WO2006101980A2 - Toy wheel launcher - Google Patents

Abstract

A movable assembly (26) such as a wheel, top, or axle, a launcher, a drive mechanism that is used to spin all or a portion of the movable assembly (26). The launcher (32) may include two arms (72,74) that are adapted to engage the movable assembly (26) on opposite sides. Other examples may include a handle (38) that may extend along a longitudinal axis (77) that may be substantially transverse to an axis (67) of rotation of the movable assembly (26).

Description

TOY WHEEL LAUNCHER

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 60/663,407, filed on March 16, 2005, U.S. Patent Application No. 11/376,677, filed March 14, 2006, the complete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to amusement devices, and more particularly to amusement devices that include a rotatable wheel assembly, a drive mechanism, and a release mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE A toy may include a movable assembly, such as a wheel, top, axle, or other device, as well as a launcher, and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism mav be used to spin all or a portion of the movable assembly. Various toys including launchers are disclosed in the following patents and references, which are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes: US 175,345; US 233,084; US 649,673; US 661,052; US 942,952; US 1,255,575;

US 1,784,684; US 2,937,472; US 3,216,529; US 3,621,607; US 3,701,216;

US 3,733,742; US 3,798,832; US 3,815,911; US 3,895,458; US 3,919,804;

US 3,932,957; US 3,984,939; US 4,043,556; US 4,483,096; US 4,501,567;

US 4,526,554; US 4,571,212; US 4,659,320; US 4,732,569; US 4,740,001; US 4,946,417; US 4,959,035; US 5,330,381; US 5,643,036; US 6,475,059; US 6,676,476; US 6,666,743; US D296,803; US D296,804; US D296,805; US D296,806; EP 332,407; GB 2,191,416; GB 2,252,055; and GB 2,262,705.

5 SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A movable assembly such as a wheel, top, or axle may be used in conjunction

with a launcher and/or a drive mechanism that is used to spin all or a portion of the

movable assembly. The launcher may include two arms that are adapted to engage

the movable assembly on opposite sides. Other examples of a launcher may

o include a handle that may extend along a longitudinal axis that may be substantially

transverse to an axis of rotation of the movable assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toy including a launcher, a drive mechanism,

5 and a rotatable assembly.

Fig. 2 is side plan view of a portion of the toy of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front plan view of a second toy including a launcher with a release

mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a third toy including a launcher with a release

o mechanism, shown in a support state and a release state.

Fig. 5 is a side plan view of a number of rim and tire combinations that are

suitable as rotatable assemblies for use with the toys of Figs. 3-4.

Figs. 6-9 are perspective views of four accessories adapted for use with a toy

launcher. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a fifth accessory with built-in launchers

adapted for use with one or more rotatable assemblies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

An illustrative example of a toy is illustrated in Fig. 1 and indicated generally

at 20. Toy 20 may include a support 22, a drive mechanism 24, and a movable

assembly 26. In this example, support 22 may be adapted to support or engage

movable assembly 26. Support 22 and movable assembly 26 may cooperate to

allow movement of a portion or all of movable assembly 26 relative to a work

surface 28 and/or relative to support 22. Support 22 may be adapted to be self-

standing or to be held or supported, such as by another device or by a user.

Drive mechanism 24 may be adapted to apply a force on all or a portion of

movable assembly 26. The drive mechanism may be an energy converter that

changes one form of energy to movement of all or a portion of the movable

assembly. The drive mechanism may use a source of power, such as an electrical

battery or power supply, or mechanical source, such as a spring, and/or may use a

converter to convert electrical energy. The force applied may be partially or

completely relative to support 22, and may produce motion relative to support 22

and/or to work surface 28. Any motion produced may be in the form of cyclic

movement, such as reciprocating or rotating, such as a spinning top. Support 22

and movable assembly 26 may be adapted for the movable assembly to be

continuously attached to or supported by support 22. Optionally, support 22 and

movable assembly 26 may be adapted for the movable assembly to be removable

from the support. Removal of the movable assembly from the support may occur as a result of operation of the toy and/or as a result of an action of a user.

