Patent Publication Number: US-6216600-B1

Title: Jumping ramp for motorized toy vehicles

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to jumping ramps. More particularly, the present invention relates to jumping ramps that allow motorized toy vehicles to jump therefrom. More particularly, the present invention relates to jumping ramp configurations which facilitate the ability of a motorized toy vehicle to jump from one ramp to another. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Remote controlled cars, trucks and bikes are becoming increasingly popular. With these remote controlled vehicles, the user has a remote control unit in his hand and utilizes levers so as to control the movement of the vehicle. These levers can be used so as to control the speed of the vehicle and the steering of the vehicle. Unfortunately, after a while, users of such remote controlled vehicles often become tired of the same activity. Typically, this activity will involve steering the vehicle, at a desired speed, around various obstacles. Heretofore, devices have not been provided which add to the amusement value by enabling the vehicle to carry out “jumping” activities. It is often a fun endeavor to see the remote controlled toy vehicle “jump” from one surface to another. Unfortunately, many self-designed jumps cause the vehicle to jump from a surface only to land on a rigid surface. This can often damage the structure of the vehicle, the electronics of the vehicle or the propulsion system for the vehicle. As such, a need developed so as to have a jumping ramp which allowed the motorized toy vehicle to effectively jump and land with no risk of damage to the vehicle. 
     In the past, various U.S. patents have issued with respect to jumping ramps. U.S. Pat. No. 3,204,574, issued on Sep. 7, 1965 to Frisbie et al. teaches a jump ramp which allows a slot car to jump from one surface into the slot of another surface. U.S. Pat. No. 3,359,920, issued on Dec. 26, 1967 to P. Iammatteo, teaches a tilt-track section for slot car racers which can turn about the axis in response to the weight of the vehicle situated on the track section between the axis and the other free end of the tilt-track acting thereon. U.S. Pat. No. 3,621,602, issued on Nov. 23, 1971 to Barcus et al., teaches a track with a simulated stunt hoop for toy vehicles. U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,875, issued on Jan. 7, 1975, to Nemeth et al., describes a gap jumping toy vehicle game which includes a vehicle track and a toy vehicle adapted to move along the track and across a vehicle jump defined by a pair of ramps associated with the track. At least one of the ramps is movable with respect to the track and the other of the ramps in order to permit adjustment of the size of the gap between the ramps and to vary the degree of difficulty of the jump. U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,966, issued on Apr. 30, 1985 to Mucaro et al., describes a vehicle jump for a toy vehicle game which includes a launching ramp and a landing ramp and an adjusting device for changing the orientation of one of the ramps from an operative position to an inoperative position. U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,685, issued on Aug. 13, 1991 to Yoneda, describes a track apparatus for a toy racing car which includes a launching ramp over a simulated mountain. U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,668, issued on Aug. 6, 1996 to Casale et al., describes a slot track raceway which includes a ramp which allows one of the slot cars to jump over an underlying slot car. German Patent No. 1,905,263, published on Aug. 6, 1970, teaches a propulsion unit for toy cars which includes a piece of track which is mounted at one end on a horizontal pivot just above the level of the main track and a spring between the main track and the underside of the pivoted track. The pivoted track is latched down horizontally against the spring. When the trigger release is pressed, the track swings upwardly at its free end under the action of the spring. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a jumping ramp for remote controlled vehicles. 
     It is another object of the present invention to prevent excess damage to vehicles from the ramp jumping activity. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a jumping ramp which can be maintained in a desired position during use. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a jumping ramp for toy vehicles that can easily be moved, stored and transported. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a jumping ramp for a motorized toy vehicle which has an adjustable angle. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a jumping ramp for a motorized toy vehicle which can be easily folded for storage. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a jumping ramp for a motorized toy vehicle which can close, lock and be carried by a single individual. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a jumping ramp for a motorized toy vehicle that comprises a jumping surface having an area along which the toy vehicle can travel, a frame pivotally connected to the jumping surface at one end thereof, and an arm connected to the frame and to the jumping surface for fixing the desired angle of the jumping surface with respect to the frame. A spring is connected to the frame for supporting the jumping surface. The arm is adjustably connected to the jumping surface so as to set the desired angle. 
     In the present invention, the jumping surface includes a flat surface with a support structure connected to a bottom thereof. The support structure is pivotally connected to the frame. A first side rail extends upwardly from one side of the flat surface and a second side rail extends upwardly from an opposite side of the flat surface. The side rails are pivotally connected to the respective sides of the flat surface so as to be movable between an uppermost position perpendicular to the flat surface and a lowermost position folded below the flat surface. 
     In the present invention, the frame has a U-shaped configuration. This frame includes an inlet which allows water, sand or other materials to be introduced into the interior of the frame or to allow materials to be removed from the frame. The jumping surface includes a U-shaped support structure which is foldably receivable within the frame. A handle is rotatably connected to the frame so as to be movable between a retracted position to a deployed position. The handle can secure the jumping surface in a stowed position relative to the frame when in the deployed position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the operation of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a detailed interior perspective view showing the configuration of the jumping ramp of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the jumping ramp in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the jumping ramp in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an interior view of the jumping ramp of the present invention showing the jumping surface as being separated from the frame and from the support structure. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown at  10  the apparatus of the present invention for facilitating the ability of a toy vehicle  12  to carry out ramp-oriented jumps. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the apparatus  10  includes a jumping ramp  14  and a landing ramp  16 . The jumping ramp  14  includes a jumping surface  18  which is pivotally connected at  20  to a frame  22 . Frame  22  is supported above the floor  24  by legs  26 . The landing ramp  16  includes a landing surface  28  which is pivotally connected to frame  30  at pivot point  32 . As can be seen in FIG. 1, an arm  34  extends upwardly from the frame  22  to the jumping surface  18  so as to maintain the jumping surface  18  at a desired angle with respect to the frame  22 . It can be seen that the landing ramp  16  includes a plurality of springs  36  which extend upwardly from the frame  30  to the underside of the landing surface  28 . The springs  36  facilitate the landing of the vehicle  12  upon the landing surface  28  by absorbing any shocks that may occur to the vehicle  12  during the launching of the vehicle  12  off the jumping ramp  14 . 
