US1912194A - Electric toy trackage - Google Patents

Description

May 30, 1933- 1.. G. HANDY ELECTRIC TOY TRACKAGE Filed March 31, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR L. GPssford Howdy Y WW ATTORNEY May 30, 1933. 1.. 5. HANDY ELECTRIC TOY TRACKAGE Filed March 31, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR L Gem/0rd H4 770' w ATTORNEY Patented May 39, 1933 UNITED stares ATET oFfFicE LEVIN enssronn nanny, on MOUNTAIN; VIEW, new JERSEY ELECTRIC'TOY TRACKAGE 'Applic ation filed March 31, 1930. Serial No. 440,245.

This invention relates to trackage for toy electric trains, such for instance as. is'contained in my Patent No. 1,636. l16, July-19th, 19:27; and in my pending application Serial No. 136,359, the present application being a continuation in part of said mentioned pends 1 g Lppl- 1Cl tlOD..

An objectjof the present invention is to i provide improved means whereby the passage ofa tram over agivensection or sec tions of the track maybe made to control the operation of auxiliary devices such-as sig nals and the like. s a

A further object is to provide an electric toy track section intended to be" attached to orremo ved from track forming relation with other electric toy track sections int-he usual manner, said section being-constructed to include improvedmeans whereby the passage of a train over said section-will complete a shunt circuit in parallel with, the train cir cuit, for controlling one or moreauxili'ary devices. 1 U A further object is to provide anelectric toy track section in which one of the wheel bearing rails i s made to provide a contact to be engaged by the wheels otfa' passingtrain forcontrolling a shunt circuit in parallel with the train circuit but in whica'necessity for the use of insulating connecting-means betweensaid track rail and aligiiedrails of adjacent other toy tracksect-ions is dispensed witht -V A further object is to provide an electric [toy track section in which one of the wheel bearing rails is madefto provide a contact to be engaged by the wheels of a passing train for controlling-a shunt circuit in parallel the Wheel'bearing; rail whichalso provides said contact] V A further object is to provide an improved type otrailcons-tructed for attachment to the cross ties of the e'lectrictoy section in the usual manner providing electric coma tinuity between its opposite ends and having a --contact portion extending longitudinally along its-upper-edge insulated from the re mainder of the rail.

A further object is to provide means where; by to electrically connect together the contact portions of adjacent electric toy sections.

A further object is to so constructthe electric toy section that it will serve'its intended purpose in the system irrespective of which ot1tswheel bearing rails 1s connected in alignment with a given wheel bearing rail ot the remainder of the system. 7

A further objectis to so construct the electric toy section that electric conductors may be connected thereto at either or both sides thereof with equal facility. v y I.

r further object is to so construct the electric toy section that each of its two wheel bearing rails will have an insulated contact portion and so that the contact portions of the two rails will be electrically connected together. v A further object is to so construct the electric toy section thatthe usual detachable conductor attaching clip may be employed forconnecting conductors to the rails thereof. 7

Other objects anda'ims of theinvention,

more or less specific than those referred to of the type with which this invention is 100 concerned.

Fig. 2 is a top plan vi w of an improved toy track section constructed in accordance with this invention and showing the same in operative association with aligned rails of adjacent other toy track sections.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the improved toy track section appearing in Fig. 2.

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view taken upon the plane of line IVIV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a similar transverse sectional view taken upon the plane of line VV of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View through one I of the rails of the section and illustrating a appearing in Fig. 8 being substantially upon the plane of line IXIX of Fig.8. I

Fig. 10 is a similar sectional view but illustrating a further modification. V e

Fig. 11 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through one of the wheel bearing rails of the toy section appearing in Fig.1Q.

12 is a similar sectional view through the same rail as in Fi 11, the section in this instance being taken substantially upon the plane of line XII.XII of Fig. 14. i

Fig. 13'is a similar sectional view taken upon the plane of line XIII-XIII of Fig. 14..and s Fig. 14: is a fragmentary plan view showing-portions of two adjacent toy track sections to illustrate their manner of connection.

Referring to the drawings for describing in detail the structure illustrated therein, and considering first the invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, the reference characters-L and G indicate: the two metallicwheel bearing rails ofan electric toy track section, and the reference character H indicates the intermediate or third? metallic rail of said sec tion. ,These 7 three separate rails are connected together by crosstie means, such as the three metallic cross ties 1, 2 and 3 as illustrated.

