초록 ▼

A track a vehicle amusement apparatus and methods are disclosed, the apparatus including a vehicle or vehicles movable over a track assembly supported and elevated by a supporting assembly. A plurality of track sections define the track assembly, and the vehicles have wheels, some positioned above a

A track a vehicle amusement apparatus and methods are disclosed, the apparatus including a vehicle or vehicles movable over a track assembly supported and elevated by a supporting assembly. A plurality of track sections define the track assembly, and the vehicles have wheels, some positioned above and some below the track and at different locations across the track. Drive track sections of the track assembly include first and second relatively reciprocating track members, the vehicles including independently retractable appendages for releasable engagement with different ones of the track members.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A track and vehicle amusement apparatus comprising: a plurality of track sections each having a length, first and second oppositely facing surfaces, and first and second relative track elevations at least at said first surface, said first relative track elevation extending lo

What is claimed is: 1. A track and vehicle amusement apparatus comprising: a plurality of track sections each having a length, first and second oppositely facing surfaces, and first and second relative track elevations at least at said first surface, said first relative track elevation extending longitudinally said length of each said track section, each said track section including connecting structure at opposite ends thereof adjacent to said first relative track elevation, said plurality of track sections including at least a first drive track section having relatively reciprocating members; connectors engageable at said connecting structure of said track sections, at least some of said connectors including a fitting at a surface thereof and configured for rotatable engagement therewith; track support and elevation members selectively configurable in various lengths and each including an engaging structure rotatably engageable with a selected said fitting of said some of said connectors; and a first vehicle mountable on said track sections, said first vehicle including at least a first retractable appendage repeatedly releasably engageable at one of said relatively reciprocating members, said relatively reciprocating members of said drive track section adapted to move said vehicle by reciprocating relative motion. 2. The track and vehicle amusement apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first vehicle has at least first, second and third wheels, said first wheel adapted for positioning adjacent to said first surface at said first relative track elevation of said track sections and said second and third wheels for positioning adjacent to said second surface at said second relative track elevation of said track sections. 3. The apparatus claim 1 wherein said track support and elevation members include opposite end fittings engageable at a ground base. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least some of said track support and elevation members include a telescopable tube for length adjustment of said members. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a drive mechanism having a rotational drive and means for translating rotational motion to linear motion connected between said rotational drive and one of said relatively reciprocating members. 6. A track assemblage for a track and vehicle amusement apparatus including a vehicle mountable at the track assemblage, said track assemblage comprising: a plurality of track sections each having a length, first and second oppositely facing surfaces, and first and second relative track elevations, said first relative track elevation extending longitudinally said length of each said track section, said track sections having a central support channel extending at said second surface longitudinally said length of each said track section, each said track section including snap joint connections established at opposite ends of said central support channel adjacent to said first relative track elevation; connectors releasably engageable at said snap joint connections of adjacent said track sections, each of said connectors including first and second connector blocks, said first connector block receivable in a said snap joint connection of one of said adjacent said track sections and said second connector block receivable in a said snap joint connection of another of said adjacent said track sections, at least some of said connectors including a linkage at a surface thereof configured for rotatable releasable engagement; and a plurality of track support and elevation assemblies selectively configurable in various lengths and each including an end fitting rotatably releasably receiving a selected said linkage of said some of said connectors. 7. The track assemblage of claim 6 wherein at least some of said track support and elevation assemblies include telescopable tubes having plural releasably securable members configured to allow length adjustment of said tubes and therefore elevation adjustability of said some of said assemblies. 8. The track assemblage of claim 6 wherein said plurality of track support and elevation assemblies include opposite end fittings and a ground base having a connection thereat, said ground base connection configured for releasably receiving one of said at least some of said connectors therein so that said linkage thereof is rotatably and releasably receivable in said opposite end fitting. 9. The track assemblage of claim 8 wherein said ground base includes a securing structure at a bottom surface thereof for securing position location of said ground base on a floor. 10. The track assemblage of claim 6 further comprising a first drive track section having first and second relatively reciprocating members, said drive track section positioned intermediate selected ones of said track sections. 11. The track assemblage of claim 6 wherein said support channel is at said first relative track elevation. 12. The track assemblage of claim 6 wherein said track sections include dual side supports extending from said central support channel and defining a transition from said first relative track elevation to said second relative track elevation. 13. The track assemblage of claim 6 wherein said linkage of said at least some of said connectors include at least one ball and wherein said end fittings of said plurality of track support and elevation assemblies include ball receiving structures. 14. The track assemblage of claim 13 wherein said ball includes a high friction surface application. 15. A track and vehicle amusement apparatus comprising: a plurality of track sections each having a length, first and second oppositely facing surfaces, and first and second relative track elevations, said first relative track elevation extending longitudinally said length of each said track section, each of said track sections including a central support channel and dual side supports, said central support channel extending from said second surface longitudinally said length of each said track section and adjacent to said first relative track elevation and said dual side supports extending from said central support channel and defining a transition from said first relative track elevation to said second relative track elevation, each said track section including connecting structure at opposite ends of said central support channel; connectors engageable at said connecting structures of adjacent ones of said track sections, each of said connectors having first and second portions receivable in different ones of said connecting structures of said adjacent ones of said track sections, at least some of said connectors including a linkage at a surface thereof; track support and elevation assemblies at least some of which are telescopable providing selectable track elevations and each including an engaging structure rotatably engageable with a selected said linkage of said some of said connectors; at least a first drive track section having first and second relatively reciprocating members, said drive track section positioned intermediate said track sections; a drive mechanism having a rotational drive and means for translating rotational motion to linear motion connected between said rotational drive and said first relatively reciprocating member of said drive track section; and a first vehicle mountable on said track sections and including a central wheel adapted for movement at said first relative track elevation of said track sections with said dual side supports at each side thereof, and further including a first pivotably retractable appendage repeatedly releasably engageable at said first relatively reciprocating member of said drive track section to move said vehicle. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said vehicle includes a second pivotably retractable appendage repeatedly releasably engageable at said second relatively reciprocating member of said drive track section to prevent backward movement of said vehicle at said drive track section. 17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said vehicle includes a body mountable on a truck having first and second lateral wings extending therefrom, and first and second lateral wheels freely rotatable in first and second releasable wheel mounts mountable at said first and second wings, respectively, of said truck, said wings and wheel mounts configured so that when said vehicle is mounted on said track sections said lateral wheels are positioned adjacent to said second surface of said track sections at different ones of said dual side supports, all said wheels rotatable in a common direction. 18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first relatively reciprocating member of said drive track section includes clips spaced longitudinally along said first relatively reciprocating member and engageable with said means for translating rotational motion to linear motion of said drive mechanism. 19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said drive mechanism includes a drive platform having a track guide thereat, said track guide having linear guide openings therethrough, and a track shuttle having mounting posts extendible through said guide openings of said track guide and moveable therealong, said mounting posts receiving said clips of said first relatively reciprocating member of said drive track. 20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for translating rotational motion to linear motion of said drive mechanism includes a rotary linkage connected with said rotational drive and a bar linkage connected between said rotary linkage and said track shuttle.