GB2127310A - Three-dimensional toy vehicle track system - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy railway track system is comprised of track-forming elements which can be assembled end to end and supported to form a three-dimensional layout to be traversed by suitable electric motor powered vehicles (not shown) which are energised by current supplied to conductor rails incorporated in the track. The track elements (T) each comprises a base (1) made of synthetic plastics material with inset electrical conductor rails (R) and are variously straight, convex, concave and of flat curvature from end to end. The track-forming elements (T) are connectable and supportable by struts (11) and ring-like brackets (12) with the conductor rails (R) facing sideways in vertical planes and curved configurations there- between. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Three-dimensional toy railway track system This invention relates to a toy railway track system of the kind comprised of track-forming elements which can be assembled end to end and supported to form a three-dimensional layout to be traversed by suitable electric motor powered vehicles which are energised by current supplied to conductor rails incorporated in the track elements.

A toy railway track system having the above mentioned features is characterised in accordance with the invention in that the track elements each comprise a base made of synthetic plastics material with inset parallel electrical conductor rails, the track elements being variously straight, convex, concave and of flat curvature from end to end and being connectabie and supportable as a three-dimensional layout with the conductor rails facing sideways in vertical planes and curved configurations therebetween.

Preferably for the purpose of supporting the track elements in space the system comprises a plurality of jointed support struts having a substantially flat base and a top spigot which is insertable into a recess in the base of any of the track elements.

Preferably also the system comprises a plurality of ring-like brackets which are adapted or intended to be attached to walls and with which track element support struts as aforesaid can be interlockingly engaged.

These and other features of the invention are hereinafter explained in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the components of the toy railway track system and the mode of connecting them together.

In these drawings: Figure I is a side perspective view of a straight track element; Figures 2 to 6 are perspective views of five different track elements; Figure 7 on an enlarged scale is a perspective view of a track support strut; Figure 8 is a perspective view on the same scale as Figures 2 to 6 of a ring bracket shown in its operative position supporting a strut and a track element; Figure 9 is a perspective view on the same scale as Figure 7 showing the mode of construction and assembly of a ring bracket; Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one mode of connecting a strut to a ring bracket; Figure lOA, analogous to Figure 10, shows another mode of connecting a strut to a ring bracket; Figure 11 is a view showing a 3-dimensional track layout; and Figure 12 on an enlarged scale shows the mode of mounting an electric powered vehicle on the track.

Referring now to the drawings, the toy railway track system, shown as a typical layout in Figure 11, comprises six railway track elements T of different lengths and configurations. Each such element, as shown most clearly in Figure 1, has a modulated base 1 made of synthetic plastics material in one side of which there is embedded from end to end four flattened, parallel, metallic current conducting wire rails 2,3,4 and 5 which stand slightly proud of the base. For coupling track elements together, each track element base has at each end a somewhat resiliently deformable tongue 6 which is about half as wide as the track and formed with a shallow groove 6a which can enter a recess and lockingly engage a projection (not shown) formed at the end of the base of a like element.The extremities of the conducting rails pass through recessed parts of the base and are tapered and slightly offset to facilitate sliding side by side contact when the track sections are pushed together before the respective tongues become lockingly engaged with the projections.

To enable the connected track elements, which are of double channel section, to be supported in operative positions with the rail facing sideways, the channel sides are formed with a plurality of rectangular recesses 7 which are for selectively receiving the spigoted upper ends of support struts which are hereinafter described by reference to Figure 7.

The straight track element shown in Figure 1 may conveniently be about 380 mm. in length and in common with all other track elements has a depth, measured perpendicular to the rails 2, 3, 4, 5 of 15 mm. When assembled together the track elements are intended to provide a track for an electric motor driven vehicle V which as shown in Figure 12 has flanged wheels 8 which run on the side margins of the track, beside the outer conductor rails 2 and 5.

The electric motor on the vehicle drives a roller 9 made of resilient material which is spring biased into contact with the opposite side of the track to the rails after manual manipulation of an axially movable rod 10 as depicted in Figure 12. This vehicle is the subject of our co-pending patent application.

The intention is that the conductor rails 2 and 3 of each track element would be independently connected to one terminal of a low voltage DC supply source to enable two different vehicles to be controlled on the same track. Rail 5 would be connected independently to a low voltage DC supply to supply power to lights and any electronic circuits on the vehicle. Rail 4 would be a current return rail common to both electric supplies. These rails are of course intended to be engaged by separate conductor contacts associated with the chassis of the vehicle.

Figures 2 and 3 show short (76 mm.) track elements, the one in Figure 2 having a power supply harness 10 connected thereto. Figures 4,5 and 6 respectively show a convex curved track element, a concave track element, and a flat curved track element. These curved elements may each have a radius of about 305 mm. By use of a combination of the track elements shown in Figures 1 to 6 it will readily be understood that a wide variety of three dimensional layouts can be constructed apart from that which is shown in Figure 11.

For supporting or suspending the various connected track elements, struts 11 - hereinafter referred to for convenience as "skyhooks" - are used and these have the configuration shown in Figure 7. They thus have a slotted base plate 11a, and a spring clip 1 1b detachably mounted on the upper link and having a spigot 1 1c insertable into any recess 7 of a track element.

For supporting connected track elements away from vertical surfaces skyhooks 11 as above described are used in combination with octagonal ring brackets 12 as shown in Figures 8 and 11. Each such ring bracket 12 - hereinafter referred to for convenience as a "hypergate" - is assembled as shown in Figure 9 from a series of straight members 12a and interengaging corner connectors 12b. One mode of connecting a skyhook 11 to a hypergate member 12a, as is indicated in Figure 10 is by successive feeding and sliding movements of the skyhook base 1 lea as indicated by the arrows until lugs 13 on the hypergate member lockingly engage with complementary parts 14 on the skyhook base plate 1 1a.

Alternatively, as shown in Figure 10A, a hypergate member 12a can be installed in a reversed position to enable skyhooks 11 to be fitted on the outside of a hypergate.

It will be apparent that a skyhook 11 can thus be attached to a hypergate 12 in many different positions depending upon the track geometry which is required. Both the skyhooks 11 and the hypergates 12 may be fixed to a baseboard, a wall or a ceiling by means of adhesive pads or screws. The typical layout shown in Figure 11 is supported on a base board 15 and walls 16. At the ends of the track layout, pins 17 inserted through the track elements retain the vehicles on the track.

Claims (14)

1. A toy railway track system of the kind referred to characterised by track elements each comprising a base made of synthetic plastics material with inset parallel electrical conductor rails, the track elements being variously straight, convex, concave and of flat curvature from end to end, the track elements being connectable and supportable as a three-dimensional layout with the conductor rails facing sideways in vertical planes and curved configurations therebetween.

2. A system in accordance with Claim 1 and comprising a plurality of jointed support struts having a substantially flat base and a top spigot which is insertabie into a recess in the base of any of the track elements.

3. A system in accordance with Claim 1 or 2 and comprising a plurality of ring-like brackets which are mountable on a fixed support surface and through the centre of which a track element is supportable by a strut attached to the inside of the bracket.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1,2or3 comprising a plurality of ring like brackets which are mountable on a fixed support surface and on which a track element is supportable by a strut attached to the outside of the bracket.

5. A system in accordance with any of Claims 1 to 4 in which the base of each track element has at each end a coupling tongue which is substantialy half the width of the track and adapted lockingly to engage with a complementary part accessible through a recessed part of the end of a similar track element.

6. A system in accordance with any of claims 1 to 5 in which the conductor rails are flat wires which are resiliently laterally displaceable at their ends for electrical contact.

7. A system in accordance with any of the preceding claims in which the track element bases are of double channel section with recesses in their side walls for accommodating track element support struts.

8. A system in accordance with Claim 2 and any claim dependent thereon in which a said support strut has at least one pivoted link between its flat base and a detachable top spigot.

9. A system in accordance with Claim 2 and any claim dependent thereon in which the base of a said support strut is adapted to slidably and lockingly engage with a complementary part on the inside or outside of a ring-like bracket.

10. A system in accordance with Claim 3 or Claim 4 and any claim dependent thereon in which the ring-like brackets are of polygonal configuration and comprise straight side-forming members connected by interengaging corner members.

11. A toy railway track system constructed substantially as herein before described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

12. A toy railway track element, for use in a system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, any of Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A toy railway track support strut, for use in a system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

14. Atoy railway track ring-like support bracket for use in a system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.