Method and device for transporting toy moving object between dislocated slot track segments

Abstract

A motor driven transporter for transporting a moving toy object over an interruption in a slot track system where the interruption is between an incoming track segment and an outgoing track segment. The transporter includes a dock having a holding member for holding the toy object on a track surface of the dock and a restraining member for restraining the toy object from moving forward and backward on the dock, and a motor for moving the dock linearly or through an arc of up to 180° between the incoming track segment and the outgoing track segment.

1 . A motor driven transporter for transporting a moving toy object over an interruption in a slot track system where said interruption is between an incoming track segment and an outgoing track segment, said transporter comprising:
 a dock having a holding member for holding said toy object on a track surface of said dock and a restraining member for restraining said toy object from moving forward and backward on said dock; and   a motor for moving said dock linearly or through an arc of up to 180° between said incoming track segment and said outgoing track segment.   
   
   
       2 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a support structure for supporting said dock to enable movement of said dock relative to said incoming track segment and said outgoing track segment. 
   
   
       3 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said support structure comprises a rack and pinion transmission driven by said motor for moving said dock vertically up or down between said incoming track segment and said outgoing track segment. 
   
   
       4 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said support structure further comprises a gear transmission driven by said motor for rotating said dock 180° along a longitudinal axis thereof while moving vertically up or down between said incoming track segment and said outgoing track segment. 
   
   
       5 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said dock has a central axis and two track segments disposed at two opposite sides thereof, and said dock is rotatable 180° along said central axis by said motor between said incoming track segment and said outgoing track segment. 
   
   
       6 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said dock is provided on an arm pivotally connected to said support structure, and said dock is moveable through an arc between said incoming track segment and said outgoing track segment. 
   
   
       7 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said dock comprises a convex track surface. 
   
   
       8 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said incoming track segment and said outgoing track segment are the same track segment with an incoming track and an outgoing track provided on two opposite sides of said same track segment respectively, and wherein said dock is in the form of a curved platform pivotally connected to said support structure, and has an incoming end and an outgoing end alignable with said incoming track segment and said outgoing track segment respectively. 
   
   
       9 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said platform pivots through an arc of 90°. 
   
   
       10 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said restraining member comprises a first spring-loaded stopper provided at an incoming end of said dock for restraining backward movement of said toy object after said toy object passes said first spring-loaded stopper. 
   
   
       11 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said dock comprises a first button provided at an incoming end of said dock for electrically disconnecting said motor from a power source when said first button is being pressed by said incoming track segment. 
   
   
       12 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said dock comprises a trigger for electrically connecting said motor with a power source, such that said motor drives said dock in one direction when said trigger is pressed by said toy object after landing on said dock, and thereafter drives said dock in a reversed direction when said trigger is released by said toy object after said toy object moves away from said dock. 
   
   
       13 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said restraining member comprises a second stopper provided at an outgoing end of said dock for restraining forward movement of said toy object after said toy object lands on said dock. 
   
   
       14 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said dock comprises a second button provided at said outgoing end of said dock for electrically connecting said toy object with a power source and releasing said second stopper, thereby allowing said toy object to move away from said dock when said dock reaches said outgoing track segment and said second button is pressed by said outgoing track segment. 
   
   
       15 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said holding member comprises a T-slot provided on said dock, and a T-shaped guide pin provided on said toy object engageable with said T-slot. 
   
   
       16 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of common adjusters serving as adapters to facilitate connection of conventional track segments to said dock. 
   
   
       17 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein a first common adjuster is provided on an incoming end of said dock, and a second common adjuster is provided on an outgoing end of said dock. 
   
   
       18 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said support structure is provided with a plurality of common adjusters serving as adapters to facilitate connection of conventional track segments to said dock. 
   
   
       19 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a circuit electrically coupled to said motor for controlling the movement of said dock between said incoming track segment and said outgoing track segment. 
   
   
       20 . The transporter as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said motor is provided in said support structure.