Patent Abstract:
A toy car wash play set including a toy vehicle car wash station, including a conveyer belt for transporting a toy vehicle from a first position to a second position, scrubbing rollers for simulating scrubbing rollers used in car washes for full-scale vehicles, and a bubble producing apparatus for simulating soap suds generated by car washes for full-scale vehicles. The conveyer belt and the bubble producing apparatus are motorized. The toy car wash play set further comprises a base section, the car wash station being elevated with respect to the base section. A manually operated elevator for raising a toy vehicle from the base section to the car wash station is provided, along with a rinse station which may be rotated under the action of a manual actuator. The toy car wash may further comprise a drying station which includes a fan which may be rotated under the action of a manual actuator and a rotating table in the base section rotatable under the action of a manual actuator.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/339,799, “Toy Car Wash Play Set”, filed Oct. 31, 2001, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates to toy play sets for use with conventional, unpowered, {fraction (1/64)} scale toy vehicles (e.g., Hot Wheels® and Matchbox® toy vehicles) to enhance the play value of such vehicles.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, a toy car wash play set comprising a toy vehicle car wash station, including a conveyer belt for transporting a toy vehicle from a first position to a second position, scrubbing rollers for simulating scrubbing rollers used in car washes for full-scale vehicles, and a bubble producing apparatus for simulating soap suds generated by car washes for full-scale vehicles is disclosed. The conveyer belt and the bubble producing apparatus are motorized. The toy car wash play set further comprises a base section, the car wash station being elevated with respect to the base section by structural members connecting the base section to the car wash station. A manually operated elevator for raising a toy vehicle from the base section to the car wash station is provided, along with a rinse station which may be rotated under the action of a manual actuator. The toy car wash may further comprise a drying station which includes a fan which may be rotated under the action of a manual actuator and a rotating table in the base section rotatable under the action of a manual actuator. The motorized bubble producing apparatus further comprises a rotating wheel driven by an electric motor, wherein the rotating wheel has at least one aperture through the rotating wheel, and wherein the rotating wheel is partially immersed in a reservoir of bubble-producing solution, so that the aperture is covered by the bubble-producing solution as the rotating wheel rotates through the bubble-producing solution in the reservoir. The bubble producing apparatus further comprising a fan driven by the electric motor, wherein the fan blows air through the bubble-producing solution covered aperture, thus producing bubbles. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.  
         [0005]    In the drawings:  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a toy car wash play set in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a left rear perspective view of the play set of FIG. 1;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a right rear perspective view of the play set of FIG. 1;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of a toy car wash play set in accordance with the present invention, the second embodiment being a second generation play set derived from the play set of FIG. 1;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the major assemblies and connective components of the play set of FIG. 4;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the components of a twin spiral elevator unit of FIG. 4;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the components of a wash conveyer/bubble unit of FIG. 4;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7A is an exploded perspective view of the motor drive of FIG. 7;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7B is an exploded perspective view of the components of a conveyer/vehicle washer of FIG. 7;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the components of a rinse unit of FIG. 4;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the components of a fan dry unit of FIG. 4; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the components of a turntable unit of FIG. 4.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the conveyer/bubble maker subassembly of FIG. 4 with washer rollers removed;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the conveyer of FIG. 11 with the bottom cover removed; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 13 is a rear side perspective view of the conveyer of FIG. 12 showing a portion of the gear drive. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    Shown in FIGS.  1 - 3  is a first embodiment, assembled, toy car wash play set in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention indicated generally at  10 . The major components of the play set include an elevator  12  with entrance ramp  21  leading to an elevated car wash/conveyer/bubble maker indicated generally at  14  leading to a car rinse station indicated generally at  16 . Ramp section  22  connects the exit of the elevator  12  with the entrance of the car wash conveyer/bubble maker  14 . Ramp section  23  connects the exit of the conveyer with the car rinse station  16 . The car rinse station  16  is connected by yet another ramp section  25  to yet another ramp section  26 , which extends through an elevated base  59  supporting the car wash conveyer/bubble maker  14  and to a “dryer” station indicated generally at  18 . The ramp section  25  is supported by a pier  24 . The discharge end of ramp section  26  connects to a central ramp  27  of a discharge station indicated generally at  20  which has a ramp  28  leading to the elevator  12  and an opposing exit ramp  29 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a second generation play set indicated generally at  10 ′ derived from the play set  10  of FIGS. 1 through 3 with many components identical. Play set  10 ′ components include an elevator base assembly indicated generally at  30  supporting and operatively coupled to an elevator assembly indicated generally at  40 , which together form the elevator  12 . A conveyer/bubble maker assembly indicated generally at  50  with base indicated generally at  59  form the elevated car wash/conveyer bubble maker  14 . A slightly modified rinse station  16 ′ includes a modified rinse unit base indicated generally at  60 ′ with rinse tub  65  with ladle  66 . A modified dryer station  18 ′ is formed by a modified base indicated generally at  70 ′ with a modified fan assembly  75 ′. A modified discharge station is indicated generally at  20 ′. Also shown are the same ramp sections and supports  21 - 29 .  
