Abstract:
The present invention relates to a spring-powered toy vehicle with a front body portion, a separable rear body portion, rotating wheels and a spring propulsion system. When the rear body portion is pulled away from the front body portion and released, the spring will pull the rear body portion back into the front body portion, thereby causing the vehicle to move forward. Parallel vehicle guides prevent the rear movable body portion from pulling away in a non-axial direction, thus guiding the propelled toy vehicle in a straight line. Other aspects provide interchangeable and replaceable springs, and body portions. Additionally, vehicle choices include autos, trucks, motorcycles, planes, and construction equipment. A launcher is included that provides a stable platform for launching the vehicles and additionally imparts, through a peg and notch assembly and a spring-loaded plunger, additional kinetic energy for propulsion.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This is a non-provisional patent application claiming the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/852,913, filed on Oct. 18, 2006, titled, “Spring-Powered Toy Vehicle,” also claiming the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/853,527, filed on Oct. 20, 2006, titled, “Self-Propelled Toy Vehicle,” and also claiming the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/873,763, filed on Jan. 4, 2007, titled “Spring-Actuated Self-Propelled Toy Vehicle”. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    (1) Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to the field of toy vehicles and, more specifically, to a spring-powered toy vehicle that uses a spring to propel the toy vehicle forward and also includes a launcher to initiate its propulsion. 
         [0004]    (2) Background 
         [0005]    Toy vehicles are numerous and have existed for many years. Self-propelled toy vehicles have been developed that contain a mechanism for driving the toy vehicle forward without requiring manual force. Many self-propelled toy vehicles have complex mechanisms and propulsion devices that lack durability or require expensive, complex electronics. A simple, inexpensive spring-powered toy vehicle with few moving parts that is durable and is fun for children to play with would be welcomed by children and the toy industry. 
         [0006]    Thus, a continuing need exists for a spring-powered toy vehicle that uses a simple spring to propel the toy vehicle forward. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention relates to a toy vehicle that is spring-powered. The spring-powered toy vehicle (for brevity called herein the “vehicle” or the “toy vehicle”) has a front body portion with at least one wheel rotatably attached thereto and a separable rear body portion that also has at least one wheel rotatably attached thereto. A spring that connects with the front body portion and the rear body portion provides a propulsive force, such that when the rear body portion is pulled away from the front body portion, potential energy is created. When the rear body portion is released, the potential energy is converted to kinetic energy and the spring pulls the rear body portion into the front body portion. When the rear body portion impacts the front body portion, the kinetic energy is transferred to the front body portion propelling the entire vehicle forward quite rapidly. In an additional aspect, the spring is detachable and in another aspect the spring is interchangeable with springs of varying strengths. The vehicles have a right and left side. 
         [0008]    A connecting rod and in one aspect a cylinder that contains the connecting rod, provides structural support for the spring, and parallel vehicle guides in another aspect prevent the rear movable body portion from pulling away in a non-axial direction, so that the toy vehicle will only be propelled in a straight line direction while twisting force on the spring is prevented. The vehicle guides are also designed to allow the front and rear body portions to have a maximum separation when the rear is pulled away from the front while at the same time allowing separation of the two portions. In another embodiment there are two vehicle guides, one on the left side of the vehicle and one on the right side of the vehicle and the two vehicle guides are comprised of tongue and groove assemblies. 
         [0009]    In another aspect the vehicle can be an auto, a truck, a motorcycle, a plane or a construction vehicle. Non-limiting examples of construction vehicles include a wheeled bull-dozer and a road-grader. Also provided for in this invention is a plurality of different versions of like vehicles. The rear body portion has a posterior and anterior end that can be detached from the front body portion, which also has a posterior and anterior end. The front and rear body portions from different versions of like vehicles are interchangeable. In another aspect, the front body portion has a hinged flip top at its anterior end, allowing the top to flip up, permitting easy access to the spring inside. This invention also teaches a rear body portion with a front segment, a back segment and the front segment has a top. The front body portion in this version is detachably attached on top of the front segment of the rear body section. The front segment of the rear body portion comprises at least one wheel and the back segment also comprises at least one wheel and a spring. 
         [0010]    In a further aspect of the present invention, the spring-powered toy vehicle spring further comprises a spring assembly. The spring assembly comprises a connection rod sliding within a cylinder, surrounded by the spring. Both the cylinder and the connection rod contain end caps with a raised cylindrical band to which the spring attaches near each end of the assembly. Each end cap fits into a receptacle, one at the posterior end of the front body portion and the other into the anterior end of the rear body portion. One additional version of this invention has the raised cylindrical section on the cylinder at the cylinder end of the spring assembly, thus mandating only one end cap. 
         [0011]    The connection rod and cylinder force the spring to expand in an axial direction along the direction of travel of the spring-powered toy vehicle. In another aspect of the present invention, the spring assembly is removable. In a further aspect of the present invention, the spring assembly is made in a plurality of strengths and colors and each is interchangeable for any of the spring powered toy vehicles. 
         [0012]    In still another aspect of the present invention, the rear body portion further includes a handle for a user to grasp while pulling the rear body portion away from the front body portion. The front body portion has a top and on the top of the front body portion is a thumb notch. A user places a thumb on the thumb notch and then with the other hand of the user, the handle is grasped and the rear body portion is pulled away from the front body portion. 
         [0013]    A launcher version of the vehicle uses a launcher to launch the vehicle and necessitates that the handle comprise a peg oriented perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle. On this version, a notch is included on the bottom of the vehicle. The launcher provides a stable platform for launching the spring-powered toy vehicles. The launcher, having a launching end, a plunger end, and a closed interior. The launcher is comprised of a platform and ramp that includes an underside (contained in the closed interior of the launcher and is not visible to an observer) encased in a housing that has an axially oriented, spring-loaded plunger at the plunger end that is permitted to travel when it is pulled. Once released, the spring action returns it to its resting position. At the launching end of the ramp is a peg and slot assembly with an anterior and posterior end, the peg of the peg and slot assembly fits into the notch in the underside of the vehicle. The travel of the peg in the peg and slot assembly is less than the travel of the plunger. The peg travels with the vehicle when attached and moves as the plunger is pulled. Once the vehicle is released the peg returns to the anterior end of its slot. At the launching end of the plunger is a spring-loaded, hinged and pivoting u-shaped retaining receptacle that in its resting state is not allowed to pivot. The retaining receptacle is mounted on a rod that extends to the underside of the ramp (and hidden from view of an observer). Attached to the rod, on the underside of the ramp, is a rectangular plate that travels on the underside of the ramp with the plunger (as the plunger is pulled and returns) and the retaining receptacle. 
         [0014]    The vehicle is set into the launcher so that its notch is secured on the peg of the peg and slot assembly and the peg of the handle is secured in the retaining receptacle. When the plunger is pulled, the peg and slot allows limited travel of the front body portion until that limit is reached. The plunger travels more than the peg and slot, causing the spring in the vehicle to expand and creating potential energy. Once the peg of the peg and slot reaches its maximum travel point, and the vehicle becomes stretched to its limit, the rectangular plate beneath the retaining receptacle rides up a pair of humps in the underside of the ramp. This causes the rectangular plate to tilt up which, in turn, causes the retaining receptacle to pivot down, thus releasing the vehicle. The potential energy of the spring loaded peg and slot, the spring loaded plunger and the spring of the vehicle are combined and converted into kinetic energy causing the vehicle to leap from the launcher at a furious pace. 
         [0015]    In another aspect, the launcher has a base on its bottom and a tab is located at the launching end of the base. The tab is designed to fit into a slot on a track designed to accommodate the wheels of the vehicles. Once launched, the vehicles move on the track until the kinetic energy that drives them is spent. 
         [0016]    This invention also teaches a method for forming a spring-powered toy vehicle that comprises attaching at least one rotatable wheel to a front body portion and at least one rotatable wheel to a rear body portion. The method also includes an act of removably attaching the front and rear body portions allowing the body sections to touch and achieve a limited separation point. Additionally, the method includes an act of placing a spring between each of the front and rear body portions. 
