Adapter block apparatus for accomodating toy vehicles

Abstract

An adapter block apparatus for enabling conventional toy building blocks such as LEGO®, DUPLO®, Megablock® or other building blocks to form racetrack and train track structures for accommodating toy vehicles such as MatchBox® cars and Thomas The Tank Engine® trains. Adapter track blocks are configured to interconnect on the bottom thereof atop conventional building blocks. The top surface of each adapter track block is configured with either straight or curved surface contours, and with either a flat, horizontal path or a sloped path, to provide a longitudinal, medial path for accommodating travel of toy racing cars and trains.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a children's conventional block building system consisting of a platform with a first plurality of substantially uniformly spaced-apart receptacle members for receiving a plurality of conventional building block members with each building block member including a first plurality of stud members configured to be insertably and snugly received by a portion of said first plurality of receptacle members, and also including a second plurality of receptacle members for coupling with said first plurality of stud members of adjacent building block members, an adapter block member comprising: 
 a base member disposed upon the horizontal bottom surface of said adapter block member having a second plurality of stud members affixed thereto, and configured for being coupled to said first plurality of receptacles of said platform and to said second plurality of receptacles of said conventional building block members;    a contour member disposed upon the top surface of said adapter block member and disposed oppositely of said base member, and affixed to each of a pair of parallel spaced-apart longitudinal side members and to each of a pair of parallel spaced-apart transverse side members;    said pair of parallel spaced-apart longitudinal side members disposed medially of said base member and said contour member, and also disposed perpendicularly of said base member;    said pair of parallel spaced-apart transverse side members disposed medially of said base member and said contour member, and disposed perpendicularly of said base member, and also disposed perpendicularly of said pair of parallel spaced-apart longitudinal side members; and    said contour member configured for enabling a plurality of interconnected said adapter block apparatus to impart and simulate track characteristics and behavior to a toy vehicle traveling thereon.    
     
     
         2 . The adapter block apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein each stud member of said first plurality of stud members projects substantially perpendicularly from said base member.  
     
     
         3 . The adapter block apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein said contour member includes a track member comprising a central longitudinal groove member for enabling said toy vehicle to travel linearly therein.  
     
     
         4 . The adapter block apparatus recited in  claim 3 , wherein said contour member further comprises a pair of longitudinal edge members disposed on each side of said track member and disposed perpendicularly thereto, for delimiting and retaining said travel of said toy vehicle Within said track member.  
     
     
         5 . The adapter block apparatus recited in  claim 4 , wherein each of said pair of transverse side members has a different height to simulate a portion of inclined track.  
     
     
         6 . The adapter block apparatus recited in  claim 4 , wherein each of said pair of longitudinal side members has a different height to simulate a portion of banked track.  
     
     
         7 . The adapter block apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein said contour member comprises a curved track member for enabling said toy vehicle to travel curvalinearly therein.  
     
     
         8 . The adapter block apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein said contour member comprises a second plurality of stud members to enable said plurality of said adapter block apparatus to be stacked with an adjacent adapter block apparatus, for attaining simulated track portions of varying height.  
     
     
         9 . The adapter block apparatus recited in  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of conventional building blocks may be coupled with said plurality of said adapter block apparatus to impart and simulate said track characteristics and behavior so that said toy vehicle travels on a substantially continuous, flat surface such that said travel of said toy vehicle is inhibited only by the forces of gravity.  
     
     
         10 . The adapter block apparatus recited in  claim 2 , wherein said central longitudinal groove member includes a raised longitudinal central portion having an inner edge that substantially forms a congruent pair of rut-like members on each side thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The adapter block apparatus recited in  claim 3 , wherein said track member and said pair of longitudinal edge members are configured to accommodate said toy vehicle wherein said toy vehicle simulates race car or train behavior while traveling thereon.  
     
     
         12 . The adapter block apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the height thereof is configured to constitute a whole-number multiple of the corresponding height of said conventional building block.  
     
     
         13 . The adapter block apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the width thereof is configured to constitute a whole-number multiple of the corresponding width of said conventional building block.  
     
     
         14 . The adapter block apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the depth thereof is configured to constitute a whole-number multiple of the corresponding depth of said conventional building block.