GB2264067A - Toy slot track - Google Patents

Abstract

The track has a sequence of bends with alternative grooves for providing a change in direction for the moving element 10. When it is desired that the moving element should change direction, its speed around the bend should be such that it enters a controlled skid and at point 20, where the groove splits, it will change over to the other groove. When the controlled skid is not induced going around the bend as in Fig. 1 the moving element will take the easiest route found in its path. <IMAGE>

Description

TOY SLOT TRACK This invention relates to a toy slot track.

Toy slot tracks are well known toys which comprise a certain track configu ration provided with a groove or slot for a model car or other moving element to be guided on. Generally they may be made in various configurations or allow different configurations to be achieved by means of interchanging track segments, adding new ones or taking some away. They may include any number of slots by design according to the maximum number of models intended to be used at any one time.

It is a feature of some tracks to have grooves crossing over, converging or diverging. There is a specific type of groove configuration that allows the moving element to change route at a point where the groove splits, in this way creating the effect of steering. This is achieved by mechanical and or electric switching requiring a change in the previous state of the track and or moving element. This adds to the complexity of the track, introduces further moving parts increasing the possibility of breakdown, raises the price and requires the user to operate a separate control from the one normal ly used to drive the moving element.

According to the present invention there is provided a toy slot track compri sing in the sequence of bends points where the groove splits allowing the moving element to opt for a course depending on the direction of its traction vector induced by the circular motion and its speed around a bend.

A specific example of the invention will now be described by way of reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 shows a section of a toy slot track viewed from the top with suc cessive stages of a toy car going around a bend at a certain speed; - Figure 2 illustrates the same track section with the successive stages of a toy car going around a bend at a higher speed; - Figure 3 shows a track configuration using this invention.

The track sections in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 and track configuration in Fig. 3 show tracks using one car only but more cars and slots could be assumed.

In Fig. 1 is represented a model car at successive stages of its progress around a left bend. An arrow indicates the direction of the "traction vector" that is the direction in which the drive wheels of the model car are moving.

When a model car is moving in a straight line the direction of its traction vector and the direction of the movement are the same. When it encounters a bend, assuming that the track surface and the rear wheels of the model offer good adherence at low speed, the traction vector becomes approximately tangen tial to the circular configuration of the bend.

This is the case as represented in Fig. 1 where the centrifugal force acting on the car as it turns is counterbalanced by the guide 10 depending from the car and the good adherence between the wheels and track surface. In this way the model always follows the route offered by the outermost groove encoun tered and at point 20 where the groove splits follows the direction of its tract ion vector.

In Fig. 2 the same model car approaches the bend at a higher speed, high enough to make its rear wheels partially lose grip by cause of the centrifu gal force but still being guided by the groove. In this way the traction vector assumes a different direction that is no longer tangential to the bend but partially centripetal. At this stage if the centripetal component of the traction vector is bigger than the centrifugal force acting on this model it will follow the innermost groove encountered.

In practice it is easier to controle this induced steering effect on the mo del if the groove splits at a point where the turning-radious established by the groove is eased off or a short straight is encountered. This is what happens in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 as there is a short space of straight groove before the split 10 allowing the centrifugal force acting on the model to end and the strength of the traction vector to take the model into the innermost groove. Row much the radious should be eased off or how long the short space of straight groove should be depends on the grip conditions between track and model, the original turning radious, the speed of the moving element and the skill of the user. An endless number of possible configurations using this invention can be achieved and Fig. 3 is an example of a simple one.

Claims (5)

1. A toy slot track comprising in the sequence of bends points where the groove splits allowing the moving element to opt for a course depending on the direction of its traction vector induced by the circular motion and its speed around a bend.

2. A toy slot track as claimed in Claim 1 in which the turning radious of a bend is eased off allowing the moving element by means of utilizing the direction of the traction vector induced by that bend to change over to an innermost groove at the point where the groove splits.

3. A toy slot track as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which a groove split occours in at least one point of the track.

4. A toy slot track as claimed in any preceding claim in which there is at least one groove.

5. A toy slot track substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawing.