MXPA05011764A - Toy play set with moving platform - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a toy play set for use with a toy vehicle comprising a platform attached to a support structure. In some examples, the play set may include a base and a support structure pivotally attached to the base with the support structure adapted to pivot relative to the base. In other examples, the toy play set may include a platform pivotally attached to the support structure and adapted to rotate in a toy vehicle's direction of travel. In still other examples, the toy play set may include first and second elongate tracks and means for carrying a toy vehicle from the first elongate track to the second elongate track. One disclosed embodiment includes first and second elongate tracks, a base, a support structure pivotally attached to the base, a platform pivotally attached to the support structure wherein the platform and support structure pivot at perpendicular axes that are parallel to the ground, and a vehicle receiving apparatus attached to the second elongate track.

Description

TOYS DEVICE WITH MOBILE PLATFORM RELATED REQUEST. This application claims the benefit of US provisional application No. 60/691, 465 filed June 16, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND The toy devices and toy vehicles that accompany them are a source of entertainment for • the people who use them. Play toy apparatuses may include track sections and apparatus that guide the movement of one or more toy vehicles. Various types of movements are possible in a toy apparatus to play, such as linear and rotational movements. With play toy apparatuses, different means of propulsion for toy vehicles can be used, such as storing energy for propulsion in the vehicle, extracting energy for propulsion from an external energy source, or manually propelling the vehicle. The toy vehicles can maintain contact with a toy apparatus due to gravity, magnetic forces and / or mechanical union of the toy vehicle with the play toy apparatus.

The following are previous examples of toy play apparatus that are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes: U.S. Patent Nos. 2,239,395; 3,126,670; 3,299,565; 3,665,636; 3,690,393; 3,797,164; 4,068,402; 4,087,935; 4,185,409; 4,221,076; 4,254,576; 4,468,031; 4,519,789; 4,536,168; 4,661,080; 4,697,812; 4,979,926; 5,052,972; 5,452,893; 5,601,490; 5,678,489; 5,865,661; 5,890,945; 6,193,581; 6,478,654; 6,508,179; 6,676,480; RE32,106 and the North American Publication No. 2003/0224697.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure is directed to a play toy apparatus for use with a toy vehicle comprising a platform attached to a support structure. In some examples, the play toy apparatus may include a base and support structure pivotally mounted or pivotally to the base with the support structure being adapted to pivot relative to the base. In some examples, the play toy apparatus may include a platform pivotally attached to the support structure and adapted to rotate in a direction of travel of a toy vehicle. In some examples, the play toy apparatus may include first and second elongated tracks and in means for rotating a component of the play toy apparatus to allow a toy vehicle to move from the first elongated track to the second elongated track.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This disclosure will be better understood in relation to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toy toy apparatus and a toy vehicle thereon; . Fig. 2 is a top view of a platform of the toy toy apparatus of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view of the front edge of the platform of Fig. 2 and a toy vehicle therein. Fig. 4A is a bottom view of the platform of Fig. 3 with a lower cover removed. Fig. 4B of is a cross-sectional view of the platform of Fig. 3 taken along line 4B-4B that bisects the length of the platform. Fig. 5 is a view of the trailing edge of the platform of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a support structure attached to a base of the play toy apparatus of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a side view of a toy apparatus for playing with a toy vehicle. in it in a non-rotated position. Fig. 8 is a side view of the toy toy apparatus of Fig. 7 rotating about a pivot axis. Fig. 9 is a side view of the toy toy apparatus of Fig. 7 in a fully rotated position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A toy toy apparatus can entertain people who use the toy apparatus to play. It can provide entertainment by facilitating the movement of a toy vehicle thereon or by moving the toy vehicle itself. A play toy apparatus can facilitate the movement of a toy vehicle therein by including one or more vehicle support surfaces for a toy vehicle to travel thereon. Alternatively, instead of the toy vehicle moving relative to the toy toy apparatus, the toy toy apparatus can be moved while supporting the toy vehicle.

The movement of a toy vehicle can occur by means of a variety of propulsion means. The propulsion means for the toy vehicle may include storing energy for propulsion in the vehicle, extracting energy for propulsion from an external power source or manually propelling the vehicle. Storing energy in a toy vehicle can occur by storing electrical energy or mechanically. For example, the energy can be stored electrically by charging a battery in a toy vehicle or the energy can be stored mechanically by spinning an inertial flywheel. A toy vehicle can have different speeds and can change speeds selectively while moving in a toy apparatus to play.

A play toy apparatus may include a support structure and a platform assembly for use with a toy vehicle. Such a play toy apparatus may include one or more movement mechanisms for moving the support structure or the platform assembly. Movement can occur with multiple degrees of freedom including a linear mode along an X axis, a Y axis, and / or a Z axis. Optionally, movement can occur in a rotary mode, such as around one or more of an X axis, a Y axis, a Z axis, and / or an axis perpendicular to one or more of these axes. In other examples, the movement can be rectilinear, curvilinear or both, linear and rotary.

The rotary movement can be angularly limited or unlimited. 360 ° rotation around an axis may occur or rotation may stop before or after reaching 360 °. For example, rotation can be stopped after 180 ° or 90 ° or 1 ° and anywhere between them. Optionally, rotation can occur around different axes and different angles of rotation can occur on each axis. Additionally, optionally, different components can rotate around different axes and with different rotation angles.

A movement mechanism may comprise an arcuate mechanism for moving a platform assembly along an arc. Alternatively, a movement mechanism may comprise an inversion mechanism for reversing the platform assembly. The play toy apparatus may include one or more independent arcing mechanisms of an inversion mechanism, or it may include one or more reversing mechanisms independent of an arcing mechanism, or it may include one or more of an arcing mechanism and a investment mechanism in combination. Many variations of such play toy apparatuses can be devised. For example for the purpose of increasing the level of enjoyment of a person that a person can obtain from playing with a toy apparatus for playing, a plurality of movement mechanisms can be included.

An example of a play toy apparatus 20 having movement mechanisms 21 is illustrated in Fig. 1. The play toy apparatus 20 may include a movement mechanism comprising an inversion mechanism 23 and a movement mechanism, such as an arching mechanism 25.

However, other examples of the play toy apparatus 20 may include an arching mechanism 25 without an inversion mechanism., or an inversion mechanism 23 without an arching mechanism 25. The reversing mechanism 23 may comprise a platform assembly 24 pivotally attached to the support structure 26 on a platform axis 44. The reversing mechanism 23 may additionally include an inversion retention mechanism 29, which is shown in FIG. 4A. The arching mechanism 25 may be adapted to move a platform assembly 24 along an arch. The arching mechanism 25 may comprise a support structure 26 pivotally attached to a base 28 on an arc shaft 42 spaced apart from the platform assembly 24. The arching mechanism 25 may further include an arch retention mechanism 27.

The reversing mechanism 23 can include a platform assembly 24 having a vehicle support surface 49. The vehicle support surface 49 can define a plane on which a toy vehicle 22 can move. The vehicle support surface 49 may include a rail for the left wheel 50 and a rail for the right wheel 52 on opposite sides of an empty space 51 in the vehicle support surface. The platform assembly may include a metal strip 56 embedded in the vehicle support surface 49, which may interact with a toy vehicle 22 optionally including magnetic elements. The platform assembly may include walls 46 that project normally from the side edges of the vehicle support surface 49. The vehicle support surface 49 may define a direction of travel, represented by the date 53, for a toy vehicle 22. The direction of travel, represented by the date 53, is the trajectory that a toy vehicle 22 follows when it enters the platform assembly 24 at a trailing edge of the vehicle support surface 49 and travels through the vehicle. vehicle support surface 49 to a leading edge of the vehicle support surface 49.

