Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6358112
-
Patent Number
6,358,112
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, August 3, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 19, 200223 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Ackun, Jr.; Jacob K.
- Cegielnik; Urszula M.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 446 429
- 446 444
- 446 168
- 446 169
- 446 173
- 446 174
- 446 446
- 446 228
- 446 304
- 446 75
- 446 76
- 446 77
- 463 58
- 463 59
- 463 60
- 463 68
- 238 10 A
- 238 10 B
- 238 10 C
- 238 10 F
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A toy vehicle trackway set includes a launcher and an entrance track coupled to a stunt loop which in turn supports an exit track. Freely rolling toy vehicles are launched from the toy vehicle launcher to traverse the stunt loop and exit via the exit track. A toy vehicle trap configured to generally resemble a fanciful monster or alien is supported upon the stunt loop and includes a bistable pivotally secured head. The head is pivotable between a first stable position in which toy vehicles are able to avoid the trap and traverse the loop and a second capture position in which toy vehicles are diverted from the track loop into the head of the alien or monster. The bistable support of the pivotal head causes the head to move from its non capture position to a capture position when a sufficient amount of energy has been transferred from a toy vehicle traversing the stunt loop to the trap mechanism.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to toy vehicle trackway and particularly to those which utilize a stunt feature to improve and enhance the amusement and play value of the trackway set.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Toy vehicle trackway sets are well known in the art and have enjoyed long term popularity. The result of this long term popularity together with the creativity of practitioners in the toy arts has resulted in the creation of a virtually endless variety of trackway sets. Despite this variation, virtually all toy vehicle trackway sets may be seen to include several basic elements. The first of these elements is the trackway itself which is typically formed to define some sort of travel path and is fabricated having side walls or other structures which confine a toy vehicle to traversing the trackway. The second general element of toy vehicle trackway sets is the toy vehicle itself which has been subject to substantial variation. Thus, toy vehicles have varied from free wheeling unpowered vehicles to toy vehicles which have some source of loco-motion or power. Typical of such toy vehicle power systems are battery powered electric motor driven vehicles, spring motor driven vehicles or inertial motor vehicles. The final element of the basic toy vehicle trackway set may be generally described as a vehicle launcher. In early toy vehicle playsets utilizing free wheeling toy vehicles, a gravity powered launcher or ramp was typically used. Over the years a variety of spring loaded toy vehicle launchers have been provided for free wheeling toy vehicles. For self-powered vehicles, launchers have been provided which may be described as “hold and release” launchers in which the vehicle is somehow restrained as the powering system is energized after which the toy vehicle is released to traverse the trackway.
Early on in the development of toy vehicle trackway sets, practitioners realized that continued popularity of such products required more interest, amusement and play value than is typically provided by the standard toy vehicle trackway set. In response to this need, practitioners endeavored to provide greater excitement in toy vehicle tracksets. These endorsees included faster and more exciting vehicles, more exciting and amusing launcher devices as well as more complex trackways. The latter often took the form of complex curves or loops. A more resent development in vehicle trackway sets has been the inclusion of various devices which may be generally described as “stunts”. Such stunt devices have included jump/ramp combinations, various spinning or whirling apparatus operative upon the toy vehicles or interactive items which are supplemental to the toy vehicle trackway set and which interact with the vehicles. Such interactive devices have included various obstacles, gates or swinging ramps which often alter the travel path of the toy vehicles.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,867 issued to Hippely sets forth a TOY VEHICLE TRACKWAY SET having a base member defining a circular ramp, a vehicle loop and a straight track segment together with a vehicle receiving net. The trackway is assembled in configuration in which a self-powered toy vehicle traverses the trackway and the loop therein and is launched from the ramp toward the receiving net in a jumping stunt.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,685 issued to Udagawa which sets forth TOYS having a trackway playset utilizing a plurality of self-powered toy figures which are capable of traversing the trackway. An animated figure includes a movable head supporting a magnet and is configured to resemble a large dog. Each of the animals traversing the trackway support a cooperating magnet on the upper surface thereof. As each animal ends its travel upon the trackway it is picked up by the large animal figure and returned to the trackway start position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,969 issued to Zaruba sets forth a LOOP FEATURE FOR PROPELLED TOY VEHICLES includes a generally vertically oriented loop having a movable ingress portion and a movable egress portion. A propelled toy vehicle enters the loop upon engaging one surface of the ingress portion. Player operable controls effect movement of the egress portion to permit the propelled toy vehicle to exit the loop. Both moveable portions have a free end and a connected end. The connected end of each movable portion is hingely connected to each end of a fixed arcuate portion. Within the loop, provision is made for propelling the toy vehicle as it continues to go around the loop.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,053 issued to Cook et al. sets forth a MULTIFUNCTION TOY STUNT SET which is capable of formation of a loop and ramps for use during play with toy vehicles. To tower members with engaging grooves are mounted on a base and a frame having flexible sheet pieces is positioned between the tower members. A rod at the end of the flexible member may be inserted into the grooves in order to form a loop and ramps.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,350 issued to Hippely et al. sets forth a TRACK FOR TOY VEHICLES shaped to resemble a snake. The track has a tail end and a head end. The head end forms a mouth while the tail end is joined to a gravity ramp secured to a convenient item such as a table or chair. A toy vehicle is accelerated down the ramp and traverses the trackway which resembles the body of a snake and exits the trackway through the mouth formed in snakes head.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,363 issued to Udagawa sets forth a TRACK TOY having a spiral track mounted upon a large figure. The large figure resembles a robot and interacts with a plurality of smaller robots which traverse the track.
U.S. Pat. No. Des.289,666 issued to Udagawa et al. sets forth a TOY TRACKWAY OR SIMILAR ARTICLE having a multiply curved generally spiral track supported by a large ramp tower. The ramp tower includes a continuous belt which raises items from the lowest point of the trackway to the highest point on the trackway. As items traverse the trackway, they are returned to the ramp and thereafter raised to the start position once again.
U.S. Pat. No. Des.262,048 issued to Kato sets forth a TOY TRACKWAY HAVING MOVING ANIMATED COMPONENTS while U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,106 issued to Lidert, Jr. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,778,433 issued to Mc Kay et al. both set forth a toy figure having the ability to extend a tongue or similar element to interact with a toy figure.
While to foregoing described prior art devices have improved the art and in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for evermore interesting, amusing and entertaining toy vehicle trackway sets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle trackway set. It is more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle trackway set which includes an amusing and entertaining stunt feature. It is a still more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle trackway set which utilizes the stunt feature to facilitate a competitive play between two or more players.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a toy vehicle trackway set comprising: a toy vehicle launcher and a plurality of toy vehicles; an entrance track coupled to the toy vehicle launcher; and a stunt loop having a track loop coupled to the entrance track and a toy vehicle trap supported by the track loop having a pivotable head defining a scoop, the head pivotable between a non capture position in which the toy vehicles pass the head upon the track loop and a capture position in which the toy vehicles are captured by the head.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which:
FIG. 1
sets forth a perspective view of a toy vehicle trackway set constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2
sets forth a side elevation view of the stunt feature of the present invention toy vehicle trackway set;
FIG. 3
sets forth a perspective assembly view of the vehicle snatching toy figure of the present invention toy vehicle trackway set;
FIG. 4
sets forth a partial perspective assembly view showing the assembly of the vehicle snatching toy figure to the trackway.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1
sets forth a perspective view of a trackway set constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral
10
. Trackway set
10
includes a stunt loop
11
having a base
13
supporting a pair of loop tracks
17
and
18
joined at their upper ends to a trap support
15
. Loop tracks
17
and
18
are preferably formed of a flexible plastic material and readily bend into the arcuate shape necessary for forming stunt loop
11
. Stunt loop
11
further includes a supporting base
13
which receives the lower ends of loop tracks
17
and
18
. Base
13
further defines an entrance ramp
51
joined to loop track
17
and an exit ramp
52
joined to loop track
18
. An exit track
14
extends from a ramp
52
while an entrance track
12
is coupled to entrance ramp
51
.
A toy vehicle launcher
20
which may be constructed in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques such as the launcher manufactured and sold by Mattel, Inc., El Segundo, Calif. under the trademark “Hot Wheels” and described as a Rapid Fire Launcher. Launcher
20
includes a striker
22
and a launcher magazine
21
. A plurality of toy vehicles such as toy vehicle
27
are positioned for successive launches from launcher
20
. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of toy vehicle launchers may be utilized in the present invention trackway set. The essential function of the launcher used is the acceleration of a toy vehicle down entrance track
12
with sufficient velocity and energy to traverse stunt loop
11
and exit therefrom via exit track
14
. Thus, launcher
20
may include a downwardly extending gravity ramp of the type well known in the art or alternatively a spring loaded power launcher such as launcher
20
. A toy vehicle
23
is shown accelerated toward stunt loop
11
from launcher
20
along entrance ramp
12
in the direction indicated by arrow
24
. In the preferred fabrication of the present invention, a launcher of the type shown is utilized which has the capability of rapidly firing a succession of toy vehicles. A toy vehicle
25
is shown traversing stunt loop
11
in the direction indicated by arrow
26
having been previously fired from launcher
20
.
In accordance with the present invention, stunt loop
11
includes a toy vehicle trap
30
. It will be noted that toy vehicle trap
30
is shaped to provide an appearance suggestive of a fanciful creature such as an alien monster or the like. It will be equally apparent that trap
30
may be fabricated in accordance with a variety of appearances and themes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Trap
30
includes a body
31
formed of a pair of body portions
60
and
70
40
in the assembly drawings shown in FIG.
3
. Suffice it to note here, that body
31
includes an attachment
37
secured to trap support
15
on one side of loop track
17
together with a claw
33
securing body
31
to trap support
15
on the opposite side of loop track
18
. Body
31
includes a claw
32
supported by an arm
34
joined to body
31
together with a pair of legs
35
and
36
. Body
31
further includes an arm
38
joined to claw
33
. Trap
30
further includes a head
40
pivotally secured to body
31
by a hinge
43
. Head
40
is pivotally movable in the directions indicated by arrows
44
and
45
. The structure of head
40
is set forth below in greater detail in FIG.
2
. However, suffice it to note here, that head
40
includes a scoop
42
and a curved jaw
41
. Further, suffice it to note that head
40
is pivotable about hinge
43
in the direction indicated by arrow
45
in which scoop
42
is removed from track loop
18
and is oppositely pivotable in the direction indicated by arrow
44
in which scoop
42
is close to loop track
18
. Thus in one position of head
40
, trap
30
will capture a toy vehicle such as toy vehicle
25
attempting to traverse the stunt loop. Conversely, in the opposite position scoop
42
is removed from loop track
18
a sufficient distance to allow a toy vehicle such as toy vehicle
25
to pass between head
40
and loop track
18
thereby completing its transit of stunt loop
11
and exiting via track
14
. It will be further noted and is described below in greater detail, the balance of hinge
40
is maintained by the position of head
43
such that head
40
is marginally stable in the pivotal position indicated by arrow
45
. Thus, slight disturbances of stunt loop
11
cause head
40
to move in the direction indicated by arrow
44
. This forms an important aspect of the play pattern of the present invention trackway set.
In operation, head
40
is initially pivoted in the direction indicated by arrow
45
which allows a toy vehicle to complete its transit of stunt loop
11
. Thereafter, the child or in the event of multiple players children utilize launcher
20
to launch one or more toy vehicles down track
12
into stunt loop
11
. As a toy vehicle encounters stunt loop
11
the energy thereof imparts a certain amount of energy to stunt loop
11
disturbing its position slightly. The degree of disturbance is determined by the vehicle velocity and its mass. As children become more skilled in utilizing the present invention trackway set, they are able to choose whether or not the particular toy vehicle they launch toward stunt loop
11
disturbs head
40
or simply passes through leaving head
40
in its clearance position. If sufficient energy is supplied to stunt loop
11
to disturb head
40
, head
40
pivots in the direction indicated by arrow
44
. As a result, the next car subsequently launched will be captured by scoop
42
. One potential play pattern is provided as child users take turns launching vehicles from launcher
20
with the objective being the skillful avoidance of triggering the pivotal movement of head
40
. Alternatively, the objective may be to trigger head
40
to its trapping position in order to cause the trapping of the opposing players next launched toy vehicle. In the preferred operation of trap
30
, a toy vehicle transferring sufficient energy to stunt loop
11
to trigger the pivotal movement of head
40
to its trapping position (in the direction indicated by arrow
44
) is able to traverse loop track
17
and loop track
18
and avoid head
40
. As a result, a toy vehicle triggering the trapping action of trap
30
is not itself trapped but rather positions trap
30
in the capture position for the next toy vehicle traversing stunt loop
11
.
FIG. 2
sets forth a side elevation view of stunt loop
11
. Stunt loop
11
shows trap
30
in the cocked position in which a toy vehicle is able to traverse the stunt loop without being captured by trap
30
.
