Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ocket. 13142.
MULTIPLE TOY V~HICLE JUMPSET
SPECIFICATION
Field of the Invention
Thi~ lnvention relates s~enerally to toy vehicle playsets and
particularly to those in which a vehicle i~ launched and performs
a ~umping activity. ~,
Ba~ karound of the_Inventiosl
Through the years, a great vari~ty o~ toy vehiclel3 playsets
ln many different forms have been provided to give amusement,
entertalllme~r~.t and d~valopmental ~Iclll~ to children o~ a broad
variety of age~. One 02~ the most int~restin~ and amu~lng type~
of toy vehicle playset3 arQ those which ar~ ofte~ generall~..
referred to a~ npset~. Suo~ playset~3 ac~uire thelr rlame2 Prom
the play feature in which a toy vehicl~ i~ launched or otherwi~e
caused to fly through the air for a brief period of time.
While the ~truc~ure3 used in providing ~uoh jumpse~ have
been many arld varied, all ~enerally lnclude an olon~ated track
2 ~ ~ 3 7 ~ j ~
usually having confining edges on either side together wlth a toy
vehicle launching mechan~3m. In addition, means are provided
which intr~duce a ramp or other track portion or configuration
capable of.perform~ng the ~ump feature. In thel~ normal t~tended
~lay, such ~umpsets are utllized by loadlng the toy vehicle into
the launcher and launchlng thQ toy vehlcle down the track toward
the ramp or similar structure. The velocity o~ the vehlcle
carrie~ it over the ramp and cause~ it to "~ump". To ~urther
enhance amusement and entertainment value, practitioner~ in the
art generally attempt to include some additlonal amusement or
entertainment factor beyond simply ~um~ing the toy vehlcle.
Some of the most entertaining and commereially successfui !
types of toy vehicle jumpset~ are those in which the user i3
called upon to exercise a skill factor which lead~ to a
developmental activity. The design and fabrication of ~uch toy
vehlcle ~umpset i8 sub~ected to a contlnuing need or evermore
varied and i~tere~tin~ type~ o~ structures and play action. ~o
~eet thl~ ~eed, practitioner~ in the art have provid~d a wlde
variety o~.~uch toy vehicle playsets.
For example, U.S. Patent 4,716,843 ls~ued to O~tendor~, et
al. sets forth a TOY V~HICLE PLAYSET in which a roadway, a
booster for impelling a vehicle.along t~e roadway and a ramp are
positioned to pro~ide a path ~or the im~elled vehlcle to leap a
~redetermlned di~tance. A catcher i8 positioned i~ the roadway
to catch the ~umping vehicle and a return portion of the roadway
returns the vehlcle toward the booster. An additional ~eature o~
the ramp provide~ a pivotal mechanism which allows the vehlcle to
pass another vehicle on the roadway ~n opposite dlrectlons.
U.S. Patent 3,621,60~ issued to Barcu3, et al. ~ets forth a .
TRACK MEANS COMBINED WI~H SIMULAT~D STUNT ~OOP FOR TOY VEHICLES
in which a track lncludes a pair o~ oppositely faclng upwardly
sloped and downwardly sloped ramp portions. The upwardly sloped
ramp portio~ includes an annular ring having a center aperture
ther~in larger than the toy vehicle. The ring ~upports a
membrane havin~ a plurality of open seams therein and preferably.
~ormed o~ a resilient ~aterlal. The ob~ect of the ~tunt set is
to propel the vehicle through the membrane across the spacing
between the two ramp~ and down the downwardly sloped ramp.
U.S. Patent 1,431,398 issued to Hetzner ~et~ forth a ~OY
AMUSEMENT APPARATUS in which a track set include~ a flrst ramp
having a~ elevated launchin~ platform, a downwardly extendin~ .
slope and a somersaulting loop terminating i~ an upwardly
directed ramp. T~e track ~et further includes a vehicle catching
area and return ramp which receives the launching toy vehicle and
returns lt to the bottom of the elevated platform.
