Toy vehicle launcher

Abstract

A toy vehicle launcher comprising a housing defining multiple inlets and an outlet. The housing further defines a cavity in which a resilient rotating member is located. The resilient member is positioned to engage an upper surface of a toy vehicle passing through the housing. A crank arm is coupled to the housing and movable by a user to rotate the resilient rotating member to propel the toy vehicle.

1 . A toy vehicle accessory, comprising:
 a housing defining multiple inlets and an outlet, the housing defining a cavity in which a resilient rotating member is located, the resilient member being positioned to engage an upper surface of a toy vehicle passing through the housing; and   a crank arm coupled to the housing and movable by a user to rotate the resilient rotating member to propel the toy vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The toy vehicle accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple inlets are vertically displaced in the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The toy vehicle accessory of  claim 1 , further comprising an outlet cover attached to the housing and positioned over the outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The toy vehicle accessory of  claim 1 , wherein each of the inlets receives the toy vehicle at a first speed and the resilient rotating member propels the toy vehicle out of the outlet at a second speed that is greater than the first speed. 
     
     
         5 . The toy vehicle accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient rotating member is a flywheel. 
     
     
         6 . The toy vehicle accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the crank arm comprises a lateral extension that provides a grip for pushing or pulling the crank arm. 
     
     
         7 . A toy vehicle launcher comprising:
 a housing defining a cavity, the housing comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a channel through the housing connecting the inlet to the outlet;   a flywheel positioned over the channel inside the cavity; and   a crank arm operatively connected to the flywheel, wherein moving the crank arm causes the flywheel to rotate and propel a toy vehicle.   
     
     
         8 . The toy vehicle launcher of  claim 7 , wherein the inlet is positioned in a rear of the housing and the outlet is positioned in a front of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The toy vehicle launcher of  claim 8 , wherein the inlet, outlet, and channel are sized to allow the toy vehicle to pass through the housing and the flywheel is positioned to engage an upper surface of the toy vehicle passing through the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The toy vehicle launcher of  claim 9 , wherein the inlet receives the toy vehicle at a first speed and the flywheel propels the toy vehicle out of the outlet at a second speed that is greater than the first speed. 
     
     
         11 . The toy vehicle launcher of  claim 7 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of inlets connected to the outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The toy vehicle launcher of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of inlets are vertically displaced on a rear of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The toy vehicle launcher of  claim 7 , wherein the inlet is positioned at a downward angle with respect to the channel. 
     
     
         14 . The toy vehicle launcher of  claim 7 , further comprising an outlet cover attached to a front of the housing and positioned over the outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The toy vehicle launcher of  claim 7 , wherein an outer circumference of the flywheel comprises a resilient flexible material. 
     
     
         16 . The toy vehicle launcher of  claim 7 , wherein one or more gears operatively connect the crank arm to the flywheel. 
     
     
         17 . The toy vehicle launcher of  claim 7 , wherein the crank arm comprises a lateral extension that provides a grip for pushing or pulling the crank arm to rotate the flywheel. 
     
     
         18 . The toy vehicle launcher of  claim 17 , wherein the crank arm is pushed forward towards the outlet to rotate the flywheel and the flywheel maintains rotation when the crank arm is pulled back towards the inlet. 
     
     
         19 . The toy vehicle launcher of  claim 17 , wherein the crank arm is pulled back towards the inlet to rotate the flywheel and the flywheel maintains rotation when the crank arm is pushed forward towards the outlet. 
     
     
         20 . A toy vehicle accessory, comprising:
 a housing having an inlet and an outlet, the housing defining a cavity through which a toy vehicle can travel,   a resilient member rotatably mounted in the cavity of the housing, the resilient member being positioned to engage a toy vehicle passing through the cavity of the housing; and   a crank arm coupled to the housing and to the resilient member, the crank arm being movable by a user to rotate the resilient member to propel the toy vehicle.