Toy Simulated Explodable Shack

The present invention relates generally to action toys, and more specifically to a toy simulated explodable shack actuated by a toy car propelled through the doors thereof.

1. Background of the Invention

Children tend to spend a considerable amount of their time indulging in the world of fantasy and make-believe. There has been a constant search for years for action toys that can produce a new, more entertaining, and more amusing action.

This invention is a realization of an attempt to make the action of a toy shack, as it virtually explodes before their eyes, more entertaining, interesting and enjoyable.

2. Summary of the Invention

An object of this invention is to provide a toy simulated explodable shack that is actuated by a toy car propelled through the doors thereof. The toy simulated explodable shack comprises:

a base;

a pair of shack frame members each comprising a side wall, a roof wall and a door, is pivotally mounted on the base for pivotal movement between a closed position in which the shack frame members come together to form a shack frame, and an open position in which the shack frame members are separated and rest on the side walls thereof;

a floor member mounted on the base and having a ramp for guiding the car into the shack frame, and having a flexible rear panel;

a movable hatch member mounted on the floor member;

first tensioning means for tensioning the hatch member to exert a predetermined catapulting force; and

latch means comprising the rear panel for releasably holding the hatch member in its tensioned position, whereby a propelled car guided by the ramp strikes and opens the doors, slamming the shack frame members to their open position. The car substantially simultaneously strikes the rear panel releasing the latch means, causing the hatch member to catapult the car off the floor member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy explodable shack wherein the floor member has a rear wall, and spaced-apart side rails which are engageable by side edges of the doors to prevent movement of the shack frame members to their open position, until the front bumper of the car almost reaches the rear wall. Accordingly, explosive movement of the shack frame members and hatch member occurs substantially simultaneously.

Still another object of the invention is to provide the aforementioned toy explodable shack with a second tensioning means for tensioning the hatch member to exert a catapulting force greater than the predetermined catapulting force exerted by the first tensioning means.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a toy explodable shack wherein the first tensioning means comprises a spring having one end bearing against the hatch member, and the opposite end bearing against a shoulder in a first position. The second tensioning means comprises a slider mounted on the base, and secured to the shoulder and movable with the shoulder to a second position for further tensioning the spring. Lock means are provided for releasably locking the slider and shoulder in the second position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a toy explodable shack having stop means for preventing movement of the slider and shoulder to the second position when the shack wall members are in their open position .

In the detailed description of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a toy simulated explodable shack in which one of the shack frame members is omitted for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the toy simulated explodable shack of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a front-elevational view of the toy simulated explodable shack of FIG. 1.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a preferred embodiment of a toy simulated explodable shack 10 of this invention is disclosed. The explodable shack comprises a rectangular base member 12 having a pair of spaced recesses on each side, within which hinge pins 14 on a pair of shack frame members 16 nest. The base member 12 further receives a plurality of posts 18 depending from a cover member 20. The cover member is secured to the base member 12 by screws, not shown, extending into or through the base member and into the posts 18. The base member 12 further has recesses engaging the opposite surface of the hinge pins 14, for providing with the aforementioned recesses, a hinge socket for the hinge pins.

Each of the shack frame members 16 is half of a shack, and comprises a side wall 22, a roof wall 24, a rear wall 26, and a front wall 28 which hingeably supports a door 30. The shack frame members 16 are pivotally movable between a closed position in which the shack frame members come together to form a closed shack, and an open position in which the shack frame members separate and rest on the side walls 22 thereof. The base member 12 further has a front ramp 32 for guiding a car into the closed shack, and an end wall 34 having a flexible depending end panel 36. The base member 12 has a pair of spaced-apart side rails 38, which are engaged by side edges 40 of the doors in the closed position to prevent movement of the shack frame members 16 to their open position. Once the doors 30, when struck by a propelled car, swing inwardly a sufficient distance, so that the bottom edges thereof clear the side rails 38, side edges 40 of the doors also strike cam members 42 on the inner surface of side walls 22 for slamming the shack frame members 16 into their open position.

The toy explodable shack 10 is further provided with a hatch member 44, which is pivotally mounted on the base member 12 for catapulting a car that enters the shack out of the shack. The hatch member 44 is substantially rectangular, and has one end thereof mounted for pivotal movement on a shaft 46 journaled in the side rails 38 of the base member 12. A torsion spring 48 encircles the shaft and has one end thereof engaging the under surface of the hatch member 44. The opposite end of the spring engages a shoulder 50 on a slider 52, for biasing the slider into engagement with a stop or lug 54 for positioning the shoulder 50 in a first position. In this position, the spring 48 exerts a catapulting force against the hatch member 44 of a predetermined amount. A latch means is provided for latching the hatch member in its closed position, and comprises a lip 56 on the rear end of the hatch member 44 engageable by the free end of the flexible end panel 36. The predetermined catapulting force generated by the spring 48 is insufficient to be harmful to children in any way. The slider 52 is mounted on the base member 12, and is loosely retained thereon for slidable movement in its closed position. To tension the spring 48 to exert a catapulting force greater than the predetermined force for catapulting a car from the shack 10, the slider 52 is retracted by a rib 58 to a locked position shown in phantom in FIG. 1, causing the slider shoulder 50 to move to a second position shown in phantom in FIG. 1 for further tensioning the spring 48. The lock means for releasably locking the spring and slider 52 in the second position comprises a lip 60 on the base member 12, engageable by a complementary lug 62 on the slider 52.

Stop means are provided for preventing movement of the slider 52 and shoulder 50 to the second position, when the shack frame members 16 are in their open position as shown in phantom on FIG. 5. The stop means comprises a finger 64 on the shack frame member 16 engageable by a laterally extending arm 66 on the slider 52.

In the operation of this invention, when the shack frame members 16 are in the closed position, and a car is propelled up the ramp 32 and through the doors 30 into the shack, the following occurs. The car pivots the doors 30 inwardly until they clear the side rails 38, then strikes the cam member 42 on the inner surface of the roof walls 24 for slamming the shack frame members 16 into their open position. Substantially simultaneously, the front end of the car strikes the end panel 36, releasing the latch means, causing the hatch member 44 to catapult the car out of the shack 10.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described with particularity, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one having ordinary skill in the art upon being apprised of the present invention. It is intended to encompass all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.