Railways – Amusement
Reexamination Certificate
1996-11-26
2001-08-21
Le, Mark T. (Department: 3617)
Railways
Amusement
C104S164000, C104S079000, C238S01000B
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276279
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to a toy vehicle track board for young children primarily between 1 and 7 years old. More specifically, the present invention relates to a track board having a thickness of ⅛″ to {fraction (5/16)}″ and a radial or lateral extent of 15″ to 60″ with a track in the board having a depth of {fraction (1/16)}″ to ½″. In one preferred embodiment of the toy vehicle track board, the board is circular, has a diameter of 30 inches, a thickness of {fraction (5/16)}″ and at least a primary, partially circular track having a depth of {fraction (3/16)}″. If desired one or more additional tracks, such as an S-shaped track, is/are formed in the board and connects with the primary circular track.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR §§ 1.97-1.99.
Heretofore, toy cars have been manufactured and sold by a number of companies for display or as toys to be played with by young children. One well known toy car is sold under the trademark “MATCHBOX”.
Young children find miniature cars attractive toys for rolling on a flat surface such as a tabletop, end table, desktop or floor. Also, young children have found much pleasure in moving the toy car on various types of tracks and for older children, a number of electrically operated tracks have been proposed.
Examples of two toy cars are disclosed in the following U.S. patents.
U.S. Pat. No.
Patentee
4,221,077
Von Winkelmann
4,895,542
DeBlanitza
Over the years, a variety of different types of tracks have been proposed for use by children and adults for playing with a toy car, automobile or vehicle. Often the tracks would be electrified and often the tracks were designed for use with mechanically or electrically operated toy vehicles and even RF operated toy vehicles. Some examples of previously proposed tracks for toy vehicles are disclosed in the following U.S. patents.
U.S. Pat. No.
Patentee
4,140,276
Halford
4,217,727
Fetty et al.
4,221,076
Ozawa
4,697,812
Rudell et al.
4,795,154
Lahr
4,854,909
Ishimoto
4,878,876
Ishimoto
4,889,513
Paddock
4,919,052
Yoneda et al.
4,940,443
Hesse
5,038,685
Yoneda et al.
5,203,733
Patch et al.
5,205,554
Copson
The previously proposed tracks for toy vehicles have been directed primarily to older children and were often provided with intricate paths, ramps, car launchers, and the like. Such tracks were too complicated for younger children.
As will be described hereinafter in greater detail, the toy vehicle track board of the present invention is designed for use by young children, typically one-and-a-half to six and-a-half years old, such as a two year old.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a toy vehicle track board which can be of any desired shape, e.g., square, oval or circular, with a lateral extent, width or diameter of 15″ to 60″, one preferred diameter being 30″, a thickness of ⅛″ to ¾″, one preferred thickness being {fraction (5/16)}″, and at least one track in the board having a depth between {fraction (1/16)}″ and ½″, one preferred depth being {fraction (3/16)}″.
The width of the track is between ½″ and 3″ and preferably 1.25″. The width, of course, will depend upon the size of the toy car used with the track board.
The toy vehicle track board of the present invention has a number of advantages which are as follows:
1. It keeps the child's attention for hours at a time.
2. It is not frustrating for the child to use the track board.
3. It centralizes the child's play with cars to the track and keeps them off furniture, bookshelves, tables, etc.
4. It provides a stable base that can be used on a carpet, a floor, a footstool or coffee table.
5. The child can use the board with multiple cars at one time.
6. Since readily available model toy cars such as MATCHBOX® cars can be used with the track board, there are no batteries to wear out and no electric cords are involved.
7. The track board can be easily stored and unstored, ready for use without having to be assembled or unassembled.
8. If desired, track board can be enhanced with model garages, houses, hills, electrically lighted houses, miniature telephone polls or power lines and a horn or siren emitting device for actuation by the child.
REFERENCES:
patent: 620445 (1899-02-01), Griesemer
patent: 1040058 (1912-10-01), Tomlin
patent: 1215033 (1917-02-01), King
patent: 1474961 (1923-11-01), Foster
patent: 1502365 (1924-07-01), Wilson
patent: 1982633 (1934-12-01), Brown
patent: 2767986 (1956-10-01), Newberry
patent: 2784527 (1957-03-01), Sarff
patent: 3011787 (1961-12-01), Modica et al.
patent: 4140276 (1979-02-01), Halford
patent: 4217727 (1980-08-01), Fetty et al.
patent: 4221076 (1980-09-01), Ozawa
patent: 4221077 (1980-09-01), von Winckelmann
patent: 4513966 (1985-04-01), Mucaro et al.
patent: 4673182 (1987-06-01), Bowen
patent: 4697812 (1987-10-01), Rudell et al.
patent: 4795154 (1989-01-01), Lahr
patent: 4854909 (1989-08-01), Ishimoto
patent: 4878876 (1989-11-01), Ishimoto
patent: 4889513 (1989-12-01), Paddock
patent: 4895542 (1990-01-01), de Blanitza
patent: 4919052 (1990-04-01), Yoneda et al.
patent: 4940443 (1990-07-01), Hesse
patent: 4941611 (1990-07-01), Arsenault
patent: 5038685 (1991-08-01), Yoneda et al.
patent: 5203733 (1993-04-01), Patch et al.
patent: 5205554 (1993-04-01), Copson
patent: 678294 (1952-09-01), None
Le Mark T.
Vigil Thomas R.
LandOfFree
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