Abstract:
A generally rectangular base supports a pair of gateways at two corners thereof and a pair of resiliently powered impact-responsive rebounders at the remaining two corners thereof. A flat surface extends between the rebounders and the gateways. A pair of toy vehicle launchers and track segments are operatively coupled to each of the gateways to launch toy vehicles therethrough. A plurality of elastic bands extend between the gateways to provide resilient boundaries for the rectangular base. The rebounders and the gateways include pivotal supports allowing the track segments and launchers as well as the rebounders to be pivoted for aiming purposes. A toy vehicle launched by a launcher traverses its track segment and enters its gateway. Thereafter, it strikes either a resilient boundary or a rebounder and is deflected accordingly. An additional toy vehicle launched from the second launcher may collide with or otherwise interact with the first launched toy vehicle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application discloses apparatus described and claimed in a related patent application entitled TOY VEHICLE HAVING IMPACT RESPONSE FEATURE filed Aug. 4, 2000 and having application Ser. No. 09/633,041 which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to toy vehicle playsets and particularly to those utilizing impacting toy vehicles known generally as crashsets. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Toy vehicle playsets are well known in the art and have proven to be an extremely popular and long lasting toy product. In response to this long term popularity, practitioners in the toy arts have provided a virtually endless variety of toy vehicle tracksets and toy vehicle playsets. In many toy vehicle playsets, toy vehicles are provided which are unpowered or free-wheeling while in other toy vehicle playsets, self-powered toy vehicles are employed. Many free-wheeling toy vehicles are acted upon by some type of accelerator or launcher to propel the toy vehicle down the trackway. The tracks and trackways themselves are also subject to considerable variety. However, most are generally formed of a molded plastic material or the like and define a road surface having side rails or guides raised on each side thereof. The sidewalls or guides function to direct the toy vehicle along the roadway. In many toy vehicle playsets, the trackway is formed as a closed circuit and the toy vehicles are operated in continuous laps upon the trackway circuit. 
     As the popularity of toy vehicle playsets continued to increase, practitioners in the art continued to direct evermore creative efforts toward enhancing the amusement and play value of such toy vehicle playsets. One type of toy vehicle playset enhancement utilized one or more stunts or tricks within the operation of the toy vehicles. A common type of stunt employed in toy vehicle playsets is often referred to a “crashset”. Such toy vehicle playsets acquire their name from the utilization of a plurality of toy vehicles operating upon common track segments and encountering various types of intersections which present the opportunity for collision or impact. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,967 issued to Halford, et al. sets forth a TOY VEHICLE GAME WITH LAUNCHER AND RETURN MEANS having a pair of track segments each having a vehicle launcher at one end and a rebound device at the opposite end in which the track segments cross at a common intersection. A pair of toy vehicles are launched by competing players down the track segments toward the rebound unit and pass through the common intersection. Players take turns attempting to either cause or avoid as the preference may be the occurrence of a collision at the intersection. A vehicle clearing the intersection rebounds off the rebound unit and again returns to the launcher through the intersection. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,216 issued to Ostendorff sets forth a TOY VEHICLE CRASH SIMULATING PLAYSET having a launcher coupled to a track segment and a jump ramp together with a receiving ramp spaced from the jump ramp coupled to a simulated group of toy vehicles positioned within the travel path of the receiving ramp. Toy vehicles are launched from the launcher jumping between the launch and receiving ramps and thereafter traveling to impact the simulated toy vehicles at the end of the receiving ramp track portion. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,734,500 issued to Cooper sets forth a COMPETITIVE VEHICLE DEMOLITION GAME having a closed loop multiply intersecting toy vehicle trackway having a pair of separate vehicle lanes defined therein. A plurality of toy vehicles are operative on the trackway and are capable of impacting or colliding at the various intersections. The toy vehicles are fabricated of a plurality of parts maintained in attachment against a spring mechanism. When impacted, the mechanism releases the spring causing the toy vehicle parts to simulate an explosion. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,292 issued to Fitzgerald, et al. set forth a DEMOLITION DERBY TOY in which toy vehicles are positioned on a game board and driven by means of a manually operated magnetic manipulator. The manipulators are positioned beneath the game board and are operated by each player. Each vehicle includes a plurality of identical removable elements which are released upon impact to scatter. 
     Another popular stunt apparatus for toy vehicle playsets is often referred to in the art as “jumpsets”. Such stunt apparatus acquire their name from the utilization of one or more trackset gaps together with launching and receiving ramps for causing the toy vehicles to go airborne through the jump feature. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,789 issued to Halford, et al. sets forth COMBINED JUMP MEANS AND TOY VEHICLE WITH SIMULATED STUNT HOOP having a supporting frame from which an annular stunt hoop is assembled. A toy vehicle trackset includes a launch ramp positioned on one side of the hoop and a receiving ramp positioned on the opposite side of the hoop. Toy vehicles are launched onto the jump ramp and thereafter traverse the span between the launch ramp and receiving ramp and pass through the open center of the hoop. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,867 issued to Hippely sets forth a TOY VEHICLE TRACKWAY SET having a jump station which defines a vertical loop coupled to a horizontal loop. The horizontal loop terminates in an upwardly directed ramp such that a toy vehicle launched into the vertical loop passes onto the horizontal loop and is launched through the opening of the vertical loop. A separate catching basket is provided to receive the jumping toy vehicle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,843 issued to Ostendorff, et al. sets forth a TOY VEHICLE PLAYSET having a roadway, a booster for impelling a vehicle along the roadway, a ramp positioned in the roadway to provide a path for the vehicle to leap a predetermined distance, a catcher positioned in the roadway and a return portion slanted to stop the vehicle and return it to the end of the roadway at which the booster is situated. 
     Toy vehicle playsets utilizing free-wheeling unpowered toy vehicles typically utilize one of a variety of different types of toy vehicle launchers to impart energy thereto. Such toy vehicle launchers have been provided in a variety of different configurations. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,030 issued to Ostendorff, sets forth a RAPID ACTION TOY VEHICLE LAUNCHER which provides a rapid fire launcher having a pair of magazine ramps feeding successive toy vehicles to the launching station. 
     Other examples of toy vehicle launchers are found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,560 issued to Liu and entitled SPARKING TOY VEHICLE AND LAUNCHER THEREFOR; U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,973 issued to Rudell, et al. and entitled TOY CAR LAUNCHER WITH CABLE-DRIVEN SHUTTLE AND PULLEYS; U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,658 issued to Crosson, et al. entitled TOY CAR LAUNCHER WITH EXPANDABLE SCISSORS MEMBERS; U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,229 issued to McKay entitled TOY DRAGSTRIP AND STARTING TOWER; U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,540 issued to Convertine, et al. entitled COMPRESSED AIR PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE AND LAUNCHING SYSTEM; U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,303 issued to McKay, et al. entitled SHIFT CONSOLE INCLUDING MEANS FOR FEEDING AND LAUNCHING VEHICLES; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,437 issued to DeAnda, et al. entitled TOY VEHICLE STARTING AND LAUNCHING SET. 
