TOY VEHICLE CARRIER HAVING SERVICE ENVIRONMENT

SPECIFICATION

Cross-Reference to Related Application

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority under 35 USC

119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 60/734,510 entitled Toy Vehicle Carrier Having Service Environment filed November 7, 2005 in the name of Keith Hippely and William Mattson the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to toy vehicles and particularly to toy vehicle carrier apparatus suitable for receiving and supporting toy vehicles.

Background of the Invention

[0003] Toy vehicles have proven to be an extremely popular and long lasting category of toy products. In responding to this popularity, practitioners in the art have provided a vast array of toy vehicles. In addition, attempts by practitioners to further enhance the appeal and commercial success of their toy vehicle products have resulted in creation of a virtually endless variety of improvements and accessories for toy vehicles. Thus, toy vehicles have been provided which are free wheeling and unpowered as well as powered toy vehicles having windup or battery powered drive apparatus. Accessories intended for use with toy vehicles have enjoyed a similar dramatic increase in popularity and proliferation. The overall objective in such product development in innovation

has been and remains the support of commercial success of the toy vehicle products.

[0004] With this extended and energetic activity being expanded by practitioners in the toy arts, a substantial array of toy vehicle inventions have been created. For example, US Patent 4,516,948 issued to Obara sets forth a RECONFIGURABLE TOY ASSEMBLY having a tractor and trailer unit separably connected to each other. The tractor unit when separated from the trailer unit is reversibly reconfigurable into a robotic humanoid form while the trailer unit is reversibly reconfigurable into a play space for the robotic humanoid. The trailer unit is generally rectangular and is separably into two half portions along a center line seam.

[0005] US Patent 4,599,078 issued to Obara sets forth a

TRANSFORMABLE TOY ASSEMBLY having a trailer and tractor combination which are separable from each other. Each unit in the combination is reconfigurable or transformable into an alternate toy configuration.

[0006] US Patent 4,708,683 issued to Lehmann et al. sets forth a TOY CAR

CARRIER having a tractor and trailer pivotally coupled together. The trailer is configured to provide a toy vehicle carrier while the tractor is configured to resemble an over the road truck tractor. The carrier provides space for receiving and supporting a plurality of toy vehicle and includes a pair of pivoting side handles which are moveable to raised positions. In the raised positions, the handles provide carrying handles for the combined unit.

[0007] US Patent 4,433,504 issued to Terui sets forth a CONTAINER AND START APPARATUS FOR TOY CARS having a combination storage container which is reconfigurable to an open configuration. In its open configuration, the carrier or container exposes a toy vehicle launching apparatus.

[0008] US Patents 4,472,906 issued to Cook et al.; 4,690,654 issued to

DeLaney and 4,464,860 issued to Onodera set forth toy vehicle launching apparatus.

[0009] US Patent 4,382,347 issued to Murakami sets forth a TOY

TRACTOR ASSEMBLY while US Patent 4,194,318 issued to Watanabe sets forth a TOY AMBULANCE UNIT both of which utilize toy vehicles having body portions which open to expose interior toy components.

[0010] US Patent 4,767,375 issued to Fassman; 4,701,150 issued to

Alvarez; 6,223,757 issued to Horvath et al; 4,582,500 issued to Hanson et al.; and 5,397,260 issued to Tilbor et al. set forth various toy vehicle playsets which replicates toy auto service apparatus.

[0011] US Patent 6,572,436 issued to So sets forth a TOY STATION having a modular unit which is transformable between a closed generally rectangular configuration and an open configuration which reveals an internal toy vehicle service station. The folding half portions of the enclosure provide a support table for the station in the open configuration.

[0012] British patent 2159721 issued to Takara sets forth a

TRANSFORMABLE TOY VEHICLE which comprises a plurality of body members connected to each other by hinge connections. The toy is configurable between the shape of a vehicle such as a bus or the like and is transformable into a second configuration which defines a play house.

[0013] US Patents 4,087,935 issued to Edmisson et al.; 3,797,164 issued to

Glass et al.; and 3,735,525 issued to Freed set forth toy vehicle garage enclosures which provide a secondary function such as toy vehicle launching.

[0014] US Patent 4, 185,409 issued to Cheng sets forth a TEETER- TOTTER TRACK SECTION FOR TOY VEHICLES while US Patent 6,015,330

issued to Simmons et al. sets forth a HOPPING MODEL CAR both of which facilitate tipping action of a toy vehicle.

[0015] US Patent 6,805,609 issued to Paukert et al. which sets forth a

SPRING POWERED CAR WITH LOCKOUT MECHANSIMS and British patent 2068751 issued to Colnaghi which sets forth a TOY VEHICLE show toy vehicles having a general reverence to the present invention.

[0016] US Patent 6,686,911 issued to Levin et al.; US Patent 6,149,494 issued to Yang; US Patent 6,090,021 issued to Flowers et al.; US Patent 5,836,802 issued to Harnett; US Patent 5,984,755 issued to Aveyr; US Patent 5,807,210 issued to Devlin; US Patent 5,547,425 issued to Krhs et al.; US Patent 4,696,652 issued to Reeder et al.; US Patent 1,285,515 issued to White; US Patent 3,672,092 issued to Tepper et al.; and US Patent Des.152,185 issued to Barr set forth various apparatus from alternate technology areas generally related to the present invention.

[0017] Finally, US Patent 4,734,076 issued to Goldstein et al. sets forth a

TOY VEHICLE PLAY SETTING simulating a crash test and repair station for use with toy vehicles having body components rotatable upon impact to simulate damage from a collision. The setting includes a supporting surface member having a garage-like structure thereon and a body repair mechanism therein.

[0018] While the foregoing described prior art devices have to some extend improved the art and have in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the toy art for ever more improved, interesting and amusing toy vehicle playsets and accessory apparatus.

Summary of the Invention

[0019] Accordingly, it is a generally object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle playset. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle playset which facilitates play in two distinct modes of toy vehicle use. It is a still more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle playset having a toy vehicle carrier which is reconfigurable into a play environment.

[0020] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a toy vehicle carrier configured to resemble an over the road tractor and trailer or so- called "semi-truck". Thus, the present invention toy vehicle carrier includes a tractor or truck portion coupled to an elongated generally rectangular cross section trailer. The truck and the trailer are generally configured on their exterior to greatly resemble an over the road or long distance moving truck. In addition, the present invention utilizes a trailer which is formed of two half portion joined along a vertical seam which extends from the forward face of the trailer across the center of the trailer top and facilitates the separation of the two half portions of the trailer from each other to result in a spread or open configuration. In the open configuration, the trailer forms three basic sections having a trailer bed or center portion and a pair of half portions hinged on each side of the bed portion. Various accessories are provided for cooperative use with a toy vehicle to simulate a number of realistic service functions. Additionally, apparatus are provided for supporting a plurality of fanciful or humorous vehicle service functions. The result is a combination toy vehicle which yields conventional play in the closed position of the trailer together with amusing and unusual play when the trailer is opened to the spread configuration and the various accessories both realistic and fanciful are made available.

[0021] The present invention also provides a toy vehicle carrier comprising: a toy vehicle tractor having a first plurality of supporting wheels; a trailer joined

to the toy vehicle tractor having a trailer bed defining side edges and a rear portion and first and second trailer halves each pivotally attached to one of the side edges, the trailer halves are being generally mirror imaged and defining mating edges; latch means for securing the trailer halves together along mating edges; and a plurality of toy vehicle play elements supported within the trailer halves, the trailer halves being pivotable between a closed configuration to form an enclosed trailer and an open configuration to form a play environment in which the toy vehicle play elements are exposed.

[0022] From an additional perspective, the present invention provides a toy vehicle carrier comprising: a toy vehicle tractor having a first plurality of supporting wheels; a trailer joined to the toy vehicle tractor having a trailer bed defining side edges and a rear portion and first and second trailer halves each pivotally attached to one of the side edges, the trailer halves are being generally mirror imaged and defining mating edges; latch means for securing the trailer halves together along mating edges; and a plurality of toy vehicle play elements supported within the trailer halves, the trailer halves being pivotable between a closed configuration to form an enclosed trailer and an open configuration to form a play environment in which the toy vehicle play elements are exposed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which:

[0024] Figure 1 sets forth a left side perspective view of the present invention toy vehicle carrier in its closed configuration;

[0025] Figure 2 sets forth a right side perspective view of the present invention toy vehicle carrier in its closed configuration;

[0026] Figure 3 sets forth a right side perspective view of the present invention toy vehicle carrier having the trailer portion thereof in its open or spread configuration;

[0027] Figure 4 sets forth a left side rear perspective of the present invention toy vehicle carrier having the trailer portion thereof in its open or spread configuration;

[0028] Figure 5 sets forth a top plan view of the present invention toy vehicle carrier having the trailer portion thereof in its open or spread configuration;

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

[0029] By way of overview, the present invention toy vehicle carrier provides a generally conventional appearing semi-tractor and trailer combination of the type generally used in long distance or over the road hauling. The tractor portion is generally conventional in its appearance while the trailer provides a generally conventional appearance in its closed configuration. In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention however, the trailer portion is formed of mirror image half portions which are hinged along their lower edges to opposite sides of a center trailer bed. As a result, the trailer may be configured in a spread open configuration in which the interior exposed by the open trailer is available as a play environment. A plurality of vehicle accessories are situated within the play environment formed by the trailer half portions and center trailer bed.

[0030] More specifically, Figure 1 sets forth a left side perspective view of a toy vehicle carrier constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral 10. Toy vehicle carrier 10 includes a tractor 11 having a body 20 and a plurality of supporting wheels such as front wheel 21 and rear wheels 22 and 23. Toy vehicle carrier 10 further includes a trailer 12 formed of a left half 30 and a right half 31 joined at their upper edges along a seam 32. Left half 30 and right half 31 are secured in the closed position shown in Figure 1 by the cooperation of latches 33 and 34. Trailer 12 is supported by a plurality of rear wheels such as rear wheels 36 and 37.

[0031] In the closed configuration shown in Figure 1, toy vehicle carrier 10 generally resembles an over the road or long haul tractor trailer combination often referred to as a "semi" tractor trailer rig. In the accordance with the operation of the present invention toy vehicle carrier set forth below in greater detail, left half 30 of trailer 12 is pivotally supported at a hinge 35 upon a trailer bed 38 while right half 31 is pivotally supported upon bed 38 by a hinge 43. Trailer bed 38 supports rear wheels 36 and 37 and, as is better seen below in Figure 3, occupies the center portion of trailer 12 in its open configuration shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. Suffice it to note here that in the closed configuration shown in Figure 1, latches 33 and 34 secure left half 30 to right half 31 to maintain the closed position of trailer 12.

[0032] Figure 2 sets forth a right side perspective view of toy vehicle carrier 10 having trailer 12 in the closed configuration of Figure 1. Thus, toy vehicle carrier 10 includes a tractor 11 having a body 20 which is supported by a plurality of wheels such as front wheels 24 and rear wheels 25 and 26. Toy vehicle 10 further includes a trailer 12 formed of a left half 30 and a right half 31 both of which are pivotally secured to a center trailer bed 38. Trailer bed 38 is supported by a plurality of wheels such as rear wheels 41 and 42. Right half 31 of trailer 12 is pivotally secured to trailer bed 30 by a hinge 43 while right half 31 is secured by a hinge 35. Left half 30 and right half 31 meet to form a seam 32. Left half 30 and right half 31 are maintained in the closed configuration shown in

Figures 1 and 2 by the cooperation of latches 33 and 34 which are conventional in fabrication.

[0033] Thus, in the closed configuration shown in Figures 1 and 2, toy vehicle carrier 10 facilitates the typical variety of play patterns in which the child user is able to roll tractor 11 and trailer 12 about a convenient surface such as floor or tabletop or the like. In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the inventive features of trailer 12 do not interfere with these conventional play patterns.

