US20170189822A1

US20170189822A1 - Modular, Connectable Moving System

Info

Publication number: US20170189822A1
Application number: US14/987,611
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward Lopatinsky; Schaefer Daniel
Original assignee: Medical Research Council Technology
Current assignee: LifeArc
Priority date: 2016-01-04
Filing date: 2016-01-04
Publication date: 2017-07-06

Abstract

A modular, connectable loop toy track set capable of being interconnected in a releasable engagement including different shapes and sizes and contains an amount of track sections to form a closed loop. All track sections are comprised of a plurality of square modules. Each square module has size “A”. A minimum size A×A of modular toy track set comprises at least two curve sections that are mechanically connected and a moving body located on said track to form a closed loop track system.

The moving system manufactured as a linear induction motor including a stator made as PCB with printed coils on it and all moving objects having permanent magnets, as a rotor and in such case at any given time only 2 sections of the entire connectable loop track are under temporary power which rolls over to the next section as the moving objects pass through.

Description

The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/099,542 filed on 1 Apr. 2015

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to systems for moving mechanical bodies along the closed loop connectable tracks. More particularly, the present invention relates to toy and/or entertainment systems for people and animals, and all subsystems in which it is useful to move an object along the track. The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, useful for systems that relate to toy motion devices, such as vehicles, trains, slot cars, figurines, racing toy cars, toy boats and etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are numerous designs of a closed loop track, such as Variable Track for a Toy Vehicle U.S. Pat. No. 3,680,777 (A). It does have a plurality of connectable sections that define the variable shape track with moving objects located on said track. This track comprises a closed loop system with pliable adjustable elements that could manually change shape for the course of traveling.
There is also a Pet Toy with Captive Chase Ball, US patent 2010058994 (A1) which incorporated in this application by reference that discloses the reconfigurable animal toy made as the continuous loop track comprising a plurality of connectable track sections.
One more example is the Track Structure with Building Blocks CN 203355386 U that comprises a plurality of half- and full-track building blocks that could be assembled as a closed loop track motion system.
Another type of continuous track system, for example, GB907940 (A) “Track System for toy Vehicle”. It comprises a closed loop track made comprising several connectable sections. The main problem of all such known systems is that all these above mentioned tracks comprising connectable sections of the closed loop are not universal. They do have a predetermined shape (shapes) and as such cannot be reassembled in order to obtain a multitude of different configurations and sizes.
Therefore, it would be generally desirable to provide fully-configurable modular track system of virtually unlimited layout, size and configuration that could be easily reassembled in needed shape or size.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a fully-configurable 3-D continuous track system for toy vehicles, such as trains, slot cars, figurines, racing cars, boats et al that could easily change the size and shape to yield a multitude of configurations, as well as offer endless entertainment options for the users.
In order to achieve these objectives in accordance with the present invention a modular, connectable, closed loop toy track set capable of being interconnected in a releasable engagement including different shapes and sizes comprising:

an even amount of plurality of square modules each of said modules including a track section with the central line of said track. All track sections are mechanically connected to form a closed loop moving system.

