Apparatus and Method for a Rolled Roadway

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a rolled roadway apparatus, a method for making the rolled road way apparatus and a method for using the rolled roadway apparatus.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to the field of roadways, railways, runways, and other transportation surfaces (collectively defined as “roadways”) for use with toy cars, trains, airplanes and other toy and miniature transportation vehicles (collectively defined as “toy vehicles”).

2. Background of the Related Art

Miniature or toy cars manufactured by HOT WHEELS™ and MATCHBOX™ and THOMAS & FRIENDS™ toy trains and die cast metal airplanes are very popular with children, even very young children. Roadways railways and runways usually consist of multiple sections of rigid, fixed or flexible tracks with raised edges or grooves that are assembled together to form a typically continuous roadway on which the children place the toy vehicles and pretend they are driving on the roadway. The raised edges and grooves are designed to contain the toy vehicles on the fixed tracks.

These toy vehicle roadways are often complicated puzzle pieces requiring ownership and possession of the exact piece types and shapes needed to create a specific track layout and significant time by the child or guardian to assemble the track pieces into a continuous roadway. The complexity and relatively fixed nature of these tracks means changing the track layout can be infrequent and arduous requiring significant adult intervention and assistance. A lack of frequency in modifying these track layouts often results in less creative play with less child stimulation and resulting in more repetitive behaviors.

These fixed track systems are also limited in their portability from room to room and building to building due to the size of individual pieces and the large number of individual pieces of track required to complete a freeform, continuous roadway. The time it takes to reassemble the track pieces into a continuous roadway is also a limiting factor in transporting these track systems. For short or extended travel, many adults pack only the toy vehicles and avoid packing the more extensive, heavy, and complicated track systems. If the track system is moved for travel, the roadway sections are typically housed in a dedicated container such as a large plastic bin with lid and reassembled by the parents since assembly of the track system sections can be too demanding a task for very young children. Their patience and dexterity falter in their attempt to build a roadway from multiple sections and the time required for a temporary relocation and rebuilding of a roadway is perceived to be too extensive to be practical. When the trip is over, the track sections are disassembled and placed back into their container for transport to be reassembled at another destination.

Another limitation of these multi-piece track systems is the raised edges which contain the toy vehicles. The raised-edge construction makes cleaning in and around the track systems difficult and inconvenient. Dirt and dust collects on the track pieces and up against the edges of the track system pieces. The raised edges prevent cleaning using rolling vacuums and brooms. Disassembly and reassembly for purposes of cleaning is time-consuming and impractical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure discloses a rolled roadway apparatus, a method for making the rolled roadway apparatus and a method for using the rolled roadway apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For detailed understanding of the present invention, references should be made to the following detailed description of the embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements have been given like numerals, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of a rolled roadway apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of a rolled roadway apparatus having a roadway design on a first side;

FIG. 3 is a schematic depiction of a rolled roadway apparatus having an adhesive material on a second side;

FIG. 4 is a schematic depiction of a rolled roadway apparatus having a first section with a roadway design and a second section with icons;

FIG. 5 is a schematic depiction of a rolled roadway apparatus having a roadway design having a different color than a first side of rolled roadway;

FIG. 6 is a schematic depiction of a rolled roadway apparatus having a roadway design having a different electrical characteristic than a first side of rolled roadway;

FIG. 7 is a schematic depiction of using a rolled roadway apparatus for a miniature car and icons on a surface;

FIG. 8 is a schematic depiction of a rolled roadway apparatus having an adhesive and icons applied to the same side of the rolled roadway apparatus; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic depiction of a rolled roadway apparatus deployed on first surface and icons deployed on a second surface oriented 90 degrees with respect to the first surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure presents particular different illustrative embodiments of roadways, railways, runways, and other transportation surfaces (collectively defined as “roadways”) for use with toy cars, trains, airplanes and other toy and miniature transportation vehicles (collectively defined as “toy vehicles”). In a particular embodiment, a rolled roadway, which in a particular embodiment is a laminate is disclosed that is easily transported between locations to form a roadway and associated structures to simulate a city environment with houses, trees, churches and people, etc. In another particular embodiment, the roadway is formed on a substrate such as paper, upon which an adhesive is applied to a first side and a printed material representing a roadway placed on a second side. The roadway substrate is coiled or rolled onto a cylinder such as a tape spool for easy dispensation of additional roadway as needed. In another embodiment, the substrate is a clear or substantially transparent medium such as paper or a polymer upon which an adhesive and printed matter are placed on the same side of the substrate representing a roadway. The roadway adhesive is adhered to a floor or other surface and the design is seen through the transparent substrate. The transparent substrate also protects the printed roadway from being scratched by toy cars during use on the roadway. In another illustrative embodiment, an easily scuffed paint is placed on one side of the substrate and an adhesive on the other side. Thus, when the toy cars traverse the roadway, a child can make skid marks with the toy car or vehicle by scuffing the easily scuffed paint on the roadway. In another illustrative embodiment, microcapsules are placed on one side of the roadway and an adhesive on the other side, so that a child can make scuff or skid marks on the roadway by bursting microcapsules filled with ink on the roadway. In another illustrative embodiment, a thermo chromic paint is placed on the roadway side of the substrate so that an ice cube rubbed on the road way chills the thermo chromic paint, changing the temperature of the thermo chromic paint such that the thermo chromic paint turns the roadway a different color to manifest the appearance of hazardous conditions on the road way, at least until the thermo chromic paint returns to room temperature after being chilled by the ice cube.

