Patent Publication Number: US-2011070803-A1

Title: Marble track amusement device

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation-in-part patent application of copending application Ser. No. 12/683,909, filed Jan. 7, 2010, entitled “MARBLE TRACK AMUSEMENT DEVICE”, which claimed one or more inventions which were disclosed in Provisional Application No. 61/204,896, filed Jan. 31, 2009, entitled “WALL COASTER” and Provisional Application No. 61/277,241, filed Sep. 23, 2009, entitled “WALL COASTER”. The benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the United States provisional applications is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an entertainment device including a track for rolling marbles. It may be set up on either one or more two-dimensional or three-dimensional surfaces, or combinations thereof, where the path the marble traverses may include open-air trajectories. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A conventional marble track toy, known as Blocks and Marbles™ is manufactured by Tedco, Inc. (Hagerstown, Ind.) and a similar product, called Amaze-N-Marbles™, was once manufactured by T-N-T International, Inc (Waco, Tex.) D/B/A “Toy-N-Things”. The design of these toys includes cubes which have an internal marble channel with right-angle turns through it, and rectangular blocks which have an exposed trough for the marble to roll along. The cubes are constructed having one section of the channel oriented vertically, with an opening at the top of the cube widened to facilitate capture of a falling marble. The marble track is constructed by stacking the cubes and rectangular blocks such that a marble dropped into the interior channel of a cube near the top of the track, or rolled along a trough in a rectangular block near the top of the track, will pass through a sequence of interior channels and troughs as it descends along the track. 
     A disadvantage of this construction is that cubes and rectangular blocks from the construction set are used to support other cubes and rectangular blocks that form the marble track, thereby limiting the overall length and height of the marble track. Another disadvantage of this design is that the positions of the cubes and rectangular blocks are limited to points on a three-dimensional grid to provide the necessary alignment of the pieces of the construction set. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,876 discloses a marble track consisting of track segments having a variety of geometries, including curved track segments, track segments for launching the marble into mid-air trajectories, and track segments for catching the marble from mid-air trajectories. Each track segment includes a cylindrical stacking element which may be removably inserted into the cylindrical stacking segment of another track segment, thereby limiting the heights of the track segments to multiples of the cumulative heights of the cylindrical stacking elements. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,090 discloses a marble track that contains a pair of flexible elongated rods that are supported on a horizontal surface by support poles. The support poles are inserted into holes in a base plate which are located at positions on a two-dimensional grid. Although the heights at which the flexible elongated rods are attached to the support poles can be adjusted, this track does not permit mid-air trajectories of the marble. 
     Swedish Patent No. 47513 discloses a marble track consisting of track dowels and cubic blocks having channels therethrough. The channels through the cubic blocks have widened mouths into which the ends of the track dowels rest. Since the track dowels are of fixed lengths, the cubic blocks must essentially be separated by the lengths of the track dowels. This marble track does not include any components which can launch the marble into a mid-air trajectory. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,252,616 discloses a marble track consisting of chutes which are supported on a horizontal surface by pins. These pins are inserted through bores in support rods which are, in turn, mounted in base blocks. The bores are spaced at regular intervals along the support rods and the bottoms of the chutes have downward projections to prevent the chutes from sliding off the pins. This design limits the number of orientations of the chutes as well as the height of the track. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,620 discloses a marble track consisting of chutes, bumpers and pivoting systems that allow the marble to travel through the air from one chute to the next. This patent discloses that the track is mounted on a vertical surface. This patent also discloses the use of magnets to adhere the chutes and other components to vertical paramagnetic or ferromagnetic surfaces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A marble track amusement device includes track elements which are removably attachable to both vertical and horizontal planar support surfaces. The device is not limited in height by the number or size of the components. It contains elements that provide for mid-air trajectories of the marbles which are not limited in height by the number or size of these elements. The marble track amusement device is not limited to arrangements on three-dimensional, two-dimensional, or even one-dimensional grids. The three-dimensional orientations of the components are infinitely adjustable. 
     The track elements are not required to support and/or stabilize each other and, in preferred embodiments, the structural track elements do not directly contact each other. They only function to control the path of the marble, thereby substantially increasing the variety of track geometries and facilitating the ease of assembly, disassembly and replacement of track segments. 
