Background to the Invention The present invention relates to recreational toys and in particular toys of the kind which include a track and a vehicle which is movable along the track.

Toys of the kind which consist of a track and a vehicle which is designed to be pushed along the track are well known. However, a child's interest can only be held for so long by such a toy, with the scope for play limited to pushing the vehicle backwards and forwards along the track. It is an object of the present invention to provide a more interesting toy of this kind and improved recreational toys in general.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recreational toy comprising: a track having an undulating cam surface; and a vehicle which is movable along the track and includes a body part and a reciprocating part having a cam follower adapted to engage the cam surface; in which, when the vehicle is moved along the track, the cam acts on the cam follower to cause reciprocating movement of the reciprocating part of the vehicle.

For added interest, the reciprocating part may include a representation of an occupant of the vehicle and/or may be removable from the body part of the vehicle.

For ease of manufacture, it is preferred that the reciprocating movement be substantially vertical. Thus, the undulating cam surface may comprise a hump, preferably a number of humps distributed along the track.

The toy may comprise a girdle, with the reciprocating part being an insert encircled by and movable relative to the

girdle between first and second limiting positions. The girdle and the insert may together be removable from the body part of the vehicle.

Again, for ease of manufacture, it is preferred that the body part of the vehicle includes a hole adapted to receive and retain the girdle such that the insert extends through the hole and forms the cam follower on its lower end.

Preferably, the extent of the reciprocating movement of the insert is substantially equal to the distance between its limiting positions.

For added interest, the insert may include first and second areas of different decoration which are concealed by the girdle when the insert is in its first and second limiting positions respectively.

Preferably, the track is sectional. The track may include one or more terminal ramps. The sections of the track may include lug and recess ties.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a recreational toy comprising: a girdle; and a reciprocating insert encircled by and movable relative to the girdle between first and second limiting positions; in which the insert includes first and second areas of different decoration which are concealed by the girdle when the insert is in its first and second limiting positions respectively.

Preferably, the first and second areas of different decoration include representations of faces. For example, the first and second areas of different decoration may include representations of faces with the eyes visible in the first area but not the second. In the second area, the

representation may be of a face with the eyes covered, for example covered by the arms.

In one embodiment of the invention, the girdle and insert are substantially cylindrical.

The toy may further comprise a plurality of building blocks, at least one of which includes a recess adapted to receive the girdle and/or insert. Preferably, another of the building blocks is adapted to be placed over the said one building block to cover the girdle and insert.

The said other building block may include a door through which the girdle and/or insert may be viewed or it may be transparent.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the girdle and insert are substantially flat and rectangular. The toy may further comprise a plurality of building blocks with the girdle being adapted to engage opposite corners of one of the building blocks.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a section of track;

FIG. 2 is a ramp;

FIG. 3 is a car; FIG. 4 is the toy occupant of the car;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the track, car and occupant;

FIG. 6 is a rectangular toy similar to that of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view of a building block tower.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The section of track shown in FIG. 1 is a mid section 10 and consists of two wheel-channels 12 between which is an undulating cam 14. The upper surface of the cam 14 is a

coma surface 16. To either side of the track section 10, next to the wheel-channels 12, are flanges 18, designed to prevent derailment of the vehicle. On the end of the channel shown is a lug 20 and recess 22 and the same applies to the other end (not shown). In this way, various track sections 10 can be joined together end to end like jigsaw pieces.

FIG. 2 shows a ramp 24, also provided with a lug 20 and recess 22. The ramp has an enlarged mouth and a tapered portion 26, designed to make it easier to progress a vehicle onto the track sections 10.

FIG. 3 shows a car 28 adapted for use with the track sections 10 and ramp 24 of FIGs. 1 and 2. Briefly, the car consists of a body part 30 with four wheels 32 and a hole 34 in the top. A skirt region 36 of the body part 30 runs along both sides of the car 28, but is absent at the front and back, forming a channel 38 passing right through the car. The hole 34 in the top of the car includes a circumferential shelf 40 part-way down, but is otherwise open to the interior or base of the car 28.

FIG. 4 shows a toy occupant 42 for the car. The toy occupant 42 consists of a girdle 44 of white plastics, inside which is a reciprocating insert 46 in the shape of a cylindrical lozenge. The insert can move between two limiting positions, the first of which is shown and in the second of which the insert 46 projects from below the girdle 44. When the insert 46 is in the first position, the upper region of the insert 46 is exposed, upon which is applied a stylized representation of a mouse. When the insert 46 is in the second position, the lower region of the insert 46 is exposed, upon which is applied a similar stylized representation of a mouse, but with its hands

(paws) covering its face.

The various components fit together as shown in FIG. 5. As can be seen, the girdle 44 rests upon the shelf 40, leaving

the insert 46 to hang below the level of the hole 34. FIG. 5 shows that the movement of the insert 46 relative to the girdle 44 is limited by a band 48 which engages an in- turned bead 50 on the girdle 44. The bottom of the insert 46 is a cam following surface 52, which can be seen resting on the cam surface 16 of the track section 10. Movement of the car 28 along the track section 10 causes the insert 46 to rise and fall within the girdle 44 and hole 34, thus alternately exposing and hiding the mouse's face.

FIG. 6 shows a toy of the type shown in FIG. 4, but not designed to fit into the vehicle of FIG. 3. In this case, both the girdle 54 and the insert 56 are flat and rectangular. The insert 56 includes a representation of a teddy bear on its upper portion, as shown. The lower portion of the insert 56 includes a similar representation in which the teddy bear's face is covered by its hands and the lollipop. The two edges of the girdle 54 are angled and extend upwards and downwards to form corner projections 58, the purpose of which will be described below.

FIG. 7 shows a building block 60 surmounted by the toy of FIG. 6. The building block 60 is of the kind having a single boss 62 on its upper surface which is designed to fit into the bottom of a corresponding block to allow them to be placed securely on top of one another. As can be seen, the corner projections 58 on the toy of FIG. 6 are designed to fit over the corners of the boss 62; the boss itself supports the lower edge of the insert 56 so that the insert 56 is raised into the position shown in FIG. 7.

The boss 62 includes a circular recess 64 of a size which can comfortably accommodate the toy of FIG. 4. Thus, the block 60 of FIG. 7 can be surmounted by the toy of FIG. 4 rather than that of FIG. 6. In this case, a further block can be placed on top and that block may include a window 66 as shown, through which the toy can be viewed. Alternatively, the block 60 may be provided with a hinged

door or may be made from transparent material, such as a transparent plastics material.

It will be understood that the toy set illustrated in the figures may include any number of additional pieces, such as larger or smaller blocks, blocks in the shape of houses with pitched roofs and additional pieces which can be inserted into the recesses in the bosses, e.g. in the shape of trees.