FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to stackable toys for young children.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION US Patent No. 4,226,045 discloses a stackable toy comprising a doll having a centrally disposed, vertically movable pin recessed within the doll when in retracted position and extending upwardly from the doll when in projected position, a socket being formed within the doll below the pin. The projected pin of one such doll is adapted to engage the socket of a second such doll to assemble the two dolls in stacked positions. Each doll is also provided with angularly disposed pin-shaped limbs, e.g. arms, and these limbs are equally engageable with a doll socket. A plurality of such dolls may be stacked by means of their respective centrally disposed pins as well as by means of their respective pin-shaped limbs.

Such a toy teaches the principles of projecting and retracting parts, pin-and- socket constructions, joints or connections, and building and balancing techniques. Although US Patent No. 4,226,045 is directed primarily to a stackable doll, it is stated that similar principles may be applied to other forms of stackable toys. For example, the dolls may be stacked on vehicles equipped with projecting pins. Also, instead of stacking one doll upon another it is possible to stack various articles of clothing and accessories upon a doll, each such article of clothing or accessory being provided with a socket adapted to receive one of the pin formations on the doll. All kinds of stackable doll and toy combinations may be provided within the principles and claims of the present invention provided that in each case stacking results from engaging a pin with a socket.

It is thus apparent that US Patent No. 4,226,045 relates only to stackable dolls or accessories for use therewith. Likewise, it makes reference to several earlier publications all relating in one form or another to stackable dolls. The present invention relates to a different need altogether, which is not so much educational as the need to conserve store space where bulky items, particularly, toys are sold. It is well known that supermarkets and large toy departments stack goods near the point of sale so as to attract the interest of shoppers waiting in line to checkout. Such items are often more expensive since there is a higher chance that an ornery child will persuade his or mother to buy it. However, space at the point of sale is inevitably at a premium and this tends to militate against the display of bulky items.

Toy vehicles a seat portion attached to a wheel base are inherently unstackable and, even in large department toy stores, are sold and displayed in units, since they occupy significant floor space. This limitation affects not only the toy itself but its manner of sale and consequently its price. Put simply, when items are displayed and sold in units they are generally not intended for bulk purchase and this is reflected in their price. On the other hand, items that are sold and displayed in bulk can be sold are less expensive. Since they are less expensive, they are more likely to be purchased, this being particularly true where spot purchases are made, i.e. where the purchaser did not go into the store to buy the specific item in question.

However, even apart from the marketing consideration, the ability to stack bulky items saves floor space that can be dedicated to other more effective and profitable uses.

There is thus significant value in making toys stackable so that large items can be sold in bulk rather than in single units.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a particular object of the invention to provide a stackable toy vehicle.

In accordance with a broad aspect of the invention there is provided a stackable toy vehicle, comprising:

a substantially hollow shell having an outer surface and a rim opposite the outer surface,

an upper portion of said outer surface serving as a seat portion, and

a lower rim of the shell including wheel supports for supporting wheels or casters;

said shell being shaped so as to allow multiple vehicles to be stacked one on top of another. In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for displaying toy vehicles for bulk sale, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of stackable toy vehicles; and

stacking said multiple toy vehicles one top of another in a sales store within easy access of customers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a pictorial representation showing a stackable toy vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a pictorial representation showing a plurality of stacked toy vehicles according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 shows a stackable toy vehicle 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprising a substantially hollow shell 11 having an outer surface 12. An upper portion of the outer surface 12 serves as a seat portion 13, and a lower rim 14 of the shell opposite the outer surface includes wheel supports 15 for supporting wheels or casters 16. The shell 11 is shaped so as to allow multiple vehicles to be stacked one on top of another. In some embodiments the seat portion 13 is saddle shaped having at least one end support surface 17, which may include an integral handle 18. Typically, the end support surface 17 toward the front of the vehicle and the handle 18 serves as a handle bar. The shell 11 may include proximate the wheel supports 15 recesses 19 shaped for accommodating the wheels of a similar toy vehicle stacked thereon. In use opposing recesses 19 may serve to accommodate opposite feet of a child when sitting on the vehicle. Typically, the stackable toy vehicle 10 is formed of molded plastics for example by injection molding.

Fig. 2 shows how a plurality of stacked toy vehicles may be displayed for bulk sale in a store so that multiple toy vehicles are stacked one top of another within easy access of customers. If desired, the toy vehicles may be stacked near a point of sale so as to entice customers waiting to checkout. In order to further increase the appeal and at the same time provide marketing and promotional information, the toy vehicles may be stacked within a partially cutaway display carton 20 having a rear panel 21, a front panel 22 of reduced height than the rear panel and opposing side panels 23. Promotional material is provided on respective forward facing surfaces 25 of at least one of the front and rear panels.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 two stacks of vehicles are stored side by side in a single carton and the front panel 22 is provided with a pair of vertical slots each aligned with a respective stack to allow easy removal of the uppermost vehicle from one of the stacks. The toy vehicles are light in weight and easily removed by a customer and placed in a shopping trolley with other goods en route to the checkout counter. The cartons 20 are dimensioned for easy mounting at an end of an aisle, for example on a wheeled platform 26.

It will be appreciated that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, while the toy vehicle is preferably sold as a complete unit, the wheels may be sold separately and push mounted into the wheel supports, which are typically hollow bores formed within the molded shell and having an internal rim for engaging a peripheral protrusion on the wheel support. In such case, the wheels could be packaged in a separate box or plastic wrapping and displayed alongside the stacked vehicles. If the wheels are sold separately, the recesses are no longer essential.