Container for self propelled toy vehicle

Abstract

A structure for a self propelled toy vehicle is provided, the structure having: an enclosure with an inlet opening and an outlet opening; a first door pivotally mounted to the enclosure proximate to the inlet opening; a second door pivotally mounted to the enclosure proximate to the outlet opening; a first mechanism for retaining the self propelled toy vehicle in the enclosure; a second mechanism for releaseably engaging the second door in order to retain the second door in a closed position; and an actuation button located on the housing, the actuation button being coupled to the first mechanism and the second mechanism wherein movement of the actuation button will cause the first mechanism to release the self propelled toy vehicle and cause the second mechanism to release the second door such that the first door and the second door may move to an open position.

1 . A structure for a self propelled toy vehicle, comprising:
 an enclosure having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the inlet opening being aligned with the outlet opening;   a first door pivotally mounted to the enclosure proximate to the inlet opening for movement between an open position and a closed position;   a second door pivotally mounted to the enclosure proximate to the outlet opening for movement between an open position and a closed position;   a first mechanism for retaining the self propelled toy vehicle in the enclosure after the self propelled toy vehicle has entered the enclosure through the inlet opening;   a second mechanism for releaseably engaging a feature of the second door in order to retain the second door in the closed position; and   an actuation button located on a surface of the housing, the actuation button being coupled to the first mechanism and the second mechanism wherein movement of the actuation button will cause the first mechanism to release the self propelled toy vehicle as well as cause the second mechanism to release the feature of the second door and an apply an opening force to the first door such that the first door and the second door may move to the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the second mechanism is configured to manipulate an on/off switch of the self propelled vehicle when the actuation button is moved. 
     
     
         3 . The structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the second mechanism is configured to manipulate an on/off switch of the self propelled vehicle when the first door is moved between the open and closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the first mechanism is configured for movement between a first position and a second position and the first mechanism engages a portion of the self propelled toy vehicle when it is in the enclosure and when the first mechanism is in the first position and the first mechanism does not engage the self propelled toy vehicle when it is in the second position and wherein movement of the actuation button causes the first mechanism to move from the first position to the second position, wherein the first door provides a ramp into the enclosure when it is in the open position and wherein the second door provides a ramp out of the enclosure when it is in the open position. 
     
     
         5 . The structure as in  claim 1 , wherein the actuation button is located in a recess on a bottom surface of the structure such that a protruding feature is required to actuate the actuation button when the structure is placed upon a surface. 
     
     
         6 . The structure as in  claim 1 , further comprising a loop extending from an upper surface of the structure and wherein the structure further comprises a slide switch for moving a blocking portion of the first mechanism between a blocking position and a non-blocking position. 
     
     
         7 . A structure for a self propelled toy vehicle, comprising:
 an enclosure having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the inlet opening being aligned with the outlet opening;   a first mechanism for retaining the self propelled toy vehicle in the enclosure after the self propelled toy vehicle has entered the enclosure through the inlet opening; and   a second mechanism for actuating an on/off switch of the self propelled toy vehicle when it is received in the enclosure, wherein the second mechanism actuates the on/off switch of the self propelled toy vehicle when at least one door pivotally secured to the enclosure is opened or closed.   
     
     
         8 . The structure as in  claim 7 , wherein the first mechanism is configured for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the first mechanism engages a portion of the self propelled toy vehicle when it is in the enclosure and when the first mechanism is in the first position and wherein the first mechanism does not engage the self propelled toy vehicle when it is in the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The structure as in  claim 8 , wherein the first mechanism is moved between the first position and the second position when the at least one door pivotally secured to the enclosure is opened or closed. 
     
     
         10 . The structure as in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one door is opened by an actuation button disposed on a lower surface of the enclosure, wherein the first door provides a ramp into the enclosure when it is in the open position and wherein the second door provides a ramp out of the enclosure when it is in the open position. 
     
     
         11 . The structure as in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one door pivotally secured to the enclosure provides a ramp into the inlet opening for the self propelled toy vehicle when the at least one door is in an open position. 
     
