Abstract:
A toy vehicle package includes a planar backing board upon which an elongated hollow closed-end tube is supported in a spaced arrangement on the board. A slider extends beneath the center tube and supports capsules on either side of the center tube. Magnetic toy vehicles are captivated in both capsules while a third magnetic toy vehicle is movable within the center tube between the closed ends.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of and priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/734,434 entitled PACKAGE FOR MAGNETIC TOY VEHICLES filed Nov. 7, 2005 in the name of William O&#39;Keefe, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to toy vehicles having magnetic elements supported therein and particularly to product packaging used therewith.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Toy vehicles are well known in the art and have proven to be extremely popular with consumers and have for many years provided high volume sales for toy manufacturers. Because of the popularity of toy vehicles and the intense competition between practitioners in the art, a virtually endless variety of toy vehicles have been provided by manufacturers. As a result, toy vehicles have been provided which are free-wheeling and able to be used in playsets or in manual handling upon a play surface. Further improvements have provided various types of propulsion systems such as wind-up motors and battery-powered drive mechanisms. Additional varieties have included toy vehicles which are featured or articulated to embody some type of mechanism which allows further interaction with the toy vehicles.  
         [0004]     Perhaps one of the most competitive areas of toy vehicle manufacture is found in the simple free-rolling toy vehicles. Such toy vehicles are relatively fundamental in their fabrication and generally comprise a body and chassis typically formed of metal or plastic material together with a plurality of freely rotating supporting wheels. In attempting to enhance the competitive advantage and play value of their toy vehicle playsets, practitioners in the art have developed a myriad of accessories and feature apparatus for use with such otherwise simple toy vehicles. One of the more interesting developments as practitioners attempt to enhance the play value of free-wheeling unpowered toy vehicles has arisen in the utilization of magnets within the toy vehicles. The interactive capability of magnets in toy vehicles allows them to interact with metal surfaces or other toy vehicles to produce interesting play patterns.  
         [0005]     Another aspect of toy vehicle manufacture and sale which has of late become particularly important in the competitive efforts of toy manufacturers is found in the packaging of the toy vehicles themselves. For many years, packages have been creatively fabricated by practitioners in the art in attempting to attract potential purchasers to particular toy vehicles. Thus, various colorful packaging and images upon that packaging have been utilized. Another recent development in toy vehicle packaging which has proven to be extremely effective is found in the so-called “try-me” packaging. This type of packaging generically referred to as “try-me” packaging has proven to be popular and effective throughout a wide range of toy products and is not limited to toy vehicles but is often well-suited to toy vehicle products.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,991 issued to Hippely, et al. sets forth a BLISTER CARD PACKAGE FOR HOLDING AND DISPLAYING SMALL ITEMS having a generally planar rigid backboard upon which a forwardly extending shelf is formed. The shelf defines a plurality of apertures therein. A generally planar support sheet is received upon the shelf and defines a further plurality of apertures. A toy vehicle and toy figure are received upon the sheet and are secured thereto. A transparent blister encloses the toy figure and toy vehicle and is joined to the backing to complete the package.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,432 issued to Dods sets forth a MODEL VEHICLE AND TRADING CARD PACKAGING SYSTEM having a generally planar backing upon which a trading card is supported. The backing further supports a shelf extension upon which a toy vehicle is received. The toy vehicle and shelf are enclosed by a transparent plastic blister which is secured to the backing.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,138 issued to Klawiter sets forth a PACKAGING FOR A TOY having bottom, top, front, back and side walls defining a box sized to receive a toy and a key. The bottom surface of the box defines an opening aligned with the toy vehicle&#39;s slot such that a key may be passed through the bottom box opening into the toy body slot. The key includes a shaft, a head at one end of the shaft and a base at the remaining end. The head is sized to fit through the box opening and body slot and shaped to engage the toy body.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,318 issued to Kupersmit sets forth a CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION FOR AUTOMOBILE BODIES having an arrangement suitable for anchoring automobile bodies within a shipping container. The arrangement includes a plurality of inflatable elements which are adapted to project into corresponding openings in a horizontally positioned member in the automobile body. The elements are inflated to engage the edges of the opening and lock the body in place.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,828 issued to Dods sets forth a PACKAGE FOR TRADING CARD AND MODEL VEHICLE having a generally planar backing upon which a trading card is supported. The backing further supports a forwardly extending shelf which receives and supports a toy vehicle. A transparent blister encloses the toy vehicle and the shelf and is joined to the backing by adhesive attachment.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,097 issued to Herstein sets forth TOY PACKAGING constructed of sheet material having top, bottom and side walls together with a rear wall defining a toy vehicle receiving enclosure. The enclosure defines an open front through which the toy vehicle is inserted and displayed. The bottom wall is provided with a bottom flap configured to be folded inwardly and define an enclosure floor. The flap includes vehicle engaging apparatus for securing the vehicle within the enclosure.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,688 issued to Jones, et al. sets forth a TOY STORAGE CASE having an appearance generally resembling a vehicle steering wheel. The center portion of the steering wheel shaped package defines a transparent enclosure within which a toy vehicle is received and enclosed.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,428382 issued to Randolph sets forth an APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING A REPRESENTATION OF A WHEELED VEHICLE IN VARIOUS POSES WITH RESPECT TO A PICTORIAL SCENE. A simulated toy vehicle is movable with respect to the background scene to provide variation of display.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,298 issued to Dods sets forth a MODEL AND SHAPED CARD PACKAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SAME utilized in packaging trading cards alone or in combination with toy vehicle models. The package relates to the packaging of trading cards in the shape of entertainment figures and the combination of such cards with model vehicles and display stands.  
