HK1178480A - Toy vehicle track set - Google Patents

Description

Toy car rail device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to toy vehicle track sets.

Background

Play sets for toy vehicles are popular toys known to provide entertainment and excitement to users. These play sets typically include some type of track structure intended to guide propelled toy vehicles, such as 1/64 scale cast metal toy vehicles, through a route. The track structure may comprise a closed loop continuous track arrangement and an open end arrangement. Toy vehicles are placed on these play set tracks and propelled structurally by hand or by external propulsion means. In some applications, one or more users race against each other and therefore wish to determine which toy vehicle wins the race.

To provide more entertainment and excitement to the play set, the track structure may include features such as intersecting tracks, loop segments, and other types of track structures.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a play set for toy vehicles having a unique apparatus and method for determining a winner of a race.

Disclosure of Invention

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a track set for a toy vehicle, the track set having: a first track segment connected to the first curved track segment; a second track segment connected to a second curved track segment; a third curved track segment having an entrance end and an exit end, the entrance end being wider than the exit end, the entrance end being configured to receive a toy vehicle traveling on the first curved track segment and the second curved track segment; and a trap mechanism located at an exit end of the third curved track segment, wherein the trap mechanism is configured to capture a first of the toy vehicles traveling through the exit end of the third curved track segment.

In another exemplary embodiment, a track set for a toy vehicle is provided, the track set comprising: a first track portion including a first track segment and a second track segment arranged such that a side-by-side race of toy vehicles may be played thereon; a loop portion configured to receive a toy vehicle from the first track portion, the loop portion including a first curved track segment and a second curved track segment, each curved track segment having a distal end spaced from an entrance end of the third curved track segment, the entrance end being wider than an exit end of the third curved track segment; and a trap mechanism located at the exit end of the third curved track segment, wherein the trap mechanism is configured to capture a first of the toy vehicles traveling through the exit end of the third curved track segment.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, a track set for a toy vehicle is provided, the track set having: a first track section comprising a first track segment and a second track segment arranged such that a side-by-side race of toy vehicles may be played thereon; a loop portion configured to receive a toy vehicle from the first track portion, the loop portion including a first curved track segment and a second curved track segment, each curved track segment having a distal end spaced from an entrance end of the third curved track segment, the entrance end being wider than an exit end of the third curved track segment; and a trap mechanism located at the exit end of the third curved track segment, wherein the trap mechanism is configured to capture a second of the toy vehicles traveling through the exit end of the third curved track segment.

In yet another embodiment, a track set for a toy vehicle is provided. The rail device has: a first track portion arranged so that a side-by-side race of toy vehicles may be played thereon; a ramp portion movably mounted to the track set for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the ramp portion is configured to receive a toy vehicle from the first track portion when the ramp portion is in the second position, and wherein the ramp portion is positioned above the first track portion when the ramp portion is in the first position such that a toy vehicle traveling on the first track portion cannot be received on the ramp portion, and wherein the ramp portion is configured to launch a toy vehicle traveling on the ramp portion upward and away from the ramp portion; and a trap mechanism located above the ramp portion, wherein the trap mechanism is configured to capture a first one of the toy vehicles traveling up and away from the ramp portion.

Drawings

These and/or other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1A shows a mousetrap of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2D are perspective views of a fair start mechanism used in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

3-7 illustrate various perspective views of the play set as a toy vehicle travels thereon; and is

Fig. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a side-by-side racing track set is provided. The track set has a pair of manually controlled vehicle launchers for each track of the track set. In addition, the track incorporates a fair start gate that is raised to start the race. If the vehicle is released before fairly starting the door lift, the vehicle is driven off the track.

In addition, the track set also contains a trap (snare) at the end of the track where two independent channels are combined into one channel for capturing the leading vehicle and announcing the winner of the race. Additional alternative features include: a) a bear trap (trap) located outside the track for capturing a vehicle; and b) a checkered flag adapted to appear when a winning car is "trapped".

