Track and vehicle amusement apparatus and methods

Abstract

A track a vehicle amusement apparatus and methods are disclosed, the apparatus including a vehicle or vehicles movable over a track assembly supported and elevated by a supporting assembly. A plurality of track sections define the track assembly, and the vehicles have wheels, some positioned above and some below the track and at different locations across the track. Drive track sections of the track assembly include first and second relatively reciprocating track members, the vehicles including independently retractable appendages for releasable engagement with different ones of the track members.

1 . A track and vehicle amusement apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of track sections defining a track assembly, each track section having top and bottom surfaces and first and second relative track elevations at least at said top surface; and    a first vehicle having at least first and second wheels, said first wheel adapted for positioning adjacent to said top surface at said first relative track elevation of said track sections and remaining lateral of said second relative elevation of said track sections, and said second wheel adapted for positioning adjacent to said bottom surface of said track sections.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first and second relative track elevations of said track sections are defined at both said top and bottom, said second wheel positionable adjacent to said bottom surface at said second relative track elevation of said track sections.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first vehicle has opposite sides, said first vehicle including a third wheel positionable adjacent to said bottom surface of said track sections, said second a third wheels each adjacent to a different one of said vehicle sides.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said first vehicle has a front and a rear, said first vehicle including a fourth wheel positionable adjacent to said top surface at said first relative track elevation of said track sections and remaining lateral of said second relative elevation of said track sections, said first and fourth wheels each adjacent to a different one of said vehicle front and said vehicle rear.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least a first supporting assembly for establishing and supporting at least one of track assembly elevation and directing change.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus  claim 1  wherein said plurality of track sections include at least a first drive track section adapted to move said vehicle.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said drive track section includes at least a first engageable track member and wherein said first vehicle includes at least a first retractable appendage repeatedly releasably engageable at said first engageable track member of said drive track section.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first vehicle includes a sound generating assembly and wherein at least one of said track sections includes means for triggering said sound generating assembly of said first vehicle.  
   
   
       9 . A track and vehicle amusement apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of track sections defining a track assembly, each track section having top and bottom surfaces, at least one of said track sections including first and second relatively reciprocating track members with each of said track members having an engageable aspect; and    a first vehicle having at least first and second wheels and first and second independently retractable appendages, said first wheel positionable adjacent to said top surface of said track sections and said second wheel positionable adjacent to said bottom surface of said track sections, said first appendage positioned for repeated releasable engagement at said engageable aspect of said first track member of said at least one of said track sections when said vehicle is positioned thereat, and said second appendage positioned for repeated releasable engagement at said engageable aspect of said second track member of said at least one of said track sections when said vehicle is positioned thereat.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said first track member of said at least one of said track sections includes a protrusion, said apparatus further comprising a drive mechanism engageable at said protrusion for causing movement of said first track member relative to said second track member.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said drive mechanism includes a rotational drive, means for translating rotational motion to linear motion connected between said drive and said first track member.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said second track member of said at least one of said track sections includes spaced tracks both having said engageable aspect thereat, said first track member movable between said spaced tracks of said second track member, and wherein said first vehicle includes a third independently retractable appendage, said second appendage of said first vehicle engageable at one of said spaced tracks of said second track member and said third appendage positioned for repeated releasable engagement at said engageable aspect of another of said spaced tracks of said second track member of said at least one of said track sections when said vehicle is positioned thereat.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said second track member includes a guide channel between said spaced tracks, and wherein said first track member includes securements for slidably securing said first track member at said second track member.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said engageable aspects of said track members include serially arranged teeth, and wherein said appendages of said first vehicle include tabs engageable by said teeth.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said first vehicle has a front, a rear and opposite sides, said first vehicle including third and fourth wheels, said third wheel positionable adjacent to said bottom surface of said track sections and said second and third wheels each adjacent to a different one of said vehicle sides, said fourth wheel positionable adjacent to said top surface of said track sections and said first and fourth wheels each adjacent to a different one of said vehicle front and said vehicle rear.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising at least one additional vehicle connectable to said first vehicle, said additional vehicle including at least first and second wheels, said first wheel of said additional vehicle positionable adjacent to said top surface of said track sections and said second wheel of said additional vehicle positionable adjacent to said bottom surface of said track sections.  
   
   
       17 . A method for moving a model vehicle up an incline on a model track comprising the steps of: 
 relatively reciprocating first and second track members of the model track;    repeatedly releasably engaging a first retractable appendage located at the model vehicle at said first track member; and    independently repeatedly releasably engaging a second retractable appendage located at the model vehicle at said second track member.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising pivotably attaching said appendages at the model vehicle.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising independently repeatedly releasably engaging a third retractable appendage located at the model vehicle at said second track member.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising utilizing said second track member to slidably guide reciprocating motion of said first track member.