Patent Application
20070131788
The instant invention relates to model railroad track and specifically to a track joining apparatus which securely holds two sections of a combined track-roadbed assembly together and provides horizontal, vertical and longitudinal alignment therefore.
Sectional model railroad track has been constructed in a variety of forms. In the simplest form, a section of track includes a pair of spaced apart, electrically conductive rails and an arrangement of ties extending between the rails, the ties being joined together to form the track section into the desired configuration, i.e., straight, curved with a variety of radii, or turnouts, with a variety of frog ratios.
Another form of sectional track includes the aforementioned elements which are secured to a section of roadbed to eliminate the necessity of laying a separate roadbed and then laying the sectional track on top thereof.
The simplest joining system consists of the positioning of a track connector, or fishplate, at the ends of the conductive rails. The connectors take the form of a thin piece of metal, which is formed substantially into a C-shape, and which is placed on the rail, extending under the bottom side thereof and around a flange at the base of the rail. The only purpose of the connectors is to provide electrical continuity between two sections of rail. The connectors are not intended to provide a physical restraining system for the track, and, although the connectors will prevent lateral movement of track sections relative to one another, they will do very little to prevent longitudinal movement, which, if not prevented, will allow the track sections to separate from one another.
The connectors, or fishplates, are rather delicate objects, particularly in the smaller gauges, e.g., N scale and smaller. The connectors are frequently secured to the rails, one connector being secured to one of the rails at one end of the section and another connector being secured to the opposing rail at the other end of the section. The connectors extend beyond the ends of the rails, and as such, are subject to impact, which may result in disfigurement, following which the connectors may not be operational to join sections of tracks or to provide an electrical connection therebetween. Because the connectors are easily damaged or distorted, assembly of sectional track must be performed by a person having a high degree of manual dexterity. Conventional, small-scale track is not suitable for use by children, and, for some adults, may be difficult to manipulate.
When such track is assembled and disassembled, there is frequently lateral movement of the track sections relative one another. This results in an enlargement of the connector, which in turn results in poor electrical connection between track sections upon reassembly. Poor electrical connection between track sections will result in poor operation of the model trains which are run on the track.
Although some forms of joining systems have been developed which provide for the longitudinal and lateral alignment of sectional track, known systems involve complex structures which are difficult to form and which are not easily injection molded. Known structures are subject to breakage, and because known joining structures are either permanently fixed to a track section or integrally formed therewith, they are not repairable. Thus, breakage of a small part of a track section results in destruction of the entire track section.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,326 to Edwards et al., granted Feb. 6, 1990, for Track joining system, describes a joining structure which is separately formed and permanently fixed to a roadbed element, and provides for longitudinal and lateral stability for the completed track.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,330 to Riley, granted Apr. 2, 1996, for Track bed simulating assembly for snap together model railroad tracks, and U.S. Pat. No. D382,607 to Riley, granted Aug. 19, 1997, for Combined toy train track and track bed, describe and depict a track section having an integrally formed joining structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,678 to Riley, granted May 19, 1998, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,298 to Riley, granted Sept. 26, 2000, both for Model railroad track assembly with actuator located within hollow track bed, describe placement of a switch motor under a roadbed element.
A joining apparatus is provided for a model railroad track, wherein the model railroad track includes a pair of combined track-railbed sections, with each end thereof configured for abutting an end of another combined track-railbed section, including a tie array disposed on an upper portion of each railbed and a pair of spaced apart rails fixed thereto, wherein the rails are electrically and physically joined to a rail on an abutted rail by a rail connector. Each combined track-railbed section includes a joining element retainer located adjacent each end of the section, underlying the railbed adjacent an end of each rail fixed to the railbed. A joining element is removably retainable in each joining element retainer for providing horizontal, vertical and longitudinal alignment between abutted combined track railbed sections.
An object of the instant invention is to provide a track joining system which provides horizontal, vertical, and longitudinal alignment between track sections.
Another object of the instant invention is to provide a system which provides for alignment of a roadbed in a piece of sectional model railroad track.
Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a system which will protect track connectors from damage.
Another object of the instant invention is to provide a system which provides alignment of a connector with a rail prior to actual engagement of the connector and the rail.
Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a system which incorporates alignment and interlocking elements in a unitary structure.
A further object of the invention is to provide a system which is easy and inexpensive to construct and which incorporates structures having simple configurations.
Another object of the invention is to provide a joining element which may easily be replaced in the event of damage or breakage.
This summary and objectives of the invention are provided to enable quick comprehension of the nature of the invention. A more thorough understanding of the invention may be obtained by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention in connection with the drawings.
Referring now to
An array 18, 20, of model railroad ties is located on the upper surface 14a, 16a of each railbed. Rails 22, 24 and 26, 28 are positioned in a spaced apart relationship on tie arrays 18, 20, respectively. The rails are electrically conductive and are generally formed from brass or nickel-silver alloy.
Referring momentarily to
Referring now to
A joining element is removably received in a joining element retainer 60, located under and adjacent an end of each rail, which joining element retainer is integrally formed with a railbed section. Each joining element retainer 60 includes joining element guide 50, an enlarged portion 62, at a distal end thereof, which receives joining element tang expanded region 58, and further includes a capture element 64 located intermediate the ends of the joining element retainer, which abuts necked portion 56 and resists withdrawal of a joining element from the joining element retainer.
To form a track layout for a model railroad, sections of the combined track and railbed incorporating the joining element of the invention are abutted end-to-end. When properly aligned, the joining elements of one section will seat in the joining element retainer of the abutted section, and the fishplates on the rail ends will seat on the free end of an abutted rail. Once the track layout, or at least a portion thereof, is assembled, the combined track and railbed sections may be secured to a suitable surface by means of fasteners, such as small screws or nails, which are passed through fastener receptacles 66 and into the surface. For temporary layouts, the joining element of the invention will retain a layout in a desired configuration, as the joining element prevents longitudinal separation of the combination track-railbed sections and provides horizontal and vertical alignment between sections to insure smooth operation of trains on the layout.
Referring to
Joining track sections having the joining element of the invention with track which do not have such elements is easily accomplished by the joining elements and connecting the track sections using only the fishplates, insuring that the track sections are securely fastened to prevent separation of the track sections of the invention from conventions track sections.
As shown in the drawings, the arrangement of the joining elements is such that the joining element provides protection for the fishplate. This construction provides for minimal lateral shifting of the fishplate and rail relative one another during the assembly and disassembly of the combined track and railbed sectional track, thus preventing the fishplate from being laterally widened, which would subsequently result in a poor electrical connection between rails on adjoining sections. Provision of a joining element of the invention enables use of track incorporating the joining system by most children and virtually all adults.
Once the sections are joined, as depicted in
From a manufacturing standpoint, the construction of the joining elements and combined track and railbed sections provide for simple, cost efficient construction. The elements may be formed by injection molding, as is the railbed.
Thus, a joining system for a combined track and railbed sections has been disclosed which provides for easy, accurate joining of sectional model railroad track. The system provides for three axis alignment of a track railbed and rails while simultaneously providing protection for track joining connectors which extend beyond the ends of the railbed.
