Toy vehicle playset and target game

Abstract

Playsets including a partially enclosed circuit and one or more movable members. The partially enclosed circuit may have a plurality of openings that define pathways through the partially enclosed circuit for a toy vehicle to traverse. The movable members may include a redirecting railing and one or more generally vertical handles that are adapted to be grasped to move the movable member on a play surface to redirect the toy vehicle that has exited the partially enclosed circuit to re-enter the circuit. Some embodiments may include inclined and/or cantilevered ramps that may be adapted to release the toy vehicle at a position above the play surface. Some embodiments may include lap counters that are adapted to count a number of times that the toy vehicle has struck a target or gate.

1 . A playset for use by a user on a play surface with a toy vehicle, comprising: 
 a partially enclosed circuit including: 
 an entrance adapted to enable the toy vehicle traveling on the surface to enter the partially enclosed circuit;  
 an exit adapted to enable the toy vehicle traveling on the surface to exit the partially enclosed circuit; and  
 a first circuit railing adapted to redirect the toy vehicle that has entered the partially enclosed circuit toward the exit; and  
   a first movable member that includes a redirecting railing and a first generally vertical handle coupled to the redirecting railing, the first handle having a grip portion for the user to move the movable member on the surface to redirect the toy vehicle traveling on the surface outside of the partially enclosed circuit toward the entrance of the partially enclosed circuit.    
   
   
       2 . The playset of  claim 1 , wherein the redirecting railing provides a substantially concave curvature.  
   
   
       3 . The playset of  claim 1 , wherein the toy vehicle includes: 
 an energy storage device that is adapted to store energy; and    a propulsion element that is adapted to convert the stored energy to motion of the toy vehicle.    
   
   
       4 . The playset of  claim 3 , wherein the energy storage device is adapted to store electric energy, and wherein the propulsion element includes an electric motor.  
   
   
       5 . The playset of  claim 4 , wherein the energy storage device includes a capacitor.  
   
   
       6 . The playset of  claim 4 , wherein the energy storage device includes a rechargeable battery  
   
   
       7 . The playset of  claim 3 , wherein the movable member further includes an energy providing station that is adapted to selectively retain the toy vehicle, and is adapted to provide energy to the energy storage device when the toy vehicle is retained.  
   
   
       8 . The playset of  claim 7 , wherein the energy providing station is adapted to provide electrical energy to the energy storage device.  
   
   
       9 . The playset of  claim 7 , wherein the movable member includes a first gate that is adapted to be selectively transitioned between a redirecting configuration, in which the movable member is adapted to redirect the toy vehicle, and a capturing configuration, in which the movable member is adapted to receive the toy vehicle in the energy providing station.  
   
   
       10 . The playset of  claim 9 , wherein the first handle includes an actuator coupled to the first gate, the actuator being adapted to be manipulated by a user to transition the first gate from the redirecting configuration to the capturing configuration and from the capturing configuration to the redirecting configuration.  
   
   
       11 . The playset of  claim 7 , wherein the movable member includes a second gate that is adapted to be selectively transitioned between a retaining configuration, in which the movable member is adapted to retain the toy vehicle in the energy providing station, and a releasing configuration, in which the movable member is adapted to release the toy vehicle from the energy providing station.  
   
   
       12 . The playset of  claim 11 , wherein the first handle includes an actuator coupled to the second gate, the actuator being adapted to be manipulated by a user to transition the second gate from the retaining configuration to the releasing configuration and from the releasing configuration to the retaining configuration.  
   
   
       13 . The playset of  claim 11 , wherein the movable member is adapted to redirect the toy vehicle towards the entrance when the toy vehicle is released from the energy providing station.  
   
   
       14 . The playset of  claim 13 , wherein the movable member includes a second redirecting railing that provides a substantially concave curvature, the second redirecting railing being adapted to redirect the toy vehicle when the toy vehicle is released from the energy providing station.  
   
   
       15 . The playset of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member further includes a second generally vertical handle coupled to the redirecting railing, the handle having a grip portion for the user to move the movable member on the surface.  
   
