Toy playsets and accompanying toys are a source of entertainment for children. Toy playsets having different features may increase the enjoyment of children using the playsets. For example, the toy playset may include a launcher and a dispenser for dispensing a fluid material on the playset. Additionally and/or alternatively, the toy playset may feature a toy vehicle track set. Some toy playsets may be configured for use with a thermochromatic toy that changes color upon exposure to hot or cold material.
The present disclosure is directed generally to toy playsets and, more particularly, to playsets with a launcher and one or more with one or more dispensers for a fluid material, such as water, configured for release on a toy and/or toy track set. Examples of track sets and/or toys are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,045,908; 4,356,657; 4,519,789; 4,725,462; 4,818,215; 4,917,643; 4,961,716; 5,011,445; 5,085,607; 5,202,677; 5,223,958; 5,282,651; 5,316,513; 5,375,271; 5,389,093; 5,482,373; 5,502,967; 5,503,583; 5,586,923; 5,643,040; 5,716,253; 5,743,185; 5,786,838; 5,871,385; 5,899,789; 6,196,241; 6,241,573; 6,312,311; 6,322,416; 6,346,024; 6,450,277; 6,468,088; 6,478,654; 6,585,555; 6,663,464; 6,676,480; 6,780,127; 6,951,497; 6,986,719; 7,070,518; 7,189,133; 7,258,073; 7,278,369; U.S. Patent Application Nos. U.S. 20030087580; U.S. 20040004069; U.S. 20050178314; U.S. 20070128969; U.S. 20070259593; U.S. 20080009224; U.S. 20080070474; and Foreign Patent Nos. ES2015663; GB2092463; GB2205255; GB2292323; GB2310283; GB2315685; GB2367479; JP07223397; JP11315277; JP2001149666; JP0007223397; JP2008264113; W089084861. The disclosures of all the above-referenced patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
In some examples, a toy vehicle playset for a toy vehicle is provided, comprising a track assembly including a vehicle launcher operatively connected to a track defining a travel path, a dispensing assembly including a release mechanism positioned adjacent a portion of the track and a trigger assembly operably connected to the vehicle launcher and the release mechanism. Activation of the trigger assembly may simultaneously activate the vehicle launcher and the release mechanism.
In some examples, a toy playset for a thermochromatic toy is provided, comprising a toy launcher configured to launch a thermochromatic toy along a travel path, a dispenser adjacent the travel path configured to releasably retain color changing material, and a trigger operably connected to the toy launcher and the dispenser. Activation of the trigger may simultaneously launch the thermochromatic toy along the travel path and release the color changing material from the dispenser into the travel path.
In some examples, a toy vehicle playset for a toy vehicle is provided, comprising a track assembly including a vehicle launcher activatable to launch a toy vehicle. The launcher may be attached to a track defining a travel path for a toy vehicle. The toy vehicle playset may further comprise a water dispenser including a tank and a support assembly for supporting the tank above the track. The tank may have a moveable release member at a bottom portion of the tank. The vehicle launcher and the moveable release member may be configured to be activated simultaneously.
A particularly fun play pattern using playset 10 includes a thermochromic toy that changes color as it flies through hot or cold fluid material released from dispenser assembly 12, such as hot or cold water or other color changing material. By decorating one or more surface areas on the toy with thermochromic ink, also known as thermochromatic ink, such as inks made by Pilot Ink in Japan, a near instantaneous and quite magical color change may be created as the toy flies through the water, even if the toy is moving very fast. Triggering the start of the water release to match the launch of the toy insures that ample water is available at the time the toy is most likely to be travelling through the released water.
The embodiment of the playset shown in
As best seen in
Some embodiments of playset 10 may further include a toy vehicle catcher, such as spin dry assembly 30. The spin dry assembly 30 may be operable to receive toy vehicle 200 and retain it while it is spun dry. When spinning is completed, the spin dry assembly 30 may be operable to position toy vehicle 200 for discharge from playset 10. Toy vehicle catcher 100 is shown spaced from track segment 22 in
Track assembly 18 may further include a second opening 32 approximately sized such that toy vehicle 200 can pass through. A trapdoor 34 may be hingedly attached to the track assembly 18 and may be movable between a closed position in which trapdoor 34 is positioned in the second opening and aligned with and forms a part of track assembly 18, and an open position (shown in dashed lines in
Playset 10 may include a first reservoir 36 positioned below first opening 28 and/or a second reservoir 38 positioned below second opening 32. First and second reservoir 36, 38 may be detachable from playset 10 and may be used to fill dispenser assembly 12 and/or hold fluid material. For example, first and/or second reservoir 36, 38 may include a curved lip portion 40 and/or a handle 42 to facilitate pouring water.