     While the foregoing described prior art devices have to some extent improved the art and in many instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for evermore improved, interesting and amusing toy vehicle playsets. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle playset. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle playset which functions to provide a crashset play pattern and which utilizes rebounding apparatus. 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a toy vehicle crashset comprising: a toy vehicle; a base defining a surface and a periphery; at least one gate supported by the base having a pivot member constructed to guide the toy vehicle onto the surface; a toy vehicle launcher and a track segment coupled to the at least one gate, the toy vehicle launcher and the track segment and the at least one gate cooperating to propel the toy vehicle through the at least one gate and across a portion of the surface; a resilient barrier supported upon the base extending about at least a portion of the periphery; and at least one rebounder supported upon the base having a resiliently-driven impact-responsive ram, the toy vehicle crossing a portion of the surface and rebounding from impact against the resilient barrier or the rebounder. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     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: 
     FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a toy vehicle crashset constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 sets forth a perspective bottom view of a typical toy vehicle launcher utilized in the present invention toy vehicle crashset; 
     FIG. 3 sets forth a partial perspective assembly view of the present invention toy vehicle crashset; 
     FIG. 4 sets forth a perspective of a rebounder utilized in the present invention toy vehicle crashset; 
     FIG. 5 sets forth a bottom perspective of the rebounder of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 sets:forth a section view of the rebounder of FIG. 4 taken along section lines  6 — 6  therein; 
     FIG. 7 sets forth a partial section view of a portion of the rebounder of FIG. 4 taken along section lines  7 — 7  therein; 
     FIG. 8 sets forth a perspective view of a pair of impacting toy vehicles; 
     FIG. 9 sets forth a perspective view of the pair of toy vehicles of FIG. 8 following impact; and 
     FIG. 10 sets forth a perspective view of a toy vehicle impacting a rebounder utilized in the present invention toy vehicle crashset. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a toy vehicle crashset constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral  10 . Crashset  10  includes a generally rectangular base  11  defining a generally planar surface  12 . A plurality of gates  13 ,  14 ,  15  and  16  are positioned upon the four corners of base  11 . Gate  13  includes a pivot  60  secured to a track  62  which in turn is secured to a launcher  70 . A gateway  23  formed of a pair of posts  30  and  31  and a panel  32  is positioned above gate  13 . Similarly, gate  14  includes a pivot  61  having a track  63  coupled to a launcher  80 . Gate  14  further includes a gateway  24  formed by a pair of posts  33  and  34  together with a panel  35 . Gate  15  includes a gateway  25  formed by a pair of posts  36  and  37  and a panel  38  while gate  16  includes a gateway  26  formed by a pair of posts  39  and  40  and a panel  41 . In accordance with the present invention, gate  15  supports a rebounder  100  while gate  16  supports a rebounder  90 . 
     In further accordance with the present invention, a plurality of stretched rubber bands  45 ,  46  and  47  extend between posts  31  and  33  while a corresponding set of rubber bands  48 ,  49  and  50  stretch between posts  34  and  36  and a plurality of rubber bands  51 ,  52  and  53  stretch between posts  37  and  39 . Finally, the enclosure of surface  12  is completed by a plurality of stretched rubber bands  54 ,  55  and  56  which are stretched between posts  40  and  30 . Thus, base  11  is bounded on all four sides by pluralities of stretched rubber bands extending between gates  13  through  16 . 
     Launcher  70  may be fabricated in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques and includes a housing  71  defining a launcher channel  72 . A movable slide  73  is coupled to an elastic rubber band  79  (seen in FIG.  2 ). In accordance with conventional fabrication techniques, slide  73  is drawn rearwardly within channel  72  and is engaged by a release button  74 . A toy vehicle  20  is positioned within channel  72  in front of and against slide  33 . Thereafter, toy vehicle  20  is launched in the direction indicated by arrow  76  upon track  62  when release button  74  is pressed downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow  75 . 
     Launcher  80  is substantially identical to launcher  70  and includes a housing  81  defining a launch channel  82 . Launcher  80  further includes a slide  83  and a release button  84 . 
     Rebounder  90  is set forth below in FIGS. 3 through 7 in greater detail. However, suffice it to note here that rebounder  90  includes a movable ram  93  which in the manner set forth below in greater detail is drawn against a resilient member supported within rebounder  90  and latched in a cocked position. Thereafter, impact against ram  93  causes ram  93  to rapidly move forwardly and across surface  12  against the rebounding object such as a toy vehicle. 
     Rebounder  100  is similar in fabrication to rebounder  90 , described below, and thus includes a movable ram  103  which is resiliently supported against a latch in a cocked position within gateway  25 . In a further similar manner, ram  103  of rebounder  100  rapidly moves inwardly across surface  12  against any impacting object such as a toy vehicle or the like. 
     In operation, a toy vehicle such as toy vehicle  20  is loaded into launcher  70  and launcher  70  is cocked by drawing slide  73  rearwardly against rubber band  79  (seen in FIG.  2 ). In the preferred operation of the present invention, launcher  80  is similarly loaded with a toy vehicle and is cocked against an internal elastic element identical to rubber band  79  of launcher  70  (seen in FIG.  2 ). Thereafter, either or both of the toy vehicles within launchers  70  and  80  may be launched down tracks  62  and  63  respectively. If, for example, launcher  70  accelerates toy vehicle  20  in the direction indicated by arrow  76 , toy vehicle  20  traverses track  62  and passes through gateway  23  of gate  13  and traverses surface  12 . In the event a second toy vehicle is launched from launcher  80 , the possibility of a collision upon surface  12  arises. On the other hand, if toy vehicle  20  passes through gateway  23  and traverses surface  12 , it is likely to impact either rebounder  100  or one of the pluralities of elastic bands stretched about the periphery of base  11 . In the event toy vehicle  20  strikes rebounder  100 , ram  103  is released and the toy vehicle is rebounded by the energy of the impacting ram. Another possibility exists that toy vehicle  20  will strike one or more of the sets of elastic bands stretched about the periphery of base  11  and will rebound against rebounder  90 . A similar result occurs as rebounder  90  releases ram  93  causing,the toy vehicle to be further bounced about. 
     In further accordance with the present invention, each operator of launchers  70  and  80  is able to pivot the track and launcher about pivots  60  and  61  respectively as indicated by arrows  27  and  28  respectively. This allows each operator of each of launchers  70  and  80  to apply additional strategy and skill to the operation of crashset  10  by aiming their respective launched toy vehicles to selected portions of the toy vehicle crashset rebounding area. 
     While the present invention toy vehicle crashset may be operated by a single child user, it is anticipated that the most exciting play results from two children simultaneously operating launchers  70  and  80 . The various competitive aspects of the game thus played may, for example, include one competitor attempting to successfully avoid collision while the other endeavors to provoke a collision. 
     It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the present invention toy vehicle crashset may be operated with virtually any freewheeling toy vehicle. However, it has been found particularly interesting and amusing to utilize a toy vehicle which itself is impact-responsive and which undergoes some stunt activity such as crash deformation in response to impact. By way of example, FIGS. 8,  9  and  10  set forth illustrative examples of such a toy vehicle. The operative structure of the preferred toy vehicle illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 10 is shown in greater detail in the above-referenced related patent application. However, once again, it must be emphasized that the present invention toy vehicle crashset is capable of operation with a variety of toy vehicles without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 sets forth a bottom perspective view of launcher  70 . It will be recalled that launcher  80  is virtually identical in fabrication to launcher  70 . Thus, the description of launcher  70  shown in FIG. 2 will be understood to apply equally well to launcher  80  and be equally descriptive thereof. 
     More specifically, launcher  70  includes a housing  71  within which a slide  73  is movably supported. Housing  71  further defines a hook  78  which receives the forward end of an elastic member such as a rubber band  79 . Rubber band  79  is operatively coupled between hook  78  and slide  73 . Launcher  70  further includes a pivotally supported cover  68  having an aperture  69  formed therein. Cover  68  is pivoted upon housing  71  such that a hook  77  passes through aperture  69  and secures cover  68 . 
     FIG. 3 sets forth a partial perspective assembly view of toy vehicle crashset  10 . As described above, toy vehicle crashset  10  includes a generally rectangular base  11  having gates  13 ,  14 ,,  15  and  16  formed at the corners thereof. Gates  13  through  16  include respective gateways  23  through  26  as set forth above in FIG.  1 . Gateway  23  includes a pair of posts  30  and  31  and a panel  32 . Similarly, gateway  24  includes posts  33  and  34  and a panel  35 . Gateway  25  includes a pair of posts  36  and  37  while gateway  26  includes a pair of posts  39  and  40 . Base  11  further defines a generally planar surface  12  which is bounded by a plurality of elastic rubber bands  45  through  56  extending between posts  31  and  33 ,  34  and  36 ,  37  and  39 , and  40  and  30 . Thus, elastic rubber bands  45  through  56  provide resilient enclosure of surface  12 . 
     A pivot  60  is supported within gate  13  and,is pivotal in the manner indicated by arrow  64 . Pivot  60  includes conventional means for attachment to a conventional track segment  62  (seen in FIG.  1 ). Similarly, a pivot  61  supported within gateway  24  is movable in the manner indicated by arrows  65  and in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques is securable to a conventional track segment such as track segment  63  shown in FIG.  1 . 
     A rebounder  90  includes a platform  91  having a post  96  extending downwardly therefrom. Post  96  is received within aperture  95  formed in base  11  within gateway  26 . Thus, post  96  allows rebounder  90  to be pivoted within gateway  26 . Rebounder  90  includes a ram  93  supported by a shaft  92  in the manner set forth below in FIGS. 4 and 5. Suffice it to note here that ram  93  and shaft  92  are movable with respect to platform  91  and are acted upon by a rubber band elastic member  94 . Thus, rebounder  90  is supported within gateway  26  and, in the manner described below, may be cocked by drawing the combined structure of ram  93  and shaft  92  rearwardly against elastic rubber band  94  to latch ram  93  against the force of band  94 . 
     A similar rebounder  100  includes a platform  101  having a post  106 . Post  106  is received within an aperture  105  formed upon base  11  within gateway  25 . Thus, rebounder  100  is pivotable within gateway  25 . In a similar fabrication-to rebounder  90 , rebounder  100  includes a ram  103  supported upon platform  101  by a shaft  102 . A rubber ban  104  is coupled between platform  101  and shaft  102  to allow ram  103  to be moved outwardly to a cocked position in a similar fashion to rebounder  90 . 
     Rebounders  90  and  100  function in a substantially identical manner and are loaded or cocked by drawing their respective rams outwardly to the latched position. Thereafter, once loaded, an impact by a toy vehicle against either ram  93  or ram  103  releases the ram causing it to rebound the impacting toy vehicle. Once again, it will be noted that the angular position of rebounders  90  and  100  may be adjusted by pivotal movement. 
     As mentioned above, pivots  60  and  61  are pivotable within gateways  23  and  24  utilizing a structure basically the same as post  96  and aperture  95  shown for rebounder  90 . Thus, for example, pivot  61  includes a post  21  received within an aperture (not shown) formed within base  11 . 
     FIG. 4 sets forth a perspective view of rebounder  90 . It will be noted that rebounder  90  and rebounder  100  are fabricated in substantially the identical manner with the sole difference being the shape of the respective rams thereof. Thus, ram  93  of rebounder  90  is shown to define a shape resembling the forward cab of a truck. In contrast, ram  103  of rebounder  100  (seen in FIG. 3) defines a shape generally resembling a clenched fist. With the exception of this difference in the shape of the respective ram portions, rebounder  100  will be understood to be substantially identically to rebounder  90  and thus the descriptions of rebounder  90  set forth in conjunction with FIGS. 4 through 7 will be understood to apply equally well and be equally descriptive of rebounder  100 . 
     Returning to FIG. 4, rebounder  100  includes a platform  91  which as is set forth above in FIG. 3 is pivotally secured to base  11  by a post  96  within an aperture  95 . Platform  91  includes a pair of hooks  97  and  99  (hook  99  seen in FIG.  5 ). Platform  91  further includes a plate  111  which, as is better seen in FIG. 6, defines an aperture  112 . A slot  110  is formed in the forward portion of platform  91 . Rebounder  90  includes a ram  93  secured to an elongated shaft  92 . Shaft  92  includes a hook  98  and passes through aperture  112  in the manner seen in FIG.  6 . Thus, the combined structure of ram  93  and shaft  92  is slidably supported upon platform  91 . As is better seen in FIG. 7, ram  93  further defines a downwardly extending tab  113  which in the cocked position of FIG. 4 is received within slot  110  to restrain the position of ram  93  to that shown in FIG.  4 . An elastic member such as a rubber band  94  is secured at opposed ends to hooks  97  and  99  (hook  99  seen in FIG.  5 ). The intermediate portion of band  94  is received upon hook  98  of shaft  92 . 
     In the cocked position shown in FIG. 4, the rearward extension of shaft  92  stretches band  94  storing energy therein. The force of band  94  urges the combined structure of shaft  92  and ram  93  forwardly. This forward urging is restrained by tab  113  (seen in FIG. 7) within slot  110 . 