     The track can be configured to accommodate variable mid-air trajectories. This requires highly precise positioning of the individual track elements. The marble track amusement device preferably includes any combination of chutes, re-directors, stairs, catapults, loops, funnels, ¼ circles, ½ circles, ¾ circles, full circles, rail systems, alternating elements, peg elements, and other kinetic pivoting components, all of which may be removably attached to a substantially planar support surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment showing marble track elements including chutes, re-directors, tubes, stairs and funnels on a substantially vertical planar mounting surface. 
         FIG. 2A  shows a funnel structural element in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  shows a side view of the funnel of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2C  shows an isometric view of the funnel of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2D  shows a top down view of the funnel of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3A  shows a half circle structural element in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  shows a view into the flat side of the half circle structural element of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 3C  shows the half circle structural element of  FIG. 3A  placed to face an oncoming marble. 
         FIG. 3D  shows the half circle structural element of  FIG. 3A  used at the end of a marble run. 
         FIG. 3E  shows the half circle structural element of  FIG. 3A  with the opening placed against the planar support surface. 
         FIG. 4A  shows a ¾ circle structural element in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4B  shows a view of the side of the ¾ circle structural element of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4C  shows an angled bottom view of the ¾ circle structural element of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5  shows a full circle structural element. 
         FIG. 6A  shows a ¼ circle structural element. 
         FIG. 6B  shows another view of a ¼ circle structural element. 
         FIG. 7A  shows a perspective view of a rail system structural element. 
         FIG. 7B  shows a top view of the rail system structural element of  FIG. 7A . 
         FIG. 8A  shows a front view of a multiple peg structural element. 
         FIG. 8B  shows a side view of the multiple peg structural element of  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 9A  shows a front view of an alternating structural element. 
         FIG. 9B  shows a front view of another embodiment of an alternating structural element. 
         FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of an embodiment showing marble track elements on both a substantially vertical planar mounting surface and a substantially horizontal mounting surface. 
         FIG. 11  shows a first chute structural element on a vertical support surface and a second chute structural element on L brackets. 
         FIG. 12A  shows some of the structural elements of the device creating a path for a marble. 
         FIG. 12B  shows a side view of a chute structural element shown in  FIG. 12A  on L-brackets. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a marble track  100  includes elements such as a first downward sloping chute  120   a  (generically identified by numeral  120 ), shown as sloping to the left side of the figure, a second downward sloping chute  120   b , shown as sloping to the right side of the figure, a re-director  130  to change the direction of a marble in mid-course, a tube  140 , stairs  150  and a funnel  160 . All of track elements  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  and  160  are reversibly secured to at least one planar support surface  180  using attachment or mounting elements including, but not limited to, clamps, magnets (for mounting to paramagnetic or ferromagnetic support surfaces), re-usable putty (commonly referred to as “poster putty”), suction cups, or hook and loop fasteners (e.g.—Velcro® fasteners). While the planar support surface  180  in  FIG. 1  is a vertical planar support surface, as discussed in further detail below, some or all of the structural elements may alternatively be reversibly secured to a substantially horizontal planar support surface  180 . In preferred embodiments, the mounting elements are nonmagnetic. In a more preferred embodiment, the attachment element is re-usable putty. Since the attachment between the structural elements and the planar surface is reversible, the structural elements can be easily rearranged to create different paths along which a marble can travel. 
     Further, the marble track  100  may be mounted onto multiple alternating horizontal and vertical planar support surfaces  180 . Exemplary support surfaces  180  include, but are not limited to, refrigerator doors and walls, doors, table tops (or a combination of a table top and adjoining legs), chair legs, floors, windows and vertically or horizontally oriented rod-like structures, including tree limbs, such as those found on a Christmas tree. Depending upon the types of surfaces upon which the structural elements are going to be placed, the user can utilize more than one type of mounting or attachment element. For example, if a first vertical surfaces is a window, a table top is a first horizontal surface, and a Christmas tree branch is a second horizontal surface, one could use putty or suction cups for the window, putty for the table top and clamps for the Christmas tree branch. 