     In FIG. 1, it can be seen that the jumping ramp  14  is in spaced relationship to the landing ramp  16 . The forward edge of the jumping surface  18  faces the forward edge of the landing surface  28 . The jumping ramp  14  will be aligned colinearly with the landing ramp  16 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the jumping ramp  14  will have an identical configuration to the landing ramp  16 . As such, either of the ramps  14  or  16  can be used in any manner desired. Alternatively, the user of the toy vehicle  12  can simply turn the toy vehicle  12  around and cause the toy vehicle  12  to be launched from the landing ramp  16  so as to land on the jumping ramp  14 . 
     FIG. 2 shows a detailed interior view of the jumping ramp  14  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen, the jumping ramp  14  includes a jumping surface  18  having an area  40  upon which the toy vehicle  12  can travel. Frame  22  is pivotally connected at  20  to the jumping surface  18 . The jumping surface  18  is pivotable with respect to the frame  22 . An arm  34  extends upwardly from a panel  42  on the frame  22  to an underside  44  of the jumping surface  40 . Arm  34  is designed so as to fix the desired angle of the jumping surface  18  with respect to the frame  22 . Springs  46 ,  48 ,  50  and  52  extend from the panel  42  to the underside  44  of the jumping surface  18  so as to resiliently connect the jumping surface  18  to the frame  22 . These springs  46 ,  46 ,  50  and  52  are arranged on opposite sides of the arm  34 . The arm  34  is adjustable with respect to sliding slot member  54  so as to set the desired angle of the jumping surface  18  with respect to the frame  22 . 
     In the present invention, the jumping surface  18  includes flat surface  40  having a first end  56  and a second end  58 . A support structure  60  is connected to the bottom  44  of the flat surface  40 . The support structure  60  is pivotally connected at  20  to the frame  22 . A first side rail  62  extends upwardly from one side of the flat surface  40 . A second side rail  64  extends upwardly from an opposite side of the flat surface  40 . The side rails  62  and  64  are pivotably connected to the opposite sides of the flat surface  40  so as to be movable from an uppermost position perpendicular to the flat surface  40  (as shown in FIG. 2) to a position which is rotated below the flat surface  40 . It can be seen that the first end  56  of the flat surface  40  is arranged in generally horizontal planar alignment with the bottom of the frame  22 . The frame  22  is supported upon legs  26 . 
     In the present invention, the frame  22  is a generally U-shaped member of tubular material. Similarly, the support structure  60  is of a U-shaped tubular configuration. A cap  66  can be secured onto the frame  22  so as to allow access to the interior of the tubular frame  22 . As such, the tubular frame  22  can be filled with sand, water, or other materials so as to ballast the jumping ramp  14 . Legs  26  can be fixed within the earth so as to further secure the position of the jumping ramp  14 . A handle  70  is rotatably connected to the frame  22 . Handle  70  is movable between a retracted position to a deployed position (as shown in FIG.  2 ). The handle  70  can be received within an opening  72  within the panel  42  of frame  22  when in the retracted position. In the deployed position, the handle  70  can extend outwardly beyond the forward edge  58  of the flat surface  40  and beyond the forward edge of the frame  22 . The handle  70  can also include a suitable arm for affixing the support structure  60  in a properly stowed position within the interior of frame  22 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a side view of the jumping ramp  14  of the present invention. In FIG. 3, it can be seen that the first side rail  62  is hingedly connected at  80  to the flat surface  40  of the area  18  upon which the toy vehicle travels. The first end  56  of the flat surface  40  is illustrated m horizontal planar alignment with the bottom of the legs  26 . As such, the toy motorized vehicle can easily enter the flat surface  40 . Springs  46  and  48  are illustrated as resiliently supporting the jumping surface  18  at a desired angle above the frame  22 . Arm  34  is configured so as to maintain this angle. The handle  70  is illustrated as extending outwardly beyond the forward surface of the frame  22 . Cap  66  is illustrated so as to allow for the filling of the tubular frame  22  with a desired ballasting material. 
     FIG. 4 shows an underside view of the frame  22 . It can be seen that the handle  70  extends outwardly from the forward edge  84  of the frame  22 . Panel  42  covers the bottom of the frame  22 . Suitable rivets  86  secure the panel  42  to the bottom of the frame  22 . Opening  72  is provided in the panel  42  so as to allow for the receipt of handle  70  therein when the handle  70  moves to its retracted position. Legs  26  extend downwardly from the bottom of the panel  42 . In this position, the handle  70  can include a retainer member  88  which includes a lip for suitably securing the support structure  70  in its stowed position within the interior of frame  22 . FIG. 5 illustrates this arrangement with greater particularity. 
     In FIG. 5, it can be seen that the jumping surface  18  has been illustrated as separated from the support structure  60 . Sliding support member  54  is shown as positioned on the bottom  44  of the jumping surface  18 . Arm  34  includes a bracket  90  which can be received within the sliding support member  54 . Arm  34  is shown as extending upwardly from the panel  42  of frame  22 . The support structure  60  is illustrated as stowed within the interior of the frame  22 . A lip  92  is illustrated on the handle  70  which can retain the support structure  70  in a desired stowed position. As such, the handle  70  allows for the easy closure of the jumping ramp  10  for the purpose of transport and storage. 
     The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction can be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.