Components for toy vehicle tracks

Claim 2

A component for a toy racing track comprising a track section having opposite open-ends and a track surface on which the vehicle travels, one of said open-ends being an inlet end for entry of a vehicle into said section, the other of the open-ends being an outlet end through which the vehicle exits after traversing the section, a covering above the track surface, facing said track surface, and externally actuable means for selectively producing a pressing force between a vehicle advancing through said track section and at least one of said surfaces to develop a braking effort on the vehicLe to reduce the speed thereof as it exits from the outlet end.

Claim 3

A component as claimed in claim 1 wherein said covering is fixed and said means for producing a pressing force on said vehicle comprises means to raise said vehicle above the track surface into frictional contact with said surface of the covering.

Claim 4

A component as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means to raise said vehicle comprises a pivotal flap initially disposed in a recess in said track section and flush with the track surface, and means to pivot the flap into the path of travel of the vehicle in said section.

Claim 5

A component as claimed in claim 1 wherein said covering is pivotably supported and said means for producing a pressing force on the vehicle comprises means for pivotably lowering the covering into the path of travel of the vehicle in said track section.

Claim 6

A component as claimed in claim 1 wherein said covering is transparent and resilient.

Claim 7

A component as claimed in claim 1 wherein said track section has lateral sides and comprising a housing externally secured on the track section at one of the ateral sides thereof, said means for producing the pressing force comprising an actuating mechanism disposed in said housing.

Claim 8

A component as claimed in claim 6 wherein said covering is fixed and said means for producing a pressing force on said vehicle further comprises means to raise said vehicle above the track surface into frictional contact with said surface of the covering, the latter said means comprising a pivotal flap initially disposed in a recess in said track section and flush with the track surface, said actuating mechanism being coupled to said flap to pivot the same into the path of travel of the vehicle in said section.

Claim 9

A component as claimed in claim 7 wherein said actuating mechanism comprises a displaceable tapered slide, a wedge member coupled rigidly with said flap and facing said slide to produce pivotal movement of the flap upon displacement of the slide, manually operated means for displacing said slide, and spring means resisting pivotal movement of said flap from its initial position.

Claim 10

A component as claimed in claim 7 wherein said actuating mechanism comprises a pivotal lever integral with said flap, spring means acting on said lever to urge the flap to its initial position, a second pivotal lever engaged with the first lever, and manually operated means coupled to the second lever for pivoting the same and the first lever and flap therewith against the opposition of said spring means.

Claim 11

A component as claimed in claim 7 wherein said flap extends substantially the distance between said lateral sides.

Claim 12

A component as claimed in claim 7 wherein said flap has a width narrower than the transverse spacing of the wheels of the vehicle so as to lift the vehicle with the wheels hanging free.

Claim 13

A component as claimed in claim 4 wherein said covering has opposite ends and is pivotably supported at the end proximate the location of the entry of the vehicle into the track section.

Claim 14

A component as claimed in claim 12 wherein said track section has lateral sides and comprising a housing externally secured on the track section at one of the lateral sides thereof, said means for producing the pressing force comprising an actuating mechanism disposed in said housing, a support on the other of the lateral sides of the track section, and a pivot shaft for said covering mounted in said support and said housing and projecting into the housing for operative engagement with said actuating mechanism.

Claim 15

A component as claimed in claim 13 wherein said actuating mechanism comprises a pivotal lever in said housing, manually operated means coupled to said pivotal lever to pivot the same, a further lever to urge the covering to an initial inoperative position raised above the path of travel of the vehicle, the first said lever engaging said further lever to displace the same against the opposition of said spring means when the manually operated means iS actuated.

Claim 16

A component as claimed in claim 1 wherein said track section has lateral sides and comprising a housing externally secured on the track section at one of the lateral sides thereof, said means for producing the pressing force comprising an actuating mechanism disposed in said housing, including a first pivotal lever in said housing, manually operable means coupled to said first pivotal lever to pivot the same, a second pivotal lever in said housing engaged with the first lever to follow pivotal movement thereof, spring means acting on the second lever to urge the same to an initial position, an arm integral with said second lever, a pivot supported in said housing for displacement, said arm bearing on said pivot to displace the same in accordance with the pivotal movement of said second lever, a roller on said pivot, and a foam plastic ring on said roller for contacting the vehicle to apply braking force thereto.

Claim 17

A component as claimed in claim 1 wherein said track section has lateral sides and comprising a housing externally secured on the track section at one of the lateral sides thereof, said means for producing the pressing force comprising an actuating mechanism disposed in said housing, including a first pivotal lever in said housing, manually operable means coupled to said first pivotal lever to pivot the same, a second pivotal lever in said housing engaged with the first lever to follow pivotal movement thereof, spring means acting on the second lever to urge the same to an initial position, a pivot supported on said second lever for movement therewith, a roller on said pivot, and a foam plastic ring on said roller for contacting the vehicle to apply braking force thereto.

Claim 18

A component as claimed in claim 16 comprising a bowed spring in said housing acting on said pivot to resist displacement thereof towards the vehicle and produce a friction force on said pivot which increases with displacement of the pivot towards said vehicle.

Claim 19

A component as claimed in claim 1 comprising resilient lugs engageable with said vehicle to produce said braking effort.

Claim 20

A component as claimed in claim 18 wherein said resilient lugs depend from said surface of the covering for brushing against the top of the vehicle when braking effort is developed.

Claim 21

A component as claimed in claim 1 wherein said track section includes a resilient track length disposed in a recess provided in said track surface, said means for producing a pressing force comprises a pivotal lever, manually operated means for pivoting said lever, said lever including a nose portion engaged with said track length to deform the same and press the vehicle on the track section against the covering.

Claim 22

A component as claimed in claim 20 comprising depending resilient lugs on said covering for exerting braking effort on said vehicle when the vehicle is pressed thereagainst.