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US 7,682,218 B2Granted
Toy vehicle and launcher
AssigneeMattel, Inc.
InventorsGlenn Yu, Kevin Cao, Bryan Benedict
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A toy vehicle set. The toy vehicle set includes a toy vehicle including a steering mechanism, and a toy launcher to selectively energize the toy vehicle for movement while selectively securing the toy vehicle in a fixed position. The toy launcher looks approximately the same as the steering mechanism of the toy vehicle.
Claims14
A launcher for a toy motorcycle having a front wheel and a rear wheel, the motorcycle including a laterally extending peg, the launcher comprising:
- a launch body including:
- a release assembly to selectively secure the toy motorcycle in a fixed position, the release assembly including:
- an inclined ramp operable support the rear wheel such that the rear wheel is lifted off a surface, and
- a pivoting catch that selectively engages the peg on the motorcycle to secure the rear wheel to the ramp;
- and
- an energizer configured to spin the rear wheel of the toy motorcycle;
- a left handlebar grip operatively coupled to a left side of the launch body;
- a right handlebar grip operatively coupled to a right side of the launch body;
- an energizer activator selectively causing the energizer to spin the rear motorcycle wheel;
- and
- a release activator configured to activate the release assembly, selectively allowing the motorcycle to move from the fixed position by disengaging the catch and permitting the rear wheel to slide off of the ramp and contact the surface.
8 more elements
A toy vehicle set comprising:
- a toy vehicle operable to travel along a surface, the vehicle comprising:
- a steering mechanism,
- a front wheel,
- a rear wheel having a wheel rotational axis, and
- pegs extending laterally from the rear wheel, the pegs being aligned with the rotational axis of the rear wheel;
- and
- a toy launcher configured to launch the toy along the surface, the toy launcher comprising:
- a roller to selectively energize the toy vehicle for movement;
- and
- a release assembly including:
- ramps configured to engage the pegs of the rear wheel and support the rear wheel above the surface, and
- a catch to selectively capture the pegs to the ramps and to position the rear wheel in contact with the roller.
9 more elements
A toy vehicle set comprising:
- a toy vehicle including:
- a front wheel and a rear wheel, the rear wheel comprising a tire portion and a gyroscopic flywheel, the rear wheel including a rotational axis, and
- pegs extending laterally from the rear wheel, the pegs being aligned with the rotational axis of the rear wheel;
- and
- a launching device operable to energize the toy vehicle such that the toy vehicle travels along a travel surface, the launching device comprising:
- ramps configured to support the pegs, each of the ramps having a ramp surface inclined toward the travel surface,
- a roller operable to spin the rear wheel and energize the flywheel,
- catches operable to capture the pegs of the rear wheel to the ramps and position the rear wheel in contact with the roller, and
- a release mechanism to release the pegs,
- wherein, upon release of the pegs, the pegs slide off the ramps and the rear wheel contacts the travel surface.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.