Abstract:
A toy vehicle launching ramp and landing ramp is a toy vehicle track set that includes a launching ramp or track portion and a landing or receiving ramp or track portion. The toy vehicle track set also includes a booster or launcher which can propel or launch a toy vehicle onto the launching ramp, into the air, and onto the landing ramp. Further the set includes at least one elongate member with distance indicia, such that a user can measure the distance between the launcher and launching ramp, the launching ramp and receiving ramp, or some combination thereof. The toy vehicle track set enhances the play value of toy vehicle track sets by providing reliable and measurable jumps.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/528,571, filed Aug. 29, 2011, entitled “Toy Vehicle Launching Ramp and Landing Ramp” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to toys, and more particularly to a toy vehicle play set that may include a launching ramp spaced a distance apart from a landing ramp. Furthermore, the invention relates to a toy vehicle play set incorporating one or more measuring devices for estimating and adjusting the distance traveled by a vehicle when launched from the launching ramp. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Toy vehicle play sets are popular toys which are known to provide entertainment and excitement to an end user. These play sets typically include one or more track configurations intended to guide a toy vehicle, such as a 1/64 scale free-wheeling die-cast toy vehicle. The track configurations may also include a mechanism for propelling the vehicle or call for the vehicle to be propelled by hand. 
     To bring increased entertainment and excitement to play sets, track configurations may incorporate jumps into these play sets by which a traveling toy vehicle is briefly separated from the track to ultimately rejoin the track at a downstream location, or to enter a second track portion spaced apart from the first track portion. However, these attempts have been limited due to the complexities of ensuring that the launched toy vehicle lands on the second track portion in a proper orientation to thus allow the vehicle to continue its course of travel. Furthermore, these attempts have been limited in that the consistency of the distance traveled by a launched vehicle has varied, causing the vehicle to miss the landing target and/or fall off the track. 
     Accordingly, a toy vehicle play set is desired which can provide the entertainment and excitement associated with a toy vehicle being launched from a launching ramp at a predetermined desired force and landing safely on a landing ramp. It is further desirable to provide a toy vehicle play set incorporating a measuring apparatus for accurately estimating the desired flight distance of the vehicle, ensuring consistent launching of a vehicle. It is further desirable to provide an apparatus capable of adjusting the distance to be traveled by the vehicle to match the gap created between a launching ramp and a landing ramp. It is also desirable to provide a toy vehicle play set capable of measuring the horizontal and/or vertical distance traveled by a vehicle, in flight, when launched from a launching ramp. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment a toy vehicle track set is provided comprising a launching ramp including a track portion and a launching mechanism coupled to the track portion, wherein the launching mechanism includes a retraction mechanism, a receiver, and an elongate member coupling the receiver to the retraction mechanism, wherein the retraction mechanism includes an actuator, the activation of which results in the retraction of the elongate member and movement of the receiver toward the track portion. The track set further comprises a landing ramp spaced apart from the launching ramp and having a track portion configured to receive a toy vehicle thereon. In practice, a vehicle is placed onto or in front of the receiver of the launching ramp, and the receiver is withdrawn to arm the launching mechanism. The actuator is then depressed, causing the retraction mechanism to move the receiver toward the track portion, launching the toy vehicle upon the launching ramp track portion, through the air, and onto the landing ramp track portion. 
     In one embodiment, the elongate member is a measuring device that can be used by the user to determine the distance between the receiver and the track portion prior to retraction of the elongate member. 
     In other embodiments, the launching ramp or landing ramp includes a retractable measure with distance indicia thereon, the retractable measure being extendible from either the landing ramp or launching ramp and coupleable with the opposing ramp via a coupler, thereby permitting the measurement of a distance between the launching ramp and the landing ramp. 
     In still another embodiment, the launching mechanism includes a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism prevents the retraction mechanism from retracting the elongate member until the actuator is actuated. 
