Abstract:
A racing game device for use with non-powered toy vehicles which are released from a starting incline and travel along independent tracks through a finish gate. Electronic starting light tower signals players for remote vehicle release which are electronically interconnected with starting lights and finish gate to indicate winner and elapsed time on a digital display. Sound effects are activated during the start by players remote release mechanism which simulates actual race car sounds.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to toy car racing tracks which simulate racing between two cars. Such racing simulations include a starting area and a finishing line interconnected by a guide track along which the toy cars travel. Specifically, this invention is directed to non-powered toy race cars known within the industry as “Hot Wheel” type cars that require an initial incline surface on which to gain momentum from the start. 
   2. Description of Prior Art 
   Prior art devices of this type have used a variety of different car track configurations emulating drag strip racing in which a pair of toy vehicles are staged and then launched down a short track to determine the fastest vehicle i.e. player based on car performance and player reaction skills, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,403,908, 3,986,717, 4,605,229, 4,715,602 and 4,876,680. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,908 a drag strip for slot cars is shown in which an electric power supply is connected to each car independently through a simulated shift lever. Photocells are used at the starting line to stage the cars which activate a starting signal light sequence. Finish photocells are used to determine a winner. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,717 discloses a method and apparatus for starting model vehicles on a race track wherein self-powered slot type cars are used. Start blocks hold the cars stationery until released by the player&#39;s activation. 
   A toy drag strip and starting tower is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,229 having a plurality of colored marbles within that roll down simultaneously a progressive simulated starting light display ending in a green go marble. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,602 claims a racing game apparatus with a pair of inertia powered toy racing vehicles being released from corresponding starting ramps. A trap door in each ramp allows the vehicle release lever to extend from the track to hold and then selectively release the vehicles for the race. 
   Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,680 is directed to an electric drag strip apparatus having staging light display for a photo-electric eye positioned at the finish line. A simulated tire burn-out area is featured to emulate race cars in which the tires are rapidly rotated to heat them up for better performance. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A toy car racing track assembly to provide for competitive racing for toy cars. The track assembly combines an electric staging and starting area having an electrically controlled progressive starting light and a remote finish line area. Remote control car release and staging switches allow players to stage and release their cars independently simulating real racing. The finish line area has mechanically activated electronic timing and winner indication switches that activate corresponding displays. 
   Sound effects associated with car racing are selectively generated in response to player&#39;s input and car position during staging and starting for added realism. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the staging start area of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the finish line area of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a partial side elevational view of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the start portion of the invention with portions broken away; 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the start portion; 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the start portion; 
       FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the finish line portion; 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the finish line portion; 
       FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of interconnected track sections of the invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the track section of the invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of interconnected track sections of the invention with portions broken away; 
       FIG. 12  is partial sectional view on lines  11 — 11  of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view of the track interconnector of the invention; 
       FIG. 14  is an enlarged partial front elevational view of the starting light tower of the invention; 
       FIG. 15  is a side elevational view of the entire race track of the invention; 
       FIG. 16  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the staging and starting switch; and 
       FIG. 17  is a block flow diagram of control circuit of the invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–4  of the drawings, a racing track assembly  10  can be seen having an electric start portion  11  and a finish portion  12  interconnected by a track portion  13 . The starting portion  11 , best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 4  of the drawings has a pair of oppositely disposed interconnected support housings  14  and  15  formed therein in the shape of a grandstand with a staging track area at  16  there between. A pair of legs  17  extend from within the respective housings  14  and  15  supporting the starting portion  11  thereby in elevated relation for placement on a ground surface G as best seen in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. The staging track area  16  defines a pair of track paths  19  and  20  on which respective scale model race cars  21  are to be positioned as illustrated in broken lines in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. 
   A starting tower  22  extends from between the respective track paths  19  and  20  in spaced relation to the respective support housings  14  and  15  as hereinbefore described. The starting tower  22  has a plurality of multi-colored indicator lights assemblies  23  positioned in vertical spaced linear alignment on its front surface at  24 . The indicator lights assemblies  23  when activated will correspond to a pre-determined series of progressive starting instructions by which the racer&#39;s (not shown) will react as will be described in detail hereinafter. 
   Each of the track paths  19  and  20  has an electrical vehicle holding and release assembly  25  positioned under and extending partially within the respective track paths  19  and  20 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, the holding and release assemblies  25  can be seen each having an electric actuation motor  26  with a release arm  27  extending operably there from with an upstanding vertical engagement stop hook  27 A on its respective free end, the arms are spring loaded by a pair of resilient elements  27 B engaging same. A pair of remote control pedal switches  28  are interconnected to respective actuator motors  26 , the indicator lights assemblies  23  through and an electronic control and display circuit  29  which is graphically illustrated in a block flow diagram in  FIGS. 16 and 17  of the drawings as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
   Referring to FIGS.  3  and  9 – 13  of the drawings, the track portion  13  includes multiple track segments  30 . Each of the track segments  30 , best seen in  FIG. 10  of the drawings has oppositely disposed side rails  31  and  32  with continuous support flanges  33 A and  33 B extending there from. A pair of co-planar track surfaces  34  and  35  extend from between the respective side rails  31  and  32  with respective engagement channels  36  and  37  there between. A central upstanding track divider  38  extends longitudinally between the track surfaces  34  and  35 . The track divider  38  has spaced disposing angular incline side surfaces  38 A and  38 B and an integral top  39  there between. A track segment connector fitting  40  of the invention can be seen in  FIGS. 11 ,  12  and  13  of the drawings having a pair of contoured track engagement flanges  40 A and  40 B with an upstanding transversely extending track abutment band  41  there between. Respective band side rails  41 A and divider  40 C are correspondingly upstanding and are longitudinally angularly inclined. In use, the interengagement flanges  40 A and  40 B are registerably positioned within the respective channels  36 A and  36 B of adjacent track segments  30  and so correspondingly configured track engagement end surfaces of the start portion  11  and finish portion  12  for registration therein. It will be noted that due to the aforementioned angular inclination of the band side rails  41 A and  41 B that an effective non-resistant adjoining surface transition is achieved there between. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 3  of the drawings, a curved angular inclined transitional track surface fitting  42  can be seen defining a transition between inclined track segment portions  43  extending from the elevated starting position  11  and a horizontally disposed track segment portions at  44  extending from the finish portion  12 . The transitional track surface fitting  42  is contoured hollow body with a track surface  45  formed within and along its upper curved linear surface. Oppositely disposed interconnecting registration back-up plates  46 A and  46 B are positioned below each end for support. Adjacent abutting track sections  30  are registerable therewith. 
