Transforming and spinning toy vehicle and game

• US 8,517,790 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2011
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rehco LLC
• Original Assignee: Rehco LLC
• Inventors: Rehkemper, Jeffrey, Kratz, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): NICONOVICH, ALEXANDER R
• Application Number:
  US13/034,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20110212666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 446/71, 446/236, 446/237, 446/238, 446/256, 446/259, 446/264, 446/376, 446/429, 446/465, 446/470
• US Class Current: 446/259
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/16 Spinning-top games
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 1/02 with detachable winding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/004 Stunt-cars, e.g. lifting front wheels, roll-over or invertible cars
• 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 17/26 Details; Accessories drive mechanisms A63H29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/262 Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/266 Movable parts other than toy figures, driven by the wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/00 Drive mechanisms for toys in general
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/24 Details or accessories for drive mechanisms, e.g. means for winding-up or starting toy engines
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/003 Convertible toys, e.g. robots convertible into rockets or vehicles convertible into planes

Abstract

A transforming vehicle and launch system where the vehicle transforms between multiple configurations including a spinning top. The vehicle includes sliding front and rear segments, two sliding side segments and a receiving cavity. The launch mechanism includes a rotating launch shaft in communication with a power system and a release button. The power system includes the capability to generate and store energy. When the front and rear segments move toward one another, the two side segments are pushed outward directing a central shaft downward below the vehicle. The receiving cavity receives the launch shaft and transfers energy from the power system to the vehicle when it rotates. Energy generated and stored in the power system is transferred to the second configuration via the rotation of the launch shaft when a release button is triggered such that the vehicle separates and spins on the central shaft.

Claims

1. A transforming vehicle and launch system, the system comprising:

a vehicle with a sliding front segment, a sliding rear segment, two sliding side segments, a receiving cavity and multiple configurations including a first configuration and a second configuration;

a launch mechanism with a rotating launch shaft in communication with a power drive system and a release button, the power drive system including an energy generation and energy storage means;

a means to transform the vehicle between the multiple configurations including the first configuration and the second configuration;

wherein, sliding the front segment and rear segment toward one another pushes the two side segments outward and directs a central shaft downward to extend below a plane of the vehicle'"'"'s base housing and locks in position to define the second configuration;

the receiving cavity further being shaped to facilitate receipt of the launch shaft and a transfer of energy from the power drive system to the vehicle when the launch shaft rotates; and

wherein, energy generated and stored in the power drive system is transferred to the second configuration via the rotation of the launch shaft when the release button is triggered such that the vehicle separates from the launch shaft and spins on the central shaft.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

the front segment further including a front tab, tapered edges and a front channel with a front pin positioned therein such that the front channel guides lateral sliding movement of the front segment;

the rear segment further including a rear tab and rear channel with a rear pin positioned therein such that the rear channel guides lateral sliding movement of the rear segment; and

the central shaft including a tapered flange extending therefrom such that when the tapered flange contacts the tapered edges, the tapered edges direct the central shaft downward to extend below the plane of the base housing.

3. The system of claim 2 the vehicle further comprising:

a base housing with two side pins, a front column, a rear column and an aperture to receive the central shaft;

an upper housing including a cavity shaped to receive the launch shaft and to facilitate the transfer of energy from the launch shaft to the vehicle when the launch shaft rotates, the front pin fixed to the front column and the rear pin fixed to the rear column;

two side segments, each side segment including a side channel to receive the respective side pin to guide lateral movement of the side segments; and

a link positioned between the lower housing and the front segment and rear segment, the link including two hook extensions and at least one trigger extension, a link spring secured to one of the hook extensions and the base housing, an aperture to accept the central shaft such that the central shaft facilitates pivotal movement of the link.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein as the front segment and rear segment move toward the shaft, the side segments are pushed outward and the link pivots as the link spring extends and the hook extensions move around and then grip the front tab and rear tab with the shaft extending below the base housing to define the second configuration.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein, energy generated and stored in the power drive system is transferred to the second configuration via the rotation of the launch shaft when the release is triggered such that the vehicle separates from the launch shaft and spins on the central shaft.

6. The system of claim 5, the system further comprising:

the link including a trigger extension; and

wherein pushing the trigger extension in a direction opposite the bias of the link spring releases the hooked extensions from the front tab and the rear tab, triggering compression of the link spring and directing the link to pivot while the side spring pulls the side segments toward the central shaft and the front segment and rear segment are pushed away from the central shaft such that the vehicle returns to the first configuration.

7. The system of claim 6, the system further comprising:

the front segment including a pair of wheels rotatably attached thereto;

the rear segment including a pair of wheels rotatably attached thereto; and

wherein when the tapered flange contacts the tapered edges, the tapered edges direct the central shaft downward to extend below the depth of the wheels.

8. A transforming vehicle and launching system, the system comprising:

a vehicle including a front segment, a rear segment and multiple configurations including a first configuration and a second configuration;

a launch mechanism with a rotating launch shaft in communication with a power drive system and a release button, the power drive system including an energy generation means and energy storage means;

a means to transform the vehicle between the first configuration and second configuration defined by the utilization of a sliding movement of the front segment and rear segment in combination with a central shaft to direct transformation from the first configuration to the second configuration;

the front segment further including a front tab, tapered edges and a front channel with a front pin positioned therein such that the front channel guides lateral sliding movement of the front segment;

the rear segment further including a rear tab and rear channel with a rear pin positioned therein such that the rear channel guides lateral sliding movement of the rear segment;

the central shaft including a tapered flange extending therefrom such that when the tapered flange contacts the tapered edges, the tapered edges direct the shaft downward to extend below the plane of the base housing;

the vehicle further including;

a base housing with two side pins, a front column, a rear column and an aperture to receive the central shaft;

an upper housing including a cavity shaped to receive the launch shaft and to facilitate the transfer of energy from the launch shaft to the vehicle when the launch shaft rotates, the front pin fixed to the front column and the rear pin fixed to the rear column;

two side segments, each side segment including a side channel to receive the respective side pin to guide lateral movement of the side segments;

a link positioned between the lower housing and the front segment and rear segment, the link including two hook extensions and at least one trigger extension, a link spring secured to one of the hook extensions and the base housing, an aperture to accept the central shaft such that the central shaft facilitates pivotal movement of the link;

wherein, as the front segment and rear segment move toward the shaft, the side segments are pushed outward and the link pivots as the link spring extends and the hook extensions move around and then grip the front tab and rear tab with the shaft extending below the base housing to define the second configuration; and

wherein, energy generated and stored in the power drive system is transferred to the second configuration via the rotation of the launch shaft when the release is triggered such that the vehicle separates from the launch shaft and spins on the central shaft.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

the link including a trigger extension; and

wherein pushing the trigger extension in a direction opposite the bias of the link spring releases the hooked extensions from the front tab and the rear tab, triggering compression of the link spring and directing the link to pivot while the side spring pulls the side segments toward the central shaft and the front segment and rear segment are pushed away from the central shaft such that the vehicle returns to the first configuration.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

the front segment including a pair of wheels rotatably attached thereto;

the rear segment including a pair of wheels rotatably attached thereto; and

wherein when the tapered flange contacts the tapered edges, the tapered edges direct the central shaft downward to extend below the depth of the wheels.

11. The system of claim 8, the launch mechanism further comprising:

a means to adjust the speed at which the launch shaft spins and therefore the speed at which the vehicle spins.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

vehicle elements that deploy when the front segment and rear segment move toward the central shaft to define at least a third configuration.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the vehicle elements are doors.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the vehicle elements are a front and rear windshield.