US3712539A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Track system for toy vehicle
Assignee: Mattel Inc
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Filing: 1970-09-18
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Granted: 1973-01-23
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Expires: 1990-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A track system for toy vehicles having a three sectioned track connector for creating and maintaining alignment of adjacent track sections. To provide improved alignment, greater track section strength and stiffness, and to increase the frictional connection between track sections, each track section has four depending flanges which cooperate with the track connector, the inner two flanges for receiving the central section of the track connector and the outer two flanges each receiving one of the outer sections of the track connector. The track connector additionally has protuberances causing the track connector central section to assume an arcuate shape thereby engaging the track sections along a greater surface area.
Inventors
- 👤 W Staats
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:29
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H18/00; A63H18/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A track system for a toy vehicle comprising: at least one elongated track section of substantially uniform cross section throughout its lane, said track section include a first face portion for supporting said vehicle, oppositely disposed guide flanges extending essentially the length of the track section projecting obliquely from said first face portion for guiding said vehicle and maintaining said vehicle on said track section, said guide flanges spaced apart to permit a lateral component of movement of said vehicle on said first face, a second face portion lying opposite said first portion, and at least four flange elements extending essentially the length of said track section depending from said second face portion for strengthening and stiffening said track section and defining a receptacle for a track connector whereby said track section may be connected to an additional track section; and a track connector adapted to be partially inserted between said flange elements and have three integral sections, a central section having opposed edges and being of a width several times the thickness thereof, and two outer sections spaced laterally from and extending parallel to an edge for aligning adjacent track sections and for stiffening the abutting track section ends wherein said outer sections of said track conNector include converging and beveled end portions for facilitating engagement with a track section and wherein said outer sections each include a depending flange extending substantially the length of said outer sections for strengthening and stiffening said outer sections.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
A track system for a toy vehicle comprising: at least one elongated track section of substantially uniform cross section throughout its lane, said track section include a first face portion for supporting said vehicle, oppositely disposed guide flanges extending essentially the length of the track section projecting obliquely from said first face portion for guiding said vehicle and maintaining said vehicle on said track section, said guide flanges spaced apart to permit a lateral component of movement of said vehicle on said first face, a second face portion lying opposite said first portion, and at least four flange elements extending essentially the length of said track section depending from said second face portion for strengthening and stiffening said track section and defining a receptacle for a track connector whereby said track section may be connected to an additional track section; and a track connector adapted to be partially inserted between said flange elements and have three integral sections, a central section having opposed edges and being of a width several times the thickness thereof, and two outer sections spaced laterally from and extending parallel to an edge for aligning adjacent track sections and for stiffening the abutting track section ends wherein said outer sections of said track conNector include converging and beveled end portions for facilitating engagement with a track section and wherein said outer sections each include a depending flange extending substantially the length of said outer sections for strengthening and stiffening said outer sections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
147 words
The track system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said central section has opposed surfaces and including spaced protuberances extending from each of said surfaces for frictionally engaging said flange elements and said second face portions, said protuberances located in two pairs on each of said surfaces with each pair adjacent an edge and symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of said track connector and where the protuberances on one of the surfaces are spaced a greater longitudinal distance than the protuberances on the other of said surfaces whereby said protuberances cause said central section to assume an arcuate form when said track connector engages two adjacent track sections; and said central section includes two end portions each having converging edges and beveled surfaces for facilitating engagement with a track section and wherein said central section end portions include depending flanges for strengthening and stiffening said end portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
224 words
A track system for a toy vehicle comprising: at least one elongated track section of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length, said track section including a first face portion for supporting said vehicle, oppositely disposed guide flanges extending essentially the length of said track section projecting obliquely from said first face portion for guiding said vehicle and maintaining said vehicle on said track section, said guide flanges spaced apart to prevent a lateral component of movement of said vehicle on said first face, a second face portion lying opposite said first face portion, and four parallel flange elements depending from said second face portion, each of said flange elements having substantially L-shaped cross sections and forming inner and outer channels for receiving a track connector, said flange elements for stiffening and strengthening said track section; and a track connector adapted to be partially inserted between said flange elements and having three integral sections, a central section having opposed edges and being of a width several times the thickness thereof, said two outer sections each spaced laterally from and extending parallel to an edge for aligning adjacent track sections and for stiffening and abutting track section ends, said central section of said track connector being receivable by said inner channel of said track section and said outer sections being receivable by said outer channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
