Looped Track System For Toy Wheeled Vehicles

Abstract

This is an accessory for a track system usable with toy wheeled vehicles which serves to change the direction of travel of vehicles traversing the track while at the same time causing the vehicles to travel through an essentially vertical loop. The track system utilizes well known linear sections of elongated flexible track and includes a loop-turn fixture having track securing members which serve to secure the track to the loop turn fixture.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The background of the invention will be set forth in two parts.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the field of toy vehicles having freely rolling or rotatable wheels and track systems for controlling or guiding the course through which such toy vehicles are allowed to travel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Curve or direction changing accessories for track systems intended for use with toy vehicles having freely rotatable or rolling wheels are available in the prior art. These prior art curve accessories may be generally categorized in two classes.

A first of these classes is typified by unitary construction wherein the curve is provided by a single integrally formed unit which is molded or otherwise shaped to form the desired curved portion of a track system. These integrally formed units have generally been fabricated with synthetic materials, such as plastics, or with suitable metals and have been fashioned to provide a variety of curves having different preselected curvature radii and bertical dimensions. It is clear that a disadvantage associated with these integrally formed units is that of lack of adaptability in use. A user must acquire a vast assortment of these curve providing accessories in order to vary the configuration of a total track system to any significant degree.

The second of these classes is again typified in part by unitary construction wherein the curve is provided by an integrally formed curve unit. This class of curve providing accessories also involves a variety of curves having predetermined curvature radii. However, the vertical dimensions may be adjusted or otherwise varied by employing an assortment of trestles which enable a user to select a desired height for the curve in order to design an undulating track system.

Common to both of these classes is a fixed degree of turn or change of direction provided by the curve accessories which again results in the disadvantage of a user having to acquire a large collection of accessories.

Similarly, track system accessories which provide looping sections of track have been generally of unitary construction wherein predetermined dimensions do not allow the accessory to be adapted for a variety of desired configurations. In those accessories providing looping sections with linear sections of flexible track, no provision is provided for significantly changing the direction of vehicle travel.

These disadvantages are overcome by the present invention wherein a curve or direction changing accessory allowing greater adaptability in use is provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a toy wheeled vehicle track loop accessory for use with conventional linear sections of elongated flexible track and which changes the direction of vehicle travel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an accessory for toy wheeled vehicle track systems which is simpler to use and inexpensive, in comparison to such systems previously available.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an accessory which maintains one or more lengths of conventional linear sections of flexible elongated track in a desired loop-turn configuration.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an accessory for toy wheeled vehicle track systems which eliminates any tendency for the looped portion of the track to wobble when being traversed by the toy vehicles.

These and other objects are provided by the present invention which may be briefly described as a looping direction changing track system accessory.

In accordance with the present invention a looped-turn device is provided for use with linear sections of elongated flexible track of the type having an upper face portion adapted to support wheeled toy vehicles and guide flanges projecting generally upwardly from each side of the face portion to guide the vehicles and maintain them on the track and further having a lower portion generally underlying the upper face portion. The invention includes track engaging means for fixedly maintaining the elongated flexible track in a loop configuration with an entrance end and an exit end. Also included, connecting means are operatively engageable with the track engaging means for providing a predetermined substantial angular relationship between the entrance end and the exit end of the loop configuration.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING:

FIG. 1 is an isometric diagram illustrating a side, partial cross-sectional view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a top, partial cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric diagram illustrating a partially cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the basic structure of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates how a length of conventional linear elongated flexible track is held in a desired looped-curve configuration while maintaining the looped portion rigid;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the system shown in FIG. 5, taken along line 6--6; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional illustration taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a looped-turn accessory for a track system, in accordance with the present invention, is shown to include linear sections of elongated flexible track 10 and a track engaging fixture 11. The flexible track 10, like all other sections of track that are used in a track system, is fabricated to have an upper surface 12 having a pair of longitudinal railings 14 and 16 for retaining toy wheeled vehicles along the upper surface 12 when such toy vehicles are traversing the track system and the looped-turn accessory in, for example, a direction indicated by the arrow 18. A lower surface 20 of the flexible track 10 is fabricated to have a pair of identical longitudinally extending L-shaped sections 22 and 24 which serve to form a channel 26, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. Although the preferred track or roadway construction is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,487,999 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, other flexible elongated track with interconnecting means may be utilized.

The track fixture 11 is fabricated to have a pair of identical sloping sections generally indicated at 28 and 30. Each of these sloping sections includes a track portion 32 and a pair of channel engaging members or tabs 34 and 36. The tabs 34 and 36 are shaped as flat elongated members having a suitable length and a width substantially the same as the inner walls of the channel 26 formed by the L-shaped sections 22 and 24.

The tabs 34 serve to retain a section of track, such as indicated at 38, in a secure position abutting one end of the track portion 32 of the respective sloping sections 28 and 30. This retention is accomplished by the tabs 34 being inserted into the channel 26 formed on the lower surface of each section of track by the earlier mentioned L-shaped sections.

In addition to being shaped as flat elongate members, the tabs 36 may be somewhat tapered at the end 40 for the purpose of facilitating the insertion of the tabs 34 into the channel on the lower surface 20 of a track section. Further, a cutout or a depression portion 41 may be provided, if desired, for the purpose of providing a savings in weight and a savings in the amount of material used in construction.

At the other end of the sloping sections 28 and 30, the tabs 36 are shaped as curved elongated members having substantially the same radius of curvature as the associated sloping portion 32 and serve essentially the same purpose as that of the tabs 34. More particularly, the curved tabs 36 serve to retain the ends of the flexible track 10 in abutting position with the other end of the track portions 32 of the respective sloping sections 28 and 30. This requires that the tabs 36 be, like the tabs 34, of a suitable length and have a width substantially the same as that of the internal lateral dimension of the channel 26 on the lower surface 20 of the track 10 to allow the tab 36 to be snugly inserted into the channel 26.

Upright sections 42 are affixed to an end of the tabs 36 for the purpose of providing vertical support for the tab 36 and the engaged flexible track 10. Additional vertical posts 44 may also be used for support if desired.

The track portion 32 of the sloping sections 28 and 30 is generally shaped to have a curved upper surface 46 and a pair of side sections 48 and 50 which serve to provide side railings as well as vertical support for the surface 46. The railings 48 and 50 may be adapted to have outwardly flared portions at the respective ends of the track portion 32 for the purpose of accommodating the ends of the abutting sections of track.

Referring primarily to FIG. 2, the sloping sections 28 and 30 are retained at predetermined angles by a base plate 52. It is to be noted that, although the sections 28 and 30 are illustrated as being orthogonally oriented with respect to each other, they may be maintained at any desirable relative angle for the purpose of providing a desired degree of change of direction for a toy wheeled vehicle traversing the track system.

Where the radius of the looped portion of the flexible track 10 is relatively large, it may be desirable to add additional rigidity to this looped portion so as to prevent track wobble which could interfere with stable toy vehicle operation.

Such a scheme is illustrated in FIGS. 4-7 and basically comprises appropriately disposed track engaging means in the form of track engaging portions or brackets 60, 61 and 62 each having raised flat lands 63 supported by support members 65. The lands 63 may have a diamond shape and are dimensioned such that the distance between any opposite sides 67, 69 is less than the distance of the gap between the pair of L-shaped sections 22 and 24. The distance between any opposite points 71, 73 of the land 63, on the other hand, is greater than the first mentioned dimension but slightly less than the maximum dimension of the channel 26. This is to allow the track 10 to be aligned parallel to the pair of opposite sides of the lands, the L-shaped sections slipped over the lands, and the track rotated 90.degree. so that the ends of the lands 63 are held in the railings 14 and 16 of the channel 26, as best illustrated in FIG. 7.

The lower disposed brackets 60 and 61 are mounted on a base plate 75 to provide the basic loop-turn configuration of the track 10. However, at approximately the highest portion of the loop, the bracket 62 is mounted, essentially inverted, depending from a horizontal section 77 of a support strut 79. The strut 79 also includes side sections 81 and 83 mounted on the base plate 75 and supporting the horizontal section 77 above the base plate as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The strut 79 may be of unitary construction or the sections comprising it may be connected together by any conventional means. Also, the brackets may be molded as an integral part of the base plate and the strut or they may be appropriately bonded or otherwise permanently attached thereto.

It is to be understood that the flexible track 10 may be made with any appropriate material, such as a metal or plastic, that will allow the track 10 to be looped in the fashion shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The track retaining fixture 11 and the structure shown in FIG. 4 may similarly be made of an appropriately available material in any of the conventional fashions. For example, the fixture 11 may be integrally formed by molding or may be fashioned in any desirable number of pieces that are able to be assembled.

While two embodiments of the invention have been described, it is clear that numerous modifications and other embodiments may be made by one skilled in the subject art and without the exercise of inventive faculties.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A looped-turn device for use with linear sections of elongated flexible track of the type having an upper face portion adapted to support wheeled toy vehicles and guide flanges projecting generally upwardly from each side of the face portion to guide the vehicles and maintain them on the track and further having a lower portion generally underlying the upper face portion, characterized by:

track engaging means for fixedly maintaining the elongated flexible track in a vertical loop configuration with an entrance end and an exit end; and

connecting means operatively engageable with and orientating said track engaging means for providing a twist in said vertical loop with a predetermined substantial angular relationship between said entrance end and said exit end.

2. A looped-turn device according to claim 1, wherein said track engaging means includes entrance and exit vertical curve members, said entrance and exit curve members having flexible track engaging portions.

3. A looped-turn device according to claim 2, wherein said connecting means includes a base member engaging said entrance and exit vertical curve members.

4. A looped-turn device according to claim 2, wherein the lower portion of the elongated flexible track includes a pair of opposed L-shaped longitudinally extending sections defining a channel along the length of the track, and wherein said flexible track engaging portions are flat elongated tabs dimensioned to enter and frictionally hold in said channel.

5. A looped-turn device according to claim 4, wherein said vertical curve members have a curved upper surface with a predetermined radius of curvature registering with the upper face portion of the elongated flexible track, and wherein the flat elongated tabs adjacent the upper portion of said vertical curve members have a radius of curvature equal to that of said curved upper surface.

6. A looped-turn device for use with linear sections of elongated flexible track of the type having an upper face portion adapted to support wheeled toy vehicles and guide flanges projecting generally upwardly from each side of said face portion to guide the vehicles and maintain them on the track, and further having a lower portion generally underlying said upper face portion, characterized by:

first and second sloping members each including a vertically curved elongated track portion, each of said sloping members also including lower track engaging members adjacent the lower end of said curved track portions and operatively engageable with entrance and exit sections respectively of the elongated flexible track, said sloping members each further including upper track engaging members adjacent the upper end of said curved track portions and each operatively engageable with different ends of elongated flexible track in the form of a vertical loop, the upper face portions of the flexible track registering with the associated ones of said curved track portions; and

structural means engaging said first and second sloping members for orienting said members wherein a twist is provided in the vertical loop and a substantial angular relationship exists between said entrance and exit sections.

7. A looped-turn device according to claim 6, wherein said structural means is a base member to which are attached said sloping members, vertical support members being disposed respectively between said base member and said sloping members adjacent said upper track engaging members.

8. A looped-turn device for use with linear sections of flexible track of the type having an upper face portion adapted to support wheeled toy vehicles and guide flanges projecting generally upwardly from each side of the face portion to guide the vehicles and maintain them on the track and further having a lower portion generally underlying the upper face portion, characterized by:

track engaging means including track engaging portions for fixedly maintaining the elongated flexible track in a loop configuration with an entrance end and an exit end, at least one of said track engaging portions being positioned adjacent approximately the highest portion of said loop configuration; and

connecting means operatively engageable with said track engaging portions for providing a predetermined substantial angular relationship between said entrance end and said exit end.

9. A looped-turn device according to claim 8, wherein said connecting means includes a base member upon which are mounted additional ones of said track engaging portions positioned adjacent the lowest portions of said loop configuration.

10. A looped-turn device according to claim 9, wherein said base member holds a support strut upon the uppermost portion of which said first mentioned track engaging portions is mounted.

11. A looped-turn device according to claim 10, wherein the lower portion of the elongated flexible track includes a pair of opposed L-shaped longitudinally extending sections defining a channel along the length of the track, and wherein said track engaging portions are brackets having raised flat lands dimensioned to enter and frictionally hold in said channel.