Charger/launcher for fast recharge toy vehicle

• US 6,036,574 A
• Filed: 08/16/1996
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Halford, Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carlson, Jeffrey D.
• Application Number:
  US08/700,623
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 446/429, 446/441, 446/457, 446/462, 446/484
• US Class Current: 446/429
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/44 Toy garages for receiving toy vehicles; Filling stations
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 18/00 Highways or trackways for toys railway permanent way A63H19/30; for special railways A63H21/00; Propulsion by special interaction between vehicle and track
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/22 Electric drives power supply through track A63H18/12

Abstract

A toy vehicle is operatively driven by an electric motor having a storage capacitor coupled in parallel therewith. The capacitor and motor are coupled to a pair of underside contacts on the toy vehicle for charging. The toy vehicle underside further includes an aperture and an elongated slot. A cooperating charger/launcher includes a vehicle receiving surface upon which a wheel pedestal is positioned between the area at the rear of the vehicle for raising the vehicle rear wheels. The charger/launcher further includes an interlock post received within the aperture formed on the vehicle undersurface and a safety rib received within the elongated slot of the vehicle. A pair of electrical contacts are positioned on each side of the protective rib and are coupled to a battery supply within the launcher for charging the vehicle capacitor.

Claims

1. A charger/launcher in combination with a toy vehicle, said charger/launcher in combination with a toy vehicle comprising:

a toy vehicle having a capacitor and electric motor drive, a pair of underside vehicle contacts and a clearance slot therebetween;

a charger/launcher base defining a vehicle-receiving surface having a pair of spaced-apart apertures formed therein;

a pair of spring contacts extending upwardly through said pair of spaced-apart apertures and contacting said vehicle contacts;

an elongated rib extending upwardly from said vehicle-receiving surface between said spaced-apart apertures for preventing a flat conductive object from simultaneously touching both of said spring contacts; and

an interlock post extending upwardly from said vehicle-receiving surface and positioned forward of said elongated rib,

said toy vehicle resting upon said vehicle-receiving surface during recharge such that said vehicle contacts touch said spring contacts and said elongated rib extends into said clearance slot.

2. A charger/launcher in combination with a toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said toy vehicle includes an aperture for receiving said interlock post.

3. A charger/launcher as set forth in claim 2 wherein said toy vehicle includes a pair of rear drive wheels.

4. A charger/launcher as set forth in claim 3 wherein said charger/launcher base further defines a wheel pedestal and wherein said toy vehicle defines an underside surface, said wheel pedestal being of sufficient height to contact said vehicle undersurface and raise said rear drive wheels from said vehicle-receiving surface.

5. A charger/launcher as set forth in claim 4 wherein said charger/launcher base further includes a depressible switch interposed between said interlock post and said elongated rib for energizing said contacts solely when said toy vehicle is placed upon said vehicle-receiving surface.