TOY RACE CAR AND TRACK

Abstract

A toy race car track can be expanded to an unlimited number of lanes via interlocking side-by-side tracks. The toy race car track may be extended in length by adding additional track segments end-to-end. The tracks of the present invention may be useful for racing a toy race car with four wheels and a compartment for a marble in a central region of the car. With a marble installed in the car, all four wheels and the marble may roll at the same time as the car is moved. The car may be rolled on a surface or raced on the track. In some embodiments, the car may include lights that may flash as the car is moved.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional patent application No. 61/322,218, filed Apr. 8, 2010, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to toy race cars and tracks and, more particularly, to a toy race car track with interlocking side-by-side lanes and a toy race car with four wheels and a compartment for a marble in a center region of the car.

Conventional toy race cars tracks do not allow for side-by-side interlocking tracks, so it is cumbersome to race multiple cars side-by-side. These tracks often include one or two lanes of track, but there is no way for the user to determine the number of cars that can race side-by-side.

As can be seen, there is a need for a toy race car track that allows a user to race any number of cars side-by-side by interlocking track pieces together.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a race car track comprises at least one track segment, each track segment including a track bed; a first side wall extending from a first track bed side; a second side wall extending from a second, opposite track bed side; a rail disposed along at least a portion of a first track segment side, the rail extending away from the track bed; and a groove disposed along at least a portion of a second, opposite track segment side, the groove extending away from the track bed, and the groove adapted to receive and retain the rail.

In another aspect of the present invention, a race car track comprises at least one track segment, each track segment including a track bed; a first side wall extending from a first track bed side; a second side wall extending from a second, opposite track bed side; a rail disposed along at least a portion of a first track segment side, the rail extending away from the track bed; a groove disposed along at least a portion of a second, opposite track segment side, the groove extending away from the track bed, and the groove adapted to receive and retain the rail; a longitudinal channel disposed on a bottom side of the track bed; and a joining member adapted to join a first longitudinal channel of a first track segment with a second longitudinal channel of a second track segment.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a kit comprises toy race car comprising a car body; four wheels disposed to rotate relative to the car body and carry the car body thereupon; a compartment in a central region of the car body; and a marble adapted to fit inside the compartment; and race car track comprising at least one track segment, each track segment including a track bed; a first side wall extending from a first track bed side; a second side wall extending from a second, opposite track bed side; a rail disposed along at least a portion of a first track segment side, the rail extending away from the track bed; and a groove disposed along at least a portion of a second, opposite track segment side, the groove extending away from the track bed, and the groove adapted to receive and retain the rail.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a toy race car track according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the toy race car track of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a toy race car according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the toy race car of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the thy race car of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8A is a bottom view of the toy race car of FIG. 5 with a pin for retaining a marble in the toy race car; and

FIG. 8B is a bottom view of the toy race car of FIG. 5 with a ring for retaining a marble in the toy race car.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a toy race car track that can be expanded to an unlimited number of lanes via interlocking side-by-side tracks. The toy race car track may be extended in length by adding additional track segments end-to-end. The tracks of the present invention may be useful for racing a toy race car with four wheels and a compartment for a marble in a central region of the car. With a marble installed in the car, all four wheels and the marble may roll at the same time as the car is moved. The car may be rolled on a surface or raced on the track. In some embodiments, the car may include lights that may flash as the car is moved.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, a toy race car track 10 (also referred to as track 10) may include one or more track segments 12. The track segments 12 may have a track bed 16 that allows cars 14 to ride thereupon. The track segments 12 may include side walls 18 extending from the track bed 16 at about a 90 to 130 degree angle, typically about a 90 degree angle. The width of the track segments 12 (the distance between the side walls 18) may be from about ⅛ inch to about 1 inch wider than the cars 14, for example.

The track segments 12 may include longitudinal channels 20 under the track bed 16. A joining member 26 may fit into the longitudinal channels 20 to permit the interconnection of one track segment 12 with a second track segment 12, resulting in a continuous track bed 16 that is the length of two track segments 12. Additional track segments 12 may be joined lengthwise to provide a track 10 of a desired length. In some embodiments, the joining member 26 may frictionally fit into the channels 20. In other embodiments, the joining member 26 may snap fit into the channels 20. Other connections means may be possible for joining the track segments 12 lengthwise.

The track segments 12 may include a transverse joining rail 24 on one side thereof. The track segments 12 may include a transverse joining groove 22 at a second, opposite side thereof. The rail 24 and groove 22 may extend from a portion of the side walls 20, away from the track bed 16. In some embodiments, the rail 24 and groove 22 may extend along the entire length of the track segments 12. In other embodiments, the rail 24 and the groove 22 may be disposed at specific locations along the track segments 12. In either configuration, the rail 24 may fit into the groove 22 to retain one track segment 12 in a side-by-side configuration relative to another track segment 12. Any number of track segments 12 may be interconnected, side-by-side, to permit racing of multiple cars at one time, each on their own track. In some embodiments, the rail 24 may be an elongated cylinder and the groove 22 may have an open circular cross-section adapted to receive the rail 24. In some embodiments, the groove 22 may be resiliently deformable to permit the rail 24 to be pushed into the groove 22. In other embodiments, the rail 24 may be slid into the groove 22 lengthwise.

The track 10 may include a starting gate (not shown). The starting gates may interlock to permit a single motion to release the starting gate on each track simultaneously. The track 10 may be made in various colors and of various materials. In some embodiments, the track 10 may be made of plastic, typically a flexible plastic. In some embodiments, the track 10 may glow in the dark.

Referring to FIGS. 5 through 7, the car 14 may be, for example, a toy race car 30 that may include a toy body, such as a car body 32, and a plurality of wheels 34. Typically, the car 30 may include four wheels 34 disposed near each of the four corners of the car body 32. Two wheels 34 may attach to opposite ends of an axle 36. Typically, two axles 36 may be disposed across the bottom of the car body 34. The axles 36 may be able to rotate with respect to the car body 32. The car body 32 may be formed from, for example, plastic, metal or other similar material. In some embodiments, the car body 32 may be formed of a clear plastic. In some embodiments, the car body 32 may be decorated with decals according to the preferences of the user. The axles 36 may be made from plastic or metal. Similarly, the wheels 34 may be made from plastic or metal.

A compartment 38 may be formed in a central region of the car body 32. The compartment 38 may be dimensioned to contain a marble 40 at least partially therewithin. The compartment 38 and marble 40 may be sized so that, when the marble 40 is installed in the compartment 38, and the car 30 is placed on a surface on its wheels 34, the wheels 34 and the marble 40 may contact the surface simultaneously. In some embodiments, the compartment 38 may have a diameter of about 1 inch. The marble 40 may be made from glass, plastic, metal or the like. In some embodiments, the marble 40 may have lights, typically flashing lights, that may come on during movement of the marble 40.

The marble 40 may be held in place by various means. As shown in FIG. 8A, a pin 44 may fit in a hole 42 in the car body. A retaining member 46 may extend from the pin 44 to cover a portion of the compartment 38 once the marble 40 is installed therewithin. The retaining member 46 may hold the marble 40 in place, yet allow it to roll freely with the car 30. In alternate embodiments, snaps, buttons or other structures may be used to hold the marble 40 in the compartment 38. For example, a plastic ring 48 may be used to hold the marble 40 in the compartment 38 as shown in FIG. 8B.

The toy race car 30 may roll on four wheels 34 and the marble 40 in the compartment 38 may roll along with the four wheels 34 as the car 30 is rolled on a surface. When the car body 32 is clear, a user may see the marble 40 roll as the car 30 rolls.

The car body 32 of the toy race car 30 may be, for example, molded from plastic and a hole may be bored in a central region of the car body 32 to form the compartment 38. In some embodiments, the car body 32 may be molded with the compartment 38 pre-formed as part of the mold for the car body 32. In some embodiments, the car body 32 may be injection molded.

While the above embodiments describe the toy as a car, the present invention may be designed in a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, instead of a car, the present invention may be designed as a three-wheel vehicle, a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle, a motorcycle, a tractor, or some other similar design, provided that a compartment may be formed in the body of the toy to hold a marble.

The toy race car 30 of the present invention may be provided as a kit to allow a user to build their own race car. Various marble designs and decals may be selected to provide a custom-designed toy race car. In some embodiments, the toy race car 30 may be provided fully or partially assembled.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A race car track comprising:

at least one track segment, each track segment including: a track bed; a first side wall extending from a first track bed side; a second side wall extending from a second, opposite track bed side; a rail disposed along at least a portion of a first track segment side, the rail extending away from the track bed; and a groove disposed along at least a portion of a second, opposite track segment side, the groove extending away from the track bed, and the groove adapted to receive and retain the rail.

2. The race car track of claim 1, further comprising a longitudinal channel disposed on a bottom side of the track bed.

3. The race car track of claim 2, further comprising a joining member adapted to join a first longitudinal channel of a first track segment with a second longitudinal channel of a second track segment.

4. The race car track of claim 3, wherein the joining member frictionally fits into the first longitudinal channel and the second longitudinal.

5. The race car track of claim 1, comprising at least two track segments disposed side-by-side, with the rail of one track segment inserted into the groove of a second track segment.

6. The race car track of claim 1, wherein the track bed is adapted to receive a race car between its side walls, the race car comprising:

a race car body;

at least two wheels disposed to rotate relative to the race car body and carry the race car body thereupon; and

a compartment in a central region of the race car body, the compartment adapted to fit a marble therewithin, wherein

when the marble is installed in the compartment and the race car is moved along the race car track, both the wheels and the marble roll.

7. The race car track of claim 6, wherein, when the marble is installed in the compartment and the race car is moved along the race car track, the wheels and the marble roll simultaneously.

8. A race car track comprising:

at least one track segment, each track segment including: a track bed; a first side wall extending from a first track bed side; a second side wall extending from a second, opposite track bed side; a rail disposed along at least a portion of a first track segment side, the rail extending away from the track bed; a groove disposed along at least a portion of a second, opposite track segment side, the groove extending away from the track bed, and the groove adapted to receive and retain the rail; a longitudinal channel disposed on a bottom side of the track bed; and a joining member adapted to join a first longitudinal channel of a first track segment with a second longitudinal channel of a second track segment.

9. The race car track of claim 8, comprising at least two track segments disposed side-by-side, with the rail of one track segment inserted into the groove of a second track segment.

10. A kit comprising:

a toy race car comprising: a car body; four wheels disposed to rotate relative to the car body and carry the car body thereupon; a compartment in a central region of the car body; and a marble adapted to fit inside the compartment; and

race car track comprising at least one track segment, each track segment including: a track bed; a first side wall extending from a first track bed side; a second side wall extending from a second, opposite track bed side; a rail disposed along at least a portion of a first track segment side, the rail extending away from the track bed; and a groove disposed along at least a portion of a second, opposite track segment side, the groove extending away from the track bed, and the groove adapted to receive and retain the rail.