224 words
A track system for a toy vehicle comprising: at least one elongated track section of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length, said track section including a first face portion for supporting said vehicle, oppositely disposed guide flanges extending essentially the length of said track section projecting obliquely from said first face portion for guiding said vehicle and maintaining said vehicle on said track section, said guide flanges spaced apart to prevent a lateral component of movement of said vehicle on said first face, a second face portion lying opposite said first face portion, and four parallel flange elements depending from said second face portion, each of said flange elements having substantially L-shaped cross sections and forming inner and outer channels for receiving a track connector, said flange elements for stiffening and strengthening said track section; and a track connector adapted to be partially inserted between said flange elements and having three integral sections, a central section having opposed edges and being of a width several times the thickness thereof, said two outer sections each spaced laterally from and extending parallel to an edge for aligning adjacent track sections and for stiffening and abutting track section ends, said central section of said track connector being receivable by said inner channel of said track section and said outer sections being receivable by said outer channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
112 words
A track system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said central section of said track connector has opposed surfaces and including spaced protuberances extending from each of said surfaces for frictionally engaging said flange elements and said second face portion, said protuberances located in two pairs on each of said surfaces with each pair adjacent an edge and symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of said track connector and where the protuberances on one of said surfaces are spaced a greater longitudinal distance than the protuberances on the other of said surfaces whereby said protuberances cause said central section to assume an arcuate form when said track connector engages two adjacent track sections.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
A track system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said central section includes two end portions each having converging edges and beveled surfaces for facilitating engagement with a track section and wherein said central section end portions include depending flanges for strengthening and stiffening said end portions; and wherein said outer sections include converging and beveled end portions for facilitating engagement with a track section and wherein said outer sections each include a depending flange extending substantially the length of said outer sections for strengthening anD stiffening said outer sections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
121 words
The track system as claimed in claim 5 wherein two of said flange elements are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of the central section of said track connector and the remaining two flange elements are spaced from said first mentioned two flange elements and are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of the track connector; the protuberances having the greater longitudinal spacing are engageable with the second face portion of said track section while the remaining protuberances are engageable with the first two mentioned two flange elements, and said outer sections of said track connector engage said remaining two flange elements for aligning adjacent track sections and for stiffening the abutting track section ends.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
214 words
A track system for a toy vehicle comprising: at least one elongated track section of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length, said track section including an upper face portion for supporting said vehicle, oppositely disposed guide flanges extending essentially the length of said track section projecting from said first face portion for guiding said vehicle and for maintaining said vehicle on said track section, a lower face portion lying opposite said upper face portion and four parallel flange elements each having a generally L-shaped cross section depending from said lower face portion and extending essentially the length of said track section for defining a receptacle for a track connector; and a track connector adapted to be partially inserted into said flange elements and having three integral sections; a central section having opposed edges, upper and lower surfaces, a width several times the thickness thereof, and four spaced protuberances extending from each of said upper and lower surfaces, said protuberances located in two pairs on each of said surfaces with each pair disposed adjacent an edge, the protuberances on said upper surface being spaced longitudinal at a greater distance than the protuberances of said lower surface, and two outer sections each spaced laterally from and extending parallel to an edge of said central section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
214 words
A track system for a toy vehicle comprising: at least one elongated track section of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length, said track section including an upper face portion for supporting said vehicle, oppositely disposed guide flanges extending essentially the length of said track section projecting from said first face portion for guiding said vehicle and for maintaining said vehicle on said track section, a lower face portion lying opposite said upper face portion and four parallel flange elements each having a generally L-shaped cross section depending from said lower face portion and extending essentially the length of said track section for defining a receptacle for a track connector; and a track connector adapted to be partially inserted into said flange elements and having three integral sections; a central section having opposed edges, upper and lower surfaces, a width several times the thickness thereof, and four spaced protuberances extending from each of said upper and lower surfaces, said protuberances located in two pairs on each of said surfaces with each pair disposed adjacent an edge, the protuberances on said upper surface being spaced longitudinal at a greater distance than the protuberances of said lower surface, and two outer sections each spaced laterally from and extending parallel to an edge of said central section.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-23 | 1976-07-24 | 1977-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-23 | 1980-07-24 | 1981-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-23 | 1984-07-24 | 1985-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |