US3896735A - Track-type toy - Google Patents

Track-type toy Download PDF

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Publication number
US3896735A
US3896735A US433981A US43398174A US3896735A US 3896735 A US3896735 A US 3896735A US 433981 A US433981 A US 433981A US 43398174 A US43398174 A US 43398174A US 3896735 A US3896735 A US 3896735A
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United States
Prior art keywords
track
vehicle
conduit
combination
toy
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Expired - Lifetime
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US433981A
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English (en)
Inventor
Artur Fischer
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Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from DE19732300645 external-priority patent/DE2300645A1/de
Priority claimed from DE19732301893 external-priority patent/DE2301893A1/de
Priority claimed from DE19732308089 external-priority patent/DE2308089A1/de
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3896735A publication Critical patent/US3896735A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H21/00—Other toy railways
    • A63H21/04—Mono-railways, e.g. with vehicles embracing the rail in the form of a saddle

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to a toy, and more particularly to a track-type toy.
  • Track-type toys are already well known in the art. for instance in form of toy railroads or toy racing car sets.
  • the engine and cars are guided on rails, and in auto racing sets a track is provided which has a longitudinally extending rib or groove engaging at the underside of the toy automobiles respective guide portions which serve to guide the automobile along the track.
  • a track-type toy in a combination which comprises a toy vehicle and a track for guiding the toy vehicle.
  • the track is composed of track components which form a guide surface for the vehicle, a conduit adapted for connection with a source of gas under pressure, and a plurality of uniformly distributed pin-hole openings communicating the conduit with the surface so that the compressed gas escaping through the openings forms a gas cushion above the surface on which the toy vehicle can slide.
  • the track may for instance be provided with a depression in its upper surface which is slightly wider than the width of the vehicle so that the vehicle is guided by the side walls of this depression.
  • the side walls are also provided with pin-hole openings so that some of the compressed gas (e.g. air) can escape out of these additional openings and serve to center the vehicle as it travels in the depression.
  • the hover-craft principle wherein a vehicle hovers on a cushion of compressed air is of course known in the general engineering technique however not in the toy field.
  • the vehicle itself carries a compressor or compressors which produce the compressed air.
  • This has, inter alia, the disadvantage, that if two or more such vehicles are to'be united in form of a train or chain" each vehicle must produce its own air cushion.
  • the present invention makes it possible to connect as many vehicles as desired in form of a train or chain, and to use only a single source of compressed air, or perhaps more than a single source if the track is particularly large but certainly not as many sources as vehicles that can be connected to form a train.
  • the illumination of a source to be carried in each of the individual vehicles makes it possible to make the vehicles light in weight and small, and also of course inexpensive, which for the first time makes it possible to utilize the hover-craft principle in a toy.
  • a single vehicle or any or all of the vehicles of a set may be provided with an air screw which is driven by a motor.
  • a motor for instance, an electromotor, but it is also possible to use a linear motor or simply to rely on gravity by downwardly inclining the track.
  • the track itself may be composed of straight and/or curved sections each having a journal portion, part of which extends beyond one axial end of the section can be inserted into a recess provided at an axial end of another section so that it communicates with the journal or conduit portion of that other section.
  • This provides a mechanical and pneumatic connection between these sections.
  • the track may be provided with a central longitudinally extending guide rail or guide groove, and the pinholes may by located opposite lateral sides of the rail or groove.
  • the vehicle may be provided with wheels which roll on the rail to provide proper guidance for the vehicle.
  • At least one of the track sections may be provided with an additional preferably laterally arranged inlet connection for the supply of air.
  • an additional preferably laterally arranged inlet connection for the supply of air.
  • a single such track section with a connection is sufficient, but two or more may be provided as outlined above if for instance two or more compressors are used.
  • Electrical conductors may be provided on the track extending longitudinally thereof to supply electric energy for the drive motor of the vehicle which electric energy can be picked up and supplied to the drive motor by means of brushes or pins or the like. These conductors can be provided at the underside of the upper surface of the track or at opposite lateral surfaces of a guide rail or a guide groove.
  • the electrical connection between the portions of the conductors on the respective track sections can be provided by forming the end faces of the track sections with recesses into which portions of the conductors are bent over so that the portions on adjacent track sections can springily engage one another in electrically conductive relationship when the track sections are connected.
  • the underside of the vehicle can be provided with longitudinally extending grooves. If the underside is flat, than the air cushion is not laterally delimited and this results in an increased air loss. However, if the grooves mentioned above are provided, the air cushion will predominantly form in these grooves and will be delimited by them which results in a substantially smaller air loss. This means that a lesser amount of compressed air is required to maintain a vehicle having these grooves on an air cushion, then would be required for a vehicle of similar dimension and weight the underside of which is flat. Moreover, the lateral delimitation of the air cushion provides for a desirable centering effect, which may in itself be fully sufficient for properly guiding the vehicle lengthwise of the track.
  • the grooves are of a cross section which converges from their open side, for instance in V-shaped configuration, that is which converges in upward direction when the vehicle is placed in position on the track.
  • the inclined side walls bounding such converging grooves produce in addition to the force component which maintains the vehicle spaced from the upper surface of the track, additional oppositely directed horizontal force components which tend to cancel one another out as long as the vehicle is located precisely in vertical alignment above the track.
  • a force component develops which tends to return the vehicle back to its original position.
  • the invention also contemplates a provision of a track switch by means of which the vehicle can be switched from a main to an auxiliary track, or back.
  • a track switch must be so constructed that the inertia of the vehicle in the direction of movement will initially act almost tangentially upon the track switch.
  • the friction of the vehicle sliding on the air cushion is almost zero, at least when the vehicle has a flat underside, so that aside from the centrifugal force no other forces will be transmitted to the track switch as the latter switches the vehicle from one track to another.
  • the track switch can be so constructed that recesses or cutouts are provided through which portions of the vehicle which extends laterally beyond the track can pass during switching of the vehicle between tracks. These cutouts must be at least so wide and so deep that the vehicle can cross one track without contacting the same.
  • a substantial advantage of the type of tracks here in question is the fact that no compressed-air carrying components must be moved so that the track can be installed fixedly on a support. Only the track switches themselves must be moved.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration, showing a vehicle with a portion of-a track section according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-section through FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3' is a :view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating a somewhat different embodiment
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top-plan view illustrating a track switch.
  • the track according to the present invention will be composed of a plurality of track sections 1 which in the illustrated embodiment have 'anupper surface formed with a longitudinally extending centrally located guide rib or rail 2.
  • two vehicles have been illust'rated of which the vehicle 3 is pr'ovided with an electromotor 7 which drives an air screw 6 in rotation.
  • Each of the vehicles is provided in its underside 4 with a recess 5 which extends longitudinally of the vehicle and is so dimensioned as to receive the rib 2 as shown in FIG. 2.
  • an elect'romotor is utilized for the motor 7, although a different motor could also be employed, then it is possible to reverse the direction of rotation of the air screw 6 by reversing the direction of operation of the motor, to provide forward or backward movement of the vehicle.
  • each track section 1 is provided with a plurality of uniformly distributed pin-hole openings 8 which communicate with aconduit section 11 formed in the respective section 1 and which is in turn connectable via a bore 14 of an inlet 10 with a (non-illustrated) source of compressed gas, for instance an air compressor.
  • a source of compressed gas for instance an air compressor.
  • the quantity of air supplied depends upon the size of the total installation composed of aselected numbe'r of'thesections 1, and upon the weight-of the vehicle 3.
  • the air which escapes from the pin-hole openings 8 forms above the surface 9 an air cushion on whichthevehicle 3 slides, with the air cushion servingto maintain the vehicle 3 out of contact with the track section 1.
  • a mechanical and pneumatic connection between the individual track sections can be established in a very simple manner by having at least one tubular portion l2'which communicates with the respective conduit section 11 project beyond an axial end of the respective track section so that it can be extended into a recess 13 provided in an axial end of an adjacent track section.
  • both the portion 12 and the recess 13 should be conical to provide a better seal and a better and more reliable coupling between them.
  • the vehicle 3 is provided in this embodiment with wheels orrollers 15 which are mounted on it for turning movement about vertically oriented axes and which engage the opposite lateralsidefaces of the rib 2, to provide guidance of the vehicle along the same. This of course reduces the friction between the vehicle and the rib.
  • each track section is provided with electrical conductors 16 extending longitudinally of the track section and which are engaged by pins 17 provided at the underside4 of the vehicleand connected in turn with the between them.
  • the side walls of'the track sections 1 may be provided withsuitable coupling portions, for instance projecting undercut coupling heads or-undercut coupling grooves by means of which othercomponents of a toy buildingse-t may beconnectedw'ith the track.
  • the vehicle 3 may also be guided on the track in that the rib 2 is omitted and the side wall portions of the track section I extend "upwardly at opposite lateral sides of the vehicle 3,- in the same manner as the rib 2, and are provided with pin holes through whichair issues in direction inwardly towards the vehicle to maintain the same centered and guided. i
  • FIG. 3 -it will be seen that here a track section 1 is again provided with a journal or conduit section 11 and with the pin-hole openings 8.
  • the underside 4 of the vehicle 3 is provided in its underside 4 with twolongitudinally extending grooves 20 which are so arranged that they are located above the pin-hole openings 8.
  • the crosssection of the grooves is of inverted V-shape.
