US1660715A - Racing toy - Google Patents

Description

Feb.`,2s, 192s.

1,660,715 F. O. LINGENFELDER RACING TOY Filed Dec. l1. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Zf met atkofrfmq J .units spaced apart.

spirit thereof.

Patented 4Feb. 2 8, 1928.

UNITEDy STATES Application ma member 11, im. smal n. 154,114.

This invention relates to an amusement device which is both entertainingA and `1nstructive as it cultivates the iudgement, trains the eye and hand and enables one to enioy moments of relaxation.

, he invention provides in effect a toy embodying a Speedway, electrically propelled cars thereon, means for varying the current supplied to the cars to drive them fast or slow as desired, and switch means for diverting the cars from one track or course to another to add to the interest and pleasure.

The linvention contemplates a Speedway embodying a plurality of courses disposed in parallel relation and including straightaway portions and return portions, the latter being foldable to reduce the length of the device' and serving to connect the straightaway portions, which, for lightness, are separate While the dra/wings illustrate` a preferred embodiment ofv the invention, it is to understood that in adapting the means-cto meet speciic needs and requirements the design may be vvaried and such other changes in the minor details of constructionmay be resorted to within the scope ofthe invention as claimed, without departing from the For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof reference is to be had lto the following descriptionand the drawings hereto attached, in which,-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a race toy embodying the invention, the dotted lines indicating anA adjusted position of the switches and one of the cars diverted from one course or track topanother. i

Figure 2 is an `edge view, the dottedlines showinr the return lportions of thespeed- Way folded. f f

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view'on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 isa detail sectional view of the means for mounting and operating the switches.

Figure is a sectional view of a resistance PA'ri-:NroFl-iCi-i. f

change its speed.

Figure 7 is a side view of a racing car,

Figure 8 is a view of the'ncar as 'seen from the bottomA side.

Qorresponding and like parts are referred to 1n the following description`and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

`The speedway usually consists of a board and may be a flat body of any determinate. material and comprises a middle straightaway portion and return ends, the latter bein g referably hingedly connected to the in idd e portion to fold thereunder, as indicated bythe dotted lines in Figure 2, thereby to admit of the length being materially reduced for handling and storing.l In the preferable construction the middle portion of the Speedway comprises similar sections or parts 10 which are transversely spaced. The return end portions 11 are 'hingedly connected to the middle portions 10, as indicated most clearly at 12 in Figure 2.l The return portions 11 are of4 semicircular outline and are adapted to fold against the lower side of the middle portion, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2. A plurality of courses, or tracks 13,l 14 and 15 are provided upon the top side'of the speedway and are parallel and separated by guards 16 which usually consist of ribs or strips, which may forma part of the body or attached thereto in any determinate way. Outer guards 17 prevent the cars from leaving the metal strips 18 vis provided for each course plying vthe electric current tothe motors of of the strips 18, their longitudinal edge portions are bent at a right angle,`as indicatedl at 19, and are fitted in grooves formed in the Speedway. The marginalfilanges 19 also serve as retaining means for securing the conducting strips to the bod of the speedway since they are presse into groovesv formed therein, as indicated inost clearl in Figure 4e The middle portion vof eac course or track is formed with a groove speedway.v A pair of yor track and constitutes conductors for supins may bev manipulated to vary the current supply to each of the cars as required.

The guard 16 separat-ing adjacent courses h or tracks has a section 24 pivoted at one end and movable laterally to divert a car from one track to another, whereby to intensi the interestv in the operation ofthe toy. By regulating thel supply of current to a car it may be speeded so as to pass another car inv the race and by deftly manipulating the switch the car may be diverted from one `track to the track containing the car which `has been passed so as to lead said car. The

operator of the trailing car mayswitch it to another track and increase the speed by augmenting the current supplied theretoso as to pass the leading car under favorable' conditions. It will vthus be understood lthat the arrangement is such as to admit of one car in the race passing another and being diverted to the same track containing the car which has been passed. An advantage results from occupying the innermost course or track because it is the shortest, the several tracks increasing in length towards the outside, as will be readily appreciated. The switches 24 may be thrown inwardly or outwardly, as indicated bythe dotted lines in Figure 1. land may be mounted in any preferred way and operated by any determinate mechanis As shown most clearly in Figures 4 and 5, a post 25 is mounted vertically in the body of the speed-way and the switch 24 is secured at one end to the upper end of the post, `so asl to turn therewith. An arm 26 fast to the lower end of the post 25 is connected by means .of a link 27 to a lever 28 mounted at one side of the speedway. The bottom', side of the body is recessed to receive the arm 26 and link 27, as shown most clearly in Figure 4. so that the de- `vice may rest upon a table or analogous support. The switches 24 are differently positioned to avoid interference. as indicated most clearly in Figure 1, and this admits of the lever 28 being correspondingly positioned for convenience of operation without interference.

The cars` 29 may be of any design and eachis supplied with an electric motor in a manner common in electrically operated toys. The current is supplied to the motor through y the hood of the car.

the wheels 30 and, as shown most clearl in Figure 4, the axle comprises sections w ich are electrically insulated, as indicated at 38, the current entering through one of the wheels and being grounded through the other wheel, one of the conducting stri s or rails 18 supplying the current and t e companion conducting strip or rail grounding the same ina manner well understood in electric train toys. The racing car is either of cast iron or pressed steel with iron wheels 30 made to represent automobile tires on disc wheels. The electric current enters through the wheels en one side, at 32, which ave iron axles and iron bushings, and passes through a motor 33, of approximately one three hundredth horse power, located under The motor 33 drives the rear wheels through a shaft 34 and fibre ring gear 35 which also serves to separate the two rear axles 36. The current passes through the opposite side of the car, at 37, where ibre bushings are provided for insulation. The front axles are electrically separated by a fibre coupling 38.

The resistance 22 is built either in one unit or combined so as te resemble three miniature automobile transmissions with gear shifting levers 23. one for each track. The lever 23 is located. in the center of each resistance to operate as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 6. Any number of lead wires may be employed for supplying current from the resistance to the tracks. The Speedway may comprise any desired number of tracks. or courses. and the guards separating the tracks have the portions 24 pivoted and adapted to be separately operated from a side of the Speedway by the levers 28 for diverting the racing cars 29 from one track to the other. The Speedway may be lengthened and shortened. hence the intermediate straightawav portion may comprise sections which may be added or removed as desired. the sections being retained in place by the hinges 12 or other suitable fastening means.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A Speedway comprising a fiat body provided with a plurality of paralleling courses or tracks which are separated by means of guards, and having a portion of the separating guard pivoted to provide a switch and means for operating the switch to divert a car from one'track to another.

2. A speedw'ay provided in its top side with pairs of narrow grooves and an intermediate wide groove. conducting strips or rails having marginal edge portions bent to provide fianges which are pressed into the narrow grooves of the body and a retaining strip pressed into the wide groove.

3. A Speedway provided with a plurality of courses or tracks, guards separating the lli tracks, each of the guards havng a pvoted section forming a switch, a post mounted A in the Speedway and having the switch fast at one end thereto, an arm proecting from the lower end of the post, a ever at one side of the Speedway and a link-connecting the' lever with the said arm, whereby the switch may be operated.

4, A Speedway for a racing to coniprsing a plurality of tracks separa by guard rails and having a portion of the several guard rails pvoted to divert the cars from one track to the other.

In Vtestimony whereof I ax my asignature.

FRED. O. LINGENFELDER. [1.; 5.]

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