         [0017]    Finally, as can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present invention further comprises a plurality of acts of forming and attaching the various parts of the toy vehicle and launcher described herein to arrive at the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the disclosed aspects of the invention in conjunction with reference to the following drawings, where: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a side-view illustration of a spring-powered toy vehicle according to the present invention, depicting a front body portion, a rear body portion, a spring and a handle; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a top-view illustration of the spring-powered toy vehicle in an expanded state, depicting the rear body portion connected with a spring, a connecting rod, and a pair of parallel vehicle guides; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a bottom-view illustration of the spring-powered toy vehicle in the expanded state, depicting the spring and a cylinder for the connection rod which supports the spring; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of the spring-powered toy vehicle with a shell portion opened to expose spring receptacles encased therein, also depicting the rear body portion disconnected from the front body portion, and exhibiting a rear body portion from a different like vehicle; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5 . is an illustration of a motorcycle version of the spring-powered toy vehicle in its expanded state; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of a motorcycle version of the vehicle with a removable front body portion that has been removed and also showing the front segment and the rear body portion; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of a motorcycle rear body portion and front segment, expanded to show the expanded spring assembly in detail; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is an illustration of a handle peg of the spring-powered toy vehicle secured with a u-shaped retaining receptacle at an anterior end of a plunger; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a perspective, side-view illustration of a launcher according to the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10A  is a top-view illustration of the launcher; 
           [0029]      FIG. 10B  is an illustration of an underside of a ramp of the launcher as viewed from an interior end of the launcher; 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  is a bottom-view illustration of the launcher; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating a method for forming a spring-powered toy vehicle according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]    The present invention relates to a spring-powered toy vehicle The following description, taken in conjunction with the referenced drawings, is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles, defined herein, may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. Furthermore, it should be noted that unless explicitly stated otherwise, the figures included herein are illustrated diagrammatically and without any specific scale, as they are provided as qualitative illustrations of the concept of the present invention. 
         [0033]    In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without necessarily being limited to these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. 
         [0034]    The reader&#39;s attention is directed to all papers and documents that are filed concurrently with this specification and are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification, (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
         [0035]    Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” or “act of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6. 
         [0036]    Please note, if used, the labels left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise and counter clockwise have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions between various portions of an object. 
         [0037]    The spring-powered toy vehicle has a traditional shape and function. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the toy vehicle  100  has a front body portion  102  and a rear body portion  104 , including at least a front wheel  106  and rear wheel  108 , respectively. In one embodiment, the rear body portion  104  also includes a handle  110  which a user can grasp when preparing to launch the toy vehicle  100 . Each of the front body portion  102  and rear body portion  104  are formed such that they are distinct and separate pieces with a distinct separation line  114  separating the two portions  102  and  104 . The front and rear body portions  102  and  104  are allowed to touch and separate though the vehicle  100  is constructed in a manner that prevents separation that will distend the spring (depicted as element  202  in  FIG. 2 ). The wheels  106  and  108  are rotationally connected with the toy vehicle  100  so that the toy vehicle  100  can be played with as an ordinary toy vehicle  100  independent of its spring-powered function. 
         [0038]    In another aspect, the front body portion  102  is equipped with a thumb notch  112  on the roof area of the toy vehicle  100 . The thumb notch  112  is placed on the windshield and hood of the toy vehicle  100  in another aspect. The thumb notch  112  allows a user to lightly place a thumb in it, steadying the toy vehicle. With the other hand, the user can then pull the handle  110  until the spring (depicted as element  202  in  FIG. 2 ) is fully expanded. When the user finally releases the handle  110 , the toy vehicle  100  leaps from under the user&#39;s thumb and thrusts forward. Also depicted is a handle peg  116 . The handle peg  116  is attached with the handle  110  and can be used to assist a user in grasping the handle  110 . Additionally, the handle peg  116  can be used with a launcher, as described in further detail below. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the spring-powered toy vehicle  100  uses a manually-operated, spring-actuated propulsion mechanism to rapidly launch the toy vehicle  100  in one direction.  FIG. 2  depicts the spring-powered toy vehicle  100  with a spring  202  that is connected with and between the rear body portion  104  and the front body portion  102 . In this illustration, the rear body portion  104  has been pulled away from the front body portion  102 , causing the spring  202  to expand and thus creating within it, potential energy. When the rear body portion  104  is then released, the spring  202  will pull the rear body portion  104  toward the front body portion  102  until the rear body portion  104  impacts the front body portion  102 , converting the spring&#39;s  202  potential energy to kinetic energy and thus rapidly propelling the vehicle  100  forward. 
         [0040]    As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the spring  202  is connected with and between the front and rear body portions  102  and  104  using any suitable connection mechanism or device. As a non-limiting example, the spring  202  has two opposing ends  207  and includes an attachment mechanism  203  at each of its ends  207  (note: only one end  207  is depicted in  FIG. 2  as the other end is obscured by the front body portion  102 ). The attachment mechanism  203  is formed to attach with a corresponding spring receptacle  205  on each of the front and rear body portions  102  and  104 . For example and as depicted in  FIG. 2 , the attachment mechanism  203  includes a projection that can be positioned within a corresponding slot within the posterior spring receptacle  205  of the rear body portion  104 . Additionally, although not shown, one skilled in the art can appreciate that a similar attachment mechanism  203  and corresponding anterior spring receptacle  205  are included at the other end of the spring and within the front body portion  102 . Thus, using the attachment mechanism  203  and corresponding spring receptacle  205 , the spring  202  can be easily removed and replaced within the toy vehicle  100 . 
         [0041]    In another aspect, the front and rear body portions  102  and  104  are retractably connected with one another through any suitable mechanism or device. As a non-limiting example, the toy vehicle  100  includes a vehicle guide  206  which is connected with the rear body portion  104  and is inserted into a corresponding groove (depicted as element  306  in  FIG. 3 ) on the front body portion  102 . 
         [0042]    In another aspect and as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the spring  202  surrounds a connection rod  300  and a cylinder  304 . Using the attachment mechanisms and spring receptacles, the connection rod  300  is connected with the rear body portion  104 , while the cylinder  304  is connected with the front body portion  102 . The cylinder  304  is hollow so as to enclose and protect the connection rod  300  when the spring  202  is contracted. The diameter of the hollow cylinder  304  is just large enough to accommodate the connection rod  300  though not so large as to allow the connection rod to move in a non-axial direction. Thus, when the rear body portion  104  has been pulled away from the front body portion  102 , the spring  202  expands to build potential energy. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  depicts an underside of the toy vehicle  100  and as depicted in the figure, the connection rod  300  is only partially enclosed by the cylinder  304 . The connection rod  300  and cylinder  304  move along an axis defined by the length of the connection rod  300 , and the surrounding spring  202  is then compelled to move in only the same axial direction. The connection rod  300  and cylinder  304  therefore prevent the spring  202  and connected rear body portion  104  from expanding at an angle which would launch the toy vehicle  100  in a non-forward direction or reduce the forward momentum created by the spring  202 . As briefly mentioned above, the toy vehicle  100  also includes a vehicle guide (depicted as element  206  in  FIG. 2 ) which is connected with the rear body portion  104  and is inserted into a corresponding groove  306  on the front body portion  102 . 
         [0044]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the spring  202 , having anterior and posterior ends, can be removed from the toy vehicle  100  and interchanged with another spring  202  with a different tension to either increase or decrease the power generated when the spring  202  is expanded and released. In such an embodiment, the spring  202 , the connection rod  300 , and the cylinder  304  are all removed as one spring assembly. To facilitate the removal of the spring assembly from the toy vehicle  100 , the front body portion  102  and rear body portion  104  can be easily separated allowing access to the interior of the toy vehicle  100 , as is further illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Insertion of the spring  202  assembly is achieved by securing the spring  202  within the front body portion  102  in an anterior spring receptacle and within the rear body portion  104 , in a posterior spring receptacle  205 . The spring  202  assembly can be removed either through the top or bottom of the toy vehicle  100 , depending on the configuration of the toy. The ability to remove the front body portion  102  and rear body portion  104  also provides for multiple vehicle versions to be attached and reattached to the toy vehicle  100 . 
         [0045]    The vehicle guide  206  also serves to prevent the rear body portion  104  from being pulled back in a non-axial direction, and it also provides structural support to the toy vehicle  100  so the front body portion  102  and rear body portion  104  do not separate once the toy vehicle has been launched. In the aspect illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the vehicle guide  206  comprises two parallel tongue and groove  306  assemblies connecting the front body portion  102  with the rear body portion  104  while allowing the gap between them to expand to a limit and contract. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that a singular vehicle guide  206  and groove  306  will accomplish a similar result. Collectively, the guide  206  and groove  306  operate as a guide  206  and groove  306  assembly. 
         [0046]    Also depicted in  FIG. 3  is a notch  308  at the bottom of the toy vehicle  100 . As described in further detail below, the notch  308  is formed for use with a launcher device. 
