Track System for Toy Vehicles

Abstract

A race track for toy vehicles includes a plurality of sections of track and a plurality of elastic members that connect the sections of track and bias them from a storage position to an in use position.

1 . A race track for toy vehicles, including:
 a plurality track sections; and   a plurality of elastic connectors that join the track sections in a first, stored configuration and automatically arrange the track sections in a second in use configuration.   
   
   
       2 . The race track as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the elastic connectors are elastic bands. 
   
   
       3 . The race track as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein each track section includes at least one projection and each elastic band is positioned around at least one projection. 
   
   
       4 . The race track as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein at least one elastic band is positioned around at least one projection on two adjacent track segments. 
   
   
       5 . The race track as set forth in  claim 4 , further including at least one member for retaining the elastic band one the projections. 
   
   
       6 . The race track as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the retaining member is located between the projections on adjacent track sections. 
   
   
       7 . The race track as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each track section has a first end having a tab and a second end having a channel. 
   
   
       8 . The race track as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the tab of one track section mates with the channel of an adjacent track section when the sections are in the in use configuration. 
   
   
       9 . The race track as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the elastic connectors are under tension when the track sections are in the stored configuration and at least one elastic connector is under less tension when the track sections are in the in use configuration. 
   
   
       10 . The race track as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each track section has a first side and a second side and at least one elastic connector is located on the first side of each track section and at least one elastic connector is located on the second side of each track section. 
   
   
       11 . The race track as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each track section includes a first end and a second end and the elastic connectors are located between the ends of adjacent track sections. 
   
   
       12 . The race track as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein each track section further includes and upper surface and at least a portion of the elastic connectors are coplanar with the upper surfaces of the track sections. 
   
   
       13 . The race track as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein at least two adjacent track sections and the connector joining them include a guide. 
   
   
       14 . The race track as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the elastic connectors are under tension when the track sections are in the stored configuration and at least one elastic connector is under less tension when the track sections are in the in use configuration. 
   
   
       15 . The race track as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the elastic connectors and the track sections have substantially identical cross sections. 
   
   
       16 . The race track as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each track section has a first side and a second side and a plurality of fasteners attach the elastic connectors to the sides of the track sections. 
   
   
       17 . The race track as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein each track section has a first end having a tab and a second end having a channel. 
   
   
       18 . The race track as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the tab of one track section mates with the channel of an adjacent track section when the sections are in the in use configuration. 
   
   
       19 . The race track as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the elastic connectors are under tension when the track sections are in the stored configuration and at least one elastic connector is under less tension when the track sections are in the in use configuration. 
   
   
       20 . The race track as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the track sections include substantially tubular members and each elastic connector is located at least partially within one of the tubular members. 
   
   
       21 . The race track as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein each track section has a first end having a tab and a second end having a channel. 
   
   
       22 . The race track as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the tab of one track section mates with the channel of an adjacent track section when the sections are in the in use configuration. 
   
   
       23 . The race track as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the elastic connectors are under tension when the track sections are in the stored configuration and at least one elastic connector is under less tension when the track sections are in the in use configuration. 
   
   
       24 . A race track for toy vehicles, including:
 a plurality of sections of track; and   means for connecting the sections of track in a storage configuration and for biasing the sections of track into an in use configuration.   
   
   
       25 . The race track as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein the means for connecting and biasing includes at least one elastic member. 
   
   
       26 . The race track as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein the means for connecting and biasing includes at least one elastic band. 
   
   
       27 . The race track as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein each section of track has a first end and a second end and the means for connecting and biasing are located between the first and second ends of adjacent track sections. 
   
   
       28 . The race track as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein each section of track has a first side and a second side and the means for connecting and biasing are located on the sides of the track sections. 
   
   
       29 . The race track as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein each section of track has at least one tubular member and the means for connecting and biasing are located at least partially within the tubular members. 
   
   
       30 . A race track for toy vehicles, including:
 a plurality track sections, each track section having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, an upper surface and a lower surface;   a plurality of projections located on the sides of the track sections:   a plurality of elastic members positioned around the projections;   a plurality of members located between the projections for retaining the elastic members on the projections;   a tab located adjacent the first end of each of the track sections; and   a channel located adjacent the second end of each of the track sections.   
   
   
       31 . The race track as set forth in  claim 30 , wherein the elastic members are under tension when the track sections are in a stored configuration and at least one elastic member is under less tension when the track sections are in an in use configuration.