  • the embodiment of FIG. 3 resembles that of FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • FIG. 4 it will be seen that this illustrates a track switch for switching a vehicle from one track to another.
  • a track switch can be used with a track assembled from the track sections 1 (only one shown) of FIGS. 1 and 3.
  • the track switch in FIG. 4 shows a main track 32 and an auxiliary track 31 which latter forms a curve or bend that extends away from the track 32.
  • Both of the tracks 31, 32 are provided on theirupper surface 33 with uniformly distributed pin-hole openings 34 corresponding to the openings 8 of the preceding Figures, from which the compressed air necessary to maintain the vehicle 35 in hovering relationship, issues.
  • the conduit system 36 is connectable with a source ofgcompressed air, for instance a compressor, in the manner described earlier.
  • the longitudinal guidance of the vehicle 35 in this embodiment takes place via compressedfair which issues from pin-hole openings 36 against lateral portions 38 of the vehicle 35, to thus maintain the vehicle in proper position.
  • the diversion of the vehicle 35 from one to the other of the tracks takes place via an arrangement 39 which can be selectively placed into communication with one or the other of the tracks.
  • the portion 39a which is configurated as a guide element with a curved portion 40 and an inclined portion 41, diverts the vehicle 35 from the main track 32 onto the auxiliary track 31.
  • the portion 39 for the main track 32 is disengaged in this position.
  • the arrangement 39b is moved to engaging position whereas the arrangement 39a for the track 31 is moved at the same time to disengaging position.
  • cutouts 42 are provided in the extension of the'side walls ofeach track on the other track which is crossed by the respective track.
  • the vehicle 35 is again driven by air screw 44 which may beoperated by a battery-driven electromotor 43.
  • a combination comprising a toy vehicle; and a track for guiding said toy vehicle, said track being composed of track components forming a guide surface for said vehicle and each having two iongitudinally spaced erid facesfa conduit adapted for connection with a source of gas under pressure and being composed of conduit sections each associated with a track section and having one projecting end portion extending outwardly beyond one of said end faces, the other end face of each track section being provided with a recess which communicates with the associated conduit section and into which said projecting end portion of the conduit section of another track section is insertable for connecting said track sections and conduit sections together, and a plurality of at least substantially uniformly distributed openings communicating said conduit with said surface so that the compressed gas escaping through said openings forms above said surface a gas cushion on which said toy vehicle can slide.
  • one of said track components comprises a track switch.
  • said track switch has portions of a main track and an auxiliary track which cross one another; and wherein each of said tracks is formed with cut-outs for portions of said vehicle which extend laterally beyond the respective track.
  • a combination as defined in claim 1 said vehicle having a side which in operation faces said surface and is provided with grooves extending longitudinally of said vehicle.
  • a combination comprising a toy vehicle including an electric motor; a track for guiding said toy vehicle, said track being composed of track components forming a guide surface for said vehicle and each having longitudinally spaced end faces provided with recesses, a conduit adapted for connection with a source of gas under pressure, and a plurality of uniformly distributed pin-hole openings communicating said conduit with said surface so that the compressed gas escaping through said openings forms above said surface a gas cushion on which said toy vehicle can slide; and electrical conductors extending longitudinally of said track and provided on the same for supplying electric energy to said electric motor, said conductors being composed of a plurality of conductor lengths which are each provided on one of said track components and have two spaced terminal portions which are bent so as to be located in the respective recesses of the associated track component.
  • a track-type toy a combination comprising a toy vehicle; and a track for guiding said toy vehicle,
  • said track being composed of track components forming a guide surface for said vehicle and including a track switch having a rail which guides said vehicle at least at one lateral outer side thereof and which has an elastically yieldable leading end portion, a conduit adapted for connectionwith a source of gas under pressure, and aplurality of uniformly distributed pin-hole openings communicating said conduit with said surface so that the compressed gas escaping through said openings forms above said surface a gas cushion on which said toy vehicle can slide.
  • a combination comprising a toy vehicle; and a track for guiding said toy vehicle, said track being composed of track components forming a guide surface for said vehicle and including a track switch having laterally adjacent vertically journalled rollers, a conduit adapted for connection with a source of gas under pressure, and, a plurality of uniformly distributed pin-hole openings communicating said conduit with said surface so that the compressed gas escaping through said openingsforms above said surface a gas cushion on which said toy vehicle can slide.
  • a combination comprising a toy vehicle; and a track for guiding said toy vehicle, said track being composed of track components having a guide surface for said vehicle and forming a main track and an auxiliary track, a main track switch interposed in said main track and an auxiliary track switch interposed in said auxiliary track and connected with said main track switch for movement in unison therewith so that saidivehicle may be switched from onelto the other of saidftrack, a conduit adapted for connection with a source of gas under pressure, and a plurality of uniformly distributed pin-hole openings communicating said conduit with said surface so that the compressed gas escaping through said openings forms above said surface agas cushion on which said toy vehicle can slide.

