Abstract:
Disclosed is a track traveling toy, including: a track; at least a part of the track being made to be a double track; and automotive vehicle stopping sections which are respectively provided to railway tracks of the double track, wherein an automotive vehicle entering the railway track on one side operates the stopping section of the railway track on the one side to stop the automotive vehicle on the railway track, and operates the stopping section on the other railway track to release a stopping state of an automotive vehicle on the railway track.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a track traveling toy, and more particularly to a track traveling toy to make a plurality of automotive vehicles alternately travel. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    As a track traveling toy to make a vehicle travel on a track, for example, Plarail available from Tomy Company, Ltd. is known. Plarail forms a looped track by connecting linear rails, curved rails, and the like, and makes a vehicle travel on the track (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-261495). 
         [0005]    Now, the above track traveling toy can make only one train travel at least one looped track, and consequently the play becomes monotonous. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention was made to solve such a problem. It is, therefore, a main object of the present invention to provide a track traveling toy capable of making a plurality of vehicles alternately travel. 
         [0007]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track traveling toy comprising: a track; at least a part of the track being made to be a double track; and automotive vehicle stopping sections which are respectively provided to railway tracks of the double track, wherein an automotive vehicle entering the railway track on one side operates the stopping section of the railway track on the one side to stop the automotive vehicle on the railway track, and operates the stopping section on the other railway track to release a stopping state of an automotive vehicle on the railway track. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The above and other objects, advantage and features of the present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention, and wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a platform conceptually showing the track traveling toy according to the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a conceptual plan view of the platform of the track traveling toy according to the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view showing the inner parts on the back surface side of the base of the platform according to the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view showing the inner parts on the back surface side of the base of the platform according to the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view showing the inner parts on the back surface side of the base of the platform according to the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view showing the inner parts on the back surface side of the base of the platform according to the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view showing the inner parts on the back surface side of the base of the platform according to the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a pedestal and a mode changing switch according to the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing an actuating lever and a locking lever according to the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a slider and rails on the base bottom board according to the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11A  is a sectional view showing the operation of the slider according to the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11B  is a sectional view showing the operation of the slider according to the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a bottom view showing the aspects of the inner part on the back surface side in a manual mode according to the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 13  is a bottom view showing the aspects of the inner part on the back surface side in a manual mode according to the present invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is a conceptual perspective view showing a modification of the track traveling toy according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    In the following, a track traveling toy according to the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a platform conceptually showing the track traveling toy according to the present invention;  FIG. 2  is a conceptual plan view of the platform;  FIGS. 3-7  are bottom views showing the inner parts on the back surface side of the base of the platform according to the present invention in the order of the operation thereof;  FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a pedestal and a mode changing switch;  FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing an actuating lever and a locking lever;  FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a slider and rails on the base bottom board;  FIGS. 11A and 11B  are sectional views showing the operation of the slider;  FIGS. 12 and 13  are bottom views showing the aspects of the inner part on the back surface side in a manual mode; and  FIG. 14  is a conceptual perspective view showing a modification of the track traveling toy according to the present invention. 
         [0026]    The track traveling toy of the present invention is a toy of stopping and starting automotive vehicles on a double track alternately. In the present embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , two railway tracks  2 A and  2 B are disposed so as to put a platform  1  between them, and the railway tracks  2 A and  2 B are connected to a single track  5  laid in a loop through switching railway tracks  4 a and  4 b, which change the courses of vehicles  3 A and  3 B. The vehicles  3 A and  3 B on the respective railway tracks  2 A and  2 B with the platform  1  put between them are made to travel into mutually counter direction. 
         [0027]    In the track traveling toy, vehicle stopping means  10 A and  10 B are disposed at downstream positions of the railway tracks  2 A and  2 B, respectively, in the traveling directions of the vehicles  3 A and  3 B, respectively. The stopping means  10 A and  10 B are equipped with pedestals  11 A and  11 B, respectively, which are disposed so as to be able to freely emerge above the railway tracks  2 A and  2 B, respectively. The lower parts of the pedestals  11 A and  11 B are projected onto the back surface side of a base  6 , on which the railway tracks  2 A and  2 B are laid, through holes  7 A and  7 B of the base  6 , respectively, and projecting parts  11   a A and  11   a B projecting downward are formed on the under surfaces of the pedestals  11 A and  11 B, respectively (see  FIG. 8 ). 
