Abstract:
A toy racetrack is disclosed having an obstacle that is moved into and out of the path of a toy vehicle travelling along the racetrack. The racetrack comprises a closed loop track and may include a booster mechanism for propelling a toy vehicle along the track. The obstacle may comprise a movable web or net with an opening that can be used to catch a toy vehicle traveling along the track. A support tower is located adjacent the track, and an obstacle carrier, optionally including an action figure, is movably mounted to the support tower. The figure holds the net, and the figure and net are movable between a raised position and a lowered position. When the net is in its lowered position, a toy vehicle traveling along the track is captured by the net when the net is manually positioned in a capture position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims priority from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/886,201 entitled “Toy Racetrack With Moveable Figure and Obstacle,” filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Oct. 3, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to toy racetracks, and more particularly to a racetrack for toy vehicles having a moveable obstacle that is moveable into and out of the race pathway and selectively manipulated to capture a toy vehicle travelling along the racetrack. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Toy racetracks are popular among children of varied ages, and a variety of track configurations have previously been provided that include various features, such as traps, loops, stunts, and the like to add to the excitement a child experiences while playing with the toy. For instance, toy racetracks have been provided having varied track sections and obstacles that intersect a toy vehicle&#39;s path as it traverses the track loops and that can vary position or orientation during or resulting from interaction with a toy vehicle. 
         [0004]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,789 to Halford et al. discloses a toy racetrack having a swinging hoop through which a toy vehicle must pass as it traverses the racetrack. 
         [0005]    Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 7,628,674 to Nuttall et al. discloses a toy racetrack including gauntlet features intersecting the toy vehicle&#39;s path and that, when triggered, may project the toy vehicle away from the track or move to capture the toy vehicle at a specific location along the track. 
         [0006]    Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 7,637,796 to Hippely discloses a toy racetrack including an obstacle positioned within the toy vehicle path that may be selectively deployed to obstruct the toy vehicle. 
         [0007]    Further, U.S. Pat. No. 7,819,720 to Nuttall et al. discloses a toy racetrack including an indexing stunt selector that places differing stunt elements into the path of the toy vehicle in response to the toy vehicle passing over elements of the racetrack. 
         [0008]    Still further, U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2011/0294396 of O&#39;Connor et al. discloses a toy racetrack having a capture device that captures a toy vehicle as it travels along a specific one of multiple toy vehicle paths. 
         [0009]    The specifications of each of the foregoing are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
         [0010]    While the foregoing configurations do provide varied obstacle and stunt features, there remains an ongoing need to provide toy racetrack features capable of maintaining the interest of a child and increasing the excitement and amusement they experience when playing with a toy racetrack. It would therefore be advantageous to provide a toy racetrack that further enhances the excitement and amusement offered to a child as they engage in such play, and more particularly that includes a user-manipulated obstacle that requires the user to properly time the positioning or orientation of the obstacle and that will allow a toy vehicle to continue through the track if the positioning or orienting of the obstacle is not properly timed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Disclosed is a toy racetrack having a moveable obstacle that is moved into and out of the path of a toy vehicle travelling along the racetrack and that is selectively capable of interacting with the toy vehicle. In one embodiment of the invention, the obstacle is carried by a moveable figure, such as an action figure. The racetrack comprises a closed loop track, and may include a booster mechanism for propelling a toy vehicle along the track. The track includes a gap proximate to which is an obstacle, which in accordance with certain embodiments may comprise a movable web or net with an opening that can be used to catch a toy vehicle traveling along the track in the area of the gap. A support tower is located proximate to the gap, and a carrier, which may include a figure, is movably mounted to the support tower. The figure holds the net, and the figure and net are movable between a raised position and a lowered position. When the net is in its lowered position, the net is located in the gap and a toy vehicle traveling into the gap may be captured by the net when the net is positioned by a user into a capture position. If the user&#39;s positioning of the net in the capture position is properly timed, the toy vehicle will be captured in the net; if not properly timed, the toy vehicle will pass through the net, escaping the obstacle trap and continuing on its path through the racetrack. After the toy vehicle&#39;s capture, other toy vehicles on the racetrack may continue through the racetrack without encountering the obstacle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a toy racetrack in accordance with certain aspects of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a toy racetrack in accordance with further aspects of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a gap portion of the racetrack of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the moveable carrier and obstacle of  FIG. 2  in their raised positions. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the moveable carrier and obstacle of  FIG. 2  in their lowered positions. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the exit side of the obstacle of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a side view of an actuator and push lever for use with the racetrack of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0020]      FIGS. 8   a - 8   e  are schematic views of various positions of the carrier, figure, and obstacle of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a rear, sectional view of the tower support of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a close-up side view of the figure, carrier, and obstacle of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a rear, close-up sectional view of the tower support of  FIG. 2  showing the carrier in its raised position. 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a rear, close-up sectional view of the tower support of  FIG. 2  showing the carrier in its lowered position. 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a top, sectional view of the motorized booster mechanism of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a bottom, sectional view of an actuator assembly for use with the toy racetrack of  FIG. 2  showing a push lever in a retracted position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a bottom, sectional view of the actuator assembly of  FIG. 14  with the push lever in an extended position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    The following description is of a particular embodiment of the invention, set out to enable one to practice an implementation of the invention, and is not intended to limit the preferred embodiment, but to serve as a particular example thereof. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and specific embodiments disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other methods and systems for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent assemblies do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a toy racetrack in accordance with certain aspects of an embodiment of the invention. A toy racetrack, such as an endless loop racetrack  100  formed of connected sections of extruded plastic track, is provided and may include a motorized booster mechanism  102  that will push toy vehicles, such as die cast metal cars, through the endless loop  100 . Endless loop  100  includes a ramp portion  104  that raises a portion of the path traveled by a toy vehicle, with the continuing track immediately adjacent the ramp  104  being at a lower elevation so as to create a “jump” for a toy vehicle travelling through endless loop  100 . An obstacle  200  is also provided and is moveable into and out of the path of the toy vehicles as they travel along endless loop  100 . A tower  202  extends up from endless loop racetrack  100 , and a carrier  204  is vertically moveable along tower  202  and carries obstacle  200 . Obstacle  200  is pivotably mounted to carrier  204 , and can thus swing in the direction of arrow  103 . 
         [0030]    When a user engages an actuator  110  with obstacle  200  positioned in its lowered, track-intercepting position, obstacle  200  is pivoted away from ramp  104 . When obstacle  200  is pivoted away from ramp  104  by a sufficient amount, a toy vehicle travelling through obstacle  200  will impact a portion of obstacle  200  that causes a catch within tower  202  to release carrier  204 , allowing it to spring upward (while carrying the toy vehicle in obstacle  200 ) and out of the pathway of endless loop  100 . If other toy vehicles are travelling along endless loop  100 , they are then free to continue while avoiding the trap created by obstacle  200 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a toy racetrack in accordance with further aspects of an embodiment of the invention. As in  FIG. 1 , a toy racetrack, such as an endless loop racetrack  100  formed of connected sections of extruded plastic track, is provided and may include a motorized booster mechanism (shown generally at  102 ) that will push toy vehicles, such as die cast metal cars, through the endless loop. 
         [0032]    As known in the related arts and with reference to  FIG. 13 , the booster is configured to accelerate the toy vehicle along the tracks of the toy. In one non-limiting embodiment, the booster is powered by a motor  401  connected to a power source  402 , such as a battery pack, that is coupled to one or more booster wheels  403  that are arranged in the track path  404 . The booster wheels may be made of rubber (PVC), foam, or other materials known in the art. In one embodiment, a single wheel may be employed or two oppositely disposed wheels may be employed. The motor  401 , which may be a 6-volt electric motor, rotates the booster wheels through drive gears  405 ,  406 , and  407  at high speeds such that vehicles travelling along the track path contact the rotating wheels and are propelled forward thereby at higher speeds to ensure the return of the vehicles to the inlet of the booster wheels after travelling through the track  100 . As such, vehicles travelling through the track  100  may continue to traverse the endless loop as long as booster mechanism  102  is operated, or until the toy vehicle is captured, as discussed in greater detail below. 
         [0033]    A portion of the track is provided a ramp  104 , with the continuing track portion  105  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) immediately adjacent ramp  104  positioned vertically below ramp  104  so as to form a gap in the racetrack. Thus, as a toy vehicle travels through endless loop racetrack  100 , it will launch from ramp  104  and fly briefly through the air until it lands on receiving portion  106  ( FIG. 5 ), and from such landing continue its travel through endless loop racetrack  100 . Endless loop racetrack  100  may optionally include one or more track receiver sections  108  that will allow the connection of additional sections of racetrack so as to further customize the track to the user&#39;s preferences. 
         [0034]    With continued reference to  FIG. 2 , obstacle  200  is provided and is moveable into and out of the path of the toy vehicles as they travel along endless loop racetrack  100 . Tower  202  extends up from endless loop racetrack  100 , and carrier  204  (best viewed in  FIG. 4 ) is vertically moveable along tower  202  and carries obstacle  200 . A  FIG. 206 , such as an action figure or comic book character, may be mounted to carrier  204 , which in turn is pivotably attached to a moveable carriage  205  (as discussed in greater detail below). Obstacle  200  is also pivotally mounted, such as by pivot connection  208  that is carried by  FIG. 206 , allowing obstacle  200  to swing about pivot connection  208  and in a direction that is parallel to the travel path of toy vehicles as they launch from ramp  104 . 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 206  may be lowered so as to position obstacle  200  within the travel path of a toy vehicle as it jumps from ramp  104  toward receiving portion  106 . Obstacle  200  has a wide opening  220  on its entrance side, and as shown in  FIG. 6 , a perforated opening  222  on its exit side, thus allowing a toy vehicle to pass through the obstacle when it sits at rest adjacent ramp  104 . However, and with reference to  FIG. 7 , when a user engages an actuator  110 , a push lever  112  extends toward the bottom of obstacle  200 , causing obstacle  200  to pivot about pivot connection  208  and away from ramp  104 . When obstacle  200  is pivoted away from ramp  104  by a sufficient amount, a toy vehicle travelling through obstacle  200  will strike the front, bottom surface  224  of obstacle  200 , causing it to be captured in obstacle  200 . The particular surface engaged by the toy vehicle depends on the angle of rotation of the obstacle  200  and the position of the obstacle  200  when the toy vehicle enters the obstacle  200 . If the toy vehicle impacts the front, bottom surface  224  of obstacle  200  so as to capture the toy vehicle, the force exerted by the toy vehicle on obstacle  200  will cause carrier  204  to pivot towards carriage  205  and tower  202 , releasing an internal catch within tower  202  that holds carriage  205  in place in the lowered position of  FIG. 5 , and allowing an internal spring to lift carrier  204 ,  FIG. 206 , and obstacle  200  (now carrying a toy vehicle) upward and out of the travel path of racetrack  100 . 
         [0036]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 4-6 , and in accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, obstacle  200  is in the form of a net suspended from the hand of  FIG. 206 . The net has a tapering neck portion  226  that terminates at pivot connection  208 . Pivot connection  208  in turn comprises a pivot pin extending through the top of neck portion  226  and into the hand  207  of  FIG. 206 . In this configuration, obstacle  200  may freely pivot about pivot connection  208 , but will travel vertically into and out of the race path of racetrack  100  as carrier  204 , and thus  FIG. 206 , are carried up and down. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the opening  220  provided on the entrance side of obstacle  200  is sufficiently large so as to allow a toy vehicle to easily enter obstacle  200  without interfering with the travel of the toy vehicle. More particularly, when carrier  204  and  FIG. 206  are in the lowered position shown in  FIG. 5 , the bottom of opening  220  is no higher than ramp  104 , thus allowing easy access by a toy vehicle to the interior of obstacle  200 . The opposite, exit side of obstacle  200 , however, is segmented having flexible, moveable portions  228 ( a ) and  228 ( b ). When in an unflexed position, moveable portions  228 ( a ) and  228 ( b ) preferably sit in contact with one another and with the remainder of obstacle  200  to give the appearance of a contiguous surface. However, when flexed (such as from a toy vehicle passing through obstacle  200  impacting the exit side of obstacle  200 ), each of moveable portions  228 ( a ) and  228 ( b ) will be deflected upward and outward, separating from the front, bottom surface  224  of obstacle  200  and away from one another as the toy vehicle passes through. Once the toy vehicle has passed through obstacle  200 , moveable portions  228 ( a ) and  228 ( b ) return to their unflexed positions so that the exit side of obstacle  200  again takes the appearance of a contiguous surface. More than two moveable portions may be provided at the exit side of obstacle  200  configured as above without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0038]    As mentioned briefly above, when obstacle  200  is placed in its lower position shown in  FIG. 5 , it may be engaged by push lever  112  (operated by actuator  110  through a mechanical linkage, as discussed further below) to pivot about pivot connection  208 . With reference to  FIG. 7 , when obstacle  200  is in such lowered position, the bottom, back portion  230  of obstacle  200  (bordering entrance opening  220 ) faces push lever  112 . Thus, when a user operates actuator  110  to extend push lever  112 , the front face of push lever  112  contacts bottom, back portion  230  of obstacle  200 , forcing obstacle  200  away from ramp  104  as it pivots about pivot connection  208 . The extent to which obstacle  200  pivots away from ramp  104  will depend upon the speed at which the user pushes actuator  110 , which in turn will determine the speed at which push lever  112  impacts obstacle  200 . The faster that push lever  112  is driven into obstacle  200 , the greater the pivot angle that obstacle  200  will achieve. 
         [0039]    With reference to  FIGS. 14 and 15  and as mentioned briefly above, push lever  112  is operated by actuator  110  through a mechanical linkage positioned in base  111 .  FIG. 14  is a sectional, bottom view of base  111  showing push lever  112  in the retracted position, and  FIG. 15  is a sectional, bottom view of base  111  showing push lever  112  in the extended position. A spring member  114 , such as a coil spring, upwardly biases actuator  110  to its ready position in which it may be depressed by a user into base  111  (as shown in  FIG. 14 ). The bottom side of actuator  110  has a downwardly extending, angled cam surface  116  positioned at an edge of the bottom surface of actuator  110 . Cam surface  116  aligns with a first end of pivot bar  118 , which pivot bar  118  extends from actuator  110  to push lever  112 . Pivot bar  118  is pivotably mounted at post  120  to base  111 . First end  119 ( a ) of pivot bar  118  engages cam surface  116 , such that pressing actuator  110  into base  111  depresses cam surface  116  against first end  119 ( a ), causing pivot bar  118  to pivot about post  120 . As pivot bar  118  pivots about post  120 , second end  119 ( b ) of pivot bar  118  pushes against stop surface  113  on push lever  112 , pushing push lever  112  outward though wall  115  of base  111  and to the extended position shown in  FIG. 15 . Once actuator  110  is released, as actuator  110  moves upward, a pivot bar spring  122  (which is attached at a first end to base spring connector  124  and at a second end to pivot bar spring connector  126 ) pivots pivot bar  118  back to its ready position (shown in  FIG. 14 ). An additional spring member (not shown) is also provided between base  111  and push lever  112  that biases push lever  112  back to its ready position (shown in  FIG. 14 ) as pivot bar  118  returns to its ready position. 
         [0040]    As mentioned above, exit opening  222  of obstacle  200  is configured to allow a toy vehicle to pass through obstacle  200 . However, when obstacle  200  is pivoted a sufficient amount so that a vehicle launching off of ramp  104  will impact the front, bottom surface  224  of obstacle  200 , such front, bottom surface  224  will stop the toy vehicle, preventing it from passing through perforated opening  222 , and leaving it trapped in obstacle  200 . A user that desires to capture a toy vehicle in the obstacle  200  must therefore time their activation of actuator  110 , and adjust the speed with which they push actuator  110 , so as to pivot obstacle  200  by the correct amount and at the correct time so that the toy vehicle will be blocked by front, bottom surface  224 , and thus caught in obstacle  200 . 
         [0041]    Once again, once a toy vehicle is caught within obstacle  200 , the added weight of the toy vehicle held in obstacle  200  will cause carrier  204  to pivot toward moveable carriage  205  and tower  202 , releasing an internal catch that holds carriage  205  in place in the lowered position of  FIG. 5 , and allowing an internal spring to lift carriage  205 ,  FIG. 206 , and obstacle  200  (now carrying a toy vehicle) upward and out of the travel path of racetrack  100 .  FIGS. 8   a - 8   e  provide schematic views of the various stages of movement of moveable carriage  205 ,  FIG. 206 , and obstacle  200 , while  FIGS. 9-13  provide various detail views of moveable carriage  205 , carrier  204 , and tower  202 . 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIG. 8(   a ), moveable carriage  205  and  FIG. 206  are initially in their raised position (shown in detail in  FIG. 11) . A portion of moveable carriage  205  extends through a slot  231  in tower  202 . A carriage-mounted spring attachment hub  232  is attached to moveable carriage  205 . A tower-mounted spring attachment hub  236  is likewise attached to the inside of tower  202  adjacent slot  231 , and an expansion spring  234 , such as a coil spring, extends between attachment hubs  232  and  236 . Carrier  204  is pivotably attached to moveable carriage  205  on the outside of tower  202  at pivot connection  210 , and a compression spring  212  is situated between carrier  204  and carriage  205  to bias carrier  204  slightly outward from carriage  205 . A portion of carrier  204  also extends through slot  231  and forms a latch  238  on the inside of tower  202 , which latch  238  is moveable in unison with carrier  204 . Thus, as carrier  204  pivots toward carriage  205  and tower  202 , latch  238  likewise moves slightly away from an interior wall  203  of tower  202 . 
         [0043]    A fixed catch surface  214  is provided on the interior wall  203  of tower  202 . Fixed catch surface  214  is vertically positioned so that when moveable latch  238  is positioned just below and engaged with fixed catch surface  214 , obstacle  200  will be positioned in the lowered position shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 8(   b ), in order to move obstacle  200  to the lowered position of  FIG. 5 , a user may simply press down on the uppermost portion of moveable carriage  205 , in turn moving each of  FIG. 206 , carrier  204 , and obstacle  200  downward. As those elements are moved downward, expansion spring  234  is expanded, biasing moveable carriage  205  back toward the top of tower  202 . The user may continue to push carriage  205  downward until, as shown in  FIG. 8(   c ) and in the close-up view of  FIG. 12 , moveable latch  238  on figure base  204  slips below fixed catch surface  214  on the interior wall  204  of tower  202 . At this position, fixed latch  214  will hold moveable latch  238  in place, and thus hold  FIG. 206  and obstacle  200  in the lowered position of  FIG. 4 , with expansion spring  234  biasing carriage  205  upward toward the top of tower  202 . Also in this position, carrier  204  remains slightly pivoted outward from carriage  205  and the outer wall of tower  202  as a result of a compression spring  212 , the spring characteristics (size, spring constant) of which are selected so as to provide just enough outward biasing force to overcome the weight of the  FIG. 206  and obstacle  200  while holding carrier  204  in a slightly outwardly angled position with respect to carriage  205  (as shown in detail in  FIG. 10) . 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 8(   d ), once a toy vehicle  300  has been captured by obstacle  200  as described above, the added weight of the toy vehicle  300  overcomes the force exerted by compression spring  212  on the underside of carrier  204 , causing carrier  204  (and  FIG. 206)  to pivot toward tower  202  and carriage  205  about pivot connection  210 . Such pivoting of carrier  204  in turn causes moveable latch  238  on carrier  204  to disengage from fixed catch surface  214  on interior wall  203  of tower  202 . As shown in  FIG. 8(   e ), once moveable latch  238  on figure base  204  has disengaged from fixed catch surface  214 , expansion spring  234  retracts, in turn pulling carriage  205 , carrier  204 ,  FIG. 206 , and obstacle  200  (now carrying toy vehicle  300 ) upward to the raised position shown in  FIG. 4  and out of the racing path of racetrack  100 , such that any other vehicles on the track may continue uninhibited. 
         [0046]    As an alternative to the latch assembly discussed above or in addition thereto,  FIG. 206  and obstacle  200  may be moved between their raised and lowered positions manually by a child during play. For instance, a flywheel and gear rack may be manipulated to move the  FIG. 206  and obstacle  200  up and down. As yet another alternative,  FIG. 206  and obstacle  200  may be moved up and down automatically via a ratchet mechanism that is driven by a motor. 
         [0047]    Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It should be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth herein.