Information
                
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                         Patent Grant Patent Grant
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                         6305685 6305685
 
         
    
    
        
            
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                    Patent Number6,305,685
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                    Date FiledMonday, May 8, 200025 years ago 
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                    Date IssuedTuesday, October 23, 200124 years ago 
 
     
    
        
            
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                            Inventors
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                                ExaminersAgents
 
     
    
        
            
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                            CPC
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                            US ClassificationsField of Search
                - US
- 273 118 R
- 273 118 A
- 273 119 R
- 273 119 A
- 273 121 R
- 273 121 A
- D21 313
 
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                            International Classifications
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        Abstract
A combination toy car and a miniature pinball game. The toy car includes a miniature car body having operable support wheels and a removable top portion thereof. A miniature pinball game is operably positioned within the car body and is operably accessible for play when the top portion is removed. The pinball game, including a pinball table, are concealed when the top portion is in normal position on the car body. A simulated rear spoiler pivotally connected to a rear portion of the car body includes a viewable display scoreboard for the pinball game. The scoreboard is activated for keeping score for each game played on the pinball game when the scoreboard is pivoted from a first position in which said pinball game is inactive to a second position. A plurality of pinball game manually activated surfaces of the car body and wheels are provided which, when the pinball game is in the activated mode, cause predetermined movement of one or more elements of the pinball game.             
         
        
            
                    Description
  
    
      
        BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
      
    
    
      
        Scope of Invention
      
    
    
      
        This invention relates generally to electronic toys and games, and more particularly to a miniature toy race car in combination with a miniature pinball game.
      
    
    
      
        Prior Art
      
    
    
      
        A virtually limitless array of miniature cars, including those having the appearance of a race car, are well known. These miniature cars may be passive, rollable or electronically powered for movement across a surface.
      
    
    
      
        Conventional pinball games are also well known in which a horizontal surface supports a variety of moveable striking members, an array of scoring targets and a separate pinball which is driven across the horizontal surface by manually activating one or more of the pinball striking members. Typically, a scoreboard is included with pinball machines so that each player may be provided with a cumulative count or score achieved during each play time period.
      
    
    
      
        The present invention provides a unique combination of a miniature toy race car and a miniature pinball game housed within the car body of the race car. By removal of the removable top portion of the car body, the otherwise concealed miniature pinball game is made playably accessible. A miniature scoreboard, preferably in the form of a rear spoiler or air deflector, when pivotally moved into operative position, provides a viewable display of the ongoing and total score achieved by each player during each timed game played. Various of the striking members are selectively activated by pressing or depressing selected areas of the car body and wheels.
      
    
    
      
        BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
      
    
    
      
        This invention is directed to a combination toy car and a miniature pinball game. The toy car includes a miniature car body having support wheels and a removable top portion thereof. A miniature pinball game is operably positioned within the car body and is operably accessible for play when the top portion is removed. The pinball game, including the pinball table are concealed when the top portion is in position on the car body. A simulated rear spoiler pivotally connected to a rear portion of the car body includes a viewable display scoreboard for the pinball game. The scoreboard is activated for keeping score for each game played on the pinball game when the scoreboard is pivoted from a first position in which said pinball game is inactive to a second position. A plurality of pinball game manually activated surfaces of the car body and wheels are provided which, when the pinball game is in the activated mode, cause predetermined movement of one or more elements of the pinball game.
      
    
    
      
        It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a combination miniature toy car and miniature pinball game which is revealed for use when a top portion of the car body is removed.
      
    
    
      
        It is another object of this invention to provide a combination miniature toy car and miniature pinball game which includes a scoreboard attached to the car body, preferably in the form of a rear air spoiler which, when pivoted upwardly, activates the scoreboard.
      
    
    
      
        In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
      
    
  
  
    
      
        BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
      
    
    
      
        
          FIG. 1
        
         is a perspective view of the invention ready for use as a toy car.
      