As a first example, toy 20 may include a support 22 in the form of a launcher

32, a drive mechanism 24 in the form of a rotator 34, and a movable assembly in

the form of a spinning assembly 36. As a further example, launcher 32 may include

a handle 38 and a yoke 40. Rotator 34 may include an elongate pull element 42 and

a shaft 44. As particularly shown in Figs. 1-2, rotator 34 may include a guide 46

mounted on yoke 40, pull element 42 may include a rip cord 48 including a pull

handle 50 and an elongated rack 52. Handle 38 may be adapted to be grasped by a

first hand of a user of toy 20, while the second hand grasps pull handle 50. Rack 52

may be flexible or rigid. Shaft 44 may include a pinion or gear 54. Rack 52 may

have teeth 56 and gear 54 may have teeth 58 sized to mesh with teeth 56. When a

user pulls handle 38, rack teeth 56 may engage gear teeth 58 and rotate the gear,

and thereby the wheel assembly.

Spinning assembly 36 may include a wheel assembly 60 having opposite

sides, a hub or rim 62, and a tire 64. Wheel assembly 60 may be a single element

or multiple elements, with tire 64 removably attached to rim 62. The wheel

assembly may be fixed to an axle 66 for rotation about rotational axis 67 as a unit

with the axle, or wheel assembly 60 may rotate relative to axle 66 on one or more

bearing members 68. Gear 54 may be attached to one side of wheel assembly 60

for rotation with wheel assembly 60, or gear 54 may be mounted for rotation on

yoke 40. In this latter example, gear 54 may frictionally or mechanically engage

wheel assembly 60 while yoke 40 supports wheel assembly 60, or may be otherwise

drivingly coupled to the wheel assembly.

Yoke 40 may secure or support spinning assembly 36 by frictionally or mechanically engaging both ends 69 of axle 66 in slots, such as slot 70, in distal

ends of arms 72 and 74 of the yoke that extend from a base 76. Slots 70, as shown,

may open in a direction that is substantially downwardly toward work surface 28

when launcher 32 is held in a launching position. Alternatively, the yoke arms may

be biased toward each other for clamping wheel assembly 60 in place. In such an

example, a bearing element, not shown, may be disposed between each arm and a

side of the wheel assembly. The bearing element may allow rotation of the wheel

assembly relative to the yoke, and may be mounted to the yoke or to the wheel

assembly.

Handle 38 may extend along a longitudinal axis 77 that may be transverse or

orthogonal to rotational axis 67 when movable assembly 26, or, more particularly,

spinning assembly 36, is supported on launcher 32. For a first line and a second line

that do not intersect, the first line may be considered transverse to the second (or

vice versa) if the lines intersect when viewed normal to a plane containing one axis

and parallel to the other axis. The first line may be considered orthogonal to the

second (or vice versa) if the lines intersect at a right angle when viewed in the same

way, as exists with axes 67 and 77 in Figs. 1-4. In other examples, longitudinal axis

77 may intersect rotational axis 67, or may otherwise not be either transverse or

orthogonal.

Toy 20 may also include a release mechanism 78 adapted to release spinning

assembly 36 from yoke 40. Release mechanism 78 may include at least one of

movable assembly 26, launcher 32, and drive mechanism 24, and may actively or

passively release the spinning assembly. For example, an element may force the

spinning assembly from yoke 40. Optionally, release mechanism 78 may be changed from a support state, in which the yoke supports the spinning assembly, to a release

state in which the yoke no longer supports the spinning assembly. Rack 52, as

shown in Hg. 2, may support spinning assembly 36 when rack teeth 56 engage gear

teeth 58, but may allow axle 66 to drop out of slots 70 when rack 52 is pulled

5 beyond gear 54. In other embodiments, yoke 40 may be adapted to be switched

from a support position, in which arms 72 and 74 are substantially parallel to each

other, to a release position, in which the arms are rotated away from each other, or

otherwise separated from each other.

