Toy vehicle launcher and toy track for use therewith
First Claim
1. A toy vehicle launcher, comprising:
- a housing including a release assembly;
a ramp section coupled to the housing, the ramp section defining a slot therein;
a slidable carriage that is movable along the slot between a loaded position and a launched position, the slidable carriage being retained in its loaded position and biased toward its launched position by a biasing member, the slidable carriage being engageable with the release assembly, wherein the slidable carriage includes an arm movably coupled thereto, the arm being engageable with a toy vehicle positioned on the launcher; and
a pull cord engageable with the housing, the pull cord being engageable with the release assembly and a toy vehicle coupled to the slidable carriage, the slidable carriage being released from its loaded position when the pull cord is retracted from the release assembly and traveling along the slot in the ramp section.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a launcher for a toy vehicle having a biased carriage that holds a toy vehicle as a drive wheel on the toy vehicle is being energized, and that propels the energized toy vehicle forward and onto a toy racetrack when the biased carriage is released. A launcher housing includes a carriage capture and release assembly that remains in an armed, ready position until a toy vehicle is positioned on the carriage, a pull cord is inserted through the launcher housing and into engagement with the drive wheel on the toy vehicle, and the pull cord is thereafter withdrawn from the toy vehicle and the housing. After the pull cord is fully withdrawn, the carriage capture and release assembly releases the carriage, allowing a biasing member to propel the carriage forward so as to launch the energized toy vehicle. The launcher may be combined with a toy racetrack having various stunt features through which a toy vehicle may travel after its launch.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A toy vehicle launcher, comprising:
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a housing including a release assembly; a ramp section coupled to the housing, the ramp section defining a slot therein; a slidable carriage that is movable along the slot between a loaded position and a launched position, the slidable carriage being retained in its loaded position and biased toward its launched position by a biasing member, the slidable carriage being engageable with the release assembly, wherein the slidable carriage includes an arm movably coupled thereto, the arm being engageable with a toy vehicle positioned on the launcher; and a pull cord engageable with the housing, the pull cord being engageable with the release assembly and a toy vehicle coupled to the slidable carriage, the slidable carriage being released from its loaded position when the pull cord is retracted from the release assembly and traveling along the slot in the ramp section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A toy vehicle and launcher assembly, comprising:
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a toy vehicle having a wheel and an axle coupled to the wheel, the axle having a set of teeth; and a launcher, comprising; a housing; a ramp section coupled to the housing; a carriage coupled to the ramp section and movable relative to the housing, the toy vehicle being engageable with the carriage, the carriage being positionable in a launching position and in a loaded position, wherein the carriage includes an arm movably coupled thereto, the arm being engageable with the toy vehicle engaged with the carriage; and a pull cord engageable with the housing, the carriage, and the toy vehicle, wherein removal of the pull cord from the housing, the carriage, and the toy vehicle results in the carriage moving along the ramp section and the toy vehicle disengaging from the carriage. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A toy vehicle launcher, comprising:
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a housing including a release assembly; a ramp section coupled to the housing, the ramp section defining a slot therein; a slidable carriage that is movable along the slot between a loaded position and a launched position, the slidable carriage being retained in its loaded position and biased toward its launched position by a biasing member, the slidable carriage being engageable with the release assembly, wherein the carriage includes a pair of arms that move between outer positions and inward positions relative to the carriage as the carriage moves along the ramp section; and a pull cord engageable with the housing, the pull cord being engageable with the release assembly and a toy vehicle coupled to the slidable carriage, the slidable carriage being released from its loaded position when the pull cord is retracted from the release assembly and traveling along the slot in the ramp section. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification