Patent US4247107A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4247107A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronically controlled roadrace system with sound generator
Assignee: California R&D Center
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Filing: 1979-01-19
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Granted: 1981-01-27
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Expires: 1999-01-19
Abstract
Abstract An electronically controlled roadrace system with a sound generator for penetrating a variety of audible signals is disclosed. The system includes facilities for starting the race, counting and displaying laps completed for each car, computing and displaying fastest lap times and last lap times for each car, calculating and displaying the remaining fuel for each car, introducing random failures for each car, and randomly determining one of several failure modes. Apparatus for selectively powering and depowering each track, upon signal from a controller, is shown. Also shown is a novel apparatus for sensing completion of another lap by each car, and a track section of each car track which is selectively decoupled from the track power for performance of pit functions. Other features and functions are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay Smith, III
- 👤 Lawrence T. Jones
- 👤 Gerald S. Karr
- 👤 Thomas H. Grimm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:38
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H18/00; A63H18/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A roadrace system for racing toy electrically powered cars over a defined course under operator control, comprising: a track means for defining the path of travel for the toy car and providing it with driving power, said track means having a section thereof that is electrically independent of the remaining track and does not provide power to the toy car, and electronic control means responsive to the toy car contacting the electrically independent section of said track means for causing information to be conveyed to the operator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A roadrace system for racing toy electrically powered cars over a defined course under operator control, comprising: a track means for defining the path of travel for the toy car and providing it with driving power, said track means having a section thereof that is electrically independent of the remaining track and does not provide power to the toy car, and electronic control means responsive to the toy car contacting the electrically independent section of said track means for causing information to be conveyed to the operator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The roadrace system of claim 1 wherein said control means comprises: a master control means responsive to the toy car contacting the electrically independant section of said track means for determining what information is to be conveyed; and a visual display means for visually displaying the information determined by the master control means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The roadrace system of claim 2 wherein said master control means determines the number of laps the toy car has travelled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The roadrace system of claim 2 wherein said master control means determines fuel level for the toy car.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The roadrace system of claim 2 wherein said master control means determines last lap time for the toy car.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The roadrace system of claim 2 wherein said master control means determine fastest lap time for the toy car.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The roadrace system of claim 2 wherein said master control means determines end of the race.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The roadrace system of claim 1 wherein said control means comprises: a master control means responsive to the toy car contacting the electrically independant section of said track means for determining what information is to be conveyed; and a sound generator means for audibly conveying certain information determined by the master control means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The roadrace system of claim 8 wherein said sound generator means is adapted for audibly conveying two or more different sounds in dependance upon certain information determined by the master control means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The roadrace system of claim 9 wherein said sound generator means is adapted to provide a first sound signal indicative of the race start, and a second sound signal indicative of the race finish.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The roadrace system of claim 1, further comprised of a sound generator means coupled to said track means for producing sounds in dependance upon the voltage level applied to said track means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
A roadrace system for racing toy electrically powered cars over a defined course under operator control, comprising: a track means for defining the path of travel for the toy car and providing it with driving power, said track means having a section thereof that is selectively electrically independant; means for selectively electrically disconnecting said section from the track means; and a control means responsive to the toy car contacting the selectively electrically independant section and said disconnecting means being actuated for causing information to be conveyed to the operator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
A roadrace system for racing toy electrically powered cars over a defined course under operator control, comprising: a track means for defining the path of travel for the toy car and providing it with driving power, said track means having a section thereof that is selectively electrically independant; means for selectively electrically disconnecting said section from the track means; and a control means responsive to the toy car contacting the selectively electrically independant section and said disconnecting means being actuated for causing information to be conveyed to the operator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
The roadrace system of claim 12, wherein said control means comprises: a master control means responsive to the toy car contacting the electrically independant section and said disconnecting means being actuated for determining what information is to be conveyed; and a visual display means for visually displaying the information determined by the master control means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The roadrace system of claim 13 wherein said master control means determines the progress of a pit function being performed on the toy car.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The roadrace system of claim 13 wherein said master control means further randomly selects from a plurality of predetermined failures to assign such selected failure to the toy car.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The roadrace system of claim 12, further comprising a power/failure means responsive to said master control module means for disconnecting power to the track means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The roadrace system of claim 16, wherein said control module means randomly selects from a plurality of predetermined failures and assigns such selected failure to the toy car, including actuating the power/failure module means for disconnecting power to the track means and causing failure information to be conveyed to the operator.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
The roadrace system of claim 17, wherein said control means comprises: a master control means responsive to the toy car contacting the electrically independant section and said disconnecting means being actuated for determining what information is to be conveyed; and a visual display means for visually displaying the information determined by the master control means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The roadrace system of claim 18 wherein said control means determines the progress of a pit-stop function and deactivates the power/failure module means when the pit-stop function is completed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
The roadrace system of claim 12 wherein said control means comprises: a master control means responsive to the toy car contacting the electrically independant section of said track means for determining what information is to be conveyed; and a sound generator means for audibly conveying certain information determined by the master control means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The roadrace system of claim 20 wherein said sound generator means is adapted for audibly conveying two or more different sounds in dependance upon certain information determined by the master control means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The roadrace system of claim 21 wherein said sound generator means is adapted to provide certain sound signals indicative of the pit function being performed on the car.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The roadrace system of claim 12, further comprised of a sound generator means coupled to said track means for producing sound in dependance upon the voltage level applied to said track means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
91 words