For example, as shown in Fig. 3, a yoke 40' of a second launcher 32' may be

o made of resilient material or include resilient or movable portions that may be

manipulated to separate the yoke arms, disengaging the spinning assembly from the

yoke. Optionally, other configurations, such as a mechanical linkage assembly, may

be used that can be manipulated to open or close the yoke arms by moving one or

both of the arms. In this example, arms 72' and 74' may be joined at a pivot 80. A

5 bias element 82, such as a spring, may bias the arms toward or away from each

other. If biased away from each other, a latch 84, such as a bar, retaining pin, or

other element, may oppose the bias element to hold the arms together in the

support state. Release of the latch, such as by retracting the bar or pin, then may

allow the arms to separate, rotating about pivot 80 and releasing the spinning

D assembly. The spinning assembly may thus be released onto the work surface by

simply dropping it from the yoke due to gravitational forces acting on the spinning

assembly once support is removed.

If the yoke arms are biased toward each other, then a device may be used

that separates the arms. Such an example is illustrated in Fig. 4, which shows a yoke 40" having arms 72" and 74" one or both of which pivot about a pivot 80'. The

lower ends of the arms have holes 85 sized to receive ends 69 of axle 66 when

wheel assembly 60 is supported by launcher 32". The upper ends of arms 72" and

74" may be configured to form between them an opening 86 and a straight or

5 tapered channel 88. A separating member or wedge 90 disposed in the opening

may be configured to separate arms 72" and 74" when it is directed into the channel

to urge the arms of the yoke toward the release position. Wedge 90 may be

connected to a trigger 92 that is mounted to handle 38" extending along longitudinal

axis 77'. The wedge and trigger may pivot about a pivot 94. The trigger may be

o pulled toward handle 38" to force wedge 90 into channel 80.

During use, for example to spin a wheel assembly, a movable assembly, such

as a spinning assembly 36 including a wheel assembly 60, is secured to a support

22, such as to a yoke 40, as has been described. Moving a ripcord 48 through a

guide 46 (not shown) rotates wheel assembly 60, when the wheel assembly is

5 supported by the arms 72 and 74. The direction of wheel rotation may depend on

the direction of movement of the ripcord, unless support 22 includes a clutch

mechanism that provides for engagement between teeth 56 and 58 (described

previously) only during movement of the ripcord in one direction. The position of

the guide relative to the axis 67 of rotation of the wheel assembly, as represented

D by axle 66, may determine the direction of rotation of the wheel assembly when the

ripcord is pulled or pushed. Optionally, gear 54 may be part of a gear train that may

change the direction of wheel rotation and/or change the ratio of rack movement to

wheel rotation. In the simple example shown in Fig. 2, by positioning the guide

below the gear, the ripcord may be inserted with the handle 50 next to handle 38. In this configuration, pulling on the ripcord by a user produces a rotation on

the wheel assembly in which the top of the wheel assembly moves away from the

handle and a user holding the toy. When the ripcord is pulled out of the guide, the

wheel assembly is driven into rotation, and, in the example shown in Fig. 2, the

wheel assembly falls out of the slots of the yoke. In other examples, such as those

illustrated in Figs. 3-4, the user may activate release mechanism 78, such as by

moving trigger 92 toward handle 38' or 38", thereby releasing the spinning assembly

from the yoke. When the spinning assembly is released, the wheel assembly may

roll away from the user after it lands on work surface 28. Other appropriate

configurations for providing support, movement and/or release of a movable

assembly, such as mechanisms disclosed in the references identified above, may

also be used.

Fig. 5 shows a number of configurations for a wheel assembly 60, which may

be assembled from one rim 62 selected from a plurality of rims and one tire 64

selected from a plurality of tires. Rims 62 may be available in a number of sizes and

with a number of appearances, including variations in diameters, number and/or

pattern of spokes, and the like. Examples 62a, 62b, and 62n are shown, where n is

a number corresponding to the number of styles available. Similarly, tires 64 may

be available in a number of sizes and with a number of appearances, including

variations in diameters, tread patterns, and the like. Examples 64a, 64b, and 64n

are shown. The inner diameter of each tire 64 may correspond to the outer

diameter of any subset of rims 62, such that any particular tire may or may not fit

on any particular rim. Additionally or alternatively, the available number of rims 62

may be different than the available number tires 64. Accordingly, the configuration of wheel assemblies 60 may be customizable and flexible.

