Toy vehicle accessory

Abstract

An accessory device for use with at least one toy vehicle is provided, wherein the accessory device includes a first housing and a second housing. The first housing includes a first passageway configured to permit the toy vehicle to pass entirely through the first housing. The first housing may further include a second passageway configured to permit the toy vehicle to completely pass through the first housing. A sensor may be positioned along the first passageway, the second passageway, or both. The sensor may be configured to detect the passage of the toy vehicle through the passageway and activate a sensory output generating device. The accessory device further includes a second housing attachable to the first housing and includes a passageway configured to permit the toy vehicle to pass entirely through the second housing.

1 . An accessory device for use with a toy vehicle, the accessory comprising: 
 a first housing including: 
 a first passageway adapted to permit said toy vehicle to pass entirely through said first housing,  
 a second passageway adapted to permit said toy vehicle to pass entirely through said first housing;  
   a first sensor positioned along said first passageway to detect the passage of said toy vehicle through said first housing along said first passageway; and    a second sensor positioned along said second passageway to detect the passage of said toy vehicle along said second passageway.    
   
   
       2 . The accessory device of  claim 1 , wherein said first housing further includes a third passageway transverse to said second passageway that permits said toy vehicle to pass entirely through said first housing, and said second sensor is capable of detecting passage of said toy vehicle along said third passageway.  
   
   
       3 . The accessory device of  claim 1 , further including a second housing configured to attach to said first housing, said second housing including a fourth passageway that permits said toy vehicle to pass entirely through said second housing.  
   
   
       4 . The accessory device of  claim 3  wherein said first housing is configured to mount to said second housing in a stacked configuration.  
   
   
       5 . The accessory device of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of said first and second housings further includes a sensory output generating device.  
   
   
       6 . The accessory device of  claim 5 , wherein said first sensor actuates said sensory output generating device to generate a sensory output as a result of a detection of the passage of said toy vehicle through said first housing along said first passageway.  
   
   
       7 . The accessory device of  claim 5 , wherein said sensory output generating device produces an audible output.  
   
   
       8 . The accessory device of  claim 5 , wherein said second sensor actuates said sensory output generating device as a result of a detection of the passage of said toy vehicle through said second housing along said second passageway.  
   
   
       9 . The accessory device of  claim 3 , wherein said first and second housings are configurable in a side-by-side relationship such that said second passageway of said first housing is parallel to said fourth passageway of said second housing.  
   
   
       10 . The accessory device of claim of  1 , wherein a first track portion is housed within said second passageway.  
   
   
       11 . The accessory device of claim of  2 , wherein a second track portion is housed within said third passageway.  
   
   
       12 . The accessory device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first sensor and said second sensor is an optical sensor.  
   
   
       13 . The accessory device of  claim 1 , wherein said first passageway is parallel to said second passageway.  
   
   
       14 . An accessory device for use with a toy vehicle comprising: 
 a first housing including: 
 a first passageway configured to permit said toy vehicle to pass entirely through said first housing, and  
 a first sensor capable of detecting the passage of said toy vehicle through said first housing; and  
   a second housing configured to attach to said first housing, said second housing including a passageway configured to permit said toy vehicle to pass entirely through said second housing.    
   
   
       15 . The accessory device of  claim 14 , wherein said first housing further includes a second passageway configured to permit said vehicle to pass entirely through said first housing.  
   
   
       16 . The accessory device of  claim 15  further including a second sensor disposed along said second passageway, wherein said second sensor is capable of detecting the passage of said toy vehicle through said first housing.  
   
   
       17 . The accessory device of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said first housing and said second housing further includes a sensory output generating device.  
   
   
       18 . The accessory device of  claim 17 , wherein said first sensor activates said sensory output generating device to generate a sensory output as a result of a detection of the passage of said toy vehicle through said first housing along said first passageway.  
   
   
       19 . The accessory device of  claim 18 , wherein said second sensor activates said sensory output generating device to generate a sensory output as a result of a detection of the passage of said toy vehicle through said first housing along said second passageway.  
   
   
       20 . The accessory device of claim of  17 , wherein said sensory output generating device produces an audible output.  
   
   
       21 . The accessory device of claim of  14 , wherein said first housing is configurable in a side-by-side relationship with respect to said second housing such that said first passageway of said first housing is parallel to said second housing passageway.  
   
   
       22 . The accessory device of  claim 14 , wherein said first sensor is an optical sensor.  
   
   
       23 . The accessory device of  claim 16 , wherein said second sensor is an optical sensor.  
   
   
       24 . The accessory device of  claim 15 , wherein a track portion is housed within at least one of said first passageway and said second passageway.  
   
   
       25 . The accessory device of  claim 15  further including a third passageway configured to permit said toy vehicle to pass entirely through said first housing, wherein said third passageway is non-parallel with respect to at least one of said first passageway and said second passageway.  
   
   
       26 . The accessory device of  claim 15 , wherein said first housing is configured to mount to said second housing in a stacked configuration.