Stunt device for toy vehicle trackset

Abstract

A spiral stunt device includes a supporting frame having an upper cross member which in turn defines a helical thread. A traveler engages the helical thread of the upper support and further supports a pendulum segment. The pendulum segment extends downwardly and terminates in a toy vehicle receiver or “caddy”. A first track segment is directed toward one side of the spiral stunt device which a second track segment is directed toward an offset portion of the stunt device. As a toy vehicle enters the stunt device with substantial energy, it is captivated by the toy vehicle receiver. As the energy of the captivated toy vehicle is transferred to the receiver and its pendulum support, the receiver together with the toy vehicle and the pendulum support are caused to rotate about the horizontal member advancing the traveler on the helical threads. The resulting lateral movement of the traveler upon the helical thread aligns the toy vehicle receiver with the offset track segment. Thereafter, the toy vehicle departs the receiver and travels down the offset track segment.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of Provisional Application 60/538,942 entitled SPIRAL STUNT DEVICE FOR TOY VEHICLE TRACKSET filed Jan. 23, 2004 on behalf of the applicants of the present invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to toy vehicle tracksets and particularly to stunt apparatus utilized therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toy vehicle tracksets have been proven to be an extremely popular and long-lasting category of toys. As toy vehicle tracksets became more and more competitive, practitioners in the toy arts have endeavored to enhance the amusement and entertainment value of such toy vehicle tracksets by employing a variety of devices which may be generally referred to as “stunt devices”. These devices have included a virtually endless variety of track segment loops, jumps, collision apparatus and the like. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,660,849 issued to Faller sets forth MODEL VEHICLE having a device for accelerating model vehicles including a track portion movable relative to a supporting base by a spring mechanism. The track portion is held in a cocked position against the spring until a toy vehicle enters the toy vehicle supporting system of the track portion. A trigger is released as a vehicle enters the track portion. The released trigger allows the track portion to be rapidly rotated about a center carrying the toy vehicle in an arc and depositing it upon a second portion of the toy vehicle trackset.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,358,112 issued to Lambert et al. sets forth a TOY VEHICLE SET HAVING VEHICLE SNATCHING TOY FIGURE in which a toy vehicle track defines a loop portion therein. A launcher is supported by and coupled to the toy vehicle track for accelerating a toy vehicle down the track through the loop and outwardly from the loop. A toy figure is supported within the interior of the track loop and includes a simulated animal head and jaw which is triggered by the toy vehicle movement through the loop. The animal jaw and head move rapidly to snatch the toy vehicle from the track loop.

A substantial number of toy vehicle tracksets utilize one or more loop portions to increase the amusement and entertainment of the user. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,991 issued to Sano; U.S. Pat. No. 3,735,923 issued to Brigham et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,411,783 issued to Montagna; U.S. Pat. No. 1,431,398 issued to Hetzner; U.S. Pat. No. 3,209,491 issued to Roeper; U.S. Pat. No. 770,071 issued to Johnson and U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,969 issued to Zaruba all set forth various examples of looped toy track systems.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,789 issued to Rehkemper et al. sets forth a TOY CAR TRACK ASSEMBLY WITH PROPELLING MECHANISM AND COLLISION COURSE having a closed toy vehicle trackway within which a upwardly spiraled battery-powered lifting device raises toy vehicles from one portion of the trackway to a greater height and thereafter allows the toy vehicles to roll downwardly into a stunt loop. This stunt loop includes a collision-causing intersection which creates a mid-air collision course which results from a car entering the loop as an earlier car traverses the loop.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,953 issued to Hippely et al. sets forth a TOY VEHICULAR PLAYSET having a transparent hollow barrel-like member defining open end portions. A toy vehicle track directs an accelerated vehicle into the interior of the barrel-like device. Within the barrel-like device, the toy vehicle travels in a generally cylindrical path and ultimately emerges at the opposite end onto an exit track portion. The helical path of the toy vehicle is determined by the speed of the vehicle entering the barrel interior.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,308 issued to Yang sets forth a TOY INCLUDING A TRACK FOR CAR having a pair of rotating farris wheels supported in a spaced relationship. A first track portion extends upwardly from the bottom portion of one ferris wheel to a raised midpoint and then downwardly to the other ferris wheel. A pair of toy vehicles extractors transferred the toy vehicles from the rotating ferris wheels to the track segments.

A number of toy vehicle sets utilize loop portions in the trackway which define a gap rather than a continuous loop. Such gaps are intended to be traversed of “jumped” by high speed toy vehicles within the trackset. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,961 issued to Muller sets forth a TRACK FOR TOY VEHICLES WITH JUMPING-OFF AND JUMPING-ON RAMPS in which a base supports a pair of oppositely positioned generally C-Shaped loop segments which are in general alignment such that a discontinuous track loop is formed therebetween a center gap. A toy vehicle entering the loop portion thus defined is directed by one C-Shaped portion to the gap formed between the sections causing the vehicle to “jump”. The vehicle path carries the vehicle to the opposite C-Shaped section to complete the stunt.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,867 issued to Hippely sets forth a TOY VEHICLE TRACKWAY SET having a track portion and means for accelerating a toy vehicle thereon. The track portion defines a vertical loop which transitions to a segment of a horizontal loop. The horizontal loop segment defines a generally upwardly angled path which ends abruptly in the interior of the vertical loop. A catching device defining a generally open container is positioned at a desired point with respect to the horizontal loop termination. The object of game play is to position the container such that a toy vehicle traveling down the trackway upwardly and through the vertical loop and horizontally in a curved path results in hurtling the toy vehicle away from the trackset. The user attempts to locate the open container at the approximate landing point of the toy vehicle.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,133 issued to Chilton et al. sets forth an INTERRUPTED INVERTED JUMP LOOP FOR ELECTRIC SLOT CARS having a pair of generally parallel slot car tracks which form a gapped or open jump loop. Toy vehicles traveling the track are directed upwardly and then rearwardly toward the opposing jump loop portion. The object is to jump the gap in the track loop such that the toy vehicle lands on the receiving portion of the jump loop and continues travel.

U.S. Pat. No. 783,812 issued to Ancillotti sets forth an AMUSEMENT APPARATUS having an elevated and downwardly inclined bicycle track. The bicycle transitions to an upwardly and rearwardly directed loop segment. A mirror image loop segment is spaced from the launching segment and is coupled to a further track portion. A bicycle accelerated down the incline ramp enters the inclined ramp enters the first loop segment, jumps the gap and is received upon the receiving loop section.

U.S. Pat. Re. 32,106 issued to Lemelson and U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,649 issued to Zaruba set forth examples of further prior art devices generally related to the present invention.

While the foregoing described prior art devices have to some extent improved the art and have in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for evermore interesting, and amusing stunt devices for use within toy vehicle tracksets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle trackset. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle trackset having a novel vehicle-reactive stunt device therein.

The present invention is directed to a spiral stunt device for use in a toy vehicle trackset. The spiral stunt device includes a supporting frame having an upper cross member which in turn defines a helical thread. A traveler engages the helical thread of the upper support and further supports a pendulum segment. The pendulum segment extends downwardly and terminates in a toy vehicle receiver or “caddy”. A first track segment is directed toward one side of the spiral stunt device which a second track segment is directed toward an offset portion of the stunt device. As a toy vehicle enters the stunt device with substantial energy, it is captivated by the toy vehicle receiver. As the energy of the captivated toy vehicle is transferred to the receiver and its pendulum support, the receiver together with the toy vehicle and the pendulum support are caused to rotate about the horizontal member advancing the traveler on the helical threads. The resulting lateral movement of the traveler upon the helical thread aligns the toy vehicle receiver with the offset track segment. Thereafter, the toy vehicle departs the receiver and travels down the offset track segment.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a spiral stunt device for use in combination with a toy vehicle and a toy vehicle trackset, the spiral stunt device comprising: an entry ramp for receiving a moving toy vehicle; an exit ramp; a support structure; a pendulum pivotally supported by the support structure; and a toy vehicle caddy secured to and carried by the pendulum, the toy vehicle caddy having means for receiving and carrying a toy vehicle, the pendulum absorbing the kinetic energy of a moving toy vehicle as it moves from the entrance ramp to the toy vehicle caddy and in response thereto rotating about the support structure to align the toy vehicle caddy with the exit ramp and transfer the toy vehicle onto the exit ramp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a toy vehicle trackset;

FIG. 2 sets forth a perspective view of an alternative toy vehicle trackset;

FIG. 3 sets forth a perspective view of a spiral stunt device constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 sets forth a perspective view of the present invention spiral stunt device in motion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