    
    
      
        
          FIG. 2
        
         is an exploded view of the invention, the top portion of the car body shown removed to reveal the miniature pinball game therebelow and with the spoiler in an upward position thus activating the scoreboard therein.
      
    
    
      
        
          FIG. 3
        
         is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the invention with the top portion of the car body removed and not shown for clarity and with the rear deck of the car body in its pivoted upward in-use position activating the scoreboard.
      
    
  
  
    
      
        DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
      
    
    
      
        Referring now to the drawings, one embodiment of the invention is shown generally at numeral 
        
          
            10
          
        
         in both 
        
          FIGS. 1 and 2
        
        . In 
        
          FIG. 1
        
        , the combination miniature toy car and miniature pinball game 
        
          
            10
          
        
         is shown in the toy car use configuration. In 
        
          FIG. 2
        
        , the invention 
        
          
            10
          
        
         is in its pinball game operational mode.
      
    
    
      
        The invention 
        
          
            10
          
        
         includes a car body 
        
          
            12
          
        
         having preferably the appearance of a NASCAR race car. Operable wheels 
        
          
            30
          
        
         support the car body 
        
          
            12
          
        
         atop a horizontal surface. A separable top portion is shown at 
        
          
            14
          
        
         in its normal position in 
        
          FIG. 1
        
         to complete the appearance of the toy car. The simulated rear air spoiler 
        
          
            16
          
        
         is pivotally connected to the rear of the car body 
        
          
            12
          
        
         about a transverse axis 
        
          
            32
          
        
        . A scoreboard panel 
        
          
            34
          
        
         is contained on the upper surface of the spoiler 
        
          
            16
          
        
        ; however, when the spoiler 
        
          
            16
          
        
         is pivoted about axis 
        
          
            34
          
        
         in the direction of arrow A downwardly, the scoreboard 
        
          
            34
          
        
         is inactive.
      
    
    
      
        In 
        
          FIG. 2
        
        , the top portion 
        
          
            14
          
        
         is shown removed to reveal a miniature pinball game shown generally at 
        
          
            22
          
        
        . The miniature pinball game 
        
          
            22
          
        
         includes a strikeable free rolling pinball 
        
          
            26
          
        
         and a usual array of strikers, bumpers and channels arranged as desired to complete the pinball game structure.
      
    
    
      
        When the spoiler 
        
          
            16
          
        
         is pivoted in the direction of arrow B upwardly about pivotal axis 
        
          
            32
          
        
         in the direction of arrow B in 
        
          FIG. 2
        
        , the pinball game scoreboard 
        
          
            34
          
        
         is activated to maintain a running score achieved by each player during each pinball game played.
      
    
    
      
        To activate one or more of the moveable strikers within the miniature pinball game 
        
          
            22
          
        
        , one or the other of the headlights 
        
          
            24
          
        
         or 
        
          
            28
          
        
         may be depressed. Manual pressure applied to one or the other of the headlights or other parts of the toy body 
        
          
            12
          
        
         will, by either conventional mechanical means or electronic finger touch means, effect the desired striker activation. Additionally, one or more of the wheels 
        
          
            30
          
        
         may be inwardly depressed in the direction of arrow C to activate additional striker members as desired, depending on the overall layout of the miniature pinball game 
        
          
            22
          
        
         when designed. Although the scoreboard 
        
          
            34
          
        
         location as shown is within the pivotally connected spoiler 
        
          
            16
          
        
         as above described, other scoreboard locations on the car body such as at the front grill, the rear end of the car body 
        
          
            12
          
        
         or the rear surface of the spoiler 
        
          
            16
          
        
         may be utilized.
      
    
    
      
        Referring now to 
        
          FIG. 3
        
        , the preferred embodiment of the invention is there shown generally at numeral 
        
          
            40
          
        
        . This embodiment 
        
          
            40
          
        
         includes a car body 
        
          
            42
          
        
        , again, having the appearance of a miniature race car. Operable wheels 
        
          
            60
          
        
         support the car body 
        
          
            42
          
        
         atop a horizontal or inclined surface as desired. A separate top portion (not shown) rests atop flat surface 
        
          
            58
          
        
         when in place to complete the appearance of the toy car.
      
