Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
  • A63H18/00—Highways or trackways for toys; Propulsion by special interaction between vehicle and track
  • A63H18/02—Construction or arrangement of the trackway

Definitions

• the present invention concerns a unidirectional element which, united to a certain number of other identical elements, allows a toy road track to be realised.
• modules suitable for forming a toy road track already exist on the market, generally consisting of recti ⁇ linear and curved pieces, in addition to other accessories which allow the realisation of variable routes giving free rein to children's creativity.
• Said elements however have some inconveniences for example the constraint of a determined linear direction of the track as a function of the size of the modular components and the method of coupling between these which in time, after a certain number of assemblies, no longer guarantees the perfect continuity of the track compromising its use.
• each element is provided in its lower part with a female resilient fork joint which is coupled with the corresponding male joint, forming a hinge fulcrum to confer also horizontal sinusoidal movement to the track.
• the vertical stability is however obtained by means of flat support feet which interact with the corresponding flat protrusions of the successive module, without losing adhesion, even arranging the elements for the minimum radius of curvature, which brings the opening out of the outermost part of the outside of the curve to a maximum.
• the continuity of the containing edges of the track is constituted by a series of little cylindrical pylons on the two lateral edges of each modular element and by means of the tabs present on each of the little pylons, forming an upper border without the solution of continuity, imitating, for play purposes, motorway guard rails as well as increasing the vertical stability of the track.
• Figure 1 shows a perspective top view of the element in question
• Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the lower supporting part of the element in question
• Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a portion of the track realised by assembling several modules according to the present invention in a chain;
• Figure 4 shows a plan view of the supporting bottom of the module, highlighting the coupling between some modules and the possibility of angular rotation in order to form the curves of the track;
• Figure 5 shows a top view of some modules assembled to form a curve.
• the unidirectional module 1 in question comprises a flat supporting part 2 forming the track 3 and two cylindrical elements 4, partially rounded off in the vertical direction, functioning as a module of lateral containment of the track.
• the support plate has two symmetrical slightly rounded off corner shaped parts 6 forming the areas which interact with each other after assembly, to form the running plane of the track, provided with knurled areas 19 to improve the adherence of the toy cars or other vehicles which run on it.
• One of the shaped edges comprises an elongated element 7, conforming to a female flexible joint, while the opposite shaped side comprises a male joint 8.
• the female element 7 as is well demonstrated in the cited drawings, comprising a round central eye 9, linked to the two elongated and relatively flexible tabs 10, opened out at the sides into a V form.
• the male joint element 8 consequently comprises an elongated part 11 with rounded end 12, taken under protruding shaped part 13 of running floor 3 of the track.
• the torsional stability is however guaranteed by the coupling between frontal shaped part 5 of the running floor and the two supporting protrusions 14 of the next module.
• said surfaces are always interacting, as shown in figures 3, 4 and 5.
• the two cylindrical lateral elements cited previously include an elongated tab 16 and enclosed seat 17 having an equal section; this allows the coupling between the tab 16 of a module and the seat 17 of the successive ones, without interrupting the continuity of the barriers 18, 19 formed by a succession of many modules, practically imitating the hoziontal motorway guard rails.
• the internal barrier 18 will have all the tabs 16 compacted-in their respective seats 17 while the outside of each element and relative tabs will be opened out without however losing the continuity between the cylindrical elements 4 of each module.
• the present module 1 also allows the formation of a vertical sinusoidal movement of the track while always maintaining the previously cited structural stability unaltered.

Landscapes

• Toys (AREA)
• Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
• Transition And Organic Metals Composition Catalysts For Addition Polymerization (AREA)
• Silicon Polymers (AREA)
• Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)
• Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
• Rehabilitation Tools (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=11185702

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (6)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 1990
  • 1990-10-11 IT IT02170690A patent/IT1247893B/it active IP Right Grant
• 1991
  • 1991-10-08 WO PCT/EP1991/001920 patent/WO1992006757A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1991-10-08 DE DE69111418T patent/DE69111418T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1991-10-08 AT AT91919354T patent/ATE125167T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1991-10-08 EP EP91919354A patent/EP0505550B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1991-10-08 AU AU86668/91A patent/AU8666891A/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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