Patent Application
20220219095
The present invention relates generally to toy vehicles, and in particular, auto transport trailers and haulers for toy vehicles.
Toy vehicles have long been enjoyed by people of all ages. Numerous tracks, playsets, and accessories have been created to further enhance the enjoyment and play value of toy vehicles. One such accessory is a toy auto transport trailer or hauler that a child can use to store and transport multiple toy vehicles. While there are many toy vehicle haulers and transport trailers in the art, there is still a need for toy vehicle haulers with novel features that can stimulate new and creative play activities with toy vehicles.
A toy vehicle hauler is described herein that can transform between a transport configuration for storing and transporting toy vehicles and a raceway configuration that provides a track for toy vehicles to race along. In one or more embodiments, the transformable toy vehicle hauler comprises a trailer portion that includes three or more trailer sections pivotably coupled end-to-end. A cabin portion is connected to the trailer portion and includes a toy vehicle launcher. The toy vehicle hauler is capable of being configured in a transport configuration where the three or more trailer sections are folded together in a zigzag pattern and a raceway configuration where the three or more trailer sections are unfolded to form a straight track.
More specifically, while the toy vehicle hauler is in the transport configuration, the three or more trailer sections are stacked one on top of the other. While the toy vehicle hauler is in the raceway configuration, the three or more trailer sections are positioned linearly end-to-end. Furthermore, the cabin portion is connected to one of the trailer sections and the toy vehicle launcher is configured to launch one or more toy vehicles onto the trailer section connected to the cabin portion while the toy vehicle hauler is in the raceway configuration. In one or more instances, the cabin portion includes a pivotable actuator for activating the toy vehicle launcher.
In one or more further embodiments, the toy vehicle hauler comprises a trailer portion that includes two or more storage sections and one or more bridge sections. The two or more storage sections and the one or more bridge sections are pivotably coupled end-to-end in an arrangement that alternates between the storage sections and bridge sections. A cabin portion is further connected to the trailer portion and includes a toy vehicle launcher. The toy vehicle hauler is capable of being configured in a transport configuration where the alternating arrangement of storage sections and bridge sections are folded together in a zigzag pattern and a raceway configuration where the alternating arrangement of storage sections and bridge sections are unfolded to form a straight track.
In certain embodiments, each storage section includes a hollow space for storing toy vehicles and each bridge section includes a center support on an underside of the bridge section that helps support the bridge section when the toy vehicle hauler is in the raceway configuration. Furthermore, each storage section includes an opening on an underside of the storage section for receiving the center support of a bridge section while the toy vehicle hauler is in the transport configuration.
In yet another embodiment, the toy vehicle hauler comprises a trailer portion that includes three or more trailer sections pivotably coupled end-to-end. A cabin portion is connected to the trailer portion and includes a toy vehicle launcher configured to launch a toy vehicle onto one of the three of more trailer sections. The toy vehicle hauler includes rotatable wheels and is capable of being configured in a transport configuration and a raceway configuration. In the transport configuration, the three or more trailer sections are folded together one on top of the other in a zigzag pattern. In the raceway configuration, the three or more trailer sections are positioned linearly end-to-end to form a straight track.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating some embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the present invention includes all such modifications.
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout:
A toy vehicle hauler that transforms into a raceway for toy vehicles is provided.
More specifically, the five trailer sections 106-110 of trailer portion 104 consist of three storage sections 106, 108, 110 and two bridge sections 107, 109. Each storage section 106, 108, 110 has a hollow space for storing toy vehicles 121 and multiple openings 122 on the left and right sides of the storage section that provide access to the hollow space. The openings 122 are shaped with angular barrier walls 123 that help retain toy vehicles 121 within the storage sections, while still allowing toy vehicles 121 to be easily inserted and removed from the hollow space. In other embodiments, the trailer portion of the toy vehicle hauler comprises three or more trailer sections consisting of different combinations of storage and bridge sections. A minimum of three or more trailer sections is required so that the trailer sections can be folded into a zigzag pattern, as will be described in further detail below.
Storage sections 106, 108, 110 and the bridge sections 107, 109 are pivotably coupled end-to-end in an arrangement that alternates between the storage sections 106, 108, 110 and bridge sections 107, 109. In other words, one end of storage section 106 is pivotably coupled to one end of bridge section 107 via hinge 111, the other end of bridge section 107 is pivotably coupled to one end of storage section 108 via hinge 112, the other end of storage section 108 is pivotably coupled to one end of bridge section 109 via hinge 113, and the other end of bridge section 109 is pivotably coupled to one end of storage section 110 via hinge 114. The end-to-end coupling of trailer sections 106-110 allows trailer sections 106-110 to be folded together in a zigzag pattern or accordion-type fold while toy vehicle hauler 100 is in its transport configuration A. As shown in
Toy vehicle hauler 100 can be transformed into a raceway configuration B (see
Each bridge section 107, 109 further has a support 128, 129 on an underside or bottom of the bridge section. Supports 128, 129 help prop respective bridge sections 107, 109 and keep the top surfaces of bridge sections 107, 109 level with the top surfaces of storage sections 106, 108, 110 while toy vehicle hauler 100 is in the raceway configuration B (see
Cabin portion 102 includes a toy vehicle launcher 118 that is positioned to launch toy vehicles onto and along straight track 130. As shown in
Toy vehicle hauler 100 can be transformed from raceway configuration B back to transport configuration A by lifting trailer sections 106-110 towards cabin portion 102 using handle 116 and folding trailer sections 106-110 together one on top of the other in a zigzag pattern. Hinges 111-114 ensure trailer sections 106-110 are folded correctly when transforming back to transport configuration A. Furthermore, the length of ramp 124 is less than the height of the stacked trailer sections 106-110 (see
Although the disclosed inventions are illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventions and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
Moreover, it is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer” and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points or portions of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration. Further, the term “exemplary” may be used herein to describe an example or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as exemplary is not to be construed as a preferred or advantageous embodiment, but rather as one example or illustration of a possible embodiment of the invention. Finally, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiments.