[0034] Figure 3 sets forth a right side perspective view of toy vehicle carrier 10 having trailer 12 in its spread or open configuration. The open configuration of trailer 12 is obtained by separating latches 33 and 34 (seen in Figure 2). It will be noted that latch 33 is formed of a latch tongue 50 supported on left half 30 which cooperates with a latch receptacle 51 formed on right half 31. Similarly, latch 34 is formed by the cooperation of latch tongue 52 formed on left half 30 with latch receptacle 53 formed on right half 31. Tongues 50 and 52 are received within receptacles 51 and 53 in a snap fit attachment to maintain latches 33 and 34 in the closed configurations shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0035] More specifically, toy vehicle carrier 10 includes a tractor 11 having a body 20 and a trailer 12 formed by a center trailer bed 38 having a left half 30 and a right half 31 secured to bed 38 by pivotal attachments . Trailer bed 38 further supports a pivotal ramp 60 secured to the rear end of trailer bed 38 by a hinge 61. Trailer bed 38 further supports a moveable platform 69 which is moveable with respect of remainder of bed 38 by manipulation of a control pad 68 also supported on bed 38. Bed 38 further includes a pair of moveable wheel receptacles 66 and 67.

[0036] Left half 30 of trailer 12 includes a car wash area 80 having a simulated wash roller 84 and a simulated car wash station 81. Left half 30 further

includes a bathtub 82 and a cleaning brush 83 together with a mirror 85. As mentioned above, left half 30 is joined to trailer bed 38 by a hinge 35.

[0037] Right half 31 is pivotally joined to trailer bed 38 by a hinge 43 and includes a lift 70 includes a ramp 72 which is controlled by a movement of a lift lever 71. Right half 31 further includes a kitchen area 75 having a simulated refrigerator 76 and various simulated kitchen articles simulated therein.

[0038] Trailer bed 38 is supported by a plurality of rear wheels such as rear wheels 41 and 42. Similarly, tractor 11 is supported by a plurality of rear wheels such as rear wheels 25 and 26 as well as front wheels such as front wheel 24. Trailer bed 38 is pivotally attached to tractor platform 69 is controlled by manipulation of pad 68 by the user. Thus, in the event the user presses pad 68 downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow 64, platform 69 is moved vertically in the directions indicated by arrows 90 and 91. Similarly, in the event pad 68 is pivoted in the directions indicated by arrows 65 and 66, pad 69 is correspondingly pivoted in the directions indicated by arrows 92. Additionally, a toy vehicle (not shown) may be placed upon platform 69 and moved along with platform 69 by manipulation of pad 68. Further, a toy vehicle (not shown) may be positioned so as to have its front wheels resting within wheel receptacles 66 and 67 thereby providing a different posture for the toy vehicle. With ramp 60 fully lowered, a toy vehicle may be driven up upon ramp 60 onto the upper surface of trailer bed 38 and onto platform 69 and so on. Similarly, a toy vehicle may be driven onto left half 30 and positioned within car wash area 80 for simulated car wash play. Finally, a toy vehicle may be driven upwardly upon right half 31 and positioned upon ramp 72 of lift 70 afterwhich moving lever 71 allows the user to lift the vehicle thereby simulating servicing activities.

[0039] Figure 4 sets forth a left side perspective view of toy vehicle carrier

10 in which trailer 12 is shown in its spread or open configuration. As mentioned above, this open configuration is obtained by separating latches 33 and 34 (seen in Figure 1) and thereafter pivoting left 30 and right half 31 of trailer 12

outwardly and downwardly with respect to trailer bed 38. This movement will spread the trailer segments to their open configuration.

[0040] More specifically, toy vehicle carrier 10 includes a tractor 11 having a body 20 and a trailer 12. Trailer 12 includes a center trailer bed 38 having a left half 30 and a right half 31 secured to opposed sides of bed 38 in pivotal attachments. Trailer bed 38 further supports a pivotal ramp 60 secured to the rear of trailer bed 38 by a hinge 61. Trailer bed 38 also further supports a moveable platform 69 which is moveable with respect of remainder of bed 38 and which is moved by manipulation of a control pad 68. Finally, bed 38 further includes a pair of moveable wheel receptacles 66 and 67.

