Abstract:
A toy vehicle slot track is formed from a plurality of interconnecting track segments. Each segment includes two opposing ends, each end having a pair of coupling projections intended to mate with corresponding coupling sockets on an interconnecting segment. Each end further includes at least one locking lug which in a first preferred embodiment mates with a corresponding locking tab or in a second preferred embodiment mates with a locking recess. The interconnecting track segments are thus releasably locked together by the coupling projections and coupling sockets, acting in combination with the locking lug and locking tab or recess. Each segment further includes a plurality of conductive strips partially embedded in each segment, extending between the opposing ends. At least one end portion of each one conducting strip extends beyond the end of the track segment, and is bent to wrap around the end portion of the track segment. At least one conducting strip is bent to increase the contact pressure on a conducting strip of an adjoining track segment.

Description:
This Application Claims the Benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/381,492, filed on May 17, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to toy vehicle slot track, and more particularly to a toy vehicle slot track having a plurality of releasably couplable track segments with improved connections therebetween. 
   A variety of toy vehicle slot track constructions are known. Generally, the track construction comprises track segments or sections having one or more slots for engaging a projecting pin on a toy vehicle which guide the toy vehicle around the track. The toy vehicles are typically powered through a pair of conductors embedded in the track. The terms “segment” and “section” are used interchangeably herein. 
   Prior art track constructions have presented numerous problems including difficulty in assembly and disassembly, poor track connection strength, breakage of connecting parts, poor electrical connection/continuity, and poor track segment alignment which can cause a toy vehicle to get stuck or derail. 
   Accordingly, a slot track design is needed which allows for easy assembly and disassembly such that a child user can readily assemble, manipulate and disassemble various track configurations. The track design must also provide for secure and accurate mechanical and electrical connections so that a connection is maintained even if the assembled track is stepped on, twisted or picked up. Finally, the track design must also be sufficiently durable to withstand wear and tear from repeated assembly and disassembly, and from the tensile, compressive, bending, shear or torsional stresses which might arise during use. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to one aspect of the invention, a toy vehicle slot track is provided having a plurality of releasably couplable track segments. Each track segment has a pair of opposing ends, each end comprising a first coupling projection adjacent a first edge portion and a first coupling socket adjacent the first coupling projection. A second coupling socket is provided adjacent a second edge portion and a second coupling projection is provided adjacent the second coupling socket. A hooked locking tab and a locking lug are also provided. Each track segment also includes a plurality of partially embedded conductive strips. At least one end portion of at least one conducting strip has a first bend such that the end portion extends beyond and wraps around an end portion of the track segment. The at least one conducting strip has a second bend to increase the contact pressure on a conducting strip of an adjoining track segment. The first coupling projection, the first coupling socket, the second coupling projection, the second coupling socket, the hooked locking tab, the locking lug and the end portion of the conducting strip of a track segment respectively engage a second coupling socket, a second coupling projection, a first coupling socket, a first coupling projection, a locking lug, a hooked locking tab and an end portion of a conducting strip of a corresponding track segment to form a releasable locking engagement therebetween. 
   According to a second aspect of the invention a toy vehicle slot track is provided having a plurality of releasably couplable track segments. Each track segment has a pair of opposing ends, each end comprising a first coupling projection adjacent a first edge portion having a locking lug. A first coupling socket is provided adjacent the first coupling projection. A second coupling socket is provided adjacent a second edge portion. A second coupling projection is provided adjacent the second coupling socket having a locking recess. Each track segment also includes a plurality of partially embedded conductive strips. At least one end portion of at least one conducting strip has a first bend such that the end portion extends beyond and wraps around an end portion of the track segment. The at least one conducting strip has a second bend separate from the first bend so as to increase the lateral contact pressure on a conducting strip of an adjoining track segment. 
   The first coupling projection, the locking lug, the first coupling socket, the second coupling projection, the locking recess, the second coupling socket, and the end portion of the conducting strip respectively engage a second coupling socket, a locking recess, a second coupling projection, a first coupling socket, a first locking lug, a first coupling projection, and an end portion of a conducting strip of a corresponding track segment to form a releasable locking engagement therebetween. 
