The present invention is directed to a model car display system and use thereof. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a model car display system variously reconfigurable to realistically simulate a plurality of dioramic, automobile-related scenes.
These and other features and a more thorough understanding of the present invention may be achieved by referring to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In accordance with an example aspect, the present invention is directed to a model car display system for displaying at least one model car thereon. The system generally includes a base having a top surface adapted to support at least one model car thereon, a bottom surface and an inner cavity; and model car wheel rotating means adapted for selectably rotating one or more wheels of a model car, and wherein the rotating means is associated with the base in a manner that disposes it for ready engagement with a model car when the car is positioned atop the base top surface.
In accordance with yet another example aspect, the present invention is directed to a model car display system for displaying at least one model car thereon. The system generally includes a base having a top surface adapted to support at least one model car thereon, a bottom surface and an inner cavity; model car wheel rotating means adapted for selectably rotating one or more wheels of a model car, and wherein the rotating means is associated with the base in a manner that disposes it for ready engagement with a model car when the car is positioned atop the base top surface; and at least one scenic element removably associable with the base, wherein the at least one scenic element is configured to realistically portray in miniature an automobile-themed item.
In accordance with yet another example aspect, the present invention is directed to a model car display system for displaying at least one model car thereon. The system generally includes a base having a top surface adapted to support at least one model car thereon, a bottom surface and an inner cavity; model car wheel rotating means, comprising at least one track rotatably associated with the base, adapted for selectably rotating one or more wheels of a model car, and wherein the rotating means is associated with the base in a manner that disposes it for ready engagement with a model car when the car is positioned atop the base top surface; and at least one scenic element removably associable with the base, wherein the at least one scenic element is configured to realistically portray in miniature an automobile-themed item.
Disclosed according to the present invention is a model car display system and use thereof. In general, the model car display system is adapted to receive one or more conventional model cars, such as a conventional scaled die-cast model car, and display the car in association with various scenic elements so as to simulate a scaled down version of a realistic scene in which a life sized car may be encountered. Example scenes contemplated for use in connection with the present invention include, but are not limited to, a car drag strip, a race track, a street race scene, a movie scene (e.g., to recreate a memorable scene from a motion picture), a historical scene, an auto show display, a highway scene, a conventional street, an intersection featuring buildings, a garage, and the like. The model car display system of the present invention provides an ideal complement for conventional model cars as model car enthusiasts are currently limited to enjoying their model cars in connection solely with their display divorced from any realistic elements on a shelf or similar display means, all of which currently do not provide realistic recreations of automobile-related scenes.
The model car display system of the present invention suitably provides a number of features that increase the aesthetic, commercial and realistic appeal of the system. In one embodiment, the system preferably includes various rotating means adapted for rotating the wheels of a model car positioned on the system, while maintaining the model car in a stationary position. By so rotating, the model car will appear to be in motion, thereby augmenting the realism of the scene created by the model car display system. In another embodiment, the system preferably includes various illuminated scenic elements. For example, the system may include illuminated street lights, street lamps, race track-associated countdown lamps, and the like. Such illuminated elements further increase the realism of the system. By way of yet another embodiment, the model car display system is preferably a modular and reconfigurable system adapted to interchangeably associate with a plurality of scenic elements, thereby enabling a user to create any of the above-mentioned or additionally contemplated scenes.
Turning to
The system 100 base 102 of the present invention is adapted to interface with various scenic elements 104 to customize the appearance of the scene, and is further adapted to interface with one or more model cars 150 as a situs for the placement of the same. As previously mentioned, in a commercial embodiment, the base 102 is provided as a constant component of the system 100, and a user is able to purchase any of a number of scenic elements, each of which is associable with the base 102 to simulate any of a number of scenes. The base 102 preferably also includes various other components as previously briefly mentioned, such as the means adapted for rotating the model car's 150 wheels, and the like.
The base 102 is preferably, albeit optionally, provided as a two component element having a top, upper component 106, and a bottom, lower component 108, as best shown in
As shown in
The top surface 110 of the base 102 top component 106 generally operates as a substrate upon which the model car(s) 150 is positioned for display and additionally provides an interface for association with the various scenic elements 104. As best shown in
In connection with a preferred embodiment and as previously briefly mentioned, the model car display system 100 of the present invention preferably includes a rotating means adapted for rotating the model car's 150 wheels while the model car 150 is securely associated with the system 100. Further thereto, as shown in
As shown in
Turning to
Various other aspects of the top surface 110 are contemplated, some of which are manifest with reference to the Figures. For example, the top surface 110 may include additional features that enhance the realism of the appearance thereof. Example features include, but are not limited to, surface paint, various textures, tire skid marks, and the like.
The top component 106 additionally includes the bottom surface 112, side walls 114, 116, front wall 118 and rear wall 120. The bottom surface 112 is a surface of the top component 106 disposed generally parallel and in opposition to the top surface 110 thereof. As will be more fully described hereinafter, the bottom surface 112 is adapted to securely maintain various elements that cooperate in maintaining the model car 150 stationary and securely relative to the base 102. The side walls 114, 116 are preferably disposed in parallel and spaced apart relation to each other and further extend downward (relative to the top surface 110) from the bottom surface 112 perpendicularly relative thereto. The front and rear walls 118, 120 are preferably disposed as walls generally akin to the side walls 114, 116; namely, they extend parallel and spaced apart relative to each other and downward from the bottom surface 112 perpendicularly relative thereto.
