US2821938A - Single-track vehicular toy - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 4, 1958 H. MULLER SINGLE-TRACKVEHICULAR TOY 6 Sheeis-Sheet 1 Filed June 14, 1951 Feb. 4, 1958 .H. MULLER 2,821,938

v SINGLE-'TRACK vEHicULAR TOY i Filed June 14, 1951 6 Sheets-"Sheff:l 2

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SINGLE-TRACK VEHICULAR Toy Filed June l4, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 F .52. 35 yf H. MLLER SINGLE-TRACK VEHICULAR TOY Feb. 4, 1958 Filed June 14, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 z 2 v 5.3', \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\m INVENTOR.

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SINGLE-TRACK VEHICULAR TOY Filed June 14, 1951 y 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ffy- Een 761cv 78 7 l? V176. 12. E" 7 0 fn@ 22m 25.

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United States Patent O SINGLE-TRAQK VEHICULAR TOY Heinrich Mller, Nurnberg, Germany Application .lune 14, 1951, Serial No. 231,481

Claims priority, application Germany November 2, 1950 z3 claims. (ci. 1am- 245) My invention relates to single-track vehicular toys and particulary to toys that comprise one or more driven vehicles running along a trackway and steered by means of a swivelled leading wheel rolling along a guiding line or single-track rail.

Relating to such toys it is an object of my invention to greatly increase the playing possibilities by facilitating a rapid change in the course of the track and by also affording an easy and manifold addition or elimination of track-modifying playing components serving to provide the trackWay with terminal means such as starting and stopping means, and/ or track intersection means such as turn-offs, crossings, switches and turn tables. More particularly, it is an object of my invention to afford making such changes in track layout with an ease heretofore not feasible with track-guided vehicular toys, thus making the facility of track variation one of the salient playing appeals of the toy.

To this end, l provide one or more driven vehicles each of which has rear running wheels and a leading swivelled running wheel, and l provide for these vehicles a single-track layout that is engageable by the leading Wheel and composed of different components, namely of (l) guide lines having an elongated shape whose cross section is sutliciently small to be straddled by a peripheral groove of the leading wheel, and (2) playing parts that are separably joined with the guide lines and form together therewith a substantially continuous trackway for steering the leading wheel of the vehicle. The composite layout, when in operative condition, is placed upon a supporting surface which forms a running surface for the rear wheels of the vehicle, the travelling vehicle being guided along the runway by the engagement of its swivelled leading wheel with the trackway formed by the layout.

The guide lines consist of a rod-like or tube-like structure and are adjustable or changeable to define or modify the course of the trackway. Each guide line forms a rigid or flexible leader along which the grooved leading pulley of the toy vehicle runs. The leader may consist of wire, preferably of an extended helical spring. A flexible tube of artificial material may also be used or a slack string such as a cord, a` thin rope, a stranded wire or the like. The grooved leading pulley travels Without necessarily touching the supporting surface if a slack string is used as a guide line so that the weight of the vehicle loads the string which thereby adheres to the supporting surface in the required way when the vehicle drives along the string. When using other guide lines, the grooved leading wheel may roll on the supporting surface without the vehicle front wheels touching that surface so that the line only guides the leading pulley. ln this case, therefore, the diameter of the groove of the leading wheel may be greater than the diameter of the guiding line. Aside from smaller weight and lower cost, a helical spring of elongated shape has the advantage of greater stability.

The playing parts to be joined with`the guide lines orto ice be inserted between the guide lines consist of rigid structures. They have a substantially flat base plate to rest upon the supporting surface and have one or more ridges on the top of the base plate to form a portion of the trackway. As mentioned, these broad-base playing parts form track accessories such as terminal components (starting or stopping devices) and intersectional components (turn-offs, crossings, switches, turn tables). The playing parts, depending upon their design, permit inserting additional rigid or flexible, straight or curved guide lines into the track layout; and, by virtue of their bases, they also impart stability to the layout.

The components of the track layout are preferably joined together by frictional coupling means. The ends of the guide lines are provided with coupling elements having approximately the saine cross section as the lines such as plugs or thin springy sleeves for the purpose of extending the track by attaching additional lines or playing parts or to form a closed trackway. The coupling elements are preferably shaped in such a way that springy thin-walled sleeves are placed upon the ends of the guide lines or upon the plugs so that the sleeves do not interfere with the passage of a vehicle.

In contrast to the known single-track vehicle toys with a leading pulley rolling on a guiding rail structure which is rather expensive because of its socket-like base and which more or less rigidly determines a fixed course of travel, the invention offers the advantage that any trackway large enough to accommodate a desired course of travel may be chosen and that smallest admissible curves may be used. Moreover, also line guiding means of a very large total length may be accommodated in a small packing box and may quickly be brought into a position ready for use as the guiding means need not be attached to any base. T he invention also permits forming a track layout which is readily and rapidly changeable and adaptable to the desiderata of the play simply by inserting the abovementioned playing parts into the layout or removing them from the layout. By virtue of the playing parts and their solid guiding ridges, the entire assembly has a surprising stability and it is possible to insert additional straight or curved non-flexible guiding-line sections that are suiciently short to be placed into the same packing boX. The manifold forms of a single-track toy attained by the invention include the possibility to lay the flexible line guiding means over elevations of the trackway such as door sills or the like, for instance by placing a piece of cardboard or the like underneath.

In the vehicles required for the invention, the swivelled leading wheel may also be substituted by any other trackfollower or guiding element.

The foregoing and more specific objects, advantages and features of my invention will be apparent from, or will be mentioned in, the following with refence to the drawings in which Sheet l( Figs. l to 14) shows an embodiment of a toy vehicle as well as flexible single-track lines and line connectors; Sheets 2 to 5 (Figs. l5 to 57) show various rigid playing parts; 'and Sheet 6 (Fig. 58) is an example of a track layout composed of guide lines, connectors and playing parts as shown in Figs. 6 to 57 for use with vehicles as shown in Figs. l to 5. The individual illustrations are as follows: y

Vehicle and flexible guide lines Fig. l is a longitudinal section through a toy vehicle having a leading pulley rolling along a helical-spring guide line.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same vehicle, the vehicle body being partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a view of the lower side of the front portion of the vehicle.

Fig. 4 shows part of the leading pulley and the guide line on an enlarged scale; and Fig;A 5 isV a similariview, except that the guide line consists of a slack string.

6 shows `separately pai-tof a helical-spring guide line.

Connectors Fig. '7 shows a connector element in the form of a wire spiral.

8. shows a plug connection.

Fig.9 'isa view of a longitudinally slotted thin-walled connector sleeve;Fig. 10 is a front view thereof; andFig. .l1 shows a sleeve according to Fig. 9 when in use.

Fig. 12 shows another connector sleeve.

Fig. 13 isa longitudinal section of a connector sleeve with a cross wall; and Fig. 14 is a cross section thereof.

Starters and stops Fig. ;15.is .aside View of an assembling yand starting meansLandFig. 16 is a planview thereof.

.f1-Fig; 17 shows a modiedassembling and startingmeans in a sectional view along line 17-17 of Fig. 18;.Fig. 18 .isaplan view thereof;yFig. 19 isa sectionthroughFig.

117;.according to the` line 1.9.-19.

20 .shows a portion ofpan assembling and starting means provided with another stopping device; and Fig. -21 is .av cross .section thereof.

Fig.,22 Vis a side view of another starting and stoppingdevicedesigned as a garage; Fig. 23 is a bottom .viewvandk Fig. 24 afrontview of the same.garage;,Fig. 25 is,.atop,viewof the base plate of the garage.

Fig..2,6 isa top View of a stopping device designed as ,as iding-Or .shunting device; Fig. 27 shows the same device ina ditferentstage of operation; while Figs. 28 and 29 ,aretfront views corresponding to Figs. 26 and 27 respectively- Fig. .30 shows a starting device applicable Vas a line terminal.

Intersections Figs.`31, 32 and 33 are respective plan views of different turn-oft devices.

'34 is a plan view of a triple switch; Fig. 35 vshows asimilar switch of different construction; and Figs. 36 is a side view of the sameswitch as shown in Fig. 35.

Fig. 37 shows a turntable with an annular base plate; Fig. 38 is a section through Fig. 37 according to .the line 38-'38.in Fig. .37; Fig. 39 is. a side view of Fig. 37 seen in the direction ofthe arrow W as indicated in Fig. 37; Fig.'40 is a section through Fig. 37 according to lthe line 40-40, the stopping lever being in its stop position;.and Fig. 41 is a similar section through Fig. 37,. the stopping lever being in its released position.

Fig. l42 is a side view of another turn-off designed as a device for guiding a vehicle into a trackl layout; Fig. .43 is a plan view of the same device; and Fig. 44 is a front view.

Figs-45 and 46 show plan views of crossings for acute and right angles of intersection respectively.

-'Fig. 47 is a;plan view of another crossing designed as a vehicle starter and equipped with automatically releasable stopping means.

v"Fig.f48 is a side view and Fig. 49 is a plan view of another crossing adapted to be placed over and clamped upony any place along a guide line; and Fig. is a front view of the same device.

Fig. 51 shows a connection between a flexible track lineand a rigid playing part such as .any of the devices shown in Figs. 32 to 41 or Figs. 45 to 47; Fig. 52.is a sectional view of a similar connection including a connector sleeve as shown in Fig.v 12; Fig. 53 ,shows a modifled form of a connecting plug applicable with the rigid playing parts such as those shown in preceding iigures; and Fig. 54 shows the same plug at a right angle to the illustration of Fig. 53. i

the sanfte layout.

Rigid track Y.secrtonstznvd track layouts Fig. 55 shows rigid track sections of different length and straight shape.

Fig. 5 6 shows rigid track sections of curved shape joined together by connector sleeves as shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 57 shows part of a track layout having rigid track sections according to Figs. 55 and 56 joined together with other parts; and

Fig. 58 identifies thecomponent parts of a track layout by references topreceding figures The toy vehicle shown in Figs. l to 3 has a bottom plate 1 which carries a speed-regulated spring motor 2 with a driving axle for the rear wheels 3, at least one of which is fixed to the axle. T he motor 2 is covered by the vehicle body 4 and joined with a forwardly extending arm or frame structure 5. A swivel pin 9 is mounted on frame #Sand connected with la forked ,yoke .12 on which a leadingguide pulley 7 isjournalled on a bearing pin 8. Yoke `12 andpulley v8 are rotatable about the axis of swivel pin 9. The rotating movement of yoke 12 is limited by abutments 5. The front wheels 10 of the vehicle donot touch `the trackway, i. e. theloor, table or other playing surfaceonto which the single-track layout is placed and whichlisdrivingly `engaged by the driven rear wheelrof thevehicle.

ln the embodiment of Figs. l, 2 and 4, the means by ,whichvthe vehicle is guided alongrthe single-track line, hereinafter called guidelinesf consist of long helical springspll of steel wire or the like. Part of suchl a spring is separately shown in Fig. 6. ln Fig. 4, the groove .6 of the leading pulley 7 `islarger than the diameter of the guide line ,11, so that the pulley rolls along the trackway. IfMas shownin Fig. 5,` a slack string 11a isused as a guide line, the groove 6 of the leading pulley 7 embraces the string and rolls on it either withouttouching the trackway or without directly exerting appreciable pressure onto the trackway. The string is thereby pressed against the trackway by the weight of the vehicle so that the Aadhesionisincreased and a lateral displacement is avoided.