   The finish portion  12  has a finish line gate assembly  47  as best seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  7 , and  8  of the drawings positioned at the end of the horizontal track segments  44  and has a pair of spaced upstanding columns  48  that are interconnected by a bridge closure  49  which is in spaced relation to finish line track surfaces  50 A and  50 B, best seen in  FIG. 2 . A pair of pivoted finish engagement flags  51  and  52  extend downwardly from the bridge enclosure  49  through respective openings therein. The finish engagement flags  51  and  52  are so positioned as to be above respective track surfaces  50 A and  50 B. The finish engagement flags  51  and  52  pivot upon contact with the race cars  21  after crossing a finish line  53  during play. The finish flags  51  and  52  so pivoted trip respective optical interrupters  54  which are in communication with the electronic control circuit  29 , shown in  FIG. 17  of the drawings, which will correspondingly register the elapsed time of the respective race cars and calibrate a winner and display elapsed time on an interconnected numerical display  56  located on the starting tower  22  and illuminate the respective winning lights  57 A or  57 B above the respective winning track on the finish gate  45 . 
   In use, for a typical two car race, a pair of the racing cars  21  are positioned on the track paths  19  and  20  on the staging track area  16 . The race cars  21  are held immobile on the inclined track surface by the respective stop hooks  27 A portions of the arm  27  as hereinbefore described. The remote control pedal switches  28  as seen in  FIG. 16  of the drawings have a housing  58  with a movable interengaging surface pedal  59  interdisposed thereon. The pedals  59  are resiliently held in position by respective spring members  60 . An electric contact switch assembly  61  is selectively engaged by an actuation rod  62  depending from the respective pedals  59  completing an electrical circuit signaling the control circuit  55  as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. 
   Upon initial pedal depression by the players (not shown) of the race cars  21  are effectively staged activating simultaneously staging lights  63  on the light assemblies  23  and race car sounds stored electronically and played through a sound speaker  64 , best seen in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  of the drawings within the starting portion  11 . Then a starting time lighting sequence is activated progressively illuminating respective lights in the lighting assemblies  23  on the starting tower  22 . 
   The light assemblies  23  lighting sequence comprises a pair of pre-stage on/off yellow lights  65 A, player activated staging lights  65 B and then sequential count down lights  65 C, including green start lights  65 D and red foul lights  66  as illustrated best in  FIG. 14  of the drawings. As in real races the light sequence count down after staging has begun with the final green lights  65 C indicating to the drivers to release the cars  21  which they do by depressing the respective pedals  59  a second time. Upon pedal depression, the DC motors  26  are actuated with the hereinbefore described hook portion  27 A against the pre-loaded pressure spring allow the cars  21  to roll free down the respective race track paths  19  and  20  of track portion  13  down the track  43 , over the transition fitting  42  and across the horizontally oriented track sections  44  through the finish gate  47  and against the respective engagement finish flag arms  51  and  52  signaling the winner and elapsed time, as noted. The control circuit  55  and interconnecting starting switch assemblies  61 , light assemblies  23 , graphic display  56 , finish gate  47 , and sound speaker  64 , are all powered by batteries B within a battery holder  69  in the base of the starting gate  11 , best seen in FIGS.  4  and  5  of the drawings. Supplemental power can also be supplied by a transformer (not shown) interconnected to 110 volt AC power source as will be typical and well known within the art. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8  of the drawings, a manual finish line indicator attachment assembly  70  shown in broken lines can be seen having attachment fitting  71  that is secured over the bridge portion  49  of the finish gate  47  displacing the electronic finish flags  51  and  52  as seen in  FIG. 8  of the drawings at  52 ′. A contoured win indicator plate  72  is centrally pivoted at  73  and is releasably held in position by a pair of respective tabs  74 A and  74 B extending from a pair of manual engagement target areas  75  and  76  pivotally connected to the attachment fitting  71 . 
   The contoured win indicator plate  72  will pivot right or left indicating the winning car lane when the corresponding targets  75  or  76  are hit by the respective winning race car  21  releasing same. 
   The manual finish line indicator assembly  70  can be used, for example, if the batteries B fail or there is no alternate source of power as suggested and noted above. 
   Individual players (not shown) can manually stage their cars and release them without utilization of electronic control circuit and other aspects of the apparatus described above by use of a manual stage and release assembly  80  as seen in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. A spring-urged push button  81  extends up through the staging track area  16  between the respective car paths  19  and  20 . The button  81  has a pair of oppositely disposed actuation bars  82  extending there from engageable against the respective release arms  27 . A player (not shown) can push the manual button  81  releasing the cars  21  staged in the event of power failure as will be understood by those skilled in the art. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, the race cars  21  may also have independent self-powered illumination devices indicated at  21 A so as to provide reflective illumination onto the corresponding track assembly surfaces. 
   It will thus be seen that a new and novel toy car racing apparatus has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.