Toys with a track adaptor and shells for a portable electronic device

Abstract

A universal track adaptor system having a shell including a portable device receiving surface arranged for receiving and detachably holding a portable electronic device, said shell further including a track facing surface, a plurality of track receiving guides which can be adapted to interface with a plurality of different sized tracks, as permitted by a specific range of motion.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A universal track adaptor system, said universal track adaptor system comprising:
 a shell including a portable device receiving surface arranged for receiving and detachably securing a portable electronic device, said shell further including a track facing surface; and   at least one receiving guide suitable for engaging with a rail, track or other available device, the at least one receiving guide integrated in, coupled or adapted to the track facing surface.   
     
     
         2 . A universal track adaptor system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one receiving guide is one of a pair of linear receiving guides. 
     
     
         3 . A universal track adaptor system as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a first mechanism for adjusting relative width separating the linear receiving guides. 
     
     
         4 . A universal track adaptor system as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising second and/or third mechanisms for adjusting size of each of the pair of linear receiving guides. 
     
     
         5 . A universal track adaptor system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising
 at least one sensor;   electronics for coupling the at least one sensor to the portable electronic device; and   a feedback mechanism for providing at least one of audio, video or haptic feedback, in response to the at least one sensor and/or the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         6 . A universal track adaptor system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one sensor is an accelerometer. 
     
     
         7 . A universal track adaptor system for interfacing a toy with a plurality of different sized tracks, said universal track adaptor system comprising:
 a base including a toy receiving surface arranged for receiving and detachably holding said toy, said base further including a track facing surface;   a plurality of track receiving guides integrated into the track facing surface;   one or more size adjusting mechanisms for adjusting a size and/or shape of each of the plurality of track receiving guides; and   one or more location adjusting mechanisms for adjusting positions of the plurality of track receiving guides relative to each other.   
     
     
         8 . A toy train with integral track adaptor system comprising:
 a train module;   a base coupled to the train module, said base further including a track facing surface;   a plurality of track receiving guides integrated into the track facing surface;   one or more size adjusting mechanisms for adjusting a size and/or shape of each of the plurality of track receiving guides; and   one or more location adjusting mechanisms for adjusting positions of the plurality of track receiving guides relative to each other.   
     
     
         9 . A method for interfacing a toy with a plurality of different sized tracks, the method comprising:
 coupling said toy to a base via a toy receiving surface arranged for receiving and detachably holding said toy   coupling a track facing surface of said base to a track via a plurality of track receiving guides integrated into the track facing surface;   adjusting a size and/or shape of each of the plurality of track receiving guides, and adjusting positions of the plurality of track receiving guides relative to each other, such that said toy is engaged with the track via the base.   
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 sensing motion of said toy; and   providing feedback based on said motion.   
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said toy is embodied on a portable computing device with a display screen as an application executing on the portable computing device. 
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said sensing is accomplished via one or more sensors present on said portable computing device. 
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said feedback is provided via said portable computing device. 
     
     
         14 . A universal track adaptor system characterized in that the system includes a portable device receiving surface arranged for receiving and detachably holding a portable electronic device, said system further including a track facing surface having a plurality of track receiving guides which can be adapted to interface with a plurality of different sized and/or shaped tracks or track equivalents.