Playset 10 may further include accessories for use with playset 10. For example, playset 10 may include a pen 44 having an elongated chamber 46 configured to hold water, a valve and a foam tip, such that a user can fill pen 44 with water and squeeze to decorate toy vehicle 200. Toy vehicle catcher 30 may define one or more tool receptacles which receive and support a plurality of alternative tools, such as pen 44, for convenient access and storage.
Dispenser assembly 12 may be supported above first opening 28 in track assembly 18 by a first support member 48 and a second support member 50 and may be configured to releasably support quantities of material capable of fluid motion, including, but not limited to, water, compressed air, confetti, and/or glitter into the travel path of a launched toy and/or track assembly 18. Accordingly, dispenser assembly 12 may be distal launcher 14 and adjacent a portion of the travel path of the launched toy vehicle and/or track assembly 18.
Dispenser assembly 12 may include a dispenser 52, also referred to as a tank or a hopper. A cascade member 54 may be joined to a lower portion 56 of dispenser 52. Dispenser assembly 12 may further include a splash guard 58 adjacent dispenser 52 to minimize dispersement of fluid material around playset 10. A lid 60 may be hingedly joined to dispenser 52 having an open position (shown in relief in
Turning now to
As best seen in
Turning now to
For example, housing trigger platform 68 may operably connect to a track trigger arm 72a across point A between housing 62 and track segment 22. Track trigger arm 72a may be operably connected to a track trigger element 72a via a track trigger rod 70a and a second track trigger arm 72a′, all contained within track segment 22.
Laterally moveable track trigger element 72a may operably connect to a base trigger arm 72b across point B between track segment 22 and base 20. Base trigger arm 72b may be operably connected to a second base trigger arm 72b′ via a base trigger rod 70b.
Second base trigger arm 72b′ may operably connect to a support trigger arm 72c across point C between base 20 and support member 48. Support trigger arm 72c may be operably connected to a second support trigger arm 72c′ via a support trigger rod 70c.
Turning now to
For example, a pivotable trigger arm 72, such as second support trigger arm 72c′ may be in operable contact with a laterally moveable release element 82. Release element 82 may be biased by biasing member 83 and may releasably engage or lock with a first pivotable release arm 84 via hooks 86 and 88 (
First pivotable release arm 84 may be in operable contact with a second pivotable release arm 94. Pivotable movement of second pivotable release arm 94 may impact against stopper 96 and may force stopper 96 from a closed position wherein fluid material can not escape dispenser 52 (
Cascade member 54 disposed below moveable stopper 96 may include perforations 100 in one or more areas such that fluid material released from dispenser 52 is falls through perforations 100. The number and size of the perforations 100 may be configured to prolong the release of water from dispenser 52, ensuring that some water may fall on a launched or moving toy vehicle despite distance from launcher 14. The cascade member 54 and/or perforations 100 may be configured such that water falling from tank 14 has a twin waterfall effect (
As explained above, a particularly fun play pattern using playset 10 may include a thermochromic toy vehicle that changes color. For example, a user may decorate toy vehicle 200 with pen 44 to change selected portions of a thermochromic coating, and then launch the decorated vehicle under the water fall to change the colors of the vehicle yet again.
One or more elements of playset 10 may represent a human-like character, licensed character, copyrighted character, or any other suitable fantasy or real-life character or may represent a real-life or fantasy theme. For example, playset 10 may be configured to represent a garage wherein a user may rinse toy vehicle 200 or customize the color of toy vehicle 200 including hydro-chromatic or thermo-chromatic paint.
The various components of playset 10 may be fabricated from any suitable material, such as plastic, foamed plastic, flexible plastic, one or more layers of fabric, wood, cardboard, pressed paper, metal, or any combination of materials. A suitable material or combination of materials may be selected to provide a desirable synergy of weight, strength, durability, cost, and/or manufacturability. Several aspects of this exemplary method of game play may be modified from that disclosed above. Play may thus be configured to provide a game with a desired degree of complexity or difficulty, for example to adapt the game to players of a predetermined age range.
It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While an example of each of these inventions has been disclosed in a preferred form, the specific examples thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the disclosures includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Similarly, where “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof is recited, such usage should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
Inventions embodied in various combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through presentation of claims in a related application. Such claims, whether they are directed to different inventions or directed to the same invention, whether different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the other claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/172,581, which was filed on Apr. 24, 2009 and is entitled “TOY TRACK SET WITH A WATER TANK”. The complete disclosure of the above-identified patent application is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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