Toy wheel launcher

Abstract

A movable assembly 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. The launcher may include two arms that are adapted to engage the movable assembly on opposite sides. Other examples may include a handle that may extend along a longitudinal axis that may be substantially transverse to an axis of rotation of the movable assembly.

1 . A toy comprising: 
 a movable assembly including a wheel assembly and having opposite sides;    a launcher including two arms adapted to extend along the movable assembly sides;    a drive mechanism 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 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 includes a yoke having the two arms;    wherein the movable assembly includes an axle having two ends that each extend from a side of the movable assembly, each axle end being adapted to be engaged by a respective arm; and    wherein the at wheel assembly includes the opposite sides of the movable assembly from which the axle ends extend, the wheel assembly being rotatable relative to the launcher when supported by the launcher in the support state.    
   
   
       3 . The toy of  claim 2 , 
 wherein the axle extends along a rotational axis about which the wheel assembly rotates; and    wherein the launcher further includes a handle that is adapted to be grasped by a user's first hand, the handle extending along a longitudinal axis that is substantially transverse to the rotational axis when the launcher supports the movable assembly.    
   
   
       4 . The toy of  claim 3 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the handle and the rotational axis do not intersect.  
   
   
       5 . The toy of  claim 3 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the handle and the rotational axis are orthogonal.  
   
   
       6 . The toy of  claim 2 , wherein the drive mechanism includes: 
 a gear drivingly coupled to the wheel assembly and having a plurality of gear teeth; and    a pull element that includes: 
 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 having a plurality of rack teeth that are adapted to engage the gear teeth and rotate the gear, and thereby the wheel assembly, when the pull element is pulled by the user.  
   
   
   
       7 . The toy of  claim 6 , 
 wherein the yoke arms each include a slot that is adapted to engage one end of the axle, the slots being oriented such that, when the launcher is held in a launching position, the slots open substantially downwardly.    
   
   
       8 . The toy of  claim 7 , 
 wherein the launcher includes a guide mounted on at least one arm of the yoke, the guide being adapted to receive the pull element with the rack teeth engaging the gear teeth and supporting the movable assembly with the ends of the axle retained within the slots when the release mechanism is in the support state, and    wherein, when the pull element is pulled to a position where the rack is pulled beyond the gear, the ends of the axle are allowed to drop free from the slots when the release mechanism is in the release state.    
   
   
       9 . The toy of  claim 2 , wherein the launcher further includes: 
 a pivot that is adapted to couple the yoke arms to each other such that the arms rotate between a support position, where the arms are substantially parallel to each other when the release mechanism 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 that is adapted to urge the yoke arms one of toward the support position and toward the release position.    
   
   
       10 . The toy of  claim 9 , 
 wherein the bias element is adapted to urge the yoke arms toward the release position; and    wherein the release mechanism further includes a latch that is adapted to oppose the bias element when the release mechanism is in the support state.    
   
   
       11 . The toy of  claim 9 , 
 wherein the bias element is adapted to urge the yoke arms toward the support position; and    wherein the release mechanism includes a trigger that is adapted, when actuated, to urge the arms of the yoke toward the release position.    
   
   
       12 . The toy of  claim 11 , 
 wherein the yoke arms define an opening and a channel; and    wherein the trigger includes: 
 a separating member that is disposed within the opening and that is adapted to be forced into the channel to urge the arms of the yoke toward the release position.  
   
   
   
       13 . The toy of  claim 2 , wherein the wheel assembly includes a rim and a tire, 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 including an incline that is adapted to be positioned on a work surface and that is adapted to project the movable assembly into the air when the movable assembly is released by the launcher 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 that both increase in height toward an open channel that separates the inclines.  
   
   
       16 . The toy of  claim 14 , wherein the incline has a surface and the ramp assembly includes an obstacle 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 that is adapted to be positioned on a work surface, and that is adapted to redirect the movable assembly along the work surface, when the movable assembly is released by the launcher and propelled across the work surface and onto the inclined curve assembly.  
   
   
       18 . The toy of  claim 1 , further including a target game assembly that is adapted to be positioned on a work surface, the target game assembly including a surface and one or more targets that are adapted to be positioned on the surface and to be knocked down by the movable assembly, when the movable assembly is released by the launcher and propelled across the work surface and onto the target game assembly surface.  
   
   
       19 . An assembly comprising: 
 two of the toys of  claim 1 , each toy having an associated movable assembly and drive mechanism; and    further including a drag race game assembly that includes a surface and a lane associated with each toy, the lanes being adapted to permit the respective movable assemblies to move along the associated lanes.    
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the launchers are mounted side-by-side on the surface, wherein each lane extends away from the associated launcher.  
   
   
       21 . A toy, comprising: 
 an axle having an axis;    at least one wheel assembly that is coupled to the axle and is rotatable about the axis;    a drive mechanism that is adapted to apply a force to the wheel assembly, including: 
 a gear drivingly coupled to the wheel assembly and having a plurality of gear teeth; and  
 a pull element that includes a pull handle that is adapted to be grasped and pulled by a user′ s second hand, and an elongated rack coupled to the pull handle, the rack having a plurality of rack teeth that are adapted to engage the gear teeth and rotate the gear and thereby the wheel assembly when the pull element is pulled by the user;  
   a support that is adapted to engage the axle; and    a handle that is mounted relative to the support and that is adapted to be grasped by a first hand of a user, the handle extending along a longitudinal axis that is substantially transverse to the axis of the axle when the support engages the axle.    
   
   
       22 . The toy of  claim 21 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the handle and the axis of the axle do not intersect.  
   
   
       23 . The toy of  claim 22 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the handle and the axis of the axle are orthogonal.  
   
   
       24 . The toy of  claim 21 , 
 wherein the wheel assembly has opposite sides;    wherein the axle has two ends that extend from a corresponding side of the wheel assembly; and    wherein the support includes a yoke having two arms that are each adapted to engage one end of the axle.    
   
   
       25 . The toy of  claim 21 , 
 wherein the axle and the wheel assembly collectively form a movable assembly;    wherein the support and the handle collectively form a launcher; and    wherein the toy further comprises a release mechanism including at least one of the launcher, the drive mechanism, and the movable assembly that is adapted to be selectively switched between a support state where the movable assembly is retained to the launcher and a release state where the movable assembly is released from the launcher.