GB2099712A - A remote controlled toy vehicle and trackway with switching mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

An amusement device consists of a remote-control radio signal transmitter, a trackway and a remote- controlled toy vehicle. The trackway has a track crossing (14), a track switching element (16) pivotally mounted at the crossing for allowing the toy vehicle to move between the first and the second or third trackway sections as the toy vehicle reaches the crossing. A trackway mechanical actuator mechanism for moving the track switching element from one position to the other has an actuator member (88) extending upwardly adjacent the crossing from the first trackway section. The remote- controlled toy vehicle includes a lever arm (62) pivotally mounted in the bottom of the toy vehicle for selective movement to an extended position toward the trackway for engagement with the trackway actuator member (88) and an electro- mechanical actuator mechanism for actuating the lever arm in response to predetermined toy vehicle speed control signals received from the transmitter. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A remote-controlled toy vehicle and trackway with switching mechanism This invention relates generally to a toy vehicle and trackway, and more particularly, to a remotecontroiled toy vehicle and a trackway with a track crossing and a crossing switching mechanism mechanically and selectively actuated by the toy vehicle.

Remote-controlled toy vehicle and trackway devices are known and are popular with users of different age levels. These amusement devices must capture the interest of the user and maintain that interest for a reasonable period of time of play, must be entertaining to users of different age levels, must be simple to operate, must be durable for prolonged life of the toy device, and must be simple in structure to provide a low-cost, massproduced toy.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a remote-controlled toy vehicle and trackway amusement device wherein the direction of the toy vehicle can be varied along different sections of the trackway by the remote control of the toy vehicle, thereby capturing the interest of the user and maintaining that interest for a reasonable period of time of play.

It is another object of this invention to provide a remote-controlled toy vehicle and trackway amusement device with the features set forth above which is simple in operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a toy vehicle and trackway amusement device which is durable for prolonged life of the toy.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a remote-controlled toy vehicle and trackway with the features set forth above which is simple in the mechanical structure and in the electrical arrangement to provide a relatively inexpensive manufactured amusement device of this type.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

To achieve the foregoing objects and in accordance with one aspect of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided an amusement device comprising: (1) a remote-control signal transmitter; (2) a trackway having (a) at least one track crossing and (b) a track switching element located at the crossing and mechanically actuable to move from one position to another to switch the direction of the track; and (3) a remote-controlled toy vehicle responsive to control signals from the transmitter for movement along the trackway, wherein the toy vehicle comprises lever means and electromechanical actuator means responsive to control signals received from the transmitter for actuating the lever means, the actuated lever means being engageable with the trackway switching element for moving the track switching element from one position to the other and thereby changing the direction of the toy vehicle along the trackway when the toy vehicle reaches the crossing.

In the preferred embodiment of the amusement device, the transmitter is a wireless radio remotecontrol signal transmitter selectively operable for transmitting control signals representative of different speed modes for the toy vehicle and wherein the toy vehicle has at least high and low forward speed modes in response to the radio control signals received from the transmitter, the toy vehicle lever means being actuated for engagement with the track switching element by a control signal for movement of the toy vehicle in the low forward speed mode. This feature eliminates the need to provide a separate selective switch for the remote-control signal transmitter specifically for actuating the toy vehicle lever means for engagement with the track switching element.

