IP Library Granted Patent US 8,550,870
Granted Patent B2
US 8,550,870 · App. 12/655,465 · Granted Oct 8, 2013

Track set with a tiltable surface for use with a toy vehicle

Inventors: Dominic Laurienzo (Los Angeles, CA); Michael Bernstein (Hermosa Beach, CA); Gabriel Carlson (Los Angeles, CA); Dion Fields (Thousand Oaks, CA)
Assignee: JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,550,870
App. No.
12/655,465
Granted
Oct 8, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Described is a track set with a tiltable surface for use with a toy vehicle. The track set includes a handle that allows a user to tilt the surface while resting the track set on a base and tilting the surface at a pivot point. Further, the surface includes a first side and a second side. The track set is formed to allow a user to switch the position of the pivot point and base and thereby selectively use either the first side or second side.

Claims (35)

1. A track set with a tiltable surface for use with a toy vehicle, comprising:

a base;

a surface upon which a toy vehicle can traverse, the surface having a first side and a second side and being rotatably connected with the base, and wherein the surface includes pivot connectors formed on both the first and second sides for selective attachment and detachment with a pivot point; and

a handle attached with the surface to allow a user to rotate the surface with respect to the base and thereby manipulate a toy vehicle traversing the surface; and

a pivot point that is substantially planar and semi-circular, the pivot point structure being formed to allow for selective attachment and detachment with the pivot connectors on at least one of the first and second sides, such that rotating the surface using the handle causes the surface to tilt laterally about the pivot point structure.

2. The track set as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the surface is a substantially planar surface, and wherein the pivot connectors are formed as holes in the surface of both the first and second sides.

3. The track set as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the pivot point structure includes pegs that are formed to selectively attach and detach with the holes that are formed on the first and second sides of the surface, thereby allowing a user to selectively attach the pivot point structure with the first or second side.

4. The track set as set forth in claim 3 , further comprising obstacles that are removably attachable with the surface, whereby a user can guide a toy vehicle into contact with the obstacles.

5. The track set as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the surface includes side rails to maintain a toy vehicle thereon; and

wherein the surface further comprises:

a first surface part and a second surface part;

a tongue and group assembly separating the first surface part from the second surface part, such that the first surface part is detachably attachable with the second surface part through the tongue and groove assembly;

wherein the base and handle are fixedly attached with the first surface part and the pivot connectors are formed on the second surface part, whereby when a user decides to use the second side of the surface as opposed to the first side, the user can detach the pivot point from the second side, and reattach the pivot point on the first side using the pivot connectors, the user can also detach the first surface part from the second surface part and then turn over the second surface part and then reattach the second surface part to the first surface part.

6. The track set as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the surface includes multiple exit points through which the toy vehicle can be guided off of the surface.

7. The track set as set forth in claim 6 , further comprising includes an elevation adjuster attached with surface to elevate at least one end of the surface and alter an angle of the surface with respect to a ground plane.

8. The track set as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising obstacles that are removably attachable with the surface, whereby a user can guide a toy vehicle into contact with the obstacles.

9. The track set as set forth in claim 1 ,

wherein the surface further comprises:

a first surface part and a second surface part;

a tongue and group assembly separating the first surface part from the second surface part, such that the first surface part is detachably attachable with the second surface part through the tongue and groove assembly;

wherein the base and handle are fixedly attached with the first surface part and the pivot connectors are formed on the second surface pan, whereby when a user decides to use the second side of the surface as opposed to the first side, the user can detach the pivot point from the second side, and reattach the pivot point on the first side using the pivot connectors the user can also detach the first surface part from the second surface part and then turn over the second surface part and then reattach the second surface pan to the first surface part.

10. The track set as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the surface includes multiple exit points through which the toy vehicle can be guided off of the surface.

11. The track set as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising an elevation adjuster attached with surface to elevate at least one end of the surface and alter an angle of the surface with respect to a ground plane.