Various accessories 110 that may be used with a toy 20 are illustrated in

Figs. 6 - 10. Fig. 6 is an illustration of a ramp assembly 112 that may include a

ramp 114 adapted to be placed on work surface 28. Ramp 114 includes a ramp

5 surface 116 that extends upwardly from the work surface. Ramp surface 116 may

be straight and/or curved, and defines an incline 118 that projects a wheel assembly

60 traveling up the incline into the air. Incline 118 may be configured to be gradual

or steep, with the direction and distance that the wheel assembly travels beyond the

ramp dependent on the incline configuration and speed and direction of travel of the

o wheel assembly up the incline.

Ramp assembly 112 may also include a barrier or obstacle 120 mounted

relative to the ramp 116, such as behind, above, or adjacent to the incline. In the

configuration illustrated, obstruction 120 may have the appearance of or be a scale

version of a common object, such as a football goal post, or a high-jump or pole-

5 vaulting bar. The obstruction may be fixed in position relative to the ramp, or it may

be adjustable. The ramp and obstruction may be configured to allow wheel

assemblies that have sufficient speed to fly over it when they ascend the incline, as

indicated by the dashed arrow.

Figs. 7-9 illustrates three additional accessories 110 that may be used in

) conjunction with a toy 20. One accessory is a double ramp 122 having first and

second inclines 124 and 126 that increase in height toward an open channel 128

that separates the inclines. A challenge for a player may be to propel a wheel

assembly 60 across work surface 28 at an appropriate speed that the wheel

assembly rises on one incline and then rolls down the other incline without falling into the channel.

Fig. 8 illustrates an inclined curve assembly 130 having a travel surface 132

that starts at or near work surface 28 and arches along a curve that is inclined

upwardly from the inside to the outside of the curve. Assembly 130 may include a

5 barrier 134 along at least a portion of the outside edge of the curve, which may

retain a moving wheel assembly 60 on surface 132. A challenge for a player may be

to propel a wheel assembly 60 toward the curve at a speed appropriate to cause the

wheel assembly to stay on the curve and, as a result, turn the corner defined by the

curve, without hitting the barrier.

o A third accessory, shown in Fig. 9, is a target game 136 including a platform

138 having a surface 140 adapted to conform along a front edge 142 generally with

work surface 28. A short barrier 144 may extend along a rear edge 146. One or

more targets 148, such as miniature barrels 150, may be positioned along platform

surface 140. A challenge for a player may be to propel a wheel assembly toward

5 platform 138 in a direction appropriate to knock one or more barrels or other targets

down or off of the platform.

Fig. 10 depicts a "Drag Race" game 152 that may be played by two or more

players. Game 152 may include two or more built-in launchers 32'", as shown in Fig.

10. Alternatively, each player may use a separate launcher 32 as described above

) and shown in Figs. 1-4. Game 152 may include a surface 154 having indicia 156

defining a track 160 having a plurality of lanes 162. Game 152 may include a sensor

assembly 164 adapted to sense when a wheel assembly 60 has been released from

a built-in launcher 32'", or has been released onto surface 154 by a separate

launcher. Various forms of sensor systems may be used, such as infrared (IR), electromagnetic, electrical, sonic, mechanical, or combinations of them.

Start of a race may be controlled by a starting system 166 that may include a

series of lights 168 in the configuration of a drag race "tree." Lights 168 may be

used to countdown visually the start of a race, in which lights may be controlled by

an electronic controller 170 contained in a base 172 supporting a pole 174 that in

turn supports the lights. Lights 168 may be of different colors, and for example,

may include a red light, an amber light and a green light. In some examples there

may be a plurality of lights, such as a plurality of amber lights. The start of a race

may include the sequential lighting of red lights, then amber lights, and finally a

green light signaling players that they may direct a wheel assembly or other

propelled object from a launcher.