         [0023]    Turning now to FIG. 6, the elevator base assembly  30  and elevator assembly  40  are each shown in exploded view. Elevator base assembly  30  includes an entrance ramp  21  coupled to the base member  149  by suitable means such as plug in connectors  168 . Base member  149  includes a first recess  149   a  receiving a crank  159 . The crank  159  is rotatably coupled to a gear  169  which engages with two other spur gears  179  beneath the base unit  149  by a bottom cover  199 .  
         [0024]    The elevator  40  includes a spiral base plate  117  received in a recess  149   b  of the main base member  149 , a support  127 , the bottom of which is also received in recess  149   b , and a roof  137  mounted to the top of the support  127 . Supported for rotation between the base plate  117  and the bottom of support  127  are drive gears  147  and idler gears  157 . The support  127  includes a pair of top and bottom journals  128 ,  129 , respectively, which are configured to receive each of a pair of complementary spirals or screws  138   a ,  138   b , one left-hand wound and the other right hand wound. Spiral  138   a  is formed by half shells  148 ,  158  keyed with a pair of identical spiral mount members  188  at the top and bottom. The second spiral  138   b  is formed by half spirals  168 ,  178  keyed with a pair of the mounts  188  at the top and bottom. The bottom mounts  188  are keyed to engage gears  147  and the spirals  138   a ,  138   b  so that the spirals  138   a ,  138   b  rotate in opposite directions. The right spiral  138   b  is rotatably coupled through upper mount  188  to a cover plate  108 , which supports a simulated spotlight  128  for rotation on the roof  137 . Spiral  138   a  is similarly coupled through cover plate  118  to a simulated radar antenna  138  for rotation on the roof  137 . Spotlight  128  and radar antenna  138  rotate with the spirals  138   a ,  138   b , which are driven to rotate in opposite directions by crank  159  and one of the idler spur gears  179  engaging the left drive gear  147  in base  149 . Right gear  147  is coupled to left gear  147  through idler gears  157 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 indicates the components of the conveyer/bubble maker  14  with base  59 . Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in addition to the base  59 , the conveyer/bubble maker  14  includes a driven assembly  50  that includes a conveyer/vehicle washer indicated generally at  51 , a bubble maker indicated at  53 , a light bar indicated generally  54  and a sign  55 . Referring to FIG. 7B, the conveyer/vehicle washer  51  includes a base member  511  and frame member  512  capturing between them a plurality of conveyer rollers  513  as well as drive roller components  514   a  and  514   b , which receive at their respective ends drive gears  516  which are coupled together with shaft  517 . The rollers  513  and drum components  514   a  and  514   b  are rotatably captured between the frame member  512  and base member  511  and rotatably support a continuous conveyer belt  520 . A horizontal roller support  521  and horizontal roller pivot  522  supports horizontal wash roller  523 . Vertical wash rollers  524  are supported on vertical rollers shafts  525  which are keyed into vertical roller mounts  526 , which are crown gears mounted between base and frame members  511 ,  512  to engage roller gears  516 . Roller gears  516  are driven by spur gears  528  and  529 . Spur gear  529  has a shaft end  529   a  which is keyed to engage a drive socket  585  seen on the right side of FIG. 7 and in FIG. 7A.  