     The embodiments of the present invention enable the structural elements to be reversibly attached to two or more different types of surfaces to provide a path for a marble to travel. For example, the highest structural elements could begin on a window, with additional structural elements on a table top, and other structural elements on lower Christmas tree limbs and a trunk of a Christmas tree. The structural elements in this example could be placed such that the marble travels through the structural elements on the window, through the structural elements on the table top, through structural elements on one or more of the lower Christmas tree limbs and finally through the structural elements on the Christmas tree trunk. 
     While none of the structural elements in  FIG. 1  are in direct contact with each other, the position of each structural element directs the marble to the next structural element. Since the structural elements can be configured in any manner to create almost infinite variations, in other embodiments, two or more of the structural elements may be in direct contact with each other. 
     While the structural elements are preferably reversibly affixed to the planar support surfaces using an attachment element, in other embodiments, one or more of the structural elements may be hung from a surface, such as a ceiling or another support surface, by string, bands, or another material that allow the structural elements to be placed to create a path for one or more marbles. 
     Each chute element  120  has a specially designed rim or ridge  121  on each end to assist with attachment to the supporting surface. The ridge  121  is an integral part of the chute element  120  and preferably extends along the entire length of each chute element  120 . The attachment element, for example re-usable putty, is preferably applied above the ridge  121 . The ridge  121  pushes against the planar support surface  180  when the chute element  120  is affixed to the planar support surface, to retain the shape of the chute element  120  and keep the chute portion of the chute element  120  from pushing against the planar support surface  180 . 
     Each re-director  130  has at least one integral tab  131  that provides a surface area which the attachment element uses to adhere the re-director  130  to the support surface  180 . Each of the stair elements  150  has at least one integral tab  151  that similarly assists with adherence to the support surface  180 . The re-director  130  acts to move the marble quickly in a direction that is opposite from the direction that the marble was originally traveling (e.g. a 90 degree change in direction, from substantially horizontal to substantially vertical, in  FIG. 1 ). The stairs  150  direct the marble downward by permitting the marble to bounce from each individual stair to the next. The marble track  100  of  FIG. 1  also includes a funnel  160 . The funnel, which has at least one tab  163  is meant to catch the marble from a mid air trajectory or sudden drop from the stairs  150  and channel the marble to a smaller opening. In embodiments where re-usable putty is used, the re-usable putty is applied directly to the tabs. The ridge  121  and the tabs  131 ,  141 ,  151 , and  163 , are preferably formed as an integral piece of each structural element. For example, the ridges  121  are preferably protrusions extruded from the main portion of each chute element  120  and the tabs  131 ,  141 ,  151 , and  163  are manufactured as part of the other structural elements. 
     Since track elements  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  and  160  may be mounted on almost any surface, the positions to which these track elements can be set are essentially infinitely variable. Configuring a marble track with open-air trajectories generally requires trial-and-error positioning of the track elements  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  and  160  to insure that the marble  170  will be properly “caught” by each track element  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  and  160  in succession along the track. For example, when the marble  170  is put in a left downward sloping chute  120   a , the marble will roll from left to right as the left side of the chute is lower than the right. The marble  170  will travel over the rim  121  of the chute  120   a  and be caught by a second chute  120   b , shown in  FIG. 1  as sloping from right to left. Once the marble  170  leaves the chute  120   b  it will hit the re-director  130  and quickly be directed into the tube  140 . If the re-director  130  is not positioned at precisely the correct location, the marble  170  will either fail to enter the re-director  130  completely or it will not enter the tube  140  as it exits the re-director  130 . Once the marble  170  hits the stairs  150  it will move down the stairs  150 . The tube  140  and the stairs  150  must be positioned precisely with respect to one another in order to enable the marble  170  to move down each successive step of stairs  150  without falling to the ground. The marble  170  moves from the stairs  170  to the funnel  160 . The funnel  160  corrects for any imprecision in trajectory accuracy since there is a much wider opening at the top  162  of the funnel  160  than at the bottom  161 . 
