초록 ▼

A track for a toy vehicle and a track section that is used to form the track. In one embodiment, the track section includes a first edge, a second edge, and an upper surface extending therebetween; a first connector extending from the first edge, the first connector comprising an inner surface that

A track for a toy vehicle and a track section that is used to form the track. In one embodiment, the track section includes a first edge, a second edge, and an upper surface extending therebetween; a first connector extending from the first edge, the first connector comprising an inner surface that defines a receiving cavity and an outer surface comprising a plurality of detents; a second connector extending from the second edge, the second connector being spaced apart from a portion of the second edge by a gap; and first and second slots extending from the second edge towards the first edge to form a hinge section of the track section between the first and second slots, the hinge section comprising the portion of the second edge of the track section.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A track for a toy vehicle comprising: a first track section and a second track section each having a first edge, a second edge, and an upper surface for supporting a toy vehicle extending between the first and second edges;a first connector extending from the first edge of the first track section

1. A track for a toy vehicle comprising: a first track section and a second track section each having a first edge, a second edge, and an upper surface for supporting a toy vehicle extending between the first and second edges;a first connector extending from the first edge of the first track section, the first connector comprising an inner surface that defines a receiving cavity;a second connector extending from the second edge of the second track section;wherein the first and second track sections are rotatably coupled together by positioning the second connector of the second track section within the receiving cavity of the first connector of the first track section;wherein the upper surfaces of the first and second track sections and the first and second connectors collectively form a track surface configured for engagement with a toy vehicle positioned thereon; andwherein the first and second track sections are temporarily lockable in multiple relative positions with the upper surfaces thereof oriented at different angles relative to one another. 2. The track of claim 1 wherein the first track section extends along a first longitudinal axis, the first connector extends along a second longitudinal axis, and the second connector extends along a third longitudinal axis, the second and third longitudinal axes being parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis, and wherein the first and second track sections are rotatably coupled together about a rotational axis that is coincident with the third longitudinal axis of the second connector. 3. The track of claim 2 wherein an angle between the upper surface of the first track section and the upper surface of the second track section is adjustable by rotating the first and second track sections relative to one another about the rotational axis. 4. The track of claim 1 wherein one of the inner surface of the first connector of the first track section and an outer surface of the second connector of the second track section comprises ridges and the other of the inner surface of the first connector of the first track section and the outer surface of the second connector of the second track section comprises notches, and wherein the ridges of the one of the inner surface of the first connector of the first track section and the outer surface of the second connector of the second track section mate with the notches of the other of the inner surface of the first connector of the first track section and the outer surface of the second connector of the second track section to temporarily lock the first and second track sections into a desired relative position. 5. The track of claim 1 wherein the first track section extends along a first longitudinal axis and the first connector of the first track section extends along a second longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis, the first connector having a length measured along the second longitudinal axis that is less than a length of the first edge measured in a direction of the second longitudinal axis. 6. The track of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second track sections extends along a first longitudinal axis from the first edge to the second edge, and wherein each of the first and second track sections further comprises a left-side edge, a right-side edge, a first sidewall extending upwardly from the left-side edge in a direction away from the upper surface, and a second sidewall extending upwardly from the right-side edge in a direction away from the upper surface. 7. The track of claim 6 wherein the first track section comprises a third connector extending from the second edge of the first track section, the first connector protruding from the first edge of the first track section in a direction of the first longitudinal axis and the third connector protruding from the second edge of the first track section in a direction of the first longitudinal axis. 8. The track of claim 6 wherein each of the first and second sidewalls extends from a first edge to an opposing second edge, and wherein the first connector extends beyond the first edge of the first and second sidewalls in a direction of the first longitudinal axis and the second connector extends beyond the second edge of the first and second sidewalls in a direction of the first longitudinal axis. 9. The track of claim 1 wherein the first connector is elongated along the first edge of the first track section and has a C-shaped transverse cross-sectional profile, an outer surface of the first connector being convex. 