    
    
      
        A miniature pinball game, including a pinball table 
        
          
            44
          
        
         are revealed when the separable top portion (not shown) is removed. The pinball table 
        
          
            44
          
        
         may be somewhat altered from that shown in 
        
          FIG. 2
        
         but, again, is generally conventional in nature. This preferred embodiment of the pinball table 
        
          
            44
          
        
         includes a spring-actuated striker 
        
          
            56
          
        
         which strikes a pinball 
        
          
            48
          
        
         propelling it along a support ramp in the direction of arrow E. Once the pinball 
        
          
            48
          
        
         is propelled and begins to move about the pinball table, each of the bumpers shown are separately manually activated by depressing one or both body panels 
        
          
            62
          
        
         in the direction of arrows F and G.
      
    
    
      
        The entire pinball table 
        
          
            44
          
        
         is enclosed by a transparent panel 
        
          
            50
          
        
         so that the moveable components of the pinball game 
        
          
            44
          
        
        , including the pinball 
        
          
            48
          
        
        , are protected and retained therein. A separate rear deck panel assembly 
        
          
            46
          
        
         is manually pivotable upward about axis 
        
          
            52
          
        
         to reveal a scoreboard 
        
          
            54
          
        
         for the pinball game 
        
          
            44
          
        
        . In this configuration, with each player standing at the front of the toy car, the scoreboard 
        
          
            54
          
        
         is easily viewable.
      
    
    
      
        While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.
      
    
  
             
            
                        Claims
        
                - 1. A combination toy car and a miniature pinball game comprising:a miniature car body including support wheels and a removable top portion of said car body; a miniature pinball game operably positioned within said car body and operably accessible for play when said top portion is removed, said pinball game concealed when said top portion is in position on said car body; a simulated rear spoiler pivotally connected to a rear portion of said car body, said spoiler including a viewable display scoreboard for said pinball game, said scoreboard placed in an active mode for keeping score for each game played on said pinball game when said scoreboard is pivoted from a first position in which said pinball game is inactive to a second position in which said pinball game is active; a plurality of manually activated surfaces of said car body and wheels which, when said pinball game is in the activated mode, cause a predetermined movement of one or more pinball striking elements of said pinball game.
- 2. A combination toy car and a miniature pinball game comprising:a miniature car body including support wheels and a top portion of said car body which is removable; a miniature pinball game operably positioned within said car body and operably accessible for play when said top portion is removed, said pinball game otherwise concealed when said top portion is in normal position on said car body; a scoreboard pivotally connected to a rear portion of said car body and moveable between a first and a second position, said scoreboard including a viewable scoring display for said pinball game, said scoreboard placed into an active mode for keeping score for each game played on said pinball game when said scoreboard is pivoted from said first position in which said pinball game is inactive to said second position in which said pinball game is active; a plurality of pinball game manually activated surfaces of said car body and wheels which, when said pinball game is in the activated mode, causing predetermined movement of one or more elements of said pinball game.
- 3. A combination toy car and a miniature pinball game comprising:a miniature car body including support wheels and a removable top portion of said car body; a miniature pinball game operably positioned within said car body and operably accessible for play when said top portion is removed, said pinball game concealed when said top portion is in position on said car body; a scoreboard attached to said car body including a viewable display scoreboard for said pinball game, said scoreboard placed in an active mode for keeping score for each game played on said pinball game when said top portion is removed; a plurality of manually activated surfaces or buttons on said car body and wheels which, when said pinball game is in the activated mode, cause a predetermined movement of one or more pinball striking elements of said pinball game.
- 4. A combination toy car and a miniature pinball game as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:a protective transparent cover connected and extending over and in proximity to a flat pinball table of the pinball game.
US Referenced Citations (6)
            
            Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
            
                
                    
                        | Number | Date | Country | 
                
                
                        
                            | 2064340 | Jun 1981 | GB |