The platform assembly 24 may include a gate mechanism 47 toward the leading edge of the platform. The gate mechanism 47 may include a stop member 48 attached to the platform assembly 24. The stop member 48 may be adapted to project from the vehicle support surface 49 and stop a toy vehicle 22 traveling along the vehicle support surface 49. The gate mechanism 47 may stop the vehicle from toy 22 indefinitely or temporarily. When the toy vehicle is temporarily stopped, the gate mechanism 47 can stop the toy vehicle 22 for a certain time or until the toy vehicle 22 is moved to a certain position by the play toy apparatus 20. Alternatively, the gate mechanism 47 may include a stop member 48 attached to a movable member, such as a magnetic strip 58 pivotally attached to the platform assembly 24. A magnetic strip 58 may comprise a ferromagnetic material, a single magnet or multiple magnets , such as a first magnet 60 and a second magnet 62. The magnetic strip 58 can interact with magnetically attractable elements optionally included in a toy vehicle 22, for example the second magnet 62 can hold a toy vehicle in place in the vehicle support surface 49 against the force of gravity when the platform 24 is in an inverted orientation.

The gate mechanism 47 may include an empty space 51 in the vehicle support surface 49 configured to receive the magnetic strip 58 as it rotates relative to the vehicle support surface 49 at the hinge 76. The gate mechanism 47 may be adapted to rotate the stop member 48 between a stop position above the vehicle support surface 49 and a passing position below the vehicle support surface 49. The gate mechanism 47 may include a first diverting member 82 adapted to deflect the magnetic strip 58 to the stop position where the stop member 48 projects from the vehicle support surface 49.

The platform assembly 24 can have a center of gravity 64 offset from the center of the width of the vehicle support surface by a dimension ID, as shown in Fig. 3. The platform assembly 24 can be configured in such a way which center of gravity 64 remains displaced when the toy vehicle 22 is present on the vehicle support surface 49. The displaced center of gravity 64 can cause the platform assembly 24 to rotate about the platform axis 44, unless it is inhibited otherwise.

An inversion retention mechanism 29 may include a sliding assembly 67, a deflection mechanism 69, and a stopping mechanism 73, 77. The sliding assembly 67 may include a magnet 60 slidably oriented on a magnetic strip 58 and a member release 68 slidably oriented in the platform assembly 24. The first magnet 60 can be attached to a tongue 66 adapted to engage a release member 68. The release member 68 can make contact with a first stop mechanism 73. The first stopping mechanism 73 may include a first stopping member 72 that is adapted to interface with a first stopping port 84 in the support structure 26 as shown in Fig. 5.

A deflection mechanism 69 may bias the release member 68 to a locking position where the first stopping member 72 extends beyond the trailing edge of the platform assembly 24. The deflection mechanism 69 may include a second deflection member 70, such as a spring, and a first deflection housing 71. The first magnet 60 can be moved when a toy vehicle 22 moves on top of it on the vehicle support surface 49. The movement of the first magnet 60 from a first position to a second position can move the tab 66 against the release member 68 and counteract the biasing force applied by the second biasing member 70. The force applied by the tab 66 against the release member 68 can overcome the force of deflection and causing the release member 68 to move from a locked position to a release position, jaland or in this way the member of the first detention member 72 outside the first arrest port 84.

A second stopping mechanism 77 may include a second stopping member 74, a third diverting member 75, and a second diverting housing 79. The second stopping mechanism 77 may be adapted to divert the second stopping member 74 outwardly to that engages a second stopping port 86. The second stopping mechanism 77 can provide sufficient deflection force to sustain the weight of the platform assembly 24 while at rest, but insufficient deflection force to resist the removal of deviation from the second stool member. arrest 74 as it contacts the support structure 26 during inversion. Optionally, the stopping mechanisms 73, 77 and the stopping ports 84, 86 may be oriented at the leading edge of the platform assembly 24.

