Playsets for toy vehicles may include linear segments. Such linear segments may result in a toy that must either be assembled for use and disassembled for storage, or that is difficult to transport and store by virtue of its length and size.
Playsets for toy vehicles may include track segments that are substantially straight, and/or include sections of track that are sufficiently long that the resulting playset must both be assembled for use and disassembled for storage. Additionally, the playset may be difficult to transport and store.
It would be advantageous to have substantially self-contained vehicle playsets that can be readily stored and/or transported without disassembly, can be readily converted to an operable configuration, and offer exciting play opportunities.
Examples of foldable vehicle playsets can be found in the disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,572,436, 6,554,685, 6,146,238, 6,099,380, 5,961,149, 5,839,937, 4,946,413, 4,937,207, 4,898,404, 4,349,983, 3,108,398, 1,914,116, and UK Patents GB002178331 and GB002159721. Examples of vehicle tracksets with movable components include U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,089,951, 5,970,882, 5,542,668, 5,435,553, 5,299,969, 4,999,604, 4,661,080, 4,642,066, 4,536,168, 4,504,242, 4,479,326, 4,472,906, 4,423,871, 4,364,566, 4,247,107, 3,926,434, 3,531,118, 3,510,631, and 2,992,598. Examples of articulated toy figures responsive to impact can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,280,286, 3,856,304, 3,235,259, 2,088,510, and the classic “Rock'Em Sock'Em Robots” game by Mattel, Inc. Examples of playsets in which a mechanical figure advances along a track can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,599,365, 3,545,757, and 3,477,172. The disclosures of all of the patents, patent applications, and publications recited herein are incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure is directed to vehicle playsets having multiple configurations. The vehicle playset may have a closed configuration suitable for storage and/or transportation, and an open configuration suitable for play. The vehicle playset may include a trackway adapted to be traversed by a toy vehicle, and may include one or more moving components. More specifically, the vehicle playsets may include one or more moving components configured to exhibit a response to impact, such as with the toy vehicle.
The vehicle playsets may include a track segment, a trigger adjacent to the track segment, a moving component adapted to move toward the trigger, and a launch mechanism coupled to the track segment and adapted to launch a toy vehicle along the track segment toward the moving component. Striking the moving component with the toy vehicle may prevent or otherwise hinder the moving component from reaching the trigger.
An exemplary folding vehicle playset 10 is shown schematically in
Vehicle playset 10 is shown in an exemplary closed configuration in
The opened configuration is a configuration of the vehicle playset that is operable; that is, the vehicle playset is configured for play. A given vehicle playset may have one or more closed configurations, and one or more open configurations. A vehicle playset may additionally have one or more intermediate configurations, where a portion of track is in an intermediate position between its open and closed positions, or alternatively, where less than all of the track portions are in an open configuration.
The vehicle playset may be configured to represent a particular environment or venue. The track assembly may include one or more licensed characters, such as a superhero, good-guy, villain, television personality, comic character, or the like. The track assembly may be sized and adapted for use with a particular type of toy vehicle, such as skateboards, bicycles, motorcycles, trains, cars, or trucks. In a particular embodiment, the track assembly is configured to be compatible with HOT WHEELS toy vehicles.
When in the closed configuration, the various elements of the vehicle playset may create a diorama that evokes the theme of the vehicle playset. The closed configuration may be decoratively shaped or otherwise configured, such as to resemble a diorama, a scene from a film, a billboard or any desired reduced-scale structure, and so forth, with one or more components of the playset serving a structural and/or decorative purpose while in the display or storage configuration. For example, structure resembling a tower in the unfolded play configuration may be folded horizontally to serve as a carrying handle in the folded display or storage configuration. In another embodiment, the display or storage configuration may be enclosed into a box or other container-like structure with decorative indicia adorning the outer surface.
