US3359920A

US3359920A - Tilt-track section for slot car racers

Info

Publication number: US3359920A
Application number: US455805A
Authority: US
Inventors: Iammatteo Pasquale
Original assignee: Lionel Corp
Current assignee: Lionel Corp
Priority date: 1965-05-14
Filing date: 1965-05-14
Publication date: 1967-12-26
Anticipated expiration: 1984-12-26

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 P. IAMMATTEO TILT-TRACK SECTION FOR SLOT CAR RACERS INVENTOR Emmzflmmr rw BY ATTORNEYS Dec 26, 1967 Filed March 14, 1965 NW w\% H LP Dec. 26, 1967 P. IAMMATTEO TILT-TRACK SECTION FOR SLOT CAR RACERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 14, 1965 I Jll 0 vso i fl/ ATTO R N EY S Dec. 26,1967 P. IAMMATTEO TILT-TRACK SECTION FOR SLOT CAR RACERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 14, 1965 INVENTOR Alma/1.4 ELI/1101427750 ATTORNEY S United States Patent 3,359,920 TILT-TRACK SECTION FOR SLOT CAR RACERS Pasquale Iammatteo, Staten Island, N .Y., assignor to The Lionel Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 14, 1965, Ser. No. 455,805 23 Claims. (Cl. 104-160) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tilt-track section for slot car racers is disclosed which has opposed free ends, a support for supporting the tilttrack for turning movement about an axis extending transversely of the tilt-track and situated between the free ends thereof and means normally urging said tilt-track section into a rest position in which one of the free ends is located at a level lower than the other end to permit a toy vehicle to move onto the tilt-track section, The tilttrack section may turn about the axis in response to the Weight of a vehicle situated on the track section between the axis and the other free end of the tilt-track acting thereon and moving at a speed less than a certain given rate of speed. The assembly also includes electrically conductive means carried by and extending along the tilttrack for supplying electricity to an electric toy vehicle moving along the track from one to the other end thereof.

The present invention relates to toy racing structures.

In particular, the present invention relates to toy racing apparatus in which electrically propelled vehicles, simulating racing automobiles, for example, are propelled along track assemblies through which electrical power is delivered to the vehicles for propelling them.

As is well known, with such structures each track has its own electrical circuit for delivering power to a vehicle on the track, and the several electrical circuits are respectively controlled by the several operators who oompete with each other. Thus, these electrical circuits respectively include variable resistors capable of being manipulated by the operators who can in this way increase or decrease the speed of the vehicles, taking into consideration the various hazards which are encountered by the vehicles as they move along the tracks, the object being to complete the distance along the entire tract in.

the shortest possible time while maintaining the vehicle on the track in spite of the various hazards encountered by the vehicles.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide for a track assembly of the above type, a hazard which will add great interest to the race and which at the same time will greatly increase the skill required of the several operators.

Another object of the present invention is to provide, for a track assembly of the above type, a removable hazard which can be inserted into the track assembly to replace a conventional track section.

A further object of the present invention is to provide for a structure of the above type, a hazard which will be capable of maintaining the flow of electrical current to a vehicle while it is travelling along the hazard of the invention, without, however, interfering with the removability of the hazard of the invention from the rest of the track assembly.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a track assembly of the above type a hazard which will give to each operator the option of choosing between directing the vehicle along a relatively short path (which is of a relatively high degree of chance with respect to the maintenance of the vehicle on the track) 3,359,920 Patented Dec. 26, 1967 or along a longer path which requires slower movement of the vehicle but which is safer than the first, shorter y of the hazard as it presents itself to another operator.

Primarily, the structure of the invention includes a tilttrack means which has opposed lower and upper ends situated, in a rest position of the tilt-track means, with the lower end at a lower elevation than the upper end. A support means supports the tilt-track means for turning movement about an axis which extends transversely of the tilt-track means and which is situated between the ends thereof and at an elevation higher than the lower end of the tilt-track means when the latter is in its rest position. This tilt-track means of the invention responds automatically to the weight of a vehicle, situated between the turning axis of the tilt-track means and its upper end and moving at less than a given rate of speed, to be turned about this axis by the weight of the vehicle to a position where the end of the track means which is uppermost in the rest position of the track means becomes situated at an elevation lower than the end which is at a lower elevation when the track means is in its rest position.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view fragmentarily illustrating that part of a track assembly which is provided with the structure of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional illustration showing in a side view the structure of the present invention, the section of FIG. 3 being taken between a pair or tilt-track means of the invention which are situated in side by side relation;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the underside of the structure of FIG. 3 taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section of the structure of FIG. 4 taken along line 55 of FIG 4 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of part of the track means of the invention, FIG. 6 being taken along line 66 of FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary partly sectional plan view taken along line 77 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows and showing part of the support means of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view illustrating the lower end of the tilt-track means and the structure adjoining this lower end of the tilt track means;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary transverse section of the stru ture of FIG. 8 taken along line 99 of FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a perspective illustration of an electrical connector which forms part of the structure of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective illustration showing the structure at one end of a flexible conductor of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary transverse sectional illustration of a structure for interconnecting a pair of tilt-track means of the invention for simultaneous tilting movement together.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the track assembly illustrated therein includes a first pair of stationary track portions 20a and 2012, these stationary track portions 20a and 20b are located in side by side relation and can form part of a unitary track structure in a manner which is per se Well known. The track assembly also includes a pair of additional stationary track portions 22a and 22b which form a second unitary assembly and which are identical with the track portions Ztla and 20b and longitudinally aligned therewith, although spaced therefrom, as is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2, so that these pairs of stationary track portions 20a, 2012, on the one hand, and 22a, 22b, on the other hand, respectively have free ends which are directed toward each other but spaced from each other so as to define a predetermined space.

In this latter space is situated the structure of the invention which includes a pair of tilt-track means 240 and 2412 which are situated in side by side relation and which are supported by a support means 26 (FIG. 2) for free turning movement about a common axis 32 which extends transversely across the pair of tilt-track means 24a and 24b of the present invention. This pair of tilt-track means are identical and coextensive, and in the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 they are respectively free to turn about their common turning axis, one with respect to the other.

In the rest position of the pair of tilt=track means 24a and 24b, they respectively have lower ends 28a and 28b and upper ends 30a and 30b with these lower ends respectively situated at an elevation lower than the upper ends, and of course lower than the common turning axis 32. In fact in the rest position of the pair of tilt-track means of the invention their lower ends 28a and 28b are situated directly next to the ends of the pair of track portions 20a and 20b so that vehicles can move from the latter track portions directly onto the pair of tilt-track means of the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 diagrammatically illustrate a pair of known

electrical racing vehicles

34a and 34b at various positions along the pair of paths defined by the

track portions

20a, 24a, 22a and the track portions 20b, 24b, and 22b. The several tracks are all made of bodies of electrically non-conductive material and this electrically non-conductive material which forms the track portions 20a, 20b carries electrical conductors 36 with an elongated groove 38 being situated between each pair of electrical conductors 36. It is to be noted that the track portions 22 a and 22b are of an identical construction. The tilt-track means 24a and 245 are each provided with a pair of elongated electrically conductive members 40 and each oft he tilt-track means 24 and 24b is formed at its upper face with an elongated groove 42 situated midway between the pair of electrically conductive members 40. These electrically

conductive members

36 and 40 extend slightly above the surface of the electrically nonconductive bodies and are adapted to engage the inside peripheries of the wheels of the vehicles so as to guide the latter, this guiding also being provided by downwardly directed lugs fixed to the vehicles and received in the guiding grooves such as the grooves 38 and 49. In ad dition, each vehicle is provided with a pair of leaf springs 44 (FIG. 2) which respectively engage and slide along the exposed upper edges of the elongated electrically conductive members 36 as well as the exposed upper edges of the elongated electrically conductive members 40, so that in this way, through a known electrical circuit, it is possible to electrically propel the vehicles.

The details of the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are described below in connection with the remaining figures.

As may be seen from the left portion of FIG. 1, the pair of

vehicles

34a and 34b can be propelled initially along the track portions 20a and 20b so as to move therefrom onto the pair of tilt-track means 24a and 24b of the present invention. In a manner which is pointed out below, each tilt-track means assumes a rest position where its lower end 28a and 28b is situated next to the free end of the track portions 20a and 23b so that the vehicles 34a and 3411 will move without interruption onto the pair of tilt-track means of the invention. Each tilt-track means automatically responds to the weight of the vehicle thereon so as to turn automatically about the common axis 32 into a position where the upper end 30a or 30b becomes situated at an elevation lower than the end 28a or 28b, which is the lower end in the rest position of the tilt-track means. It will be noted from FIGS. 1 and 2 that the vehicle 34b has progressed to a greater distance along its tilt-track means 24b than the vehicle 34a along the tilt track means 24a, and the tilt-track means 24b has already turned about the axis 32 and is continuing to turn in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, At its end position the lower end, which is now the end 30b, will deliver the vehicle directly onto the stationary track portions 22b, and the vehicle 34b is shown in dotdash lines at the right of FIG. 1 in this latter position. Of course, once the tilt-track starts to turn it is advisable to attempt to slow the vehicle down so that it will travel smoothly from the tilt-track means to the track portions 22a or 22b. The track 24:: will operate in an identical manner to the tilt-track means 24b to deliver the vehicle to the stationary track portions 22a once the vehicle 34a moves between the axis 32 and the upper end 30a of the tilt-track means 24a.

However, according to a further feature of the invention, there is situated over the pair of stationary track portions 22a and 22b an upper stationary track structure 46 which is identical with the pair of track portions 22a and 22b and which can receive a vehicle provided that it is propelled at a great enough speed. Thus, for example, the operator of the vehicle 34a wishing to catch up to vehicle 34b can propel his vehicle 3412 at a speed too great to permit the tilt-track means 24a to tilt about the axis 32. Of course, once the vehicle moves along the tilt-track means outwardly beyond the axis 32 about which it tilts, there is a certain delay caused by the inertia of the parts so that unless the toy vehicle is moving at less than a given rate of speed the tilt-track will not have an opportunity to turn from its rest position before the vehicle reaches the upper end 30a and 30b. Therefore, with the particular situation as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 where the operator of the vehicle 34a may wish to catch up with the vehicle 34b, the operator of the vehicle 34a may choose to propel the vehicle 34a at such a high rate of speed that the tilttrack 24a will not have an opportunity to tilt in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, and thus the vehicle 34a may, at the choice of the operator, be propelled directly up onto the upper track structure 46.

Of course, in order to accomplish this result the vehicle 34a will travel at such a rate of speed that it will leave the upper end 3011 and move through the air, as shown in the upper right portion of FIG. 1, before landing on top of the track 46. In order to provide a proper landing of the vehicle 34a it is necessary for the operator to exercise a considerable amount of skill so that the speed, while great enough to prevent tilting of the tilt-track means 24a, is nevertheless not so great that the vehicle will become completely upset. The upper track structure 46 is arranged in such a way that it joins the lower track structure after extending along a path whose length is considerably shorter than the length of the track structure 22a, 22b leading to its lower junction with the track structure 46, so that as a result there is a considerable incentive to the operator to attempt to direct a vehicle up onto the upper track structure 46, particularly with a situation as shown in FIG. 1, where the vehicle 34a is behind the vehicle 34b when both of these vehicles are on the pair of tilt-track means 24a and 24b. Of course, it is far simpler to cause the vehicles to travel slower so that the tilttrack means will swing around the axis 32 and deliver the vehicle to the lower track portions 22a and 22b, but such a course is feasible only for a vehicle which is leading and which is driven by an operator who is willing to risk the possibility that a competitor may cause a vehicle such as the vehicle 34a to become upset during propelling thereof onto the upper track structure 46.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the support means 26 includes a hollow central transverse portion 48 which extends upwardly from the lower flat wall portions 50 of the support means 26, these flat wall portions 50 being provided with elongated slots 52. Also, the support means 26 has opposed sidewalls 54 which are inclined at their upper edges downwardly from central portions of the sidewalls to the ends thereof, and these sidewalls, may, for example, be provided with suitable vertical bores distributed therealong for carrying elongated ro-ds which simulate flag poles, for example. At each of its ends the bottom wall 50 carries a pair of relatively short upstanding ribs 56 spaced from a transverse rib 58.

The electrically non-conductive body 60 of the stationary track portions terminates in a downwardly directed flange 62 received in the space between the ribs 56 and the transverse rib 58 so that in this way the unit of the invention may be removably connected with the stationary track portions in place of a conventional track section.

The support means 26 further includes a substantially U-shaped member 64 (FIG. 7) which may be made of sheet metal and which is springy. The bottom wall of this member 64 rests on the upper surface of the transverse portion 48 of the support means 26. The U-shaped member 64 has a pair of opposed upwardly directed springylegs 66.- The bottom portion of member 64 is formed with a pair of openings 68 which respectively receive bosses 70 which are integral with the portion 48 of the support means 26, so that in this way the member 64 is properly aligned in its position extending transversely across the structure.

A screw 72 can be threaded through a central opening of the bottom part of member 64 to fix the latter to the body 48, and for this purpose the body 48 can have a downwardly directed boss formed with a threaded bore for receiving the screw 72, as shown in FIG. 3.

An elongated rod 74 has an axis which defines the axis 32 about which each tilt-track means turns, and this rod 74 extends through aligned bores adjacent the upper free ends of the legs 66. For example, as may be seen in FIG. 4, this rod 74 may have one enlarged end and may at its opposed end receive a threaded screw member threaded into an axial bore formed in this other end of the rod 74, so that in this way the rod 74 can be assembled with the member 64 to form with the latter the part of the support means which directly supports the pair of tilt-track means for turning movement about the axis 32. Each of the tilttrack means is provided intermediate its 'ends with a pair of downwardly directed lugs 76 respectively situated at opposed sides of each tilt-track means and respectively formed with notches 78 which receive the rod 74, so that in this way each tilt-track means is very simply supported for free turning movement about the rod 74.

Of course, in its rest position the tilt-track means must assume the solid-line position shown for the tilt-track means 24b of FIG. 3, and for this purpose the weight of the tilt-track means between its lower end 28b and its axis 32 must be greater than its weight between the axis 32 and the upper end 30b. In order to provide the tilttra-ck means with a greater weight between its lower end and its turning axis, the axis 32 can be situated nearer to the upper end 3017 than the lower end 28b. Thus, if a careful examination is made of FIG. 3 it will be seen that in fact the length of the tilt track 24b to the left of the axis 32 is somewhat greater than its length to the right of the axis 32. Therefore, whenever there is nothing to urge the end 30b downwardly, the tilt-track 24b will automatically assume the position shown in FIG. 3, and the same is true of the tilt-track 24a. FIG. 3 shows how the upper edge portions of the electrically conductive bars 36 project somewhat above the upper surface of the electrically non-conductive bodies 60, and in the same way FIG. 3 shows how the upper edges of the elongated electrically conductive bars or strips 40 project slightly above the upper surface of the electricallynon-conductive body which forms the tilt-track means 24b. The same construction is of course to be found in the tilt-track means 24a.

The electrical power is supplied to the bars 36 in a well known manner, and additional electrical conductors 80 which are flexible and which are described in greater detail below are electrically connected with the bars 36 as well as with the bars 40, also in a manner described in greater detail below, so that in this way the supply of electrical power to the vehicles can continue as they travel along the tilt-track means of the invention. It is to be noted, however, particularly from FIG. 3, that the flexible conductors 80 are connected to the tilt-track means 24b at a location between the turning axis 32 thereof and a lower end 28b, so that on the one hand there is no danger that the weight of the conductors will themselves disturb the desired location of the ends 28b at an elevation lower than the end 30b, and on the other hand these conductors themselves can contribute to the location of the ends 28a and 2812 at a lower elevation in the rest position of the pair of tilt-track means of the invention since the weight of the conductors 80 will be applied to the pair of tilttrack means between their common turning axis 32 and their lower ends.

Of course the conductors 80 are connected to the pair of tilt-track means at their undersides, so that the operator should be able to recognize how to orient the unit of the invention when assembling it with the stationary track portions. For this purpose each tilt-track means can be provided adjacent the lower end 28b with a pair of elongated notches 78 situated in its opposed side edges so that in this way these notches indicate to the operator which sides of the tilt-track means will normally assume the lower elevation and thus the operator will know how to assemble the structure.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, there is illustrated therein the body 82 of electrically non-conductive material which forms each of the tilt-track means of the invention. The manner in which the elongated electrically conductive members 40 are carried is also apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5. In order to connect the conductors 80 to the electrically conductive bars or strips 40, an electrical connection means is provided, and this electrical connection means includes substantially L-shaped electrically conductive angle members 84 which are releasably fixed to the tilt-track means by screws 86, respectively, there being a pair of connectors 84 for each tilt-track means. The screws 86 pass through openings in lower walls of the connectors 84 and into threaded bores of the bodies 82 and these screws serve simultaneously to connect free ends of the conductors 80 to the electrically conductive conductors 84.

These electrically-conductive connectors 84 have upwardly directed legs directly engaging the electrically conductive strips 40. Referring now to FIG. 10', it will be seen that each element 84 has in addition to its horizontal portion 88 which receives the screw 86 an upwardly directed leg 92 which is located alongside of a strip 40 and which is provided at its free ends with inwardly directed portions 94 which, when the connector 84 is unstressed, has the configuration shown in FIG. 10.

However, when the side 92 is situated alongside of the strip 40 the ends 94 are deflected into alignment with the rest of the sidewall 92, while providing an extremely good pressure and electrical connection between the connector 84 and the bar or strip 40.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-10, it will be seen that the free end of each electrically-conductive strip or bar 36 extends into a hollow tubular portion 96 located at the end of each stationary track portion. Of course, there are four such tubular portions 96 which have free open ends located directly next to each transverse rib 58 of the support means 26. Each conductor 80 is clamped to and electrically connected with an elongated electrically conductive sleeve 98 formed with a longitudinal slit 100 whose width, in the untressed condition of the sleeve 98, is less than the thickness of each bar or strip 36. When the parts are assembled the open ends of the tubular portions 96 are respectively aligned with notches 102 formed in each transverse rib 58, and the elements 98 can freely pass through notches 102 into the hollow portions 96. During insertion of the sleeves 98 into the hollow portions 96 the slits 100 receive and grip the portions of the strips 36 which extend into the interior of the tubular portions 96. Of course, this same arrangement is provided at both ends of the assembly of the invention, and it is to be noted, particularly from FIG. 4, that the transverse end walls of each tilt-track means are formed with notches 104 which become aligned with the notches .102 when either end of the tilt-track means is in its lowermost position, so that the conductors do not in any way interfere with the movement of the tilt-track means. As is apparent from FIG. 3, the conductors 80 which extend to the right from their connection to the tilt-track means can freely pass through the space between the rod 7 4 and the bottom part of the U-shaped member 64.

According to a further feature of the present invention, illustrated in FIG. 12, the pair of tilt-track means 24a and 24b can be formed at their adjoining side edges with a pair of cutouts 106 which are aligned with each other and which are capable of receiving a spring clip 108 which can be introduced into the cutouts 196 for connecting the pair of tilt-track means to each other for turning movement together. Therefore, with such an arrangement, when one of the vehicles leads the other by a distance sufiicient to place the leading vehicle between the common turning axis 32 and the upper end of its tilt-track means before the trailing vehicle has reached the tilt-track means, it is possible for the leading vehicle by its weight to tilt both of the tracks simultaneously so as to raise the lower end of the tilt-track means of the trailing vehicle before the latter can reach the lower end of its tilt-track means. Thus, in this way it is possible for one of the operators to control the condition of the track encountered by the other of the operators. Of course, under these conditions the other operator who controls the trailing vehicle would attempt to slow the trailing vehicle down suificiently so that it will not reach the tilt-track means until after the leading vehicle has moved beyond the tilt-track means, which will of course automatically return to its rest position where its lower end 28a and 28b will be at an elevation suitable for receiving the training vehicle.

It will thus be seen that with the structure of the invention while an exceedingly simple assembly is provided, which can be very easily connected to and detached from the remaining structure, nevertheless there are a wide variety of hazards available which require a considerable amount of skill on the part of the operators, so that the entertainment value as well as the skill requirements are greatly increased with the structure of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a track assembly for electric toy vehicles: elongated tilt-track means having opposed free ends, support means supporting said tilt-track means for turning movement about an axis extending transversely of said tilt-track means and situated between said free ends, means for urging said tilt-track means into a rest position in which one of said free ends is located at a level lower than the other end to permit a vehicle to move onto said tilttrack means, said tilt-track means being adapted to be tilted by the weight of a vehicle situated between the axis and the other end of the tilt-track means and moving at less than a given rate of speed, and electrically conductive means carried by and extending along said tilt-track means for supplying electricity to an electric vehicle moving on said tilt-track means from one to the other free end thereof.

2. In a track assembly as recited in claim 1, said tilttrack means having between said one free end thereof and said axis a weight greater than that between said axis and said other free end thereof so that when there is no force acting downwardly on said tilt-track means, at the region thereof situated between said axis and said other free end thereof, said tilt-track means will automatically assume said rest position.

3. In a track assembly as recited in claim 1, said tilttrack means having between said one free end thereof and said axis a length which is at least slightly greater than the length of said tilt-track means between said axis and said other free end thereof, to provide said tilt-track means with the greater weight between said axis and said one free end thereof.

4. In a track assembly as recited in claim 1, electrical conductors operatively connected to said electricallyconductive means at a location situated between said axis and said one free end of said tilt-track means, so that said electrical conductors contribute to the automatic assuming of said rest position by said tilt-track means.

5. In a track assembly for electric toy vehicles: a pair of substantially identical elongated tilt-track means located in side-by-side relation, having substantially the same length, and having opposed free ends, support means supporting said pair of tilt-track means for turning movement about a common axis extending transversely of said pair of tilt-track means between the free ends thereof. means for normally urging said pair of tilt-track means into rest positions in which one of the free ends of each tilt-track means is located at a level lower than the other end of the respective tilt-track means to permit an electric toy vehicle to move onto the respective tilt-track means, each til-track means being adapted to be tilted about said axis by the weight of a vehicle situated between the axis and the other end of the respective tilt-track means and moving at less than a given rate of speed, and electricallyconductive means carried by and extending along each of said tilt-track means for completing an electric circuit through a toy vehicle on the respective tilt-track means for propelling the vehicle therealong.

6. In an assembly as recited in claim 5, said pair of tilt-track means being respectively freely turna-ble one relative to the other about said common axis.

7. In an assambly as cited in claim 5, means connecting said pair of tilt-track means to each other for turning movement together about said common axis.

8. In an assembly as recited in claim 5, a pair of stationary track means respectively having ends located closely adjacent to and aligned with said one free ends of said pair of tilt-track means when the latter are in said rest positions thereof, so that vehicles moving along said pair of stationary track means can move from the latter onto said pair of tilt-track means respectively.

9. In an assembly as recited in claim 8, said pair of stationary track means also carrying electrically-conductive means, and said electrical]y-conductive means of said pair of stationary track means being electrically connected with said pair of electrically-conductive means of said pair of tilt-track means.

10. In a track assembly for electric toy vehicles: a pair of stationary track portions spaced from each other in longitudinal direction thereof, elongated tilt-track means having opposed free ends and situated between said pair of stationary track portions, support means supporting said tilt-track means for turning movement about an axis extending transversely of said tilt-track means and situated between the free ends thereof, means for normally urging said tilt-track means into a rest position in which one of said free ends of said tilt-track means is located at a level lower than the other end thereof and is situated next to a free end of one of said stationary track portions so that a vehicle can travel from said one stationary track portion onto said tilt-track means, said tilt-track means being adapted to be tilted by the weight of a vehicle situated between the axis and the other end and moving at less than a given rate of speed to a position in which the other free end is located adjacent the free end of the other stationary track portion.

11. In an assembly as recited in claim 10, the other of said stationary track portions being situated at substantially the same elevation as said one stationary track portion to receive a vehicle from said tilt-track means after the latter has been turned about said axis by the weight of a vehicle situated between said axis and said upper end of said tilt-track means and moving at less than said given rate of speed.

12. In an assembly as recited in claim 10, the other of said stationary track portions being situated at the elevation of and next to said upper end of said tilt-track means when the latter is in said rest position thereof, so that a vehicle moving at a speed greater than said given rate of speed will move from said tilt-track means onto said other stationary track portion before said tilt-track means can turn under the Weight of the vehicle.