[0041] As mentioned above, left half 30 of trailer 12 includes a car wash area 80 having a roller 84 and a simulated car wash 81. Left half 30 further includes a bathtub 82 and a cleaning brush 83 together with a mirror 85. Left half 30 is joined to trailer bed 38 by a hinge 35 to allow left half 30 to move between the open configuration shown in Figure 4 and the closed configuration of Figure 1.

[0042] Similarly, right half 31 is pivotally joined to trailer bed 38 by a hinge 43 and includes a lift 70 which in turn includes a ramp 72. Lift 70 is controlled by a movement of a lift lever 71. Right half 31 further includes a kitchen area 75 having a simulated refrigerator 76 and various kitchen articles simulated therein.

[0043] As mentioned above, trailer bed 38 is supported by a plurality of rear wheels such as rear wheels 36 and 37. Similarly, tractor 11 is supported by a plurality of rear wheels such as rear wheels 22 and 23 as well as front wheels such as front wheel 21. In the configuration shown in Figure 4, ramp 60 is fully lowered by being pivoted downwardly about hinge 61. This facilitates rolling a toy vehicle upwardly upon ramp 60 and onto the upper surface of trailer bed 38. Ultimately, the toy vehicle may be rolled onto platform 69. As mentioned above,

trailer 12 may be returned to its closed configuration as shown in Figures 1 and 2 by simply pivoting left half 30 and right half 31 upwardly about hinges 35 and 43 respectively until latch tongues 50 and 52 are received and snap fitted within latch receptacles 51 and 53. Thereafter, toy vehicle carrier 10 is maintained in the closed configuration shown in Figures 1 and 2 and may be used in conventional play activities such as rolling about the floor or the like.

[0044] Figure 5 sets forth a top plan view of toy vehicle carrier 10 in the open configuration shown in Figures 3 and 4. As mentioned above, this open configuration is obtained by separating latches 33 and 34 (seen in Figure 1) and thereafter pivoting the respective half portions of trailer 12 downwardly about their hinge attachments to trailer bed 38 producing a flattened or spread configuration.

[0045] More specifically, toy vehicle carrier 10 includes a tractor 11 having a body 20 and a trailer 12 formed by a center trailer bed 38 having a left half 30 and a right half 31 secured thereto by pivotal hinge attachments. Trailer bed 38 further supports a ramp 60 pivotally secured to the rear end of trailer bed 38 by a hinge 61. Trailer bed 38 further supports a platform 69 which is moveable with respect of remainder of bed 38 and which is moved by manipulation of a control pad 68 also supported upon trailer bed 38. Bed 38 of trailer 12 further includes a pair of moveable wheel receptacles 66 and 67.

[0046] Left half 30 of trailer 12 includes a car wash area 80 having a roller

84 and a simulated car wash 81. Left half 30 further includes a bathtub 82 and a cleaning brush 83 together with a mirror 85. As mentioned above, left half 30 is joined to trailer bed 38 by a hinge 35.

[0047] Similarly, right half 31 is pivotally joined to trailer bed 38 by a hinge 43 and includes a lift 70 which includes a ramp 72. Lift 70 is controlled by a movement of a lift lever 71. Right half 31 further defines a kitchen area 75 having a simulated refrigerator 76 and various kitchen articles simulated therein.

[0048] Trailer bed 38 is supported by a plurality or rear wheels 36, 37, 41 and 42. Similarly, tractor 11 is supported by a plurality of rear wheels such as rear wheels 22 and 25. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art by examination the top plan view shown in Figure 5 that left half 30 and right half 31 of trailer 12 are substantially symmetrical mirror-images of each other and thus when halves 30 and 31 are pivoted upwardly about hinges 35 and 43 respectively, the halves meet along their respective common edges to form a tight seam line (seam 32 shown in Figure 2).

[0049] What has been shown is a novel toy vehicle carrier which in its closed configuration facilitates conventional play patterns which may alternatively transformed to its open configuration by pivoting the halves of the trailer apart when separated and pivoted downwardly about a center trailer bed, a fanciful and interesting play environment for toy vehicles is provided. A variety of fanciful and amusing activities may be utilized within the service environment to enhance the play value of the toy vehicle carrier.

[0050] While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.