The arching mechanism may include the support structure 26 pivotally attached to a base 28 on an arc shaft 42. The support structure 26 may have a height Hl that exceeds the length Ll of the vehicle support surface 49. While the ratio of the height of the support structure to the length of the platform may be within the range of less than one unit to more than one unit, a ratio that exceeds the unit provides a small change in orientation for a distance of displacement given of the platform assembly 24. Additionally or alternatively, an increased arc length A can provide a user of the toy apparatus for playing with more recreation. Accordingly, the arc length displaced by a platform assembly 24 may be greater than the length of the support structure 26.

The arching mechanism may include an arch retention mechanism 27. The arch retention mechanism 27 may include a locking mechanism 87 and a locking port 90. The locking mechanism 87 may include a locking member 88, a quarter deflection member 89, and a locking housing 91. The fourth deflection member 89 as shown in Fig. 6. The locking member 88 can be adapted to interface with the locking port 90. The locking housing 91 it can enclose the fourth deflection member 89 and partially enclose the locking member 88. The fourth deflection member 89, for example a spring, can bias the locking member 88 out of the locking housing 91. The fourth biasing member 89 can be selected to apply a biasing force to the locking member 88 sufficient to prevent the locking member 88 from retract and disengage from the locking port 90 due to the moment of force created by the weight of the platform 24. The fourth deflection member 89 may further be selected to apply insufficient deflection force to stop the locking member 88 from retracting and disengaging from the locking port 90 when a toy vehicle 22 is placed in the stop member 48 in the platform assembly 24. Accordingly, the presence of a toy vehicle 22 in the stop member 48 of the platform assembly can and start arcing of the support structure 26 around the arc axis 42. The locking port 90 can be connected to a handle 9 2 and the pair can be adapted to rotate relative to the base 28.

In some examples, the play toy apparatus 20 may include a release actuator of the stop member 36. The stop member release actuator 36 may interface with a release of the stop member 54 attached to the platform assembly 24. The stop member release 54 may be attached to a magnetic strip 58 pivotally attached to the platform assembly 24. In some examples, the release of the stop member 54 may be attached to the magnetic strip 58 on a side opposite a member. stop 48. The release activator of stop member 36 may interface with the release of stop member 54 by making contact in a mating relationship. As shown in Fig. 9, a releasing activation of the stop member 36 can be projected into the releaser of the stop member 61 and cause the stop member 48 to retract into the void space 51 on the surface of the stop member. vehicle support 49. The retraction of the stop member 48 allows the toy vehicle 22 to move away from the vehicle support surface 49 in the platform assembly and towards the vehicle receiving apparatus 36.

A play toy apparatus 20 may include a vehicle receiving apparatus 34 as depicted in Fig. 1. The vehicle receiving apparatus 34 may include a ramp 38 and a guide 40. The ramp 38 may include a supporting surface for vehicle curving from an upper side of the vehicle receiving apparatus 34 to a lower side. A guide 40 may form an opening in the upper part of the vehicle receiving apparatus 34 through which a toy vehicle 22 may pass through the ramp 38. In some examples a release activator of the stop member 36 may be joining to a vehicle receiving apparatus 34. Optionally, the release activator of the stop member 36 can be projected above the vehicle receiving apparatus 34.

A play toy apparatus may include a first elongated track 30 and / or a second elongated track 32. The first elongated track 30 may include a first support surface for elongated track vehicle and the second elongated track 32 may include a surface of Support for track vehicle. The first and second elongated tracks 30, 32 may lie at different heights. In some examples, the first elongated track 30 may reside at substantially the same height as the vehicle support surface 49 when the support structure 26 is oriented substantially vertical. Optionally, the first elongate track 30 may be oriented near the vehicle support surface 49, so that a toy vehicle 22 may be moved from the first elongated track 30 to the vehicle support surface 49. In some examples, the second elongated track 32 can extend from a ramp 38 in a vehicle receiving apparatus 34 and can be adapted to receive a toy vehicle 22 traveling down the ramp 38.

Figs. 7 to 9 depict a toy vehicle 22 and an example of a toy apparatus for playing 20 in multiple states of movement. In FIG. 7, a toy vehicle 22 moves from a first elongated track 30 to a platform assembly 24, which is in a raised position. In FIG. 8, the toy vehicle 22 has moved through the platform assembly 24 to a stop member (not shown). The position of the vehicle in the platform assembly 24 has initiated the reversing mechanism 23 to reverse the platform assembly 24 around the platform axis 44. The position of the toy vehicle 22 in the platform assembly 24 has also initiated the mechanism of arc 25 for arching the platform assembly 24 around a bow stop 42. Accordingly, the platform assembly 24 and the toy vehicle 22 are in inverted and arched positions toward a vehicle receiving apparatus 34. In Fig. 9, when the releaser of the stop member 54 stops contacting the release activator of the stop member 36, the magnetic strip 58 rotates around the hinge 71 (not shown) causing the stop member 48 attached to the strip magnet 58 retracts into the empty space 51 on the vehicle support surface 49. Retraction of the stop member 48 allows the toy vehicle 22 to move into the vehicle receiving apparatus 34 through the guide 40 and toward down the ramp 38. After leaving the vehicle receiving apparatus 34, the toy vehicle 22 can be moved over a second elongated track 32, which may be at a different height than the first elongated track.

Another example of a play toy apparatus 20 comprises a base 28, a support structure 26 pivotally attached to the base 28 and adapted to rotate about an axis perpendicular to a direction of travel of a toy vehicle, and a platform assembly 24 with a vehicle support surface 49, defining the direction of travel, wherein the platform assembly 24 is attached to the support structure 26. In this example, the platform assembly 24 can not rotate about a platform axis 44. The support structure 26 can rotate about an axis, both perpendicular to the direction of travel, and parallel to the floor. Additional optional features in this example may include a first elongated track 30, a second elongated track 32, and a vehicle receiving apparatus 34.

Another example of a play toy apparatus 20 consists of a support structure 26 and a platform 24 with a vehicle support surface 49, which defines a direction of travel for a toy vehicle 22, wherein the platform is attached on pivots to the support structure 26 and is adapted to rotate about an axis parallel to the direction of travel. In this example, the support structure 26 can not rotate about a pivot axis 42 and the toy apparatus 20 can not include a base 28. The platform 24 can rotate about a platform axis, either parallel to the direction of displacement, as parallel to the floor. Other optional features of this example may be a first elongated track 30 and a second elongated track 32.

While the embodiments of a toy toy apparatus and methods for operating a toy apparatus have been particularly shown and described, many variations can be made therein. This disclosure may include one or more independent or interdependent inventions directed to various combinations of features, functions, elements and / or properties, one or more of which may be defined in the following claims. Other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and / or properties can be claimed later in this or another related request. Such variations, insofar as they are directed to different combinations or directed to the same combinations, whether different, broader, or less broad or equal in scope, are also estimated as being included within the subject matter of the present disclosure. An appreciation of the availability or significance of the claims not currently claimed can not be understood at the time. Accordingly, the foregoing modalities are illustrative, and no single feature or element, or combination thereof, is essential to all possible combinations that may be claimed in this or a subsequent application. Each claim defines an invention disclosed in the foregoing disclosure, but any of the claims does not necessarily encompass all the features or combinations that may be claimed.

Where the claims mention "a" or "a first" element or its equivalent, such claims include one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. In addition, the ordinal indicators, such as first, second or third, for identified elements, are used to distinguish between the elements, and do not indicate a required or limited number of such elements, and do not indicate a particular position of the order of such elements unless that something else is specifically established.

Inventions incorporated in various combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and / or properties can be claimed by presenting claims in a related application. Such claims, insofar as they are addressed to different or the same invention, whether different, broader, less broad or equal in scope to the other claims, are also considered as included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.