12. A method for forming a track set with a tiltable surface for use with a toy vehicle, comprising acts of:

forming a base;

forming a surface upon which a toy vehicle can traverse, the surface having a first side and a second side, the surface also including pivot connectors formed on both the first and second sides for selective attachment and detachment with a pivot point structure;

rotatably connecting the surface being with the base; and

attaching a handle with the surface to allow a user to rotate the surface with respect to the base and thereby manipulate a toy vehicle traversing the surface; and

further comprising an act of forming a pivot point structure that is substantially planar and semi-circular, the pivot point structure being formed to allow for selective attachment and detachment with the pivot connectors on at least one of the first and second sides, such that rotating the surface using the handle causes the surface to tilt laterally about the pivot point structure.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12 , wherein in forming the surface, the surface is formed to be a substantially planar surface, and wherein the pivot connectors are formed as holes in the surface of both the first and second sides.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the pivot point structure includes pegs that are formed to selectively attach and detach with the holes that are formed on the first and second sides of the surface.

15. The method as set forth in claim 12 , further comprising an act of forming obstacles that are removably attachable with the surface, whereby a user can guide a toy vehicle into contact with the obstacles.

16. The method as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the surface is formed to include side rails to maintain a toy vehicle thereon.

17. The method as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the surface is formed to include multiple exit points through which the toy vehicle can be guided off of the surface.

18. The method as set forth in claim 12 , further comprising an act of forming an elevation adjuster for attaching with surface to elevate at least one end of the surface and alter an angle of the surface with respect to a ground plane.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: JAKKS PACIFIC, INC.; DISGUISE, INC.; JAKKS SALES LLC; MAUI, INC.; MOOSE MOUNTAIN MARKETING, INC.; KIDS ONLY, INC.; JAKKS PACIFIC (ASIA) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 058963/0765 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2021
From: JAKKS PACIFIC, INC.; JAKKS SALES LLC; DISGUISE, INC.; MOOSE MOUNTAIN MARKETING, INC.; MAUI, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 056514/0160 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2021
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
To: JAKKS PACIFIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 056476/0407 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2021
From: JAKS PACIFIC, INC.; DISGUISE, INC.; JAKKS SALES LLC; MAUI, INC.; MOOSE MOUNTAIN MARKETING, INC.
To: BSP AGENCY, LLC
Reel/Frame 057254/0240 →
RESIGNATION AND AGENCY SUBSTITUTION AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 21, 2019
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS RETIRING AGENT
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 050783/0488 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2019
From: JAKKS PACIFIC, INC.
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKETS SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 050028/0644 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2019
From: GACP FINANCE CO., LLC
To: JAKKS PACIFIC, INC.; DISGUISE, INC.; JAKKS SALES LLC.; MAUI, INC.; MOOSE MOUNTAIN MARKETING, INC; KIDS ONLY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050030/0704 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2019
From: JAKKS PACIFIC, INC.; DISGUISE, INC.; JAKKS SALES LLC; MAUI, INC.; MOOSE MOUNTAIN MARKETING, INC.; KIDS ONLY, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 050017/0779 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2018
From: DISGUISE, INC.; JAKKS PACIFIC, INC.; JAKKS SALES LLC; KIDS ONLY, INC.; MAUI, INC.; MOOSE MOUNTAIN MARKETING, INC.
To: GACP FINANCE CO., LLC
Reel/Frame 046427/0047 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2014
From: JAKKS PACIFIC, INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032588/0815 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2013
From: LAURIENZO, DOMINIC; BERNSTEIN, MICHAEL; CARLSON, GABRIEL; FIELDS, DION
To: JAKKS PACIFIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 030860/0757 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 12587625 · Oct 10, 2009
Provisional Application 61195812 · Oct 10, 2008
Provisional Application 61203769 · Dec 29, 2008
Related Publication 20100279583A1 · Nov 4, 2010