Patent Publication Number: US-9427671-B2

Title: Toy vehicle launcher and toy track for use therewith

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/005,332 entitled “Toy Vehicle Launcher and Toy Track for Use Therewith,” filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 30, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to toy vehicle launchers for use with toy tracks. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Toy racetracks are popular among children of varied ages. Children enjoy a variety of track features and track configurations, and continually seek new toy racetrack features to enhance the play experience. While various devices have previously been provided to launch toy vehicles onto a racetrack, there remains opportunity to further enhance the play experience by providing new and unique toy vehicle launching systems for use with toy racetracks. 
     It would therefore be advantageous to provide a toy vehicle launcher and a toy racetrack for use with such launcher that further enhances the excitement and amusement offered to a child as they engage in such play. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed is a launcher for a toy vehicle. The launcher has a biased carriage that holds a toy vehicle as a drive wheel on the toy vehicle is being energized, and that propels the energized toy vehicle forward and onto a toy track when the biased carriage is released. A launcher housing includes a carriage capture and release assembly that remains in an armed, ready position until a toy vehicle is positioned on the carriage, a pull cord is inserted through the launcher housing and into engagement with the drive wheel on the toy vehicle, and the pull cord is thereafter withdrawn from the toy vehicle and the housing. After the pull cord is fully withdrawn, the carriage capture and release assembly releases the carriage, allowing a biasing member to propel the carriage forward so as to launch the energized toy vehicle. The capture and release assembly can be referred to alternatively as a release assembly. 
     The launcher may be attached to and form a part of a toy track that may include one or more stunt features through which the toy vehicle may travel after launching from the launcher. 
     In accordance with certain aspects of an embodiment of the invention, a toy vehicle launcher is provided comprising a housing including a release assembly, a ramp section coupled to the housing, the ramp section defining a slot therein, a slidable carriage that is movable along the slot between a loaded position and a launched position, the slidable carriage being retained in its loaded position and biased toward its launched position by a biasing member, the slidable carriage being engageable with the release assembly, and a pull cord engageable with the housing, the pull cord being engageable with the release assembly and a toy vehicle coupled to the slidable carriage, the slidable carriage being released from its loaded position when the pull cord is retracted from the release assembly and traveling along the slot in the ramp section. 
     In accordance with further aspects of an embodiment of the invention, a toy vehicle and launcher assembly, comprising a toy vehicle having a wheel and an axle coupled to the wheel, the axle having a set of teeth, and a launcher, comprising a housing, a ramp section coupled to the housing, a carriage coupled to the ramp section and movable relative to the housing, the toy vehicle being engageable with the carriage, the carriage being positionable in a launching position and in a loaded position, and a pull cord engageable with the housing, the carriage, and the toy vehicle, wherein removal of the pull cord from the housing, the carriage, and the toy vehicle results in the carriage moving along the ramp section and the toy vehicle disengaging from the carriage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       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: 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a launcher in accordance with certain aspects of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a launcher in accordance with certain aspects of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the launcher of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a close-up, bottom view of a portion of the launcher of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a close-up, bottom view of a portion of the launcher of  FIG. 2  in a partially disassembled state. 
         FIG. 6  is a close-up, bottom view of a carriage capture and release assembly for use with the launcher of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is a close-up, bottom view of the carriage capture and release assembly of  FIG. 6  in a disengaged position. 
         FIG. 8  is a close-up, bottom view of the carriage capture and release assembly of  FIG. 6  in an engaged position. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the launcher of  FIG. 2  showing the carriage in a first position without a toy vehicle. 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the launcher of  FIG. 2  showing the carriage in an armed, ready position without a toy vehicle positioned for launch. 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the launcher of  FIG. 2  showing the carriage in an armed, ready position with a toy vehicle positioned for launch. 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of the launcher of  FIG. 1  showing the toy vehicle positioned ready for launch. 