Exemplary vehicle playset 10 is shown in an open configuration in
The vehicle playset may be adapted so that toy vehicle 16 may strike moving component 18. Alternatively, or in addition, the playset may be adapted so that toy vehicle 16 must avoid striking moving component 18, for example in order to reach exit segment 22. The movement of component 18 may be utilized during play as a timing element. That is, one or more actions by the user must be completed before component 18 reaches a specified target 20.
The vehicle playset may include one or more additional components adapted to divert a toy vehicle, capture a toy vehicle, or launch a toy vehicle. Alternatively, the additional component may be adapted to exhibit a response to an impact, such as with the toy vehicle. The nature and structure of such additional components may vary as desired, for example to allow a user to re-create a scene from a movie, participate in a realistic or fantastic adventure scenario, imagine a play setting of his or her own choice, and so forth.
In operation, toy vehicle 16 may be placed in or upon launcher 14, and subsequently propelled down track 12. The launcher may incorporate any of various mechanisms for providing a motive force to the toy vehicle such as a booster, a gravity feed, and so forth. For example, launcher 14 may raise an initial track segment so that the vehicle rolls down track 12 under the influence of gravity. Alternatively, the launch mechanism may include a spring or other resilient member that may be flexed, compressed, or otherwise biased, so that when it is released the toy vehicle is propelled along track 12. In yet another embodiment, the launch mechanism involves a simple mechanical advantage, such that by pressing on a lever or toggle, the toy vehicle is launched. In yet another embodiment, the launch mechanism may incorporate a bellows or other pneumatic driver, so that striking or otherwise compressing the bellows propels the toy vehicle via air pressure. Such devices may be manually operable, for example via a hand crank or user-operated release gate, or battery-powered, or otherwise configured.
For example, the moving component may be directed at a target 26. The vehicle playset may be adapted so that under the desired conditions, the toy vehicle may strike the moving component and thereby prevent the moving component from reaching the target. The user may be required to time the launch of the toy vehicle in order to intercept the moving component, thereby bringing an element of skill into play.
The effect of striking the moving component may vary. For example, striking the moving component with the toy vehicle may result in the moving component being displaced from the vehicle playset entirely or at least displaced from the track leading to the target. Alternatively, or in addition, striking the moving component may delay the progress of the component, or drive it backwards along its track. A successful strike on the moving component may be accompanied by sound and/or light effects.
The exit segment may include one or more exit features. For example, the exit segment may terminate with a ramp or jump, so that a car that successfully traverses the vehicle playset is launched into the air. Alternatively, the exit track segment may include a trigger, which when activated by a vehicle, may initiate an action. The action may include being captured or retained by an additional mechanism, an additional launch mechanism to propel the toy vehicle backward along the vehicle track, among others.
Various aspects of the operation of the vehicle playset may be accompanied by prerecorded or electronically generated sounds. In particular, actions such as activation of the moving component, or launching the toy vehicle, or mechanisms such as capture features, or diversion features may be accompanied by sound effects. The sound effects may include music samples. The sound effects may include speech, either recorded or synthesized. The recorded speech may include sound effects consistent with the action of the vehicle playset.
In order to provide an impetus for any or all of the launch and/or track features or other moving portions of the vehicle playset, the vehicle playset is typically first energized. The playset may rely upon gravity to activate or motivate one or more features. Alternatively, or in addition, the playset may be energized for example by winding up a spring, flexing a resilient member, or stretching an elastic member. Typically, such a track feature is energized by the user. Alternatively, the vehicle playset may incorporate one or more motors with associated power sources so that a given feature may be activated without requiring the corresponding mechanism to be energized by the user first.
An exemplary embodiment of the disclosed vehicle playset is depicted in
In the exemplary playset of
In an alternative mode of gameplay, the descent of asteroid 36 may be initiated, and toy vehicle 44 may be required to pass under and/or through target 32 before asteroid 36 makes contact with trigger 40, or the track may become blocked and/or the toy vehicle may be diverted from the track.