The intermediate or third railis insulated .iirom the other rails and from the cross ties by insulating members l-l-'-l as is customary.

insulated from the cross ties. It is held in metallic contact with said cross ties as by means of they tangs 5 5 provided upon the cross ties forthis purpose, and is hence in constant electricalconnection with said cross ties. z. The wheel bearing rail G is formed so that it provides an insulated wheel engagingpor- The wheel bearingrailL as shown is not end said rail G is illustrated in the present figures to be tormedof three longitudinally extending members, one of said members as 7 being oi metal and provldmg a conductive path throughout the length of the rail and having'means atv its opposite ends as at 88 by which to electrically and mechanically connect it with adjacent portions of aligned rails of other toy electric sections, another of said-members being also of metal and providing the contact portion 6 for engagement by the car part, and the third member, as 9, being of insulating material arrangedtoelectrically insulate the first two mentioned members from each other. y I

The member 7 provides an upstanding flange or web 10 for the rail and also the bottom flange as 11 of the rail which bottom flange isotthe same proportions as is usual to the rails of toy electrical railways and is adapted to be fastened to the cross ties 1, 2 and 3 bythetangs 5-5of the cross ties in the usual manner, as seen in Fig. 2.

t its opposite ends the member 7 is extended to provide sockets 12 for receiving the connector pins 8, the-upper outer surface of said sockets12 standing as parts of the wheel bearing surface of the'rail. V V

The member 6 is provided with an upper transversely curved portion corresponding to the normal cross sectional contour of y the wheel bearing portion of the rail and disposed so as to stand in continuation of the wheel bearing surfaces of the socket parts 12'12. It has a depending flange or web 13 standing parallel with and lapping the flange or web 10.

.The insulating member 9 is interposed between the two flanges orfwebs 10-18and is connected to each by means of suitable rivets or the like as 14, the rivets which fix the flange 13 to the insulating member being received in openings 15 of the flange 10, and the rivets which fix the flange 10 to the insulatingmem her being of course received in similaropenings provided in the flange 13, so that the flanges will thereby be eflectively' insulated from each other.

Y The member 9 not only serves to insulate the members 6 and 7 but also materially stiii'ens and re-enforces the rail.

'An. extension as 16 continues from the flange 13, in insulated relation, to the member 7 and serves as a' suitable medium by which to attach a conductor to the member 6.

Any suitable means may be provided by which to connect a signal or like device, as 17, in circuit with the third rail H and with the contact portion 6 of the track railG, and for this purpose the drawings illustrate a device consisting of arectangular piece of in-' the rail H, being preferably soldered thereto,

and a similar conductor element 20 engages with the extension 16 of the contact member 6 being preferably soldered thereto. Two binding posts as 21 and 22 are carricdby the insulating piece and these are connected wlth the conductors 19 and 20 respectively.

Conductors as 23 and 24 leading from opposite sides of the signal device 17 may be connected with the binding posts 21 and 22 as will be readily understood.

In Fig. 1 aplurality of electric toy track sections are diagrammatically illustrated as they appear when eonnectedtogether for use. A source of electrical energy is indicated at 25 with a conductor 26 leading from one side thereof to the third rail G ofthe system, and with a conductor as 27 from its opposite side connected with the two wheel; bearing rails L and G of the system, it being noted that although the conductor 27 'is here shown as having direct connection with both of said wheel bearing rails it is usually sufiicient to connect said conductor directly with only one of said rails, the current being fed to the other through the several metallic cross ties of the ordinary -electric toy track sections as heretofore manufactured (see cross ties 1, 2 and 3 in Fig. 7

In this system the several sections of track as illustrated are indicated by reference characters from 28 to 37 inclusive, the joints between said sections being clearly indicated. All of the sections illustrated, excepting the section indicated by the reference character 30, are of ordinary construction, the section 30 however being oneof the improved sections in which the wheel bearing rail is provided with the insulated wheel engaging or contact portion 6 as above described.

. The signal device-17 is shown with its conductors 23 and 24 connected with the third rail and with thecontact portion 6.

. A train is illustrated as travelling along the system, said train having wheels 3838 riding upon the wheel bearing rails and hav ing a shoe 39 riding upon the third rail, the shoe being'connected toone s1de of a tram propelling motor 40, the opposite side of the motor being grounded upon the frame as 11 r of the train and hence upon all of the wheels of the train.

The propelling circuit for the train is of the usual type well know in this art, namely from source 25 through conductor 26 to the third. or power, rail of the system, through the'shoe 39 and motor 40 to ground upon the frame of the train and back to the opposite side of the source through the train wheels and the wheel bearing rails. g

The shunt circuit through the signal device 17 is closed as soon as one of the wheels of the train rides into engagement with the insulated portion 6 of the wheel bearing rail G of the improved section, said shunt circuit being traced as follows From source 25 along the third, or power, rail, to conductor 23, through the signal device 17 and back by way of conductor 24 to the insulated portion 6, and thence, by way of the wheel which is in engagement with said portion 6, to ground upon the frame of the train, the remainder of this circuit including the wheels of the train which bearupon portions of the two wheelbearing rails outside of the insulated portion 6, and thence back along said wheel bearing rails to the opposite side of the source.

The rail L of the present improved section constitutes the ground rail of said section since in use it is in metallic contact with the wheel bearing rails of other sections to which it is operatively connectedoncerning the improved electric toy track section disclosed, it is noteworthy that it provides for conductive paths through itself from both of the wheel bearing rails of other toy sections to which it may be connected as well as the usual separate path through the third, or power, rail. By this arrangement all four of the joints for connecting the two wheel bearing rails of the improved section with the wheel bearing rails of adjacent other sections are made available forcarrying the ground current through the improved section. If for any reason the wheel bearing rail L be in good conductive connection at one or both of its ends with aligned wheel bearing rails of other sections the conductive con nection between the wheel bearing rail G and aligned wheel bearing rails of theother section at the ends of said rail G will contlnue to carry the current through the improved section.

It will. be understood that the present improved track section is intended to be inserted between other sections in the samegeneral manner and for the same purpose as is now well known in this art and fully set forth in my patent above refered to, and that when thus inserted it will, by the simple act of its insertion, provide a shunt circuit from the main car propelling circuit of the track system adapted to operate the auxiliary device 17 in parallel with the pro polling motor of the car, that is, with the train circuit.

In the modification Fig. 6 it is proposed that if desired the separately formed member providing the contact portion 6 may have its flange portion 17 extended at opposite ends of the rail and shaped to provide sockets as 42 standing parallel beside the sockets contact member 6 may be readily electrishould not cally connected with a similar contact member present upon the next adjacent electric toy section. This is useful where two electric toy sections constructed in accordance with the present invention are to be connected together for increasing the length of trackage operable for controlling the signal device 17, and it is noted that by the arrangement just indicated the contact members 6 of the two improved sections will be electrically and mechanically connected without any other effort on the part of the operator than that which is ordinarily required for connecting together two electric toy sections, namely of simply inserting the connector pins of one section into the mating sockets of the adjacent section.

In the modification Fig. 7 it is suggested that if desired the wheel bearing rail G may be formed throughout its length of the general cross sectional contour similar to rails L and H, and the contact, or car part engaging, portion may be provided thereon as a separate tubular sheath here indicated as 48 gripping around the upper tubular bead shaped portion of the rail and insulated therefrom as by means of a tubular strip of insulating material as 44. 4

It will be understood that the members 43 and 44 may be made sufiiciently thin so that they will not appreciably increase the exterior diameter of the wheel bearing portion of the rail, or if preferred the portion of the rail over which the members 43 and 44 are applied may be made of a relatively reduced diameter, as compared with the usual practice, so that the exterior sizes of the member 43 may be the same or nearly the same as the normal size of the upper portion of arail, thus to bring the wheel engaging part of member 43 in proper tracking alignment with adjacent wheel engaging portions of the track.

The modification Figs. 8 and 9 illustrates an arrangement whereby the conductors for extending to signal devices or the like may be conveniently connected at either or both sides of the electric toy section, also whereby the electric toy section will serve its intended purpose in the system irrespective of which of its wheel bearing rails happens to be aligned with a given wheel bearing rail of the remainder of the system. According to this modification it is proposed that the improved electric toy section shall have both of its wheel bearing rails provided with insulated contact portions, instead of said insulated contact portion being provided upon only one of the wheel bearing rails as heretofore described.