'ATh'ertr'ack lines are assembled to a track layout by providing the ends yof the individual track lines with coupling elements orconnectors having about the same cross section as the lines. Thus, for instance, the ends of a helical spring (11 in Figs. l, 6) may be connected with each otherby an inserted plug 4 4 as shown in Fig. 8. l-Iowever,V it is also possible to screw a small piece 44a of a helical spring'into the ends of the` track line and thereby'connectithem (Figf'). lf other line-guiding meansare'used, of course, coupling elements of a suitable form are employed. If the line consists of hose-like sections, anginserted plug sufces. If the line sections are rod-like, ypreferably a sleeve 45 is used having a wall ythickness as -thin yas possible and being longitudinally slitted for resiliency, asis shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 1l. Such a sleeve has the advantage that it may also be used as a connecting means if line sections consisting of helical springs and line sections of rigid material are Iused in If slack line sections varc used, they may be stitfenedat the ends as customary for shoe laces so that theirsdiameterconforms with that of the ends of the other line sections.

Coupling elements having very thin lwalls allow a -goodadaptationto ,the end pieces of the track-line sectionseven if cheap lines of wire are used whose ends are not recessed. :Therefore -the player may operate with wastewire if desired.

:Preferably used is a sleeve 45a as shown in Fig. l2. This sleeveis provided vwith a lcontinuous longitudinal slotJtSb and. has atransverse groove 45C in its middle portion. Groove. 45c,considerably stiffens the sleeve so that the latter may have relativelythin walls, this4 being important becauseof the springiness thus. obtained yand alsobecansethe-.thin sleevedoes not. appreciably project over the diameter of the guide line. Besides, the `trans,- verse groove 45C forms a stop up to which the end posi'- tion of the inserted plugs or lines can be inserted sorthat no particular care is needed when inserting the plugs. The transverse groove has the further advantage that the sleeve, which is preferably made of hard springy phosphatic sheet metal or springy sheet brass, does not spread easily along its longitudinal slot, even if subjected to bending stresses. This improves the frictional coupling engagement.

If sleeves of articial material, rubber or the like are used, they may be suitably formed as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. The walls of these sleeves 75 are not slitte'd, i. e. they are closed and provided with a cross wall 76.

If the plug or connecting piece is the end .of a guide line consisting of -a helical spring 11, this end piece 11b (Fig. 6) of the line 11 may be laterally bent olf so that, after the plug is inserted into the sleeve 45, 45a or 75 (Figs. 11 to 13), an increased adhesion and clamping effect is obtained.

As mentioned, in a track layout according .to the invention, the guide lines are joined with rigid plaiyng vparts which, aside from particular playing purposes, im-

part stability to the layout. The playing part illustrated in Figs. l and 16 is designed as a starting or assembling station. It comprises a dat base plate 22 with guiding ridges 14 and 15. The two ridges 15 are aligned to form extensions of the respective guide lines 11. Each two ridges 14 extend at an angle to each other and form a guide for directing the leading pulley 7. of the vehicle onto the ridge 15. That is, for'entering a vehicle into the track layout, the vehicle is merely placed onto base plate 22 between the two pairs of ridges 14 and is then released for travel. The ridges 14 then turn the leading pulley 7 into the correct direction for running the vehicle onto the guide line fastened to the assembling station. The ends 24 of the center ridges 15 preferably project into the space between each two guiding ridges 14. The base plate Z2 is coupled with the adjoining guide lines, for instance by providing the plate with plugs 16 as shown, or with solid ends onto which the sockets or sleeves 45, 45a or 75 (Figs. 9 to, 14) respectively may be pushed so that they springily adhere.

The base plate 22 is preferably provided with ,lateral confining walls 23 (Figs. l5, 16) byvwhich the vehicle is additionally guided when being started and when passing through the station during playing.

It is further of advantage to construct the starter sta-k tion so that the base plate and the plugs 16 project so far beyond the lateral walls 23 in the longitudinal direction that the vehicle may drivein without striking against these walls even if the plugs 16 are connected with a curved guide line such as a helical spring, and therefore the vehicles arrive at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the station as is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 18. The modiiied starter station shown in Figs. 17 to 19 is otherwise similar to that of Figs. 15 and 16, similar reference numerals being used for respective equivalent details respectively. However, the base plate 22a of the station shown in Figs. 17 to 19 is further provided with a longitudinal groove 46 extending between the two pairs of guiding ridges 14 and forming an additional guiding means for the leading pulley to secure straight running of the pulley especially when a vehicle passes through the station without stopping. The longitudinal groove 46 tapers at the ends 47 to merge into the surface of the base plate 13.

Each of the starter stations of Figs.` 15, 16 and Figs. 17 to 19 is equipped with a vehicle stoppingl device. In the embodiment of Figs. 15 and 16, the stopping device comprises a switch lever 17 with a weight 18, and a stop linger 19 projecting into the travel path of the vehicle, e. g. of its *bumper bar 2t) when thevehicle :6 has the position 'according to Figs. 15 and 16. By switching the lever 17 into the position indicated by dotted lines, the stop linger 19 is turned into a recess 21 of the base plate and the vehicle is released for travel.

In the embodiment of Figs. 17 to 19, the stopping device has a switch lever 48 with a stop arm 49 projecting into the travel path of the vehicle. The lever 48 is biased by a spring 50 so that it returns automatically into its initial position when the playing person, after having stopped a vehicle, removes his finger. The stop arm 49 may be so arranged as to be in clamping engagement with the base plate 22a when in the vehicle-releasing position.

As shown in Figs. 2O and 21, the stopping device may also consist of a stop arm 51 on a sleeve 52 which can be raised and lowered on a pin 53. In the stopping position, the arm 51 engages `a notch 54 of the base plate 22s` so as to be latched in this position. In its releasing position, the arm 51 abuts against the wall 23 or enters into a recess 55 of wall 23. If, as shown, two recesses 55 are provided on opposite sides respectively of pin 53, the arm 51 may be turned in opposite directions into releasing position.

