GB1564291A

GB1564291A - Junction section for toy vehicle tracks

Info

Publication number: GB1564291A
Application number: GB91778A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: PLAYART Ltd
Current assignee: PLAYART Ltd
Priority date: 1978-01-10
Filing date: 1978-01-10
Publication date: 1980-04-02

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO JUNCTION SECTION FOR TOY VEHICLE TRACKS (71) We, PLAYART LIMITED, a Hong Kong Company, of 423 Central Building, 3 Pedder Street, Hong Kong, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a junction section for a toy vehicle truck such as a toy railway or toy car track.

In one embodiment the track has a pair of rails on which the trains run and which are provided with movable "pointts" to enable a train travelling on the rails selectiviely to be diverted from one pair of rails to another.

Such tracks commonly have points in the form of a rail section pivotly mounted at one end on a base for the track and movable between a first position in which the pivotted rail section acts to connect two portions of a first track and a second position in which it connects a portion of the first track with a portion of a second track.

Thus for example a train travelling around an outer loop formed by a first rail can either continue on this first track or, on operation of the points by pivotal movement of the pivotted rail section, be diverted to a second rail track which may for example cut across the loop.

It is desirable that such "junction" sections be simple and cheap both to manufacture and to assemble and yet be biassed to hold the pivotted parts in contact with either the first or second pair of rails forming the rail tracks.

Accordling to the invention, there is provided a junction section for a toy vehicle track having points which are pivotally mounted on a base for the section and are movable between a first and second position so that a vehicle passing over the section can be directed to follow one or other track, a control member pivotally mounted on the base fot controlling the direction of the points between the first and second positions, a pin projecting from the control member and engaging a spring biassing member designed to act as a toggle and to urge the control member to one angular position or another on either side respectively of the top dead centre of the biassing member, and a spring wire linking the control member to the points for urging the points to the first or second position depending upon the angular position of the control member.

Preferably the two angular positions are determined by the engagement of an operating handle of the control member with one end or another of a slot in the side wall of the track base.

The spring biassing member may be provided with a domed end and with a shank or pin, the shank engaging in a recess in which it is a loose fit so the the biassing member which is urged outwardly from the recess by the spring, can move angularly relatively to the recess and hence to the base, within the limits of its fit within the recess.

The spring wire may engage a slide member carrying the free end of the pivotted points or rail section and be arranged to slide in a slot or groove in the base extending across the section.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of junction section in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is an underneath plan view of a part of the section shown in Figure 1.

The junction section illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a base 2 carrying a first pair of rails 4 forming a first rail track on which a toy train or other vehicle may run either with electrical or mechanical power.

The section is provided at each end with a projecting plug or terminal 6 and with a corresponding socket (not shown) so that it may be connected end to end with other sections to form a continuation of the rails 4.

The section also includes a second pair of rails 8 forming a second rail track which curves out from the first pair, there rails 8 being supported on a base portion 10. The latter portion is also supplied with a projecting plug or terminal 6 and a corresponding socket (not shown) so that further track sections can be attached to form a continuation of the rails 8.

A train or vehicle travelling along the rails 4 from left to right as shown in Figure 1 and in the direction of the arrow A either continues along the rails 4 or is diverted to run on the rails 8 depending upon the position of a switch section comprising a pair of rails 12 and 13 which are pivotted about points 14 ro the base and about points 16 to a slide 18 which is mounted to move in a groove in the base. The rails 12 and 13 may move between a first position as shown in full lines in the drawing in which the rail 13 which is formed with a thin outer end lies adjacent the inside portion of one rail 4, the rail 12 not engaging any rail, and a second position as shown in dot and dash lines, in which the cut-away end of the rail 12 engages the inside edge of the other rail 4, the rail 13 then not engaging a rail.

In the first position of the junction as shown in full lines in the drawing a train or other vehicle travels along the rails 4 over the switch section using the rail 13 and joins up again with the pair of rails 4 so that the vehicle continues to move in the first rail track from one end of the track section to another. In the second position of the junction a uain or vehicle is diverted so as to travel over the pair of rails 8 in the second rail track.

The position of the swith section is determined by the movement of a handle 20 between the positions shown in full lines and in dot and dash lines in Figure 1. The connection between the handle 20 which forms part of a control member 22 and the switch section is shown in detail in Figure 2.

The body of the control member 22 is pivotted at a point 24 to the underside of the base 2 and is provided with a projecting pin 26 which engages the domed head of a pin or shank 30 which is engaged as a loose fit in a recess 32 in a member 34 secured to the underside of the base. The toggle member comprising the head 28 and shank 30 is urged outwardly from the recess 32 to engage the pin 26 by means of a spring 36.

The body of the control member 22 is connected by a spring wire 38 to the underside of the slide 18 carrying the free ends of the pivotted rails 12 and 13.

When the operating handle 20 is moved in the direction of the arrow B in Figure 2 from engagement with one end face 40 of a slot 42 through the side wall of the base, the pin 26 rides over the head 28 tending to push the toggle member formed by the head 28 and shank 30 into the recess 32 against the bias of the spring 36. This causes a movement of the slide 18 through the spring wire 38.

Once the pin 26 passes the top deal centre position of the head 28, the spring 36 then acts to urge the pin 26 to assume a new angular position with the handle 20 engaging the side 44 of the slot 42 and in this position the spring 36 acts resiliently to hold the operating member 22 against further movement and thus to hold the switch section in its new position.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement shown in the drawings is very simple to operate and to assemble and yet provides a positive control for movement of the switch section and due to the toggle bias the points cannot be left in an intermediate position in which they fail to connect either pair of rails which could cause derailment of a vehicle travelling over the rails.