U.S. Patent 3,814,021 13su~d to McHenry s~ts forth a SPIRAL
JUMP STUNT APPARATUS in whlch a~ upwardly sloped launching ramp .
2 0 '`~ 3 i ~ 3
and dawnwardly ~loped receivin~ ramp are.positioned ln a spaced
apart relationshlp defining a ga~ therebetween. The la~nching
ramp i8 tran~versely ~lanted to impart both upward motlon and
axial rotation to-~the launched ~ehlcle. The receiving ramp ls
similarly angled to provide an angled ~eceivlng sur~ace.for the
launched toy vehicle.
U.S. Patent 1,544,555 ~ssued to Chase sets forth a TOY SKI
JUMPER ~n which a multlply curved launch ramp is paired wlth a
downwardly sloped receiving ramp and i8 used to launch and.
.receive a simulated ski ~umper.
~ !
U.S~ Patent 1,695,310 is~ued to Nu3tendorfer sets forth a
SOME~SAULTING TOY in which a downwardly sloped launch ramp and
elevated platform ar~ paired.with a downwardly sloped receivin~.
ramp. The launching end of the downwardly slo~ed ra~p is curved
upwardly to im~art a ~omersault to the ~imulated ~kler rolling
down t~e ramp. Addltional mean~ are provided in the form o~ a
sprin~ loaded lever which further launches the ~lmulated skier.
U.S. Patent 3,204,574 issued to Frisbie, e~ al. sets forth a
JUMP RAMP ~or U8Q in.connectio~ with a toy vehicle track set.
The ramp include~ an up~ardly ~loped launchiny r~mp and a
downwardly ~lo~ed rece~ving ramp. The ramp is utllized to form
the cros~ing overpass of a ~igure eight track configuration.
2 ~ `~ 3 7 ~`3~
U.S. Patent 3,~35,923 lssued to Brigham, et al. sets forth a
LOOPED TRAFFIC ACCESSORY ln which a toy vehicle. track set
include3 a launching plat~orm whloh may be secured t~ an elevated
~urface such a~ a table or the like. The playset fuxther
includes an elongated pair of vehicle tracks togeth~r ~ith
somersaultin~ l~op portions which conduct th~ toy vehicles
through a rapid loop durlng their pas~age from the elevated
launcher to the track end.
U.S. Patent 3,858,875 lssued to ~emeth, et alO sets forth a
GAP JUMPIN~ TOY VEHICLE GAME in which a toy v~hlcle track is
formed in a closed oval havlng banked curved endQ and including a
launching mechanism. A pair of oppo3i~tely sloped ~umping and
recelving ramps are formed upon the track and a ~addle wheel type
bo~ter i9 used to accelerate passing vehicles along the track.
U.S. Patent 4,094,089 issued to Sano sets forth an JUMPING
RAIL which is conflgured to be positioned within a toy vehicle
trackway. The Jumping rall features a striklng member which
2xtends lnto the vehicle travel path which when ~truck by a toy
vehicle cause the Jumping ~ail to plvot upwardly and launch the
vehicle into the air.
U.S. ~atent.4,383,68R issued to Prehodka sets forth a~
OBSTACLE FOR TOY VEHIC~E TRACK SET in wbich a ~ivotable vane ~s
po~itioned betwee~ lane~ of a multilaned track. Th~ vane ls
..
. '"' ' `"" ,.
~ 3 ~ ~ ~
actuated by a p~s~ing toy vehicle to ob~truct one of the lanes
a~ter the vehlcle has passed. The pur~uin~ vehicle on the
multilane track mu~t then avoid the obstacle or be launched into.
an unde~ired jump and crash i~ it ~ail~ to avoid the obstacle.
U.S. Patent 4,513,966 i~sued to Mucaro, et al. sets Eorth a
VE~ICLE JUMP FOR A TOY V~HICLE GAME in which a pa~r o~ track
portions form a track crossin~ segment having respective
launching and receiving ramps thereon.
.
U.S. Patent 4,619,~89 l~sued to Halford 38t~ forth a
COM~INED VE~ICLE JUMP MEANS AND TOY VEHICLE WITH SIMULATED STUNT
~OOP in which a toy vehicle ~umpset include~ an upwardly
extending launch ramp and downwardly extending receiving ramp for
a toy vehiole.. A tunt hoop formed of a~ annular loop and
~imulated surrounding fire and f lame3 ig configured to be
interposed between the two ramp~ such that the vehicle when
launched Ras~ throu~h the c~ter a~erture o~ the tunt loop.
U.S. Pate~ 4,~5~,86~ issued to ~i~pely ~ets forth a TOY
VEHIG~E TRACK~AY S~T in which a toy vehicle track terminates in a
vertical omer~ault loop followe~ by a hor~zontal incli~
looping ramp which terminate~ at the center portlon o~ the
somersault loop. A cat.chlng ba~ket i9 mowabl~ for ~upport.near
the multiple loop feature. The toy vehicle i3 launched down the
track and pas3e~ through the ~omersault loop and i~ accele~ated ..
........
3 7t~ ~
upwardly through the inclined horizontal ramp portion to be
ultimately launched through the center portion of the somersault
l~op.
~ hile the ~oregoing prior art vehicle playsets and Jump~et~
have provided sub~tantial entertainment and amusement, ~he
continuing need for evermore varied and different toy vehicl~
playsets remains.
Summary of the Invention
Accordingly, it is a yeneral ob~ect of the present invention
to provide an improved toy ~ehicle playset. It is a more
particular ob~ect o~ th~.preqent invention to provide an lmprov~d
~oy v~hicle playset having an interesting ~ump fea~ure. It 1~ a
still more particular ob~ect o~ the present invention to provide
an improved toy vehlcle playset having a ~ump feature which
produces a dcvelopmental actlvlty and ~xerci~e~ the ~ud~ment and
3kill o~ the child user.
In accordance with the present inventlon, there i~ provided
for use in combination with a plurality of toy vehicle~, a toy
vehicle ~um~set comprlse~: a launcher for receivlng a toy
vehicle and applying an acceleratin~ forc~ thereto; a track
having an upwardly dir~cted launch ramp portion, a receiving .
portion and a return ramp portion, th~ launch ram~, th~ receiving
portion and the return ramp portlon cooperatin~ r~m3a travel
and return path ~or a toy vehlcle; and stop means proxlmate the
launch ramp for returning succes~lve launched and returned toy
vehlcle~ a~ inc~.ea~ing_ob~tructions of the travel and.re.tur~ path
as they accumulate.
_.
BrieP Descrilæ_~n ~ th~_eE~lDg~
The Peature~ o thP present invention, which are bel~eved to
be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended
cla~ms. The invention, together with further ob~ect~ and
advantages thereo~, may best be understood by reference to the
fo110wing de~criptlon taken $n con~unction w~th th~ a~companying
drawing~, in the several figure~ of which like ref erence numerals
identify like elementq and in whic~:
Fi~ure 1 ~ets forth a ~er3pective view o~ a multiple toy
vehicle ju~pset con8tructed ln accordance with the pre5ent
ln~ention;
Figure 2 set~ forth a ~er~pective view o~ a ~ul~iple toy
vehicle ~um~set con~tructed in accordance with th~ present
invention haviny launched and received a fir-~t car;
~Q~3t~3
Figure 3 sets forth a perspective vlew of a.multiple toy
vehicle jumpset constructed in accordance with the ~resent
inventlon having launched and rece~ved a second vehlcle;
~ i~ure 4 3ets forth a ~ide elevatlon ~lew of a portion of
the multiple.toy vehlcle ~umpset set ~orth in Figures 1 through.
3; and
Figure 5 cets forth alternate embodiment of the launcher
mechanism oP the present inve~tion multiple toy vehicle jumpset.
Description o~ the Preferred Embodiment~
Figure 1 s~t~ forth a perspective view of a multipl~ toy
vehicle ~umpset constructed in accordance with the present-
lnvention and generally referenced by nu~eral 10. Jump~et lO
include~ a vehicle launcher 11, a track ~egment 12, a ramp 13, a
catcher 14, a track segment 16 and a return ra~p 16. Ramp 16,
track segment~ 12 and l~, as well a~ return ramp 16, are ~ormed
of a flexible trac~ materl~l having a planar roadway sur~ace and
upwardly extending Qide walls 30 and 31~ In its preferred form,
track segments 12 and 1~, ramp 13 and return ramp 16 are formed
of Rubstantially ~lmilar con~gurations~ Ra~p 13 overlap~ track
segm~n. 12 and a g~nerally wedge-~haped ramp support 20 i9
tnterposed between ramp 13 and track segment 12 to pr~vide the
~ùpwardly directed lncline o~ ramp 13. In accorda~ce with th~
2 ~
inventlon, support 20 further de~ine3 a vertical st~p sur~ace 23
whlGh is preferably located at or near end ~ort~on 32 of ramp 13.
Catcher 14 is supported upon track segment 15 withln side walls
30 and 31 and defines a generally planar center portion 41 and a.
pair of inclined upwardly ext~ndi~g planax sides 42 and 43. A
support 21 i~ posltioned beneath-track seyment 15 between catcher
14 and return ramp 16 to raiqe a portion o~ track segment 15 to
form a bump portion 40. A generally wedge-shaped ~upport 22
defines an upwardly curved surface 34 and is positioned beneath
return ramp 16 to support a vertically extendin~ end portion 17
thereof.
Thus, the above-de~cribed track cpmponents ~orm a
substantially continuous track member having confining ~lde~ and
including a ramp 13 coupled to launcher 11, a Rtraigh~ segment 15
~upporting an inclined upwardly fac~ catcher 14 and defining a
bum~ 40 and an.upwardly curved return ramp 16..
~ au~cher 11 i9 secured to ramp :L3 by appropriate attachment
means or by sim~lR overlap and de~ines a ~enerally rectangular
launch bay 50 having supported therein a movabl~ shuttle ~1.
Shuttle 51 i~ ~lidably ~upported withln launch bay 50 i~
accordance with conventlonal rabrication techni~ues. A sprin~ 53
is coupled.to qhutt.le 51 and launcher 11 a~d provldeq a
compressive spring ~orce which opposea the motion of shuttle 51
~n th~ directio~ indicated by arrow 55.. A trlgger button ~2 i~
7 ~? 3
coupled to a conventional trigger latch mechanism which
cooperate~ with shuttle 51.in accordance with conve~tional
fabrlcation techniques to lock shuttle 51 in a rearward posltlon
in which spring 53 i~ compr~ssed..
Thus, in operation, shuttle 51 ic moved into bay 50 in the
direc~ion indlcated by arrow 55 compressing spring 53. Trigge~
52 and the trigger mechanism associated therewith locks shuttle
51 in the rearward position. Figuxe 2 sets forth the locked or
cocked position o~ shuttle 51 within launcher 11. Shuttle 51
defines a generally vertical end surface 5~. A toy vehicle 60
configured to roll ea~lly wlthin the track portions of ~umpset 10
may then be po,3itioned w~thin launch bay 50 against end 54 of
shuttle 51. Figure 2 sets forth the position of a similar
vehicle within launcher 11 prior to :launchlng. Thereafter,~~
vehicle 60 may be launched by depres.~ing trigger 52 which
relea~es shuttle 51 at which ti~e th~ energy ~tored withln spring
53 accelerate~ shuttle 51 and car 60 rapidly away from launcher
11 toward ramp 13 in the direct~on indicated by arrow 56. Figure
1 ~et~ forth the po~ on of vehicle 60 just a~ter the above-
de~cribed launch. Thu~, vehlcle 60 i8 shown ln Figure 1
approaching ramp 13 having a velaclty in the direction indicated
by arrow 61. A3 vehicle 60 cont~nues up ramp 13 and beyond end
portion 32 thereof, vehicle 60 becomes airborne in the position
shown in dash~d line representation.62 having an upwardly.
