US20110104982A1

US20110104982A1 - Toy race car

Info

Publication number: US20110104982A1
Application number: US12/912,489
Authority: US
Inventors: Stephen Andrew Koehl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-10-29
Filing date: 2010-10-26
Publication date: 2011-05-05

Abstract

A toy race car includes four wheels and a compartment for a marble in a central region of the car. With a marble installed in the car, all four wheels and the marble may roll at the same time as the car is moved. The car may be rolled on a surface or raced on a track. In some embodiments, the car may include lights that may flash as the car is moved.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional patent application No. 61/256,213, filed Oct. 29, 2009, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to toy race cars and, more particularly, to a toy race car with four wheels and a compartment for a marble in a center region of the car.
Conventional toy race cars are typically made of metal and/or plastic, with four wheels on which the car may roll. Toy race cars may be pushed along a surface. Marbles are often use as a toy and may be collected and/or traded. There are few toys that may combine marbles with toy cars.
As can be seen, there is a need for a toy that combines a marble with a toy race car.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a toy comprises a toy body; at least two wheels disposed to rotate relative to the toy body and carry the toy body thereupon; and a compartment in a central region of the toy body, the compartment adapted to fit a marble therewithin, wherein when the marble is installed in the compartment and the toy is moved along a surface, both the wheels and the marble roll.
In another aspect of the present invention, a toy race car comprises a car body; four wheels disposed to rotate relative to the car body and carry the car body thereupon; and a compartment in a central region of the car body, the compartment adapted to fit a marble therewithin, wherein when the marble is installed in the compartment and the toy race car is moved along a surface, both the wheels and the marble roll simultaneously.
In a further aspect of the present invention, a kit comprises toy race car comprising a car body, four wheels disposed to rotate relative to the car body and carry the car body thereupon, and a compartment in a central region of the car body; a marble adapted to fit inside the compartment; and decals for decorating the car body.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy race car according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the toy race car of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the toy race car of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a bottom view of the toy race car of FIG. 1 with a pin for retaining a marble in the toy race car; and

FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the toy race car of FIG. 1 with a ring for retaining a marble in the toy race car.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a toy race car with four wheels and a compartment for a marble in a central region of the car. With a marble installed in the car, all four wheels and the marble may roll at the same time as the car is moved. The car may be rolled on a surface or raced on a track. In some embodiments, the car may include lights that may flash as the car is moved.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a toy, such as a toy race car 10 may include a toy body, such as a car body 12, and a plurality of wheels 14. Typically, the car 10 may include four wheels 14 disposed near each of the four corners of the car body 12. Two wheels 14 may attach to opposite ends of an axle 16. Typically, two axles 16 may be disposed across the bottom of the car body 14. The axles 16 may be able to rotate with respect to the car body 12. The car body 12 may be formed from, for example, plastic, metal or other similar material. In some embodiments, the car body 12 may be formed of a clear plastic. In some embodiments, the car body 12 may be decorated with decals according to the preferences of the user. The axles 16 may be made from plastic or metal. Similarly, the wheels 14 may be made from plastic or metal.
A compartment 18 may be formed in a central region of the car body 12. The compartment 18 may be dimensioned to contain a marble 20 at least partially therewithin. The compartment 18 and marble 20 may be sized so that, when the marble 20 is installed in the compartment 18, and the car 10 is placed on a surface on its wheels 14, the wheels 14 and the marble 20 may contact the surface simultaneously. In some embodiments, the compartment 18 may have a diameter of about 1 inch. The marble 20 may be made from glass, plastic, metal or the like. In some embodiments, the marble 20 may have lights, typically flashing lights, that may come on during movement of the marble 20.
The marble 20 may be held in place by various means. As shown in FIG. 4A, a pin 24 may fit in a hole 22 in the car body. A retaining member 26 may extend from the pin 24 to cover a portion of the compartment 18 once the marble 20 is installed therewithin. The retaining member 26 may hold the marble 20 in place, yet allow it to roll freely with the car 10. In alternate embodiments, snaps, buttons or other structures may be used to hold the marble 20 in the compartment 18. For example, a plastic ring 28 may be used to hold the marble 20 in the compartment 18 as shown in FIG. 4B.
The toy race car 10 may roll on four wheels 14 and the marble 20 in the compartment 18 may roll along with the four wheels 14 as the car 10 is rolled on a surface. When the car body 12 is clear, a user may see the marble 20 roll as the car 10 rolls.
The car body 12 of the toy race car 10 may be, for example, molded from plastic and a hole may be bored in a central region of the car body 12 to form the compartment 18. In some embodiments, the car body 12 may be molded with the compartment 18 pre-formed as part of the mold for the car body 12. In some embodiments, the car body 12 may be injection molded.
While the above embodiments describe the toy as a car, the present invention may be designed in a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, instead of a car, the present invention may be designed as a three-wheel vehicle, a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle, a motorcycle, a tractor, or some other similar design, provided that a compartment may be formed in the body of the toy to hold a marble.
The toy race car 10 of the present invention may be provided as a kit to allow a user to build their own race car. Various marble designs and decals may be selected to provide a custom-designed toy race car. In some embodiments, the toy race car 10 may be provided fully or partially assembled.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A toy comprising:

a toy body;

at least two wheels disposed to rotate relative to the toy body and carry the toy body thereupon; and

a compartment in a central region of the toy body, the compartment adapted to fit a marble therewithin, wherein

when the marble is installed in the compartment and the toy is moved along a surface, both the wheels and the marble roll.

2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the wheels are disposed on opposite sides of an axle, the axle rotationally attached to the toy body.

3. The toy of claim 1, further comprising:

four wheels; and

first and second axles, the wheels attached to ends of the first and second axles.

4. The toy of claim 1, wherein the compartment includes a ring for retaining the marble in the compartment.

5. The toy of claim 1, wherein the compartment includes a pin and retaining member for retaining the marble in the compartment.

6. The toy of claim 1, wherein, when the marble is installed in the compartment and the toy is moved along a surface, the wheels and the marble roll simultaneously.

7. A toy race car comprising:

a car body;

four wheels disposed to rotate relative to the car body and carry the car body thereupon; and

a compartment in a central region of the car body, the compartment adapted to fit a marble therewithin, wherein

when the marble is installed in the compartment and the toy race car is moved along a surface, both the wheels and the marble roll simultaneously.

8. The toy race car of claim 8, further comprising means for retaining the marble in the compartment.

9. A kit comprising:

toy race car comprising:

a car body;

a compartment in a central region of the car body;

a marble adapted to fit inside the compartment; and

decals for decorating the car body.

10. The kit of claim 9, wherein a pin and retaining member is used to retain the marble in the compartment.