GB2345450A - A toy - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy 1 comprising at least one endless stretchable loop 3 supporting or defining a figure 2 or a representative object is capable of being removably held in place around a toy wheeled vehicle 4 by tension exerted in the loop without interfering with the vehicle's wheels 5. As shown, the figure 2 is intended to be located on top of the vehicle and the loop 3 comprises a thin branched strip intended to underlie the vehicle. The representative object may be an alternative vehicle.

Description

A TOY The present invention relates, in a first aspect, to a toy capable of attachment to a toy wheeled vehicle and, in a second aspect, to a combination of a toy wheeled vehicle and a toy capable of attachment thereto.

Toy cars, in particular die-cast miniatures, have enjoyed popularity for generations.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a toy which alters the appearance of a toy wheeled vehicle and allows for more varied and imaginative play.

From a first aspect, the present invention provides a toy comprising at least one endless stretchable loop supporting or defining a figure or representative object, said toy being capable of being removably held in place around a toy wheeled vehicle by tension exerted in said loop.

Preferably, the toy is capable of being held in place around the vehicle without interfering with rotation of the vehicle's wheels. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the figure or representative object is intended to be located on top of the vehicle and the loop (s) comprise (s) a thin strip intended to underlie the vehicle.

Where a representative object is provided, it may be such as to impart the appearance of an alternative vehicle.

Depending on the form of the figure or representative object, more than one endless loop and/or a branched loop may be provided.

Whilst the toy may have an internal surface shaped and dimensioned for fitting to a toy vehicle of a particular size and shape, its elasticity will allow it to be fitted around vehicles of different sizes and shapes.

Preferably the toy, comprising the stretchable loop and the figure or object, is integrally moulded from an elastomeric material or rubber. Preferably, the toy is moulded from a single mould in one operation and preferably the figure or object itself is part of the loop. It is also possible to mould a flat strip and either attach it to the figure, thus forming the endless loop, or to form the strip into the endless loop before attaching the figure.

Suitable elastomeric materials include ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, polyurethane, and one, or a mixture of more than one, of the following polymers sold under the Registered Trade Mark"Kraton"by Shell Chemical Co.:- (optionally hydrogenated) styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprenestyrene, styrene-diene, styrene-isopreneandstyrene-butadiene block copolymers, styrene-ethylene-butylene block copolymer containing mineral oil, branched styrene copolymer, styrenebutadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene triblock rubber, styreneisoprene-styrene linear block polymer, styrene-butadiene radial block copolymer, butadiene-styrene copolymer rubber and synthetic rubber.

The toy is preferably decorated with paint or varnish.

From a second aspect, the present invention provides, in combination, a toy wheeled vehicle and a toy as defined above.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a toy according to an embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 shows a toy car to which the toy of Figure 1 can be fitted; and Figure 3 shows the toy of Figure 1 fitted to the car of Figure 2.

Figure 1 shows a toy 1, integrally moulded from Kraton or other suitable material, comprising a demon-like figure 2 and a strip 3 joining the fingertips of the figure to its tail. The strip 3 is branched into a Y shape, one branch being attached to each hand of the figure. It will be appreciated that the figure 2 and strip 3 together form an endless, stretchable loop.

The toy 1 is made by moulding the material in a mould of the desired shape and then decorating the toy with paint having a modulus of elasticity similar to that of the Kraton.

The internal surface of the toy 1 is of a size and shape which conform to those of a die-cast toy car 4, of known type, shown in Figure 2. The car 4 has rotatable wheels 5 which allow the car to roll when pushed.

Figure 3 shows how the toy 1 can be fitted around the car 4, with the figure 2 overlying the car and the strip 3 underlying it. The thickness of the strip 3 is less than the distance by which the wheels 5 protrude from the underside of the car 4, and rolling motion of the car is not therefore impeded by the presence of the toy 1.

It will be appreciated that instead of a figure, the toy of the invention could comprise another representative object, for example, enabling the appearance of the vehicle to be transformed into that of a different vehicle.

The toy can comprise one or more endless, optionally branched loops. The or each loop may be intended to extend transversely around the vehicle (i. e. perpendicular to the direction of motion) instead of, or in addition to, extending longitudinally as shown. Additionally, if the vehicle's wheels do not protrude laterally from the vehicle, the loop could be arranged to extend horizontally around the periphery of the vehicle instead of passing underneath the vehicle, the toy then essentially comprising a membrane stretchable over the upper surface of the vehicle.

Claims (11)

1. A toy comprising at least one endless stretchable loop supporting or defining a figure or representative object, said toy being capable of being removably held in place around a toy wheeled vehicle by tension exerted in said loop.

2. A toy according to claim 1 which is capable of being held in place around a toy wheeled vehicle without interfering with the vehicle's wheels.

3. A toy according to claim 2, wherein the figure or representative object is intended to be located on top of the vehicle and the loop (s) comprise (s) a thin strip intended to underlie the vehicle.

4. A toy according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the representative object simulates an alternative vehicle.

5. A toy according to any preceding claim, comprising at least one branched stretchable loop.

6. A toy according to any preceding claim, integrally moulded from an elastomeric material or rubber.

7. A toy according to any preceding claim which has been decorated with paint or varnish.

8. A toy substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

9. In combination, a toy according to any preceding claim and a toy wheeled vehicle.

10. A combination according to claim 9, wherein the toy has an internal surface shaped and dimensioned for fitting to the vehicle.

11. A combination substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.