Information
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Patent Grant
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6305685
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Patent Number
6,305,685
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Date Filed
Monday, May 8, 200025 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, October 23, 200123 years ago
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Inventors
-
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Examiners
Agents
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CPC
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US Classifications
Field 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 |