         [0028]    On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 3 , actuating levers  12 A and  12 B to raise the pedestals  11 A and  11 B, respectively, are disposed on the back surface of the base  6  with shafts  6   a  put between them. The actuating levers  12 A and  12 B is provided with projections  12   a A and  12   a B on their top surfaces at their ends, respectively (see  FIG. 9 ). The actuating levers  12 A and  12 B are clockwise urged in  FIG. 3  around each of the shafts  6   a  by springs  13 A and  13 B, respectively. Moreover, pins  12   b A and  12   b B extending upward are provided to stand at the ends of the actuating levers  12 A and  12 B, respectively (see  FIG. 9 ). 
         [0029]    Incidentally, the parts of the projections  12   a A and  12   a B are suitably shown as perspective drawings in  FIGS. 3-7 ,  12 , and  13 . 
         [0030]    Moreover, locking levers  14 A and  14 B to lock the actuating levers  12 A and  12 B, respectively, in the state of being separated from the projecting parts  11   a A and  11   a B of the pedestals  11 A and  11 B, respectively, are disposed on the back surface of the base  6  with shafts  6   b  put between them. The locking levers  14 A and  14 B are counterclockwise urged in  FIG. 3  around the shafts  6   b  by springs  15 A and  15 B, respectively. Notches  14   a A and  14   a B are formed at the ends of the locking levers  14 A and  14 B, respectively, as shown in  FIG. 9 . The notches  14   a A and  14   a B engage with the pins  12   b A and  12   b B of the actuating levers  12 A and  12 B, respectively, and thereby the ends of the projections  12   a A and  12   a B of the actuating levers  12 A and  12 B are prevented to abut against the projecting parts  11   a A and  11   a B of the pedestals  11 A and  11 B, respectively. 
         [0031]    Incidentally, the parts of the notches  14   a A and  14   a B and the pins  12   b A and  12   b B are suitably shown as perspective drawings in  FIGS. 3-7 ,  12 , and  13 . 
         [0032]    Moreover, sliders  16 A and  16 B are disposed on the back surface of the base  6  corresponding to upstream positions of the traveling directions of the vehicles on the railway tracks  2 A and  2 B, respectively. The sliders  16 A and  16 B are slidably installed along the railway tracks  2 A and  2 B, respectively. The sliders  16 A and  16 B are urged into the direction to draw apart from the pedestals  11 A and  11 B, respectively, by springs  17 A and  17 B, respectively. Claws  18 A and  18 B to engage with entering vehicles  3 A and  3 B, respectively, are rotatably disposed on the sliders  16 A and  16 B, respectively. For example, a U-shaped engaging portion open into the front of the body of the lead vehicle is formed only on the under side of the body of the lead vehicle, and the sliders  16 A and  16 B are configured so that the claws  18 A and  18 B may engage with the U-shaped engaging portions, respectively. On the other hand, rails  19 A and  19 B are formed on the top surface of the base bottom board  6   c  of the base  6 . The ends of the rails  19 A and  19 B are extended to be installed in the neighborhoods of the pedestals  11 A and  11 B, respectively, and inclined planes  19   a A and  19   a B are formed at the ends, respectively. Then, when the sliders  16 A and  16 B are situated at positions distant from the pedestals  11 A and  11 B, respectively, the claws  18 A and  18 B are projected above the base  6  from slits  20 A and  20 B by the rails  19 A and  19 B, respectively, as shown in  FIG. 11A . Then, when the sliders  16 A and  16 B reach the neighborhoods of the pedestals  11 A and  11 B, respectively, by movements, the claws  18 A and  18 B reach the portions of the inclined planes  19   a A and  19   a B, respectively, and the claws  18 A and  18 B deviate from the rails  19 A and  19 B, respectively, as shown in  FIG. 11B . Then, the ends of the claws  18 A and  18 B rotate downward by their own weights. Then, because the claws  18 A and  18 B are separated from the vehicles  3 A and  3 B, respectively, the sliders  16 A and  16 B are returned to their original positions by the urging forces of the springs  17 A and  17 B, respectively. Incidentally, the returns of the sliders  16 A and  16 B to their original positions may be performed after the whole bodies of the vehicles  3 A and  3 B have passed over the tumbled claws  18 A and  18 B, respectively. 
         [0033]    Moreover, projecting parts  21 A and  21 B are formed at the rear ends of the under surfaces of the sliders  16 A and  16 B, respectively. The projecting parts  21 A and  21 B are moved with the sliders  16 A and  16 B, respectively, and then separate the projections  12   a B and  12   a A of the actuating levers  12 B and  12 A, respectively, in the state of raising the pedestals  11 B and  11 A, respectively, from the projecting parts  11   a B and  11   a A of the pedestals  11 B and  11 A, respectively. 
