Abstract: A model vehicle course is laid out along a non-conductive, printable substrate such as a heavy paper or plastic, which is typically, but not necessarily, non-rigid. First and second conductive deposits are made along at least one of the surfaces of the substrate extending, mutually spaced-apart, along the path for each vehicle accommodated by the given layout to supply electrical energization to the vehicle as it traverses the course. In one presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the conductive deposits constitute conductive ink layers emplaced by a conventional printing step.

Abstract: Cable driven racing boats compete in a simulated race including forward and return heats. In the forward heat, the racing boats are accelerated along parallel guide channels from a forward launch station into a shallow splash lake, and then hydroplane to a forward heat finish line. In the return heat, the racing boats are accelerated through the same guide channels from a return launch station located on the opposite end of the splash lake. Passengers continue to face the reverse launch station as the racing boats plunge into the shallow splash lake and hydroplane to the return heat finish line. The racing boats are stabilized by centering wheels and by guide rollers that travel along the guide channels. The racing boats are clamped onto the drive cables, and the guide rollers are mounted for rotation on tow bars that are pivotally coupled to the drive cables.

Abstract: A theme park ride attraction includes a flume path having rafts floating on flowing water. The rafts are elevated and enter into a pipe. First and second pivoting ramps are attached to the pipe and supported by an actuator. As the rafts enter onto the first pivoting ramp, the actuator quickly drops the first ramp down, simulating a waterfall event.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved, unpredictably tumbleable capsule structures that are loosely internally provided with weighty rollable spherical ball, whereby such improved capsule is adapted to unpredictably compete with identical tumbleable capsule structures along downwardly-inclined ramps. Such improved tumbleable capsule structures are preferably circularly symmetrical about a directionally longitudinally extending horizontal central-axis and also about a central vertical-plane, and having uniquely ratioed capsule housing and interior rollable sphere interdimensional parameter values. Ancillarily disclosed are improved topically-textured and judicially-inclined racing ramps and ramp starting gates, all devoted toward enhancing unpredictable racing capability for a plurality of identically constructed internally-weighted tumbleable capsule structures along downwardly-extending ramps.

Abstract: An amusement ride for humans which is constructed to include a plurality of separate tracks located in a side-by-side relationship. On each track is located a vehicle, with this vehicle including a propulsion system which is activated and controlled by a human operator located within the vehicle. The vehicle is mounted in conjunction with a track which keeps each vehicle confined to its particular track and permits the vehicle to move between a Start position and Finish position on the track. Associated with each track is an automatic brake system to stop the vehicle. Each track is composed of a plurality of separate guide rail sections which are located in a spaced apart arrangement with the separate guide rail sections being mounted in an in-line manner within the track. A guide blade is mounted on each vehicle and is to connect with each of these guide rail sections as the vehicle moves along the track.

Abstract: A slot track raceway has two side-by-side slots for enabling two racing cars to run around a closed loop track. A lap counter individually associated with each closed loop is set to a selected number of laps for establishing the length of a race. Each completion of a lap causes the associated lap counter to count down. When the lap counter counts down to zero, a spring biased hinged track section snaps into alignment with an upwardly inclined ramp so that the car winning the race flies off the track, thus escaping or leaping from the track.

Abstract: A pair of side-by-side track assemblies are provided and each track assembly has a wheeled, dragster simulating and occupant riding vehicle mounted thereon for guided movement longitudinally therealong. Each track assembly includes bungee cord vehicle accelerating structure for rapidly accelerating the corresponding vehicle along the track assembly toward the other end thereof and each track assembly other end includes bungee cord vehicle decelerating structure operative to engage the corresponding vehicle and to gradually increasingly decelerate the same as the vehicle moves along the track other end portion. In addition, the bungee cord decelerating structure is further operative, after decelerating the corresponding vehicle and terminating its movement toward the track structure other end portion, to accelerate the vehicle back toward the first end of the track assembly.