         [0026]    The bubble maker  53  includes a main housing formed by a front housing shell  530  and a rear housing shell  531 . A bubble maker disk  532  is mounted for rotation on the front of the front housing  530  and supported for partial immersion in a bubble tub  533 . The housing  530 / 531  contains and receives a motor drive indicated generally at  56 . The rear housing  531  also contains the battery supply which is retained by means of a door  534 . Various connectors indicated generally  535  are provided in the rear housing  531  to couple the individual batteries of the battery power supply to the motor drive  56  and LED&#39;s  543 . A switch housing cover  536  is also removably attached to one side of the rear housing  531  and pivotally supports a switch handle  537  and operating an on/off switch  538 . The sign  55  is captured between the front and rear housings  530 ,  531  as is the light bar  54  (FIG. 5) formed by elongated shell halves  541 ,  542 . The shell halves  541 ,  542  support at their distal ends LED&#39;s  543  and LED covers  544 . The motor drive  56  includes a battery operated electric motor  561  and a motor drive housing  562  receiving the motor  561 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7A depicts the components of the motor drive  56 . The front housing half  562   b  has on the left side a protruding wall  563  defining a fan chamber  564 . A fan  565  is received in the chamber  564  and captured by fan cover  566 . The fan cover  566  has an outlet  567  which is aligned with the openings  532   a  through the bubble disk  532  as the disk is rotated (FIG. 7). Attached to the rear housing  562   a  are a cam  568 , a movable switch contact  569  and a stationary switch contact  570 . Captured between the housing halves  562   a  and  562   b  are a series of gears and clutches, which include a motor pinion  571  fixed to the drive shaft  561   a  of the motor  561 . Engaged with the motor pinion  571  are three compound gears  572   a ,  572   b  and  572   c  which are mounted for free rotation on jack shafts  573   a ,  573   b  and  573   c  and provide speed reduction. Two clutched output drives are provided, one to drive the bubble disk  532  to rotate and the other to drive the conveyer/vehicle washer  51  to rotate the conveyor belt  520  and the vertical and horizontal rollers  523 ,  524 . The drive to the conveyer/vehicle washer  51  is provided by a compound gear  578  mounted for rotation on shaft  579 . The smaller gear of compound gear  578  is engaged by the larger gear portion of third gear  572   c  in the direct drive train. The larger gear portion of compound gear  578  engages a geared clutch member  580 , which is biased by spring  581  against a second clutch member  582 , keyed to shaft  583 . Also keyed to shaft  583  is a socket connection  585 , which is exposed on the front housing shell  562   b  for engagement with the conveyer drive. Engaged with the larger gear portion of the second compound gear  572   b  is a geared clutch member  588  of a bubble wheeled clutch. Member  588  is biased against a second clutch member  589  by spring  590 . Clutch member  589  is keyed to a shaft  591  extending through an opening  564   c  on the front housing shell  562   b  which drives bubble wheel  532  (FIG. 7).  
