초록 ▼

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 lo

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.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A toy vehicle track having a plurality of releasably couplable track segments, each segment having a pair of opposing ends, each end comprising: a first coupling projection adjacent a first edge portion; a first coupling socket adjacent the first coupling projection; a second couplin

We claim: 1. A toy vehicle track having a plurality of releasably couplable track segments, each segment having a pair of opposing ends, each end comprising: a first coupling projection adjacent a first edge portion; a first coupling socket adjacent the first coupling projection; a second coupling socket adjacent a second edge portion; a second coupling projection adjacent the second coupling socket; a hooked locking tab; a locking lug; and a plurality of partially embedded conductive strips, at least one end portion of at least one of the conducting strips having a first bend such that the end portion extends beyond and wraps around an end portion of the track segment, and wherein the at least one end portion of the at least one conducting strip has a second bend to increase lateral contact pressure exerted by that conducting strip on a conducting strip of an adjoining track segment; wherein 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 at least one conducting strip of each end is configured to respectively engage the second coupling socket, the second coupling projection, the first coupling socket, the first coupling projection, the locking lug, the hooked locking tab and the end portion of one of the conducting strips of each of the pair of ends of each other track segment of the plurality to form a releasable locking engagement therebetween. 2. The toy vehicle track of claim 1 wherein each of the partially embedded conductive strips of the track segment has at least one end portion having a first bend such that the end portion extends beyond and wraps around an end portion of the track segment, and wherein the at least one end portion of each conducting strip has a second bend to increase lateral contact pressure on one of the conducting strips of the adjoining track segment of the plurality in lockable engagement therewith. 3. The toy vehicle track of claim 1 wherein the first bend is positioned at a most distal end of the strip and forms an angle of approximately ninety degrees to a direction of the conductive strip immediately inwardly adjoining the most distal end to obtain the wrap around the end portion of the track segment. 4. The toy vehicle track of claim 3 wherein the second bend is positioned inward of the most distal end of the strip in a direction opposite the bend of the most distal end of the strip and forms an angle of between five and eighty degrees away from a direction of an immediately inwardly adjoining portion of the strip embedded in the track segment to obtain the increase in lateral contact pressure. 5. The toy vehicle track of claim 1 wherein the second bend in the at least one end portion of the at least one of the plurality of partially embedded conductive strips is at an angle of between five and eighty degrees away from a direction of an immediately inwardly adjoining portion of the strip embedded in the track segment to obtain the increase in lateral contact pressure. 6. The toy vehicle track of claim 1, wherein the second bend forms an angle with an immediately inwardly adjoining portion of the strip embedded in the track segment. 7. The toy vehicle track of claim 1, wherein the first bend extends a terminal end of the at least one conductive strip in a first direction, and the second bend extends a portion of the conductive strip intermediate the first and second bends in a second direction opposite the first direction. 8. The toy vehicle track of claim 1, wherein the first bend extends a terminal end of the at least one conductive strip toward one of the first edge and the second edge, and the second bend extends a portion of the conductive strip intermediate the first and second bends toward the other of the first edge and the second edge. 9. The toy vehicle track of claim 1, wherein the end portion of the conducting strip of the adjoining track segment engaging the end portion of the at least one conducting strip is substantially unbent. 10. The toy vehicle track of claim 1, wherein each partially embedded conductive strip has a first end portion extending from one end of the track segment and having the first bend and the second bend and a substantially unbent second end portion extending from an end of the track segment opposite the one end, and wherein with adjoining track segments in releasable locking engagement, the first end portion of each conductive strip of a first track segment presses against the second end portion of each conductive strip of a second track segment. 11. The toy vehicle track of claim 10, wherein the second end portion of each conductive strip of the first track segment presses against the first end portion of each conductive strip of the second track segment. 12. A toy vehicle track having a plurality of releasably couplable track segments, each segment having 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 adjacent the first coupling projection; a second coupling socket adjacent a second edge portion; a second coupling projection adjacent the second coupling socket having a locking recess; a plurality of partially embedded conductive strips, at least one end portion of at least one of the conducting strips having a first bend such that the end portion extends beyond and wraps around an end portion of the track segment, and wherein the at least one end portion of the at least one of the conducting strips has a second bend separate from the first bend so as to increase lateral contact pressure on a conducting strip of an adjoining track segment; wherein 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 at least one conducting strip of each end is configured to respectively engage the second coupling socket, the locking recess, the second coupling projection, the first coupling socket, the first locking lug, the first coupling projection, and the end portion of one of the conducting strips of the end of an adjoining track segment of the plurality to form a releasable locking engagement therebetween. 13. The toy vehicls track of claim 12 wherein each of the partially embedded conductive strips of the track segment has at least one end portion bent such that the end portion extends beyond and wraps around an end portion of the track segment, and wherein the at least one end portion of each of the conducting strips is further bent to increase lateral contact pressure on one of the conducting strips of the adjoining track segment of the plurality in releasable locking engagement therewith. 14. The toy vehicle track of claim 12 wherein the first bend is positioned at a most distal end of the strip at an angle of approximately ninety degrees to a direction of the conductive strip immediately inwardly adjoining the most distal end to obtain the wrap around the end portion of the track segment. 15. The toy vehicle track of claim 14 wherein the second bend is positioned inward of the most distal end of the strip in a direction opposite the bend of the most distal end of the strip and forms an angle of between five and eighty degrees away from a direction of an immediately inwardly adjoining portion of the strip embedded in the track segment to obtain the increase in lateral contact pressure. 16. The toy vehicle track of claim 12 wherein the at least one end portion of the at least one of the plurality of partially embedded conductive strips has a bend with an angle of between five and eighty degrees away from a direction of an immediately inwardly adjoining portion of the strip embedded in the track segment to obtain the increase in lateral contact pressure. 17. The toy vehicle track of claim 12, wherein the second bend forms an angle with an immediately inwardly adjoining portion of the strip embedded in the track segment. 18. The toy vehicle track of claim 12, wherein the first bend extends a terminal end of the at least one conductive strip in a first direction, and the second bend extends a portion of the conductive strip intermediate the first and second bends in a second direction opposite the first direction. 19. The toy vehicle track of claim 12, wherein the first bend extends a terminal end of the at least one conductive strip toward one of the first edge and the second edge, and the second bend extends a portion of the conductive strip intermediate the first and second bends toward the other of the first edge and the second edge. 20. The toy vehicle track of claim 12, wherein the end portion of the conducting strip of the adjoining track segment engaging the end portion of the at least one conducting strip is substantially unbent. 21. The toy vehicle track of claim 20, wherein the second end portion of each conductive strip of a first track segment presses against the first end portion of each conductive strip of the second track segment. 22. The toy vehicle track of claim 12, wherein each partially embedded conductive strip has a first end portion having the first bend and the second bend and a substantially unbent second end portion, and wherein with adjoining track segments in releasable locking engagement, the first end portion of each conductive strip of a first track segment presses against the second end portion of each conductive strip of a second track segment. 23. A toy vehicle track having a plurality of releasably couplable track segments, each segment comprising: an upper major planar surface and a lower major planar surface; a plurality of partially embedded conductive strips partially exposed along the upper major planar surface; first and second opposing end portions; a locking tab integral to and extending outwardly from at least one end portion of each track segment; a hook extending upwardly from a distal end of the locking tab; a finger rib extending downwardly from the distal end of the locking tab away from the hook; and a locking lug extending downwardly from the lower major planar surface of the track segment; wherein 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. 24. The toy vehicle track of claim 23 wherein the locking tab and the locking lug extend from an underside of each track segment on opposite lateral sides of a center line of the track segment. 25. The toy vehicle track of claim 23 wherein portions of the locking tab and the locking lug are sloped so that the locking tab rides up and over the locking lug when mating track segments. 26. The toy vehicle track of claim 23 further comprising side walls extending downwardly from each track segment to provide substantially uniform support for the track segment, wherein the finger rib extends downwardly from the locking tabs to about the same level as a bottom edge of the side walls to provide support for the locking tabs and prevent disengagement of the locking tabs from the locking lugs. 27. The toy vehicle track of claim 23 wherein the finger ribs extend downwardly from the locking tabs to contact a supporting surface of the track segments to maintain a positive interlock between track segments when pressure is applied to the track segments above the locking tabs. 28. The toy vehicle track of claim 23 wherein the locking tab and the finger rib form a gripping surface for disengaging the locking tab from the locking lug by applying a substantially longitudinal force on the locking tab and the finger rib. 29. A toy vehicle track having a plurality of track segments capable of releasable locking engagement, each segment comprising a plurality of partially embedded conductive strips, each conductive strip having: a first end portion including a first bend such that the first end portion extends beyond and wraps around an end portion of the track segment, and a second bend separate from the first bend making an angle with an immediately inwardly adjoining portion of the conductive strip, and a substantially unbent second end portion, wherein with adjoining track segments in releasable locking engagement, the first end portion of each conductive strip of a first track segment presses against the second end portion of each conductive strip of a second track segment. 30. A toy vehicle track having a plurality of track segments capable of releasable locking engagement, each segment comprising a plurality of partially embedded conductive strips, each conductive strip having: an exposed first end portion extending from a first end of the track segment, the first end portion including a first bend such that the first end portion extends beyond and wraps around a portion of the first end of the track segment, and a second bend separate from and in a direction opposite from the first bend, the second bend making an angle with an immediately inwardly adjoining embedded portion of the conductive strip, and an exposed, substantially unbent second end portion extending from a second end of the track segment opposite the first end, the second end portion having a terminal end most distant from a proximal embedded portion of the conductor, wherein with adjoining track segments in releasable locking engagement, at least the first bend of the first end portion of each conductive strip of a first track segment operatively engages the second end portion of each conductive strip of a second track segment at a point between the terminal end and the proximal embedded portion of the conductor to establish electrical contact between the first end portion and the second end portion.