Abstract:
A vehicle  3  runs three-dimensionally by first pushing up a mobile ascending track directly above and running to the terminal end of a mobile track  13 , then running up to the highest position by returning and moving over to another mobile track directly above, then running down by lowering a descending track  23  to another mobile track directly below under the self-weight of the running vehicle  3.

Description:
This invention relates to three-dimensional runners for toys and playthings. 
     The circuit toys of the type disclosed in Japanese Provisional Patent Publication No. 269574 of 1984 over which racing cars run are expensive and too large to take an encompassing view of the whole in small spaces. 
     On the other hand, the runners of the type disclosed in Japanese Provisional Patent Publication No. 266749 of 1986 that spirally wind up and down around a column do not require large spaces. Because of simple movements, however, the runners of this type tend to bore the spectators too soon. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of this invention is to provide new runners to run model and play vehicles in small spaces with varying motions. 
     A runner of this invention comprises an ascending route comprising at least one mobile track provided with a tendency to swing so that the start end thereof is always positioned near the terminal end of another mobile track directly below and a descending route comprising at least one mobile track connected to the uppermost mobile track of each route and adapted to swing so as to become connected to near the start end of the mobile track directly below by the self-weight of a running vehicle. 
     Being thus constructed, the runner of this invention, though three-dimensional, not only permits a self-running vehicle to continuously run both upward and downward but also allows safe and sure running of toy and play vehicles. 
     Providing a mobile descending track that swingably connects to the side of the start end of the mobile track directly below and having a curve directed to the start end of the mobile track directly below the terminal end permits still safer running without run-off by reducing the influence of the inertia of the running vehicle even when the length of the mobile track is increased. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a typical embodiment of this inve3ntion. 
     FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in operation. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation of another embodiment of this invention used as a descending track. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Details of this invention will be described by reference to the embodiments illustrated. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show a three-dimensional runner according to this invention. 
     This runner is made up of a zigzag ascending route  1  comprising one or more mobile tracks  13  and a zigzag descending route  2  comprising one or more mobile tracks  23 . 
     The ascending route  1  comprises a running track  12  fastened to a base or base plate  11  and another ascending mobile track  13  swingably positioned near the terminal end of the fastened running track  12  so as to form a reversed ascent. 
     The ascending mobile track  13  is a seesaw-like track that is somewhat heavier on the start end  13   a  thereof. The ascending mobile track  13  is swingably mounted on a fulcrum  14  provided at a point higher than the running vehicle  3  and is normally held tilted upward, with the start end  13   a  kept in contact with the vicinity of the terminal end  12   b.    
     Another ascending track  13  of similar construction is positioned directly above said ascending track  13  so as to be swingable around a fulcrum  14  positioned at a point higher than the running vehicle  3 , with the start end  13  held in contact therewith. The zigzag ascending route  1  is thus constructed by combining several ascending tracks  13 . 
     Reference numeral  15  designates a stopper provided below the terminal end  13   a  of each mobile track  13  to regulate the motion thereof. 
     The zigzag descending route  2  is made up of several descending mobile tracks  23  connected to the ascending mobile tracks  13  through a connecting track  16 . 
     The uppermost descending mobile track  23  is swingably provided, with the start end  23   a  thereof normally connected to the connecting track  16  and adapted to come in contact with the start end  23   a  of the descending mobile track  23  directly therebelow when the weight of the running vehicle  3  acts thereon. 
     The next descending mobile track  23  is swingably mounted on the fulcrum  24 , with the somewhat heavier start end  23   a  thereof normally kept in contact with the stopper  25  and spaced away from the terminal end  23   b  thereof by a clearance equivalent to the height of the running vehicle  3 . 
     Thus one three-dimensional runner is formed by mounting the lowermost descending mobile track  23  is on the stationary descending track  22  with a clearance equivalent to the height of the vehicle  3  left therebetween and then connecting the terminal end  22   b  of the stationary descending track  22  to the start end  12   a  of the ascending stationary track. 
     When the running vehicle  3  begins to ascend on the stationary ascending track  12  (a), the vehicle  3  pushes up the mobile ascending track  13  whose start end  13   a  is kept in contact with the vicinity of the terminal end  12   b  of the stationary ascending track  12  (b), reaches the terminal end  12   b  of the stationary ascending track  12 , and returns therefrom. 
     In this condition, the mobile ascending track  13  pushed up is on standby, with the somewhat heavier start end  13   a  kept in contact with the stationary ascending track  12 . Therefore, the vehicle  3  returning from the terminal end  12   b  moves onto the mobile ascending track  13 , turns the same track  13  counterclockwise under its weight to the position indicated by a dot-dash line when the vehicle  3  passes the fulcrum  14 , and moves further to the terminal end  13   b  (c). 
     Then, the vehicle  3  reaches the terminal end  13   b  of the uppermost mobile track  13  after repeating the running process mentioned above, turns the mobile track  13  counterclockwise under its own weight (d), and moves on to the lowermost mobile descending track  23  via the connecting track  16  (e). 
     After passing the fulcrum  24 , the vehicle  3  swings down the mobile descending track  23  and moves on to the mobile descending track  23  directly below. Then, the vehicle  3  turns around with the inertia thereof cancelled by the ascending slope of the mobile track  23 . The vehicle completes the running cycle when it moves on to the lowermost stationary descending track  12  after repeating the same process. 
     A suitable stopper, not shown, to stop the vehicle  3  is provided near the terminal ends  13   b  and  23   b  of each of the mobile tracks  13  and  23  and stationary tracks  12  and  13 . A contact-type or non-contact-type switch provided at each stopper switches the drive motor of the running vehicle  3 . 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 show another embodiment of the mobile descending track  23 . Though very long, the mobile descending track  23  of this type also reduces the influence of the inertia of the running vehicle  3 . 
     The breadth of the swing w of the end of the mobile track  23  is made smaller than the height h of the running vehicle  3 , thereby reducing the inclination of the track. Instead, the upper and lower mobile tracks  23  are positioned parallel and close to each other, the terminal end  23   b  of the mobile track  23  is connected to the start end of the mobile track  23  directly thereabove by means of a curved track, and an upward-curved slope  23   c  for deceleration is provided in the start end  23   a  of the mobile track  23  directly below.