Slotless toy racetrack and radio-controlled toy racecar kit

Abstract

A slotless toy racetrack that is constructed by assembling a plurality of straight and curved racetrack sections in an end-to-end configuration. The racetrack is especially useful with radio controlled racecars and is wide enough that the cars can pass one another while competing. The racetrack sections have a base portion and sidewalls fixed to and extending along the length of side edges. The sidewalls have facing inner surfaces defining the width of the road surface and outer surfaces. Base fasteners connect the base portion of two abutting track sections in a continuous, end-to-end configuration. Sidewall fasteners align the sidewalls of two abutting track sections in an end-to-end configuration with a flush interface.

1 . A toy racetrack section, comprising: 
 a) a base portion having a top road surface, a bottom surface, opposed longitudinally-extending side edges, and opposed, laterally-extending first and second connection ends;    b) sidewalls fixed to and extending along the length of said side edges, said sidewalls having facing inner surfaces defining the width of the road surface and outer surfaces;    c) base fasteners for connecting the base portion of two abutting track sections in a continuous, end-to-end configuration, and,    d) sidewall fasteners for aligning the sidewalls of two abutting track sections in an end-to-end configuration with a flush interface.    
     
     
         2 . The racetrack section recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall fasteners do not contact the inner surface of the sidewalls so that the inner interface between sidewalls is smooth and uninterrupted.  
     
     
         3 . The racetrack section recited in  claim 1 , wherein said sidewalls have first and second ends that are coterminous with said first and second connection ends, respectively, of said base portion.  
     
     
         4 . The racetrack section recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first connection end of one racetrack segment connects to the second connection end of a second of said racetrack sections.  
     
     
         5 . The racetrack section recited in  claim 1 , wherein the connections ends of one racetrack segment are interchangeably connectable with either connection end of a second of said racetrack sections.  
     
     
         6 . The racetrack section recited in  claim 1 , wherein said sidewalls are integrally formed with said base portion.  
     
     
         7 . The racetrack section recited in  claim 1 , wherein said sidewalls have a thickness that is less than the thickness of said base portion.  
     
     
         8 . The racetrack section recited in  claim 1 , wherein said base fasteners and sidewall fasteners comprise male and female elements at opposed ends of said section.  
     
     
         9 . The racetrack section recited in  claim 7 , wherein said base fasteners and said sidewall fasteners are integrally formed with said base portion and sidewalls, respectively.  
     
     
         10 . The racetrack section recited in  claim 9 , wherein said sidewall fasteners are fixed to the outer surface of said sidewalls.  
     
     
         11 . The racetrack section recited in  claim 1 , wherein said sidewall fasteners comprise clips that overlap the intersection of abutting sidewall ends.  
     
     
         12 . A toy racetrack section, comprising: 
 a) a base portion having a top road surface, a bottom surface, opposed longitudinally-extending side edges, and opposed, laterally-extending first and second connection ends;    b) sidewalls connected to and extending along the length of said side edges, said sidewalls having facing inner surfaces defining the width of the road surface, and outer surfaces;    c) means for releasably connecting and aligning the base portion and sidewalls of two abutting track sections in a continuous, end-to-end configuration with a flush interface;    wherein the connecting and aligning means does not contact the inner surface of the sidewalls so that the inner interface between sidewalls is smooth and uninterrupted.    
     
     
         13 . The racetrack section recited in  claim 12 , wherein the first connection end of one racetrack segment connects to the second connection end of a second of said racetrack sections.  
     
     
         14 . The racetrack section recited in  claim 12 , wherein said connecting and aligning means comprises a longitudinally-extending male element on the first end of said track section and a female receptacle on the second end of said track section, said male element on one track section releasably engaging the female receptacle of another track section.  
     
     
         15 . A toy racetrack, comprising: 
 a) a plurality of straight and curved slotless racetrack sections, each racetrack section having: 
 i) a base portion including: a top road surface; a bottom surface; opposed longitudinal-extending side edges; and opposed, laterally-extending first and second connection ends;  
 ii) base fasteners for connecting the base portion of two abutting track sections in a continuous, end-to-end configuration to form an endless raceway; and,  
 iii) a longitudinal groove in said base portion proximate each side edge extending the length of said section, said grooves of abutting racetrack sections aligning with one another to form an endless groove around the interior and exterior periphery of the raceway;  
   b) first and second endless sidewalls that connect to the endless grooves in said base portion.    
     
     
         16 . The racetrack recited in  claim 15 , wherein said endless sidewalls have a lip portion that inserts into the endless groove, and a wall portion that extends upwardly transverse to the plane of the base portion.  
     
     
         17 . The racetrack recited in  claim 16 , wherein said endless sidewalls comprise a flexible, continuously formed extrusion.  
     
     
         18 . A toy racecar kit, comprising: 
 a) a plurality of motorized, radio-controlled racecars having a width WC;    b) a plurality of slotless racetrack sections, each section having: 
 i) a base portion including: a top road surface with a width W at least two times greater than WC; a bottom surface; opposed longitudinal-extending side edges; and opposed, laterally-extending first and second connection ends;  
 ii) sidewalls fixed to and extending along the length of said side edges, said sidewalls having facing inner surfaces defining the width of the road surface and outer surfaces;  
 iii) base fasteners for connecting the base portion of two abutting track sections in a continuous, end-to-end configuration; and,  
 iv) sidewall fasteners for aligning the sidewalls of two abutting track sections in an end-to-end configuration with a flush interface;  
   wherein the plurality of roadway sections includes at least one straight roadway section and at least one curved section for constructing an endless raceway.    
     
     
         19 . The kit recited in  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of racetrack sections can be assembled in a configuration that resembles a famous racecourse selected from the group consisting of: Talladega Superspeedway, Pocono Raceway, Watkins Glen International, Texas Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Darlington Raceway, or Daytona International Speedway.  
     
     
         20 . The kit recited in  claim 19 , including simulations of at least one of the grandstands, buildings, or landscape of the famous course.