Game 152 may also include an ending gate 176 having a sensor or sensors

178 built into or on surface 154 that detects when wheel assemblies pass through

the ending gate. Sensor 178 may, for example, be a proximity sensor, and/or may

be a sonic, IR, physical, or other suitable sensor. A sensor 178 may be used for

each lane. Optionally, spaced transmitters and receivers may be used for sensors

178, similar to sensor assembly 164. Additionally, a display 180, such as a flag 182

that is mounted on and movable relative to a base 184, may be used to indicate the

lane in which the winner of the race traveled. Other forms of visual and/or audible

displays may also be used. Controller 170 may also be responsive to sensors 178

and may control operation of display 180.

Controller 170 may be configured to function in different ways or different

modes. For example, one mode may be simply in changing the lights from red to

green to signal the start of a race. In another mode, the controller may be . configured to determine whether a wheel assembly passes through the starting gate

before the green light is lit. In yet another mode, the controller may include a timer,

not shown, and be configured to determine, display and store for each lane, the

elapsed time for a wheel assembly to pass from the starting gate to the ending gate.

5 In yet a further mode, as has been stated, the controller may operate a display 180

to indicate the lane of a winner of a race.

A toy 20 adapted to move a movable assembly may thus have various

configurations. In one configuration, it may be a hand-held device adapted to

support a movable assembly. The toy may be a launcher adapted to rotate a wheel

o assembly at a high speed, and release the wheel assembly when a user operates a

release mechanism. The toy may accordingly include a movable assembly having a

wheel assembly and opposite sides. The toy may also include a launcher that has

two arms that are adapted to extend along the sides of the movable assembly and a

drive mechanism that is mounted relative to the launcher. The drive mechanism

5 may be adapted to be operated selectively by a user to apply a force to the movable

assembly. Some embodiments may also have a release mechanism that may include

at least one of the movable assembly, the launcher, and the drive mechanism. The

release mechanism may be configured to be changed between a support state,

where the launcher retains the movable assembly, and a release state, where the

o movable assembly is released from the launcher.

In other configurations, toy 20 may include an axle having an axis. At least

one wheel assembly may be coupled to, and rotatable about, the axis. The toy may

also include a drive mechanism adapted to apply a force to the wheel assembly.

The drive mechanism may have a pull handle adapted to be grasped and pulled by a user's second hand, and an elongated rack coupled to the pull handle. The rack

may have a plurality of rack teeth adapted to engage the gear teeth and rotate the

gear and thereby the wheel assembly when the pull element is pulled by the user.

The toy may also include a support adapted to engage the axle, and a handle

5 mounted relative to the support member. The handle may be adapted to be

grasped by a first hand of a user, and may extend along a longitudinal axis that is

substantially transverse to the axis of the axle when the support engages the axle.

A spinning wheel assembly, or a movable assembly with a spinning wheel

assembly, released onto a work surface may engage one or a plurality of accessories

o that are impacted by the wheel assembly or which affect the travel of the wheel

assembly. Other accessories may function with a wheel assembly independently of a

launcher, to produce outputs related to the wheel assembly.

This disclosure may include one or more independent or interdependent

inventions directed to various combinations of features, functions, elements and/or

5 properties. While examples of apparatus and methods are particularly shown and

described, many variations may be made therein. Various combinations and sub-

combinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed in

one or more related applications. Such variations, whether they are directed to

different combinations or directed to the same combinations, whether different,

) broader, narrower or equal in scope, are regarded as included within the subject

matter of the present disclosure.

The described examples are illustrative and directed to specific examples of

apparatus and/or methods rather than a specific invention, and no single feature or

element, or combination thereof, is essential to all possible combinations. Thus, any one of various inventions that may be claimed based on the disclosed example or

examples does not necessarily encompass all or any particular features,

characteristics or combinations, unless subsequently specifically claimed. Where "a"

or "a first" element or the equivalent thereof is recited, such usage includes one or

more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.

Further, 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 or order of such

elements unless otherwise specifically indicated.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The methods and apparatus described in the present disclosure are applicable

to toys, games, and other devices, and industries in which amusement devices are

used.