   According to yet a third aspect of the invention, a toy vehicle slot track is provided having a plurality of releasably couplable track segments. Each segment comprises an upper major planar surface and a lower major planar surface and a plurality of partially embedded conductive strips partially exposed along the upper major planar surface. Each segment further comprises first and second opposing end portions. A locking tab is integral to and extends outwardly from at least one end portion of each track segment. A hook extends upwardly from a distal end of the locking tab. A finger rib extends downwardly from the distal end of the locking tab away from the hook, and a locking lug extends downwardly from the lower major planar surface of the track segment. The hook of the locking tab and the locking lug respectively engage the locking lug and the hook of the locking tab of another of the plurality of track segments to form a releasable locking engagement therebetween. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of one embodiment of the present invention showing portions of a pair of disconnected track sections; 
       FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the disconnected track sections of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the track sections of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  shown in assembled relation; 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the track sections of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3  shown in assembled relation; 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a track section according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are enlarged views of portions of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged side elevation view of one of the locking tabs of FIGS.  1  and  2 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a pair of disconnected track segments  20 ,  30 , preferably slot track segments, are shown having non-adjacent ends broken away. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from the Figures and the description below that each end of each track segment has connection elements arranged to allow a releasable mating engagement between track segments. The connection elements are described herein with regard to one end of each of two mating track segments  20  and  30 . Although the track segments are shown as being straight, it will be understood that the track segments may be a variety of shapes including but not limited to straight, curved or S-shaped, and can be assembled in a variety of configurations to form an endless race track. It will further be appreciated that the depicted end of track segment  30  is identical to the depicted end of track segment  20  rotated 180° in the plane of  FIGS. 1-4  and that the unseen ends of segments  20  and  30  are identical to the depicted ends of segments  30  and  20 , respectively. 
   Track segments  20  and  30  are each provided with a first coupling projection  40  adjacent to a first edge portion  25 . A first coupling socket  50  is positioned adjacent to the first coupling projection  40 . A second coupling socket  60  is positioned adjacent to a second edge portion  26 . A second coupling projection  70  is positioned adjacent to the second coupling socket  60 . 
   The coupling projections  40 ,  70  and the coupling sockets  50 ,  60  are preferably angled or triangular in shape to allow for easy alignment of track segments during assembly. 
   A hooked locking tab  80  with upwardly projecting U-shaped hook  85  is preferably provided near the center of the track segments  20 ,  30  extending from an underside of each track segment. A locking lug  90  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) is preferably also U-shaped and provided on a bottom side of each track segment adjacent to the hooked locking tab  80 . The free outwardly extending legs of the lug  90  and hook  85  are sloped so that the hook  85  rides up and over the lug  90  when mating the sections  20 ,  30 . The hooked locking tab  80  is preferably further provided with a downwardly projecting finger rib  130 . The finger rib  130  allows for easy finger gripping and release of the hooked locking tab  80  from the locking lug  90  from the underside of the track  10  during disassembly. A diagrammatic elevation view of one of the locking tabs  80  is depicted in  FIG. 7  showing the upwardly projecting, U-shaped hooked  85 , and the projecting finger rib  130  extending downwardly from a distal and of the locking tab  80  and away from the hook  85  to about the same level as a bottom edge  150 ′ (in phantom) of a side wall  160  (in phantom) and proximal to a supporting surface S (in phantom) supporting the track  10 . 
   Preferably, the finger rib  130  is sized (i.e. has an appropriate height) to provide support for the hooked locking tabs  80  when placed on a substantially flat surface by contacting the surface or coming into contact with such surface before an engaged hook  85  and lug  90  pair are disengaged. The track  10  has to be lifted from such surface to separate the sections  20 ,  30 . More particularly, each track segment  20 ,  30  preferably includes opposing lateral side walls  150 ,  160 , which extend the full height of each track section  20 ,  30  and contacts any level surface supporting the track  10 . Preferably too, each adjoining pair of projections and sockets  40 / 50  and  60 / 70  are supported on end walls  155  and  165 , respectively, which extend down to the bottom edges of side walls  150 ,  160  providing uniform support along the sides and at the end corners of each track segment  20 ,  30 . The finger rib  130  on each hooked locking tab  80  preferably extends down to the same level or at least nearly the same level as the bottom edges of walls  150 ,  155 ,  160 ,  165  to support the engaged tabs  80  at the centers of the mated track segments  20 ,  30  and prevent their disengagement by someone or something pressing down on the top side of the joint between the mated sections  20 ,  30  (i.e. down onto the track  10  in FIG.  3 ). By providing support to the hooked locking tabs  80 , the finger ribs  130  help maintain a positive interlock between track segments (i.e. prevent disengagement of the hooked locking tabs  80  from the locking lugs  90 ) when pressure is applied to the track segments above the hooked locking tabs  80 . 
   A plurality, in particular, two pairs of partially embedded conductive strips or rails  100   a-d  extend longitudinally along each track segment. One end portion  110  of each of the conducting strips  100   a-d  is bent so that the end portion  110  extends beyond and wraps around an end portion  120  of the track segment. The end portion  110  is preferably bent at about a 90° angle. The bend in the end portion  110  allows the end portion  110  to act as a guide for a corresponding end of a conducting strip of an adjoining track segment when connecting two track segments. The bend in the end portion  110  also prevents misalignment and possible damage to the conducting strips during the connection of track segments. 
   Each of the conducting strips  100   a-d  is preferably further bent along a second rail portion  125 . The bend along the second rail portion  125  is preferably in a direction opposite to the bend in the end portion  110 , and at an angle of between about 5-80°. More preferably, the bend in the second rail portion  125  is about 15°. It will be appreciated that in the depicted embodiment, each conductive strip  100   a-d  of each track segment  20 ,  30  has a straight end  111  and an end with bend portions  110 ,  125 . Alternatively, both ends of each conductive strip  100   a-d  may be bent to provide locking engagement between the conductive strips of connected track segments. 
   It will further be appreciated that each adjoining pair of the conductive strips  100   a / 100   b  and  100   c / 100   d  flank a slot  140   a ,  140   b , respectively, which extends along and into the upper surface of each track segment  20 ,  30  and aligns with a respective slot on each other mating track segment to guide a toy vehicle powered by the conductive strips  100   a-d  around the track  10 . 
   The bends in the end portion  110  and the second rail portion  125  provide a number of benefits with regard to the electrical and mechanical connection between adjoining track segments. Specifically, the bends in the end portion  110  and the second rail portion  125  cause the end portion  110  and the second rail portion  125  to flex like a spring and provide locking pressure against a corresponding flat portion  111  of an adjoining conducting strip when two track segments are connected. The locking pressure maintains proper electrical continuity between adjoining conducting strips and provides a tighter track connection. The locking pressure also causes the bend in the end portion  110  to act like a wiping device against the flat portion  111  of an adjoining conducting strip to keep the ends of the conducting strips  100   a-d  clean of minor debris and oxidation. 
   When track segments are assembled, the first coupling projection  40 , the first coupling socket  50 , the second coupling projection  70 , the second coupling socket  60 , the hooked locking tab  80 , the locking lug  90 , and the end portion  110  or  111  of each conducting strip respectively engage a second coupling socket  60 , a second coupling projection  70 , a first coupling socket  50 , a first coupling projection  40 , a locking lug  90 , a hooked locking tab  80  and end portion  111  and  125 , respectively, of a conducting strip of a corresponding track segment to form a releasable locking engagement therebetween. It will be appreciated that to accomplish this, the respective pairs of mating elements, i.e.  40 / 60 ,  50 / 70 ,  110 / 111  and  85 / 90  are symmetrically positioned at each matable end of each segment of track  10  on opposite lateral sides of a longitudinal center line  10   a  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) extending along track  10  and through each segment e.g.  20 ,  30 . 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  show the track segments  20 ,  30  in an assembled relation. As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the hooked locking tabs  80  engage the locking lugs  90  to provide locking engagement of the track segments. The track segments  20 ,  30  are readily disengageable by application of longitudinal force in directions A-B on finger ribs  130  and hooked locking tabs  80 . 
   The connection between the track segments  20 ,  30  provides sufficient strength and rigidity to maintain the electrical and mechanical connection, and the proper track alignment between the track segments  20 ,  30 . The connection is maintained under reasonable loads regardless of whether the track segments  20 ,  30  are placed on a non-uniform surface, are angled along a banked curve, or are twisted into a non-planar configuration. 
   An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the single lane straight track segment  200  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  and discussed below can alternatively be formed in a variety of shapes including curved or S-shaped, and can be assembled end to end in a variety of configurations to form an endless race track. 
   The track segment  200  is provided on each end with a first coupling projection  400  adjacent to a first edge portion  250 . The first coupling projection  400  has a locking lug  450  thereon. A first coupling socket  500  is provided adjacent to the first coupling projection  400 . A second coupling socket  600  is provided adjacent to a second edge portion  260 . A second coupling projection  700  is provided adjacent to the second coupling socket  600  and has a locking recess  750  therein. 
   The coupling projections  400 ,  700  and the coupling sockets  500 ,  600  are preferably angled or generally triangular in shape to allow for easy alignment of track segments during track assembly. 
   The track segment  200  includes a plurality of partially embedded conductive strips  300   a-b . One end portion  210  of each of the conducting strips  300   a-b  is bent so that the end portion  210  extends beyond and wraps around an end portion  220  of the track segment. The end portion  210  like end portion  110  of the first embodiment is preferably bent at about a 90° angle. The bend in the end portion  210  allows the end portion  210  to act as a guide for a corresponding end of a conducting strip of an adjoining track segment when connecting two track segments. The bend in the end portion  210  also prevents misalignment and possible damage to the conducting strips during the connection of track segments. 
   Each of the conducting strips  300   a-b  is preferably further bent along a second rail portion  225 . The bend along the second rail portion  225  like the second end portion  125  of the first embodiment is preferably in a direction opposite to the bend in the end portion  210  and at an angle of between about 5-80°, more preferably, about 15°. Alternatively, both ends of each conductive strip  300   a-b  may be bent to provide locking engagement between the conductive strips of connected track segments. 
   Again, a slot  340  extends between the longitudinal, matable ends of segment  200  and is centered between conductive strips  300   a ,  300   b  and along a longitudinal center line  200   a  of the segment  200 . Again, it will be appreciated that each longitudinal end of track segment  200  is identical to the other, opposing longitudinal end of the segment but rotated 180° in the planes of  FIGS. 5 and 6  and that mating elements  400 / 600 ,  500 / 700 ,  210 / 211  and strips  300   a / 300   b  are symmetrically positioned at each matable end of each track segment on opposite lateral sides of longitudinal center line  200   a  (FIGS.  5  and  6 ), which extends along each track segment  200 , etc. preferably centered between the single set of conductive strips  300   a ,  300   b.    
   The bends in the end portion  210  and the second rail portion  225  provide a number of benefits with regard to the electrical and mechanical connection between adjoining track segments. Specifically, the bends in the end portion  210  and the second rail portion  225  cause the end portion  210  and the second rail portion  225  to flex like a spring and provide locking pressure against a corresponding flat portion  211  of an adjoining conducting strip when two track segments are connected. The locking pressure maintains proper electrical continuity between adjoining conducting strips and provides a tighter track connection. The locking pressure also causes the bend in the end portion  210  to act like a wiping device against the flat portion  211  of an adjoining conducting strip to keep the ends of the conducting strips  300   a-b  clean of minor debris and oxidation. 
   When two track segments are assembled, the first coupling projection  400 , the locking lug  450 , the first coupling socket  500 , the second coupling projection  700 , the locking recess  750 , the second coupling socket  600 , and the end portion of the conducting strip  210  respectively engage a second coupling socket  600 , a locking recess  750 , a second coupling projection  700 , a first coupling socket  500 , a first locking lug  450 , a first coupling projection  400 , and flat end portion  211  of a conducting strip of a corresponding track segment to form a releasable locking engagement therebetween. 
   The connection between multiple track segments  200  provides sufficient strength and rigidity to maintain the electrical and mechanical connection, and proper track alignment between the track segments  200 . The connection is maintained regardless of whether the track segments  200  are-placed on a non-uniform surface, are angled along a banked curve, or are twisted into a non-planar configuration. The track segments  200  are disengageable by application of opposing longitudinal forces on adjoining track segments in excess of the normal longitudinal forces applied to the track segments  200  which arise during use (e.g. when assembled track segments  200  are stepped on, twisted or picked up). 
   It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention.