Electrically controlled racing game with information and control center

(19)

(11)

EP 1 230 958 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	02.01.2004 Bulletin 2004/01

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	14.08.2002 Bulletin 2002/33

(21)	Application number: 02001643.2

(22)	Date of filing: 24.01.2002

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: A63H 18/00

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30)

Priority:

07.02.2001 US 267217

(71)	Applicant: Mattel Inc.
	El Segundo, California 90245-5012 (US)

(72)	Inventors:
	Weiss, Stephen N. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 (US) Huy, Gerhart P. Hamilton Square, New Jersey 08690 (US) Reisher, Dean C. Brick, New Jersey 08724 (US) Moll, Joseph T. Prospect Park, Pennsylvania 19076 (US) Nungester, Gregory R. Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312 (US) Winkler, Frank W. Mickleton, New Jersey 08056 (US) Discoe, Justin M. Merchantvill, New Jersey 08109 (US)

(74)	Representative: Lippert, Stachow, Schmidt & Partner
	Frankenforster Strasse 135-137 51427 Bergisch Gladbach 51427 Bergisch Gladbach (DE)

(54)	Electrically controlled racing game with information and control center

(57) A system for racing an electrically powered toy vehicle over a defined course under operator control comprises a continuous track having at least one lane (24, 26) with a pit stop segment (39) and an electrical path (30, 32) extending along the lane for providing electrical power to the vehicle. A control unit (18, 20) is operably connected to the electrical path and has at least a first manual control mechanism (96, 108) used to vary a speed of the electrical vehicle and another (97, 98) to perform at least either a tire change or a vehicle refueling pit stop function. A display unit (16), operably connected to the control unit via a microprocessor (54), displays a progression of the pit stop function in response to actuations of the other control mechanism. The display further includes a changing animated display area (154) as well as other dedicated display areas (156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166).

Search report