US2479022A - Toy railroad track layout - Google Patents

Description

v I- I I V- ---H L -l 50--. L 88 372/ 28 23 L, E 4 22 3;

Aug. 16, 1949. F. PETTiT 2,479,022

TOY RAILROAD TRACK LAYOUT Filed July as; 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 1' F5. 2.. v s s 7 k- 2 27 24 INVENTOR. FRANK PETT/T I 4 44 43 A TTO/PNEY Aug. 16, 1949. v F. PETTlT 2,479,022 TOY RAILROAD TRACK LAYOUT Filed July 26, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 16, 1949 Frank r aitl niq N.

G rn re iqit. New York,

N Y k assi o The-Li nel a corp rat on c Application July 26, 1945, -Serial'No. 607,134

(01. gistn) 7 .7 Qlaims,

The present invention relates to'toy railroad trackv layouts, and is, more particularly directed toward toy railroad track layouts utilizing a, plurality of track sections and track section couplers.

In the toy railroad art it has heretofore been customary to build up toy railroad trackage out of tl ai l sections with, a plurality of. rails and wherein. the ends of the rails. were usually provided with some form of telescoping elements or overlapping parts which could be interengaged to form mechanically continuous wheel bearing rails, and electrically continuous or discontinuous power and wheel bearing rails, and the sections were mechanically secured together by clips or atch element The present invention contemplates toy railroad trackage wherein the track sections are secured together-by coupler units which mechanically interconnect the track sections to provide n extremely. rigid trackage structure wherein the rails, are held aligned both vertical-lye and horizontally, accidental separation is made impossibled istortion reduced to a minimum.

According to the present invention the track ctions. carry the two insulated wheel bearing rails. and usually an insulated power rail. All the Falls are'carried on an insulating base, and, as shown herein, the wheel bearing rails project beyond the ends of the base and the power rail or may not, project. Ihe coupling member or unit is arranged toimechanically interconnect the ends of the insulating track section basessq as to; hold them in alignment both verti-. ll M151 horizontally and hold the rails in align! ment. The coupling members or units are under he whe l bearing rails and are provided with electrical conductorsor. jumpers adapted toibe brought into conductive relation with the power and. Wh el. hearin rails when the couplers and ec iens ar it seme exam l s oi ien-t e, te te ra l so as to hol he lwttem ct thl ai 's, n ancthe example c he present nvent cn the cou g uni s. ha e, emen s enacte in testes c nduc onducting in'place and these conducting elements or jumpers are arranged to engage the adjacent ends of cor responding rails, and the parts are so dimensioned close together, arenot the present invention the. eee ne; units h e sh ine eleme ts or clips. nee he base, fl n e .ei the the cou l g membe up again t me anchcraees m loyed or the tract the P r se o rec vi g the Whe beari g r ils 2 sponding rails to provide continuous electrical circuit from one track section to another, Q1 they. may be connected to extraneous circuit elements so that the current supply to each rail may be separately controlled, and switches used tomake rails continuous throughout two or more sections of track.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a road bed in which. all the electrical con: nections between the rails are carried in the. coupler and the coupler may either be one which connects adjacent ends of;- corresponding rails,

or one in which. one-can either connect the ends of the rails or electrically disconnect them. Thus each coupling unit may be employed as a mere electrical mechanical connector, or as a device whereby dead sections of power or Wheel bearing rail may be available at will and connect to an extraneous circuit. It thereby obviates the necessity of employing lock-on devices for connecting in the power supply and all kinds of electrically operated trackaccessories.

' pear as the description proceeds.