         [0028]    FIGS.  8 - 13  depict components of the car wash play set  10 ′ in various states of disassembly. FIG. 11 shows the conveyor/bubble maker assembly  50  with the conveyer/vehicle washer  51  and bubble tank  533  removed. The bubble wheel  532  has been reinstalled on its drive shaft  591 . The blower outlet opening  567  is shown in its alignment with one of the bubble making holes  532   a  of the wheel  532 . Also shown in the lower right hand corner is the socket drive  585  which provides power to the conveyer/vehicle washer  51 .  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the conveyer/vehicle washer  51 , with the base member  511  removed to show the various gear members  516 ,  526 ,  528  and  529 . The outer end  529   a  of gear  529  protrudes from the rear side of the frame  512  and is shaped to key into socket  585  on the front housing  530  (FIG. 11). FIG. 13 is a rear side perspective view showing the three gears  516 ,  528  and  529  engaged.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 depicts the rinse tub  65 , ladle  66  and the base  61  of the rinse unit  16 ′ together with various drive components of the rinse unit  16 ′. The rinse unit  16 ′ components include a lower cover  62  which is attached to the bottom side of base  61  and retains a floater gear  612  mounted to rotate on an axle  614 , a bell crank  616  having a toothed face  618  meshing with the teeth of gear  612 , a torsional spring  620  and a handle  622  secured to the outer end of bell crank  616  so as to protrude outwardly from the base  61  through a slot  61   c . The bell crank  616  is mounted between the base  61  and lower cover  62  to be pivoted back and forth using the handle  622  to rotate the floater gear  612 . The floater gear  612  is positioned for engagement with a rinse tub gear  630 , which is located within the base  61  but coupled to a rinse tub mount  632  which is located in a central well  61   a  at the center of a larger well  61   b  on the upper surface of the base  61 . The rinse tub mount  632  has its own multisided central recess  632   a  which is configured to receive and key with the same multiple sides on a rinse tub collar  639 , which is nonrotatably attached to the bottom of rinse tub  65 . Collar  639  keys the tub  65  to the tub mount  632  in recess  61   a . The tub  65  is removably mounted to the base  61  in recess  61   b  and rotated clockwise by cyclic movement of handle  622 . The ladle  66  is received in the bottom of tub  65 . The ladle  66  cushions the impact of toy vehicles dropping into the tub  65  from ramp section  23  and can be used to lift vehicles from the tub  65  and deposit the lifted vehicles on ramp section  25  leading to the dryer station  18 ′. The modified rinse station  16 ′ differs from the original in the location and movement of the rinse tub actuator.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 9 depicts the major components of the “dryer” station  18 ′ including base unit  70 ′ and fan assembly  75 ′. Base unit  70 ′ includes a base housing  71  and a fan actuator including a drive housing  72  (FIG. 5) formed by front and rear housing halves  720 ,  722  that contains a rack handle  73  supporting a rack  732  for up and down movement within the housing  72 . Rack  732  is engaged with and drives a compound acceleration gear  734  which in turn drives a floater gear  735  rotating on axle  736 . The handle  73  is biased upwardly by torsion spring  738 . An upper portion of the floater gear  735  is exposed in the upper corner of the housing  72  (FIG. 5). The fan assembly  75 ′ includes a front stationary drum  752 , a rear drum cover  754  and a “fan” member  756  mounted on a plurality of bearings  758  to rotate on the drum  752 . The exposed upper edge of floater gear  735  is engaged with a gear integrally molded with the rear of the fan  756  for clockwise rotation of the fan  756  (when viewed from the front) as the handle  73  is pushed down and released. The dryer station  18 ′ differs from the original dryer station  18  of FIGS.  1 - 3  in the configuration of “fan”  75  and the location and construction of the fan actuator.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 10 depicts the components of modified discharge station  20 ′ including a base  80  with a central recessed opening  80   a  receiving a circular turntable member  82 . The circumferential outer edge of the turntable  82  bears a plurality of gear teeth  82   a  which are engaged with a gear  83  supported for rotation inside the base  80  and coupled to a handle  84  in the form of a fire hydrant received in an opening  80   b  in the front right area of the top of the base  80 . Rotation of the handle/fire hydrant  84  causes rotation of the gear  83  and turntable  82 . An opening  80   c  in the upper left corner of the base  80  as seen in FIG. 10 receives a sub-base  86  of a gate/gate house actuator  85 . Sub base  86  has a central post  862  supporting a compression coil spring  87  which in turn supports a gate/house base  88  for sliding movement up and down post  862 . Base  88  in turn, supports a gate house  89 . The gate portion  882  of base  88  is depressed into a slot  80   d  in the base  80  by pressing down on the house  89 . The modified discharge station  20 ′ differs from the original  20  in FIGS.  1 - 3  in that the handle of the original discharge station  20  turntable was located originally behind rather than in the front of exit ramp  29 .  
