SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLY OF MODULAR TOY VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A retail store having a consumer accessible retail space comprising:
- a retail space having a main entrance;
a vehicle body selection station disposed along a pathway within the retail space where said body selection station includes a display having segregated display sections where each segregated display section contains a vehicle body style and where the pathway has an entry end and an exit end;
a template sampling station proximately adjacent said vehicle body selection station and proximate the exit end of the pathway, where said sampling station including a template toy vehicle chassis having outer dimensions substantially the same as an actual mating toy vehicle chassis for test fitting a selected body;
a sound module station proximately adjacent said vehicle body selection station and proximate the exit end of the pathway, including electronic integration of a built in speaker system, an electronic storage media and media playback system for storing and playing back sound clips, and a selection interface for receiving consumer selections to sample sound clips;
a chassis collection station proximate said sound module station having a storage of chassis styles for consumer pickup;
an assembly station proximate said sound module station having custom tooling adapted to interface and drive an attachment member adapted to attach the chassis to the body; and
an accessory station including a display adapted for displaying accessory items.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A retail store design and method that allows a consumer, particularly a younger child, to actively participate in the customization, assembly, and personalization of a modular toy vehicle while in the retail store environment. The store design can provide an overall experience to the consumer that is interactive and personal. With this store design and method the consumer does not have to settle on limited off-the-shelf variations in toy vehicle design. The consumer can customize their own toy vehicle based on their own individual taste and also participated in the assembly process and personalize the vehicle including assigning a vehicle identification number (VIN) and creating a personalized license plate
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A retail store having a consumer accessible retail space comprising:
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a retail space having a main entrance; a vehicle body selection station disposed along a pathway within the retail space where said body selection station includes a display having segregated display sections where each segregated display section contains a vehicle body style and where the pathway has an entry end and an exit end; a template sampling station proximately adjacent said vehicle body selection station and proximate the exit end of the pathway, where said sampling station including a template toy vehicle chassis having outer dimensions substantially the same as an actual mating toy vehicle chassis for test fitting a selected body; a sound module station proximately adjacent said vehicle body selection station and proximate the exit end of the pathway, including electronic integration of a built in speaker system, an electronic storage media and media playback system for storing and playing back sound clips, and a selection interface for receiving consumer selections to sample sound clips; a chassis collection station proximate said sound module station having a storage of chassis styles for consumer pickup; an assembly station proximate said sound module station having custom tooling adapted to interface and drive an attachment member adapted to attach the chassis to the body; and an accessory station including a display adapted for displaying accessory items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for in-store assembly of a modular toy vehicle by a consumer comprising the steps of:
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providing a retail space having a main entrance; providing in the retail space a toy vehicle body selection station disposed along a pathway within a retail space, said path way having an entrance end and an exit end, and where said body selection station includes a display rack having segregated toy vehicle body styles and allowing consumer selection; providing in the retail space a template sampling station proximately adjacent said vehicle body selection station and proximate said exit end, said sampling station including a template toy vehicle chassis having outer dimensions substantially the same as an actual mating toy vehicle chassis and adapted for test fitting a selected body; providing in a retail space a sound module station proximately adjacent said vehicle body selection station and proximate said exit end, said sound module station including an electronic integration of a built in speaker system, an electronic storage media and media playback system for storing and playing back sound clips, and a selection interface for receiving consumer selections to sample sound clips and said sound station operable to audibly playback sound clips through the speaker system corresponding to consumer selections; providing in a retail space a chassis collection station having a storage of chassis styles for consumer pickup and providing the consumer with a selected chassis; and providing in a retail space an assembly station having custom tooling adapted to interface and drive an attachment member for allowing a consumer to assemble the toy vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for in-store assembly of a modular toy vehicle by a consumer comprising the steps of:
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directing a consumer by way of a retail floor plan or customer service representative to a station displaying multiple vehicle body designs where the display allows the consumer to choose a vehicle body design; directing a consumer by way of the retail floor plan or customer service representative to one or more stations where each station is displaying a category of accessory items where said category is selected from a group consisting of electronic control modules, wheels, tires, attachments and decals where the displays allow the consumer to choose the accessory items; directing a consumer by way of the retail floor plan or customer service representative to a station displaying multiple chassis designs and providing sample chassis for test fitting a vehicle body designs and where the display allows the consumer to choose a chassis design; and directing a consumer by way of the retail floor plan or customer service representative to an assembly station having a work space equipped with tooling designed to assist the customer with the assembling together the vehicle body, vehicle chassis and accessory items. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for in-store assembly of a modular toy vehicle by a consumer comprising the steps of:
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selecting in a retail store a select toy vehicle body style from a toy vehicle body selection station including a display rack having segregated display channels formed by side supports for displaying vehicle body styles contained in packaging, and arranged in vertical stacks segregated by body style by said side supports; test fitting in the retail store the selected toy vehicle body style at a template sampling station proximately adjacent said vehicle body selection station, said sampling station including a template toy vehicle chassis having outer dimensions substantially the same as an actual mating toy vehicle chassis; sampling sound clips and selecting a sound module in the retail store at a sound module station including a built in speaker system, an electronic storage and playback system for storing and playing back sound clips, a selection interface for receiving consumer selections to sample sound clips and corresponding drawers containing sound modules; receiving in the retail store a selected chassis at a component collection station having a storage of chassis styles for consumer pickup; assembling the modular toy vehicle components selected in the retail store at an assembly station having custom tooling adapted to interface and drive an attachment member; and sampling and installing accessories in the retail store obtained at an accessory station including a display having a display board for displaying accessory items and a work bench for in-store sampling and installing accessories. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A retail store having a consumer accessible retail space comprising:
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a retail space; a first main pathway within the retail space; a vehicle body selection station disposed along the first main pathway, where said body selection station includes a display having segregated display sections where each segregated display section contains a vehicle body style and where said first main pathway has an entry end and an exit end; a sound module station proximately adjacent said vehicle body selection station and proximate the exit end of the pathway, said sound module station including, an electronic storage media and media playback system for storing and playing back sound clips; a chassis collection station proximate said sound module station having a storage of chassis styles for consumer pickup; an assembly station proximate said sound module station having custom adapted to interface and drive an attachment member adapted to attach the chassis to the body; and a personalization station disposed between the assembly station and an exit of the retail space, said personalization station having computerized work stations and integral toy garages sized for insertion of the vehicle and having a reader operable to scan and interpret an encoded identifier attached to said vehicle body and encoded with vehicle body style information.
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Specification