Toy ramp devices

• US 7,690,964 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2007
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Garner, Harold, Nuttall, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYLINSKI, ALYSSA MARIE
• Application Number:
  US11/744,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20080009219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 446444-447, 446/429, 446/168, 446/170, 446/173, 446/174, 446/430, 104/54, 104/79
• US Class Current: 446/444
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 18/028 Looping; Jumping; Tilt-track sections
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 18/06 designed to cause movement of a vehicle by alteration of the inclination of part of the trackway

Abstract

A toy ramp device for two or more moveable objects is disclosed. In some embodiments, the toy ramp device may include a base; a ramp configured to support at least a first of the two or more moveable objects and including a first ramp end portion and a second ramp end portion, the ramp being movably connected to the base and configured to move among a plurality of positions relative to the base; and a holder mechanism attached to the ramp and configured to support at least one of the two or more moveable objects adjacent to the ramp when the ramp is in the first position, and to allow the at least one of the two or more moveable objects to move onto the ramp and move along the ramp toward the second ramp end portion when the ramp is in the second position.

Claims

1. A toy ramp device for two or more moveable objects, comprising:

a base configured to be supported on a horizontal surface;

a ramp configured to support at least a first of the two or more moveable objects and including a first ramp end portion and a second ramp end portion, the ramp being movably connected to the base and configured to move among a plurality of positions relative to the base, including a first position in which the first ramp end portion contacts the horizontal surface, and a second position in which the first ramp end portion is spaced from the horizontal surface; and

a holder mechanism including a first holder end portion and a second holder end portion, the first holder end portion being attached to the ramp and the second holder end portion being spaced from the ramp, the second holder end portion being configured to support at least a second of the two or more moveable objects adjacent to but spaced from the ramp when the ramp is in the first position, and the first holder end portion being configured to allow the at least a second of the two or more moveable objects to move from the second holder end portion onto the ramp and move along the ramp toward the second ramp end portion when the ramp is in the second position.

2. The toy ramp device of claim 1, wherein the ramp is further configured to move from the first position toward the second position when the at least a first of the two or more moveable objects moves along the ramp from the first ramp end portion toward the second ramp end portion.

3. The toy ramp device of claim 1, further comprising a track configured to support the at least a first of the two or more moveable objects, wherein the first ramp end portion contacts a portion of the track in the first position, and the first ramp end portion is spaced from the portion of the track in the second position.

4. The toy ramp device of claim 3, wherein the track includes a first track end portion connected to the base and a second track end portion spaced from the base.

5. The toy ramp device of claim 4, further comprising a launch assembly configured to selectively propel the at least a first of the two or more moveable objects along the track toward the portion of the track contacted by the first ramp end portion.

6. The toy ramp device of claim 5, wherein the launch assembly is connected to the second track end portion.

7. The toy ramp device of claim 1, further comprising a launch assembly configured to selectively propel the at least a first of the two or more moveable objects onto the first ramp end portion when the first ramp end portion is in the first position.

21. The toy ramp device of claim 1, wherein the second holder end portion is spaced from the horizontal surface when the ramp is in the first position.

8. A toy ramp device for two or more moveable objects, comprising:

configured to be supported on a horizontal surface;

a base configured to be supported on a horizontal surface;

a track attached to the base and configured to support at least a first of the two or more moveable objects;

a ramp configured to support the at least a first of the two or more moveable objects and including a first ramp end portion and a second ramp end portion, the ramp being movably connected to the base and configured to move among a plurality of positions, including a first position in which the first ramp end portion is aligned with a portion of the track, and a second position in which the first ramp end portion is spaced from the portion of the track relative to the first position, wherein the ramp is configured to move from the first position toward the second position when the at least a first of the two or more moveable objects moves along the ramp from the first ramp end portion toward the second ramp end portion; and

a holder mechanism including a first holder end portion and a second holder end portion, the first holder end portion being attached to the ramp and the second holder end portion being spaced from the ramp and from the horizontal surface when the ramp is in the first position, the second holder end portion being configured to support at least a second of the two or more moveable objects adjacent to but spaced from the ramp when the ramp is in the first position, and the first holder end portion being configured to allow the at least a second of the two or more moveable objects to move from the second holder end portion onto the ramp and move along the ramp toward the second ramp end portion when the ramp is in the second position.

9. The toy ramp device of claim 8, wherein the first ramp end portion contacts the portion of the track when the ramp is in the first position.

10. The toy ramp device of claim 8, wherein the track includes a first track end portion attached to the base and a second track end portion spaced from the base.

11. The toy ramp device of claim 8, wherein the track includes one or more planar track sections.

12. The toy ramp device of claim 8, wherein the ramp is pivotally connected to the base and configured to pivot among the plurality of positions relative to the base.

13. The toy ramp device of claim 8, wherein the ramp slopes upwardly from the first ramp end portion toward the second ramp end portion when the ramp is in the first position.

14. The toy ramp device of claim 13, wherein the ramp slopes downwardly from the first ramp end portion toward the second ramp end portion when the ramp is in the second position.

15. The toy ramp device of claim 8, wherein the holder mechanism includes a holder track connected to a portion of the ramp and configured to support the at least one of the two or more moveable objects.

16. The toy ramp device of claim 15, wherein the portion of the ramp is adjacent the first ramp end portion.

17. A toy ramp device, comprising:

two or more toy vehicles;

a base configured to be supported on a horizontal surface;

a track including a first track end portion attached to the base and a second track end portion spaced from the base;

a launch assembly attached to the second track end portion and configured to selectively propel at least a first of the two or more toy vehicles toward the first track end portion;

a ramp configured to support the at least a first of the two or more toy vehicles and including a first ramp end portion and a second ramp end portion, the ramp being pivotally connected to the base and configured to pivot among a plurality of positions, including a first position in which the ramp slopes upwardly from the first ramp end portion toward the second ramp end portion, and a second position in which the ramp slopes downwardly from the first ramp end portion toward the second ramp end portion, wherein the ramp is configured to move from the first position toward the second position when the at least a first of the two or more toy vehicles moves along the ramp from the first ramp end portion toward the second ramp end portion; and

a holder mechanism including a first holder end portion and a second holder end portion, the first holder end portion being connected to the ramp and the second holder end portion being spaced from the ramp and from the horizontal surface when the ramp is in the first position, the second holder end portion being configured to support at least a second of the two or more toy vehicles adjacent to but spaced from the ramp when the ramp is in the first position, and the first holder end portion being configured to allow the at least a second of the two or more toy vehicles to move from the second holder end portion onto the ramp and move along the ramp toward the second ramp end portion when the ramp is in the second position.

18. The toy ramp device of claim 17, wherein at least one of the base, the ramp, and the holder mechanism includes at least a portion of a toy animal.

19. The toy ramp device of claim 18, wherein the holder mechanism includes a head of the toy animal and the head includes an upper jaw and a lower jaw, and the head is configured to support the at least one of the two or more toy vehicles between the upper jaw and the lower jaw when the ramp is in the first position.

20. The toy ramp device of claim 18, wherein the ramp includes a tail of the toy animal.