Angled toy vehicle launcher

Abstract

A toy vehicle launch apparatus is described. The launch apparatus comprises a base, a vehicle tray, an actuator, a launch member, and a release controller. The vehicle tray is coupled to the base such that it is rotatable along a longitudinal axis relative to the base. The actuator, launch member, and release controller are coupled such that the launch member is configured to move between a ready position and a released position along a surface of the vehicle tray. The apparatus may also include a vehicle disposed on a surface of the vehicle tray and positioned in a launch position adjacent to the launch member. A combination toy vehicle transporter and launch apparatus and a method of launching a vehicle are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy vehicle launch apparatus, comprising:
 a base;   a vehicle tray coupled to the base and rotatable along a longitudinal axis relative to the base;   an actuator coupled to the vehicle tray and configured to move between a relaxed position and an energized position;   a launch member coupled to the actuator, wherein the launch member is configured to move between a ready position and a released position along a surface of the vehicle tray; and   a release controller coupled to the actuator to activate the actuator from the energized position that corresponds to the launch member ready position, to the relaxed position that corresponds to the launch member released position.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle disposed on a surface of the vehicle tray and positioned adjacent the launch member in a ready position. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein when the vehicle is launched along a length of the vehicle tray by moving the release controller to activate the actuator and move the launch member from ready position to the released position. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle tray is positioned at an angle of from about 10 degrees to about 90 degrees relative to the base when the vehicle is launched. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein upon launching and exiting the vehicle tray, the vehicle moves away therefrom on two wheels, wherein the two wheels comprise one front wheel and one rear wheel on the same side of the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base is a member of a vehicle transporter, and wherein the vehicle transporter comprises a number of wheels attached thereto for rolling movement on an underlying surface. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a spring, the release controller cooperates with a mechanism connected with the spring, and wherein the release controller is configured for movement by finger contact. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising means for retaining the vehicle tray in a rotated position, and for releasing the vehicle tray from the rotated position and onto the base. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , comprising a vehicle, having at least four wheels, disposed on the vehicle tray and launched in the rotated position, the launched vehicle moving away from the vehicle tray on an adjacent surface on two wheels. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a ramp coupled to the base and extending therefrom to an adjacent surface. 
     
     
         11 . A combination toy vehicle transport and launch apparatus, comprising:
 a base comprising a plurality of wheels connected thereto for rotational movement of the base on an underlying surface;   a vehicle tray connected to the base, wherein the vehicle tray is rotatable along a longitudinal axis relative to the base;   a launch member connected with and disposed along a surface of the vehicle tray;   actuating means connected with the vehicle tray for moving the launch member from a ready position to a released position; and   a vehicle disposed on the surface of the vehicle tray and positioned adjacent the launch member;   wherein when the launch member is actuated from the ready position to the released position and the vehicle is launched along the vehicle tray surface to an adjacent surface.   
     
     
         12 . The combination as recited in  claim 11 , wherein when placed in a launch position the vehicle tray is rotated to an angle of between about 10 degrees to about 90 degrees relative to the base. 
     
     
         13 . The combination as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a release controller connected with the actuating means and disposed on the vehicle tray for actuating the launch member from the ready to released position. 
     
     
         14 . The combination as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the vehicle includes one or more drive wheels and means for rotating the same. 
     
     
         15 . The combination as recited in  claim 14  wherein when the launch member is in the ready position, the one or more vehicle drive wheels are free from contacting the vehicle tray. 
     
     
         16 . A method of launching a toy vehicle from an apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
 placing the toy vehicle on a vehicle tray that is connected to a base and rotatable along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle tray, wherein the toy vehicle is positioned adjacent a launch member on the vehicle tray that is in a ready position; and   activating a release to cause an actuator to move the launch member from the ready position to a released position, wherein movement of the launch member to the released position causes the toy vehicle to be launched away from the vehicle tray.   
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein during the step of activating, the toy vehicle moves across a surface adjacent an end of the vehicle tray on two wheels. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the two wheels comprise a front and a rear drive wheel on the same side of the toy vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 16  wherein the toy vehicle comprises one or more drive wheels, and wherein before the step of activating, operating the vehicle to rotate the one or more drive wheels, and wherein the one or more drive wheels are free from contacting the vehicle tray. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein before the step of activating, rotating the vehicle tray to a launch position that is between about 10 to 90 degrees relative to the base.