Claims

„..I Claim:

1. A toy 20 comprising:

a movable assembly 26 including a wheel assembly 60 and having opposite

sides;

a launcher 32 including two arms 72,74 adapted to extend along the movable

assembly sides;

a drive mechanism 24 mounted relative to the launcher, the drive mechanism

being adapted to be operated selectively by a user to apply a force to the movable

assembly; and

a release mechanism 78 including at least one of the movable assembly, the

launcher and the drive mechanism, the release mechanism being configured to be

changed between a support state, where the launcher supports the movable

assembly, and a release state, where the movable assembly is released from the

launcher.

2. The toy of claim 1,

wherein the launcher 32 includes a yoke 40 having the two arms;

wherein the movable assembly 26 includes an axle 66 having two ends 69

5 that each extend from a side of the movable assembly, each axle end being adapted

to be engaged by a respective arm 72,74; and

wherein the at wheel assembly 60 includes the opposite sides of the movable

assembly from which the axle ends extend, the wheel assembly being rotatable

relative to the launcher 32 when supported by the launcher in the support state.

0

3. The toy of claim 2,

wherein the axle 66 extends along a rotational axis 67 about which the wheel

assembly 60 rotates; and

wherein the launcher 32 further includes a handle 38 that is adapted to be

5 grasped by a user's first hand, the handle extending along a longitudinal axis 77 that

is substantially transverse to the rotational axis 67 when the launcher 32 supports

the movable assembly 26.

4. The toy of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal axis 77 of the handle and

!0 the rotational axis 67 do not intersect.

5. The toy of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal axis 77 of the handle and

the rotational axis 67 are orthogonal.

5 6. The toy of claim 2, wherein the drive mechanism 24 includes:

a gear 54 drivingly coupled to the wheel assembly 60 and having a plurality of

gear teeth 58; and

a pull element 42 that includes:

a pull handle 50 adapted to be grasped and pulled by a user's second

o hand, and

an elongated rack 52 coupled to the pull handle, the rack having a

plurality of rack teeth 56 that are adapted to engage the gear teeth 58 and rotate

the gear 54, and thereby the wheel assembly 60, when the pull element 42 is pulled

by the user.

5

7. The toy of claim 6,

wherein the yoke arms 72,74 each include a slot 70 that is adapted to engage

one end 69 of the axle 66, the slots being oriented such that, when the launcher 32

is held in a launching position, the slots open substantially downwardly.

8. The toy of claim 7,

wherein the launcher 32 includes a guide 46 mounted on at least one arm 74

of the yoke, the guide being adapted to receive the pull element 42 with the rack

5 teeth 56 engaging the gear teeth 58 and supporting the movable assembly 26 with

the ends 69 of the axle 66 retained within the slots 70 when the release mechanism

78 is in the support state, and

wherein, when the pull element 42 is pulled to a position where the rack 52 is

pulled beyond the gear 54, the ends of the axle 66 are allowed to drop free from the

o slots 70 when the release mechanism 78 is in the release state.

9. The toy of claim 2, wherein the launcher 32 further includes:

a pivot 80 that is adapted to couple the yoke arms 72,74 to each other such

that the arms rotate between a support position, where the arms are substantially

5 parallel to each other when the release mechanism 78 is in the support state, and a

release position, where the arms are rotated away from each other when the release

mechanism is in the release state, and

a bias element 82 that is adapted to urge the yoke arms 72,74 one of toward

the support position and toward the release position.

10. The toy of claim 9,

wherein the bias element 82 is adapted to urge the yoke arms 72,74 toward

the release position; and

5 wherein the release mechanism 78 further includes a latch 84 that is adapted

to oppose the bias element 82 when the release mechanism 78 is in the support

state.

11. The toy of claim 9,

o wherein the bias element 82 is adapted to urge the yoke arms 72,74 toward

the support position; and

wherein the release mechanism 78 includes a trigger 92 that is adapted,

when actuated, to urge the arms of the yoke 72,74 toward the release position.

5 12. The toy of claim 11,

wherein the yoke arms 72,74 define an opening 86 and a channel 88; and

wherein the trigger 92 includes:

a separating member 90 that is disposed within the opening 86 and

that is adapted to be forced into the channel 88 to urge the arms 72,74 of the yoke

D toward the release position.