Claims (34)

1. - A play toy apparatus for use with a toy vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a base; a support structure joined on a pivot to the base; and a platform assembly attached to the support structure and having a supporting surface for a toy vehicle having a length; wherein the support structure is adapted to rotate relative to the base about an arc axis separated from the platform assembly a distance that exceeds the length of the support surface for toy vehicle.

2. The play toy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the platform assembly is rotatably mounted to the support structure.

3. The play toy apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the platform assembly is adapted to rotate relative to the support structure about a platform axis oriented at an angle of the arc axis when viewed from a normal plane to both, the platform axis and the arc axis.

4. The play toy apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the platform assembly is further adapted to rotate relative to the support structure about a platform axis substantially oriented in line with a direction of travel of a toy vehicle on the vehicle support surface.

5. - The play toy apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the platform assembly further comprises a gate mechanism adapted to selectively retain a vehicle disposed on the vehicle support surface.

6. The play toy apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the gate mechanism includes a barrier disposed in a travel path of a toy vehicle along the vehicle support surface, wherein the The barrier is adapted to be selectively removed.

7. The play toy apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the gate mechanism further comprises a stop member projecting inward from the travel path, wherein the stop member can be moved between a stop position in which the stop member extends into the travel path of the vehicle and a passing position in which the stop member is retracted from the travel path.

8. The play toy apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the platform assembly further comprises a first deflection mechanism adapted to deflect the stop member to the stop position.

9. The play toy apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the platform assembly further comprises a first stopping mechanism along a leading edge of the platform assembly and as a second stopping mechanism along the a trailing edge of the platform assembly, wherein the first stop mechanism and the second stop mechanism are each adapted to selectively stop the rotation of the platform assembly at different points.

10. The play toy apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first stop mechanism is adapted to interface with a first stop port in the support structure to stop the rotation of the platform assembly and the second The stopping mechanism is adapted to interface with a second stopping port in the support structure to stop the rotation of the platform assembly.

11. The play toy apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the platform assembly further comprises a magnet slidably mounted to the platform assembly beneath the vehicle support surface when the platform is in a raised position., the magnet being adapted to interact with a toy vehicle that includes one or more magnetically attractable elements.

12. The play toy apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the platform assembly further comprises: a release member slidably mounted to the platform assembly, wherein the release member engages with the first mechanism of stop at one end and engages with the magnet slidably mounted on the platform assembly at another end; and a second deflection mechanism adapted to deflect the release member into a locking position wherein the release member acts on the first stopping mechanism to project a first stopping member beyond the periphery of the vehicle support surface. .

13. The play toy apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the platform assembly further comprises a metal strip on the vehicle support surface for interacting with a toy vehicle that includes an element attracted to the metal.

14. The play toy apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the support structure further comprises a locking mechanism adapted to interface with a locking port on the base to selectively avoid arching the platform assembly around of the arc axis.

15. The toy toy apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking member, a locking housing, and a biasing member adapted to extend the locking member beyond the housing of the housing. locking to couple the locking port.

16. - The play toy apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the locking port is rotatably mounted to the base to selectively rotate the locking port relative to the base to engage the locking mechanism at different points along of the arc defined by the rotation of the locking mechanism attached to the support structure in relation to the base.

17. - The play toy apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a release of the stop member attached to the platform assembly and oriented on one side of the platform assembly opposite the vehicle support surface.

18. The play toy apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a release activator of the stop member adapted to engage the release of the stop member and retract the stop member to allow a toy vehicle to move. along the vehicle support surface.