         [0015]     U.S. Pat. No. Des. 371,959 issued to Hupp sets forth a TRUCK BOX having a generally rectangular shape bearing indicia resembling a truck vehicle. A corner portion of the package defines a corner aperture upon which a transparent viewing window is supported. The window facilitates viewing the toy vehicle within the package.  
         [0016]     British Patent 2,196,320 issued to McCarthy sets forth BLISTER PACKS having a generally planar rigid substrate defining an aperture therein. One side of the rigid substrate supports a transparent blister window while the remaining side is open. A foldable flap is formed on the opposite side of the substrate and is movable between an open position and a closing position with respect to the aperture.  
         [0017]     Additional prior art devices have been provided which utilize magnets in combination with toy vehicles. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,965,613 issued to Sauders sets forth a MAGNETIC TOY having a toy vehicle supporting a magnet at the rear portion thereof. A second magnet is supported at one end of an elongated wand. The user manipulates the toy vehicle by bringing the second magnet which is oriented to repel the first magnet within the vehicle into proximity with the vehicle thereby pushing the vehicle along.  
         [0018]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,045,393 issued to Knott; U.S. Pat. No. 3.532,341 issued to Shaw and U.S. Pat. No. 3,626,635 issued to Birdsall set forth examples of early toy vehicle apparatus utilizing magnets.  
         [0019]     In addition to use with toy vehicles, magnets have found substantial areas of use in the toy art generally in manners which are generally related to the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,151 issued to Orenstein; U.S. Pat. No. 4,233,777 issued to Inoue; 4,726,588 issued to Caprio; U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,746 issued to MacMurdo; U.S. Pat. No. 577,730 issued to Eberhardt; U.S. Pat. No. 1,533,540 issued to Craigen; U.S. Pat. No. 3,097,448 issued to Prunkard; U.S. Pat. No. 3,091,459 issued to Lindman; U.S. Pat. No. 2,975,551 issued to Oberinger; U.S. Pat. No. 2,904,336 issued to Washburn; U.S. Pat. No. 2,590,002 issued to Frazier; U.S. Pat. No. 2,528,938 issued to Wolf; U.S. Pat. No. 3,704,777 issued to Linnebuhr; U.S. Pat. No. 3,734,502 issued to Bolten; U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,135 issued to Cohen; U.S. Pat. No. 3927,620 issued to Clapham; U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,555 issued to Zbegner; U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,820 issued to Christman; Re. U.S. Pat. No. 29,552 and British Patent 2,041,766 all shown apparatus generally related to the present invention in that they utilize magnets in one fashion or another.  
         [0020]     Additional prior art generally related to the present invention is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,126,670 issued to Smith; U.S. Pat. No. 3,389,913 issued to Tunstall; U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,413 issued to Weindel, et al. and Published U.S. Patent Application 2004/0056422.  
         [0021]     While the foregoing described prior art devices have to some extent improved the art and have in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for evermore improved, amusing and interesting toy vehicle packages.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved package for toy vehicles. It is more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved package for toy vehicles for use in combination with toy vehicles having magnetic features supported thereon.  
         [0023]     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a package for magnetic toy vehicles providing a generally planar board upon which an elongated hollow center tube, preferably formed of a transparent plastic material or the like, is secured. A pair of end spacers support the center tube above the supporting board to form a gap therebetween. Each opposed end of the center tube is closed with a plug to provide a closed end passage within the center tube. A toy vehicle is captivated within the closed passage of the center tube and is freely movable between the plug ends. The package further includes a slider having a slide plate which extends transversely beneath the center tube within the gap formed between the center tube and the board. The opposed ends of the slide plate support a pair of closed slide tubes each of which further supports a toy vehicle captive therein. Each of the toy vehicles supports one or more magnets which are oriented to provide repelling force between each of the vehicles within the side tubes against the vehicle captive within the center tube.  
         [0024]     In operation, as the slide having the pair of magnetic cars supported on either side of the center tube is moved toward the toy vehicle within the center tube, the repelling force of the car magnets causes the toy vehicle within the center tube to be driven away from the slide. This continues as the user moves the slide toward the center tube car until the center tube car impacts an end plug of the center tube. Thereafter, continued movement of the slide causes the repelling force between the car magnets to abruptly drive the center tube toy vehicle away from the end plug in a rapid movement toward the opposite end of the center tube. In the anticipated play pattern, each time the user moves the slide toward the center tube car this cycle repeats and the center tube car is moved, then is driven against the end plug, and thereafter is rapidly accelerated away from the plug in response to magnetic force. Since there are plugs at both ends of the center tube, the action is repeated at either end of the center tube.  
         [0025]     From another perspective, the present invention provides a toy vehicle package for magnetic toy vehicles, the package comprising: a package support; a hollow closed-end center tube having a first magnetic toy vehicle movable therein between the closed ends; means supporting the center tube upon the support defining a space therebetween; a slider extending beneath the center tube through the space; and a pair of side tubes, having second and third magnetic toy vehicle therein, supported on the slider on opposite sides of the center tube, the first magnetic toy vehicle being moved within the center tube under the influence of the second and third magnets as the slider is moved. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]     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:  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  sets forth a perspective view of a toy vehicle package constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  sets forth a further perspective view of the present invention toy vehicle package;  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  sets forth a section view of the center tube portion of the present invention toy vehicle package taken along section lines  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  sets forth a perspective view of the slide portion of the present invention toy vehicle package;  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  sets forth a section view of the present invention toy vehicle package taken along section lines  5 - 5  in  FIG. 2 ; and  
         [0032]      FIG. 6  sets forth a section view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention toy vehicle package. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]     By way of overview, the present invention package for magnetic toy vehicles provides a “try-me” feature which dramatically demonstrates the magnetic interactive actions of toy vehicles. In its anticipated use, the present invention package contemplates the packaging of toy vehicles which are freely rolling and which are provided with magnetic properties. The magnetic properties typically are provided by embedded permanent magnets supported upon or within the toy vehicles. Of particular importance in contemplating the effective use of the present invention package is the orientation of the magnets within the toy vehicles therein. In the preferred embodiment, a repelling force between the magnets in each toy vehicle causes the outer toy vehicles to exert repelling forces against the freely movable center tube vehicle. This action of repelling force allows the user to “magically” move the center tube toy vehicle by manipulating the slide in the manner referred to above and described below in greater detail.  
         [0034]     Thus, the present invention package utilizes a planar base supporting a hollow center tube having closed ends which is preferably formed of a transparent or clear plastic material. A magnetic toy vehicle is freely movable between the end closures of the center tube. The package also includes a slider movable between the end supports of the center tube which in turn supports a pair of captive toy vehicles on opposite sides of the center tube. The magnetic orientation of magnetic elements within the side tube toy vehicles and the center tube toy vehicle provide repulsive forces between the center tube toy vehicle and the side tube vehicles. As a result, each time the slide is moved to bring the side tube toy vehicles into proximity with the center tube toy vehicle, the resulting magnetic repelling force therebetween drives the center tube toy vehicle. The effect is particularly dramatic once the center tube toy vehicle has reached an end plug within the center tube. Thereafter, as the slide continues to move bringing the side toy vehicles into alignment with the center tube toy vehicle, the center toy vehicle is suddenly and dramatically accelerated away from the tube end toward the opposite end in a snap-action type movement.  
         [0035]     More specifically,  FIG. 1  sets forth a toy vehicle package constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral  10 . Package  10  includes a planar supporting board  11  preferably made of a cardboard or flakeboard material upon which a center tube  12  is supported by a pair of end spacer supports  17  and  18 . Center tube  12  defines an interior passage  16  within which a pair of end plugs  13  and  14  are secured to provide closure of interior passage  16 . A magnetic toy vehicle  15  is freely movable between end plugs  13  and  14  within passage  16 . Package  10  further includes a slide  20  having a slide plate  29  (seen in  FIG. 3 ) which extends beneath center tube  12  and supports a pair of side tubes  21  and  25 . Tubes  21  and  25  support respective magnetic toy vehicles  22  and  26  in a captive support.  
         [0036]     In operation with toy vehicle  15  positioned as shown, the user moves slide  20  in the direction indicated by arrow  30 . The repulsive magnetic force exerted by toy vehicles  22  and  26  upon toy vehicle  15  accelerates toy vehicle  15  in the direction indicated by arrow  31 . This movement of toy vehicle  15  continues so long as slide  20  is moved in the direction of arrow  30 . Once toy vehicle  15  reaches end plug  13 , further movement in the direction of arrow  31  is no longer possible. Thereafter, as slide  30  is moved upwardly in the direction of arrow  30  bringing toy vehicles  22  and  26  to the position shown in  FIG. 2 , the repulsive forces between the toy vehicles causes toy vehicle  15  to suddenly accelerate downwardly away from plug  13 .  
         [0037]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that an opposite direction play pattern is also provided once toy vehicle  15  is moved to a position beneath slide  20 . In this reversed operation, the magnetic repulsive forces drive toy vehicle  15  downwardly until it reaches plug  14 . Thereafter as slide  20  is once again moved downwardly bringing toy vehicles  22  and  26  alongside toy vehicle  15 , the magnetic repulsive forces causes a second opposite direction dramatic movement of toy vehicle  15  sending it upwardly through center tube  12 .  
         [0038]     Thus as the user moves slide  20  back and forth between its end positions, the rapid movement of toy vehicle  15  provides a dramatic “try-me” play pattern.  
         [0039]      FIG. 2  sets forth the present invention toy vehicle package showing the approach of the upper end of travel of slide  20 . This upper end is referred to above in connection with  FIG. 1  and results in bringing toy vehicles  22  and  25  alongside toy vehicle  15  causing it to be rapidly accelerated downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow  32 .  
         [0040]     More specifically,  FIG. 1  sets forth a toy vehicle package constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral  10 . Package  10  includes a planar supporting board  11  preferably made of a cardboard or flakeboard material upon which a center tube  12  is supported by a pair of end spacer supports  17  and  18 . Center tube  12  defines an interior passage  16  within which a pair of end plugs  13  and  14  are secured to provide closure of interior passage  16 . A magnetic toy vehicle  15  is freely movable between end plugs  13  and  14  within passage  16 . Package  10  further includes a slide  20  having a slide plate  29  (seen in  FIG. 3 ) which extends beneath center tube  12  and supports a pair of side tubes  21  and  25 . Tubes  21  and  25  support respective magnetic toy vehicles  22  and  26  in a captive support.  
         [0041]      FIG. 3  sets forth a section view of center tube  12  taken along section lines  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 . As described above, center tube  12  comprises a hollow transparent preferably clear plastic tube defining an interior passage  16 . A pair of end plugs  13  and  14  provide closed ends for interior passage  16 . As is also described above, center tube  12  is supported above a rigid planar board  11  to provide a space between the underside of center tube  12  and the upper surface of board  11 . End spacer supports  17  and  18  secure the end portions of center tube  12  to board  11  and provide this space. A slide plate  29  extends transversely beneath center tube  12  traversing within the space formed between board  11  and the underside of center tube  12 . As is better seen in  FIG. 1 , slide plate  29  supports a pair of side tubes  21  and  25  within which a pair of toy vehicles  22  and  26  are supported. Returning to  FIG. 3 , slide plate  29  is shown supporting side tube  25  and toy vehicle  26 .  FIG. 3  also shows toy vehicle  15  captive within interior passage  16 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 4  sets forth a perspective view of slide  20  removed from the remainder of the present invention package. Slide  20  includes a generally planar slide plate  29  upon which a pair of side tubes  21  and  25  are secured. Side tubes  21  and  25  are spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit center tube  12  (seen in  FIG. 1 ) to pass therebetween. Side tube  21  is closed at opposite ends by plugs  23  and  24  while side tube  25  is closed at respective ends  27  and  28 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 5  sets forth a section view of package  10  taken along section lines  5 - 5  in  FIG. 2 . Package  10  includes a planar board  11  upon which a center tube  12  is supported by a pair of end spacer supports  17  and  18  (support  18  seen in  FIG. 3 ). Center tube  12  defines a closed interior passage  16  within which a magnetic toy vehicle  15  is freely rollable.  