Starting and stopping devices of the above-described type may be further improved by providing their base plate with a built-'up structure such as a tunnel without doors or a garage as shown in Figs. 22 to 25. These tunnels or garages are preferably constructed in such a way that the vehicles may pass through, and that vehicles placed in front of the tunnel or the garage are guided to drive onto the guide line connected to the opposite side of the tunnel or garage, as illustrated in Fig. 25. Of course, the garage may also be used for accommodating vehicles. The base plate 22d of the illustrated garage has inwardly-directed guiding ridges 14 for directing the incoming vehicle or its leading pulley. Between the two pairs of guiding ridges 14, a longitudinal groove may be provided as explained above with reference to groove 46 in Figs. 17, 18. lf the garage is to be used so that vehicles can pass through, it is connected at opposite ends with the guide lines by plugs and sockets yor the like. Preferably, the centrally located guiding ridges 15 have the shape of channels whose open side is downwardly directed and into which the guide lines may be inserted. For securing the ends of the guide lines in these channels, a springy plate is provided at the bottom side of the base plate 22d.

The two doors of the garage may be used as stopping and releasing devices. The two halves 86, 86' of each door can turn outwardly and inwardly and are flung open by a vehicle entering the garage and striking against them if they are not locked. lf, however, the two halves of a door are locked by a latch 87, the vehicles striking against them will stop. The door halves 86, 86 may be connected with each other by links 8.3 and and 8d so that they move simultaneously and uniformly.

Of course, an assembling and starting device may also be constructed to simulate a bus stop, station building or the like.

Figs. 26 to 29 illustrate a sliding or turnout device consisting of a base plate 22e with two parallel guiding ridges 15a, and a rocking lever 26 pivotally connected with the base plate 22a by a pivot 23 and provided with a stopping arm 29 and a releasing arm 30. The arms project upwardly through respective guide slots 31 of the base plate. The ridges 15a are provided with plugs 16 to be coupled with the guide lines. In their normal positions the arms 29, 30 project into the travel path of the vehicles as shown in Fig. 26. The rocking lever 26 is held in its position by spring 32. The arriving (lower) vehicle passing along the trackway shifts the releasing arm 30 together with the rocking lever 26 and the stopping arm 29, so that arm 29 moves out of the path of the other, stopped vehicle thus releasing the latter vehicle `to resume its *trvvl 'Elie .startingdeviceshowninjFig 3 0 maybe usedvasa line terminal`,' that is for guiding a vehicle from vthe outside vonto the end of aV trick line 11. In order to properly catch a vehicleso that its leading pulley willl enter upon the trackway, thebase plate of the`guide-interrninal forms a ramp x9 4 with a pair of guide ridges 1 4 Vfor directing Ithe pulley onto the central ridge 15 to which the end of guide line L 1-1jis connected.

The rigidlplaying parts shown in Figs. 31 to 33 are designed as turn-offs'. According to Fig. 31, the base `.plate 22g of the device has two guiding ridges 15b arranged to fform a fork adjacent to a ridge 515e. The ends of ridge andridges 15b a re so located that the leading lpulley 7 of the travelling `vehicle already engages the ridge onto which the'vehicle fis about to run before the pulley has left the ridge vfrom which'it runs olf. Preferably, vthe vehicle turns tothe right in both travelling directions as shown by` a riow s in Fig. 3 l.

The turn-toil.c devices may be improved according to Figs. v32 and 33 by lhaving one ofthe two guiding -ridges of the b ase plate 22h, namely the ridge 15d, extend a short distance in the direction of the adjoining ridge 27, while the other ridge 15e extends at an angle to the ridge 27. According ,to Fig. 33, the entire guiding ridge 15d runs in the same direction as the joining ridge 17, while in the embodiment according to Fig. 32 only the end portion 33 of the ridge is in line with the joining ridge 27. Vehicles may pass in the direction of the arrow X from ridge 15e to ridge 27, and also from ridge 15d to ridge 27 and vice versa, i. e. in opposite directions as indicated by the double-headed arrow Y.

In the embodiment ,of a track switch shown in Fig. 34, the base plate 22k has three ridges 15j. 15g, 15h to coact with one joining ridge 37a which is adjustable by means of a turntable 39 so that it selectively connects the guiding ridge 46 with one of the ridges 15f to 15h. T he turntable 39 is rotatably supported by the base plate 22k and may be adjusted by means of a handle 3 8 on an arm 39 fastened to the turntable. The handle passes through a slot 40 of the base plate. Such a switch is applicable in combination with loop-shaped track layouts, garages, parking vplaces and .the like. lf two track switches are connected with each other by guide lines 11 as shown in Fig. 58, a multiple turnout results which may be provided with devices according to Figs. 17 to 27.

The vehicle 41 shown in Fig. 34 has two leading pulleys 7 at the front and rear respectively. The motor 42 is reversible, and the driven axle 43 of the car wheels is arranged between the two leading pulleys 7.

lf the vehicle is provided with a trailer having two axles, this trailer may also be provided with a leading pulley. However, such leading pulley is not necessary with trailers having only one axle.

The track switch shown in Figs. 35 and 36 has its turntable 39a provided with a Ilexible guide member 56 consisting of a helical spring. Onc cnd of the spring member 56 is fastened to the turntable 39a by means of a fixed plug 36', while the other end is fastened to the base plate 22d by means of a plug 36". The plug 36a projects over the turntable. The guiding member 56 bends in the manner shown in the drawing by dotted lines when the plug l36a is aligned with one of the respective guiding ridges 57, 58, 59. Thus, there is a gradual transition from the guiding member 56 to ridge 57 or 58 without any sharp angle.

The turntable 39a is actuated by a handle 60, and the base plate 22m has stops 61 and 62 which can be engaged by a finger and against which the handle 60 abuts in its end positions. These stops have the advantage that, when swtiching, the players hand holds the whole device automatically in position, thus preventing inadvertent displacement ofgthe device without the ne ing vit -with #the other hand.