directed v~loclty 63. Thereafter, vehicle 60 under~oes a gravity
11
. 2 ~ 7 ,~
controlled "flight" and is received within catcher 14. During
its descent towarZ.catcher 14, inclined side3 4~ serve to direct
vehicle 60 downw~rdly toward center portlon 41. After being
received withl~ catcher 14,. the forward momentum of vehlcle 60
continues to propel vehlcle 60 upon track segment 15 to the
po~ition shown ln dashed lina representation 64. At such time,
vehicle 60 has a velocity in the direction indicated by arrow 65.
The mome~tum of vehicle 60 carries it over bump 40 of track
segment 15 to the dashed line position 66 having a velocity in
the direction indlcated by arrow 67, Afterwhich, vehicle.60
a~sumes the position shown in Figur~ 2.
Fiyure 2 sets ~orth ~u~p~et 10 a~con~l~ured absve showing
vehicle 60 having moved from the dashed line positlon 66 ln
Figure 1 to its maxlmum upwardly directed travel t~ward end 1~ of
return ramp 16. At the po~ition sho~n in Fi~ure 2, the upward
velocity o~ vehicle 60 in the direct:Lon indicated by arrow 68 is
reduced to zero and the ~ravity forcl~ upon vehicle 60 overcomes
lts momentum and accel~rates vehicle 60 downwardly upon return
ramp 16 in the direction indicated by ~rrow 69. Thereafter,
vehicle 60 ~ov~ to the position shown in da hed line
representation 70 and acqulres a v~loclty in th~ dir~ction
indlcated by arrow 71. Thereafter, vehicle 60 returns alon~
track segment 15 over bump 40 and through catcher 14 in the
dlrection indicated by arrow ~3. Flnally, vehicle 60 encounters
~top surface 33 of ramp support 20 and i~ brought to rest in the
12
p~
position shown in da~hed line repr~sentation ~2. 50ncurrently,
as vehicle 60 undergoe~ the return travel described, a second toy
vehicle 80 i~ positioned within launcher 11 and shuttle 51 is
again moved ln the direction indicated by. arrow SS to load or
cock launcher 11. Thu~, with vehicle 80 in the po~ition shown
and with vehlcle 60 ln the po~iticn ~hown in dashed line
representation ~2, pres~in~ o~ trigger 52 launche~ vehicle 80 in
the manner de~crlbed above for vehicle 60. Therea~ter, veAicle
80 traverses the track portions o~ jumpset 10 and ultimately
return~ in the manner described above for vehicle 60 until it
abut~ ~ehicle 6~ and ~ump~et 10 assumes the po~ition sho~n in
Figure 3.
~ igure 3 ~how~ ~umpset 10 having launched and returned
vehicle 80 and ~howing vehicle 80 now re~ting in line with
prevlou~ly launched and returned vehicle 60. A third vehicle 81
i~ now loaded within launcher 11 and shuttle 51 i~ again cocked
to it~ loaded po~ition in preparation for launching vehlcle 81.
In accordance wlt~ the inv~ntion, th~ accumulation of previQusly
launch~d and returned vehicle~ 6Q and 80 beneath ramp 13 p~esent~
an accumulatlng obstacle and challenge and lncrea~ed difficulty
factor for ~ub~equently launched vehicle~A Thus, with
simultaneou~ reference tc ~igures 1 through 3, lt will be
apparent that the.preci~ion.of launch.nece~sary to ~ucce~sfully
launch and return vehicle ao i~ ~omewhat greater than for vehicl~
~60 and f~rther that ~he factor~ lnfluencin~ v~hicle 81 have been.
13
7 ~
further complicated by the p~esence o~ vehicle~ 60 and 80 beneath
ramp 13.
. It will ~.apparent to thosa skilled in.the ar.t that the
operation of th~ present inventlon jumpqet continues a~
~uccessive vehicles are launched i~ the manner de~cribed above
and accumulate upon trac~ ~egme~t 15 beneath ramp 13. To
acco~odate the addltional ~ump characteristics and ~reclsion
required as 8uccessiv~ vehicle~ are so accumulated, the
characterlstics o~ Jump~et 10 may b~ varied to accommodate the
challenge presented. For example, ramp support 20 may be movabla
with.respect to ra~p 13.and trac~ seg~ent 15 to alter the incline
and exten3ion of ramp 13. Further the~position Gf ~atcher 14 may
be mov~d upon track segment 15 to accommodat~ di~fer.ent
trajectories of launched vehicles. Support 21 and support 22 may
be also mov~ble wi~h respeet to track. segment lS to further
change tha con~i~uration of track Por ~umpset 10.
Figure 4 ~ets ~orth a side view of the launcher portion o~
the ~mbodim~nt o~ the present invention ~hown in Figure~ 1
through 3. Launcher 11 includes an elongated launcher bay 50
de~ining a linear track portion 57 ~herein. Lau~cher 11 furth~r
de~ine~ an aperture a~ and i~ coupled to ramp 13. A trigger
button 52 de~ines an outwardly extending flange 8~ and ex~end~
u~wardly.through aperture sa ~ A ~pring 86 iq cap~ivated upon a
`spring gu~d~ 86 and ~x~rt~ a spring force upwardly against
14
trigger button 52. Trigger. 52 further includes a ~orwardly
extending hook po~tion 90.
A.shuttle 51 define3 an end portior~ 54, a.downwardl~. .
*xtend~ng tab 49 and a hook 91. Hook 91 e~gage~ hook 90 of
trigger bu~on ~2 to form a convenient relea~able latch for .
shuttle 51. Launcher ll ~urther de~ines a spring ~top 48 which
receiveQ a coil spring 53. Spring 53 is captivated between ~top
~8 and tab 49.
Figure 4 ~hows the con~iguratlo~ of launcher 11 1~ the
loaded or cocked po~itlon in which shuttle 51 has been forced
rearwardly in the direction indicated by arrow 92 cau~lng spring
S3 to be compre3~ed between tab 49 and ~top 48. In the po~ition
shown in Figure 4, hook 91 o~ shuttle 51 has engaged and latched
w~th hook gO of trigger button 52. In thi~ position, a vehicle
may be positioned again~t and 54 o~ shuttle 51 ln.the manner
shown ~or vehicle ao in ~igura 2. Th~rea~ter, ~re~aing trigger
button 52 downwardly in th~ directio~ indicated by arrow 89,
releas~ hook 90 from hook 91 afterwhich the ~pring force stored
in spring 53 acc~l~rates shuttle 51 ln the dir~ctio~ indicated by
arrow 93. Th~ rapid acceleration of ~huttle 51 impar~ an
accelerating ~orce to a toy vehiole placed againqt end 54. Oncc
shuttle 51 r~aches ~he end of its travel, it i8 retained withln
launcher bay 50 while the cooperating vehicl~ i8 la~nched ac~osc
ramp 13 in the manner de~cribed above.
. 15
t~r,~
-
It w~ll be apparent to tho~e 3killed ln the art that the
above-de~cribed ~umpset provldes ~ub~tantial entertainment and
eonsiderable sklll may be exercised ln the developmental
.act~vitles as~ociated wi.~h reeonfiguring the track and ramp
portions o~ the present i~entlo~ ~umpset to accommodate the
accum~lating pr~viously launched and retur~ vehicles. However,
it has bee~ found that additio~al sk~ll may b~ exercised and
additional developmental activ~ty may be carr~ed forward if
launcher 11 is replaced by a ~ore.~lexible type launcher which.
permit a varied amount of launchlng ~orce to be imparted to the
toy vehicle. Thus,.~igure 5 set~ forth one ~uch launcher ~h~ch~
i~ used in place of launcher 11 in ju~pset 10 in the manner shown
in Figure 1 throu~h 3 permit~ the ex~rcise of still another skill
aspect by the use of a varied launch:lng force. The launcher
~hown in Figure 5 i~.representative of the vari~ty o~ variable
force launcher~ known ln th~ art and i9 shown in great detall ln
U.S. Patent 4,~05,230 entltled TOY VEHICLE.GAME ~IT~ LAUNCHER AND
R~TURN M~ANS and i~sued to Halford et al. Accordi~gly, Figure 5
~et~ forth a launcher 100 which includes a housing 101 defining
therein a ohamber 103 and a ~assa~e 104. A latarally extending
cylinder p~sage 105 Gom~unicate~ with pas8age 104 and support~ a
slidable piston 106 . The lat ter de~ines an outwardly extending
end portion.107. A resilient bellow~ 111 i9 coupled to piston
102 and ur~es it upwardly and to the lower ~urface of cha~ber 103
,
16
~3~ ~
o~ housing 101. In operatlon, with piston 106 ln the position.
shown in solld line representation, ~lston 102 i8 urged upwardly
to th~ positlo~ ~hown.by th~ re~il1ent force of bellows 111.
Thereafter, a toy vehicle is ~lac~d withln launcher 11 ln contact
with end lO~ of plston 106. The.vehicle launch i~ accomplished
by rapldly forclng piston 102 downwardly in the dixection
indicated by arrow 108 which forces air from chamber 103 through .
passage 104 and inta cylinder 105. The force of air thus
transPerred i8 applied to pi8ton 106 and accelerate3 ~iston 106
in the directlon indic~ted by arrow lO9 to the dashed line
extended position shown. This rapid acceleratlon and extension
of pi8to~ 106 launches the toy vehicle toward ramp 13 in the ~,
direction indlcated by arrow 110.
A~ mentioned above, launcher 100 i~ represantative of the
general type o~ launchar which produc~s a launching force which
varies in re~ponse to the applied forc~ o~ the user. Thus, the
harder and more abruptly piston 102 i~3 ~orced downwardly, the
greater the launching ~orce applied by pi~ton 106. It wlll be
apparent to those skilled in the art that a varlet~ o~ variable
force launchin~ mecha~lsm~ may ba used in pla~e of launch~r 11 to
provlde this addltional ~kill factor ~or the pre3ent in~entio~
play~et. However, in accordance wl~h an important aspect of the
pre~ent lnventlon, the U8R 0~ ~uch a varlable force lau~cher.ln
combination wi~h the rema~nde~ of jump~et 10 acllitate~ the
exercise o~ an additional.touch or skill actor.
17
~ hat ha~ been ~hown is a.multiple toy vehicle ~umpset which
provides th~ action and skill ~eatures a9soc~ated with the
accumulation of additlonal.vehicle~ to ~ump.. The ~ump~et show~..
is capable of multiple confi~urations and thu~ a variety of
challenges ~n associatlon with its operatlo~ may be presented.to
the user.
While particular embodiments o~ th~ invention have been
showA and described, it will be obvious to those ~killed in the
art that changes and modifications may be mad~ wlthout departing
from the invention in its broader aspect~. Therefore the aim in
the appende~ claim~ i9 to cover all ~uch change and
modi~icat~ons as fall within the true spirit and scope of the
inven~ion.
