US3223327A

US3223327A - Rail section for toy and model railroads

Info

Publication number: US3223327A
Application number: US2965A
Authority: US
Inventors: Opfermann Adolf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-01-17
Filing date: 1960-01-18
Publication date: 1965-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 1982-12-14
Also published as: FR1248204A; DE1194745B; GB943747A

Description

Dec. 14, 1.965 A. OPFERMANN 3,223,327

RAIL SECTION FOR TOY AND MODEL RAILROADS Filed Jan. 18, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. i4, 1965 A. OPFERMANN 3,223,327

RAIL SECTION FOR TOY AND MODEL RAILROADS Filed Jan. 18, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VE N TOR Der 14, 1955 A. OPFERMANN RAIL SECTION FOR TOY AND MODEL RAILROADS 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed Jan. 18, 1960 NVENTOR Wfl-fana Dec. 14, 1965 A, OPFERMANN 3,223,327

RAIL SECTION FOR TOY AND MODEL RAILROADS Filed Jan. 18, 1960 5 Shee1;s-Sl'1e1=,^rI 4.

/NVENTOR Dec. 14, 1965 A QPFERMANN 3,223,327

RAIL SECTION FOR TOY AND MODEL RAILROADS Filed Jan. 18, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 65 63 64a 54 b Fig/7C! /N VEN TOR a/ay erwan/7 BY W United States Patent O o 22 Claims. (ci. ass-1o) The present invention relates to a rail section for toy and model railroads with a continuous rail bedding upon which two rails rest, the ends of said rail sections being provided with coupling means for interconnecting the bedding and/ or the rail sections.

Tracks built up of rail sections of the above mentioned type are generally provided for electrically operable toy and model railroads. In view of the ever increasing automatization of the operation of such railroads, many control means have been inserted into the tracks or the bedding therefor, as for instance electrically operated switches, turntables, railway gates, and the like. Furthermore, in an effort to make the installation as complete as possible, numerous auxiliary devices were provided which were likewise actuated electrically, as for instance signalling installations, illuminating installations, and the like. Such electrically actuated control installations and auxiliary installations have to be operated from the same point from which the operation proper of the toy or model railroad is to be controlled. For this reason, it is necessary to provide electric conduits between the various control installations or auxiliary installations and the control center so that the respective control operations can be conveyed to the desired installations from the control center.

Heretofore, it has been customary to etiect electric connection between the control installations and/ or the auxiliary installations on one hand and the control center on the other hand by means of loose cables, wires, or the like leading from the control center through the ground or plates to the respective electrically operated installations. Aside from the fact that these cables loosely lying around on the lioor impair the appearance because they have bends and loops and disturb the general appearance of the track installation, they also impede the persons who have to move near the track. It is generally known that not unfrequently such persons get caught in the wires or cables which fact may sometimes cause damage to the construction. It also frequently happens that damages to the track installation or trains thereon will be caused, particularly if the persons caught in said cables trip and fall or if such persons, in order to prevent a fall, make an unfortunate step upon sensitive parts of the installation. It is also known that such damages occur frequently when children play with such toy railroad and at the same time grownups are near who no not pay the proper attention expected by the children.

In addition thereto, the heretofore known installation of loose cables or wires from the control center to the various control installations is rather cumbersome and disadvantageous because the cables have to be passed below the tracks. Where model railroad installations are iixedly connected to the base or the like, particular difiiculties are encountered because after the installation, the cables cannot any longer without diliiculties be passed below the tracks.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a toy or model railroad installation which will overcome the above mentioned drawbacks.

It is another object of this invention to provide a toy or model railroad installation which will make it possible to effect the electric connection between the control center and the various devices to be controlled without having to resort to wires or cables outside the tracks.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a track section according to the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a longitudinal section through the track section of FIG. 1, said longitudinal section being taken along the line II-II of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 represents a modification over the arrangement of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 represents a section taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4 through a track junction.

FIG. 6 is a cutout of a track junction somewhat moditied over that of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates by way of example an embodiment with an auxiliary device ixedly connected to the rail section.