By way of overview, the present invention spiral stunt device utilizes a support member having an upper cross member upon which a helical coil is formed. A traveler is supported upon and engages the helical thread portion. A pendulum extends downwardly from the traveler and terminates in a toy vehicle receiver at its lower end. A pair of offset track segments forming an entering ramp and an offset exit ramp are aligned with the spiral stunt device. Initially, the traveler aligns the toy vehicle receiver with the entry ramp. Thereafter, a toy vehicle having substantial energy proceeds along the entry ramp and is guided to an impact and capture upon the toy vehicle receiver. As the toy vehicle is captured within the toy vehicle receiver, an energy transfer takes place which causes the combined structure of the toy vehicle receiver, pendulum support and traveler to rotate about the horizontal support member upon the helical coil segment. This rotation produces a lateral movement of the entire structure into a second position in which the toy vehicle receiver is aligned with the exit ramp trackway segment. As the toy vehicle receiver is rotated downwardly into alignment with the exit ramp, the toy vehicle is charged from the receiver and travels away from the stunt device upon exit ramp.

FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a toy vehicle trackset constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral 10. Toy vehicle 10 includes a scaffold-type support generally referenced by numeral 11. Support 11 includes a number of base elements such as base 12 which utilizes a plurality of support rods such as rod 13. Trackset 10 further includes an intersection 30 supported by scaffold support 11. Intersection 30 includes an outer ring 31 pivotally supported upon support 11 and an inner ring 32. Inner ring 32 is small enough in diameter to fit within the interior of outer ring 31. Inner ring 32 is pivotally secured to outer ring 31. As a result, both outer ring 31 and inner ring 32 are pivotable both with respect to each other and with respect to support 11. Outer ring 32 is coupled to a pair of track portions formed by track loop 22 and track ramp 23. Similarly, inner ring 32 is coupled to one end of track loop 22 and to track segment 21. Because the end portion of track loop 22 are spaced from ramp 23 and track segment 21 respectively, a gap or “jump” is formed across outer ring 31 and inner ring 32. The angle between the jump paths thus formed within intersection 30 is determined by the pivotal positions of outer ring 31 and inner ring 32.

Trackset 10 further includes a booster 15 fabricated in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques which accelerates a toy vehicle passing downwardly upon ramp 23. Trackset 10 further includes a flexible multiple apertured panel 16 which in turn is supported by an adjustable support 17. The remainder of trackset 10 is coupled by a track segment 19 coupled to panel 16 and forming a U-Shaped portion together with a straight track segment 20. Track segment 20 is coupled to track segment 21.

Track segment 21, loop portion 22 and ramp 23 are fabricated to provide a trackway which is highly flexible in use and readily adjustable to a variety of curves, loops and twists. Thus, for example, ramp 23 is formed of a track segment 18 comprising an elongated frame 33 supporting a plurality of guide rail posts such as posts 34 and 35. Posts 34 and 35 are supported along each side of frame 33. A pair of flexible generally rod-like rails such as rails 36 and 37 are secured within posts 34 and 35 as well as the remaining posts along frame 33. The utilization of frame 33 together with supporting posts such as posts 34 and 35 are flexible guide rails such s guide rails 36 and 37 provides a track structure which facilitates bending the resulting track into a variety of curves, loops, twists and the like which are maintained in shape due to the secure attachment of guide rails 36 and 37 on each side of the track frame. In the preferred fabrication of the track segments, the fit and attachment of the guide rails utilizes an extremely tight snap-fit attachment for secure holding of guide rails. Conversely, the positioning of the guide rails after the track frame has been shaped as desired allows the snapped in guide rails to maintain the curvature or twist or other shaping of the track segment.

FIG. 2 sets forth a perspective view of a toy vehicle trackset constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral 40. Trackset 40 differs from trackset 10 in its utilization in a different arrangement of components and a different combination of components but functions basically the same. Accordingly, trackset 40 includes a loop segment 41 supported by a support structure 42 together with a loop segment 44. Loop segment 44 is coupled between a curved panel 43 having a support 45 and a booster 15. Booster 15 is fabricated in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques and is used to accelerate a toy vehicle passing through the booster stage. An intersection 30 fabricated in the manner described above in FIG. 1, is positioned with an outer ring 31 and an inner ring 32 in a flat or coplanar relationship. Thus, outer ring 31 is coupled to track loop 41 and booster 15 while inner ring 32 is coupled to the remaining end of loop 41 and curved panel 43.