Other and further objects will hereinafter an- The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, three embodiments in which the. invention may take form, it being understood that the drawings are illus: trative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In these drawings:

Figure l is atop planview of one form of construction;

Figure 2 is an inverted plan view of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view at an enlarged scale.

taken on the lines 3-3 of Figures 1 and 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the coupler unit of Figures 1, 2 and 3;

Figure 5 isa sectional view on the line 5-i5 of Figures 1, 2 and 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a detail;

Figure '7 is a wiring diagram for the structure of Figures 1 to 6, inclusive;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a modified form of construction; c

Figure 9 is an end view of the coupler of Figure 8;

Figures 10 and 11 are side elevational views of the coupler of Figure 8 taken in the direction of the arrows l0 and II, respectively;

Figure 12 is an inverted plan view of the coupler of Figure 8;-

v Figure 18 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the broken line |8--|8 of Figure 17;

Figure 19 is an inverted plan view of the track section coupler of Figures 17 and 18, the cover member for the contacts being omitted;

Figure 20 is a top plan View of the same; Figure 21 is an end elevational View taken in the direction of the arrow 2| of Figure 20;

of a rail clip 38. This clip is held in place by a bolt 39 passed through the tie 30 and base 26 and a nut 39' bearing against the base 25. This provides the second anchorage for the cross tie 30.

The rails 2|, 2| similarly engage fingers 53 of a rail clip 4| which is similar to the rail clip 38. The bolt 42 passes through a conducting strip 43 and an insulating strip 44 and receives a nut 45, smaller than the hole 46 in the base 26. The

strip 43 is held in place by a rivet 57 Whose Figures 22 and 23 are side elevational views taken in the direction of the arrows 22 and 23 of Figure Figure 24 is an inverted plan view with the cover member in place;

Figures 25 to 2'7, inclusive, are sectional views taken on the corresponding lines, respectively, of Figure 19, the cover being in place;

Figure 28 is a section on line 2'|-2'| of Figure 19 with the movable contact shifted; and

Figure 29 is an inverted plan view of a modified form of construction, the cover being omitted.

In the drawings Figures 1, 2, 3 and 7, one section of toy railroad track is fragmentarily illustrated at S at the left and another similar section at S at the right. These track sections are more fully shown and described in application for Toy railroad tracks, Serial No. 607,176, filed by Joseph L. Bonanno concurrently herewith.

The section S at the left has an insulating base 25' shown here as including a cross tie of inverted box-like contour, and this base carries two wheel bearing rails 2| and 22 and a third rail 23, each of conventional form and projecting beyond the cross tie or base 25. section S similarly has a base 20' and wheel bearing rails 2|, 22' and power rail 23. When the sections are coupled together, as indicated in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the ends of rails 2|2l', 22--22, and 23-23, respectively, are separated by gaps 2|", 22" and 23" which appear in Figures 1 and 4.

The insulating base for the track sections opens downwardly, as indicated at 24 in Figures 2 and 3, and is cut back as indicated at 25 so as to accommodate the sheet metal base plate 25 of the coupler unit C. This base plate has at its corners four upwardly bent prongs 27 adapted to enter into the insulating bases from underneath and engage in these so as to definitely locate the base of one track section relative to the base of the other. In this way the rails are aligned and the ends kept out of contact.

In the construction shown in Figures 1-6 an insulating cross tie 30 is secured midway of the I plate 26. It is fastened to the plate by a rivet indicated at 3|. This cross tie member is notched, as indicated at 32, 32, for the ends of the wheel bearing rails and at 33 for the ends of the power rail. It is provided with a tapped hole 35 in the recess 33 and a spring clip device 35 is secured in place as indicated by a screw 36 threaded into the tie 38. which engage the bases of the rails 23, 23' as is clear from Figures 1 and 5. piece of metal it acts as a jumper and electrically connects the adjacent ends of the rails 23, 23.

The rails 22, 22' engage spring fingers 31, 37

The track This clip 35 has four spring ears" As it is a single upper end carries a wire clip 48.

When the device shown in Figures 1 to 5 is in use, the track sections are held against separation longitudinally and against lateral and vertical shifting movement. A smooth road bed is provided for the wheels and the contact roller can pass along the third rail. The clips shown at 35, 38 and 4| are arranged to act as jumpers and interconnect the adjacent ends of the rails. Each rail is electrically continuous and insulated from the other rail, as indicated more clearly in Figure 7.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 8 to 16, the track sections S" are provided with wheel bearing rails 53, 58 extending beyond the bases 5| and a power rail 52, which, instead of resembling a conventional rail, is a piece of sheet metal of very flat inverted Vcross section. The track rails 50, 50 extend a considerable distance beyond the end of the base 5|, as is clear from the left of Figure 8, while the power rail 52 is shown as extending only a short distance beyond the end of the base. For clarity in the drawings only one track section S" is indicated, it being understood that there will be another similar track section at the right of Figure 8.