FIG. 8 represents a diagram circuit for the arrangement of FIG. 7.

FIG. 8a illustrates a circuit somewhat modified over that of FIG. 8 for a switch and signalling system with illumination and switch magnet.

FIG. 9 is a perspective illustration of a portion of a track section with contact plug members for connection with other parts or installations.

FIG. l0 is a circuit for use in connection with the arrangement of FIG. 9.

FIG. 10a is a perspective illustration of a portion of a track section with built in selector switch.

FIG. 10b represents a longitudinal section through a track section according to FIG. 10a.

FIG. 10c is a perspective view of a track section according to FIGS. 10a and 10b with two selector switches.

FIG. l1 illustrates a modification over FIG. -9 according to which loose switch rails with plugs may be ernployed.

FIG. 12 is an electric diagram for a still further modication according to FIG. l5 according to which each track section is provided with fixed sockets for each conductor.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of individual conductors for the arrangement of FIG. l5.

FIG. 14 is a cross section through the track section of FIG. 15.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a track section with fixed sockets.

FIG. 16 represents a particularly advantageous circuit for the conductors and sockets.

FIGS. 17a, 17b and 17C respectively illustrate different ways of laying out the electric current conducting lines to allow a connection of the track sections in either direction.

General arrangement The problem underlying the present invention, namely to overcome the above outlined drawbacks of previous installations of the type involved, has been realized according to the invention by embedding in the rail bed a plurality of electric conductors such as cables, wires, metal strips, and the like. These conductors are preferably arranged parallel to the rails and are insulated from each other and have the ends thereof designed as coupling members to allow the establishment of electric current connections with the correspondingly adjacent conductors of adjacent track sections.

The track sections may be designed in a most simple manner in such a Way that the electric conductors will be accessible from the bottom of the rail sections so that it will be possible to connect thereto a current source or a current consumer; such connection may for instance be effected by clamps or terminals.

According to the invention, it is advantageous to embed in the rail bedding at least two terminal strips extending transverse to the conductors in the bedding and insulated therefrom and from each other in such a way that the terminal strip can in a manner known per se by plugs selectively be connected with the conductors and that the terminal strips lead to sockets or plugs at the side of the track bedding.

According to the invention it is particularly advantageous if each conductor is connected by a branch line to contact sockets or plugs on the side of the rail bedding.

According to a further development of the invention, the conductors are insulated on the bottom side of the track section when separate sockets or plugs are provide-d for connection. In this way, short circuits will be prevented when the rails rest on metallic conductors as for instance aluminum paper, lametta, or the like.

According to a further feature of the present invention, all connecting points with the exception of one may be equally spaced from each other while the remaining contact point is to be located so that it is visible and sensibly spaced differently from the adjacent contact point so that the last mentioned remaining contact point can be used for a common return conductor and can easily be recognized.

Structural arrangement Referring now to the drawings in detail, and FIG. 1 thereof in particular, the rails 1 and 2 are respectively provided in a manner known per se with plugs 4 and socket 5 for interconnecting the rail sections. However, also other standard means may be provided for interconnecting the rails.

As will be evident from FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, within the rail bedding 3, there are mounted electric conductors in the form of

wires

7, 8, 9, and 11. The

wires

7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are insulated from each other preferably by synthetic material making up the bedding 3 for the rails. The ends of the

wires

7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, for instance the ends 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, are xedly inserted at the

ends

3a and 3b of the rail bedding 3. At one end of the track section, the wires 7, S, 9, 10 and 11 are designed as

plugs

13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, whereas at the other end of the track section, the wires lare designed as sockets 12. It will thus be evident that when a plurality of rail sections are connected to a rail installation, a plurality of continuous independent conductors will be -obtained which extend along the rails, for instance in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, ve conductors are provided. Since the rail beddings 3 are open at their bottom side where the

wires

7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are non-insulated and open, it is possible without any difficulties at any point to connect branch conductors to the respective wires. This may be effected for instance by clamps, crocodile clamps, or the like. Thus, from the control section conductors may lead to the

wires

7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the nearest track section, while one wire, for instance wire 7, may serve as common return line for the remaining four

conductors

8, 9, 10 and 11. In this way, it will be possible to connect to any desired point of the rail installation one or f ojgr control installations, as for instance lamps, and to control the same from the control center. A separate installation of conductors for the installations to be controlled will not be necessary and no cables or wires will have to lie open on the bottom which might disturb the entire appearance of the rail installation.

It is, of course, to be understood that the rail sections are not limited to live conductors as shown in 4 FIGS. 1 to 3, but that a considerably greater number may be embedded in the rail sections. Actually, the number of conductors in the rail sections is limited merely by the structural dimensions of the rail bedding 3 and the dimensions of the conductors themselves.

It is particularly advantageous, especially when it is desired to mount a greater number of conductors in the rail section, to select a design as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. According to this design, the rail bedding 24 is nearly solid while the conductors are formed by

metal strips

18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 embedded in the bedding 24 which preferably consists of synthetic insulating material. The plugs, for instance 28, of the metallic strips, for instance 23, are in a simple manner designed resiliently by bending over the front end of the metal strips so as to form a U-sha-ped resilient yoke 28 (FIG. 5). The ends of the metal strips, for instance 26, in the adjacent rail bedding, for instance 25, are located in a recess 27 of which they form one side. The arrangement is such that the U-shaped resilient plugs 28 will when inserted into said recesses, for instance 27, form a resilient reliable contact between the abutting metal strips, for

instance

23 and 26.

An advantageous modification for the plugs and sockets in connection with metal strips is illustrated in FIG. 6. According to this arrangement, the resilient contact member is due to a corresponding design of the end 29 of the metal strip 26 located within the socket 27 in such a way that the protruding plug pin of the metal strip 23 in the rail bedding 24 may be designed as rigid pin. Such an arrangement is less liable to disturbances or damage than the arrangements of FIGS. 4 and 5 because the resilient contact portions are protected.

According to the invention, it is possible xedly to connect installations to be controlled with track sections and xedly to connect the electric connections of the said installations to the conductors extending through the track sections. According to FIGS. 7 and 8, a track section is illustrated which has xedly connected thereto a signalling lamp 32 for use in connection with the adjustment of the switches. As will be seen from FIG. 7, the rail bedding 30 has an extension 31 on which the signalling lamp 32 is mounted.

The signalling lamp 32 is electrically connected to

conductors

10 and 11 by means of

conductors

33 and 34 extending through the extension 31 and the rail bedding 30. In this way, the signalling lamp 32 can without any difficulties be controlled from the control center without requiring additional installation of wires or cables.

As will be evident from FIG. 8a, it is also possible to provide installations with a plurality of electric devices. Thus, according to FIG. 8a, a switch signalling device is mounted on extension 31, said signalling device comprising a light 32 and switch magnets 71. The signalling lamp 32 is connected in the same manner as described in connection with FIG. 8. The switch magnet 71 is connected to conductor 33 and is furthermore connected through conductor 72 with conductor 10. In this way, it is possible to control various electric installations or devices of a single control system independently of each other.

Generally, it is advantageous for all illuminating installations, for instance 32, of the entire track system, in addition to the common return conductor, for instance 11, to provide a single conductor as for instance the light conductor 9. In this way, the illumination of the entire track system will require a single track conductor 9 only.

For the electric connection of the various signalling installations which may be arranged at any desired point of the track system, for instance lamps, bars or gates at railroad crossings and the like, advantageously, according to FIGS. 9 and 10, track sections are provided which are equipped with connecting

plugs

35 and 36 which in their turn are electrically connected to terminal strips for instance 37, 37a. The strips 37, 37a are insulated from each other and from the individual metal strips 18, 19, 20 and 21 in the rail bedding 38 in such a way that they are located transverse to the longitudinal direction of the track section and above and in spaced arrangement from the metal strips 18, 19, 20 and 21. The rail bedding 38 is provided with vertical bores 39 adapted to receive an electrically conductive plug 40 adapted to establish electric communication between a terminal strip 37 and a conductive metal strip 19. The

plugs

35 and 36 may then be connected to any desired auxiliary device. It is, of course, to be understood that the

plugs

35 and 36 may also be replaced by sockets. By suitably pressing in the plugs 40 and 41, the respective auxiliary device may through

plugs

35 and 36 be connected with the respective desired conductors for

instance

19 and 20. By removing the plugs 40 and 41, the switch system may be varied at any desired time.

