Toy vehicle raceway and rolling cart

• US 9,050,994 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Nuttall, Michael Wayne, Vetuskey, Brendon, O'Connor, Stacy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, MARK T
• Application Number:
  US13/299,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20120126022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 238/10.A, 238/10.R, 104/60, 280/30, 280/651, 182/20
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 18/04 Up-and-down-hill trackways A63H18/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/14 involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/22 involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/26 characterised by supports specially adapted to objects of definite shape
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/00 Indexing codes relating to type or characteristics of transported articles

Abstract

A toy vehicle raceway and rolling cart may include a plurality of multilane track segments, each of which may have a corresponding pivotably mounted support bracket. A toy vehicle raceway may be capable of being assembled in a plurality of configurations, including a racing configuration wherein the track segments and brackets may be assembled as a ramped raceway and a transport configuration wherein one or more of the track segments and brackets may be assembled to form a rolling cart for securely carrying other raceway components.

Claims

1. A toy raceway comprising:

a plurality of connectable track segments each including a plurality of lanes; and

a wheeled primary support bracket pivotably connected to a first track segment;

wherein the track segments and primary support bracket are capable of being configured in a racing configuration and a transport configuration;

the racing configuration having the track segments connected end-to-end forming a ramped, multilane raceway with the primary support bracket elevating a first end of the raceway; and

the transport configuration having the primary support bracket configured as a wheeled cart for carrying the track segments; and

wherein the first track segment further includes latches configured to both brace the raceway in the racing configuration and retain other track segments in the transport configuration.

2. The toy raceway of claim 1, further including a secondary support bracket pivotably connected to a second track segment.

3. The toy raceway of claim 2, wherein the secondary support bracket forms a handle when the raceway is in the transport configuration.

4. The toy raceway of claim 1, wherein one of the track segments includes two pivotably connected subsegments.

5. The toy raceway of claim 4, wherein the pivotably connected subsegments are connected by a breakaway hinge.

6. The toy raceway of claim 1, wherein the primary support bracket includes a support structure having two wheels disposed such that a surface of the support structure contacts a supporting surface when the raceway is in the racing configuration.

7. The toy raceway of claim 1, wherein the primary support bracket includes a storage compartment.

8. The toy raceway of claim 1, wherein the raceway has a second end, and a track segment at the second end includes male connectors configured to allow connection of one or more additional track portions.

9. The toy raceway of claim 1, wherein each track segment includes six lanes.

10. The toy raceway of claim 1, wherein the raceway has a second end and further includes a finishing order indicator disposed proximate the second end when the raceway is in the racing configuration.

11. The toy raceway of claim 10, wherein the finishing order indicator is detachable and configured to be securely carried by the wheeled cart when the raceway is in the transport configuration.

12. A toy raceway comprising:

a plurality of track segments configured to assemble into a ramped raceway having a primary support stand including two wheels and a plurality of latches;

wherein the primary support stand is configured to function as a wheeled cart for securely carrying the track segments when the track segments are disassembled;

wherein the primary support stand is pivotably connected to one of the track segments; and

the one of the track segments includes a plurality of lanes; and

wherein the plurality of track segments include a first track segment with latches configured to brace the raceway in a racing configuration having the plurality of track segments connected end-to-end forming a ramped, multilane raceway with the primary support stand elevating a first end of the raceway and to retain other track segments in the transport configuration; and

wherein the same latches are also configured to retain the plurality of track segments in a transport configuration having the primary support stand configured as a wheeled cart for carrying the plurality of track segments.

13. The toy raceway of claim 12, wherein the primary support stand further includes a storage compartment sized to allow storage of at least one toy vehicle.

14. The toy raceway of claim 12, wherein the track segments assemble end to end in a friction fit connection.

15. The toy raceway of claim 12, wherein:

the primary support stand includes two side members each having a first end and a second end;

a storage compartment is disposed between the two side members near the first ends of the side members;

the two wheels are attached to the two side members near the first ends of the side members; and

and side edges of one of the track segments are each pivotably attached between the two side members at the second ends.

16. The toy raceway of claim 12, wherein each track segment includes a plurality of lanes.

17. The toy raceway of claim 16, further including a detachable finish order indicator.

18. The toy raceway of claim 17, wherein the finish order indicator includes a toy vehicle-activated switch associated with each lane and an electronic circuit configured to determine and display a lane number associated with a winning toy vehicle.

19. The toy raceway of claim 18, wherein the finish order indicator further includes an electronic circuit operatively connected to a speaker and configured to provide an audible signal.

20. A toy raceway comprising:

a plurality of connectable track segments each including a plurality of lanes;

a wheeled primary support bracket pivotably connected to a first track segment;

a secondary support bracket pivotably connected to a second track segment;

wherein the track segments and primary support bracket are capable of being configured in a racing configuration and a transport configuration;

the racing configuration having the track segments connected end-to-end forming a ramped, multilane raceway with the primary support bracket elevating a first end of the raceway; and

the transport configuration having the primary support bracket configured as a wheeled cart for carrying the track segments; and

wherein the secondary support bracket forms a handle when the raceway is in the transport configuration with the track segments folded into a compact stack.

21. The toy raceway of claim 20, wherein one of the track segments includes two pivotably connected subsegments.

22. The toy raceway of claim 21, wherein the pivotably connected subsegments are connected by a breakaway hinge.

23. The toy raceway of claim 20, wherein the primary support bracket includes a support structure having two wheels disposed such that a surface of the support structure contacts a supporting surface when the raceway is in the racing configuration.

24. The toy raceway of claim 20, wherein the primary support bracket includes a storage compartment.

25. The toy raceway of claim 20, wherein the raceway has a second end, and a track segment at the second end includes male connectors configured to allow connection of one or more additional track portions.