         [0033]    Operation of either version of the play set  10 ,  10 ′ is substantially the same. The child can drive a toy vehicle up the ramp  21  onto the elevator base member  149  and manually place the toy vehicle between spirals  138   a ,  138   b  of the elevator assembly  40 . The spirals are rotated by rotation of the crank  159 . Rotation of the crank  159  clockwise rotates the left spiral  138   a  counterclockwise and the right spiral  138   b  clockwise when viewed from above. The spirals  138   a ,  138   b  drag the toy vehicle loaded into the bottom of the elevator  40  to the rear of the elevator  40  where the vehicle impacts the back  127   a  of the support  127  (FIG. 3). The spirals  138   a ,  138   b  continue to drag the vehicle into the elevator  40  pressing it against the back of the support  127  as the spirals  138   a ,  138   b  rotate beneath the vehicle and elevate the vehicle as they turn. Eventually, the vehicle passes through opening  127   b  in the top center rear of the spiral support  127 . The vehicle is pushed by the spirals  138   a ,  138   b  onto the ramp section  22  which deposits the vehicle in the left end of the conveyer/vehicle washer  51  of the car wash/conveyor/bubble maker station  14  (FIG. 3).  
         [0034]    The conveyer/vehicle washer  51  and bubble maker  53  are the only electrically powered components of either play set. The conveyer/vehicle washer  51  and bubble maker  53 , are driven by the motor drive  56 , the operation of which is controlled by on/off switch  537 . The motor drive  56  provides a rotational output in the form of shaft  591  which rotates bubble maker disk  532  through a soapy water or other bubble forming solution in bubble tub  533  and past blower outlet  567  in front housing cover  566 . The motor drive  56  further directly drives centrifugal fan  565  through front gear housing  562   b  causing the fan  565  to blow air through the outlet  567  aligned with the openings  532   a  and past which openings  532   a  in the bubble disk  532  must pass. The conveyer  520  is driven by the power takeoff through socket  585 . LED  543  in the light bar  54  are caused to flash on and off by rotation of LED cam  568  on shaft  583 . The conveyer  520  carries the toy vehicle beneath the overhead roller  523  and through the vertical rollers  524  to ramp section  23 , which directs the toy vehicle by gravity into the rinse tub  65  (FIGS.  1 - 3 ).  
         [0035]    The rinse tub  65  is also rotated clockwise (viewed from above) by movement and release of the bell crank handle  622 . The floater gear  612  only engages the tub gear  630  while the handle  622  is being moved against spring  620 . The rinse tub  65  may have a solid wall but could have a hollow wall construction which permits the addition of a liquid such as water within the wall, which can be made transparent, to give the impression that the vehicle within the tub is actually immersed in a rinse liquid. The vehicle is manually lifted from the tub  65  using the ladle  66  and is deposited on the ramp section  25 , which leads to ramp section  26  passing through elevated base  59  and through the fan assembly of dryer station  18  or  18 ′. The “fan” of original fan unit  18  is caused to rotate by depressing and releasing a cylinder at the right front corner of the dryer station  18  in FIG. 1 while the fan member  756  in FIG. 9 is caused to rotate by depressing and releasing rack handle  73  at the right rear of dryer station  18 ′. Again, floater gear  735  only engages fan  756  while handle  73  is being depressed. The vehicle on ramp  26  is stopped at the forward end of the ramp by gate portion  882 , which can be depressed by depressing the gate/house  89 . The vehicle drops from the ramp section  26  across the central ramp  27  to the turntable  82 . Turntable  82  can be rotated by handle  84  to direct the vehicle to ramp  28  leading to the elevator  12  or to the exit ramp  29 .  
         [0036]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0