   
       16 . The playset of  claim 15 , 
 wherein the toy vehicle includes an energy storage device that is adapted to store energy and a propulsion element that is adapted to convert the stored energy to motion of the toy vehicle; wherein the movable member further includes: 
 an energy providing station that is adapted to selectively retain the toy vehicle, and is adapted to provide energy to the energy storage device when the toy vehicle is retained;  
 a first gate that is adapted to be selectively transitioned between a redirecting configuration, in which the movable member is adapted to redirect the toy vehicle, and a capturing configuration, in which the movable member is adapted to receive the toy vehicle in the energy providing station; and  
 a second gate that is adapted to be selectively transitioned between a retaining configuration, in which the movable member is adapted to retain the toy vehicle in the energy providing station, and a releasing configuration, in which the movable member is adapted to release the toy vehicle from the energy providing station wherein the first handle includes a first actuator coupled to the first gate, the first actuator being adapted to be manipulated by a user to transition the first gate from the redirecting configuration to the capturing configuration and from the capturing configuration to the redirecting configuration; and  
   wherein the second handle includes a second actuator coupled to the second gate, the second actuator being adapted to be manipulated by a user to transition the second gate from the retaining configuration to the releasing configuration and from the releasing configuration to the retaining configuration.    
   
   
       17 . The playset of  claim 1 , wherein the partially enclosed circuit includes a plurality of entrances that each provide a potential pathway, each potential pathway enabling the toy vehicle to travel through the partially enclosed circuit from a corresponding entrance of the plurality of entrances to the exit.  
   
   
       18 . The playset of  claim 17 , wherein the toy vehicle includes an energy storage device that is adapted to store energy and a propulsion element that is adapted to convert the stored energy to a motion of the toy vehicle, wherein a speed of the motion depends upon a remaining amount of stored energy, and wherein, if the remaining amount of stored energy lies outside at least one predetermined range, the toy vehicle does not follow the potential pathway to the exit.  
   
   
       19 . The playset of  claim 17 , wherein the toy vehicle takes a first amount of time to travel from a first entrance of the plurality of entrances to the exit and wherein the toy vehicle takes a second amount of time that is different from the first amount of time to travel from a second entrance of the plurality of entrances to the exit.  
   
   
       20 . The playset of  claim 17 , wherein at least one entrance of the plurality of entrances leads to an inclined ramp that is adapted to propel the toy vehicle airborne.  
   
   
       21 . The playset of  claim 20 , wherein the inclined ramp is adapted to be repositioned on the surface by the user.  
   
   
       22 . The playset of  claim 17 , wherein at least one entrance of the plurality of entrances leads to an cantilevered ramp having a cantilevered portion that is adapted to transition between a raised configuration, in which the cantilevered portion is adapted to release the toy vehicle at a position above the surface, and a lowered configuration, wherein the cantilevered portion is adapted to release the toy vehicle at a position level with the surface.  
   
   
       23 . The playset of  claim 22 , wherein the cantilevered portion is biased toward the raised configuration.  
   
   
       24 . The playset of  claim 23 , wherein the cantilevered portion includes a biasing member adapted to be opposed by a weight of the toy vehicle traveling upon the cantilevered portion.  
   
   
       25 . The playset of  claim 24 , wherein the toy vehicle includes an energy storage device that is adapted to store energy and a propulsion element that is adapted to convert the stored energy to a motion of the toy vehicle, wherein a speed of the motion of the vehicle depends upon a remaining amount of stored energy, wherein a speed at which the cantilevered portion transitions to the lowered configuration depends on the speed of the motion of the vehicle.  
   
   
       26 . The playset of  claim 1 , further comprising a lap counter that is adapted to count a number of times that the toy vehicle has traveled through at least one of the entrance and the exit.  
   
   
       27 . The playset of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the partially enclosed surface is adapted to remain in a substantially fixed position during play.  
   
   
       28 . The playset of  claim 1 , further comprising a second movable member, 
 wherein the partially enclosed circuit includes a second circuit railing opposed to the first circuit railing,    wherein the entrance and the exit are defined by the opposed circuit railings, and    wherein the toy vehicle is adapted to travel in a first direction from the entrance to the exit and in a second direction from the exit to the entrance.    
   
   
       29 . The playset of  claim 28 , wherein the circuit railings cooperatively form an hourglass shape.  
   
   
       30 . The playset of  claim 29 , wherein a distance between the circuit railings at one of the exit and the entrance is adjustable.  
   
   
       31 . The playset of  claim 28 , further comprising a target adapted to be struck by the toy vehicle when the toy vehicle is traveling within the partially enclosed circuit in the first direction and in the second direction, the target having a counting mechanism that is adapted to count a relative number of times the target has been struck by the toy vehicle traveling in each direction.  
   
