Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FLEXIBLE VEHICLE GUIDING ELEMENT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates to guiding elements for toy vehicles and more
specifically to a flexible vehicle guiding element formed from molded
elastomeric material
which is bendable in a multiplicity of axes and will retain the form into
which it is bent.
Prior Art
[0002] In the field of vehicle guiding elements particularly such as tracks or
toy
trains, it has been customary to provide track sections made of wood which are
interconnected at each end of a segment by appropriate elements. In some
instances the track
segments are held together by a cable extending through an opening provided
therein. To
take care of such prior art tracks are those shown in U.S. Patents 3,013,726;
5,779,145;
5,979,73; and 6,39,121. Such structures while functioning to provide a vehicle
guiding
system are generally rigid artwork connected by cables are limited in the
amount of curvature
that is required and where the track is to traverse hill sections. The
rigidity imposes
undesirable complications insofar as the interconnections of the segments are
concerned as
well as the ability to provide the configuration desired by the user in a
simple and easy
impression.
[0003] To solve some of these problems various configurations of molded track
sections have been produced which allow more flexibility by providing a great
multiplicity of
independent small sections which have interlocking engagements there between
to allow the
track to extend andlor contract as well as to bend not only to provide a
curvature but also to
provide the ability to ascend or descend the examples of such structures are
shown in U.S.
Patents 3,750,945; 4,540,119; 4,544,094 and RE. 30454. Tracks formed from
these segments
function well but still suffer from the inadequacies of maintaining the
desired position for the
track during use particularly when placing the track in an ascending or
descending position.
Under these circumstances, it is often required that some special support
mechanism be
utilized to hold the track in the desired position.
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[0004] The closest prior art known to applicant is illustrated in U.S. Patents
4,397,419 and 5,678,489. The 4,397,419 patent discloses a vehicle guiding
element in the
form of a track for a toy vehicle which is molded from a synthetic plastic
material. A wire
band of angular cross-section constituted of a soft and thereby easily
bendable metal used and
inserted into slots formed in the molded plastic body. The wire bands conduct
electricity to
the toy vehicle and at the same time allow the toy vehicle track to be bent
into a plurality of
different curved shapes. The structure disclosed in the 5,678,489 patent is an
electrically
operated vehicle which is travelling on a rail which is formed of a plurality
of molded plastic
segments interlocked together. The segments have channels formed in the top
and bottom
thereof. Wires which are used to conduct the electrical current are secured by
appropriate
clips into the channels. The wires permit all of the segments of the track to
be connected in
series and permit the track to be curved and twisted and turned. The vehicle
guiding systems
as disclosed in each of Patents 4,397,419 and 5,678,489 although providing a
flexibility are
constructed such that the wires or wire bands are exposed and must ' be
inserted into
appropriate slots or connectors for the track to function properly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A flexible guiding element for toy vehicles which is constructed of a
plurality of segments. Each of the segments comprises a body formed of a
molded
elastomeric material with a ductile metal member encased within the body in
direct contact
with and surrounded by the elastomeric material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Figure 1 is an isometric view of one segment of the flexible . vehicle
guiding element constructed in accordance with the principles of the present
invention;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the segment as shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken about the lines 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a detailed view of relief sections taken about the section 4 of
Figure 2;
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Figure 5 is a detailed view taken about the ° segment 5 of Figure 2
illustrating the female
receptacle connector;
Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the segment shown in Figure 1;
Figure 7 is a partial view of two segments interconnected together for the
utilization of
appropriate male and female connectors;
Figure 8 illustrates the male connector end of a flexible segment of the
present invention
connected to a female end of a rigid or wooden guiding element of the prior
art;
Figure 9 is similar to Figure 8 but illustrates the male connector of a
typical rigid or wooden
prior art segment connected to a flexible female connector of the segment of
the present
invention;
Figure 10 is an isometric view illustrating the manner in which a flexible
vehicle guiding
element and constructed in accordance with the present invention maybe shaped
in a
multiplicity of axes;
Figure 11 is an isometric view of a merged/switched vehicle guiding element
segment
constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 illustrate an alternative embodiments of track
segments, each
having a different form of embedded ductile metal member encased therein;
Figure 16 is an isometric drawing of a connector which may be utilized to
provide additional
stability to interconnected segments of a flexible vehicle element constructed
in accordance
with the principles of the present invention;
Figure 17 shows the connector stowed on the bottom of a segment;
Figure 18 illustrates a track segment as shown in Figure 17 turned so that the
top surface is
shown; and
Figure 19 shows the connector in position and affixed to the end of the
segment at the female
connector end ready for receipt of the male connector end.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0007] Refernng now more particularly to Figure l, there is illustrated a
segment
of a flexible vehicle guidance element constructed in accordance with the
present
invention. The segment 10 includes a body 12 constructed of a molded
elastomeric material.