Instead of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 9 and l0, also the particularly advantageous embodiment of FIGS. 10a, 10b and 10c may be employed. With this embodiment, within the rail bedding 61 of the rail section and transverse to the

conductors

62, 63, 64 and 65 there is arranged a control drum 66. Drum 66 is rotatably but axially non-displaceably journalled. One end of drum 66 protrudes beyond one side of the rail bedding 61. This protruding end of the control drum 66 is designed as socket 68, while the marginal portion of said socket may be designed in the manner of a pointer-like ilange. This ange 69 is adapted in cooperation with markings on the outside of the rail bedding 61 (FIG. 10c) to indicate the respective switch position of the drum 66. The drum 66 has mounted thereon contact cams 67 which are respectively located above the

conductors

62, 63, 64 and 65. The contact cams 67 are with regard to the central axis of drum 66 angularly offset with regard to each other in such a way that in each switch position of drum 66 one Contact cam 67 only will establish electric contact with only one of the

conductors

62, 63, 64, and 65 (see FIG. 10b).

In this way it is possible to vary and adjust the track installation at any desired time. It is, of course, to be understood that a switch shaft or switch drum or similar device could also be employed in connection with track sections of the type shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 8a, in which the track installations or auxiliary devices are directly connected to the track sections. In this instances, it is not necessary that the protruding ends of the switch shafts or drums 66 are designed as sockets, because the connections of the control installations or auxiliary devices are located on said shaft or drum 66 Within the rail bedding.

Instead of the shaft 66, also other known switch elements such as valves, levers, drums or the like may be employed which are adapted according to their adjustment to establish various circuits.

A particularly simple and practical embodiment will be obtained if, in conformity with FIG. 1l, the terminal strips 43 and 44 are designed as separate parts independent of the rail bedding 42 and respectively carry an upwardly extending plug 45. The rail bedding 42 is provided with bores or sockets 46 open at the bottom thereof and so arranged that portions of the

strips

18, 19, 20, and 21 respectively form part of the said sockets. In this way, it will be possible to connect the

strips

18, 19, and 21 with the terminal strips 43 and 44 by a mere insertion of the plugs 45 into the respective sockets. The

strips

43 and 44 are advantageously provided with

sockets

47 and 48 for receiving the ends of desired conductors or the terminals of desired electric devices.

A very practical and highly advantageous embodiment of the invention will be obtained if in conformity with FIGS. l2 to l5 each of the

conductors

19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 is respectively provided with a separate socket S0, 51, 52, 53 and 54 mounted in the respective track section.

The sockets, e.g. 51, are in such an instance connected to the conductors, eg. 20, by means of branch lines, c g.

55 (FIG. 14). The said conductors 19 to 23 may advantageously in conformity with the arrangements of FIGS. 4, 5 or 6 be designed as metal strips, the design of FIG. 13 having proved particularly advantageous, because the conductors, e.g. 20, together with the sockets, c g. 29, 51, and the branch lines, e.g. 55, can be made of and stamped from sheet metal.

It is not necessary to compose the entire track installation of track lsections provided lwith electric connections. It will rather ysuiiice to provide track sections with vconnecting sockets, only where an electric connection with control devices or auxiliary devices is desired. If, however, the entire rail installation is composed of track sections provided with connecting sockets, it will be possible without any change in the location of the track sections at any desired time to effect any additional connections or to change .any connections `with additional or already installed electric devices.

In order to increase the number of possible circuits, it is suggested, according to the present invention, to employ so-called dead track sections, i.e. track sections which have no conductors mounted therein, but are provided with corresponding recesses for receiving connecting plugs of adjacent track section.

