Toy vehicle track structure

Abstract

A. track structure utilizes a somewhat flexible track frame having a roadway portion for supporting a rolling toy vehicle. The frame further includes a plurality of outwardly extending opposed pairs of platforms on each side of the roadway. A plurality of guide post supports are secured to the platforms and define notches for receiving a snap-fitted guide rail. A pair of generally cylindrical elongated somewhat flexible and resilient guide rails are snap-fitted to the guide rails supports on each side of the frame to form trackway walls. The cooperation of the guide rails and their supports facilitates the shape retention of the track segments.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of Provisional Application 60/538,854 entitled TOY VEHICLE TRACK STRUCTURE filed Jan. 23, 2004 on behalf of the applicants of the present invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to toy vehicles and particularly to curved and looped structures therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toy vehicle tracksets are well known and popular among toy users. One of the most important elements within toy vehicle tracksets is the structure of the track portions which form the various track segments. For the most part, such track segments are fabricated of extruded plastic material to define a roadway for carrying toy vehicles together with sidewalls which are often extruded as a common portion integral with the roadway of the track segment. For the most part, such track segments are either formed of a hard plastic material and fabricated in predetermined shapes or alternatively are fabricated of a soft flexible material which may be formed into desired shapes. A similar variety of connectors are used to couple the track segments together to form the toy vehicle trackway or trackset. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,678 issued to Wilson sets forth a TOY CAR AND TRACK SYSTEM having a plurality of sections of rigid and flexible track members together with a switching device for selectively connecting one of the members together. The switching device includes a pair of stationary rings and a rotatable ring with the flexible pieces of track extending therebetween. The curvature of the flexible track members facilitates the shaping of the track set.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,650 issued to Neuhierl sets forth a TOY RACING EXPRESS MOTOR ROAD which permits a plurality of toy vehicles to be operated selectively as either trackbound or freely steerable. In pertinent part, the track is formed of a plurality of sections which are joined by couplers. The couplers include locating posts and latching or interlocking connectors.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,064 issued to Harada sets forth a TOY TRACK SYSTEM which includes wheeled and powered toy vehicles. A closed track on which the vehicle is adapted to travel includes a bridge portion. The bridge includes racks engagable by gears which are provided on a shaft operatively connected to the motor of a toy vehicle.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,472 issued to Osterried sets forth a KIT OF PARTS FOR FORMING A CURVED MEMBER AND A CURVED MEMBER FORMED THEREBY having a pair of flexible side rails coupled together in a spaced relationship by a plurality of transverse ribs. The ribs are joined to the flexible rails and cooperate to maintain an imposed curvature or shape in the flexible rails.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,875 issued to Nemeth et al. sets forth a GAP JUMPING TOY VEHICLE GAME having a closed track within which a pair of jump ramps are supported by a spacer. The spacer maintains the distance between the jump ramps. In pertinent part, the track is formed of a plurality of fixed form interconnected track segments.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,910 issued to Goldfarb et al. sets forth a TOY TRACK PRESENTING INTERFERENCE TO PASSAGE OF TOY VEHICLES THEREON which includes a track particularly adapted for use of electrically powered toy vehicles. Various elements within the track are utilized to interfere with vehicle passage about the track. Different effects are obtained by the interfering elements which may include bumps, irregular floor sections or gates for starting cars at different track positions on a simultaneous basis to provide a race environment.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,733 issued to Patch et al. sets forth a TOY CAR RACETRACK ASSEMBLED FROM MULTIPLE PAPER BOARD BLANKS defining a closed looped oval racetrack. The blanks form a flat roadway surface which is supported on paper board wedges at an angle to provided banked portions of the track.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,932 issued to Ngai sets forth a TOY RACING CAR TRACK SYSTEM having a loop of track formed by interconnected sections in an end to end relationship. In pertinent part, the track segments include one or more alignment posts between the segments together with a snap lock securing mechanism operative between the track segments.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,893 issued to Faulk et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,274 issued to Watrobka et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,814,021 issued to McHenry and U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,131 issued to Rossy set forth further examples of toy vehicle tracksets and the like.

A substantial variety of coupling or latching structures are found in fasteners and buckles of the type used for attachment between clothing elements or various belts and harnesses and the like. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,106 issued to Lovato sets forth a BUCKLE OF THE SNAP CLOSURE TYPE HAVING THE TWO PARTS ENGAGEABLE BY SNAP ACTION IDENTICAL TO ONE ANOTHER in which a pair of buckle elements cooperate when reversed and latched together. The buckle elements may be identical and when reversed are capable of locking together nonetheless.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,122 issued to Lavoto; U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,731 issued to Sibley; U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,724 issued to Ribas and U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,124 issued to Kirkham, Jr. set forth further examples of buckles and snaps of the type used for sleeping bags, garments and the like.

Additional snap closure and connecting apparatus are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,160 issued to Hollingsworth et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,681 issued to Greenwood, Sr. et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,592 `issued to Gabriel.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,469 issued to Hancovsky and U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,520 issued to Barlow set forth apparatus generally related to the subject matter of the present invention.

While the foregoing described prior art devices have to some extent improved the art and have in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for evermore improved, interesting and amusing toy vehicle track structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved toy vehicle trackset. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved track structure for use in a toy vehicle trackset.

The present invention provides a toy vehicle track structure which is extremely varied in use and which avoids a need for differently shaped or preformed segments of track to form a multiply contoured trackset. The present invention track structure utilizes a somewhat flexible track frame having a roadway portion for supporting a rolling toy vehicle. The frame further includes a plurality of outwardly extending opposed pairs of platforms on each side of the roadway. A plurality of guide post supports are secured to the platforms and define notches for receiving a snap-fitted guide rail. A pair of generally cylindrical elongated somewhat flexible and resilient guide rails are snap-fitted to the guide rails supports on each side of the frame to form trackway walls. The cooperation of the guide rails and their supports facilitates the shape retention of the track segments. In a typical use, the frame of a given track segment is shaped or curved to form the desired twist or curve or loop or the like without the guide rails attached. Thereafter, the guide rails are snapped in place while the desired shape of the frame is maintained. Once the guide rails have been snapped into place on each side of the frame, the attachment of the guide rails to the plurality of supports maintains the shape imposed upon the trackset frame and thereby allows the forming of the desired track segments shape. The guide rails may be removed at any time and reassembled to allow the user to reconfigure or reshape the track segment.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a toy vehicle track structure for use in a toy vehicle trackway formed of interconnected track segments, each track segment comprising: a flexible track frame defining a roadway portion for rolling a toy vehicle; a plurality of outwardly extending guide posts each defining a rail receiving notch; and a pair of elongated guide rails each snap-fit receivable within the notches, the flexible track frame being flexible into a desired shape and contour prior to snapping the pair of guide rails to the notches such that the guide posts and guide rails cooperate to maintain the track in the desired shape and contour.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a toy vehicle trackset utilizing the present invention toy vehicle track construction;

FIG. 2 sets forth a perspective view of an alternate toy vehicle trackset utilizing the present invention toy vehicle trackset construction;

FIG. 3 sets forth a perspective view of a toy vehicle stunt device utilizing track segments constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 sets forth a perspective view of the toy vehicle stunt device of FIG. 3 utilizing the present invention trackset construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

By way of overview, the present invention provides a toy vehicle track structure which utilizes a resilient frame supporting a plurality a guide rail supports on each side thereof. The frame further defines a roadway upon which a toy vehicle travels. A pair of flexible and resilient elongated generally circular cross sectioned guide rails are snap-fitted into the guide rail supports on each side of the frame to form confining guide rails on each side of the roadway thereby containing the travel direction of a toy vehicle upon the track segment. The track segment may be shaped by initially forming the frame and its supports to the desired shape and thereafter snap-fitting the guide rails to each set of guide rail supports. The snap-fit attachment of the guide rails to their respective supports maintains the imposed shape of the frame thereby providing a shaped and contoured track segment.

FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a toy vehicle trackset constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral 10. Toy vehicle 10 includes a scaffold-type support generally referenced by numeral 11. Support 11 includes a number of base elements such as base 12 which utilizes a plurality of support rods such as rod 13. Trackset 10 further includes an intersection 30 supported by scaffold support 11. Intersection 30 includes an outer ring 31 pivotally supported upon support 11 and an inner ring 32. Inner ring 32 is small enough in diameter to fit within the interior of outer ring 31. Inner ring 32 is pivotally secured to outer ring 31. As a result, both outer ring 31 and inner ring 32 are pivotable both with respect to each other and with respect to support 11. Outer ring 32 is coupled to a pair of track portions formed by track loop 22 and track ramp 23. Similarly, inner ring 32 is coupled to one end of track loop 22 and to track segment 21. Because the end portion of track loop 22 are spaced from ramp 23 and track segment 21 respectively, a gap or “jump” is formed across outer ring 31 and inner ring 32. The angle between the jump paths thus formed within intersection 30 is determined by the pivotal positions of outer ring 31 and inner ring 32.

Trackset 10 further includes a booster 15 fabricated in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques which accelerates a toy vehicle passing downwardly upon ramp 23. Trackset 10 further includes a flexible multiple apertured panel 16 which in turn is supported by an adjustable support 17. The remainder of trackset 10 is coupled by a track segment 19 coupled to panel 16 and forming a U-Shaped portion together with a straight track segment 20. Track segment 20 is coupled to track segment 21.

Track segment 21, loop portion 22 and ramp 23 are fabricated to provide a trackway which is highly flexible in use and readily adjustable to a variety of curves, loops and twists. Thus, for example, ramp 23 is formed of a track segment 18 comprising an elongated frame 33 supporting a plurality of guide rail posts such as posts 34 and 35. Posts 34 and 35 are supported along each side of frame 33. A pair of flexible generally rod-like rails such as rails 36 and 37 are secured within posts 34 and 35 as well as the remaining posts along frame 33. The utilization of frame 33 together with supporting posts such as posts 34 and 35 are flexible guide rails such s guide rails 36 and 37 provides a track structure which facilitates bending the resulting track into a variety of curves, loops, twists and the like which are maintained in shape due to the secure attachment of guide rails 36 and 37 on each side of the track frame. In the preferred fabrication of the track segments, the fit and attachment of the guide rails utilizes an extremely tight snap-fit attachment for secure holding of guide rails. Conversely, the positioning of the guide rails after the track frame has been shaped as desired allows the snapped in guide rails to maintain the curvature or twist or other shaping of the track segment.

FIG. 2 sets forth a perspective view of a toy vehicle trackset constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral 40. Trackset 40 differs from trackset 10 in its utilization in a different arrangement of components and a different combination of components but functions basically the same. Accordingly, trackset 40 includes a loop segment 41 supported by a support structure 42 together with a loop segment 44. Loop segment 44 is coupled between a curved panel 43 having a support 45 and a booster 15. Booster 15 is fabricated in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques and is used to accelerate a toy vehicle passing through the booster stage. An intersection 30 fabricated in the manner described above in FIG. 1, is positioned with an outer ring 31 and an inner ring 32 in a flat or coplanar relationship. Thus, outer ring 31 is coupled to track loop 41 and booster 15 while inner ring 32 is coupled to the remaining end of loop 41 and curved panel 43.

Loop portion 41 and loop portion 44 of trackset 40 are fabricated in the above-described manner in which a track frame supports a plurality of posts which in turn are secured to a pair of flexible guide rails. It will be noted by examination of FIGS. 1 and 2 that this track structure provides substantial flexibility and variability in shaping the contours of the trackset.

In the horizontal configuration of intersection 30 shown in FIG. 2, the jump portions formed by the respective track segments are generally coplanar and generally horizontal. This allows intersection 30 to provide a more conventional toy vehicle intersecting jump.

FIG. 3 sets forth a perspective view of a spiral stunt device constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral 50. Spiral stunt device 50 includes an inclined entry ramp 51 and an offset exit ramp 52. Between ramps 51 and 52, a support structure 53 is positioned and further supports a horizontally disposed spiral mechanism 54. Spiral mechanism 54 includes a helical thread (not shown) upon which a traveler 55 is supported so as to engage the helical threads of spiral mechanism 54. Traveler 55 further supports a downwardly extending pendulum arm 56 which in turn supports a toy vehicle receiver 57. In FIG. 3, a typical toy vehicle 58 is shown captivated within vehicle receiver 57. As mentioned above, the energy possessed by toy vehicle 58 as it traverses entry ramp 51 is transferred to a toy vehicle receiver 57 as the toy vehicle is captivated. This transfer of energy causes rotation of pendulum arm 56 and traveler 55.

FIG. 4 sets forth an enlarged perspective view of the present invention spiral stunt set. As described above, spiral stunt device 50 includes a support 53 having a spiral mechanism 54 supported in a horizontal position. An entry ramp 51 is coupled to support 53 together with an offset exit ramp 52 also coupled by support 53. Spiral mechanism 54 includes an internal helical thread (not shown) upon which a traveler 55 is engaged. Traveler 55 further supports a pendulum 56 which in turn supports a toy vehicle receiver 57. A toy vehicle 58 is shown captivated within receiver 57. A trigger release 59 is supported within toy vehicle receiver 57 and is operative to release toy vehicle 58 once alignment with exit ramp 52 is obtained.

Thus, in operation, as a toy vehicle such as toy vehicle 58 traverses entry ramp 51 it transfers to toy vehicle receiver 57 and the energy possessed by the toy vehicle is imparted to toy vehicle receiver 57. This energy causes the combined structure of toy vehicle receiver 57, pendulum 56 and traveler 55 to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 62 upon spiral mechanism 54. After several revolutions, toy vehicle receiver 57 is aligned with exit ramp 52 and trigger 59 is activated. As trigger 59 is activated, toy vehicle 58 exits receiver 57 and moves onto exit ramp 52 completing the stunt.

Also shown in FIG. 4, is a track segment constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral 70. Track segment 70 includes a frame 71 having a plurality of outwardly ext ending platform pairs which in turn support a plurality of guide rail supports such as supports 72 and 73. Track segment 70 further includes a pair of elongated flexible and resilient guide rails 74 and 75. Track segment 70 is given the shape shown for entrance ramp 51 by initially curving frame 71 at the desired curvature shown and thereafter snap-fitted guide rails 74 and 75 within the guide rails supports such as supports 72 and 73 on each side of frame 71. Once the guide rails have been snap-fitted to their respective supports, frame 71 may be released and will generally retain the shape imposed upon it due to the cooperation of the guide rails and their respective supports.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A toy vehicle track structure for use in a toy vehicle trackway formed of interconnected track segments, each track segment comprising:

a flexible track frame defining a roadway portion for rolling a toy vehicle;

a plurality of outwardly extending guide posts each defining a rail receiving notch; and

a pair of elongated guide rails each snap-fit receivable within said notches, said flexible track frame being flexible into a desired shape and contour prior to snapping said pair of guide rails to said notches such that said guide posts and guide rails cooperate to maintain said track in said desired shape and contour.

2. The track segment set forth in claim 1 wherein said track frame includes a plurality of platforms extending outwardly form said roadway portion, said platforms supporting said guide posts.

3. The track segment set forth in claim 2 wherein said guide rails a generally circular cross section rods.

4. The track segment set forth in claim 3 wherein said track frame includes a pair of spaced-apart wheel-rolling portions and a plurality of spacers extending therebetween.

5. The track segment set forth in claim 4 wherein said track frame and said guide rails are formed by a resilient material.

6. The track segment set forth in claim 5 wherein said track frame defines opposed ends, each end having a connector element for joining said track frame to other track frames.

7. The track segment set forth in claim 6 wherein said pair of guide rods are each greater in length than said track frame allowing said guide rails to be snap fitted to notches in guide posts of adjacent track segments.