Abstract: An adapter for interconnecting hollow toy building blocks having a generally cylindrical primary projection extending outwardly therefrom comprises a housing which is generally square in cross section, having two interconnected pairs of generally parallel sidewalls defining first and second open ends for receiving the blocks to be interconnected. The adapter further includes one generally cylindrical tubular member substantially within the center of the housing, the cylindrical tubular member extending generally parallel to the sidewalls and being supported by at least one flange member extending inwardly from one of the sidewalls, the flange member being generally parallel to and of substantially the same height as the sidewalls.

Abstract: An improved reciprocating dock for coupling and uncoupling a toy semitrailer and a toy tractor. The dock includes a reciprocable slide and a rotary cam arrangement. During an uncoupling operation, the slide is contacted and displaced by the semitrailer from a fully extended position to a retracted position. During this movement of the slide, the semitrailer travels over a roadway ramp which lifts the semitrailer, uncoupling the semitrailer from the tractor. A spring returns the slide from the fully retracted position to a partially extended position, and the rotary cam arrangement arrests the slide at the partially extended position. During movement of the slide to the partially extended position, the slide moves the semitrailer to a prescribed position such that the semitrailer remains elevated with respect to the tractor and poised for a re-coupling operation.

Abstract: A system is provided for holding two gears in positive mesh. The gears are used in toy vehicles, wherein the first gear is mounted on a drive shaft and the second gear is mounted on the rear axle of the vehicle. A crown and pinion gear are preferably used. The improvement comprises a pair of spaced elements, such as discs, mounted on the axle and spaced apart to receive between them an extension of the drive shaft. The drive shaft extension lying between the spaced apart elements constrains the rear axle from moving laterally and causing the gears to come out of mesh.

Abstract: A single conductive spring resiliently biases a pick-up shoe against a track rail while resiliently biasing a brush arm against the motor commutator segments. The spring provides an electrical current path between the pick-up shoe and brush arm.

Abstract: A toy vehicle having collectors thereon which are adapted to contact conductive strip's along a track is adapted to move at a substantially constant speed and provided with first and second guide means projecting laterally with respect to the vehicle body at spaced locations thereon. Each guide means terminates in a free end projecting downwardly for entry into a groove. Said guide means and groove cooperate to guide the vehicle around turns in the track. The guide means free ends and the grooves have a width differential which is less the width differential between each collector and its conductive strip. The guide means are mounted so that they may be mounted to project to one or to the other side of the vehicle.

Abstract: A sectional track construction wherein each section constitutes a generally flat body having at least one longitudinally extending conductor exposed upwardly and provided with end portions each extending beyond the adjacent lateral body portion on one side of the conductor, and an oblique cam at each end of the section for engagement with a like cam of a like section to urge the exposed conductor end portions into side-by-side facing engagement with conductor end portions of a like track section.