A particularly advantageous realization of such an arrangement Will be obtained, if the dead track section is provided merely lwith the common return conductor and with lthe conductor lfor the lighting system so that the lighting line passes through the entire track installation, whereas the control circuit-s are separated from each other. By means of lsu-ch dead track -sections it wil-l thus be pos sible to obtain two or more practically separate electric circuits, thereby increasing the possible switch variations.

Advantageously, particularly when employing Ia track section of the type shown in FIG. l5, multi-wire plugs may be used of Ia single type in which a single plug contains plug members for a plurality of or for all

contact sockets

50, or 51, 52, 53 and 54. This is particularly advantageous yfor connecting the entire Itrack system to the control center. In this lway it will lbe possible -to require one single ca'ble only for connecting the entire track system to the control center. The invention makes it furthermore possible to hook up the various electric connections for the operation of the railroad such as the rail connections, overhead lines etc. with the contact sockets as for

instance

50, 51, 52, 53 or 54. If an arrangement of this type is employed, it will Lbe Apossible to connect the entire rail installation including all connections 'for the operation of the railroad and all control and auxiliary devices with the control center by a single multi-wire cable. It will thus .be possible -with the arrangement according to the present invention, to combine switch boards -with contr-ol devices for the driving current (resistors, impulse switches etc.), or vice versa, to combine transformers with the switch board for the signaling devices, so that all impulses can be conveyed through multi-wire plugs to a respective separate track section which will then distribute said impulses to the corresponding rails conductors. In order further to increase the flexibility of the system according to the present invention, various separating rails may be employed, e.g. separating rails for the driving current, and for the current intended for the various devices. IIt is also possible to employ separating rails for the driving current only, or separating rails for the various devices only. In this way the plugs for the devices maybe different Ifrom the plugs for the driving current, even though they have a common feeding line to be controlled from the same switch board.

To facili-tate the working with the track sections according to the present invention, it is advantageous to .arrange all connecting points in an evenly spaced manner with the exception of one connecting point which -should be ar raged at a greater spacing. Such an arrangement is shown in FIG. 16, in which .the connecting points 20 to 23, and the connecting points 56 to 59, and the connecting points 51 to S4 are arranged at even distance from each other. Merely the connecting

points

19, and 60, and 50 are spaced lby a greater distance from the respective adjacent -connecting

points

20, and 59 and 51 respectively.

In this way, it will be possible to provide one conductor as common return or neutral conductor for all other conductors and easily to iind the corresponding connecting points such as 19, 60 or 50.

The sockets of the track sections are provided with identication markings, e.g. letters, which correspond to the respective switch Ibuttons to be electrical-ly connected therewith. This will greatly facilitate the inspection of the entire system. Each part mounted on a track section is automatically lconnected to the lighting circuit and contains easily operable switch elements for connection with the individual circuits of the switch iboard. The inspection of the system is increased further by providing the plugs `with Ithe numbers of the respective switch board button connected therewith, said numbers being clearly visi-ble from a distance. Similarly, the switch shafts or switch drums are provided with means for automatically visibly indicating the respective cond-uctor numbers.

In order to permit also a connection of the track sections to each other in reversed direction, each conductor may have a return conductor `associated therewith, or the conductors are arranged in a crosswise manner so that an exchange of the track sections will 'be possible without difticulties. The return or neutral conductor may also be arranged along the center line, and the other conductors may Ibe .arranged at both sides of said return conductor at a corresponding distance. The principle of such an arrangement has been illustrated in 'F-IGS. 17a, 17b and 17e.

More specilically, FIG. 17a shows three

rails

61, 62, 63. The electric lines are designated with the

reference numerals

64a, 64b, and `641i' and `64b' and the centrally Vlocated lines 66a, `65h. Since the lines 64a, `64b form one circuit and the symmetrically located lines 64a', 64b' form a corresponding circuit, it is possible for the track sections to be connected to each other in either direction. This means that the track section may -simply .be turned by 180. The shown plug will then fit into an oppositely located coupling.

With the embodiment according to FIG. l17h there are again provided three rails 6'1, 62 Iand l63. In -order to make possible that also in this instance the track sections may be connected in either direction, the lines 64a and the .lines Y64b pertaining to one circuit are arranged so as to cross over each other as shown in FIG. 17C.

It is', ofcourse, to =be understood, that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular constructions shown in the drawings 'but'also comprises any modiiications within the scope of the amended claims.

Some possibilities tof joining the rail sections are shown in `FIGURES 17a, 17b and 17C. iFIG. 17a shows three rails `61, 62, 63. The conduits for one direction have the references 64a, 65a and the conduits for the other direction the references 64b and 65h. To the conduits in one direction refers aways a conduit in the other direction. By the fact it is possible the rail sections to turn.

In FIGURES 17b and 17C are 61, 62 and 63 the rails. The conduits 64a for the one direction :and the conduits 64b for the other ydirection are crossed (look FIGURE 17C) so that the rail sections could be turned.

What I claim is:

1. A track section for toy and model railroads, which comprises: a bedding, a plurality of rails mounted on said bedding and provided with means for connection with the rails of another track section, a plurality of electric conductors embedded in said bedding and extending in the longitudinal direction of said rails, said conductors being electrically independent of said rails and electric coupling means forming the ends of said conductors for electric connection with other electric conductors to form electric circuit means independent of said rails.

2. A track section according to claim 1, in which the electric conductors in said bedding are accessible from the bottom side of said bedding for connection with other electric conductors.

3. A track section for toy and model railroads, which comprises: a bedding, a plurality of rails mounted on said bedding and provided with means for connection with the rails of another track section, a plurality of electric current conducting metal strips electrically independent of said rails and having one end thereof designed as resilient plug member for electric contact engagement with other electric conductors to form electric circuit means independent of said rails.

4. A track assembly which comprises: `a rst track section, a second track section, each of said track sections having a bedding and a plurality of rails mounted on said bedding and provided with means for connecting the rails of said rst track section to the rails of said track section, each of said track sections also comprising a plurality of electric current conducting metal strips electrically independent of said rails and extending in 4longitudinal direction of the respective track section supporting same, said metal strips protruding from one end of each bedding and having said protruding ends designed as resilient plug members, that end of each of said beddings which is 1ocated opposite to the plug -members pertaining thereto comprising 4a plurality of sockets corresponding to the number of said plug members and being in substantial alignment therewith, those ends of said metal strips which are located opposite said plug members being located in said sockets for electric contact engagement by said plug members to selectively build up electric circuit means independent of said rails.

5. A track assembly which comprises: a lirst track section, a second track section, each of said track sections having a bedding and a plurality of rails mounted on said bedding and provided with means for connecting the rails of said first track section to the rails of said second track section, each of said track sections also having embedded therein a plurality of electric current conducting metal strips electrically independent of said rails and extending in longitudinal direction of the respective track section supporting same, said metal strips of each track section having one end protruding beyond the adjacent end of the respective track section Vsupporting the same, said protruding metal strip portions forming plug members, that end of each of said beddings which is located opposite to the plug members pertaining thereto comprising a plurality of sockets corresponding to the number of said plug members and being in substantial alignment therewith, those ends of said metal strips which are located opposite said plug members being located in said sockets and forming a resilient contact member, the plug members of one of said track sections engaging the resilient ends in the sockets of said other track section.

6. A track section for toy `and model railroads, which comprises: a bedding, a plurality of rails mounted on said bedding and provided with means for connection with the rails of another track section, a plurality of longitudi-l nal electric conductors embedded in said bedding and extending in the longitudinal direction of said rails, said conductors being electrically independent of said rails, electric coupling means forming the ends of said conductors for electric connection with other electric conductors to selectively build up electric circuits independently of said rails, at least two additional conductors arranged transverse to said longitudinal conductors, said transverse conductors being normally insulated from each other and from said longitudinal conductors and having terminals accessible from at least one side of said track section, and means for selectively connecting said transverse conductors with any two of said longitudinal conductors.

