Hobby vehicle track system

Abstract

A hobby track component includes a track section having a first end and a second end, the track section including a generally planar bed, a first guide rail having a generally planar first interior wall extending away from the bed, a second guide rail having a generally planar second interior wall extending away from the bed; the second interior wall being spaced apart from the first interior wall, a first magnet positioned within a recess defined in the first end of the track section, and a second magnet protruding from the second end of the track section.

1 . A hobby track component, comprising:
 a track section having a first end and a second end, the track section including,   a generally planar bed;   a first guide rail having a generally planar first interior wall extending away from the bed,   a second guide rail having a generally planar second interior wall extending away from the bed; the second interior wall being spaced apart from the first interior wall;   a first magnet positioned within a recess defined in the first end of the track section; and   a second magnet protruding from the second end of the track section.   
     
     
         2 . The hobby track component of  claim 1 , wherein the first magnet is positioned in the first guide rail and the second magnet extends from the second end of the first guide rail. 
     
     
         3 . The hobby track component of  claim 1 , further comprising a third magnet protruding from the first end of the track section and a fourth magnet positioned within a recess defined in the second end of the track section. 
     
     
         4 . The hobby track component of  claim 3 , wherein the third magnet extends from the first end of the second guide rail and the fourth magnet is positioned in a recess in the second end of the second guide rail. 
     
     
         5 . The hobby track component of  claim 1 , wherein the first interior wall is generally parallel to the second interior wall and wherein the first interior wall and the second interior wall are generally perpendicular to the bed. 
     
     
         6 . The hobby track component of  claim 1 , wherein the bed, the first guide rail and the second guide rail comprise a monolithic body. 
     
     
         7 . The hobby track component of  claim 6 , wherein the monolithic body is a wood body. 
     
     
         8 . The hobby track component of  claim 1 , wherein the track section includes at least one of a straight section, an incline section, a decline section, or a curved section. 
     
     
         9 . A hobby vehicle set, comprising:
 at least one vehicle having spaced apart wheels; and   a plurality of track sections, each track section having a first end and a second end, the track section having a generally planar bed, a first guide rail having a generally planar first interior wall extending away from the bed, a first set of alternating magnets coupled to the first guide rail, the first alternating magnets including a first protruding magnet and a first recessed magnet, a second guide rail having a generally planar second interior wall extending away from the bed, the second interior wall being spaced apart from the first interior wall to define a guide path sized to guide the spaced apart wheels, and a second set of alternating magnets coupled to the second guide rail, the second alternating magnets including a second protruding magnet and a second recessed magnet.   
     
     
         10 . The hobby vehicle set of  claim 9 , wherein the first end includes the first protruding magnet and the second recessed magnet and the second end includes the second protruding magnet and the first recessed magnet. 
     
     
         11 . The hobby vehicle set of  claim 9 , wherein the first end is configured to exert a horizontal magnetic force on a second end of an adjacent track section and the second end is configured to exert a horizontal magnetic force on a first end of another adjacent track section. 
     
     
         12 . The hobby vehicle set of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of train sections includes straight sections, curved sections, inclined sections, and declined sections. 
     
     
         13 . The hobby vehicle set of  claim 9 , wherein the first guide rails, the second guide rails, and the bed portion of at least one of the track sections form a monolithic track section. 
     
     
         14 . The hobby vehicle set of  claim 13 , wherein the monolithic track section is formed from a wood material. 
     
     
         15 . The hobby vehicle set of  claim 9 , wherein the first interior walls are generally parallel to the second interior walls and wherein the first interior wall and the second interior wall are generally perpendicular to the beds. 
     
     
         16 . A method of forming a hobby track section, comprising:
 forming a monolithic track section having a first end and a second end; the track section having a generally planar bed, a first guide rail having a generally planar first interior wall extending away from the bed, a second guide rail having a generally planar second interior wall extending away from the bed, the second interior wall being spaced apart from the first interior wall to define a guide path;   defining receiving recesses on each of the first end and the second end of the first guide rail;   positioning first magnets within the first receiving recesses such that at least one of the first magnets is recessed in the first end of the first guide rail and at least another of the first magnets protrudes from the second end of the first guide rail;   defining second receiving recesses on each of the first end and the second end of the second guide rail; and   positioning second magnets within the second receiving recesses such that at least one of the second magnets is recessed in the second end of the second guide rail and another of the second magnets protrudes from the first end of the second guide rail.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein forming a monolithic track section includes forming a monolithic wooden track section.