     In yet another embodiment, the track portions include sidewalls extending from opposite edges of the launching ramp such that a toy vehicle may travel therebetween. However, in other embodiments, the landing ramp also includes a shell disposed at least partially around the landing ramp, such that the shell may direct a launched vehicle onto the landing ramp. 
     In an alternative embodiment a toy vehicle track set comprises a launching track portion having a ramp and a launcher that receives a toy vehicle and propels the toy vehicle along the ramp, the launcher including a receiving member that receives a toy vehicle and a retraction mechanism that moves the receiving member from a withdrawn position to a retracted position, the receiving member including a distance measuring portion that can be used to determine the distance between the receiving member in its withdrawn position and the ramp. The track set further comprises a receiving track portion having a ramp configured to receive the toy vehicle propelled from the launching ramp. 
     In other embodiments, the launcher, for the toy vehicle track set above, includes a locking system configured to retain the receiver in a withdrawn position. In some of these embodiments, the locking system is configured to allow the receiver to move away from the ramp of the launching track portion, but not allow the receiver to move towards the ramp of the launching track portion. Further, in at least some other embodiments which include the locking system, the launcher also includes an actuator that, upon actuation, unlocks the locking mechanism, allowing the retraction mechanism to move the receiver from a withdrawn position to a retracted position. 
     In some embodiments where the launcher, for the toy vehicle track set above, includes a locking system and a actuator, as addressed above, the retraction mechanism can move the receiver to other positions between the retracted position and withdrawn position recited above, such as a second retracted position disposed between the withdrawn position and the first retracted position. For example, in some of these embodiments, the retraction mechanism moves the receiver to the second retracted position if the actuator is moved from an actuated position to a non-actuated position prior to the receiver moving to the first retracted position. 
     In still further embodiments of the toy vehicle track set, one of the launching track portion or the receiving track portion includes a retractable measure that can be extended between the launching track portion and the receiving track portion to measure the distance therebetween. In other embodiments, the retraction mechanism of the toy vehicle track set comprises a torsion spring, a torsion bar, a coil spring, a recoil spring, an elastic binder, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. 
     According to another alternative embodiment, a toy vehicle track set comprises a launching track portion that includes a ramp and a booster configured to propel a toy vehicle along the track portion. The toy vehicle track set of this embodiment also comprises a first elongate member including distance indicia and a landing track portion including a ramp, wherein the launching track portion and landing track portion are coupled together by a second elongate member, the second elongate member also including distance indicia. 
     In other embodiments, the booster for the toy vehicle track set above includes a retraction mechanism, wherein the retraction mechanism is configured to move the first elongate member from an extended position to a retracted position. In some of these embodiments, the retraction mechanism includes a bias member configured to bias the first elongate member in a retracted position, a locking system configured to lock the first elongate member in a extended position, and an actuator configured to unlock the locking system, such that the bias member can cause the retraction mechanism to move the first elongate member from an extended position to a retracted position. 
     In other embodiments, the second elongate member for the toy vehicle track set above is permanently coupled to and extendible from either the landing track portion or the launching track portion and removably coupled to the other. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be understood more readily after consideration of the Detailed Description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  provides a side perspective view of a toy vehicle track set in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  provides a front perspective view of a toy vehicle track set in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  provides a side view of an element of a toy vehicle track set in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  provides a side perspective view of an element of a toy vehicle track set in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  provides a top view of an element of a toy vehicle track set in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  provides a bottom view of an element of a toy vehicle track set in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  provides an exploded view of an element of a toy vehicle track set in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  provides a rear perspective view of a toy vehicle track set  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, including a launching track portion or ramp  12  and a landing track portion or ramp  14 . The launching ramp  12  may be or comprise a track portion  26  and a launching mechanism  16 . For the purposes of this application, the launching mechanism may also be referred to as a booster or launcher. The track portion  26  may be inclined, flat, or curved and may be bounded by opposite side walls on its lateral edges. Additionally, the track portion  26  may be substantially wider at its bottom edge than at its top edge and may taper from its bottom edge to its top edge. The launching mechanism (or booster/launcher)  16  may include a retraction mechanism  18 , a receiver  20 , and an elongate member  22  coupling the receiver  20  to the retraction mechanism  18 . The receiver  20  is configured to accept or receive a toy vehicle  32  (see  FIG. 2 ), about the rear and at least one partial side of the vehicle  32  and may articulate with respect to launcher  16 . 