Various elastomeric materials are suitable for use in fabricating the segments
10 of the
present invention such for example as various plastics, rubber or the like. In
the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, polyvinyl chloride plastic material is
the most desired.
The segment terminates at one end in a male connector structure 14 and at the
opposite end in
a female connector structure 16. The vehicle guiding element is constructed by
interconnecting a plurality of segments 10 together by inserting the male
connector 14 into
the female connector 16 of the next adjacent segment. Depressions 18 and 20
are formed on
opposite sides of the body 12 and functioned as tracks to receive the wheels
on a vehicle such
as a toy train. The depressions 18 and 20 define sidewalk 22 and 24 to assist
in retaining a
toy vehicle on the tracks 18 and 20.
The tracks 18 and 20 are also defined on the interior of the body 12 by the
walls 26 and 28
which cooperate in conjunction with the walls 24 and 22 to assist in guiding
the vehicle along
the track.
[0008] The segment 10 is designed so that it can be twisted about the x axis
to
cause the tracks to rotate. In addition, 'the segment 10 may be bent about the
v axis thereby
developing curves for the vehicle to traverse. The segment 10 may also be bent
about the y
axis to provide hills for the vehicle to traverse. Obviously, the segment 10
may be
simultaneously bent about each of the axis x, y and z to thus provide a
tortious(?) path for the
vehicle to follow thus imparting more enjoyment to the user of the vehicle
guiding element
by way of allowing the vehicle on the track to not only turn corners but for
allowing it to
climb or descend in a spiral fashion.
[0009] By referring now more particularly to Figures 2 through 6, greater
details
of construction are illustrated to allow bending about the z axis a plurality
of indentations 30
are provided along the outer edge 32 on one side of the body 12 and
indentations 34 are
provided on the opposite side 36 of the body 12. As is shown in greater detail
in Figure 4, the
indentations 34 are triangular in shape and terminate inwardly at a round
relief cut 38. The
triangular-shaped indentations 34 and 30 formed along each of the opposite
sides 32 and 36
respectively of the body 12 will readily permit bending of the segment 10
about the z axis to
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provide a curvature for the track. The amount of bending will be limited by
the walls 40 and
42 defining a triangular indentation coming together.
As seen more particularly in Figure 6, there are a plurality of voids 42 to 44
provided along
the under or bottom side of the segment 10. The voids are more clearly shown
in Figure 3.
The voids provide a minimization of the use of plastic in the formation of the
segments and at
the same time keep the walls defining the indentations 30-34 of similar
thickness throughout
the process.
[0010] As is seen more clearly in Figure 3, a central rib 46 that extends
substantially the entire length of the segment 10 is provided. Encased within
the rib 46 is a
ductile metal member which allows the segment to be bent about the x, y and z
axes and
since the metal ductile member has no elasticity the particular position the
segment is placed
in will remain until it is changed by the user. The metal ductile member may
take many
forms but as shown in Figure 3 is a twisted pair 48 of wires. These wires can
take various
forms but in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention. The wires
are 14 gauge and approximately 11 to 12 twists per foot are provided therein.
During
molding of the segment 10 the twisted pair of wires 48 are disposed within the
mold upon
support tooling. When the elastomeric material such as the polyvinyl chloride
plastic is
injected into the mold it will completely encase the twisted pair of wire 48
and be in direct
contact and will surround the twisted pair along the entire length thereof.
When the molded
segment 10 is removed from the mold, a plurality of openings as shown for
example at 50 are
provided along the rib 46 which are formed by the support to holding the
twisted pair of wire
48.
[0011] As is shown more particularly in Figure 5, the female connector portion
is
provided with small ridges 52 extending along the inner edge thereof. The male
connector
also divides ridges 55 extending along the inner edge thereof. The ridges
enhanced the
friction fit between the male and female connector elements to assist in
retaining joined
sections or segments of the vehicle guiding element together irrespective of
the twists and
turns which are imparted thereto by the user. It has also been found that
these small ridges
providing on both male and female connector elements of the segment 10
functioned to allow
the flexible vehicle guiding element of the present invention to easily mate
with segments or
sections of wooden type tracks presently on the market thereby providing a
more universal
use of the flexible segments constructed in accordance with the principles of
the present
invention.
