Amusement devices: toys – Rolling or tumbling – Motorcycle – tricycle or bicycle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-03
2002-02-26
Ackun, Jr., Jacob K. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Rolling or tumbling
Motorcycle, tricycle or bicycle
C446S487000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06350171
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to toys and toy figures and particularly to those which are capable of being configured in alternate configurations and appearances.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Toys which are configurable between alternate appearances and configurations are well known in the art. Such toys are characterized by a first configuration such as a toy vehicle or the like. Typically, such toys are formed of a plurality of articulated elements movable in various combinations and directions to assume a first configuration and appearance. Such toys are further characterized by the ability to move the plurality of articulated elements to form a second configuration usually exhibiting a different appearance such as a robot or the like. One of the important characteristics of such configurable toys is the use of elements which are capable of moving to assume an alternate shape of the toy. In most such configurable toys, the elements are formed of molded plastic and usually exhibit a highly stylized appearance. For maximum play value and amusement, the configurations are generally chosen to exhibit a substantially different type of toy. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,203 issued to Murakami sets forth a FORM-CONVERTIBLE TOY ROBOT which includes a plurality of body parts such as head, arms, shoulders, thighs and legs to form a robot which are variously articulated to reconfigure the toy into a toy motorcycle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,391 issued to Hoshino et al. sets forth a TOY HAVING TWO MODES OF LOCOMOTION in which a rotatable fly wheel motor is positioned within a toy motorcycle. The toy motorcycle is formed of a plurality of movable elements which may be moved to alternate configurations and thereby form a fanciful creature. The second mode of appearance is also characterized by an alternative mode of propulsion using the appendages.
U.S. Pat. Des. No. 281,087 and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 281,001 both issued to Ohno and both entitled RECONFIGURABLE TOY VEHICLE set forth similar designs for a toy vehicle which is alternately configurable as a robot.
U.S. Pat. Des. No. 281,088 issued to Murakami sets forth a TOY ROBOT CONVERTIBLE INTO AUTOBIKE which is substantially identical to the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,203.
U.S. Pat. Des. No. 285,466 issued to Ohno sets forth a RECONFIGURABLE TOY VEHICLE having a first appearance and configuration simulating a military toy vehicle commonly known as a “jeep” and an alternate configuration resembling a fanciful robot.
U.S. Pat. Des. No. 286,800 issued to Maruyama sets forth a RECONFIGURABLE TOY HAWK having a spherical toy formed of a plurality of articulated members which reconfigure to a fanciful depiction of a hawk-like creature.
U.S. Pat. Des. No. 296,801 issued to Matsumoto and entitled RECONFIGURABLE TOY AUTO BIKE and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 301,359 issued to Shinohara entitled RECONFIGURABLE TOY BIKE sets forth toy motorcycles which are reconfigurable into fanciful robot-like creatures. U.S. Pat. Des. No. 303,412 issued to Matsuda sets forth a RECONFIGURABLE TOY JEEP/HELICOPTER having a first configuration resembling a helicopter like vehicle and a second configuration resembling a military vehicle known as a jeep.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,993 issued to Ohno sets forth a RECONFIGURABLE TOY ASSEMBLY having alternate configurations resembling a robot and a pick-up truck like toy vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,948 issued to Obara sets forth a RECONFIGURABLE TOY ASSEMBLY capable of forming a tractor-trailer toy vehicle and a robot.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,046 issued to Ohno sets forth a REVERSIBLE TRANSFORMABLE TOY BLOCK ASSEMBLY sets forth a toy vehicle formed of multiply articulated components which are reconfigurable to form a robot.
Several design patents show various different appearance designs for toy motorcycles. For example, U.S. Pat. Des. No. 276,251 issued to Wykimura and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 340,757 issued to Chen each entitled TOY MOTORCYCLE shown different appearances for toy motorcycles.
Additional toy motorcycle designs are shown in U.S. Pat. Des. No. 281,795 issued to Shimomura and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 280,750 issued to Toshimasa and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 281,796 issued to Shimomura and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 280,751 issued to Toshimasa all of which are entitled TOY MOTORCYCLE.
U.S. Pat. Des. No. 276,059 and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 276,060 both issued to Smollar et al. and both entitled TOY MOTORCYCLE show similar appearance toy motorcycles.
While the foregoing described prior art device have to some extent improved the art and in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in art for evermore amusing, entertaining and improved toy motorcycles configurable in alternate toy shapes and configurations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved toy motorcycle. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy motorcycle which is configurable into an alternate toy. It is a still more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy motorcycle which is alternately configurable as a hovercycle.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a toy motorcycle configurable between a motorcycle configuration and a hovercycle configuration, the toy motorcycle comprising: a body having a chassis box therein; a pair of chassis shafts pivotally supported by the chassis box each shaft having a front end and a rear end; a pair of front fork halves each supported by the front ends of the chassis shafts; a pair of front wheel halves each supported by the front fork halves; a pair of rear fork halves each supported by the rear ends of the chassis shafts; a pair of rear wheel halves each supported by the rear fork halves; and means for pivoting the chassis shafts between a first position, in which the front and rear fork halves and the front and rear wheel halves are in contact defining the motorcycle configuration, and a second position in which the front and rear fork halves and the front and rear wheel halves extend outwardly defining the hovercycle configuration.
REFERENCES:
patent: D276059 (1984-10-01), Smollar et al.
patent: D276060 (1984-10-01), Smollar et al.
patent: D276251 (1984-11-01), Wakimura
patent: 4516948 (1985-05-01), Obara
patent: 4529391 (1985-07-01), Hoshino et al.
patent: D280750 (1985-09-01), Toshimasa
patent: D280751 (1985-09-01), Toshimasa
patent: D281001 (1985-10-01), Ohno
patent: D281087 (1985-10-01), Ohno
patent: D281088 (1985-10-01), Murakami
patent: D281795 (1985-12-01), Shimomura
patent: D281796 (1985-12-01), Shimomura
patent: 4571203 (1986-02-01), Murakami
patent: 4578046 (1986-03-01), Ohno
patent: 4580993 (1986-04-01), Ohno
patent: 4586911 (1986-05-01), Murakami
patent: 4599078 (1986-07-01), Obara
patent: D285466 (1986-09-01), Ohno
patent: D286800 (1986-11-01), Maruyama
patent: 4674990 (1987-06-01), Ohno
patent: D296801 (1988-07-01), Matsumoto
patent: D301359 (1989-05-01), Shinohara
patent: D303412 (1989-09-01), Matsuda
patent: D340757 (1993-10-01), Chen
Hippely Keith A.
Ioviero Alessandro
Ackun Jr. Jacob K.
Ekstrand Roy A
Francis Faye
Mattel Inc.
LandOfFree
Toy motorcycle configurable as a hovercycle does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Toy motorcycle configurable as a hovercycle, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Toy motorcycle configurable as a hovercycle will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2942651