As indicated in these figures the wheel bearing rails L and G are each of the same construction as heretofore described with respect to the wheel bearing rail G, and the rectangular piece of insulating material 18 is enlarged so as to extend entirely across the toy section and to carry an additional set of binding posts 2122 at its opposite end, one set being at one side of the toy section and the other at the opposite side of the toy section, each adapted for the attachment ofa signal or like device thereto in the same manner as heretofore referred to. The conductor 19 connects the third rail with both of the binding posts 21, and the conductor 20 connects together the contact portions 6 of rails L and-G and connected both with the binding posts 2222. 1

It will be understood that as soon as a train moves onto this section the shunt circuit through the signal device or devices 17 will be the same as heretofore described, it being noted however that current will flow from both of the contact portions 6 into the train wheels and thence through its ground connection on the train to one or more other train wheels which at the same time bear upon wheel bearing rails outside of the insulated portions 6. i

This modification also suggests that the binding posts 22 of two adjacent sections may be conveniently utilized for the attachment of a connecting conductor as 45 by which to connect together the contact portions 6 of two adjacent electric toy sections of the type here described when it is desired to use more than one of'said sections in connected relation. The conductor 45 may be used in lieu of the arrangement described with respect to the structure Fig. 6, or it may be used in addition to the connection afforded by the arrangement described with reference to Fig. 6, as an auxiliary thereto;

The modification Fig. 10 suggests an arrangement of parts whereby the usual detachable'conductor attaching clips may be employed for connecting conductors to the rails of the present improved electric toy section, it being noted that these detachable conductor attaching clips, one of which is diagrammatically illustrated at 46 in Fig. 10 includes a rectangular piece of insulating material similar to'that indicated 18 in Fig. 2

and having binding posts 21 and 22 thereon.

Instead of being soldered to the rails however it has a hook portion as 47 for engaging a flange of the third rail H and a latch member 48 manually movable to engage a flange of one of the wheel bearing rails. In order to conveniently utilize this conductor attaching clip the modification Fig. 10 contems plates a re-arrangement of the parts of the wheel bearing rails as compared with the arrangement above described with respect to the previous figures. The rearrangement is illustrated in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 and from these it will be noted that the rail member as 49 providing the contact portion 6 provides a relatively outer flange as 50 at the lower. edge of the rail while the rail memiio itar her as 51 carries the end attaching.

membersS provides a relatively inner flange 52. This is desirable in that it enables the l atch mem ber 48'to engageabout thefiange 50 for thereby electrically connecting 'the binding posts 22 with the contact portion 6 by the simpleact of attachmg the conductor attaching clip in position in the same manner as is employed tor'attaching such clips to ordinary standard electric toy sections.

In. order that the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 10 may have the advantages above pointed out with regard to the structure F gs. 8 and 9 it is suggested that both of the wheel bearing rails L- and Ggmay be constructed as illustrated in Figs. 11 to 13, that thera l members 49shall be insulated from the two end cross ties l and gas by means of insulation 53, in Fig; 12, but. thats'aid rail members shall be in electrical'engagement with the intermediate cross tie 2 asindicated in Fig. 11, also that the rail member '51 shall be in electrical engagement with the end cross ties 1 and 3 but shall be insulated from the intermediate cross tie 2 asby means'of insulation 54, it being understoodiof course that the members 49 and 51 are insulated from each other by insulating member 9 in the same manner as heretofore described with respect to Figs. 1 to 5. I

. By this arrangement it will be seen that the contact portions 6 of the two Wheel hearing rails are electrically connectedtogether 1 bythe "intermediate cross Lies 2' while the rail members 51 are electrically connected. together the cross ties l and 3.

The detachable conductor attaching clips 46 may thus be moved from one side to the other of the track at the will of the operator, theconnection'being the same in either instance. V V V The; member 49' may be extended so as to provide sockets as 55 at its oppositeends for receivingconnector pins by which it maybe connected with similar members of adjacent other toy sections in the same manner as rei 'erred to with respect to Fig. 6, andas more particularly illustrated inthe drawings Figs. 13' and 14..