     In some exemplary embodiments, a vehicle  32  may be launched by withdrawing, or otherwise moving, receiver  20  (including a vehicle  32  received therein or thereon) away from track portion  26 , and subsequently releasing the receiver  20 , so that the receiver  20  may be drawn back or retracted towards the track portion  26 . The retraction mechanism  18  is configured to retract the elongate member  22 , thus moving the receiver  20  toward the launching ramp track portion  26 . Alternatively, as best seen in  FIG. 6 , the retraction mechanism  18  may comprise a locking system  38  and actuator  24 . The locking system  38  may be configured to retain the elongate member  22  in the withdrawn position until it is released by compressing the actuator  24 . Activation of the actuator  24  results in the retraction of the elongate member  22 , thereby causing the receiver  20  and accompanying vehicle  32 , to be moved towards track portion  26 . In addition, the elongate member  22  may contain distance indicia thereon for selecting a desired launching distance. The launching distance may correlate with a vehicle flight distance. Thus, a user may launch a vehicle  32  a distance corresponding to the gap created between the launching ramp  12  and landing ramp  14  by withdrawing the elongate member  22  to the indicia which matches the length of the gap. 
     In some embodiments, the retraction mechanism  18  may be configured to allow for varied retraction forces dependent on where receiver  20  is situated with respect to the track portion  26 . For example, the retraction mechanism  18  may comprise a resilient member configured to increase retraction forces as the receiver  20  is moved further away from the track portion  26 . Regardless of whether the force applied is consistent or varied, the retraction mechanism  18  may be configured to impart substantially similar forces on receivers  20  retracted from substantially the same distance. Accordingly, consistently withdrawing the receiver  20  to the same point may ensure that vehicle  32  is consistently launched the same distance. As mentioned above, in some embodiments, elongate member  22  may include indicia which signify how far a vehicle  32  will be launched if withdrawn to certain points. In other words, elongate member  22  may substantially resemble a tape measure, but the indicia included thereon may be spaced at either varied or constant intervals, instead of strictly constant intervals, and may represent launch distances instead of lengths. 
     The track set  10  further comprises a landing ramp  14  which may be or comprise a track portion  28  configured to receive a toy vehicle  32  thereon. The track portion  28  may, similar to track portion  26 , may be inclined, flat, or curved and may be bounded by opposite side walls on its lateral edges. However, in contrast with track portion  26 , track portion  28  may be substantially wider at its top edge than at its bottom edge. The landing ramp  14  may further contain a shell  30  configured to partially encapsulate at least a portion of the landing ramp  14  and aid in directing the toy vehicle  32  onto the track portion  28  of landing ramp  14 . 
     In practicing one embodiment of the invention, a vehicle  32  is placed onto or in front of the receiver  20  of the launching ramp  12 , and the receiver  20  is withdrawn, with the vehicle  32 , to arm the booster  16 . Once withdrawn, the locking system  38  (see  FIG. 6 ) retains the receiver  20  a distance from the track portion  26 . Then, a user depresses an actuator  24  situated on the booster  16 , releasing the locking system  38  and retracting the receiver  20  and accompanying vehicle  32  towards the track portion  26 . The forward momentum created by the retraction mechanism  18  thrusts the vehicle  32  onto and over the launching ramp  12 , through the air, along the pathway indicated by arrows  50  (See  FIG. 2 ) and onto the track portion  28  of the landing ramp  14 . 