:The turntable deviceshown in Figs. 37 to 41 is provided with crossing ridges to 'form a cross track in the track layout.

lRotatably mounted on a ring-shaped base plate 63 is a turntable 64. The table 64 has guiding ridges 65a, 6511, 65e, 65d to vbe aligned with the fixed guiding ridges 66a, 66b, 66e, 66d of the base plate 63. The ridges 65a to 65d are interrupted at 67 and 68 for `passage of the lleading pulley l7 as well as of the wheels 3 of the vehicle. A pvot pin 70 is mounted on the turntable 64 by means of a sleeve-69`with an-oval bore so that the pivot pincan `be rotated aswell as raised or tipped. The pin "llcarries -a bent-off stopping arm 71 `with a handle 72. lfarm 71 is in raised positionaccording .to Figs. 38 to 40, it projects intothe travel ,path ofthe vehicles and stops them. When arm l71 is lowered according to Fig. `41, :the vehicles .may pass freely. Preferably, the .stopping ,arm 71 is springloaded so that it automatically remains in its .end positions whether raised o r lowered. The varm 7,1 or its p iyot 70 have kStill another ,function They serve .to latch ythe turntable `in the respective positions. For this purpose, thepivot 'logengages a recess between two wedge- like proiesfiQaS 73, 74`9r11het0p .surface of base .ring 63 When the 1pivot 7,0 `is raised .by means of Athe handle 72 above the . projections 73 and 74, the turntable may be rotated into the'next position. .Of. course, .the means .for latching the turntablemay also .be Aconstructed in any other way and may be located atother places between the turntable and .the ring, e. g. .they may lhave the shape of pawls or the like.

The playing part shown in Figs. 42 to 44 is designed as a turnoff device .comparable tto those of Figs. 31 to 33 and be used for guiding vvehicles frornthe outside into the track layout. The base plate 22p in Figs. 42 to 44 has va. guiding ridge `91 recessed at 92 and associated near the recess V92 with a lead-in ridge 93. Ridge 93 is spaced Va certain distance from, and extends at a certain angle lto,.the guiding ridge 91. The ridge 93 is connected with a guide `line 11. The spacing of ridge 93 from the guiding Aridge 91 is such that the leading pulley of the vehicle travelling along ridge 91 may pass without hindrance. The angular position of ridge 93 is as required to gui-de the p ullSY 0f the Vehicle from ridge 93 onto ridge 91'. For this reason, the two end portions of the guiding ridge 91 are lbevelled, and raised inclines are provided on the line-guiding means.

The cross-track devices shown in Figs. 45, 46 have a base plate 22q or 22r provided with guiding ridges 15h whose ends carry coupling pins 16 respectively. At thc crossing place, the ridges 15h form gaps allowing thc leading pulley and the car Wheels to pass.

A crossing' device as vdescribed may also be combined with a stopping and releasing device which operates to stop an arriving vehicle on one track 'before the vehicle reaches the intersection point of the device, and to release another vehicle on the other track behind the said intersection point s o as to allow the other vehicle to continue its travel. Such a device is shown in Fig. 47. lt comprises a base plate 22g provided with guiding ridges 75a and 75b for one track vand guiding ridges 76a and 76/1 for the other track. The ridges form gaps allowing thc leading pulley and the car wheels to pass. The base plate 22s also forms an assembling and starting device, and to this end is provided with two pairs of guiding ridges 14n and an intermediate groove 46a shaped and functioning as describedl above inconnection with groove 46 in Figs. 17 to .19. The groove 46a has sufficient size to allow the vehicle to be easily inserted and automatically guided alongfthe groove. An angularly-bent lever 77 is pivotally connected with the base plate 2 0sby means of a pivot 78. Lever I77 carries verticalY stop fingers 79 and 80 sliding in respective tslots 81 and 82of the base plate vwhen the lever rotates. Any vehicle arriving in the direction of cessity of holdthe a-rrow T is stopped by the finger 79 until another ve.- hicle, arriving in the direction of the arrow S and having the right of way, hits against the finger 80 and moves it away. This causes the lever 77 ,to rock about its pivot 78 so that the finger 79 slides outwardly in the slot 81 and clears the way for the vehicle previously stopped by finger 79. A return spring 83 then returns the lever 77 into the initial position so that the described procedure may repeat itself.

The same operation can be secured by eliminating the lever 77 and its pivot 78, and replacing these parts by a linking bar 77a as shown in Fig. 47 by dotted lines. The bar 77a carries the stopping fingers 79, 80, and a spring 83a is arranged in lieu of the former spring 83 and abuts, as shown in dotted lines, against the finger 79 of bar 77a.

As mentioned, the base plates of the various playing parts are provided with plugs 16 by means of which the guide lines, such as the helical springs 11, are joined with the parts to form a track layout (Fig. l). Preferably, the base plate with its guiding ridges and other structural portions are made of synthetic material, rubber or the like. line-guiding means preferably have a flexible steel core embedded into the base plate and stiffenin-g it by being cast into its mass. This is shown in Fig. 52 illustrating a section through an end portion of a base plate 22u whose plugs 16a consist of a cast-on pin with a steel core 89 which is inserted into the base plate 22u. This core not only strengthens the plug and stiffens the base plate but also increases the flexibility of the plug 16a.

According to Figs. 53 and 54, the plugs 90 of the base plate 22V for connecting it with the line-guiding means are formed of wire portions or pins cast into the base plate and partially projecting therefrom. The embedded portion of the pins is preferably thickened, as at 90 in Fig. 54, in order to be solidly retained.

While the playing parts as so far described are connected into the track #layout by means of plugs and sockets, there are other ways of making the connection. Preferably, according to another feature of the invention, the base plates of the playing parts are provided at the lower side with channel-like recesses by means of which they may be pushed over and clamped upon the guide lines. This permits the playing parts of the described kind to be inserted at any place of the track layout without the necessity of placing the rigid playing parts at a junction point between two guide lines.

The just-mentioned feature is embodied in the crosstrack device shown in Figs. 48 to 50. The base plate 221 has a channel-like groove 97 arranged at its lower side. By virtue of the groove 97, the Whole device may be clamped over the guide line 11. In the cross direction, the base plate is provided with a guiding ridge 98 having plugs 99 for joining the device with other guide lines. To permit an unobstructed passage of the leading pulley, the channel 97 as well as the guiding ridge 98 are preferably interrupted in the middle by a gap as shownat 100. Preferably, the channel 97 clamps the guide line only at the ends or in the middle of the channel so that it can be used also in connection with curved line-guiding means.

Fig. 44 shows that the turn-olf illustrated in Figs. 42 to 44- may be clamped onto the line 11 by channel-like recesses 101 at the bottom side of the base plate.

Of course, such clamping channels or grooves may be provided in the bottom side of the base plate of all other playing parts described. The parts are preferably given such a design that the roof of the clamping channel projects upwardly from the base plate to form a guiding ridge. The guiding ridge 97a in Figs. 48 to 50 is formed in this manner. The clamping channels need not extend the whole length or width of the base plate but may be interrupted. For instance, the channels may be arranged only on two opposite marginal portions of The plugs for connecting them. with the l the base plate. But, in any case, it is advantageous to have the channel cross section taper `from the channel bottom toward the channel opening. Thus, in Fig. 48, the channel is somewhat narrower at place 97:.` than above that place. This secures a safe and resilient clamping of the guide line 11 and the base plate of the device set upon the guide line.

A track layout according to the invention is preferably equipped with rigid guide rods supplementing the flexible guide lines described above. Such rigid guide rods of straight shape are shown in Fig. 55. Curved guide rods, joined with each other by coupling sleeves according to Fig. 12, are shown in Fig. 56; and Fig. 57 shows a partial track layout comprising a number of the abovedescribed playing parts interconnected by straight and curved guide rods according to Figs. 55 and 56. The straight rods are just as long as the base plates of the respective playing parts 200 and 201 including the pertaining plugs. Consequently, such a playing part inserted into the trackway can readily be substituted by a straight line-guiding rod 202 (in Fig. 55) or vice versa, without requiring any other alteration in the track layout.

According to Figs. 55 to 57, half-length guide rods 203 may also be provided in order to permit inserting such playing parts as garages, tunnels, track switches and the like within less space and at a shorter distance from each other than otherwise needed. This is evident from the example of Fig. 57.

The example of a track layout shown in Fig. 58 is composed of playing parts and guide lines as described in the foregoing, the individual components being identified by references to the respective figures showing these components in detail. The flexible guide lines of the layout are loosely placed upon the oor and are at any time adjustable and changeable as to their course. Playing parts and track lines may be added or removed at any time, even while vehicles are running along some other portion of the layout, a virtually innite variety of layout combinations thus being available.

I claim:

1. A track-guided vehicular toy comprising a driven vehicle having rear wheels and having a leading track follower swivelled for controlling the travelling direction, in combination with a composite track layout comprising flexible single-track guide lines of elongated shape having a suiciently small cross section to be straddled by said track follower, and rigid playing parts of shorter length than said lines, said parts having a plane bottom surface, the width of said parts transverse to the vehicle travelling direction being larger than the axial spacing between said rear wheels so that said rear wheels run upon said part during operation of the toy, said parts and said guide lines being frictionally and separably stuck together when in operative condition, said rigid parts having on the top a ridge forming a prolongation of the line attached to said part and having a cross section Sulliciently small to be straddled by said track follower, whereby said lines and said parts form together a continuous single-track path structure for said vehicle.

2. A toy according to claim l, comprising frictional coupling means adapted for interconnecting said guide lines and having a thin-walled coupling sleeve frictionally placeable over the respective ends of two adjacent lines, said sleeve having a cross section of nearly the same size as said lines so as to form part of said track and having in its middle an interior obstruction to limit the entering depth of said ends.

3. A track-guided vehicular toy comprising a driven vehicle having rear running wheels and having a swivelled leading running wheel with a peripheral groove in combination with a composite track layout adapted to be placed upon a playing surface, said layout comprising single-track line sections and playing parts insertable between said line sections, said line sections having a cross section suiciently small to be straddled by said groove and having great length in comparison with the width of said cross section, and said playing parts having a base portion which has a bottom surface of a Width constituting a multiple of said width of said cross section and separably joined with said sections when in operative condition, said parts having a top face engageable by said rear wheels and having ridge means projecting upwardly and being aligned with said line sections and engageable with said groove so as to form together with said sections a single-trackway for steering said leading wheel, said base portion having a cross sectional shape tapering toward those of its edges where said base portion is joined with said line sections, so that said top face has an upwardly bulging shape.

k4. A track-guided vehicular toy comprising a driven vehicle having rear running wheels and having a swivelled and leading track follower with a track-engaging groove in combination with a composite track layout adapted to be placed upon a playin(T surface, said layout com- 4 prising single-track line sections and playing parts insertable between said sections, said sections having a cross section sufficiently small to be straddled by said groove and having great length in comparison with the width of said cross section, and said playing parts having `7 a base portion wider than said cross section and having in the bottom surface of said base portion a downwardly open groove clampingly engageable with said line sec tions for separably joining said playing parts with said sections, and said parts having on the top side of said base portion an elongated ridge of substantially the same cross section as said line sections, said ridge being located on top of said groove and aligned with the clampingly engaged line section to form together therewith a trackway for steering the vehicle.

5. ln a toy according to claim 4, said groove of one of said playing parts extending in the track-way direction across the entire length of said part, whereby said playing part can be clamped over a continuous portion of the length ot` one of said line sections.