Each of said closed loop toy tracks has at least one moving object capable to move along said center line of every track section.
Each of said track section located within its modules in a way that said central line of every track section coincides with two corners (nodes) of said square module and its tangential line (vector) from said nodes is substantially perpendicular or parallel to side lines of the square module.
Each of said square modules has a side size equal to “A”.
Some of the track sections made as a 90 degrees curve with the radius to said central line equal to “A”.
Some of the track sections made as a 180 degrees curve with the radius to said central line equal to “A/2”.
Minimum size of such system comprising at least two 180 degrees sections that are mechanically connected and at least one moving body located on said track.
Some of said sections represented as a straight section with the length of said straight section equal to “A”.
Some of said sections represented as an S-shape section with the size of said S-section from the start to the end equal to “A”.
Each said mechanical connection represents a pillar and a clamp located and secured on every end of any section (straight and curved);
For the electrical driven tracks each of said track section contains plurality of electrical coils distributed along said central line and electrical connectors on both ends of the said track section. Minimum size of such electrically driven system comprising at least two 180 degrees sections that are electrically connected and at least one object with magnets located on said track, wherein said electrical coils after connection of said track sections form a stator and said object with magnets forms a rotor of multiphase linear induction motor.
Each said electrical connection represents an electrical connector located and secured on every end of said sections (straight and curved);
The total amount of electrical coils located on every said track section (curved and straight) should be divisible by 6, so the said track would represent a 3 phase stator of the linear induction motor.
The electrical resistance of said coils for all sections is substantially the same.
All electrical and logic description for such system could be done as it was presented in the application Ser. No. 11/799,203 Switching Electromagnetic Moving system filed on May 1, 2007 which incorporated in this application by reference.
The maximum size of proposed system could have unlimited even amount of curved and straight sections including principals per said application Ser. No. 11/799,203 is virtually unlimited at the same level of power consumption.
All electrical coils made as printed overlapping coils on the PC boards in accordance with the U.S. Pat. No. 7,623,013 which incorporated in this application by reference. The foregoing and other objectives, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon-consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a is a view showing the square module size A with first 90 degrees curved section of the present invention;

FIG. 1b is a view showing the square module size A with second 180 degrees curved section of the present invention;

FIG. 1c is a view showing the square module size A with straight section of the present invention;

FIG. 1d is a view showing the square module size A with third curved S-shape section of the present invention;

FIG. 2 showing views some of the many options of the different sizes and shapes mechanically assembled from the track sections per FIG. 1a , FIG. 1b , FIG. 1c , FIG. 1 d;

FIG. 3 showing views some of the many options of the different sizes and shapes mechanically assembled from the track sections per FIG. 1a , FIG. 1b , FIG. 1c , FIG. 1 d;

FIG. 4 showing the minimum size (A×A) assembled track made from two curved sections 2 FIG. 1 b.

FIG. 5 is a view showing relatively large size mechanical connections for some of the track sections of the present invention per FIG. 1a , FIG. 1b , FIG. 1c , FIG. 1 d;

FIG. 6 showing a 3 Dimension view of the mechanical circular track system.

FIG. 6a showing a 3 Dimension view of locking elements for the mechanical circular track system.

FIG. 7a showing several square modules of the electrically driven track sections with the overlapping coils in accordance with the U.S. Pat. No. 7,623,013—which incorporated in this application by reference.

FIG. 7b showing several square modules of the electrically driven track sections with the overlapping coils in accordance with the U.S. Pat. No. 7,623,013.

FIG. 7c showing several square modules of the electrically driven track sections with the overlapping coils in accordance with the U.S. Pat. No. 7,623,013.

FIG. 7d showing several square modules of the electrically driven track sections with the overlapping coils in accordance with the U.S. Pat. No. 7,623,013.

FIG. 8 showing the minimum size (A×A) assembled electrically driven track made from two curved 180 degrees sections per FIG. 7 b.

FIG. 9 showing 3 Dimension view of L-shape cut-off made on both ends of every electrically driven sections including overlapping coils in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 7,623,013.

FIG. 9a showing the cross section view of L-shape cut-off made on both ends of every electrically driven sections.

FIG. 9b showing the cross section view of 2 assembled L-shape different track sections.

