Toy track system

Abstract

A toy track system includes a tube section having first and second ends and a length extending between the first and second ends. The tube section includes first and second halves. When joined together, the first and second halves define an interior volume through which a toy car can move. A connection module has a longitudinal coupling structure extending along the length of the connection module for engaging the first end of the tube section, holding the first and second halves together and preventing separation between the first and second halves from each other, wherein the tube section includes a bend along the length of the tube section so that the first and second ends of the tube section point towards different directions and the tube section has an arched periphery.

Claims

1. A toy track structure comprising: a first tube section including a connection end and a free end, wherein the free end includes a guide having a funnel portion, with a larger end pointing away from the connection end of the first tube section, for channeling a toy car moving into the free end of the first tube section; and a connection module having coupling means for establishing endwise connection of the connection end of the first tube section to the connection module, wherein the funnel portion includes a frusto-conical section extending around part of the free end of the first tube section, and a receiving tray extending around part of the free end of the first tube section and joined to the frusto-conical section so that the frusto-conical section and the receiving tray extend around all of the free end of the first tube section, wherein the receiving tray includes two slanted flat side walls respectively joined to the frusto-conical section, a flattened end surface located between and joined to the two slanted flat side walls, and a tongue extending from underneath the flattened end surface, outwardly from the free end of the first tube section.

2. The toy track system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising second tube section having first and second ends and a length extending between the first and second ends, wherein the second tube section includes a bend along the length of the second tube section so that the first and second ends of the second tube section point towards different directions and the second tube section has an arched periphery, the second tube section includes first and second halves, the first and second halves, when joined together, define an interior volume through which the toy car can move, and the connection module includes longitudinal coupling means for engaging the first end of the second tube section, holding the first and second halves together and preventing separation of the first and second halves from each other.

3. The toy track system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second halves include respective integral longitudinal elements that are complementary to and engage the longitudinal coupling means of the connection module when the first end of the second tube section is connected to the connection module.

4. The toy track system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the integral longitudinal elements and the respective first and second halves are simultaneously formed in a single step.

5. The toy track system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second halves have respective lengths and respective edges along the lengths of the first and second halves, the first and second halves include transverse coupling means for coupling the first half to the second half, and the transverse coupling means includes transverse coupling elements that are evenly distributed along the lengths of the first and second halves at corresponding positions on the first and second halves.

6. The toy track system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the transverse coupling means includes alignment means located along the lengths of the first and second halves, at corresponding positions, for positioning of the first and second halves relative to each other, and transverse coupling elements located along the lengths of the first and second halves, at corresponding positions, for connecting the first half to the second half.

7. The toy track system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the transverse coupling elements and the alignment means are arranged alternately along the first and second halves.

8. The toy track system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the transverse coupling elements and the alignment means are extensions of and are located on and along the respective edges of the first and second halves.

9. The toy track system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the transverse coupling elements and the alignment means are extensions of and are located on and along the respective edges of the first and second halves.

10. The toy track system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second tube section further includes circumferential elements at the first end, and the connection module includes circumferential coupling means for endwise connection of the connection module to the first end of the second tube section.

11. The toy track system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second halves are interchangeable and have identical structures.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

(1) The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

(2) The FIGURE is an exploded view showing the toy track system and the toy track structure in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(3) Referring to the FIGURE of the drawing, there is shown an embodiment of the invention encompassing a toy track system and a toy track structure 100.

(4) The toy track system 100 includes first and second sections 101 and 102. These sections are tube-like. For easy reading, the first and second sections 101 and 102 are hereinafter named as the first and second tube sections 101 and 102.

(5) These tube sections 101 and 102 are inter-connectable by a connection module 300 having coupling means for establishing endwise connection with the first and second tube sections 101 and 102 respectively to prevent axial separation between them. The coupling means includes a connection sleeve 301 into which the first and second tube sections 101 and 102 are insertable and remains inserted by way of frictional force between external peripheral walls of the tube sections 101, 102 and internal peripheral wall of the sleeve 301.

