Patent ID: 6102770
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: A63H

Abstract:
A guidance apparatus for movable toy vehicles comprising:a track on which the toy vehicles move, said track having an intersection, said intersection having a rotatable portion that can be configured in more than one orientation to guide the toy vehicles in alternate directions based on the orientation of said rotatable portion;electromagnetic means for rotating said rotatable portion of said intersection;means for stopping vehicles at said intersection prior to entering said rotatable portion;means for actuating vehicles stopped at said intersection after said rotatable portion has been rotated by said means for rotating; andmeans for aligning said rotatable portion of said intersection with said track after rotation of said rotatable portion, wherein said means for aligning said rotatable portion of said intersection includes an optical sensor that deenergizes said means for rotating said rotatable portion of said intersection when light to said optical sensor is blocked, and means for blocking light to said optical sensor when said rotatable portion of said intersection is aligned with said track.