Rail Element To A Toy Railway

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rail element, which has a connecting means ( 2 ) and is adapted to be connected to a second rail element ( 12 ) to form a toy railway. The rail element consists of a ramp element ( 1 ) having a ramp surface ( 3 ) which rises obliquely upwards from the base plane of the rail element, towards the connecting means ( 2 ). The rail element also has first and second border parts ( 8, 9 ) with first and second border surfaces ( 10, 11 ), which rise from the ramp surface ( 3 ) and are oriented towards the same. The distance between the border surfaces ( 10, 11 ) decreases towards the connecting means ( 2 ).

1 . A rail element, which is adapted to be interconnected to a second rail element to form a toy railway and which comprises a connecting means ( 2 ;  2 ′) to render said interconnection possible, characterised in that it consists of a ramp element ( 1 ) with a base plane, said ramp element having a ramp surface ( 3 ) which rises obliquely upwards from the base plane towards the connecting means ( 2 ;  2 ′), first and second border parts ( 8 ,  9 ), which are located on opposite sides of the ramp surface ( 3 ) and comprise first and second border surfaces ( 10 ,  11 ), respectively, which rise from the ramp surface ( 3 ) and are oriented towards the same, the distance between the first and second border surfaces ( 10 ,  11 ) decreasing towards the connecting means ( 2 ;  2 ′). 
   
   
       2 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the border surfaces ( 10 ,  11 ) are curved around the normal of the base plane so as to curve in towards the ramp surface. 
   
   
       3 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the ramp surface ( 3 ) next to the connecting means ( 2 ) forms bottom surfaces of a first and a second groove ( 6 ,  7 ). 
   
   
       4 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the border surfaces ( 10 ,  11 ) next to the connecting means are divided into upper partial surfaces ( 10 ′,  11 ′) and lower partial surfaces ( 10 ″,  11 ″), the upper partial surfaces ( 10 ′,  11 ′) being located at a greater distance from the centre line ( 4 ) of the rail element than the lower partial surfaces ( 10 ″,  11 ″). 
   
   
       5 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the ramp surface ( 3 ) is curved around an axis perpendicular to the centre line ( 4 ) and parallel to the base plane in such a manner that it curves out from the base plane and next to the connecting means ( 2 ) is substantially parallel to the base plane. 
   
   
       6 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 1 , which is made in one piece from injection-moulded plastic. 
   
   
       7 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 1 , which is made of wood. 
   
   
       8 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the ramp surface ( 3 ) next to the connecting means ( 2 ) forms bottom surfaces of a first and a second groove ( 6 ,  7 ). 
   
   
       9 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the border surfaces ( 10 ,  11 ) next to the connecting means are divided into upper partial surfaces ( 10 ′,  11 ′) and lower partial surfaces ( 10 ″,  11 ″), the upper partial surfaces ( 10 ′,  11 ′) being located at a greater distance from the centre line ( 4 ) of the rail element than the lower partial surfaces ( 10 ″,  11 ″). 
   
   
       10 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the border surfaces ( 10 ,  11 ) next to the connecting means are divided into upper partial surfaces ( 10 ′,  11 ′) and lower partial surfaces ( 10 ″,  11 ″), the upper partial surfaces ( 10 ′,  11 ′) being located at a greater distance from the centre line ( 4 ) of the rail element than the lower partial surfaces ( 10 ″,  11 ″). 
   
   
       11 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the ramp surface ( 3 ) is curved around an axis perpendicular to the centre line ( 4 ) and parallel to the base plane in such a manner that it curves out from the base plane and next to the connecting means ( 2 ) is substantially parallel to the base plane. 
   
   
       12 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the ramp surface ( 3 ) is curved around an axis perpendicular to the centre line ( 4 ) and parallel to the base plane in such a manner that it curves out from the base plane and next to the connecting means ( 2 ) is substantially parallel to the base plane. 
   
   
       13 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the ramp surface ( 3 ) is curved around an axis perpendicular to the centre line ( 4 ) and parallel to the base plane in such a manner that it curves out from the base plane and next to the connecting means ( 2 ) is substantially parallel to the base plane. 
   
   
       14 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 2 , which is made in one piece from injection-moulded plastic. 
   
   
       15 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 3 , which is made in one piece from injection-moulded plastic. 
   
   
       16 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 4 , which is made in one piece from injection-moulded plastic. 
   
   
       17 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 5 , which is made in one piece from injection-moulded plastic. 
   
   
       18 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 2 , which is made of wood. 
   
   
       19 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 3 , which is made of wood. 
   
   
       20 . A rail element as claimed in  claim 4 , which is made of wood.