In a particular embodiment, the rolled roadway can be made from a road design including a roadway background and striped centerline running down the center of the roadway placed on a roll of masking tape. The roadway is easily applied to a floor, carpet, table or other surface area to form a roadway for the miniature cars. When the children are through playing with the cars, the roadway can be removed from the carpet, table top or floor and be discarded. The next roadway can be unrolled from the rolled laminate or roll of tape. Thus, no disassembly is required.

Assembly is also easy so that a very young child can unroll the rolled tape roadway and place the sticky side of the tape to a carpet or floor to make a roadway visible and accessible on the non-sticky side of the tape. The rolled tape or laminate also contains associated structural designs such as houses, trees, churches and people, etc. The associated structures are placed on the surface area adjacent the roadway to simulate a city environment with houses, trees, churches and people, etc. through which the roadway traverses. In another embodiment, the substrate is easily torn so that a child can tear off as much roadway and/or structural icons as the child wants to form the roadway and structural representation of a city along the roadway.

The present disclosure relates to the field of roadways, railways, runways, and other transportation surfaces (collectively defined as “roadways”) for use with toy cars, trains, airplanes and other toy and miniature transportation vehicles (collectively defined as “toy vehicles”). Thus in a particular embodiment, a center line is placed on the roadway for a street upon which cars travel is disclosed. In another particular embodiment, a center line for an airport runway is placed on the roadway for a runway upon which toy airplanes travel is disclosed. In another particular embodiment, a rolled roadway is disclosed having a center line placed on the roadway for a rail road track upon which toy trains travel.

In another particular embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed including but not limited to a rolled tape having a first side and a second side; a first design material indicating a road center line placed in the center and along the longitudinal axis of on the first side of the rolled tape; and a second design material including but not limited to a tacky material placed on the second side of the laminate. In another embodiment of the apparatus the tape is a laminate and the first design is a laminae.

In another embodiment of the apparatus the first side of the substrate, which can be a laminate, paper, polymer or other suitable material, has a first color and the design has a second color. In another particular embodiment, a plurality of colors are provided for a first color and a second color for use in the present invention. In another particular embodiment, a plurality of colors are used for the roadway, road way center line and the design so that more than 2 colors appear on the rolled roadway and roadway center line. In another particular embodiment, a center line is placed on the roadway for a street upon which cars travel is disclosed. In another embodiment of the apparatus the first side of the substrate has a first texture and the first design has a second texture. In another embodiment of the apparatus the first side of the substrate further includes but is not limited to a first section and a second section wherein the first design material is applied to the first section and a second design material is applied to the second section, the second design material indicating a town structure icon selected from the group consisting of a house, church, tree, road way sign and person.

In another embodiment of the apparatus the first design material has a different electrical characteristic than the first side of substrate. In another embodiment, a method is disclosed, the method including but not limited to forming a rolled substrate by contacting a first side of the substrate with a second side of the tape; placing a first design on the first side of the substrate, wherein the first design indicates a roadway centerline placed on the first side of the substrate; and placing a tacky material on the second side of the substrate. In another embodiment of the method, the substrate is a laminate and the first side of the substrate has a first color and the first design has a second color.

In another embodiment of the method the first side of the substrate has a first texture and the first design has a second texture. In another embodiment of the method the first side of the substrate further includes but is not limited to a first section and a second section wherein the first design material is applied to the first section and a second design material indicating a town structure icon selected from the group consisting of a house, church, tree, road way sign and person. In another embodiment of the method the first design material has a different electrical characteristic than the first side of substrate.

In another embodiment, a method for using a rolled substrate is disclosed, the method including but not limited to attaching the rolled substrate, the substrate having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side further includes but is not limited to a design material placed on the first side, the first design material indicating a road center line and the second side further includes but is not limited to a tacky material placed on the second side of the substrate, by applying the tacky material on the second side to a surface area to form a roadway having the road center line in the center of the road way.