     
         12 . A track set for use with a self propelled toy vehicle, the track set comprising:
 a track segment defining a path;   a structure configured to be removably positioned in a portion of the path, the structure comprising:
 an enclosure having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the inlet opening aligned with the outlet opening and the inlet opening being configured to receive the self propelled toy vehicle from the track segment and the outlet opening is configured to direct the self propelled toy vehicle onto the track segment; 
 a first door pivotally mounted to the enclosure proximate to the inlet opening for movement between an open position and a closed position; 
 a second door pivotally mounted to the enclosure proximate to the outlet opening for movement between an open position and a closed position; 
 a first mechanism for retaining the self propelled toy vehicle in the enclosure after the self propelled toy vehicle has entered the enclosure through the inlet opening; 
 a second mechanism for releaseably engaging a feature of the second door in order to retain the second door in the closed position; and 
 an actuation button located on a surface of the housing, the actuation button being coupled to the first mechanism and the second mechanism wherein movement of the actuation button will cause the first mechanism to release the self propelled toy vehicle as well as cause the second mechanism to release the feature of the second door and an apply an opening force to the first door such that the first door and the second door may move to the open position. 
   
     
     
         13 . The track set as in  claim 12 , wherein the second mechanism is configured to manipulate an on/off switch of the self propelled vehicle when the actuation button is moved. 
     
     
         14 . The track set as in  claim 12 , wherein the second mechanism is configured to manipulate an on/off switch of the self propelled vehicle when the first door is moved between the open and closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The track set as in  claim 12 , wherein the first mechanism is configured for movement between a first position and a second position and the first mechanism engages a portion of the self propelled toy vehicle when it is in the enclosure and when the first mechanism is in the first position and the first mechanism does not engage the self propelled toy vehicle when it is in the second position and wherein movement of the actuation button causes the first mechanism to move from the first position to the second position, wherein the first door provides a ramp into the enclosure when it is in the open position and wherein the second door provides a ramp out of the enclosure when it is in the open position. 
     
     
         16 . The track set as in  claim 12 , wherein the actuation button is located in a recess on a bottom surface of the structure such that a protruding feature is required to actuate the actuation button when the structure is placed upon a surface. 
     
     
         17 . The track set as in  claim 12 , further comprising a crane configured to engage a loop extending from an upper surface of the structure. 
     
     
         18 . The track set as in  claim 17 , wherein the track segment is configured to resemble a railroad track and the self propelled toy vehicle is a train. 
     
     
         19 . A method for receiving, retaining and subsequently releasing a self propelled toy vehicle, the method comprising:
 locating an enclosure in a path of the self propelled toy vehicle, the enclosure having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the inlet opening being aligned with the outlet opening;   a first door pivotally mounted to the enclosure proximate to the inlet opening for movement between an open position and a closed position, wherein the first door provides a ramp into the enclosure when it is in the open position;   a second door pivotally mounted to the enclosure proximate to the outlet opening for movement between an open position and a closed position, wherein the second door provides a ramp out of the enclosure when it is in the open position;   retaining the self propelled toy vehicle in the enclosure after the self propelled toy vehicle has entered the enclosure through the inlet opening with a first mechanism;   releaseably engaging a feature of the second door in order to retain the second door in the closed position with a second mechanism; and   releasing the self propelled toy vehicle from the structure by moving an actuation button located on a surface of the housing, the actuation button being coupled to the first mechanism and the second mechanism wherein movement of the actuation button will cause the first mechanism to release the self propelled toy vehicle as well as cause the second mechanism to release the feature of the second door and an apply an opening force to the first door such that the first door and the second door may move to the open position.   
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 19 , wherein the path is defined by a railroad track and the self propelled toy vehicle is a train and the structure further comprises a loop extending from an upper surface of the structure and the method further comprises removing the train from the railroad tack by lifting the enclosure with the crane when the train is retained in the enclosure.