     The infinite adjustability of the positions of the chutes  120 , the re-director  130 , the tube  140 , the stairs  150  and the funnel  160  allows the user the satisfaction of fine-tuning the orientation of the track  100  so that the marble  170  consistently completes the track. This also allows the user to construct extremely challenging marble tracks having diverse mid-air trajectories requiring precise positioning. Further, since the structural elements  120 ,  130 ,  140 ,  150  and  160  can be positioned to direct the marble  170  along a significant variety of paths and trajectories, the vertical and horizontal positioning of these elements is not restricted to locations on only a one-dimensional or two-dimensional grid. Also, since the track elements are attached directly to the support surface, rather than being in contact with each other, the course the marble takes is only dependent on the track geometries and the positioning of each of the structural elements. There is thus a substantial increase in the variety of track designs. This flexibility also makes the marble track amusement device easy to assemble, disassemble and replace or adjust portions of the track. 
       FIGS. 2A through 2D  show a funnel structural element  200  that can be used in a marble track amusement device like the device  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . The funnel structural element  200  preferably includes tabs  201  which can be used to secure the funnel structural element  200  to a planar surface. For example, in one preferred embodiment, re-usable putty can be added to the tabs  201  to secure the funnel structural element  200  to a wall or other substantially vertical or horizontal planar support surface. The funnel structural element  200  includes a wide top opening  202  and a narrow bottom opening  203 . The funnel structural element  200  is preferably used to catch a marble from the wide top opening  202  and move it down towards the narrow bottom opening  203  to allow the marble to be transferred to another structural element in the track device (for example, any of the elements shown in  FIG. 1  or  3 - 12 ). The open portion  204  extending between the wide top opening  202  and the narrow bottom opening  203  of the funnel structural element  200  is preferably placed against a planar support surface such that the edges  212  that form the open portion  204  contact the planar support surface in many embodiments. Since the funnel structural element  200  has a relatively large top opening  202  in which the marble can enter, it will allow the user to create long trajectories from one part of the funnel structural element  200 , thereby lowering the possibility for the marble to miss and fall to the ground or otherwise out of the marble track device. 
     While the funnel structural element  200  may be of any dimensions to work with the other structural elements in the device, in one preferred embodiment, the funnel structural element  200  is approximately 3.5 inches wide at the top opening  202  and is approximately 3 inches long from the top opening  202  to the bottom opening  203 . The bottom opening  203  can be of any dimension capable of permitting the exit of the marble. 
       FIGS. 3A through 3E  show a half circle structural element  300  for the marble track device. Although this element is termed a “half circle” structural element, the element does not have to be an exact half circle. The half circle structural element  300  preferably includes tabs  301  which can be used to secure the half circle structural element  300  to a substantially vertical or substantially horizontal planar surface. For example, in one preferred embodiment, re-usable putty can be added to the tabs  301  to secure the half circle structural element  300  to a wall or other substantially vertical or substantially horizontal planar support surface. The half circle structural element  300  has an opening  302  that extends a length of the element from a top  308  of the half circle to the bottom  307  of the half circle. The half circle structural element has a solid substantially semicircular shaped portion  311  and a solid curved surface  310 . Opposite the solid substantially half circle shaped portion is open  309 . A curved edge  312  defines the opening  309  and abuts the planar support surface in many embodiments. 
     The half circle structural element  300  has many uses. When the opening  302  is placed facing an oncoming marble  170  (as shown in  FIG. 3C ) received from a chute  120 , it is used to redirect the marble  170  back in the opposite direction. Varying the angle of the opening  302  of the half circle and where the marble  170  enters the half circle dramatically alters how the marble  170  exits the half circle. For example, if the half circle is placed dead ahead of the oncoming marble  170 , usually the marble  170  will bounce straight ahead and fall into the track below. If the half circle is placed so that the marble  170  enters at the bottom  307  of the half circle, then it usually moves from the bottom  307  to the top  308  and exits the top  308  of the half circle back on the track from where it came. Conversely, the marble may enter at the top  308  of the half circle, and exit at the bottom  307  (as shown in  FIG. 3C ), illustrating the diversity of the elements of the device. 
