanges for guiding the toy vehicle along
the running surface. The track sections also include depending
flanges which provide a channel-shaped receptacle for receiving
track section connectors to allow easy connection of abutting track
sections. The track system is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No.
3,487,999 to A. W. B. Nash et al. More recently, a newer
self-powered toy vehicle has appeared. By self-powered, it is meant
a vehicle with a small motor directly connected to the rear wheels
and a small rechargeable battery for energizing the motor.
The combination of small toy vehicles with freely rotatable wheels
and especially self-powered vehicles and various shaped track
sections make for an extremely exciting toy vehicle system.
Frequently, added to this system are various accessories, such as
curves, loops, starting gates, finish gates, speed indicators, lap
counters, power boosters etc. In order to increase excitement and
to offer greater versatility to imaginative children, endeavors are
being made to provide additional accessories. For example,
attention has been drawn to the racing field which over the years
has become an exciting spectator sport. Automobile racing of the
type exemplified by the Indianapolis 500 race and the Le Mans road
race offer an example of exciting long distance automobile racing.
Another and more recent example is the short distance drag race. In
this type of race, vehicles are raced down a measured relatively
short course with the winner being that car which first crosses the
finish line after accelerating from a stopped idling position.
Of course, it is to be understood that to be commercially
successful with any new accessory, it is required that the
accessory be simply constructed, rugged and adaptable to
inexpensive manufacturing and packaging processes so as to insure
mass marketing at a reasonable cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an exciting toy while fulfulling the
objectives mentioned hereinabove by furnishing a starting system
comprising a toy vehicle launcher; and a delayed starting indicator
apparatus connected to the launcher. In more detail, the delayed
starting indicator apparatus comprises means movable between first
and second positions for providing a starting signal; and a
housing, including guide means for guiding and retarding the signal
providing means between the first and second positions. In a
preferred embodiment, the delayed starting indicator includes means
mounted to the housing for moving the signal providing means from
the second position to the first position and means connected to
the housing responsive to a premature start for causing an
indication of a premature start.
It is the general aim of the present invention to provide a toy
vehicle starting system which is exciting, simply constructed and
inexpensive to manufacture.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a toy vehicle
starting system which is rugged, reliable and closely analogous to
the starting system of a real race.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a
delayed starting indicator apparatus which is simply constructed,
has few moving parts, inexpensive to manufacture and yet closely
simulates a real racing starting mechanism, as exemplified by those
used for drag racing.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the
following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a delayed starting indicator
apparatus illustrating the front portion of the apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a toy vehicle starting system,
including a delayed starting indicator apparatus and a toy vehicle
launcher.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevational view, partially
exploded taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view taken along line 4--4 of FIG.
3.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken along line
5--5 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a partially borken away sectional elevational view of the
delayed starting indicator apparatus in a resetting process.
FIG. 7 is a sectional elevational view of the delayed starting
indicator apparatus in operation.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional elevational view of a portion of
the FIG. 7 view illustrating the position of an indicating element
in a second position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
While the present invention is susceptible of various modifications
and alternative constructions, an illustrative embodiment is shown
in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should
be understood, however, that it is not the intention to limit the
invention to the particular form disclosed; but, on the contrary,
the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and
alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of
the invention as expressed in the appended claims.
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a delayed starting
indicator apparatus 10 comprising a housing 12 having a front
surface 14 and a resetting element 16. The front surface 14
includes a number of paired openings, such as the pairs 18 and 20,
22 and 24, 26 and 28, and 30 and 32, which are generally aligned,
except for the pair 30, 32, and vertically spaced. The indicator
apparatus 10 is to simulate a real drag race type starting
mechanism, commonly known as a "Christmas Tree." The real drag race
starting mechanism has an upright platform, including a number of
vertically aligned lights which are flashed in sequence starting
with the uppermost lights and descending to the lowermost lights.
When the lowermost lights are reached, the race is to begin.
Usually the lights above the lowermost lights are of a particular
color, while the lowermost light is of another color; for example,
the preparation lights may be yellow or orange, while the lowermost
lights may be red or green. The "Christmas Tree" offers an
unmistakable visual representation of the start of a race for the
race drivers as well as for spectators and provides for a
predetermined time for anticipation or preparation.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated the indicator
apparatus 10 mounted to a toy vehicle launcher 34. The launcher
includes a molded base 52 and two preformed vehicle pathways 36 and
38. Corresponding pusher arms 40 and 42 are slideable along the
pathways and are activated by latch mechanisms 44 and 46,
respectively. As shown in the broken away portion of the vehicle
path 38, the pusher arm 42 has a hook portion 48 which is connected
to an elastic band 50. The elastic band provides the necessary
force to the pusher arms to cause movement and thereby launches a
vehicle. The elastic band is also attached to the underside (not
shown) of the base 52. The latch mechanism 46 retains the pusher
arm 42 in the position shown after the pusher arm has been moved by
an operator against the biasing force of the elastic band. Knobs 54
and 56 are provided for changing the tautness of the elastic bands
and thereby the force available to the pusher arms.
In operation, toy vehicles, such as small toy automobiles, are
positioned on the paths 36 and 38 adjacent the pusher arms 40 and
42. Upon the proper signal being given by the indicator apparatus
10, operators depress the activating mechanisms 44 and 46 to cause
the pusher arms 40 and 42 to come under the influence of their
respective elastic bands. Previous to the start of the race, track
sections such as a track section 58 extend away from each of the
pathways 36 and 38 and form a predetermined race course. In this
way, the excitement of a drag race, for example, may be simulated.
A fuller description of the toy vehicle launcher is contained in a
copending application titled "TOY HILL-CLIMBING SYSTEM" assigned to
the assignee of the present invention.
One of the objectives of the indicator apparatus is to allow one of
the race participants to operate a mechanical starting mechanism
without interfering with the participant's ability to engage in the
race; thus, the indicator apparatus has a delaying action to allow
preparation and to offer a sequenced "get ready" prior to the
signal indicating the start of the race. Because the starting
system is a toy, it is a major aspect of the present invention to
not only simulate a real delayed action starting mechanism, but to
do so with a simply constructed yet rugged structure. In addition,
the system and the indicator apparatus, in particular, are
inexpensive to manufacture, easy to package and very easy to
manipulate.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the indicator apparatus 10 is shown
in more detail. The housing 12 includes a front portion 59 and a
back portion 60 with back surface 61 having a series of guide
walls, such as parallel vertical guide wall 62 and guide wall
sections 64, 66 and 68. Positioned between these guides walls are
an irregular pattern of guide wall segments 70 which are of a
lesser height than the guide walls, as more readily seen in FIG. 5.
The guide walls and guide wall segments function as cam surfaces as
will be described hereinbelow.
The indicator apparatus also includes a movable indicating element
72 having a display surface 74, which is more readily seen in FIG.
8, and two bearing elements to act as cam followers, projecting pin
76 and projecting ring 78. Two abutment walls 80 and 82 are also
part of the indicating element. Referring to FIG. 8, the display
surface 74 is preferably of a first color such as yellow with four
circular regions of a different color. For example, at a first
level parallel with and spaced from a bottom edge 75 of the
indicating element are two oppositely disposed regions 84 and 86 of
red; at a second level are two oppositely disposed regions 88 and
90 of green. The cam follower pin 76 and ring 78 cooperate with the
guide walls and guide wall segments to position the colored display
surface so as to be viewable through the openings in the front
surface 14, FIG. 1, of the housing.
The indicating element 72 is movable from a first or upper position
where the indicating element is positioned at the top portion 92,
FIG. 3, of the housing to a second or lower position where the
indicating element is nearer a bottom portion 94 of the housing, as
indicated in dotted line in FIG. 3. To accomplish the retardation
desired there is a cooperation between the pin and ring of the
indicating element and the guide walls and guide wall segments of
the housing. As the indicating element is moved in a retarded
fashion from its upper position to its lower position, the desired
colors are sequentially visible through the paired openings in the
housing. This movement is accomplished simply by the force of
gravity. To set the indicating element in its upper position,
however, a resetting element 100 is provided. The resetting element
includes a handle 102, two elongated L-shaped support and guide
members 104 and 106 which are constrained by the housing to a
vertical movement, and an engagement bar 108 for engaging the cam
follower ring 78. As is readily apparent, the resetting element is
slideable relative the housing simply by having an operator lift on
the handle portion 102 to raise the resetting element relative the
housing as shown in FIG. 6.
Mounted at the bottom portion 94 of the housing is a symmetrically
bent wire 110 having two upwardly disposed legs 112 and 114. As
seen in FIG. 3, the legs act as a support and motion limiter for
the indicating element when in its lower position selectively
engaging the abutment walls 82 and 80, respectively. Mounting of
the wire 110 is accomplished by providing a channel-shaped wall
portion 116 of the housing having oppositely disposed projecting
tabs 118 and 120 to lock the center portion of the wire in place.
Flange walls 122 and 124 keep the legs 112 and 114 in place. The
wire is responsive to the activation of the launcher, so that
should one or both pusher arms be prematurely activated, one or
both of the legs 112, 114 will be biased so as to allow the
indicating element to be disposed in an alternate lower position.
As will be noted in FIG. 3, each of the pusher arms 40 and 42 are
integral with a laterally projecting cam surface 130 and 132,
respectively, which may also be seen in dotted line in FIG. 2. Upon
premature release of a pusher arm, the pusher arm and its lateral
cam surface will abut the leg of the wire and cause the leg to
deflect, such as shown in FIG. 3 where the leg 112 is shown in its
deflected position in dotted line. In this position, the leg 112
will not engage the abutment wall 82. If the pusher arm is not
prematurely activated, then engagement of the legs and the abutment
walls will occur; as the pusher arm moves past the legs, the legs
will simply deflect. The housing also includes a connector portion
115, FIG. 5, having two lateral flanges 117 and 119 and shoulders
121 and 123 for being received within a formed opening (not shown)
in the base 52, FIG. 2 of the launcher so that a secure engagement
between the launcher and the indicator apparatus is achieved.
Referring now to FIGS. 3, 6, 7 and 8, the operation of the
indicator apparatus will be described. In an at rest or non-use
position, the indicator element 12 will be situated as shown in
dotted line in FIG. 3 in its lower position When it is desired to
start a race, the handle 102 of the resetting element 100 is lifted
so as to have the engagement bar 108 of the resetting element
engage the ring 78 of the indicating element as seen in FIG. 6.
Initially, the pin 76 is situated in a triangular-shaped region
140. As the engagement bar 108 lifts the indicating element, the
ring 78 is constrained to move between the guide wall sections 64
and 66; the pin meanwhile is directed along a narrow pathway 142
between guide wall segments 144 and 146. As lifting continues, the
pin 76 enters a region 148 where the pathway divides into two
direction. Because of a blocking tip 150, the pin will follow a
pathway 152, as indicated by the ascending arrows, so as to be
constrained between the guide wall section 66 and a guide wall
segment 154. At the same time, the indicating element is tilted to
the position shown in FIG. 6. The pin 76 continues along the path
152 until it reaches a region 156 where it is directed once again
to a vertical alignment with the ring 78. This is the upper or
first position of the indicating element and is reached relatively
quickly by the indicating element along a relative direct path just
described.