As many changes could be made in this construction without departingfrom the scope of the'invention', as defined in the following claims, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. V

Having thus describedmy invention, What I clan as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent is':-' r g a '51. As-an article of manufacture an electric: toy track section intended to be attached to or removed from track forming relation Withother electric toy track sections in the rail usual manner, said section being made upof spaced wheel bearing rails and aninterme diate: insulated vthird rail with crossjtie means by which all of the ra lsare mechanically connected together for. unitary 'lia n thing, at least one ofthe'wheeljbearing rails having opposite end wheel'engaging perti'ons oi its length constructed and arranged for connection in track form ng relatlon w th alignedralls of adJacent other toy track sec-,

tions, said mentioned-rail having an intermediateportion of its length integral with said and adapted thereby to serve as a contact to.

he engagedby the wheels of a passing train for controlling a SlltilltClI'CUlt parallel w th the traln clr'curt.

" 2. As article of manufacture, an elec tric toy track section intended to be attached to or removed} from track .iorining relation with other electric toy track sections in the usual manner, said sectlonbeing' made up of smaced wheel bearing ralls' andan'lntermediate insulated third rail and cross-tie means by which all of the rails are" mechanically connected together for unitaryjhandlin'g, at least one of the rails liavln'g' opposite end portions constructed and arranged to serve inaconnecting said rail intra'ck forming rclation with'aligned' railsoi' adjacent other toy track section's, said mentlone'd rall having an intermediate portion of its length electrically and mechanically connecting said end portions together, and said mentioned also having aportion of itself formed as a member separate from'the remainderof said rail and supported in insulated relation thereon adapted to be engaged a part of passing train thereby to serve as a contact to b'eengaged by a current carrying passing-train "for controlling a shunt circuit in parallel with the train circuit.

3. A rail for toy electric l track sections, said rail being built up of a plurality of separately formed members, one of said members being. of conductive materialarrangedto provide a conductive paththrough the rail from end to end of the rail,another of said members being of conductive material arranged 1 to prov1dea-car part engaging head'porticn iorsaidlrail, andanother of said members being of insulating material" arranged-to electrically insulate said first two mentioned members from, each other, together. with meanstomechanically connect said members inrailformin-g relation, and means by which to detach-ably electrically. and mechanically connect opposite end portions of the first mentioned member in track forming relation with aligned other track rails.

part of a 4. As an article of manufacture, anelectrio toy track section intended tobe attached.

to or: removed from track forming relation with other electricftoyftr'acksections in the usual manner, said section being made up of spaced. wheel bearing rails and an intermed ate insulated thlrd rail with cross-tie means i by whichall of the rails are mechanically art en a in head ortion formed as a memiii) ber separate from the remainder-of said rail and supported in lnsulated relation thereon adapted therebyto serve as a contact to 'oe' engaged by a part of a passing train for controlling a shunt circuit in parallel with the train circuit. a 1

- 5. A rail for toy electric track sections, said rail being built up of a plurality of separately formed. members, connected together in rail forming relation and having means at its opposite ends by which it may be detachably connected in tracking alignment with adjacent other toy track rails,- one of said members being of conductive material arranged to provide a conductive path through the rail from end to end of the rail, another of said members being ot-conductive material arranged to provide a car partengaging head portion; torsaid rail, and another of said members being of insulating material arranged to electrically insulate said first two mentionedmembers from each other.

6. ,As'anarticle of manufacture, an electric toy track section intended to be attached to or removed from track forming relation with other electric toy track sections in the usual manner, said section bei'ngmade up of spaced wheel bearing rails and an intermediate insulated third rail with cross-tie means by which all or the rails are mechanically connected together for unitary handling, at least one of the wheel bearing rails having a bottom; flange portion extending longitudinally thereof by which it is connected with the cross-tie means, said wheel bearing rail also having an upper portion providing a wheel engaging surface extending longitudi nally alongthe top edge-oi the rail parallel above said bottom flange portion, means whereby said upper'portion is insulated from the remainder of'the rail, a pair of wire terminals, acondu'ctor extending from said mentioned upper portion into connection with one of said wire terminals, and a second conductor connected with the mentioned third rail and extending into connecchiding said wire terminals.