The coupler C of Figures 8 through 16, inclusive, is here shown as having an insulating base or body 53 which not only carries all the electrical parts, but also does the mechanical connecting together of the two track sections. For purposes of mechanically connecting these sections together the base 53 has extensions 54, 54 at the ends grooved as indicated at 55 to fit into inverted box-like insulating bases of the track sections and secure the insulating body of the coupler section together longitudinally, vertically and laterally.

The insulating base 53 is provided with four elongated holes 56, which receive prongs 51 provided on sheet metal power rail elements 58 of the same cross section as the power rails 52 on track sections S". These power rail elements are electrically separated by a narrow fin 59, and the power rail elements 58 are provided with prongs or fingers 6B, 60 which contact the underside of the power rails 52 of the track sections.

The base 53 is also provided with holes 6|, 62, 63, 64 adapted to receive spring'fingers or clips 65, 66, 67, 68, respectively, these being shaped and spaced so as to engage the base flanges of the rails 50, 50 of the two track sections. These rails are adapted to rest on the upper surfaces 69 of the base 53. Intermediate the ends of the rails 50, 50 the base 53 extends upwardly as indicated at I0 to separate the rails and form a short rail element to support the wheels. The base 53 also has two lateral extensions H and 12 simulating the ends of cross ties.

The coupling element C has a lower fiat surface 13 adapted to rest on a suitable support. The insulating member 53 is upwardly recessed, as generally indicated at M, to'accommodate conducting 5 elements and switches; which will now be de'-= scribed. I a

Onebranch 14aof the recess 14" is in the tie simulating element 12; and it extendsto an open- 7 ing 15. It is grooved as indicated at 15 for a wire a; This portion of the recess is adapted to receive :a conducting stripi'lfi adapted to contact the wired brought in through the opening T5 and-slid in under the strip. This conductor 16 extends: across the main central part Mb of the recess "to have its lower end placed. as indicated at 11. It extends to the left, as indicated at 18, 18-, and more clearly in the section of Figure 15 where it passes under the prongs 51 on the power rail element/58 to the left of Figure 8, so" that this" power rail element is electrically connected with the conductor 1-6.

The portion 140 of the recess 14 and formed in the .tiesimulati-ng element 1| accommodates a conductingstrip 19 which extends across the deep part 1% of recess 14 and has its upper end located as indicated at 80. It has lateral extensions 80 to the right similar to those indicated at 18 for the conductor strip 16, whereby the prongs- 51 of therighthanclpower rail element 58 may be connected tothe conductor strip 19. The side edges. of strips 16 and i9 engage side walls 14d, Md of the deep portion 14b of the recess.

The lower portion of the conductor strip 19, as it appears in Figure 12, covers a slider 8| whose inner end 82 can be moved from the full line position of Figures 12, 13 and 14 upwardly as indicated in dotted linesinFigures 13 and 14 so as to bringit over the lower end 11 of the conductor. strip 16. The slider 81 is readily'accessible from above so that the power rail elements 58, 58may be electrically connected or not, as desired, and when these elements are electrically connected or disconnected the same condition maintains for the elements 52, 52 on the track sections.

The rail engageable clip 66, on the lower right of Figure 8 and upper right of Figure 12, is partof an angle shaped conducting strip 83 secured inplace by a screw 84 and having a leftward extension 85 which. rests on the intermediate step portion 14f of the recess 14.

The rail engageable clip 61, 61, on the upper left of Figure 8 and lower left of Figure .12, is part of an angle shaped conducting strip 86' secured in place by .-a screw 81 and extended toward the right,. as indicated at 88, where it restson the intermediate step portion 'Hlg of the recess 14.

The rail engageable clip 68 on the upper right of Figure 8 and lower right of Figure 12, forms part of a a screw 99. This conducting strip is notched, as indicated at 9!, to clear the end 88 of the conducting strip 85, and has an extension 92 for contacting "a wire I) which canbe pushed into the notch indicated at 93. The strip 89 also has an extension 94 extending to the right and'downwardly, as indicated in Figure 12, and adapted to overlie" a slider 95 whose inner end 96 can be moved from the full line position of Figures 12' and 15-W-here it does not touch the end 88 of strip 85-to an upper position, shown dotted in Figure 15;where it connects the strip 89 with the strip 85-so that by moving the slider 95 between these two positions one can electrically connect the rail engageable clips 68and 61/ The other rail engageable clip '65, at the lower left-oi Figure 8, the upper left of Figure 12, forms part of a conducting :strip 91 secured in place by a screw 98 and havingan extension 99 for wire c conducting strip 89 secured in place by opposite an. opening.- mo: and a secondiextension HM, the latter being adapted to overliexaslider i102 whose inner end M3: isadapted to be moved into or out of contact with the extension of conductor83. The-slider is held against removal by alug" till-formed! in the insulating body; The

conductors 89' and 9! are alongside the side walls "It and 142 of the recess 14.

Figure 16 indicates awiring diagram for a track layout employing aplurality of track sections S' interconnected by couplers C". The power wire a isconnected' to the power rail 52 of the extreme.

left track section and maybe connected by the switch 82 to the adjacent end of the power rail 1 of the next trackJsection'. The wire I) is conbearing rail of the section to the left of it. The

wire 0 is always connected with the lower wheel bearing rail 59' of the section to the left of the coupler and may be connected by the switch 88 with the adjacent end'of the corresponding wheel bearing rail 'of the section to the right. Each coupler embodies provisions whereby the'third rail tothe left of the coupler and one wheel bearing rail to theleft of the coupler may be connected to separate extraneous circuit parts, andthe other wheel bearing rail on the section to the right of the coupler may be connected to still a third extraneous circuit. It is obvious that any desired length'of' either wheel bearing rail or of the. power rail maybe isolated from the remainder of the track layout, and utilized for control purposes dependingupon the energization of the particular rail in question either from the power source or by. grounding through the trucks of the rolling stock.

Devices such as described make it possible to bring the wiring'ito the connections within the coupling membersand there is no occasion to employ fibre pinsror separately insulated rails in specialsections of track for the purpose of controlling signals and the like.

Figures 1'7 to 2.8; inclusive, illustrate a further modified form of construction designed for use with somewhat difiierent type of track section.

This track section is shown more fully in my application for toy railroad tracks, Serial No.

667,135, filed concurrently herewith.

A fragment of the track sections S is illustrated at theleft of Figure 1'7, and in section in Figures 1.8, .25 and 26. This track section has two wheel bearing rails H0, Ill and a power rail H2, this power rail being similarto the power rail 52 indicated in Figure 8; The rails aremounted on. an insulating base the end portion of which is indicated at. H3. Rail attaching devices for securing the rails in place areindicated at H4. The

ends of thefli-nsulating bases are cored out from underneath to give access to the attaching members H4- and to provide downwardly opening re'-' cesses |I5-whichare disposed between the wheel bearingraiis. The wheel bearing rails, as will be apparent from the drawings, extend beyond theinsulating base so as to overlie the coupling unit C.

The coupling unit C" has a molded insulating base 1:16 whose projectingends 1H are provided withupwardly extending lugs H1 adaptedto enter into the recesses 1 ii of the track sections so that thetwo track sections may be locked together and secured against movement when the track sections and the coupling units rest-on a supporting surface. The upper surface of the insulating base IIB has lugs H8, H8 which fit between the ends of the rails I I and I I I, and an elevated central portion indicated at II9 which corresponds with the shape of the power rail so that there is a continuous mechanical surface to support the wheels and the contact rollers on the train.