       FIG. 2  provides a front perspective view of a toy vehicle track set  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Further detailed in  FIG. 2  are an alternative embodiment of the receiver  20 , in the withdrawn position, configured to contact a portion of the rear of the vehicle  32 , as well as a retractable measure  48  situated between the launching ramp  12  and landing ramp  14 . The retractable measure  48  contains distance indicia thereon, thereby permitting the measurement of a distance between the launching ramp and the landing ramp. The retractable measure  48  may be extendible from the landing ramp  14 , the launching ramp  12 , or both, and may be coupleable with either ramp via any desirable coupler or fastener. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  provide a side view and perspective view, respectively, of an element of a toy vehicle track set  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. More particularly,  FIGS. 3A and 3B  depict a landing ramp  14  including a shell  30  affixed to and at least partially encapsulating a portion of the track portion  28 . Shell  30  may aid in directing a launched vehicle  32  onto the track portion  28  of landing ramp  14 . In this embodiment, the shell  30  is tapered, with a broad opening configured to receive the vehicle  32 . In various other embodiments, the shape, length and/or placement of the shell  30  may be varied for optimal performance or as desired. 
       FIG. 4  provides a top view of an element of a toy vehicle track set  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  depicts a launching ramp  12  showing a receiver  20  and an elongate member  22  in the retracted position. As seen, receiver  20  may, in some embodiments, include retainer members  21 . Retainer members  21  may project from either or both lateral edges of receiver  20  and may be configured to receive the side portion of a vehicle  32  to help ensure it remains in or on receiver  20  during any motion thereof. Also as seen in  FIG. 4 , launching ramp  14  may include guide members  27  that may direct or otherwise guide a vehicle  32  onto track portion  28 . Guide members  27  may interiorly receive retainer members  21  in order to direct a vehicle  32  onto track portion  26 . 
       FIG. 4  further depicts a launching ramp  14  including track portion  26  and launching mechanism  16  comprising a retraction mechanism  18  and an actuator  24 . In the exemplary embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4 , the actuator is a push button actuator. However, in other embodiments, actuator  24  may be any desirable actuator. 
       FIG. 5  provides a bottom view of an element of a toy vehicle track set  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  depicts a launching ramp  12  with a receiver  20  and an elongate member  22  in a retracted position. As can be seen in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 5 , a portion of the receiver  20 , such as retainer members  21 , may be disposed above the track portion  26  when the receiver  20  is in a retracted position while the remainder of receiver  20  may be disposed below track portion  26 . Thus, receiver  20  may be prevented from being retracted past a certain point or position, such as the retracted position depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
     Additionally, track  26  may include a securing member  23  on its lower surface which may act to secure or position elongate member  22  substantially in the center of track  26 , substantially adjacent to its underside. Securing member  23  may prevent, or help to prevent, elongate member  22  from twisting, turning or otherwise undesirably moving in a manner that may prevent withdrawal or retraction. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the elongate member  22  is seen engaged with a retraction mechanism  18 , which is disposed within a housing  34  and a cover  36  for the housing  34 . Housing  34  and cover  36  may also include grip portions  17  which may engage a support surface below the toy vehicle track set  10  and resist movement with respect to the support surface below. 
       FIG. 6  provides an exploded view of an element of a toy vehicle track set  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The exploded view of a launching ramp  12  illustrates internal components of a launching mechanism  16 , as well as a base  44  configured to support a track portion  26 . The launching mechanism  16  comprises a retraction mechanism  18 , a receiver  20 , and an elongate member  22  coupling the receiver  20  to the retraction mechanism  18 . The retraction mechanism  18  comprises a housing  34  for retaining various components of the launching mechanism  16 , including a locking mechanism  38 , a recoil member  40 , a bias member  42 , and an actuator  24 . The components of retraction mechanism  18  are retained in the housing  34  by a cover  36 , but the cover  36  includes an opening for so that the actuator  24  may be exposed exteriorly of the housing  34  and cover  36 . 
     The components of the retraction mechanism  18  are operably connected to each other such that retraction mechanism  18  may function in accordance with the objects and scope of the invention. For example, in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the bias member  42  is operably coupled to the elongate member  22  so that it may drive retraction of the elongate member  22  and accompanying receiver  20  towards track portion  26 . Thus, as a user withdraws, pulls back, or otherwise moves the receiver  20  away from the retraction mechanism  18 , the biasing member  42  may coil, retract, or otherwise store energy, such that it may bias the receiver  20  (and elongate member  22 ) towards a retracted position. In some embodiments, the biasing member  42  might automatically retract the receiver  20  as soon as it is released, but in the exemplary embodiment depicted in  FIG. 6 , locking mechanism  38  prevents or “locks” the biasing member  42  from automatically retracting receiver  20 , at least until actuator  24  is actuated. However, in some embodiments the locking system  38  may retain or “lock” the elongate member  22  by simply preventing it from retracting. Thus, in some instances even though locking system  38  may be “locking” elongate member  22 , elongate member may still be able to move, but elongate member will only be able to be further withdrawn, not retracted. Regardless, once a user retracts receiver  20 , the user may release receiver  20  without it immediately retracting. 
     Once the user is prepared to release the receiver from a withdrawn position (i.e., launch a vehicle  32 ), a user may press, or otherwise actuate, actuator  24 . Such actuation may, in turn, cause actuator  24  to engage and unlock lock mechanism  38 , so that the lock mechanism  38  allows the energy stored in biasing member  42  may be released, causing elongate member  22  and receiver  20  to be retracted. In some embodiments, actuating actuator  24  may fully retract elongate member  22  and receiver  20 , but in other embodiments, retraction mechanism  18  may only retract elongate member  22  and receiver  20  for as long as actuator  24  is engaged. 
     For example, recoil member  40  may be operably coupled to actuator  24  and biased to keep actuator  24  in an non-actuated position so that that the actuator  24  is not engaging and unlocking the locking mechanism  38  unless actuator  24  is presently actuated. Thus, a brief or momentary actuation of actuator  24  could partially retract elongate member  22  and receiver  20  for that same amount of time. However, in other embodiments, recoil member  40  may be configured to permit full retraction of elongate member  22  and receiver  20  in response to even a momentary actuation of actuator  24 . Either way, recoil member  40  may ensure (by moving actuator  24  into a non-actuated position) that locking mechanism  38  locks the biasing member  42  unless actuator  24  is being, or has recently been, pressed. In other words, recoil member  40  may automatically return actuator  24  to a non-actuated position after each actuation, thereby ensuring locking mechanism  38  will continue to lock retraction mechanism  18  for any subsequent withdrawals. 
     The vehicle track set  10  may be fabricated from any suitable material, or combination of materials, such as plastic, foamed plastic, wood, cardboard, pressed paper, metal, supple natural or synthetic materials including, but not limited to, cotton, elastomers, polyester, plastic, rubber, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. Suitable plastics may include high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), or the like. Suitable foamed plastics may include expanded or extruded polystyrene, expanded or extruded polypropylene, EVA foam, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. 
     The bias member  42  and recoil member  40  are each defined herein as a spring which expands/rotates (and recovers) in at least one axis, and may include, but is not limited to, a spring, a resilient plastic, memory foam, or a rubber. Each of the bias member  42  and the recoil member  40  may be fabricated from any suitable material, or combinations of materials, such as supple natural or synthetic materials including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, elastomers, polyester, rubber, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. 
     It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Similarly, where any description recites “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such disclosure should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. 
     While the invention has been described in detail and with references to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. For example, the majority of the elements can be formed of molded plastic. However, in alternative embodiments, the elements can be formed of a material other than plastic provided that the material has sufficient strength for the component&#39;s intended function.