   
       32 . The playset of  claim 31 , wherein the target includes a visual indicator that is adapted to indicate when a count of the relative number of times the target has been struck by the toy vehicle traveling in each direction has reached a predetermined number.  
   
   
       33 . The playset of  claim 32 , wherein the target includes: 
 a cylindrical member having a threaded portion;    a rotating member that is adapted to engage the threaded portion such that the rotating member travels along the cylindrical member between a first end and a second end as the rotating member rotates about the cylindrical member;    an elongated portion that is adapted to be stuck by the vehicle, the elongated portion being operatively coupled to the rotating member and to cause the rotating member to rotate about the cylindrical member, wherein the rotating member is adapted to move toward the first end when the elongated portion is stuck by the toy vehicle when the toy vehicle is traveling in the first direction, and wherein the rotating member is adapted to move toward the second end when the elongated portion is stuck by the toy vehicle when the toy vehicle is traveling in the second direction.    
   
   
       34 . The playset of  claim 33 , wherein the target further includes: 
 a first flag that is adapted to deploy when the rotating member has reached the first end; and    a second flag that is adapted to deploy when the rotating member has reached the second end.    
   
   
       35 . The playset of  claim 33 , wherein the target is coupled at each end to each of the circuit railings.  
   
   
       36 . The playset of  claim 28. , wherein each of the circuit railings has a central portion disposed between the entrance and the exit, and wherein the circuit railings are coupled together at their central portions.  
   
   
       37 . A playset for use by a user on a play surface with a toy vehicle, comprising: 
 a partially enclosed circuit including: 
 a plurality of entrances adapted to enable the toy vehicle traveling on the surface to enter the partially enclosed circuit;  
 an exit adapted to enable the toy vehicle traveling on the surface to exit the partially enclosed circuit; and  
 at least one circuit railing adapted to redirect the toy vehicle that has entered the partially enclosed circuit toward the exit; and  
   a movable member that includes a redirecting railing, the movable member having a grip portion for the user to move the movable member on the surface to redirect the toy vehicle traveling on the surface outside of the partially enclosed circuit toward the plurality of entrances.    
   
   
       38 . A playset for use by two users on a play surface with a toy vehicle, comprising: 
 a partially enclosed circuit including: 
 two openings disposed on opposite sides of the partially enclosed circuit, the openings being adapted to enable the toy vehicle traveling on the surface to enter and to exit the partially enclosed circuit;  
 two circuit railings disposed on opposite sides of the partially enclosed circuit and between the two openings, the circuit railings being adapted to redirect the toy vehicle traveling along the surface inside the partially enclosed circuit toward one or both openings; and  
   two movable members that each include a redirecting railing, the movable members each having a grip portion for the users to move the movable members on the surface to redirect the toy vehicle that has exited the partially enclosed circuit back toward one of the two openings.    
   
   
       39 . A playset for use by a user on a play surface with a toy vehicle, comprising: 
 a partially enclosed circuit including a pathway that is adapted to enable the toy vehicle in a first direction and in a second direction; and    a target adapted to be struck by the toy vehicle when the toy vehicle is traveling along the pathway, the target including: 
 a cylindrical member having a threaded portion;  
 a rotating member that is adapted to engage the threaded portion such that the rotating member travels along the cylindrical member between a first end and a second end as the rotating member rotates about the cylindrical member;  
 an elongated portion that is adapted to be struck by the toy vehicle when the toy vehicle is traveling within the partially enclosed circuit in the first direction and in the second direction; and  
 a counting mechanism that is adapted to count a relative number of times the elongated portion has been struck by the toy vehicle traveling in each direction.  
   
   
   
       40 . A playset for use by a user on a play surface with a toy vehicle, comprising: 
 a partially enclosed circuit including a cantilevered ramp having a cantilevered portion that is adapted to transition between a raised configuration, in which the cantilevered portion is adapted to release the toy vehicle at a position above the surface, and a lowered configuration, wherein the cantilevered portion is adapted to release the toy vehicle at a position level with the surface,    wherein the cantilevered portion includes a biasing member that is adapted to bias the cantilevered portion toward the raised configuration and that is opposed by a weight of the toy vehicle traveling upon the cantilevered portion.