Toy vehicle launcher and toy vehicle track set

A toy vehicle track set comprising:

• one or more vehicle pathways;
• a toy vehicle launcher that is movable to at least two locations disposed along the one or more vehicle pathways, wherein at different locations of the at least two locations, the toy vehicle launcher is configured to impart different launching forces of different magnitudes to a toy vehicle on which the toy vehicle launcher is acting;
• and
• a tower along which the toy vehicle launcher is vertically movable and the tower defines the different locations to be vertically spaced along a height of the tower.

A toy vehicle track set comprising:

• a toy vehicle launcher that is movable to at least two locations disposed along one or more vehicle pathways, wherein at different locations of the at least two locations, the toy vehicle launcher is configured to impart different launching forces of different magnitudes to a toy vehicle on which the toy vehicle launcher is acting, the different launching forces being determined by physical characteristics associated with the different locations of the toy vehicle launcher;
• wherein the one or more vehicle pathways comprise:
• a first track pathway having a track length, wherein the toy vehicle launcher is configured to impart a first launching force of a first magnitude to the toy vehicle when the toy vehicle launcher is aligned with the first track pathway, the first launching force being sufficient to allow the toy vehicle to traverse the track length;
• and
• a second track pathway including a stunt, wherein the toy vehicle launcher is configured to impart a second launching force of a second magnitude to the toy vehicle when the toy vehicle launcher is aligned with the second track pathway, the second launching force being sufficient to allow the toy vehicle to complete the stunt.

A launcher for a toy vehicle comprising:

• a handle portion including one or more triggers;
• a rider portion configured to movably couple the launcher to a toy vehicle track or a toy vehicle track set;
• a base configured to support a toy vehicle;
• and
• a launching mechanism configured to control a force imparted to the toy vehicle on the base in response to selective actuations of at least one of the one or more triggers, wherein the launching mechanism comprises:
• a locking assembly that prevents the launcher from moving while the force is imparted to the toy vehicle;
• and
• a force control assembly that limits a maximum magnitude of the force imparted to the toy vehicle, the maximum magnitude being variable based on a position of the launcher.

A toy vehicle track set comprising:

• one or more vehicle pathways;
• a toy vehicle launcher that is movable to a plurality of launching locations disposed along the one or more vehicle pathways, wherein the toy vehicle launcher is configured to impart a launching force to a toy vehicle when the toy vehicle launcher is disposed in one of the plurality of launching locations, and the toy vehicle launcher is configured to prevent the launching force from being imparted to the toy vehicle while the toy vehicle launcher is moving between the plurality of launching locations;
• and
• a tower along which the toy vehicle launcher is vertically movable, the tower including a plurality of grooves to define the plurality of launching locations and one or more non-launching locations, and the tower includes a stop associated with each groove of the plurality of grooves defining one of the plurality of launching locations, wherein the toy vehicle launcher includes a locking assembly and each stop is configured to engage the locking assembly while the toy vehicle launcher imparts the launching force to the toy vehicle to prevent the toy vehicle launcher from moving during impartation of the launching force.

A toy vehicle track set comprising:

• one or more vehicle pathways;
• a toy vehicle launcher that is movable to a plurality of launching locations disposed along the one or more vehicle pathways, wherein the toy vehicle launcher is configured to impart a launching force to a toy vehicle when the toy vehicle launcher is disposed in one of the plurality of launching locations, and the toy vehicle launcher is configured to prevent the launching force from being imparted to the toy vehicle while the toy vehicle launcher is moving between the plurality of launching locations;
• and
• a tower along which the toy vehicle launcher is vertically movable, the tower including a plurality of grooves to define the plurality of launching locations and a control strip with indentations associated with each groove of the plurality of grooves, wherein the toy vehicle launcher includes a force control assembly and each indentation is configured to activate the force control assembly so that the toy vehicle launcher can impart the launching force to the toy vehicle.