6. A toy according to claim l, comprising rigid guide rods of elongated shape having the same cross-sectional shape as said flexible lines and being separably connectable with said llexible lines and said playing parts to form part of said single-track guideway.

7. A track-guided vehicular toy comprising a driven vehicle having rear wheels and having a leading guide wheel swivelled for controlling the travelling direction, in combination with a composite track layout comprising liexible single-track guide lines of elongated shape, and rigid playing parts separably joined with said exible guide lines when in operative condition and forming together with said lines a continuous trackway enaageable by said guide wheel for steering said vehicle, one of said rigid guide parts forming a vehicle starting device and having a base plate, said base plate having track means dening a track portion aligned with the adjacent one of said guide incs when in operative condition, and said base plate having two projections located on both sides respectively of said track means and at an angle relative thereto for guiding the vehicle onto said track means.

S. A track-guided vehicular toy comprising a driven vehicle having rear wheels and having a leading guide wheel swivelled for controlling the travelling direction, in combination with a composite track layout comprising flexible single-track guide lines of elongated shape, and rigid playing parts separably joined with said flexible guide lines when in operative condition and forming together with said lines a continuous trackway engageable by said guide wheel for steering said vehicle, one of said rigid playing parts forming a vehicle run-in device and having a base plate, said base plate having on its top a ridge aligned with an adjacent one of said guide lines when the toy is in playing condition so as to form part of said trackway, and said base plate having two lateral ridges spaced from said aligned ridge on both sides thereof respectively and forming an angle with each other, said aligned ridge dividing said angle and being interrupted at a place between said lateral ridges.

9. A track-guided vehicular toy comprising a driven vehicle having rear wheels and having a leading guide wheel swivelled for controlling the travelling direction, in combination with a composite track layout comprising flexible single-track guide lines of elongated shape, and rigid playing parts separably joined with said flexible guide lines when in operative condition and forming together with said lines a continuous trackway engageable by said guide wheel for steering said vehicle, one of said rigid playing parts forming a vehicle run-in device and having a base plate, said base plate having in its top face a channel-forming recess aligned with an adjacent one of said guide lines and having two pairs of guiding ridges upwardly projecting from said top face near the two longitudinal ends respectively of said recess, the two ridges of each pair extending on both sides of said recess respectively and converging toward each other in a direction away from said other pair, whereby said recess and said ridges are adapted for guiding the leading guide wheel of a vehicle onto the trackway.

l0. A track-guided vehicular toy comprising a driven vehicle having rear wheels and having a leading guide wheel swivelled for controlling the travelling direction, in combination with a composite track layout comprising flexible single-track guide lines of elongated shape, and rigid playing parts separably joined with said flexible guide lines when in operative condition and forming together with said lines a continuous trackway engageable by said guide wheel for steering said vehicle, one of said rigid playing parts forming a vehicle stopping and starting device and comprising a base plate, said base plate having on its top a ridge aligned with said trackway and forming part thereof when the toy is in operative condition, and a stop member movably joined with said plate and displaceable relative thereto into and out of the travel path of the vehicle.

l1. A track-guided vehicular toy comprising a driven vehicle having rear wheels and having a leading guide wheel swivelled for controlling the travelling direction, in combination with a composite track layout comprising flexible single-track guide lines of elongated shape, and rigid playing parts separably joined with said flexible guide lines when in operative condition and forming together with said lines a continuous trackway engageable by said guide wheel for steering said vehicle, one of said rigid playing parts forming a vehicle stopping and starting device and comprising a base plate, said base plate having on its top a ridge aligned with said trackway and forming part thereof when the toy is in operative condition, said ridge having an interruption and said plate having two lateral ridges on both sides respectively of said interruption for guiding the leading vehicle pulley onto the trackway, and a stop member pivotally connected with said plate and movable into and out of the path of the trackway for stopping and releasing a vehicle, and releasable arresting means on said plate engageable with said stop member for securing it in vehicle-stopping and releasing position respectively.

12. A track-guided vehicular toy comprising a driven vehicle having rear wheels and having a leading guide wheel swivelled for controlling the travelling direction, in combination with a composite track layout comprising flexible single-track guide lines of elongated shape, and rigid playing parts separably joined with said flexible guide lines when in operative condition and forming together with said lines a continuous trackway engageable by said guide wheel for steering said vehicle, one of said rigidplaying parts forming a vehicle stopping and starting device and comprising a base plate, said base plate having on its top a ridge aligned with said trackway and forming part thereof when the toy is in operative condition, a housing joined with said plate and extending over said plate so as to form together therewith a hollow structure to be traversed by vehicles, and door-shaped stop members hinged to said structure and movable into the vehicle path for stopping and releasing vehicles in the interior of said structure, and latch means for latching said stop members in stopping position.

13. In a toy according to -claim 1, one of said playing parts forming an intersectional device and comprising a plate having a top provided with two guiding ridges whose geometric axes intersect each other, said ridges being aligned with said guide lines when in operative condition, and each of said ridges being interrupted at both sides of the point of intersection to permit the passage of the track follower of a vehicle travelling along the other ridge, and each of said ridges having two gaps spaced from the interruption to permit the passage of the rear wheels of the vehicle.

14. In a toy according to claim 1, one of said rigid playing parts forming a switch device and comprising a basestructure. having a rstsingle-track ridge aligned with one of said guide lines when in use to form part of said trackway, said base structure having a plurality of other single-track ridges spaced from said first ridge and alignable with respective other ones of said guide lines, and a switch member mounted on said base structure and movable relative thereo, said switch member having a track means selectively connecting said first ridge with one of said respective other ridges, and said base structure having connecting means aligned with said respective ridges and engageable with respective ones of said guide lines.

15. In a toy according to claim 1, said switch member comprising a disc rotatably mounted on said base structure, and said track means consisting essentially of a flexible line member joined with said rst ridge and selectively alignable with said other ridges depending upon the rotary position of said disc.