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary play set or track set 10 for a toy vehicle or object 12 according to one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The play set 10 includes two independent track segments or track sections 14 and 16, each having a launch pad 18, 20 at one end of the track section. The launchers 18 and 20 are mechanical launchers, such as spring-biased mechanisms, configured to propel the vehicle 12 along the respective track segments. Non-limiting examples of suitable launch stations are described in U.S. patent nos. 4,108,437 and 6,435,929 and U.S. patent publication No.2007/0293122, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

A loop portion 22 is provided at the other end of the track segments 14 and 16. The loop portion 22 has a pair of curved track segments 24 and 26. Each of the curved segments 24 and 26 is connected at one end to a respective one of the track segments 14 and 16, and each of the pair of curved track segments 24 and 26 terminates at a distal end such that a gap 28 is formed between the distal ends of the curved track segments 24 and 26 and a single curved track segment 30, the single curved track segment 30 being configured to receive a toy vehicle therein after the toy vehicle passes the gap 28 between the curved track segments 24 and 26 and the single curved track segment 30.

As shown, a single curved track segment 39 has a wide entrance 32 and a narrow exit 34 such that curved track segment 30 converges from a wide width to a narrow width, thus converging the toy vehicle to narrow exit end 34.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first toy vehicle spanning the gap 28 and reaching the narrow outlet end 34 is considered a winner of the race. Because toy vehicles 12 may arrive at the finish line (e.g., narrow exit end) at substantially the same time, it may be desirable to have a means or device to determine which toy vehicle first passed the finish line.

In one exemplary embodiment, a vehicle trapping apparatus 36 is provided. In one embodiment, the vehicle trapping apparatus 36 has a trap 38. The trap 38 has a pair of grasping members 40 and 42, each of which is pivotally connected to one another at a hinge end 44. A mouth portion 46 is provided at the opposite end of the trap. In one embodiment, the pair of gripping members 40 and 22 are spring biased to the closed position shown in FIG. 1A. To secure the trap 38 to the narrow outlet end 34, each of the pair of grasping members are pivoted away from each other so that they may engage the narrow outlet end 34 when they are allowed to bias toward the closed position shown in fig. 1A. Thus and as shown in fig. 1, the pair of gripping members 40 and 42 are slightly open to provide a trap for receiving a toy vehicle therein after the toy vehicle exits from end 34.

The trap 38 is connected to the loop portion 22 via a resilient member 48, the resilient member 48 being fixed at one end to the trap 38 and at the other end to an arm member 50. The arm member 50 is pivotally connected to a fixed structural member 52, the fixed structural member 52 being fixed to the loop portion 22. Thus, and by using the pivotally mounted arm member 50 and resilient member 48 and providing an upward biasing force in the direction of arrow 54, once the toy vehicle 12 is captured in the trap 38 and released from the narrow outlet end 34, the toy vehicle is pulled upward in the direction of arrow 54 due to the biasing force of the resilient member 48. This movement is shown at least in fig. 4.

Because the trap 38 is positioned at the narrow outlet end 34 of the curved track segment 30, the first vehicle arriving at the narrow outlet end 34 will be captured by the trap 38 and pulled up and in the direction of arrow 54. This capture and pulling up in the air of the vehicle means the winner of the race. Thereafter and because the trap 38 is now removed from the exit end 34, the next vehicle 12 arriving at the same location will fly off the track segment 30.

In an alternative embodiment and referring at least to fig. 5 and 6, a further trap 56 is provided to capture a second or missing vehicle 12 emanating from the narrow outlet end 34 after the trap 38 is removed from the narrow outlet end 34 (e.g., due to a first or winning vehicle previously reaching the outlet end 34). In this embodiment and when the second vehicle 12 is launched from the narrow outlet end 34, it will travel through the air and contact the trap 56. In one embodiment, the trap 56 includes a pair of wall members 58 and 60 pivotally connected to each other at a hinge 62. In this embodiment, the wall members 58 and 60 of the trap 56 may be positioned in an open position (fig. 5) in which the spring-biased or spring-biased closing force is held against (at bay) until the vehicle 12 contacts the trap (fig. 6). At this point, the biasing force will be released and the wall members 58 and 60 will move toward each other and close the trap 56, thus trapping the vehicle 12.

Thus and as toy vehicles 12 are launched to move along their respective track segments of the track set, they will enter the respective curved track segments which will invert the toy vehicle and guide the toy vehicle toward loop segment 30, which loop segment 39 converges to narrow exit end 34 and thus provides a finish line on which the mechanism (trap 38) is located for determining which racing vehicle first reaches the finish line in one embodiment. As described above, the winning vehicle is captured by the trap and pulled up into the air, while the losing vehicle side rushes out of the narrow exit end into the unwanted trap 56.

Alternatively, the play set or track set may be deployed in an alternative device (such as a bucket or container on which a vehicle is logged in) in place of the trap 56.

Additionally and in yet another alternative embodiment, and because the distal ends of curved track segments 24 and 26 are separated from the distal end of curved track segment 30, and curved track segments 24 and 26 and curved track end segment 30 are formed from a flexible material such as plastic or its equivalent, adjustable gap 28 is provided. The adjustable gap 28 may be enlarged or reduced by using an adjustable member secured to each of the distal ends of the curved track segments, and in one embodiment may form part of a structure 52 that pivotably supports the arm member 50.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the operation of the trap 38 may be reversed such that a first vehicle passing through the narrow exit end 34 is not captured by the trap 38 and only a second vehicle that is in transit or reaches the narrow exit end is captured by the trap 38. This may be achieved by an opening in the trap allowing a first vehicle to pass therethrough, and a release mechanism is provided within or adjacent the trap 38, such that a second arriving vehicle will actuate the mechanism and cause the trap 38 to capture a second or incoming vehicle. In other words, the first or winning vehicle 12 will start or load the trap 38 such that a second vehicle arriving at the trap 38 is trapped.

Referring back now to fig. 1-4 and particularly to fig. 2A-2D, a fair start mechanism 70 is shown. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the fair start mechanism 70 provides a means for preventing one of the users from starting his toy vehicle 12 too early. The fair start mechanism has a pair of track portions 72 and 74, each of which is pivotally mounted to a structure 76 such that the pair of track portions 72 and 74 can move from a first non-blocking position 78 shown in fig. 2A-2C and a blocking position 79 shown in fig. 2D. When the pair of track sections 72 and 74 are in the blocking position, they are aligned with track sections 14 and 16 such that if a toy vehicle reaches one of the pair of track sections when they are in the blocking position, the toy vehicle will travel to one of the pair of track sections and off of the play set.

Alternatively and if the pair of track sections are in the non-blocking position, the toy vehicle will travel under one of the pair of track sections and proceed forward to loop section 22.

Thus, the fair start mechanism provides a means for encouraging users to not launch their toy vehicles from the launch pad too enthusiastically and too early, as the vehicles would be ejected off the track portion if they were to launch their vehicles before the appropriate time indicated by the fair start mechanism. Still further and in order to provide even more play enhancement, the fair start mechanism 70 is configured with a slow release mechanism that will hold the fair start mechanism 70 in the blocking position for a few seconds before it is released to move back to the non-blocking position.

This is accomplished by providing a spring biasing force to the pair of track portions 72 and 74 such that they are urged to the non-blocking position as shown in the figures. Thus and when the user applies a force to the pair of track sections 72 and 74 to urge them into the blocking position, the pair of track sections 72 and 74 are held in that position for a limited amount of time and then they are released and the spring bias force urges them back into the non-blocking position. One non-limiting way to achieve this is to provide a resilient member 81 (e.g., a shape memory foam, a resilient biasing member, a spring, etc.) that compresses when the handle connected to the pair of track portions 72 and 74 is rotated to the blocking position. Once this occurs, the catch 85 will hold a portion of the pair of track portions or grips 83 in this position until the compressed resilient member returns to its non-compressed configuration, which causes the pair of track portions 72 and 74 to rotate back toward the non-blocking position and also causes the catch to no longer resist the biasing force that urges the pair of track portions 72 and 74 back toward the non-blocking position. Alternatively, the spring 75 may be positioned in the fair start mechanism to provide the spring biasing force, although many other means for providing the spring biasing force are contemplated within the scope of the exemplary embodiments of this invention.

Additionally and in an alternative embodiment, the arm member 50 may be configured with a flag 80 such that once the trap 38 is released and moved upwardly in the air, the flag 80 may be deployed, further informing the winner of the game.

Referring now to fig. 8, yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Similar to the previous embodiment, the track set 110 has side-by-side vehicle launchers 118 and 120 and a fair start mechanism 170. However, after the vehicles are launched from the launchers 118 and 120 and if the fair start mechanism is in the position shown in fig. 8, the launched vehicles are directed vertically in the direction of arrow 111 into a pandemic cage 138, which cage 138 is closed upon receiving the first vehicle to reach the cage 138. The second vehicle arriving at the cage or the non-captured vehicle falls to the ground because the cage 138 is closed by the first vehicle. Thus, the cage 138 provides a means for indicating which toy vehicle won the race. For example, a first toy vehicle launched upward away from the fair start mechanism 170 will enter the cage and a second vehicle or racing losing vehicle will not be able to enter the cage. In a tie-off event, both launched vehicles are captured by the cage 138. In other words, at least in one embodiment, the cage 138 is configured to capture a plurality of vehicles when the vehicles enter the open cage simultaneously.

Similar to the previous embodiment, the cage 138 will have a sensitive trigger that can quickly close and reliably trap the winning car(s) when the car hits it (over center) or otherwise). For example and in one non-limiting embodiment, the cage 138 will include a central body 139 having a pair of side walls 141, each pivotally mounted to an upper portion 143 for movement in the direction of arrow 145. Fig. 8 shows the pair of sidewalls 141 in a first open position such that an opening 147 is provided in a lower portion of the cage 138. The opening 147 is positioned to receive toy vehicles launched from the launching stations 118 and 120. As in the previous embodiment, a first vehicle entering the opening 147 will contact a trigger or switch 149 located within the cage 138, which will release the pair of side walls 141 and cause them to move from the open position to the closed position. In one non-limiting embodiment, the pair of side walls 141 are spring biased to the closed position by a spring, and the cage is configured with a release mechanism that will hold the side walls 141 in the open position, and actuation of the trigger or switch 141 will actuate the release mechanism that will release the side walls and the spring biasing force will urge the pair of side walls 141 to close. Of course, alternative embodiments contemplate a single door member 141 that is movable between an open position and a closed position and is spring biased to the closed position such that actuation of the trigger 149 causes it to move to the closed position and thus capture the launched vehicle(s) therein.

As shown, the cage 138 is secured to the tower member 151 such that the opening 147 is positioned above the ramp member of the fair start mechanism 170.

In this embodiment, the fair start mechanism comprises a curved portion of the track 171 that is movably or slidably connected to the post 173 such that it can be positioned between a first starting position (illustrated by dashed lines in fig. 8) near the top of the post 173 and a second starting position (illustrated by non-dashed lines in fig. 8) near the bottom of the post 173 such that a vehicle launched from the launchers 118 and 120 will engage the curved track portion 171 when it is in the second starting position.

To allow for such movement, the curved portion of the track 171 has a central opening 175 configured to slidably receive the post 173 therein. In one embodiment, the central opening 175 has at least one protrusion 177 (e.g., a spring-loaded pin or any other equivalent member or device) configured to engage a recessed portion 179 of the post 173. In this embodiment, the grooved portion 179 spans in a zigzag fashion from the top of the post 173 to the bottom of the post 173, such that the curvature of the track 171 moves in a rocking manner (oscillating manner) from the first position to the second position by moving back and forth in the direction of arrow 181.

Thus and in order to provide a means for fair starting of the two vehicles launched by the launchers 118 and 120, the user simply moves the curved track section to the first position and releases the curved track section so that gravity will pull the curved track section 171 downward in the direction opposite to arrow 111. At the same time, the protrusion 177 will engage the groove portion 179 and thus the curved track portion 171 will swing back and forth in the direction of arrow 181 until it reaches the second position. At this point, vehicles launched from the launchers 118 and 120 will pass down the track segments 114 and 116 and be launched through the curved track section 171. Accordingly, the fair start mechanism 170 provides a means for allowing a user to schedule the launching of their vehicles from the launchers 118 and 120 so that they are launched from the slope defined by the curved track section 171.