The insulating base is recessed from underneath to receive electrical contacts and switches. These contacts are arranged in pairs. The upper pair of contacts in Figure 19 is shown at I20 and I2I, the lower pair of contacts at I22 and I23, and the intermediate pair of contacts at I24 and I25. The upper and lower pairs of contacts are held in place by downwardly extending posts I26. The contacts I23, I2I, I22 and I23 each have spring ends indicated at I 21 adapted to engage the rail anchorages H4, as indicated in Figures 17 and 25.

The contacts I20 and I 23 are alike and have lateral extensions I20 and I23 which extend alongside contacts I2I and I22. These latter two contacts are alike. The contacts I20 and I23 have laterally extendin lugs or tabs I28 above which wires I 29 may be inserted. The contact strips I2I and I22 hold sliders I30 and I3I in place, these sliders being movable from the position shown in Figure 19, where contacts I20 and I2I, as well as contacts I22 and. I 23, are electrically disconnected, to the position shown in Figures 20 and 21, where these contacts are electrically connected. Thus by shifting the switch elements I30 and I3I back and forth one can electrically connect or disconnect the corresponding wheel bearing rails of adjacent track sections.

The contacts I24 and I25 are alike. Each has an upwardly bent resilient end I32 extending through a hole in the base and adapted to engage the undersuriace of the power rail I I2 as indicated in Figures 18 and 26. Each of the contact strips I24 and I25 has a laterally extending element indicated at I33. One of these elements, the lower right hand one in Figure 19, extends down to the lower edge of the insulating base, as indicated in this figure, and is adapted to hold a wire I34 in place. The upper extension I33 of Figure 19 holds a slider I35 in place. The inner end I36 of the slider I35 is adapted to engage the contact I25 so as to electrically connect contacts I24 and I25. Thus by moving the switch I35 back and forth (as indicated in Figures 27 and 28) one can connect or disconnect the power rails of adjacent sections.

All the contacts and switch elements described in connection with Figure 19 are held in place by a cover member I3! which is secured on the downwardly extending posts I26. The cover member has suitable elevated portions as indicated at I37 which apply pressure to the contacts.

The form of connector illustrated in Figure 29 resembles the connector in Figures 1'7 to 28, except that it has no switch elements for disconnecting the jumpers employed in interconnecting the track rails. Here the three contact strips I40, MI and I42 are adapted to continuously connect the wheel bearing and power rails of one track section to those of the next. A unit such as this would be employed where it is not desired to insulate corresponding rails from one another, or to make any electrical connections.

Since it is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other forms and constructions within the scope of the claims, I wish it to be understood that the particular forms shown are but a few of these forms, and various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. Toy railroad trackage comprising track sections each with an insulating base and a plurality of rails insulated from one another, and a track section coupler having means to hold the sections at fixed spacings and align them both vertically and horizontally with adjacent ends of corresponding rails out of electrical contact with one another, and jumper connections electrically connecting said rail ends together.

.-A toy railroad track layout comprising a plurality of track sections each having two wheel bearing rails insulated from one another, and combined electrical and mechanical track coupler units detachably secured to the adjacent ends of the track sections and holding the rails in alignment for train operation but out of contact, each coupler carrying jumpers for electrically interconnecting the adjacent ends of corresponding rails.

3. A toy railroad track layout comprising a plurality of track sections each having two wheel bearing rails insulated from one another, and combined electrical and mechanical track coupler units detachably secured to the adjacent ends of the track sections and holding the rails in alignment for train operation but out of contact, each coupler carrying an externally accessible terminal connected with one wheel bearing rail of one of two adjacent sections and a second similar terminal connected with the other wheel bearing rail of the other section.

. 4. A toy railroad track layout comprising a plurality of track sections each having two wheel bearing rails and a power rail the three rails being insulated from one another, and combined electrical and mechanical track coupler units detachably secured to the adjacent ends of the track sections and holding the rails in alignment for train operation but out of contact, each coupler carrying jumpers for electrically interconnecting the adjacent ends of corresponding rails. 5. A toy railroad track layout comprising a plurality of track sections each having two wheel bearing rails and a power rail the three rails being insulated from one another, and combined electrical and mechanical track coupler units detachably secured to the adjacent ends of the track sections and holding the rails in alignment for train operation but out of contact, each coupler carrying an externally accessible terminal connected with one wheel bearing rail of one of two adjacent sections and a second similar terminal connected with the other wheel bearing rail of the other section, and an externally accessible terminal connected with the third rail of one of the sections.

