Abstract: A toy vehicle and launcher system includes a motor-driven toy vehicle having a wind-up spring-driven motor to provide forward motion thereof. The launcher is adapted to mount the vehicle and has a releasable latch for precluding forward motion of the vehicle. A biasing spring provides the vehicle with forward motion immediately upon release of the latch. Preferably, the launcher is configured and dimensioned to be releasably mounted on a human limb so that the longitudinal axis of the vehicle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the limb, thereby making the launcher a foot-operated or arm-operated launcher.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 13, 1992
Date of Patent:
May 31, 1994
Assignee:
Matchbox Toys (USA) Ltd.
Inventors:
Steven Ellman, Fredric Ellman, Julius Ellman, John C. Fusi
Abstract: A wheeled toy includes a longitudinally extending chassis and at least one wheel assembly mounted in said chassis. The chassis includes cylindrical bearing wires mounted adjacent opposite sides thereof and oriented longitudinally thereof, while the wheel assembly includes a cylindrical axle transverse to the chassis and a pair of wheels at opposite ends of the axle. The bearing wires of the chassis are positioned above and perpendicular to the axle, contacting the axle at point contacts, and transmitting the weight of the chassis through the point contacts to the wheel assembly.
Abstract: A system for coupling two parts together, the system being composed of two coupling members each fixable to a respective part, each coupling member including: a support piece; a male element projecting from the support piece; and a female element formed in the support piece to define a receptacle. The male element and the female element each has a central axis and the central axes extend parallel to one another, the male element has a cylindrical shank and a rounded tip portion each coaxial with the central axis of the male element, the tip portion having a diameter greater than that of the shank and being separated from the support piece by the shank, the female element is defined by an opening and is provided with a plurality of radially inwardly extending, resiliently deformable teeth spaced apart around the circumference of the opening and circumscribing a circle having a diameter not greater than the diameter of the shank, and the female element is formed to be mateable with the male element.