         [0034]    Moreover, cam faces  16   a A and  16   a B are formed at the ends of the sliders  16 A and  16 B, respectively. On the other hand, inclined planes  14   b A and  14   b B are formed at the rear ends of the locking levers  14 A and  14 B, respectively. Then the inclined planes  14   b A and  14   b B of the locking levers  14 A and  14 B abut against the cam faces  16   a A and  16   a B of the sliders  16 A and  16 B, respectively, and thereby the movements of the locking levers  14 A and  14 B rotated by the urging forces of the springs  15 A and  15 B, respectively, are regulated. 
         [0035]    Then, when the sliders  16 A and  16 B are moved against the urging forces of the springs  17 A and  17 B, respectively, the locking levers  14 A and  14 B are clockwise rotated by the cam faces  16   a A and  16   a B, respectively, against the urging forces of the springs  15 A and  15 B, respectively. 
         [0036]    The track traveling toy configured as above operates as follows. 
         [0037]    In the initial state shown in  FIG. 3 , the sliders  16 A and  16 B are situated rearward (at positions most distant from the pedestals  11 A and  11 B, respectively) by the urging forces of the springs  17 A and  17 B, respectively. The locking levers  14 A and  14 B are counterclockwise rotated by the urging forces of the springs  15 A and  15 B, respectively, and their inclined planes  14   b A and  14   b B abut against the cam faces  16   a A and  16   a B of the sliders  16 A and  16 B, respectively. Then the locking levers  14 A and  14 B stop at the positions. Moreover, the actuating levers  12 A and  12 B are clockwise rotated by the urging forces of the springs  13 A and  13 B, respectively, and their pins  12   b A and  12   b B engage with the notches  14   a A and  14   a B of the locking levers  14 A and  14 B, respectively. Then the actuating levers  12 A and  12 B are locked there. Consequently, in such a state, the projections  12   a A and  12   a B of the actuating levers  12 A and  12 B are situated at positions distant from the projecting parts  11   a A and  11   a B of the pedestals  11 A and  11 B, respectively, and the pedestals  11 A and  11 B are in the dropped state owing to their own weights. 
         [0038]    When the vehicle  3 A enters the upper railway track  2 A in the state of  FIG. 3 , the claw  18 A of the slider  16 A engages with the vehicle  3 A. The slider  16 A is then moved into the direction of the pedestal  11 A with the entering of the vehicle  3 A, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Then, the cam face  16   a A of the slider  16 A clockwise rotates the locking lever  14 A against the urging force of the spring  15 A. When the locking lever  14 A has been rotated in this manner, the engagement of the pin  12   b A with the notch  14   a A is released, and the actuating lever  12 A is clockwise rotated by the urging force of the spring  13 A. Then, the projection  12   a A abuts against the projecting part  11   a A of the pedestal  11 A to push up the pedestal  11 A. 
         [0039]    Consequently, the entering vehicle  3 A runs on the pedestal  11 A. Then, because the driving wheels of the vehicle  3 A separate from the railway track  2 A, the vehicle  3 A stops there. Incidentally, because the claw  18 A of the slider  16 A separates from the vehicle  3 A at a stage before then, the slider  16 A returns to its original position by the urging force of the spring  17 A as shown in  FIG. 5 . Incidentally, at this time, the locking lever  14 A engages with the outside of the notch  14   a A of the actuating lever  12 A, and keeps the state shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0040]    When the vehicle  3 B enters the lower railway track  2 B in the state of  FIG. 5 , the claw  18 B of the slider  16 B engages with the vehicle  3 B similarly to the above case. The projecting part  21 B of the slider  16 B counterclockwise rotates the actuating lever  12 A against the urging force of the spring  13 A with the entering of the vehicle  3 B as shown in  FIG. 6 . With the rotation, the projection  12   a A of the actuating lever  12 A separates from the projecting part  11   a A of the pedestal  11 A, and the pedestal  11 A thereby drops owing to its own weight. Consequently, the vehicle  3 A, which has been stopped by the pedestal  11 A, starts moving. At this time, because the pin  12   b A of the actuating lever  12 A comes off the outside of the notch  14   a A owing to the rotation of the actuating lever  12 A, the locking lever  14 A counterclockwise rotates to return to its initial position. 
         [0041]    Moreover, when the slider  16 B has moved into the direction of the pedestal  11 B, the cam face  16   a B of the slider  16 B clockwise rotates the locking lever  14 B through the inclined plane  14   b B of the locking lever  14 B against the urging force of the spring  15 B. When the locking lever  14 B has been rotated in this manner, the notch  14   a B moves to release the locking of the pin  12   b B of the actuating lever  12 B. Consequently, the actuating lever  12 B clockwise rotates by the urging force of the spring  13 B, and the projection  12   a B of the actuating lever  12 B abuts against the projecting part of the pedestal  11 B to pus up the pedestal  11 B. Consequently, the entering vehicle  3 B runs on the pedestal  11 B, and the driving wheels of the vehicle  3 B separate from the railway track  2 B. Then, the vehicle  3 B stops there. Incidentally, because the claw  18 B of the slider  16 B separates from the vehicle  3 B at a stage before then, the slider  16 B returns to its original position by the urging force of the spring  17 B as shown in  FIG. 7 . Incidentally, at this time, the locking lever  14 B engages with the outside of the notch  14   a B of the actuating lever  12 B, and keeps the state shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0042]    The track toy of the present invention automatically repeats the above operation, and thereby the vehicles  3 A and  3 B alternately repeat stopping and starting at the platform  1 . 
