Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7628673?dq=patent:5881444
Timestamp: 2016-08-31 23:37:42
Document Index: 787809674

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 60', 'Application No. 2005', 'Application No. 2', 'application No. 2', 'application No. 2', 'application No. 2', 'application No. 2']

Patent US7628673 - Play set with toy vehicle-related assembly - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA toy vehicle play set may include a toy vehicle and a track assembly including a track along which the vehicle may travel. In some examples the vehicle may include a drive mechanism that is adjustable for changing the speed of the vehicle, and a play set may include a speed changer for selectively changing...http://www.google.com/patents/US7628673?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7628673 - Play set with toy vehicle-related assemblyAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS7628673 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/333,987Publication dateDec 8, 2009Filing dateJan 17, 2006Priority dateJun 16, 2005Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2525022A1, CA2525022C, CA2525024A1, CA2525039A1, US7549906, US20060286896, US20060286897Publication number11333987, 333987, US 7628673 B2, US 7628673B2, US-B2-7628673, US7628673 B2, US7628673B2InventorsJonathan Bedford, Eric SoOriginal AssigneeMattel, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (103), Non-Patent Citations (15), Referenced by (16), Classifications (10), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetPlay set with toy vehicle-related assembly
US 7628673 B2Abstract
A toy vehicle play set may include a toy vehicle and a track assembly including a track along which the vehicle may travel. In some examples the vehicle may include a drive mechanism that is adjustable for changing the speed of the vehicle, and a play set may include a speed changer for selectively changing the vehicle speed. In some examples, the track assembly may include a selectively actuated trapdoor in the track. In some examples, the play set may include a vehicle trap assembly having a cover defining a chamber for receiving, for example, a vehicle passing through the trapdoor opening. In some examples, the vehicle trap may include an assembly, such as the vehicle trap that falls apart when contacted by a vehicle traveling along the track.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/691,465 filed on Jun. 16, 2005, Mexican Application No. 2005/011765, filed Nov. 1, 2005 of the same title, and Canadian Application No. 2,525,024, filed Nov. 1, 2005 of the same title, which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
Play sets including toy vehicle tracks and accompanying toy vehicles are a source of entertainment for children. Toy vehicle tracks having different features may increase the enjoyment of children using the tracks. Examples of toy vehicle tracks can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,239,395, 3,126,670, 3,299,565, 3,665,636, 3,690,393, 3,797,164, 4,068,402, 4,087,935, 4,091,995, 4,106,695, 4,185,409, 4,221,076, 4,254,576, 4,459,438, 4,468,031, 4,519,789, 4,536,168, 4,661,080, 4,697,812, 4,979,926, 5,052,972, 5,452,893, 5,601,490, 5,678,489, 5,865,661, 5,890,945, 5,931,714, 6,093,079, 6,193,581, 6,478,654, 6,508,179, 6,676,480, RE32,106 and U.S. Application Publication No. 2003/0224697. Different types of toy vehicles suitable for use on toy vehicle tracks can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,087,935, 4,241,534, 4,333,261, 4,536,169, 4,940,444, 6,422,151, and 6,764,376. All of the aforementioned references are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
A toy vehicle play set may include a toy vehicle and a track assembly including a track along which the vehicle may travel. In some examples an assembly may be operable for changing the operation of a toy vehicle. For example, the vehicle may include a drive mechanism that is adjustable for changing the speed of the vehicle, and a speed changer may be used for selectively changing the speed of the vehicle as the vehicle travels along a track. In some examples, an assembly may alter the travel of a vehicle, such as a trapdoor in the track and a release mechanism adapted to be actuated selectively to open the trapdoor. In some examples the track may have a junction providing at least first and second alternate path portions, and a switching mechanism configured to direct the vehicle along one or the other of the path portions depending on the vehicle operation, such as the speed of the vehicle.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a play set including a toy vehicle supported on a track assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY PLAY SET
A toy vehicle play set may include a track adapted for use with a toy vehicle. Such a play set may include a track assembly having a track with a first vehicle-support surface defining a travel path, and one or more vehicle-related assemblies disposed along the path. When a plurality of such vehicle-related assemblies are provided, the vehicle-related assemblies may be independent of each other, or one or more of them may relate in some way. Many variations of such play sets may be envisioned. For example, for the purpose of increasing the level of enjoyment a person may derive from playing with a plat set, a plurality of related vehicle-related assemblies may be provided.
An example of such a play set 20 having a plurality of vehicle-related assemblies 22 is illustrated in FIG. 1. Such a play set is available from Mattel, Inc. and is sold under the proprietary name “Tomb Trap™.” For example, play set 20 may include one or more of such vehicle related assemblies as a track assembly 24, a vehicle-operation changing assembly 26, a vehicle junction assembly 28, a vehicle trap assembly 30, and an action assembly 32. Track assembly may include a track 34, defining a travel path 36, and a track support assembly 38. The vehicle-related assemblies 22 may be configured in a variety of ways. For example, a play set may only include only one or a combination of the assemblies 22 shown, or may include other vehicle-related assemblies 22, not shown.
As indicated generally in FIG. 2, toy vehicle 68 may also include an appropriate drive mechanism 86 to facilitate imparting rotational power to one or more of the toy vehicle wheels to drive the vehicle along the track in a way described below. Toy vehicle drive mechanisms are well known. The toy vehicle 68 may be an inertial-motor-powered toy vehicle, such as a toy vehicle sold by Mattel, Inc. under the trademark “Rev Ups.™” Other toy vehicles with or without drive systems may also be used, such as ones with drive systems that are wind-up, battery powered, electric powered or powered by any other drive mechanism.