         [0047]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , front  102  and rear body  102  portions of like vehicles are interchangeable. As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present invention also allows a user to replace the like vehicles or even different versions of a particular vehicle. For example, the vehicle depicted in  FIG. 1  is a sport coupe while the vehicle depicted in  FIG. 4  is a two-door auto with a covered pick-up truck cargo bay. In another aspect, the front body portion  102  includes, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , both a front frame portion  402  and a front shell portion  404 . The front shell portion  404  is hingedly (depicted as element  314  in  FIG. 3 ) connected with the front frame portion  402  such that the front shell portion  404  operates as a flip-top that allows users to flip open the top of the front body portion  102  to have access to the spring assembly.  FIG. 4  also demonstrates that the front  102  and rear  104  body portions are separable. The vehicle of  FIG. 4  is depicted without the spring as it has been removed from the vehicle to further the previously hidden anterior spring receptacle  408 . Also depicted is the posterior spring receptacle  205 . 
         [0048]    This invention anticipates that there are a variety of vehicles that might be made into spring-powered toy vehicles. Without limitation, such vehicles include autos, motorcycles, trucks, planes and construction equipment. As a non-limiting example and as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the present invention can also be formed as a spring-powered motorcycle  500 .  FIG. 5  illustrates a spring-powered motorcycle  500  in its expanded state. The motorcycle  500  has a single front wheel  504  and a rear wheel  506 . The rear wheel  506  is attached with a rear body portion  508  and can be a single wheel or made to appear as a single wheel. When made to appear as a single wheel, the rear wheel  506  is in actuality two thin wheels with a spacer (e.g., plastic spacer) between them. The rear wheel  506  is a rear wheel assembly in this version and is configured to look like a single wheel but instead includes two wheels to provide additional balance to the motorcycle  500 . This aspect has a front body portion  502  with a front segment to which the front wheel  504  and the anterior end of the spring  202  are attached. 
         [0049]    As was the case with the previous aspect, the motorcycle  500  can also be formed to include a thumb notch  112 , a handle  110 , and a handle peg  116 . The thumb notch  112  is used to steady the motorcycle  500  while the handle  110  is used to pull the rear body portion  508  from the front body portion  502 . Finally, the handle peg  116  can be used as a grasping aid or with the launcher as described below. 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the motorcycle  500  also includes a rear body portion  508  to which the rear wheels  506  and the posterior of the spring  202  are attached. The front body portion  502  removably attaches on top of the front segment  600  of the rear body portion  508 . Thus, the front body portion  502  is removable as depicted in this illustration. When the front body portion  502  is installed, it completely covers the front segment  600  and allows easy access to the spring  202 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 7  is an illustration that depicts the motorcycle from a different aspect. The front body portion has been removed (and is not displayed in the drawing) and the front body segment  600  and rear body portion  508  have been separated to expose the expanded spring assembly  202  in detail. This drawing demonstrates the rear wheels  506  (as described above) and a single front wheel  504  to accentuate the motorcycle theme of this vehicle. Also detailed are the anterior spring receptacle  408 , the posterior spring receptacle  205  and raised cylindrical bands  700 . 
         [0052]    As described above and as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 through 12 , the present invention also includes a launcher. Illustrated in  FIG. 8  is a detailed perspective view of the inside of a launcher according to the present invention. Although a more general view of the launcher is depicted in  FIGS. 9 through 1 ,  FIG. 8  is provided to illustrate an example of a mechanism by which the launcher connects with the toy vehicle to launch the toy vehicle. More specifically,  FIG. 8  illustrates details of the handle peg  116  (as depicted in  FIG. 1 ) secured into the retaining receptacle  1004  (as shown in  FIG. 10 ). 