(6) The sleeve 301 includes a number of seats 301A and 301B which supports the sleeve 301 on a surface. The seats 301B define an internal cavity into which a respective corresponding coupler 302a or 302b of the first tube section 101 is insertable. The sleeve 301 has symmetrical ends such that either tube sections 101 and 102 can be connected to either ends of the sleeve 301.

(7) The tube section 101 is formed from two halves, namely the first and second sections 101a and 101b, hereinafter known as the first and second halves 101a and 101b for easy reading. Each of the first and second halves 101a and 101b includes a bend at corresponding positions along their lengths and between two ends which are pointing towards different directions such that the first and second halves 101a and 101b, when assembled, form a bent tube section.

(8) The first and second halves 101a and 101b are formed by molding and are connectable to define a peripherally enclosed interior for a toy car to move therein. The two halves 101a and 101b are connectable by coupling means of the connection module which are provided along the lengths of the first and second halves 101a and 101b and are inter-engageable with each other to prevent separation between the first and second halves 101a and 101b. The coupling means is made up of hook and eye couplers 302a and 302b in an alternate arrangement.

(9) With reference to the FIGURE, along the two edges 101a-3 of the first half 101a there are provided a plurality of hook and eye couplers 302a and 302b which are evenly distributed and arranged alternately along the length of each edge. Corresponding hook and eye couplers 302a and 302b are provided on the two edges 101b-3 of the second half 101b for coupling, more specifically, inter-engaging, with those on the first half 101a in a releasable manner.

(10) The coupling means further includes alignment means. The alignment means is a pair of male and female members 303a and 303b which are co-operable to fix relative positioning between the two halves 101a and 101b.

(11) The male and female members 303a and 303b are in pairs, one on each of the respective free edges 101a-3 and 101b-3 of the first and second halves 101a and 101b. In total, there are six pairs of male and female members 303a and 303b, evenly distributed on the outer and inner free edges 101a-3, 101b-3 of the first and second halves 101a and 101b, respectively. Each of the members 303a and 303b is arranged between a hook and an eye coupler 302a and 302b.

(12) The second half 101b and the first half 101a are interchangeable and are basically are produced using the same mold.

(13) Free ends of the first and second halves 101a and 101b include end portions 101a-1, 101a-2, 101b-1 and 101b-2.

(14) Each of these end portions 101a-1, 101a-2, 101b-1 and 101b-2 is a short cylindrical tube with ribs 304 and a tongue 305 on its outer periphery. These ribs 304 form part of the coupling means of the connection module which is useful in establishing friction between the outer periphery of the end portions 101a-1, 101a-2, 101b-1 and 101b-2 and the inner periphery of the sleeve 301. The tongue 305, a coupling means, engages a corresponding recess (not shown) on the inner periphery of the sleeve 301. At each of the free edges 101a-3 of end portions 101a-1 and 101a-2 of the first half 101a there is one of a pair of male and female connectors. At corresponding positions on the free edges 101b-3 of the end portions 101b-1 and 101b-2, there are complementary connectors for connecting with those on the first half 101a.

(15) The second tube section 102 includes a tube portion 102a and a guide 102b. The guide 102b includes a funnel portion 103 with its larger end pointing away from the tube portion 102a (and the first tube section 101 when connected) for channeling an incoming toy car into the tube portion 102a. The funnel portion 103 includes a frusto-conical section 104 that extends from and around part of the tube portion 102a, and a receiving tray 105 that extends from and around part of the tube portion 102a. The frusto-conical section 104 and the receiving tray 105 are integrally formed and, together, extend around all of the tube section 102a. The receiving tray 105 is defined by a pair of flat slanted side walls 105A and 105B connected to respective edges of a flattened end surface 105C, which extends between the slanted flat side walls 105A and 105B and on which the funnel portion 103 may sit. A tongue 106 extends from underneath the flattened end surface 105C for guiding an incoming toy car into the tube portion 102a.

(16) The invention has been given by way of example only, and various other modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.