Flexible track for electrically energized miniature vehicles

Abstract

A flexible track or roadbed is provided for enabling miniature vehicles, such as toy cars, trains or the like, to be propelled along its length. The track in one embodiment is in the form of an elongated ribbon of flexible, electrically insulating rubber-like material, with serrations in each side thereof, to permit the track to be placed on any planar or non-planar supporting surface, with the track assuming vertical undulations corresponding to any undulations in the supporting surface, and to permit the track to be readily turned into any desired lateral curved, circular or tortuous shape, the track having one or more guide slots extending along the length of the track to guide the vehicles along the track, and a longitudinally extensible and compressible elongated electric element miniature vehicles propelled along the track. In the second embodiment the track is formed of a series of rigid articulated traverse elements intercoupled to one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A track for miniature cars, trains, or the like, comprising: an elongated structure formed of a plurality of rigid traverse members each having a central hole therein and each having a central arcuate section shaped to nest with the central arcuate section of an adjacent like traverse member, each of said traverse members having an upstanding pin positioned to be received in the central hole of the adjacent like member, said track being capable of being turned laterally to curved configurations within predetermined limits, and at least one elongated electric element extending along the length of the elongated structure, said electric element being formed of electrically conductive material and being capable of substantial longitudinal extension and contraction. 
     
     
       2. The track defined in claim 1 in which each of said arcuate sections has grooves and protuberances thereon, with the protuberances on the arcuate section of one of the traverse members being received in the grooves in the arcuate section of an adjacent like traverse member so as to limit the angular movements of the traverse members with respect to one another. 
     
     
       3. The track defined in claim 1, in which each of said traverse members has projecting members at each end thereof to be received in corresponding holes in the ends of an adjacent like traverse member to serve as end couplings for the traverse members. 
     
     
       4. The track defined in claim 1, in which the electric element is in the form of an elongated coiled spring of electrically conductive resilient wire. 
     
     
       5. The track defined in claim 1, in which the electric element is in the form of a flexible electrically conductive strip folded down into the spaces between adjacent ones of the traverse members. 
     
     
       6. The track defined in claim 1, in which said elongated electric element is formed of a plurality of individual electrically conductive elements mounted on respective ones of the rigid traverse members and engaging one another in sliding electrical contact when the traverse members are intercoupled to one another. .Iadd. 
     
     
       7.  A track for miniature cars, trains, or the like, comprising: an elongated structure formed of a plurality of rigid transverse members, each of said transverse members including intermediate coupling means for coupling such transverse members to the next adjacent transverse member, said elongated structure being capable of being turned laterally to curved configurations within predetermined limits; at least one elongated electric element extending along the length of said elongated structure, said electric element being formed of electrically conductive material and being capable of substantial longitudinal extension and contraction; each of said transverse members having integral longitudinally projecting members at each end thereof to be received in corresponding recesses in the ends of adjacent ones of said transverse members to serve as end couplings for the transverse members. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. The track defined in claim 7, in which the electric element is in the form of an elongated coiled resilient spring of electrically conductive wire. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The track defined in claim 7, in which each of said transverse members has an integral upstanding pin on one side thereof and an integral socket in the other side thereof, the upstanding pin of each of the transverse members being positioned to be received in the socket of the next adjacent one of the transverse members the upstanding pins and integral sockets of the transverse members constituting said intermediate 
     
     
        coupling means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10.  The track defined in claim 7, in which said intermediate coupling means for each of said transverse members comprises first and second central coupling portions, the first coupling portion of each transverse member being adapted for inter-engagement with the second coupling portion of an adjacent transverse member to permit limited pivotal movement of adjacent transverse members. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The track defined in claim 7, in which each of said transverse members is formed with a pair of spaced longitudinally extending channels in the top thereof each receiving one of the elongated electric elements. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The track defined in claim 11, in which each of said transverse members is formed with a longitudinally extending slot in the top thereof between said longitudinally extending channels. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.13.  The track defined in claim 7, in which said electrically conductive material is in the form of a coil. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The track defined in claim 7, in which each of said transverse members has a length laterally of the longitudinal axis of the track which is 
     
     
        substantially greater than the width thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15.  The track defined in claim 7, in which each of said transverse members is formed with two pairs of spaced longitudinally extending channels in the top thereof one pair on each side of said intermediate coupling means each receiving one of the elongated electric elements. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The track defined in claim 15, in which each of said transverse members is formed with two longitudinally extending slots in the top thereof respectively disposed between the longitudinally extending channels of the 
     
     
        two pairs. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17.  A track for miniature cars, trains, or the like, comprising an elongated structure formed of a plurality of rigid transverse members each having first and second intermediate coupling portions, the first coupling portion of each transverse member being adapted for inter-engagement with the second coupling portion of an adjacent transverse member to permit limited relative pivotable movement of said adjacent transverse members for permitting said track to be turned laterally to curved configurations within predetermined limits, each of said transverse members being formed with at least one longitudinally extending slot in the top thereof and a pair of longitudinally extending channels in the top thereof on opposite sides of said slot; an electric element formed of a coil of electrically conductive material mounted in each of said channels, each coil being capable of substantial longitudinal expansion and contraction and in which each of said transverse members has integral longitudinally projecting members at each end thereof to be received in corresponding recesses in the ends of adjacent ones of said transverse members to serve as end couplings for the transverse members. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.18.  The track defined in claim 17, in which each of said transverse members is formed with two longitudinally extending slots in the top thereof one on each side of the intermediate coupling portions, and two pairs of longitudinally extending channels in the top thereof, with the channels of each pair respectively positioned on the opposite sides of the corresponding slot.