16. A track-guided vehicular toy comprising a driven vehicle having rear wheels and having a leading guide wheel swivelled for controlling the travelling direction, in combination with a composite track layout comprising llexible single-track guide lines of elongated shape, and rigid playing parts separably joined with said flexible guide lines when in operative condition and forming together with said lines a continuous trackway engageable by said guide wheel for steering said vehicle, one of said playing parts comprising a base plate and having on said base plate two different track portions aligned with said guide lines when in use, a stop member movably mounted on said base plate near one of said track portions and movable into the vehicle path along said one portion for stopping a vehicle travelling on said portion, and a release member movably mounted on said base plate near the other track portion and movable when engaged by a vehicle travelling on said other track portion, said release member being connected with said stop member for moving said stop member into vehicle releasing position when said release member is actuated by a vehicle.

17. A track-guided vehicular toy comprising a driven vehicle having rear wheels and having a leading guide wheel swivelled for controlling the travelling direction, in combination with a composite track layout comprising exible single-track guide lines of elongated shape, and rigid playing parts separably joined with said exible guide lines when in operative condition and forming together with said lines a continuous trackway engageable by said guide wheel for steering said vehicle, one of said playing parts comprising a base plate and having on said plate two mutually spaced and parallel track portions aligned when in use with respective ones of said guide lines, a stopping device having a rocking lever pivoted to said base plate and rotatably movable in a plane parallel to said plate, said lever having two parts projecting from said lever alternately into the respective travelling paths of vehicles running along said respective track portions, and the pivot point of said lever being asymmetrically located relative to said two track portions, whereby a vehicle running on one of said track portions is stopped by one of said parts and is thereafter released by movement of the other part when engaged by a vehicle running in the opposite direction on the other track portion.

18. A track-guided vehicular toy comprising a driven vehicle having rear wheels and having a leading guide wheel swivelled for controlling the travelling direction, in combination with a composite track layout comprising exible single-track guide lines of elongated shape,

and rigid playing parts separably joined with said flexible guide lines when in operative condition and forming together with said lines a continuous trackway engageable by said guide wheel for steering said Vehicle, one of said playing parts comprising a base plate and having on said base plate two guiding ridges intersecting each other and forming a crossing in said trackway, each of said ridges having gaps near the point of intersection to permit the passage of the wheels of vehicles travelling along thev other ridge, said plate having a first slot extending substantially at a right angle to one of said two ridges, a stop member displaceable in said rst slot from without to within the vehicle travel path along said one ridge so as to stop a vehicle on said path when placed within said path, said plate having a second slot extending at an acute angle to the other ridge, a release member displaceable in said second slot from without to within the vehicle travel path along said other ridge so as to be moved out of said latter path when entrained by a vehicle travelling on said latter path, means connecting said stop member with said release member for moving said stop member out of said rst-mentioned path when said release member is moved out of said other path, and spring means mounted on said plate for biasing said members to the vehicle stopping position of said stop member.

19. A track-guided vehicular toy comprising a driven vehicle having rear wheels and having a leading guide wheel swivelled for controlling the travelling direction, in combination with a composite track layout comprising flexible single-track guide lines of elongated shape, and rigid playing parts separably joined with said flexible guide lines when in operative condition and forming together with said lines a continuous trackway engageable by said guide wheel for steering said vehicle, one of said playing parts forming a turn table device and comprising a base plate, a circular turn-table rotatably mounted on said base plate, said plate having radial track portions distributed aboutthe periphery of said turn-table and aligned with said guide lines when said device is connected with said lines, and said turn-table having diametrical track means crossing each other and selectively aligned with said track portions depending upon the rotary position of said disc.

20. A toy according to claim 19, comprising a stop arm pivotally mounted on said turn table `and rotatably movable from without to within the vehicle travel path along one of said track means, and said base plate having locking means engaged by said stop arm only when said arm is placed in stopping position in said travel path, whereby said stop arm when in said position latches said turn table in proper rotary position while said turn table is released for adjustment when said arm is moved out of said position.

2l. A toy according to claim 20, comprising a pivot sleeve joined with said turn table and having an oval pivot bore elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the turn-table plane, and said stop arm having a pivot portion engaging said bore whereby said pivot portion can be rotated for stopping and releasing a vehicle as well as raised for unlatching said turn table from said base plate, and spring means mounted on said turn table and engaging said pivot portion for biasing it toward raised position.

22. In a toy accordingto claim 21, said base plate having ,a pair of wedge-like projections extending concentrically to said turn-table in radially spaced relation thereto, said projections forming respective top faces upwardly inclined toward each other and peripherally spaced from each other to form an intermediate recess, and said stop arm having a portion slidable along said top faces and engageable with said recess for latching said turn table.

23. A track-guided vehicular toy comprising a driven vehicle having rear wheels and having a leading guide Wheel swivelled for controlling the travelling direction, in combination with a composite track layout comprising7 flexible single-track guide lines of elongated shape, and rigid playing parts separably joined with said flexible guide lines when in operative condition and forming together with said llines a continuous trackway engageable by said guide wheel for steering said vehicle, one of said playing parts forming a turn table device and comprising a base plate, a circular turn-table rotatably mounted on said base plate, said plate having radial ridges distributed around and spaced from the peripheral edge of said turn table and aligned with said guide lines when said device is connected with said lines, and said turn table having diametrieal ridge means crossing each other and projecting over said peripheral edge, said ridge means being selectively alignable with said radial ridges depending upon the rotary position of said turn table to form part of said trackway.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 406,391 Dibble July 2, 1889 1,482,632 Fergusson Feb. 5, 1924 1,701,947 Caruso Feb. l2, 1929 1,791,071 Coggon Feb. 3, 1931 1,886,484 Kline Nov. 8, 1932 2,125,590 Smallwood Aug. 2, 1938 2,575,055 Jaeger Nov. 13, 1951 2,590,040 Rose Mar. 18, 1952

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