Alternatively, the curved track portion 171 may simply be lowered from the first position to the second position in a non-swinging manner. In this embodiment, means for slowing the movement of the curved track section from the first position to the second position may be employed so that the user can again time to launch the vehicle from the launch pads 118 and 120.

The embodiment of fig. 8 allows at least two toy vehicles to compete against each other as they are launched from a pair of launchers 118 and 120 along track segment 114, the toy vehicles then jumping vertically upward into a panda-type victory cage that slams shut to capture a winning car or to capture two cars in the event of a tie.

The fair start mechanism 170 provides a fair start feature for the race: the curved portion (e.g., quarter loop) of the track 171 can be disengaged from the track segments 114 and 116 and moved upward on the pole or post 173 to a first or elevated position so that launching of the toy vehicle from the launch pads 118 and 120 will result in a collision because a portion of the path or route results in a missed jump to the cage 138. To begin the race, the user manually lifts the curved portion (e.g., ramp) of the track 171 up the pole or post 173 to a first position. When the track 171 is released, the protrusion 177 will engage the cut zigzag lead groove (cam groove) 179, and thus the entire ramp portion will oscillate back and forth while slowly lowering. This timed time interval lasts several seconds and requires both users to wait for the ramp to eventually fall into place, completing the route and enabling the drag race to begin, wherein the toy vehicles launched from the launchers 118 and 120 will be propelled toward the cage 138.

In the preceding detailed description, numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without these specific details, that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, and that the present invention may be practiced in a variety of alternative embodiments. Moreover, repeated usage of the phrase "in one embodiment" does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but may. Finally, as used in this application, the terms "comprising," "including," "having," and the like are intended to be synonymous unless otherwise indicated. This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Claims (21)

1. A track set for a toy vehicle, comprising:

a first track segment connected to a first curved track segment;

a second track segment connected to a second curved track segment;

a third curved track segment having an entrance end and an exit end, the entrance end being wider than the exit end, the entrance end being configured to receive a toy vehicle traveling on the first curved track segment and the second curved track segment; and

a trap mechanism located at the outlet end of the third curved track segment, wherein the trap mechanism is configured to capture a first of the toy vehicles traveling through the outlet end of the third curved track segment.

2. The track set as in claim 1, wherein a gap is provided between the entrance ends of the first, second and third curved track segments.

3. The track device of claim 1, wherein the trap mechanism is connected to another portion of the track device via a resilient member such that once the trap captures the first one of the toy vehicles traveling through the outlet end of the third curved track segment, the trap mechanism is pulled up into the air.

4. The track set as in claim 1, including a fair start mechanism including a pair of track portions adjacent a respective one of the first and second track segments, each of the pair of track portions of the fair start mechanism being pivotally mounted to a structure for movement between a first non-blocking position and a second blocking position, wherein a toy vehicle traveling along either of the first or second track segments will be launched from the track set when the pair of track portions are in the blocking position.

5. The track set as in claim 4, wherein the toy vehicle traveling along either of the first or second track segments passes under one of the pair of track portions and travels forward to one of the first or second curved track segments when the pair of track portions are in the first non-blocking position.

6. The track set as in claim 5, wherein the fair start mechanism further comprises a slow release mechanism that holds the fair start mechanism in the first blocking position for a few seconds before the fair start mechanism is released to move back to the second non-blocking position.

7. The track set as in claim 6, wherein the pair of track portions of the fair start mechanism are spring biased to the second non-blocking position, and wherein the slow release mechanism further comprises a resilient member that is compressed when the fair start mechanism is in the second blocking position, and the resilient member provides a biasing force for urging a portion of the fair start mechanism to return to the first non-blocking position.