In another embodiment of the method the first side of the substrate has a first color and the first design material has a second color. In another embodiment of the method, the first side of the substrate has a first texture and the first design material has a second texture. In another embodiment of the method the first side of the substrate further includes but is not limited to a first section and a second section wherein the first design material is applied to the first section and a second design material indicating a town structure icon selected from the group consisting of a house, church, tree, road way sign and person is applied to the second section. In another embodiment of the method the first design material has a different electrical characteristic than the first side of substrate.

In another embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed including but not limited to a rolled substrate having a first side and a second side; a first material indicating a road center line placed on the first side of the substrate; and a second material including but not limited to a tacky material placed on the second side of the laminate. In another embodiment of the apparatus the first side of the substrate has a first color and the first design has a second color. In another embodiment of the apparatus the first side of the substrate has a first texture and the first design material has a second texture. In another embodiment of the apparatus the first side of the substrate further includes but is not limited to a first section and a second section wherein the first design material is applied to the first section and a second design material indicating a town structure icon selected from the group consisting of a house, church, tree, road way sign and person is placed on the second section of the tape.

As shown in FIG. 1, an apparatus 100 is depicted including but not limited to a rolled substrate. In a particular embodiment the substrate is a tape. In another particular embodiment, the substrate is a laminate. In another particular embodiment, the substrate is any suitable material for use as a roadway as disclosed herein. In a particular embodiment, the substrate has a first side 104 and a second side 102. In a particular embodiment, when applied to a surface such as the floor, carpet or a table top, the second side touches and adheres to the surface and the first side faces away from the surface and forms the roadway surface upon which the vehicles traverse the roadway surface. As shown in FIG. 2, a first design material 108, printed material or laminae indicating a roadway center line 108 is placed on the first side 104 of the substrate, tape or laminate. The substrate 106 has a first color and/or electrical characteristic. In another particular embodiment the roadway center line is printed on to the substrate forming the rolled road way. As shown in FIG. 3, a second design material, or laminae 110 including but not limited to a tacky or adhesive material is placed on the second side 102 of the laminate, polymer, paper, substrate or tape. The adhesive material causes the second side of the substrate to adhere to the surface upon which it is placed.

Turning now to FIG. 4, in another embodiment of the apparatus the first side 104 of the substrate, polymer, paper, laminate or tape further includes but is not limited to a first section 103 and a second section 105 wherein the first design material, printed material or laminae 108 is applied to the first section 103 and a second design material or laminae 105 is placed on the second section, the second design material indicating a town structure icon selected from the group consisting of a structure icon such as a house 412, a tree 418, a road way sign 414 and a person 416. In another embodiment of the apparatus, the first laminae or printed material 108 has a different electrical characteristic than the first side of tape, substrate or laminate 102. The different electrical characteristics enable an electromagnetic sensor on a toy vehicle to sense the electrical characteristic of the first laminae which represents a road way center line, thus enabling the toy vehicle to sense when it is proximate the road way center line while traversing the road way. In a particular embodiment, the toy vehicle is equipped with a beeper that sounds when the toy vehicle strays from a path proximate the road way center line.

In another particular embodiment, the toy vehicle is self propelled with an auto guidance system that allows the toy vehicle 702 (shown in FIG. 7) to sense the roadway center line and follow the roadway by staying on a path proximate the roadway center line. In another particular embodiment, the roadway center line is a different color than the substrate and the toy vehicle is equipped with a sensor that enables an electromagnetic sensor on a toy vehicle to sense the different color of the first laminae or printed material which represents a road way center line, thus enabling the toy vehicle to sense when it is proximate the road way center line while traversing the road way.

Turning now to FIG. 5, in another embodiment of the apparatus, the first side 104 of the tape, substrate or laminate has a first color 116 and the first design or laminae has a second color 118. In a particular embodiment, the toy vehicle is equipped with a beeper 704 that sounds when the toy vehicle strays from a path proximate the road way center line 108. In a particular embodiment, the toy vehicle is self propelled with an auto guidance system that allows the toy vehicle to sense the roadway center line and follow the roadway by staying on a path proximate the roadway center line. Turning now to FIG. 6, in another embodiment of the apparatus, the first side of the laminate or tape 102 has a first texture 117 and the first design material or laminae has a second texture 119. Turning now to FIG. 7, in another embodiment, the rolled laminate is a rolled tape with a first design material side and second tacky adhesive side. The tacky side of the rolled laminate or tape is unrolled and adhered to a surface 704 to form a roadway on the surface 704. A toy car 702 can be guided along the road way 106 by a child for entertainment. The icons 418, 416, 411 and 414 are placed on surface 704 adjacent the roadway formed by adhering the rolled tape to the surface. In another particular embodiment, an easily scuffed material is applied to substrate second side 104 so that when a child's hand applies extra pressure to the toy vehicle, scuff marks 706 are left on the roadway substrate with paint or colored liquid filled microcapsules are

As shown in FIG. 8, in another particular embodiment, the substrate is transparent and the adhesive 110 and printed roadway 108 and icons 105 are placed on the same side of the substrate 102. Thus, when the second side 102 is adhered to a surface, the printed material 108 can be seen through the substantially transparent substrate. Printing the materials on the adhesive side contacting the surface prevents scratching of the printed material during traversal with a toy vehicle 702.

As shown in FIG. 9, in another particular embodiment, the roadway 108 is applied to a first surface 901 having a different orientation than, for example, 90 degrees, relative to a second surface 902 upon which the structural icons 105 are applied.

While the foregoing disclosure is directed to the exemplary embodiments of the invention various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that all variations within the scope of the appended claims be embraced by the foregoing disclosure. Examples of the more important features of the invention have been summarized rather broadly in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the contributions to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A roadway for use with toy vehicles, comprising:

a rolled substrate having a roadway design applied to the substrate such that the design is visible from a first side; having a tacky substance on a second side adapted for adhesion and removal from domestic surfaces by children; and structured for separation by cutting or tearing by children.

22. The roadway of claim 21 wherein the design is applied to the substrate first side.

23. The roadway of claim 21, the rolled substrate having a transparent portion and the roadway design visible through the transparent portion.

24. The roadway of claim 21 wherein the roadway design includes a section having icons, the icons including at least one of a house, a tree, a church, a roadway sign, and a person.

25. The roadway of claim 21 wherein the rolled substrate is a laminate and the roadway design is a laminae.

26. The roadway of claim 21 wherein the roadway includes a roll of tape.

27. The roadway of claim 21 wherein the rolled substrate includes easily scuffed material that forms skid marks when a toy vehicle is pressed onto the substrate.

28. The roadway of claim 27 wherein the easily scuffed material includes at least one of ink-filled microcapsules and easily scuffed printed material.

29. The roadway of claim 21 wherein the rolled substrate is coated with a thermo chromic paint that is one color at room temperature and another color at another temperature.

30. The roadway of claim 21 wherein the roadway design includes a road centerline placed in the center and along the longitudinal axis of the rolled substrate.

31. The roadway of claim 30 wherein the rolled substrate and the roadway design include different colors.

32. The roadway of claim 30 wherein the rolled substrate and the roadway design include different electrical characteristics.

33. The roadway of claim 30 wherein the rolled substrate and the roadway design include different textures.

34. A method of making a roadway for use with toy vehicles comprising:

forming a rolled substrate by contacting a first side of the substrate with a second side of the substrate;

placing a roadway design on the substrate such that the design is visible from the first side;

placing a tacky substance on the second side adapted for adhesion and removal from domestic surfaces by children; and

structuring the rolled substrate for separation by cutting or tearing by children.

35. The method of claim 34 including placing the roadway design on the first side.

36. The method of claim 34, the rolled substrate having a transparent portion and the roadway design visible through the transparent portion.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the roadway design includes a section having icons, the icons including at least one of a house, a tree, a church, a roadway sign and a person.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein the rolled substrate and the roadway design include different electrical characteristics.

39. A method of using a roadway for use with toy vehicles, comprising;

adhering a rolled substrate having a roadway design applied to the substrate such that the design is visible from a first side, having a tacky substance on a second side adapted for adhesion and removal from domestic surfaces by children, and structured for separation by cutting or tearing by children, by applying the tacky substance on the second side to a domestic surface to form a roadway having a road centerline in the center and along the longitudinal axis of the rolled substrate.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the roadway design includes a section having icons, the icons including at least one of a house, a tree, a church, a road sign, and a person.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the section having icons is applied to a second domestic surface wherein the first surface and the second surface are substantially perpendicular to each other.

42. The method of claim 39 wherein the rolled substrate and the roadway design include different electrical characteristics, the method further comprising:

sensing a difference between the electrical characteristics of the roadway design and the substrate with a toy vehicle, wherein the toy vehicle is sensitive to the electrical characteristics; and

emitting an electrical signal from the toy vehicle when the toy vehicle strays from a path proximate the roadway design.

43. The method of claim 39 wherein the substrate includes easily scuffed material, the method further comprising:

forming a scuff mark on the substrate when extra pressure is applied by a toy vehicle traversing the substrate.