7. A track section for toy and model railroads, which comprises: a bedding, a plurality of rails mounted on said bedding and provided with means for connection with the rails of another track section, a plurality of longitudinal electric conductors arranged in said bedding and extending in the longitudinal direction of said rails, electric coupling means forming the end-s of said conductors for electric connection with other electric conductors, at least one switch shaft extending transverse to said longitudinal conductors in spaced relationship thereto and being provided with a plurality of cam members angularly offset with regard to each othersaid switch shaft being rotatable for selectively bringing said cam members into Contact with different ones of said longitudinal conductors, said switch shaft protruding at least beyond one side of said track section and being provided with means for electric connection with an electrically operable device.

8. A track section for toy and model railroads, which comprises: a bedding, a plurality of rails mounted on said bedding and provided with means for connection with the rails of another track section, a plurality of longitudinal electric conductors embedded in said bedding and extending in the longitudinal direction of said rails, said conductors being electrically independent of said rails, electric coupling means forming the ends of said conductors for electric connection with other electric conductors, a plurality of transverse conductors corresponding in number to said longitudinal conductors and respectively electrically connected thereto, said transverse conductors leading at least to one side of said track section and having the ends thereof designed as sockets for electric connection with conductors entering said Sockets.

9. A track section according to claim 1, in which at least the majority of said electric conductors is insulated toward the outside.

10. A track section for toy and model railroads, which comprises: a bedding, a plurality of rails mounted on said bedding and provided with means for connection with the rails of another track section, a plurality of longitudinal electric conductors embedded in said .bedding and extending in the longitudinal direction of said rails, said conductors being electrically independent of said rails, said bedding comprising sockets having portions of said longitudinal conductors exposed therein, and at least two transverse contact strip members extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of said track section and respectively provided with plug means for selective insertion in any of said sockets for electric contact with the respective exposed conductor portion therein.

11. A track section for toy and model railroads, which comprises: a bedding, a plurality of rails mounted on said bedding and provided with means for connection with the rails of another track section, a plurality of longitudinal electric conductors embedded in said bedding and extending in the longitudinal direction of said rails, said conductors being electrically independent of said rails, electric coupling means forming the ends of said conductors for electric connection with other electric conductors, a plurality of electric current conducting sockets mounted in said bedding at least at one side of said track section, and a plurality of transverse conductors respectively connecting each of said sockets with one of said longitudinal conductors, said sockets being adapted to receive multiconductor plugs.

12. A track section according to claim 1, which includes means for electrically connecting said rails with at least some of said conductors.

13. A track section for toy and model railroads, which comprises: a bedding` a plurality of rails mounted on said bedding and provided with means for connection with the rails of another track section, a plurality of electric conductors arranged in said bedding and electrically independent of said rails, said conductors being insulated from each other while extending in the longitudinal direction of said rails and being visible from the bottom side of said bedding and being equally spaced from each other with the exception of one of said conductors, and electric coupling means forming the ends of said conductors for electric connection with other electric conductors.

14. A track section according to claim 1, in which one of said conductors represents the conductor for the lighting system and in which another conductor represents the com-mon return conductor.

15. A track section for toy and model railroads, which comprises: a bedding, a plurality of rails mounted on said bedding and provided with means for connection with the rails of another track section, a plurality of longitudinal electric conductors arranged in said bedding and extending in the longitudinal direction of said rails, electric coupling means forming the ends of said conductors for electric connection with other electric conductors, at least one switch shaft extending transverse to said longitudinal conductors in spaced relationship thereto and being provided with a plurality of cam members angularly offset with regard to each other, said switch shaft being rotatable for selectively bringing said cam members into contact with different ones of said longitudinal conductors, said switch shaft protruding at least beyond one side of said track section and being provided with means for electric connection with an electrically operable device, at least one side of said track section adjacent one end of said switch shaft being provided with marker means, and at least said one end of said shaft being provided with a pointer for cooperation with said marker means, said marker means corresponding to the respective contact positions of said cam members with said longitudinal conductors.

16. A track section according to claim 15, in which said marker means are formed by bulbs electrically connected to said switch shaft to light up at the establishment of electric contact between the respective longitudinal conductors and the cam members engaging same.