     The half circle structural element  300  may also be used as an “end” piece to hold the marbles  170  when they reach the end of the run, as shown in  FIG. 3D . In this configuration, the opening  302  of the half circle structural element is positioned parallel to the ground. In another embodiment, the open semi-circular portion  309  may be placed facing the ground, with the opening  302  abutting the planar support surface, as shown in  FIG. 3E . In this embodiment, the flat solid semicircular element  311  is used to bounce the marble  170  to another structural element. In another embodiment, the opening  302  faces the ground and the open semi circular portion  309  abuts the support surface (and is preferably affixed to the support surface using the tabs  301 ). This allows the marble  170  to hit a solid curved surface  310  of the half circle structural element  300  and bounce to another structural element. When multiple ½ circle structural elements  300  are used, the marbles ricochet off the solid curved surface  310  of each ½ circle structural element  300 . The effect is somewhat like the bumpers of a pinball machine. 
       FIGS. 4A through 4C  show a ¾ circle structural element  400  for the marble track device. Although this element is termed a “¾ circle” structural element, the closed or circular portion of the ¾ circle structural element may vary from between a ½ circle to anything less than a fully closed circle that has a hole large enough to allow movement of a marble through the interior of the curved portion. The  3 / 4  circle structural element  400  preferably includes a plurality of tabs  401  which can be used to secure the ¾ circle structural element  400  to a substantially vertical or substantially horizontal planar surface. The  3 / 4  circle structural element includes an opening  402  along a curved edge of the flat side of the  3 / 4  circle. Similar to the ½ circle structural element, the ¾ circle structural element also includes a semicircular flat solid portion  411  opposite an open flat face  407  and a solid curved surface  409  with an edge  412  that defines the open flat face  407  and is placed against the planar support surface during use in many embodiments. The ¾ circle structural element  400  re-directs the marble  170  at various angles. 
     In some embodiments, the marble  170  enters the bottom  404  of an angled ¾ circle and exits the top  405 . In other embodiments, a marble  170  enters the top  405  of an angled ¾ circle and exits the bottom  404 . Changing the orientation of the opening  402  changes the trajectory of the exiting marble. Multiple ¾ circle structural elements  400  can create a looping system. To create a looping system, a first ¾ circle structural element is placed to accept a marble at the top  405  of the ¾ circle structural element. A second ¾ circle structural element is placed with the opening  402  of the second ¾ circle structural element facing the opening  402  of the first ¾ circle structural element, but located slightly below and offset from the bottom  404  of the first ¾ circle structural element so that it catches the marble exiting the bottom  404  of the first ¾ circle structural element. Additional ¾ circle structural elements can be placed so that a series of ¾ circle structural elements guide the marble along a looping path. In another embodiment, the looping system can be created with the marble entering each of the ¾ circle structural elements from the bottom  404  and exiting the top  405 , or alternatively, the marble can enter some of the ¾ circle structural elements from the bottom  404  and others from the top  405 . Similar looping systems can be created with the ½ circle structural elements  300  discussed above. 
     The ¾ circle structural elements  400  can also be used in the various ways discussed with respect to the ½ circle structural element  300 . When the opening  402  is placed facing an oncoming marble  170  (similar to what is shown in  FIG. 3C ) received from a chute  120 , it is used to redirect the marble  170  in the opposite direction. Varying the angle of the opening  402  of the ¾ circle and where the marble  170  enters the ¾ dramatically alters how the marble  170  exits the ¾ circle. For example, if the ¾ circle is placed dead ahead of the oncoming marble  170 , usually the marble  170  will bounce straight ahead and fall into the track below. 
     The ¾ circle structural element  400  may also be used as an “end” piece to hold the marbles  170  when they reach the end of the run (similar to what is shown in  FIG. 3D ). In this configuration, the opening  402  of the ¾ circle structural element  400  is positioned facing upwards and parallel to the ground. In another embodiment, the opening  402  may be placed parallel to and facing the ground, affixed to the substantially vertical or substantially horizontal planar support surface with the open flat face  407 . In this embodiment, the marble hits a solid curved surface  409 , which bounces the marble  170  to another structural element. When multiple ¾ circle structural elements  400  are used, the marbles ricochet off the solid curved surface  409  of each ¾ circle structural element  400 . The effect is somewhat like the bumpers of a pinball machine. In another embodiment, the open flat face  407  may be placed parallel and facing the ground with the opening  402  facing the planar support surface. This allows the marble  170  to hit the semicircular flat solid portion  411  of the ¾ circle structural element  400  and bounce to another structural element. 
     The half circle structural element and/or the ¾ circle structural element (as well as all of the other structural elements described herein) may be of any dimensions that can create an effective path for a marble. In one example, the half circle structural element and the ¾ circle structural element are approximately 2.5 inches in diameter and approximately one inch deep. 
       FIG. 5  shows a full circle structural element  500 . The full circle structural element  500  preferably includes two opposing solid circular sides  507  (only one is shown in the figure) and a curved portion  508  between the two circular sides  507 . The full circle structural element preferably includes a plurality of tabs  501  which can be used to secure the full circle structural element  500  to a substantially vertical or substantially horizontal planar surface. Alternatively, one of the solid circular sides  507  may be affixed directly to the planar surface, for example with re-usable putty or another attachment element. The full circle structural element  500  is preferably hollow, to create a path for a marble  170  to pass through an interior of the full circle structural element  500 . 
     In order for marbles  170  to travel into or through the full circle structural element  500 , the full circle structural element  500  preferably includes at least one hole  502  in the upper portion of the curved portion  508  and at least one hole  502  at the bottom of the curved portion  508  of the full circle structural element  500 . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , multiple holes  502  may be present, with two holes on an upper portion of the full circle structural element  500  and another hole  502  in a bottom portion. Tubes or chutes are preferably placed in close proximity to the full circle structural element  500  in order to guide the marble into the holes  502 . One or more marbles  170  preferably travels into one of the holes  502  in the upper portion of the full circle structural element  500 , through the full circle structural element  500 , and out the hole  502  at the bottom. Since the full circle structural element  500  in  FIG. 5  shows two holes  502  on the upper portion, there are preferably two marbles that enter the full circle structural element  500  in this example. 
     In other embodiments, the full circle structural element  500  can be placed such that the marble  170  hits a curved portion  508  of the full circle structural element  500  such that the full circle structural element  500  acts like a bumper. In yet other embodiments, the full circle structural element  500  can be angled such that a marble  170  enters the full circle structural element  500  at the end of the track. In this embodiment, none of the holes are aligned for the marble to exit the full circle structural element. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show a ¼ circle structural element  600 . Although the term used for this structural element is a “¼ circle”, any circumference for the circle that is less than approximately a ½ circle but still capable of creating a path for the marble is encompassed by this structural element. The ¼ circle structural element  600  preferably has a plurality of tabs  601  which can be used to secure the ¼ circle structural element  600  to a substantially vertical or substantially horizontal planar surface. The ¼ circle structural element  600  has an opening  602  to receive the marble  170 , a flat ¼ circular shaped solid portion  611 , a curved solid portion  610 , and an open flat face  605  defined by an edge  612  of the curved solid portion  610  that is preferably placed against the planar support surface in many embodiments. 
     The ¼ circle structural element  600  changes the trajectory of the marble when the marble enters the ¼ circle structural element  600  at one end  603 , travels along the ¼ circle structural element  600 , and exits the other end  604  of the ¼ circle structural element  600 . The ¼ circle structural element could also be oriented so that the marble enters at end  604  and exits at end  603 . Because the ¼ circle structural element  600  has a relatively short track length, the trajectory change is smaller than for many of the other structural elements. In some embodiments, the ¼ circle structural element  600  acts as a re-director, changing the trajectory of the marble approximately 90 degrees, similar to the re-director  130  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  show another type of a chute element, which is a rail system structural element  700 . In preferred embodiments, the rail system structural element  700  can be affixed directly to a planar support surface, for example by using re-usable putty to adhere the brackets  705  to the planar support surface. Alternatively, other attachment elements may be used. The rail system structural element  700  includes two guiding rods or rails  702  that guide a marble  170  from a first end  703  of the rail system structural element  700  to a second end  704  of the rail system structural element  700 . In order to aid movement of the marble  170 , there is preferably an incline from the first end  703  to the second end  704  of the rail system structural element  700 . Brackets  705  include a first portion  706  that receive ends of the two rods or rails  702  and a second portion  707  that attaches to a substantially vertical support surface via an attachment element (such as putty) or allows the structural element  700  to sit on a substantially horizontal support surface. 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  show a multiple peg structural element  800 . The peg structural element  800  includes a number of pegs  802  projecting from a planar board  803 . In other embodiments, the board could be curved, have an incline, multiple hill-type portions, or another surface topography. A marble  170  enters the peg structural element  800  at a first end  804  of the board  803  and bounces from peg  802  to peg  802  until it exits the peg structural element  800  at a second end  805  of the board  800 . The number of pegs  802  and the length and width of the board  803  may vary. Although the multiple peg structural element  800  is preferably placed on a substantially vertical support surface (such that the board  803  is substantially vertical), in other embodiments, the peg structural element  800  could be placed on a substantially horizontal support surface if the marble has sufficient force to traverse the peg element  800  and travel to the next structural element. In yet other embodiments, the peg structural element  800  could be placed on a slightly inclined planar surface. In preferred embodiments, the back of the board  803  is preferably reversibly directly affixed to the support surface, for example by using re-usable putty. In other embodiments, tabs (not shown) could be used to affix the back of the board  803  to the support surface. 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  show an alternating structural element  900 . The alternating structural element  900  includes a three pronged body  902  pivotally  903  attached to a support section  904 . This element  900  is preferably used in a track device where marbles  170  are coming from two different directions. The three pronged body  902  can alternate between two positions to direct alternating marbles  170  in different directions. As a marble from on side hits the three pronged body  902 , it pivots the three pronged body  902  to allow the next marble  170  to travel on the other side of the three pronged body  902 . 
     The three pronged body  902  is preferably connected to a support section  904 , as shown in  FIG. 9B , that can be directly reversibly affixed to a substantially planar surface for example with re-usable putty. In other embodiments, the support section  904  may include tabs used to reversibly affix the alternating structural element  900  to the substantially planar surface. In other embodiments, the alternating structural element  900  includes only the three pronged body  902  with the pivot  903  (as shown in  FIG. 9A ), which can be directly reversibly pivotally mounted to the substantially planar surface, or can include one or more tabs that enable the alternating structural element  900  to be reversibly affixed to the substantially planar surface.  FIG. 9A  shows a first marble  170   a  that travels  908  down a first chute  120   a  into the alternating structural element  900 , where it is directed in the opposite direction  909 . As shown in  FIG. 9B , a second marble  170   b  travels  910  down a second chute  120   b , and is directed in the opposite direction  911  by the alternating structural element  900 . 
       FIG. 11  shows a first chute structural element  120   a  mounted on a vertical support surface  1100  and a second chute structural element  120   b  mounted on a horizontal portion  1104  of the L-brackets  1103 . The horizontal portion  1104  of the L-brackets  1103  is used to support the chute  120   b . A vertical portion  1105  of the L-brackets is preferably reversibly affixed to the vertical support surface  1100 . The horizontal portion  1104  of the brackets  1103  is preferably reversibly affixed to the chute element  120   b  or alternatively, the chute  120   b  balances on the horizontal portion  1104  and no attachment element is required. In one preferred embodiment, the attachment element is re-usable putty. Alternatively, the bracket  1103  can sit on a horizontal support surface and either be reversibly affixed to the horizontal support surface or balance on the horizontal support surface without an attachment element. The brackets  1103  may be used with any of the structural elements described herein on horizontal or vertical support surfaces. 
     Although  FIGS. 1-9  and  11  discuss specific structural elements, the devices of the present invention may use any combination of any type of structural element capable of carrying a marble farther along its path either vertically or horizontally. 
       FIGS. 12A and 12B  show a marble track device  1200  with multiple structural elements  120 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 , and  500 , reversibly mounted to a vertical support surface  1202 . Some of the chutes  120  are supported by L-shaped brackets  1203 , which are connected to the vertical support surface  1202 . The horizontal portion  1204  of the L-shaped brackets  1203  shown in  FIG. 12A  lie in the same direction as the chute element  120  the brackets  1203  are supporting; the horizontal portion  1204  therefore provides support along the chute&#39;s entire length. In this configuration, either or both the horizontal portion  1204  and vertical portion  1205  of the L-shaped brackets  1203  can be reversibly affixed to the vertical support surface  1202 . In an alternative embodiment, the horizontal portion  1204  lies perpendicular to the length of the chute  120 , as shown in  FIG. 12B . In this configuration, only the vertical portion  1205  of the L-shaped brackets  1203  is reversibly affixed to the vertical support surface  1202 . In other embodiments, the horizontal portion  1204  of the L-shaped brackets  1203  can be placed at any angle between 0 and 90 degrees in relation to the orientation of the chute  120  in a length direction. 
     The elements  120 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400  and  500  are preferably reversibly affixed to the vertical support surface  1202 . The chute elements  120  supported by L-shaped brackets  1203  are reversibly affixed to the horizontal portion of the L-shaped bracket, and the vertical portion of the L-shaped bracket, which contacts the vertical support surface  1202 , is reversibly affixed to the vertical support surface  1202 . 
     In some embodiments of the marble track amusement device, some of the structural elements are attached to a substantially vertical support surface, such as a conventional wall, while other structural elements are attached to a substantially horizontal support surface, such as a table. This allows the marble  170  to travel on both vertical and horizontal planes. In a variation on this embodiment, an “L” bracket (see e.g. the L-brackets  1103 ,  1203  or a re-director (see. e.g. re-director  130  in  FIG. 1 ) can be affixed to either the vertical or horizontal support surface to allow the marble to travel in one plane, divert to the other plane, and then optionally travel back to elements along the original plane. 
     An example of these embodiments is shown in  FIG. 10 . The marble track amusement device  1000  includes chutes  120  on a substantially vertical support surface  1002 , such as a wall, and chutes  120  on a substantially horizontal support surface  1003 , such as a table top. Although chutes  120  are the only elements shown in this figure, any of the structural elements discussed herein could be placed on a horizontal support surface as long as their placement helped create a path for a marble  170 . While the chutes  120  on the table  1003  are directly reversibly mounted to the table  1003  in this figure (for example, using the rims  121  discussed above), L-shaped brackets  1103 ,  1203  like those shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  could alternatively be used with the chutes on the horizontal surface to elevate them and change their placement. Different height L-brackets  1103 ,  1203  could also be used to create an incline for the chutes  120  and to support other structural elements discussed herein. 
     The L-shaped brackets discussed with respect to  FIGS. 11 and 12  and the re-directors  130  shown in  FIG. 1  could be used to divert the marble from plane to plane. The diversion from plane to plane can continue as many times as the user wishes. 
     In other embodiments, all of the structural elements are attached to one or more substantially vertical planar support surfaces. In still other embodiments, all of the structural elements are attached to a substantially horizontal planar support surface. 
     The overall length and width of the track is only limited by the dimensions of the support surfaces and the strength of the elements that attach the track element to those surfaces. Similarly, the dimensions of the track portion of each structural element are limited only by the size of the marbles to be used in a particular device. In fact, structural elements may be manufactured to accept marbles of various sizes. In addition, a track element may take the form of a trampoline, a water wheel-type mechanism or a catapult which can launch the marble  170  onto or into another structural element. Also, since the various track elements can be mounted on planar surfaces with a 360° freedom of orientation they can serve multiple functions. For instance, the bottom of a chute can function as a bumper, or two chutes mounted side by side can allow two marbles to race. 
     The structural elements of the marble track may be constructed of any material, including, but not limited to, plastic or metal materials. Each element may be made of a pliable elastomeric material, or a rigid substrate may be coated with an elastomeric material to cushion the impact of the marble with a specific track element, thereby decreasing the likelihood that the marble will bounce off the track. The elements can be constructed of the same or different materials as each other. The cross-section of a track element may be altered to better trap a falling marble. The marble track device may include mechanical or electromechanical elements for raising the marble to the top of the track once it has reached the bottom of the track. It may also include electrical or mechanical elements for generating sounds or noises when triggered by contact between the marble and selected structural elements. 
     The structural elements of the marble track may be manufactured in any color. In preferred embodiments, at least one of the structural elements is manufactured in translucent colors so that the user can see the marble move through the structural elements. Any or all of the structural elements may be manufactured in translucent colors. 
     Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.