In the preferred embodiment of the amusement device, the toy vehicle is in the replica of a train locomotive and the trackway is in the replica of a train track. The lever means of the toy vehicle comprises a lever arm pivotally mounted in the bottom of the toy vehicle and actuated by the electromechanical actuator means for movement to an extended position toward the trackway from the bottom of the toy vehicle and to a withdrawn position in the bottom of the toy vehicle and wherein the trackway further comprises a mechanical actuator mechanism having a rotatable turn wheel extending upwardly from the trackway with arms engageable with the toy vehicle lever arm when extended from the toy vehicle, the toy vehicle lever arm rotating the turn wheel as the toy vehicle moves along the trackway past the turn wheel.The rotation of the turn wheel moves the track switching element from one track position to the other track position for allowing the toy vehicle to move along a different section of the trackway as the toy vehicle reaches the crossing.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the remote-controlled toy vehicle and trackway amusement device in accordance with the invention, generally illustrating the remote-control signal transmitter, the trackway having the track crossing and various trackway sections, and the remote-controlled toy vehicle positioned on the trackway for movement along the various sections of the trackway; FIG. 2 is a front view of the toy vehicle in the replica of a train locomotive for the preferred embodiment of the device of Fig. 1, illustrating the position of the toy vehicle on the trackway and the lever arm of the lever means mounted in the bottom of the toy vehicle, actuated and engaging the turn wheel of the trackway mechanical actuator mechanism;; FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the toy locomotive vehicle, illustrating in particular the drive motor and gear transmission mechanism for imparting movement to the vehicle wheels, the lever means mounted in the bottom of the toy vehicle, and the electromechanical actuator means operatively connected to the lever means for imparting movement thereto; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a crossing of the trackway, illustrating in particular the two trackway mechanical actuator mechanisms and the track switching element located at the crossing for directing the toy vehicle to one of the trackway sections as the toy vehicle enters the crossing;; FIG. 5 is a partial top inside view of the crossing of the trackway shown in Fig. 4, illustrating in particular the cooperation of the first mechanism actuator mechanism and the track switching element when the pivotal lower arm of the toy vehicle lever means engages the turn wheel of the actuator mechanism when the toy vehicle enters the crossing from the track section adjacent to the first actuator mechanism and imparts movement to the track switching element to the track section position opposite to the track section position shown in Fig. 4;; FIG. 6 is a partial top inside view of the crossing of the trackway shown in Fig. 4, illustrating in particular the operative connection of the second mechanical activator mechanism to the first mechanical actuator mechanism and the track switching element for imparting movement of the track switching element back to the position shown in Fig. 4 when the toy vehicle enters the crossing from the track section adjacent that second actuator mechanism; FIG. 7 is an exploded and fragmented perspective view of the components and cooperation of the first and second mechanical actuator mechanisms and the track switching element; FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the lever means and electro-mechanical actuating means for actuating the lever means located within the toy vehicle as shown in Fig. 3; and FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the remote-control transmission, receiving, decoder, and driver system employed in the amusement device of the present invention.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with the invention, and as generally depicted in Fig. 1, the amusement device comprises a remote-control signal transmitter 10, a trackway 12 having at least one track crossing 14 and a track switching element 1 6 located at the crossing 14 and mechanically actuable to move from one track section position to another at the crossing. A remote-controlled toy vehicle 18, responsive to control signals from the transmitter 10, is located on the trackway for movement therealong.The toy vehicle comprises lever means and electro-mechanical actuator means responsive to control signals received from the transmitter for actuating the lever means, the actuated lever means being operatively engageable with the track switching element for moving the track element from one position to the other and thereby changing the direction of the toy vehicle along the trackway when the toy vehicle reaches the crossing 14. The structure and cooperation of the toy vehicle lever means with the trackway switching element will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

As embodied herein, the toy vehicle 1 8 is in the replica of a toy train locomotive (Fig. 2) capable of having train cars attached thereto, as depicted in Fig. 1 by elements 20 and 22. Similarly, the trackway 12 is in the replica of a train track having train track crossings, such as crossing 14.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 9, the remotecontrol signal transmitter 10 comprises a wireless radio remote-control signal transmitter which includes a power source 24, such as batteries, an electrical transmitter circuit 26 for generating radio-control signals, a control switch 28 for generating different control signals from the circuit 26 and a transmission antenna 30. More particularly, the control switch 28 is selectively actuated by the operator of the amusement device, and through the transmitter circuit, can provide a control signal which refiects a stop mode, a low forward speed mode, a high forward speed mode, and a reverse speed mode (Fig. 1) for movement of the toy vehicle 18 along the trackway 10. In addition to the foregoing, an ON OFF switch 32 is provided for the transmitter 10 to cut off the power source 24.Known type radio transmitter circuits may be incorporated into this transmitter 10 to achieve the foregoing described generated control signals and therefore no further description is required.

With further reference to Fig. 9, the various electrical components for the toy vehicle 1 8 will now be described. As herein embodied, the remote-controlled toy vehicle 20 has a receiving antenna 34 located thereon for reception of the radio-control signals from the transmitter 10, and electrical means, as identified by reference numerals 36 and 38, for receiving and decoding the radio-control signals. In addition, electrical driver means, as identified by reference numeral 40, is operatively connected to the receiver and decoder means 36 and 38 and electro-mechanical lever actuator means 42 for regulating the lever means in response to the decoded radio control signals. The signal receiver and decoder means and driver means comprise conventional electrical circuits which may be incorporated within the toy vehicle, along with an appropriate power source 44, such as batteries or the like, to achieve the required previously described control signal and drive functions.

As again illustrated in Fig. 9 and with further reference to Fig. 3, the toy vehicle further includes an electrical motor 46, positioned in the toy vehicle 18, two pairs of wheels 48 and 50 for positioning on the rails of the trackway 12, and a gear transmission mechanism 52 positioned in the toy vehicle and operatively connected to the rear wheels 50 and the motor 46 for imparting movement to the toy vehicle 18 along the trackway 12. The gear transmission mechanism 52 is of a conventional type and can have a gear fixedly attached to a drive shaft of the electrical motor 46 with a mating gear driving a shaft on which the rear wheels 50 are rotatably mounted.

The electrical driver means 40 is operatively connected to the electrical input of the motor 46 to regulate the speed and direction of the motor and thus the speed and direction of the toy vehicle along the trackway in response to control signals from the receiver and decoder means 36 and 38.

In summary, the toy vehicle electrical driver means 40 regulates the speed of the motor 46 for imparting the different speed and directional modes to the toy vehicle rear wheels 50 in response to the particular decoded control signals received from the transmitter 10 through the receiver and decoder means 36 and 38.

As previously noted, the electrical driver means 40 is, in addition to being connected to the motor 46, also connected to the electro-mechanical lever actuator means 42 for driving the lever means in response to predetermined decoded control signals received from the transmitter 10 and processed through the receiver and decoder means 36 and 38. As herein embodied, the electro-mechanical lever actuator means 42 is driven by driver means 40 in response to a control signal received from the transmitter 10 for movement of the toy vehicle 18 in one of the forward speed modes, and preferably a low forward speed mode for the toy vehicle when the selectively operable switch 28 of the transmitter 10 is turned to the low speed forward mode indicator.Thus, the same decoded control signal which actuates the motor 46 to run the toy vehicle rear wheels 50 in a forward low speed mode condition also actuates the electro-mechanical lever actuator means 42. It can be seen that this is a significant feature by actuating the electromechanical means 42 with the speed select switch of the transmitter 1 0 without having to provide a separate lever actuator switch on the transmitter 1 0. The lever means of the toy vehicle, therefore, engages the trackway switching element for moving the track switching element from one position to the other and thereby changing the direction of the toy vehicle along the trackway when the toy vehicle is merely moving in a low forward speed and reaches the track crossing.

As herein embodied and as best seen in Fig. 8, the electro-mechanical lever actuator means 42 comprises an electro-magnetic solenoid having a solenoid member 56, a housing 58 for locating the solenoid member 56 therein, and a piston 60 driven by the solenoid member 56. The lever means of the toy vehicle 1 8 comprises a lever arm 62 pivotally mounted to the solenoid housing 58, such as by shaft 64, and has one end 66 connected to the solenoid piston 60 and the other end 68 pivotally movable from an extended position from the toy vehicle to a position withdrawn into the toy vehicle.More particularly, and with further reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the solenoid 42 and the lever arm 62 are positioned in the bottom of the toy vehicle wherein the end 68 of the lever arm 62 is pivotedly movable upon actuation of the solenoid piston 60 to an extended position outwardly from the bottom of the toy vehicle toward the trackway 1 2 and to a withdrawn position into the bottom of the toy vehicle. The extended position of the lever arm 62 from the bottom of the toy vehicle is best shown in Fig. 2. The cooperation of the toy vehicle lever arm 62 with the track switching element 1 6 will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

In the preferred embodiment of the toy vehicle 1 8 where the vehicle is in the replica of a train locomotive, toy vehicle 1 8 further comprises an electro-acoustic vibrator means 70 (Fig. 9) positioned inside the toy vehicle, such as in the front portion 72 thereof as shown in Fig. 2, which is operatively connected to the electrical driver means 40 for producing a noise signal in response to a predetermined decoded control signal received from the transmitter 10 and processed through the receiver means 36 and decoder means 38 for movement of the toy vehicle in one of the forward or reverse speed modes.The electro-acoustic vibrator means can comprise a conventional type of electro-acoustic vibrator for producing a noise signal that is driven by an electrical driver circuit and accordingly, no further description is required with respect to this feature.

Preferably, however, the noise signal will represent a whistle for the train locomotive and be produced by the electro-acoustic vibrator means 70 in response to a decoded control signal received from the transmitter 10 for movement of the toy vehicle in the low forward speed mode.

Thus, it can be seen that this additional feature, when used in combination with the feature of changing the direction of the toy vehicle along the trackway when the toy vehicle reaches the crossing in the low forward speed mode condition, provides unique entertainment during operation of the amusement device.

In accordance with the invention and as previously noted, the trackway 12 includes a track switching element 1 6 located at a track crossing 14 as generally shown in Fig. 1. As has been previously described, the toy vehicle 18 has lever means comprising lever arm 62 which moves the track switching element 1 6 from one position to the other to thereby change the direction of the toy vehicle 1 8 along the trackway when the toy vehicle reaches the crossing 14. The arrangement and operation of this switching function will now be described.

As embodied herein, and as seen in Fig, 4, the track crossing 1 4 comprises an intersection of first, second, and third trackway sections 74, 76, and 78, respectively. The designations of these various trackway sections are for explaining the preferred embodiment of the invention. Therefore, reference to the three trackway sections and movement of the toy vehicle therealong is not intended as a limitation to the invention. The track switching element 1 6 has one end 80, as best seen in Fig. 4, pivotally mounted at the track crossing 14 toward the respective second and third trackway sections 76 and 78.The track switching element has an opposite end 82 adjacent the first trackway section 74 movable in a slot 84 formed in the trackway from a second trackway section position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 to a third trackway section position, as depicted in Fig. 6 and as shown by arrows in Figs. 4 and 5.

The movement of the track switching element 1 6 from one position to the other directs the toy vehicle 18, approaching from the first trackway section 74, to move along either the second trackway section 76 or the third trackway section 78 as the toy vehicle reaches the crossing 1 4.

To actuate and move the track switching element 1 6 from one position to the other, the trackway 12 further comprises a mechanical actuator mechanism 86 engageable with the lever arm 62 of the toy vehicle. As best seen in Figs.

4-7, the mechanical actuator mechanism 86 comprises a rotatable turnwheel 88 extending upwardly from the trackway 1 2 and located adjacent the crossing 14 toward the first trackway section 74. The rotatable turnwheel 88 has four arms 90, 92, 94, 96 extending substantially vertically from the top surface of the turnwheel for engagement with the end 68 of the toy vehicle lever arm 62. This engagement is depicted in Figs.

2, 4 and 5. More particularly, it can be seen that the arms 90, 92, 94, 96 are formed approximately 90" from each other and that when the lever arm 62 is actuated to extend downwardly from the bottom of the toy vehicle, the lever arm end 68 engages with one of the arms, such as arm 90, and as the toy vehicle continues forward from the first trackway section 74 toward the crossing 14, the turnwheel 88 is rotated approximately 900 by lever arm 62. When this occurs, the turnwheel will be changed from a position shown in Fig. 5 to a position depicted in Fig. 6.

As now will be further described, the engagement of the lever arm 62 against the arm 90 for rotating the turnwheel 88 will impart movement to the track switching element 1 6. As embodied herein and as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, the mechanical actuator mechanism 86 further comprises a transmission member operatively connecting the actuator mechanism 86 with the track switching element 16, the transmission member transmitting movement to the track switching element in response to engagement of the actuator mechanism 86 by the lever arm 62 extending from the toy vehicle. Preferably, the transmission member comprises a lever 98 pivotally mounted within the crossing 14 and having ends 100 and 102. The actuator turnwheel 88 has a lower portion 104 which is in engagement with the end 100 of the transmission member lever 98.As best seen in Figs. 5 and 7, the end 100 of the transmission member lever 98 is spring-biased against the lower portion 104 of the turnwheel 88 by an expansion spring 106. The track switching element 16 has an arm 108 attached to the movable end 84 extending downwardly into the crossing 14, the lower portion of the arm 108 being in engagement with the end 102 of the transmission member lever 98.