tionwith the second wire terminal, all where= by the upper portion of the mentioned wheel bearing trail is adapted to serve as "montactto be engaged by thewheelslof a passing train for controlling an electric circuit in- 7 L Asian article of manufacture, an electric toy track section intended to be attached to or removed from track forming relation with other, electric toy tracksections in the usual manner, said sectionbeing made up of spaced wheel bearlng ra ls and an intermediate lnsulated third, rail with cross-tie means by which all of the rails are mechanically connected together for unitary shandling, at least one of the wheel bearing rails having a bottom flange portion extending longitudinally thereof by. which, it is connected with the .cross-tie means, said wheel bearingwlrail also having an upper portion providing a wheel engaging surface extending longitudinally-along the top edgeof the rail parallel'above said bottom flange portion, said upper portion having a part proecting downwardly th refrom in lapping relation with a, part projecting upwardly from the bottom flange portion, and an insulating member interposed between said lapping-parts and fixed thereto, whereby the mentioned upper portion of theimentioned wheel bearing .railis insulated from theremainder of said rail andadapted thereby to serve as a contact to be engaged-by the wheelsof a passing train for controlling an electric circuit. I V 8. A rail for toy electrictrack sections, said rail being built up of aplurality of separately formed members, one ofsaid members being of conductive material extending from end to end of the rail and having sockets at its opposite ends adapted toserve in connecting the rail in tracking alignment with adjacent other rails, another'of said members being of conductive'material providing acar part engaging surface extend- 111g longitudinally along the top edge of the rail and having a longitudinally extending portion lapping a similarly longitudinally extendingportion' of the first 'member, and another of said members consisting of a strip of insulating material interposed between the lapping portion of the'flrst two "mentioned members to insulate said two members from each other, together with means to mechanically connect all of said members in rail forming relation.

' 9; As an article of, manufacture, an electric toy track section intended to be attached to or removed from track forming relation with otherelectric toy track sections in the usual manner, said section being made up of spaced wheel bearing rails and an intermediate insulated thirdrail with cross-tie means by which all of the rails are mechanically connected together for unitary handling, at least one of the wheel bearing railshavin-gopposite end portions constrnctedandarranged to serve in connecting said railintrack forming relation with aligned railsot adjacent other toy track sections, said mentioned rail having an intermediate portion of its length electrically and mechanically connecting said end portions together, and said mentioned rail also having a wheel engaging; portion of itself formed as a member; separate from the .remainder of said rail and-snpported ininsulated relation thereonadapted thereby to serve as: acontact to be engagedby the wheels of-a passing'train for controlling a shunt circuit in parallel with the train circuit, together with means provided upon said, insulated wheel engaging portion by which it may be detachably electrically connected-with insulated wheel engaging portions of adjacent other toy track sections. J

10. As an article ofmanufacture, an electric toy track section intended to beattached to or removed from track forming relation with other electric toy track sections in the usualmanner, said section being made upof spaced wheel bearings rails and an inter mediate insulated third rail with cross-tie means by whichallof the rails are mechanically connected together for unitary handling at. least one of thewheel bearing rails having abottom flange portion extending longitudinally thereof by whichitis connected with the cross-tie means, saidfwheel-bearing rail alsoihaving an upper portion providing a wheel engaging surface extending longitudinallyalong the top edge of the rail parallel above said bot-tom flange portion, means whereby the upper portion of thementioned wheel bearing rail is insulated from the remainder of said railand adapted thereby to serve as a contact to be engaged by the wheels :of a passing train for'controlling an electric circuit, and said bottom flange portion and said insulated upper portion each having sockets provided in their opposite endsadaptv ed to receive connecting pins whereby said portions respectively may be detachably, me-

chanically and electrically connected with the corresponding portions of adjacent other toy track sections.

11. As an article of manufacture, an electric toy track section intended to be attached to or removed from track forming relation with. other electric toy track sections in the usual manner, said section being made up of spaced wheel bearing rails and'an intermediate insulated third rail with cross-tie means by which all of the rails aremechanically connected'together for unitary handling, all of said rails having opposite end portions by which they may be detachably, mechanically and electrically connected in track forming relation with the corresponding rails ofadjacent other toy. track sections and the section being. constructed so that the twoend portionsiof each-of 'the'wheel bearing rails respectively are independently electrically connected-together" thereby providing twoseparate paths oficonductivity throughxthe toy section, one path for each wheel bearing l raiheach of the wheel bearing rails having an insulated wheel engaging portion-adapted to serve as a contact to beengagedby the wheels of apassing train for controlling an electric circuit, and the insulated wheel engaging portions of thefrespective wheel bearing rails each having means at their opposite ends ,adapted te; receive connecting pins.

whereby said portions-respectively may be detachably, mechanically and electrically con- .8.0 nected with the correspondin portions ofadj acent othertoy tracksections. b. e f

