# US 5,702,107 A · Toy vehicle game and methods of playing the game

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- Number: US 5,702,107 A
- Document ID: US5702107A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/782,252
- Filed: 1997-01-14
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1997-01-14
- Inventors: Joseph R. Novak
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702107A

## CPC

- A63H 17/02: convertible into other forms under the action of impact or shock, e.g. arrangements for imitating accidents
- A63H: TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS

## Abstract

Toy vehicles for the game include a plurality of targets on each vehicle movable between first and second positions. Switches are associated with the respective targets and in closed positions connect a battery in parallel to a motor for running the toy vehicle. Each vehicle has a protrusion for impacting against the target of another vehicle. Upon impact, the target is moved to a second position opening the switch. The circuit provides for the continued running of each vehicle until the last target is impacted and its switch is opened, at which time the power circuit is opened and the vehicle stops. The game is played in the form of a demolition derby in which the last vehicle running is the winner.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of playing a game have a plurality of toy vehicles each having a motor, comprising the steps of:
providing a plurality of targets at spaced locations on each vehicle;
for each vehicle, providing a plurality of normally closed switches connecting a source of power for driving the vehicle and the motor of the vehicle;
coupling said switches and said targets to one another on each vehicle such that the switches are individually opened in response to an impact on a target of the vehicle; and
moving at least one vehicle to impact all of the targets of another vehicle to open all of the switches of said another vehicle, thereby deactivating the motor thereof and stopping said another vehicle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 including providing at least one protrusion on each vehicle to impact a target on another vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 including providing at least a first protrusion on the front end of said one vehicle to impact a target on said another vehicle while moving said one vehicle in a forward direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 including providing a protrusion on the rear end of said one vehicle to impact a target on said another vehicle while moving the vehicle in a rearward direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 including providing a pair of protrusions on each vehicle spaced a predetermined distance from one another and a pair of targets on each vehicle spaced said predetermined distance from one another such that impact of said pair of protrusions on said one vehicle substantially simultaneously on said pair of targets of said another vehicle substantially simultaneously opens the switches associated with said pair of targets.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 including retaining switches individually opened in said switch-opened positions.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A method according to claim 6 including returning said switches from said switch-opened positions to said closed positions.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 including displacing said targets from switch-closed to switch-opened positions, and returning said targets from said switch-opened positions to said switch-closed positions.

### Claim 9

A toy vehicle comprising:
a toy vehicle body;
a motor carried by said body and a source of power carried by said body for powering the motor;
a plurality of targets carried by said vehicle body at spaced locations thereabout and movable between first and second positions;
a plurality of normally closed switches carried by said vehicle connecting said source of power and said motor such that said motor receives power from said power source through said switches until all said switches lie in an open position disconnecting the power source and said motor, said switches being coupled to said targets, respectively, and movable into open positions in response to movement of said targets from said first positions to said second positions whereby the vehicle is powered until a last of said switches is opened.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A toy vehicle according to claim 9 including a device for locking each target in said second position upon movement from said first position into said second position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A toy vehicle according to claim 10 wherein said device includes a manually operable release for releasing the target from said second position for movement to said first position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

A toy vehicle according to claim 9 including a spring for biasing each target into said first position, a detent cooperable between said vehicle body and said target for releasably securing said target in said second position, said detent being responsive to movement of said target into said second position to lock said target in said second position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A toy vehicle according to claim 12 wherein said device includes a manually operable release for releasing the target from said second position for movement to said first position.

### Claim 14

A toy vehicle comprising:
a toy vehicle body;
a motor carried by said body and a battery carried by said body for powering the motor;
a plurality of targets carried by said vehicle body at spaced locations thereabout and movable between first and second positions;
a plurality of switches carried by said vehicle connecting in parallel said battery and said motor such that said motor receives power from said battery through said switches when closed, said switches being coupled to said targets, respectively, and movable into open positions in response to movement of said targets from said first position to said second position enabling the vehicle to be powered by said battery until a last of said switches is opened.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A toy vehicle according to claim 14 including a device for locking each target in said second position upon movement from said first position into said second position.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A toy vehicle according to claim 15 wherein said device includes a manually operable release for releasing the target from said second position for movement to said first position.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

A toy vehicle according to claim 14 including a spring for biasing each target into said first position, a detent cooperable between said vehicle body and said target for releasably securing said target in said second position, said detent being responsive to movement of said target into said second position to lock said target in said second position.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

A toy vehicle according to claim 17 wherein said device includes a manually operable release for releasing the target from said second position for movement to said first position.