Toy vehicle and track system therefor

Abstract

A toy vehicle has a longitudinal central axis aligned for travel through a passageway of an elongated tubular track having a non-linear pathway which at least partly confines the toy vehicle. The toy vehicle has first plural translational elements spaced about the toy vehicle's longitudinal central axis for engagement with the inner surface of the tubular track. At least one translational element is a drive translational element which drives the toy vehicle through the passageway of the elongated tubular track. Second plural translational elements are spaced about the longitudinal central axis of the toy vehicle for engagement with the curved inner surface of the track, and each of the translational elements of the first and second plural translational elements are independently moveable and are biased in at least an outward radial direction from the longitudinal central axis of the toy vehicle.

1 . A toy vehicle having a longitudinal central axis aligned in a direction of travel and for travel through a passageway of an elongated tubular track having a non-linear pathway which extends in three dimensions and which at least partly confines said toy vehicle, said toy vehicle comprising:
 a first plurality of translational elements comprising three or more translational elements spaced about the longitudinal central axis of the toy vehicle for engagement with the inner surface of the elongated tubular track, wherein at least one translational element is a drive translational element which is powered so as to drive the toy vehicle through the passageway of the elongated tubular track; and a second plurality of translational elements comprising three or more translational elements spaced about the longitudinal central axis of the toy vehicle for engagement with the curved inner surface of the elongated tubular track,   wherein each of the translational elements of the first plurality of translational elements and each of the translational elements of the second plurality of translation elements are independently moveable in relation to each other and are biased in at least an outward radial direction from the longitudinal central axis of the toy vehicle, and   a control system for controlling at least the operable rotational speed and rotational direction of the at least one drive translational element;   wherein upon the toy vehicle travelling through the passageway of the elongated tubular track the translational elements are urged towards the inner surface of the elongated tubular track and such that the at least one drive translational element is urged against and maintained in contact with the inner surface of the elongated tubular track such that the rotation of the at least one drive translational element urges the toy vehicle through the elongated tubular track;   wherein upon the toy vehicle travelling through a portion of the passageway of the elongated tubular track having a non-linear pathway, the translational elements move relative to the longitudinal central axis and are urged towards the longitudinal central axis such that the toy vehicle is prevented from impinging upon the inner surface of the elongated tubular track such that the at least one drive translational element is maintained against the inner surface of the elongated tubular track; and   wherein upon the toy vehicle exiting the elongated tubular track towards and onto a planar surface and being unconstrained within the elongated tubular track:
 the toy vehicle rotates under effect of gravity about the longitudinal central axis such that at least one pair of adjacent translational elements of the first plurality of translational elements and at least one translational element of the second plurality of translational elements are operably engaged with the planar surface; and 
 (ii) the control system determines which of the translational elements are engaged with the planar surface by way of a sensor system, and the control system provides power to at least two such translational elements whereby the two such translational elements are on opposed sides of the longitudinal central axis, such that the toy vehicle is drivable and steerable on the planar surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . A toy vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of translational elements of the first plurality of translational elements equals the number of translational elements of the second plurality of translational elements. 
     
     
         3 . A toy vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein each translational element of the first plurality of translational elements is collinear with a corresponding translational element of the second plurality of translational elements in the direction of the longitudinal central axis. 
     
     
         4 . A toy vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of translational elements comprises  3  translational elements, and wherein the second plurality of translational elements comprises  3  translational elements. 
     
     
         5 . A toy vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein upon the toy vehicle exiting the elongated tubular track towards a planar surface and thereby being unconstrained within the elongated tubular track, the toy vehicle rotates under effect of gravity about the longitudinal central axis such that a pair of adjacent translational elements of the first plurality of translational elements and a corresponding pair of translational elements of the second plurality of translational elements are operably engaged with the planar surface. 
     
     
         6 . A toy vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the control system directs power to a pair of adjacent translational elements of the first plurality of translational elements. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A toy vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the translational elements of the first plurality of translation elements are equally spaced radially about the longitudinal central axis, and wherein the translational elements of the second plurality of translational elements are equally spaced radially about the longitudinal central axis. 
     
