Abstract:
A rail system for a toy train having at least one elongate rail with a hollow cross-section having a surface defining a connection portion along at least part of the outer periphery of the rail. The hollow rails are reinforced with at least one rib molded into the track bed. Each end of the elongate outer rails is either preassembled with corresponding pin or adaptable for receiving a pin preassembled in an adjacent track segment. An intermediate pin is operably engaged with each end of an intermediate rail and is slidingly engagable with a corresponding intermediate pin located in an adjacent intermediate rail connected to an adjacent intermediate track segment. The connection portion of each pin extends beyond the end of the rail for operable engagement with the corresponding connection portion of an adjacent rail communication electrically with the adjacent rails on an adjacent track segment.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a model railroad track. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Model train railroad tracks with roadbeds are known in the toy train industry. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,289. Prior art tracks are often too expensive. A need exists for a comparatively inexpensive model toy train and roadbed with durable connectors. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention preferably provides a track for a toy train wherein the track includes a plurality of track segments. Each track segment includes an elongate roadbed having first and second ends. First and second elongate outer rail segments are connected to the roadbed. Each outer rail segment has a substantially U-shaped hollow cross-section, a substantially flat top surface, and first and second ends that are proximate to the first and second ends of the roadbed, respectively. Each track segment has an elongate intermediate rail segment interposed between the first and second outer rail segments. The intermediate rail segment also has a substantially U-shaped hollow cross-section with a substantially flat top surface. The first and second ends of the intermediate rail segment coincide with the first and second ends of the roadbed. 
     A first outer pin is engaged with the first end of the first outer rail and the second end of that rail is adaptable for receiving an outer pin that is preassembled in an adjacent rail segment positioned on an adjacent track segment. The second outer rail has an outer pin preassembled in the second end and the first end is adaptable for receiving an outer pin preassembled in an adjacent rail segment positioned on an adjacent track segment. The intermediate rail has an intermediate pin that is preassembled in both the first and second ends. Each intermediate rail end is adaptable for receiving a second intermediate pin from an adjacent rail segment The second intermediate pin is slidingly engageable with the preassembled intermediate pin in the original track segment. 
     The outer pins are preferably rectangular in shape and of substantially similar width as the width of the hollow cavity of the outer rail throughout the entire length of the pin. The intermediate pins have a substantially similar width as the hollow cavity of the intermediate rail along a first portion of the pin, and the width of the pin narrows to substantially half of the width of the rail along a second portion of the pin. This configuration allows each track segment to be preassembled with the pin in predetermined locations such that each track segment can be utilized with curved track segments oriented in either direction without rearranging any of the pins. 
     Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a plan top view of a railroad track segment; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective end view of two adjacent track segments; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan underside view of the track segment; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective of an exploded view of the track segment; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an intermediate pin; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an outer pin. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to the figures wherein like elements are numbered alike, there is shown a model toy train track with a roadbed according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a track segment  10 . Track segment  10  includes two outer rail segments  12 ,  14 , one intermediate rail segment  16 , and a roadbed  18 . Rail segments  12 ,  14 ,  16  are mounted longitudinally on the roadbed  18  in a spaced apart manner such that the wheels (not shown) of the train can run along the outer rail segments  12 , 14  and a power roller or contact (not shown) can run along the intermediate rail segment  16 . Rail segments  12 ,  14 ,  16  having first and second ends  38 ,  40 , are positioned on top of the roadbed  18  and are preferably mechanically connected to the roadbed  18 . The elongate intermediate rail segment  16  is interposed between the outer rail segments  12 ,  14 . Each of the rail segments  12 ,  14 ,  16  have a substantially U-shaped hollow cross-section  34  with a substantially flat surface  36 . 
     A pair of electrical lead wires  29  is shown ingressing through the aperture  64  located on the roadbed  18  for transporting electrical power from an electrical source (not shown) to the rails  12 ,  14 ,  16 . Roadbed  18  may include a number of cosmetic features, for example, a plurality of ties  20  are positioned longitudinally along the top of each track segment  10 . It is understood that these ties are preferably molded into the roadbed  18  to provide a more realistic looking railroad track. 