In view of the foregoing structural arrangement of the toy vehicle lever arm 62 and the trackway switching element 1 6 and the actuator mechanism 86, it can be seen from Figs. 4-6 that when the toy vehicle approaches from the first trackway section 74, the downwardlyextended lever arm end 68 of the toy vehicle will rotate the turnwheel arm 90 to move it 90 degrees. The rotation of the turnwheel 88 will, through the transmission member 98, move the track switching element end 84 from the second trackway section position to the opposite third trackway section position.In Fig. 4, the track switching element end 84 is shown as being in the second trackway section position and would thus be moved to the third trackway section position, as illustrated in Fig. 6, to allow the toy vehicle to move into the third trackway section 78 as the vehicle reaches the crossing 14. It can also be seen, however, that if the toy vehicle returns to the first trackway section 74 and again approaches the crossing 14 with the lever end 68 extended during a low speed mode of the toy vehicle, the turnwheel arm 96 would engage the toy vehicle lever end 68 and thus move the track switching element end 84 from the third trackway section position back to the second trackway section position to allow the toy vehicle to move into the second trackway section 76, rather than the third trackway section 78.Moreover, if the operator of the transmitter 10 maintains the toy vehicle in a high speed forward mode condition as the toy vehicle approaches the crossing 14 from the first trackway section 74, the lever arm end 68 would not be extended from the bottom of the toy vehicle and thus would not engage one of the arms of the turnwheel 88. Accordingly, the track switching element 1 6 would remain in its current trackway section position and not be moved.

As embodied herein, the trackway 12 further comprises a second mechanical actuator mechanism 110 operatively connected to the track switching element 1 6 for moving the track switching element to the second trackway section position for allowing the toy vehicle to enter the crossing 14 and into the first trackway section 74 from the second trackway section 76 without derailing of the toy vehicle if the track switching element 1 6 is located in its third trackway section position. More particularly, the second mechanical actuator mechanism 110 is operatively connected to the first mechanical actuator mechanism 86 and is positioned adjacent the crossing 14 toward the second trackway section 76. This actuator mechanism 110 is engageable with the toy vehicle 1 8 positioned on the second trackway section 76 for moving the track switching element 1 6 to the second trackway section position and allowing the toy vehicle to enter the crossing 14 from the second trackway section without derailment.

Preferably, and with reference to Figs. 4-7, the second mechanical actuator mechanism 110 comprises an arm 112 extending upwardly from the trackway adjacent the crossing 14 toward the second trackway section 76. A spring-biased transmission lever member 114 is positioned inside the crossing 14 and has a first end 116 connected to the actuator arm 11 2 and a second end 11 8 engaging the turnwheel 88 for movement thereof when the actuator arm 112 engages the toy vehicle and is moved. The first end 116 of the transmission member 114 is biased by a spring 120 so that the actuator arm 11 2 returns to its original position after disengagement with the toy vehicle.The second end 118 of the transmission member 114 is reciprocally mounted with the crossing 14 by forming slots 122 in the end 118 for receiving pins 1 24 formed on the inside of the crossing. This configuration allows the transmission member 114 to be pivotally mounted in such a manner that when the actuator arm 112 is moved, the end 11 8 is moved in a direction shown by the arrow in Fig.

6 against the lower end of the turnwheel 88. The rotatable turnwheel 88 has a pair of opposing arms 126 located on the lower portion thereof for engagement with the end 11 8 of the transmission member 114 so that if the track switching element 1 6 is in its third trackway section position, as depicted in Fig. 6, the turnwheel is rotated in the direction as shown by the arrow by movement of the end 11 8 of the transmission member to move the track switching element end 82 back to the second trackway section position shown in Fig. 4. On the other hand, if the track switching element end 82 is already in the second trackway section position as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the pair of arms 126 are in such a position (Fig.

5) that the end 11 8 of the transmission member 114 will not engage the arms 126. Accordingly, the track switching element end 82 will not be actuated and moved.

In view of the foregoing description, it can be seen that if the toy vehicle moves, either in a reverse directional mode or a forward directional mode, from the second trackway section 76 toward the crossing 14 and the first trackway section 74, the arm 112 of the second mechanical actuator mechanism 110 will engage the toy vehicle and move the track switching element 1 6 into a proper position so that as the toy vehicle enters the crossing, there will be no derailment of the toy vehicle if the track switching element was located in its third trackway section position.In order to actuate the arm 112 of the actuator mechanism 11 0, the toy vehicle comprises an arm 128, as seen in Fig. 2 and as partially depicted in Figs. 4 and 6, which is fixedly attached to the bottom of the toy vehicle for engagement with the actuator arm 112 as the toy vehicle approaches the crossing 14 from the second trackway section 76. The cooperation of the toy vehicle arm 128 with the actuator arm 1 12 is shown by arrows in Figs. 4 and 6.It should be noted that the fixed arm 128 and the movable lever arm 62 of the toy vehicle are attached to the bottom of the toy vehicle and the first and second actuator mechanisms 86 and 110 are located on the trackway 12 in such a manner that the lever arm 62 and the arm 128 are engageable only with their respective first and second mechanical actuator mechanisms 86 and 110 as the toy vehicle 1 8 passes along the various track sections of the trackway.

During operation of the toy vehicle, if the toy vehicle enters into the crossing 14 from the third trackway section 78, either in the reverse or forward directional mode, it is necessary to accommodate the proper positioning of the track switching element 1 6 so that the toy vehicle does not derail when it passes into the crossing and the track switching element 1 6 is not in the proper third trackway section position. To achieve this, and as previously noted, the track switching element has the end 84 pivotally movable between its two different trackway positions toward the first trackway section 74.Accordingly, if the track switching element 1 6 is in its second trackway section position (Fig. 4) when the toy vehicle enters the crossing 14 from the third trackway section 78, the track switching element is temporarily movable into the third trackway section position by engagement of the track switching element end 82 with at least one of the wheels of the toy vehicle as the toy vehicle passes.

The track switching element 1 6 is spring biased so that it returns to its original position as the toy vehicle subsequently passes the track switching element end 82 and enters the crossing.

In view of the foregoing written description of the preferred embodiment and accompanying drawings, it is seen that the toy vehicle in the replica of a train locomotive can uniquely move along different trackway sections of the train trackway by virtue of the simple operation of the transmitter, the structural arrangement of the toy vehicle and trackway, and the cooperation of the various components of the toy vehicle and trackway. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations could be made in the vehicle and trackway in accordance with the teachings of the invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (33)

1. An amusement device comprising: (a) a r.emote-control signal transmitter; (b) a trackway having (i) at least one track crossing, and (ii) a track switching element located at the crossing and mechanically actuable to move from one position to another to switch the direction of the track; and, (c) a remote-controlled toy vehicle responsive to control signals from the transmitter for movement along the trackway, wherein the toy vehicle comprises lever means and electromechanical actuator means responsive to control signals received from the transmitter for actuating the lever means, the actuated lever means being engageable with the trackway switching element for moving the track switching element from one position to the other and thereby changing the direction of the toy vehicle along the trackway when the toy vehicle reaches the crossing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a wireless radio remote-control signal transmitter and wherein the remotecontrolled toy vehicle is responsive to radio control signals received from the transmitter.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the remotecontrolled toy vehicle further comprises electrical receiver and decoder means for receiving control signals from the transmitter and decoding the control signals and electrical driver means operatively connected to said receiver and decoder means and said electro-mechanical lever actuator means for driving the electro-mechanical lever actuator means in response to the decoded control signals.