13. The toy of claim 2, wherein the wheel assembly 60 includes a rim 62

and a tire 64, wherein the tire is removably attached to the rim, and wherein the rim

is selectable from a plurality of rims and the tire is selectable from a plurality of tires.

14. The toy of claim 1, further including a ramp assembly 112 including an

incline 118 that is adapted to be positioned on a work surface 28 and that is adapted

to project the movable assembly 26 into the air when the movable assembly is

released by the launcher 32 and propelled across the work surface and onto the

ramp assembly.

15. The toy of claim 14, wherein the ramp assembly includes first and

second inclines 124,126 that both increase in height toward an open channel 128

that separates the inclines.

16. The toy of claim 14, wherein the incline 118 has a surface 116 and the

ramp assembly includes an obstacle 120 positioned adjacent to the incline opposite

the surface, the obstacle being adapted to be positioned at different heights above

the incline.

17. The toy of claim 1, further including an inclined curve assembly 130

that is adapted to be positioned on a work surface 28, and that is adapted to

redirect the movable assembly 26 along the work surface, when the movable

5 assembly is released by the launcher 32 and propelled across the work surface and

onto the inclined curve assembly.

18. The toy of claim 1, further including a target game assembly 136 that

is adapted to be positioned on a work surface 28, the target game assembly

o including a surface 140 and one or more targets 148 that are adapted to be

positioned on the surface and to be knocked down by the movable assembly, 26

when the movable assembly is released by the launcher 32 and propelled across the

work surface and onto the target game assembly surface 140.

5 19. An assembly comprising:

two of the toys 20 of claim 1, each toy having an associated movable

assembly 26 and drive mechanism 24; and

further including a drag race game assembly 152 that includes a surface 154

and 162 a lane associated with each toy, the lanes being adapted to permit the

3 respective movable assemblies to move along the associated lanes.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the launchers 32 are mounted side-

by-side on the surface 154, wherein each lane 162 extends away from the

associated launcher 32.

21. A toy 20, comprising:

an axle 66 having an axis 67;

at least one wheel assembly 60 that is coupled to the axle and is rotatable

5 about the axis;

a drive mechanism 24 that is adapted to apply a force to the wheel assembly,

including:

a gear 54 drivingly coupled to the wheel assembly and having a

plurality of gear teeth 58; and

o a pull element 42 that includes a pull handle 50 that is adapted to be

grasped and pulled by a user's second hand, and an elongated rack 52 coupled to

the pull handle, the rack having a plurality of rack teeth 56 that are adapted to

engage the gear teeth 58 and rotate the gear 54 and thereby the wheel assembly 60

when the pull element 42 is pulled by the user;

5 a support 22 that is adapted to engage the axle 66; and

a handle 38 that is mounted relative to the support 22 and that is adapted to

be grasped by a first hand of a user, the handle extending along a longitudinal axis

77 that is substantially transverse to the axis of the axle 67 when the support 22

engages the axle 66.

)

22. The toy of claim 21, wherein the longitudinal axis 77 of the handle and

the axis 67 of the axle do not intersect.

23. The toy of claim 22, wherein the longitudinal axis 77 of the handle and the axis 67 of the axle are orthogonal.

24. The toy of claim 21,

wherein the wheel assembly 60 has opposite sides;

wherein the axle 60 has two ends 69 that extend from a corresponding side

of the wheel assembly 60; and

wherein the support 22 includes a yoke 40 having two arms 72,74 that are

each adapted to engage one end 69 of the axle.

25. The toy of claim 21,

wherein the axle 66 and the wheel assembly 60 collectively form a movable

assembly 26;

wherein the support 22 and the handle 38 collectively form a launcher 32;

and

wherein the toy 20 further comprises a release mechanism 78 including at

least one of the launcher 32, the drive mechanism 24, and the movable assembly 26

that is adapted to be selectively switched between a support state where the

movable assembly 26 is retained to the launcher 32 and a release state where the

movable assembly 26 is released from the launcher 32.