6. In combination, two adjacent, aligned, toy railroad track sections each having an insulating base and wheel bearing rails supported on the base and projecting beyond the end of the base toward the projecting rails supported on the other base, and a track section coupler, the coupler and track section bases having cooperative elements interengageable on relative vertical movement to hold the coupler and track sections in transverse and vertical alignment, and longitudinally spaced with the rails ends closely adjacent but out of contact, the coupler also having a conductor coupler bases and conductors carried by "the coupler and-engageable with the power rails of the 1 track sections.

9. The combination of claim 6, having wheel bearing rail anchorage devices extending through the insulating bases of the track sections and wherein each conductor engages one of the anchorage devices.

10. The combination claimed in claim-6, where- 'in the rails have base flanges and the conductors include yieldablebontacts which snap over the flanges and hold the rail ends down onto the coupler. 7

i l. The combination of claim 6', wherein the coupler carries a current supply terminal connected to one of the conductors for one rail end, and a switch for connecting that conductor with the conductor for the corresponding end of the adjacentrail whereby theasaidadjacent rails may be electrically connected together .IOI' the first of said rails ,or both .of them may be connected to an outside source.

12. Atoy railroad track,:comprising a plurality of track sections "each having-a :pair ei whfiel hearing rails insulated from one another and track section couplers interconnecting *the track sections and mechanically holding them together to provide f ortrain operation, the couplers hclding the .adjacentendsof corresponding rails out of electrical contact, each coupler carrying a jumper connection whereby corresponding rails may be electrically connected and an externally accessible terminal connected to the jumper connectors whereby the corresponding rail may be connected to an extraneous source.

13. A track as in claim 12, wherein the jumper connection includes two contacts, one for each rail, and a switch for connecting the twocontacts together.

14. A toy railroad track layout comprising a plurality of track sections each having two wheel bearing rails insulated from one another, and combined electrical and mechanical track coupler units detachably secured to the adjacent ends of the track sections and holding the rails in alignment for train operation but out of contact, each coupler carrying an externally accessible terminal connected with one wheel bearing rail of one of two adjacent sections, a second similar terminal connected with the other wheel bearing rail of the other section, and jumpers connecting adjacent rail ends, each jumper including a switch whereby either wheel bearing rail may be made electrically continuous from section to section or any wheel bearing rail of any section may be insulated from the corresponding rail of an adjacent section and connected through the corresponding terminal with an extraneous circuit.

15. A toy railroad track layout comprising a plurality of track sections each having two wheel bearing rails insulated from one another, and combined electrical and mechanical track coupler units detachably secured to the adjacent ends of the track sections and holding the rails in alignment for train operation but out of contact, each coupler carrying an externally accessible termi- 'nal connected with one wheel bearing rail of one of two adjacent sections and a second similar terminal connected with the other wheel bearing rail of the othersection, and switch means whereby the power rails may be made electrically continuous from section :to section or the power rail of any section may be insulated iromthe cor.- responding rail of an adjacent section and con- :nected with an extraneous circuit.

1 6. A toy railroad track layout comprising a pluralityof track sections each "having two wheel hearing rails and a power rail the three rails being insulated fromione another, and combined electrical and mechanical track coupler units detach-ably secured to the adjacent ends of the track sections and holding the rails in alignment for train operation but out of contact, each coupler carrying switches for electrically connecting adjacent ends of corresponding rails and being further provided with external terminals where flay the power .rail and one wheel bearing rail or .one section and the other wheel bearing rail of the other section be separately connected to extraneous circuits.

