Abstract:
A toppled domino resettable track is a beautiful luxury to have when those not prone to patience are engaged in setting up domino sequences for toppling. Resettable tracks are also useful for less than capable individuals, e.g. children; when they want to create topple sequences, as the tracks keep the dominos fixed to the track in their configurations. With the push of a button or puff of breath, the entire toppled sequence stands to life, ready for another run.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A problem exists in the in the field of domino toppling: the painful process of resetting them upright. The current invention solves the problem of a player having to manually reset each individual toppled domino to the pre-toppled state by hand. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Aside from the usual games of matching numerical values, dominos often have a secondary use, and that is to stand them up close to each other, usually in some grandiose configuration, then topple them down. The problem is the ratio of time needed to setup such ostentatious configurations versus the time it takes to run the topple sequence is greatly biased towards the former. The current invention relocates the bias of time to the latter. That is, the resettable track will make setting up the toppling configuration take LESS time than the playback of the topple sequence. 
         [0006]    The current invention defines two mutually exclusive modes of the resettable track: air compressed and electromagnetic. The amount of domino “reset” time it takes using the air compressed tracks is dependent on the length of connected track and the amount of air delivered by manual pump. The amount of time needed in the electromagnetic version, by comparison, is instantaneous. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0007]    Figure Description 
           [0008]      FIG. 1   2  connected air-piston type track runners T 1  with affixed pistons P 1 , dominos D and domino-track keys K, all assembled 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  Exploded view of  FIG. 1   
           [0010]      FIG. 2A  Affix point on base of domino for attachment of key K 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  Side view of an air-piston type track runner T 1   
           [0012]      FIG. 4  Front view of an air-piston type track runner T 1   
           [0013]      FIG. 5  Top view of an air-piston type track runner T 1   
           [0014]      FIG. 6  Perspective view of an air-piston type track runner T 1   
           [0015]      FIG. 7  Side view of piston P 1  corresponding to air-piston type runner T 1   
           [0016]      FIG. 8  Front view of piston P 1  corresponding to air-piston type runner T 1   
           [0017]      FIG. 9  Top view of piston P 1  corresponding to air-piston type runner T 1   
           [0018]      FIG. 10  Perspective view of piston P 1  corresponding to air-piston type runner T 1   
           [0019]      FIG. 11  Perspective view of a curved runner 
           [0020]      FIG. 12   2  connected air-piston type runners T 2  with affixed pistons P 2 , dominos D and domino-track keys K, all assembled 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  Side view of piston P 2  corresponding to air-piston type runner T 2   
           [0022]      FIG. 14  Front view of piston P 2  corresponding to air-piston type runner T 2   
           [0023]      FIG. 15  Top view of piston P 2  corresponding to air-piston type runner T 2   
           [0024]      FIG. 16  Perspective view of piston P 2  corresponding to air-piston type runner T 2   
           [0025]      FIG. 17  Side view of an air-piston type runner T 2   
           [0026]      FIG. 18  Front view of an air-piston type runner T 2   
           [0027]      FIG. 19  Top view of an air-piston type runner T 2   
           [0028]      FIG. 20  Perspective view of an air-piston type runner T 2   
           [0029]      FIG. 21   2  connected air-piston type runners T 3  with affixed pistons P 3 , dominos D and domino-track keys K, all assembled 
           [0030]      FIG. 22  Front view of piston P 3  corresponding to air-piston type runner T 3   
           [0031]      FIG. 23  Perspective view of piston P 3  corresponding to air-piston type runner T 3   
           [0032]      FIG. 24  Side view of an air-piston type runner T 3   
           [0033]      FIG. 25  Front view of an air-piston type runner T 3   
           [0034]      FIG. 26  Back view of an air-piston type runner T 3   
           [0035]      FIG. 27  Top view of an air-piston type runner T 3   
           [0036]      FIG. 28  Perspective view of an air-piston type runner T 3   
           [0037]      FIG. 29   2  connected electromagnetic type runners T 3  with affixed dominos D and domino-track keys K, all assembled 
           [0038]      FIG. 30  Exploded view of  FIG. 29   
           [0039]      FIG. 31  Sectional view of  FIG. 1  assembly along section line  31  which is defined also in  FIG. 1   
           [0040]      FIG. 32  Sectional view of  FIG. 12  assembly along section line  32  which is defined also in  FIG. 12   
           [0041]      FIG. 33  Sectional view of  FIG. 21  assembly along section line  33  which is defined also in  FIG. 21   
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0042]    Referring now to the drawings illustrating the invention, beginning with  FIG. 1 , which shows a minimal assembly configuration of toppling dominos D affixed at an ideal pivot point R to air compressed resettable runner tracks T 1  using domino-track keys K. The present invention allows resettable tracks running in various directions, not simply just straight as depicted in the majority of figures.  FIG. 11  shows a curved resettable track. Resettable tracks could also slope up or down to create “stair” runs and over/under bridges. 
         [0043]    For tracks which are of the air-compressed type, a main capillary, defined by endpoints A 1 -C 1 , which runs the length of the track is found therein through which air is compressed through. The current invention allows for varying locations of the main capillary as long as it services the outlets E 1  and pistons P 1 , which in turn service the dominos D, and as long as main capillary inlet A 1  is able to connect to connector C 1  on another track of the same. 