A roadrace system for racing toy electrically powered cars over a defined course under operator control, comprising: a track means for defining the path of travel for the toy car and providing it with driving power; means for sensing the presence of the toy car at a particular section of the track means; a control means responsive to said sensing means for determining and causing audio race condition information to be conveyed to the operator; and sound generator means controlled by said control means for audibly conveying information to the operator.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
91 words
A roadrace system for racing toy electrically powered cars over a defined course under operator control, comprising: a track means for defining the path of travel for the toy car and providing it with driving power; means for sensing the presence of the toy car at a particular section of the track means; a control means responsive to said sensing means for determining and causing audio race condition information to be conveyed to the operator; and sound generator means controlled by said control means for audibly conveying information to the operator.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The roadrace system of claim 24 wherein the start of the race is announced to the operator by a first sound signal from the sound generator.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The roadrace system of claim 24 wherein the end of the race is announced to the operator by a second sound signal from the sound generator.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
The roadrace system of claim 24 wherein said control means determines fuel level for the toy car and announces a low fuel indication by a third sound signal, and an out of fuel indication by a fourth sound signal from said sound generator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
106 words
A roadrace system for racing toy electrically powered cars over a defined course under operator control, comprising: a track means for defining the path of travel for the toy car and providing it with driving power; means for sensing the presence of the toy car at a particular section of the track means; a control means responsive to said sensing means for causing information to be conveyed to the operator regarding a pit-stop function being performed on the toy car while located at the particular section of the track means; and operator activated switch means for causing said control means to respond to said sensing means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
106 words
A roadrace system for racing toy electrically powered cars over a defined course under operator control, comprising: a track means for defining the path of travel for the toy car and providing it with driving power; means for sensing the presence of the toy car at a particular section of the track means; a control means responsive to said sensing means for causing information to be conveyed to the operator regarding a pit-stop function being performed on the toy car while located at the particular section of the track means; and operator activated switch means for causing said control means to respond to said sensing means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
55 words
The roadrace system of claim 28 wherein said control means comprises: a master control means responsive to the presence of said toy car at said particular section of the track means for determining what information is to be conveyed; and a sound generator means for audibly conveying certain information determined by the master control means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
The roadrace system of claim 29 wherein said sound generator means is adapted for audibly conveying more than one different sound in dependance upon certain information determined by the master control means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
The roadrace system of claim 30 wherein said control means randomly selects from a plurality of predetermined failures and assigns such selected failure to the toy car, causing failure information to be conveyed to the operator.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The roadrace system of claim 31 wherein said sound generator means is adapted to provide certain sounds in in dependance upon the said assigned failure.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
The roadrace system of claim 32 wherein said control means determine the progress of pit stop functions being performed on the toy car, and said sound generator produces certain sound signals in dependance upon said progress.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
113 words
A roadrace system for racing toy electrically powered cars over a defined course under operator control, comprising: track means for defining the path of travel for the toy car and providing it with driving power; means for sensing the presence of the toy car at a first section of the track means; means for sensing the presence of the toy car at a second section of said track; control means responsive to said sensing means for causing information to be conveyed to the operator, including information regarding a pit-stop function being performed on the toy car while located at said second section of said track means; and means for performing said pit-stop function.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
113 words
A roadrace system for racing toy electrically powered cars over a defined course under operator control, comprising: track means for defining the path of travel for the toy car and providing it with driving power; means for sensing the presence of the toy car at a first section of the track means; means for sensing the presence of the toy car at a second section of said track; control means responsive to said sensing means for causing information to be conveyed to the operator, including information regarding a pit-stop function being performed on the toy car while located at said second section of said track means; and means for performing said pit-stop function.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
98 words
A roadrace system for racing toy electrically powered cars over a defined course under operator control, comprising: a track means for defining the path of travel for the toy car and providing it with driving power; means for sensing the presence of the toy car at a particular section of the track means; and a control means responsive to said sensing means for causing information to be conveyed to the operator regarding a pit-stop function being performed on the toy car while located at the particular section of the track means; and means for performing said pit-stop function.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
98 words
A roadrace system for racing toy electrically powered cars over a defined course under operator control, comprising: a track means for defining the path of travel for the toy car and providing it with driving power; means for sensing the presence of the toy car at a particular section of the track means; and a control means responsive to said sensing means for causing information to be conveyed to the operator regarding a pit-stop function being performed on the toy car while located at the particular section of the track means; and means for performing said pit-stop function.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
105 words
A roadrace system for racing toy electrically powered cars over a defined course under operator control, comprising: a track means for defining the path of travel for the toy car and prividing it with driving power; means for sensing the presence of the toy car at a particular section of the track means; a control means responsive to said sensing means for causing information to be conveyed to the operator regarding a pit-stop function being performed on the toy car while located at the particular section of the track means; and power/failure means responsive to said control means for disconnecting power to the track means.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
105 words
A roadrace system for racing toy electrically powered cars over a defined course under operator control, comprising: a track means for defining the path of travel for the toy car and prividing it with driving power; means for sensing the presence of the toy car at a particular section of the track means; a control means responsive to said sensing means for causing information to be conveyed to the operator regarding a pit-stop function being performed on the toy car while located at the particular section of the track means; and power/failure means responsive to said control means for disconnecting power to the track means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
43 words
The roadrace system of claim 36 wherein said control means randomly selects from a plurality of predetermined failures and assigns such selected failure to the toy car, including actuating the power/failure module means and causing failure information to be conveyed to the operator.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
25 words
The roadrace system of claim 36 wherein said control means determines the fuel level of the car in dependance upon laps completed and car velocity.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
35 words
The roadrace system of claim 38 wherein said control means actuates the power/failure module means upon determining that the toy car is out of fuel, and causing out-of-fuel indications to be conveyed to the operator.
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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) | 1984-01-27 | 1984-07-28 | 1985-01-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-27 | 1988-07-28 | 1989-01-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-27 | 1992-07-28 | 1993-01-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |