Intersection deflector for toy vehicle tracks

Claim 2

Toy vehicle deflector apparatus for utilization with toy vehicle tracks that have side walls comprising: a frame having a crossover track surface with an opening therein, said frame having four connector means connectable to four tracks so the tracks initially radiate in predetermined different directions from said crossover track surface; a deflector having a pair of concave deflector surfaces on either side and moveable in said opening between a first position wherein it lies above said crossover track surface and each deflector surface is substantially tangent to a side wall of a different pair of tracks, and a second position no higher than said track surface; and means for moving said deflector between said first and second positions.

Claim 3

The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein: said opening in said crossover track surface is concave on either side to match said deflector surfaces; and said deflector has a substantially flat upper surface that lies substantially flush with said crossover track surface and which occupies a majority of said opening when said deflector is in said second position.

Claim 4

The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein: said frame has four stationary side walls tangent to each end of each of said deflector surfaces when said deflector is in said first position.

Claim 5

The apparatus described in claim 1 including: a first curved track having opposite ends connected to a first pair of said connector means so that a track side wall at said opposite ends of said curved track is substantially tangent to the ends of a first concave deflector surface; and a second curved track having opposite ends connected to a second pair of said connector means so that a track side wall at the opposite ends of said second track is substantially tangent to the ends of a second concave deflector surface, whereby to permit control of a toy vehicle so it moves only around one curved track or so it transfers from one curved track to the other.

Claim 6

Toy vehicle deflector apparatus comprising: a frame having a crossover track surface and having four connector means for attaching to four track ends so that each track end initially exteNds substantially perpendicular to two other track ends and substantially 180* with respect to a third track end; a deflector positionable at said crossover track surface at a first position to deflect a toy vehicle between a predetermined pair of the tracks which are perpendicular to each other and positionable at a second position to permit toy vehicles to proceed through said crossover track surface onto the track which extends 180* with respect to the track from which the vehicle entered the crossover track surface; said connector means being located to hold the track ends which extend substantially 180* apart so they are offset from alignment with each other, with the side of each track end which is closer to tangency to the deflector, extending along an imaginary line that passes through the vehicle-supporting surface of the opposite track.

Claim 7

Toy vehicle deflector apparatus comprising: a frame having a crossover track surface and having four connector means for attaching to four track ends so that each track end initially exteNds substantially perpendicular to two other track ends and substantially 180* with respect to a third track end; a deflector positionable at said crossover track surface at a first position to deflect a toy vehicle between a predetermined pair of the tracks which are perpendicular to each other and positionable at a second position to permit toy vehicles to proceed through said crossover track surface onto the track which extends 180* with respect to the track from which the vehicle entered the crossover track surface; said connector means being located to hold the track ends which extend substantially 180* apart so they are offset from alignment with each other, with the side of each track end which is closer to tangency to the deflector, extending along an imaginary line that passes through the vehicle-supporting surface of the opposite track.

Claim 8

The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein: said deflector includes a member with a concave deflector surface on either side; and including a pair of tracks, each having opposite ends connected to a pair of said connector means so one side wall at each track end is substantially tangent to a deflector surface when the deflector is in said first position, and each track extending in a curve near each of its ends, with the curve oriented to urge toy vehicles toward the track side wall which is substantially tangent to a deflector surface.

Claim 9

The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein: said deflector includes a member with a concave surface on either side; said frame has an opening in said crossover track surface, and said deflector is mounted in said opening to move up and down so it lies above the surface in said first position and substantially flush with the surface in said second position; and said deflector member is wide enough at the top to cover most of the area of said frame opening when the deflector is in said second position.

Claim 10

Toy vehicle deflector apparatus comprising: a frame having a crossover track surface with an elongated aperture therein; and an elongated deflector member with a concave deflector surface, said member slideably mounted in said aperture between first and second positions wherein said concave surface is respectively above and below said track surface; said deflector member having side walls at either side which are tapered near each end portion of the member so that the end portions of the member are progressively wider at progressively lower locations thereon, whereby to accurately locate said deflector member when it is in its uppermost position while minimizing the possibility of binding along most of its vertical travel.

Claim 11

Toy vehicle deflector apparatus comprising: a frame having a crossover track surface with an elongated aperture therein; and an elongated deflector member with a concave deflector surface, said member slideably mounted in said aperture between first and second positions wherein said concave surface is respectively above and below said track surface; said deflector member having side walls at either side which are tapered near each end portion of the member so that the end portions of the member are progressively wider at progressively lower locations thereon, whereby to accurately locate said deflector member when it is in its uppermost position while minimizing the possibility of binding along most of its vertical travel.

Claim 12

The apparatus described in claim 8 including: a lever pivotally mounted on said frame and having a manually depressable operating end a lifting end on opposite sides of the location where the lever is pivotally mounted on the frame, the lifting end lying under the center of the deflector member, whereby to minimize any tendency of the deflector member to bind in the frame aperture.

Claim 13

The apparatus described in claim 8 wherein: said frame has a plurality of connector means for connecting a frame to the ends of a plurality of tracks, and said frame has track side wall engaging means lying on at least one side of each position of a track connected to said connector means to hold the side walls of the tracks tangent to the ends of the deflector surface of said deflector member.