Patent Application
20220161148
The present invention relates generally to mechanical arts, and, more particularly, to a modular obstacle course assembly for radio controlled (RC) vehicles.
Radio controlled vehicles have been popular toys with both children and adults since their introduction. Unlike many toys, RC cars take time and practice to master. For RC car aficionados, the fun is in remotely driving the vehicle over difficult terrain and performing challenging stunts. Thus, difficult terrain is at a premium for RC car owners. Unfortunately, challenging courses are hard to come by. While RC car drivers can build their own racetracks and obstacle courses, such take a great deal of effort and are often quickly mastered. Thus, there remains a need for an improved RC track or course system that can repeatedly provide new and different challenges to the RC car driver. The present invention addresses this need.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, with such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
In some embodiments, the kit 10 includes the basic obstacles required to establish an obstacle course, including one or more of the following: starting line 15, cone(s) 20, ramp(s) 25, rumble stick(s) 30, freestyle log(s) 35, tunnel(s) 40, and a finish line 45. Some of these embodiments also include map(s) and/or diagrams(s) 50 showing suggested course layouts, measuring tape 55, and/or directional indicators 60.
Other embodiments include such obstacle elements as balance beam(s) 65, crawl pit(s) 70, dune(s) 75, hill(s) 80, trampoline(s) 85, stair(s) 90, gate(s) 95, and/or oscillating obstacle(s) 100. Some embodiments have only one or two of the above elements, others most or all of the above elements, and still other embodiments include all of the above elements as well as those obstacle elements of the previous embodiments.
While many of the above obstacles are self-explanatory, such as starting and finish lines 15, 45, traffic cones 20, ramps 25, tunnels 40, and the like, others may benefit from a bit of further explanation. For example, rumble sticks 30 are tow or more elongated members (logs) connected together either by a flexible connector (such as nylon rope) or an inflexible connector. Freestyle logs 35 are unconnected elongated members. Dunes 75 are generally hemispherical rises, while hills 80 tend to be steeper and higher than dunes 75. A crawl pit 70 is an open ended box having semi-hard overlapping tile flooring, while a gate 95 is a pair of free standing semi-circular members defining an opening wide enough for a car to pass through. Oscillating obstacles 100 are members that move back and forth, either under their own power or through the release of potential energy (such s a swing) that periodically block/unblock the car's path.
Some obstacles, such as dunes 75, are typically made of a flexible fabric covering a foam core, while others, such as freestyle logs 35, and hills 80, are typically made of a harder material, such as wood or plastic.
In operation, individual obstacles 15-100 are removed from one or more kits 100, and placed sequentially or in parallel to define an obstacle course having starting point, a series of obstacles to be overcome and/or avoided, and an end point or finish line. An RC vehicle is then placed at the starting line and subsequently driven through the obstacle course to the best of the driver's skill. After a number of races or expeditions through the course, the course may be amended by adding, subtracting, and/or rearranging the obstacle members to increase or decrease the difficulty of the course or to simply make the course different, and the course once again navigated by an RC vehicle as described above.
When not in use, the various pieces of the obstacle course assembly 15-100 are retrieved and stored, such as in a box or bag, until needed. The assembly components may be provided and/or stored as a kit 10.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