         FIG. 13  is a rear view of the launcher and toy vehicle of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a close-up, rear perspective view of a toy vehicle for use with the launcher of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of a toy track employing the launcher of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 16  is a top view of a stunt track segment for use with the toy track of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a top view of the stunt track segment of  FIG. 16  after activation of a stunt feature. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the launcher of  FIGS. 1 and 2  with a pull cord inserted through the launcher housing and toy vehicle. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the launcher of  FIG. 18  showing the pull cord being withdrawn from the launcher and the carriage beginning to move away from the armed, ready position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description is of one or more particular embodiments 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. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , and with regard to certain aspects of an embodiment of the invention, a launcher  100  for a toy vehicle  200  is provided. As explained in greater detail below, the launcher  100  includes a slidable, biased carriage  110  that pushes toy vehicle  200  forward and away from launcher  100  when carriage  110  is released from a loaded position. A pull cord  300  is configured to engage a drive wheel on toy vehicle  200 , and to likewise engage a carriage capture and release assembly inside of launcher  100  that releases carriage  110  when the pull cord  300  is fully withdrawn from launcher  100 . The launcher  100  includes downwardly extending legs  106  that can engage a support surface. 
     As shown in the top perspective view of  FIG. 2  and the bottom view of  FIG. 3 , launcher  100  includes ramp section  102 , housing block  120  at the raised end of ramp section  102 , and a tab  104  at the lower, forward end of ramp section  102 , which tab  104  is configured for attachment to a section of extruded plastic toy track as is well known to those skilled in the art. Ramp section  102  has a longitudinal slot  105  extending along at least a portion of ramp section  102 . Carriage  110  includes an upper portion  110   a (see  FIG. 2 ) and a lower portion  110   b (see  FIG. 3 ), which are configured such that the bottom of upper portion  110   a  and the top of lower portion  110   b  overlap the side edges defining the longitudinal slot  105  so as to allow carriage  110  to slide along slot  105  while preventing it from being inadvertently detached from slot  105 . Slot  105  preferably extends from a starting point immediately adjacent housing block  120  toward the front, lower end of launcher  100 , stopping at a distance from the front, lower end of launcher  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the lower portion  110   b  of carriage  110  is biased by an elastic member  140 , such as by way of non-limiting example a rubber band, toward the front, lower end of launcher  100 . One or more clips  107  may be provided on the underside of launcher  100  positioned adjacent to the front, lower end of launcher  100  for receiving a first end of elastic member  140 . Likewise, an elastic member receiver  111  may be provided on the lower portion  110   b  of carriage  110  for receiving the opposite end of elastic member  140 . As slot  105  terminates a distance away from the front, lower end of launcher  100 , elastic member  140  maintains a pull on carriage  110  throughout the entirety of its travel from its armed, ready position (shown in  FIG. 18 ) to the launched position (shown in  FIG. 1 ). As referenced above, downwardly extending legs  106  may be provided on the sides of ramp section  102  so as to elevate the rear portion of launcher  100 . 
     In order to hold carriage  110  in place in the ready position (shown in  FIG. 18 ) until such time as a user launches a toy vehicle, housing block  120  includes a carriage capture and release assembly  124  (see  FIG. 5 ) that releases carriage  110  when the pull cord  300  is fully withdrawn from launcher  100 . As shown in the close-up bottom view of  FIG. 4 , carriage  110  has a rearwardly extending carriage hook arm  112  having a downward facing hook  113  at the rear edge thereof. Carriage hook arm  112  is pivotably attached to carriage  110  at a pivot connection  114 , and a biasing member, such as a spring, biases the carriage hook arm  112  downward with respect to the rest of carriage  110 . When carriage  110  is in place in the ready position, hook  113  engages a retaining ledge  121  on a bottom cover  122  of housing block  120  (bottom cover  122  being shown removed from the base of housing block  120  in  FIG. 5 ). An inclined ramp surface  123  may be provided on the front side of retaining ledge  121  to help to push hook  113  upward as it approaches retaining ledge  121 . Once in this ready position (in which hook  113  engages a rear surface of retaining ledge  121 ), carriage  110  is held in this ready position until hook  113  is lifted so as to clear the top edge of retaining ledge  121 , at which time elastic member  140  will quickly pull carriage  110  forward to launch a toy vehicle positioned on carriage  110 . 
     Hook  113  is lifted over retaining ledge  121  by the carriage capture and release assembly (shown generally at  124 ) positioned within housing block  120 . Carriage capture and release assembly  124  includes a carrier block  125 , which carrier block  125  is vertically movable within an internal housing  126  mounted within housing block  120 . As shown in the bottom view of internal housing  126  of  FIG. 6 , carrier block  125  is upwardly spring biased by a spring member  127  positioned between a spring post head  128  and the underside of carrier block  125 . When pull cord  300  is inserted into housing block  120 , it passes through openings (not shown) in carrier block  125  and pushes carrier block  125  downward against the bias of spring member  127 . Likewise, full removal of pull cord  300  from carrier block  125  allows the bias of spring member  127  to return carrier block  125  to its raised position. 
     Carrier block  125  carries a carriage actuator  129  that is pivotably mounted to carrier block  125 , allowing carriage actuator  129  to pivot about a horizontal axis with respect to carrier block  125  so as to rock back and forth toward and away from the front side  130  of internal housing  126 . Front side  130  of internal housing  126  has a window  131  through which the front portion of carriage actuator  129  extends. The front portion of carriage actuator  129  is provided a tongue  132  that is engaged by carriage  110  to rock carriage actuator  129  rearward (away from the position shown in  FIG. 6 ), as will be discussed in further detail below. Carriage actuator  129  also includes a lift arm  133  that is configured to engage a lift surface  115  on carriage hook arm  112 . 
     More particularly, with reference to  FIG. 7 , when carriage  110  is positioned at its rearmost, ready position, and without pull cord  300  inserted in housing block  120 , carrier block  125  is in a raised position such that lift arm  133  does not drop below the lift surface  115  on carriage hook arm  112 . However, and with reference to  FIG. 8 , when pull cord  300  is inserted into housing block  120 , carrier block  125  moves downward against the bias of spring member  127  (see  FIG. 6 ), in turn lowering lift arm  133  below lift surface  115  on carriage hook arm  112 . If, as explained in greater detail below, carriage  110  engages tongue  132  (which is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) on the front of carriage actuator  129  (which occurs when a toy vehicle is not loaded in carriage  110 ), carriage actuator  129  is pivoted, against the bias of a spring, toward the rear of housing block  120 , such that lift arm  133 , while at a lower position than lift surface  115  on carriage hook arm  112 , will not engage lift surface  115 . However, if carriage  110  does not engage tongue  132  (which occurs when a toy vehicle is loaded in carriage  110 ), carriage actuator  129  is spring-biased to its forward most position, in which position lift arm  133  extends beneath lift surface  115  on carriage hook arm  112 . In this engaged position, when pull cord  300  is fully removed from housing block  120 , carrier block  125  will be raised by spring member  127 , lifting carriage actuator  129  (and thus lift arm  133 ), in turn lifting carriage hook arm  112  so as to cause downward facing hook  113  to lift above the top edge of retaining ledge  121 . Once downward facing hook  113  is lifted above the top edge of retaining ledge  121 , elastic member  140  will quickly pull carriage  110  forward to launch the toy vehicle. 
     Because carriage  110  is configured to only engage tongue  132  when a toy vehicle is not loaded in carriage  110 , insertion and removal of pull cord  300  into housing block  120  when a toy vehicle is not loaded will not release carriage  110  from its ready position. Rather, only when a toy vehicle is loaded (which in turn will cause carriage  110  to disengage from tongue  132  on carriage capture and release assembly  124 , allowing carriage actuator  129  to pivot into engagement with carriage hook arm  112 ) will the release mechanism of carriage capture and release assembly  124  be engaged, thus causing the carriage to be released once the pull cord  300  is withdrawn. 
     The mechanism for selectively causing carriage  110  to engage carriage capture and release assembly  124  only when a toy vehicle is positioned on carriage  110  is embodied in moveable arms  116  ( FIGS. 9-11 ) that extend upward from carriage upper portion  110   a , and which are pivotably mounted to carriage  110 . Carriage  110  interacts with ramp section  102  so as to cause the top portions of moveable arms  116  to move toward one another as the carriage  110  is moved toward housing block  120 . More particularly, the upper face of ramp section  102  is provided with cam surfaces  108  on opposite sides of longitudinal slot  105 . Each cam surface  108  engages a bottom portion of one of the moveable arms  116 . Moreover, the bottom portions of moveable arms  116  are spring biased toward one another. Thus, as carriage  110  is moved toward housing block  120 , the upper portions of moveable arms  116  will move from the outer position shown in  FIG. 9  (where the bottom portions of moveable arms  116  engage the narrow-most portion of cam surfaces  108 ) to the inward position shown in  FIG. 10  (where the bottom portions of moveable arms  116  engage the wider portion of cam surfaces  108 ). In the position shown in  FIG. 10 , in which toy vehicle  200  is not yet seated within carriage  110 , the bottom portion of moveable arms  116  are positioned so that at least one of moveable arms  116  aligns with and engages tongue  132 , thus pivoting carriage actuator  129  rearward so that lift arm  133  on carriage actuator  129  does not engage lift surface  115  on carriage hook arm  112 . Likewise, and as shown in  FIG. 11 , when toy vehicle  200  is fully seated in carriage  110 , engagement clips  202  on toy vehicle  200  engage arms  116  to push the top portions of arms  116  slightly outward, in turn causing the bottom portions of arms  116  to pivot slightly inward, causing misalignment between arms  116  and tongue  132  on carriage actuator  129 . When arms  116  no longer engage tongue  132 , carriage actuator  129  pivots forward, thus causing lift arm  133  to engage lift surface  115  on carriage hook arm  112 . 