     
         9 . A toy vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of translational elements is carried by a corresponding first translational assembly located at a first position on the longitudinal central axis and wherein the second plurality of translational elements is carried by a corresponding second translational assembly located at a second position on the longitudinal central axis. 
     
     
         10 . A toy vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein the first translational assembly comprises a plurality of swing arm elements pivotably movable in at least an outward radial direction and each being coplanar with the longitudinal central axis, wherein the radially outer end of each swing arm carries thereon a translational element of the first plurality of translational elements, and wherein the second translational assembly comprises a plurality of swing arm elements pivotably movable in at least an outward radial direction and each being coplanar with the longitudinal central axis, wherein the radially outer end of each swing arm carries thereon a translational element of the second plurality of translational elements. 
     
     
         11 . A toy vehicle according to  claim 10 , wherein the translational elements are comprised of two wheels, and wherein each of said two wheels is disposed on laterally and external of the outer radial end of the swing arms. 
     
     
         12 . A toy vehicle according to  claim 10 , comprising a drive assembly for driving the translational elements, whereby the drive assembly comprises an electric motor and a gear train, and whereby the gear train drives the translational elements, wherein an electric motor is provided to power each pair of collinear translational elements of the first plurality of translational elements and the corresponding second plurality of translational elements, and wherein the control system provides electrical power to the electric motors which drive the translational elements engaged with the planar surface. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A toy vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the control system includes a wireless communications module communicable with an external remote control communications device, such that:
 the speed and direction of the toy vehicle whilst within the elongated tubular track are controllable by varying the speed and direction of the drive translational elements; and wherein   (ii) the speed and direction of the toy vehicle whilst external of the elongated tubular track are controllable by varying the speed and direction of the at least two translational elements engaged with the planar surface, and the toy vehicle is steerable by differential speeds of said at least two translational elements.   
     
     
         16 . A toy vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongated tubular track includes a curved inner surface. 
     
     
         17 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A toy vehicle having a longitudinal central axis and for travel through a passageway of an elongated tubular track having a circular transverse cross section with a curved inner surface and which at least party confines said toy vehicle, said toy vehicle comprising:
 at least one first plurality of translational elements spaced about the longitudinal central axis of the toy vehicle for engagement with the curved inner surface of the track, wherein at least one of the translational elements is a drive translational element which is powered so as to drive the toy vehicle through the passageway of the elongated tubular track; and   at least one second plurality of translational elements spaced about the longitudinal central axis of the toy vehicle for engagement with the curved inner surface of the elongated tubular track,   wherein the translational elements of the first plurality of translational elements and of the second plurality of translation elements are moveable and biased in at least an outward radial direction from the longitudinal central axis of the toy vehicle such that upon the toy vehicle travelling through a portion of the elongated tubular track having a non-linear pathway, the at least one drive translational elements is maintained in contact with the curved inner surface of the elongated tubular track such that motion of the toy vehicle through the elongated tubular track is maintained and such that the toy vehicle is prevented from impinging upon the inner surface of the elongated tubular track.   
     
     
         28 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A tubular track system, comprising an elongated tubular track for use in conjunction with the toy vehicle according to  claim 27 . 
     
     
         46 . A tubular track system according to  claim 45 , wherein the tubular track system is modular. 
     
     
         47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . A tubular track system according to  claim 45 , wherein the tubular track system is a three dimensional arrangement. 
     
     
         49 . A tubular track system according to  claim 45 , wherein the tubular track system is an open system opening to a planar surface, to provide entry of the toy vehicle into the tubular track system from a planar surface and exit from the tubular track system to the planar surface. 
     
     
         50 . A tubular track system according to  claim 49 , wherein the tubular track system further includes a flared entry element for entry of the toy vehicle to the tubular track system. 
     
     
         51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . A tubular track system according to  claim 45 , further including peripheral containment members, whereby the peripheral containment members define a play area therein and comprises a generally elongated perimeter structure having a concave inner lip portion extending upwardly for containing the toy vehicle within the play area. 
     
     
         53 . (canceled)