Toy track and vehicle therefor

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to a toy guideway or track and vehicle for riding thereover. The track is made of a plastic material of such state and configuration wherein the track is not normally self supporting. Self support means are provided to support the track in a desired manner to define a trackway of particular configuration, and the track is provided with guide means for directing a toy vehicle thereover.

What is claimed is: .[.1. A trackway toy comprising in combination with a toy vehicle having plural wheels, 
     
        trackway..]. 3. A trackway comprising in combination with a toy vehicle having plural wheels, a trackway including a base having an upper surface along which said vehicle may travel,   guide means for defining a path of travel for said vehicle on said upper surface,   said guide means including at least one formation molded integrally with said upper surface of said trackway and providing plural parallel extending surfaces against which respective wheels of said vehicle may ride to define said path of travel therealong,   said base and said guide means being integrally molded of flexible plastic material and having the characteristic such that said base is normally incapable of self-support whereby said trackway will easily conform to non-planar surfaces and   rigid support means for said trackway disposed adjacent said base and engaging a surface thereof in a manner to predetermine the shape of the base,   said guide means include a pair of spaced apart runner portions for defining the pathway of a vehicle moving over said track,   said spaced apart runner portions include upwardly extending rails for guiding the wheels of a vehicle. .[.4. The invention as defined in claim 3 and including a metallic rail strip partially imbedded in said rail, the end of said rail strip projecting beyond the upper end of said rails to engage the surface of a wheel of a toy vehicle riding thereon..]. .[.5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said rail strip is formed of   
     
     
        an electric conducting metal..]. 6. A trackway toy comprising in combination with a toy vehicle having plural wheels, a trackway including a base having an upper surface along which said vehicle may travel,   guide means for defining a path of travel for said vehicle on said upper surface,   said guide means molded integral with said upper surface of said trackway and providing surface means against which respective wheels of said vehicle may ride to define said path in travel therealong,   said base and said guide means being integrally molded of flexible plastic material and having the characteristic such that said base is normally incapable of self-support whereby said trackway will easily conform to non-planar surfaces and   rigid upright support means for suspendingly supporting said trackway therefrom in a manner to predetermine the shape of the base,   said rigid upright supports comprising a plurality of spaced apart rigid uprights for supporting said track in suspension between said rigid   
     
     
        uprights. .Iadd.7.  A trackway toy in accordance with claim 3 wherein said spaced apart runner portions extend the length of said trackway along the lateral borders of the trackway. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. A trackway toy in accordance with claim 3 wherein said rigid support means supports said trackway in a manner to cause curved deflection of said trackway and to impart an arcuate shape thereto. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. A trackway-toy in accordance with claim 8 wherein said curved deflection of said trackway is effected by the weight of said trackway. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. A trackway toy in accordance with claim 3 wherein said base has a central portion of flat sheet-like configuration and said spaced-apart runner portions extend upwardly from the upper surface of said flat sheet-like central portion and parallel to each other. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. A trackway toy in accordance with claim 10 wherein said spaced apart runner portions extend the length of said trackway along the lateral borders of the trackway. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A trackway toy in accordance with claim 3 including fastening means securing said trackway to said rigid support means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. A trackway toy in accordance with claim 12 wherein said fastening means secures said trackway to said rigid support means at a location such that said trackway becomes arcuately curved in deflection downwardly from said rigid support means, under its own weight. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A trackway toy in accordance with claim 3 wherein said trackway is formed of thermoplastic resinous polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride and acetate resin. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. A trackway toy in accordance with claim 3 wherein said trackway if formed of an extrusion of a plastic resin of substantially constant cross section and selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride and acetate resin and wherein said extrusion is so configured as to permit said trackway to arcuately deform downwardly under its own weight when supported by said rigid support means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. A trackway toy in accordance with claim 3 wherein said trackway is configured and formed of a plastic material imparting such characteristics thereto that the trackway may be twisted laterally with respect to its longitudinal axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. A trackway toy in accordance with claim 16 wherein said trackway is supported by and attached to said rigid support means in a manner to impart a lateral twist thereto to permit a vehicle travelling along said trackway to bank in its travel along said trackway. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A trackway toy in accordance with claim 3 wherein the wheels of said vehicle are adapted to ride inwardly of said upwardly extending rails defining said spaced apart runner portions of said guide means for said vehicle. .Iaddend.