10. The track of claim 9 wherein the first connector comprises an elongated opening extending from a first end of the first connector to a second end of the first connector, the elongated opening lying on a plane that is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the first track section and forming a passageway into the receiving cavity of the first connector, and wherein the first and second track sections are detachably coupled together by inserting the second connector of the second track section into the receiving cavity of the first connector of the first track section through the elongated opening of the first connector of the first track section. 11. The track of claim 1 further comprising: a third connector extending from the second edge of the first track section, the third connector being spaced apart from the second edge of the first track section by a second gap; anda fourth connector extending from the first edge of the second track section, the fourth connector comprising an inner surface that defines a receiving cavity. 12. A track section for a toy vehicle track comprising: a first edge, a second edge, and an upper surface for supporting a toy vehicle extending between the first and second edges, the track section having a first longitudinal axis extending from the first edge to the second edge;a first connector extending from the first edge along a second longitudinal axis, the first connector comprising an inner surface that defines a receiving cavity and an outer surface comprising a plurality of detents;a second connector extending from the second edge along a third longitudinal axis, the second connector being spaced apart from a portion of the second edge by a gap; andfirst and second slots extending from the second edge towards the first edge to form a hinge section of the track section between the first and second slots, the hinge section comprising the portion of the second edge of the track section. 13. The track section of claim 12 wherein the plurality of detents are formed by one of notches formed into the outer surface of the first connector or ribs extending from the outer surface of the first connector. 14. The track section of claim 12 wherein the first connector is elongated along the first edge of the track section and has a C-shaped transverse cross-sectional profile, an elongated opening extending from a first end of the first connector to a second end of the first connector, the elongated opening forming a passageway into the receiving cavity of the first connector, the outer surface of the first connector being convex. 15. The track section of claim 12 further comprising a left-side edge, a right-side edge, a first sidewall extending upwardly from the left-side edge in a direction away from the upper surface, and a second sidewall extending upwardly from the right-side edge in a direction away from the upper surface, wherein each of the first and second sidewalls comprises a first side edge adjacent to the first edge of the track section and a second side edge adjacent to the second edge of the track section, each of the first and second side edges of the first and second sidewalls oriented at an acute angle relative to the upper surface of the track section. 16. A track for a toy vehicle comprising: a first track section and a second track section each having a first edge, a second edge, and an upper surface for supporting a toy vehicle extending between the first and second edges;a first connector extending from the first edge of the first track section, the first connector comprising an inner surface that defines a receiving cavity;a second connector extending from the second edge of the second track section;wherein the first and second track sections are rotatably coupled together by positioning the second connector of the second track section within the receiving cavity of the first connector of the first track section; andwherein the first connector and the second connector have mating features that lock the first and second track sections into specific relative positions and prevent free rotation of the first track section relative to the second track section. 17. The track of claim 16 wherein the upper surfaces of the first and second track sections and the first and second connectors collectively form a track surface configured for direct engagement with a toy vehicle positioned thereon. 18. The track of claim 16 wherein the mating features comprises first features provided on the inner surface of the first connector and second features provided on an outer surface of the second connector, and wherein the first and second track sections are temporarily lockable in multiple relative positions with the upper surfaces thereof oriented at different angles relative to one another due to cooperation between the first and second features. 19. The track of claim 16 wherein the first and second track sections comprise a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the first and second track sections are planar. 20. The track of claim 16 wherein one of the inner surface of the first connector of the first track section and an outer surface of the second connector of the second track section comprises ridges and the other of the inner surface of the first connector of the first track section and the outer surface of the second connector of the second track section comprises notches, and wherein the ridges of the one of the inner surface of the first connector of the first track section and the outer surface of the second connector of the second track section mate with the notches of the other of the inner surface of the first connector of the first track section and the outer surface of the second connector of the second track section to temporarily lock the first and second track sections into the specific relative positions.