TRANSFORMABLE TOY AND LAUNCHER

• US 20140057526A1
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Cao, Kevin Kai, Sheltman, David Alan
• Granted Patent: US 9,579,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/429
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/008 Launching devices for motorless toy vehicles start mechanisms for trackways A63H18/026; for toy aircraft A63H27/14
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/02 convertible into other forms under the action of impact or shock, e.g. arrangements for imitating accidents
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/26 Details; Accessories drive mechanisms A63H29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/003 Convertible toys, e.g. robots convertible into rockets or vehicles convertible into planes

Abstract

A toy set is provided including a reconfigurable toy capable of transitioning between a first configuration and a second configuration. The toy set also includes a launch mechanism having an activation means and a toy receiver. A propulsion mechanism transfers movement of the activation means to the reconfigurable toy to propel the reconfigurable toy in a second configuration from the launch mechanism along a propulsion axis.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable toy having a first configuration and a second configuration, the toy comprising:

a main body;

a front portion pivotally connected to a first end of the main body, the front portion being movable between a first position and a second position;

a back portion rotatably connected to a second end of the main body, the back portion being movable between a third position and a fourth position; and

a retaining mechanism for holding the front portion in the second position and the back portion in the fourth position;

wherein movement of the front portion between the first and second position and movement of the back portion between the third position and the fourth position cause the toy to transition between the first configuration and the second configuration.

2. The reconfigurable toy according in claim 1, wherein the toy resembles a vehicle in the first configuration and wherein the toy resembles a ball in the second configuration.

3. The reconfigurable toy according to claim 1, wherein a first spring member biases the front portion into the first position and a second spring member biases the back portion into the third position.

4. The reconfigurable toy according to claim 3, wherein the retaining mechanism is spring biased to engage when the front portion is in a second position and the back portion is in a fourth position.

5. In combination a reconfigurable toy having a first configuration and a second configuration and a grasper configured to transform the toy between the first configuration and the second configuration while the toy is stored within a package, the toy comprising:

a main body;

a front portion pivotally connected to a first end of the main body, the front portion being movable between a first position and a second position;

a back portion rotatably connected to a second end of the main body, the back portion being movable between a third position and a fourth position; and

a retaining mechanism for holding the front portion in the second position and the back portion in the fourth position;

wherein movement of the front portion between the first and second position and movement of the back portion between the third position and the fourth position cause the toy to transition between the first configuration and the second configuration; and

wherein the grasper has a generally semicircular upper portion that contacts a bottom surface of the main body of the toy and at least one tab extends inwardly from both ends of the upper portion adjacent the top surface of the main body to secure the grasper to the main body.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the a pull tab is secured to and extends away from the upper portion of the grasp and the main body of the toy and wherein the toy resembles a vehicle in the first configuration and wherein the toy resembles a ball in the second configuration.

7. A toy set comprising:

a reconfigurable toy capable of transitioning between a first configuration and a second configuration; and

a launch mechanism having an activation means, a toy receiver, and a propulsion mechanism configured to transfer movement of the activation means to the reconfigurable toy to propel the reconfigurable toy in a second configuration from the launch mechanism along a propulsion axis.

8. The toy set according to claim 7, wherein the reconfigurable toy resembles a toy vehicle in a first configuration.

9. The toy set according to claim 7, wherein the reconfigurable toy resembles a ball in a second configuration.

10. The toy set according to claim 7, wherein the reconfigurable toy further comprises:

a main body;

a front portion pivotally connected to a first end of the main body, the front portion being movable between a first position and a second position; and

a back portion rotatably connected to a second end of the main body, the back portion being movable between a third position and a fourth position.

11. The toy set according to claim 10, wherein in the first configuration, the front portion is in the first position and the back portion is in the third position, and when the reconfigurable toy is in the second configuration, the front portion is in the second position and the back portion is in the fourth position.

12. The toy set according to claim 7, wherein one of the propulsion mechanism and the activation means includes a spring member for biasing the propulsion mechanism to an inactive position.

13. The toy set according to claim 7, wherein the toy receiver is a claw having a movable first arm and second arm.

14. The toy set according to claim 7, wherein the toy receiver is scoop for receiving a reconfigurable toy in a second configuration.

15. The toy set according to claim 7, wherein the toy receiver is a tray for receiving a reconfigurable toy in a first configuration.

16. The toy set according to claim 7, wherein the activation means is a rotatable lever.

17. The toy set according to claim 7, wherein the activation means is a crank.

18. The toy set according to claim 7, wherein the launch mechanism includes a base for supporting the launch mechanism on a planar surface.

19. The toy set according to claim 7, wherein the propulsion mechanism includes a plurality of pivotally coupled links.

20. The toy set according to claim 7, wherein the propulsion mechanism includes trigger slidable within an elongated slot.