Vehicle And Means For Freeing Or Launching Object Therefrom Patents (Class 446/435)
  • Patent number: 5380231
    Abstract: A toy that disassembles upon an impact comprises a body, a plurality of detachable elements, a mount for supporting each detachable element in a predetermined position on the body, and a resilient ejector mechanism engaged between the body and each detachable element and biasing the element in a direction to detach it from the mount. A movable latch member on the body engages each detachable element and retains it on the mount against the bias of the ejector mechanism. A latch release member movably mounted on the body in a position to be moved by engagement with an object releases the latch members from engagement with the detachable elements upon such movement, whereupon the detachable elements are ejected from the mount by the ejector mechanism. The latch release member can be locked against movement, thereby disabling it and permitting the toy to be played with without disassembling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Lanard Toys Limited
    Inventor: Virginio Brovelli
  • Patent number: 5335917
    Abstract: A game apparatus includes a motorized bucket assembly, a plurality of game balls, and a plurality of shovel elements which are operative for scooping up the game balls and placing them in the bucket assembly. The motorized bucket assembly includes a bucket element which is rotatably supported on a pair of wheels, and one of the wheels includes a discontinuous surface thereon so that the bucket element is periodically turned as it is moved across a supporting surface. The bucket assembly further includes a spring biased plunger which is operative for shooting the game balls outwardly from the bucket element through an aperture in the outer wall thereof while the bucket element is moved across the supporting surface. An on/off switch is provided for selectively energizing a drive for the bucket assembly and a handle is attached to the switch so that the drive is energized when the handle is pushed downwardly, and de-energized when the handle is pulled upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne A. Kuna
  • Patent number: 5310379
    Abstract: A multiple configuration toy vehicle includes an elongated chassis supported by a plurality of wheels. A rear support is pivotally secured to the rear of the chassis. A creature includes a center body, a rear body and head. The head and rear body are pivotally secured to the center body. The rear body is removably securable to the rear support and includes foldable wings which open as the rear body pivots with respect to the center body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Hippely, Philip O. Riehlman
  • Patent number: 5295890
    Abstract: Apparatus for generating a stream or burst of water through a vehicle mounted water cannon by a remote transmitter which generates signals for receipt by a receiver mounted on the vehicle for controlling the stream or burst of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Inventor: Jeff D. Myers
  • Patent number: 5248274
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a toy vehicle capable of shooting color ribbon crackers and is characterized by a master shooting member which is normally held by a retaining means. When the bumper of the toy vehicle collides with something else, it is pushed to cause an impact link to disengage the retaining means from said master shooting member, permitting the same to impact a secondary shooting member which has a percussion head that will in turn knock a color ribbon cracker pre-mounted on the toy vehicle. The percussed cracker shall explode and disperse colored ribbons or papers of different shapes or patterns contained therein, creating interesting and joyous air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Inventor: Kun-Meng Wang
  • Patent number: 5194032
    Abstract: A mobile toy including at least one vacuum generating assembly mounted on a chassis and including an impeller with the axial intake end thereof positionable closely adjacent a support surface whereby at least a major portion of the radial discharge from the impeller flows radially outward and along the support surface to define a fluidic seal about a central zone wherein a negative pressure is maintained. The impeller will preferably mount with a cylindrical sleeve. The mobile device is propelled by driven traction wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Inventor: Henry A. Garfinkel
  • Patent number: 5141468
    Abstract: A travelling toy having a ramp member to which a toy vehicle is selectively secured, and a base member pivotally secured to the ramp member. The base member is pivotable back and forth between two positions. A ratchet device converts the two-directional pivotal motion of the base member relative to the ramp member into one-directional rotational motion of a flywheel within the toy vehicle. A releasing device selectively releases the toy vehicle from the ramp member after the driving force has been accumulated in the flywheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Toybox Corporation
    Inventor: Toshio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5141467
    Abstract: A powered toy utilizing caps of the type used in toy cap guns to propel a toy vehicle. The vehicle is assembled with a launcher by a partible connector portion which has a piston portion assembled into a detonation chamber wherein the cap is detonated. The chamber is defined by an open ended housing portion which momentarily seals against the piston portion to propel the piston portion and vehicle when the cap is detonated, either by impact or electrical current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Inventor: Scott C. Crosbie
  • Patent number: 5069649
    Abstract: A toy police car includes a two-level cam, a sound assembly, a signal control assembly, a projection assembly, and a helicopter. The two-level cam includes an upper cam and a lower cam and is driven indirectly by an electric motor and a series of gears. The upper cam drives the projection assembly to project toy figures out of the car doors and a return spring causes the toy figures to return to their original position. The lower cam urges a push rod which controls the upward movement of the helicopter and another return spring causes the helicopter to return to its original position. The sound assembly is activated by the push rod to generate several sound effects. Another cam, indirectly driven by the motor, impinges an activation arm to control signal lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Inventor: Hai M. Wu
  • Patent number: 5052972
    Abstract: A drive device for a toy automobile includes a casing open at front and rear ends thereof and covering a path of travel, a flywheel rotatably supported on the casing for coming into abutting contact with an upper surface of a toy automobile at a prescribed position on the path of travel, an operating member axially slidably supported on the casing and having a push-button portion protruding externally of the casing and urged outwardly by a return spring, a pinion turned while in mesh with a rack provided on the operating member and extending axially thereof, and a gear speed-up mechanism incorporating a one-way clutch and interposed between the pinion and the flywheel for rotating the flywheel in a direction which propels the toy automobile forward only when the operating member is pushed inward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Hanzawa Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Suimon, Tsuneo Hanzawa
  • Patent number: 5004441
    Abstract: This model rocket car carries a U-shaped tube with lower and upper straight segments connected at their front ends by a bight segment. The lower segment of the tube holds a model rocket engine which, upon ignition, first ejects gas out the back end to propel the car forward and after a burning time ejects gas from its front end forward into the tube. The upper segment of the tube holds a folded braking parachute, tethered to the car, which is blown out of the tube by the gas ejected from the front end of the engine and opens behind the car. Flame retardant wadding is in the upper segment of the tube directly in front of the folded parachute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Hammerly, David S. Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 4911669
    Abstract: A toy simulated exploding vehicle is disclosed including a chassis having a front end and a rear end, and an ejector seat mounted on the chassis and movable between a normal tensioned position in which it supports a simulated driver in a driving position, and an ejecting position in which it ejects the driver from the seat. A rear bumper has an integral laterally extending plate-like member slidably mounted on the chassis for reciprocal movement of the rear bumper and plate-like member as a unit between first and second positions. The plate-like member has a free end thereof extending past the front end or bumper of the chassis. A latch is provided coupling the ejector seat to the plate-like member in a third position of the rear bumper and plate-like member. In this third position the ejector seat is releasably latched in its normal tensioned position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventor: Kenneth G. Parker
  • Patent number: 4891995
    Abstract: This invention provides a moveable toy with a trigger control mechanism which has: a main body for defining the toy; a frame disposed within the main body; at least one acting means being able to reserve energy for generating an acting force and having a member for triggering the acting force; and a trigger control means installed in the frame and adapted to reserve energy for generating a rotating force by which the member of the above-mentioned acting means can be actuated and the acting force of the acting means can be triggered and released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Inventor: Weng-Pin Lin
  • Patent number: 4781649
    Abstract: A toy car with a parachute is disclosed in which the toy car, such as a formula type car with a rearwing, is formed with a running car body and a parachute-discharging device capable of accomodating and discharging the parachute which, in turn, may be hauled by the running car body with the parachute being open and in the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Shinsei Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Nagano
  • Patent number: 4737135
    Abstract: A toy is disclosed having a spring-loaded inner vehicle or projectile therewithin. An outer shell surrounds the inner vehicle, and the outer shell has a base at one end thereof constituting the rear of the shell. A spring is interposed between the inner vehicle and the base for resiliently biasing the inner vehicle away from the base in a forward direction. The outer shell has a portion thereof movable with respect to the base between a closed position in which the outer shell at least in part encloses the inner vehicle and holds the inner vehicle fixed with respect to the base while maintaining the spring in its compressed state, and an open position in which the shell portion is clear of the inner vehicle such that the spring may propel the inner vehicle forwardly with respect to the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: Girsch Design Associates
    Inventors: Robert W. Johnson, Tak-Ko Wong
  • Patent number: 4689034
    Abstract: A creature figure toy having walking action capability utilizes a pair of ring members which are mounted for counter-rotation within the body. Projectile launching means is also incorporated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Coleco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Dubois, Dominic G. Mercurio
  • Patent number: 4685894
    Abstract: A toy vehicle having front opening gates and an ejectable flywheel seat which may be used as a gyroscopic top or to propel the vehicle. The flywheel seat is removably mounted to the top of the vehicle. A launching level rotatably coupled to the front axle of the vehicle may be used to simultaneously eject the flywheel seat from the toy vehicle and open two gates at the front of the vehicle. Downward movement of the level causes a tiltable box to rotate resulting in the seat being ejected from the vehicle. Movement of the lever also causes a sliding plate to move forward forcing the front gates to open. A flywheel is rotatably mounted inside the flywheel seat. When the flywheel seat is mounted on top of the vehicle, gears coupled to the front axle and mounted inside the tiltable box cause the flywheel to rotate inside the seat as the front wheels of the vehicle rotate. As such, the kinetic energy of the flywheel may be used to propel the toy vehicle forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Janos Beny, Toshio Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 4659320
    Abstract: A toy vehicle disk launching apparatus for launching small disks in spinning fashion into a surface for accelerated travel therealong. A chassis supported by wheels includes a housing having a track for loading disks with spindle portions on the axis thereof to a disk launching station. At the disk launching station is an arc shaped catapult lever pivotally mounted for contacting a spindle position of the disk for imparting spinning motion thereto thereby launching the disk onto the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Hubert A. Rich, Miva A. Filoseta, Eric C. Ostendorff
  • Patent number: 4623320
    Abstract: A moveable toy which includes a motor for producing motion. Associated with the motor is a motor controller for accelerating and deaccelerating the motor. A rotary element is driven by the motor. Associated with the rotary element is a flywheel which is capable of being rotated by the rotary element, but is also capable of independent rotation. The flywheel is further associated with a switch which governs the output of the motor to several moving elements located on the toy. The flywheel interacts with the switch to shift the output to the individual moving elements each time the speed of the flywheel differs from that of the rotating element. The motor controller deaccelerates the motor which in turn deaccelerates the rotating element upon command of the operator of the toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co. Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kakizaki, Yutaka Ajiro
  • Patent number: 4530670
    Abstract: A reconfigurable toy is provided that can simulate a van truck. The upper housing assembly or van body portion is removably attached to a lower frame assembly. The van body portion can be reconverted into a secondary vehicle. The lower frame assembly can be reconverted into a robotic figure to provide independent play action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1985
    Assignee: Takara Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouzin Ohno
  • Patent number: 4511342
    Abstract: A winding and launching device for toy vehicles which includes a base covered by a shell, the shell having a shaft projecting therefrom and being adapted to mate with a coupling on a flywheel-driven toy vehicle for rotating the flywheel. The shaft is rotated at high speed through a step-up gearing arrangement by a crank positioned on the shell. A button protrudes from the shell and is connected to a platform which holds the shaft in place, depressing the button pulls the shaft from the vehicle coupling so that the vehicle may speed away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: William Hart, Michael T. McKittrick, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4504239
    Abstract: A self-propelled military type land vehicle with a power take-off friction coupling in the form of a rotating cannon fits into and is retained in a helicopter shell with the power coupling driving the helicopter rotor. A releasable latch carried by the helicopter retains the vehicle within the helicopter shell and in driving engagement during simulated flight. The helicopter has a hand grippable depending tail support with a trigger disposed near the support for effecting release of the land vehicle and disengagement of the power take-off coupling from the rotor without braking the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventors: Ralph J. Kulesza, Harry Disko, Dennis R. Gibbons
  • Patent number: 4504242
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a modular unit for a toy vehicle traversing layout, the unit representing a city section and having a simulated street sign serving as a handle for carrying, the unit being further provided with a vehicle propulsion device for propelling toy vehicles along a simulated street. The modular unit is provided with the propulsion device adjacent a lane of the street with a plunger, upon depression rotating a pivotable drive member into engagement with the rear of a toy vehicle for propelling the same. The unit has a base with grooves in the undersurface thereof for receiving C-shaped connectors for interlocking a plurality of modular units together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip W. Crain, Raymond M. St. Pierre
  • Patent number: 4464860
    Abstract: A launching apparatus for a resilient drive mobile toy having a driven wheel. The launching apparatus includes a receptacle for accommodating the mobile toy, the receptacle including an opening for passing the mobile toy and a floor plate having a slot formed therethrough for partly projecting the driven wheel outwards. Provided to the receptacle are a holding device for releasably holding the mobile toy so that the driven wheel engages the slot for stopping the rotation thereof by friction and another device for pushing the mobile toy toward the opening so that the driven wheel is disengaged from the slot when the holding is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1984
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Bandai, Sanimu Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehiko Onodera
  • Patent number: 4463518
    Abstract: A top is releaseably carried by a vehicle for rotation about an axis upon an external force effecting linear movement of the vehicle and rotation of a drivingly related surface engaging wheel. If the wheel is suddenly stopped the momentum of the top will overcome the force retaining it and the spinning top will be ejected from the vehicle. The vehicle has a track to facilitate insertion and ejection of the top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventors: Robert E. Smathers, John R. Wildman, Burton C. Meyer
  • Patent number: 4457098
    Abstract: A variable speed vehicle has a satellite vehicle attached thereto by a connecting member. The variable speed vehicle includes a spring activated motor and a power train which is capable of receiving power from the motor and driving the vehicle at at least two velocities. The connecting member is fixedly attached to the satellite vehicle and movable with respect to the primary vehicle. When the satellite vehicle is moved away from the primary vehicle, the connecting member activates the spring motor, and when so activated, the spring motor returns the satellite vehicle towards the primary vehicle by acting on the connecting member. A velocity governing device is operatively associated with the power train and is responsive to the position of the satellite vehicle with respect to the primary vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Akio Tsuzuki