17. An arrangement according to claim 4, in which the plug members and socket members have identification marks.

18. A track assembly comprising a plurality of track sections for toy and model railroads, each of said track sections comprising a bedding, a plurality of rails mounted on said bedding and provided with means for connection with the rails of another track section, a plurality of electric conductors arranged in said bedding and electrically independent of said rails, said conductors extending in the longitudinal direction of said rails, electric coupling means forming the ends of said conductors for electric connection with other electric conductors; said track assembly 4also comprising additional track sections free from conductors for separating at least some of the conductor containing track sections to thereby separate individual circuits from each other.

19. A track assembly comprising track sections for toy and model railroads, which comprises: a plurality of interengaged track sections, each of said track sections comprising a bedding with rails thereon, only some of said track sections having electric conductors electrically independent of said rails and embedded in the bedding pertaining thereto.

20. A base structure for supporting a miniature railroad track made of detachable lengthwise sections which can be assembled in a plurality of formations and to afford electric power outlets therealong for connection to accessories, comprising a plurality of base members set end to end in successive extension; the shape of each base member conforming with that of the track section it shall carry, sets of electrical conductors, one such set of conductors carried insulated from each other on each base member along each track member respectively, means on each base member automatically electrically connecting corresponding conductors on adjacent base members when such base members are associated in extension of each other, means on each of the base members for physically connecting them in successive extension and a set of electrically-conductive terminal elements on at least some of the base members, respectively electrically connected to the conductors carried by the base section they are on; such terminals being accessible for making connections thereto respectively and positioned that such connections permit passage of a train along the track.

21. The base structure as defined in claim 20, wherein the conductor connecting means comprises contact elements carried at each end of each of the base members; each conductor on each base member being electrically connected at each end to one of said contact elements; the contact elements on one end of every base member being in contact with those on an adjacent base member when adjacent base members are joined in extension of each other, and wherein the base members are releasable from each other.

22. The base structure as defined in claim 21, wherein the contact elements of one base member which contact 12 the Contact elements of 4another base member, are releasably engageable respectively with the contact elements of such other base member, whereby 4such releasably engageable Contact elements of both base members also serve as the means to physically connect such base members in extension of one another.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,590,071 6/1926 Becker 23S- l0 2,401,468 6/1946 Duffy 23S-l0 2,669,632 2/1954 Hammcrly 191-23 X 2,969,919 1/1961 Kornberg 238-10 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

JAMES S. SHANK, LEO QUACKENBUSH, Examiners.

Claims

20. A BASE STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING A MINIATURE RAILROAD TRACK MADE OF DETACHABLY LENGTHWISE SECTIONS WHICH CAN BE ASSEMBLED IN A PLURALITY OF FORMATIONS AND TO AFFORD ELECTRIC POWER OUTLETS THEREALONG FOR CONNECTIONS TO ACCESSORIES, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF BASE MEMBERS SET END TO END IN SUCCESSIVE EXTENSION; THE SHAPE OF EACH BASE MEMBER CONFORMING WITH THAT OF THE TRACK SECTION IT SHALL CARRY, SETS OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS, ONE SUCH SET OF CONDUCTORS CARRIED INSULATED FROM EACH OTHER ON EACH BASE MEMBER ALONG EACH TRACK MEMBER RESPECTIVELY, MEANS ON EACH BASE MEMBER AUTOMATICALLY ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING CORRESPONDING CONDUCTORS ON ADJACENT BASE MEMBERS WHEN SUCH BASE MEMBERS ARE ASSOCIATED IN EXTENSION OF EACH OTHER, MEANS ON EACH OF THE BASE MEMBERS FOR PHYSICALLY CONNECTING THEM IN SUCCESSIVE EXTENSION AMD A SET OF ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE TERMINAL ELEMENTS ON AT LEAST SOME OF THE BASE MEMBERS, RESPECTIVELY ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO THE CONDUCTORS CARRIED BY THE BASE SECTION THEY ARE ON; SUCH TERMINALS BEING ACCESSIBLE FOR MAKING CONNECTION THERETO RESPECTIVELY AND POSITIONED THAT SUCH CONNECTIONS PERMIT PASSAGE OF A TRAIN ALONG THE TRACK.