, 12. As an article of manufacture, an electric toy-track section intended to be attached 5 to or removed from track forming relation with other electric toy-track sections in the usual manner, said section being-made up ofwsjpaced wheel'bearing rails, and an intermediate insulated" third rail'wit-h eross tie means by Which-all 'ofthe rails are 'mechanii .cally connected together forunitary:chandling, all of said rails having oppositeend portions by which they may be detachably, mechanically and electrically connected in track. forming relation with the corresponding'rail's of adjacent other toy track sections and the sections, being constructed so that the end. portions of bothiof the wheel bear.-

ing rails-are electrically connected together, each, of the wheel: bearing rails having an 1190 insulated wheel, engaging portion adapted toserve as a contact to be engaged by the wheels ofza passing train for controlling an electric circuit, two pairs of wire terminals vonefpair-adjacent each wheel bearing1'ail,*' and said sectionbeing constructed to electrically connect the insulated. wheel engagging portions of the two wheel bearing rails with one terminal of each pair and 'toxelectricallyconnectthe third rail terminal of each pair.

13.- rail for toy electric track sections, said rail being built up of a plurality ofseparately formed members one of said members being of conductive material extending 1011- 1115 :gitudinally' of the e rail and having a flange projecting laterally at one side along the bottom edge-of the rail, another of said members being of conductive material providing a car part engaging portion for the rail lalso eX- 1120 tending. longitudinally of the rail and having to a flange projecting laterally therefrom along the bottomxedgeof the railopposite to the first flange,-and another of said members being of insulating materialfixed to the first 1 I two'members:and'interposed between them 9 so as to insulate them from each other, the

first mentioned member having a pair of car part engaglng portions one at each of its ends,andthe car partengaging portion of 130 with the other the second mentioned member being arranged intermediate-the two car part engaging portions of the first member" and; in

tracking alignment therewith.

. adapted to serve as a contact to be engaged by a passing car part for controlling a shunt circuit in parallel with the train circuit, said contact being positioned to stand in interposed relation between the railhead and the passingcar part.

15. A railfor'toy'electrie track sections,

' said rail being built-up lot a plurality of separately formed members connected together in rail forming relation, one of said members being of conductive material arranged to provide a conductive path througlrtherail from end to end of the rail and having'means at its opposite ends by which it may be detachably connected in tracking alignment with adjacent other toy track rails, another formed separate from the remainder of the of said members being of conductive mate'- IIZLl adapted to serve as a contact and being arranged for travel therealong of a part of a passing car, and another of sa1d members bein of insulatino materialarran ed'to elech C: r

trically insulate the first two mentioned members from each other. 7 A l 161A rail for toy electric track sections,

said rail having a head portion, a web portion, and a flange portion, the head portion being made up at least in part of a member rail and providing a conductivecontact forming surface along and m 'engagement with which a car part may travel, said flange portion beingimade up at least in part of a momalignment with rails. I V i ,17; A rail for toy electric track sections,

her of conductive material formed separate from the remainder ofthe rail and providing means by which the rail may beconnected with the cross ties of the track section, said web portion being made up at least in part of a member of insulating material arranged to insulate the mentioned head forming mem her from the remainder of the rail, andfsaid web and flange portions including a part which provides a conductive path. through the rail from end to end of the rail and which has means at its opposite ends by which said rail may be detachably connected. in tracking adjacent other toy track said rail having a head portion,a web porthere being insulating means arranged to tion, and a'flangeportion, the head portion being'made up at least in part of a member formed separate from the remainder of the with the crossties of the track section, the

web portion standing substantially vertically between the flange and the head portions and insulate the mentioned head forming member wholly from the flange portion of the rail. 1

18. A'rail for toy electric track'sections', said rail having an upper portion alongand in engagement with which 'a'car partmay travel and a lower portion by which-the rail may be connected with cross ties of the track section, and said upper portion being made up to include a contact strip longitudinally thereof arranged to be engaged by the traveling car part, together with insulating means by which saidcontact strip is, insulated from the lower portion of the rail. i

19. A built-up rail for toy electric track sections, said rail comprising two longitudinally extending parts connected together in insulatedrelation and co-operating to supporta car which may travel along said rail, each of said two parts being of acharacter to serve as a conductor between theoppositc ends of the rail, one of said parts beingarranged to serve as a contact to be engaged by a portion of a passing car, and each of said two partshaving means at its opposite ends by which it may be electrically connected in aligned relation with similar insulated rail forming parts ofadjacent. other toy track sections. f a