8. The track set of claim 7, wherein the resilient member is a shape memory foam.

9. The track device of claim 1, further comprising a second trap mechanism distal to the exit end of the third curved track segment, wherein the second trap mechanism is configured to capture a second one of the toy vehicles traveling through the exit end of the third curved track segment.

10. The track device of claim 1, wherein the trap mechanism includes a pair of gripping members, each of the pair of gripping members being pivotably connected to one another at a hinged end and providing a mouth portion at the other end of the trap, wherein the mouth portion is configured to engage the outlet end of the third curved track segment.

11. The track set as in claim 10, wherein the pair of gripping members are spring biased to a closed position and the pair of gripping members are moved away from the closed position such that the mouth portion is positioned over the outlet end of the third curved track.

12. The track device of claim 11, wherein the trap mechanism is connected to another portion of the track device via a resilient member such that once the trap captures the first one of the toy vehicles traveling through the outlet end of the third curved track segment, the trap mechanism is pulled up into the air.

13. The track set as in claim 11, wherein one end of the resilient member is secured to an arm member pivotally mounted to a portion of the track set.

14. The track set as in claim 13, wherein a flag is secured to the arm member and is lifted upwardly when a trap catches the first one of the toy vehicles traveling through the exit end of the third curved track portion.

15. A track set for a toy vehicle, comprising:

a first track portion including a first track segment and a second track segment arranged such that a side-by-side race of toy vehicles can be played thereon;

a loop portion configured to receive a toy vehicle from the first track portion, the loop portion including a first curved track segment and a second curved track segment, the first curved track segment and the second curved track segment each having a distal end spaced apart from an entrance end of a third curved track segment, the entrance end being wider than an exit end of the third curved track segment; and

a trap mechanism located at the outlet end of the third curved track segment, wherein the trap mechanism is configured to capture a first of the toy vehicles traveling through the outlet end of the third curved track segment.

16. The track set as in claim 15, wherein an adjustable gap is provided between the entrance ends of the first, second and third curved track segments, and the first track section further comprises a launch station for each of the first and second track segments, the launch stations configured to propel toy vehicles along a respective one of the first and second track segments.

17. The track device of claim 16, wherein the trap mechanism is connected to another portion of the track device via a resilient member such that once the trap captures the first one of the toy vehicles traveling through the outlet end of the third curved track segment, the trap mechanism is pulled up into the air.

18. The track set as in claim 17, including a fair start mechanism including a pair of track portions adjacent a respective one of the first and second track segments, each of the pair of track portions of the fair start mechanism being pivotally mounted to a structure for movement between a first non-blocking position and a second blocking position, wherein a toy vehicle traveling along either of the first or second track segments will be launched from the track set when the pair of track portions are in the blocking position.

19. The track set as in claim 18, wherein the toy vehicle traveling along either of the first and second track segments passes under one of the pair of track portions and travels forward to one of the first or second curved track segments when the pair of track portions are in the first non-blocking position.

20. A track set for a toy vehicle, comprising:

a first track portion including a first track segment and a second track segment arranged such that a side-by-side race of toy vehicles can be played thereon;

a loop portion configured to receive a toy vehicle from the first track portion, the loop portion including a first curved track segment and a second curved track segment, the first curved track segment and the second curved track segment each having a distal end spaced apart from an entrance end of a third curved track segment, the entrance end being wider than an exit end of the third curved track segment; and

a trap mechanism located at the outlet end of the third curved track segment, wherein the trap mechanism is configured to capture a second of the toy vehicles traveling through the outlet end of the third curved track segment.

21. A track set for a toy vehicle, comprising:

a first track portion arranged to enable a side-by-side race of toy vehicles to be played thereon;

a ramp movably mounted to the track set for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the ramp is configured to receive a toy vehicle from the first track when the ramp is in the second position, and wherein the ramp is located above the first track when the ramp is in the first position such that a toy vehicle traveling on the first track cannot be received onto the ramp, and wherein the ramp is configured to launch a toy vehicle traveling on the ramp upward and away from the ramp; and

a trap mechanism located above the ramp, wherein the trap mechanism is configured to capture a first of the toy vehicles traveling up and away from the ramp.