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US433981A 1973-01-08 1974-01-16 Track-type toy Expired - Lifetime US3896735A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19732300645 DE2300645A1 (de) 1973-01-08 1973-01-08 Fahrbahnanlage
DE19732301893 DE2301893A1 (de) 1973-01-16 1973-01-16 Fahrbahnanlage
DE19732308089 DE2308089A1 (de) 1973-02-19 1973-02-19 Fahrbahnabzweigung fuer eine mit druckluft beaufschlagbare fahrbahn

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3896735A true US3896735A (en) 1975-07-29

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US433981A Expired - Lifetime US3896735A (en) 1973-01-08 1974-01-16 Track-type toy

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3896735A (it)
BR (1) BR7400086D0 (it)
CH (1) CH563790A5 (it)
ES (1) ES422096A1 (it)
FR (1) FR2213645A5 (it)
IT (1) IT1003306B (it)
NL (1) NL7316031A (it)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4193470A (en) * 1978-11-13 1980-03-18 Logan Russell J Fluid propelled vehicular system
US4416346A (en) * 1980-12-29 1983-11-22 Logan Russell J Extensible steering, propulsion and skirting means for ground effect vehicles
US5269718A (en) * 1992-08-19 1993-12-14 Reed David A Toy racing car with improved propulsion means
US20060183403A1 (en) * 2004-05-26 2006-08-17 Evan Spenneberg Race track game system
WO2009100599A1 (zh) * 2008-02-05 2009-08-20 Guangdong Alpha Animation And Culture Co., Ltd. 一种玩具飞车卡轨机构
US20100096509A1 (en) * 2008-10-17 2010-04-22 O'connor Stacy Lynn Relay For Toy Track Set
US20100159800A1 (en) * 2007-04-27 2010-06-24 O'connor Stacy Lynn Toy track set and relay segments
US20100273394A1 (en) * 2007-04-27 2010-10-28 O'connor Stacy L Toy track set and relay segments
US20100291833A1 (en) * 2007-04-27 2010-11-18 O'connor Stacy L Toy track set and relay segments
US20110092132A1 (en) * 2007-04-27 2011-04-21 O'connor Stacy Lynn Toy track set and relay segments
US20110124265A1 (en) * 2007-04-27 2011-05-26 O'connor Stacy Lynn Toy track set and relay segments
US8256721B2 (en) 2007-04-27 2012-09-04 Mattel, Inc. Toy track set and relay segments
EP3608004A4 (en) * 2016-08-18 2020-12-16 Choirock Contents Factory Co., Ltd. VEHICLE TOYS AND GAME DEVICE WITH USE THEREOF

