Patent ID: 7815486
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: A63H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A spring-powered toy, comprising: a spring-powered toy vehicle, the spring-powered toy vehicle including: further comprising a guide and groove assembly connected with and between the front body portion and the rear body portion, the guide and groove assembly being operable to allow the front body portion to separate from the rear body portion in an axial direction; wherein the spring has two opposing ends and further includes two attachment mechanisms, each attachment mechanism connected at one of the ends, and further comprising two spring receptacles, wherein one spring receptacle is formed in the front body portion and another spring receptacle is formed in the rear body portion, wherein each attachment mechanism is formed to connect with a corresponding spring receptacle such that the spring can be detachably attached between the front body portion and the rear body portion by detachably attaching each attachment mechanism with its corresponding spring receptacle; further comprising a thumb notch formed on the front body portion for allowing a user to stabilize the toy vehicle while pulling the rear body portion from the front body portion; further comprising a handle attached with the rear body portion for allowing a user to grasp the handle and pull the rear body portion from the front body portion, whereby when a user places a thumb in the thumb notch and with another hand grasps the handle and extents the rear body portion of the spring-powered toy vehicle away from the front body portion and thereafter lets go of the handle, the spring-powered toy vehicle is propelled forward in a direction of travel; and wherein the front body portion includes both a front frame portion and a front shell portion, wherein the front shell portion is hingedly connected with the front frame portion such that the front shell portion operates as a flip-top that allows users to flip open the front body portion to have access to the spring; wherein the toy vehicle is formed in a shape to represent a vehicle selected from a group consisting of an auto, a truck, a motorcycle, a construction vehicle, and a plane; further comprising a cylinder positioned around the spring to provide protection for the spring and structural support for the spring-powered toy vehicle; further comprising a launcher that is formed to connect with the toy vehicle and launch the toy vehicle; and wherein the toy vehicle includes an underside with a notch and further includes a handle peg attached with the rear body portion, and wherein the launcher further comprises: