Track System for Toy Vehicles
A race track for toy vehicles includes a plurality of sections of track and a plurality of elastic members that connect the sections of track and bias them from a storage position to an in use position.
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The present invention relates to a track system for toy vehicles.
Toy vehicle track sets typically include one or more toy vehicles and a length of guiding track. The vehicles may be either free-wheeling or electrically powered by batteries or current from a utility. When free-wheeling vehicles are utilized, some form of energy transfer, such as spring launchers, manual propulsion or gravity, is required. If the vehicles are propelled by batteries, the batteries may be located in the vehicles. If the vehicles are powered by utility current, the track typically includes electrical conductors embedded therein to provide a current to the vehicles through contacts located on the vehicles.
Tracks are available in a variety of configurations, such as closed loop circles, ovals and figure eights. Toy race tracks often consist of individual segments or pieces that are connected together to form a track, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,237 to Cooper et al. The sections of track are often connected to one another by a set of interlocking structures, such as a lip and groove connection.
Another type of connection that is typical for toy race tracks is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,650 to Neuhierl. The sections of track in Neuhierl include pin elements and mating receiving elements.
When race tracks of this type are not in use and it is desired to store them, the sections can be disconnected and placed in a box or other container. To reassemble the track, the user must find the desired pieces and connect them to form the desired configuration. Furthermore, the loose sections of track may be lost or misplaced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment of the present invention, a race track for toy vehicles includes a plurality track sections and a plurality of elastic connectors that join the track sections in a first, stored configuration and automatically arrange the track sections in a second in use configuration. The elastic connectors are under tension when the track sections are in the stored configuration and at least one elastic connector is under less tension when the track sections are in the in use configuration.
In one embodiment, the track sections include projections and the elastic connectors are elastic bands positioned around the projections. The track sections may also include retaining members for retaining the elastic bands on the projections. The track sections may also include interlocking tabs and channels.
In another embodiment, each track section has a first side and a second side and a plurality of fasteners attach the elastic connectors to the sides of the track sections.
In yet another embodiment, each track section includes a first end and a second end and the elastic connectors are located between the ends of adjacent track sections. The track sections further include an upper surface and at lest a portion of the elastic connectors are coplanar with the upper surfaces of the track sections. The track sections and connectors may include a guide and may have substantially identical cross sections.
In another embodiment of the invention, the track sections include substantially tubular members and each elastic connector is located at least partially within one of the tubular members.
The above-mentioned and other features of this invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTIONFor the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, which are described below. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. The invention includes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and described methods and further applications of the principles of the invention, which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
Referring now to
Track sections 20 and 22 also include a plurality of projections or knobs 36 extending outwardly from and generally perpendicular to sides 34a and 34b, and a number of hook-like retainer members 38a, 38b. Track sections 20 and 22 also include an interlocking tab 40 extending from one end and a receiving channel 42 at the opposing end (
Race track 10 also includes a plurality of elastic connectors 50, which in the embodiment shown, consist of elastic bands. As shown throughout
Track sections 20 and 22 may be made from any suitable material including, but not limited to, injection-molded plastic. In addition, although an oval loop is shown in
To assemble the track, the sections are laid out in the desired configuration, for example, as shown in
When track 10 is to be stored, elastic connectors 50 permit the track sections to be folded upon one another while still maintaining the connection between adjacent sections.
It should be appreciated from
Now referring to
Now referring to
Race track 310 also includes an elastic connector 350 extending between adjoining track sections 320 and/or 322. As shown in
While the invention has been taught with specific reference to these embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the invention may be used with track sections containing embedded electrical conductors. The electrical connection may be made between track sections 20 and/or 22 by providing mating electrical contacts on tabs 42 and channels 44. In addition to use for attaching elastic connector 50, projections or knobs 36 may be used for other purposes, such as attaching elevating members to raise a portion of the track, attaching a bridge structure, attaching signs, attaching scenery, or for attaching any other structure desired to be incorporated into the race track assembly. The described embodiments are to be considered, therefore, in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. As such, the scope of the invention is indicated by the following claims rather than by the description.
Claims
1. A race track for toy vehicles, including:
- a plurality track sections; and
- a plurality of elastic connectors that join the track sections in a first, stored configuration and automatically arrange the track sections in a second in use configuration.
2. The race track as set forth in claim 1, wherein the elastic connectors are elastic bands.
3. The race track as set forth in claim 2, wherein each track section includes at least one projection and each elastic band is positioned around at least one projection.