         [0053]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the spring-powered toy vehicle utilizes the launcher  900  to provide a stable platform and an additional source of power for launching the toy vehicle. A perspective-view illustration of a launcher  900  is shown in  FIG. 9 . The launcher  900  has a plunger (depicted as element  1006  in  FIG. 10A  and having an anterior and posterior end) that is slideably connected with the launcher  900 . A plunger handle  902  is connected with the plunger to allow a user to grasp the plunger handle  902  and pull back the plunger. Additionally, the launcher includes two distinct ends, a launching end  906  and a plunger handle end  908 . Further, the launcher  900  includes a spring-loaded peg  904  for engaging with the notch (depicted as element  308  in  FIG. 3 ) of the toy vehicle. In operation, the toy vehicle is placed into the launcher  900  with its anterior end facing toward the launching end  906 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 10A  shows a top-view illustration of the launcher  900 . The spring-loaded peg  904  resides within a slot  1002  assembly and is formed to engage a notch at the bottom of the toy vehicle  100 . The handle peg (depicted as element  116  in  FIG. 1 ) of the toy vehicle is secured in a hinged, u-shaped, pivoting retaining receptacle  1004  on the anterior end of the plunger  1006   
         [0055]    Both the plunger  1006  and the spring-loaded peg  904  and slot  1002  assembly are spring-loaded and are allowed limited travel. The plunger  1006  is spring-loaded such that once it is pulled back  1010  from a starting position  1012  and released, the plunger  1006  returns to the starting position  1012 . The plunger  1006  has a range of travel  1016  that is necessarily greater than the range of travel  1014  of the spring-loaded peg  904 . When the plunger  1006  is pulled back using the plunger handle  902 , the rear body portion (depicted as element  104  in  FIG. 1 ) of the toy vehicle pulls the front body portion (depicted as element  102  in  FIG. 1 ), which is dragged by the spring-loaded peg  904 . When the spring-loaded peg  904  reaches its limit of travel (i.e., range of travel  1014 ), the plunger  1006  still extends the toy vehicle until the spring  202  reaches its limit. 
         [0056]      FIG. 10B  details the underside of the ramp  1018  and the portion of the retaining receptacle (shown in  FIG. 10A  as element  1004 ) that cannot be seen by an observer. The retaining receptacle has a rod at its base that extends to the underside of the ramp where it is attached with a rectangular plate  1020  (the connection point  1022  of the rod is visible on the rectangular plate  1020 ). When the plunger  1006  reaches the point where the spring (depicted as element  202  in  FIG. 2 ) is extended to its limit, the rectangular plate  1020  passes over a pair of humps  1024  that cause the rectangular plate  1020  to tilt up, which in turn, causes the retaining receptacle to pivot down, which releases the vehicle and permits it to explode out of the launcher  900 . 
         [0057]    Referring again to  FIG. 10A , once the handle peg is released, the rear body portion accelerates rapidly toward the front body portion. The spring-loaded plunger  1006 , the spring-loaded peg  904  and slot  1002  assembly and the spring  202  of the toy vehicle all contribute their potential energy to the kinetic energy released in the toy vehicle. As mentioned above, it should also be noted that the plunger  1006  includes a range of travel  1016  such that the range of travel  1014  within the slot  1002  (for the peg  904 ) is less than the range of travel  1016  of the plunger  1006 . 
         [0058]    A further aspect utilizes the launcher  900  in conjunction with a track  1007 . A tab  1008  on the launching end  906  of the launcher  900  can be inserted into a slot on the track  1007 . Once a toy vehicle is launched, it races on the track  1007  until its kinetic energy is spent. 
         [0059]      FIG. 11  shows a bottom-view illustration of the launcher. As an optional aspect, the bottom of the launcher  900  can be formed to include at least one sensor  1102  that senses when the launcher  900  is on a flat surface. Thus, when the vehicle  100  is placed in the launcher  900 , a pull of the spring-loaded plunger  1006  extends the spring of the spring-loaded plunger  1006  if the sensor  1102  indicates that the launcher  900  is on a flat surface. In other words, various portions of the launcher  900  can be locked up if the sensor  1102  indicates that the launcher  900  is not on a flat surface. For example, the spring-loaded plunger  1006  can be locked up, or alternatively, the spring-loaded peg  904  can be held in place by another locking mechanism. In a desired aspect, the locking mechanism prevents the plunger  1006  from moving unless the launcher  900  is on a flat surface. 
         [0060]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , the present invention also teaches a method  1200  for forming a spring-powered toy vehicle. The method  1200  comprises a plurality of acts of forming and attaching each of the parts of the toy vehicle and launcher described herein. For example, the method  1200  comprises acts of attaching  802  at least one rotatable wheel to a front body portion and at least one rotatable wheel to a rear body portion. The method  1200  also includes an act of removably attaching  1204  the front and rear body portions such that the body portions touch but also achieve a limited separation point. Finally, the method  1200  also includes an act of positioning  1206  a spring between each of the front and rear body portions. As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present invention further comprises additional acts of forming and attaching the various parts of the toy vehicle and launcher described above to arrive at the present invention.