The resetting element 100 is then released and allowed to return to
the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 due to the gravitational force
exerted upon it. Once the bar 108 no longer supports the ring, the
indicating element will start to descend by first engaging a guide
wall segment 70a sliding along the segment until engagement with a
guide wall segment 70b, as indicated by the descending arrows. The
pin continues to slide and drop, as indicated by the arrows, to the
following guide wall segments 70c, 70d, 70e, 70f (see dotted
portion of FIG. 7), 70g, 70h, 70i, 70j, 70k and 146. The pin then
enters the pathway 142. During this time, the ring 78 is
constrained between the guide wall 62 and the guide wall sections
66 and 64, so that as the pin moves along its irregular path
causing the pin to misalign vertically from the ring, the
indicating element tilts or cants to one side and then to the other
as it proceeds down the housing (see FIG. 7). This takes a
relatively long time as the indicating element moves along the path
just described. Meanwhile, visible through the paired openings 18,
20; 22, 24; and 26, 28, in sequence, is a colored (yellow) surface
which will be portions of the display surface 74, FIG. 8, of the
indicating element. If the toy vehicle launcher has not been
prematurely activated, then the indicating element will continue
dropping until it reaches its lower position indicated by the
dotted line in FIG. 3 where the abutment surfaces 82 and 80 are
supported respectively by the legs 112 and 114 of the wire 110.
When this is the situation, the green colored regions 88 and 90
will be visible through the paired openings 30, 32 indicating the
race is to begin. However, should one of the operators prematurely
activates his pusher arm, then one or the other of the legs 112,
114 will have been moved so as to misalign with the abutment
surface of the indicating element. For example, in FIG. 7, the leg
114 is being biased by the lateral arm 132 (depicted by the arrow
147), so that the leg does not engage with the abutment surface 80
as shown in FIG. 8. In this situation, the indicating element tilts
in an alternative lower position, so that the red region 86 appears
at the same vertical height as the green pattern 88 and is visible
through the opening 32, FIG. 1. Thus, an indication is made to the
operators that the pusher arm 142 has been prematurely activated
and there was a "false start." In a like manner, if the arm 112 had
been biased, as shown in phantom line in FIG. 3, then the
indicating element 12 would have tilted in an opposite direction so
that the red region 84, FIG. 8, is visible through the opening 30,
FIG. 1. If both operators activate prematurely, then the indicating
element will drop in a level manner, so that the pin 76 engages a
groove 160, FIG. 8, of a guide wall segment 162. In this alternate
lower position, both of the red regions 84 and 86 are aligned with
the openings 30 and 32 to indicate a premature or false start on
the part of both operators.
In operation of the system, a toy vehicle is placed on each of the
paths 36 and 38 after a track system has been laid out to determine
the course of the race; the pusher arms 40 and 42 are latched to
the latching mechanisms 44 and 46, respectively. One of the
operators lifts the handle 102 moving the indicating element to its
upper position and then releases the handle 102 to allow the
indicating element to make a retarded return to its lower position.
The return takes two to three seconds. In the meantime, each
operator is able to visually see a yellow indication appear
sequentially in the paired openings 18 and 20, then in the paired
openings 22 and 24, and then in the paired openings 26 and 28. By
the same token, the delayed start allows the operator who has
activated the indicator apparatus to prepare for the start of the
race. When the indicating element has reached its lower position, a
signal will be viewed through the lower paired openings 30 and 32
which will indicate the start of the race provided there has not
been a premature start. Thus, the two green regions will be
visible. As mentioned, however, should there have been a premature
start, then a red region will be visible on that side of the system
having the premature start.
What has been described is a simply constructed yet rugged and
easily operated delayed starting indicator apparatus and starting
system which is inexpensively manufactured and packaged. The
indicator apparatus comprises in a preferred embodiment five parts,
the two sections of the housing, the resetting element, the
indicating element and the wire. The housing, the resetting element
and the indicating element may be of a suitable molded synthetic
resin, such as polystyrene, so that all of the complex functions
performed provide no manufacturing difficulties since the portions
of the apparatus can be molded integrally. Thus, the pin 76 and
ring 78 are integral with the display surface 74 and the abutment
walls 80 and 82; the guide walls and guide wall segments are
integral with the back portion of the housing.
* * * * *