4. The race track as set forth in claim 3, wherein at least one elastic band is positioned around at least one projection on two adjacent track segments.
5. The race track as set forth in claim 4, further including at least one member for retaining the elastic band one the projections.
6. The race track as set forth in claim 5, wherein the retaining member is located between the projections on adjacent track sections.
7. The race track as set forth in claim 1, wherein each track section has a first end having a tab and a second end having a channel.
8. The race track as set forth in claim 7, wherein the tab of one track section mates with the channel of an adjacent track section when the sections are in the in use configuration.
9. The race track as set forth in claim 1, wherein the elastic connectors are under tension when the track sections are in the stored configuration and at least one elastic connector is under less tension when the track sections are in the in use configuration.
10. The race track as set forth in claim 1, wherein each track section has a first side and a second side and at least one elastic connector is located on the first side of each track section and at least one elastic connector is located on the second side of each track section.
11. The race track as set forth in claim 1, wherein each track section includes a first end and a second end and the elastic connectors are located between the ends of adjacent track sections.
12. The race track as set forth in claim 11, wherein each track section further includes and upper surface and at least a portion of the elastic connectors are coplanar with the upper surfaces of the track sections.
13. The race track as set forth in claim 12, wherein at least two adjacent track sections and the connector joining them include a guide.
14. The race track as set forth in claim 11, wherein the elastic connectors are under tension when the track sections are in the stored configuration and at least one elastic connector is under less tension when the track sections are in the in use configuration.
15. The race track as set forth in claim 1, wherein the elastic connectors and the track sections have substantially identical cross sections.
16. The race track as set forth in claim 1, wherein each track section has a first side and a second side and a plurality of fasteners attach the elastic connectors to the sides of the track sections.
17. The race track as set forth in claim 16, wherein each track section has a first end having a tab and a second end having a channel.
18. The race track as set forth in claim 17, wherein the tab of one track section mates with the channel of an adjacent track section when the sections are in the in use configuration.
19. The race track as set forth in claim 16, wherein the elastic connectors are under tension when the track sections are in the stored configuration and at least one elastic connector is under less tension when the track sections are in the in use configuration.
20. The race track as set forth in claim 1, wherein the track sections include substantially tubular members and each elastic connector is located at least partially within one of the tubular members.
21. The race track as set forth in claim 20, wherein each track section has a first end having a tab and a second end having a channel.
22. The race track as set forth in claim 21, wherein the tab of one track section mates with the channel of an adjacent track section when the sections are in the in use configuration.
23. The race track as set forth in claim 20, wherein the elastic connectors are under tension when the track sections are in the stored configuration and at least one elastic connector is under less tension when the track sections are in the in use configuration.
24. A race track for toy vehicles, including:
- a plurality of sections of track; and
- means for connecting the sections of track in a storage configuration and for biasing the sections of track into an in use configuration.
25. The race track as set forth in claim 24, wherein the means for connecting and biasing includes at least one elastic member.
26. The race track as set forth in claim 24, wherein the means for connecting and biasing includes at least one elastic band.
27. The race track as set forth in claim 24, wherein each section of track has a first end and a second end and the means for connecting and biasing are located between the first and second ends of adjacent track sections.
28. The race track as set forth in claim 24, wherein each section of track has a first side and a second side and the means for connecting and biasing are located on the sides of the track sections.
29. The race track as set forth in claim 24, wherein each section of track has at least one tubular member and the means for connecting and biasing are located at least partially within the tubular members.
30. A race track for toy vehicles, including:
- a plurality track sections, each track section having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, an upper surface and a lower surface;
- a plurality of projections located on the sides of the track sections:
- a plurality of elastic members positioned around the projections;
- a plurality of members located between the projections for retaining the elastic members on the projections;
- a tab located adjacent the first end of each of the track sections; and
- a channel located adjacent the second end of each of the track sections.
31. The race track as set forth in claim 30, wherein the elastic members are under tension when the track sections are in a stored configuration and at least one elastic member is under less tension when the track sections are in an in use configuration.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 1, 2008
Publication Date: Apr 1, 2010
Applicant: LEARNING CURVE BRANDS, INC. (Dyersville, IA)
Inventors: Chris Lutchen (Tinley Park, IL), Michael Edelstein (Deerfield, IL)
Application Number: 12/243,517
International Classification: A63H 18/00 (20060101);