         [0044]     A slide  20  includes a slide plate  29  passing beneath the bottom surface of center tube  12  such that a gap  33  is formed therebetween. Slide  20  includes a pair of side tubes  21  and  25  within which respective magnetic toy vehicles  22  and  26  are captive.  
         [0045]     As described above, toy vehicles  15 ,  22  and  26  possess “magnetic characteristics”. As is also expressed above, these magnetic characteristics are most likely obtained by embedding one or more permanent magnets within the toy vehicles. Thus for purposes of illustration, toy vehicle  15  is shown having a magnet  35  embedded therein while toy vehicles  22  and  26  support embedded permanent magnets  36  and  37 .  
         [0046]     In obtaining the repulsive forces between toy vehicles  22  and  26  against toy vehicle  15 , the magnetic poles or polarities of the embedded magnets within each of the toy vehicles must be of like polarity. Thus,  FIG. 5  shows one possible scheme in which the orientation of magnetic poles is provided such that a north pole to north pole repulsion is exerted between toy vehicles  15  and  26  while a south pole to south pole repulsive force is exerted between toy vehicles  15  and  22 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that the positioning of magnets within the toy vehicles of  FIG. 5  is merely illustrative of a variety of different magnetic combinations with the essential provision being repulsive force between the side tube toy vehicles against the center tube toy vehicle. Accordingly, a plurality of magnets within the toy vehicles may be used in different configurations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0047]      FIG. 6  sets forth a section view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention package for magnetic toy vehicles generally referenced by numeral  40 . By way of overview,  FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative configuration in which a magnetic toy vehicle is utilized within the center tube of the package while nonmagnetic toy vehicles may be utilized in the side tubes. Alternatively, the toy vehicles within the side tubes may be eliminated. The ability to use nonmagnetic side tube toy vehicles or eliminate the side tube toy vehicles entirely is provided by the use of permanent magnets within the side tubes themselves which are not embedded within the toy vehicles. It will be apparent that the movement of the slide in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  provides the same magnetic repulsive forces against the toy vehicle within the center tube and thus provides the same operation.  
         [0048]     More specifically, toy vehicle package  40  is fabricated in general accordance with toy vehicle package described above with the changes being found in the use of magnets within the side tubes rather than magnets embedded within the toy vehicles. Thus, package  40  includes a center tube  42  defining a closed end interior passage  43  within which a magnetic toy vehicle  44  is freely movable. Toy vehicle  44  supports an embedded permanent magnet  55 . A pair of end spacers such as spacer  45  support center tube  42  upon a planar board  41 .  
         [0049]     A slide plate  60  extends beneath center tube  42  and supports a pair of side tubes  50  and  61 . Side tube  50  supports a platform  52  upon which a toy vehicle  51  is captive together with a magnet  53  beneath platform  52 . Similarly, side tube  61  supports a platform  62  beneath which a magnet  54  is supported and above which a toy vehicle  63  is captive. The orientations between magnets  55 ,  53  and  54  is provided to cause magnets  53  and  54  to exert a repulsive force against magnet  55 . The result is that the operation of package  40  is identical to the above-described operation of package  10 . The only difference found in package  40  with respect to package  10  is the use of magnets  53  and  54  which are embedded within side tubes  50  and  61  respectively. These embedded magnets remove the need for magnetic characteristics of cars  51  and  63  and in fact provide that cars  51  and  63  need not be positioned within tubes  50  and  61  to ensure operation of the “try-me” package.  
         [0050]     What has been shown is a novel toy vehicle package which provides a dramatic “try-me” feature to demonstrate the operation of magnetically active toy vehicles. The feature provided does not require any battery cooperation or use of any power other than the manual effort required to move the slider. The effect is dramatic particularly as the center tube vehicle reaches its end travel and is rapidly shot from the captive end to the opposite end of the center tube due to magnetic repulsive forces.  
         [0051]     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.