US2581583A

US2581583A - Toy track system

Info

Publication number: US2581583A
Application number: US742257A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fields Ernest
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-04-18
Filing date: 1947-04-18
Publication date: 1952-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 1969-01-08

Description

Jan. 8, 1952 E, F|EL`D$ 2,581,583

TOY TRACK SYSTEM Filed April 18, 1947 INVENTOR ERNEST FIELDS Patented Jan. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY TRACK SYSTEM Ernest Fields, New York, N. Y.

Application April 18, 1947, Serial No. '742,257

(Cl. ll6-202) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to toy road systems, particularly to toy road systems in which one or more vehicles driven by a conventional driving mechanism .travel over an open or endless track system.

One object of the invention is a track system including a peculiar track arrangement and means to enable a vehicle running on such a track system to follow this peculiar track arrangement.

Another object of the invention is a track system including at least one narrow curve and means for guiding a vehicle running on such a track through said narrow curve.

Another object of the invention is to provide means which guide the vehicle through a curve through which the vehicle could not pass without such means.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for guiding a vehicle through a narrow curve of the track system which are automatically made effective when a vehicle enters the curve and while it is passing through the curve.

The abrupt changes of direction of a vehicle running over a track system as made possible by the invention are very amusing and surprising to observe. The effect is particularly surprising when the curves or loops included in the track system are so narrow that without the peculiar means according to my invention a vehicle could not pass the curve but would be thrown off the track.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

The word vehicle as used in the specication shall include any kind of movable object driven by any suitable driving means. Such objects may have the shape. of vehicles within the usual meaning of this word but this term shall also include objects having the shape or dolls, animals, etc. The expression track shall include any suitable path over which such driven objects can be moved.

In the accompanying drawing an embodiment of a toy road system according to my invention is shown.

Fig. l is a top plan view of the toy road system showing a vehicle running over the track in diilerent positions.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal `section along line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section along line 3-3 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section along line 5 4 of Fig. 1.

lll is a base plate of any suitable shape supporting the tracks. The tracks include two straight sections I I each of them comprising two pairs of parallel rails I2 serving as guides for a vehicle running over the tracks. Rails I2 are joined at each end at I4 and extended into 'two single curved sections I3 constituting part of a circle and separated by a gap. The invention, of course, is not limited to the illustrated track arranged but any other suitable arrangement of the tracks can be provided. It is essential merely that the track system includes at least one narrow curve.

Approximately in the center of the circle of which each curved section I3 forms part, there is provided a rounded-off projection I5 having a slot or a recess I6 in its elevated surface. The shape of these slots is apparent from Fig. 1. Both slots IS are aligned with a trough or groove il which is parallel to and between the straight track sections i2. Slots I6 serve as guiding means for guiding a vehicle passing from one of the straight track sections to the other.

A vehicle running on the track system may have any conventional shape, for instance that of a race car i3. The vehicle may be driven by a spring operated mechanism or any other conventional driving mechanism. The distance between its wheels I9 corresponds to the gauge of rails I2 so that vehicle I8 is guided by these rails while running over straight track sections II.

As is evident from Fig. 1, vehicle I8, by reason of size, could not follow curved track sections I3 even if these sections would not be separated by gaps. The radius of these curved sections is so small that vehicle I8 would leave the track. To

guide vehicle I8 safely through thecurved Vsec-V tions, even if running at a comparatively high speed, there is provided according to the invention, a rigid, downwardly bent arm 2B extending from the side of the vehicle toward and into groove Il and bent up near its tip. This arm is arranged approximately at the center of the car between wheels I9. In the embodiment shown, the arm has the shape of a tongue but any other suitable shape may also be used. It is also possible to provide a sloped bar or rod which extends from the inner side of the car. However, the illustrated shape is preferred since it has been found that good results can be obtained with a tongue-shaped arm extending from the center of the car between wheels I9. Arm `20 can be secured by any suitable means, for instance by welding, to the body of vehicle I8. Near the upwardly bent tip of arm 20, an extension or nose 2| is provided which may be formed by pressing and punching arm 20 or which may consist of a separate element suitably fastened to arm 20. It is also possible to bend arm 20, which may have the illustrated shape or be made from a simple strong wire, in such a manner that a nose is formed at its end.

In the embodiment shown only one vehicle is running on the track but it is also possible to have several vehicles running on the same track and in the same direction.

The operation of the toy road system according to the invention is as follows: Vehicle I8 is wound up and set on one of the straight sections II of the track system, for instance-where shown by dotted lines, to run counterclockwise as indicated by arrows. The tip of arm 20 with its nose 2| will then move within groove I1 while the vehicle'is running through the respective straight section II. (See Fig. 4). As soon as the vehicle reaches the respective curved section I3, nose 2l of arm 20 engages slot I8 of the respective projection I5 while the tip of arm 28 slides over the surface of projection I5. This prevents a further linear movement of the vehicle and the propelling power of its driving mechanism will swing the vehicle along Ycurved section I3 and about slot i6 as center ofY rotation center, arm acting as a swing arm or lever. The vehicle will swing around until it re-engages the opposite curved curved section I3 and finally reaches the other straight track section I I. As soon as the vehicle has reached this position, nose 2| of arm 28 will no longer be heldby slot I6 since this slot opens into trough II. Consequently, nose ZI will slide out of slot I6 and the vehicle will run forward on the straight section until it reaches curved section I3 at the other end of section II. Then the same cycle is repeated.

Fig. 1 shows in dotted lines a car I8 approaching a curved section and in full lines the position of a car between a pair of curved sections I3. Nose 2I of its arm 20 has engaged slot I8 and it is obvious that arm 20 forms a swing arm around which the rotation of the vehicle takes place.

The invention shall not be limited to the embodiment shown in the drawing.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A toy road game comprising a track system including two substantially straight tracks terminating at each end in an inwardly curved partialk track, respective curved tracks forming a connection separated by a gap between said two straight tracks, a self-propelled vehicle for said track system havin-g wheels iixed relative to the vehicle body in a position for straight travel, pivotingV rst catch means positioned adjacent to each end of the straight tracks, and second catch means provided on said vehicle, said second catch means being arranged to engage the first catch means when the vehicle enters one of the assises curved tracks to form a compulsory center of each end in a curved track portion, respective 4 curved track portions forming part of a circle separated by a gap between adjacent ends to said straight tracks, a self-propelled vehicle for said track having wheels xed relative to the vehicle body and set for straight travel, a first catch member provided substantially in the center of each circle part formed by said curved track portions, a second catch member provided on said vehicle, each of said first catch kmembers being engageable with the second catch member when said vehicle enters a circle part to form a compulsory, center of pivoting for said vehicle while in motion and to gudie the latter through the respective circle part, each of the rst catch members releasing the second catch member when the vehicle re-enters a straight track.

3. AY toy'road Igame comprising a base, two

substantially straight tracks on the base termi-V nating at each end in a curved track portion, respective curved track portions facing one the other separated by a gap and forming part of a partial circular track including said gap and extending between each two adjacent ends of the straight tracks, a projectionY having a slot substantially in its center protruding from said base and positioned in the center of each of said partial circular track, a self-propelled vehicle for said track having wheels fixed relative to the vehicle body and set for straight travel, and an arm laterally extending yfrom said vehicle and shaped to enga-ge the respective slot when said vehicle enters a curved track portion to form a compulsory center of pivoting for said' vehicle while in motion and to guide the latter from one straight track to the other,` said arm being disengaged from the respective slot when said vehicle re-enters a straight track.

4. A toy road game comprising a base, two substantially straight tracks disposed on the base substantially parallel to each other and terminating at each end in a circularly curved track portion, respective curved track portions facing one the other separated by a gap and forming a connection including said gap between respective adjacent ends of said straight tracks, a selfpropelled vehicle for said track system having wheels fixed relative to the vehicle body in a position for straight travel, an arm extending from said vehicle, a projection having a slot in its surface protruding from the base and positioned substantially in the center of said circularly curved track portions, said base having a groove disposed between said two straight tracks parallel thereto and connecting said slots, said arm being arranged to extend into said groove when the vehicle is on one of said straight tracks and to engage a respective slot when the vehicle enters one of said curved track portions so as to form a compulsory center of pivoting for said vehicle While in motion and to guide the Vehicle from one straight track to the other, each of said slots being shaped to release the said arm when the vehicle re-enters one of the straight tracks.

5. A toy road game as described in claim 4, wherein said arm extends downwardly terminating below the base plane on which the vehicle wheels are supported and extending into said groove.

6. A toy road game as described in claim 5, wherein a downwardly extending nose is provided at the end of said arm, said nose being engageable with Vthe respective one of said slots when the vehicle enters one of said curved track portions and extends into said groove when the vehicle is on one of said straightv tracks.

2,581,583 5 6 7. A toy road game as described in claim 6, REFERENCES CITED wherein each of said slots has substantially the The following references are of record in the shape of a circle sector, the centers of said sectors fue of this patent. forming the aforesaid compulsory centers of pivoting and the circumferences of the sectors i UNITED STATES PATENTS facing one the other. Number Name Date 8. A toy track game as described in claim 4. 2,068,403 Ekstrom Jan.19, 1937 wherein said arm extends from approximately 2,387,359 schmidt oct, 3o, 1945 the center portion of the side Wall of the vehicle facting said groove when the vehicle is placed g4; FOREIGN PATENTS upon one ofrthe straight tracks. Number Country Date ERNEST FIELDS. 473,950 Great Britain Oct. 22, 1937