Abstract: A toy vehicle launcher has a housing, a handle, a slidable plate, a retention member, and biasing elements. The handle is moveably attached to the housing. The slidable plate is operatively coupled to the handle and movable with respect to the housing. The slidable plate includes sequential notches. The first biasing element couples the slidable plate to the housing. The first biasing element biases the slidable plate in a first direction with respect to the housing. Movement of the handle moves the slidable plate in a second direction against the bias of the first biasing element. The retention member is disposed proximate the slidable plate and configured to engage and disengage with notches. The second biasing element attaches the retention member to the launcher housing. The second biasing element biases the retention member into contact with the slidable plate.

Abstract: An improved toy vehicle is disclosed herein. The toy vehicle includes a plurality of different modules that may be removably coupled to one another to provide a variety of different toy vehicles. The modules include at least a steering module, a gearbox module, and a main body module. The main body module may house any number of elastic members configured to drive a drive axle disposed within the gearbox module. The size and construction of the main body module chosen to be used may dictate how fast and how far the modular toy vehicle is capable of traveling across a support surface. The gearbox module may further include a crank that enables the elastic members to be wound and an actuator that actuates the wound elastic members to drive the toy vehicle. Finally, the steering module may be configured to direct the modular toy vehicle in a desired direction.

Abstract: A toy doll with an illuminable movable portion is a toy doll with an illumination source, a first portion, and second portion. The second portion is movable with respect to the first portion and includes at least two panels which define housings configured to be illuminated. Each of the housings may include illumination areas, which, upon being aligned with the illumination source may become illuminated. Each of the panels may be selectively aligned with the illumination source. By illuminating different panels of the second portion, the toy doll can be configured in various illumination configurations. A user can influence which panels are illuminated by orienting the toy doll in certain orientations or moving the second portion to different locations with respect to the first portion, among other factors.

Abstract: Audiovisual devices and methods of controlling those devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, an audiovisual toy may include a controller configured to receive a first output signal generated by an audio input device based on received first audio input that exceeds a predetermined threshold level, ignore the audio input device subsequent to receiving the first output signal during a first predetermined time interval, drive a motor based on the received first output signal during the first predetermined time interval, and, after the first predetermined time interval has elapsed, wind down the motor during a second predetermined time interval and monitor, during the second predetermined time interval, for a second output signal generated by the audio input device based on received second audio input that exceeds the predetermined threshold level.

Abstract: Disclosed is a convertible toy vehicle playset convertible from a first configuration to a second, altered configuration upon a predetermined interaction with a toy vehicle. A convertible track segment includes a tower, a base mounted atop the tower, and a platform rotatably mounted atop the base. The base includes a retractable support, and the platform includes a trigger operable to retract the retractable support into the base.

Abstract: A toy apparatus includes a base piece having a distal end, a movable elongated member having a first end and a second end, and a tether coupled to the first end of the movable elongated member. Tension applied to the tether moves the movable elongated member from an open first position to a closed second position. The toy apparatus is configured to freely slide on a surface due to momentum generated when an initial pushing force is applied to the toy apparatus. The tension applied to the tether causes the tether to become taut, without other human contact to the toy apparatus. In the closed second position, the second end of the movable elongated member is closer to the distal end of the base elongated member, and the base elongated member and the movable elongated member are capable of retaining a target piece.

Abstract: A toy vehicle track set is disclosed herein. The track set includes at least one track section and a support that can hold the track section in a particular orientation or position relative to a support surface. In one embodiment, the support includes a base, a support member that is coupleable to the base, and a coupler that is connected to the support member. The track section can be engaged with the coupler which is movably mounted to the support member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a toy racetrack having a toy vehicle launching section that, in a first configuration of the racetrack, launches a toy vehicle toward and through the open, central portion of a loop track section, preferably to impact a target, and in a transformed configuration of the racetrack, launches a toy vehicle through the track portion of the loop track section and preferably toward a catch tray. Two loop track sections are pivotably mounted to a tower, and target flags may be pivotably mounted to a loop section mounting block positioned at the top of the tower. Once one of the target flags is struck by a toy vehicle, an internal transformation mechanism is triggered that causes the loop track sections to pivot into a track engaging position in which the loop sections form terminal track portions for the track segments in the launching section of the racetrack.

Abstract: A toy set is provided including a reconfigurable toy capable of transitioning between a first configuration and a second configuration. The toy set also includes a launch mechanism having an activation means and a toy receiver. A propulsion mechanism transfers movement of the activation means to the reconfigurable toy to propel the reconfigurable toy in a second configuration from the launch mechanism along a propulsion axis.

Abstract: A toy projectile launch system comprises a launch base, a projectile and an activating device. The launch base may comprise a lever having first and second ends and a fulcrum. The lever may be pivotally movable between restricted and unrestricted states and biased to the restricted state. The projectile may comprise a resilient member and a receiving surface. The resilient member may be configured for biased engagement with the launch base. The second end of the lever may engage the receiving surface when the lever is in the restricted state and disengage from the receiving surface when the lever is in the unrestricted state. The activating device may be removably coupled to the launch base by engagement of a mating pair. One of the mating pair may is on the activating device and the other one of the mating pair is on the launch base.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques in which the proximity of an object to a toy is determined using a photosensor (photo sensor) circuit. The proximity is classified/categorized as falling into one of a plurality of different proximity ranges. The proximity range in which the object is located is mapped to one or more audible or visual outputs, where the audible or visual outputs are adjusted/varied as the relative proximity of the object to the toy changes.

Abstract: Toy track sets for toy vehicles are disclosed. A toy track set for a toy vehicle may include a first track section having a first travel surface and a first tubular connector at a first connecting end of the first travel surface. The toy track set may further include a second track section that is configured to be rotatably coupled to the first tubular connector. The second track section may include a second travel surface having first and second travel portions. The second track section may be configured to rotate relative to the first track section between a first position in which the first travel surface forms a continuous travel path with the first travel portion, and a second position in which the first travel surface forms a continuous travel path with the second travel portion.

Abstract: Toy vehicle track systems and connectors for those systems are disclosed. The connectors include a central portion, first and second end portions, and first and second side portions. The central portion includes first and second posts, and a third larger post disposed between the first and second posts. In some embodiments, the third post includes a living hinge to allow for increased vertical displacement of the first, second, and/or third posts when a downward force is applied to the third post. In some embodiments, the central portion includes descending and ascending parts to allow for increased vertical displacement of the first, second, and/or third posts when a downward force is applied to the third post. In some embodiments, the connectors include a plurality of bumps to increase frictional engagement between the connector and the track sections.

Abstract: Toy play systems are disclosed. A toy play system may include a first toy play set having a first base. The first base may include opposed upper and lower sides, the upper side may include at least one play feature and the lower side may include a plurality of protrusions. The toy play system may further include a base connector which may have at least two coupling structures. At least a first coupling structure of the at least two coupling structures may frictionally engage a protrusion of the plurality of protrusions. At least a second coupling structure of the at least two coupling structures may frictionally engage a second toy play set.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic device, and in particular, to the input and output of data from the electronic device. An object is connected to the electronic device and configured to convert a portion of the audio signal output by the electronic device into an audible output. The object also converts a portion of the audio signal output by the electronic device into an infrared signal that is emitted to a toy vehicle. With the object connected to the electronic device, the electronic device is able to remotely control the toy vehicle while the object outputs sound effects and other audible sounds.

Abstract: An improved toy vehicle transfer station playset is disclosed herein. The playset includes a support frame that extends upwardly from a support surface. Coupled to the support frame is a slide rail having a first end and a second end. The first end is disposed higher than the second end with respect to the support surface. A carrier is movably coupled to the slide rail, and is configured to move along the slide rail from a first position proximate the first end to a second position proximate the second end of the slide rail via gravity. The carrier includes a track section for receiving a toy vehicle. The playset also includes a retaining mechanism disposed on the slide rail and configured to retain the carrier in the first position. However, when a toy vehicle is disposed on the track section of the carrier, the retaining mechanism releases the carrier to move along the slide rail to the second position.