20.- A rail ,fortoy electric track sections, said rail being built up" of 'a plurality of sep- "ar'ately formed members, one of said members being of conductive material extending longitudinally of the rail and having a flange car part engaging portions one at each of its ends, and the car part engaging'portion of the second mentioned member being arranged intermediate the'two car part engaging portions of the first 'memberl and in trackin alignment therewith and both said first and second mentioned members having means at their opposite ends by which they may be electrically connected in aligned relation with similar members of adjacent other toy track sections.

21. A rail for toy electric railroad track, said rail having upper and lower longitudinally extending portions and a member of conductive material fitting as a cover over said upper portion and insulated therefrom of a character to serve as a contact for engagement by a current carrying part of a car passing along said rail.

A rail for toy electric railroad track, said rail having upper and lower longitudinally extending portions, the upper portion including a relatively enlarged longitudinally extending head, and a contact strip of conductive material fitted as a cover about said head and being held thereto in insulated relation by gripping around said head and an interposed insulating strip.

23. A rail for toy electric railroad track, said rail having upper and lower longitudinally extending portions and a member of conductive material fitting as a cover over said upper portion and insulated therefrom of a character to serve as a contact for en gagement by a current carrying part of a car passing along said rail, together with an extension formed upon said member extend ing away from said head adapted for the attachment of a conductor to said member.

2%. A built-up rail for toy electric track sections, said rail comprising a strip of insulating material and two strips of conductive material connected together in rail forming relation, one of the strips of conductive material being shaped to provide connecting means at opposite ends of the rail for connecting to adjacent aligned rails of other sections, also conductor means between said end connecting means, also flanges at opposite sides of the rail and also a web portion, the other strip of conductive material being shaped to provide a portion servin as a contact for engagement by a car part traversing the rail and also a web portion, and the strip of insulating material being sandwiched between the two mentioned web portions and connected firmly therewith.

25. A built-up rail for toy electric track sections, said rail comprising a strip of insulating material and two strips of conductive material connected together in rail forming relation, one of the strips of conductive material being shaped to provide connecting means at opposite ends of the rail for connecting to adjacent aligned rails of other sections, also conductor means between said end connecting means, also a flange at one side of the rail and also a web portion, the other strip of conductive material being shaped to provide a flange at the opposite side of the rail also a portion serving as a contact for engagement by a car part traversing the rail andalso a web portion, and the strip of insulating material being sandwiched between the two mentioned web portions and connected firmly therewith. 7

26. Abuilt-up rail for toy electric track sections, said rail comprisinga strip of infor engagement by a car part traversing the rail and also connecting means at its opposite ends spaced from the first mentioned connecting means adapted for connecting to adjacent aligned contact portions of other track sections and also a web portion, and the strip of insulating material being sandwiched between the two mentioned web portions and connected firmly therewith.

27. As an article of manufacture, an electric toy track section intended to be attached to or removed from track forming relation with other electric toy track sections in the usual manner, said section being mad-e up of spaced wheel bearing rails and an intermediate insulated third rail with cross tie means by which all of the rails are mechanically connected together for unitary handling, and at least one wheel bearing rail including, as one part, a conductor continuous between the opposite ends of the section and forming the relatively inner flange of said rail and, as another part, an insulated contact disposed to be engaged by a passing car part and having a portion forming the relatively outer flange of said rail in position to be engaged by a connector device.

r 28. As an article of manufacture, an electric toy track section intended to be attached to or removed from track forming relation with other electric toy track sections in the usual manner, said section being made up of spaced wheel bearing rails and an intermediate insulated third rail with cross tie means by which all of the rails are mechanically connected together for unitary handling, and said section being reversible end for end so that either of its wheel bearing rails may be placed in tracking alignment with a given wheel bearing rail of the system according to the end for end position of the section, and each wheel bearing rail of said section being constructed to provide a through conductor forming the relatively inner flange of said rail and an insulated contact forming the relatively outer flange of said rail, said insulated contacts being in position so that one thereof will be engaged by a Vehicle Wheel travelling along said given wheel bearing rail of the system regardless of the end for end position in which the section may be placed in the system.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

L. GESSFORD HANDY.

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