In connection with a preferred and optional embodiment, the top component 106 is configured in a generally wedge-like shape that increases the aesthetic appeal of the system 100 and facilitates ready viewing of the features thereof. As shown in the Figures, the top component 106 is preferably disposed with the front wall 118 being disposed in a height that is less than the height of the rear wall 120. Because the top surface 110 of the top component 106 extends between the front wall 118 and the rear wall 120 atop the same, size differential between the front wall 118 and rear wall 120 suitably orient the top surface 110 to extend in an incline to the rear wall 120. The incline of the top surface 110 preferably orients the top component 106 in a preferred wedge-like configuration that angularly offsets features atop the top surface 110 for facilitated inspection and visual enjoyment.
The base 102 of the system 100 preferably also includes the bottom component 108 that cooperates with the top component 106 to complete the base 102. In general, as shown in
The top surface 128 of the bottom component 108 preferably provides a surface upon which the various control elements are positioned and to which the same are secured. The control elements will be more fully described hereinafter. Additionally, the bottom component 108 is generally provided as a mirror and inverted image of the top component 106; accordingly, the top surface 128 extends along bottom edges of the walls 132, 134, 136, 138 of the bottom component 108. The bottom surface 130 is a surface of the bottom component 108 that is disposed generally coplanar with and spaced apart relative to the top surface 128. The side walls 132, 134 are preferably disposed in parallel and spaced apart relation to each other and further extend upward (relative to the bottom surface 130) from the top surface 128 perpendicularly relative thereto. The front and rear walls 136, 138 are preferably disposed as walls generally akin to the side walls 132, 134; namely, they extend parallel and spaced apart relative to each other and upward from the top surface 128 perpendicularly relative thereto. The bottom component 108 may additionally include a plurality of rib-like members 140 disposed between the top surface 128 and various walls 132, 134, 136, 138 thereof for increasing the structural rigidity of the base 102.
In connection with a preferred embodiment, the top component 106 and the bottom component 108 are removably securable to each other so that maintenance andor repair-related access may be provided to the inner cavity 152 and control elements thereof. In an embodiment, the bottom component 108 includes on its top surface 128 a plurality of bosses 142, each of which are suitably adapted to receive a screw 144 (
As previously mentioned, the model car display system 100 preferably also includes various control elements for directing and/or controlling various functional aspects of the system 100. In connection with a preferred embodiment, an example of which is shown in
The system 100 preferably includes the rotating means adapted for rotating a model car's 150 wheels when the model car 150 is positioned atop the base 102. As previously mentioned, the rotating means includes a number of rotating elements adapted to transfer the rotational energy thereof to the model car's 150 wheels to rotate the same. With best reference to
In an additionally preferred embodiment, one or more of the rollers 172, 174 are communicatively coupled to a motor or similar source of energy adapted for driving the rotation of the same. With continued reference to
The motor 184 preferably couples to any suitable source of conventional electrical power. As shown in
The motor 184 is preferably also operatively associated with a toggle for alternatively associating or dissociating the motor 184 with electricity. In a preferred embodiment and as shown in
The model car display system 100 of the present invention suitably also includes an associating means adapted for securely associating a model car 150 with the system 100. In connection with the preferred embodiment in which the system 100 includes the rotating means for rotating the wheels of the model car 150 associated with the system 100, the associating means preferably operates to maintain the model car 150 atop the device 100 while the wheels thereof are being rotated by the rotating means. In a preferred embodiment, the associating means is provided as a plurality of magnets that cooperate to maintain the model car 150 on the base 102. More specifically, the model car 150 preferably includes a magnet 196, as shown in
With reference to
Accordingly, in operation, the magnet 196 associated with the model car 150 suitably magnetically cooperates with the magnet 198 of the base 102 to secure the model car 150 thereon. In the preferred embodiment, the magnets 196, 198 suitably cooperate along a path that is disposed generally between the rotating tracks 160, 162. Therefore, the magnets 196, 198 securely maintain the model car 150 atop the base 102 while the rotating means is driving the rotation of the model car's 150 wheels.
Despite the disclosure of the magnets 196, 198 as the associating means, it is to be appreciated that the model car 150 may be securely associated with the base 102 through any appropriate fastening and/or associating means. For example, various fasteners, such as clips, rubber bands, and the like, may suitably be provided to mechanically fasten the model car 150 to the base 102.
As previously mentioned, the control elements variously also include an electricity-supplying means for delivering power to illumination-capable scenic elements 104. In a preferred embodiment, the electricity supplying means is communicatively coupled to the selected source of electricity used to drive the rotating means. Accordingly, the electricity-supplying means may suitably be coupled to the battery(ies) 190, to an electrical power cord, or the like. Additionally, various electrical circuitry is preferably provided to deliver electricity from the selected source of electricity to the various scenic elements 104 as necessary. For example, the scenic elements 104 may suitably receive electricity through a coupling created by association of the aperture 126 and the projecting members 170 of the scenic elements 104. More specifically, an electrical terminal may be provided to the aperture 126 and another electrical terminal may be provided in the projecting members 170. Accordingly, when the terminals of the aperture 126 and the projecting member 170 meet, a circuit is completed and electricity is delivered therethrough.
As previously mentioned, the model car display system 100 of the present invention suitably includes scenic elements 104 associated therewith for creating a realistic, scaled-down automobile-related scene. As previously mentioned, the scenic elements 104 may be fashioned in any of a plurality of configurations to realistically portray the appearance of a plurality of scenes, such as the scenes delineated above. As also previously mentioned, the scenic elements 104 are preferably removably associable with the base 102 so that any of a plurality of scenes can be created with the same base 102.
Turning to
The model car display system 100 of the present invention may suitably be adapted to display various informational and/or advertising information thereon. As shown in
Although the invention has been described with regard to certain preferred example embodiments, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only, and that improvements, changes and modifications in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the scope of the claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20070256988 A1 | Nov 2007 | US |