# US 8,783,480 B2 · Toy car connection apparatus and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,480 B2 - Document ID: US8783480B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/926,173 - Filed: 2013-06-25 - Published: 2013-10-31 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-06-01 - Assignees: Learning Curve Brands, Inc. - Applicants: Learning Curve Brands, Inc. - Inventors: Jamie MacBain; Gary Aigner; Joe Chan; Michael Lichodziejewski; Joseph Gheith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783480B2 ## CPC - A63H 19/18: Car coupling or uncoupling mechanisms - A63H: TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS ## Abstract A toy train car including a coupler or hitch. The coupler includes a first connector (e.g., socket) configured to be connected to the train car and a second connector (e.g., ball) configured to be connected to the train car. The first connector can be positioned in the front or rear of the train car. The second connector also can be positioned in the front or rear of the train car. Each train car can include a first connector and a second connector. The first and second connectors are configured to couple together to link a plurality of train cars together. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A toy vehicle comprising: a first base; a second base coupled to the first base; a first connector being ball-shaped, positioned at a first end of the first base and the second base, at least a portion of the first connector protruding from the first end of the first base and the second base; a second connector positioned at a second end of the first base and the second base, the second connector including a first side wall connected to a joint, a second side wall connected to the joint, a flexible member extending from the joint, the flexible member positioned between the first base and the second base, and wherein the first side and the second side are configured to flex upon insertion thereof of the first connector of a complementary toy vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein the second connector is at least partially positioned outside of the second end of the first base and the second base. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein the second connector includes a ball extending from the joint. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The toy vehicle of claim 3 wherein a first end of the flexible member is connected to the ball of the second connector, and a second end of the flexible member is connected to one of the first base and the second base. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The toy vehicle of claim 4 further comprising a bracket configured to secure the second end of the flexible member to one of the first base and the second base. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The toy vehicle of claim 3 wherein one of the first base and the second base includes a recess configured to support the ball. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The toy vehicle of claim 6 wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, and the joint of the second connector are configured to pivot about the recess. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein the flexible member is a spring. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The toy vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a support member having a track configured to receive the flexible member, and wherein the support member is connected to the first base. ### Claim 10 A toy vehicle comprising: a first base including a plurality of wheels coupled thereto; a second base coupled to the first base; a first connector being ball-shaped, positioned at a first end of the first base and the second base, and at least a portion of the first connector positioned between the first base and the second base; and a second connector positioned at a second end of the first base and the second base, and at least a portion of the second connector positioned between the first base and the second base, the second connector including a receptacle configured to receive the first connector of a complementary toy vehicle, and a flexible member extending from the receptacle, the flexible member positioned between the first base and the second base. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The toy vehicle of claim 10 wherein the second connector is at least partially positioned outside of the second end of the first base and the second base. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The toy vehicle of claim 10 wherein the receptacle includes a post extending from the receptacle and a ball connected to the post. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The toy vehicle of claim 12 wherein a first end of the flexible member is connected to the ball, and a second end of the flexible member is connected to one of the first base and the second base. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The toy vehicle of claim 13 further comprising a bracket configured to secure the second end of the flexible member to one of the first base and the second base. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The toy vehicle of claim 12 wherein the post and the flexible member include longitudinal axes that are substantially aligned. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The toy vehicle of claim 12 wherein one of the first base and the second base includes a recess configured to support the ball. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The toy vehicle of claim 16 wherein the receptacle is configured to pivot about the recess. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The toy vehicle of claim 10 wherein a first end of the flexible member is connected to the receptacle, and a second end of the flexible member is connected to one of the first base and the second base. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The toy vehicle of claim 10 wherein the flexible member is a spring. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The toy vehicle of claim 10 wherein the receptacle of the second connector includes a first notch and a second notch configured to accommodate vertical movement of the complementary toy vehicle with respect to the first base. ### Claim 21 (depends on 10) The toy vehicle of claim 10 wherein the first connector from the complementary toy vehicle is configured to move within the receptacle. ### Claim 22 (depends on 10) The toy vehicle of claim 10 wherein the receptacle of the second connector is configured to move laterally with respect to the first base. ### Claim 23 (depends on 10) The toy vehicle of claim 10 further comprising a support member having a track configured to receive the flexible member, and wherein the support member is connected to the first base.