US3589064A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toy track system
Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co Ltd
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Filing: 1969-03-03
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Granted: 1971-06-29
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Expires: 1989-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A toy track system which comprises a wheeled and powered toy vehicle and a closed track on which the vehicle is adapted to travel. The track has a bridge incorporated therein which includes racks engageable by gears which are provided on a shaft operatively connected to a motor of the vehicle, said shaft being rotatably carried by the vehicle, separately from wheel axles thereof. When the vehicle travels on a level surface, it is driven by its wheels, and, when it crosses the bridge, it runs with the gears engaging said racks. The vehicle runs on the track while moving a funnel up and down.
Inventors
- 👤 Takayuki Harada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:23
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H18/00; A63H18/14; A63H19/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
A toy track system comprising, in combination, an endless track composed of a plurality of straight and curved track sections and a bridge, and a toy locomotive arranged to travel on said endless track, said straight and curved track sections being interchangeably connectable to form a substantially level course portion of said endless track, said bridge being connectable to said track sections to form an elevated course portion joining spaced parts of said level course portion, said bridge including a pair of parallel spaced-apart sidewalls each having a similar predetermined inclined surface and a rack being formed in said inclined surface of said sidewalls, said toy locomotive including an electric motor, a pair of driving wheels mounted in said toy locomotive for travelling on said track sections, gear means being arranged for operatively connecting said driving wheels to said motor for driving said locomotive on the level course portion of said endless track, a pair of driving gears each supported on and extending laterally from an opposite side of said locomotive and rotatable on an axis spaced from the axis of said driving wheels, said gear means operatively connecting said motor to said driving gears and said driving gears arranged to engage said tracks on said sidewalls of said bridge for driving said locomotive across said bridge, a vertically reciprocal funnel being mounted in said locomotive and extending upwardly above said locomotive through an opening in the top thereof, spring means normally biasing said funnel in the downward direction, and said gear means comprising a cam being disposed in operating engagement with the lower end of said funnel for raising said funnel as said gear means are driven by said motor so that the combined effect of said cam and spring means affords vertical reciprocation of said funnel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
298 words
A toy track system comprising, in combination, an endless track composed of a plurality of straight and curved track sections and a bridge, and a toy locomotive arranged to travel on said endless track, said straight and curved track sections being interchangeably connectable to form a substantially level course portion of said endless track, said bridge being connectable to said track sections to form an elevated course portion joining spaced parts of said level course portion, said bridge including a pair of parallel spaced-apart sidewalls each having a similar predetermined inclined surface and a rack being formed in said inclined surface of said sidewalls, said toy locomotive including an electric motor, a pair of driving wheels mounted in said toy locomotive for travelling on said track sections, gear means being arranged for operatively connecting said driving wheels to said motor for driving said locomotive on the level course portion of said endless track, a pair of driving gears each supported on and extending laterally from an opposite side of said locomotive and rotatable on an axis spaced from the axis of said driving wheels, said gear means operatively connecting said motor to said driving gears and said driving gears arranged to engage said tracks on said sidewalls of said bridge for driving said locomotive across said bridge, a vertically reciprocal funnel being mounted in said locomotive and extending upwardly above said locomotive through an opening in the top thereof, spring means normally biasing said funnel in the downward direction, and said gear means comprising a cam being disposed in operating engagement with the lower end of said funnel for raising said funnel as said gear means are driven by said motor so that the combined effect of said cam and spring means affords vertical reciprocation of said funnel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A toy track section, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the axis of said driving gears is located vertically above the axis of said driving wheels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
A toy track system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said straight and curved track sections each having a horizontally arranged level portion for supporting said driving wheels, and said bridge having a bottom portion forming a continuation of said level portion of said track sections and said sidewalls extending upwardly from the opposite sides of said bottom portion, said racks being located along the upper edges of said sidewalls and the height of said racks above said bottom portion being arranged to support that locomotive on said racks so that on said bridge the driving action is developed between said locomotive and said racks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A toy track system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said funnel being formed as a hollow structure, an upright member secured to the lower end of said funnel, a guide socket secured to said locomotive and arranged to receive and guide said upright member in the vertical direction as said funnel reciprocates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
101 words
A toy track system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a horizontally arranged lug is secured to the lower end of said funnel and an elongated aperture is provided in said lug, said cam of said gear means being disposed opposite said lug for contact therewith during a portion of its rotational movement and for passage through the aperture in said lug during another portion of said rotational movement so that said funnel is displaced upwardly when said cam contacts said lug and is pulled downwardly by said spring means when said cam passes through the aperture in said lug.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
242 words
A toy truck system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said driving wheels form the front wheels of said toy locomotive, and a pair of rear wheels are provided rearwardly of said driving wheels, said driving wheels being arranged for rotation at reduced speed by said gear means operatively engaged with said motor, said gear means comprising a first shaft, a second shaft, a third shaft, a crown gear and a pinion being fixedly mounted on said first shaft, a pinion being disposed on the output shaft of said motor, said crown gear being disposed in meshed engagement with said pinion on said motor, a toothed wheel fixedly mounted on said second shaft and disposed in meshed engagement with said pinion on said first shaft, a pair of spaced pinion mounted on the opposite ends of said second shaft and being arranged to drive said driving wheels by engaging the outer periphery thereof, said locomotive comprising a frame, a gear casing supported on said frame, said first and second shafts being rotatably supported by said gear casing, another pinion mounted on said second shaft, between said pinions for driving said driving wheels, a toothed wheel mounted on said third shaft and being disposed in meshed engagement with said another pinion on said second shaft, and said driving gears being mounted on the opposite ends of said third shaft whereby said driving gears are rotated by said motor through said gear means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
227 words
A toy track system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a battery casing positioned within said locomotive and arranged for replaceably housing a dry cell, said battery casing having an opening formed in its lower end which is accessible through the bottom of said locomotive, a pivotally mounted closure member being arranged to close the opening in said battery casing, and switch means for closing and opening the motor circuit being arranged as a locking member for said closure member for holding said closure member in the closed position. 8, A toy track system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said straight and curved track sections having a level portion arranged to be disposed in a horizontal position and side portions extending vertically from the edges of said level portion and serving as guide walls for said locomotive travelling on said level portion, said sidewalls extending vertically from both sides of said level portion so that both surfaces of said level portion can be utilized as paths of travel for said locomotive, each of said sidewall portions having a male joint at one end and a female joint at the opposite end thereof, whereby said straight and curved track sections can be joined to one another by fitting the male joints of one track section into the female joints of another track section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |