Playset with Dynamic Transfer
The present invention is directed toward an interactive playset with a slide/ramp including an entrance area at the top of the slide and an exit area at the bottom of the slide. The playset further includes a dynamic transfer system that transfers the accessory from the slide exit back to the slide entrance. The dynamic transfer system includes a plurality of stepped platforms, each platform having a piston that is selectively engaged to drive the accessory from a lower platform to an upper platform.
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This application claims the benefit of and priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/533,460, entitled “Playset with Dynamic Transfer”, filed Sep. 12, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a toy building playset and, in particular, to a playset including a plurality of launching members operable to transfer an accessory from one area or the playset to another area of the playset.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONChildren enjoy interactive playsets. Conventional playsets include play patterns that do not circulate a toy accessory throughout the playset. In addition, conventional playsets lack a stepped transfer system in which an accessory is driven vertically within the playset over a series of stepped platforms. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a playset that includes a dynamic transfer system that moves a playset accessory from one area of the playset to another area of the playset, thereby enhancing the enjoyment of children playing with the playset.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed toward a playset and one or more accessories. The playset includes a slide or ramp including an entrance area at the top of the slide and an exit area at the bottom of the slide. The playset further includes a dynamic transfer system that transfers the accessory from the slide exit back to the slide entrance. The dynamic transfer system includes a plurality of stepped platforms, each platform having a piston that is selectively engaged to drive the toy from a lower platform to an upper platform. In operation, the accessory begins at the top of the slide. The accessory travels down to slide until it reaches the exit area, where it is loaded onto the transfer system. Beginning at the lowermost platform, the accessory is successively propelled from platform to platform until it again reaches the slide entrance area. The process continues, with the accessory traveling down the slide and being transferred back up to the slide entrance by the dynamic transfer system.
The accessory may further include an eccentric weight that moves freely within the body of the accessory. Consequently, the accessory may flip end over end as it travels down the slide.
Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONReferring to
In an embodiment, the playset 10 may include various interactive features attractive to a child such as a rattle spinner 117 and a motorized Ferris wheel 130 having one or more cups 135 operable to receive an accessory
The play surface 120 further includes a portion including a slide or chute 140 and a portion including a dynamic transfer system 145. The slide 140 defines a travel path that directs an accessory
The dynamic transfer system 145 is operable to transfer an accessory
Each platform 205A, 205B, 205C, moreover, includes a piston or striking member operable to propel an accessory
The pistons 215A, 215B, 215C are in communication with a drive or recoil assembly configured to successively retract the pistons into the platform (against the biasing force of a biasing member), and then release the piston such that the biasing member drives the piston upward at a velocity sufficient to propel an accessory
As best seen in
A biasing member 500 disposed within the receptacle 430 biases the piston 215A, 215B, 215C in a normal position; moreover, a catch member connected to the piston is selectively engaged by the cams 425A, 425B, 425C to overcome the biasing force of the biasing member and drive the piston from a first, normal position, to a second, loaded position. Referring to
The operation of the transfer mechanism 145 is explained with reference to
With this configuration, an accessory
The accessory figures 110, moreover, may be eccentrically weighted to stabilize the figure during the transfer process, as well as to provide a somersault motion to the figure while traveling along inclined surfaces. As shown in
With this configuration, the accessory
While the present invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, the playset 10 may be configured to generate electronic sensory output such as lights and sound (music, sound effects, etc.). Additionally, the accessory
Although the disclosed inventions are illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventions and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. In addition, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.
It is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer” and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points or portions of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration. Further, terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., merely identify one of a number of portions, components and/or points of reference as disclosed herein, and do not limit the present invention to any particular configuration or orientation.
Claims
1. An interactive playset comprising:
- an accessory figure; and
- a base including: a play surface having a first area and a second area, the first area being disposed at a lower height than the second area, a dynamic transfer system operable to propel the accessory figure from the first area to the second area.
2. The interactive playset of claim 1, wherein the dynamic transfer system comprises a biasing member and a piston driven by the biasing member from a loaded piston position to an expelled piston position.
3. The interactive playset of claim 1, wherein:
- the base includes: a first platform area including a first piston, the first platform area being disposed at a first vertical height, a second platform area including a second piston, the second platform area being disposed at a second vertical height, the second vertical height being greater than the first vertical height, and a third platform area including a third piston, the third platform area being disposed at a third vertical height, the third vertical height being greater than each of the first and second vertical heights;
- the first piston is configured to engage the accessory figure to drive the accessory figure from the first platform area to the second platform area; and
- the second piston is configured to engage the accessory figure to drive the accessory figure from the second platform area to the third platform area.
4. The interactive playset of claim 3, wherein the playset further includes a slide having a slide entrance area and a slide exit area.
5. The interactive playset of claim 4, wherein the accessory figure is configured for rolling movement down the slide.
6. The interactive playset of claim 5, wherein the accessory figure rolls down the slide by flipping end over end as it rolls.
7. The interactive playset of claim 4, wherein the third piston is configured to engage the accessory figure to drive the accessory figure from the third platform area to the slide entrance area.
8. The interactive playset of claim 1, further comprising:
- a platform including a receptacle suspended from the platform;
- a biasing member and a piston member disposed within the receptacle;
- a catch member suspended from the piston member,
- wherein the catch member is engaged to axially drive the piston member axially within the receptacle.
9. The interactive playset of claim 8 further including a drive mechanism in communication with the piston, the drive mechanism including:
- a motor;
- a camshaft driven by the motor; and
- a cam extending radially from the camshaft,
- wherein the cam engages the catch member to drive the piston member axially within the receptacle.
10. An interactive playset comprising:
- a base including: a play surface having a first area and a second area, the first area being disposed at a lower height than the second area; a ramp extending between the second area and the first area, the ramp configured to receive an accessory figure thereon; and a dynamic transfer system operable to propel the accessory figure from the first area to the second area.
11. The interactive playset of claim 10, wherein they dynamic transfer system comprises a piston driven by a transfer mechanism from a loaded piston position to an expelled piston position.
12. The interactive playset of claim 11, wherein the transfer mechanism comprises a biasing member which drives the piston from the loaded piston position to the expelled piston position.
13. The interactive playset of claim 10, wherein:
- the base includes: a first platform area including a first piston, the first platform area being disposed at a first vertical height, a second platform area including a second piston, the second platform area being disposed at a second vertical height, the second vertical height being greater than the first vertical height, and a third platform area including a third piston, the third platform area being disposed at a third vertical height, the third vertical height being greater than each of the first and second vertical heights;
- the first piston is configured to engage the accessory figure to drive the accessory figure from the first platform area to the second platform area; and
- the second piston is configured to engage the accessory figure to drive the accessory figure from the second platform area to the third platform area.
14. The interactive playset of claim 13, wherein the ramp further includes a ramp entrance area and a ramp exit area.
15. The interactive playset of claim 14, wherein the accessory figure is configured for rolling movement down the ramp.
16. The interactive playset of claim 15, wherein the accessory figure rolls down the ramp by flipping end over end as it rolls.
17. The interactive playset of claim 14, wherein the third piston is configured to engage the accessory figure to drive the accessory figure from the third platform area to the ramp entrance area.
18. The interactive playset of claim 10, further comprising:
- a platform including a receptacle;
- a biasing member and a piston member disposed within the receptacle;
- a catch member coupled to the piston member,
- wherein the catch member is engaged to axially drive the piston member axially within the receptacle.
19. The interactive playset of claim 18 further including a drive mechanism in communication with the piston member, the drive mechanism including:
- a motor;
- a camshaft driven by the motor; and
- a cam extending radially from the camshaft,
- wherein the cam engages the catch member to drive the piston member axially within the receptacle.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 6, 2012
Publication Date: Mar 14, 2013
Applicant: MATTEL, INC. (El Segundo, CA)
Inventor: John Thaddeus Smokowski (West Seneca, NY)
Application Number: 13/605,114
International Classification: A63H 18/00 (20060101); A63H 18/02 (20060101); A63H 18/14 (20060101);