13. In an assembly as recited in claim 1!), said one stationary track portion and said tilt-track means each carrying elongated electrically-conductive members for supplying electricity to toy vehicles moving along said stationary track portion and said tilt-track means, and elongated electrical conductor means extending between and operatively connected to said electrically-conductive members for connecting them electrically to each other.

14. In an assembly as recited in claim 13, said conductors being connected to said tilt-track means between said axis thereof and said one end thereof.

15. In an assembly as recited in claim 13, said conductors having one electrically conductive end frictionally engaging the electrically-conductive member of said stationary track portion and removable therefrom.

16. In an assembly as recited in claim 15, said one electrically conductive end of said conductor being in the form of an elongated split sleeve having free spring edges slidably and frictionary engaging opposed side faces of the elongated electrically-conductive member of said stationary track portion.

17. In a track assembly for electric toy vehicles: elongated tilt-track means having opposed free ends and between these ends a pair of downward directed lugs respectively formed with notches, a substantially U-shaped support member having a pair of opposed upwardly directed arms, an elongated rod extending between and carried by said arms and received in said notches to support said tilt-track means for turning movement, said tlittrack means having on one side of said rod a greater weight than on the other side thereof so that in a rest position of said tilt-track means one free end thereof will be located at a level lower than the other free end thereof, said tilt-track means being made of electrically non-conductive material and carrying at least one elongated electrically-conductive member extending substantially along the entire length of said tilt-track means longitudinally thereof, and an electrical connection means engaging said elongated electrically-conductive member and accessible at the underside of said tilt-track means for connecting conductors to said electrically-conductive member.

18. In a track assembly as recited in claim 17, said connection means being situated between said rod and said one end of said track.

19. In an assembly as recited in claim 18, said electrical connection means including a single screw member threaded into said tilt-track means for fastening conductors thereto as well as for fastening to said tilt-track means an electrcally conductive L-shaped electrical connector which forms part of said connection means and which is electrically connected with said conductors as well as with said elongated member.

20. In an assembly as recited in claim B, said connector having in its unstressed condition a leg which has opposed sides terminating in inwardly directed free end portions, said connector when assembled with said tilttrack means having said free end portions pressing against said elongated electrically conductive member with said leg situated alongside thereof and with said free end portions deflected from the position which they assume when said connector is unstressed.

21. In a track assembly for toy electric racing vehicles, a first pair of stationary electrically-conductive track portions situated in side by side relation and terminating in a pair of aligned free ends, a second pair of elongated electrically-conductive stationary track portions also situated in side by side relation and also having aligned free ends, said second pair of stationary track portions being spaced from said first pair of stationary track portions and said ends of all of said track portions defining between themselves a given space, a pair of tilt track means situated in said space and respectively having rest positions where said pair of tilt-track means respectively have lower ends situated next to said ends of said first pair of stationary track portions and opposed upper ends situated at a higher elevation than said lower ends, support means supporting said pair of tilt-track means for turning movement about a common axis extending transversely across said tilt-track means between said ends thereof, said pair of tilt-track means respectively having between said lower ends and said axis a greater weight than between said axis and said upper ends so that in said rest position said lower ends are situated next to said ends of said first pair of stationary track portions, and said pair of tilt-track means respectively responding to the weight of a vehicle, situated between said axis and said upper ends and moving at less than a given rate of speed, to be turned by the weight of said vehicle to a position where said upper ends become situated next to said ends of said second pair of stationary track portions which thus can receive vehicles from said pair of tilt-track means, and electrically-conductive means interconnecting electrical portions of said tilt-track means with electrical portions of said pairs of stationary track portions.

22. In an assembly as recited in claim 21, said electrical means being in the form of elongated flexible conductors connected to said pair of tilt-track means between said axis and said lower ends thereof and at the underside of said tilt-track means and said conductors respectively having free ends removably connected with electrically conductive portions of said pairs of tilt track means.

23. In an assembly as recited in claim 21, said support means including an elongated base situated beneath said pair of tilt-track means and respectively having opposed ends removably connected with said ends of said first and second pairs of stationary track portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,655,116 10/1953 Gowland l0458 2,687,304 8/1954 Northrop 46202 2,962,563 11/1960 Davis 2381O ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. D. F. WORTH, Examiner,