EP0505550B1

EP0505550B1 - Toy road track module

Info

Publication number: EP0505550B1
Application number: EP91919354A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sebastiano Restuccia
Original assignee: Flli Restuccia Sdf; RESTUCCIA S D F FLLI
Current assignee: Flli Restuccia Sdf
Priority date: 1990-10-11
Filing date: 1991-10-08
Publication date: 1995-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 2011-10-08
Also published as: DE69111418T2; IT9021706A0; IT1247893B; AU8666891A; IT9021706A1; ATE125167T1; DE69111418D1; EP0505550A1; WO1992006757A1

Abstract

A module is described which is suitable for forming a toy road track, by linking together a certain number of them by sloting by means of a suitable joint which, as well as making a physical connection, functions as a hinge which allows sinusoidal movement of the track in addition to, obviously, a rectilinear movement. This module also has uni-directionality as a special characteristic, giving the completed track a pleasant aspect, together with extremely simple assembly.

Description

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.
It is known that modules suitable for forming a toy road track already exist on the market, generally consisting of rectilinear 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.
The foregoing, not guaranteeing perfect coordination between the elements in the assembly stage, produces poor vertical and horizontal stability of the track.
Document EP-A-0176669 discloses a toy road track comprising a plurality of modules joined together allowing horizontal and vertical movement of the modules with respect to one another, each of the said modules comprising a shaped flat part provided with a male and female joint portion, and two lateral cylinders with protruding coupling tabs, said male joint portion being constituted by an elongated part with a round end integral with a protruding part of a running floor of the said shaped flat part, the said female joint portion comprising a round central eye into which the said round end of the male joint is inserted.
The above problem are solved by a toy road track according to the present invention, comprising a plurality of modules joined together allowing horizontal and vertical movement of the modules with respect to one another, each of the said modules comprising a shaped flat part provided with a male and female joint portion, and two lateral cylinders with protruding coupling tabs, said male joint portion being constituted by an elongated part with a round end integral with a protruding part of a running floor of the said shaped flat part, the said female joint portion comprising a round central eye into which the said round end of the male joint is inserted, two lateral tabs extending and opening out from either side of the said round central eye, said tabs defining the degree of rotation of adjoining modules.
Therefore the present invention allows toy road tracks to be realised with very easy assembly and great horizontal and vertical stability, without the use of any type of tool and without paying particular attention to a precise coordination between one element and another, since they are unidirectional and self-aligning.
Further advantageous features of the present invention are recited in the dependent claims.
In practice this module for toy road tracks could also assume different forms, which all fall in the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims, which will be described subsequently in a certain detail, purely as an example and not limiting its scope and with reference to the various figures on the appended sheets of illustrative drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective top view of the module in question;
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the lower supporting part of the module 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; and
Figure 5 shows a top view of some modules assembled to form a curve.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the unidirectional module 1 in question comprises a shaped flat part 2 forming the running floor 3 and two lateral cylinders 4, partially rounded off in the vertical direction, forming the lateral containment of the track.
The shaped flat part 2 has a profiled edge 5 with two symmetrical slightly rounded off points 6 forming the areas which interact with each other after assembly, to form the running floor of the track, provided with knurled areas 19 to improve the adherence of the toy cars or other vehicles which run on it.
One shaped side of the module 1 comprises a female flexible joint portion 7, while the opposite shaped side comprises a male joint portion 8.
The female joint portion 7 as is well demonstrated in the cited drawings, comprises a round central eye 9, linked to two elongated and relatively flexible lateral tabs 10, opened out at the sides into a V form. The male joint portion 8 consequently comprises an elongated part 11 with round end 12, integral with a protruding part 13 of running floor 3 of the track.
Practically the assembly between two modules 1 is unidirectional and by a simple snap action using light pressure in order to insert the round end 12 of the male joint portion 8 into the corresponding round eye 9 of the female joint portion 7.
This automatically coordinates the alignment between the two modules 1 allowing the contemporaneous positioning of them according to a rectilinear axis or with a certain angulation to form the curves of the track, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. In fact, female and male joint portions 7,8 with the protruding part 13 define the rotation fulcrum of the horizontal angular rotation between each module and the next.
The torsional stability is however guaranteed by the coupling between the profiled edge 5 of the running floor 3 and two flat protruding parts 14 of the next module. In fact, even with the arrangement of modules 1 to form a curve 15, said surfaces are always interacting, as shown in figures 3, 4 and 5.
Each lateral cylinder 4 cited previously include a coupling tab 16 and an enclosed cut out 17 having an equal section; this allows the coupling between the tab 16 of a module and the cut out 17 of the adjoining ones, in order to form a continuous barrier 18, formed by a succession of many modules, practically imitating the horizontal motorway gard rails.
As shown in figure 3 forming a curve 15, the internal barrier 18 will have all the coupling tabs 16 compacted in their respective cut outs 17 while the outside of each module and corresponding coupling tabs will be opened out without however losing the continuity between the lateral cylinders 4 of each module.
One must also underline the fact that being realised in a plastic material and therefore relatively flexible, 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.
It is clear that different colourings of each module or parts of said module can be provided, to make tracks answering the necessity of play and the creativity of the adolescent as far as possible.
From the present description one can understand how practical and simple it is to make up toy car tracks, even during very early infancy, with the module element in question, emphasizing the fact that the present form of embodiment is not limiting to the scope of the invention, but on the contrary it must comprise numerous modifications, additions, variations or substitutions of elements without leaving its scope of protection, as shown by the appended claims.

Claims

Toy road track comprising a plurality of modules joined together allowing horizontal and vertical movement of the modules with respect to one another, each of the said modules comprising a shaped flat part (2) provided with a male (8) and female (7) joint portion, and two lateral cylinders (4) with protruding coupling tabs (16), said male joint portion (8) being constituted by an elongated part (11) with a round end (12) integral with a protruding part (13) of a running floor (3) of the said shaped flat part, the said female joint portion (7) comprising a round central eye (9) into which the said round end (12) of the male joint (8) is inserted, two lateral tabs (10) extending and opening out from either side of the said round central eye (9), said tabs (10) defining the degree of rotation of adjoining modules.
Toy road track, according to claim 1, characterised in that the edge (5) of the running floor (3) is profiled and configurated as slightly rounded off points (6) such as to allow to the running floor (3) sufficient continuity also in the event that courses of curved track are made.
Toy road track according to claim 2, characterised in that the said running floor (3) has knurled areas (19) adapted to improve the traction of the toy vehicles which run along it.
Toy road track, according to claim 1, characterised in that the male-female joints (7, 8) also have a protruding part (13) acting as a linking fulcrum which allows a series of modules to form the curves (15) of the track.
Toy road track, according to claim 1, characterised in that the said shaped flat part (2) comprises two flat protruding parts (14) which confer structural torsional stability to the track, interacting with the said profiled edges (5) of the running floor (3).
Toy road track, according to claim 1, characterised in that the said lateral cylinders (4) comprise a cut out (17) suitable for receiving and interacting with the said coupling tabs (16), in order to form a continuous guard rail barrier (18) on the sides of the track.
Toy road track, according to claim 6, characterised in that the said coupling tabs (16) run in the corresponding cut outs (17) in contact even at the limit of rotation.