17. In a toy railroad track layout, two track sections each "having insulating bases whe'e'l bearing rails extending beyond the ends of the bases and rail anchorages extending upwardly through the 'bases and adjacent-the ends of the bases and having contact surfaces accessible from below the bases .hav ing downwardly opening recesses dzetweenithe rails, and-tracksectioncouplers having insulating ba-ses wider than "the rail spacdng'and provided with-lugs received in the re- .so as to mechanically connecttogether and ahgn two track sections with the rails ends overlying the coupler bases but out of contact with one another, and jumpers with spring ends engaging with the rail anchorages.

18. A layout as in claim 17, wherein the jumpers each include two contacts and a disconnecting switch, and one of the contacts of each jumper V has an externally accessible terminal.

19. In a toy railroad track layout, two track sections each having insulating bases, wheel bearing rails extending beyond the ends of the bases, rail anchorages extending upwardly through the bases adjacent the ends of the bases and having contact surfaces accessible from below, and a power rail between the wheel bearing rails and terminating at the ends of the base, the bases having downwardly opening recesses between the rails, and track section couplers having insulating bases wider than the rail spacing and provided with lugs received in the recesses so as to mechanically connect together and align two track sections with the rails ends overlying the coupler bases but out of contact with one another, a jumper carried by the coupler and having spring ends extending up through the track section bases and engaging the ends of the power rails, and jumpers with spring ends engaging with the rail anchorages.

20. A layout as in claim 19, wherein the jumpers each include two contacts and a disconnecting switch, and one of the contacts of each jumper has an externally accessible terminal.

21. A coupler for toy railroad track sections having wheel bearing and power rails and downwardly opening recesses, said coupler comprising an insulating base having upwardly extending alignment lugs at its ends adapted to fit the recesses, the base having downwardly opening contact receiving cavities, three longitudinally extending jumpers in the cavities, the central jumper having ends extending up through the base for engagement with the power rail, the outside jumpers being spaced according to the gage of the wheel bearing rails, each having spring ends extending beyond the base for connection with the wheel bearing rails, and a cover for the cavities which holds the jumpers in place.

22. A coupler as in claim 21, wherein the central jumper includes two L-shaped contact strips electrically disconnected from one another, their laterally extending portions extending to the sides of the base, and a slider movable along one extending portion and engageable with the other strip to complete the connection between the two, and the base has a wire receiving opening adjacent the other extending portion.

23. A coupler as in claim 21, wherein each of the outside jumpers includes two contact strips, the first of which has an inner end which extends past the second, and a slider movable along the second strip into and out of engagement with the inner end of the first, and the base has a Wire receiving opening adjacent the first strip.

24. A coupler as in claim 21, wherein the base has upwardly extending elements spaced the same as the rails to fill the gaps between the rails on the track sections.

25. In a coupler unit for coupling toy railroad track sections having two wheel bearing rails, an insulating base having two pairs of contacts and two switches each adapted to electricallyconnect or disconnect the contacts of a pair, the pairs of contacts being juxtaposed so that each of the four contacts may be connected to one of the wheel bearing rails, whereby the wheel bearing rails may be electrically connected or disconnected.

26. In a coupler unit for coupling toy railroad track sections having two wheel bearing and an intermediate power rail, an insulating base having three pairs of contacts alongside one another and three switches, each adapted to electrically connect or disconnect the contacts of a pair, the outer pairs of contacts being juxtaposed so that each of these four contacts may be connected to one of the wheel bearing rails, the intermediate pair of contacts being disposed to connect the power rails, whereby corresponding rails may be electrically connected or disconnected.

27. A toy railroad trackage comprising track sections with insulating bases and wheel bearing rails projecting beyond the bases, the bases having downwardly opening recesses, and a coupler having a base provided with upwardly extending elements which fit the recesses, hold the sections at fixed spacings, and align them both vertically and horizontally, and with spring clips which receive the flanges of the rails and hold the coupler up against the rails and track section bases.

FRANK PETTIT.

ifile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,390,119 Frohne Sept. 6, 1921 1,610,033 Becker Dec. 7, 1926 1,626,267 Caruso Apr. 26, 1927 1,672,915 Schwarzenhauer June 12, 1928 1,773,560 Wescott Aug. 19, 1930 2,265,965 Frisbie Dec. 9, 1941

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