US2510241A - Toy electric vehicle and track - Google Patents

Description

June 6, 1950 J. J. MILLER 2,510,241

TOY ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND TRACK 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed A9111 so, 1948 k Q J N Jam as J. Miller IN N 0R. N

I BY m June 1950 J. J. MILLER 2,510,241

- TOY ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND TR K Filed April 30, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2 I I 9a ./04 me 22 Fig.5

James J. Miller INVENTOR.

Patented June 6, 1950 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC VEHIGLE AND TRACK J em s -,.M i! Blopmsburg, Application April30, 19%8, Serial No. 24,149 5Qlai1ns (Cl. 104-14Q) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in toys-and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel and im proved electrically propelled vehicle and an end.- less track or runway therefor.

Anotherimportantobject of the present invention is to provide an electrically propelled vehicle including an electricmotor carried thereby, a pair ofconductive. rails, and novel and improved means for electrically connecting; the rails to the electric motor for propelling the vehicleon the rails.

A further object of the present invention is to provide. a toy electric vehicle and track including a runway having a pair of conductive rails enclosed therein, rollers frictionally engaging the rails, and guide. means. between the rollers and the electrically: propelled vehicle slidably engage ing' acontinuous; guideway formed in the runway.

A still further aim of the. present invention is to provide. atoy electric-vehic an t a k of e a r tioned characte that is s m le and practical construction, strc sd e e in use, small and comnactin structure, s e a d fficient. in use. n at an at ractive n earance relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for t pur o s for hi the same is intended.

her objects a iia v ntases resi th d tai s of con t uct n re 9.1 a ere fu l her ina ter si sc me ef r nce b in ha to the in ny....s d awin e mi e like sum ls e r to ke parts throu hout and i Fi ure 1 i a to 1 1 s er e er ca sect na vi w o he plane o re sen seehic e v. n can tion a thei stio i wi h the prese nventhe y port o m d Fi ur s f a menta long tudina hor ta S c i na vi w taken substantiall he plane of section line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a group perspective view of a pair of adjacent track sctions'in a separated position; and

Figure 7 is a detailed vertical sectional View showing the rail-engaging rollers of one vehicle engaged upon the non-conductive finger of another vehicle,

Referring now to the drawings in detail, where.- for the purpose of illustration, there diso d a preferred embodiment oi the present innuipn. the numeral Ill represents the tracl; .or runway that is used in conjunction with the present invention generally. This track I0 includes a plurality of straight sections l2 and a plurality of curved sections M which are so disposed as to form a continuous path or bearing surface for an electrically propelled vehicle that is designated generally by the numeral I6.

T e t ns. Zan -e c inelud u e w lls orbearing surfaces l8, lower walls or hearing surfaces 20, and side walls 22- and 24 integrally formed with the walls [8 and; 2|) Eixed to suit]- alole insulated. strips 25 on the. inneriace of each lower wall 20, is a pair of spaced parallel conductive rails 26 and 28; One end of each of. the rails are formed with socket 3|! and the remaining end of each of the rails is formed with a reduced tongue or extension 32 whereby adjacent sections may be connected to each otherwith. the extens c s .2- c r ried b one s ion en ag n he s ck,- ets 30 of an adjacent section. The rails of one ru section, for xam le se t c-n .4

nee dto a p i of ce d ct W e 38 that lead to a suitable source. of electric current such as a transformer T'.

h le t ieefly er e fiq ehicle ii. n lud s a s at lfl a ng fixed there o ai o ep nd n earin ea s 42 tha r tat hly sup o t a rear driving axlelll, anda fgrward driven ag le. 45 Suitably fixed on the. terminals of the, rear angle 44, is a pair of 33% Wheels. Q8, and fixed on. the mi s of t e orward, axlefifi. a i of 9 d Wh ls D- Extend n th ough a suitable aper e 52. rcvidedin t e. base relate i l aqiaent the fo wa d. xle i the up e hreaded e .4 o a depending orward conduc iverod 56 wh ch is. e d adjustable and fired t the b plate 40 by a pair of nuts 58. The lower estera l t ea ed end. 5'! cf the es it. .s an aperture t2 ro d n llblfi3 i 1 rectaneu e sen-rend A. ar helpline. P ate 54. and. i h l thereto thr h the me an of 3% De endin rcm the lic re lat A. ar Pairs ct su pr iiie nest t and 9, t at n e cen- Que ive plates 1?: Thes sensitive plates are. rie ra y erried, with pa s c screed ears 1! a d trat ctstab y si ercrtcomlu tivc 911: we 18, and i that. en a e the r i s 25 and re.- spect veln Embra in c s i the. mat 6. as? .9.. ans. biases between he s lace; at ii are the plates 12, are coil springs 82'tl1'at urge the rc rs. it rm!) 11 99 irietiena engagemen w fli m ali y in ad usters vsiaiiired in cut e the, re. t9 the as; p ate .9 ntestin rear axle i s the up er hr asleq rr t6. 9 a rear accessing cpl-ina ive x9e it he laser t e ed an 9 cf w i h es i ably sup orts as 9. r @Il 0.1 e

t-trel iii ix s 2 the h s: Plat 5! is e e r c r19 2?! haying a drive shaft 98, Integrally formed gages a gear wheel "52 which is fixed on the rear axle 44. This electric motor 96 is provided with a pair of terminals H04 and We one of which, for example IE4, is connected to the upper terminal 54 of the forward rod 56 by a conductive wire I08, and the remaining terminal I06 is connected by a conductive wire I It to the upper end 86 of the rear rod 88.

It should be noted that the upper walls N3 of each of the runway sections l2 and M are provided with longitudinal slots or guideways H2 that slidably engage the rods 56 and 88.

The roller 18 is fixed to a conductive wire H4 that is connected to the forward rod 55, and the roller 80 is fixed to a conductive wire H6 that is looped as at H8 about the forward rod 56 and is connected to the rear rod 88 to complete a circuit from the rails 26 and 28 to the motor 96.

In practical use of the present invention, the conductive wires 36 and 38 are preferably connected to a conventional transformer, of the type usually employed for electric trains, so that the current to the motor may be controlled for regulated speed or motion of the vehicle It about the runway It.

Obviously additional sections of runway may be added to the shown sections so that a longer run of the vehicle may be maintained.

It should be noted, that when there are a group of vehicles Hi on the track 10 and one of of the vehicles becomes inoperative or stops, the rollers 80 of the vehicle behind or approaching the same will ride onto the finger 94 carried by the stopped vehicle, thus preventing harmful damage to the vehicles.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyin drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the clevice will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordin ly deemed unnecessary.

, It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A toy electric vehicle and track comprising a runway, a plurality of conductive rails carried by the runway and connected to a source of electric current, an electrically propelled vehicle, roller means engaging the rails. an electric motor carried by the vehicle for propelling the latter,

means connecting the electric motor to the rails for energizing the former. and an insulator movable with th vehicle and riding upon the adjacent contiguous portion of the rails adjacent the rear of the vehicle to form a ramp for the roller means of a vehicle trailing the first-mentioned vehicle.

2. A toy electric vehicle and track comprising a runway having an upper wall and a lower wall, a plurality of conductive rails carried by the lower wall of the runway and connected to a source of electric current. roller means engaging the rails,

means urging the roller means into frictional engagement with the rails. a leading vehicle and a trailing vehicle secured to the roller means, an electric motor carried by each of the vehicles for propelling the same. means electrically connecting the rails to the electric motor and an insulator carried by the leading vehicle and riding upon the rails rearwardly of the leading vehicle to form a ramp for the roller means of the trailing vehicle.

3. A toy electric vehicle and track comprising a runway including a plurality of adjacent sections .joined to form an endless bearing surface, a pair of conductive rails carried by each of the sections, means for connecting the rails of adjacent sections to each other, the rails of one section being connected to a source of electric current, a leading vehicle and a trailing vehicle, conductive roller means engaging the rails, an insulated holding plate associated with each vehicle, conductive rods connecting the holding plates to the vehicles, means urging the roller means from the holding plates and into frictional engagement with the rails, electric motors for propelling the vehicles, means electrically connecting the electric motor to the rails for energizing the former, and an insulator carried by and trailing the leading vehicle, said insulator riding upon the rails and adapted to receive the roller means of the trailing vehicle to prevent the trailing vehicle from contacting the leading vehicle.

4. In a toy electric vehicle and track including a runway, a pair of conductive rails carried by the runway and connected to a source of electric current, a leading vehicle mounted on the runway, first rollers connected to the leading vehicle and riding on the rails, a trailing vehicle mounted on the runway, second rollers connected to the trailing vehicle and riding on the rails, and means for moving each of the vehicles on the runway, said means comprising an electric motor mounted on each vehicle and connected to the rollers; a non-conductive finger carried by the leading vehicle and riding on the rails rearwardly of the leading vehicle, said finger forming a means for receiving the first rollers to break the circuit to the motor carried by the trailing vehicle and to prevent the trailing vehicle from contacting the leading vehicle.

5. A toy vehicle and track comprising a runway, a plurality of conductive rails carried by the runway and connected to a source of electric current, a vehicle mounted on th runway, an electric motor carried by the vehicle for propelling the latter, said runway having a guide slot therein, a forward rod depending from the vehicle and slidably received in the guide slot, said rod being connected to one terminal of the motor, a nonconductiv support carried by said forward rod and spaced above the rails, supporting posts depending frcm said support, conductive plates slidably received on said posts, rollers on said plates and riding on said rails, spring means on said posts yieldingly urging said rollers against said rails, a rear rod depending from the vehicle and slidably received in said guide slot, said rear rod being electrically connected to said forward rod and the remaining terminal of said motor, and a non-conductive finger secured to th rear rod and riding upon the rails rearwardly of the vehicle.

JAMES J. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,507,723 Avery Sept. 9, 1924 1,606,691 Boyer Nov. 9, 1926 1,700,640 Mangels Jan. 29, 1929

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