An alternative exemplary vehicle playset 50 is shown in a closed configuration in
Vehicle playset 50 may incorporate stylistic elements in order to evoke a fictional cityscape under siege by a giant robot. As such, moving component 58 may be configured to resemble an articulated robot
Track 52 may extend from structure 60 through a simulated cityscape, as may be indicated by a backdrop 64 and one or more structures 65 that may be adapted to resemble various urban features such as a bridge, a tower, and/or a junkyard.
Moving component 58 may be adapted for automated movement such as movement along track 52 towards a target 66 incorporated in or adjacent to structure 62. The robot
The wheeled base 67 of the robot figure may define an archway 68 adapted to allow the passage of a toy vehicle on the track underneath the robot figure. The robot figure may additionally include a shield 69 configured to partially or completely obstruct archway 68. The movement of the shield may be driven by the aforementioned internal mechanisms, and may be random, pseudorandom, or patterned. The shield may also serve as a trigger mechanism such that when struck by an object—such as a toy vehicle traversing the track—the robot figure is knocked from, or backwards along, the trackway. Some or all of the aforementioned movements of the robot figure may be powered by a power source such as a motor, which may be battery-powered, spring-driven, or otherwise configured, as desired.
Structure 60 may be adapted to move, or one or more components of structure 60 may be animated, when trigger 66 is activated. The trigger may be activated by depressing a switch, actuating a proximity detection device, breaking a light beam, and so forth. Such an event may trigger one or more outputs such as a light display or sound effect, and/or the activation of a spring-loaded or otherwise actuated movement of a structural component such as a piece of pop-up structure. For example, upon activation of trigger 66, a panel of structure 60 may be released to open or pop free and may be accompanied by a light and sound display, all of which may collectively simulate an explosion signifying the destruction of structure 60.
During play, the user may launch one or more toy vehicles along track 52 in an attempt to accomplish one or more of a variety of goals.
For example, the user may attempt to impede the progress of robot
Alternatively, or in addition, the user may strike robot
Alternatively, or in addition, the user may launch a toy vehicle along track 52 in an attempt to avoid the robot
Other components of the playset may include one or more small human figurines, and/or additional structure that may be releasably attached to the structural components of the cityscape such as traffic signs, and so forth. The robot figure may be configured to exhibiting movement to simulate that it has been defeated. For example, a strike plate may be disposed in the robot figure's mouth, or elsewhere on the robot figure as appropriate, which may be configured to open and/or close.
Additional components and structural features of such a playset may further enhance the user's play experience. For example, the playset described above may further include pop-up or fold-out structure configured to spring open when actuated, such as if the robot advances over a trigger switch on the trackway. As such, the pop-up or fold-out structure may resemble pieces of buildings exploding or being destroyed.
The disclosed vehicle playsets may be fabricated from any suitable material, or combination of materials, such as plastic, foamed plastic, wood, cardboard, pressed paper, metal, or the like. A suitable material may be selected to provide a desirable combination of weight, strength, durability, cost, manufacturability, appearance, safety, and the like. Suitable plastics may include high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene, or the like. Suitable foamed plastics may include expanded or extruded polystyrene, or the like.
The disclosed vehicle playsets offer a number of advantageous properties. The vehicle playsets may be substantially self-contained, they can be readily converted to an operable configuration without requiring disassembly or reassembly, and they may offer an exciting play experience.
Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing operational principles and preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although the vehicle playset is depicted and described as having a particular sequence of track segments, moving components, targets, and other features, any suitable combination of track segments and/or features may be utilized to form the disclosed vehicle playsets. The present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/798,086, titled FOLDING TRACK ASSEMBLIES, filed May 4, 2006; provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/798,138, titled FOLDABLE VEHICLE PLAYSETS WITH AUTOMATED MOVING COMPONENTS, filed May 4, 2006; and provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/812,305, titled FOLDABLE VEHICLE PLAYSETS WITH AUTOMATED MOVING COMPONENTS, filed Jun. 9, 2006; each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60798138 | May 2006 | US | |
60798086 | May 2006 | US | |
60812305 | Jun 2006 | US |