Toy vehicle launcher with pivoting linear propulsion members

• US 5,433,641 A
• Filed: 01/18/1994
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elliot A. Rudell
• Original Assignee: Elliot A. Rudell
• Inventors: Foster, George, Rudell, Elliot
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US08/182,583
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 446/429, 446/430, 446/228, 446/63-65, 446/489, 446/490, 446/26, 446/28, 124/79, 124/1, 273/327, 273/330, 273/413, 273/414, 273/129 R, 482/92
• US Class Current: 446/28
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/008 Launching devices for motorless toy vehicles start mechanisms for trackways A63H18/026; for toy aircraft A63H27/14

Abstract

A toy vehicle launcher which has a vehicle that can slide along a track. The launcher includes a string which extends along each side of a longitudinal axis of the track. The string is attached to a pair of handles which can be pulled so that the string engages the vehicle and propels the same along the track. Both the track and vehicle have corresponding T shaped features which capture and maintain the vehicle on the track.

Claims

1. A toy vehicle launcher, comprising:

a rigid track;

a vehicle that can move along said track;

a string that extends along said track and which can engage said vehicle;

handle means for pulling said string away from said track such that said string engages and propels said vehicle down and away from said track so that said vehicle is released from said track; and

,

a spring that is coupled to said string and which biases said string toward said track.

2. The toy vehicle launcher as recited in claim 1, wherein said handle means includes a pair of handles attached to said string.

3. The toy vehicle launcher as recited in claim 1, wherein said vehicle has an inner opening which receives a corresponding track section.

4. The toy vehicle launcher as recited in claim 1, further comprising a clip that couples said string to said spring.

5. The toy vehicle launcher as recited in claim 1, wherein said vehicle is constructed as an automobile.

6. The toy vehicle launcher as recited in claim 1, wherein said vehicle is constructed as an airplane.

7. The toy vehicle launcher as recited in claim 6, wherein said track has a tapered ramp section.

8. The toy vehicle launcher as recited in claim 1, wherein said track has a clip that allows said track to be attached to a belt.

9. The toy vehicle launcher as recited in claim 8, wherein said track has a lock tab which can secure said vehicle to said track.

10. A toy vehicle launcher, comprising:

a track that has opposite sides extending along a longitudinal axis of said track, said track further having a T shaped section;

a vehicle that can move along said track, said vehicle having a T shaped opening which can receive said T shaped section;

a string that extends along each side of said track and which can engage said vehicle;

a pair of handles attached to said string and which can be pulled away from said track such that said string engages and propels said vehicle down said track; and

,

a spring coupled to said string, that biases said string toward said track.

11. The toy vehicle launcher as recited in claim 10, further comprising a clip that couples said string to said spring.

12. The toy vehicle launcher as recited in claim 10, wherein said vehicle is constructed as an automobile.

13. The toy vehicle launcher as recited in claim 10, wherein said vehicle is constructed as an airplane.

14. The toy vehicle launcher as recited in claim 13, wherein said track has a tapered ramp section.

15. The toy vehicle launcher as recited in claim 10, wherein said track has a clip that allows said track to be attached to a belt.

16. The toy vehicle launcher as recited in claim 15, wherein said track has a lock tab which can secure said vehicle to said track.