CHILDREN'S TOY PLAYSET
A children's toy playset generally comprising a series of interlocking track pieces coupled to form a modular track structure and one or more ancillary toy components configured for play interaction with the track structure. The track pieces can include various interactive play elements. The ancillary toy components can include a mesh portion and a non-mesh portion.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/304,627 filed Mar. 7, 2016 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/395,131 filed Sep. 15, 2016, the entireties of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates generally to the field of children's toys and more particularly to toy playsets.
BACKGROUNDContinuing developments and improvements are sought in the field of children's toys. It is to the provisions of an improved children's toy playset that the present invention is primarily directed.
SUMMARYIn example embodiments, the present invention provides an improved children's toy playset having a modular track and one or more ancillary toy components configured for play interaction with the track.
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a children's toy playset comprising a modular track including a plurality of track pieces and at least one ancillary toy component configured for play interaction with the track. At least two of the track pieces have first and second opposite ends and each end has both male and female snap-together parts for engaging with female and male snap-together parts of an adjacent track piece.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a children's toy playset including a modular track including plurality of track pieces and at least one ancillary toy component configured for play interaction with the track. At least one track piece includes a sloped track portion, a rotational handle and at least one gripping arm. The at least one gripping arm is configured to engage and move the at least one ancillary toy component up the sloped track portion when the rotational handle is turned.
In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a children's toy playset including a modular track having at least one track piece and at least one ancillary toy component configured for play interaction with the track. The at least one ancillary toy component includes at least one mesh portion and at least one non-mesh portion.
In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a children's toy playset including at least a first track piece and a second track piece, each with a first end and opposite second end. The first and second end of both track pieces includes a coupling feature. The coupling feature allows the first end of the first track piece to couple with either the first or second end of the second track piece.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be understood with reference to the drawing figures and detailed description herein, and will be realized by means of the various elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of example embodiments are explanatory of example embodiments of the invention, and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of example embodiments taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and other publications identified in this specification are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.
With reference now to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout the several views,
In example embodiments, the ancillary toy components 100, shown in
The second component 104 can be formed as a non-mesh structure and can be coupled to the first component 102. The second component 104 can be formed from a substantially rigid material or a substantially pliable material, for example a molded plastic. The mesh component 102 may be formed of a substantially pliable material and may include a plurality of loop structures. The loop structures may include individual loop structures and/or assemblies of interconnected loop structures. Some or all of the loop structures may form substantially circular or otherwise configured finger-receiving open spaces which may be used to grip, stretch, throw or catch the toy. Also, some or all of the loop structures and/or assemblies of loop structures are of a size and configuration that allow a child's finger to at least partially extend within the void so that the child is able to grasp the toy apparatus.
The loop structures (and/or loop structure assemblies) can include mating surfaces, at least partially along an outside perimeter. These surfaces may be arranged around the perimeter of at least some of the loop structures/loop structure assemblies to facilitate coupling of the loop structures/loop structure assemblies. The cooperative mating surfaces of adjacent loop structures/loop structure assemblies may be configured to couple together for a distance along their lengths. Although not shown, some loop structure assemblies may include interior loop structures that do not have cooperative mating surfaces. Further details of example mesh structures adaptable for use in connection with the children's toy playset disclosed herein may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,984 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,282,518, which are incorporated herein by reference. In addition to having curved inside perimeters, some of the loop structures (and/or loop structure assemblies) may have an inner perimeter defined by one or more geometrically shaped openings, such as a circle, square, and polygon (e.g., rectangle, pentagon, hexagon, etc.). These geometrically shaped openings optionally include no sharp corners, to avoid injury to a child. In some aspects, the mesh component may be formed in the shape of a generally or partially spherical, hemispherical or ovoid configuration or other three-dimensional shape such that, when coupled to the component, the components substantially enclose a void.
The non-mesh component may be formed of one or more substantially pliable or substantially rigid materials. For example, the non-mesh component 104 may include a structure including subcomponents, such as wheels, wings, helicopter blades, etc., connected via a chassis formed, for example of one or more hard or soft plastic moldings. The non-mesh component(s) 104 may be formed separately from the mesh component 102, or can be co-molded or otherwise integrally formed therewith. Within the wheels, small balls or similar toy accessories may be contained. Instead of wheels, other components, tracks, rollers, or other suitable components may be used which would make the toy rollable or otherwise mobile.
In the example embodiment, the ancillary toy components 100 are configured to represent elements or cars of a train including a train engine 106 and a basket 108, as shown in
In example embodiments, the playset 10 is constructed of a series of track pieces 20 that can be arranged in different combinations as desired by the child during play. The track pieces 20 are configured to rest on a support surface. The track pieces 20 can rest directly on the support surface or can include supports configured to support the track a distance above the support surface. The track pieces 20 include at least one coupling feature 22 configured to allow the track pieces to be detachably coupled to each other. The coupling feature 22 is generally positioned at the front end and/or back end of the track piece 20. In the example embodiment, each coupling feature includes both a male part 24 and a female part 26.
As shown in
The playset 10 can include a variety of track pieces 20, including straight track pieces 30, curved track pieces 32, elevated track pieces 34 and ramps 38. In example embodiments, the curved track pieces 32 can include a guard wall 28, as shown in
Example interactive elements include a mechanical hill lift 40, depicted in
To use the mechanical hill lift 40, the toy car 100 is configured to engage the gripping arms 42 at their starting position at the bottom of the sloped track 46, as shown in
Example interactive elements can also include a pivotal bridge ramp 60, as shown in
Example interactive elements can also include a gate element 70 as shown in
Example interactive elements can also include a crane element 80 as shown in
Example interactive element can also include a carousel 180, as shown in
Example embodiments include a diverter 94 interactive feature, as shown in
While the invention has been described with reference to example embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications, additions and deletions are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.
Claims
1. A children's toy playset comprising:
- a modular track including a plurality of track pieces, at least two of the track pieces have first and second opposite ends and wherein each end has both male and female coupling parts for engaging with female and male coupling parts of an adjacent track piece; and
- at least one ancillary toy component configured for play interaction with the track.
2. The children's toy playset of claim 1, wherein the modular track includes at least a first track piece and a second track piece.
3. The children's toy playset of claim 2, wherein the male coupling part of the first track piece is configured to engage with the female coupling part of the second track piece and the female coupling part of the first track piece is configured to engage with the male coupling part of the second track piece.
4. The children's toy playset of claim 1, wherein a portion of the modular track is configured to rest on a support surface.
5. The children's toy playset of claim 1, wherein a portion of the modular track is elevated above the track surface.
6. The children's toy playset of claim 1, wherein the track includes a pivotal ramp configured to be a bridge in a first position and an inclined ramp in a second position.
7. The children's toy playset of claim 1, wherein the track includes a crane and wherein the crane is configured to engage and lift the at least one ancillary toy component.
8. The children's toy playset of claim 1, wherein the playset includes a plurality of ancillary toy components.
9. The children's toy playset of claim 8, wherein the ancillary toy components include at least one coupling mechanism for coupling to at least one other ancillary toy component.
10. The children's toy playset of claim 1, wherein the modular track includes at least one pivotal gate.
11. A children's toy playset comprising:
- a modular track including plurality of track pieces; and
- at least one ancillary toy component configured for play interaction with the track;
- wherein at least one track piece includes a sloped track portion, a rotational handle and at least one gripping arm;
- wherein the at least one gripping arm is configured engage and move the at least one ancillary toy component up the sloped track portion when the rotational handle is turned.
12. The children's toy playset of claim 11, the at least one gripping arm is slidingly coupled to the sloped track portion.
13. The children's toy playset of claim 12, wherein the sloped track portion includes a slot configured to guide the motion of the at least one gripping arm.
14. The children's toy playset of claim 13, wherein the slot includes a tab configured to engage the at least on gripping arm, wherein the engagement of the tab and the at least one gripping arm causes the at least one gripping arm to disengage the ancillary toy component.
15. The children's toy playset of claim 11, wherein at least one track piece includes a pivotal gate.
16. The children's toy playset of claim 11, wherein the at least one ancillary toy component includes a mesh portion, and wherein the at least one gripping arm is configured to engage the mesh portion of ancillary toy component.
17. A children's toy playset comprising:
- a modular track including at least one track piece; and
- at least one ancillary toy component configured for play interaction with the track;
- wherein the at least one ancillary toy component includes at least one mesh portion and at least one non-mesh portion.
18. The children's toy playset of claim 17, wherein the mesh portion is formed of one or more loop structure assemblies.
19. The children's toy playset of claim 17, wherein the one or more loop structure assemblies comprise a plurality of loop structures, the loop structure assemblies having cooperative mating surfaces disposed at least partially around an outer perimeter.
20. The children's toy playset of claim 17, wherein the mesh portion is formed of a substantially pliable material.
21. The children's toy playset of claim 17, wherein the playset includes a plurality of ancillary toy components.
22. The children's toy playset of claim 21, wherein at least one of the ancillary toy components includes at least one coupling mechanism for coupling to at least one other ancillary toy component.
23. A children's toy playset comprising:
- at least a first track piece and a second track piece, wherein the first and second track pieces each include a first end and an opposite second end;
- wherein the first end and second end of the first and second track pieces each include a coupling feature;
- and wherein the coupling feature allows the first end of the first track piece to couple with either the first or second end of the second track piece.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 6, 2017
Publication Date: Sep 7, 2017
Applicant: KIDS II, INC. (Atlanta, GA)
Inventors: Igan JUNGCO (Hong Kong), Tim EFFLER (Marietta, GA), Nicholas HANSEN (Fayetteville, GA)
Application Number: 15/450,368