Abstract: A racing game machine includes an endless plate member formed with running lanes on a top surface thereof, the endless plate member having a grade-separated intersection portion; endless transporting chains provided below the endless plate member, each endless transporting chain having a magnetic portion; guide members provided below the endless plate member, each guide member being operable to hold one of the endless transporting chains within respective courses corresponding to the running lanes; a moving mechanism operable to move the endless transporting chains independently of one another along the respective guide members; running objects each having a magnetic portion; and a controller operable to control the moving mechanism in accordance with a predetermined game program.

Abstract: An improved, interactive drag strip amusement ride that satisfies the need for a ride where any person can safely experience the thrills of a drag race and the requirements placed on a drag race driver. It comprises an apparatus for accurately simulating a drag race from the perspective of the race driver. The driver interactively controls the acceleration, gearshifting, and braking as if in an actual drag race.

Abstract: Slot racing track apparatus comprises a base member, first and second slot defining respective lanes and at least one lane changing slot connecting the first and second slots together. A lane changing member is disposed at a junction between the lane defining slots and the lane changing slot and a racing vehicle for use on the track is provided with a guide member for engagement in the slots, the degree of protrusion of the guide member into the slots being controlled so that the lane changing member may be selectively engaged by the vehicle so that the vehicle may change lane.

Abstract: A toy car racing board game having two continuous car tracks which have serpentine portions and cross each other at several points. Except for the crossing points, the tracks are hidden by walls on their opposite sides. Each player electrically controls a car with the object of completing one or more passes around its track or to prevent the other car from completing a pass by colliding with it at any of the intersections.

Abstract: A route diverter for selecting a first or a second track route for a slot track vehicle to follow is disclosed. The diverter is engageable with track portions of the first and second routes and comprises a platform and means for supporting the platform for see-saw movement between first and second positions in which the first and second routes are respectively selected, the platform being movable in response to movement of a slot track vehicle past the diverter to change the route selected.

Abstract: A track apparatus for a toy racing car includes a car-entry track portion, a car-exit track portion, and a pivotal arm pivotally mounted between the two track portions to carry a car from one portion to the other. The pivotal arm has a stand connected to a distal end thereof which has a retractable stop. When a car travelling with sufficient momentum hits the stop, the pivotal arm is caused to pivot from one position to another, whereby the car is delivered from the car-entry track portion to the car-exit track portion. Upon reaching the second position, the stop is automatically retracted to release the car.

Abstract: An electromagnetically powered drag racing ride attraction is disclosed.

Abstract: A toy vehicle is provided with a main frame which is tiltably mounted on a plate which, at an end thereof opposite the pivot mount is provided with a pair of mutually orthogonally located bushings one of which accommodates a vertical pivot shaft to which is connected a guide plate or fin; the vehicle is adapted to ride on tracks whereby the fin will serve to guide the vehicle and where the bushings will permit rotation of the frame about a vertical axis as well as turning of the vehicle to follow the contour of a track.

Abstract: A pivotable ramp device for use in connection with track games having toy vehicles. The device includes a base which is selectively coupleable to a position along the track of the track game. The base pivotally supports a ramp at a laterally extending axis elevated above the surface of the track, the axis centrally intersecting the ramp to define two sides of the ramp. A first side of the ramp is the entrance side and a second side of the ramp is the exit side. The ramp is pivotally displaceable between a first position where the end of the entrance side contacts the track for permitting a toy vehicle traveling towards the ramp to ride up the entrance side onto the ramp and a second position where the end of the exit side contacts the track for permitting the toy vehicle thereon to ride down the ramp and back onto the track, or to permit a toy vehicle to pass under the ramp and pivotally displace the ramp out of the path of the vehicle.