         [0043]    Now, the shown embodiment includes a manual mode to manually stop or start (pass) the vehicles  3 A and  3 B besides the above automatic mode. 
         [0044]    The manual mode is achieved by mode changing switches  22 A and  22 B (see  FIGS. 12 and 13 ). The mode changing switches  22 A and  22 B include slide pieces  23 A and  23 B, respectively, and detent mechanisms  24 A and  24 B to locate the slide pieces  23 A and  23 B, respectively. 
         [0045]    The slide pieces  23 A and  23 B include projecting parts  23   a A and  23   a B, respectively, at ends of their top surfaces, respectively, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0046]    Moreover, the detent mechanisms  24 A and  24 B are composed of ribs  25 A and  25 B, respectively, each including three concave portions, provided to stand on the base  6 , and locking portions  26 A and  26 B, respectively, installed on the side walls of the slide pieces  23 A and  23 B, respectively, so as to be able to freely emerge. The locking portions  26 A and  26 B are kept to be in projecting states from the sidewalls, respectively, by the urging forces of not-shown springs, respectively. 
         [0047]    When the mode changing switches  22 A and  22 B configured as above slide the slide pieces  23 A and  23 B, respectively, to engage the locking portions  26 A and  26 B with the middle concave portions of the ribs  25 A and  25 B, respectively, in the stop mode shown in  FIG. 12 , the projecting parts  23   a A and  23   a B of the slide pieces  23 A and  23 B abut against the projecting parts  11   a A and  11   a B of the pedestals  11 A and  11 B, respectively, and always push up the pedestals  11 A and  11 B, respectively. The slide pieces  23 A and  23 B are always kept at the positions by the detent mechanisms  24 A and  24 B, respectively. 
         [0048]    In this state, even if the actuating levers  12 A and  12 B are rotated by the urging forces of the springs  13 A and  13 B, respectively, the ends of the actuating levers  12 A and  12 B collide with the ends of the slide pieces  23 A and  23 B, respectively, and are stopped there without reaching the projecting parts  11   a A and  11   a B of the pedestals  11 A and  11 B, respectively. 
         [0049]    Moreover, when the slide pieces  23 A and  23 B are slid and the locking portions  26 A and  26 B are thereby engaged with the concave portions at the ends of the ribs  25 A and  25 B, respectively, in the start (pass) mode shown in  FIG. 13 , the ends of the slide pieces  23 A and  23 B are located further ahead of the projecting parts  11   a A and  11   a B of the pedestals  11 A and  11 B, respectively. In this state, the pedestals  11 A and  11 B are in their descended states. Moreover, in this state, it is preferable that the ends of the slide pieces  23 A and  23 B depress one side ends of the actuating levers  12 A and  12 B, respectively, to situate the pins  12   b A and  12   b B of the actuating levers  12 A and  12 B at positions, respectively, where the pins  12   b A and  12   b B are separated from the notches  14   a A and  14   a B, respectively. Consequently, even if the actuating levers  12 A and  12 B are rotated by the urging forces of the springs  13 A and  13 B, respectively, in this state, the ends of the actuating levers  12 A and  12 B collide with the ends of the slide pieces  23 A and  23 B, respectively, and are stopped there without reaching the projecting parts  11   a A and  11   a B of the pedestals  11 A and  11 B, respectively. 
         [0050]      FIG. 14  shows a modification of the track traveling toy according to the present invention. The track traveling toy configures the platform  1  to be two stories in height, and to dispose railway tracks also at the second floor platform  1 . 
         [0051]    According to the track traveling toy by the preferable embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of vehicles can alternately travel. Consequently, various plays can be played. 
         [0052]    Moreover, according to the track traveling toy of the present invention, no electric sources, no electric actuators, and the like, are used. Consequently, the track traveling toy can be used at any time at any place. 
         [0053]    The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-011636 filed on Jan. 22, 2007 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-052649 filed on Mar. 2, 2007 including description, claims, drawings and summary are incorporated herein by reference in its entirely. 
         [0054]    Although various exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. Therefore, the scope of the invention is intended to be limited solely by the scope of the claims that follow.