A toy vehicle control mechanism for performing stunts includes a rod coupled to a connection piece that permits a user to selectively manipulate a toy vehicle. The rod includes a rod-tip and a shaft, and the connection piece is formed as a loop or arch shaped structure that is secured to a toy vehicle as an interface for the rod-tip. The rod-tip has an interior opening and an exterior notch with a solid section separating the notch from the opening. The rod-tip and connection piece are configured so that the connection piece can travel around within the opening and be manipulated by selectively engaging the rod-tip's notch with various portions of the connection piece.

A gaming system for enabling three-dimensional game play of remote-control craft controlled by a controller, each craft including a communication system with both radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) capabilities. The system can include a plurality of hovering remote-control flying craft each controlled by a handheld controller, and further may include at least one additional game accessory elements, such as a puck, a ground station or a gun. Each pairing of craft and controllers communicate via an RF protocol that transmits at least control communications between the controller and the craft based on pair identification information in an RF communication protocol. The craft and game-accessory elements also communicate via at least an IR protocol that communicates game-play information. Selectable pairs of craft and controllers may be assigned to different teams for playing multiplayer team games based on team identification information in the RF communication protocol.

A gaming system for enabling three-dimensional game play of remote-control craft controlled by a controller, each craft including a communication system with both radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) capabilities. The system can include a plurality of hovering remote-control flying craft each controlled by a handheld controller, and further may include at least one additional game accessory elements, such as a puck, a ground station or a gun. Each pairing of craft and controllers communicate via an RF protocol that transmits at least control communications between the controller and the craft based on pair identification information in an RF communication protocol. The craft and game-accessory elements also communicate via at least an IR protocol that communicates game-play information. Selectable pairs of craft and controllers may be assigned to different teams for playing multiplayer team games based on team identification information in the RF communication protocol.

A hovering remote-control flying craft having a molded frame assembly includes a plurality of arms extending from a center body with an electric motor and corresponding propeller on each arm. In various embodiments, the motor and propeller are mounted downward-facing at a distal portion of each arm with a motor cover over the motor. The center body can be formed of a two-piece molded structure that sandwiches a circuit board to provide structural support for the frame. The circuit board can include a plurality of tabs that facilitate mounting of wire connectors, and can also provide antennas and emitters for both IR and RF communications. In some embodiments, a removable safety ring protects the propellers from lateral contact.

A hovering remote-control flying craft having a molded frame assembly includes a plurality of arms extending from a center body with an electric motor and corresponding propeller on each arm. In various embodiments, the motor and propeller are mounted downward-facing at a distal portion of each arm with a motor cover over the motor. The center body can be formed of a two-piece molded structure that sandwiches a circuit board to provide structural support for the frame. The circuit board can include a plurality of tabs that facilitate mounting of wire connectors, and can also provide antennas and emitters for both IR and RF communications. In some embodiments, a removable safety ring protects the propellers from lateral contact.

The invention relates to a toy building block system (100) comprising one or more building blocks (200); and one or more wheels (300); wherein each said building block (200) comprises: a first elongate portion (2) extending in a longitudinal direction (X); a second elongate portion (4) extending in said longitudinal direction (X); an intermediate portion (6) connecting said first elongate portion (2) with said second elongate portion (4) at a middle position (8) thereof; a first end portion (10) extending in a transverse direction (Y), perpendicular to said longitudinal direction (X), from said first elongate portion (2), at a side thereof opposite to said intermediate portion (6), and at a middle position thereof; a second end portion (12) extending in said transverse direction (Y), perpendicular to said longitudinal direction (X), from said second elongate portion (4), at a side opposite to said intermediate portion (6), and at a middle position thereof; said building block thereby comprises six protrusions (14) and two voids (16), wherein each void (16) is being defined between an end of said first elongate portion (2) and an end of said second elongate portion (4). wherein each said wheel (300) comprises a hub (18); and a wheel rim (20); wherein said wheel rim (20) is surrounding said hub (18); and wherein said wheel rim (20) is being attached to said hub (18) in such a way that said wheel rim is configured to be able to swivel around a rotational axis (A) in relation to said hub; wherein said hub (18) at a centre (22) thereof comprises a hole (24) extending in an axial direction (A); wherein the dimensions and geometry of said hole (24) are adapted to the dimensions and geometry of one of said protrusions (14) of said building block (200); so as to be able to accommodate said protrusion (14) and thereby hold said protrusion (14) of said building block (200) in place in said hole (24) of said hub (18) solely by friction.

A toy track of the invention includes a base member, a track member having a track surface portion where a toy vehicle can travel and biased into a deployed state where the track surface portion slopes down to a front relative to the base member, a lid member connected to the base member to be opened and closed and having a locked portion, and a locking member having a releasing projection disposed on the track surface portion of the track member in a stowed state and a locking portion for locking the locked portion to hold the lid member in a closed state. The lid member biases the track member into the stowed state when in the closed state, and the locking member releases locking of the locking portion on the locked portion when the releasing projection is pressed by the toy vehicle entering the track surface portion.

A toy vehicle booster is presented herein. The toy vehicle booster includes a booster assembly that is integrated into a lid of a track storage container so that the toy vehicle booster forms a portion of a storage container for a track set. In some instances, the booster assembly includes a first booster and a second booster. The first booster may accelerate toy vehicles along a first pathway and the second booster may accelerate toy vehicles along a second pathway. In at least some of these embodiments, at least the second booster may be reversible so that the second booster can accelerate toy vehicles along the second pathway in a first direction or a second direction opposite the first direction.

The present method and system provides for network-based remote control racing, including receiving a user inputs accessing a gaming engine via user interfacing modules running on a mobile computing device. The method and system includes connecting the gaming engine with a vehicle control engine in response to the user inputs. Via the vehicle control engine, engaging remote control vehicles associated with separate users, wherein the remote control vehicles are physically disposed within a race course. The method and system generates vehicle control commands to control the remote-control vehicles based on the user inputs. Based thereon, the users physically race remote-control vehicles across a communication network. Included herewith, the gaming engine not only facilitates the racing, but distributes the racing content to the users, as well viewers actively watching the physical race.

The present invention relates to a book comprising a first outer cover having a substantially planar body defining a first aperture extending therethrough; a second outer cover having a substantially planar body defining a second aperture extending therethrough; and at least one inner element located between the first and second outer covers, the or each inner element having a substantially planar body defining an inner element aperture extending therethrough; wherein at least a portion of the first and second apertures and the or each inner element aperture are aligned with one another to define a receiving aperture extending through the book.