FIG. 9c showing the electrical connector 32 for all electrically driven track sections per FIG. 7a , FIG. 7b , FIG. 7c , FIG. 7 d.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A modular, connectable, closed loop toy track set that is capable of being interconnected in a releasable engagement including different shapes and sizes contains:
an even amount of curved 1, 2, 4 and straight 3 track sections per FIG. 1a , FIG. 1b , FIG. 1c , FIG. 1d with at least one moving object 4 a located at the central line 5 per FIG. 2. Any combination of even amount of these sections are mechanically connected, so as to form different size and shapes close loops moving systems, for example, per FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 FIG. 5 is a view showing mechanical connections of the relatively large track made from some track sections FIG. 1a , FIG. 1b , FIG. 1c , FIG. 1d of the present invention that include connectable hardware such as pillow 16 and clamp 17 that connected and secured all needed sections, for instance 1, 3 per FIG. 1a , FIG. 1 c;
FIG. 6 and FIG. 6a showing a 3-Dimensional view of the circular track system that include pillow 16 and clamp 17 that connected and secured assembly from 4 curved 90 degrees sections 1 per FIG. 1 a.
FIG. 7a , FIG. 7b , FIG. 7c , FIG. 7d _showing several square modules that represent different electrically driven track sections 21, 22, 23, 24 of the present invention with printed overlapping coils 25, 26, 27, 28 on them;
FIG. 8 showing the minimum size (A×A) assembled track made from two electrically driven curved sections from FIG. 7 b with printed overlapping coils 26 on them.
FIG. 9 showing 3 Dimension view of overlapping coils 29 in relation of the L shape cutoffs 30 and 31 from both ends of the track sections 21, 22, 23, 24 per FIG. 7a , FIG. 7b , FIG. 7c , FIG. 7 d.
FIG. 9a showing that the long leg of “L” made along the flat side of said track section is substantially equal to half of the printed coil and the short leg of “L” is substantially equal to half of the thickness of PC board track section, so it provides an electrical connection and coils interaction for the overlapping coil design. Such interaction of overlapping coils from both ends of the sections 21, 22, 23, 24 per FIG. 7a , FIG. 7b , FIG. 7c , FIG. 7d would produce the strong electromagnetic field.
All used track sections (1, 2, 3, 4) per FIG. 1a , FIG. 1b , FIG. 1c , FIG. 1d are located within square modules 7 size A in a way that said central line 5 of every track section (1, 2, 3, 4) is coinciding with two corners (nodes) 9, 10 of each square module 7 and it's (vector) 11 (tangential line) from nodes 9, 10 is substantially perpendicular or parallel to side lines 12, 13 of the module 7.
Each of said rectangular module 7 made as a square sized “A”. Some of sections 1, 2, 4 showing on FIG. 1a , FIG. 1b , FIG. 1d represented as a curve sections.
FIG. 1c is a view showing the straight section 3 with length size equal square module size A.
The angle of curve section 1 FIG. 1a is 90 degrees and the radius is equal to size “A”.
The angle of curve section 2 FIG. 1b is 180 degrees and the radius is equal to size “A/2”.
FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are showing few of the possible assemblies that consume different shapes and sizes made from curved 1, 2, 4 and straight sections 3 per FIG. 1a , FIG. 1b , FIG. 1c , FIG. 1 d.
FIG. 4 showing a minimum size equal A×A of connectable toy track set comprising two sections 2 per FIG. 1 b that mechanically connected and at least one moving body located on said track, to form a close loop track system.
FIG. 5 is showing sections 1 and 3 per FIG. 1a and FIG. 1c in respect to a mechanical connection that represents a pillar 16 and a clamp 17 located and secured on every end of all sections 1, 2, 3, 4 (straight and curved);
FIG. 6 is showing and assembly of 4 curved sections 1 per FIG. 1a connected and secured by pillows 16 and clamps 17.
FIG. 7a , FIG. 7b , FIG. 7c , FIG. 7d are showing all shapes track sections 21, 22, 23, 24 could be powered by placing plurality of electrical coils 25, 26, 27, 28 along said central line 5.
The smallest size of electrically powered connectable track set equal A×A shown on FIG. 8 comprising at least two sections 22 per FIG. 7b that mechanically and electrically connected and at least one moving body located on the track (4 a per FIG. 2), wherein said electrical coils 26 after connection form a multiphase linear stator 33.
FIG. 9 showing 3 Dimension view of overlapping coils 29 in relation of the L shape cutoffs 30 and 31 from both ends of the track sections 21, 22, 23, 24 per FIG. 7a , FIG. 7b , FIG. 7c , FIG. 7 d.
FIG. 9a showing the cross section of L shape cutoffs 30, 31 from the opposite side of the PC board.
FIG. 9b is showing the cross section of the connecting parts for any of 2 track sections 21, 22, 23, 24 per FIG. 7a , FIG. 7b , FIG. 7c , FIG. 7 d.
One of the track sections 34 per FIG. 5 from the entire system contains elements of the power connection to the electrical controller (not shown).
The total amount of said electrical coils 25, or 26, or 27, or 28 per FIG. 7a , FIG. 7b , FIG. 7c , FIG. 7d located on every track section (curved and straight) should be divisible by 6, so the said track would represent a 3 phase stator of said linear motor 32.
The value of electrical resistance of coils 25, 26, 27, 28 per FIG. 7a , FIG. 7b , FIG. 7c , FIG. 7d of said sections is substantially close to each other.
Using mechanical components 1, 2, 3, 4 per FIG. 1a , FIG. 1b , FIG. 1c , FIG. 1d many of the possible options of the mechanical tracks could be assembled, reassembled and operated by mechanically driven objects (4 a per FIG. 2) along these tracks.
Using components 25, 26, 27, 28 shown on FIG. 7a , FIG. 7b , FIG. 7c , FIG. 7d , many of the possible options of the tracks could be assembled, reassembled and operated by electrically self-driven objects along these tracks.
All detailed operations are described in details per. Application Ser. No. 11/799,203 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,623,013 which are incorporated in the application by reference.