         [0044]    The current figures depict three different types of air compressed tracks, T 1 , T 2 , and T 3 , where the location of the main capillary and outlets varies. In these figures, tracks of T 1  only connect to other tracks of T 1 , T 2  only to T 2 , and T 3  only to T 3 . Furthermore, pistons P 1  connect only to outlets E 1  found only on tracks T 1 , pistons P 2  only to outlets E 2  found only on tracks T 2 , pistons P 3  only to outlets E 3  found only on tracks T 3 . 
         [0045]    Connected to the main capillary, at intervals according to the spacing of upright dominos, are air outlets E 1 . 
         [0046]    Pistons P 1  are inserted into the outlets E 1 . When air is not compressed through the capillary, pistons remain “seated” on the outlets, in the down position. That is, the top of the piston is shaped such that when it falls through an outlet due to gravity, it is unable to fall completely through because of collision with the top of the piston and an outlet stopper, found at the top of every outlet E 1 . In all figures of the present invention, the outlet stopper has a shape          , yet any shape would suffice so long as it allows sufficient air leakage and adequate piston movement within the outlet. 
         [0047]    Either of the section views,  FIGS. 32  or  33 , show seated pistons P 2  or P 3 , respectively, inside outlets, specifically the second to last outlet. Although the overhanging foot of piston P 1  is raised and lowered with and being part and of the same P 1 , the section  FIG. 31  does not show a cross section of the piston body (excluding overhanging foot) raising or falling in outlet E 1 . Rather it shows a cross section of the piston overhanging foot itself coincidentally raising and falling in foot chamber H.  FIG. 5  shows a top view of foot chamber H. The capillary cross section figure is omitted from T 1  but can be discerned from cross sections  FIG. 32  and  FIG. 33 . P 1  is illustrative of a special design making use of an overhanging “foot”, hence the cross section  FIG. 31  of the piston overhanging foot in foot chamber H. P 2  and P 3  have no such special design, and therefore their respective cross sections  FIG. 32  and  FIG. 33  illustrate more or less conventional pistons in air outlet chambers E 2  and E 3 , respectively. 
         [0048]    The body of the piston, not considering the top portion thereof previously described in paragraph 0008, is fashioned such that as air is compressed through the main capillary A 1 -C 1  and therefore subsequent outlets E 1 , air is allowed to narrowly escape between the piston body and the outlet walls of E 1 , thereby pushing the piston in the direction of the escaping air. The piston is prevented from completely exiting the outlet due to the same outlet stopper that also prevents it from completely entering the same. Any of the section views,  FIGS. 31 ,  32 , and  33 , show raised pistons inside outlets due to air compression, specifically the first and second outlets. 
         [0049]    It is this leaky piston design which subsequently raises a domino from the fallen toppled position, back into its upright position, via air compression. 
         [0050]    The other type of resettable track that the current invention describes is electromagnetic.  FIG. 29  shows a minimal assembly configuration of toppling dominos D affixed at an ideal pivot point R to electromagnetic resettable runner tracks T 4  using domino-track keys K.  FIG. 30  shows an exploded view of the same. 
         [0051]    Each track is capable of creating a number of circuits in parallel, the number being equal to the number of dominos the track supports.  FIG. 30  shows, using hidden surface removal, track T 4  containing  3  circuits in parallel, each to create an electromagnet M at every coincident interval seating of domino D. The circuit becomes closed at points W+and W−, which are wires positive and negative, respectively. A power supply needs to close the circuit in at least one spot in the track configuration, but can exist in multiple spots on any open track ending, throughout the play field. An example of a sequence is battery→track T 4 →track T 4 . 
         [0052]    In order to topple the domino sequence, the circuit must be opened so no electromagnets exist in the play field. Once the circuit is closed on any track, all metal inserts M on said track and metal inserts on all connected tracks become electro magnets causing a magnetic force to be applied in the immediate vicinity of M, thereby pulling on the metallic base version of domino D, which is also in the vicinity of M, causing it to rise back to its upright position. 
         [0053]    It isn&#39;t enough to simply place a domino in an upright position on the surface of a resettable track, regardless of the resetting mechanism, air compressed or electromagnetic. This is because the topple and/or reset process can and will likely displace the domino from its ideal location in the sequence. The dominos must be affixed to the track in a way so as to disallow it from leaving the track or deviating far from its initial footprint. The only allowable motion is the topple motion, therefore a hinge is needed at the axis of topple rotation created at the base of the domino and track. 
         [0054]    A hinged key K couples a domino to its track. The protrusion of K inserts into the hole at the base of a domino as depicted in  FIG. 2A . The present invention allows for any suitable hinge design, not necessarily the ones illustrated in the current figures, so long as it disallows the domino from leaving the track and far digressing from it, and it allows the domino to topple. 
         [0055]    Any suitable resettable track will have hinge points R that each domino will attach to. The present invention allows for the domino to directly attach to said hinge points or to indirectly attach to them using a hinge key K. Depicted tracks T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , and T 4  all use the indirect method of a hinge key K. The hole in hinge key K attaches to hinge point R.  FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of track runners, pistons, dominos and keys, demonstrating their connectivity.