4. The device of claim 1,2, or 3 wherein the toy vehicle has at least high and low forward speed modes in response to the control signals received from the transmitter and wherein the toy vehicle lever means is actuated for engagement with the trackway switching element by a control signal for movement of the toy vehicle in one of the forward speed modes.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the toy vehicle lever means is actuated by a control signal for movement of the toy vehicle in the low forward speed mode.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the toy vehicle further comprises wheels for positioning on the trackway, a motor, and a gear transmission mechanism operatively connected to said wheels and said motor for imparting movement to the toy vehicle, and wherein said electrical driver means is operatively connected to the motor for driving the toy vehicle along the trackway in response to decoded control signals.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the transmitter has a selectively operable switch for imparting control signals representative of different speed modes for the toy vehicle and wherein the toy vehicle electrical driver means regulates the speed of the motor for imparting different speed modes to the toy vehicle in response to the particular decoded speed control signals received from the transmitter.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the transmitter can impart control signals for providing at least high and low forward speed modes to the toy vehicle and wherein the toy vehicle lever means is actuated for engagement with the track switching element by a decoded control signal for movement of the toy vehicle in one of the forward speed modes.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the toy vehicle lever means is actuated by a decoded control signal for movement of the toy vehicle in the low forward speed mode.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the toy vehicle further comprises electro-acoustic vibrator means operatively connected to the driver means for producing a noise signal in response to a predetermined decoded control signal received from the transmitter for movement of the toy vehicle in one of the speed modes.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the transmitter comprises a switch for selectively providing a reverse, stop, forward low and forward high speed control signal, an electrical power source, and a selectively operable ON-OFF switch to the power source, and wherein said toy vehicle further comprises a power source operatively connected to the electrical signal receiver and decoder means and driver means.

12. The device of claim 1,2, 3 or 6, wherein the electro-mechanical actuator means comprises an electro-magnetic solenoid having an arm engaging the lever means for moving the lever means from a position extending from the toy vehicle to a position withdrawn into the toy vehicle in response to a predetermined control signal.

13. The device bf claim 12, wherein the electro-magnetic solenoid comprises a solenoid member, a housing for locating the solenoid member therein, and a piston driven by the solenoid member and wherein the lever means comprises a lever arm pivotally mounted to the solenoid housing and having one end connected to the solenoid piston and the other end movable from an extended position from the toy vehicle to a position withdrawn into the toy vehicle.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the lever arm is positioned at the bottom of the toy vehicle for movement toward the trackway in the extended position and to a withdrawn position into the bottom of the toy vehicle.

1 5. The device of claim 14, wherein the trackway further comprises a mechanical actuator mechanism for moving the track switching element from one position to the other, said mechanical actuator mechanism having an actuator member extending upwardly from the trackway for engagement with the lever arm when the lever arm is actuated to extend downwardly from the bottom of the toy vehicle and a transmission member positioned in the trackway and operatively connecting the actuator member extending from the trackway and the track switching element located at the crossing, the transmission member transmitting movement to the track switching element in response to engagement of the actuator member by the lever arm extending from the toy vehicle.

1 6. The device of claim 15, wherein the actuator member comprises a rotatable turn wheel extending from the trackway and having arms engageable with the lever arm when extended from the toy vehicle, said toy vehicle lever arm rotating the turn wheel as the toy vehicle moves along the trackway past the mechanical actuator mechanism and wherein the rotation of the wheel transmits movement to the transmission member for imparting movement of the track switching element from one position to the other position.

1 7. The device of claim 15, wherein the track crossing comprises an intersection of first, second and third trackway sections and wherein when the toy vehicle moves along the first trackway section toward the crossing, the track switching element pivotally mounted at the crossing is movable from the current position to the other position for allowing the toy vehicle to move along the second or third trackway section as the toy vehicle reaches the crossing.

18. The device of claim 1 6, wherein the track crossing comprises an intersection of first, second and third trackway sections and wherein when the toy vehicle moves along the first trackway section toward the crossing, the track switching element pivotally mounted at the crossing is movable from the current position to the other position for allowing the toy vehicle to move along the second or third trackway section as the toy vehicle reaches the crossing.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the track switching element has one end pivotally mounted at the crossing toward the second and third trackway sections and has the opposite end adjacent the first trackway section movable from a second trackway section position to a third trackway section position and wherein the track switching element has an arm extending downwardly into the trackway from the movable end, and wherein the transmission member comprises a pivotally mounted lever having a first end engaged with the downwardly-extending arm of the track switching element and the second end engageable with a lower portion of the actuator turn wheel for imparting movement to the track element from its one position to the other position when the turn wheel is rotated by engagement of the toy vehicle lever arm against an upwardlyextending arm of the turn wheel.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the transmission member lever has the second end spring-biased against the lower portion of the turn wheel.

21, The device of claim 18, wherein the turn wheel of the mechanical actuator mechanism is located adjacent the crossing for engagement with the lever arm of the toy vehicle as the toy vehicle enters the track crossing from the first trackway section.

22. The device of claim 19, wherein the turn wheel of the mechanical actuator mechanism is located adjacent the crossing for engagement with the lever arm of the toy vehicle as the toy vehicle enters the track crossing from the first trackway section.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the trackway further comprises a second mechanical actuator mechanism operatively connected to the first mechanical actuator mechanism, positioned adjacent the crossing toward the second trackway section, and engageable with the toy vehicle positioned on the second trackway section for moving the track switching element to the second trackway section position and allowing the toy vehicle to enter the crossing and the first trackway section from the second trackway section without derailing of the toy vehicle if the track switching element was located in the third trackway section position.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the toy vehicle further comprises an arm fixedly attached to the bottom thereof and wherein the second mechanical actuator mechanism further comprises an arm extending upwardly from the trackway for engagement with the toy vehicle fixed arm, and a spring-biased transmission lever member positioned in the trackway having a first end connected to the second actuator arm and a second end engaging the lower portion of the turn wheel for movement thereof when the toy vehicle fixed arm engages the second actuator arm.

25. A device of claim 24, wherein the springbiased transmission lever member returns the second actuator arm to its original position after disengagement with the toy vehicle fixed arm.

26. The device of claim 17, wherein the trackway further comprises a second mechanical actuator mechanism operatively connected to the track switching element for moving the track switching element to a second trackway section position for allowing the toy vehicle to enter the crossing and into the first trackway section from the second trackway section without derailing of the toy vehicle if the track switching element was located in a third track section position.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the toy vehicle further comprises an arm fixedly attached to the bottom thereof for engagement with the second mechanical actuator mechanism as the toy vehicle approaches the crossing from the second trackway section.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the arm fixedly connected to the toy vehicle for actuating the second mechanical switching mechanism and the movable lever of the toy vehicle for actuating the first mechanical switching mechanism are located on the bottom of the toy vehicle so they are engageable only with the respective first and second mechanical actuator mechanisms as the toy vehicle passes along the various track sections of the trackway.

29. The device of claim 23, wherein if the track switching element is in a second trackway section position when the toy vehicle enters into the crossing from the third trackway section, the track switching element is pivotally movable into the third trackway section position by engagement of the track switching element with at least one of the wheels of the toy vehicle to allow the toy vehicle to pass into the crossing and the first trackway section without derailment of the toy vehicle.

30. The device of claim 26, wherein if the track switching element is in a second trackway section position when the toy vehicle enters into the crossing from the third trackway section, the track switching element is pivotally movable into the third trackway section position by engagement of the track switching element with at least one of the wheels of the toy vehicle to allow the toy vehicle to pass into the first trackway section without derailment of the toy vehicle.

31. An amusement device comprising; (a) a wireless radio remote-control signal transmitter selectively operable for transmitting different control signals; (b) a trackway in the replica of a railroad trackway having (i) at least one track crossing comprising an intersection of first, second, and third trackway sections, (ii) a track switching element pivotally mounted at the crossing and movable from a second trackway section position to a third trackway section position for allowing the toy vehicle to move between the first and the second or third trackway sections as the toy vehicle reaches the crossing, and (iii) a mechanical actuator mechanism operatively connected to the track switching element for moving the track switching element from one position to the other and having an actuator member extending upwardly adjacent the crossing from the first trackway section; and, (c) a remote-controlled toy vehicle in the replica of a railroad locomotive responsive to the different radio control signals received from the transmitter for movement along the trackway and comprising a lever arm pivotally mounted in the bottom of the toy vehicle for movement to an extended position toward the trackway for engagement with the actuator member of the trackway mechanical actuator mechanism and to a withdrawn position in the bottom of the toy vehicle and electromechanical actuator means responsive to predetermined radio control signals received from the transmitter for actuating the lever arm, the lever arm being engageable with the actuator member for moving the track switching element from one position to the other and thereby changing the direction of the toy vehicle along the trackway when the toy vehicle reaches the crossing.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the toy vehicle has at least high and low forward speed modes in response to the radio control signals received from the transmitter and wherein the toy vehicle lever arm is actuated for engagement with the actuator member extending upwardly from the trackway for moving the track switching element by a control signal for movement of the toy vehicle in one of the forward speed modes.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the toy vehicle lever arm is actuated by a control signal for movement of the toy vehicle in the low forward speed mode.