Similarly, where “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof is recited, such usage should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Further, ordinal indicators, such as first, second or third, for identified elements are used to distinguish between the elements, and do not indicate a required or limited number of such elements, and do not indicate a particular position or order of such elements unless otherwise specifically stated.
The methods and apparatus described in the present disclosure are applicable to toys, games, and other devices, and other industries in which amusement devices are used.
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No. 11/333,987), dated Nov. 27, 2008, three pages total. Applications concurrently disclose CA 2,396,567 (national phase of WO 2001/51155) cited in this Office action.2Canadian Intellectual Property Office, Office Action for Canadian patent application No. 2,525,024 (which has the same inventors as the '987 application) dated Nov. 26, 2008, 2 pages.3Canadian Intellectual Property Office, Office Action for Canadian patent application No. 2,525,039 (which has the same inventors as the '987 application) dated Dec. 7, 2007, 3 pages.4Canadian Office Action mailed Dec. 7, 2007 for Canadian application No. 2,525,039.5Division of Patents of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property, Office Action for Mexican patent application No. PA/a/2005/011690 (which corresponds to U.S. Appl. No. 11/334,180 having the same inventors as the present '987 application), dated Apr. 15, 2009, 7 pages total. The disclosure includes the Spanish-language Office action plus a partial English-language translation prepared by our Mexican Agent.6Division of Patents of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property, Office Action for Mexican patent application No. PA/a/2005/011764 (has the same inventors as U.S. Appl. No. 11/333,987), dated Aug. 26, 2008, seven pages total. The disclosure includes the Spanish-language Office action plus a partial English-language translation prepared by our Mexican agent.7Division of Patents of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property, Office Action for Mexican patent application No. PA/a/2005/011765 (having the same inventors as the present '987 application), dated Apr. 23, 2009, 5 pages total. 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The disclosure includes the Spanish-language Office Action plus a partial English-language translation prepared by our Mexican agent.9Moon Adventure toy play set, sold by Guangdong Auldey Toy Industry Ltd of Guangdong, China, package shows a 2004 copyright notice, 6 sheets total, comprising: (A) photographs of the package for the toy playset (2 sheets) and (B) photographs of the toy playset (4 sheets).10Rev-Ups Skyway Stunt Set, 12 sheets total, comprising: (A) Fall 2004 Mattel Toy Sell Sheets, cover page and p. 39 showing Rev-Ups Skyway Stunt Set (2 sheets); (B) Photographs showing product packaging (2 sheets); and photographs showing the product (8 sheets). The Rev-Ups Skyway Stunt Set was publicly disclosed in the Toy Sell Sheets in the fall of 2004.11U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Issue Notification for U.S. Appl. No. 11/334,180 mailing date Mar. 25, 2009, 1 page. 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The '180 application has the same inventors as the present '987 application.Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8608527Aug 29, 2011Dec 17, 2013Mattel, Inc.Wall mounted toy track setUS8734200 *Apr 26, 2010May 27, 2014Mattel, Inc.Toy playset with a launcher and a material dispenserUS8870623Apr 25, 2012Oct 28, 2014Mattel, Inc.Toy track setUS8944881Aug 29, 2011Feb 3, 2015Mattel, Inc.Toy track setUS8944882Dec 16, 2013Feb 3, 2015Mattel, Inc.Wall mounted toy track setUS9192838Feb 6, 2013Nov 24, 2015Mattel, Inc.Toy game apparatus and method of playingUS9314703Oct 2, 2013Apr 19, 2016Mattel, Inc.Expanding track setUS9314704Oct 2, 2013Apr 19, 2016Mattel, Inc.Toy vehicle track setUS9314705Aug 29, 2011Apr 19, 2016Mattel, Inc.Toy track setUS9345979Sep 12, 2013May 24, 2016Mattel, Inc.Wall mounted toy track setUS9421473Oct 4, 2013Aug 23, 2016Mattel, Inc.Wall mounted toy track setUS20080248716 *Apr 4, 2008Oct 9, 2008J. Shackelford Associates LlcToy track systemUS20100304639 *Apr 26, 2010Dec 2, 2010Mattel, Inc.Toy playset with a launcher and a material dispenserUS20110117813 *May 19, 2011Mattel, Inc.Toy Vehicle Play SetUS20150093960 *Sep 29, 2014Apr 2, 2015Mattel, Inc.Toy Vehicle Play Set With AirbrushDE102012103752A1Apr 27, 2012Oct 31, 2012Mattel, Inc.Toy track set for moving toy vehicle, has vehicle path defined by track and gap, where vehicle path is arranged between ends of track, and catapult mechanism is arranged inside vehicle adjacent to former track end* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification446/444International ClassificationA63H18/00Cooperative ClassificationA63H18/16, A63H18/04, A63H18/025, A63H18/08European ClassificationA63H18/02D, A63H18/16, A63H18/04, A63H18/08Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionOct 17, 2006ASAssignmentOwner name: MATTEL, INC., CALIFORNIAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BEDFORD, JONATHAN, MR.;SO, ERIC, MR.;REEL/FRAME:018402/0668;SIGNING DATES FROM 20060501 TO 20060531Nov 2, 2010CCCertificate of correctionMar 14, 2013FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services