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US3633308A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Toy including a track for toy cars
Assignee: HOI YUEN Manufacturing CO Ltd
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Filing: 1970-05-11
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Granted: 1972-01-11
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Expires: 1990-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A toy comprises a track approximating in shape to a letter X disposed in a vertical plane, and five cars which run on the track. At each end of the track is a lifting wheel which operates automatically to lift cars from the lower end of a lower branch of the track up to the upper end of the upper branch of the track thereabove, so that the cars move in a path approximating to a figure eight disposed in a vertical plane.
Inventors
- 👤 Tse T Yang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:10
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H18/00; A63H18/14; A63H18/02; A63H18/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
455 words
A toy comprising a plurality of cars; track means for the cars, the track means providing a path approximating in shape to a letter X with the plane vertical and comprising a first humpbacked track which provides the two lower branches of said path, and second and third tracks which provide the respective upper branches of said path, the second track being pivotally suppoRted on a first horizontal shaft so as to be vertically above and axially aligned with one lower branch of said path, the second track having a stable equilibrium position in which it is inclined downwards at an angle towards the center of the first track, the lower end of the second track then being spaced vertically above the first track by a distance sufficient for a car running on the first track to pass freely under said lower end of the second track, the arrangement of the second track being such that when a car is placed on the upper end of the second track, the second track remains in said stable equilibrium position until the car has run down past said first shaft whereupon the second track pivots about the axis defined by said first shaft until said lower end of the second track rests on the first track such that the car runs off the second track on to the first track and continues to the lower end of the other lower branch of said path, and the third track being pivotally supported on a second horizontal shaft so as to be vertically above and axially aligned with said lower branch of said path, the third track having a stable equilibrium position in which it is inclined downwards at an angle towards the center of the first track, the lower end of the third track then being spaced vertically above the first track by a distance sufficient for a car running on the first track to pass freely under said lower end of the third track, the arrangement of the third track being such that when a car is placed on the upper end of the third track, the third track remains in said stable equilibrium position until the car has run down past said second shaft whereupon the third track pivots about the axis defined by said second shaft until said lower end of the third track rests on the first track such that the car runs off the third track on to the first track and continues to the lower end of said one branch of said path; and lift means automatically to lift the cars from the lower end of each lower branch of said path to the upper end of the respective upper branch above.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
455 words
A toy comprising a plurality of cars; track means for the cars, the track means providing a path approximating in shape to a letter X with the plane vertical and comprising a first humpbacked track which provides the two lower branches of said path, and second and third tracks which provide the respective upper branches of said path, the second track being pivotally suppoRted on a first horizontal shaft so as to be vertically above and axially aligned with one lower branch of said path, the second track having a stable equilibrium position in which it is inclined downwards at an angle towards the center of the first track, the lower end of the second track then being spaced vertically above the first track by a distance sufficient for a car running on the first track to pass freely under said lower end of the second track, the arrangement of the second track being such that when a car is placed on the upper end of the second track, the second track remains in said stable equilibrium position until the car has run down past said first shaft whereupon the second track pivots about the axis defined by said first shaft until said lower end of the second track rests on the first track such that the car runs off the second track on to the first track and continues to the lower end of the other lower branch of said path, and the third track being pivotally supported on a second horizontal shaft so as to be vertically above and axially aligned with said lower branch of said path, the third track having a stable equilibrium position in which it is inclined downwards at an angle towards the center of the first track, the lower end of the third track then being spaced vertically above the first track by a distance sufficient for a car running on the first track to pass freely under said lower end of the third track, the arrangement of the third track being such that when a car is placed on the upper end of the third track, the third track remains in said stable equilibrium position until the car has run down past said second shaft whereupon the third track pivots about the axis defined by said second shaft until said lower end of the third track rests on the first track such that the car runs off the third track on to the first track and continues to the lower end of said one branch of said path; and lift means automatically to lift the cars from the lower end of each lower branch of said path to the upper end of the respective upper branch above.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lift means comprises two similar lifting wheels mounted for rotation on respective horizontal shafts disposed above the lower ends of the lower branches of said path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
A toy as set forth in claim 2 wherein each said lifting wheel has an associated electric motor coupled to said wheel shaft, said motor in use being connected to a source of electric current by way of a switch, and said switch being actuated by a switch controller mounted at the lower end of the respective lower branch of said path, whereby a car running down said lower branch strikes said controller thereby closing the switch so that said motor is energized and said lifting wheel rotates and deposits a car on the upper end of the respective one of the second and third tracks thereabove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A toy as set forth in claim 3 further comprising means automatically to open said switch when said lifting wheel has rotated through a predetermined angular distance and deposited a car as aforesaid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
A toy as set forth in claim 4 wherein said switch controller comprises a pivotable member having an arm extending therefrom, the impact of a car on said member causing said member to pivot to a position in which said arm closes said switch, and wherein said lifting wheel has a plurality of cam surfaces each operative when said lifting wheel is rotated to bring the cam surface adjacent to said arm to displace the arm whereby the switch is opened and said member is pivoted back to the initial position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
126 words
A toy as set forth in claim 5 wherein each said lifting wheel has a plurality of pairs of inwardly projecting lugs and each said car has a pair of downwardly open recesses, the relative dispositions of said pairs of lugs and said recesses being such that when a car is standing at the lower end of one of the lower branches of said path and the adjacent said lifting wheel is rotated an unoccupied pair of said lugs approaching said car will engage into said recesses and lift said car from the first track and carry it upwards for subsequent deposit on the upper end of the respective second or third track thereabove, the car remaining substantially horizontal while suspended from said pair of lugs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
A toy as set forth in claim 6 comprising five said cars and wherein each said lifting wheel for three said pairs of lugs disposed at angular intervals of 120* and three said cam surfaces disposed at angular intervals of 120*, whereby each time the associated said switch is closed said lifting wheel rotates through an angular distance of 120*.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A toy as set forth in claim 7 wherein at least one said lifting wheel has a bell associated therewith, the bell being arranged to ring when said lifting wheel rotates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
114 words
A toy comprising a plurality of cars, track means for the cars, the track means providing a path approximating in shape to a letter X with the plane vertical and comprising a first humpbacked track which provides the two lower branches of said path, and second and third tracks which provide the respective upper branches of said path; and lift means automatically to lift the cars from the lower end of each lower branch of said path to the upper end of the respective upper branch above, said lift means comprising two similar lifting wheels mounted for rotation on respective horizontal shafts disposed above the lower ends of the lower branches of said path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
114 words
A toy comprising a plurality of cars, track means for the cars, the track means providing a path approximating in shape to a letter X with the plane vertical and comprising a first humpbacked track which provides the two lower branches of said path, and second and third tracks which provide the respective upper branches of said path; and lift means automatically to lift the cars from the lower end of each lower branch of said path to the upper end of the respective upper branch above, said lift means comprising two similar lifting wheels mounted for rotation on respective horizontal shafts disposed above the lower ends of the lower branches of said path.
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) | 1975-01-10 | 1975-07-12 | 1976-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-10 | 1979-07-12 | 1980-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-10 | 1983-07-12 | 1984-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |