Track Assembly for Toy Vehicles

Abstract

A track assembly for toy vehicles includes a base, a concave track section coupled to the base, and an outer track section coupled to the base. The concave track section is rotatable about an axis relative to the base. The outer track section extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the concave track section. The outer track section has an inlet through which a toy vehicle can travel and an outlet through which a toy vehicle can travel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A track assembly for toy vehicles, comprising:
 a first track section;   a second track section; and   a third track section coupled to the first track section and to the second track section, the third track section including a concave portion rotatable about an axis relative to the first and second track sections.   
     
     
         2 . The track assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the third track section includes an outer portion extending around a periphery of the concave portion, and the concave portion is rotatable relative to the outer portion. 
     
     
         3 . The track assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first track section includes a first end coupled to the third track section and an opposite second end lying on a first plane, and the second track section includes a first end coupled to the third track section and an opposite second end lying on a second plane spaced from the first plane. 
     
     
         4 . The track assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the second end of the first track section is higher than the first end of the first track section, and the second end of the second track section is lower than the first end of the second track section. 
     
     
         5 . The track assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the concave portion is intermediate the first plane and the second plane. 
     
     
         6 . The track assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch disposed along the first track section and actuatable by a toy vehicle as the toy vehicle proceeds along the first track section, the concave portion being rotated by a drive mechanism upon activation of the switch. 
     
     
         7 . The track assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive mechanism coupled to the concave portion and an actuator connected to the drive mechanism, the actuator being manipulatable by a user to activate the drive mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The track assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a toy vehicle having a rolling element configured to engage and move along the first track section, the second track section, and the third track section. 
     
     
         9 . A track assembly for toy vehicles, comprising:
 a base;   a concave track section coupled to the base, the concave track section being rotatable about an axis relative to the base, the concave track section having a perimeter; and   an outer track section coupled to the base, the outer track section extending around at least a portion of the perimeter of the concave track section, the outer track section having an inlet through which a toy vehicle can travel and an outlet through which a toy vehicle can travel.   
     
     
         10 . The track assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an entry ramp coupled to the outer track section, the entry ramp being in communication with the inlet of the outer track section; and   an exit ramp coupled to the outer track section, the exit ramp being in communication with the outlet of the outer track section, the outer track section being located between the entry ramp and the exit ramp.   
     
     
         11 . The track assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a switch located along a portion of the entry ramp, the switch being activatable by a toy vehicle as the toy vehicle moves along the entry ramp, the concave track section being rotated upon activation of the switch. 
     
     
         12 . The track assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a drive mechanism coupled to the concave track section and an actuator connected to the drive mechanism, the drive mechanism activated upon actuation of the actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The track assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the concave track section and the outer track section are concentric. 
     
     
         14 . The track assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the base includes a lower portion engageable with a support surface, and the axis about which the concave track section rotates is substantially perpendicular to the support surface. 
     
     
         15 . A vehicle track playset, comprising:
 a track assembly including an entry ramp, a track section coupled to the entry ramp, the track section including a central portion, the central portion being rotatable about an axis and being rotatable relative to the entry ramp, and an exit ramp coupled to the track section; and   a toy vehicle configured to engage and move along the track assembly, the toy vehicle moves from the entry ramp to the track section, spins around a portion of the central portion as the central portion rotates, and exits the track section onto the exit ramp.   
     
     
         16 . The vehicle track playset of  claim 15 , further comprising a switch disposed along the entry ramp, the switch being activatable by the toy vehicle as the toy vehicle moves along the entry ramp, the central portion being rotated upon activation of the switch. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle track playset of  claim 15 , wherein the track assembly includes a drive mechanism coupled to the central portion and an actuator connected to the drive mechanism, the actuator being manipulatable by a user to activate the drive mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle track playset of  claim 15 , wherein the central portion has a generally concave configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle track playset of  claim 15 , wherein the entry ramp includes a first end coupled to the track section and an opposite second end lying on a first plane, and the exit ramp includes a first end coupled to the track section and an opposite second end lying on a second plane spaced from the first plane. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle track playset of  claim 19 , wherein the central portion is intermediate the first plane and the second plane.