19. The play toy apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising: a first elongated track having a support surface for toy vehicle positioned at a first height, the first elongated track having a terminal end oriented by of the platform assembly when the platform assembly is in a first position along an arc, so that a vehicle can be moved from the first elongated track to the platform assembly; and a second elongated track having a support surface for toy vehicle positioned at a second height, the second elongated track having a terminal end oriented near the platform assembly when the platform assembly is in a second position along a length of arc, so that a toy vehicle can be moved from the platform assembly to the second elongated track.

20. The play toy apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a vehicle receiving apparatus comprising: a guide defining an aperture configured to receive a toy vehicle on top of the vehicle receiving apparatus; and a ramp having a vehicle support surface extending from the guide to the second elongated track.

21. - The play toy apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the release member of the stop member is connected to the vehicle receiving apparatus.

22. A play toy apparatus for use with a toy vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a support structure; and a platform assembly rotatably mounted to the support structure and having a vehicle a vehicle support surface defining a direction of travel of the toy vehicle, wherein the platform assembly is adapted to rotate about an axis at least partially in line with the direction of travel.

23. The play toy apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the platform assembly further comprises a gate mechanism adapted to selectively retain a vehicle disposed on the vehicle support surface.

24. The play toy apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the gate mechanism includes a barrier arranged in a path of travel of a toy vehicle along a vehicle support surface, wherein the The barrier is adapted to be removed selectively.

25. The play toy apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the gate mechanism further comprises a stop member projecting inward from a travel path, wherein the stop member can be moved between a stop position in which the stop member extends within 1 travel path of the vehicle and a pass position in which the stop member is retracted from the travel path.

26. The play toy apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the platform assembly further comprises a first biasing mechanism adapted to bias the stop member to the stop position. The play toy apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the platform assembly further comprises a first stopping mechanism along a leading edge of the platform assembly and a second stopping mechanism along the a trailing edge of the platform assembly, wherein the first stopping mechanism and the second stopping mechanism are each adapted to selectively stop the rotation of the platform assembly at different points. 28. The play toy apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the first stop mechanism is adapted to interface with a first stop port in the support structure to stop the rotation of the platform assembly and the second The stopping mechanism is adapted to interface with the second stopping port in the support structure to stop the rotation of the platform assembly. 29. The play toy apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the platform assembly further comprises a magnet slidably mounted to the platform assembly below the vehicle support surface when the platform is in a raised position, the magnet being adapted to interact with a toy vehicle that includes one or more magnetically attractable elements. 30. The play toy apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the platform assembly further comprises: a release member slidably mounted on the platform assembly, wherein the release member engages with the first mechanism of Stop at one end and engage with the magnet slidably mounted to the platform assembly at another end; and a second deflection mechanism adapted to deflect the release member in a locked position wherein the release member acts on the first stopping mechanism to project a first stopping member beyond the periphery of the vehicle support surface. 31. The play toy apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the platform assembly additionally comprises a metal strip on the vehicle support surface for interacting with a toy vehicle that includes an element attracted to the metal. 32.- The. play toy apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising: a first elongated track having a vehicle support surface defining a first plane substantially in line with the plane defined by the vehicle support surface when the assembly of platform is in a raised position, wherein the first elongated track is oriented near the platform assembly so that a toy vehicle can be moved from the first elongated track to the platform assembly when the platform assembly is in a position lifted; and a second elongated track having a vehicle support surface defining a second plane substantially in line with the plane defined by the vehicle support surface when the platform assembly is in an inverted position, wherein the second elongated track is oriented near the platform assembly so that a toy vehicle can be moved from the platform assembly to the second elongated track when the platform assembly is in an inverted position. 33.- A play toy apparatus, characterized in that it comprises: a first vehicle track having a first vehicle support surface extending in a first plane and defining a displacement path; a second vehicle track having a second vehicle support surface extending in a second plane transverse to the first plane and defining a second travel path; and means for carrying a toy vehicle received from the first vehicle support surface to the second vehicle support surface. 34. The play toy apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the first vehicle track is at a first floor height and the second elongated track is at a second floor height.