If desired, the outer end of the handle 20 of the control member may be engaged by an electrically operated control member which may be secured to the outer side of the section and which acts physically to move the handle in one direction or another depending upon the electrical signal received from a con troller. As such a device is known it has not been described in detail nor is it shown in the drawings.

The second rail track of a section in accordance with the invention could bend to the left as shown in Figure 1 in a similar manner to the right hand bend therein illustrated.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A junction section for a toy vehicle track having points which are pivotally mounted on a base for the section and are movable between a first and second position so that a vehicle passing over the section can be directed to follow one or other track, a control member pivotally mounted on the base for controlling the direction of the points between the first and second positions, a pin projecting from the control member and engageing a spring biassing member designed to act as a toggle and to urge the control member to one angular position or another on either side respectively of the top dead centre of the biassing member, and a spring wire linking the control member to the points for urging the points to the first or second position depending upon the angular position of the control member.

2. A junction section as claimed in Claim 1 in which the two angular positions are determined by the engagement of an operating handle of the control member with one end or the other of a slot in the side wall of the base of the track through which the operating handle extends.

3. A junction section as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the spring biassing member has a domed end and a shank or pin engaging in a recess in which it is a loose fit.

4. A junction section for a toy train track

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. latter portion is also supplied with a projecting plug or terminal 6 and a corresponding socket (not shown) so that further track sections can be attached to form a continuation of the rails 8. A train or vehicle travelling along the rails 4 from left to right as shown in Figure 1 and in the direction of the arrow A either continues along the rails 4 or is diverted to run on the rails 8 depending upon the position of a switch section comprising a pair of rails 12 and 13 which are pivotted about points 14 ro the base and about points 16 to a slide 18 which is mounted to move in a groove in the base. The rails 12 and 13 may move between a first position as shown in full lines in the drawing in which the rail 13 which is formed with a thin outer end lies adjacent the inside portion of one rail 4, the rail 12 not engaging any rail, and a second position as shown in dot and dash lines, in which the cut-away end of the rail 12 engages the inside edge of the other rail 4, the rail 13 then not engaging a rail. In the first position of the junction as shown in full lines in the drawing a train or other vehicle travels along the rails 4 over the switch section using the rail 13 and joins up again with the pair of rails 4 so that the vehicle continues to move in the first rail track from one end of the track section to another. In the second position of the junction a uain or vehicle is diverted so as to travel over the pair of rails 8 in the second rail track. The position of the swith section is determined by the movement of a handle 20 between the positions shown in full lines and in dot and dash lines in Figure 1. The connection between the handle 20 which forms part of a control member 22 and the switch section is shown in detail in Figure 2. The body of the control member 22 is pivotted at a point 24 to the underside of the base 2 and is provided with a projecting pin 26 which engages the domed head of a pin or shank 30 which is engaged as a loose fit in a recess 32 in a member 34 secured to the underside of the base. The toggle member comprising the head 28 and shank 30 is urged outwardly from the recess 32 to engage the pin 26 by means of a spring 36. The body of the control member 22 is connected by a spring wire 38 to the underside of the slide 18 carrying the free ends of the pivotted rails 12 and 13. When the operating handle 20 is moved in the direction of the arrow B in Figure 2 from engagement with one end face 40 of a slot 42 through the side wall of the base, the pin 26 rides over the head 28 tending to push the toggle member formed by the head 28 and shank 30 into the recess 32 against the bias of the spring 36. This causes a movement of the slide 18 through the spring wire 38. Once the pin 26 passes the top deal centre position of the head 28, the spring 36 then acts to urge the pin 26 to assume a new angular position with the handle 20 engaging the side 44 of the slot 42 and in this position the spring 36 acts resiliently to hold the operating member 22 against further movement and thus to hold the switch section in its new position. It will be appreciated that the arrangement shown in the drawings is very simple to operate and to assemble and yet provides a positive control for movement of the switch section and due to the toggle bias the points cannot be left in an intermediate position in which they fail to connect either pair of rails which could cause derailment of a vehicle travelling over the rails. If desired, the outer end of the handle 20 of the control member may be engaged by an electrically operated control member which may be secured to the outer side of the section and which acts physically to move the handle in one direction or another depending upon the electrical signal received from a con troller. As such a device is known it has not been described in detail nor is it shown in the drawings. The second rail track of a section in accordance with the invention could bend to the left as shown in Figure 1 in a similar manner to the right hand bend therein illustrated. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A junction section for a toy vehicle track having points which are pivotally mounted on a base for the section and are movable between a first and second position so that a vehicle passing over the section can be directed to follow one or other track, a control member pivotally mounted on the base for controlling the direction of the points between the first and second positions, a pin projecting from the control member and engageing a spring biassing member designed to act as a toggle and to urge the control member to one angular position or another on either side respectively of the top dead centre of the biassing member, and a spring wire linking the control member to the points for urging the points to the first or second position depending upon the angular position of the control member.

4. A junction section for a toy train track

having a pivotted rail section which is pivotally mounted on a base for the junction section and which is movable between the first and second positions in which it directs a train passing over the junction section to follow one or other pair of rails positioned on the base, a control member pivotally mounted on the base for controlling direction of the pivotted rail section between the first and second positions, a pin projecting from the control member and engaging a spring biassing member designed to act as a toggle and to urge the control member to one angular position or another on either side respectively of the top dead centre of the biassing member, and a spring wire linking the control member to the pivotted rail section for urging the rail section to the first or second position depending upon the angular position of the control member.

5. A junction section as claimed in any preceding claim in which the spring wire engages a slide member carrying the free end of the pivotted points or rail section and which is arranged to slide in a slot or groove in the base extending across the section.

6. A junction section for a toy vehicle track substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.