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[0012] Referring now more particularly to Figure 7, there is illustrated one
end 56
of a segment 10 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present
invention and
including a male connector element 58 having the ridges 60 along one end
thereof. Also
shown is a section 62 of a second segment 10 which utilizes and defines the
female connector
64 having ridges 66 along one edge thereof. When the ends 56 and 62 of a
segments 10 are
brought together and the male connector 58 is inserted into the female
connector 64, the
ridges on each are offset in such a fashion that they will not interfere with
the mating of the
male and female connectors but at the same time will enhance the friction
connection to assist
in holding the adjacent segments together.
[0013] As shown in Figure 8, a section 68 of a segment 10 having a male
connector 70 associated therewith has been inserted into a female connector 72
of a prior art
section 74 of track. The construction of the male connector 70 is such that it
will readily
connect into the female connector on the prior art track section and because
of the ridges will
maintain a good frictional engagement therewith.
Referring now to Figure 9, there is illustrated a similar arrangement where a
section 76 of a
prior art track section having a male connector 78 is inserted into a female
connector 80 of a
section 82 of a flexible vehicular guiding element constructed in accordance
with the present
invention. Again, the ridges formed by the female connector 82 provide good
frictional
engagement with the male connector 78 of a prior art track section 76.
[0014] Figure 10 illustrates the manner in which a track section 84
constructed in
accordance with the principles of the present invention may be twisted and
bent so that it
starts from an elevated position shown generally at 86 and descends in a
downwardly
spiraling manner to a lower elevation 88.
As is illustrated in Figure 11, a flexible vehicle guiding element 90 may be
formed so that
two sections of track merged or may be utilized as a switch or the like. The
construction of
each of the segments 92 and 94 as illustrated to form the merged section 90
are constructed in
the same manner as described above to provide flexibility in the x, y and z
axes so that other
segments may be joined to the male and female connectors as illustrated in
Figure 11 to
provide a continuous track upon which the vehicle may travel.
[0015] As shown in Figures 12 through 15, the ductile metal member may take
various forms other than a twisted pair and the segments may be formed having
various
geometric shapes. For example, in Figure 12, the ductile metal member 96 may
be
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rectangular in cross section. In Figure 13, the member 98 may be a single
circular wire-
shaped member, in Figure 14, the ductile member may be square in shape as
shown at 100
and in Figure 15, the member may comprise two separate square members 102 and
104. In
each instance, the members are completely surrounded and encased within the
molded
elastomeric material wluch is in direct contact therewith along the entire
length of the ductile
metal member irrespective of its shape.
[0016] It has been found on some occasions that when the vehicle guiding
element constructed in accordance with the present invention is rotated
particularly about the
y axis in such a manner that a substantial amount of stress is placed upon the
connectors that
they can become displaced. To preclude this occurring a connector support
member 110 as
shown in Figure 16 may be provided. The member 110 has a plurality of
protrusions 112
extending from the upper surface 114 thereof. The protrusions 112 are
structured to fit within
voids 116 on the female connector end portion 118 of a segment 120 of the
vehicle guiding
element as shown in Figure 17. The element 110 is shown so placed in Figure
18. It will be
noted that the upper surface 122 of the element is flat so that when the
element is stored on
the connector end 118 and the segment 120 is turned over so that the track is
on the upper
surface thereof as shown in Figure 19. The segment 120 will lie flat upon the
surface.
[0017] However, if the element 110 is needed to provide additional strength in
the
connection between two adjacent and continuing segments it can be removed from
the
cavities 116 so that one half thereof extends outwardly as shown at 124 in
Figure 20. In this
position, the next adjacent segment of the vehicle guiding element containing
the male
connector can be brought into play with the male connector inserted into the
female
connector 126. The end of the segment containing the male connector includes
cavities
similar to those shown at 116 thus allowing the protrusions 112 extending
outwardly on the
section 124 to be seated within the undersurface of the region carrying the
male connector.
By utilizing a structure such as this, not only will the frictional engagement
between the male
and female connectors hold the two segments together but the element 110 which
now
interconnects the two segments will provide additional strength to the
interconnection to
prevent any separation when the track is manipulated about the wire axes.
[0018] It will be understood that the vehicle guiding elements described above
may find useful applications and other types of constructions differing from
the types
described above.
[0019] While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a
guiding element for a toy velucle, it is not intended to be limited to the
details shown since
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various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in
any way
from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will fully reveal the principle to the
present invention
in a manner such that other stand by applying current knowledge readily
adopted for various
applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art
fairly constitutes
essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the invention.
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