Claims

We claim:

1. Modular connectable loop toy track set that is capable of being interconnected in a releasable engagement including different shapes and sizes and comprising:

an even amount of track sections with the central line of said track mechanically connected, so as to form said closed loop,

ii. made from a plurality of rectangular modules,

iii. each of said track section located within some of said modules in a way that said central line of every track section coincides with two corners (nodes) of said rectangular module and its (vector) tangential line from said nodes is substantially perpendicular or parallel to side lines of said rectangular module.

2. The modular connectable loop toy track set of claim 1 wherein each of said rectangular modules made as a square sized “A”.

3. The modular connectable toy track set per claim 1 comprising at least two said sections that mechanically connected and at least one moving body located on said track, to form a close loop track system.

4. The modular connectable loop toy track set of claim 1 wherein some of said sections represented as a curve section with the angle of said curve section of 90 degrees and the radius equal to “A”.

5. The modular connectable loop toy track set of claim 1 wherein some of said sections per claim 1 represented as a curve section with the angle of said curve section of 180 degrees and the radius equal to “A/2”.

6. The modular connectable loop toy track set of claim 1 wherein some of said sections represented as a strait section with its length equal to “A”.

7. The modular connectable loop toy track set of claim 1 wherein each said mechanical connection represents a pillar and a clamp located and secured on every end of said sections (straight and curved).

8. The modular connectable loop toy track set of claim 1 wherein each of said section per claim 1 contains plurality of electrical coils along said central line, to provide an electrical moving option for the system.

9. The modular connectable loop toy track set of claim 1 comprising at least two said sections that electrically connected and at least one moving body located on said track, wherein said electrical coils after connection of said track sections form a multiphase linear stator.

10. The modular connectable loop toy track set of claim 9 wherein each said electrical connection represents an electrical connector located and secured on every end of said sections (straight and curved).

11. The modular connectable loop toy track set of claim 9 wherein one of the said track sections contains elements of the power connection to the electronic controller.

12. The modular connectable loop toy track set of claim 8 wherein the total amount of said electrical coils located on every of said track section (curved and straight) should be divisible by 6, so the said track would represent a 3 phase stator of said linear motor.

13. The modular connectable loop toy track set of claim 8 wherein the electrical resistance of said curve sections is substantially equal to the electrical resistance of said coils for said straight sections.

14. A modular, connectable, closed loop toy track set capable of being interconnected in a releasable engagement including different shapes and sizes containing different shapes track sections each of them having “L” shape cutoff on both ends from opposite sides of said track section wherein long leg of “L” made along the flat side of said track section is substantially equal to half of the printed coil and the short leg of “L” is substantially equal to half of the thickness for said track section, so it provides an interaction for the overlapping coil design.