Toy Concept 1 - Catapult Hammer
Toy Concept 2 - Windup Speedboat
The Tabletop Roller Coaster is attached to a handle near the top of the initial "hill". An initial push of this handle translates the kinetic energy to the roller coaster car and gives the car enough momentum to go through the rest of the track, including the 2 loops.
Children interact with the toy by pulling back on the handle that is attached to the car and pushing it forward to make the roller coaster car move across the track. The track is designed to sit on a table top or the floor and is similar to toy train sets that exist. Children will learn about the idea of gravity and how their initial push affects how fast the roller coaster car completes the track (the general idea of conservation of energy).
The toy consists of a basic roller coaster and roller coaster car. Everything is made of plastic so it is cheap and durable. Production costs can be estimated at a total of about $5-$7 per set.
Choosing plastic as the main material to design the Tabletop Rollercoaster ensures that is durable enough for children to play with. The only concern lies in the design of the actual car, which may be slightly less durable.
This toy is safe enough for almost any child to play with, as it has no small or breakable parts. It is recommended for ages 3-9.
Sarat Mikkilineni