     FIG. 2 shows the ends of two track segments  10 ,  10 ′ as each would appear prior to assembly with one another. Outer pins  26 ,  26 ′ and intermediate pins  28 ,  28 ′ are preferably preassembled in each track segment  10 ,  10 ′ prior to connecting the track segments  10  and  10 ′ together. The outer pins  26 ,  26 ′ are used to mechanically and electrically connect the outer rail segments  12 ,  14  together with adjacent outer rail segments  12 ′,  14 ′ that have been assembled to an adjacent track segment  10 ′. Similarly, the intermediate pins  28 ,  28 ′ are used to connect intermediate rail segment  16  with adjacent rail segment  16 ′ for establishing a mechanical and an electrical link. The pins  26 ,  28  are preassembled and oriented with the rail segments  12 ,  14 ,  16  in a manner that allows any combination of straight and curved track segments to be assembled together without moving pins around to different locations. 
     The first outer pin  26  is engaged with the first end  38  of the first outer rail segment  12 , and the second end  40  of the first outer rail  12  is adaptable for receiving an outer pin  26 ′ that has been preassembled in an adjacent outer rail segment  12 ′ on an adjacent track segment  10 ′. The second outer rail  14  has an outer pin  26  preassembled in the second end  40  thereof. The first end  38  of the second outer rail  14  is adaptable for receiving the outer pin  26 ′ that has been preassembled in the adjacent rail segment  10 ′. The intermediate rail segment  16  has the intermediate pin  28  preassembled in both the first and second ends  38 ,  40  thereof. Each intermediate rail end  38 ,  40  is adaptable for receiving a second intermediate pin  28 ′ that has been preassembled in an adjacent rail segment  16 ′. The second intermediate pins  28 ′ are slidingly engageable with each preassembled intermediate pin  28  in rail segment  16 . 
     FIG. 3 shows the underside of the roadbed  18 . Electric power is delivered to the rails  12 ,  14  and  16  from the underside of the roadbed  18  with electrical contact wire leads  29 . There is at least one aperture  64  located on the side of the roadbed  18  providing access from an electrical power source (not shown) to the track segment  10 . A slot  66  is formed in the roadbed  18  to allow electrical communication between the rail segments  12 ,  14 ,  16  located on top of the roadbed  18  and the electrical wire leads  29  positioned on the underside of the roadbed  18 . Each slot  66  is formed in conjunction with at least one pedestal  68  for holding the wire leads  29  in place on the underside of the roadbed  18 . The pedestals  68  along with a second protruding member  69  protect the wire leads  29  from being pinched or inadvertently pulled from their connections to the rail segments  12 ,  14 ,  16 . 
     Each rail segment  12 ,  14 ,  16  is fixedly held with respect to the roadbed  18  by sliding at least one pair of winged flanges  72 , attached to each rail segment  12 ,  14 ,  16 , through corresponding slots  74  in the roadbed  18 . The winged flanges  72  are preferably metallic and are foldable normal to the direction of the slots  74  on the underside of the roadbed  18  to prevent the rail from disengaging from the roadbed  18 . If winged flanges  72  are bent in such a way as to become parallel with the slots  74 , the flanges will be capable of sliding back through the slots  74  to facilitate removal of the rail segments  12 ,  14 ,  16  from the roadbed  18 . 
     A link  62  is positioned on the underside of roadbed  18  on each track segment  10  for electrically connecting each of the outer rail segments  12 ,  14  together to facilitate electrical communication and grounding between the outer rail segments  12 ,  14 . The link  62 , formed of an electrically conductive material, provides the constant ground loop portion of the electric circuit. The links  62  are connected with the winged flanges  72  of the outer rails  12 ,  14  and are positioned in a similar location on each track segment  10 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, an exploded view of the track segment  10  is shown with the rail segments  12 ,  14 ,  16  removed therefrom. Roadbed  18  is illustrated as including a plurality of ribs  70  extending substantially orthogonally from the top thereof in three rows corresponding to the three rail segments  12 ,  14 ,  16 . The ribs  70  are shown as a plurality of discreet members in the drawing, but could be formed as one continuous member extending from one end  30  to the other end  32  of the track segment  10 . The ribs  70  are used to support the rail segments  12 ,  14 ,  16  from loads that may bend the thin metal rail walls. The ribs  70  may prevent the rail segments  12 ,  14 ,  16  from easily buckling and breaking. Also, in this view, the winged flanges  72  are shown integrally formed on the rail segments  12 ,  14 ,  16  prior to being slid through slots  74  and bent over onto the underside of the roadbed  18 . 
     There is at least one snap fit connection on each track segment end  30 ,  32 . The snap fit connection includes a male member  24  and a complementary female member  22  for snapping together and connecting adjacent track segments  10 ,  10 ′. The snap fit connectors  22 ,  24  are used for removably attaching adjacent track segments  10 ,  10 ′ with respect to the interlocking portions of the complementary male  24  and female  22  members. The male member  24  is substantially cylindrical in shape and positioned on the end of the roadbed  18  for snap locking into the corresponding female member  22  on an adjacent roadbed segment  18 . The female member  22  has a substantially internally reversed pattern relative to the male member  24 . A slot  75  is formed through the front and back walls of the female member  22 , so that increased deflection can be obtained, thus increasing the durability of the snap connection. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show perspective views of the intermediate pin  28  and the outer pin  26 . The pins may be cast from electrically conductive material, such as tin, copper, steel, zinc, etc. The intermediate pin  28  or “half pin” is substantially rectangular in shape having a width substantially the same as the width of the hollow cavity of the intermediate rail  16  along a first portion  31  of the intermediate pin  28 . The width  31  of intermediate pin  28  narrows to substantially half of the width of the rail  16  along a second portion  33  of the intermediate pin  28 . 
     Opposing intermediate pin ends  33 ,  33 ′ as shown in FIG. 2, are positioned so as to be protruding away from opposing intermediate rail segments  16 ,  16 ′ for slidingly engaging with one another as the track segments  10 ,  10 ′ are assembled together. The outer pins  26  are substantially rectangular in shape and have substantially constant width throughout the entire length of the outer pin  26 . Both the outer pins  26  and the intermediate pins  28  have selectively placed chamfers  35  on the edges thereof for facilitating their slidingly engageable characteristics with respect to an adjacent rail segment  10 ′. Each of the outer  26  and intermediate  28  pins has a peg  58  protruding substantially orthogonally therefrom. The peg  58  is insertable into an aperture  60  located in the roadbed  18  as shown in FIG.  3 . The peg  58  and the aperture are shown with a substantially square cross-section, however, any geometric shape, such as circular, triangular, or rectangular, could be utilized. The aperture  60  for the peg  58  prevents the pins  26 ,  28  from moving relative to the roadbed  18  in a lateral or longitudinal direction with respect to the roadbed  18 . After the rails  12 ,  14 ,  16  are assembled and locked into position over the pins  26 ,  28 , the pins  26 ,  28  are then prevented from moving away from the roadbed  18  in an orthogonal direction as well as in the lateral and longitudinal directions. 
     As referenced in general above, it is understood that a plurality of track segments  10  may be connected together end to end in various manners to provide a completed track (not shown) for the toy train to run continuously thereon. Referring to FIG. 2, track segment  10  may be assembled with similar track segments  10 ′ in a longitudinally adjacent relationship and mechanically connected with snap fit connections  22 ,  24 . Rail segments  12 ,  14 ,  16  are connected to adjoining rail segments  12 ′,  14 ′,  16 ′ on the adjacent track segments  10 ′ with outer pins  26 ,  26 ′ and an intermediate pin  28 ,  28 ′ for the outer rails  12 ,  14  and intermediate rail  16 , respectively. The track is not limited to any particular configuration, but may be constructed in any manner according to the operator&#39;s desire. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.