     In this position, as pull cord  300  is inserted into housing block  120 , carrier block  125  is pushed downward, causing lift arm  133  to push below lift surface  115  (carriage actuator  129  pivoting slightly rearward against its spring bias as lift arm  133  passes over lift surface  115  of carriage hook arm  112 ). Thereafter, as pull cord  300  is pulled fully out of housing block  120 , carrier block  125  rises under the force of spring member  127 , raising lift arm  133  and in turn carriage hook arm  112  so as to disengage downward facing hook  113  from retaining ledge  121  and allowing elastic member  140  to quickly pull carriage  110  forward to launch the toy vehicle. 
     As pull cord  300  is pulled outward from housing block  120 , ribs  302  rotate axle  206  of toy vehicle  200 , in turn rotating drive wheel  204  so as to help propel toy vehicle  200  through a toy racetrack (described further below) after it has been launched from launcher  100 . 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  provide close-up views of toy vehicle  200  positioned on launcher  100  with a pull cord  300  inserted through housing block  120  of launcher  100  and engaging toy vehicle  200 . Toy vehicle  200  includes drive wheel  204  affixed to axle  206  having teeth configured to engage the ribs  302  of pull cord  300 . In  FIGS. 12 and 13 , moveable arms  116  are shown engaging engagement clips  202  to hold toy vehicle in place on carriage  110 .  FIG. 14  provides a close-up side view of engagement clips  202 , drive wheel  204 , and axle  206  on toy vehicle  200 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , each engagement clip  202  has a notch  203  which receives an engaging surface on one of moveable arms  116  of carriage  110  to hold toy vehicle  200  in place. 
       FIG. 15  shows an exemplary toy track that may be used in conjunction with launcher  100 . More particularly, and by way of non-limiting example, a toy track may be attached to launcher  100  that includes multiple stunt features, such as a loop section  402 , an open track and receiving ramp section  404 , and a feature section  406 , each of which stunt features is connected through extruded plastic track sections  408 . As shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , section  406  may include, for example, a spring loaded track segment  410  that may be pivotably attached to a base section  411  at pivot connection  412 . A trigger  414  may be provided that, when engaged by a toy vehicle traveling through section  408  from left to right in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , releases a retainer or latch mechanism within base section  411  to allow a spring member to pivot spring loaded track segment  410  upward, thus revealing an alternative surface that creates the appearance that the toy vehicle is “ripping” or “tearing up” the track. Optionally, multiple triggers  414  and pivoting spring loaded track segments  410  may be provided that a toy vehicle will traverse and trigger in sequence as it progresses through the toy track. 
     Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize that any combination of the above track features and alternatives therefor may be used with launcher  100  without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant invention. 
     In use, and with respect to  FIGS. 18 and 19 , a user first positions carriage  110  so that the back of carriage  110  is immediately adjacent housing block  120 , thus assuming the armed, ready position. Next, as shown in  FIG. 18 , the user positions a toy vehicle  200  on carriage  110 , and inserts pull cord  300  through housing block  120  and into toy vehicle  200  so as to engage axle  206  of toy vehicle  200 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 19 , the user quickly withdraws pull cord  300  from housing block  120 . As pull cord  300  is withdrawn, the circular ribs  302  of pull cord  300  engage axle  206  so as to rotate drive wheel  204 . Likewise, as pull cord  300  is fully withdrawn from housing block  120 , carriage capture and release assembly  124  (as discussed in detail above) releases carriage  110 , allowing elastic member  140  to propel carriage  110  forward to launch toy vehicle  200 . 
     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.