FR2475412A2 - RAIL OF GUIDING AND / OR BEARING FOR VEHICLES TOYS - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A SLIDING OR SLIDING GUIDE RAIL FOR REDUCED MODELS. LEDIT RAIL CONSISTS OF A PROFILE 1 IN FLEXIBLE PLASTIC MATERIAL IN A PLAN AND PRESENTING TWO PARALLEL LONGITUDINAL GROOVES 2 IN WHICH ARE HOUSED CONDUCTIVE TAPES 3 THAT CAN TAKE BY BENDING ANY SHAPE REINFORCING THE STRENGTH 1. OF THE LAST COMPONENT REGULAR INTERVALS, SLOTS 5 STARTING FROM ITS TWO LATERAL EDGES AND EXTENDING TO THE SAID LONGITUDINAL THROATS 2. APPLICATION TO SMALL MODEL GAMES BOXES.

Description

This addition relates to a rail of

  guidance and / or running gear for toy vehicles,

  formed by a flexible plastic profile> in a plane and having two parallel longitudinal grooves, in which conductive cables or ribbons are accommodated

  which can bend any form

  forcing the strength of said plastic profile.

  There are known construction toy boxes with

  both of the guide rails constituted by a plastic section and whose section allows them to be

  flexible in a plane. However, the plastic material

  feels an elasticity that allows to obtain a curved rail only by using an additional ballast. According to the main patent, to obtain an individual guide rail1 simply and without auxiliary members, the longitudinal grooves of a rail house cables or ruihns that can take, by bending, any shape reinforcing the strength of the profile material plastic. As a material constituting these cables or tapes, a very flexible metal is used, offering a low tensile strength and having almost no elasticity. In this way, each cable or ribbon can be bent very easily and it retains the shape it has taken by bending. To ensure that the plastics profile is flexible in a plane, its section has a substantially rectangular shape, so that it has a low moment of resistance in a plane. Thus, each cable or ribbon incorporated in this profile is able to act against the restoring force resulting from the elasticity of the plastic, and to keep their shape to the angled rails. However, the substantially rectangular section of the profile of

  plastic material, placed on edge, causes

  when the rails are laid, since the small side of the profile is too small a surface on which the rail can be supported. Moreover, it is

247541.2

  necessary that the toy vehicles to be cured by this rail have a relatively large wheelbase, which proportionally increases the dimensions of said vehicles. In addition, it is difficult to fix on an underlying support a rail formed by such a profile. The purpose of this addition is therefore to improve

  in this respect the rail proposed by the main patent.

  According to the essential characteristics of the invention

  the plastic profile present at

  regular valles, cuts from both edges

  lateral and extending to the longitudinal grooves.

  The embodiment proposed by the invention now makes it possible to expand at will the bearing surface of the plastic profile, without impairing its elasticity. Due to the presence of the notches, the resistance moment of this profile is reduced to the portion of its section between two notches extending from the two lateral flanges. The restoring force, derived from the elasticity of the plastic material of the profile and to be absorbed by the ribbons set up to fix the curved rails, is reduced in the same proportions. This configuration according to the invention therefore makes it possible to widen the rail so as to be able to

  where appropriate, also use it as a running track.

  Finally, because the rails have a large bearing surface, their implementation and their attachment to a plate by means of an adhesive tape on two sides, of

  screws or similar elements, are considerably facilitated.

  In another embodiment according to the invention,

  a tab may be arranged between the cables or ribbons

  flat ducts housed in the two longitudinal grooves, protrude above these cables and extend in the longitudinal direction of the plastic section. This tongue can be used for guiding or controlling toy vehicles, which include sliding means

  or corresponding bearing for their cuidage.

  In another embodiment of the invention, the tapes may be in the form of an angle, whose branch which covers the plastic profile, has notches coinciding with those of said profile. Ribbons for fastening curved rails can be used at the same time as brake ribbons

  providing power to the models.

  Thanks to the angle configuration of the ribbons, it is possible, on the one hand, to ensure the power socket by the wipers located on the bottom of the model and,

  on the other hand, to have a conductive ribbon

  broadly. Since notches are also formed in the branch of the tape covering the profiled section.

  plastic material, the flexibility of the rail is not diminished.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the plastic profile can present, from

  on the other hand, a lateral border extending longitudinally.

  This side edge prevents the contacting shoe from slipping away from the conductor. Thus, a sure contact is also assured

  permanently, even when the circuit has many

his curves.

  Finally, according to another improvement of the invention

  the ribbon branch, covering the plastic profile, can be extended at one end beyond this profile and curved over its entire width, while at the other end of said section there is a housing pocket shape in which can be introduced the bent protruding portion of the ribbon branch of a successive rail. This configuration makes it possible to mechanically and electrically connect the abutment rails. The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing by way of non-limiting example, in which the single figure is a fragmentary perspective view of the guide rail and / or sliding according to the invention. A section 1 made of plastic material has two longitudinal grooves 2, spaced apart from each other, and in each of which is housed a conductive strip or cable 3 in the form of an angle. Between two vertical branches 3a of these ribbons, there is a guide tongue 4 which protrudes above said ribbons. 3b branches of these, horizontal and outwardly, cover the upper face of the profile 1. These branches form at the same time the ccnductrices tracks on which can slide contacting rubbers and arranged on the underside of the toy vehicle . The ribbons 3 consist of a flexible metal, so can be folded easily. The moments of resistance of these cables 3,

  on the one hand, and profile 1, on the other hand, are consid-

  reduced by notches 5 from the lateral flanges

  said section and branches 3a said ribbons, which cover this section. In this way, it is possible to bend any desired form to the rail. Since the ribbons 3 incorporated in the latter do not have any inherent elasticity, the plastic section 1 retains the shape that has been given to it by bending. One can thus obtain any guidance by rails. Lateral edges 6, provided on either side of the plastic profile, provide lateral guidance of the contacting rubbers, and thus avoid

their skid in curves.

  To establish electrically and mechanically the connection between several rails, the branch 3b of unruban 3,

  covering profile 1, is extended to an ex-

  This is beyond this profile and is curved over its entire width. The prolonged projecting portion 7 of this branch can be engaged in a pocket-shaped housing 8 formed at the other end of the rail. To improve the contact, on the one hand, and the mechanical connection, on the other hand, a stud 9, formed by stamping in the protruding part 7, is elastically fitted into a corresponding window 10 made in the region of the ribbon 3 which covers 8. It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the rail described and shown, without leaving

of the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

  1. Guide rail and optionally or alternatively sliding for toy vehicles, consisting of a flexible plastic profile in a plane and having two parallel longitudinal grooves, in which are housed conductive ribbons or cables that can take by bending n any form reinforcing the strength of said plastic profile,   according to claim 1 of the main patent, rail   characterized in that said profile (1) has, at regular intervals, notches (5) extending from these two lateral flanges and extending to said longitudinal grooves (2). 2. Rail according to claim 1, characterized in that a tongue (4) is disposed between the ribbons (3) housed in the two longitudinal grooves (2), protrudes above these ribbons (3) and s' extends in the direction   longitudinal section (1) of plastic.   3. Rail according to claim 1, characterized in that the ribbons (3) are shaped angle, whose branch (3b) which covers the section (1) of plastic has notches coinciding with those (5) of this profile (1).   4. Rail according to claim 1, characterized in that the section (1) of plastic material has, on either side, a lateral edge (6) extending longitudinally. 5. Rail according to claim 1, characterized in that the leg (3b) of the strip (3), covering the section (1) of plastic material, is extended at one end beyond said profile (1) being bent on its entire width, and in that, at the other end of said profile (1), is a pocket-shaped housing (8) into which the bent protruding part (7) of the branch (3b) can be inserted. ribbon (3) of a successive rail.