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 flexible track consisting of a plurality of track sections extending laterally of the track, each track section being pivotably coupled to the adjacent track section in a central region, viewed laterally, thereof. The respective facing portions of each pair of adjacent track sections are shaped so as to define an essentially tapered gap on each side of the central region extending inwardly from the lateral periphery of each track section, the gap being widest at said lateral periphery. The top surface of each track section is formed of at least one portion projecting longitudinally of said track on one side thereof and a recess on the other side thereof shaped to receive the longitudinally projecting portion of the adjacent track section, the essentially tapered gap being defined at least in part between the projecting portions and the recesses.

Abstract: An improved remotely controlled miniature vehicle, more particularly an electrically driven miniature car of the type operated on a track-way having contact strips through which power is supplied to the driving motor of the vehicle. Improved remote control is provided for controlling the miniature car for changing one lane to another. The front wheels are steerable by actuation of a steering post. The driving motor is mounted to move physically in response to additional driving torque applied through a gear train to the rear wheels. Mechanism is provided whereby the physical movement of the driving motor actuates the steering mechanism to turn the front wheels for changing from one lane to another. Provided in one form of the invention is a member having rollers that can contact a side wall of the track for positioning the front wheels and steering post to pre-determine the direction of turning in response to physical movement of the driving motor.

Abstract: An improved slot car game is provided having a roadway with at least one slotted track and at least one electrical contact strip positioned adjacent to said track. At least one slot car vehicle is adapted to travel about the track deriving electrical power from said at least one electrical contact strip. Means are provided to realign a misaligned vehicle, said means including a guide secured to the underside of each of the vehicles and a continuous chain positioned below each of the slotted tracks with engaging means at fixed positions thereon. The chain may be moved in a horizontal direction to permit the engaging means of the chain to engage the guide means of the vehicle and, upon further horizontal movement of the chain, to realign the vehicle relative to the track.

Abstract: A curved track section for self-propelled toy vehicles, the track having a width sufficient to accommodate two toy vehicles side by side. A portion of the track is provided with a lane divider with the entrance end of the track being provided with an abutment portion extending in the direction of travel of the vehicles from a position adjacent the outer periphery to a position generally intermediate the inside and outside of the track, the abutment having a progressively increasing height and width in the direction of travel the vehicle, the lane selection of the vehicle being determined by the speed or angle of entry into the entrance end of the track section.

Abstract: A toy vehicle is provided for use in a toy vehicle game including an endless track defining at least two parallely extending vehicle lanes in which two or more toy vehicles are adapted to be operated. The toy vehicles each include a reversible rotary drive motor and a transmission operatively engaged between the motor and two drive wheels for rotating one or the other of the drive wheels in response to the direction of rotation of the drive motor, thereby biasing the car against one or the other of the side walls of the track to guide the vehicle along its path of travel in one or the other of the lanes. The track includes electrical contact strips which supply power to the drive motor of the vehicles through current collectors mounted thereon.

Abstract: A track intersection for use with a plurality of other track sections to form a trackway for passage of toy vehicles thereon, the intersection having a curved trackway section having generally parallel opposed sidewalls of height generally equal to the height of the toy vehicle. The intersection is provided with an elevated roadway portion at the height of the sidewalls, the elevated roadway portion having first and second trackways, the first trackway being generally tangential to the exit end of the curve to permit a toy vehicle to enter the first trackway and leave the intersection through the exit end of the curve. The second trackway generally intersects the first trackway to permit a toy vehicle to leap the curve on the elevated roadway portion.

Abstract: A flexible track or roadbed is provided for enabling miniature vehicles, such as toy cars, trains or the like, to be propelled along its length. The track in one embodiment is in the form of an elongated ribbon of flexible, electrically insulating rubber-like material, with serrations in each side thereof, to permit the track to be placed on any planar or non-planar supporting surface, with the track assuming vertical undulations corresponding to any undulations in the supporting surface, and to permit the track to be readily turned into any desired lateral curved, circular or tortuous shape, the track having one or more guide slots extending along the length of the track to guide the vehicles along the track, and a longitudinally extensible and compressible elongated electric element miniature vehicles propelled along the track. In the second embodiment the track is formed of a series of rigid articulated traverse elements intercoupled to one another.