More specifically, stunt loop
11
includes a base
13
preferably formed of a molded plastic material or the like having an entrance ramp
51
supported by a strut
53
and coupled to an entrance track
12
. Base
13
further includes an exit ramp
52
supported by a strut
54
and coupled to an exit track
14
. A loop track
17
is coupled to ramp
51
while a loop
18
is coupled to ramp
52
. Loop tracks
17
and
18
are preferably formed of a resilient material such as molded plastic or the like and are thus bent to arcuate shapes and are joined to trap support
15
. The attachment of entrance track
12
, exit track
14
, loop track
17
and loop track
18
are provided by conventional track attachment mechanism (not shown).
In accordance with the present invention, stunt loop
11
includes a trap
30
having a body
31
. Body
31
is formed of a pair of body portions
60
and
70
together with a head
40
assembled in the manner shown below in FIG.
3
. Suffice it to note here, that body
31
includes an arm
34
having a claw
32
and an attachment
37
joined thereto. Body
31
further includes downwardly extending legs
35
and
36
together with an arm
38
. Arm
38
in turn defines a claw
33
. By means set forth below in
FIG. 4
in greater detail, attachment
37
and claw
33
are secured to trap support
15
. Thus, trap
30
is entirely supported upon trap support
15
by attachment
37
and claw
33
. Trap
30
further includes a head
40
having a jaw
41
and a scoop
42
pivotally secured to body portions
60
and
70
by a hinge
43
in the manner set forth below in
FIG. 3
in greater detail.
In operation, a toy vehicle such as toy vehicle
29
is accelerated into stunt loop
11
via entrance track
12
in the direction indicated by arrow
27
. After passing across ramp
51
, toy vehicle
29
continues under its own momentum and curves upwardly in the direction indicated by arrow
28
upon loop track
17
. With head
40
in the cocked position shown in
FIG. 2
, toy vehicle
29
is able to continue past trap support
15
and loop track
18
across ramp
52
and outwardly via exit track
14
. In accordance with the anticipated game play, the mass and velocity of toy vehicle
29
as it enters and traverses stunt loop
11
determines whether head
40
is disturbed from the cocked position shown in
FIG. 2
by a sufficient amount to pivot in the direction indicated by arrow
50
about hinge
43
. Should this pivoting of head
40
occur, head
40
assumes the position shown in phantom line depiction in FIG.
2
. Also shown in
FIG. 2
, is the trapping of a toy vehicle which has entered stunt loop
11
following the pivoting of head
40
to its capture position. Thus, a succession of cars is able to traverse stunt loop
11
so long as the energy they impart to stunt loop
11
does not disturb head
40
by a sufficient amount to cause it to flip to the capture position. In the preferred fabrication of the present invention, the position of head
40
with respect to hinge
43
is selected to assure that head
40
is close to the position at which the weight of head
40
passes “over-center” with respect to hinge
43
making the support of head
40
in the non capture position shown in solid line in
FIG. 2
, a relatively delicate and easily disturbed configuration. When head
40
pivots about hinge
43
to its capture position, a stop tab
75
formed on body portion
70
cooperates with a stop
48
to limit the capture position of head
40
. Thus, head
40
is essentially a “bistable” mechanism which is stable either in the non capture position shown in solid line representation in
FIG. 2
or in the capture position shown in phantom representation in
FIG. 2
but is unstable at any position therebetween. This assures that head
40
will either assume the non capture position or the capture position and will not remain at any position therebetween.
FIG. 3
sets forth a perspective assembly view of trap
30
. As mentioned above, trap
30
is fabricated of three major components which are secured to trap support
15
(seen in FIG.
4
). Thus, trap
30
includes a body portion
60
having an attachment
37
and a claw
32
extending from an arm
34
. Body portion
60
further includes a leg
35
and an upwardly extending fence
68
. Body portion
60
further includes a pair of extending posts
62
and
67
together with a pair of generally cylindrical bosses
63
and
65
. Bosses
63
and
65
define respective bores
64
and
66
.
A head
40
defines a pair of apertures
46
and
47
together with a jaw
41
and a scoop
42
. Aperture
46
is received upon post
67
during the assembly of trap
30
.
A body portion
70
includes a claw
33
supported by a arm
38
and a leg
36
. Body portion
70
further includes a plurality of extending posts
72
,
73
and
74
together with a stop tab
75
. Head
40
further includes a stop
48
which cooperates with stop tab
75
to limit the pivotal position of head
40
with respect to body portion
70
in the capture position shown in phantom depiction in FIG.