Loop portion 41 and loop portion 44 of trackset 40 are fabricated in the above-described manner in which a track frame supports a plurality of posts which in turn are secured to a pair of flexible guide rails. It will be noted by examination of FIGS. 1 and 2 that this track structure provides substantial flexibility and variability in shaping the contours of the trackset.

In the horizontal configuration of intersection 30 shown in FIG. 2, the jump portions formed by the respective track segments are generally coplanar and generally horizontal. This allows intersection 30 to provide a more conventional toy vehicle intersecting jump.

FIG. 3 sets forth a perspective view of a spiral stunt device constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral 50. Spiral stunt device 50 includes a included entry ramp 51 and an offset exit ramp 52. Between ramps 51 and 52, a support structure 53 is positioned and further supports a horizontally disposed spiral mechanism 54. Spiral mechanism 54 includes a helical thread (not shown) upon which a traveler 55 is supported so as to engage the helical threads of spiral mechanism 54. Traveler 55 further supports a downwardly extending pendulum arm 56 which in turn supports a toy vehicle receiver 57. In FIG. 3, a typical toy vehicle 58 is shown captivated within toy vehicle receiver 57. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, toy vehicle 58 has just entered toy vehicle receiver 57. As mentioned above, the energy possessed by toy vehicle 58 as it traverses entry ramp 51 is transferred to toy vehicle receiver 57 as the toy vehicle is captivated. This transfer of energy causes rotation of pendulum arm 56 and traveler 55.

FIG. 4 sets forth an enlarged perspective view of the present invention spiral stunt set. As described above, spiral stunt device 50 includes a support 53 having a spiral mechanism 54 supported in a horizontal position. An entry ramp 51 is coupled to support 53 together with an offset exit ramp 52 also coupled to support 53. Spiral mechanism 54 includes an internal helical thread (not shown) upon which a traveler 55 is engaged. Traveler 55 further supports a pendulum 56 which in turn supports a toy vehicle receiver 57. A toy vehicle 58 is shown captivated within receiver 57. A trigger release 59 is supported within toy vehicle receiver 57 and its operative to release toy vehicle 58 once alignment with exit ramp 52 is obtained.

Thus, in operation, as a toy vehicle such as toy vehicle 58 traverses entry ramp 51 it transfers to toy vehicle receiver 57 and the energy possessed by the toy vehicle is imparted to toy vehicle receiver 57. This energy causes the combined structure of toy vehicle receiver 57, pendulum 56 and traveler 55 to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 61. This rotation causes traveler 55 to move in the direction indicated by arrow 62 upon spiral mechanism 54. After several revolutions, toy vehicle receiver 57 is aligned with exit ramp 52 and trigger 59 is activated. As trigger 59 is activated, toy vehicle 58 exits receiver 57 and moves onto exit ramp 52 completing the stunt.

What as been shown is a novel spiral stunt device for use in a toy vehicle trackset in which an entertaining rotational carriage of the toy vehicle takes place transferring the toy vehicle in an apparently magical manner between two offset ramps.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A spiral stunt device for use in combination with a toy vehicle and a toy vehicle trackset, said spiral stunt device comprising:

an entry ramp for receiving a moving toy vehicle;

an exit ramp;

a support structure;

a pendulum pivotally supported by said support structure; and

a toy vehicle caddy secured to and carried by said pendulum, said toy vehicle caddy having means for receiving and carrying a toy vehicle,

said pendulum absorbing the kinetic energy of a moving toy vehicle as it moves from said entrance ramp to said toy vehicle caddy and in response thereto rotating about said support structure to align said toy vehicle caddy with said exit ramp and transfer said toy vehicle onto said exit ramp.

2. The spiral stunt device set forth in claim 1 wherein said entrance ramp and said exit ramp are offset a predetermined distance and wherein said pendulum moves said distance as it revolves about said support structure.

3. The spiral stunt device set forth in claim 2 wherein said pendulum and said support structure includes a spiral mechanism operative to advance said pendulum along said support structure said distance upon one or more revolutions of said pendulum.

4. The spiral stunt device set forth in claim 3 wherein said toy vehicle caddy includes a trigger release operative to restrain a toy vehicle landing on said toy vehicle caddy and to release a restrained toy vehicle when said toy vehicle caddy impacts said exit ramp.

5. The spiral stunt device set forth in claim 4 wherein said entry ramp and said exit ramp are secured to said support structure.