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3302587A (en) * 1964-03-12 1967-02-07 Jr William C Knox Air sled freeway
US3340822A (en) * 1964-06-04 1967-09-12 L Aerotrain Plaisir Soc Et Track switching device for air cushion vehicles
US3516361A (en) * 1966-09-06 1970-06-23 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Electromagnetically-propelled vehicle
US3804997A (en) * 1971-09-30 1974-04-16 Krauss Maffei Ag Contact system for high-speed electrically operated vehicles

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3302587A (en) * 1964-03-12 1967-02-07 Jr William C Knox Air sled freeway
US3340822A (en) * 1964-06-04 1967-09-12 L Aerotrain Plaisir Soc Et Track switching device for air cushion vehicles
US3516361A (en) * 1966-09-06 1970-06-23 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Electromagnetically-propelled vehicle
US3804997A (en) * 1971-09-30 1974-04-16 Krauss Maffei Ag Contact system for high-speed electrically operated vehicles

Cited By (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4193470A (en) * 1978-11-13 1980-03-18 Logan Russell J Fluid propelled vehicular system
US4416346A (en) * 1980-12-29 1983-11-22 Logan Russell J Extensible steering, propulsion and skirting means for ground effect vehicles
US5269718A (en) * 1992-08-19 1993-12-14 Reed David A Toy racing car with improved propulsion means
US20060183403A1 (en) * 2004-05-26 2006-08-17 Evan Spenneberg Race track game system
US7201628B2 (en) * 2004-05-26 2007-04-10 Evan Spenneberg Race track game system
WO2006124207A2 (en) * 2005-05-11 2006-11-23 Spenneberg, Evan Race track game system
WO2006124207A3 (en) * 2005-05-11 2007-05-31 Spenneberg Evan Race track game system
US20100291833A1 (en) * 2007-04-27 2010-11-18 O'connor Stacy L Toy track set and relay segments
US8382553B2 (en) 2007-04-27 2013-02-26 Mattel, Inc. Toy track set and relay segments
US20100159800A1 (en) * 2007-04-27 2010-06-24 O'connor Stacy Lynn Toy track set and relay segments
US9504926B2 (en) 2007-04-27 2016-11-29 Mattel, Inc. Toy track set and relay segments
US20100273394A1 (en) * 2007-04-27 2010-10-28 O'connor Stacy L Toy track set and relay segments
US8801492B2 (en) 2007-04-27 2014-08-12 Mattel, Inc. Toy track set and relay segments
US20110092132A1 (en) * 2007-04-27 2011-04-21 O'connor Stacy Lynn Toy track set and relay segments
US20110124265A1 (en) * 2007-04-27 2011-05-26 O'connor Stacy Lynn Toy track set and relay segments
US8747180B2 (en) 2007-04-27 2014-06-10 Mattel, Inc. Toy track set and relay segments
US8690632B2 (en) 2007-04-27 2014-04-08 Mattel, Inc. Toy track set and relay segments
US8256721B2 (en) 2007-04-27 2012-09-04 Mattel, Inc. Toy track set and relay segments
US8322660B2 (en) 2007-04-27 2012-12-04 Mattel, Inc. Relay for toy track set
WO2009100599A1 (zh) * 2008-02-05 2009-08-20 Guangdong Alpha Animation And Culture Co., Ltd. 一种玩具飞车卡轨机构
CN102238989A (zh) * 2008-10-17 2011-11-09 美泰有限公司 用于玩具轨道装置的接力装置
US8006943B2 (en) 2008-10-17 2011-08-30 Mattel Inc. Relay for toy track set
US20100096509A1 (en) * 2008-10-17 2010-04-22 O'connor Stacy Lynn Relay For Toy Track Set
WO2010045649A3 (en) * 2008-10-17 2010-07-08 Mattel, Inc. Relay for toy track set
EP3608004A4 (en) * 2016-08-18 2020-12-16 Choirock Contents Factory Co., Ltd. VEHICLE TOYS AND GAME DEVICE WITH USE THEREOF
US11117064B2 (en) * 2016-08-18 2021-09-14 Choirock Contents Factory Co., Ltd. Driving toy and playing device using the same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT1003306B (it) 1976-06-10
ES422096A1 (es) 1976-04-16
BR7400086D0 (pt) 1974-08-22
CH563790A5 (it) 1975-07-15
FR2213645A5 (it) 1974-08-02
NL7316031A (it) 1974-07-10

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