Toy track systems, toy track vehicles, and related methodologies

Abstract

Disclosed is a toy track and vehicle system. Suitably, the trackway is defined by an assembly of a basic block such that users can build a complex three-dimensional (3D) track layout or trackway from the basic block. Preferably, the blocks are configured such that a vehicle can move on any lateral sides of the track layout or trackway.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A toy vehicle and track system comprising;
 a track defined by at least three railways, each railway defined by two adjacent rails, wherein each rail of the two adjacent rails is defined at the tip or edge of a block; and,   a toy vehicle defined by a two-wheeled guide-car and a two-wheeled caboose coupled together via a joint, said caboose featuring a motor to drive an axle provided to at least one wheel of caboose; and,   wherein a wheel of the toy vehicle that is provided with the axle is engaged at a midsection of the wheel with one of the rails of the railway such that the guide-car is rolled around the joint by any non-zero degree relative to the caboose.   
     
     
         2 . The toy vehicle and track system of  claim 1  wherein the block is defined by a cross-section selected from the group consisting essentially of an X, Y, square, triangle. 
     
     
         3 . The toy vehicle and track system of  claim 2  wherein the guide-car and caboose are coupled together via a rotary or ball joint. 
     
     
         4 . The toy vehicle and track system of  claim 3  wherein the at least one wheel of the caboose that is provided with an axle is a grooved wheel. 
     
     
         5 . The toy vehicle and track system of  claim 4  wherein the block has a coaxial hole that is fitted with a center post that joins the block to a second block such that said at least three railways are extended from the block to an adjacent block. 
     
     
         6 . The toy vehicle and track system of  claim 5  wherein the at least three railways are extended to the adjacent block via a mortise and tenon joint. 
     
     
         7 . A method of constructing a track for a toy vehicle, comprising the steps of:
 a. positioning a first block with at least three railways, where each railway is defined by two adjacent rails;   b. locating adjacent to the first block a second block with at least three other railways, wherein each of the three other railways is defined by two other adjacent rails;   c. coupling an axle of the first block to an axle of the second block via a center post such that the railways of the first block merge with the other railways of the second block; and,   d. positioning a wheel of a caboose of the toy vehicle against one of the railways of the first block and positioning a wheel of a guide-car of the toy vehicle against one of the other railways of the second block.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein when the railways of the first block are merged with the other railways of the second block at least one mortise of the railways is coupled to a cooperating tenon of the second railways. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the caboose is motorized. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the wheel of the caboose is a grooved wheel. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  where a hyperbolic wheel of the caboose is positioned against the one railway of the first block at a midsection of the hyperbolic wheel. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  where the caboose and guide car of the toy vehicle are rotatably joined together via a joint. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the first and second blocks are defined by a cross-section selected from the group consisting essentially of an X, Y, square, triangle. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the guide-car is rolled around the joint by any non-zero degree relative to the caboose. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first block is supported by an upright. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the steps of:
 removing the wheel of the caboose from its position against one of the railways of the first block; 
 removing the wheel of the guide-car from its position against one of the other railways of the second block; 
 positioning the wheel of the caboose against a different one of the railways of the first block; and, 
 positioning the wheel of the guide-car against a different one of the other railways of the second block. 
 
     
     
         17 . A toy vehicle and track system comprising;
 a track defined by at least three railways, each railway defined by two adjacent rails, wherein each rail of the two adjacent rails is defined at the tip of an arm of a block with an X-shaped section; and,   a toy vehicle featuring an axle provided to at least one wheel and wherein the at least one wheel is engaged at a midsection with one of the rails of the railway.   
     
     
         18 . The toy vehicle and track system of  claim 17  wherein the at least one wheel is a hyperbolic wheel. 
     
     
         19 . The toy vehicle and track system of  claim 18  wherein the block has a coaxial hole that is fitted with a center post that joins the block to a second block such that said at least three railways are extended from the block to an adjacent block. 
     
     
         20 . The toy vehicle and track system of  claim 5  wherein the at least three railways are extended to the adjacent block via a mortise and tenon joint.