     In operation, the energy stored within band  94  is restrained until an impact occurs against the forward portion of ram  93 . This impact causes ram  93  to be moved rearwardly and upwardly releasing the lock of ram  93  within slot  110  allowing the energy within band  94  to rapidly move ram  93  forwardly in the direction indicated by arrow  107 . Thus, in operation, each time a toy vehicle impacts the frontal portion of ram  93 , the ram is released and rebounds against the impacting vehicle sending it flying in the opposite direction. 
     FIG. 5 sets forth a bottom perspective view of rebounder  90  in the cocked or loaded position. As described above, rebounder  90  includes a platform  91  supporting a post  96  and a pair of hooks  97  and  99  (hook  97  seen in FIG.  4 ). As is also described above, rebounder  90  includes a ram  93  having a rearwardly extending shaft  92 . A hook  98  is formed on shaft  92  and receives the middle portion of an elastic band  94 . Band  94  is stretched upon hooks  97  and  99 . 
     Platform  91  defines a slot  110  while ram  93  defines a tab  113 . Tab  113  is captive within slot  110  to latch ram  93  against the energy within stretched band  94 . 
     FIG. 6 sets forth a section view of rebounder  90  taken along section lines  6 — 6  in FIG.  4 . As described above, platform  91  supports a plate  111  having an aperture  112  formed therein. As is also described above, a shaft  92  which as is better seen in FIG. 4 supports ram  93  is slidably received within aperture  112 . An elastic band  94  is stretched on either side of plate  111 . 
     FIG. 7 sets forth a partial section view of the latching mechanism of rebounder  90  taken along section lines  7 — 7  in FIG. 4. A platform  91  slidably supports a ram  93  having a shaft  92 . Ram  93  supports a downwardly extending tab  113 . A slot  110  is formed in platform  91  and receives tab  113  to latch ram  93  and shaft  92  against the stretched force of band  94  (seen in FIG.  4 ). 
     In operation, an impact against ram  93  causes an upward and rearward movement of ram  93  in the direction indicated by arrow  115 . This upward and rearward movement pivots tab  113  from slot  110  releasing shaft  92  and ram  93 . Thereafter, the stored energy within band  94  (seen in FIG. 4) rapidly accelerates ram  93  and shaft  92  in the direction indicated by arrow  116 . This rapid movement produces a rebound of the toy vehicle impacting ram  93 . 
     As mentioned above, it will be understood that but for the difference in shapes of their respective rams, rebounders  90  and  100  are substantially identical. Thus, with temporary reference to FIG. 3, rebounder  100  operates in the same manner as rebounder  90  and rapidly moves ram  103  forwardly when ram  103  is impacted by a toy vehicle to cause the toy vehicle to rebound. 
     FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a pair of toy vehicles  120  and  121  approaching each other in an imminent collision along paths indicated by arrows  122  and  123 . As mentioned above, the present invention crashset is operative with virtually any free-wheeling toy vehicle. It will be equally apparent that in the event a pair of powered vehicles are utilized such as battery and electric motor powered toy vehicles, the present invention crashset is operative without the need for launchers  70  and  80  (seen in FIG.  1 ). 
     FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of an impact between toy vehicles  120  and  121 . In the preferred vehicle type used in the present invention toy vehicle crashset, a conventional toy vehicle may be replaced by toy vehicles which themselves undergo impact responsive alteration to simulate a vehicle crash. 
     FIG. 9 sets forth toy vehicles  120  and  121  which are fabricated in accordance with the above-identified related patent application. Accordingly, the toy vehicles have deformed upon impact to resemble crashed vehicles. 
     FIG. 10 sets forth toy vehicle  121  upon impact and rebound from ram  103 . As described above, the impact of toy vehicle  121  against ram  103  when rebounder  90  (seen in FIG. 3) is in the cocked position causes ram  103  to move rapidly in the direction indicated by arrow  124 . This, in turn, triggers the crash or impact response of vehicle  121  and causes it to rebound in the general direction of arrow  124 . 
     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.