2
. Body portion
70
further includes a post
71
extending from the under side of claw
33
.
Trap
30
is assembled by positioning head
40
upon body portion
60
in the manner shown such that post
67
is received within aperture
46
. Thereafter, body portion
70
is assembled to body portion
60
by insertion of posts
72
and
73
into bores
64
and
66
respectively of bosses
63
and
65
. Correspondingly, the assembly of body portion
70
to body portion
60
passes post
74
through aperture
47
of head
40
completing the hinge attachment between head
40
and body portions
60
and
70
. Fence
68
cooperates with scoop
42
in the capture of a toy vehicle as set forth above in FIG.
2
. When thus assembled, trap
30
may be joined to trap support
15
of stunt loop
11
in the manner set forth below in FIG.
4
.
FIG. 4
sets forth a partial perspective assembly view of stunt loop
11
showing the attachment of trap
30
to trap support
15
. As described above, trap support
15
joins loop track
17
to loop track
18
using conventional attachment (not shown). Trap support
15
further defines a pair of bores
80
and
81
. Trap
30
having been assembled in the manner described above in
FIG. 3
, includes body portions
60
and
70
having arms
34
and
38
supporting attachment
37
and claw
33
respectively. Head
40
having jaw
41
is pivotally supported between body portions
60
and
70
as described above in FIG.
3
. Attachment
37
includes a post
62
receivable within bore
81
of trap support
15
while claw
33
includes a post
71
receivable within bore
80
of trap support
15
. For stable assembly, post
62
and post
71
enter trap support
15
from opposite sides thereof. Once attachment
37
and claw
33
are fully secured to trap support
15
, the assembly of stunt loop
11
is complete.
What has been shown is a novel toy vehicle trackway set having a capture feature which performs in a novel manner and which is presented in an aesthetically pleasing and exciting manner. The capture of a toy vehicle traversing the stunt loop is provided by a trap having a pivotally secured head which moves to a capture position in a relatively unpredictable manner. Thus, the conventional toy trackway play pattern is enhanced by the additional aspect of impact or energy consideration to be made with the desire to either trigger a vehicle capture or avoid it on any given toy vehicle launch.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A toy vehicle trackway set comprising:a toy vehicle launcher and a plurality of toy vehicles; an entrance track coupled to said toy vehicle launcher; and a stunt loop having a track loop coupled to said entrance track and a toy vehicle trap supported by said track loop having a pivotable head defining a scoop, said head pivotable between a non capture position in which said toy vehicles pass said head upon said track loop and a capture position in which said toy vehicles are captured by said head and held within said scoop removed from said stunt loop.
- 2. The toy vehicle trackway set set forth in claim 1 wherein said toy vehicle trap includes:a body having a pair of arms supporting said toy vehicle trap within said track loop; and a hinge pivotally supporting said head upon said body.
- 3. A toy vehicle trackway set comprising:a toy vehicle track having a vertical loop formed therein; first and second toy vehicles; a toy vehicle launcher coupled to said track for successively launching said first and second toy vehicles onto said track and through said loop; and a toy vehicle trap having a body supported within said loop and a head, pivotally joined to said body, defining a scoop for capturing a toy vehicle, said scoop of said head being between a first non capture position in which said scoop is spaced from said loop a sufficient distance to allow said toy vehicle to pass said scoop and being disturbed and pivoted by the disturbance produced by the passing of said first toy vehicle traversing said loop to a second capture position in which said scoop captures and holds said second toy vehicle traversing said loop after said first toy vehicle.
- 4. The toy vehicle trackway set set forth in claim 3 wherein said body includes a pair of arms joined to said loop and wherein said body hangs from said arms.
- 5. The toy vehicle trackway set set forth in claim 4 wherein said head generally resembles a creature head and wherein said scoop defines a curved surface and a cavity within said head.
- 6. The toy vehicle trackway set set forth in claim 5 wherein said loop includes:a base having an entrance ramp and an exit ramp; a pair of curved tracks having first ends coupled to said exit ramp and said entrance ramp and second ends; and a trap support joined to said second ends to form said loop.
- 7. The toy vehicle trackway set forth in claim 6 wherein said arms are joined to said trap support.
- 8. The toy vehicle trackway set set forth in claim 7 wherein said head is bistable and defines a bistable characteristic between said first and second positions and is stable in either said first or second positions while being generally unstable therebetween.
US Referenced Citations (10)